Chapter 33 (1/2): I’ll Wait for You to Come Home
The quiet hallway lights had long since been extinguished.
From somewhere upstairs came the excited shouts of children, faint sounds of cooking, and birds chirping outside the window.
Occasionally, the distant honking of a car horn mixed in.
These ordinarily mundane sounds now seemed to ebb and flow, near and far.
Meng Chu’s cheek was gently lifted as she looked straight at the person before her.
In the dim light, she could barely make out Cheng Jinyu’s silhouette, but his deep black eyes shone brightly in the darkness.
“I…”
Meng Chu squeezed out a word between her lips.
She hadn’t yet decided what to say, but felt she ought to say something.
At that moment, the previously extinguished light suddenly flickered back on, bathing them both in bright illumination.
It was this light that seemed to instantly dispel the doubts and hesitation clouding Meng Chu’s mind.
Cheng Jinyu’s words echoed again in her heart—
—Simply holding on to something more important than profit.
Yes, clearly she had been firm in her choice, but this world was not a utopia.
She hadn’t truly abandoned everything. When her decision began to impact the entire company, deep down she couldn’t help but quietly doubt whether her choice was right or wrong.
She needed someone unwaveringly by her side.
To tell her that everything she had done was right.
Thankfully.
There really was such a person.
The heaviness in Meng Chu’s heart seemed swept away in an instant.
She looked at Cheng Jinyu and smiled, “Cheng Jinyu, even though you said that, I’m afraid you’re going to tease me again.”
“But I still want to thank you.”
Thank you for firmly telling me that everything I’ve done is right.
Seeing her smile, Cheng Jinyu knew her mood had truly improved.
He slowly withdrew his hand from her cheek.
But as he pulled away, his right hand gently rose to rub the top of her head.
“Good to know,” he said with a tone of feigned indifference.
Meng Chu chuckled softly, “I’ll try to hold back on thanking you from now on.”
Cheng Jinyu smiled and casually replied, “Just holding back on that?”
“What else should I be holding back on? Other desires towards you?”
Without thinking, Meng Chu’s mouth spoke before her mind, asking the question too quickly.
As soon as she finished, she suddenly realized what she’d just said.
But Cheng Jinyu’s face had already taken on that teasing, half-smile expression. Yet, with a touch of pride and subtlety, he said, “Desires to hold back? That, I really don’t know about.”
Meng Chu took a deep breath; her previously gloomy mood was now completely swept away.
“I…”
She wanted to speak again.
But Cheng Jinyu leisurely said, “If you really can’t hold back, it’s actually fine.”
“Huh?”
Cheng Jinyu: “Because I don’t have any way to deal with it.”
Meng Chu suddenly felt as if she had a pot slammed over her head just by standing there.
As if in the next second, she truly wouldn’t be able to resist and would throw herself at him.
And he has no way to deal with that?
Meng Chu reminded him, “I think it’s you who needs to hold back a bit.”
Cheng Jinyu raised an eyebrow, “Me? What’s wrong?”
This time, Meng Chu fell silent.
Cheng Jinyu stared at her but didn’t rush her.
Until Meng Chu softly said, “You’re too good to me.”
No matter how slow she was, she couldn’t deny how much Cheng Jinyu cared for her.
“Oh,” Cheng Jinyu nodded, then leisurely added, “What can I do?”
Hmm?
What can he do?
Meng Chu’s eyes flickered with confusion, as if she didn’t fully grasp his meaning.
But then Cheng Jinyu unhurriedly finished, “That’s one thing you truly can’t hold back on.”
As he said this, his head tilted slightly downward, eyes locked onto her. The laughter in his dark pupils seemed to shimmer like light caught in water, flickering and shining with a subtle seduction.
In that instant, something inside Meng Chu seemed ignited; her thoughts exploded and scattered without a trace.
How could he not be able to hold back?
It was this very thought that echoed at her heart.
It made the air around them suddenly feel thick… and sweet.
–
Meng Chu snapped back to reality, realizing they’d been standing at the doorway talking for quite a while.
“You should come in first,” she noticed she was blocking the entrance and hurriedly stepped aside.
Cheng Jinyu glanced at her, “Have you eaten dinner yet?”
Meng Chu evaded, “There’s still time.”
“Is there still time, or do you not plan on eating at all?” Cheng Jinyu seemed to see through her.
Meng Chu pursed her lips.
Cheng Jinyu said, “Alright, I’m hungry. Let’s eat together.”
“Sure, I’ll cook,” Meng Chu said.
