Something Bad Happened

Of course, the construction industry itself had plenty of hidden intricacies. It was possible there were factors Ye Ming didn't know about that had led to this cooperation. But could a mature and powerful company like Liyue International really make such a rookie mistake as forgetting to prepare an office in advance, then being unable to clear out even a single office after the issue arose?

That was far too absurd.

Even more absurd was that Ye Ming, a specialist sent over to handle the handover and communication between both sides, could actually share an office with Keqing, one of Liyue International's senior executives. Even a Long Aotian novel wouldn't dare write something like this.

After all, Ye Ming and Keqing had only met twice before today. No matter how well they got along, that was utterly insignificant in a project involving such enormous interests.

Unless something was wrong with Keqing's head and she simply didn't care about the project's returns, or even the massive amount of capital invested in it. But that was obviously impossible. No one could be that foolish.

Even if Keqing really were that foolish, the capital behind her and the other participants in the project would stop her.

So what exactly was Keqing—or Liyue International—after?

Ye Ming didn't know. He believed that even if he went to ask Sister Wang now, she wouldn't reveal the truth to him about a project that likely involved the interests of multiple parties. So, Ye Ming could only quietly raise his guard and avoid getting dragged into it himself.

Of course, he still had to do his job properly. However, Ye Ming secretly decided that he would not sign anything requiring a signature in this project. He would pass it all to Sister Wang instead. Even if that meant losing the chance to make money through this project, it was still better than becoming a scapegoat without understanding why.

As long as I don't sign anything, nothing can go wrong!

While secretly making plans in his heart, Ye Ming wore an exceptionally warm smile.

"Does President Ke have any restaurants she likes? Would you like me to recommend a few?"

"Why are you still calling me President Ke? I already call you Ye Ming, so you can just call me by my name too."

Keqing picked up her handbag and left the office with Ye Ming. "As for restaurants, I remember there's a Cat House Western Restaurant nearby. The food there is quite good."

"Alright, then Cat House Western Restaurant it is."

The two chatted as they took the elevator down to the underground parking lot. Keqing's secretary, Zhou Keke, was still driving. They soon arrived at Cat House Western Restaurant.

After dropping them off at the restaurant, Zhou Keke said she still had plenty of overtime work to handle and hurried away, leaving only Ye Ming and Keqing behind.

After entering the restaurant, Keqing familiarly picked up the menu and ordered several dishes. She also ordered a bottle of baijiu, then only asked Ye Ming after she had finished ordering, "You don't mind having a drink, do you?"

Ye Ming didn't like drinking, but in a social setting like this, he naturally wouldn't refuse.

However, after Keqing finished ordering and let him choose, Ye Ming noticed another problem.

"Is it just the two of us for today's meal?"

Ye Ming was puzzled.

This was too strange. Normally, shouldn't this dinner have been a chance to get acquainted with the people he would be dealing with often in the future, so things would be easier later on?

"Oh, the department responsible for mainland business on our side was only recently established, so we're somewhat short-handed. Several people in charge of the project are currently away on business trips. When there's time later, I'll introduce them to you one by one."

Keqing's expression remained natural, and her answer was flawless.

"So that's how it is."

Ye Ming nodded understandingly. "Ke... Keqing, when will your company's project materials be ready? I'd like to get them sooner, so I can start wor—"

"Coco will deliver the project materials to you this afternoon. It's break time now, so let's not talk about work."

Keqing waved her hand and interrupted him. "Work is already irritating enough. It's rare to have a lunch break, so let's talk about something more relaxing."

Keqing, a loyal supporter and practitioner of the 996 schedule, told a lie against her conscience.

"Let's talk about games. Ye Ming, when you used to play Genshin Impact, which did you prefer, Mondstadt or Liyue Harbor?"

Of course it was Mondstadt. Anyone who had played Genshin Impact knew the value of Jean Gunnhildr's beautiful ass, right? There was also the mature and intellectual big sister Lisa, the scantily clad poor astrologer Mona, and, most importantly, the tiny loli Klee.

