Reborn in 2012, building a new energy empire

Lin Miaomiao drove Jiang Haoran back to his hotel. On the way, she suddenly said, "Don't take what Engineer Li said to heart. He wasn't targeting you, it's just... we've been burned by domestic production lines several times, it's normal for the technical department to have concerns."

"I understand." Jiang Haoran looked at the street scene rushing past the window. "His concerns are very real. Industrialization isn't about making a few samples; it's about stable production over thousands of kilometers. That takes time and patience."

Lin Miaomiao glanced at him, then hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't.

"Say what you want to say." Jiang Haoran noticed.

"Actually..." Lin Miaomiao bit her lip, "The internal debate within the company about the technology roadmap and cost pressures has always been very intense."

"The tech-savvy group, represented by Engineer Li, insists on using the best equipment and materials to ensure product performance and yield, believing that this is the foundation for establishing a foothold in the high-end market."

"But the cost-followers, represented by the finance and supply chain departments, believe that with the industry downturn, it is necessary to reduce costs to the extreme, even if it means sacrificing some performance."

She paused, her voice lowering slightly: "My dad is also caught in the middle, under a lot of pressure. Every meeting, the two sides argue fiercely. The tech people say that cutting costs is short-sighted and will ruin the brand; the cost-conscious people say that ignoring costs is suicide, and the company won't survive until a technological breakthrough."

Jiang Haoran listened quietly. This is the reality of physical enterprises: forever searching for a fragile balance between technology and cost, ideals and reality.

"And what about you?" he asked. "Which side do you lean towards?"

Lin Miaomiao remained silent for a long time until the car stopped in front of the hotel. Then she said softly, "I don't know. I think both sides have their points, but they're both too extreme. Perhaps... we need a third way?"

She turned to look at Jiang Haoran, her eyes sparkling in the twilight: "A path that can both guarantee technological leadership and significantly reduce costs. Just like you said before, domestic substitution."

Jiang Haoran smiled. This girl had more ideas than he had imagined.

"Let's not think about these things now." He opened the car door. "Aren't we going to Erhai Lake tomorrow? We agreed that this trip is to 'unwind'."

Lin Miaomiao smiled too, her smile becoming more relaxed: "Yes, to relax. I'll pick you up tomorrow."

For the next three days, they put everything aside, toured Dali, visited Lijiang, and finally went to Lugu Lake.

Freed from the tension of the work environment and the constraints of the city, a natural sense of intimacy quietly grows amidst the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains.

On the shore of Erhai Lake, they rented an electric car and drove slowly along the lakeside road.

Lin Miaomiao naturally sat down in the back seat.

"How's your technique?" she asked with a smile, her hand lightly resting on Jiang Haoran's clothes at his waist.

At first, she only lightly grabbed a bit of the fabric, but as the electric scooter started and turned along the coastal road, she unconsciously tightened her grip on his coat to maintain her balance, her palms touching his jacket.

The wind was strong, causing her hair to occasionally brush against his back, carrying a faint scent of shampoo. At first, she was a little embarrassed, but later she relaxed, and even when he occasionally sped up, she would gasp softly and move closer to him.

The warmth and weight of his body transmitted through his clothes made Jiang Haoran's palms sweat slightly as he gripped the handlebars, but his heart was filled with a comforting warmth.

In December, the sky above Erhai Lake is a pure blue, and the snow-capped peaks of Cangshan Mountain are reflected on the water, shimmering in the sunlight.

Jiang Haoran stopped the car, and the two naturally leaned against each other, admiring the same beautiful scenery.

White seagulls skimmed across the water in the distance, while the water nearby was crystal clear, revealing water plants swaying gently with the waves.

Lin Miaomiao took off her coat, leaving her in only a light blue sweater. Her hair was a little messy from the wind, but she didn't care. She opened her arms to the wind and smiled like a child.

"I visited Erhai Lake once when I was a child," she said. "I was only seven or eight years old then, with my parents. My impression of it was that it was crowded and noisy, and I didn't think it was that beautiful. But now... it's truly beautiful."

