Yu Mengzhi immediately covered Chen Jinzhao’s mouth, urging him to say it again.
“I won’t allow you to curse yourself like that.”
“Say it again.”
Chen Jinzhao’s smile softened, but his gaze grew even more determined. “Why should I repeat it? This is what I truly feel, consider it my vow.”
Yu Mengzhi said softly, “Alright then, I’ll wait for you.”
“I think I’ll have to go back to the capital with Grandpa this time, it might take half a month to a month. If I miss you, can I video call you?”
“Of course,” Chen Jinzhao nodded.
“You should continue resting. I need to depart back to Ninghai.”
Yu Mengzhi insisted on having breakfast with Chen Jinzhao and then watched him drive away.
Only after Chen Jinzhao had driven far away did she retract her gaze. Just as she was about to return to her room for a lie-in, she turned around and encountered Li Zhiqing, which caused Yu Mengzhi’s expression to freeze.
“Mom…”
Li Zhiqing smiled and said, “I can see that you are very much in love.”
Yu Mengzhi’s face flushed. “Really? I don’t feel that way?”
Li Zhiqing walked towards the exit, and Yu Mengzhi followed suit. Since the beginning of winter, West Lake had taken on a more desolate air. The plane trees lining the road had become bare. Yu Mengzhi walked by her mother’s side, admiring the early morning beauty of West Lake, truly a scene changing with every step.
After walking for a while, Li Zhiqing finally spoke, “Chen Jinzhao is a very good young man. I sense self-improvement and a refusal to bow to fate from him. If you two were to marry, it would indeed be a wonderful outcome. However, are you prepared?”
“Prepared for what?” Yu Mengzhi asked, confused.
Li Zhiqing stopped and gazed at the calm lake. “I heard from your father that Chen Jinzhao is not short of admirers, and there’s even a young lady from the Shangguan family. If you marry him, can you tolerate these things?”
The winter morning was still somewhat chilly.
A gust of north wind brushed against Yu Mengzhi’s face, causing her to shiver.
She said somewhat sheepishly, “Mom, why are you bringing this up? Chen Jinzhao has already told me he wants to marry me. This is the best outcome for me.”
“Is that how you convince yourself?” Li Zhiqing turned and looked into her daughter’s eyes.
Yu Mengzhi’s gaze clearly flickered away.
“This is not your true feeling,” Li Zhiqing stated.
Yu Mengzhi remained silent.
Li Zhiqing continued, “Everyone has to bear the consequences of their choices. My running away in a fit of pique and choosing to live with ancient Buddhist scriptures for over twenty years was the price I paid. You must also understand that if you choose this path, you cannot have Chen Jinzhao’s exclusive love. Do you believe love can be shared?”
Yu Mengzhi still didn’t know how to answer.
She hadn’t avoided considering such matters before, but subconsciously she had resisted thinking too deeply, as if as long as she didn’t care, it wouldn’t exist.
However—
Was that truly the case?
“So, am I wrong to do this?” Yu Mengzhi asked her mother blankly.
Li Zhiqing shook her head. “I can’t say for sure if it’s good or bad, but I think you should follow your heart. Whatever decision you make, your father and I can only support you from behind. If Chen Jinzhao dares to bully you, tell us, don’t let yourself be wronged.”
The blankness in Yu Mengzhi’s eyes quickly dissipated, and her gaze became firm. “Who told me to meet him? In my heart, there is no room for anyone else but him. Moreover, Chen Jinzhao is surrounded by so many admirers, yet he has never crossed the line. Instead, he decided to marry me, doesn’t that also show my importance to him?”
Li Zhiqing was taken aback.
She stared at her daughter for a long time, then suddenly chuckled, “So that’s how it is. I can completely imagine why your grandfather was so angry back then, and I’m almost angered by you now. However, I respect your decision and will not interfere in any way.”
Yu Mengzhi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She pouted and jokingly said, “You scared me to death. I thought I’d have to spend the next twenty-odd years with ancient Buddhist scriptures too.”
Li Zhiqing and Yu Mengzhi looked at each other and burst into laughter.
At 9:30 AM, Chen Jinzhao returned to Ninghai City.
While on the road, he had asked Shangguan Yu’an to help him check the student lists of Ninghai University and Yan Jing University over the years to see if he could find the names Chen Yangfu and Li Qiurong. Not long after returning home, Shangguan Yu’an called. Chen Jinzhao answered and asked, “Did you find them?”
Shangguan Yu’an replied, “Instructor, I have checked the student lists for the past thirty-five years, and I have not found the names Chen Yangfu or Li Qiurong.”
“Are you sure?” Chen Jinzhao frowned.
Li Zhiqing’s words were highly credible; she shouldn’t have lied to him.
So where was the problem?
“I checked several times and couldn’t find them, but I did find something else in the system,” Shangguan Yu’an said. Chen Jinzhao urged her to speak quickly. Shangguan Yu’an continued, “Someone hacked into the systems of these two schools twenty years ago and deleted any traces of their existence. Because computers weren’t common back then, some records of their presence could still be found in the school archives.”
Chen Jinzhao pondered for a moment and then shook his head. “There’s no need for the trouble. Knowing they attended these schools is enough. There’s no need to check the archives.”
“Thank you for your trouble.”
Shangguan Yu’an quickly said, “You’re welcome,” and asked if Chen Jinzhao needed any help. Chen Jinzhao replied with a heavy tone, “No, I want to resolve these matters myself.”
“Alright. If there’s anything you need my help with, I won’t hesitate.”
He hung up the phone.
Chen Jinzhao’s mind was in turmoil. He felt that someone was deliberately concealing the events of the past. So what exactly was going on? He had considered many possibilities, but none logically fit.
He sat at home until noon, then decided to speak with his mother face-to-face.
After about ten minutes, Chen Jinzhao arrived at Li Qiurong’s residence in Ninghai City. Li Qiurong was overjoyed to see her son return, fussing over him and worrying that he might starve.
Seeing his mother’s simple demeanor, Chen Jinzhao found it difficult to ask the question that was weighing on his mind.
How should he ask?
Directly? Or more subtly?
Li Qiurong served Chen Jinzhao food and then sat opposite him. Only then did Li Qiurong notice that her son’s brows seemed to be filled with worry, as if he had encountered some trouble.
She asked with concern, “Son, are you facing any difficulties? You can tell me. Even if I can’t help, I can help you think of a solution.”
Chen Jinzhao hardened his heart and decided to ask directly.
He put down his rice bowl and looked into Li Qiurong’s eyes, causing her expression to falter. She felt that Chen Jinzhao was acting very strangely.
“Mom…”
“I want to ask you a question. Please answer me truthfully.”