43: Chapter 43 A Night of Shura Field

Holland's warning currently had no leads.

Chen Yifei decided to observe first.

But that night, something happened—making him forget all about the warnings.

8:00 PM. The office.

Chen Yifei was working overtime.

There was a knock at the door.

"Come in."

Ivanka pushed the door open, carrying an insulated bag.

"Haven't eaten yet, right?"

"No."

"I brought you a burger."

She placed the insulated bag on the desk, pulled up a chair, and sat across from him.

"I made it myself. It's not the kind from a fast-food joint."

"You know how to make burgers?"

"I spent a week learning," she said, blinking.

"Specifically for this. You work overtime every day; you can't just keep eating takeout."

She took a massive burger out of the insulated bag—double beef patties, lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese, and homemade smoky sauce.

The colors were arranged like a work of art.

"Try it."

Chen Yifei took a bite.

Delicious.

Ten times better than a fast-food restaurant.

The juices and the sauce mixed together, creating an indescribable depth of flavor.

"How is it?"

"Delicious."

"Really?"

"Really."

Ivanka smiled.

That sparkling, crescent-moon-eyed smile.

She sat there, elbows on the table, resting her chin on her hands, watching him eat.

Warm.

Quiet.

Until—the door was knocked on again.

"Come in."

Park Ji-yeon pushed the door open, holding a folder.

"Mayor Chen, the greenhouse data report—"

She saw Ivanka and stopped.

"You're eating?"

"Ivanka brought me a burger," Chen Yifei said.

"Oh."

Park Ji-yeon pursed her lips.

"Then I'll come back tomorrow."

"It's fine. Just put it down."

Park Ji-yeon placed the file on the desk, but she didn't leave.

She glanced at the burger, glanced at Ivanka, then lowered her head and stood silently to the side.

The atmosphere turned subtle.

Just then—the door was knocked on for the third time.

"Come in."

Hannah walked in, holding a document.

"Mayor Chen, Senator Klein's letter of recommendation—"

She saw there were already two women in the room and paused for a second.

Then, her professionalism kicked in.

She walked in, expressionless, and placed the document on the desk.

"The wording of the recommendation letter is very strong. The success rate for the funding application is over eighty-five percent."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Hannah turned to leave.

But just as she reached the door—the door was pushed open from the outside.

Emily stood outside the door, holding a medical folder.

"Chen Yifei, the equipment list for the community hospital—"

She saw the three women in the room, the burger on the desk, and Park Ji-yeon standing to the side—she paused for three seconds.

The corners of her mouth lifted slightly.

"Looks like it's lively tonight."

She walked in, placed the document on the desk, pulled up a chair, and sat down.

Four people.

Four women.

One office.

Chen Yifei sat in his chair.

In front of him were a burger, a greenhouse report, a recommendation letter, and an equipment list.

He had the feeling of being in an interview.

And it was the kind where four interviewers were interviewing him at the same time.

"What are you eating?" Park Ji-yeon glanced at the burger.

"Ivanka made it."

"Can I have a bite?"

Ivanka's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I made this for him."

"I didn't say I wanted the whole thing. Just a bite."

"Not even a bite."

"Why?"

"Because—"

"Because what?"

The two women's gazes collided in mid-air.

Chen Yifei quickly pushed the burger aside.

"Stop arguing, both of you. Let's talk business."

"What business?" the four women said in unison.

Chen Yifei cleared his throat.

"Park Ji-yeon, how much spare capacity does the greenhouse have?"

"Forty-seven percent."

"Hannah, when is the deadline for the funding application?"

"The fifteenth of next month."

"Emily, how much does the hospital equipment list cost?"

"1.2 million."

"Ivanka—"

"I'm making you a burger," she said righteously.

"...Okay."

He finished answering everyone's questions one by one.

Then he noticed—none of the four women had any intention of leaving.

Ivanka sat on the left.

Park Ji-yeon sat on the right.

Hannah sat opposite him.

Emily sat in the corner.

Everyone had something in their hands to do, but everyone's attention—was not on the task at hand.

Ivanka was peeking at the distance between him and Park Ji-yeon.

Park Ji-yeon was peeking at the distance between him and Hannah.

Hannah was peeking at the distance between him and Ivanka.

Emily—was watching everyone.

The corners of her mouth carried a faint, elusive smile.

The meaning of that smile was probably: "Interesting."

The system panel flashed in the corner of his vision.

A short notification—

"Current favorability of women present: All > 50. Suggestion: Escape immediately. Otherwise—consequences at your own risk."

Chen Yifei stood up.

"Everyone. It's getting late. Go back and rest."

"I still have work—" Park Ji-yeon said.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow."

"I also need to—" Hannah said.

"We'll talk about it tomorrow."

"I also—" Ivanka said.

"Tomorrow."

"I—" Emily stood up. "I'll head out first."

She walked to the door.

She looked back at Chen Yifei.

"Goodnight."

Then she looked at the other three women.

Her tone was gentle.

"You all should get some rest early too."

Her gaze held a kind of composure that said, "You all keep fighting, I'm retreating first."

The door closed.

The remaining three looked at each other, then stood up in unison.

"I'll go first," Park Ji-yeon said first.

"Me too," Hannah followed.

"...Me too," Ivanka said last.

Before she left, she looked back at him.

"Tomorrow—I'll come bring you food again."

"Okay."

The door closed.

Chen Yifei stood alone in the office.

Silence for three seconds.

He let out a long sigh.

He slumped into his chair.

"A battlefield..."

He rubbed his temples.

"More exhausting than a tornado."

Late at night.

Lying in bed.

The phone screen lit up.

A social media notification.

He clicked on it casually—and sat bolt upright.

A tweet.

Poster: Elon Musk.

The content was only one word—translated, it meant "Interesting."

Attached video—Oak Golden Ear tasting event.

The number of likes was skyrocketing.

The number of comments was skyrocketing.

The number of retweets was skyrocketing.

Elon Musk.

One of the richest people in the world.

100 million followers.

Every tweet is tracked and reported by global media.

He posted "Interesting"—it meant 100 million people had seen Oak Golden Ear.

It meant the eyes of the whole world were turning toward this small town in Nebraska.

Chen Yifei gripped his phone.

His heart rate accelerated.

The spotlight had arrived.

But beneath the spotlight—there wasn't just applause.

There were also magnifying glasses.

He put down his phone.

He closed his eyes.

Tomorrow—would be a crazy day.