Huayu 2021: Isn’t he in the technology field?

Chapter 225 The Cunning Dudu, A Tough Battle

At 11:30 p.m., the noise in the Xiaoxiang Pavilion private room gradually subsided.

Amidst the mess of cups and plates, Liu Junjie glanced at his watch and stood up with a smile.

"Alright, you've all worked hard today. Go home and get some rest. You have an early shoot tomorrow."

He was the first to raise his teacup.

"Let's finish with tea instead of wine, to thank Teacher Chen for visiting the set today and for the support of the food truck!"

"Thank you, Teacher Chen!"

"Sister Duling, come play again next time!"

……

Everyone laughed and agreed, and Chen Duling also raised her glass with a smile.

"Good luck with your filming, everyone. Let's get together again next time."

Jiang Qing watched her graceful response with a smile, and the group left the restaurant in a harmonious atmosphere as they said their goodbyes.

The night wind carried a chill, dispelling the lingering smell of food and cooking clung to everyone.

The film crew's cars arrived one after another to pick up the crew.

Zhang Jingyi wrapped her coat tighter, skipped over to Chen Duling, grabbed her hand, and shook it.

"Dudu, I'm so happy today! I'll treat you to even more delicious food when I have some free time these next few days!"

"Sure, feel free to contact me anytime. I'm free most of the time."

Chen Duling smiled and gently pinched her cheek.

Zhang Jingyi leaned closer to her and lowered her voice, a sly glint in her eyes.

"However, next time I won't let you feed me so easily."

She winked meaningfully.

Chen Duling smiled, lowering her voice as well, her tone relaxed yet firm.

"That's perfect, I'm also looking forward to the next sparring session."

She paused, her smile revealing a confident gentleness.

"Anyway, the outcome will always be as people wish, right?"

Their eyes met briefly in the air, without a trace of anger, only the composure of two evenly matched opponents and an unspoken sense of challenge.

They both understood each other's thoughts and saw in each other's eyes the unwavering belief that "I am the winner".

"uh-huh!"

Zhang Jingyi raised her chin and snorted with a hint of arrogance, then smiled and hugged her tightly.

Send me a message when you arrive!

"Okay, you should go back now, you have to get up early tomorrow."

Chen Duling patted her back.

Zhang Jingyi let go of her, turned around and ran towards her car, not forgetting to turn back and wave to Jiang Qing, who had been standing quietly a few steps away.

"Jiang Qing, make sure Dudu gets there safely!"

Without waiting for Jiang Qing's response, he got into the car.

Zhao Zhiwei and the others said their goodbyes and got into their cars. In the blink of an eye, only Jiang Qing and Chen Duling remained at the restaurant entrance.

As for Chen Duo, he had already left ahead of time at Jiang Qing's instruction, as had Chen Duling's assistant.

Neither of them drank alcohol that evening.

Jiang Qing walked to the car and opened the passenger door.

"Let's go, Teacher Chen, I'll take you back to your hotel."

"Then I'll have to trouble Dr. Jiang."

Chen Duling smiled gently at him and gracefully sat down inside.

"It should."

Jiang Qing nodded seriously and got into the car under her amused gaze.

Soon, the car smoothly merged into the sparse traffic of the night.

The city's neon lights streamed through the car window, casting flowing shadows on the two people's faces.

The carriage was quiet, with only the faint sound of the air conditioner blowing air.

Jiang Qing held the steering wheel with one hand, staring intently ahead.

After a moment, he broke the silence as if by accident.

"What were you whispering about with Jingyi just now? You were being so secretive."

Chen Duling was looking at the street scene flashing past the window when she heard this. She turned her head with a knowing smile on her face and deliberately asked a question.

"When did Dr. Jiang become so curious?"

"I'm just a little curious."

Jiang Qing glanced at her, the streetlight's light illuminating the handsome lines of his profile.

"You two are laughing like two little mice that have just stolen oil."

Chen Duling chuckled softly.

"That's a very vivid metaphor, but..."

She deliberately dragged out the last syllable, leaning slightly towards the driver's seat, her voice soft and gentle, with a hint of teasing.

"How can you just tell a girl's secrets to others? Especially... the person in question?"

Her breath brushed past Jiang Qing's ears, carrying a faint aroma of tea and her own unique, refreshing scent.

Jiang Qing's fingers tightened almost imperceptibly around the steering wheel.

He cleared his throat, feigning composure.

