Chapter 111 Romance
In a foreign land, in a vast and lonely city like the Imperial Capital, Jiang Ruolin was having the loneliest, most miserable birthday of her life.
So when Liu Shang suddenly appeared out of thin air, she couldn't help but be surprised and deeply moved.
"Liu Shang..."
"How did you get here...?"
Jiang Ruolin, who had already thrown herself into his arms, was now crying and smiling at the same time.
Liu Shang gently wiped the tears from her face.
"So, are you satisfied with my surprise?"
Jiang Ruolin nodded vigorously, then hugged him even tighter.
"You big villain, you didn't give me any warning at all."
"Do you have any idea how much you've tormented me today?!"
...
For the rest of the day, the young couple, reunited after so long, were practically inseparable. They bought snacks at the supermarket and went shopping at the mall.
In the afternoon, they had an exquisite and romantic Western-style dinner with red wine.
Seeing how beautiful and lovely his girlfriend was, Liu Shang's heart swelled with happiness.
As for Jiang Ruolin, while she had been miserable, lonely, and sad that morning, by the afternoon, she was blissfully happy.
The stark contrast left a powerful impression on her.
Their only regret after half a day together was the complete lack of privacy for anything more intimate than holding hands and hugging.
When they arrived at the train station, Jiang Ruolin ran into a problem.
Because Liu Shang hadn't said anything in advance, she had already bought a single sleeper ticket for herself.
Given how sought-after the tickets for this train were, it would be nearly impossible for Liu Shang to get a ticket on the same one.
The only option, Jiang Ruolin thought, was to refund her ticket and buy new ones with Liu Shang for tomorrow or the day after.
If that was the case, did this mean they would have to get a hotel room for the night?
Ever since they started dating, their intimate moments had been mostly confined to the VIP box at the internet cafe.
Their relationship had never progressed to the stage of staying in a hotel together.
The thought of it made Jiang Ruolin's heart flutter with panic.
If, tonight, while they were in bed together, at that critical moment, he asked if she was ready… should she agree? Should she give herself to him?
Although she truly liked and loved him with all her heart, the thought still terrified her.
However, faced with this predicament, she felt terrible for Liu Shang. She couldn't bear the thought of him having to go back without her.
Finally, after a fierce internal struggle, Jiang Ruolin mustered her courage and said to Liu Shang, "How about I refund my ticket first?"
Liu Shang nodded with a smile and happily pulled her over to the refund counter.
But afterward, Liu Shang just stood there like a statue.
He didn't suggest buying tickets for the next day, nor did he move to leave the station to find a place to stay.
Jiang Ruolin would never believe that this scoundrel was as dumb as he looked.
At that moment, she had a faint premonition. Could this devious villain have some other trick up his sleeve?!
In the end, she had no choice but to ask with a slight frown, "Liu Shang, I doubt there are any tickets left for today."
"Why don't we get in line to see if we can get tickets for tomorrow or the day after, and then find a hotel for tonight?"
"The star-rated hotels here in the Imperial Capital are a bit expensive, but I still have plenty of pocket money, so it'll be my treat."
In truth, Liu Shang had never even considered the possibility of Jiang Ruolin suggesting they go to a hotel together.
Almost subconsciously, he asked tentatively, "A hotel... Are we getting one room, or two?"
At this, Jiang Ruolin gave him a charming and coquettish look.
"A standard room. We'll each have our own bed, so don't get any ideas about taking advantage of me."
"Of course, if you insist on booking two rooms, I won't mind. It's not like I'm worried about the cost."
Hearing this, Liu Shang immediately acted like a child, hugging her and pretending to sob dramatically.
Then, he put on an exaggerated expression of annoyance and regret and pulled two soft sleeper tickets from his wallet.
"I'm so full of regret. If I had known, I never would have bought these two tickets!"
Jiang Ruolin took the tickets and saw that they were for the exact same train she was supposed to be on—two adjoining soft sleepers.
My premonition was right! This big villain always finds a way to tease me!
At the same time, a wave of relief washed over her. She no longer had to worry and fret about what might happen that night.
The fact that Liu Shang hadn't planned to put her in that position at all... how could she not be moved by his thoughtfulness?
"Soft sleepers?!"
"How did you get these tickets?"
"I booked mine ages ago," she said, referring to her original ticket. "I even had a friend help me get a hard-sleeper lower berth."
Liu Shang sighed helplessly. "How about I refund these two as well?"
"You have no idea," he teased, "how badly I need to find a hotel and get some proper rest."
Mentioning it again made Jiang Ruolin smile even more brightly. She shook his arm playfully.
"No way!"
"Be good. I'm sure we'll have our chance to stay in a hotel together someday."
That one sentence was enough to make Liu Shang want to howl with excitement right then and there.
...
...
About an hour later, the young couple passed through the ticket gate and made their way to board the train home.
At that moment, Jiang Ruolin still felt a pang of regret.
Liu Shang hadn't remembered that today was her birthday.
From beginning to end, even during their romantic dinner, he had never once mentioned it.
Still, for him to appear out of nowhere like this, crossing such a great distance to be with her—that was already the best gift she could imagine.
She was already more than satisfied and didn't dare ask for anything more.
Following the numbers on their tickets, they found their carriage.
As they boarded, the carriage attendant, Chen Xue, who was standing at the door, had already noticed Liu Shang's outrageously beautiful girlfriend.
While marveling at her, Chen Xue didn't forget to give Liu Shang a discreet "okay" sign.
Liu Shang secretly nodded his thanks and farewell to her.
A moment later, they arrived at their soft sleeper compartment. As they approached, Jiang Ruolin had found it odd: why were the doors to the other compartments open, while theirs was closed?
Jiang Ruolin, walking ahead, opened the door and was left utterly speechless by the scene inside.
The moment the door swung open, she saw the garlands, the colorful balloons, and the exquisite birthday cake on the small table. It all finally clicked.
Unbelieving, tears of surprise and pure joy welled up in her eyes.
Chapter 112: Nosebleed
Although she was sure that the scene before her had been carefully prepared just for her, Jiang Ruolin still turned in disbelief to look at Liu Shang, her gaze fixed entirely on him.
She truly couldn't believe it, nor could she figure out how Liu Shang had managed to get on the train ahead of time to arrange all of this.
At that moment, Liu Shang gently took both of her hands, looked into her eyes, and said affectionately, "Happy birthday, baby."
"I love you!"
"If I had to put a time limit on this love, I'd say it's for this life and the next."
Overwhelmed with emotion, Jiang Ruolin felt as though she were melting from Liu Shang's words.
Without hesitation, she stood on her tiptoes and offered him a sweet kiss.
"Liu Shang, I love you too!"
"So, so much..."
However, with a steady stream of passengers boarding in the carriage corridor, their kiss was inevitably cut short under the circumstances, which left Liu Shang wanting more.
Perhaps noticing his expression, Jiang Ruolin blushed and secretly mouthed a few words to him.
"There are too many people on the train. Be good, okay?"
"I'll make it up to you when I get the chance..."
After she said this, Jiang Ruolin saw Liu Shang's eyes light up.
The next thing she knew, the guy was drawing the curtains over the windows and sliding the soft sleeper compartment door shut, locking it.
Seeing this, Jiang Ruolin was so startled that she hurriedly grabbed his arm to stop him.
"Hey, what are you doing?!"
"We're not the only ones in this compartment, there are other people too!"
With a mysterious smile, Liu Shang proudly produced the other two tickets for the upper berths from his wallet.
"Now, it should be just us. No one else."
Seeing the tickets in Liu Shang's hand, Jiang Ruolin didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
This mischievous guy had actually bought all four tickets for the private compartment.
Then, the thought that this small, private space now belonged to just the two of them made her blush uncontrollably.
Next, as if she had turned into a statue, Jiang Ruolin simply watched as Liu Shang finished locking the door.
Then he gently pulled her down to sit on his lap.
