Tomorrow Will Still Love You - CHAPTER 7:

After breakfast, Mr. and Mrs. Ye were still out for their morning exercise.

Pei Ning checked her watch. It seemed she would be riding to the office with Ye Xicheng today.

The company driver had already picked up Assistant Wan before stopping by the villa.

Every morning on the way to work, the assistant and

Xicheng usually spent the drive discussing business and the latest financial trends.

The driver hadn’t known Pei Ning would be there, Xicheng hadn’t mentioned it either.

When she got into the car, she greeted them politely, though she felt a little self-conscious.

Wan, calm as ever, scrolled through the day’s financial news on his phone.

He didn’t comment, but inwardly he was surprised his boss being this proactive was… new.

As usual, the car was silent.

Xicheng turned slightly toward her. She was staring down at the files on her lap, so focused

or perhaps just lost in thought that she didn’t notice his gaze.

After a while, he spoke quietly. You’ll hand over the current projects to Assistant Wan this morning.

Start officially next Monday.

She blinked, turning her head. Next Monday?

He nodded, offering no further explanation.

Won’t that affect your schedule? she asked.

It won’t, he replied simply.

It was Monday now, which meant she’d have a full week off

enough time to visit her grandparents back home.

She almost smiled, but then realized the reason behind the time off.

He was giving her that break deliberately, so she could go home.

She looked at him, her voice soft. Thank you, Director Ye.

He didn’t answer.

A few minutes later, his voice came again, steady and low. How long since you last went back?

A month, she said. Before joining Huaining, she’d flown from New York to Shanghai,

spent a single night at home, barely talked to her grandparents,

then rushed to Beijing the next morning.

He gave a brief nod. He himself hadn’t gone back for nearly two months.

Then her phone rang. Jiang Yunzhao.

Morning. What’s up? she asked lightly.

When Jiang spoke to her, his tone always shifted to serious.

Still that same project. You used to work in investment banking

I really need you to handle the valuation. I don’t trust anyone else.

She didn’t refuse. Sure. I’ll get in touch during my break.

He checked his schedule, then asked, How about Friday night? You free?

I’ll be out of town for a few days, back in Beijing Saturday, she said apologetically.

He hesitated. I’ve got something Saturday too, but fine.

I’ll pick you up from the station then we can talk on the way.

You taking the train or a flight?

Train, she replied.

Her grandparents lived in a small Jiangnan county.

They’d once lived in a rural village, but after she began working,

she’d bought them a house in town. The high-speed rail stopped there,

much easier than a flight and transfer from Shanghai.

They set a time and hung up.

Barely two minutes later, Xicheng’s phone buzzed.

A message from Jiang Yunzhao read:

Canceled a pretty important date for you, buddy.

Saturday I’ll pick up Pei Ning at South Station

pretend you’re on a business trip back, and I’ll “happen”

to bring you along. Then we’ll all hang out that night 🙂

Xicheng’s thumb lingered on the screen before replying: You’re ridiculous.

Jiang sent back a laughing emoji, completely unrepentant.

The car fell quiet again heavier this time, the air thick with unspoken things.

From the front seat, Assistant Wan could feel it too.

Desperate for distraction, he turned on the radio.

The program was financial news, fitting enough until the host’s voice suddenly mentioned

Huaining Group.

Pei Ning froze.

The announcer continued:

Latest reports say Huaining Group and Xiang Motors,

former partners turned rivals, are joining forces again in a bid to acquire EFG Energy.

Rumor has it Xihe Industries is also planning to invest…

Wan winced. He’d only turned on the radio to ease the tension, not make it worse.

He reached to turn it off, but Xicheng stopped him. Let it play.

Wan’s hand dropped back. Luckily, the report was brief.

But Pei Ning knew the rumor wasn’t just rumor. Xihe wasn’t considering joining.

They already had.

The EFG acquisition was now a three-way alliance:

Huaining, Xiang Motors, and Xihe Industries.

And the story behind those three companies? Messier than a love triangle.

If the business world were a soap opera, Xiang Motors would be the indecisive ex-boyfriend,

Huaining the ex-lover, and Xihe the new partner each entangled in pride,

history, and unspoken jealousy.

Huaining’s subsidiary, Huaining Energy, made lithium batteries

just like Xihe, their current rival. Xiang Motors, meanwhile,

had shifted from traditional cars to electric ones, depending heavily on its battery supplier.

Five years ago, Huaining had supplied Xiang with batteries.

The partnership thrived until a dispute over pricing and service ended things badly.

