Yu Mengzhi walked up to Chen Jinzhao in her high heels.
Chen Jinzhao was still thinking about last night's events. His gaze focused only after realizing Yu Mengzhi was right in front of him, and he asked in surprise, "President Yu, why didn't you let me know you were coming?"
"I called you last night, why didn't you turn on your phone?" Yu Mengzhi had come to question him.
"Do you know how worried I was about you?"
"I called Tao Qiyue, and she was vague and didn't tell me what happened, making me think you were in trouble."
As she spoke,
Water mist welled up in Yu Mengzhi's eyes, and her voice also had a crying tone.
Chen Jinzhao scratched his head sheepishly, "I was an eyewitness yesterday and cooperated with the police investigation. When I got home, I was just too tired and fell into a deep sleep."
Yu Mengzhi sniffled, "It's good that you're okay."
"Are you crying?" Chen Jinzhao asked back.
Yu Mengzhi's gaze darted away, and she changed the subject, indicating she wasn't crying.
Chen Jinzhao smiled faintly, "Don't worry, I was just too tired yesterday. Not many people can kill me."
Yu Mengzhi felt like Chen Jinzhao was teasing her again, and she rolled her eyes at him playfully, "My previous words still stand. The hardest part of you, indeed, is your mouth."
Chen Jinzhao's mind went blank.
Yu Mengzhi should know better than him what the hardest part of him was.
Knowing that Chen Jinzhao was safe, Yu Mengzhi's tense posture relaxed. She even solemnly told Chen Jinzhao not to disappear again in the future.
Chen Jinzhao teased, "I think you shouldn't be too close to me now. If Young Master Qin finds out, I imagine his handsome, jade-like face will turn green with anger."
"Hmph!"
Yu Mengzhi let out a snort, "Not only will I make his face turn green, but I'll also give him a green hat."
Chen Jinzhao felt a bead of sweat on his forehead.
He thought Yu Mengzhi was too formidable.
However, he understood Yu Mengzhi and knew she was a rational person who wouldn't do anything that crossed Qin Fengwu's boundaries for the sake of family interests.
As expected.
Yu Mengzhi's words were just a joke. After knowing Chen Jinzhao was not in danger, she left quickly, clearly not wanting to be seen by Qin Fengwu's informants entangled with Chen Jinzhao.
Chen Jinzhao sighed.
Back then, he had naively thought he would end up married to Yu Mengzhi. It seemed he was daydreaming.
Matters of the heart required a more grounded approach.
Moreover, the tense relationship between him and Xu Nianqing had eased. Coupled with Xu Mingzhi's interference in past events, it was only natural for them to end up together.
However, Chen Jinzhao wasn't mentally prepared yet, and neither was Xu Nianqing.
His thoughts returned to the present.
Due to the extremely serious nature of the case yesterday, the municipal bureau had deployed a significant number of officers to patrol around Ninghai University, increasing security measures to prevent a recurrence of yesterday's events.
Around noon,
Tao Qiyue, who had come to change shifts, brought Chen Jinzhao a lunch box.
The two now cooperated seamlessly, like old partners who had worked together for many years. Tao Qiyue ate while sighing, "Back then, I used to wonder why Yu Mengzhi liked a security guard. So, you're this capable."
Chen Jinzhao smiled and said nothing.
Tao Qiyue asked again, "By the way, why don't you tell her your true identity? As far as I know, Old Master Yu highly values family interests. If you could bring significant benefits to the Yu family, perhaps they would agree to you two being together."
Chen Jinzhao paused in his actions but remained silent.
"If it's inconvenient to say, just pretend I didn't ask," Tao Qiyue said tactfully.
Chen Jinzhao gave a wry smile, "It's not that it's inconvenient. As you said, Yu Lingxiao highly values family interests. Once I reveal my identity, he will undoubtedly try every means to leverage my identity to secure benefits for the Yu family, turning them into a super clan in the Jiangnan region. To be honest, what I detest most in my life is these condescending clans."
Tao Qiyue's eyes flickered, but she didn't say anything further.
"What's wrong?" Chen Jinzhao noticed Tao Qiyue's unusual expression.
Tao Qiyue shook her head gently, "It's nothing."
She had suddenly thought of something. Would Chen Jinzhao also dislike her?
If not for her grandfather's status, Tao Qiyue knew she wouldn't be in her current position. She was essentially no different from the clans Chen Jinzhao despised.
But—
Tao Qiyue quickly pulled herself together.
In a certain sense, she and Chen Jinzhao were alike; they shared the same goal!
She would prove her resolve through her actions.
Meanwhile,
In the cutting-edge biochemical laboratory at Ninghai University.
The atmosphere in the lab was noticeably more oppressive than before. Xu Nianqing was distracted while conducting experiments today, the tragic scenes of yesterday flashing through her mind from time to time.
Wen Fulei noticed her unease and took the opportunity during their lunch break to offer comfort.
He used his own experiences to tell Xu Nianqing that such events would only increase in the future and become more brutal, a path one had to tread to gain true knowledge.
"You don't need to fall into self-doubt over such a minor incident. The road is winding, but the future is bright," Wen Fulei said earnestly, seeing in Xu Nianqing a reflection of his younger self.
He, too, was often filled with anxiety back then. It wasn't until a certain event occurred that he abandoned everything else and devoted himself to scientific research.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Wen Fulei suddenly coughed.
Xu Nianqing instinctively looked at Wen Fulei. He reflexively turned away, but Xu Nianqing still caught a glimpse of crimson.
"Professor, are you alright?" Xu Nianqing asked urgently.
Wen Fulei never expected to have an episode at this moment. He waved his hands repeatedly, trying to appear nonchalant, "I'm fine. I just sustained a minor injury yesterday. I'll be fine after a few days of rest."
Xu Nianqing's intuition told her things were not that simple.
She insisted on taking Wen Fulei to the hospital for a check-up. Wen Fulei repeatedly refused, as going to the hospital would reveal his physical condition.
This would trigger a chain reaction, and he didn't want the authorities to waste too many resources on him.
Death was but a single outcome; what was there to fear?
"Little Xu, let me tell you the truth. In fact, I don't have much time left," Wen Fulei confessed candidly.
"I also hope you can keep this a secret. With the current medical technology, there's no cure for the hidden ailments within me. This is a result of an operational error during my early experiments. Rather than lying in a hospital bed, clinging to life with bottles and jars, I'd rather make the most of my final years and pass on all my lifelong knowledge to you."
Xu Nianqing's heart was shaken, and her eyes welled up with blurred mist.
No wonder Wen Fulei had been so insistent on taking her as a student back then. It turned out he had known his time was limited.
"Is there really no way?" Xu Nianqing asked, her voice choked.
Wen Fulei sighed and shook his head repeatedly.
He spoke earnestly again, "Therefore, I hope you can inherit my legacy and bring the research of our three generations of teachers and students to fruition."
"Little Xu, can I trust you?"