What followed was a deep, passionate kiss.
An unknown amount of time passed before the two slowly separated, breathless.
Her clothes slightly disheveled and her bangs damp with sweat, Jiang Ruolin snuggled into Liu Shang's arms.
"Okay, now you have to tell me. What's going on with the tickets, the decorations, and the cake?"
"It's nothing that mysterious. The attendant for this carriage is Cheng Meng's cousin."
"I just asked her for a little help."
Liu Shang smiled faintly, his hands already beginning to roam freely as he explained.
Hearing that the train attendant was an acquaintance…
Jiang Ruolin was instantly mortified. She hastily pulled his wandering hands away and got up to fix her clothes and hair.
Perhaps intentionally, Jiang Ruolin, with her body slightly turned, readjusted the underwear that Liu Shang had disarranged right in front of him.
The sight was enough to nearly give Liu Shang a nosebleed.
***
After that, they went hand in hand to meet up with Chen Xue.
Jiang Ruolin's face was naturally flushed, and she seemed a bit shy and embarrassed.
Chen Xue took Jiang Ruolin's hand, praising her beauty and saying that Liu Shang was both capable and blessed to have won over such a gorgeous girlfriend.
In the evening, they lit birthday candles and cut the cake, even sharing a few bottles of Budweiser.
When they had washed up and were ready for the night, the door to their compartment was closed and locked.
At this time, Jiang Ruolin slowly took off her fleece jacket, standing before Liu Shang in only her thermal underwear, her face blushing.
The white thermal set did little to hide her stunning figure.
Liu Shang audibly swallowed, then pulled Jiang Ruolin into his arms.
While kissing her deeply, he reached a hand around her back for the first time and deftly undid the clasp of her bra.
Then, despite Jiang Ruolin's half-hearted protests, Liu Shang finally managed to push some of her clothing up.
***
"You're so beautiful..."
"Like the most exquisite work of art in the world."
Hearing his words, Jiang Ruolin's ears turned a deep shade of red.
"You... you're terrible!"
The next moment, Liu Shang slowly lowered his head, and a soft moan escaped Jiang Ruolin's throat.
***
The night was spent in beautiful, sweet intimacy.
Given the public setting, they didn't go any further.
The next morning, Jiang Ruolin woke up first.
She blushed again as she slowly removed his large hand from beneath her clothes.
At the same time, with a happy smile, she leaned over and gently kissed Liu Shang's cheek.
Coincidentally, Liu Shang woke up at that exact moment and fully enjoyed his morning treat.
"Good morning, wifey!"
Jiang Ruolin blushed and replied, "Morning!"
After breakfast, the train was approaching its final destination.
Much to Liu Shang's regret, Jiang Ruolin had already changed her clothes while he was in the bathroom, costing him another chance to admire the view.
After arriving at the terminal in the provincial capital, the two of them said goodbye to Chen Xue. It was time for them to part as well—Liu Shang was heading home, and Jiang Ruolin was returning to Fengcheng.
Just then, as Liu Shang took out his wallet again, Jiang Ruolin very naturally asked the question that had been on her mind.
"Liu Shang, that wallet is the latest model from Hermès. It costs over 3000 yuan, doesn't it?"
"It's stylish yet sophisticated. It really suits you."
"Who picked it out for you?"
"Hermès? Over 3000 yuan?!!"
Beyond the initial shock, Liu Shang instantly replayed Jiang Ruolin's words in his mind.
*Good heavens,* he thought. *Her words were a masterfully laid trap, with hidden threats in every syllable.*
Immediately, Liu Shang pulled out the wallet and examined it again.
"It was a gift from an auntie. She said she was buying one for her son who had just graduated and started working."
"She happened to buy an extra one and gave it to me."
"At the time, I figured a wallet would cost 500 yuan at most. If I had known how expensive it was, I wouldn't have accepted it, no matter what."
Throughout Liu Shang's explanation, Jiang Ruolin had been carefully observing his every subtle expression.
The result was quite satisfactory to her.
Afterward, Jiang Ruolin looped her arm through Liu Shang's with a smile and changed the subject naturally, as if the murderous intent from a moment ago had never existed.
Seeing this, Liu Shang's own mood was in turmoil.
At the same time, a deep thought moved him: women truly are a terrifyingly formidable species.
And Jiang Ruolin, at her young age, already possessed all the potential of the world's finest—and most terrifying—women.
Chapter 113 I Can't Live Without You
...
After parting ways in the provincial capital, Liu Shang and Jiang Ruolin returned to their respective homes.
Time flew by, and the Spring Festival arrived right on schedule.
Back in the warmth and comfort of his home, Liu Shang spent nearly every day with his parents. He cast aside all worldly distractions and cherished the precious time he could have with them.
His parents were naturally delighted and gratified by Liu Shang's thoughtfulness. At the same time, however, they were also worried about his work situation. They reminded him not to let his studies suffer and not to be too focused on money. He should spend it when he needed to and, most importantly, take care of his health.
On New Year's Eve, Liu Shang sent Jiang Ruolin a text message.
"Baby, Happy Chinese New Year. Having you is the greatest happiness and luck of my life!"
Jiang Ruolin replied, "Honey, Happy New Year. The one thing I fear and pray for is a future without you!"
As far as Liu Shang knew, Jiang Ruolin had gone with her parents to her grandmother's house for the New Year—in the 'Magic City' she disliked so much. It was an annual trip for their family.
After chatting with Jiang Ruolin for a while, Liu Shang also sent New Year's greetings to many other people via text or phone call.
When he got to Song Jia's name, Liu Shang thought for a moment before sending a congratulatory text: "Happy New Year! I wish you and your family all the best. By the way, thank you again for the wallet, but it's too much. Is there anything you'd like as a gift? I could get it for you."
Since they had last parted ways in Fengcheng, the two hadn't been in touch for more than ten days. Liu Shang knew Song Jia had many friends and classmates, so he figured she must be out partying and having a great time, and he didn't want to bother her.
But what was the truth?
During these days, Song Jia had been in a bad mood and hadn't gone out to play or attend parties much at all. Although she had previously resolved not to talk to Liu Shang anymore, she found herself, at odd moments, wanting to contact the guy and ask what he was doing. In the end, after a fierce internal struggle, she always managed to restrain herself.
Still, she hadn't taken the initiative to contact Liu Shang. But in the past ten days, had Liu Shang tried to contact her even once? No!
Whenever she thought of this, a strange anger welled up inside her. So when she received the text message from Liu Shang, all the frustration in her heart ignited. She furiously typed out a long message on her phone, full of anger and criticism.
But in the end, she deleted it all and replaced it with two simple words: "Happy New Year. No need."
...
Soon, the few days off for the Spring Festival came to an end.
On the eighth day of the lunar new year, Liu Shang, like everyone else, arrived at the company to work on time. In his heart, he didn't consider himself a student at all and didn't feel he was entitled to any special privileges. Since he was working and receiving a salary far higher than the others, he naturally had to act professionally and show his dedication.
He made his rounds, paying his New Year's respects to Mr. Zhong, Xu Tiande, and the others. Immediately afterward, he handed out the candies and snacks he had brought back from the Imperial Capital for everyone in the office to try.
Mr. Zhong, Xu Tiande, and the others were genuinely surprised that Liu Shang had come back to work so promptly. While laughing and making a few jokes at his expense, they all admired his professionalism.
And Song Guangyuan, treating him like one of his own kids, just smiled and shook his head. "You kid, you finally get a winter vacation. The company isn't even busy right now. Why did you come back so early?"
But in reality, this was a very busy period for the company. Internally, they had to prepare the annual plans for equipment, chemicals, and various other materials. There were also annual work plans and technical project approvals to handle. On the oil field side, they had to prepare technical reports for Party A in advance to assist them in applying for their annual projects and corresponding funding.
In short, things were nowhere near as leisurely as Song Guangyuan had claimed.
