At this moment, Xu Qingying was in the kitchen preparing dinner.
She had already chopped some of the vegetables earlier, especially the difficult ones, while the simple stir-frying dishes were left for Meng Chu to handle when she returned.
“Mom,” Meng Chu walked into the kitchen.
Xu Qingying said, “Go outside quickly, it’s smoky in here.”
Meng Chu replied, “I’m not a child. I often cook for myself in Shanghai.”
“You’re working and cooking for yourself—aren’t you tired?” Xu Qingying said with concern.
Meng Chu shook her head. “You used to do the same, taking care of me while working.”
Although she spoke like that, Xu Qingying still insisted, “Go out now.”
One after another, Meng Chu was shooed away, but she stubbornly stayed until the meal was finally ready.
“What I miss most in Shanghai is your cooking,” Meng Chu said sincerely as she took a bowl of rice and looked at the dishes spread across the table.
Mom’s cooking wasn’t the best in the world—Meng Chu had eaten food prepared by many top chefs in Shanghai.
But the human palate was strange; it always got used to the flavors from childhood.
Even after tasting world-class cuisine as an adult, in time, one always yearned for a mother’s home-cooked meals.
“Eat more,” Xu Qingying urged.
Meng Chu nodded and, acting coquettishly, said, “How about you come to Shanghai and stay for a few days?”
“You’re so busy with work. If I come, I’d just be washing clothes and cooking for you. When I see you working overtime, I can’t help but nag, which will just add to your burden,” Xu Qingying shook her head.
She hadn’t never visited Shanghai to take care of Meng Chu before, but that time happened to coincide with the launch of a new product. Meng Chu worked overtime almost every day for a month, often until past eleven at night.
Though Meng Chu always told her to go to bed early and not wait up, Xu Qingying still sat on the sofa waiting for her to come home every night.
After a while, Meng Chu worried it would affect Xu Qingying’s health.
So she simply brought her back to their hometown, where Xu Qingying knew many friends and relatives.
Although these acquaintances were very familiar with Xu Qingying’s past and occasionally mentioned Meng Haichuan, overall, Xu Qingying was more comfortable and happier living in their hometown.
“Besides, now that you’re dating someone, I’m not going to be a third wheel,” Xu Qingying said with a smile.
Meng Chu laughed immediately. “You even know what a third wheel is.”
Xu Qingying gave her a stern look. “Don’t treat me like some old-fashioned relic—I’m very trendy now.”
“You always have been,” Meng Chu teased.
Because she hadn’t been home in a long time, Meng Chu didn’t bother following the rule of not talking while eating.
Besides, her mother seemed to have a lot to say.
Meng Chu started talking about her old friends again. “Earlier, Yumian said her parents want to join a tour group to Xinjiang. Since you two are close, why don’t you come along?”
“What for? Such trips just waste money,” Xu Qingying shook her head.
Meng Chu smoothed her bangs dramatically. “Did you forget what your daughter does?”
Xu Qingying asked, “What do I do?”
“Well, I’m the company’s Operations Director. Don’t scrimp on such a small expense,” Meng Chu said somewhat proudly.
But Xu Qingying replied, “Yes, you’re impressive—buying such a big house at your age. I just worry about how hard you work all alone.”
“But don’t you live very comfortably in the big house? It’s bright and clean,” Meng Chu smiled.
The house now was no longer the place where Meng Chu lived as a child.
It was the home she bought with savings after working for years at Xingyuan Technology, the company she founded.
What Xu Qingying meant by “big” was relative—compared to the eighty-something-square-meter home they lived in before, theirs was among the first commodity houses in their town.
Meng Haichuan was indeed capable, quick-witted, and resourceful.
When Meng Chu was little, their family was among the best-off in the class.
After Meng Haichuan’s divorce, he left with nothing, leaving the house to Xu Qingying and Meng Chu. They had some savings, too.
But Xu Qingying’s salary was always limited, and raising a child alone was tough.
Then, when she fell ill, their financial situation worsened.
At that time, Xu Qingying had to sell the house to pay for treatment, but the process took time.
