Fog Returns to the Capital

Chapter 141 Inconvenient

……

Li Wu never expected that she would meet Zhou Jinghuai in such a place.

There weren't many people in the restaurants in the small town.

Approach the door.

Li Wu spotted the person almost immediately.

He was wearing a black executive jacket with a hint of dark blue, which looked quite high-end and understated from a distance.

There were four or five people at that table.

He sat calmly and relaxed in the chair, his expression serene and seemingly amiable. But his air of nobility made him appear out of place among his surroundings.

At first glance, people's eyes will unconsciously focus on him.

Li Wu lowered her head slightly, just about to avoid it.

The person who was leading the way to greet them seemed to recognize someone at that table and hurriedly went up to greet them with a smile, "Secretary Liu, you're here to eat too?"

When the person receiving the receptionist glanced at the man sitting next to Secretary Liu, they were startled. They clearly wanted to recognize him but were too afraid to, and hesitated to call out to him despite moving their lips several times.

It was the same man called Secretary Liu who glanced at Zhou Jinghuai's expression. He didn't elaborate further, only saying that this was Mr. Zhou.

The person receiving him quickly greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Jinghuai nodded, then paused slightly when his gaze swept over Li Wu not far behind him.

But only for a second.

Zhou Jinghuai then casually looked away.

Then, I don't know what he said casually.

In just two minutes.

The person who had greeted them returned excitedly and said to Academician Wu and his group, "Mr. Zhou said they just arrived and invited us to have dinner together. Academician Wu, what do you think?"

Academician Wu had met Zhou Jinghuai at the last commendation ceremony held within the institute.

He merely watched from afar and never approached to speak. Although he had devoted the first half of his life to scientific research, he was not dull-witted; in fact, he was quite talkative.

He immediately agreed.

So the group put their tables together.

Zhou Jinghuai nodded slightly to Academician Wu and casually asked why they had come here. Academician Wu answered cautiously. After a few words, the two began to chat.

When technical terms are mentioned, Zhou Jinghuai can respond naturally and fluently in conversation.

Li Wu wasn't surprised at all.

In the past, when they gathered together, Zhou Jinghuai would talk to them about the recent situation in various fields in China, from aviation to infrastructure, from infrastructure to sports, and even including the Internet, medicine, education and so on.

He spoke with ease and confidence, yet his opinions were remarkably precise and insightful.

Li Wu initially felt awe, but later gradually came to admire Zhou Jinghuai's vast knowledge.

Even though her memory was slightly better, almost to the point of photographic memory, she still felt that what she stored in her mind was less than one-tenth of what Zhou Jinghuai possessed.

There weren't many dishes on the table.

But they are mostly local specialties.

Li Wu hadn't been eating well these past few days, opting for rather bland meals. Most of the dishes on the table were quite spicy, and the only relatively mild dish she had was celery stir-fried with wood ear mushrooms. However, Li Wu didn't particularly like celery, so she barely touched it.

Until a few minutes later.

The waiters brought out two more light dishes.

Zhou Jinghuai gave a slight nod, and the two dishes were placed in front of Li Wu.

Li Wu's hand, which was holding chopsticks, suddenly paused.

She looked up at Zhou Jinghuai, only to see him listening intently to Academician Wu explaining the progress of the experiment in China and the gaps that still existed between China and other countries.

He seemed not to notice her at all. Later, he gently affirmed and encouraged her, saying that she could raise any needs for experimental equipment or personnel. He assured her that funding was not a concern; she could simply submit a report, and all necessary approvals would be granted.

He speaks clearly and logically, in a calm and measured tone, which makes him inexplicably convincing.

It seems that he can calm people's hearts simply by sitting there.

……

After dinner, Li Wu and Academician Wu's assistant went to a small shop in town to buy some things. They were going to stay there for a while and needed to buy some daily necessities.

Upon returning, Li Wu suddenly stopped at the intersection.

not far away.

Zhou Jinghuai stood there, tall and elegant, dressed in a black overcoat, exuding a refined and dignified air.

I saw someone.

Zhou Jinghuai walked over to her and said, "Teacher Li, I'd like to know some general directions for the seminar. Is it convenient for you?"

"Convenient, of course convenient."

Before Li Wu could speak, Academician Wu's assistant beside her hurriedly responded.

The assistant assumed that Mr. Zhou attached great importance to their seminar, and his excitement and joy were palpable. He even told Li Wu that she could contact him anytime if she needed any data.

"..."

Li Wu's expression froze for a moment. She felt that Zhou Jinghuai was doing it on purpose, but she couldn't find any reason to refute it.

After the assistant left.

There were only the two of them left at the intersection, and there was a few seconds of silence.

"I suddenly remembered that I still had something to buy."

Li Wu said cautiously, "Mr. Zhou, what do you want to know? I can organize the information and give it to your secretary."

Zhou Jinghuai seemed to have only heard the first half of her sentence, and followed up with, "I'll go with you."

Li Wu felt annoyed, thinking that she couldn't come up with a better reason.

"Never mind, I suddenly realized that I don't really need it."

Seeing her embarrassed expression, Zhou Jinghuai smiled, his deep, clear voice slowly echoing in the twilight, "Let's go, I'll take you home."

Li Wu looked at him, but didn't reply, and left first.

If he doesn't want to listen, no matter how many times you tell him, he won't listen.

……

There were only the two of them in the dimly lit, narrow corridor.

Li Wu tried her best to ignore the intense pressure from the gaze fixed on her. She took out her room card from her pocket, but it wouldn't swipe after two tries. When she tried to swipe it again, her hand trembled inexplicably, and the card accidentally fell to the ground.

Zhou Jinghuai bent down and picked it up for her, then steadily placed it near the sensor area, and it opened with a "beep".

"Thank you."

Li Wu paused for a moment, then thanked him and went to take the room key from his hand.

But don't want to.

He twirled the card between his long, slender, pale fingers, then put it back, showing no intention of returning it to her.

His natural height advantage meant that he could look down on her simply by standing there.

A pair of eyes, darker and deeper than the night, gazed silently at her. They were unassuming, yet they held her breath involuntarily.

Li Wu stood there, seemingly gradually coming to her senses. Her hands, hanging at her sides, unconsciously clenched slowly.

"Aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?" he said in a deep, gentle voice.

How could Li Wu possibly fall twice in the same place? She calmed herself down, and after a few seconds, politely declined.

"inconvenient."