Is not being able to do as you please also called rebirth?

Chapter 196 Secretary Li Qingning

The roar of engines was gradually replaced by the unique hustle and bustle of Shanghai Pudong Airport.

Stepping out of the gate, a familiar urban atmosphere, mixed with efficiency and desire, rushed towards me, instantly dispelling the purity and coldness left by the Hemu Snowfield.

"President Jiang, over here!" A clear and energetic voice pierced through the crowd.

As far as the eye could see, Li Qingning was standing in a conspicuous spot, standing on tiptoe and waving vigorously.

Her outfit today was clearly carefully chosen—a neatly tailored off-white cashmere coat made her figure appear even taller and more slender, paired with a low-saturation dusty blue turtleneck sweater, a pair of black trousers with excellent drape, and a pair of perfectly placed pointed stilettos.

Her makeup was exquisite yet not sharp, and her long hair was tied into a neat bun. She had shed some of her usual decisive and aggressive demeanor, and gained a touch of gentleness and... anticipation?
"Sister Qingning." Jiang Xun approached, her face bearing her usual gentle smile, but her eyes held the familiar calm and sharpness. "Have you been waiting long?"

“No, I arrived right on time.” Li Qingning stepped forward and very naturally took the only small suitcase from Jiang Xun’s hand—he always traveled light.

However, at the very moment of the handover, her fingertips inadvertently brushed against Jiang Xun's hand, a slightly cool touch accompanied by a faint fragrance, like a small pebble thrown into a calm lake.

Li Qingning quickly withdrew her hand as if burned, her earlobes turning a faint red, but she forced a smile and remained calm:

"Are you tired? The car's outside. Shall I take you to a hotel to rest first, or go straight to the company?"

“No need to rest.” Jiang Xun’s hand still seemed to retain the chill of that moment. He glanced at Li Qingning’s slightly red ear tips, his expression unchanged. “Go straight to miHoYo. It’s been almost two weeks. We should go see how far our ‘ship girls’ are progressing.”

His voice carried an undeniable decisiveness, instantly bringing the atmosphere back to work. The ship girl he was referring to was none other than Honkai Impact 3, which miHoYo had previously abandoned.

Li Qingning nodded, quickly adjusting her demeanor as if that brief, intimate moment had never occurred.
“Okay. The car is on B2, and the traffic should take about half an hour to get to Zhangjiang.” She walked ahead in her high heels, her steps brisk, the hem of her coat drawing a clean arc, and she had regained her image as a capable and independent woman.

But only she knows how much willpower it took to calm her racing heart just now.

A black Maybach S600 drove smoothly on the elevated road; this was the official vehicle for Xunyang Venture Capital.

Today, Xunyang Venture Capital is no longer the small company with only three or five people it once was. Although its size cannot compare with those well-known venture capital firms in China, it is still considered a medium-sized company.

Jiang Xun closed his eyes to rest, but his thoughts were unusually active.

Amidst the snowy landscape of Hemu, Yang Kaiyi's hesitant gaze and Yang Huimin's lingering warmth in the room after stargazing... faces intertwine and swirl.

Shanghai, however, is another battlefield, where there are no tender snowflakes, only cold code and ever-increasing numbers.

"Sister Qingning," Jiang Xun suddenly spoke, without opening her eyes, "what's the situation with Bitcoin?"

Li Qingning immediately turned around from the passenger seat and handed over a prepared report:
"The price of Bitcoin began to rise sharply at the beginning of this year. During the Spring Festival, the price of a single coin broke through the $60 mark, and it is still growing rapidly. It is expected to break through $70 next month."

"The 30,000 coins you purchased earlier, plus the 10,000 coins I initially helped you buy, now bring your total holdings to 40,000 coins, with a market value exceeding $2.8 million. The rate of appreciation far exceeds expectations." Her tone was filled with excitement and a hint of barely perceptible admiration.

"Hmm." Jiang Xun didn't seem surprised by the number, simply responding softly, "Continue to hold. Keep a low profile; our goal is the stars and the sea, not this fleeting wave."

"Understood." Li Qingning gave Jiang Xun, who had his eyes closed, a deep look. This man's composure and foresight in the capital market always made her feel uneasy.

She turned her head, gazing at the rapidly receding urban jungle outside the window, a turbulent feeling stirring within her:
Four Bitcoins, a wealth code worth nearly 20 million RMB, fluctuated with the casual commands of the man behind him. But what he was thinking about at that moment was a few unreleased mini-games.

Upon arriving at miHoYo's rather unassuming office in Zhangjiang Creative Park, Jiang Xun's arrival caused a minor stir.

The three young founders, Cai Haoyu, Liu Wei, and Luo Yuhao, were waiting at the door early in the morning.

After the investment negotiations before the Lunar New Year and Jiang Xun's "unintentional" suggestion to start the "Honkai Impact 3" project, they were already filled with awe and gratitude towards this boss and investor who was too young but had such sharp insight that they were convinced.

