The next morning.
Yu Mengzhi came to the hospital to pick up Chen Jinzhao after his discharge. Her sharp senses detected something odd about him, so she asked, "What's wrong with you? You seem preoccupied."
Chen Jinzhao was slightly startled. Yu Mengzhi had noticed even the subtle shifts in his expression. He calmly shook his head and said, "It's nothing. Just thinking about a few things, figuring out how to deal with the Su family."
Yu Mengzhi seemed to understand and believed him.
Having passed the test, Chen Jinzhao also breathed a sigh of relief.
On the way home.
Yu Mengzhi said with a smile, "Oh, right. I have some good news for you."
"What good news?"
"Do you remember that our company was looking for a new image ambassador? After days of selection, the advertising department manager told me that a new candidate has been found." As she said this, Yu Mengzhi subtly glanced at Chen Jinzhao. "Why don't you guess who the final choice is?"
"Yaoyao?" Chen Jinzhao asked back.
Yu Mengzhi's eyes lit up. "Hey, how did you know it was her?"
Chen Jinzhao chuckled, "I recommended her to apply. I didn't expect her to actually be selected. Did you have a hand in her being chosen?"
Yu Mengzhi quickly shook her head and denied it.
She told Chen Jinzhao that it wasn't within her purview, and she hadn't interfered with that business. Moreover, the advertising department had initially shortlisted two candidates: Xu Yaoyao and a popular actress who had been in the industry for a long time.
After careful consideration by the advertising department, they ultimately decided to sign Xu Yaoyao, not the popular actress.
"The decisive factor was simply that the actress's asking price was too high, nearly ten times that of signing Xu Yaoyao. That's why the decision was made," Yu Mengzhi revealed the inside story to Chen Jinzhao. Chen Jinzhao couldn't help but smile, genuinely happy for Xu Yaoyao.
Outside the car window, the sun shone brightly.
Chen Jinzhao observed all this, sincerely hoping that everyone around him could have a bright future.
Back home.
Before he could even rest, Xu Yaoyao's call came through. She shared her good news with Chen Jinzhao and said she wanted to treat him to a big meal with the money she earned.
Chen Jinzhao naturally agreed with a smile, but he couldn't for a few days as his injuries hadn't fully healed.
Xu Yaoyao offered to visit him at home. Chen Jinzhao subtly glanced at Yu Mengzhi, then lowered his voice and said, "You visited me at the hospital, there's no need to be so formal. You should focus on working hard to prove to your grandfather that you can be very capable."
"Then, okay..." Xu Yaoyao was a little reluctant.
"Brother Jinzhao, you must rest well and don't get injured again. I'll be very worried."
Chen Jinzhao repeatedly agreed.
Yu Mengzhi had been quite busy lately, as Gouchen Pharmaceuticals was now a high-speed train that couldn't be stopped.
In just half a year, the name Gouchen Pharmaceutical had spread far and wide, and its market valuation was rapidly increasing.
According to the latest institutional estimates, if Gouchen Pharmaceutical were to choose to go public now, it would break through a market value of ten billion, an exceptionally brilliant achievement for Yu Mengzhi.
Therefore—
After having lunch with Chen Jinzhao, Yu Mengzhi returned to work overtime.
It could be said that if not for her concern for Chen Jinzhao, Yu Mengzhi might have chosen to stay at the company and not go home.
Chen Jinzhao didn't say anything when he saw this.
Everyone around him seemed to be on a path to a bright future. What could be more gratifying than that?
A few more days passed.
Chen Jinzhao's injuries had mostly recovered, allowing him to move freely.
That morning.
Chen Jinzhao saw a car parked at the entrance of his house, and the driver was none other than Li Qiutao.
"Uncle, why are you here?" he asked in surprise.
Li Qiutao rolled down the car window and took off his sunglasses, smiling, "Jinzhao, do you have any free time today? I want to go back to our hometown to sweep the graves of the elders."
Chen Jinzhao was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "Okay, I'll go tell Mengzhi and then accompany you back."
Yu Mengzhi initially wanted to go along, but Chen Jinzhao said, "President Yu, I'm just going back to the countryside, not anywhere far. Besides, your company matters are so busy, you don't need to drop your work because of me. That would make me feel bad."
"Alright then, be careful on your way..." Yu Mengzhi nodded.
"I understand."
Chen Jinzhao changed his clothes and got into the car, only to discover another unlucky soul in the back seat – Wu Lingyun.
Their relationship wasn't particularly good, and with Wu Lingyun's infatuation with Qin Fengwu, his cousin harbored a slight animosity towards him. Of course, as long as Wu Lingyun didn't provoke him, Chen Jinzhao wouldn't do anything to her.
They exchanged a perfunctory greeting.
When Wu Lingyun turned her head, she rolled her eyes and leaned back in the car seat, closing her eyes to rest. She had been pulled up early that morning by Li Qiutao and was still feeling sleepy.
"You child, why so listless?" Li Qiutao scolded with a smile.
Wu Lingyun simply didn't respond. Li Qiutao shook his head and said to Chen Jinzhao, "Your cousin is just like that. She's been pampered since she was little and can't change overnight. Don't blame her."
"Uncle, what are you talking about?" Chen Jinzhao chuckled.
"Right, why didn't you call my mother along?"
Li Qiutao turned his head, driving, and said, "I called her last night. She said for us to go back without her. She might be busy with something lately."
Busy?
Since her mother moved to the city, she hadn't worked. What could she possibly be busy with?
Chen Jinzhao thought for a moment but found no answer.
The three of them drove an SUV out of the city, heading back to a small town under Leyang County.
Along the way.
Li Qiutao lamented how long it had been since he last returned, how many things had changed, yet how many things remained unchanged for decades.
Chen Jinzhao listened with confusion, "Uncle, when did you return to our hometown? I heard my mother say that you were taken to live across the river since you were young, so you shouldn't have any memories of the old place, right?"
"Oh, I've actually been back a few times before, so I have some memories," Li Qiutao explained.
Chen Jinzhao nodded and didn't press further.
However.
None of the three noticed.
Not long after their SUV left the city, several black sedans followed their direction out of the city, seemingly tracking them.
In the lead car, a burly man wearing sunglasses took out his phone and said, "They've left Ninghai urban area and are heading towards Gumwood Village in Leyang County. What are our next orders?"
A hoarse voice came from the other end of the phone after a few seconds of silence, "Kill him."
"Be fast!"