Lin Jingchu, accustomed to it, went to the restaurant alone.
While Lin Jingchu was away, Jiang Yuekai confessed to Lin Mei and Xing Zheng first, "Actually, I came here because there's something I want to tell you."
Lin Mei's curiosity was piqued, "Hmm?"
"Hehe, I'm going to be your daughter-in-law from now on." Jiang Yuekai was not reserved in front of Lin Mei and Xing Zheng. The couple had treated her very well since she was young, and even Xing Zheng often held her and teased her. They were no different from family, and Jiang Yuekai had always been good at acting spoiled.
Upon hearing this, Lin Mei was too surprised to speak. Xing Zheng smiled and said, "Alright, I'll give you all the family fortune."
Just as Xing Zheng finished speaking, Lin Jingchu came out with a plate of snacks. Lin Mei then realized, "When did this happen?"
Lin Jingchu had been worried about pursuing Jiang Yuekai, and suddenly they were together, which caught her, his mother, off guard.
"Just last night," Jiang Yuekai said with a smile. "Actually, I realized I liked him a while ago."
Hearing this, Lin Jingchu realized that Jiang Yuekai had already confessed while he was away.
They had discussed it on the way. He felt that as the man, it would be better for him to say it. However, Jiang Yuekai felt that since she had already proactively confessed to Lan Lan and Liang Yufeng once, it should be her turn to tell Lin Mei and Xing Zheng.
In the first week of being with Jiang Yuekai, every morning when Lin Jingchu woke up, he felt a sense of unreality. What he had longed for every day had come true, and he couldn't quite adapt.
The two of them didn't hide it from anyone. Jiang Yuekai was very open. Three days after they got together, she announced the news on her WeChat Moments, without blocking anyone.
【Jiang Yuekai: Let me introduce my boyfriend, who has been handsome since childhood, to everyone.】
She posted two photos: one was a childhood photo of her and Lin Jingchu, and the other was a recent photo of them together.
In the childhood photo, she was just over one year old, and Lin Jingchu was over four. He was squatting in front of her rocking chair, wiping drool from her.
They were childhood sweethearts, which was no secret at school. However, their sudden union still drew many gasps of surprise, followed by blessings.
Xu Yiran had added Jiang Yuekai as a friend earlier and of course, did not miss this Moments post. The moment she saw that Jiang Yuekai and Lin Jingchu were together, she knew she had no hope.
Lin Jingchu had liked Jiang Yuekai for so many years without any response, and now that Jiang Yuekai also liked him... there was no way he would let go.
Xu Yiran was jealous of Jiang Yuekai but could not deny her excellence. Moreover, they were childhood sweethearts, and no one else could get involved, so she completely gave up on him.
Lin Jingchu was pursuing a master's degree in research at the main campus of Nanjiang University. During this time, he had already begun to take over some of Shuangmu's investment projects, and the company's business was gradually being transferred to him. His abilities were outstanding, and his talent was great, allowing him to handle work with ease, no less than Xing Zheng in his day. The company gradually became dependent on him.
During this period, Jiang Yuekai's undergraduate studies were also nearing completion. She had planned to study abroad for her master's degree. Shortly after passing the language proficiency test, she received an offer from her dream school.
They had been in love for a long time, and even when they weren't dating, they had never been separated for long. Lin Jingchu was not at ease about her.
His original plan was to accompany her abroad to study. However, if he left now, there were many things at work that he couldn't let go of. If he had to leave, he would have to hand everything back to Xing Zheng.
Therefore, Lin Jingchu called Xing Zheng while Jiang Yuekai was asleep.
Xing Zheng was not surprised by Lin Jingchu's desire to accompany Jiang Yuekai abroad to study, nor did he object. He simply said, "Go if you want to. Pursuing a doctorate will also be beneficial for your future."
Lin Jingchu's heart softened, "Thank you, Dad."
"Go to the company tomorrow for the handover. It's still not too late for you to apply to schools," Xing Zheng said. As a father, he didn't express his emotions towards Lin Jingchu much verbally, but his support in action was 200%.
Just as Lin Jingchu finished his call with Xing Zheng, he turned around and saw Jiang Yuekai standing behind him. Her expression was clear, not at all like someone who had just woken up.
Lin Jingchu looked surprised, "When did you get here?"
"I've been here for a while," Jiang Yuekai said. "I heard everything."
Their communication style had always been very direct. Jiang Yuekai was the type to say what she thought, and even more so with Lin Jingchu.
It was precisely because of this that in the nearly three years they had been together, they had never had a single argument. Even when they disagreed, they would discuss the matter at hand and not get emotional.
For example, now, Jiang Yuekai directly told Lin Jingchu, "I don't really want you to go to New York with me."
The reason she pretended to be asleep tonight and then came out to listen to the phone call was that she had felt this idea in Lin Jingchu's mind during this period.
"Why?" Lin Jingchu asked her, but he wasn't angry.
Jiang Yuekai walked a few steps closer, hugged him, and rested her head on his chest. "I know you can't bear to leave me, and I can't bear to leave you either. I want to be with you every day."
Hearing this, Lin Jingchu's heart softened immensely. He stroked her hair, "Then why don't you let me go with you?"
"I want you to do what you love." She wasn't making a decision for him. In the years Lin Jingchu had been at Shuangmu, his abilities had improved greatly. The practical experience in the workplace was something that theoretical knowledge from school couldn't provide. For him now, continuing in the workplace was better than returning to school to study theory, and Lin Jingchu himself also enjoyed this kind of experience.
Of course, he was exceptionally talented, and even if he delayed for two more years and accompanied her to study, he would still be more outstanding than others. But she didn't want that. "You stay at Shuangmu."
Lin Jingchu gazed at her, "You don't want me to accompany you?"
"I do, but compared to two years of companionship, I want long-term development," Jiang Yuekai said rationally. "When I graduate and come back, you can personally mentor me, how about that?"
Lin Jingchu understood her meaning, "I'm not at ease about you."
"Then you can visit me once a month, or every two weeks?" Jiang Yuekai smiled and poked his chin. "Are you afraid I'll run off with someone else?"
Lin Jingchu nodded, "Yes, I am."
She was so beautiful and so outstanding. Over the years, there had never been a shortage of people pursuing her. It was just that because this was Nanjiang, others were wary of his background and restrained themselves. But leaving here...
"Then you need to become even more capable," Jiang Yuekai said. "When your work ability improves, I'll admire you. You understand, that's how we maintain freshness."
In the end, she was trying to persuade him not to pursue a doctorate.
If it were two years ago, Lin Jingchu probably wouldn't have listened. His plan had always been to stay by her side. But he now knew that based on this alone, their relationship could not last.