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

Chapter 386 Zhang Ruonan's Misunderstanding

At 7 p.m., Zhou Zhengkai parked his car in front of a private restaurant.

This is a detached courtyard house hidden in the old city of Luyang, with white walls and black tiles, and lanterns hanging from the eaves emitting a warm yellow light in the winter night.

Above the door hangs an old wooden plaque with the three characters "Huixiangju" carved on it, which has a sense of ancient seclusion in the city.

Jiang Qing got out of the car, walked forward, pushed open the door and stepped into the courtyard. The noise of the outside world was immediately shut out, and inside was a completely different world.

The hall was small but elegantly decorated, with a few wooden tables and chairs, and several ink paintings on the walls, mostly depicting the theme of Huangshan clouds and Huizhou folk houses. The air was filled with the faint aroma of tea and the warm fragrance of food.

A waitress dressed in an elegant cheongsam came forward, confirmed the reservation information, and then smiled as she led him inside.

Jiang Qing looked around with interest and followed behind her.

Passing through a short corridor, with bamboo shadows swaying in the small courtyards on both sides, you can vaguely hear the whispers of other guests in the private rooms and the light clinking of bowls and plates.

The waiter stopped in front of a private room called "Listening to the Pines," turned around, and raised his hand with a polite smile.

"Sir, this is the place."

Jiang Qing smiled and nodded, then raised her hand and gently knocked three times on the dark wooden door.

A clear, cheerful voice immediately came from inside.

"Please come in!"

Jiang Qing responded and pushed open the door.

The lighting in the private room was a soft, warm tone, making everything in sight feel more cozy.

Zhang Ruonan stood by the table, a bright smile on her face, looking at him with her hands behind her back.

Today she wore a well-tailored gray blazer, paired with a simple white undershirt and raw denim jeans, which made her legs look straight.

A soft gray scarf was casually draped over the back of the chair; it was clearly hers.

Her slightly wavy long hair cascaded over her shoulders like seaweed, with a few strands carefully tied behind her ears, fully revealing her bright and cheerful face.

She wasn't wearing heavy makeup, just lightly outlining her eyebrows and eyes, with a natural watery red lip color. She looked fresh and full of energy, with a bright smile. Just looking at her seemed to dispel all the gloom of winter.

"President Jiang! You arrived just in time!"

Zhang Ruonan was the first to greet them, her eyes sparkling and blinking.

Jiang Qing smiled, took off her heavy down coat and hung it on a clothes rack to the side, and replied.

"Teacher Zhang is treating us, how can I be late?"

He was wearing a dark turtleneck sweater underneath, which made him appear even more composed.

"Please sit down, please sit down!"

Zhang Ruonan warmly invited him to sit down, and then sat down opposite him, handing him the menu with both hands in a playful tone.

"See if there's anything you'd like to eat? But I've already ordered almost everything, all their signature dishes, guaranteed authentic!"

Jiang Qing took the menu but didn't flip through it; she simply smiled and placed it aside.

"Teacher Zhang, you can make the arrangements as you see fit. I trust your judgment."

"That is required!"

Zhang Ruonan wrinkled her nose smugly and waved for a waiter.

"Waiter, our food is ready!"

After giving her instructions, she turned to Jiang Qing, placed her hands on the table, leaned forward slightly, and looked as if she couldn't wait to share.

"I asked several local friends to recommend this restaurant, and they all said the food is authentic and it's all traditional Huizhou cuisine! I figured since you're from Huizhou, it would definitely suit your taste. We've been putting off this meal for so long, so we have to make sure it's something special!"

"Thank you for your trouble, I'm really looking forward to it."

Jiang Qing smiled and sincerely thanked him.

"It sounds very sincere."

"Hehe, that's only right!"

Zhang Ruonan waved her hand, and then, as if she had opened a floodgate, she began to search for various topics, speaking at a brisk pace.

"President Jiang, 'Ignite Me, Warm You' is so popular lately! Everyone around me is watching it, and I'm totally hooked on it myself! The character Li Xun is just amazing—so cool, handsome, and so capable. And most importantly, your acting is just too good! You portrayed every stage of his life so well, that look in your eyes, that intensity..."

She talked non-stop about the fun she had watching the show, imitating classic lines from it, and occasionally bursting into laughter herself, her eyes always crinkling with joy, trying her best to create a relaxed and lively atmosphere.

They made no mention of the recent uproar online, as if the commotion had never existed.

