Chapter 13 (1/2): So who is Cheng Jinyu?

Did he think those few words he just said made him come across as a playboy??

Meng Chu pondered for a while before finally understanding his implication.

With a light laugh, she said, “I wouldn’t misunderstand.”

She continued earnestly, “In fact, I should thank you for being so serious about cooperating with me.”

Being willing to do something is one thing, but being willing to do it with genuine effort and sincerity is another.

She could definitely sense this level of sincerity.

Moreover, someone like Cheng Jinyu when they first met, he was exactly as she’d seen in interviews: aloof and distant, appearing proud and unapproachable.

Even in those backstage photos her colleague took during the conference, he remained as cool and detached as ever.

Such a heaven’s favored son naturally had every reason to be arrogant.

Yet he was willing to go along with these things for her sake.

In Meng Chu’s heart, there was nothing but gratitude.

“As I said before, if your family ever needs my presence for anything, I’ll do my utmost,” Meng Chu picked up the water glass on the table— neither of them had chosen to drink alcohol today.

Holding the glass, she smiled and said, “Let me toast you.”

Seeing her like this, Cheng Jinyu’s previously serious expression shifted back to that casual demeanor.

He raised his own glass and clinked it against hers.

“To our successful cooperation.”

Meng Chu chuckled softly.

But as she tilted her head back to drink, she failed to notice the faint trace of helplessness that flickered through Cheng Jinyu’s eyes.

*

After dinner, Cheng Jinyu drove Meng Chu home, and she didn’t stand on ceremony.

As they neared her residential complex, Meng Chu spotted the bright, oversized sign of a supermarket and quickly said, “Can you pull over for a moment?”

The roadside near her neighborhood allowed temporary parking, but at this hour, every spot was taken.

Cheng Jinyu drove forward a bit further and finally found an empty space.

Just as he was about to reverse into it, another car following behind also eyed the spot and aggressively tried to cut in.

But Cheng Jinyu’s car was already partially backed in, leaving no room for the other vehicle.

With one hand resting on the steering wheel, Cheng Jinyu glanced at Meng Chu. 

“Are you in a hurry?”

“Not at all,” Meng Chu replied calmly.

Strangely, they were completely in sync on this matter.

Neither rushed to complete the parking maneuver, letting the standoff continue.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before the driver behind them grew impatient. 

Rolling down his window, he shouted, “Seriously, dude? You’re driving an Aston Martin and you’re fighting me for a free parking spot? Have you no shame?”

Before Cheng Jinyu could respond, Meng Chu had already opened her door and stepped out.

She walked straight to the other car’s window and leaned slightly to address the driver. 

“First come, first served. Do us all a favor and move along-don’t waste everyone’s time.”

The man looked at Meng Chu, about to retort, but upon seeing her, he merely clicked his tongue.

“Sweetheart, be careful with guys like him. Even if he drives an Aston Martin, a man who’ll fight common folks for a free parking spot isn’t worth it.”

Meng Chu met his gaze evenly. 

“But he’s still a man who drives an Aston Martin.”

The driver gave her a thumbs-up, reversed his car, and finally drove off.

Cheng Jinyu then smoothly backed into the spot.

It wasn’t until he got out of the car that Meng Chu remembered why she’d asked him to stop in the first place.

Apologetically, she said, “Actually, I wanted you to pull over so I could run into the supermarket for something. You could’ve just dropped me off at the roadside earlier.”

Because of that earlier incident with the parking spot, both of them were still a bit worked up.

“Upholding social morality,” Cheng Jinyu said casually, one hand in his pocket.

Meng Chu knew he was referring to the person who had tried to steal the parking spot earlier.

She chuckled softly.

“Let’s go,” Cheng Jinyu said, leading the way toward the supermarket.

Though the neighborhood Meng Chu lived in was a bit old, these older residential areas had the advantage of being well-equipped with amenities. 

For instance, there was a supermarket right outside, and a row of storefronts along the street filled with restaurants, convenience stores, and fruit shops.

Every time she passed by, she would pick up a few things.

Of course, that was only if she got off work early.

Otherwise, if she came back at 11 p.m., all these shops would already be closed.

This supermarket, for example, closed punctually at 10 p.m. every day.

Once inside, Meng Chu casually grabbed a shopping cart near the entrance-she didn’t expect the man beside her to lift a finger.

But just as she reached for the cart, another hand appeared beside hers.

“I’ll take it,” Cheng Jinyu said calmly, taking over the cart.

When his slender, well-defined fingers rested on the cart’s handle, even the cheap red plastic shopping cart seemed to gain a bit of class.

Meng Chu suddenly understood why Cheng Jinyu occasionally exuded such confidence.

A young master who seemed untouched by the mundane world, born with an innate pride.

Since Meng Chu rarely cooked at home, she didn’t buy many groceries—just some daily necessities.

Her laundry detergent and tissues were running low.

She could have ordered these online, but deliveries never came straight to her door-they were always left at the Cainiao pickup station.

But her work schedule was too unpredictable. 

There had been times when she got home at 11 p.m. for an entire week.

