Chapter 32 Help Me with My Tie

By the time evening arrived and work was over, she could no longer sit still. She intercepted Lu Yan on his way home.

"Lu Yan, there's something I'd like to discuss with you. Do you have a moment?" Chen Haixia stopped him just as he was about to board the bus.

Lu Yan glanced at her and replied coolly, "What is it?"

Chen Haixia pointed toward a distant pavilion. "Could we sit down over there to talk? It's too hot to stand here."

Lu Yan checked his watch, realizing he was about to miss his bus. "How about the day after tomorrow? I'm quite busy these next two days."

The day after tomorrow would be too late—there would be no hope by then.

She hurriedly explained the matter right there.

Lu Yan frowned slightly. "I'm afraid I can't. I simply don't have the energy for this."

Chen Haixia had expected this answer, but she knew him well. "Then at least meet him after you're done tomorrow. Whether it works out or not, that's for later."

"People like that are difficult to shake off once you meet them. Since I've decided to refuse, there's no need to meet at all."

"Do you look down on businessmen?"

"I don't."

"Do you have any idea how difficult it is for domestic enterprises to get started? Especially in technology and communications. Even the state is now making great efforts to support private businesses—otherwise, why designate a special zone as a model base?" Chen Haixia spoke with righteous conviction.

Lu Yan smiled. "The technical level required for ordinary communications isn't high enough to need my involvement. Su Yang could do it—you can recommend Su Yang instead."

He was afraid these people would use his name as a marketing ploy to attract investors.

His reputation could not suffer even the slightest blemish; otherwise, there would never be anyone capable of overturning the injustice against the professor.

As he turned to board the bus, Chen Haixia blocked his way. "Lu Yan, do me this favor—just meet him once. From middle school to university, how many times have I helped you? Have I ever asked for anything in return?"

The moment she grabbed his arm, the bus roared past.

Lu Yan was a bit annoyed, but couldn't argue—she truly had spared him much trouble.

Finally, he relented. "I'll bring Su Yang to meet him."

"Great!"

When the next bus arrived, Lu Yan got on. Chen Haixia watched as his bus pulled away, a satisfied smile curling on her lips. In the entire institute, only she could persuade Lu Yan—no one else could.

Sooner or later, everyone would come to know this fact. Shen Qingyi would know as well.

Lu Yan returned home, ate dinner, and Shen Qingyi cleared the dishes.

An'an looked at Lu Yan and blinked. "Mom said she's playing with me tonight. You should get some rest early."

Lu Yan hadn't expected his wife to be so thoughtful.

He stood up to follow her, even forgetting about An'an. In the kitchen, he said, "It's just a few dishes—it's no trouble."

But Shen Qingyi wouldn’t have it this time. "Go bathe and rest early. An'an will sleep with me tonight. In the future, you can do as you please—I won’t stand in your way."

Because he’d missed the earlier bus, he’d already come home late—it was eight o’clock.

Shen Qingyi pointed to the kettle on the stove. "If you really want to help, you can bathe An'an."

The boy was beginning to become aware of his own body, curious about his physical characteristics, and liked to tug at himself in the bath. Shen Qingyi found it painful to watch, and gentle persuasion did no good—she couldn’t bring herself to scold him.

"Alright!"

After father and son finished bathing, An'an returned to Shen Qingyi’s room while Lu Yan went to his own.

That night, he slept unusually well.

Early the next morning, just as Shen Qingyi finished making breakfast, she saw Lu Yan come out dressed in the new clothes she’d bought for him. She was momentarily stunned.

The white shirt on him seemed to lend his entire figure an added elegance. His features were refined, his air clean and understated, and with the light-colored shirt, he appeared both noble and scholarly. The hem of his shirt was tucked into his trousers and belted, displaying his slender waist to perfection before her eyes.

"What is it?" Lu Yan noticed his wife's gaze.

Shen Qingyi shifted uncomfortably. "Your tie isn’t tied correctly."

It was Lu Yan’s first time wearing a tie, and he’d done it by instinct. He looked down and saw that it was, indeed, a bit crooked.

He stepped forward and stopped in front of her. "I don’t know how—can you help me?"

At once, Shen Qingyi was enveloped by his presence. He neither smoked nor drank, rarely even perspired, and had almost no scent. Yet she could always sense it.

His scent was as elusive as he was: faint, impossible to grasp, impossible to define.

Lu Yan watched his wife’s nimble hands as she deftly retied his tie, making it perfectly straight and secure. It was as though her hands possessed some quiet magic; even through the fabric, his heart was unsettled.

She lowered her head, her hair brushing his chin, making his Adam’s apple bob involuntarily.

"All done." Shen Qingyi stepped away. "Go have breakfast."

During the meal, Shen Qingyi didn’t glance at Lu Yan again.

Lu Yan’s long lashes swept discreetly over her delicate face, and he couldn’t help but add, "Don’t worry. I’m very well prepared."

Of course Shen Qingyi knew. In her eyes, those calculations were extremely taxing. Every time her father prepared for such things, he hardly slept.

She didn’t know what place she held in Lu Yan’s heart, but seeing him throw himself into a project for scientific research like this—she couldn’t remain indifferent, even as an ordinary friend.

To her father, this sort of work was as sacred as faith itself. As his most outstanding student, it was only right for Lu Yan to do this for him.

"Mm," Shen Qingyi replied softly.

After breakfast, Lu Yan left without lingering.

By two in the afternoon, he was sitting primly by the television. Most programs on TV now were live, since recorders and tape heads were so precious.

At three o’clock sharp, the program began. As soon as it started, An'an dashed into Shen Qingyi’s room, tugged excitedly at her sleeve, and shouted, "Mom, hurry, Dad’s on TV!"

Shen Qingyi set down her work and went to the sofa with An'an. On the screen, Lu Yan’s team and the group from Hu City were divided into two. The host stood in the middle, with a computer nearby.

As the hosts, they gave the Hu City team the privilege to go first.

It was clear the Hu City experts had studied abroad—they were well-versed in the world’s most advanced telescopes and presented a domestic solution as well.

After their statements, applause thundered through the audience.

Most of those present were students and mentors from the Academy of Sciences—rarely did they get such a chance to broaden their horizons.

When it was the turn of the experts from the capital, Lu Yan immediately drew all eyes as he took the stage.

"So young? Did he get into the research institute just on his looks?"

"Nonsense. Not just anyone can represent the capital’s research institute."

Lu Yan used neither notes nor computer; his explanations were natural and fluent.

After he finished, one of the Hu City experts immediately raised a concern. "Engineer Lu, according to your statement about our GSW telescope, we think the site selection is wrong. In a place like Long City, there aren’t many clear nights, and it’s close to residential areas. Won’t noise and light interfere with its accuracy?"