Jiang Qing maintained a smile throughout, nodding occasionally, and even poured her a cup of tea to moisten her throat.

Seeing her beaming with joy, I thought this girl was really adorable.

Soon, the waiter knocked on the door to announce that the food was ready to be served.

Zhang Ruonan also took the opportunity to catch her breath.

Several waiters filed in and began serving the dishes, which quickly filled the entire table.

Stinky mandarin fish, hairy tofu, Hu Shi's One-Pot Stew, Knife-Cut Fragrance, Wenzheng Mountain Bamboo Shoots, Braised Yellow Eel, Huizhou Meatballs... these are indeed classic Anhui dishes.

As soon as the dishes were served, Zhang Ruonan immediately picked up the serving chopsticks and began serving food to Jiang Qing.

"President Jiang, you should try this hairy tofu. It smells a bit unusual, but it tastes amazing! I've only heard about it from others, hehe..."

She carefully picked up a piece of golden-brown fried tofu and placed it on the bone plate in front of Jiang Qing, her eyes fixed on him expectantly.

Jiang Qing readily agreed, took a bite, and nodded.

"It's really authentic, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a very good fermented aroma."

"Right, right!"

Zhang Ruonan smiled, her eyes crinkling, and then busied herself picking up the stinky mandarin fish.

"Then let's try this one. I heard it's the soul of Anhui cuisine! I specifically told them to put more effort into making it."

She carefully placed the tenderest piece of meat from the belly of the fish on his plate, her movements natural and warm.

Moreover, he wasn't idle either. Every time Jiang Qing recommended a dish, he would try a bite himself and then express his sincere praise.

Wow, this bamboo shoot is so fresh and sweet!

"Mmm! This braised pork is absolutely delicious, not greasy at all!"

"This is delicious too!" She ate with a satisfied look on her face, her cheeks occasionally puffing out slightly from the food, like a busy and happy little squirrel, trying her best to infect the person opposite her with her joy in enjoying the food.

Seeing this, Jiang Qing's smile deepened.

While eating, Zhang Ruonan kept trying to find topics to talk about, from funny stories about chasing after firecrackers to sharing her hilarious experiences on set. Her tone was light and cheerful, and she laughed constantly.

Jiang Qing mostly listened quietly to her, occasionally nodding in agreement, or chuckling softly at her vivid descriptions.

He knew perfectly well that the girl was trying to cheer him up and distract him from those troublesome things because of the comments online.

This cautious concern made him feel both amused and genuinely warmed.

In fact, during this time, Sister Meng and the others have been taking care of him in various ways, with daily video calls, voice messages, and constant text messages. After he repeatedly assured them that he was really okay and that they didn't need to worry, the frequency decreased, but every time they contacted him, their tone and the topics they chose to discuss clearly showed that they were taking care of his feelings. This made him feel warm and he couldn't help but find their behavior quite adorable.

Zhang Ruonan, standing before us, was clearly the same.

Zhang Ruonan watched as Jiang Qing naturally accepted the food she served, responded gently to her casual conversation, and always wore that familiar faint smile on her face.

But the more normal and calm he appeared, the more Zhang Ruonan's heart tightened.

From her perspective, this was clearly a deliberate disguise, or rather, a form of forbearance.

She couldn't help but think of the jarring words she'd seen online these past few days: "lost talent," "addicted to the entertainment industry," "actor," "showboating," "degenerate"... Those baseless malicious speculations and overwhelming doubts pierced her heart like needles.

He is a world-renowned AI genius. How could someone so talented not care about those comments?

Looking at his impressive resume, one can tell that he must be an extremely proud person.

The calmer he appears now, does it mean he's hiding his negative emotions deeper?
Thinking of this, Zhang Ruonan felt even more heartbroken.

She served him food more frequently, and tried to keep her smile brighter, hoping to give him more strength and dispel the gloom that shrouded him.

"President Jiang, please try this meatball, it's so chewy and bouncy!"

She scooped another Huizhou meatball into his bowl, her voice still clear and crisp, but deep in her eyes, there was a barely perceptible trace of worry.

The meal proceeded in this seemingly lively and cheerful atmosphere.

After finishing her meal, Zhang Ruonan called the waiter to pay the bill, her movements swift and efficient, giving Jiang Qing no chance whatsoever.

Jiang Qing couldn't help but smile at her enthusiastic demeanor.

After paying the bill, Zhang Ruonan looked out the window. The night was deep, and the city lights were dazzling.

