Chen Jinzhao felt extremely uncomfortable.
This was the problem he was most unwilling to face. He had thought everything was in the past, but he didn't expect Xu Nianqing to bring it up again.
Xu Nianqing also confessed frankly, "To put it bluntly, I still can't forget you. But I also know that there's no place for me in your heart anymore, so why should I stay and be a third wheel?"
"So..."
"I want to go abroad."
Since she couldn't face it directly, she chose to escape. There was nothing shameful about that.
Chen Jinzhao opened his mouth.
He had originally planned to tell Xu Nianqing to be more open-minded, to let the past be the past. People couldn't live in the past forever; they had to look to the future. However, the words on the tip of his tongue couldn't be spoken. For Chen Jinzhao, had he truly let go?
If he had truly let go, he wouldn't have been so flustered when they met.
To advise someone to be magnanimous is to invite divine retribution.
"Oh, right, how do you know Professor Wen?" Xu Nianqing changed the subject.
Chen Jinzhao replied truthfully, "When I was in the army, I participated in a special mission to rescue Professor Wen. I will also be responsible for Professor Wen's personal safety from now on."
Xu Nianqing looked surprised. "So, your relationship with Professor Wen is closer than I imagined. No wonder Professor Wen asked you to counsel me."
Chen Jinzhao gave a wry smile. "I'm afraid I've disappointed Professor Wen this time."
"No, you haven't," Xu Nianqing's face broke into a smile.
"Professor Wen has a special identity and is the center of attention wherever he goes. How could he need protection?"
This was her inner doubt.
Chen Jinzhao thought for a moment and didn't hide it from Xu Nianqing. If Xu Nianqing were to truly become Wen Fulai's student, she would also be subjected to various assassination attempts, even suicide bombings.
Xu Nianqing was deeply shocked after hearing this.
The research project that Wen Fulai was working on was more profound and terrifying than she had imagined.
"I see..." Xu Nianqing said.
"The decision is yours. I've said all I needed to say." Chen Jinzhao urged her to calm down and think seriously, not to rush into a decision.
Xu Nianqing looked at Chen Jinzhao deeply. "I've made up my mind. I agree to become Professor Wen's student."
Chen Jinzhao had expected Xu Nianqing to refuse, but to his surprise, she immediately changed her mind and agreed. Before he could speak, Xu Nianqing said, "I made this decision after careful consideration. It has little to do with you."
"Great! Then I'll go and call the professor over."
At that moment.
In the hotel restroom on this floor.
Wen Fulai coughed incessantly, then threw the blood-stained tissue into the toilet and flushed it. After washing his face, he ensured that no one could tell anything was wrong.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Wen Fulai smiled wryly. "My time is running out. If Miss Xu doesn't agree to be my student soon, I might have to organize my research results and submit them to the state early. I hope heaven gives me a little more time, so I can witness the day my research results are revealed..."
"Professor, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Chen Jinzhao appeared by the sink.
Whether it was an illusion or the lighting, Wen Fulai's complexion seemed a little pale.
Wen Fulai wiped the water droplets from his face with a tissue and put on his glasses, saying with a chuckle, "It's nothing. I just felt a bit sleepy, so I came to wash my face. What did Miss Xu say?"
Chen Jinzhao breathed a sigh of relief. "She agreed."
Wen Fulai's eyes lit up.
"Really?"
"That's wonderful! I'll go talk to her!"
"Xiao Chen, you should join us for the chat as well."
The three of them chatted until late at night, the atmosphere remarkably harmonious.
After the meal, the younger generation, Chen Jinzhao and Xu Nianqing, escorted Wen Fulai back to his accommodation.
Apart from Chen Jinzhao, his superiors had also assigned four close protection guards to ensure Wen Fulai's safety. After all, Chen Jinzhao was a general and couldn't protect Wen Fulai at all times.
"You can escort me this far. You two should head back now," Wen Fulai said with a smile.
This was the happiest day for him since returning to the country.
"Teacher, please get some rest," Xu Nianqing said.
Chen Jinzhao also nodded. "Professor Wen, if there's anything you need me to do, please have the guards by your side inform me."
Next.
The four bodyguards reported the recent situation to Chen Jinzhao. Generally, there were no immediate dangers. Chen Jinzhao instructed the four, "Professor Wen's safety is of utmost importance. If you notice anything unusual, notify me immediately, understand?"
The four nodded.
Chen Jinzhao also nodded, trusting these four.
Coming onto the street, Xu Nianqing was still waiting for Chen Jinzhao. Chen Jinzhao hesitated for a moment before walking over.
"Everyone thinks you're just a security guard, but in reality, you're the one who's truly hiding your talents. As expected, gold shines wherever it is," Xu Nianqing said with an admiring tone.
Chen Jinzhao teased, "Are you regretting it now?"
"Yes, I regret it."
Xu Nianqing admitted it openly and then asked with a smile, "So, can you give me a chance?"
Chen Jinzhao was speechless and didn't dare to answer the question.
Answering truthfully would inevitably hurt Xu Nianqing, but answering insincerely might lead to another fated entanglement.
Xu Nianqing said with a giggle, "Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. Don't take it to heart."
Chen Jinzhao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He wasn't good at dealing with women in the first place, and the saying "a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea" was no joke.
Xu Nianqing also knew the atmosphere was a bit awkward, so she said, "Forget it, I won't torment you anymore. Let's part ways here. If we have any future interactions, it will be work-related."
Growth is a series of farewells.
The two stood facing each other. Seeing that Chen Jinzhao had no intention of stepping forward, a hint of sadness appeared in Xu Nianqing's eyes. She then took two steps back, forced a smile, and said goodbye to Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao gave a hum and watched Xu Nianqing leave.
Xu Nianqing arrived at the bus stop, waiting for the last bus to take her weary body home.
Ring, ring!
The mobile phone in her bag let out a piercing ring, shattering the quiet night.
Xu Nianqing raised her eyebrows, excitedly took out her phone, and after seeing the caller ID, her enthusiastic heart sank again.
It wasn't Chen Jinzhao.
It was an unknown number.
Xu Nianqing hesitated for a moment, then answered the call and said, "This is Xu Nianqing. Who is this..."
"Miss Xu, long time no see."
"Who are you?" Xu Nianqing had a bad feeling.
The other party chuckled playfully, "Please forgive my presumptuousness for disturbing Miss Xu so late at night. However, your father is in our hands. Please come and redeem your father."
Xu Nianqing's heart skipped a beat. She immediately realized the other party might be Ning Fei's people.
Previously, Xu Mingzhi had used his daughter's marriage as a bargaining chip to borrow fifty million in working capital from the Ning family to cover the company's previous funding gap. However, Xu Nianqing did not marry Ning Fei afterward, so this money naturally became a debt. It was just that Ning Fei had been busy dealing with the mess left by Ning Pingguo in the past few days and hadn't had the time to deal with Xu Mingzhi.
Xu Nianqing had anticipated this. She took a deep breath and asked, "Where are you?"
The other party chuckled, "Our people are already in front of Miss Xu. As long as Miss Xu gets into the car, our people will take Miss Xu to your father."
As soon as he finished speaking.
A Mercedes-Benz car, like a steel beast, drove out from the darkness and stopped beside the bus stop.
"Miss Xu, please!"