"What are you thinking about?" Jiang Si couldn't help but ask when she noticed Huo Tingzhou's prolonged silence.
She wasn’t sure if it was her imagination, but she thought she caught a flash of ruthlessness in his eyes.
He didn’t speak, but the expression on his face made it clear—he wanted to destroy someone.
Though she wasn’t fond of that person either, the two of them hadn’t even crossed paths yet. It shouldn’t have escalated to this point.
"Don’t do anything reckless," Jiang Si said, gripping his arm. "You’re at a crucial point in your career right now, with a bright future ahead. Don’t dirty your hands for someone like this."
Meeting her worried gaze, the coldness in Huo Tingzhou’s expression softened slightly.
He didn’t elaborate, only saying, "I’ll go with you tomorrow."
Jiang Si had been thinking the same thing and nodded. "Alright."
The next morning, the two of them went to the Construction Ministry together.
Just like last time, the meeting room was already filled with people when they arrived.
Jiang Si glanced around as she took her seat—the Ling family representative wasn’t there.
Just as she began to wonder if they were being stood up again, a middle-aged man with dark skin and a friendly demeanor turned to her. "Hello, Comrade Jiang."
Jiang Si had a good memory—she remembered everyone Professor Li had introduced last time.
But this man…
She hesitated. "Hello, how should I address you?"
"Just call me Old Yang."
Jiang Si: "..."
That… didn’t seem quite appropriate.
At that moment, Professor Li arrived with a stack of documents. Seeing the two already talking, he smiled.
"Xiao Jiang, let me introduce you. This is Director Yang from the Second Engineering Bureau of the Construction Committee."
Most state-owned enterprises referred to their heads as "directors" rather than "managers."
"Director Yang, hello."
As she greeted him, Jiang Si couldn’t help but wonder, "Did they change the construction team?"
Last time she visited the site, the banner outside clearly belonged to the First Engineering Bureau.
"Yes, it’s been changed," Professor Li confirmed.
He hadn’t planned to explain, but since Jiang Si asked, he gave a brief summary.
The day after their site visit, Ling Yunfei had shown up.
On the surface, he came to explain and apologize.
In reality, he spent the entire time shifting blame—even throwing the project team under the bus.
Professor Li was so furious he cut him off.
That afternoon, he went straight to Minister Zhao at the Construction Ministry and demanded a change in the construction team.
Originally, the project had been assigned to the Second Engineering Bureau from the start.
But back then, the Ling family patriarch was still in power, and they had their eyes on the opportunity.
In the end, the project was handed to the First Engineering Bureau.
Now, after more than a month of preliminary work—including demolition—being completed by them, suddenly switching teams gave Minister Zhao a headache.
But Professor Li was adamant, making it clear he’d walk away if his demand wasn’t met.
Left with no choice, Minister Zhao relented.
And so, the project circled back to the Second Engineering Bureau.
"Xiao Jiang, Old Yang and I have worked together for over a decade. If you have any requests, don’t hesitate to ask."
"As long as your blueprints are ready, he’ll find a way to build it!"
Director Yang shook his head helplessly. "You…" You really know how to put me on the spot.
But with his old friend’s grand claims already made, what could he say?
In the end, he could only brace himself and reply, "I’ll do my best."
That was exactly what Professor Li wanted to hear. "Good. You two talk—I have other matters to attend to."
Director Yang didn’t stand on ceremony either.
Though it was only late February, this winter had been unusually warm.
They had surveyed the site yesterday—all demolition work around the construction area was complete.
Every other condition was also met.
Now, they were just waiting for Jiang Si’s blueprints.
Once the designs were finalized, they could break ground immediately.
After this, Director Yang handed Jiang Si a few documents.
She skimmed through them, nodded in approval, and said, "I’ll have Assistant Qi deliver the relevant blueprints by Friday."
Director Yang: "Good."
The two then spent over two hours discussing details—foundation depth, support methods, soil disposal, and more.
Initially, Director Yang had been concerned. Comrade Jiang was young and had no prior experience in construction.
But after their conversation, he realized she was far more thorough than he’d expected, addressing key technical points with precision.
She was also remarkably eager to learn.
Whenever she encountered something unfamiliar, she patiently stopped to ask.
Now he understood why his old friend held her in such high regard.
Throughout this, Huo Tingzhou sat quietly listening.
Seeing Jiang Si handle the discussion with ease, the slight frown on his brow gradually smoothed out.
Even so, he wasn’t fully at ease.
When Father Huo returned from work that evening, the two men went straight to the study.
"What were you and Dad talking about for so long?" Jiang Si checked the time—they’d been in there over an hour.
Huo Tingzhou kept it brief. "Dad said Uncle Chen will take you to and from work from now on."
Uncle Chen?
"That’s not necessary," Jiang Si protested. "Uncle Chen is Dad’s personal bodyguard. If he’s running around with me all day, what about Dad?"
After a pause, she added, "Honestly, you don’t need to worry. Uncle Zhong taught me a few self-defense moves—they’re surprisingly effective in a pinch!"
Besides, she had her space and status as added protection. Anyone who targeted her would be digging their own grave.
Huo Tingzhou raised an eyebrow. "Uncle Zhong taught you?"
"Right, when we went to Qiongzhou Island two years ago. He was worried I might run into trouble, so he showed me a few tricks. Third Granduncle even gave me a ring."
As she spoke, a playful impulse took over.
Before Huo Tingzhou could react, she suddenly swung a knife-hand strike at him.
To her surprise, he dodged effortlessly, stepping back to create distance.
Seemingly intrigued, he challenged, "Again!"
Fine, again!
Jiang Si, refusing to back down, launched another surprise attack.
But Huo Tingzhou deflected it with minimal effort, steadying her afterward.
"Your stance isn’t firm enough, and your strikes lack power."
Having both moves easily countered, Jiang Si felt a pang of frustration.
No wonder Third Granduncle had been so concerned.
Against sheer strength, her techniques were practically useless.
Determined, she tried one more move.
But Huo Tingzhou effortlessly caught her wrist, pinning it above her head.
Jiang Si froze, unable to move.
Seeing her frustration, Huo Tingzhou felt a twinge of guilt—but he hardened his resolve.
"Those moves you've been practicing might work against ordinary people, but you'd still be at a disadvantage against a trained fighter..."
Before he could finish, his words were cut off by Jiang Si's sharp gasp of pain—"Ah—!"
Huo Tingzhou immediately loosened his grip, his gaze snapping to her wrist in concern.
"Did I hurt you?"
But in that split second of distraction—
Jiang Si seized the moment to execute the final move Uncle Zhong had taught her.
"......"
Huo Tingzhou took the hit squarely, caught completely off guard.
His face paled, and Jiang Si froze, stunned that her strike had actually landed.
She rushed forward to steady him. "You... why didn't you dodge? I thought you'd evade like before..."
