LWDC Chapter 127

Chapter 127: Past Tense or…?

Chapter 127: Past Tense or…?

Chapter 127: Past Tense or Present Progressive?

It’s understandable that the higher-ups want Huichuan to share its research as soon as possible, pooling the nation’s strength to tackle the research on the mutated organisms.

However, Huichuan itself is strong and might not use its deepest, most guarded research in exchange for resource support. In fact, they have many other projects they could use to apply for funding. So, simply luring them with resources might not be enough to get Huichuan to bite.

Therefore, the upper echelons, with Jinghui at the center, are preparing a combination punch, taking advantage of the establishment of comprehensive coordination offices in various bases to give Huichuan a hard time. On the one hand, they’re still using the temptation of resources, and on the other, they’re uniting other large-scale bases to find ways to put pressure on Huichuan. Wang Moye’s visit to Tianyue this time is to ensure that the first united target is properly promoted.

“Something’s not right. Jinghui and the higher-ups are putting on such a show just to get Huichuan to share their technology?”

The next day, in Yu Zhou’s office, Ning Fei revealed his conversation with Wang Moye the previous night. Yu Zhou quickly identified the blind spot: “I think it’s more like the higher-ups want to knock Huichuan down a peg, so they’re using this project as an excuse to make a fuss. If Huichuan hands it over, that means they’re yielding, but Huichuan probably won’t bow their head so easily.”

“I asked him that too, but ‘Samoyed’ told me not to think too much, even if I did he wouldn’t answer,” Ning Fei said, leaning back in his chair. “He even played dumb with me, it was so boring.”

“If you ask me, just promising to allocate research funding isn’t that tempting for Tianyue itself,” Yu Zhou said, propping his chin up with one hand. “But this sounds like it’ll annoy Duan Yunhong, so you should be inclined to agree to join, right?”

Ning Fei said, “You make it sound like I’m just playing around. Even if I lose the bet, I can accept it, but I haven’t given up yet. He intercepted the person I wanted, and preemptively established the office I wanted to create. I should drag his progress down too.”

“Yes, yes, yes, you put it so grandly, so let’s just say that’s how it is.” Yu Zhou raised an eyebrow and smiled. “Anyway, your suggestion is definitely to accept Wang Moye’s conditions, right?”

“Yes, and no,” Ning Fei said. “I suggest tentatively agreeing, and then negotiating further. Jinghui is superior to Tianyue in many ways, so we might as well take the opportunity to see what other benefits they can offer.”

“When you say ‘negotiate’, do you mean negotiate openly, or also use your ambiguous relationship in reverse?” Yu Zhou glanced at his phone on the desk. “Did you see his post on Moments last night?”

Ning Fei: “Guess?”

“I guess you saw it. Once you want to study someone’s thoughts, you’ll read through all their social media platforms, it’s practically like stalking.” Yu Zhou teased, “What did you do to him with your ability last night?”

He said this because Wang Moye’s post on Moments last night was a photo of Tianyue Base under the moonlight, captioned:

【The moon tonight.

And the wind tonight.】

Yu Zhou knew at a glance that it was referring to Ning Fei. “Wind,” should not be the biting, cold wind of a winter night, but the “wind-type ability.” However, because Wang Moye didn’t post a location or take a picture of any specific buildings or people, it could also be seen as just his “artistic sigh.”

In short, it was a status that someone who didn’t know the situation would see as ordinary, but those involved could sense the ambiguous atmosphere.

“Didn’t do anything. I didn’t bring a jacket when I went out, so I used my wind-type ability to block the wind around me. But we were standing close when we were talking, so he probably benefited a little,” Ning Fei replied. “He definitely posted that on purpose, I’ll just pretend I didn’t see it.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk, the way you two are fishing each other is like tea sellers and health product sellers going head-to-head, a battle of the titans.” Yu Zhou laughed. “But he even dares to post like that on Moments, he might really want more than just a physical relationship with you, he might want to connect emotionally too.”

“Where’s the emotional connection?” Ning Fei scoffed. “What’s the difference between this and sending a mass ‘Good morning’ ‘Good night’ to all ambiguous partners?”

“True. But I’m warning you, even if you’re ‘highly skilled’, be careful.” Yu Zhou replied, “After all, if Tianyue really cooperates with Jinghui, you two will have plenty of opportunities to interact in the future. Don’t really get him invested, only to have him discover that you’re just using him. Deceiving his body and heart is a small matter, but if he goes home to complain to his parents like a primary school student, and his parents come to Tianyue Base to cause trouble, then Lao Yue will be annoyed. If Lao Yue is annoyed, then I’m annoyed, understand?”

“Understood. But do you think Yue Fengping understands that you’re protecting him like a child?” Ning Fei scoffed. “Don’t worry, Wang Moye will definitely leave before the New Year. Even if we interact in the future, it’ll usually be through the phone, and at most we’ll meet occasionally. Even effortless flirting techniques are easy to master, after all, I was taught by ‘Teacher Yu’.”

“Hold it right there, I can admit that I taught you other deceptive tricks, but this kind of charming scam is your own original skill, it has nothing to do with me.” Yu Zhou tapped the table with his finger. “Alright, I know your opinion, I’ll discuss it with Lao Yue. Whether or not to agree to cooperate, and what conditions Tianyue wants if we agree, I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay, then I’ll wait for your news.” Ning Fei said, standing up and turning to leave. Yu Zhou looked at his back and suddenly said, “Speaking of which, why not take the opportunity to make Duan Yunhong jealous and make him beg for your forgiveness?”

