At the same moment, at Ying Huaishan's home.
Ying Huaishan looked at the photo just received on his phone screen, the corners of his mouth slowly curling up, a low chuckle escaping his throat.
The photo was very clear. Through the pharmacy's glass window, Tao Xinrou was putting a box of medicine into her bag, and half a step away from her stood Ying Jingsheng in a dark coat, his head slightly tilted as if listening to her.
The distance was close. The posture was natural.
This was not the distance between a superior and a subordinate.
"No wonder."
No wonder Tao Xinrou was impervious to persuasion, unmoved by the conditions he offered; no wonder Ying Jingsheng appeared beside her time and again, silently dissolving the little moves they had prepared.
It wasn't guarding, it was sheltering—it was caring.
Ying Huaishan put down his phone and looked up at the window. The city lights reflected in his eyes, cold.
He had originally thought to quickly remove an irritating piece on the board. Now it seemed this piece was no longer just irritating.
She had become Ying Jingsheng's person.
And Ying Jingsheng's person was Ying Huaishan's enemy.
He picked up his phone and dialed Zhang Hongbin's number. "The B plan we prepared earlier can be activated. But change the direction—don't just target her alone."
He paused, a trace of amusement curling at the corner of his mouth. "I want Jingsheng to watch, with his own eyes, how the person he protects pushes herself step by step into the abyss."
*
The proposal passed smoothly. Tao Xinrou was packing up to leave the meeting room when Zhao Sili rushed over and grabbed her arm, not letting her go, and cast a meaningful glance at Ying Jingsheng, who was still seated.
It was clearly a hint for her to thank him, or some other scheme.
Before Tao Xinrou could think further, Zhao Sili spoke first: "Cousin, since this is settled, should we start selecting the internal testers?"
Ying Jingsheng was still looking at the documents, not raising his head as he replied, "Mm, you can start preparations."
"Then I have a request. For the internal test guests, can I invite you? After all, you're also part of the hotel."
Ying Jingsheng's hand paused on the documents. He finally looked up and stared at the two of them. Tao Xinrou wished she could find a crack in the floor to hide in.
She had probably already guessed what Zhao Sili was thinking.
"You want me to be a guinea pig?"
"How can you call it that! It's leadership coming to the front line to guide work—how meaningful! And I have another bold idea."
Before Zhao Sili could finish, Ying Jingsheng interrupted, "I suggest you don't say it."
"No, I have to say it. I suggest you and Xinrou pretend to be a couple—that way you can see the real feedback from participating test guests."
The atmosphere instantly froze.
Tao Xinrou's face turned bright red. She had guessed correctly.
Ying Jingsheng spoke directly, "Your idea is good, but internal testing requires feedback from real users. Besides, pretending to be a couple might not simulate the actual experience of a real couple. You should screen testers according to the normal process."
Seeing that Ying Jingsheng was about to leave, Zhao Sili quickly blocked him: "Cousin, let me finish! Precisely because you're the person in charge, you can spot problems in the most critical places. And Xinrou is the proposer—she knows the details best. The two of you working together can catch details that ordinary users overlook. As for being a couple, it's just an experience—no need to do anything real. Why are you so nervous?"
Ying Jingsheng couldn't find a rebuttal, so he just pressed his lips together and said, "Since it's for the project, I can cooperate. What time?"
Zhao Sili's eyes lit up. "Next Tuesday afternoon!"
"Fine."
Zhao Sili almost jumped on the spot but held it in. She just tugged forcefully at Tao Xinrou's arm and shot her a quick wink.
Tao Xinrou was speechless. She had seen in Zhao Sili's hand the intention to take photos of the two of them and make them play it for real.
Embarrassed, Tao Xinrou still managed to keep a smile on her face, but inside she had already flipped this "matchmaker angel" over and over eight hundred times.
She glanced at Ying Jingsheng again. There seemed to be some unspoken emotion in his eyes. The moment their eyes met, he quickly looked away.
Wait, wasn't he suspicious of her before?
How come he actually agreed?
*
Tuesday afternoon, 1:30 PM. Tao Xinrou waited at the entrance of the VIP experience area.
She had come wearing only the most ordinary black wool coat, a high-neck knit sweater, and a pair of jeans.
"Xinrou!" Zhao Sili's voice came from the end of the corridor. But when she reached her and saw her outfit, she frowned.
"Why are you dressed like that? Where's the hip-hugging slit skirt I bought you last time?"
"Stop it, Sili. It's so cold today—I'm not wearing a slit skirt."
Pretending to be a couple was already absurd enough. If she dressed up flamboyantly, wouldn't it become a real blind date?
"Oh, I told you, this is how you show your beauty. Ah, forget it. As long as my cousin likes it, you could wear a cotton-padded jacket and he'd still smile."
As she spoke, Ying Jingsheng walked over from the other end.
Today he wore a dark gray casual jacket over a simple white shirt. He looked less sharp than in the office and somehow more... handsome in a way she couldn't describe.
Seeing Ying Jingsheng approaching, Zhao Sili leaned close to Tao Xinrou's ear and whispered, "He's here. Go for it."