Chapter 45 A Fluttering Heart
Jiang Meng was stunned for a moment, then immediately retorted angrily, "Take it! I'll take it when I get back! Don't even think about taking it."
Chen Jizhou spoke calmly and leisurely, with a hint of a smile: "Alright, let's talk about it when you get back."
What happened?
Did he really intend to forcibly take her cat?
...That's outrageous.
Before Wang Jingbo came out, Jiang Meng received a message from her cousin Ye Jing, who said, "I'll be there soon, just come over."
Knowing that Jiang Meng was back, Ye Jing said she wanted to have a meal with her and booked a hot pot dinner. Jiang Meng, her cousin, used to study and work in Ningcheng. When Jiang Meng was in college, her cousin took care of her a lot. In recent years, Ye Jing has returned to Pingjiang, and they get together whenever they have time.
While replying to Ye Jing's message, Jiang Meng called out into the phone, "Grandpa, I have to go. My sister is here to see me."
Wang Jingbo's voice came from the study window: "Ah, I was just saying I'd stay a little longer."
Jiang Meng waved her phone: "She said she made a reservation at a restaurant, and I have to go right away. She's very fierce; she'll scold me if I'm late."
Seeing that Jiang Meng was about to leave, Wang Jingbo came out carrying some things: "Hey, watermelon, take the watermelon."
Jiang Meng hadn't originally planned to accept it, but seeing how big the unicorn melon was, neatly wrapped in a bag, she didn't want to offend the old man. She smiled and took it, saying, "Thank you, Grandpa. I'm off now."
"Come back to visit often."
"Okay!"
Wang Jingbo watched her walk away and felt that something was wrong.
Grandpa? Didn't she always call him Teacher Wang?
He touched his chin; something was amiss.
Ye Zhaoxu was also at the hot pot restaurant. The three of them chatted about this and that, and soon it was night.
Jiang Meng didn't have much to talk about with the elders and was too busy eating. Fortunately, Ye Jing didn't bring up the matter of introducing her to a boyfriend before. However, before leaving, she suddenly asked Jiang Meng, "I'm going to the temple next week. Will you come with me?"
Where are you going?
"My child has been sick a lot this year, so I'm going to pray to the gods to see if I can get something in return."
Jiang Meng said "Oh," and then asked, still confused, "Then what am I supposed to do?"
"What are you going there for? Of course, it's to help you find a good match."
"..."
Ye Zhaoxu was speechless, and chuckled chuckled to himself.
Jiang Meng said, "You don't need to worry about it. With my qualifications, I can find anyone. It just depends on whether I want to be in a relationship or not."
Actually, Jiang Meng had something on her mind that she had been thinking about, but the person in question had probably already carelessly forgotten about it. She nodded and said, "But I can go, I also have something to do."
After dinner, back home, Jiang Meng couldn't wait to ask Ye Zhaoxu, "By the way, Mom, where did I put my crystal shoes?"
Ye Zhaoxu: "Keep it where you left it. I didn't touch your things."
Jiang Meng went to Jiang Su's former study.
After he moved out, the room became much emptier. Jiang Meng's school books were all left untouched and unsold, piled up here.
When Jiang Meng entered, the first thing she saw were several empty gift boxes. She initially thought they were blocking her way and wanted to kick them aside. But when she saw what kind of gift boxes they were, she couldn't bring herself to do it.
She wouldn't let her mother throw away those boxes, and Ye Zhaoxu respected her wishes, so she kept them neatly.
Chen Jizhou rarely came back for the New Year during the years he was abroad, but he would come here to wish his mother a happy new year every time he came back. Jiang Meng was either not at home or sleeping in late, but he always came very early.
One time, she slept until noon and when she came out of the bedroom, she heard Ye Zhaoxu say: "Zhouzhou just came by and brought some things."
Jiang Meng was stunned: Why didn't you call me?
Ye Zhaoxu: You sleep like a log, I can knock on your door for ages and you won't answer.
Jiang Meng looked at the New Year's gifts next to her. Some were brought by her mother's students, including yogurt, nuts, wine, and some expensive health products.
Among these common gift boxes were a box of her favorite peach-flavored Yakult and a box of her favorite liqueur-filled chocolates, all beautifully packaged with pretty bows and greeting cards that read "Happy New Year."
Ye Zhaoxu glanced at it: "Hmm, those two boxes, he brought them over."
In the chilly winter air, she stood there and tears inexplicably streamed down her face.
In her view, those years were the most strained period in their relationship.
