Chapter 54: Double the Clinginess (Part 2)

Under this intense sweet onslaught, Yu Ling's heart melted and softened, like an ice cube in warm water. She grew accustomed to his exaggerated "coquettishness," amused by his childish jealousy, and relished his overbearing yet caring care. The sharp suspicions and icy fears deep within her heart were temporarily diluted and numbed by this surging, genuine affection.

She even began to actively cooperate with his clinginess - she would hold his hand when going out, send a message in advance to ask him not to wait too long when working overtime, and when he "complained" that she had said a few more words to a male colleague, she would helplessly and amusedly lean over and kiss his cheek to comfort him.

Seeing the smile that had returned to Yu Ling's face, the dependence and warmth that gradually returned to her eyes, and her helpless indulgence of his clingy behavior, Zhao Chen's smile deepened, with the satisfaction of a prey once again under his control and a subtle hint of fatigue. This "clingy drama" was perhaps as exhausting as any cross-border merger and acquisition case he had ever handled.

That evening, Yu Ling returned home a little earlier than usual. Zhao Chen was still in his study, working on something. The door was ajar, and from inside came his deep, fluent English voice, his tone carrying the calmness and authority that only comes with work.

Yu Ling didn't bother him, changed her shoes, and headed for the living room. As she passed the storage rack by the entrance, her eyes were drawn to a humble, dusty, dark blue velvet box on the top shelf. She remembered it; it seemed like Zhao Chen had casually put it there when they first moved in, saying it was a souvenir from a friend and had never opened it.

For some unknown reason, perhaps driven by some inexplicable curiosity, Yu Ling stood on tiptoe and reached out to take the box down. She brushed off the dust, and the velvet felt warm to the touch. The box was unlocked, so she gently lifted the lid.

There was no expensive jewelry or souvenirs as expected, only a neatly folded, slightly yellowed old newspaper clipping and a group photo?

Yu Ling picked up the clipping. It was in English, from a school newspaper called The Stanford Daily. It was dated six or seven years ago. The headline on the front page was eye-catching:

"Chinese genius Zhao Chen led his team to win the ACM Global Finals gold medal again! Aiming for the Turing Award!" Below is a detailed report praising Zhao Chen's amazing talent and leadership in the field of computer science, calling him "the light of Stanford" and "the future technology leader."

The report was accompanied by a small black-and-white photo of several high-spirited young men holding a trophy. The boy standing in the center, wearing a simple hoodie, had a youthful yet handsome face, sharp eyes, and a confident smile on his lips—it was the much younger Zhao Chen!

Yu Ling's heart skipped a beat! Stanford? ACM Global Gold Medal? Turing Award?! Each of these terms was like a hammer, hammering down on her perception of "ordinary employee"! With trembling fingers, she picked up the color photo from the box.

The photo's background seemed to be a picturesque campus lakeside. Zhao Chen, still a younger version of himself, was dressed casually in a white shirt and khaki pants, less sullen than he is now, more sunny and bookish.

Standing next to him was a girl wearing a light yellow floral dress, a bright and charming smile. She affectionately held his arm, leaning slightly towards him, looking up at him with eyes filled with undisguised admiration and love. Her face… Yu Ling's pupils suddenly constricted! Though much younger than she was now, those delicate features and elegant demeanor… were none other than Gu Qianqian!

The photo shows the two, their smiles radiant and their gestures intimate, the sun shining down on them. The backdrop is Stanford's iconic arcade. The picture captures the most beautiful moment of youth, exuding the sweetness of campus romance. On the back of the photo, a line of elegant English cursive is clearly visible:

"To my brilliant Chen, with all my love. Always. —— Qian Qian"

(To my shining star, I offer you all my love. Forever. —Qianqian)

"forever"……

"All Love"...

"My Chen"...

These words burned into Yu Ling's retina like a red-hot iron, instantly bringing her back to that late night when Gu Qianqian had complained coquettishly on the phone, "That's because I love you, Brother Chen!"

What "insignificant old classmates"!

What is this "love-turned-hate stalking"?

The intimate posture and affectionate inscription in the photo all indicate that there was clearly a deep and even unforgettable love between them!

A huge sense of deception and a fury of being fooled instantly washed over Yu Ling! She felt a surge of blood rushing to her head, and her vision went black! She clutched the photo tightly, her knuckles turning white from the strain, and her body trembled slightly with extreme anger!

Just then, click.

The door of the study was gently pushed open.

Zhao Chen ended the call, his face rubbing with fatigue from work as he walked out. He raised his head, his gaze casually scanning the living room. When he saw Yu Ling standing by the shelf, clutching the yellowed photo tightly in her hand, her face as pale as paper and her eyes as cold as ice, the fatigue on his face instantly froze!

The hand rubbing his brow froze in mid-air! For the first time, a trace of sudden, unconcealable astonishment and panic flashed clearly across the depths of his amber eyes!

The air completely froze at this moment.