Film and Television Time Travel: Why Do I Always End Up in Romance Dramas?

Chapter 35: Don't Learn Bad Habits

Back from the hotel, Nie Xiguang, sitting in the passenger seat, finally couldn't help but ask, "So what exactly is Sheng Yuan's attitude?"

"That General Manager Chen... seems difficult to deal with."

Yu Chen turned the steering wheel and merged the car into the main traffic. "Chen Liming is Sheng Bokai's man. He came partly to see my skills and partly to see if I'm worth winning over."

"So what did you say?"

"I said the technology isn't afraid of being looked at, it's afraid of not being looked at," Yu Chen smiled. "They wanted to send someone into the project team, and I agreed."

Nie Xiguang's eyes widened: "You agreed? Aren't you afraid they'll steal your skills?"

"Technology can't be hidden away." Yu Chen shook his head. "If it's really going to be industrialized, we'll have to teach it to others sooner or later. And it's good that they send people over. The more they learn, the more they'll know how difficult the technology is, and the less likely they are to interfere in the future."

Nie Xiguang nodded as if he understood, then asked, "What about President Lin?"

"He's observing," Yu Chen said. "Lin Yusen isn't one to easily express his opinion, but the fact that he didn't object today means he supports it."

"So you're going to be really busy from now on?" Nie Xiguang turned to look at him. "You'll have to manage the project and keep an eye on Sheng Yuan..."

"I'll definitely be busy," Yu Chen glanced at the rearview mirror. "But you still need to continue working on the purchasing department's data."

"I know." Nie Xiguang sat up straighter. "Yin Jie told me today that Mr. Mo from the purchasing department has been going to the archives room a lot these past few days, saying he's checking old contracts, but his eyes keep glancing in my direction."

Yu Chen frowned slightly: "He's become suspicious?"

"Maybe." Nie Xiguang lowered his voice. "I did as you said and hid all the sensitive data. I only left some inconsequential things on the surface. He looked through it a few times but couldn't find anything."

"Be careful," Yu Chen said. "Boss Mo has been in Shuangyuan for so many years, he's deeply entrenched. We have to be extra careful when investigating him right under his nose."

"I see."

The car pulled up in front of Nie Xiguang's dormitory building.

She unbuckled her seatbelt but didn't get out of the car immediately.

"Yu Chen".

"Um?"

"You..." Nie Xiguang bit her lip, "What do you do when you're under a lot of pressure?"

Yu Chen turned to look at her.

The car was dimly lit, but her eyes were bright.

"Drinking? Or staying alone?"

"By the way, you absolutely mustn't learn to chew betel nuts and smoke from the factory workers!!"

"I know, don't worry."

"However, if I'm under a lot of pressure, I used to stay alone," Yu Chen said honestly. "Now... I might miss you."

Nie Xiguang's face flushed: "Why did you miss me?"

"I wanted you to say I'm amazing." Yu Chen laughed. "Satisfying my vanity makes the pressure less."

"You...you...you're really speaking without thinking now!" Nie Xiguang nudged him, then laughed at herself. "But seriously, if you're under a lot of pressure, you can talk to me. I may not understand the technology, but I'll listen."

"Okay." Yu Chen nodded. "Go on upstairs and get some rest."

Nie Xiguang then got out of the car, but after taking a few steps, he turned back and said, "You too, don't stay up too late."

Only after watching Nie Xiguang enter the building did Yu Chen start the car and leave.

He certainly has a lot of things to deal with.

The project team formation plan, personnel list, equipment list... all need to be completed within three days.

The phone rang; it was Hua Xiangyang.

"Mr. Yu, are you home yet?"

"On the way, what's up?"

"I just received a call from Chen Liming's assistant. Sheng Yuan recommended two engineers, and their resumes have been sent over." Hua Xiangyang's voice was a little urgent. "I took a look. One has five years of work experience, and the other has seven. They have enough experience, but they are both Sheng Yuan's protégés. If they join the project team..."

