Translator: Atlas Studios
Editor: Atlas Studios
The storm gradually came to a stop. It was impressive for a summer storm to last about two hours.
In the dead of the night, the ward was quiet; and the glass had great soundproofing. Qin Ze slept next to his sister, and her back was facing him as the two of them slept a finger’s width apart—her scent wafting into his nose.
He let his imagination run wild for a while before he fell asleep later in the night.
The next day, Qin Baobao woke up punctually at 7:30. She opened her eyes and glanced around the room before she remembered that she had stayed over in the hospital with her brother.
With a warm body on her back, it was comfortable and warm. Qin Baobao curled her lips. She had a good night’s sleep last night, but it felt a little awkward as well. Even though the two of them messed around a lot, they had not shared the same bed since they were ten.
When they slept together as kids, she had to tuck him in and pat him like she was taking care of her dolls.
To avoid the awkwardness, Qin Baobao shifted herself quietly, trying not to disturb her sleeping brother. She left the bed quietly and turned to look at her sleeping brother. His eyebrows were defined, his lashes thick. Even though his features were not as defined, their appeal lasted.
Qin Baobao poked her brother’s face with her finger. He frowned but did not wake up.
She kissed her brother good morning on his forehead and left for work.
Two days later, Qin Ze changed out of his patient’s uniform and got discharged with his laptop on hand. He called his mother to explain the situation. The doctor said that his wound was recovering well, that he would be fully recovered about a week after his stitches were removed. However, he was to take note and not do any vigorous exercise within one month.
That’s for regular people. I have a backup; I’m different. That was what Qin Ze was to wave and say.
His wound was not completely healed so he could not sit for long. Therefore, he did not go to school and asked his father to apply for leave for him. He would just take his final exams at home. He would work on Professor Li’s model at home. School and making money had to wait. Completing the mission was the priority.
Qin Baobao did not really talk to him these few days, perhaps because of the awkwardness from that morning. No matter how close the pair of siblings were, having his thing poking his sister’s derriere would have him killed if their father found out.
This day, Qin Ze woke up punctually at 6:30 and washed up. He had to stop his morning exercise because he could not do rigorous exercise. Instead, he practiced qigong in the living room.
Qin Ze had looked up information on Chinese martial arts. He had found that the 12 duanjin qinggong was rather similar to Neijia1. Both had one similarity: they were slow and steady, focusing on the Qi.
An hour later, he was energetic and wide awake.
He went downstairs and got two sets of breakfasts. He finished his, and considering that his sister was not talking to him, he did not knock on her door to wake her up. He left a note on the table and left home with his laptop and the USB.
At 8, Qin Baobao woke up. She looked around the empty living room in her pink slippers and koala pajamas. Where did he go this time? She grumbled when she did not see Qin Ze.
She returned from brushing her teeth and found a set of breakfast on the table with a note under it. Qin Baobao sunk her teeth into a soup dumpling with one hand as she grabbed the note with the other.
Sister dearest,
I’m headed to the hospital. Please eat well and sleep well. Leave after you’re done, don’t be late. I’ll prepare chicken mushroom stew for you tonight.
Qin Ze!
Qin Baobao curled her lips to express her delight.
…
At the same time, Professor Li was meeting with a management staff of the private company.
“CEO Su, our contract states before 9. Please wait a little, please,” Professor Li said carefully, his anxiousness obvious.
The woman was wearing a black Dior ensemble with a pair of red-soled stilettos that showed off her legs. Her hair was in an updo, and she was wearing a pair of thin-rimmed glasses. She pointed at her Vacheron Constantin watch. “It’s 8:30,” she said emotionlessly.
The woman was not old, but she was pretty. Her professional attire, coupled with her cold expression, created a strong aura. Even Professor Li, who was experienced, felt daunted. His wife had not said anything since she poured a cup of tea and sat down on the couch after CEO Su walked in. She really had no means of cutting in.
Both sides were at an impasse for a while before the woman took out a contract of violation from the document bag by her hand. She walked over and put it on the bedside table.