"President Jiang, welcome back!" Cai Haoyu greeted him warmly.

"Thank you all for your hard work." Jiang Xun shook hands with the three of them in turn, his movements swift and efficient. "Time is precious, let's get straight to the progress."

The group entered the conference room. Cai Haoyu personally presented a PowerPoint presentation, giving a detailed report on the progress of the "Honkai Impact 3" project. The art style has been basically finalized, adopting a cute, post-apocalyptic sci-fi aesthetic, with exquisitely detailed character illustrations.

The core gameplay framework, which combines side-scrolling action shooting with character development, has been established, and level design and numerical adjustments are currently underway.

In terms of technical breakthroughs, although some issues with mobile performance and smoothness were encountered, optimization directions have been found for all of them.

After the presentation, the atmosphere in the office became slightly tense as everyone awaited Jiang Xun's feedback, their "big spender."

Jiang Xun leaned back in his chair, his fingers interlaced on the table, and remained silent for a few seconds. This brief silence made everyone present tense up.

"The visuals and core gameplay framework are OK," he finally spoke, his voice calm. "But there are two things that need to be adjusted immediately."

“First, the character skill system and elemental reactions.” He pointed to a simple demonstration of a character unleashing a skill on the screen. “It’s too crude. We should refer to… no, learn from Nintendo’s depth in action systems.”

"Introducing elemental advantages and chain reactions (similar to the prototype of elemental reactions in the future Genshin Impact) will increase the strategy and depth of gameplay in combat. Simple shooting will quickly become boring."

Liu Wei's eyes lit up: "Elemental reaction? What exactly do you mean?"

"For example, a character can use a fire-attribute attack to ignite enemies, causing continuous damage, and then use a water-attribute attack to generate steam, causing an area-of-effect explosion."

"Or you can use electric properties to attack water-covered areas and create area-of-effect electric shocks. The interactions between elements should be designed to have a sense of hierarchy and fun in combination, not just to stack numbers," Jiang Xun explained.

This was a well-established concept he knew by heart in his previous life, but when he spoke it now, it was like opening Pandora's box, instantly igniting the passion of the tech-savvy founders, as if they had seen a whole new possibility.

"Secondly," Jiang Xun tapped the table lightly, "the paid experience needs to be changed. Currently, your proposed monetization points are focused on character gacha mechanics?"

Luo Yuhao nodded: "Yes, that's the main source of profit."

"Remember, we're making anime-style games, and our core asset is the characters." Jiang Xun emphasized. "We need to deeply explore the value of the characters through paid content, but we can't let free-to-play and low-spending players have no experience at all! Make sure that core characters can be reliably obtained through in-game achievements, events, or low-barrier dungeons."

"Pay-to-play elements should be placed more on skins, appearances, special effects, and special actions—these are forms of expression that do not affect the balance but satisfy players' love for their characters."

"Gacha pulls should only be a source of some rare characters or powerful equipment, and a reasonable pity system must be in place! This is a red line that cannot be crossed."

The conference room fell silent, followed by gasps of admiration.

Jiang Xun's insights on "character value extraction" and "pay-to-play fairness" are practically "outliers" in the mobile game industry of this era. The mainstream view is "highly incentivizing gacha pulls to squeeze every last penny out of players."

But his words struck a chord with the three founders—they simply wanted to make games filled with love!
"Understood, Mr. Jiang!" Cai Haoyu said excitedly. "Your opinion is crucial! We'll redesign the payment model immediately, and we absolutely won't cross the line that would harm the core user experience! As for the deepening of the element system, we'll immediately begin technical feasibility studies!"

"Hurry up. Time is the biggest cost." Jiang Xun stood up, ending the efficient first round of meetings.

His gaze turned to Li Qingning, who had been quietly listening and taking notes. "Sister Qingning, follow up on the finances."

“We’re already working on a new cost budget and timeline,” Li Qingning replied immediately, waving her notebook in her hand.

Leaving miHoYo, it was four o'clock in the afternoon. The winter sun shone warmly on the car.

"Mr. Jiang, regarding the real estate, the penthouse duplex model apartment in Lujiazui has been filed according to your request and is available for viewing at any time. Also, Mr. Wang, the project manager from Anjia.com, the real estate agency, has been waiting for your availability," Li Qingning reported.

“Let’s go now. Before sunset.” Jiang Xun gazed at the towering skyline of Lujiazui in the distance, a sharp glint in his eyes.

Wealth needs a vessel, and even more so, a vantage point overlooking this city that never sleeps.

The car drove smoothly into a brand-new, luxurious residential area on the banks of the Huangpu River.

Mr. Wang, dressed in a suit and tie, was already waiting respectfully in the lobby, his face beaming with smiles.