By then, even the Cainiao station would be closed.

So over time, she just picked things up at the nearby supermarket.

To cut their shopping trip short, Meng Chu quickly grabbed the essentials she needed and headed straight for the checkout.

At the register, Cheng Jinyu took the initiative to unload the cart’s contents onto the counter.

After scanning everything, the cashier looked at them and said, “That’ll be 192.6 yuan. Today’s our anniversary sale—spend 199 yuan and get  19 yuan off. If you buy just 10 yuan more, you can take advantage of the discount.”

Meng Chu nodded. 

“Sure.”

But Cheng Jinyu, standing in front of her, had already pulled out his phone, seemingly ready to pay.

As she reached for a pack of gum from the display beside the counter, Meng Chu said, “I can pay for this myself.”

Cheng Jinyu lifted his gaze to look at her and replied nonchalantly, “Just driving an Aston Martin isn’t enough—you should also learn how to pay.”

Meng Chu froze. Then she laughed.

So he had heard what the parking spot thief had said to her earlier.

She didn’t argue further and let him pay.

But when the cashier announced, “That’ll be 212.6 yuan,” Meng Chu was confused. 

Wait, wasn’t there supposed to be a 19-yuan discount for spending over 199? Why wasn’t it applied?

Still, with Cheng Jinyu standing right there, she didn’t feel comfortable asking.

By then, Cheng Jinyu had already packed everything into the shopping bags.

When Meng Chu tried to help, he refused.

*

When they arrived at Meng Chu’s apartment building, before she could even speak, Cheng Jinyu grabbed the shopping bags-clearly intending to carry them upstairs for her.

After they went up, Meng Chu unlocked her door.

As it swung open, she was about to invite Cheng Jinyu inside.

But unexpectedly, Cheng Jinyu placed the plastic bag he was carrying inside the door.

“Won’t disturb you any longer tonight,” he said, looking at her.

Meng Chu had been about to invite him in for a while, but the words naturally died on her lips.

She nodded lightly instead. 

“Drive safely.”

This time, she stood where she was, watching as he walked to the elevator and pressed the button.

Since the elevator was already on this floor, the doors opened quickly.

Only after Cheng Jinyu stepped inside did Meng Chu finally withdraw her gaze and return home.

After changing into slippers, she placed the groceries on the dining table before heading to the balcony to collect the laundry.

Once everything was settled, she went back to unpack the things she had just bought.

Just then, her phone, which she had left on the dining table, rang.

Meng Chu walked over and was surprised to see that it was a voice call from Cheng Jinyu.

Hadn’t he just left?

Was he already home?

She answered the call, turned on the speaker, and set the phone back down.

“What’s up?” Meng Chu asked first.

But there was no response from the other end—just silence.

Puzzled, Meng Chu muttered under her breath, “Did he press the wrong button?”

Smartphones these days had touchscreens, making it easy to accidentally tap something when the screen wasn’t locked.

But the next second-

“Meng Chu.” Cheng Jinyu’s cool voice came through.

His sudden speech startled her.

Meng Chu steadied herself before asking, “Are you almost home?”

“Not yet.”

Oh? Then why the sudden call?

Meng Chu was still confused.

After saying this, Cheng Jinyu fell silent again.

Even though he wasn’t standing in front of her, Meng Chu could sense his hesitation, as if he had something to say but couldn’t bring himself to.

Just as she was about to ask again, Cheng Jinyu spoke first.

In a calm tone, he said, “If you want our relationship to progress further, I’m okay with it.”

Huh? HUH???

What-are-you-even-saying???

Meng Chu had been in the middle of unpacking the groceries one by one from the shopping bag. Hearing his words, she was struck by a mix of absurdity and amusement.

What did he mean by “progress further”?

Where exactly did he think the two of them could go from here?

And where on earth had he gotten the idea that she wanted things to “progress further”?

Meng Chu felt like she had been minding her own business at home when suddenly, an enormous, inexplicable accusation had been dropped on her head.

What-the-hell!

Unable to hold back, she let out a disbelieving laugh. 

“Excuse me, but where did you get that idea?”

Silence again on the other end.

If it weren’t for the fact that he had treated her to a lavish dinner earlier, Meng Chu would have hung up on this baffling call right then and there.

By now, she had nearly finished unpacking the shopping bag.

Only one last rectangular blue box remained.

For a moment, Meng Chu couldn’t recall what it was.

So she picked it up and took a look.

But that single glance made her gasp as if struck by lightning.

She hadn’t even meant to make a sound-it had slipped out involuntarily.

Because printed clearly on the blue box were several lines of text:

-Ultra-Thin Triple-Pleasure

Smooth & Extra Lubricated, Textured Ribbed

And at the bottom, in small print: “Natural Latex Rubber Condoms.”

Holy shit! HOLY SHIT!!!

When the full realization of what this was hit her, Meng Chu nearly flung the thing out of her hand.

When the hell had this ended up in the shopping bag?!

If she didn’t clearly remember putting every single item in the shopping cart herself, she might have suspected Cheng Jinyu was setting her up!