“Even though it’s not my expertise, I know that models can’t be built in 30 minutes.” The woman looked down at Professor Li. “A violation is a violation. Just sign. I don’t want to be late at the end of the month. There’s a 500-dollar bonus for perfect attendance.”
Professor Li was breaking into a sweat. He grabbed his phone. “Xiao Wang, are you all there?”
“Yes. As per your instructions, we all came to school an hour earlier, professor.”
“Then, hurry up and put everything together. I need the model urgently.”
“We’re building it. Don’t panic, professor.”
“How can I not panic? I need it before 9 AM. Remember to test it. Don’t mess it up. Everything’s in vain if something goes wrong.”
“I understand.”
Professor Li hung up his phone and smiled sheepishly. “CEO Su, please hold on.”
The woman did not speak but crossed her legs. It would be best if Professor Li could complete it since it involved her company’s next investment. The stock market was unpredictable. Being behind by even a single step could be costly.
A few days ago, Professor Li still had his hopes placed on Qin Ze or Old Qin; but from the teacher’s WeChat group, he knew that Old Qin had been busy with the final exams and his son’s lawsuit. He did not have time to work on the model.
At 8:45, Professor Li’s phone rang.
Professor Li picked it up hurriedly. “Xiao Wang, hurry up and send it to my email. The client’s waiting.”
There was an urgent, tears filled voice on the other side. “Professor Li, I’m sorry! We messed up! We messed up! The model didn’t work, and we don’t know what went wrong.”
Professor Li felt an explosion in his head, and his heart skipped a few beats. “What happened? What happened? Didn’t I call to guide you every day? Why did it go wrong at the last moment?” he asked urgently.
“We, we don’t know either.”
“Then, hurry up and look for the problem. Process of elimination. Is it the algorithms? Or the calculations? Or maybe it was the graph of functions?” Sweat was collecting on Professor Li’s forehead.
“Professor… we’re sorry… we tried our best, but we definitely can’t make it before 9. It’s already 8:50.”
Professor Li hung up the phone and stared blankly.
It really did not work.
His wife was upset. “Didn’t you say that Old Qin would help? Weren’t you confident? That’s great! We didn’t make a single cent, and we lost a hundred grand.”
Professor Li resigned. “CEO Su, we’ll pay,” he said emotionlessly.
The woman nodded and then took another document from her document bag. “This is the compensation contract. Sign it and transfer the money to the company’s account.” As she spoke, she took out the seal and stamp pad.
She signed her name and pressed the seal down before she handed the contract to Professor Li. “Pay first, then sign.”
Professor Li sighed and navigated his mobile phone with his left hand. He keyed in the company’s details and was about to make the payment when…
Knock, knock!
There was a knock at the door at this time.
The woman smiled and went to open the door.
Qin Ze was at the door with his computer bag. When he saw the woman who opened the door, he paused; and he was enchanted.
The women before had a 9/10 face, and her hair shone like silk with small waves as the ends. She was wearing an ensemble that was a few grades better than what Qin Baobao would wear. She complemented her tiny waist and long legs with a pair of three-inch heels.
She was not as pretty as Qin Baobao, and her body was not as hot; however, she was well-balanced. The most attention-catching thing about her was her aura. It reminded Qin Ze of a phrase: beauty and elegance.
Who’s this pretty lady? Is she Professor Li’s daughter?
The woman nodded at him and walked back into the ward.
“Professor Li, if there’s no problem, just make the payment. I’m in a rush.” The woman prompted him at the end of the bed.
“Professor, I’m here.” Qin Ze greeted him when he walked in.
Professor Li was about to pay, and he paused. “Qin Ze, why are you here?”
Qin Ze paused at the question. “I’m here to turn in the assignment. The model’s done. Aren’t you handing it to the client today? I’m not late, am I?”
Turn in the assignment? The model’s done?
Professor Li stared at him blankly.
The woman looked at him, stunned.