"If they're in, they're in," Yu Chen said calmly. "Tell them that people can come, but they have to obey the project team's management, follow my technical decisions, and set the schedule according to my plan. If they can't accept that, then they shouldn't come."

"Okay, I'll tell them that tomorrow." Hua Xiangyang paused, "There's something else. President Lin just contacted me, asking if it's okay to schedule the project launch meeting for Monday."

"Monday is too rushed," Yu Chen said. "Wednesday, then. I need to refine the technical plan and pull out the equipment list over the weekend."

"Okay, I'll talk to General Manager Lin." Hua Xiangyang hesitated for a moment. "Engineer Yu, there's something else... General Manager Zhang contacted me privately and asked if you wanted to sign a letter of intent first, to put the 5% equity stake in writing."

Yu Chen laughed: "Is he afraid I'll run away?"

"Probably." Hua Xiangyang laughed as well. "You're in high demand right now, Sheng Yuan is eyeing you covetously, how could Shuang Yuan not be nervous?"

"A letter of intent can be signed," Yu Chen said, "but it must be stated that it is contingent on successful laboratory verification; if it fails, the agreement will automatically become invalid."

"Understood. I'll have the finance department draft a version and send it to you tomorrow."

"OK."

After hanging up the phone, Yu Chen went to the apartment he rented in Suzhou.

He parked his car but didn't go upstairs immediately; instead, he sat in the car.

As night deepened, the neighborhood became quiet.

He lightly tapped the steering wheel with his right hand, his mind racing with thoughts: project team members, equipment procurement, technical difficulties, and Nie Xiguang's side... a multitude of things to consider.

My phone vibrated again.

This time it was a text message from an unknown number: "Hello Mr. Yu, this is Chen Liming. I apologize for any offense I may have caused at today's meeting. Would it be convenient for us to chat sometime?"

Yu Chen looked at the text message and smiled.

That old fox Chen Liming, contacting him privately, is probably trying to bypass Lin Yusen and win him over directly.

He replied, "You're too kind, Mr. Chen. The project is about to start; I'll report back to you when there's progress."

The reply was very official and clear: we're not talking about personal relationships now, only work.

Chen Liming quickly replied: "Understood. Looking forward to good news from Engineer Yu."

Yu Chen didn't go back, turned off the engine, and went upstairs.

---

At the same time, Ye Rong sat in her rented room, staring blankly at the computer screen.

A thick stack of draft cooperation proposals sent by Sheng Xingjie was spread out on the table, but she couldn't read a single word of it.

My mind is filled with Yu Chen's cold gaze last night, and his words "Get out."

My phone rang; it was Sheng Xingjie.

"How's the plan coming along?" Sheng Xingjie asked bluntly.

"Still watching..." Ye Rong's voice was a little hoarse.

"Hurry up. I need to see the revised version by Monday." Sheng Xingjie paused. "Also, you need to keep following up on Yu Chen's situation."

Ye Rong's fingers tightened: "President Sheng, Engineer Yu... he seems to have some misunderstanding about me."

"Misunderstanding?" Sheng Xingjie sneered. "Ye Rong, I sent you to win people over, not to offend them. I don't care what misunderstandings you have, you have to find a way to resolve them."

"I……"

"Don't tell me it's difficult," Sheng Xingjie interrupted her. "Do you know why I hired you? It's because I value your hard work and ruthlessness. You can't even handle this little setback?"

Ye Rong bit her lip and remained silent.

"Let me tell you, Sheng Yuan is determined to get Yu Chen's project." Sheng Xingjie's voice turned cold. "If you do it well, I'll guarantee your promotion and raise at the end of the year. If you mess it up... you know the consequences."

The phone hangs up.

Ye Rong put down her phone and covered her face with her hands.

After a long while, she took a deep breath, sat up straight again, and turned on her computer.

The screen displayed Yu Chen's WeChat chat window. She stared at it for a long time before finally typing: "Mr. Yu, I apologize for my intrusion last night. Regarding the cooperation plan, President Sheng has some new ideas. When would be a convenient time for me to report them to you?"

send.