"Okay, Teacher Chen is right, I have overstepped my bounds."

"It's good to know."

Chen Duling sat up straight with satisfaction, looked out the window again, and the smile on her lips deepened.

They drove in silence until they arrived at the hotel where Chen Duling was staying.

It was nearly midnight.

Jiang Qing parked the car and went around to the passenger side to open the car door for Chen Duling.

"Thank you."

Chen Duling got out of the car and straightened her skirt.

The bright lights of the hotel lobby shone on her, making her appear even more serene and elegant.

The two walked side by side toward the elevator.

The hotel lobby was quiet late at night, with few people around, only the sound of their footsteps.

The elevator ascended smoothly, and the air in the cramped space seemed to become somewhat viscous.

Jiang Qing leaned against the elevator wall, looking at Chen Duling's beautiful profile. Under the bright overhead light, her skin was so smooth that her pores were almost invisible, and her long eyelashes drooped down, casting a small shadow under her eyes.

Further down, there was a long, swan-like neck, a graceful bust, and a flat, snow-white abdomen...

He suddenly felt a dry mouth and the bitter taste of the double shot of espresso from that afternoon seemed to linger on his tongue again.

With a "ding," the elevator arrived at the floor where Chen Duling's room was located.

Stepping out of the elevator, the corridor was covered with thick carpets, completely absorbing the sound of footsteps.

Neither of them spoke, and the atmosphere became somewhat ambiguous.

Reaching the room, Chen Duling took out her room card and swiped it to open the door with a "beep".

She turned her back to the open door, the soft light of the corridor outlining her slender figure.

She tilted her head slightly to look at Jiang Qing, her eyes shining brightly under the light, carrying a hint of...invitation.

"Would you like to come in and have a seat?"

She asked softly, her voice brushing against Jiang Qing's heart like a feather.

"Have a drink of water before you go."

Jiang Qing's heart skipped a beat.

Chen Duling, standing before him, had clear eyes that held an indescribable allure, as if she had shed the gentle and intellectual facade she wore during the day, revealing a charm that was only present in his presence.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, eventually coalescing into a clear idea.

Maybe……

What wonderful thing will happen tonight? His eyes deepened, and his voice unconsciously lowered.

"it is good."

Chen Duling's lips curved into an increasingly pronounced smile as she stepped aside.

"Please come in."

Jiang Qing walked into the room and looked around. It was a spacious suite with a faint fragrance in the air.

Outside the living room's floor-to-ceiling windows lies a dazzling city night view.

Chen Duling casually placed her handbag on the entryway cabinet, walked to the water bar, picked up a bottle of mineral water, unscrewed it but didn't drink it, just held it in her hand.

She leaned against the bar, watching Jiang Qing, who stood in the center of the living room, seemingly expecting something.

"Dr. Jiang."

She spoke with a smile, her voice still soft, but with a hint of slyness.

"Weren't you curious about what Jingyi and I talked about in the car just now?"

Jiang Qing nodded, her gaze following her.

"Actually..."

Chen Duling slowly approached him, stopping a step away from him. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes like searchlights fixed on his face, scrutinizing him with a hint of amusement.

"We were discussing..."

She paused deliberately, watching Jiang Qing involuntarily hold her breath, her eyes almost overflowing with laughter.

"Let's discuss just how funny you were when you were all serious tonight."

"..."

Jiang Qing's expression froze instantly, and that secret expectation vanished without a trace, like a punctured balloon.

He blinked, not quite understanding at first.

"Pfft..."

Chen Duling finally couldn't help but laugh out loud, her eyebrows and eyes curving into crescent moons, and her whole person became lively and bright.

"Look how nervous you are! Your shoulders haven't relaxed since we left the restaurant, have they? Hmm? Dr. Jiang?"

She pointed a finger at Jiang Qing's shoulder, but the gesture and the teasing in her eyes were unmistakable.

"I……"

Jiang Qing opened her mouth to argue, but found herself unable to do so.

He was indeed on high alert from the moment he saw Sister Meng's message at the restaurant, especially when he was dealing with these two smart girls.

"Afraid we'll see things we shouldn't see?"

Chen Duling seemed to be able to read his mind. She shook the water bottle in her hand and spoke in a relaxed tone, as if she were talking about the weather.

"Afraid she'll send some amazing photos that we might just see? Or are you afraid Jingyi and I will give you a three-way interrogation right there and then?"

Jiang Qing helplessly raised her hand to rub her temples, and smiled bitterly.