After finishing the New Year's greetings, Liu Shang returned to his office. It was just as it had been before—two desks placed side by side, but the seat behind his was now empty, no longer occupied by a chattering, laughing girl.
During this season, Song Jia must be busy visiting relatives and friends, having a great time, right?
It wasn't until three or four days later that Song Jia appeared at the company for the first time.
When she saw Mr. Zhong, Xu Tiande, and everyone else, Song Jia was extremely well-behaved, offering her New Year greetings with a smile on her face.
Only when she got to Liu Shang did her expression immediately turn cold.
"Hey. The Subject Three exam is today."
"Are you going or not? If not, then forget it."
Seeing her like this, Liu Shang was quite surprised and didn't understand what was wrong. He joked with a wry smile.
"I don't know what this humble servant did to provoke Miss Song. You're all smiles and warm spring breezes for everyone else, but I get the cold shoulder. Good grief, you're looking at me like I owe you money!"
Song Jia's expression remained unchanged as she snorted coldly. "Hmph. You do owe me. A lot. Is that so unreasonable?"
Actually, Song Jia hadn't wanted to come here today. She had thought about taking the Subject Three test by herself countless times. The truth was, she was a little scared and didn't want to face the exam alone. Furthermore, Liu Shang had given up his own test slot before just to accompany her. Even for an ordinary classmate or colleague, it wouldn't be right to be so inconsiderate under the circumstances.
At this, Liu Shang smiled, then took a gift he had prepared out of his desk drawer and opened the box directly.
It was a pure white, exquisite, and compact iPad mini.
"Here, a New Year's gift for you," he said. "I hope this satisfies my creditor."
Hearing Liu Shang's words, Song Jia's first instinct was to snort and throw a retort at him: "Who cares about your gift? As if I can't afford to buy what I want myself?"
However, when her eyes subconsciously glanced at the open box in Liu Shang's hand, she saw the black screen, the pure white frame, and the truly beautiful iPad mini. She couldn't look away. Girls always have a weakness for pretty, shiny things.
"Hmph. You didn't even wrap it. How insincere."
"Fine. For its sake, I'll consider your debt paid."
In her heart, Song Jia was also persuading herself: *Anyway, I won't see him much from now on, so just treat him as a very ordinary colleague or classmate.*
Chapter 114: My Boyfriend Drives a Bora
Perhaps spurred on by her anger at Liu Shang, Song Jia, who tested first that day, passed her exam in a single attempt.
Both of them successfully passed their Subject Three driving exams.
But unlike before, the two of them didn't go out to celebrate this time.
Song Jia showed no particular excitement, either. She just said a rather flat goodbye to him and left.
However, while they were waiting for their turn to test, Song Jia couldn't hold back her resentment. "You didn't contact me at all this whole time?" she asked.
This left Liu Shang dumbfounded, and he repeatedly pleaded his innocence.
She was the one who had cut off their chat. He had tried contacting her once after that but received no reply.
Liu Shang had simply figured she was busy having fun with her classmates and friends, with no time to chat.
Of course, his explanation left Song Jia deeply unsatisfied.
Soon after, Liu Shang and Song Jia finally received their driver's licenses.
With that, Liu Shang's designated company driver was reluctantly relieved of his duties.
From then on, the car became, for all intents and purposes, Liu Shang's personal vehicle.
In theory, the car was still under the administration of the company's production department.
But given the company's current climate and all the insider gossip flying around, only a fool would dare to give Liu Shang any trouble over it.
So, Liu Shang's car came and went as he pleased, and no one batted an eye.
There were company-designated gas stations throughout the city, so Liu Shang never had to pay for fuel himself; the company settled the bill with the gas stations at the end of each month.
At the same time, under Song Guangyuan's instructions, Liu Shang's special vehicle was upgraded from the old Nissan pickup to an excellent, fully-imported, four-wheel-drive SUV: a Mitsubishi Pajero.
In the company's vehicle hierarchy, this car was second only to those driven by Song Guangyuan, Xu Tiande, and Mr. Zhong. It was even more high-end than the cars assigned to some of the team leaders.
This development surprised everyone at the company even more, filling their hearts with envy.
***
Soon, just as Liu Shang's work began to get busy again, the first semester of his freshman year of university began.
Jiang Ruolin returned to school two days early, and the two were reunited after their long separation, eagerly telling each other how much they had missed one another.
Back in Liu Shang's dormitory, not having seen each other for the entire winter break, the reunion was exceptionally warm and lively.
Liu Shang bought a large supply of beer and food from a supermarket, and they celebrated with their friends from the neighboring dorms, eating and drinking together.
Throughout the gathering, everyone showered Liu Shang with admiration and envy for his generosity and apparent wealth.
But Liu Shang just shook his head and smiled.
First of all, what was the real cost of buying everyone a meal and some drinks?
(Of course, for a group of students, it was still a relatively significant expense.)
Secondly, Liu Shang had so many supermarket credits that he couldn't possibly spend them all, even if he tried for all four years of college.
The Spring Festival had been a bit late this year.
So late, in fact, that they had already been back in school for several days when the fifteenth day of the first lunar month—the Lantern Festival—finally arrived.
On this day, a reluctant Jiang Ruolin had to go home to celebrate the holiday with her family, though she hated to part with Liu Shang.
Meanwhile, Liu Shang and his dorm mates were invited by Cheng Meng's parents to celebrate the festival and have dinner at their home.
At two o'clock, after their first long class of the afternoon, the four of them headed to the side gate of the school to catch a taxi.
This semester, the faculty's attitude toward Liu Shang had undergone a massive shift. This was thanks to Xu Tiande's personal intervention the previous semester and the subsequent handling of Director Cen from the school's academic affairs office.
For one, Liu Shang was an outstanding student in both character and academics, with excellent grades and a solid understanding of the material.
He was also very humble and respectful toward his teachers, which made them see him in a favorable light.
Secondly, it was clear from various incidents that Liu Shang came from a very influential family.
The school's administrative department had been repeatedly urged by Vice Principal Li Zhi to take good care of Liu Shang.
Naturally, no one was looking to cause him any more trouble.
In fact, after the last incident, his counselor, Mr. Zhao, had become even more enthusiastic and attentive toward Liu Shang, looking out for him in every way.
***
Since it was the Lantern Festival, they had run right into the evening rush hour, which also coincided with the taxi drivers' shift change. As a result, there wasn't a single empty cab at the school gate.
When the four of them reached the taxi stand, the drivers who were looking to carpool didn't even give them a second glance.
They waited for more than ten minutes, but there was still no sign of a taxi.
Just then, in an awkward twist of fate, Wang Yin and her boyfriend appeared nearby with three other friends.
It looked like they were also heading to a restaurant for dinner.
Ever since the public confession incident had backfired so spectacularly, Fu Liang and Wang Yin had become, to no one's surprise, infamous figures on campus.
Fu Liang himself was a relatively ordinary person with a low profile, so the impact on him wasn't too severe.
For Wang Yin, however, the fallout had been catastrophic.
The incident had completely shattered her illusions of ascending into the university's top social circles.
So, not long after it happened, she had accepted the advances of a boy from a well-to-do family.
Now, with the two groups bumping into each other so abruptly at the school gate, the atmosphere was naturally a bit tense.
Fu Liang's mood soured the moment he saw Wang Yin being held so affectionately by another man.
But Wang Yin's group felt even more disgusted and indignant upon seeing Fu Liang.
Of them all, Wang Yin was probably the one who hated Fu Liang the most.
She was convinced that if that idiot Fu Liang hadn't caused such a farce, she would have certainly found a much better partner.
She wouldn't have lost so much face and become the butt of a school-wide joke.
Initially, both groups intended to pretend they hadn't seen each other and just walk past.
But, unexpectedly, Wang Yin walked right up to Fu Liang, her boyfriend and friends naturally following her lead.
"Hehe, what a coincidence," she said with a smirk.