He appeared and left without a trace, leaving her with much warmth.
Jiang Meng paused for a moment in front of the empty gift box, then picked it up and placed it in the cabinet.
She honestly couldn't remember which cabinet she had put her shoes in.
Jiang Meng flipped through them one by one.
Ye Zhaoxu stood by the door, smiling as he asked her, "So, you've found your prince?"
Jiang Meng smiled slyly: "Guess."
Jiang Meng never wore the shoes Chen Jizhou gave her. Ye Zhaoxu, a practical and unromantic person, said, "If you're not going to wear them, just sell them. They're so expensive!"
Jiang Meng was quite angry about this, and said, "You're not allowed! You're not allowed!"
Ye Zhaoxu didn't dare to move again.
The crystal shoes were kept in a shoebox. Because they had been there for so long, Jiang Meng would take them out every year to wipe off the dust, or even send them for maintenance, admire them again, and then put them back in the shoebox.
Jiang Meng always felt that she was not the owner of these shoes, so she could not decide to wear them, and they were not suitable for any occasion.
So she kept waiting for him to come back.
Jiang Meng didn't put the shoes back this time; she planned to keep them with her.
Ye Zhaoxu leaned against the door and looked at her, then suddenly asked, "How have you been with Dad lately?"
As Jiang Meng closed the cabinet, she said, "What's good and what's bad? It's just like that. He gave me the money when I asked—didn't he ask for more?"
"It seems like there's someone you've been dating for a while, but you probably don't plan to get married. He has very high standards, just like you."
Jiang Meng's face darkened, and she looked at her mother: "Are you comparing me to him to deliberately annoy me?"
Ye Zhaoxu smiled and said, "Sorry, my brain couldn't keep up with my mouth, that's not what I meant."
I heard that Jiang Su was promoted again recently and now holds a high position of power. He has finally gotten what he wanted.
Jiang Meng thought that if someone appears in your life, it's either because they love you or because they're there to teach you profound lessons.
Jiangsu is such a place.
I wonder if he still believes that all relationships are only for the sake of self-interest. His lonely end illustrates a point: all selfish pursuits will be defeated by the warmth of human kindness.
Some feelings cannot grow deeper even if you spend every day together.
Other feelings remain as fresh as ever, transcending the years, leaving traces wherever they go, making it impossible to believe that time can change everything.
Jiang Meng carefully tidied up her shoes, held them in her arms, and prepared to go out. As she passed Ye Zhaoxu, who was leaning against the door, she heard her say as if watching a commotion, "If you meet a prince, hurry up and settle the marriage. You get a headache every time your relatives urge you."
Jiang Meng couldn't take it anymore. She put her hands on her hips and snapped at her, "I'm only 26, in the prime of my life! What kind of marriage are you talking about?!"
-
Chen Jizhou's company is called Novaplay, which means "new star." They bought two floors in an office building to use as their base.
He is currently in charge of product management and operation for the listed company. Although it is not technical research and development, he has the most shares. The game released this year has been very well received. The company plans to set up a branch in a while to expand the market. He has been quite busy lately. He took some time to have a meal with Gao Yusen from the technology team.
The headquarters was located in Yunzhou because Gao Yusen was from Yunzhou. He was Chen Jizhou's first chosen partner, and Chen Jizhou respected him greatly.
It was still four dishes and a soup, at the same restaurant where I treated Jiang Meng to dinner last time. As night fell, the two of them sat in the restaurant.
Seeing the person opposite him constantly looking at their phone and smiling, Gao Yusen said, "Are you in a relationship?"
Chen Jizhou looked up and showed him his phone screen, which was the security camera footage from their living room. He said, "Look at our kitten, isn't it cute?"
Gao Yusen leaned closer and saw the cat's face crouching in front of the camera: "Is this a silver shaded cat?"
"Chinchilla, with longer fur."
"It's so beautiful."
"Her mother is also very beautiful."
Gao Yusen sensed something amiss, "Your girlfriend?"
Chen Jizhou smiled faintly and shook his head.
Gao Yusen stopped looking at the cat and looked at Chen Jizhou: "Aren't you a staunch advocate of singlehood? Why do you seem to be having romantic feelings lately?"
Chen Jizhou turned off the video and told him, "The person you like is back."
Gao Yusen revealed a look of surprise, raising an eyebrow in unexpected delight.
Chen Jizhou and Xie Zhuo had a very close relationship, so they had talked about their feelings. There were some things that couldn't be said to Xie Zhuo, who was his closest friend. But Gao Yusen, whom he met later, had heard a little about his distant white moonlight.