“What kind of melodramatic romance novel dream are you having? He’ll beg for forgiveness? His knees are hard, and his mouth is a hundred times harder than his knees.” Ning Fei stopped and turned back to sarcastically say, “Besides, he won’t think he’s wrong, victory and defeat are common in war, there’s no need to apologize.”

After saying that, Ning Fei decisively walked out of the office.

Yu Zhou raised an eyebrow and flipped his phone in his hand several times, but ultimately didn’t cause trouble by liking Wang Moye’s post on Moments.

*

With Yu Zhou’s persuasion, Yue Fengping easily agreed to establish a cooperative mechanism with Jinghui.

Of course, Tianyue also put forward other conditions. Ning Fei and Yu Zhou negotiated with Wang Moye, and also negotiated online with the people behind Wang Moye. In the week before the New Year, things finally settled. The announcement of the cooperation document had also been drafted, and with a few minor modifications, it could be made public before the New Year holiday.

And Wang Moye himself was finally about to return to Jinghui. If he didn’t leave soon, he might not make it home for the New Year due to delays on the road.

Before leaving, Wang Moye transferred a batch of New Year’s goods and snacks from Jinghui, and distributed them to the senior executives of Tianyue. The gift box Ning Fei received was special, but he pretended not to know and didn’t say anything. Wang Moye himself didn’t explain much, only saying, “Come visit Jinghui in the spring when you have time?”

“The document is about to be released, and after the New Year we’ll be extremely busy. You’re still asking me to go out and play in the spring, be careful Yu Zhou criticizes you behind your back,” Ning Fei said, amused. “Won’t you be busy later? That’s impossible, isn’t the follow-up to this matter definitely going to be your responsibility?”

“You have a point…” Wang Moye also smiled. “However, even if it’s not to play, you might go to Jinghui to participate in exchanges?”

Ning Fei said, “This is cross-regional R&D project cooperation, I’m not a researcher, what am I going to exchange?”

Wang Moye said, “It doesn’t have to be a scientific and technological achievement exchange meeting. You’re a level-three ability user, and your video of fighting the mutated ape circulated widely internally, high-level abilities should all know about it. Jinghui wants to hold an ability user exchange meeting next year, and they should invite you.”

“I might not…”

“Other ability users might say they still have base missions to perform, but you don’t have any, right?” Wang Moye said, “Not letting you do ability-related work in the first place is already a waste. If you don’t go to exchange ideas and share your experience in controlling abilities, I’m afraid everyone will scold Minister Yu in person.”

He said this in a half-joking tone, but Ning Fei heard the deeper meaning in it.

Fighting the mutated ape was already a few months ago. Ning Fei received Duan Yunhong’s video email—the one edited to remove sensitive information—and knew that he had submitted the video of the operation. However, the follow-up reports on this mission were all done by Zheng Liwen and the others, and Ning Fei basically didn’t show up. Occasionally, the ability user center would ask Ning Fei to share his experience, and Ning Fei would just say some superficial things. It wasn’t that he wanted to hide anything, it was just that he didn’t want to be an ability user coach, so he pretended he couldn’t explain it clearly.

Now that Wang Moye mentioned this specifically, it’s likely that someone in Jinghui doesn’t want to let this matter go easily.

“How about it, will you come or not? If you come, I’ll personally receive you.” Wang Moye was still smiling and said, “I guarantee the itinerary will be arranged properly, so you won’t be bothered, how about it?”

—This is saying that if I’m willing to cooperate and go to Jinghui for the exchange, he (the person behind him) will protect me?

“This, let’s decide when the exchange notice comes out.” Even if Ning Fei understood, it was impossible for him to give an answer right away. “Maybe you won’t have time to pay attention to me then?”

“Point me?” Wang Moye took a step closer to him and chuckled, “Then why don’t you try booking now, maybe I can schedule it for you in advance?”

“You’re going home for the New Year, what are you booking.” Ning Fei heard him using such an ambiguous and deliberate tone, and also used a joking tone to make his words have deeper meaning, “Let’s talk about it when we have a chance in the future.”

“Maybe there will really be a chance in the future.” Wang Moye pushed his glasses, his tone natural. “After all, people from various bases have the opportunity to be promoted, and after promotion, they can go to Jinghui Base.”

Ning Fei: …If you really dare to poach me, Yu Zhou will definitely give you an unforgettable lesson.

But it seems that this is probably Wang Moye’s “side mission”, or something that Jinghui mentioned again before he left, otherwise he wouldn’t have mentioned it to Ning Fei now, and the way he mentioned it wasn’t very enthusiastic. Ning Fei responded to it as a joke: “Hey, you make it sound so good, so you’re trying to poach me after all.”

“I wanted to say something else, but you weren’t taking the bait?” Wang Moye raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I felt a connection with you the first time I came here, and I thought I could have some results this month, at least some progress. But are you willing to take the bait? I’m a little confused.”

Ning Fei didn’t expect him to suddenly make it so clear, and quickly used the universal formula—a question: “You’re such a smart person, there are times when you’re confused?”

“Of course there are.” Wang Moye took another step closer. “Actually, I can accept this back-and-forth, it’s quite interesting to play this with a smart person. But I just want to confirm, are you playing this game with anyone else?”

Ning Fei still responded with the universal formula: “We don’t seem to be at the point where we can ask each other this question. You’ll know when you need to know.”

“Then I’ll just confirm one thing.” Wang Moye smiled. “You and Duan Yunhong, the director of that Huichuan research institute…did you have something going on? Present progressive? Past tense?”

Ning Fei: …

—Ah, how should I answer this?