"Are you all going out for dinner?"
After Zheng Shiwei and Cheng Meng nodded in confirmation, Wang Yin smiled and said slowly, "It's hard to get a reservation on a day like today, and even harder to find a taxi."
"Oh, by the way, I forgot to introduce you. This is my boyfriend, Ding Wei."
"He drives a Bora. It's too bad our car is full, otherwise we could have given you a ride."
Ding Wei and Cheng Meng weren't friends, but they knew of each other.
They nodded and smiled faintly as a greeting.
At that moment, prodded by Wang Yin's deliberate display, Ding Wei and his friends stood there looking quite proud and pleased with themselves in front of Fu Liang.
For the first time, Wang Yin acted as if she were deeply in love with Ding Wei, deliberately engaging in a public display of affection.
In contrast, Zheng Shiwei and Cheng Meng looked like they had a toothache. Their brows furrowed, but they couldn't say anything.
As for Fu Liang, he was flushed with anger, barely able to contain himself in this situation.
It got to the point where Liu Shang and Cheng Meng, who knew him well, were worried he was about to rush forward and start a fight.
That would only make things worse.
Just then, Ding Wei also smiled at Cheng Meng. "It really is hard to get a taxi today."
"Anyway, the Shengshi Hotel we booked isn't too far."
"How about I come back and pick you all up after I drop my friends off?"
Knowing his words were insincere and meant only for show, Cheng Meng politely refused.
Just as Fu Liang and his friends were feeling utterly annoyed and humiliated, Liu Shang let out a soft sigh. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his car keys, and pressed the unlock button.
Not ten meters away, the lights of a Mitsubishi Pajero flashed to life, its horn chirping in response.
Chapter 115: Liu Shang, Someone We Can't Afford to Mess With
Just as Wang Yin, her boyfriend, and their friends were showing off their Bora and mocking the others for being unable to hail a taxi, Cheng Meng, Zheng Shiwei, and especially Fu Liang's expressions turned grim. At that moment, Liu Shang suddenly sighed softly.
"Ah, forget it. Let's not wait for Chen Qiang."
"We'll drive over first and let him grab a taxi on his own."
As he spoke, Liu Shang casually pressed the button on his key fob. Not far from them, a Pajero blinked its lights.
Following the beeping sound from the sturdy, imported off-road vehicle, Liu Shang walked over to the car under everyone's astonished gaze and opened the driver's side door.
"Hey, get in. What are you all staring at?"
At Liu Shang's call, Fu Liang, who had been gaping as if he'd seen a ghost in broad daylight, finally snapped out of it, bringing Cheng Meng with him.
He quickly agreed and walked toward Liu Shang, his eyes filled with delight.
Before getting in, Cheng Meng didn't forget to flash a smile at Wang Yin's boyfriend, Ding Wei.
"Sorry about that, we were just waiting for someone."
"My friend here is just impatient. Always in a rush! Hehe…"
Once the three of them were in the car, Liu Shang, who had already started the engine, executed a clean U-turn, stepped on the accelerator, and drove off.
They left behind Wang Yin's group and a crowd of curious students who had gathered to watch the excitement.
After all, driving an SUV like that on campus was pretty cool.
"Yinyin, who was that kid who drove off in the Pajero?"
"What a show-off!"
"What's so great about a beat-up SUV?!"
"My dad's Audi A6 is way better than that thing!"
Wang Yin, Ding Wei, and the others all looked thoroughly displeased.
Ding Wei, in particular, had wanted to look impressive in front of his girlfriend, Wang Yin, to win her over completely.
Instead, he'd been publicly humiliated, which was quite embarrassing.
Even though the other party was gone, Ding Wei still had to put on a brave face, didn't he?
Before Wang Yin could answer Ding Wei's question, a friend who had been quiet until now sighed softly.
"Ding Wei, you should really watch what you say. Be careful, you don't know who you're talking about."
"That guy just now is our university's well-known freshman, Liu Shang."
"He's Jiang Ruolin's boyfriend, a top figure in Fengcheng's social circles, an absolute powerhouse!"
"No matter how you look at it, he's in a completely different league from us."
"You probably heard about what happened at the end of last semester. The esteemed head of the school's academic affairs office lost his job because he picked a fight with a student."
"The student in that story is the guy you just saw."
"I heard that even the vice-principal has personally given instructions to handle him with care."
"I was trying to stop you when you started talking, but you wouldn't listen."
Hearing this, everyone present was completely dumbfounded. They just stood there, stunned, not knowing what to say.
At this point, Wang Yin, who was the most skeptical, frowned and said uncertainly, "I've heard of this Liu Shang before, and I remember Fu Liang mentioning him. It sounded like his family background is very ordinary, not even middle-class. Besides, weren't there a lot of rumors going around school questioning why Jiang Ruolin would find such an average boyfriend?"
Hearing her words, the friend who was more in the know couldn't help but give a wry smile.
"Come on, do you really believe rumors like that?"
"Think about who Jiang Ruolin is. How could she possibly find an 'average' boyfriend?"
"If that were the case, her legion of suitors alone would have torn him to shreds!"
"From what I've heard, this Liu Shang has already dealt with plenty of young masters from prominent families in Fengcheng."
"He recently took down the director of the school's academic affairs office and even the deputy director of the oil field. Liu Shang handled it all without breaking a sweat."
"A person with that kind of influence, and you call him 'ordinary'?"
"Perhaps the reason there are rumors about him being ordinary is that true power is often unseen, like a silent thunderclap. The truly powerful don't need to be loud."
"Also, I heard that Yuan Hui, a major player who's basically at the center of our social circle, is very close to Liu Shang. He always calls him 'big brother' and acts as his subordinate."
"For someone like Yuan Hui to be so completely won over that he'd call someone else his 'big brother'… it's just incredible!"
After hearing all this, even Wang Yin was completely floored.
She had always prided herself on her ability to judge people, but she never expected to be so outrageously wrong this time. If she had known Liu Shang had this much influence, she would have accepted Fu Liang's pursuit.
Maybe she could have even used that connection as a springboard to meet some of Liu Shang's powerful friends!
As for Ding Wei and the others, they had already abandoned any thought of competing.
Just as their friend had said, they were in a completely different weight class.
In fact, Ding Wei had felt the pressure the moment he saw Liu Shang get behind the wheel.
It was one thing to have a car in college.
But Liu Shang drove like an absolute veteran. It was a bit intimidating. Had he been driving since high school, or maybe even junior high?
As for Yuan Hui, that was a whole other story.
After their last confrontation, Yuan Hui had been deeply impressed by Liu Shang's words.
Following that, they began to interact more, even grabbing drinks together a few times.
The more time they spent together, the more Yuan Hui came to admire Liu Shang.
Eventually, he just started calling him Big Brother Liu Shang and willingly became his follower.
Meanwhile, in the car on the way to Cheng Meng's house, Fu Liang, Zheng Shiwei, and Cheng Meng were looking around the vehicle, full of admiration.
Cheng Meng: "This car is amazing! Four-wheel drive, imported… this is awesome!"
Zheng Shiwei: "Liu Shang, this car must have been expensive! Did you buy it?"
Fu Liang: "If you had this car parked here, why were we waiting for a taxi?!"
Liu Shang, who was driving, just shook his head with a wry smile. "This car belongs to an uncle of mine. I just happened to borrow it for a drive. As for the taxi, I was planning on having a few drinks later and didn't want to drive."
"Also, let's keep this quiet. Don't go spreading it around."
"I don't want to ruin the impression we just made. It would be worst for you, Fu Liang."
Hearing this, Fu Liang nodded repeatedly, and Cheng Meng also breathed a sigh of relief.
"Good thing you didn't buy this car yourself."
"You have no idea. My cousin's family comes over for dinner during the New Year, and they always talk about you and my 'sister-in-law,' going on and on about what a perfect couple you are."
