Chapter 30 Mutual Protection

The villa is filled with tall, lush trees and flickering lights.

The lush foliage cuts through the light from the streetlights, causing it to fall to the ground like shimmering fragments of a mirror.

High heels tread over these "fragments".

Cheng Hexi got into the car, the door closed, shutting out the summer night's heat, leaving only the two of them in the enclosed space.

You Yue started the engine and waited for her to fasten her seatbelt before starting the car.

The sports car drove away from the villa.

As she turned the corner, Cheng Hexi glanced out the car window at the couple she had just seen.

You Yue was driving and didn't notice her gaze.

Cheng Hexi didn't know who they were, nor did she hear their conversation, but she could tell the atmosphere was tense.

However, it was the two of them who were nervous, while You Yue remained as relaxed as ever.

Since their marriage, he has always introduced her to his acquaintances and friends, but he didn't do so today.

Cheng Hexi wasn't curious about the reason; she had just keenly realized that the woman's gaze on her when she turned around was unusual.

It's as if I know her.

-

You Yue drove very steadily at night, and as the car left the villa area, it gradually merged into the traffic on the main road.

It's already very late, but some sections of the road are still congested.

Traffic flows endlessly on these silent steel structures of the elevated highways; the East Third Ring Road is always bustling with cars.

She had ridden in You Yue's car so many times without feeling any discomfort; last time, she even managed to fall asleep in the passenger seat.

It's nothing short of a miracle.

Cheng Hexi rolled down the car window, thinking about You Yue from earlier.

He seems to have two sides to his personality.

She was clearly stiff while holding the baby, yet her movements and gaze were incredibly gentle. Just moments ago, she was by the car, seemingly discussing some serious business, and had transformed into the calm, even ruthless, CEO of Hongsheng as portrayed in the reports.

Just as she was spacing out, Cheng Hexi received a call on her phone.

The car came to a slow stop at a red light. You Yue thought it was his phone ringing and tilted his head slightly.

Both of their phones were the same model, and their ringtones were the default system sounds.

Cheng Hexi picked up her phone and answered it immediately after seeing the caller ID.

The call was from the old lady.

She didn't avoid him, so You Yue listened openly and could guess what they were talking about based on Cheng Hexi's responses.

Cheng Hexi talked quite a bit when chatting with her grandmother, and seemed closer to her than to him.

They chatted for about ten minutes before gradually falling silent. She told her grandmother to go to sleep early before hanging up.

He even asked the old lady if she wanted to talk to him, but she refused without hesitation.

After hanging up the phone, Cheng Hexi relayed to him: "Grandma said that a friend recommended a very talented chef who makes amazing home-style dishes, and invited us to dinner tomorrow night."

“I agreed,” she said, then remembered to ask, “Do you have time?”

"Yes," You Yue replied quickly.

Now they even contact her directly for things like meals. Who's the real grandson here?

Yet I felt quite happy.

He asked, "Are you going to the company tomorrow?"

"Go." Cheng Hexi still had things to do tomorrow.

They must both be very busy now that they're back from their long business trip.

You Yue was going the same way, so he said, "I'll pick you up."

She nodded: "Okay."

After a while, the car was already driving into the villa area and about to enter the house when You Yue suddenly spoke up and asked, "Did you sleep well last night?"

Cheng Hexi paused.

I remember the last time he asked me that was after we first slept together, when he "accused" her of sleeping in his arms all night.

This time she didn't respond, but instead asked him, "What about you?"

"Me?" You Yue turned the steering wheel and said calmly, "I slept well."

"..."

-

During their phone call last night, the old lady praised the chef's culinary skills extensively, and Cheng Hexi actually started to look forward to it.

You Yue doesn't pay much attention to food and isn't particularly interested in the variety of dishes, but her mood is inevitably affected by her.

When the car drove into the yard, it was still very early, far from sunset.

The ultraviolet rays were not as harsh as they were in the afternoon, and the garden lawn was bathed in clear sunlight.

The garden is well-maintained and beautiful, like a small garden. In addition, the old lady also grows more than a dozen potted plants herself, taking meticulous care of them every day.

This villa isn't very large, but it's very cozy.

Every time Cheng Hexi came, she would look at the flowers at the entrance, while You Yue would always go and tease the birds that lingered in the entryway first.

Last time, Yue said there were flowers, birds, and insects here, and asked Grandma if she wanted to build a fish pond, but Grandma gave her a serious scolding.

Cheng Hexi found it somewhat amusing at the time.

As she parked, her gaze shifted from the flowers to the black Audi parked beside her. She paused, a hint of surprise in her eyes.

Previously, there had never been a car from outside the family at Grandma's house, so she was puzzled and went to look at the man in the driver's seat.

You Yue also saw the Audi, unbuckled his seatbelt, looked away, and said calmly, "My dad's car."

"Um??"

It was rare for her to show such a surprised expression.

Seeing her like this, You Yue smiled.

"how?"

"Nothing much, just a bit of a surprise."

Her impression of You Yue's father was limited to what the general public thought, which relied on various business reports and gossip about wealthy families.

Business reports describe You Chenghui as having keen insight, being good at recognizing and appointing people, and being gentle and polite, which laid a solid foundation for Hongsheng.

Entertainment news praised him for never remarrying after his beloved wife's passing and for his low-key lifestyle. The label of "good man" has followed him for half his life.

It has a good reputation both inside and out.

You Yue had never mentioned his father before.

She had almost forgotten that this person existed.

