Yu Wendong stared at Chen Jinzhao with a strange look.
Chen Jinzhao was confused.
Had he said something wrong?
Yu Wendong retorted, "What do you think?"
Chen Jinzhao shook his head, "I don't know, and I can't figure it out, which is why I came to ask you."
"Haha..."
Yu Wendong laughed heartily, "Do you still remember the first time we met? It seemed to be at Xu Nianqing and the Ning family's eldest young master's wedding. I didn't recognize you then. Your father protected you too well, not letting anyone know about your relationship with him."
"So that night was just an accident?" Chen Jinzhao asked.
Yu Wendong grunted.
Chen Jinzhao's mood visibly improved.
Although his relationship with Yu Mengzhi was good, if that night had been meticulously planned, Chen Jinzhao would have felt very awkward.
With this knot untied, Chen Jinzhao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The smile on Yu Wendong's face gradually faded, "You kid are very much like your father in every aspect. Your father also had several confidantes by his side back then. I can't control that for you. In short, don't let my daughter suffer any grievances in the future, otherwise, I absolutely won't let you off."
Chen Jinzhao said sheepishly, "Uncle Yu, I will take good care of her."
"Oh, right, remember to bring my granddaughter over to see me often. She really likes her grandfather," Yu Wendong added.
Besides this.
Yu Wendong also instructed him on a few other matters, all trivial things in daily life.
Chen Jinzhao agreed to them one by one.
As Chen Jinzhao was about to leave, he hesitated and asked, "Uncle Yu, don't you have any important matters for me to handle?"
Yu Wendong sighed, "It's already too much that I've made you help me with so many trivial things. How can I dare to trouble you with anything major? Others will ask you if you can do this or that, but I just want to ask you, have you been tired all these years?"
Chen Jinzhao froze, his nose slightly stinging.
In these years, had he not felt a deep exhaustion, even thought of giving up?
But Chen Jinzhao knew that he absolutely could not give up!
No matter how tired he was, he had to keep going.
Otherwise, everything he possessed would flow away like the waters of the Yangtze River.
"Uncle Yu, I'm leaving. Take care," Chen Jinzhao said.
Yu Wendong grunted.
Chen Jinzhao turned and left. After a few steps, he faintly heard Yu Wendong reciting a poem from behind, "Do you not see the Yellow River waters coming from heaven, rushing to the sea and never returning? Do you not see the bright mirror in the high hall mourning white hair, morning like black silk, evening like snow..."
His steps only paused slightly, and then he quickened his pace.
He already understood what Yu Wendong meant.
A few more days passed.
The Li family began to move against Gou Chen Group and Kunlun Research Institute, obstructing the normal operations of these two organizations in various ways, attempting to force Yu Mengzhi and Xu Nianqing to yield. But the Li family underestimated the pride of the two women. The more they were suppressed, the less they would bow, instead, it ignited their fighting spirit.
In the Li family's view.
Gou Chen Group and Kunlun Research Institute were Chen Jinzhao's wings. As long as one of them was eliminated, Chen Jinzhao would pose no threat.
Chen Jinzhao was not idle, frequently visiting the Xu family.
On one hand, he wanted to visit Xu Hanchen, and on the other, he wanted to prepare Xu Yaoyao psychologically for the coming storm.
Xu Yaoyao already understood this and stated that no matter what happened, she would stand with Chen Jinzhao.
Even if it meant death.
During this period, the Li family continued to exert pressure on Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao understood—
The Li family wanted to force him into a corner through this method, for example, by summoning Xu Hanchen's former subordinates to take action against the Li family.
In fact.
Xu Hanchen's former subordinates had also contacted Chen Jinzhao multiple times, hoping he would take action against the Li family. They expressed their willingness to follow him to the death, as they had received some whispers that Xu Hanchen's current state was caused by the Li family.
These voices almost drowned Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao wavered many times internally, but ultimately suppressed it.
Once he took action, it would fall right into the Li family's hands. Then, the Li family, with their immense power, could legally purge Xu Hanchen's former subordinates.
This was not something Chen Jinzhao was willing to see.
As Chen Jinzhao continued to remain silent and accommodating, his former subordinates became very disappointed in him and no longer followed his lead.
Gradually.
Chen Jinzhao almost became a public enemy.
Being targeted by the Li family was one thing, but being misunderstood by his own people was another.
Facing this situation, Chen Jinzhao often joked that he had become a lone ruler ahead of Li Tian Ce.
Meanwhile.
The Qin family remained on the sidelines, showing no inclination to help, causing Chen Jinzhao to abandon any hope of assistance from them.
Relying on heaven, earth, or others was not as good as relying on oneself.
During this time, Chen Jinzhao was not idle.
Through Qian Deshui's channel, he first targeted the individuals closely associated with the Li family, eliminating them one by one.
Since the person handling this matter came from the south, Li Tian Ce did not initially suspect Chen Jinzhao, instead focusing his attention on Qin Fengwu. But as time passed, Li Tian Ce gradually realized that something was amiss.
Because the person behind it had already extended their reach to his confidantes.
Each confidante was a prized possession for Li Tian Ce, so the loss of any one of them would cause him immense pain.
In the past two months, Li Tian Ce had lost five key figures, whose arrests had become major news headlines at the time.
Li Tian Ce's strength was greatly weakened, his hard-won advantage vanished, making him slightly inferior to Qin Fengwu.
To Chen Jinzhao's surprise, Qin Fengwu unexpectedly lent him a hand from the shadows.
Certain actions were clearly Chen Jinzhao's doing, yet Qin Fengwu actively drew attention to himself, nearly leading to a direct confrontation with Li Tian Ce.
Li Tian Ce calmed down and began to focus his attention on Chen Jinzhao.
After all, fire cannot be contained by paper.
Through Li Tian Ce's persistent investigation, he finally traced the vine back to Qian Deshui.
This seemingly insignificant figure had managed to stir up such a huge storm.
In a fit of rage, Li Tian Ce ordered Qian Deshui to be apprehended. Qian Deshui had already received wind of the situation and was preparing to flee overseas.
However, before he could board the plane, he was intercepted by Li Tian Ce's men and taken away.
After capturing Qian Deshui, Li Tian Ce finally breathed a sigh of relief.
He immediately called Chen Jinzhao and asked slowly, "Chen Jinzhao, I have someone here, I wonder if you know them."
Chen Jinzhao remained silent.
Li Tian Ce continued, "A person named Qian Deshui is in my hands. If you don't want him to die, then get over here and see me."
"What do you want?" Chen Jinzhao asked.
"What I want is none of your business. In short, get over here immediately, or I'll chop off Qian Deshui's head today."
"I'll be waiting for you at the Li family courtyard."
*Snap*—
Li Tian Ce hung up the phone directly, causing Chen Jinzhao's eyes to turn cold.
He had expected this day to come, but he hadn't expected it to arrive so soon, a month earlier than he had anticipated.
Ultimately, it was too late to turn the tide!