The day she returned to work.
Jiang Congyi greeted Luo Ning with a polite smile and took the initiative to say, "Mr. Luo, hello, I am Jiang Congyi. I’ve just returned from advanced studies in the provincial city, and we will be colleagues from now on."
Luo Ning noticed a certain insincerity in Jiang Congyi’s smile. She didn’t have a good impression of him and responded indifferently, "Hello, Mr. Jiang!"
Then she lowered her head and began to work.
This response was somewhat unfamiliar to Jiang Congyi, who was accustomed to attracting young single women.
He was the vice factory manager’s son, a university graduate, and the deputy engineer of the machinery factory.
With handsome looks, he was almost the dream marriage prospect for all the single female workers in the factory.
In the future, Jiang Congyi would be considered a male idol, the heartthrob of the factory.
Many girls from other factories took the initiative to pursue him, and a slew of aunts and matchmakers came knocking on his door.
When they heard that Jiang Congyi had been saved from an accident and married his lifesaver afterward, it shattered many hearts.
However, although Luo Family’s and Luo Zhu’s reputations were poor, Jiang Congyi and the Jiang Family’s reputations remained unaffected.
Had it been any other man with a fiancée of bad repute, he would have called off the engagement long ago, let alone marry her.
Yet he still married a village girl of poor reputation due to the debt of saving his life.
People felt sympathy for him and also believed Jiang Congyi to be a very decent and righteous man.
As a result, Jiang Congyi’s sense of superiority remained quite strong.
Seeing Luo Ning’s coldness towards him, his eyes narrowed slightly.
But he didn’t say anything more.
Subsequently, the engineering department head received a task to overhaul an engine and assigned it to the team.
Luo Ning and Jiang Congyi happened to be assigned to work together on the same team.
This was a nationwide project, with every machinery factory being assigned the task.
Of course, although everyone took it seriously, the results varied greatly.
After a conflict with Su Country, their experts withdrew with their materials, and the West implemented a technology embargo on this region.
As a result, the development in machinery was challenging, and the technological know-how was somewhat outdated.
Luo Ning was also aware of this situation and wanted to make a change.
She planned to use the engine overhaul task to apply the knowledge she possessed.
On the basis of the overhaul, she aimed to develop a new type of engine according to the current level of technology and productivity.
Moreover, an engine that would surpass the level of other countries and change the future with technology.
Thus, she was very attentive to the materials she had and even went to the workshop to research personally.
Jiang Congyi’s focus during his studies in the provincial city was also on engines.
He originally had some ideas, but the operation proved to be difficult, and he continually failed.
One day, as he passed by Luo Ning’s desk, he unintentionally noticed that she was drawing diagrams of engine parts.
On the draft paper set aside were calculated equations and data he had never seen before, for parts and formulas that were new to him.
He couldn’t help but stop and look, growing more astonished the more he saw.
Being a deputy engineer, he certainly had the knowledge.
He felt that the equations and part diagrams that Luo Ning had calculated and drawn were very useful.
Luo Ning obviously noticed Jiang Congyi standing behind her and looking at her drawings, but she didn’t stop him.
These were just superficial details; the truly critical information was still in her head.
When Luo Ning finished drawing the parts and paused, Jiang Congyi took the initiative to speak, "Mr. Luo, it seems you have quite a few ideas about overhauling the engine."
Since they were in the same group, they needed to discuss many ideas and directions for research together.
He didn’t see why there was a problem with him standing behind Luo Ning and looking at her drafts.
Luo Ning acted as if she hadn’t noticed Jiang Congyi standing behind her, faking a startled reaction.
She responded with her usual indifference, "I do have some thoughts, what about them?"
Jiang Congyi said with a smile, "When I was studying advanced topics, I focused on engine research and even spent some time learning with the engineers from the provincial machinery factory. I have quite a bit of experience in this field."
"If you encounter any issues, or if you have some good ideas, you can discuss them with me. It’s beneficial to exchange experiences."
His words made it clear that he could offer guidance to Luo Ning.
Luo Ning sneered inwardly; this guy really had the appearance of a gentleman on the surface, but he was actually up to no good.
He wanted to get his hands on the results of her research.
With a plan in mind to set him up, she smiled and said, "Sure! I’m not sure if my idea is mature enough, but I could use your advice, Mr. Jiang."
If he were a man of integrity, he naturally wouldn’t fall into the trap.
In the future, as long as Jiang Congyi didn’t provoke her, she wouldn’t set him up again.
But if he confirmed her suspicions, then she wouldn’t have any qualms about taking action.
Furthermore, if he really was problematic, she seriously doubted whether in the lifetime that the original self married Jiang Congyi or the lifetime that Luo Zhu married him,
this guy’s image as a doting husband and a good spouse, might have been deliberately crafted.
It was just that the original self was too kind and naive to scheme, and Luo Zhu was too foolish and malicious to scheme, so neither had seen through his true face.
Hearing Luo Ning’s words, Jiang Congyi’s smile deepened, "I wouldn’t call it giving advice, let’s just say we’re exchanging experiences."
Therefore, Luo Ning roughly outlined her ideas, keeping the most critical parts to herself.
The ideas she did share, however, were enough to be considered at the forefront of engine technology in their current era.
As expected, the more Jiang Congyi listened, the brighter his eyes became. He even went so far as to take a pen and notebook out of his bag to jot down some key points.
At the same time, his gaze kept sweeping over the formula data and parts diagrams spread out on Luo Ning’s table, committing them to memory.
Luo Ning, of course, noticed Jiang Congyi’s subtle movements but pretended to be unaware.
After talking for over an hour and as the sky outside began to darken, Luo Ning suggested it was time for her to return home.
Jiang Congyi, ever the gentleman, offered to escort her home because he felt responsible for delaying her and worried about her safety at this late hour.
Luo Ning, however, declined.
In the following days, Jiang Congyi frequently sought out Luo Ning, deliberately emitting his masculine pheromones.
Luo Ning’s attitude towards him wasn’t as cold as at the beginning, but she remained distant.
Another week passed, and the head of the engineering department called everyone to a meeting.
Minister Hu was a comrade in his fifties who was very serious at work and quite gentle otherwise.
"Put your hearts into the engine refurbishment project."
"Our old factory director is retiring this month, and there’s confirmed news that the new factory director will be transferred from Capital City."
"At the same time, I’ve heard that the new director will bring the engine project with him, so this is an opportunity for everyone."
Everyone in the machinery factory knew about the old factory director’s impending retirement and expected one of the two deputy directors to succeed him. They were surprised to learn that the new director would be directly transferred from Capital City.
Jiang Congyi had heard about this from his father the night before and was not feeling good about it.
His father and another deputy director had been competing for the director’s position for the past six months, investing a lot and even tearing at each other, only to have neither succeed and an outsider benefit.
"Minister, do you know what the new factory director is like?" someone curiously asked.
Minister Hu replied, "All I know is that the new factory director graduated from Hua University with a degree in mechanical engineering, is under thirty years old, and is known for a pragmatic work style. As for the rest, I don’t know."
The people present were astonished—a factory director under thirty years old?
That would require not only exceptional ability but also significant backing; how else could one become a factory director right away?
Luo Ning’s thoughts stirred, and she asked, "Minister, what’s the new director’s surname?"
Minister Hu replied, "Lu."