Chapter 105: Where it

Shen Xun's phone quickly popped up a message.

Jiang Lai: "What's up?"

Shen Xun: "You're back, why are you leaving again?"

Jiang Lai: "I thought you wouldn't go back until you finish next week."

Jiang Lai truly thought that, and she was a bit surprised that Shen Xun actually found time to go home.

Shen Xun looked at Jiang Lai's message and felt every word was accusing him of being busy with work and neglecting home.

He explained: "I'm not not going home; I'm doing it for work, for this family's future."

Jiang Lai: "I know."

Those three words, in Shen Xun's eyes, seemed to carry some resentment; his anger had already risen, feeling Jiang Lai didn't understand him, and the next second he forced it back down.

A thought flashed in his mind: Jiang Lai doesn't go home because she's accompanying elders; he is the one who really seldom goes home, so how could he be angry with Jiang Lai?

Shen Xun gently shook his head, brushed away the angry thought, and replied: "After next week when I'm done, it'll be fine; I won't leave you alone at home."

"We still need to prepare for having a baby."

Mentioning having a baby made Shen Xun's mouth corner lift slightly, and his heart began to itch a little.

While showering, he couldn't help closing his eyes, and the person that sprang up in his mind became Jiang Lai.

Instantly.

He tipped his chin back and completed a release.

Looking at the cloudiness on his hand, Shen Xun was stunned; he hadn't expected Jiang Lai to make him feel this way.

Xie Yongsi's line, "Aren't you at all moved?"

Shen Xun let the hot water stream onto his back, both hands braced against the wall, eyes closed as he pondered the question.

Had he never felt moved?

Does he really not like it?

Shen Xun reached to touch his chest, a hint of bewilderment flashing in his eyes.

After showering, he went out, reached for his toothbrush in front of the mirror, and found the cup empty, with a sticky note on one side.

【New toothbrush and toothpaste are in the cabinet behind the washroom mirror】

Shen Xun lifted his hand, opened the cabinet, and a new toothbrush and a new toothpaste lay together quietly.

Two plain rings lay beside them.

Shen Xun recognized them; they were his and Jiang Lai's wedding rings.

On the day Lin Shutong returned to the country, Shen Xun took off his wedding ring when picking him up at the airport; he remembered placing it on the nightstand, so when did it end up here?

It was Jiang Lai.

The ring originally on Jiang Lai's ring finger is also here.

Probably taken off during housework for fear of losing it and placed here.

Shen Xun picked up the two rings, put his own back on, took the other out, and after brushing his teeth, slipped it into his wallet, thinking he'll put it back on Jiang Lai when he sees her.

……

Only three days remain until the bidding conference for the Self-developed Chip Project, and the related project teams of major companies have become tense.

The institute side has become extremely busy, also preparing for the opening-bid day, including the opening-bid meeting and the signing ceremony.

Opening bids in the morning, signing in the afternoon.

Ji Lao called Professor Cheng over, asked whether preparations were adequate, and then mentioned the signing ceremony, his attitude becoming much gentler.

"Shutong this child is giving you trouble; she's been very well‑behaved lately, reading and writing papers properly at my house, so don't argue with her."

Professor Cheng understood; Lin Shutong had effectively been locked away and indeed would not cause trouble again.

Ji Lao also knows how to weigh matters.

"Expert Lin is young, possessing a rare youthful spirit," Professor Cheng praised outwardly, while internally pondering that Ji Lao specifically summoned him, surely not just to inquire about the simple procedures of the opening‑bid meeting and signing ceremony.

Those procedures belong to the administrative side; they just glance at them and are fully aware of the process.

Ji Lao suddenly shouted his name.

"Jian Ming, I recall the signing ceremony representatives are mainly you and Jiang Lai, right?"

Professor Cheng instantly understood; Ji Lao intended to slot his own granddaughter into the representative team, but fortunately he and Jiang Lai had already prepared.

"Ji Lao, rest assured, every member involved in this project will participate and sign with the winning company together; Expert Lin is no exception."

How could Ji Lao not know that Professor Cheng's words were being vague?

How can witnessing the signing be the same as being a representative signer?