She turned her head, her eyes questioning.

"President Jiang, it's still early, how about... we take a walk to digest our food? This area seems quite quiet."

"no problem."

Jiang Qing readily agreed.

The two put on their coats and walked out of the courtyard side by side. The chill of the winter night immediately hit them, but it wasn't biting.

They strolled slowly along a quiet path next to the restaurant, the streetlights casting long shadows that occasionally overlapped.

Far from the hustle and bustle of the main road, all that remains here is the sound of the wind and their footsteps.

Zhang Ruonan walked beside him with her hands in her coat pockets, glancing at him every now and then with a conflicted expression.

The liveliness she displayed at the dinner table gradually subsided, replaced by a hesitant, unspoken expression.

After walking for quite a while, Zhang Ruonan finally took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind, stopped, and turned to face Jiang Qing.

Jiang Qing also stopped, waiting for her to continue.

But in his heart he thought, "This girl has finally lost her temper."

"Mr. Jiang..."

Zhang Ruonan raised her head, looked at him earnestly, and spoke in a softer voice than before, but with utmost sincerity.

"Don't take all that nonsense going on online lately to heart."

She paused, organizing her thoughts, her expression somewhat anxious, as if afraid he wouldn't believe her.

"Really! Many netizens are easily swayed by rumors and just blindly follow the crowd without understanding the actual situation. I... I know you're amazing! How long has Wuwen Technology been established? OpenAI is such a big company, it started much earlier than Wuwen, and how much money has it invested? There's no comparison at all! I believe in the future... no, I don't need to believe in the future, I believe you're already doing very well now, and you'll definitely do even better in the future. Sooner or later, you'll definitely lead Wuwen Technology to surpass them!"

She spoke with absolute certainty, her eyes filled with unwavering conviction, as if stating an undeniable fact.

Jiang Qing did not interrupt her, and listened quietly to every word she said.

After she finished speaking, he looked at her anxious and earnest expression as she tried to defend herself, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

He turned around to face her, his gaze falling on her earnest little face.

The two looked at each other for a moment, and Jiang Qing suddenly chuckled softly, her laughter carrying a slightly complicated meaning, but her voice remained calm when she spoke.

"Thank you, thank you for trusting me so much."

Zhang Ruonan stared intently at his expression, noticing that he didn't seem to be truly comforted by her words. Instead, she sensed a hint of dejection in his soft laughter.
She felt a surge of anxiety, took a half step forward, and spoke with even greater urgency.

“I’m serious! Jiang Qing, I’m not just comforting you, I genuinely believe in you! From… from the first time we met at the airport, then at the Bazaar Charity Night, and at the Chinese Restaurant, to watching your acting and learning about the projects you’ve done… I’ve always thought you’re incredibly amazing, truly amazing! Not only do you know so many impressive things, but you also founded such a cool tech company, and you’re an amazing cook. Those people online don’t know anything at all!”

She was somewhat agitated, and her cheeks were slightly flushed with anxiety.

Looking at Jiang Qing's face, which seemed no different from usual, and comparing it to the way he teased her at the airport, calmly helped her out of a predicament on the red carpet, serenely singing in the Chinese restaurant, and skillfully cooking in the kitchen... those moments contrasted sharply with his seemingly calm yet veiled emotions at this moment, and an inexplicable protective instinct suddenly surged into her heart!
Something has to be done!
Driven by a strong impulse, Zhang Ruonan suddenly stood on tiptoe and quickly pecked Jiang Qing on the cheek, much to his surprise.

The touch was fleeting, like a dragonfly skimming the water.

Jiang Qing froze for a moment, her pupils shrinking slightly.

Zhang Ruonan took a step back, stood still, looked up at him with clear and firm eyes.

"Jiang Qing, remember this: no matter how others doubt you or slander you, I will always believe in you and support you!"

His tone was more serious than ever before, with a solemnity akin to a declaration.

The cold winter wind seemed to freeze for a moment at that instant.

The dim light of the streetlamp outlined her earnest features, which contained no hint of jokes or ambiguity, only pure trust.

Jiang Qing stared blankly at her, feeling the fleeting soft touch, and then met her eyes that seemed to say "I'm telling the truth." For a moment, she didn't know how to react.

Even though he was usually quick-witted and composed, he was caught off guard by this sudden and blatant action.

The two stood facing each other on the quiet, deserted path, a subtle and stagnant silence filling the air.

(End of this chapter)