27: Chapter 28 Shen Nian's "X" Experience

Shen Nian's hand was warm and firm, carrying determination and a faint, imperceptible tremor.

The moment their hands clasped, Yu Bo's heart stirred.

On an impulse, he used the system's Probe skill on the female founder before him—who had just fought off a disruptor alongside him, and was both graceful and shrewd.

Focusing his gaze, a pale blue, transparent panel visible only to him quietly appeared beside Shen Nian, with data refreshing rapidly:

【Target: Shen Nian】

【Age: 32】

【Beauty: 94 (Radiant Mature Woman)】

【Figure: 96 (Top-tier Hourglass, Mature Charm)】

【Health Status: Excellent (Slight Stress)】

【Special Status: Recent high-intensity work, slight endocrine imbalance】

【Sexual Experience: 3 times (One brief relationship, long interval)】

【Current Mood: Trust, excitement, mixed with a hint of anxiety and ambition for the future】

【Affinity towards host: 65 (High admiration + Preliminary trust + Anticipation of cooperation)】

Sexual experience: 3 times?

Holding Shen Nian's hand, Yu Bo paused almost imperceptibly.

This number formed a huge contrast with Shen Nian's highly aggressive beauty, her mature and charming allure, and her adept—even slightly flirtatious—posture during the negotiation.

32 years old, top-tier university background, high beauty, great figure, situated in the tech and investment circles teeming with beauties, yet her sexual experience was a pitiful 3 times, and from a single 'brief relationship.'

What did this mean?

It meant she perhaps poured the vast majority of her energy into her studies and career; it meant she might be extremely picky, even cautious, regarding relationships and intimacy; and it also meant... those seemingly practiced, alluring actions of hers were perhaps more of an unconscious imitation or a deliberately practiced social skill—even a 'weapon' she used to protect herself and gain an advantage in a male-dominated field, rather than inherent promiscuity.

This discovery made Shen Nian's image in Yu Bo's eyes instantly more three-dimensional and complex.

She was no longer just a beautiful collaborator full of temptation and ambition; her strength, her shrewdness, the vulnerability she occasionally revealed, and the genuine excitement in her eyes at this moment all seemed to have a deeper interpretation.

"What's wrong?" Shen Nian noticed the slight pause during their handshake and the complex look that flashed across his eyes, tilting her head in confusion.

She had loosely pinned up her long hair today, a movement that exposed a stretch of fair, graceful neck, shimmering with delicate luster under the sunset's afterglow.

"Nothing." Yu Bo quickly composed himself, released her hand, and returned to his normal expression, though deep in his eyes, there was a hint of imperceptible inquiry and... perhaps a hint of softness that even he hadn't realized.

"Just thinking that you, President Shen, have it even harder than I imagined."

His words were a bit vague, but Shen Nian seemed to understand.

The smile on her face faded slightly, her gaze drifted for a moment, looking toward the deepening twilight outside the window, and her voice lowered:

"In this circle, for a woman, especially one who still wants to accomplish something and isn't content with just being a vase or an accessory, wanting people to look only at your ability and achievements, rather than your face and figure, is inherently harder than for others. Sometimes, you have to use some... methods easily misunderstood by the outside world, to fight for what should rightfully belong to you."

She withdrew her gaze and looked back at Yu Bo, her smile carrying a bit more self-deprecation and composure:

"Do you think that sometimes I... am quite good at putting on an act, or even a bit... that way?"

Yu Bo shook his head, his tone sincere:

"No, I think you're very impressive. You know what you want, and you know how to fight for it. As for the methods... as long as you don't violate your bottom line and can achieve your goals, they are good methods. Furthermore," he paused, implying something, "some people only see the surface."

Shen Nian looked at him deeply, as if something shifted slightly in those beautiful eyes of hers.

She didn't press Yu Bo on what he specifically meant by "the surface," but just took a light breath and returned to that bright, capable demeanor:

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. The agreement is signed, and now it's time for real, hands-on work. Chairman Yu," she switched back to the formal address, but her tone was familiar, "when will the first batch of funds arrive? Our team is waiting for rice to put in the pot."

"The due diligence team will arrive tomorrow. If all goes smoothly, the report will be out within a week. As long as there are no issues, the 20 million will be transferred in a lump sum within three working days after signing the formal agreement," Yu Bo gave a clear timeline.

"Direct!" Shen Nian's eyes brightened, "Then I'll wait for your good news. By the way, I almost forgot," she took an exquisite USB drive out of her clutch and handed it to Yu Bo, "This is some of the non-core pre-research directions and preliminary data for our next-generation prototype. It's encrypted; the password is my birthday, which is written in the documents. Consider it my personal... 'interest' paid in advance."

As she handed over the USB drive, her fingertips brushed against Yu Bo's palm again.

This time, Yu Bo didn't immediately pull his hand back; instead, he grasped the USB drive and briefly enclosed her fingertips.

"Thank you." Yu Bo looked at her, his gaze focused, "This 'interest' is very valuable."

Shen Nian felt the warm touch from her fingertips, and her heart seemed to skip a beat.

She quickly but unobtrusively pulled her hand back, her cheeks heating up slightly, though fortunately, the indoor light was already dim, so it wasn't clearly visible.

"I hope it's worth it. I'll be going now; my team is still waiting for me to hold a meeting."

"Alright, take care on the road."

Shen Nian nodded, picked up her bag, and walked quickly out of the conference room.

The sound of her high heels clicking on the floor echoed in the empty corridor, gradually fading away.

Yu Bo stood alone in the darkening conference room, holding the slightly cool USB drive in his hand.

The information obtained from the Probe skill, the words Shen Nian had just spoken with a mix of candor and helplessness, and her slightly hurried departure at the end, all intertwined, giving him a brand-new understanding of this "partner" who had just formed an alliance with him.

A woman who wore a shell of strength and even seductiveness, but inside, perhaps harbored unknown loneliness, persistence, and an extremely high level of defensiveness.

She and Yin Tianxue were two completely different types, but to some extent, perhaps both lived in fortresses they had constructed for themselves, which were not easy to inhabit.

He put away the USB drive and walked to the window.

The city lights lit up one by one, brilliant as a galaxy.

Shen Nian's car had just driven out of the park and merged into the traffic.

The first major investment for "Listening to the Waves," after experiencing internal contractual tug-of-war and external interference, had finally settled.

And with Shen Nian, this complex and interesting "variable," officially joining the fray, Yu Bo vaguely felt that the road ahead would be even more exciting, and also more... unpredictable.

He took out his phone and sent a message to Yin Tianxue:

"The agreement is basically finalized, signing tomorrow. Just fought off a direct attempt by Yang Junyi to poach the deal. What do you want to eat tonight? I'll cook, let's celebrate."

Soon, Yin Tianxue replied:

"Won? Impressive. I want to drink the soup you make. Also, on Shen Nian's side, she didn't make any other requests, right?"

Yu Bo looked at the screen, recalling the results of the Probe skill and Shen Nian's final expression, and replied:

"No, it went very smoothly. Just a... quite interesting collaborator. I'll tell you more in detail tonight."

Putting away his phone, Yu Bo took one last look at the direction where Shen Nian's car had disappeared outside the window, then turned and left the conference room.