Up to this point, Yu Mengzhi had still not officially become Chen Jinzhao's girlfriend.
This was her regret.
Chen Jinzhao listened quietly to Yu Mengzhi's self-narration, then sighed and said, "President Yu, if I'm not mistaken, Qin Fengwu should be coming to Ninghai soon, right?"
Otherwise, Yu Mengzhi wouldn't be acting so unusually.
She still snuggled obediently on Chen Jinzhao's shoulder and said glumly, "As expected, nothing escapes you. Qin Fengwu will be in Ninghai by next week at the latest. To be precise, he's going to Jiangning to take up his post. I heard he's the third-highest official there."
Chen Jinzhao's pupils contracted.
As far as he knew, Qin Fengwu was about the same age as Ning Fei, around 35.
To hold such a high position in the provincial capital of Jiangnan at this age was beyond just promising; it could be said he was aiming for the very top.
"Then why are you still looking for me, President Yu?" Chen Jinzhao asked with a wry smile.
"Qin Fengwu is still young and has such potential. I am far inferior to him."
Yu Mengzhi rolled her eyes at Chen Jinzhao. "No, in my heart, you are more outstanding than him. You just lack a family background. Without family support, Qin Fengwu would definitely not have been able to reach that position."
"Chen Jinzhao, how about we elope?"
"Aren't you afraid of enraging your grandfather to death?" Chen Jinzhao had a heavy responsibility; eloping with her was unrealistic.
If the research involved by Professor Wen was just ordinary classified information, it would be fine. But in reality, his research findings were top-secret, and Chen Jinzhao's presence in Ninghai was to prevent him from being assassinated by foreign agents.
Yu Mengzhi also fell silent.
Evidently, she also knew this option was unrealistic, and she said with disappointment, "Can you only watch me become Madam Qin? But I really don't want to marry Qin Fengwu."
Chen Jinzhao sighed, "Actually, you understand too. The crux of this issue isn't me, but your grandfather."
He naturally had the ability to prevent Yu Mengzhi from marrying Qin Fengwu, but it was Yu Lingxiao who had been obstructing them from the very beginning. Yu Mengzhi should have understood this.
She was someone who valued family, finding it hard to let go of those emotional ties.
"Now, there's only one path before me, and that is to make Grandpa accept you. You were in the military, right? Did you achieve any merits? I'll go back and pester Grandpa, recounting your glorious deeds. Perhaps Grandpa will change his mind." Yu Mengzhi suddenly thought of this, which also made Chen Jinzhao realize that Yu Mengzhi might genuinely have fallen for him.
He stood on Xingdan Mountain, gazing at the bustling night view of Ninghai.
A moment later, he said softly, "Your grandfather probably hasn't told you yet, but the Yu family and I are now in an irreconcilable relationship, aren't we?"
Yu Mengzhi's eyes widened in shock, staring blankly at Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao continued, "Do you know that on the night I returned home from the Yu family manor, your Uncle Shen was waiting for me at the entrance of my apartment complex and drove me to Xingdan Mountain?"
"Guess..."
"Why did he bring me here?"
Upon hearing this, Yu Mengzhi's pupils contracted violently, as if experiencing an earthquake.
"To kill me and silence me!" Chen Jinzhao said word by word, each like a heavy hammer striking Yu Mengzhi's heart.
She couldn't believe that her grandfather would resort to murder.
Chen Jinzhao continued calmly, "Do you remember the shooting incident at Ning Fei's wedding? I was clearly by your side at the time, but my fingerprints were on that gun? That's because on the night Shen Liangping brought me to Xingdan Mountain, he intended to shoot me. Fortunately, I discovered his gun in time and took it from him, leaving my fingerprints on it."
This was also something Chen Jinzhao concluded later after understanding the details of the firearms from Tao Qiyue.
The two firearms were of the same model, and the fingerprint positions were the same.
Yu Mengzhi was utterly shocked, her breathing becoming rapid. "How could this be? My grandfather..."
Chen Jinzhao had always been someone who distinguished clearly between favors and grudges. If others showed him respect, he would reciprocate it generously. But if others tried to kill him, then he was sorry.
He patiently said, "President Yu, I don't want to hide anything from you. In fact, I have already regained my military rank. If your grandfather knew my identity, his attitude would surely soften. However, I am unwilling to deal with people like your grandfather, unwilling to live under the same roof with him, and even less willing to let the Yu family use my name for their dirty business of profit transfer. If it weren't for your sake, I would never have let Yu Lingxiao off."
Yu Mengzhi found herself in a very awkward predicament.
On one side was family affection, and on the other was love. She didn't know how to choose.
If she found it difficult, Chen Jinzhao was no less so.
Choosing Yu Mengzhi meant standing on the same side as the head of a powerful clan like Yu Lingxiao. With his sense of justice, he couldn't do such a thing.
Chen Jinzhao also understood that Yu Mengzhi, while appearing strong, was actually somewhat weak and prone to compromise when it came to family matters.
Therefore...
By the time Chen Jinzhao understood this, it was difficult for the two of them to be together.
Unless Yu Mengzhi could change.
Yu Mengzhi seemed to understand this as well, leaning silently on Chen Jinzhao's shoulder, contemplating her future.
"I understand..."
"However, I still like you very much."
Chen Jinzhao sighed. This was indeed a dilemma.
She looked deeply into Chen Jinzhao's eyes and said firmly, "But I don't want to consider those long-term matters right now. Believe me, I will tell you my decision as soon as possible."
"President Yu, don't force yourself," Chen Jinzhao said with concern.
The two fell silent again, holding each other tightly.
Silence was more eloquent than words.
A few minutes later, Yu Mengzhi seemed relieved and said to Chen Jinzhao, "Chen Jinzhao, thank you for helping me see the reality clearly. I understand now that emotions cannot be forced. However, I still want to advise you: it's best not to have a direct confrontation with Qin Fengwu. Qin Fengwu and the Qin family behind him have immense power. With a flick of their fingers, they can destroy a family."
Such an existence was practically taboo.
Chen Jinzhao smiled and said, "President Yu, if you understood my personality, you would know that I'm not afraid of Qin Fengwu at all. If he doesn't provoke me, it's fine. But if he does, I won't let him have his way."
"I don't mind beating him into a pulp."
He didn't take Qin Fengwu seriously.
What could pose a threat to Chen Jinzhao was only the Qin family behind Qin Fengwu.
Chen Jinzhao chuckled at her words, his tone becoming much lighter. "Then I'm quite looking forward to that day. It would be quite amusing if I, as Mrs. Qin, were to plead for you, wouldn't it?"
Chen Jinzhao also said earnestly, "Then I can predict that his face will definitely be green when you plead with Qin Fengwu."
The two looked at each other and burst into laughter, dispelling the haze that had clouded their hearts.