After dinner.
Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi took a walk in the neighborhood.
This was the liveliest time in the old neighborhood, with elders taking their children, middle-aged couples digesting their meals after dinner, and young couples heading home from work…
Yu Mengzhi looked at the passing crowd, finding the scene very harmonious.
Living alone in her cold villa was pointless.
They chatted about this and that, deliberately avoiding the topic of their relationship, as if they had reached a strange tacit understanding: as long as they didn't talk about feelings, they were still good friends.
"Chen Jinzhao…"
"Hmm? What is it?" Chen Jinzhao turned his head to look at Yu Mengzhi.
In the dim light, Yu Mengzhi tilted her face upwards. Chen Jinzhao felt that in this moment, Yu Mengzhi exuded a hazy beauty. For decades to come, Chen Jinzhao would recall this scene.
Yu Mengzhi noticed Chen Jinzhao's peculiar gaze and quickly shifted her eyes away, asking, "I have a question in my heart, and I hope you can answer it truthfully."
Chen Jinzhao also came back to his senses and smiled, "President Yu, please speak."
Yu Mengzhi's gaze flickered, sometimes towards the stars in the night sky above, and sometimes towards the passing crowd. Chen Jinzhao patiently waited for her question.
"You say…"
"Am I useless? I thought about it carefully. If I left the Yu family, I'd seem good for nothing."
"Compared to others, I'm not particularly outstanding."
Chen Jinzhao stopped walking and gazed into Yu Mengzhi's eyes, pondering seriously, "Do you want to hear flattery, or the truth?"
"I want to hear the truth," Yu Mengzhi replied.
Chen Jinzhao continued walking, and Yu Mengzhi hurried to catch up.
"Your feeling is correct. If you had left the Yu family, it would be unlikely you'd have reached where you are today. I'm not saying President Yu lacks ability, but rather the upward path. With the rapid development of modern society, all trades are starting to prioritize 'money'. Most of the people who become rich first will tightly control every economic lifeline of society and then use it to ascend to become aristocratic families.
"The networks of these families permeate all of society, and this network, meticulously woven by them, becomes the greatest obstacle for the upward mobility of children from worker and farmer backgrounds."
"Anyone who dares to challenge the aristocratic families is considered a great enemy in their eyes."
Yu Mengzhi felt these words were harsh because the Yu family Chen Jinzhao spoke of was the very family she belonged to. She said with some displeasure, "If what you say is true, how could my grandfather have built today's commercial empire from nothing?"
Although she didn't obey Yu Lingxiao's arrangements, she admired Yu Lingxiao's capabilities.
She even wanted to surpass Yu Lingxiao!
Chen Jinzhao let out a cold laugh, "If you knew about your grandfather's rise to fortune, you wouldn't say that. It's true that Old Master Yu possessed exceptional talent and ability, but without the influence of his father-in-law, who would have given him face at the company's inception?"
Yu Mengzhi was stunned.
She vaguely remembered that her grandfather's father-in-law was indeed a remarkable man, who once ranked among the top five in the power center of Jiangnan Province.
If not for his age limit, he could have advanced further.
As a beneficiary, Yu Mengzhi felt uncomfortable deep down, thinking Chen Jinzhao's ideas were too radical. She had intended to argue with Chen Jinzhao, but after calming down, she realized she was not speaking from the perspective of someone from a worker or farmer background.
"You might be right," Yu Mengzhi sighed.
Chen Jinzhao looked at Yu Mengzhi in surprise, "President Yu, you're not angry? I thought I might have spoken too harshly just now."
Yu Mengzhi shook her head, "I was indeed angry, but after thinking about it, I'm not so angry anymore. If I had a humble background, with plenty of ability but no way to break through the barriers, I might be even more radical than you."
They looked at each other and smiled.
Chen Jinzhao realized that Yu Mengzhi was not only beautiful but also good at understanding people's hearts.
As expected of his girlfriend.
Even if it was only temporary.
They didn't dwell on the heavy topic, and tacitly shifted to other subjects. Chen Jinzhao also knew how to seize the opportunity. As they passed under a dimly lit tree, he suddenly reached out and held Yu Mengzhi's hand, causing her body to stiffen slightly. However, Yu Mengzhi didn't say much and let Chen Jinzhao hold her hand.
She didn't know why, but she liked this feeling.
It was a little thrilling…
Chen Jinzhao hadn't expected Yu Mengzhi not to resist, which left him unsure of what to say, as anything seemed inappropriate.
They walked in silence for about ten minutes.
Yu Mengzhi felt dejected. Why had Chen Jinzhao become so quiet? He was usually quite talkative.
It was annoying!
"I'm going home," she suddenly said.
Chen Jinzhao blinked, then released her hand and scratched his head, "Really? Then I'll see you off."
Yu Mengzhi stared into Chen Jinzhao's eyes, "Then don't you have anything you want to say?"
"Say what?" Chen Jinzhao asked, confused.
Yu Mengzhi bit her red lip, inwardly annoyed at Chen Jinzhao's lack of awareness. She gritted her teeth and said, "You're such a blockhead. Say it if you want, or don't."
Chen Jinzhao felt extremely awkward, completely unable to fathom what Yu Mengzhi was thinking. Seeing that the slowpoke still hadn't said anything, her anger gradually subsided. Why should she get angry with this fool?
"Come here, I have something to tell you," she beckoned.
"President Yu, you can just say it. My hearing is very good. Back in the army, I could…" Chen Jinzhao said earnestly. Yu Mengzhi angrily interrupted him, "Just come here when I tell you to, what's all the nonsense?"
Chen Jinzhao was perplexed.
Seeing Yu Mengzhi's fierce expression, he figured he'd better obey, or she might get angry. So, he leaned down to listen.
A smile appeared in Yu Mengzhi's eyes. With lightning speed, she leaned in and planted a kiss on Chen Jinzhao's cheek. Then, under Chen Jinzhao's stunned gaze, she turned and walked away without another word.
Chen Jinzhao was truly dumbfounded.
He had never expected that this was what Yu Mengzhi wanted to say!
He stood there stunned for a few seconds, then looked up at Yu Mengzhi's retreating back, "President Yu, wait a moment!"
Under the dim yellow light, Yu Mengzhi turned her head.
A gentle breeze blew, rustling Yu Mengzhi's hair, making her look incredibly beautiful and poignant. Chen Jinzhao saw this and was once again frozen, unable to speak for a long time.
"Hey!"
"What do you want to say? If you don't say it, I'm leaving!"
Chen Jinzhao snapped back to reality, his heart rate soaring to 200 beats per minute with excitement. This time, he didn't hesitate.
He shouted at Yu Mengzhi, "Yu Mengzhi, can you be my girlfriend?"
Yu Mengzhi let out a chuckle, but her eyes sparkled with joy. She waved her hand, "Dream on. How could I possibly like you? You are not allowed to tell anyone about what happened tonight."
"Chen Jinzhao, goodbye!"