"Teacher Chen, your observation and associative abilities... it's a real shame you're not a criminal investigator."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Chen Duling accepted it readily, a hint of smugness in her smile.

"However, Dr. Jiang, your skill in balancing things has truly reached perfection today. You can pick up food with equal balance from both sides, and you can speak with equal deference to everyone. It's just that at the end..."

She imitated Jiang Qing's feigned composure while wiping her mouth perfectly.

As Jiang Qing watched her vivid performance, the helplessness of being teased was gradually replaced by a feeling of amusement and exasperation.

He looked at the girl in front of him, who was smiling like a little fox who had successfully stolen some fish. Where was the intellectual and aloof demeanor of the campus belle of Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics?
All that's left is mischief and a perverse sense of humor.

"so……"

Jiang Qing sighed, her tone carrying a resigned indulgence.

"Did Teacher Chen invite me up here specifically tonight just to make fun of me?"

"if not?"

Chen Duling raised an eyebrow and asked in return, her eyes innocent and pure.

"What do you think it is?"

She deliberately looked him up and down a few times.

"Dr. Jiang, don't overthink it~ I just noticed you were too tense today, so I kindly invited you up for a drink of water and helped you review the day's events to help you relax."

During a break in conversation, she casually handed over the bottle of mineral water she was holding, which had been unscrewed.

Jiang Qing looked at the water she handed him, and then at the mischievous yet sincere smile on her face. For a moment, he couldn't tell whether she was truly cunning or genuinely wanted to make him relax.

He took the water bottle, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

The cool water slid down my throat, indeed extinguishing some of the heat and the random thoughts that had just been stirred up.

"Relaxed?"

Chen Duling winked with a smile.

Jiang Qing put down the water bottle and looked at her with a complicated expression, which eventually turned into a long sigh with a smile.

"Dudu, I've figured it out. This bottle of water is even more effective at refreshing and energizing than double the concentration."

"I am over-flattered."

Chen Duling crossed her arms and nodded in satisfaction.

"It seems the treatment was effective. Well, he's had his water and is relaxed now, Dr. Jiang..."

She raised her hand and pointed to the door, her smile sweet yet carrying an undeniable air of farewell.

"It's getting late, and we have filming tomorrow. Goodbye, and don't come back to us."

Crisp and neat, without any sloppiness.

Jiang Qing was both amused and exasperated by her "use and discard" attitude.

He shook his head and resignedly walked towards the door.

As he reached the entrance, he couldn't help but turn back when his hand touched the doorknob.

Chen Duling was still leaning against the bar, gazing at him with a faint smile, like a quiet orchid blooming in the night, elegant yet with a touch of alluring mystery.

"You really don't want to tell me?"

He still persisted and asked one more question.

Chen Duling just smiled and shook her head, putting her index finger to her lips in a "shh" gesture, her eyes sly.

"secret."

Jiang Qing gave up completely, opened the door with a helpless expression, and turned to walk away.

"Okay, it's a secret then. Goodnight, Teacher Chen."

Good night, Dr. Jiang.

Chen Duling's voice, tinged with laughter, came from behind.

"Have a sweet dream."

The door closed gently behind me.

Jiang Qing stood in the quiet corridor, looking at the closed door, her mischievous words "Sweet dreams" still echoing in her ears.

He raised his hand and rubbed his temples hard, finally unable to suppress a low chuckle.

This is hardly a set visit.

They were clearly there to torture him.

For some reason, he noticed that Dudu seemed to have changed, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

He turned and walked toward the elevator, but his steps were much lighter than when he came.

Although I was tricked, the tension that had been building up inside me all night finally eased.

As the elevator descended, his face, bearing a helpless smile, was reflected in the mirror of the car.

He took out his phone, and the screen lit up automatically. The preview of the message from Sister Meng was still displayed in the pop-up window.

He opened the chat window. In the photo, Sister Meng was making a face at the camera. There was nothing hidden from outsiders. She was wearing regular pajamas, and the background was clearly a hotel.

Jiang Qing looked at Sister Meng's exaggerated expression in the photo, replied "Silly," and then locked the screen, but the corners of her mouth involuntarily turned up.

This chaotic and absurd day is finally over!
As for the company visit next Wednesday...

Jiang Qing stepped out of the hotel, feeling the cool night breeze, and looked up at the sparse starlight in the city sky.

He estimated that it would be a tough battle that required him to be extremely focused.

(End of this chapter)