Xiang decided to cut ties, find someone new. Industry watchers assumed

Huaining would fight to win them back. But Huaining was proud.

They walked away without looking back.

In truth, the breakup wasn’t between two companies, but between two men

Xiang Yilin and Ye Xicheng each too stubborn to yield.

Four years of collaboration ended like a love affair gone cold.

Soon after, Xiang Motors found a new partner: Xihe.

The industry watched, whispering: see, the ex moved on.

But the romance soured quickly. Xihe’s batteries didn’t match Huaining’s shorter lifespan,

lower power density.

Xiang Motors regretted the split, but breaking up again wasn’t easy.

Thousands of cars were already fitted with Xihe batteries. They had to keep things civil.

And Xihe, ever the accommodating partner, did everything to please them cutting prices,

smoothing over problems, trying to hold on.

Now, Xiang Motors wanted to rekindle something with Huaining.

The EFG deal was their excuse.

Both Ye Xicheng and Xiang Yilin had seen potential in the project.

But the acquisition was massive too big for one company alone.

Through mutual contacts, they’d agreed to cooperate reluctantly.

Money had a way of making enemies tolerate each other at least for a while.

But when Huaining joined, Xihe couldn’t stay out.

Fearing betrayal, they demanded a share too.

And so, here it was the grand reunion of new flame and old love.

A situation destined to explode.

Because no new lover and old lover ever coexist peacefully.

War, sooner or later, was inevitable.

After the morning meeting, Pei Ning and Assistant Wan went through the handover.

Most tasks were already transferred, so it took barely an hour.

By half past ten, everything was settled.

She tidied her new office, sorted a pile of travel reimbursements

over twenty thousand yuan’s worth that the CEO had paid out of pocket.

Wan admitted he hadn’t processed them yet.

Pei Ning hesitated. In her own wallet were receipts from the dinner she’d had with

Xicheng two nights ago. After some inner debate,

she submitted all of them together through the OA system.

Then she organized several documents for him to sign.

Not knowing which points he might focus on, she carefully summarized key data,

highlighted them in different colors, and printed the notes for clarity.

When she finally entered his office, he was on the phone.

His cousin’s voice carried faintly through the speaker.

I’ve realized life has more than eight kinds of suffering.

The worst of all is when love fades the person who once adored you no longer does.

His expression hardened. You have too much free time?

I just fought with your brother-in-law, she sighed. You tell me.

Then she caught herself—realizing her words might have hit too close to home.

He and Pei Ning were the perfect example. Once fiery, now strangers.

He cut the call short. I’m busy.

Pei Ning set the documents before him. Each file had a printed summary of key points,

phrased exactly the way he liked.

It saved them both a report everything he needed was already there.

He looked up at her briefly, then said nothing, just reviewed the pages and signed.

She tried to focus on the documents but found her eyes drifting to his hands long fingers,

precise movements, every stroke deliberate and steady.

When he finished, he handed them back. Handover complete?

She nodded.

His gaze lingered a few seconds longer, searching her face. Then he gestured lightly. Go on.

Alright, she said, and turned to leave.

Every time, he watched her walk away.

When the door closed, silence fell again.

That afternoon, she booked a high-speed train ticket home and went to inform him.

Director Ye, I’ll head out this afternoon.

Ticket booked?

Yes.

What time?

One o’clock.

He only nodded, returning to his work.

These days, she spoke less than he did and that was saying something.

By evening, Jiang Yunzhao stopped by with a contract for Xicheng to sign.

Looking around, he asked, Pei Ning already left for home?

Xicheng didn’t look up from his paperwork. Mm.

You didn’t see her off?

No answer.

Jiang sighed. She’s been through a lot. Too many debts of gratitude holding her back.

If your parents were truly her parents, with how deeply she loved you back then,

she would’ve fought for you no matter the cost, just like you’ve stood your ground all these years.

But they’re not her family. She couldn’t afford to be reckless.

You and I will never really understand how painful that must be.

Xicheng turned a page, then stopped halfway, staring blankly.

Jiang rarely spoke this seriously. You and Pei Ning were once inseparable,

and your father disapproved. Later, she dated Xiang Yilin.

You spent years apart, empty. Now you’re like strangers.

Even if your father has changed his mind, it won’t be easy.

Be prepared for that. Don’t blame her. When your relationship ended,

she was like a patient enduring surgery without anesthesia.

That kind of pain no one ever wants to feel it twice.

Xicheng said nothing. His eyes remained fixed on the same page,

long after he’d finished reading it.