"As a result, I've become the pathetic benchmark they compare you to. They're always measuring me against you."
"But as a single guy, how could I possibly have your skills?"
"And finding a girlfriend as beautiful and impressive as my 'sister-in-law'? I can't even dream of it."
"If my family got the wrong idea and thought you started your own business and bought a car like this, I'd never hear the end of it!"
Chapter 116 The First Order Arrives
Everyone laughed at Cheng Meng's pained cry.
No one mentioned the car anymore.
That night, thanks to the warm hospitality of Cheng Meng's parents, the third day of their Lunar New Year was also a warm and lively affair.
Meanwhile, as they celebrated at Cheng Meng's house, Song Jia had invited her good friend, Song Sha, to celebrate at her home as well.
After the family's festive reunion dinner, Song Sha and Song Jia retreated to Song Jia's room for a private chat.
There, Song Sha naturally spotted the iPad on Song Jia's bedside table.
"Hey, an iPad mini?"
Song Jia panicked inexplicably when she saw Song Sha pick up the tablet.
At the same time, she regretted not having put it away beforehand. Her mind raced. Hadn't Liu Shang bought two of them? And didn't Jiang Ruolin have one of the exact same model?
But fortunately, Song Sha seemed to be seeing this new iPad for the first time and was full of praise.
"Jiajia, is this the latest model?"
"So beautiful!"
After letting out a long breath, Song Jia began to ask some roundabout questions.
In the end, she came to a conclusion: that guy Liu Shang still had a conscience.
After the third day of the Lunar New Year, everything returned to normal.
Now that he was receiving special treatment from the university, Liu Shang felt an invisible weight lift from his shoulders.
His relationship with Jiang Ruolin was strong, and they lived the leisurely, happy life of a young couple.
Meanwhile, at the company, Song Guangyuan and the other executives were discovering Liu Shang's talents in other areas.
The kid, it turned out, had very strong interpersonal and business communication skills.
Perhaps it was his charismatic personality, but whenever he was sent to handle a difficult situation, he always achieved excellent results.
Consequently, Song Guangyuan began intentionally entrusting him with tasks like visiting key clients and even delivering gifts on the company's behalf.
To put it bluntly, this type of work involved using company resources to cultivate one's own network of contacts.
This kind of work was undoubtedly only given to those who were extremely trusted by the company and the boss.
It was a responsibility many people coveted.
But to the surprise of Song Guangyuan and most others, Liu Shang seemed to disdain these tasks, turning down almost all of them.
Therefore, one day in his office, Song Guangyuan mentioned the matter while chatting with Mr. Zhong and Old Sun from Human Resources.
Old Sun from HR then said with a smile, "You know, Liu Shang is a really interesting kid."
"Perhaps neither of you, Mr. Song or Mr. Zhong, has noticed, but since Liu Shang joined the company, he has never filed for reimbursement."
"Given his current level of contact with the leadership of Party A (the client) and the nature of his work, anyone else in his position would have a considerable amount in annual reimbursements."
"But Liu Shang hasn't done it once."
"At first, I thought he was young and didn't understand the company's reimbursement process, so I kindly reminded him."
"But who would have thought? The kid just smiled and said he earns a high enough salary that the reimbursement amount is nothing to him."
"He also said that because of his age, most of the people from Party A won't let him treat them to meals."
"Ha! In all my years in the oil fields, this is the first time I've ever seen a client from Party A chasing down a supplier from Party B to treat *them*!"
At this, Song Guangyuan gave a wry smile and shook his head slightly.
Was he, Song Guangyuan, really the type to mind the reimbursement costs?
What he cared more about was Liu Shang's firm principles and the clear line he drew between his personal affairs and the company's.
Mr. Zhong was perhaps the person who knew Song Guangyuan best in the company.
Seeing his expression, he guessed what Song Guangyuan was thinking.
He smiled and said, "Mr. Song, when it comes to Liu Shang, your concern is clouding your judgment."
"If Liu Shang were like everyone else, filing for normal reimbursements or even padding his expenses, you'd probably have even more to worry about!"
"Wouldn't you be worrying then that his ambition was too great and he was scheming too much?"
Hearing his joke, Song Guangyuan burst out laughing.
Then, Mr. Zhong continued meaningfully:
"I, Zhong Gaokuang, have never been wrong about a person in my life. Liu Shang might look stable and sophisticated on the surface, but deep down, he's an extremely proud young man."
"He truly can't be bothered with such a small amount of money, and he's even more unwilling to take advantage of the system. In my opinion, that says a lot more about his character. It's not a bad thing."
Hearing this, Song Guangyuan clearly agreed, and Old Sun from HR echoed the sentiment:
"Although my eye for people isn't as sharp as Old Zhong's, I've been in human resources for most of my life and have dealt with countless individuals."
"But the very first time I saw Liu Shang, I knew in my gut that this kid was a good one."
"So I brought him to you back then."
"However, I really didn't expect that this kid could grow to such a degree in less than a year."
...
Meanwhile, Liu Shang arrived at the door of the director's office of the Fengcheng Oilfield's No. 3 Oil Production Plant.
Shen Chengcheng, the former engineering manager of the plant, had been transferred here as the new plant director.
He was an old acquaintance of Liu Shang.
"Enter."
At the invitation, Liu Shang walked in with a smile, carrying a simple gift of fruit.
To his surprise, Shen Chengcheng looked haggard and was frowning, despite sitting in a large, new office.
He didn't look like a newly promoted director of an oil production plant at all.
When Shen Chengcheng saw it was Liu Shang, his expression changed completely.
He immediately got up, pleasantly surprised, and hurried to welcome him.
"Liu Shang, what are you doing here?"
"And what's this? You shouldn't have brought fruit just to see your Uncle Shen."
Liu Shang smiled and replied with concern, "Uncle Shen, I was just passing by and thought I'd come see you."
"Sorry I didn't call ahead."
"But what's wrong? You look exhausted."
At the mention of this, Shen Chengcheng sighed deeply. "Oh, Liu Shang, you have no idea. Your Uncle Shen is dealing with a world of hurt right now. It's hard to even put into words."
"In the oil fields, everyone, including my past self, would have fought tooth and nail for this position."
"But now that I'm actually in this chair, I realize just how difficult it is."
"The pressure is immense, and every aspect of the work is more challenging than I imagined."
Liu Shang looked up in surprise. "I thought being a plant director was as relaxed and comfortable as it was for Uncle Pan?!"
"Lao Pan?" Shen Chengcheng smiled wryly. "How many years has he been in the oil fields? How deep do his roots go?"
"Who can compare to him?"
"Liu Shang, to be honest with you, I really miss the days back at the third plant."
"Back then, Lao Pan shouldered all the pressure. All we had to do was focus on developing technology and handling our daily tasks."
"And the relationships with our colleagues were harmonious."
"Now, Zhang Zhengmao and Lao Pan have both gone off to the bureau to enjoy a comfortable post, leaving me—your Uncle Shen—to suffer here."
"Honestly, I don't have a single person here I can talk to."
"Liu Shang, since you're here today, you have to have a drink with me at noon!"
Chapter 117 A Big Thunder
In a farm-style restaurant not far from the Ninth Factory, Liu Shang and Shen Chengcheng sat down in a quiet private room.
The driver was very discreet; after eating a few quick bites, he returned to the car, giving Shen Chengcheng and Liu Shang their private space.
Shen Chengcheng took a sip of warm wine, sighed, and said, "Back when I was at the Third Factory, with my qualifications, I was only eligible for a transfer to another plant as a deputy director."
"If I were lucky, I might have been able to stay at the Third Factory, or maybe get assigned to a larger plant."
"But after a lot of maneuvering, I ended up as the director of the Ninth Factory."
"At the time, I thought I'd gotten lucky, that my strategy had paid off and I'd landed a great deal."
"Although the Ninth Factory is in a remote location and has low output, it's still a full-fledged factory, isn't it?"