“Wonton,” Cheng Jinyu added.
Meng Chu immediately smiled brightly, “See? I told you, that little wonton recipe is my mother’s secret recipe. You’ll definitely think it’s delicious. Just as expected.”
“Mm, unforgettable,” he replied.
Meng Chu gestured to the sofa, “You sit first, I’ll go make dinner.”
“I’ll keep you company,” Cheng Jinyu said, already following her footsteps into the kitchen.
“Who needs company while cooking?”
Though she said it, Cheng Jinyu leaned casually against the doorframe, watching her bustle about inside. Even without saying anything, a peaceful feeling settled quietly in his heart.
Seeing he insisted on standing there, Meng Chu didn’t protest.
Making little wontons was especially simple; Meng Chu had made them many times before and would never mess it up.
In less than twenty minutes, two bowls of little wontons were ready.
Cheng Jinyu carried the bowls to the dining table, and the two sat facing each other.
After a day of emotional ups and downs, Meng Chu was truly hungry now.
When her mood was low earlier, she hadn’t felt hungry at all.
She quietly lowered her head to eat. Just as she looked up, she saw Cheng Jinyu putting down his phone.
But the screen was still lit.
She glanced at the display—it seemed to be a flight booking.
“Where were you originally planning to fly today?” Meng Chu hesitated but couldn’t help asking.
“Chengdu,” Cheng Jinyu replied.
Suddenly, Meng Chu recalled the broadcast announcement she’d heard when they spoke on the phone earlier—calling passengers flying to Chengdu to board.
So when he comforted her, telling her he still had plenty of time, it had all been a lie.
He was about to board immediately.
Realizing this, Meng Chu’s heart began to flutter uneasily again.
Her spoon stirred the soup in her bowl absentmindedly, losing all appetite.
Cheng Jinyu seemed to notice and quietly asked, “Why aren’t you eating?”
“Oh, just taking a break,” Meng Chu offered.
Cheng Jinyu hummed and resumed eating, finishing quite a bit.
“Are you going to the airport later?” Meng Chu asked.
Cheng Jinyu nodded, but quickly added, “It’s easy to change tickets now.”
His words were meant to comfort her, telling her not to feel guilty.
Meng Chu naturally caught on, but as a busy person herself, she knew that interrupting his schedule was troublesome.
Yet he never showed any annoyance.
He had gone out of his way to come back for her.
Originally, Meng Chu only found it unreal that he appeared at her doorstep.
Now, all that unreality transformed into a strange emotion winding around her chest.
Those emotions resonated, finally crystallizing into one thought.
He truly feels different toward me.
Meng Chu quietly asked, “When did you change it to?”
“Eleven tonight. So nothing is delayed,” Cheng Jinyu said calmly, as if to show it really wasn’t a big deal.
“I’ll take you to the airport.”
Meng Chu suddenly looked at him, her tone firm.
But Cheng Jinyu chuckled lightly at her words, “Am I a kid?”
Meng Chu: “…”
“Thanks for the offer, but you’ve had a long day. Rest well at home,” Cheng Jinyu refused again.
Meng Chu said, “I’ll go with you.”
Though brief, her words were resolute.
Seeing this, Cheng Jinyu was silent for a moment, then softly said, “Okay.”
Meng Chu seemed to regain her appetite and quickly finished the wontons in her bowl.
They still had plenty of time before heading to the airport.
“I’ll wash the bowls first. Wait for me,” she said.
While washing, she heard Cheng Jinyu on the phone outside, though his voice was faint and drowned out by the sound of running water.
She didn’t pay much attention and quickly finished washing the two bowls.
Then she stepped outside, preparing to change her shoes.
Cheng Jinyu said, “Wait a moment. I’ll ask Liu to come pick us up.”
Meng Chu suddenly realized whom he had called just now.
“That way, after dropping me off at the airport, you can take his car back home,” Cheng Jinyu said calmly.
Meng Chu understood why he had agreed so quickly earlier.
He planned to have Liu pick them up and then let her ride back with Liu.
That way, the round trip wouldn’t be too exhausting for her.
After all, the business vehicle was very comfortable.
He really thought of everything.
Meng Chu nodded, “Okay, we’ll wait a bit.”
Thankfully, Liu was quick; the call came within twenty minutes.
He had arrived downstairs.
Meng Chu went to the door and changed into her going-out shoes.
The two took the elevator down.
“Director Cheng, Mrs. Cheng,” the business vehicle’s door opened automatically, and a cheerful voice greeted them.