"Of course it's Liyue Harbor. I think the characters in Liyue Harbor all have convictions of their own and unique personal charm that draws people in, so I really like Liyue Harbor."

Ye Ming gave his answer without hesitation.

Keqing smiled happily. "What a coincidence. I feel the same way. Honestly, if I really had to pick someone from Genshin Impact to be my wife, not a single person in Mondstadt could compete. Looking at Liyue instead, Keqing alone could stand undefeated."

You're a girl. Shouldn't you be choosing a husband from the game? Why are you choosing a wife like a guy would?

Ye Ming didn't understand, and honestly, he didn't quite agree with Keqing either.

If he really had to choose, of course he would take them all. Who would stupidly choose only one wife? Besides, wasn't Ganyu better than Keqing?

"Mm, I think Keqing is great too."

What he thought and what he said were naturally two different matters. After all, seated in front of Ye Ming was his client, and a hardcore Keqing fan at that.

While the two chatted, the dishes arrived. Ye Ming reached out to pour Keqing a drink, but to his surprise, she gave him no chance at all. The waiter had only just pulled the cork and had not even set the bottle down before Keqing eagerly took it into her own hands.

The moment she had the bottle, Keqing poured Ye Ming a full glass first, then filled her own glass. She set the bottle down and raised her glass toward Ye Ming.

"Here's to a pleasant partnership. Cheers!"

With that, Keqing drank it all in one go.

"Cheers!"

Ye Ming had originally wanted to drink slowly, but seeing that, he had no choice but to tilt back his head and drain the glass in one gulp.

Keqing, who had been secretly observing Ye Ming, saw this and curled her lips into a faint smile like a little fox that had successfully stolen a chicken, looking both smug and excited.

P.S. There will be two more updates later. Please vote.

Something Bad Happened

Enterprise often thought back to her days in the Port District.

From their first meeting until the Commander suddenly disappeared, she remembered every detail of the time she had spent with him with perfect clarity.

Those memories were Enterprise's most precious treasure, the pillar that had supported her until now, and everything she had as a Ship-Girl.

Strictly speaking, they had not been particularly thrilling experiences. But because the Commander had been there, they had become treasures she could never forget.

Even now, Enterprise remembered the first words she had said when she met the Commander. "Enterprise, Yorktown-class, hull number 2, reporting in. I will show neither sympathy nor mercy to my enemies. I will face them with all my strength. That is my style."

Although she had looked serious when she said those words and had tried hard to appear dashing and cool, she had actually been very nervous inside.

After all, she had been facing her own Commander. No matter what, he was someone destined to spend the rest of her life with her.

What kind of person would the Commander be? A cold and resolute hero? A mature and dependable older man? A warm and cheerful big brother? An innocent and kind younger boy? Or someone with some other kind of personality?

Enterprise still remembered the unease she had felt when she first met the Commander.

After only a few days of spending time together, Enterprise realized all of her earlier guesses had been wrong.

Her Commander was neither a hero nor a tyrant. He was a terrible person.

Whenever he had nothing to do, he would make the Ship-Girls wear all sorts of strange outfits. He often harassed the girls in the Port District, shouted, "You're the ship I want most!" at Ship-Girls he did not have, then shifted his attention to other Ship-Girls he had yet to obtain after his enthusiasm faded shortly after getting them.

Even though he clearly knew Ship-Girls could easily fall in love with their Commander, he openly rotated them through the secretary ship position to raise their affection. Even when they had affection for him, he would not necessarily give them rings. Harassing cruisers and capital ships was one thing, but he even refused to spare destroyer lolis and Submarine Lolis, always poking them with his fingers whenever he had the chance.

Yet with such a terrible Commander by her side, she could feel at ease and summon the courage to fight. No matter how dangerous the battle was, as long as she could return to the Port District afterward and see that reassuring figure, she could feel warmth and happiness.

