Chen Zhensheng regained his enthusiasm, “You don’t know? He’s a legendary senior from T University.”
“Back then, he was considered a genius, with an IQ of 190, obtaining a doctoral degree at 23. Now he’s in New York…”
Chen Zhensheng continued his long-winded explanation, and although Ou Xueman was listening, she was not really absorbing the information. This moment would dramatically intersect her life’s trajectory with that person.
“So this is absolutely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Many companies are competing, not just from SZ City and Hong Kong, but even from the United States and Japan…”
After finishing her documents, she casually responded, “Then you work hard these days, make a few more trips to Hong Kong to negotiate with this legendary person. If you can secure this case, it’ll be a great achievement. Keep at it.”
“What? You’re not going?” Chen Zhensheng was stunned, then seemed to recall something, murmuring, “Right, it’s August again.”
“Yes,” Ou Xueman responded flatly.
Chen Zhensheng stared blankly as she tidied her desk, a subtle melancholy coloring his brown eyes behind his glasses.
Nearly six years since he’d known her. They had shared hardships during the startup period, and on the surface, their relationship seemed deep. But he knew nothing about her—her birth, background, or past. Besides her name, everything else remained a mystery. He wanted to understand her, but she was like swirling mist, impossible to see clearly.
Every August, she would disappear for a few days, and no one knew where she went. That was her forbidden territory, untouchable and never shared with anyone.
Though he had thought about exploring her secret, he feared it would destroy their friendship and eliminate any chance of remaining close to her.
“Be careful,” he repeated every year.
She stood, picked up her coat, and patted his shoulder. “I’ll leave the company to you.”
With that, she left behind a room filled with her distinctive fragrance.
Watching her, the melancholy in his eyes deepened. He wanted to reach out and stop her, but his hands remained clenched, his feet seemingly nailed to the ground, watching her disappear once again.
Soft piano music, murmuring water sounds, and misty lights filled the air, stirring waves of rich coffee fragrance, yet her heart was no longer in it.