So she had to rely on Meng Haichuan to help.
Eventually, the old house was sold, and Meng Chu repaid the money Meng Haichuan had lent her.
Meng Haichuan probably didn’t want the money, but Meng Chu transferred it directly into his account anyway.
It wasn’t until last year that Xu Qingying finally had a home of her own again.
Meng Chu had made the final decisions on the renovation, hiring a professional designer and choosing high-quality materials, fearing that Xu Qingying might secretly cut corners.
“Mom always wants to thank you. After buying this house, I kept telling you to rent a better place in Shanghai first,” Xu Qingying said softly.
Meng Chu immediately responded, “Here’s that again. I’m quite comfortable where I live now.”
At home, she felt she owed Meng Chu.
“You’re welcome,” Meng Chu said earnestly.
Xu Qingying quickly smiled and said, “Don’t mention it.”
Then Meng Chu began to eat heartily. Every dish was something she liked, and she even drank a bowl of soup.
After the meal, Meng Chu tried to wash the dishes but was sent back to rest by Xu Qingying.
Unable to resist, she waited in the living room.
When Xu Qingying finished cleaning, she asked, “Do you want some fruit?”
“I just ate. I really don’t have room for fruit,” Meng Chu rubbed her stomach.
“Okay, I’ll get some for you later.”
“Mom, come here,” Meng Chu called.
Xu Qingying came over and sat beside her on the sofa.
Seeing Meng Chu’s secretive expression, she asked, “What is it?”
“This is for you,” Meng Chu took out the box she had brought earlier.
Xu Qingying hesitated. “Isn’t this expensive?”
“He said it was specially blessed by a master to wish for your good health,” Meng Chu said, taking Xu Qingying’s hand gently.
Her mother’s hands were still very beautiful—slender and fair even after fifty years and years of household chores.
Meng Chu gently slid the bracelet onto her mother’s wrist. The smooth, translucent jade bracelet looked exquisite.
Xu Qingying sighed. “You really have a thoughtful boyfriend.”
After all, they had never even met, yet he had prepared such a gift.
Just as a warm feeling rose in Xu Qingying’s heart, she looked at Meng Chu and asked, “Did you tell him about your illness before?”
Meng Chu hesitated. “I think I did.”
Otherwise, Cheng Jinyu wouldn’t have prepared such a gift.
He had a master bless the bracelet—it wasn’t something he just put together yesterday.
It must have been prepared long ago and delivered now that Meng Chu was home.
Xu Qingying sighed. “How could you tell him? What if his family objects?”
“But your illness is cured,” Meng Chu said subconsciously.
Xu Qingying worried. “What if his family worries it might be hereditary? After all, it was cancer.”
Meng Chu thought for a moment and comforted, “It probably won’t. There’s no scientific proof that cancer is necessarily hereditary.”
Xu Qingying said, “Many families would object. You come from a single-parent family, and I had that kind of illness. Your boyfriend must have a good family background. People like that naturally want their children to have the best.”
Meng Chu knew Xu Qingying spoke with reason but smiled.
“Don’t worry. Although his family is well-off, he made it on his own. He’s not the kind of spoiled rich kid. He’s independent and capable of handling his own relationships,” Meng Chu said softly.
In truth, she didn’t know much about Cheng Jinyu’s family background.
Nor had Cheng Jinyu ever clearly spoken about it—only rumors circulated.
It was said he was the son of Cheng Ji’an from Hengzhuo Group, but this rumor was never confirmed.
Hengzhuo Group involved petroleum chemicals, new materials, and traditional manufacturing. Though it wasn’t as famous as some internet companies, it was a top-tier diversified private enterprise.
The rumors arose because the founder of Hengzhuo Group was surnamed Cheng.
Cheng Ji’an was the second-generation successor. Given his age, if he had a son, Cheng Jinyu should be around that age.
Yet neither Cheng Ji’an nor Cheng Jinyu ever publicly confirmed this.
When Meng Chu married Cheng Jinyu, she had briefly inquired about his background.
