When I mentioned this to Wendy, she said that arrogant people often face consequences. She told me that if I ever saw Stephen in a vulnerable moment, I would realize that he is just as human as the rest of us."Know your enemy and know yourself, and you'll win every battle. Mandy is Francis's wife; Stephen will keep a close eye on her movements," Luke said.He leaned back against the seat. The open window allowed the wind to ruffle Luke's usually neat hair, giving him a more casual appearance."You seem to know Stephen's working style well," I observed.Luke and Stephen were both top performers in their respective fields. It's true that exceptional people often attract each other."We work in different industries, but our approaches to handling matters are quite similar," Luke replied.Indeed, JL Capital always conducted thorough research and risk assessments on potential partner companies for every project. The principle was the same.I nodded, remembering the food I had ordere
"Ms. Middleton, we've arrived at Johnsonville Bistro.""I... I'll get out right away."The driver's words snapped me back to reality. My face felt warm as I responded, hastily avoiding Luke's gaze. I opened the car door and stepped out, walking towards the left side of the car."Jen," Luke called out.I clutched my bag tightly, stopped, and turned around.He was leaning his arm on the car window, smiling, looking extremely pleased.Was he amused by my flustered state?How annoying!I quickly turned away.Luke: "Johnsonville Bistro is on the right side.""..." I looked up to see a maternity store directly across from me. The bistro didn't have good parking, so the driver had stopped on the opposite side.I had been so fixated on Luke that I was now doubly embarrassed, my face turning an even deeper shade of red.Feeling mortified, I didn't dare look back and hurried across the street.This stretch of road had little traffic at night. I crossed and entered the bistro.The c
"I'll definitely remember!"Despite her promise, Marianne showed up at my doorstep with breakfast again the next morning."Marianne..."My tone was a mix of helplessness and playful complaint."I... I might be getting old and forgetful. I'll see a doctor this morning after I finish my chores," Marianne said, looking slightly guilty.She had genuinely forgotten!I quickly reassured her, "It's okay, Marianne. I haven't had breakfast yet anyway."Forgetfulness is common with age, but it's still important to get checked at the hospital to rule out any medical causes for memory decline. "I'm very busy at work today and can't accompany you to the hospital, but please call me if anything comes up.""It's just a doctor's visit. I can manage. Don't worry about me and focus on your work," Marianne urged. "It's getting late. Hurry and eat your breakfast, or you'll be late.""Take care, Marianne."As I watched her leave, I looked down at the delicate breakfast set on my plate, feeling to
Half an hour later, the simulation test came to an end, and the impressive visual effects left me eagerly anticipating the upcoming real-world tests.If autonomous cars could navigate extremely complex environments successfully, it would significantly reduce traffic accidents and be a boon for many consumers. Technology truly has the power to change lives.At the test site, Luke and I, along with others, sat in the stands. Below us was a modified racetrack filled with various obstacles designed to simulate challenging driving conditions. Professional testers were ready.However, real-world driving conditions can change in an instant, whereas the simulated obstacles were fixed. This made the test results less convincing to me, and my excitement dwindled.I thought I hid my feelings well, but Neil called me out."Ms. Middleton, have you ever used an autonomous driving system?""No, I haven't."I've always driven traditional gas cars. Wendy is much more receptive to new technology
What Luke was implying was that the obstacles on the track were too simple. Neil understood Luke's criticism and explained, "We have our own testing ground, but due to the heavy rain today, we had to move indoors. The indoor space is limited and doesn't allow for complex maneuvers.""Testing in the rain is crucial."Driving in the rain increases the risk of accidents, making rain tests more convincing.I opened the test report that I had been holding, but there was no mention of rain testing.Luke noticed Neil's troubled expression and asked, "Have you not tested in the rain, or does the success rate drop significantly in such conditions?""Our success rate in the rain is around seventy percent," Neil admitted, looking a bit defeated."Around seventy percent? Do you expect consumers to stay home whenever it rains?""We've optimized the sensors, but the increased sensitivity has introduced some issues we haven't resolved yet.""These issues include adverse weather interfering wi
"Why did you reject Neil's suggestion? Do you believe that autonomous driving systems are unreliable?"When I was with Max, he always showed contempt for AI technology. Despite his higher education and understanding of the significance of technological progress, I now realize that it wasn't the technology he despised—it was Luke. Max refused to switch to a smart car because he didn't want a constant reminder of someone he could never measure up to."Mr. Walker always prioritizes people in his work. If autonomous driving technology were unreliable, you wouldn't persist in this field," I said. JL Capital focused on the tech sector; if I doubted technology, I might as well quit now!I explained, "I was rear-ended before, and it left a scar. I haven't driven since.""Was it when Cindy rear-ended you?""You have an excellent memory, Mr. Walker."Luke was already aware of the complicated situation between Max, Cindy, and me, so there was no need to hide it."Have you done something wr
"Mr. Walker...""Go buy the tickets."Luke handed me his wallet, stretching it out in front of me."Mr. Walker, my fear is gone. I can drive now!" I would happily demonstrate my driving skills to avoid bungee jumping.Luke remained silent, simply pointing in the direction of the ticket booth.It was evident that he wasn't going to change his mind. With heavy footsteps, I reluctantly made my way to the ticket booth, wishing it were further away. Though it was only about twenty meters from the entrance, it felt like I was running a marathon. It took me five minutes to cover that short distance.Meanwhile, Luke stood there and reminded me, "Jen, make sure to get tickets for today."He seemed to read my thoughts perfectly. Even if I wanted to pull a trick or find a way out, there was no chance of escaping this situation.With great reluctance, I purchased the tickets and urgently texted Wendy, asking her to call me with an important matter that required my immediate attention.As
"There's not much space for two people in one car."Only after Luke and I sat in the bumper car did we realize the issue. Though the car was meant for two, we were two adults, and it was a tight fit, leading to unavoidable physical contact. I tried to make myself as small as possible to keep some distance between us. "Maybe we should each take our own car," I suggested.Before Luke could respond, the staff signaled the start and the cars began to move. I was jolted forward as another car collided with us from behind, bringing back memories of a previous rear-end accident. My body tensed up, and I instinctively gripped the steering wheel to steady myself."Steer and move forward," Luke's deep, calm voice sounded in my ear, helping me regain some composure. However, I still felt uncertain about what to do next.Bang! Another car hit us from the right, causing both of us to shake. My mind, which had just started to clear, became muddled again.After a few more collisions, I began to