Shanghai was never home to Meng Chu.
To her, this vast and modern metropolis was more like an ideal city, a city of dreams.
Since she was young, she had moved from a small town in Jiangnan to Shanghai, becoming a top student at J University that everyone envied.
She continued her studies there, went on to graduate school, and later started her own business and career.
Yet, for some reason, she always felt that she didn’t truly have a home here.
Even the place where she lived, deep down, felt like nothing more than a temporary shelter.
Her real home, perhaps, had disappeared many years ago.
But at this moment, her heart felt a calmness it had never known before.
Cheng Jinyu held the umbrella above her head and said softly, “Let’s go.”
Though it was just two simple words, Meng Chu felt her heartbeat grow louder than the relentless rain around them.
Earlier, she had stood under the canopy, watching strangers around her being picked up one after another.
And now, she finally had someone here to pick her up.
She nodded lightly, and the two of them quietly walked toward the car.
The fine rain wove a gentle net that blurred the entire world around them, while the large black umbrella above their heads separated them into their own little bubble.
Just the two of them.
“Meng Chu,” Cheng Jinyu called softly again.
She turned her head to look at his face and heard him remind her, “Don’t stray too far.”
This time she noticed there was still some distance between them under the umbrella.
He was tilting the umbrella toward her side, his own shoulder slightly exposed to the rain.
“Sorry,” Meng Chu whispered, immediately apologizing as she moved closer to him.
She had just been a little distracted earlier, and on top of that…
At that moment, she felt her heartbeat in her chest, which should have been steady and calm, suddenly spiral out of rhythm.
She knew that with the heavy rain around them, no one could hear her racing heartbeat.
Yet she still instinctively kept some distance.
Cheng Jinyu seemed to notice her distraction and said lightly, “Forget it, I don’t mind getting wet.”
Ah, how could he not mind?
Upon hearing that, Meng Chu moved even closer.
This time, his shoulder brushed against her arm, and beneath his thin shirt, the warmth of his body curled around her.
A breeze carried the scent of rain, mixed with the fresh and clean smell that clung to him.
They didn’t speak again until they got in the car.
After the door closed, the sound of raindrops hitting the car surrounded them from all sides.
Cheng Jinyu placed the umbrella in the trunk before climbing into the driver’s seat.
Meng Chu watched the tiny droplets glistening in his hair and lowered her head to take a tissue from her bag, offering it to him.
“Here, wipe it.”
When Cheng Jinyu took it, his knuckles gently brushed her delicate fingertips.
He casually wiped the water off his forehead, then tossed the tissue into a small trash bin nearby.
Inside the car, the soft, warm light cast a dim glow.
The windshield was fogged over and streaked with rain, but Meng Chu still stared at it, lost in thought.
Although Cheng Jinyu hadn’t been feeling well these past few days, they still chatted sometimes.
They were no longer as distant as before.
Yet now, after seeing him, her mind went completely blank.
The heavy rain outside unsettled her emotions.
“Have you eaten?” Cheng Jinyu’s voice suddenly cut through the silence.
Meng Chu shook her head, “Not yet.”
He rested one hand on the steering wheel. “What do you want to eat?”
“Anything’s fine,” she hesitated.
Cheng Jinyu suddenly asked curiously, “Do you usually eat very little?”
Meng Chu was taken aback. “Do I? We’ve eaten together before.”
“You only have milk and whole wheat bread in your fridge,” he said matter-of-factly.
Meng Chu opened her mouth but found no argument.
She really did eat simply—milk and whole wheat bread for breakfast; mostly salads or something light for lunch; and if there was no business dinner, her dinners were basic as well.
“To maintain my figure. After all, I’m the public face of our company,” Meng Chu said lightly.
Hearing this, Cheng Jinyu frowned. “Is that what CEO Gu demands?”
Meng Chu couldn’t help but laugh. “You even know about Gu Ting?”
“Xingyuan is quite famous in the industry. The founding team is young and capable, all from prestigious schools. They’ve been independently developing core technologies like large models and motion control algorithms.”
Cheng Jinyu’s gaze locked onto her. “More importantly, you have a pragmatic product operations team.”
Meng Chu didn’t expect him to suddenly praise her like this.
And when he said Xingyuan had a pragmatic product operations team, she knew he was talking about her.
She was the Operations Director, in charge of the company’s entire product business development.
“Why the sudden compliments?” Meng Chu smiled.
Even the most indifferent person would be hooked by such praise.
Cheng Jinyu looked at the expression blossoming on her face and—
Oh.
Speaking honestly.
