that power

Steve opened the door.

Kevin and Chenxi stood side by side at the entrance. Chenxi wore a light purple dress, her hair was simply styled in an updo, and pearl earrings dangled from her earlobes; she had clearly dressed up carefully.

Kevin was also dressed formally, in a beige wool suit. The material would be considered high-end by ordinary people, but compared to Chen Chao's entire wardrobe, it was completely beneath his notice.

Chenxi's face lacked its usual carefree playfulness; she stood beside Kevin with a hint of trepidation and caution. Kevin, on the other hand, had a cold expression, revealing no emotion.

Steve winked at Chenxi, indicating that she could rest assured, and then stepped aside to make way for her: "You've come at the perfect time. The table has just been set up, so we can start eating right away."

Chen Chao was standing in the living room waiting for them when Steve naturally walked over to him. Chen Chao extended his hand to Kevin and introduced himself: "Hello, I'm Chen Chao, Chen Xi's older brother."

Kevin was a bookish nerd who had studied the classics since childhood and knew that wealth and honor could not corrupt, power and force could not subdue, and poverty and hardship could not sway him. Therefore, he never really felt that there was anything about those in power that was worth looking up to.

He had mentally prepared himself before coming here.

He knew that Chenxi's family was wealthy, and he had also considered that the other party would deliberately use an extremely luxurious scene to intimidate him, so that he would feel ashamed and submit.

He had already planned how to respond should he encounter a situation where he was humiliated with money.

Before coming here, he repeatedly told himself that he absolutely could not show any fear.

Even so, he was still stunned by Chen Chao's simple self-introduction.

For the first time in his life, Kevin truly understood the meaning of the word "graceful."

Chen Chao stood there, without any luxurious accessories, but every movement he made exuded a broad and all-encompassing aura.

With its vast and benevolent presence, Chenchao seemed to stand atop a mountain peak, lovingly gazing down upon those below. Incomparably grand and magnificent, it compelled one to immerse oneself in its beauty and look up in awe.

Looking at Chen Chao like this, Kevin's brain went blank for a moment, and he stood there, unable to react.

Chen Chao's hand froze in mid-air, but he didn't feel embarrassed. He smiled slightly, waiting for Kevin to come to his senses.

"Hello, I'm Kevin." After a few seconds of stunned silence, Kevin finally came to his senses, extended his hand and shook hands lightly with Chen Chao, trying to appear calm.

"The restaurant is all set, let's go over there. I heard Kevin's from the Midwest, so I had the chef prepare some of their dishes. I hope he'll like them," Chen Chao said as he led everyone toward the restaurant.

The table was already set, with exquisitely plated cold dishes arranged in a circle in the center. In addition to a set of bowls and plates, each person's place setting also included three glasses, one for wine, one for juice, and one for spirits.

Since there were only four people, Chen Chao didn't use the long table in the restaurant, but instead arranged a small square table for the meal, which made the atmosphere more intimate.

As soon as the four sat down, a servant came over to ask what drinks they would like. Everyone ordered juice. After asking, the servant took away the extra cups, poured freshly squeezed juice for everyone, and then left.

"The hot dishes will be served one after another. Please have some cold dishes first, don't be shy."

As soon as Chen Chao finished speaking, Steve took the first bite of his chopsticks, breaking the somewhat serious and subtle atmosphere at the table.

Chen Chao glanced at Steve, a smile of approval in his eyes, and then picked up a jujube for himself.

Seeing that they had all started eating, Kevin didn't want to stand there idly and offend the host, so he also began to pick up some food.

"Kevin, I'm sorry about Chenxi. Hiding your identity while dating is really unacceptable anywhere." After eating in silence for a while, Chen Chao finally got to the point.

Kevin glanced at Chen Chao and thought that Chen Xi's older brother was very reasonable, quite different from what he had imagined. So he lowered his guard a little and replied, "Feelings built on lies are also false, and I cannot accept that."

"Is that so?" Chen Chao's tone remained calm. He didn't deliberately release any pressure, but everyone unconsciously followed his lead. "Is that all?"