Then she closed WeChat, opened the draft proposal, and forced herself to read it.

She knew she had no way out.

Just like Sheng Xingjie said—hard-working and ruthless.

This is her only asset.

She then opened WeChat, found Siliang's chat box, and sent her a message.

---

The next morning, when Yu Chen arrived at Shuangyuan, Hua Xiangyang was already waiting for him in the office.

"Engineer Yu, take a look at this." Hua Xiangyang handed over a list. "This is my preliminary list of project team members. There are five of us here, two from Shengyuan, plus you, making a total of eight."

Yu Chen took the document and glanced at it: "How's the experience of the people on our side?"

"They're all experienced," Hua Xiangyang said, pointing to the list. "This Old Li has been in the process industry for ten years. Young Wang is an excellent equipment maintenance expert. And these three are all young but willing to learn."

"Okay." Yu Chen nodded. "What's the equipment list?"

"Here it is." Hua Xiangyang handed over another document. "The factory has most of the equipment, but we're missing three key ones. I asked the purchasing department, and the quote is here."

Yu Chen glanced at the price and frowned: "So expensive?"

"We have no choice but to import the equipment," Hua Xiangyang sighed. "The precision of domestically produced equipment isn't high enough to meet our requirements."

Yu Chen thought for a moment: "Buy one first, and I'll figure out how to get the other two."

"Think of a way?" Hua Xiangyang was taken aback. "These things aren't easy to borrow..."

"I have connections," Yu Chen said. "You can place an order for this one first. Give me a week for the rest."

As the two were talking, Lin Yusen's secretary knocked on the door and came in: "Engineer Yu, President Lin would like to see you."

Yu Chen and Hua Xiangyang exchanged a glance, then got up and went to Lin Yusen's office.

Lin Yusen was looking at documents when he saw him come in. He pointed to the chair opposite him and said, "Sit down."

Yu Chen sat down.

"Have you told Hua Zong about the project team?" Lin Yusen put down the documents.

"I said so. The personnel and equipment are basically finalized."

"What about the funds?" Lin Yusen looked at him. "Five million, it will be in your account within three days. But the finance department has procedures in place, so you can't just withdraw them at will."

"I need a dedicated account," Yu Chen said. "The project team will be independently audited, I will sign off on every expenditure, and you will review it."

Lin Yusen nodded: "Okay. There's one more thing—Chen Liming contacted me yesterday."

Yu Chen remained calm: "What did he say?"

"He said Shengyuan attaches great importance to this project and hopes to be deeply involved." Lin Yusen paused, "He hinted that if the project goes smoothly, Shengyuan could consider additional investment, or even... set up a separate R&D center for you."

"What are the conditions?" Yu Chen asked.

"The condition is that you have to sign a long-term agreement with Shengyuan." Lin Yusen looked at him, "Five years, or ten years."

Yu Chen smiled: "President Lin, do you think I should sign?"

"I won't make the decision for you," Lin Yusen said after thinking for a moment. "But I want to remind you that Sheng Yuan is offering a big pie, but whether you can actually get your hands on it is another matter."

"I understand." Yu Chen stood up. "President Lin, if there's nothing else, I'll go back to work."

As they reached the door, Lin Yusen suddenly said, "Yu Chen."

Yu Chen turned around.

"Shuangyuan may be small, but it has one advantage over Shengyuan," Lin Yusen said, looking at him. "Here, you have the final say."

Lin Yusen didn't finish his sentence, but he knew what he meant.

Yu Chen nodded, opened the door, and left.

In the corridor, he took out his phone and saw a WeChat message from Ye Rong.

He glanced at it but didn't reply.

Then I saw another message from Nie Xiguang: "Have you had breakfast?"

He replied, "I ate. What about you?"

"The steamed buns in the cafeteria are awful. I miss the pan-fried buns in Shanghai."

Yu Chen smiled: "I'll take you out to eat this weekend."

"You said it! You can't go back on your word!"

"No regrets."

Putting away his phone, Yu Chen strode towards the laboratory.

The purchasing department's affairs also need to be dealt with.