That’s—
“Good taste,” Meng Chu chuckled softly.
Cheng Jinyu turned his head to look straight at her. “My taste has always been excessively good.”
This guy.
He sure knew how to flatter himself.
Meng Chu wanted to laugh, but suddenly a thought flashed through her mind.
He said his taste was always excellent.
Did that include his taste in choosing a partner?
Suddenly, she realized she might be overly confident too.
Maybe he was only talking about his business acumen.
The car fell silent again.
Until a honk sounded.
Apparently, they had been waiting too long, and someone behind them was signaling with the horn.
“How about some meat?” Cheng Jinyu suggested casually.
Meng Chu nodded. “Sounds good.”
As the car slowly pulled into the driveway and moved forward, Cheng Jinyu asked, “Do you want to see Momo?”
“Of course,” Meng Chu answered without hesitation.
He paused for a moment. “Then we’ll go somewhere where you can both eat meat and see Momo.”
“Okay,” Meng Chu genuinely looked forward to it.
Could it be that Momo was outside too?
But she sat in the car, watching as Cheng Jinyu drove along the road.
Neither of them spoke much.
Finally, the car arrived at a residential gate and smoothly parked in the underground garage.
Meng Chu stepped out and looked around.
This underground garage could be called a luxury car showroom.
BMWs and Mercedes-Benz cars were considered low-end here.
Bentleys and Rolls-Royces weren’t rare.
There were many sports cars parked as well.
At that moment, Cheng Jinyu got out of the driver’s seat and looked over at Meng Chu.
Their eyes met.
Meng Chu said, “Wow, so this is the place you said where I can eat meat and see Momo.”
Cheng Jinyu’s expression was straightforward. “Yes, I have steak at home, and Momo is there too.”
Truly the best of both worlds.
Meng Chu suddenly laughed.
*
After going upstairs, as soon as they opened the door, Momo, who was lying in the living room, immediately ran over.
She circled around them, wagging her tail nonstop.
“Momo,” Meng Chu bent down to cup the little dog’s head, smiling, “Do you remember me?”
Cheng Jinyu said softly, “Chu Chu’s here.”
Momo barked twice in response.
Meng Chu was a bit surprised by that nickname.
But when she heard Momo’s response, her smile blossomed.
“You remember me, right?”
“Play with her for a while first,” Cheng Jinyu said as he changed into slippers and headed to the kitchen.
Meng Chu had wanted to keep talking to Momo, but seeing him walk away, she couldn’t help but follow.
“Why aren’t you playing with her?” Cheng Jinyu glanced at her sideways.
“Are you cooking?” she asked.
“Yeah, didn’t I say we’re having meat?” Cheng Jinyu unbuttoned his shirt and rolled up the sleeves, revealing fair, firm forearms.
Watching his smooth movements, Meng Chu couldn’t help but ask, “Do you need help?”
Cheng Jinyu replied, “Just wait to eat.”
Since that was the case, Meng Chu didn’t plan to be too polite.
“Alright then, I’ll play with Momo for a bit,” she smiled.
She looked down at Momo. “Momo, do you like the snacks I bought you?”
Though she knew Momo couldn’t answer, she still asked anyway.
Cheng Jinyu, standing by the open fridge, took out a steak and replied casually, “She loves them, eats them every day. If we don’t watch her, she even sneaks snacks herself.”
Meng Chu looked at Momo in surprise. “She sneaks food?”
Momo barked again, making Meng Chu laugh.
“Play with her in the living room. Her toys are there,” Cheng Jinyu reminded her.
Meng Chu took Momo to the sofa, noticing a ball beside it.
She thought it was only around seven in the evening, so playing ball for a while wouldn’t disturb the neighbors downstairs.
She threw the lightweight blue ball forward gently.
At the moment it landed, Momo leapt up instantly.
Almost immediately, she caught the bouncing ball in her mouth and trotted back.
Momo brought the ball to Meng Chu, who began clapping.
“Good girl, Momo! You really are the best dog in the whole world!”
After praising her, Meng Chu held out her hand, signaling Momo to give the ball back.
This time, Momo loosened her grip, and the ball dropped into her palm.
“Good girl, good girl,” Meng Chu felt that Momo understood her compliments.
The two of them happily played in the living room.
Meanwhile, Cheng Jinyu had just opened the steaks.
The two fresh steaks had been specially delivered today.
He methodically prepared them while the sounds of laughter floated in from the living room.
Meng Chu was always calm and composed, but when she was with Momo, she seemed to relax a little.
Her joyful praise kept ringing out.
The usually quiet and serene home was unusually lively.