Jiang Haoran turned his head to look at her and felt that what was more moving than the scenery was her profile at this moment, where she was completely unguarded and immersed in the moment.

"Sometimes I feel," Lin Miaomiao suddenly said, "that running a business is like looking at this body of water. From afar it looks calm and beautiful, but only when you get close do you realize how many undercurrents there are and how many weeds are tangled up beneath the surface."

"But you still chose to come back to help your dad," Jiang Haoran said.

"Yes." Lin Miaomiao nodded. "I'm my dad's only child. Seeing his hair turning whiter and whiter over the past few years, I want to help support our family. Besides..."

She turned to look at him, her eyes shining. "This industry is actually quite interesting. Turning sunlight into electricity sounds like magic."

Jiang Haoran looked at her cheeks, reddened by the wind, and a soft spot in his heart softened.

This girl possesses a contradictory quality: she has the naivety and idealism of a wealthy heiress, yet also the clear-headedness and sense of responsibility of taking over the family business.

This contradiction makes her seem real, and it also makes people want to get closer to her.

The next day in Lijiang Old Town, they avoided the crowded main streets and ventured into the winding alleys.

The bluestone path has been worn smooth by time, and on both sides are ancient Naxi courtyards, some of which have been converted into guesthouses, while others are still inhabited by the original residents.

Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the eaves, casting dappled shadows on the walls.

A running child nearly bumped into Lin Miaomiao, but Jiang Haoran reacted quickly and gently pulled her towards him. "Be careful," he said in a deep, resonant voice, his voice falling on her ear.

After she regained her balance, she didn't immediately pull her hand away from his arm. Instead, she lingered for a few seconds before shyly letting go, her ears turning a subtle red. That brief but firm touch and protectiveness made their hearts skip a beat.

On the second-floor terrace of a small teahouse, they sat together drinking Pu'er tea, watching the occasional tourists and local elderly people walking by in the alley below. Time seemed to stand still on this afternoon.

On the third day, they went to Lugu Lake.

They stayed at an inn by the lake, where they could see the lake just by opening the window.

As evening falls, the setting sun dyes the lake water golden red, and the distant Goddess Gemu Mountain stands silently. Several dugout boats glide slowly across the lake, like a still painting.

After dinner, the two took a walk along the lake. Lugu Lake was very quiet at night, with only the sound of flowing water and faint singing.

Far from everything familiar, in this tranquil place that seemed isolated from the world, a certain emotion became exceptionally clear and surging.

They walked side by side, so close that their arms would lightly touch with each step, then separate again, over and over again, each slight contact feeling like it carried a faint electric current.

"I'm going back tomorrow," Lin Miaomiao suddenly said, her voice carrying a hint of sadness and reluctance. She stopped and looked at the deep blue, almost inky lake, its surface reflecting the shimmering starlight.

Jiang Haoran stopped and stood beside her. The evening breeze carried the coolness of the lake water, and he saw her instinctively shrank her shoulders.

"Are you cold?" he asked.

"A little," she answered softly, without moving or saying she wanted to go back, but simply gazing at the lake.

The next second, a coat still warm from his body was gently draped over her shoulders. She trembled slightly and turned to look at him.

He didn't look at her; his gaze was fixed on the darkness in the distance. He simply and gently pulled his coat up. His fingers brushed against her neck unintentionally, sending a slight shiver down her spine.

Then, he didn't pull his hand back.

After adjusting her coat, his hand slowly moved down, with a hint of probing but an undeniable tenderness, and gently took her slightly cool hand hanging by her side.

Lin Miaomiao seemed to freeze for a moment, holding her breath. Her hand curled slightly in his palm, but she didn't pull away.

Jiang Haoran didn't speak, but simply tightened his grip on her hand, his fingertips gently threading through her fingers, their ten fingers slowly intertwining. The movement was slow and firm, carrying a solemn weight as if a thousand words were unspoken.