"Jiang Lai is the chief engineer; the signing representative is her. As the mentor, you cannot be absent on stage."

"Jian Ming, I hope you guide Shutong this child; you also watched her grow up, guide her; she needs this chance to appear."

Ji Lao looked at Professor Cheng.

Professor Cheng wore a smile, not expecting Ji Lao to be so frank this time.

How is he supposed to guide?

The national‑level project signing ceremony has specific requirements: each side must have three to five people, including the chief signer, the deputy leader, and the relevant department head.

The chief signer is Jiang Lai, the deputy leader is him, and the relevant department head is another deputy‑level leader at the institute.

Ji Lao is not the highest leader overseeing this project; aside from assigning Lin Shutong to the project team, he hasn't intervened elsewhere, but he cares deeply about this project, and another leader is also being pressed by Ji Lao, the senior leader; Jiang Lai can handle things, so he rarely appears.

However, the opening‑bid meeting and signing ceremony must occur, otherwise it violates regulations.

There are already three people here.

The other two need no introduction; Xiao Qian, as chief engineer's assistant, follows Jiang Lai, handing pens and documents.

There's also one person usually serving as a witness, optional.

Except for the primary signatory, the remaining four are accompanying representatives, and the accompanying representatives strictly follow the hierarchy of rank; even as a witness, Lin Shutong is placed at the very end.

Obviously, Ji Lao's intention is that Lin Shutong not be placed last.

Is Lin Shutong even willing to take over Xiao Qian's job?

A reputable external expert demoted to assistant? Lin Shutong is proud and haughty; that's impossible.

In the end, Ji Lao wants Lin Shutong to take his position.

That's not "helping out"; it's clearly "making way."

Professor Cheng is naturally reluctant deep down.

While caught between a rock and a hard place, someone knocks.

Ji Lao looks up and says, "Come in."

The person who walks in is Jiang Lai; when she learned from Xiao Qian that Ji Lao had summoned Professor Cheng away, she rushed over immediately.

Seeing Professor Cheng's expression, she doesn't know what unwilling task Ji Lao is making him do again.

"Ji Lao, I need to see Professor Cheng about something concerning project data."

Hearing this, Professor Cheng hurriedly grabs Jiang Lai and heads out.

"Jian Ming, think carefully about what I just said," Ji Lao's voice sounds from behind them.

Professor Cheng's spine stiffens; he quickens his pace, hurrying toward the laboratory.

Jiang Lai closes the lab door and explains, "The data hasn't been lost or corrupted."

Professor Cheng looks at her in disbelief, "When did you learn… to lie?"

"Just within the past month." Jiang Lai has, over the past month, told Shen Xun many lies to secretly secure a divorce.

Xiao Qian walks over and says, "Professor Cheng, are you okay? Ji Lao suddenly called you over; what's the matter?"

Professor Cheng, not wanting them to worry, prepares to smile and say, "It's nothing…"

"It has to do with Lin Shutong," Jiang Lai bursts open, "and also with the signing ceremony."

Professor Cheng is slightly surprised.

Jiang Lai explains, "Lin Shutong has been telling Shen Xun that she is in charge of this project; she doesn't place herself at the front of the signing ceremony, making it hard for her to sustain that lie. Moreover, Ji Lao has been planning to use this project to elevate Lin Shutong to a higher position."

Professor Cheng nods helplessly.

Xiao Qian widens her eyes, "Expert Lin didn't follow the confidentiality principle? She signed a confidentiality agreement!"

Jiang Lai: "She didn't specify which project, only hinted at the tech field."

Professor Cheng adds, "Playing on the edge; in this field there are countless projects that are supposedly confidential but aren't."

Xiao Qian grits her teeth in anger.

"Professor Cheng, have you agreed?" Jiang Lai worries that she arrived too late.

Professor Cheng shakes his head, "Not yet, but Ji Lao is waiting for my response."

Xiao Qian doesn't quite understand, "Agree to what?"

"I'll tell you later," Jiang Lai says thoughtfully, her eyes suddenly brightening as she looks at Professor Cheng, "You can agree now, so Ji Lao won't give you a hard time; I have a way."