Enterprise remembered that she had been the Port District's first capital ship. She still remembered the Commander's surprised and delighted expression when he saw her. After that, he immediately gave her the best equipment in the Port District. Then came an incredibly busy stretch of days: sorties, commissions, exercises, and secretary ship duties. Enterprise had been so busy she could barely keep up, yet no matter how busy she was, she had been happy, because it proved that the Commander valued her. She was needed by him.

For a Ship-Girl, nothing was happier than being needed by her Commander.

But later, Enterprise began to worry that all the busy work would make her relationship with the Commander grow distant. So one day, during a break from work, when the Commander once again harassed her with his fingers, she gathered her courage and said, "My wish is to live honestly and sincerely, so I'll speak my mind whenever I have an opinion. If you have any thoughts, tell me too."

The result of those words was that the Commander harassed her even more often.

She continued serving as secretary ship and capital ship for a long time. Later, as time passed, more and more capital ships gradually appeared in the Port District, and Enterprise's chances to sortie slowly dwindled. Eventually, she no longer even had chances to take part in exercises or commissions. The only thing she still did was secretary ship work.

Sometimes, she would express her wish to sortie. When being harassed, she would say, "Simple invincibility has no meaning, Commander. But I believe that with you here, I can bring the full value of my abilities into play. Let's end this conflict together."

But even after saying that, she rarely had opportunities to sortie.

Then one day, when she was asked what she wanted to do after the war ended, Enterprise gathered all her courage and spoke her feelings.

"What do I want to do after the war ends? Me? I'll probably still follow you. After all, outside the battlefield, only being by your side makes me feel at ease. Would you... take me with you?"

That confession had neither gorgeous words nor overflowing passion. She had simply voiced her feelings in a calm tone during an afternoon chat.

But for Enterprise, who only excelled at fighting, such a confession was already the utmost she could manage.

Only Enterprise herself knew the shyness and unease hidden beneath her calm and dashing appearance when she confessed.

What kind of answer would she receive? Would he reject her? Would he brush it aside and refuse to give her a clear answer? Or, worst of all, would he reject her?

As she anxiously let her thoughts run wild, she saw a ring. It was a wedding ring personally given by her beloved Commander, representing his willingness to spend a lifetime with her.

Her uneasy heart settled instantly.

Just like that, she received the wedding ring, put on a Wedding Dress, and entered the hall of marriage with her beloved Commander. She still remembered what she had said at the wedding that day. "I have crossed countless battlefields and witnessed countless partings. I carry countless wishes and wills upon me. Commander, are you prepared to bear all of that? Is that so... Then let us walk forward together, until the end of our lives."

From that moment onward, she gave herself completely to the Commander. Born only to fight, she began to believe that even when the day came when the war ended, as long as the Commander was by her side, she could bravely continue onward and find true happiness.

But those stable and peaceful days soon passed. One day not long ago, her Commander, the lover to whom she had entrusted her life, her husband, suddenly left the Port District without any warning, vanishing as though he had evaporated from the world.

Unable to sense the Commander's presence any longer, the Port District, having lost its banner, quickly fell apart. No one knew the despair in Enterprise's heart. She began fighting again, stronger and more frenzied than before. Without the Commander, Enterprise had no reason to exist at all. Since she could not find him, she might as well sink into battle and descend into the deep sea.

It was only after she accidentally came to this world and sensed the Commander's existence that Enterprise's hope was rekindled.

"Commander, where exactly are you? What are you doing right now?"

Enterprise leaned against the rooftop railing, gazing toward Huaxia in the distance as she murmured to herself.

But for some reason, Enterprise had felt faintly uneasy all day, as though something bad was happening.

"Enterprise, it's time to work. Hurry back."

A beautiful woman with blue hair and a gentle, quiet temperament came up to the rooftop and called out to Enterprise. "Didn't you say you wanted to go to Huaxia to look for family? Once we finish our work here, I'll accompany you to the mainland. I'll also introduce you to a friend while we're there."