This top-floor duplex, spanning nearly 600 square meters, boasts an unobstructed 270-degree river view, overlooking the Bund's historic buildings, the Oriental Pearl Tower, and the meandering "Oriental Seine"—the Huangpu River.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows are like an entire IMAX screen, offering a panoramic view of the most magnificent cityscape of Shanghai.

The setting sun casts a golden glow, painting most of the sky red and staining the winding river and the glass curtain walls of the towering buildings, creating a breathtaking beauty.

Jiang Xun stood by the window, watching silently.

As dusk settles over the city, the city lights begin to twinkle, and the neon lights, like stars falling to earth, are brewing a never-ending feast.

"Good view." Jiang Xun only said three words.

But from the glint in his eyes, Li Qingning understood his desire for control and satisfaction with this commanding view.

Her mind raced, calculating just the tip of the iceberg of Jiang Xun's vast asset pool:
Mihoyo's shares, Bitcoin that has appreciated dozens of times, copyright revenue and ongoing income from two novels, real estate in Hangzhou and other places, and future investments... and this river-view mansion worth tens of millions of yuan is just one of the concrete symbols among them.

The price was as expected, and the negotiations went exceptionally smoothly.

Faced with a super buyer like Jiang Xun, who was financially powerful and decisive, President Wang offered almost the best terms.

The final price was set at 16 million, which includes all the high-end renovations and imported kitchen and bathroom brands. The contract signing is scheduled for tomorrow morning.

When they came out of the show flat and stood in the lobby waiting for the elevator, the space suddenly became quiet, leaving only the two of them.

Outside the window, the city lights shimmered and dazzled, while inside, the light was soft and warm. The inexplicable atmosphere from standing side by side in the river-view mansion, and the sense of relaxation after a day of highly coordinated work, quietly permeated the room.

Li Qingning felt a subtle tension, her fingers unconsciously rubbing the strap of her handbag.

Jiang Xun's gaze swept over her delicate profile, and in the reflection of the elevator mirror, her figure appeared somewhat blurry.

"No plans for tonight, right?" Jiang Xun suddenly asked, his voice sounding particularly clear and deep in the small space.

"No more," Li Qingning answered instinctively, her heart skipping a beat.

"Let's find a place to eat something." Jiang Xun's tone was casual. "That private restaurant you recommended to me last time, the one in the old alley? We don't have a meeting tonight."

"Ah, okay!" Li Qingning replied immediately, with a hint of excitement that she herself didn't realize. "I know the place, I guarantee it's authentic."

The private restaurant called "Linglongxuan" is hidden in a secluded old alley in the JA district, with an inconspicuous entrance.

Pushing open the rustic wooden door reveals a hidden world inside: elegant decorations, warm lighting, and the enticing aroma of food filling the air, along with a sense of leisurely old-time charm.

There were no company executives, no project representatives, only the familiar greetings and thoughtful arrangements made by the boss, who is also the head chef, in a quiet corner.

Several exquisite local dishes were served: drunken crab with Shaoxing wine, braised pork belly with bamboo shoots and pork, braised pork belly with rich and dark sauce, and crisp and refreshing shepherd's purse with dried tofu... The homely yet exquisite flavors instantly soothed our tired taste buds and nerves.

At the table, their conversation finally moved away from cold numbers and rigorous planning.

From Li Qingning's brief "adventure" on Wall Street to the changes in Shanghai in recent years, and then to some unspoken gossip and jokes within the industry.

Without the hierarchical framework, the atmosphere became relaxed and subtle.

Jiang Xun possessed a wide range of knowledge, and his words carried a composure and maturity rarely seen in people his age, along with a subtle yet sharp humor, which sometimes made Li Qingning deeply agree with him, and sometimes make her unable to help but laugh.

"I didn't realize you knew a thing or two about antique furniture?" Li Qingning said with a smile, pointing to a few small items displayed on the antique shelf next to her.

"I know a little bit about it. It's mainly because I feel..." Jiang Xun picked up the small cup of yellow wine beside him, took a small sip, and looked into her smiling eyes.

"The value of some things lies not in the wear and tear of time, but in their ability to withstand the warmth of the years." His gaze was deep and meaningful.

Li Qingning's heart skipped a beat, feeling as if that gaze was carrying heat, making her face flush.

She quickly raised her wine glass to cover up her embarrassment, and said with a light laugh, "Boss, you're getting more and more philosophical with your words."

As she put down her wine glass, her hand, whether intentionally or unintentionally, lightly brushed against the back of Jiang Xun's hand on the table, lingering for a fraction of a second.

A jolt of electricity coursed through their bodies. The atmosphere instantly reached its peak of ambiguity. The aroma of food in the air seemed to be enveloped by some invisible, intense energy.

Was she deliberately calling Jiang Xun "Boss" a reminder of his past saying, "When there's work to be done, the secretary does it; when there's nothing to do, the secretary does it"? Jiang Xun smiled slightly.

(End of this chapter)