"Officially, we're all on the same level."
Hearing this, Liu Shang nodded in agreement.
But then, Shen Chengcheng's expression turned grim, and he cursed under his breath.
"But when I actually arrived to take up my post, I realized that wasn't the case at all!"
"How could such a sweet deal just fall into my lap?"
"In this oil field, everyone's a crafty veteran. Who would just stand by and watch me get away with something so good without a fight?"
Hearing him say this, Liu Shang grew surprised and curious, and he took the initiative to refill Shen Chengcheng's wine glass.
After they both took another sip, Shen Chengcheng heaved a deep sigh and said emotionally, "This oil production plant is located in a remote area, and the crude oil reserves, recoverability, and well conditions aren't very good."
"But for some reason, the Bureau directly assigned the Ninth Plant a plan for three new horizontal wells."
"From drilling to full production, the cost of a single horizontal well is 80 million."
"With our current oil and water wells and the reservoir conditions here, how could I possibly recover that cost in my lifetime?"
"That's right. The former director of the Ninth Oil Production Plant applied for early retirement the moment he caught wind of it."
"His reason was to get away from this ticking time bomb!"
"Naturally, anyone else in the oil field who was in the know steered clear of this directorship."
"In the end, you guessed it—after everyone else passed on it, the job landed on me, someone whose qualifications were only good enough for a deputy director position at a large plant."
At this point, Liu Shang also frowned and asked, "Uncle Shen, what's the status of these three wells now?"
Shen Chengcheng sighed. "Just thinking about it gives me a massive headache!"
"Last year, the former factory director dragged his feet on the Bureau's plan, refusing to implement it."
"He didn't start drilling two of the wells until winter was approaching, since he couldn't put it off any longer."
"Just think about it: wells that were supposed to be drilled in the spring were started in the low temperatures of winter. What kind of results do you expect?"
"After I took over, I practically lived on the front line just to reluctantly get the first of those wells completed."
"While the output is low, at least it's operational."
"But then, my worst fears came true. There was a problem with the second well."
"During completion and fracturing for production, the entire sliding sleeve assembly got stuck at the bottom of the horizontal section."
"After that happened, I managed to scrape together 10 million yuan from the factory's budget to salvage the stuck equipment."
"So far, we've hired three of the most qualified domestic companies to try, and they all failed."
"In desperation, I had no choice but to contact the world's top oil service company, Schlumberger."
"But this foreign company is difficult to deal with."
"Our domestic companies all sign risk contracts—they don't get paid if the salvage fails."
"But the foreign company is different. They never take on risk contracts; they demand payment upfront before they'll even start."
"And they quoted an outrageous price—5 million."
"Whether they succeed or not, they take the money."
"Well, at first, I was desperate enough to try anything. I planned to bet it all on one last shot."
"After all, if this 60-million-yuan well gets scrapped, I'm the factory director who'll take the fall. I'd be forced to step down anyway, so I might as well fight for one last chance before it's all over."
"However, by coincidence, one of my old classmates works for Schlumberger."
"So I asked him to find out what he could, and he told me that their own internal estimates put the success rate at less than a single percent."
"That's why I'm hesitating now. I've been putting it off, reluctant to give them the green light."
After listening very carefully to Shen Chengcheng's explanation, Liu Shang frowned slightly and looked up at him.
"Uncle Shen, can I go to the site and look at the original construction data for this well, as well as the work logs from the various salvage attempts?"
Hearing Liu Shang's words, Shen Chengcheng was taken aback for a moment.
But then, he subconsciously remembered the miracles Liu Shang had performed and the incident where he had saved Pan Qingfeng back at the Third Factory.
Suddenly, for Shen Chengcheng, who was already disheartened and in a desperate situation, it was as if a lifeline had appeared out of nowhere.
He stared at Liu Shang, his eyes filled with uncertainty and nervousness, and asked, "Why, Liu Shang? Do you have a way to salvage the equipment?"
Liu Shang didn't commit immediately. "Uncle Shen, I don't know the specifics of the well yet."
"I'll have to go to the site and review the detailed data before I can give you an answer."
Hearing this, Shen Chengcheng didn't hold out much hope that Liu Shang could actually find a solution.
But for a man who was already drowning, he was willing to clutch at any potential straw.
"That's settled then!" Shen Chengcheng slapped the table. "Enough drinking. Let's go to the site now!"
...
Seeing Shen Chengcheng and Liu Shang return to the car so quickly, the driver, who was relaxing and playing on his phone, was taken aback.
He had predicted they would be drinking for a while yet.
Afterward, their car drove all the way to the construction site of the troublesome horizontal well.
It was easy to see that, in addition to the oilfield's own technical team, a team from Schlumberger, with their company flag, was already stationed at the site.
Seeing Factory Director Shen Chengcheng arrive in person, the leaders and staff from both parties greeted him warmly.
Without wasting words, Shen Chengcheng led Liu Shang directly to the oilfield's command room.
At the same time, he ordered his people to show Liu Shang the complete set of original data and even called in the relevant technical personnel so Liu Shang could question them in detail.
Seeing Shen Chengcheng go to such great lengths for a young man in his twenties, the others present couldn't help but feel it was absurd and a little disdainful.
But what could they do? Shen Chengcheng was the factory director.
Rank has its privileges, and they had no choice but to obey.
Chapter 118: A High-Stakes Wager
Liu Shang meticulously recorded and inquired about every piece of data.
He kept at it until nine o'clock that evening, nearly driving the oil field workers mad.
Even Shen Chengcheng was starting to feel the strain.
After all, he and Liu Shang had only shared a few sips of wine at noon and hadn't eaten since.
Finally, Liu Shang took a deep breath; his work was done.
Meeting Shen Chengcheng's concerned and nervous gaze, Liu Shang gave him a firm nod.
"Uncle Shen, I think I can solve this!"
Hearing Liu Shang's words, Shen Chengcheng's eyes lit up with disbelief. "Really?"
"Liu Shang, are you kidding me?"
***
At ten o'clock that night, Liu Shang and Shen Chengcheng were having dinner in the private room of a respectable hotel.
It was there that Liu Shang laid out his full assessment.
"Uncle Shen, I've conducted a preliminary analysis of this well's situation and reviewed the work logs from the previous salvage attempts."
"The primary reason the downhole tools got stuck is that the first link in the construction wasn't connected in time."
"Combined with the low temperature, the crude oil, colloids, and asphaltenes that seeped back from the bottom of the well re-emulsified and condensed."
"The second reason relates to the reservoir itself and the physical properties of the crude oil in this block."
"The freezing point is low, the viscosity is high, the formation is sensitive, and there are many impurities in the reservoir. It's very easy for things to go wrong during such a large-scale operation."
"In my opinion, the salvage process and the general approach of the three previous domestic companies were sound. What they lacked was a good working fluid—a compound additive that could function as a demulsifier, penetrant, cleaning agent, and descaling agent all in one."
Shen Chengcheng was an engineer himself, but he didn't know much about oilfield additives.
But in this regard, he felt an inexplicable confidence in Liu Shang, and the more Liu Shang explained, the more confident he became.
"So, Liu Shang, you're really confident you can fix this well?"
"If you can pull this off, you'll truly be saving my life, Uncle Shen!"
Liu Shang nodded. "Uncle Shen, if everything is done strictly according to my plan, I am 80.00% sure I can clear this well and salvage the tools at the bottom."
"But, Uncle Shen, speaking in business terms, if the well is successfully unlocked, after deducting taxes and other construction costs, the rest of the money is mine."
"I'll need your help coordinating that aspect."
"Also, this well is a risk. If the salvage fails, you, Uncle Shen, will bear no responsibility or loss."
"At that point, you can still go to Schlumberger and take your last chance with them."
After listening to Liu Shang, Shen Chengcheng sank into deep thought.
After a long moment, he exhaled slowly.
"Liu Shang, I've thought about what you said."