“We’ve grown distant,” You Yue said, noticing Cheng Hexi’s confusion. “He was living in Europe for a while and we haven’t been in touch much.”

His tone was indifferent, and his face showed no extra expression. After he finished speaking, his gaze fell on Cheng Hexi, but he did not forget to comfort her: "Just be yourself, don't be reserved."

Cheng Hexi smiled and said, "I'm fine."

You Yue has never explicitly expressed any negative feelings toward any particular person.

Cheng Hexi knew that he had stopped living with the You family after he was five years old and had always been raised by his maternal grandparents. After their marriage, she and this old Mr. You had never met.

Their father-son relationship should be more than just "estranged".

She didn't ask any further questions.

Hearing the doorbell ring, Aunt Yun came over and opened the front door. Grandma, as usual, came out to greet her.

Upon seeing You Yue, she gave him a wink and whispered, "Your dad's here."

You Chenghui arrived less than five minutes early.

In the past, the old lady would tell You Yue in advance so he could choose whether or not to come, but she didn't have time today.

You Yue and his father couldn't agree on anything, and the old lady didn't want to upset him.

In fact, You Yue had long since stopped caring about these things, but she still cherished this sentiment.

After his wife passed away, You Chenghui treated You Yue's maternal grandparents as his own parents, visiting them frequently and giving them generous gifts during holidays. This habit has been maintained over the years.

Grandma turned the corner and went into the kitchen to get some snacks, leaving the two of them in the entryway.

You Yue glanced at the direction of the reception room and said sarcastically, "Who has time to visit the elderly? Coming here to freeload a meal?"

Cheng Hexi smiled and touched his forearm as a gesture of reassurance.

After a moment of hesitation, he took her hand.

The two walked into the reception room together.

-

You Yue and his father have a bad relationship, but he doesn't show it openly.

His attitude was lukewarm, completely lacking the relaxed and friendly demeanor he displayed in front of the old lady. He seemed unconsciously cold, like an oyster encased in its shell.

Cheng Hexi and President You had never met before. Upon their first meeting, You Chenghui was very kind and greeted her with a benevolent smile befitting an elder.

When they got their marriage certificate, You Chenghui had already gone to Europe for a trip and had just returned to Beijing a few days ago.

You Yue had no contact with him and didn't care.

The conversation didn't last long before the dishes were served one after another, and they sat down at the table.

The chef's skills were truly remarkable; the dishes were plentiful, beautifully presented, and delicious, perfectly suited Cheng Hexi's taste.

Grandma must have given me very careful instructions.

Cheng Hexi felt comforted, but before she could fully enjoy her meal, You Chenghui bombarded her with a question.

Yu Chenghui has been at the helm of Hongsheng for many years. Although he appears kind and approachable to outsiders, his demeanor still reveals the superior air of a leader.

Cheng Hexi has met countless elites and bigwigs from all walks of life, but none of them are swayed by this approach, nor are they intimidated in the slightest.

His questions were not offensive, but very detailed, starting with Cheng Hexi's learning experience.

Cheng Hexi has an exceptional ability to respond; she answers as she is asked, her tone calm yet her words meaningful.

Two minutes later, You Yue's displeasure was almost written on his face, and he was about to speak when Cheng Hexi noticed it.

She gently touched his hand under the table.

You Yue noticed this, but didn't say anything.

Next, when You Chenghui asked Cheng Hexi for her insights on a certain emerging AI product on the market, You Yue finally couldn't stand his "interview" style anymore, put down her chopsticks, and said indifferently, "You may not be hungry, but Hexi has been working all day."

Not satisfied with just one sentence, he added, "Grandma invited us to dinner, not to give you a presentation."

The atmosphere was quiet for a few seconds.

The old lady spoke up at the right moment to smooth things over.

Then everyone started eating again.

Cheng Hexi glanced at You Yue, then looked away after a moment.

You Yue's expression remained unchanged; he knew she was looking at him, so he picked up a dish for her.

It was her favorite dish on the whole table.

Cheng Hexi felt she had a good eye for people and thought that this Mr. You's personality was not entirely consistent with what was described in those gossip reports.

-

After the meal, You Chenghui was the first to get up and say goodbye.

Cheng Hexi led You Yue to the door. Old You, dressed in a suit and tie, was as elegant as ever.

He smiled and said to Cheng Hexi, "A-Yue's personality isn't very good, is it? You'll have to be more tolerant of him."

Cheng Hexi, who had been wearing a faint, peaceful smile, suddenly fixed her gaze on him.

Chi Yu'an also said this.

However, the meanings they express are completely different.

Chi Yu'an mostly talks about gossip and jokes.

Over the next few days, Cheng Hexi could also see that You Yue had a lot of respect for her brother.

What this old Mr. You meant was that he genuinely felt his son had a bad temper, and the subtext was his dissatisfaction with You Yue.

After You Yue took control of Hongsheng, he lived a carefree and leisurely life, making countless amounts of money even with his eyes closed, far more carefree than those entrepreneurs who dared not relinquish power until their dying day.

What exactly is he dissatisfied with?

Cheng Hexi wasn't very happy.

"Don't you know your son?" Her smile softened, but her tone remained serious: "A-Yue is very good."

You Yue, who had been leaning against the door with his arms crossed, looked up at her upon hearing this.

Cheng Hexi stood calmly and quietly.

She blocked half of You Chenghui's figure, and You Yue stopped moving forward, watching her figure shrouded in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Afterwards, the black Audi drove away from the villa.

She turned around, and the man behind her was still looking at her.

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Author's Note: Thank you for reading! [heart emoji]