To Chen Jinzhao's surprise, Wu Lingyun was remarkably strong.
After crying, she had pulled herself together, assuring Chen Jinzhao not to worry. Furthermore, she declared her intention to revive the Wu family in the days to come.
Looking at the much more sensible Wu Lingyun, Chen Jinzhao felt a pang of tenderness.
He recalled a time when she was still a willful little princess.
If circumstances had allowed, Chen Jinzhao wished Wu Lingyun would never know hardship, and always remain that pampered, headstrong princess.
Sensing that Wu Lingyun was doing alright, Chen Jinzhao finally felt at ease and left.
As he reached the doorway, Chen Jinzhao encountered another familiar face. Seeing the person before him, Chen Jinzhao briefly thought his eyes were playing tricks on him.
"Why are you here?" Chen Jinzhao asked, confused.
Yu Mengzhi smiled and replied, "What, can't I come to see my fiancé? Or is it that you don't want to see me?"
Sensing a subtle chill, Chen Jinzhao quickly said, "Of course not, I've missed you terribly. I think about you every day."
Yu Mengzhi walked behind Chen Jinzhao and helped push his wheelchair.
"Hmph!"
"You never call me, yet you say you miss me. Men's words are deceitful whispers. I'll never believe you again."
They chatted and laughed, the atmosphere remarkably relaxed.
Yu Mengzhi seemed to be subtly avoiding Chen Jinzhao's injuries, and Chen Jinzhao appreciated this dynamic. After all, crying every time they met was acceptable once or twice, but it would become quite tiresome if it happened too often.
They arrived at the grassy area on the first floor, surrounded by fellow patients in similar plights, brought out by their loved ones to soak up the sun.
Seeing this scene, Chen Jinzhao couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement.
Facing the morning sun, Chen Jinzhao's cheeks felt warm. He mused, "I never expected to be living a retired life so soon. The fall of the Wu family signifies that the main pillar of the aristocratic clans has been shattered. The rest we can deal with at our own pace."
"Things are back on track."
This feeling was truly wonderful.
Yu Mengzhi smiled faintly, "I also didn't expect things to progress this quickly. The fall of the Wu family was rather sudden, more intense than the Su and Han families back then. By the way, have you kept up with the Su family's situation? Something has happened."
Chen Jinzhao shook his head, "No, what happened to the Su family?"
"Su Shanxing announced he is stepping down as the head of the Su family, handing over the reins to a young man named Su Wen."
Yu Mengzhi's words made Chen Jinzhao pause.
He had once placed great hope in Su Wen, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
"This kid is something," Chen Jinzhao chuckled.
Yu Mengzhi's expression turned a little peculiar, "What I'm about to tell you will probably surprise you even more. Do you know who helped him?"
Chen Jinzhao once again admitted he didn't know.
"It was Qian Deshui."
Yu Mengzhi seemed somewhat astonished herself, "I heard that Qian Deshui helped Su Wen gain power. Originally, Su Shanxing was reluctant to hand over authority to Su Wen so early. Something must have happened in between. Currently, Qian Deshui has become the chief steward of the Su family."
"Su Wen is the nominal leader, but Qian Deshui is the shadow controlling every move the Su family makes."
Chen Jinzhao was truly surprised.
During his absence from Jiangnan, how much had Qian Deshui accomplished?
Did he take over the Su family without shedding a drop of blood?
After a moment.
Chen Jinzhao also came to terms with it and laughed, "This is the normal course of things. After all, Qian Deshui was the top formidable figure in Jiangnan back then, a true dragon among men."
"I thought you were behind it," Yu Mengzhi said, also surprised.
"I'll contact him when I have time and find out what's going on. Let's not discuss business today, just personal matters," Chen Jinzhao said, his tone much lighter than before. This was partly because the Wu family had been eradicated, and the Divine Kingdom Research Institute along with it, and partly because Xu Hanchen had granted Chen Jinzhao a six-month leave, during which he could rest well.
"Who says we have personal matters?" Yu Mengzhi replied coyly.
Chen Jinzhao sighed, "Alas, our feelings have truly faded. I was planning to propose and get married during the upcoming six-month break. Since we have no personal matters, I suppose we should postpone it until we do."
"Oh!"
Yu Mengzhi's eyes lit up, "Are you serious?"
"You're not joking?"
Chen Jinzhao remained noncommittal.
Yu Mengzhi immediately leaned forward from behind and hugged Chen Jinzhao, kissing him on the cheek. "I knew it, you big oaf still have me in your heart. I've waited so long for this day. Get well soon, I can't wait another moment."
Lest complications arise!
"Who was it just now that said we have no personal matters?" Chen Jinzhao teased Yu Mengzhi intentionally.
Yu Mengzhi bit her lip and said, "I was wrong, I was wrong, alright?"
"Then call me 'husband' and let me hear it?"
"Chen Jinzhao, you're asking for it!" Yu Mengzhi said shyly, even as she worried about being overheard. Chen Jinzhao heard this and sighed, "So, you're very unwilling. Then when we get married, will I also not hear you call me husband?"
Yu Mengzhi's face instantly turned red.
Regarding the future, she had indeed had many hopes and fantasies, but she hadn't expected things to progress so quickly!
She wasn't ready yet.
"I..."
Yu Mengzhi stammered, unable to utter the words.
Seeing this, Chen Jinzhao burst into laughter, finally gaining the upper hand.
Just as he was about to move on from the topic, Yu Mengzhi suddenly whispered into his ear.
"Husband..."
Chen Jinzhao's body instantly jolted.
Was he dreaming?
"Wait."
"I didn't hear clearly just now. Could you say it again?" Chen Jinzhao wanted to savor it, but the sound was too low.
Yu Mengzhi, who had already struggled to say it once, found it more agonizing than death to repeat it. She gritted her teeth and said, "Chen Jinzhao, you just like to bully me. When the time comes, I'll have my grandfather teach you a lesson, see if you dare then!"
Their playful laughter could be heard clearly from a hundred meters away.
However—
The happiness belonged solely to the two of them.
Not far away.
Tao Qiyue stood at a corner, cautiously observing them.
Seeing Chen Jinzhao and Yu Mengzhi talking with genuine smiles on their faces, she knew that Yu Mengzhi was the one who had truly entered Chen Jinzhao's heart, and she was merely a passerby.
The time they had spent together was what Tao Qiyue considered her most beautiful memory.
As for the future...
She felt that she and Chen Jinzhao had no future together.
And so.
On this sunny winter morning, Tao Qiyue made another most important decision in her life, which was to say goodbye to her past self.
And to bid farewell to that beautiful memory, which was like moonlight on water.
From this day forward, her life would only contain herself, and no longer Chen Jinzhao.