They met in Toronto.
Chen Jizhou had always wanted to make a game since he was in college, but he never thought about getting rich or becoming a big shot in the gaming world. It was just a small dream. Why a small dream? Because he had many dreams, and he was working towards them one by one. He didn't need to support a family, so he didn't plan to work in any one industry for the rest of his life. In short, when he was young and ambitious, he had a strong desire to make a game.
To achieve this, he took many related courses during his graduate studies. His science grades were also quite good, and although he didn't pursue any academic degree, he still learned a lot. He met Gao Yusen in an undergraduate class; Gao was a tech-savvy geek who was a perfect partner for him.
Chen Jizhou wasn't in particularly dire straits at that time, but things weren't great either. The luck and success he had in starting his business in Singapore didn't carry over to Canada. The restaurant wasn't doing well, and he even lost some money. He didn't have much capital left, except for a car. If he wanted to start another business, he either had to borrow from his family or sell the car. The car he was driving at the time wasn't particularly good; it was just a means of transportation, but it would be enough to get him some start-up capital.
He got some money from selling the car, but he didn't ask his family's old Chen for help.
Chen Jizhou took the money to Gao Yusen and talked about the project execution all night.
He had a very high opinion of Gao Yusen. After so many years of schooling, he had rarely seen anyone who could truly be called a genius.
But Gao Yusen wasn't very optimistic about himself.
This person is somewhat introverted and cautious. Moreover, his family sold their house to send him abroad to study, reflecting their high expectations and the resulting financial pressure. This makes it difficult for students like him to find their footing in the bustling world. When one is at a level that doesn't suit them, their mindset is often one of confusion and inferiority.
At the dinner table, seeing him hesitate, Chen Jizhou raised his chin and said, "It's not like you're paying, so what's there to be unhappy about?"
“You’ve poured all your money in, and I’m under pressure too. If I had some money, I probably wouldn’t be in this situation.” Gao Yusen felt that the funds provided by Chen Jizhou were a burden for him.
Chen Jizhou tried to put himself in his shoes and roughly understood his hesitation.
He said, "You're such a smart person, why do you always live such a tense life? Have you ever read the Romance of the Three Kingdoms?"
Chen Jizhou is dedicated to bringing his book of life experiences to all corners of the world.
"No, I only learned a little bit of the plot from the book, like the story of the Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage."
Chen Jizhou said, "Then you know about the Battle of Red Cliffs, right?"
"I know that."
"Cao Cao was defeated and forced to retreat to Xuchang, which basically meant that his southern campaign was hopeless. If you have time, you can go and read the passage where he comforted his soldiers. This man is worth studying. He was cunning, but he was also really charismatic. Look at what successful people are like, such as emperors and generals with great talents and strategies. You will definitely benefit a lot from it."
Gao Yusen agreed, but then added, "But no matter how I look at it, I can never become Cao Cao."
Chen Jizhou laughed when he heard this.
His confident, triumphant smile left a deep impression on Gao Yusen.
Chen Jizhou said, "Then you should treat me like Cao Cao."
For a moment, Gao Yusen was stunned by his confident smile.
Chen Jizhou spoke slowly and deliberately, telling him, "Losing is losing, losing the country is nothing new, but we can say it's common in war. I always have the courage to make a comeback. Can't I, Chen Jizhou, earn back the money for a Civic?"
He smiled and said, "Still worried about me?"
Chen Jizhou has no shortage of youthful ambition, and this ambition isn't just wishful thinking or daydreaming; he actually has some real talent.
He met Gao Yusen's slightly enlightened gaze and said, "There's nothing we can't do. Come work for me, and I'll make you the boss."
Gao Yusen nodded slowly, a very mechanical movement, as if he still felt guilty about something. Suddenly, he brought up his car again: "By the way, you don't live in the dormitory, right? How do you get to school?"
Chen Jizhou leaned back with his arms crossed, thought for a moment, and then smiled nonchalantly: "I run in the morning when I'm in school, and at night after school. I use the time I save from playing with cars to exercise. It's great."
Gao Yusen chuckled and couldn't help but give him a thumbs up.
And so, Chen Jizhou painted a rosy picture for him all night, and Gao Yusen finally agreed to build a team with him.
So strictly speaking, there are only two founders of this team.
Chen Jizhou created his first game in his first year in Canada, which was aimed at the domestic market. Otherwise, he could have used the school's subsidies. However, Canada also has talent attraction policies, so it was impossible for Chen Jizhou not to return to China. Therefore, he could not benefit from these policies and had to start from scratch.