No matter how impulsive she was, she wouldn’t marry someone she knew nothing about.
In the end, she asked nothing.
Regardless of Cheng Jinyu’s background, it made no difference to Meng Chu.
At most, if he was from a good family, she need not fear his intentions.
Therefore, since Cheng Jinyu never mentioned his family, Meng Chu never pressed.
Besides, these were just rumors. Maybe Cheng Jinyu simply came from a moderately well-off family.
People often create grand backgrounds for those who exceed their expectations.
Take Rong Qi, the founder of Qi Yu Group, for example.
People said he had a remarkable background to achieve success so young, but he later explained he was supported by his grandparents’ street vending to get through university.
Cheng Jinyu’s family probably wasn’t that poor, considering he studied in the United States.
Maybe he had no relation to Cheng Ji’an at all, and the outside world simply misunderstood, insisting on assigning him a grand family background.
Hearing Meng Chu’s words, Xu Qingying reluctantly relaxed a little.
“That’s good. As long as he’s capable and can make his own decisions.”
“Don’t worry. He really is a great person,” Meng Chu assured.
Xu Qingying looked at her and suddenly smiled.
Meng Chu, unsure if she said something wrong, blinked wide-eyed.
After a moment, Xu Qingying slowly said, “It’s the first time I’ve seen you show that kind of expression when talking about a guy.”
Meng Chu subconsciously asked, “What kind of expression?”
“Every time you mention him, you just keep smiling,” Xu Qingying said.
Meng Chu was stunned.
Was she really like that? About Cheng Jinyu?
“I always hoped you’d find a boyfriend because I didn’t want your life to be all work—working overtime till eleven or twelve, coming home to an empty house. I didn’t want you to close yourself off without even trying a relationship.”
Actually, Xu Qingying wasn’t only worried about her own health and having no one to care for Meng Chu later.
She knew Meng Chu was independent and could take care of herself.
But her daughter—so beautiful and outstanding—should start a love story of her own.
Not give up just because of their family reasons without ever trying.
“I feel relieved now. You finally have someone you like.”
———
When Meng Chu returned to her room, she collapsed onto the bed.
Earlier in the living room, Xu Qingying’s casual words echoed in her heart.
She said she felt relieved that Meng Chu finally had someone she liked.
But her mother didn’t know that her relationship with Cheng Jinyu hadn’t started from liking him.
Yet Mom said it was the first time seeing her mention a boy with that kind of feeling.
Was she really so different with Cheng Jinyu?
Actually, Meng Chu wasn’t entirely oblivious; she could sense Cheng Jinyu treated her differently.
She could keep pretending that it was because they were married.
But what about herself?
She had said at the start that she wanted to marry someone she didn’t have to be responsible for—just to appease the parents.
But now that she had what she wanted, she felt as if she was gradually going off track.
That strange emotion was leading her somewhere entirely new.
Meng Chu didn’t know if she was ready.
Yet she didn’t seem as scared as she imagined—perhaps because the person beside her was Cheng Jinyu.
Meng Chu cleared her mind, trying not to think anymore.
She had come home to relax.
Instead, she spent time with her mother, even arranged to meet Song Yumian’s parents, and all the family went to a nearby ancient town to stroll and eat.
While eating, Meng Chu even thought she could bring Cheng Jinyu there next time.
That thought startled her.
She had come home for vacation to fully relax.
But her desire to return to Shanghai grew stronger.
Even though they shared messages daily, she wanted to see him.
That feeling was even stronger than the last time they parted at the airport.
At the airport, she attributed it to the sadness of parting.
Now, it had only been a few days, and she was in her hometown where she wanted to be.
Yet she was eager to get back to Shanghai.
So when Gu Ting called and asked when she would return, she asked without hesitation, “What’s up?”
“I wanted to take you to meet some investors. You know, we need to prepare for the next round of financing. Also, the project at Linjiang Group with Old Wang isn’t going smoothly,” Gu Ting said helplessly.
It had been over ten days since Meng Chu showed up at the company during the holiday.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.