Kevin was taken aback by Chen Chao's question.

Chen Chao gave Kevin a meaningful look and said in a very relaxed and confident tone: "I guess after you found out that Chen Xi is a rich girl, you probably think you are ridiculous and that the cheap gifts you carefully chose for Chen Xi before were not liked by her at all."

Or perhaps you feel that those meticulously planned dates are completely unworthy of Chenxi, that all of Chenxi's happy reactions are fake, and that her only pleasure is watching you, this silly boy, oblivious to her true intentions, trying to please her, right?

Chen Chao's words were like daggers, and Kevin's face flushed red and then turned pale in turns, a truly dramatic sight. Chen Xi frowned and called out softly to Chen Chao, trying to prevent him from making the atmosphere awkward.

Chen Chao, however, did not take it to heart.

He waited patiently for Kevin's reaction, and when he saw that Kevin couldn't come up with a rebuttal after a long pause, he continued unhurriedly: "But actually, my sister isn't that bored. If she really intended to play with you like this, I would be the first one to teach her a lesson."

Kevin froze again; Chen Chao's sudden turn of events was too unexpected: "But..."

"But you can't tell which parts of Chenxi's behavior are genuine and which are fake when she's with you. You also don't know if you can accept the real Chenxi. That's why you're here today."

“Yes.” Kevin sighed in resignation, “I came here today hoping for a result.”

"Do you want a result that will make you give up, or a result that will allow you to continue with her?" Chen Chao asked again.

The hot dishes were already being served. Each dish was exquisitely presented and smelled wonderful, but Kevin had no appetite whatsoever.

"What do you mean by this?" Chen Chao's words made Kevin tense up and adopt a defensive stance.

Chenxi looked at Steve for help, hoping he could persuade Chenchao not to be so aggressive, but Steve simply ignored Chenxi.

"I'm just curious, if Chenxi hadn't hidden her identity back then, would you have started a relationship with her? Do you hate deception, or are you afraid of dating someone who is far superior to you?"

Chen Chao's tone wasn't coercing, but under his gaze, Kevin didn't even dare to run away.

Kevin's hand, gripping the cup so tightly, bruised and bulged; his trembling fingers betrayed the turmoil in his heart.

Ever since discovering the truth, Chen Chao had asked himself this question many times. Was he angry at the deception, or angry that the person he cherished was so much better than him that he couldn't look at himself in the eye?

If he admits the latter, then he is admitting his deepest inferiority complex.

Although he was supposed to be incorruptible by wealth, unmoved by poverty, and unyielding to power, the constant setbacks he encountered in the workplace and the pitfalls he faced in society made him deeply aware of the power of authority.

It wasn't easy for someone with no connections to settle down in the capital, Gailal.

He feared that if he compromised and accepted Chenxi, he would unconsciously become dependent on power. He was afraid that Chenxi's power would make him unlike himself.

He was afraid he would become the person he hated most.

That's why he wanted to break up.

He came today simply to give himself one last reason.

"I know you don't get along with your boss at the company, but I can make your company cease to exist tomorrow with just one word. At the same time, if I want, you can go to work at the Popov Group headquarters tomorrow." The life and death of a company, the change of a person's career, were discussed by Chen Chao as if it were just a matter of discussing what to have for breakfast tomorrow.

Kevin stared at Chen Chao, his breath catching in his throat, his eyes filled with shock.

What kind of power is this? He had thought that Chenxi was powerful and influential, but he never imagined that Chenxi's family would be so powerful and influential.

"Who exactly are you?" Kevin couldn't help but ask.

"I'm sorry, you're not qualified to know yet. But I can tell you that Chenxi originally wanted to take you to meet her father today, and our father lives in the Central District."

As Chen Chao finished speaking, Kevin's face turned deathly pale. This was a world he could never have imagined.

"Brother!" Chenxi was really anxious. He had promised not to scare him, so why did he still have to scare him!

"So? With such a huge difference in status, is it enough for you to convince yourself to break up?" Chen Chao ignored Chen Xi, picked up a piece of braised pork and swallowed it, asking casually.