"As for signing the contract, the final settlement, and the payment, I can help you process the paperwork through other company projects."
"This kind of arrangement is common in the oil fields, so it won't raise any flags."
"As for the vehicles and auxiliary equipment needed for construction, I can also source those from within the oil field. That wouldn't be difficult for me to arrange."
"However, the tool salvage itself must be entrusted to a third-party construction company."
"Success or failure, they need to be paid for their work; they won't do it for free."
"To be honest with you, the boss of one of the three companies I hired before is an old classmate and my best friend."
"If I go to him, I can probably get it done for just the basic costs."
"But construction and equipment mobilization on this scale will cost at least 60 yuan."
"Liu Shang, if you really want to take this job, you'll have to bear that cost no matter what."
"For a student like you, that's no small amount!"
To Shen Chengcheng's astonishment, before he could even finish, Liu Shang pulled a bank card from his wallet and placed it on the table.
"Uncle Shen, there's 70 yuan on this card. You can use it to pay the construction fee."
"I'll take the job!"
After staring into Liu Shang's eyes for a moment, Shen Chengcheng nodded solemnly.
"Alright, Liu Shang. Uncle Shen believes in you!"
"Whether I can get through this crisis depends entirely on you!"
"Liu Shang, time is short. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold off Schlumberger for long."
"When do you think you can officially begin?"
Liu Shang thought for a moment. "Uncle Shen, if your contacts are all in order, I can start work on the well three or four days after I get your notice!"
***
At this critical juncture, Shen Chengcheng worked with extreme efficiency.
Two days after their agreement, he officially notified Liu Shang that everything was settled and he could proceed.
How could Liu Shang miss such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?
After receiving Shen Chengcheng's notice, Liu Shang contacted Mr. Lu, the additive factory boss he had gotten along with before.
He explained that he wanted to borrow Lu's laboratory and production equipment for three or four days.
As it happened, the plant and equipment were idle that season, and Mr. Lu agreed to Liu Shang's request without hesitation.
With the most critical piece in place, Liu Shang sprang into action.
He first went to a large supermarket to buy a single bed and a set of bedding.
He also bought dozens of cases of mineral water, and enough bread, instant noodles, canned food, and ham sausage to last him for several days.
He also purchased an electric kettle and a small electric hot pot.
He was clearly adopting the posture of someone preparing for a long battle.
After that, Liu Shang visited several chemical supply companies in the Fengcheng area.
He bought nearly every reagent used in a wide range of chemical experiments.
To ensure the best results, he didn't dare use cheaper industrial-grade chemicals, opting instead for expensive but pure, small-vial experimental-grade reagents.
These chemicals alone cost him nearly 6 yuan!
Once everything was ready, Liu Shang began his own frenzied laboratory marathon.
He started producing various semi-finished chemical compounds in the lab one after another.
Since there was no distilled water equipment at the factory, he didn't dare use well water, with its unknown pH value and salinity, to ensure the experiment's effectiveness.
Instead, he used pure bottled water for everything.
For three consecutive days and nights, Liu Shang barely slept.
Except for unavoidable trips to the toilet, he remained immersed in that laboratory.
After the laboratory phase was complete, Liu Shang hired workers to clean out several large reactors in the factory building.
He then had them carefully move all the semi-finished products from the laboratory into the factory.
At this point, Liu Shang finally stopped using the expensive Wahaha pure water, switching to the cheaper five-yuan jugs of bottled water used in dispensers.
After the workers added a specified amount of water to the reactors, Liu Shang personally and methodically added the different semi-finished products, ensuring the mixture was constantly being stirred.
After another full day and night of this, all the chemical agents Liu Shang needed were finally produced.
The results basically met the expectations he had in his mind.
Chapter 119 Killing!
This time, Liu Shang had produced a total of six tons of four different types of chemicals. The chemicals were packed into new 200kg plastic drums, totaling 30 large containers.
Early the next morning, the pre-booked truck arrived at the factory to transport the chemicals to the liquid dispensing station of the Ninth Oil Production Plant.
According to the agreement between Liu Shang and Shen Chengcheng, three tanker trucks at the oil field were to be filled with hot water of at least 80 degrees Celsius before the delivery truck arrived at the dispensing station.
Typically, the chemical tanker trucks used in oil fields hold 15 tons of water each. Liu Shang had instructed that each vehicle be filled with only about 12 tons of water to leave enough space for the chemicals.
For this type of chemical treatment in the oil field, it was standard procedure to add the water first and then the chemical agent. Otherwise, too much foam would be produced, which would be very troublesome.
Based on the distance, the truck would be traveling relatively slowly; it would take at least five hours to reach the designated location in the oil field. This left Liu Shang with enough time to go back to campus, take a shower, and change into clean clothes.
He had been so busy over the past few days that he had barely slept. Jiang Ruolin hadn't been able to catch him for several days in a row, and this time was even worse—Liu Shang had barely even replied to her text messages. She probably had a long list of grievances waiting for him.
After showering at school, changing his clothes, and finally having a proper breakfast, Liu Shang still had two and a half hours to spare before the appointed time. At his usual driving speed, it would take him an hour and a half to reach the Ninth Factory's liquid dispensing station, meaning he would likely arrive before the chemical delivery truck.
Meanwhile, at the campus gate, Song Jia was fuming as she waited for a taxi. It was Friday, during the morning rush hour for work and school, and there were very few available taxis near the campus gate. She had been waiting for more than ten minutes with no sign of an empty cab.
Just then, a silver Pajero she knew well roared past, its driver seemingly oblivious to her presence.
Wasn't that one of her company's cars? She recognized the license plate, but who was driving it right now? But no matter who it was, they should have recognized her. Looks like she would have to go back to the company and settle accounts with the jerk behind the wheel.
Song Jia hadn't been back to the company since she went there to find Liu Shang to take their exam together.
Just as a fresh wave of anger surged through her, the silver Pajero surprisingly reversed and pulled up right in front of her. The passenger-side door opened, revealing Liu Shang inside.
"Sorry, I was driving a bit fast and didn't see you right away."
"Where are you headed? It's tough to get a cab at this hour. I can give you a ride."
Seeing Liu Shang, of all people, made Song Jia even angrier. Still, his aura seemed a little different than before. So, after a soft huff, she got into the car anyway.
"Hmph. You're lucky you came back. If you'd just driven off, you'd be dead to me."
As she spoke, Song Jia casually glanced around the car's interior. The car itself was relatively new, and Liu Shang kept it meticulously clean and tidy. The only decoration was an elegant bottle of car air freshener. The car was much like Liu Shang himself: simple, low-key, and calm, yet possessing a subtle style.
Although she knew the company had assigned Liu Shang a different car, this was her first time riding in it.
"Miss Song, where are you headed?" Liu Shang asked. "And what happened to your Mini? Why were you trying to hail a cab at the campus gate?"
Song Jia shot him a glare. "I'm going home."
"My Mini is parked at my dad's company," she added. "I don't dare drive it on the road. Is that reason good enough for you?"
Hearing the expected answer, Liu Shang couldn't help but laugh, which only made Song Jia want to punch him.
However, when he heard she was going home, Liu Shang's expression soured. Song Jia's home was in the eastern part of the city, while the Ninth Factory was in the west. The round trip, combined with the morning rush hour traffic in the city, would cause a significant delay.
"You should put on your seat belt."
Hearing this, Song Jia frowned slightly but obediently fastened her seat belt.
"I'm heading to the oil production plant for something urgent, so I'm in a bit of a rush."
"I'm going to have to drive fast, so hang on tight."
Before he had even finished speaking, Liu Shang slammed his foot on the accelerator. The Pajero was surprisingly powerful, and it shot forward with a huge roar. The feeling of being pushed back into her seat was distinct.
Liu Shang's sudden acceleration provoked a string of protests from Song Jia.
"Hey, what kind of driving is this?!"
"You just got your license less than two months ago!"