Fortunately, he was lucky; the Civic returned, and the Ferrari soon followed. He returned to China in his third year, still full of vigor, his eyes filled with boundless ambition.
It's almost August, and the nights in Yunzhou are no longer so hot.
After leaving the restaurant, the two walked back to the office building.
Chen Jizhou spotted a familiar white BMW from afar.
He crossed the street, went downstairs, and into the light. He saw Jiang Meng leaning against the car, posing as if she were doing one pose after another.
She wore a black cropped tank top and wide-leg washed denim jeans. Thick, curly hair cascaded down her back, making her back appear even thinner than her hair.
Jiang Meng leaned against the car door for two seconds, then, seemingly feeling it was inappropriate, changed her posture, leaning against the car door with her fingers spread in a V-shape to support her chin, and looking down as if trying to appear profound.
Chen Jizhou watched her move around from a short distance away. He was a little curious, since there were no photographers around.
He went over and asked in a low voice, "What are you doing here?"
Chen Jizhou originally intended to ask her what she was doing here, but as soon as Jiang Meng saw him, a surprised smile appeared on her face. She resumed the position of leaning against the car door, spreading her fingers to support her chin: "I'm figuring out what position is the most handsome to meet you in!"
"..."
Gao Yusen, who was following behind, glanced at her and then at Chen Jizhou.
Chen Jizhou gave him a wink, signaling him to go upstairs. Gao Yusen understood, suppressed a smile, patted him on the shoulder, and went upstairs reassured.
Chen Jizhou said, "The cat isn't at the company, so how did you manage to find your way here?"
"I'm not here to see the cat, I'm here to see you."
Jiang Meng really needed to talk to him. She rummaged through her backpack and said, "I brought something good. I want to give it to you right away."
Chen Jizhou watched her movements, and soon Jiang Meng pulled out a yellow cloth bag, making a "clang clang" sound with a smile.
In a good mood, she waved the cloth bag in front of him twice, then took out a black sandalwood bracelet from it.
She said, "Last time I asked you to go to the temple to pray, I knew you wouldn't go obediently. Before I came back, I went to Hanshan Temple and bought you this skewer."
Chen Jizhou stared at the item in her hand, somewhat amused: "Everyone else asks for amulets, what's with you buying a bracelet?"
Jiang Meng froze, her smile vanished for a second, then she looked up at him and glared: "You've actually chosen someone?!"
He chuckled softly and said, "No, how much did you buy it for?"
"680".
Chen Jizhou could no longer laugh.
For something like this, he would have turned around and left if it cost 68. He asked again in surprise, "How much?"
Jiang Meng was afraid he would say something outrageous, so she got a little anxious: "This has been blessed, it's different, it's different! Don't talk nonsense."
Chen Jizhou chuckled: "Okay."
"Hands out."
He reached out his hand.
Jiang Meng personally put the ebony beads on his wrist, the cool beads sliding down his hand to his clean wrist.
Jiang Meng held his left hand with her right hand, admiring it back and forth with great satisfaction: "Great, great, it looks like a 6800 when you wear it."
"Why."
"Because your hands look expensive."
Chen Jizhou's hands are really beautiful, otherwise he wouldn't have attracted so many fans to shamelessly call him "husband" just because of his hands.
Jiang Meng's eyes were like those of someone admiring a work of art. The ebony wood matched his hands perfectly, making his skin appear even whiter. She looked at his sexy hand bones and intricate veins, like an elder holding a child's hand, nagging on and on.
"I went there in the sweltering heat of summer, look at my arms, they're all tanned and layered, isn't that devout enough? May you be safe and healthy from now on. May your acts of heroism and extreme sports go smoothly, you know?"
Jiang Meng admired the perfect harmony between his hand and her bracelet. As their palms touched, her thumb unconsciously rubbed against the smooth back of his hand.
She says one sentence, and her finger slides down.
Why does he look so lecherous?
Chen Jizhou chuckled softly, which made her look up. He finally couldn't help but say, "Just bless me, why are you touching my hand?"
"...!!"
Jiang Meng immediately threw his hand away, her face turning bright red in an instant: "I've been pinching your hand too much with cat paws, it's become a conditioned reflex."
She turned to leave, then noticed the car behind her. She circled around and came back, slamming the door open. Wait, this is the passenger seat! Jiang Meng, dizzy and disoriented, turned to the other side and groggily got in… completely bewitched, completely bewitched.
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