chapter 14 Admire him

Ja Jiang had no knowledge of what had transpired at the kindergarten. After leaving the kindergarten, she headed straight to the research institute established by her teacher back in the country. As soon as she entered the institute, she laid eyes on a handsome and refined man, dressed in a perfectly fitted shirt and trousers, who walked toward her. "Ja, welcome back. I'm thrilled that we'll be working together again," Clark Gu said, standing before her, extending his hand like a gentleman. Ja Jiang nodded slightly and shook his hand briefly before pulling away. During her time abroad, Clark Gu had been a part of Gary Lu's team, involved in various research and development projects. At that time, he had been her assistant, and his exceptional skills had earned him approval from both her and Gary Lu. Ja Jiang's demeanor was neither cold nor warm, and Clark Gu didn't mind. He smiled and said, "Let me take you to your office." With that, he turned and led the way, introducing her to the institute's structure and key personnel along the route. When they arrived at her office, Clark Gu smiled at Ja Jiang and said, "I had this place set up according to your previous preferences. Linda's desk is right outside." Ja Jiang glanced around and nodded in satisfaction. "You've been thoughtful. Thank you." Clark Gu paused for a moment, and his smile appeared a bit gentle. His voice was soft and warm as he replied, "It's my pleasure. No need to be formal." As he spoke, he couldn't hide his admiration when looking at Ja Jiang. Even though he knew she was a mother of two children, it didn't diminish his admiration for her. After all, in every aspect, Ja Jiang was undeniably an outstanding woman, exceptional enough to overshadow any shortcomings. Ja Jiang didn't notice the way he was looking at her. After briefly surveying the office, she turned to Clark Gu and said, "I came here today to get a firsthand understanding of how the institute operates. Could you please show me around?" Clark Gu's smile didn't waver. "Of course," he replied. Ja Jiang nodded casually, indicating for him to lead the way. Clark Gu turned and walked ahead, but there was a touch of bitterness in his smile. He liked Ja Jiang sincerely, but she seemed to see him as just an ordinary subordinate. It was quite a headache for him. The two of them left the office area and headed straight for the core section of the research institute. When they reached the experimental area, they saw researchers in lab coats and masks busy at various workstations. Ja Jiang didn't disturb them; she simply had Clark Gu give her a brief introduction to the different projects and their research progress. By the afternoon, Ja Jiang had gained a good understanding of the situation at the institute. At the same time, she noticed a critical issue. During their visit to the experimental area, they saw a basic workspace that was not in operation. Ja Jiang inquired with the researchers and learned that they were waiting for supplies of essential chemicals from the institute. This situation continued for several other projects as well. Due to the delayed supply of chemicals, the research for several projects had to be temporarily halted, significantly increasing the time and cost required. Consequently, the institute incurred substantial losses. Coming out of the experimental area, Ja Jiang furrowed her brow and looked at Clark Gu with a serious expression. "Why haven't you taken steps to address the issue of research delays caused by slow chemical supplies?"