However, given the urgency of the situation, Liu Shang had no intention of slowing down. Instead, he avoided the city center and took the outer ring road, which was a longer route but had much less traffic.
Once they were out of the urban area, Liu Shang pushed the car up to 160 km/h, occasionally making sharp maneuvers to overtake other vehicles. The experience was far more visceral than any racing simulator.
Song Jia, meanwhile, gripped the armrest with both hands, her eyes glued to the speedometer as she cursed Liu Shang a thousand times in her head.
Finally, an important call came through, and Liu Shang slowed the car to a normal speed to answer it.
It was the truck driver. He told Liu Shang their vehicle had gotten stuck in the mud right after exiting the highway and entering the oil field area. Since the truck was too heavy to move, the driver asked if Liu Shang could arrange for a tow truck from the oil field to help pull them out.
The location, just off the highway at the entrance to the oil field, was still a long way from the nearest production plant or operations team. Most of the heavy engineering vehicles from the oil field wouldn't be able to travel that far out. And even if they could find a tow truck, it would take far too long to get there.
By then, the hot water that was already prepared in the tankers would have cooled down, delaying the entire process. Every minute of delay meant real money and increased costs.
So, after ending the call, Liu Shang simply pulled over to the side of the road and looked at Song Jia apologetically.
"I'm really sorry about this. There's an emergency on-site, and I have to get there immediately."
"You can either get out here and try to find a taxi home..."
"...or you'll have to come to the site with me."
It was the first time Song Jia had seen such a tense, serious expression on Liu Shang, who was usually so calm, almost to the point of being lazy.
She glanced out the window, gave Liu Shang a deadpan look, and then sighed softly.
"Please. This is the new ring-road expressway. Where am I supposed to find a taxi out here?"
"Forget it. I guess I'm going to the site with you..."
Chapter 120: How Is This Possible?!
With that, Liu Shang got onto the Huancheng Expressway and headed out of the city.
He pushed the car's speed up to 180 km/h, completing a drive that normally took fifty minutes in just over twenty.
In the passenger seat, Song Jia had turned pale with fright.
Normally, she was a thrill-seeker who loved roller coasters, drop towers, and other high-altitude rides. The only thing she had yet to try was bungee jumping.
But all of those experiences combined were probably not as terrifying as riding in Liu Shang's car!
So this lazy, infuriating guy had such a wild side to him after all!
When they finally arrived at the site where the truck was stuck, Liu Shang was so furious he could barely see straight.
The weather had been sunny for the last two days, though there had been a heavy rain the day before yesterday. This meant the road conditions in the oil field area should have been very good, which was why Liu Shang had felt confident enough not to follow the transport vehicle the entire way.
But now, he found the truck stuck deep in a massive mud hole.
Beside the pit, there was a firm, well-worn rut, clearly compacted by countless vehicles. As long as a truck kept one set of wheels in that rut, it would never sink. Every other vehicle on this road had passed by that way, but this idiotic truck driver had managed to drive his entire vehicle straight into the mud pit.
It was no wonder he got stuck!
Seeing Liu Shang's Pajero arrive, and watching as he and Song Jia—a pair of well-dressed young people with an extraordinary air about them—stepped out, the driver and co-pilot of the truck hurried over to greet them.
"Oh, boss, I'm so sorry. The roads in this oil field are just too difficult to navigate."
"The Pajero you're driving is a four-wheel drive, right?"
"Why don't you give us a hand and help pull the truck out?"
"It's a pure Japanese import, it should be powerful enough!"
Hearing his words, Liu Shang shot him a glare. "You want me to tow this ten-ton truck with my SUV? Are you out of your mind?"
Seeing Liu Shang's sharp gaze, the driver rubbed his hands together and smiled sheepishly.
"Boss, I was just thinking of you. I didn't want to delay your important business."
At this, Song Jia discreetly put her hands behind her back and gazed up at the clear blue sky.
*You can pretend I don't exist!* she thought. *Just pretend I didn't see a thing...*
In her mind, Liu Shang was probably refusing to use the company car for something so damaging because she was present. If she weren't there, it was only human nature that he would have probably agreed to help tow the truck. She could see how important and urgent this matter was to him today, and she didn't want to be the reason for his difficulties.
However, contrary to everyone's expectations, Liu Shang still had no intention of helping to tow the truck.
Instead, he walked straight to the truck's cab.
"It's just one mud pit, and you need a tow?" he scoffed. "Did you just get your driver's license?"
With that, Liu Shang took a running leap over the mud, grabbed the handle on the side of the cab, stepped onto the running board, and swung himself nimbly into the driver's seat.
The two truck drivers chuckled, clearly a little dissatisfied.
"We've been driving trucks for more than ten years, twenty even. Just got our licenses?!" one of them grumbled.
"The two of us have been taking turns trying to get out of this mud pit for ages."
"The wheels are sunk in deep now. There's no way to get out without a tow truck!"
"If you ask me, how old is this little boss? I'm afraid *he's* the one who just got his license!"
Hearing their remarks, Song Jia couldn't help but stick out her tongue sheepishly.
They had guessed right—both she and Liu Shang had only recently passed their driving tests.
At the same time, she wasn't optimistic about Liu Shang's chances. If two middle-aged, experienced drivers couldn't get the truck out, it was unlikely Liu Shang could do any better.
Just then, Liu Shang, who was now in the driver's seat, tried to start the truck. The engine turned over a few times but stalled before the vehicle moved an inch.
Seeing this, the two drivers grew even more smug and began to chuckle.
"Well, well. From the way he acted just now, I thought this little boss must be some kind of expert driver with years of experience."
"Turns out he's just a novice!"
"This manual transmission truck isn't like one of those automatic luxury cars, you know?"
Hearing their sarcasm, Song Jia, feeling loyal to Liu Shang, was naturally annoyed. But the facts were right there in front of her; she couldn't find any grounds to argue with them, could she?
At that moment, Liu Shang stuck his head out of the cab and yelled bad-temperedly at the two drivers.
"What kind of veteran drivers are you?!"
"Look at the state you've let this truck get into!"
"Have you even changed the transmission gear oil in the last few years?"
A moment ago, Liu Shang had tried to start the truck in second gear to get more torque and pull it out of the mud pit quickly. Normally, for a diesel truck like this, that would have been perfectly fine. But he hadn't expected the vehicle's condition to be so poor that it had failed to start multiple times.
Hearing Liu Shang's angry roar and accusations, the two drivers became even more defiant.
"Hah, so now you're blaming the truck's condition because you can't get it started?"
"Next, are you going to blame the mud pit for being in the wrong place?"
"Hey, Old Wu, let it go. The little boss can't find an excuse to save face!"
"He's lucky our truck is a bit old. If it were a brand-new vehicle, he wouldn't even have that to blame!"
Seeing the two of them carrying on like this, Song Jia truly couldn't stand it anymore.
But before she could lose her temper and retort, Liu Shang started the truck again.
This time, he started in first gear, turning the steering wheel sharply from one side to the other. As he did, he rocked the vehicle, shifting continuously between forward and reverse, building momentum like a pendulum.
Then, at the peak of a forward rock, Liu Shang wrenched the steering wheel hard one last time. With a lurch, one of the front wheels successfully climbed onto the firm, dry rut.
After that, the rest was simple. In less than thirty seconds, the truck that the two drivers had declared hopelessly stuck was driven completely out of the mud pit by Liu Shang.
Seeing this, the two truck drivers stared with wide eyes, utterly shocked and speechless.
Song Jia, after a moment of stunned silence, was overjoyed. She finally had her chance to vent the frustration and anger that had been building up.
"Hey, what were you two just saying?"
"You've been driving trucks for over a decade, so how did you get so stuck that you claimed it was impossible to get out?"
"And what was that about Liu Shang being too young, about how he just got his license and had probably never even driven a manual transmission?"
"Well, tell me now, how did he just drive that truck out of there?!"
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