Kevin stared blankly at Chen Chao, speechless.

Chen Chao's effortless elegance shattered all his mental preparation. He couldn't lie to this man, but he also lacked the courage to say the words "break up" to Chen Chao.

"Very well, I think you should understand now. Since I can make your company disappear with a wave of my hand, I naturally have many ways to make you insist on being with my sister."

Whether or not you break up is not something you can decide.

Kevin's face paled even more, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. Chenxi kept glancing between Chen Chao, Steve, and Kevin, completely flustered and unsure of what to do.

"Pfft!" After a long silence, Steve finally couldn't help but laugh out loud. He said to Chen Chao with a hint of helplessness, "Don't scare people like that."

Steve used serving chopsticks to put some food on Kevin's plate and said, "I haven't introduced myself yet. My name is Steve, Chen Chao's lover. We should have met once before at the mall. And, I'm an orphan, the real deal, without parents."

Kevin looked at Steve with a puzzled expression, not understanding what Steve meant by that.

"What Chen Chao just said is true. He really doesn't need to do much to make you submit."

But you don't need to be afraid. Since you proposed breaking up, has the Chen family ever once used their power to threaten you? Hasn't Chenxi been explaining things to you and adopting a very humble attitude?

Think about it, she has the power to crush you with a flick of her wrist, so why would she go to such lengths to coax you? Just to make herself suffer?

Class differences do exist, but they are not insurmountable obstacles.

You see, I'm a penniless orphan, but that doesn't stop me from being with Chen Chao.

Chen Chao glanced at Steve, his eyes filled with helpless doting. He withdrew the faint hint of pressure he had been exerting and spoke in a sincere tone:

"Kevin, I can understand that you are old-fashioned and stubborn, and that you are not ashamed to curry favor with the powerful."

But shouldn't the decision of whether or not to break up depend on whether you actually like each other?

"If you don't like it, I won't stop you from breaking up. If you like each other, we can discuss your relationship dynamics. Chenxi has no family responsibilities, and I promise not to interfere in your lives."

Kevin looked down at Chen Chao and carefully considered Chen Chao's words.

After a while, he seemed to have finally figured it out, and hesitantly looked up at Chen Chao and asked:

"You mean I can live with Chenxi like a normal person? You won't interfere with my daily life, like my work?"

"Will you not interfere with anything regarding my wedding ceremony with Chenxi, or where Chenxi will live after the wedding?"

"How you want to live is your business. I have no objection if Chenxi is willing to live in a rented room with you."

Or you could live with her in a big villa, that's fine too.

I asked Chenxi to fulfill her responsibilities as a daughter and younger sister, which means she should go home to see her family when it's time, and to fulfill the filial piety in the ordinary sense.

Apart from that, as long as she's not deliberately bullied and needs my protection, I won't interfere in anything. Are you satisfied with that?

Kevin stared blankly at Chen Chao, slowly processing this bombshell information. He didn't understand how the topic had suddenly shifted to this. He clearly wanted to break up, but how did things end up like this, talking about the future with Chen Chao? Why?

“Actually, the reason you came here today is because you still can’t bear to part with me deep down.” Steve put another bite of food on Kevin’s plate and pressed on while it was still hot. “Why not just stick to breaking up? Why bother coming all this way?”

Don't you still want to see what the real Chenxi is like? To see if there's even the slightest possibility of continuing this relationship?

Since you can't bear to let go, why not give it a try? If you find it's not what we said, it's not too late to break up then.

Kevin glanced at Steve, then at Chenxi, hesitating to answer, but his aura was clearly wavering.

"No need to rush into a decision. Let's eat first, and then we can think about it slowly when we get back." Seeing this, Chen Chao didn't press the issue and directly changed the subject.

Kevin immediately relaxed as if he had been granted a pardon. Only now did he finally have the mind to taste the food in his bowl.

He took a bite of the braised pork and found that it seemed to be really delicious, made by a chef from a wealthy family.