"Enough," Cheng Ying said casually, "if there's no real loss, then just let the girl find a better match elsewhere. She’s clearly hunting for a wealthy husband, and she won't be able to utilize her talents here. Don't ruin her bright youth over a bit of money; we shouldn't obstruct someone’s destiny for such trivialities."

As Cheng Ying spoke, she was completely relaxed, though her eyes never left Chi Wu, gauging his reaction.

"I wouldn't know about that," Chi Wu replied, "but most matters here are settled. Adding one more or losing one really makes no difference. It’s unavoidable if the pond in the provincial capital is too small to keep a talented person."

Cheng Ying felt Chi Wu possessed the innate qualities of a shrewd businessman—look how nuanced his phrasing was.

It made what she had said at the cafe sound utterly arrogant and overbearing in comparison.

Gao Yue’s presence had absolutely no bearing on their shared life; Cheng Ying felt Gao Yue was less than a pebble dropped into their pool, causing no ripple whatsoever.

Their bond seemed genuinely unthreatened, as if it didn't require such melodramatic events for validation. What a solidly built foundation they shared.

They were like an old couple who had been together for twenty or thirty years; perhaps celebrating a silver anniversary now was a touch premature.

But Chi Wu was different; Gao Yue proved to be far more troublesome than anticipated. It was fine that she had mistaken the grandmother; the key was that she had a chance to correct the error. After all, would someone like Chi Wu really keep a grandmother who spent her days clutching chickens?

Comrade Gao Yue was a beauty, and her skill in gathering intelligence was truly superior.

When Yang Zhi saw the beautiful woman who had come to visit claim to be Chi Wu’s colleague, her expression soured dramatically.

Chi Yong watched his wife’s face intently from the side, mentally cursing Chi Wu a thousand times. What kind of trouble had that wayward boy stirred up now? Someone was showing up at their door, and he, the father, had to clean up the mess.

Did he not understand that his family situation wasn't like everyone else's? If he started generating scandalous gossip, even his father's wife could be swept away in the fallout. This careless child would definitely be having a serious discussion with him later about this.

Gao Yue considered her manners impeccable and her demeanor poised. As Chi Wu’s classmate and colleague, her first visit to the provincial capital to pay respects was hardly abrupt, was it? One couldn't simply call and not show up.

Her conversation was witty and humorous, and she easily bantered with Yang Zhi. It was just that Chi Wu’s mother seemed difficult to approach, her face unyielding the entire time.

However, she was Chi Wu’s mother; having that imposing air was expected. Gao Yue was quite understanding.

Chi Yong, standing nearby, was praying for this plague to depart quickly. Without showing any outward emotion, he noted that his wife hadn't worn such a severe expression in years.

"Miss Gao," Yang Zhi asked, "you and Chi Wu were classmates? Did you interact much at school?"

Gao Yue retained a hint of shyness. "Auntie, please just call me Gao Yue. I met Mr. Chi in school, but I work at the research institute. Back then, our company’s research project had just launched, and Mr. Chi and I frequently discussed the technical aspects together."

She was being quite reserved; could one even say she still possessed a sense of shame?

Yang Zhi reflected that although she was Chi Wu’s stepmother, she was also the biological mother of her own daughter. She felt she hadn’t failed as a stepmother over the years; Yingzi had what she needed, Xiao Ye had what she needed—Chi Wu had never been shortchanged. But her own daughter, she felt guilty about. If she didn't stand up for her own flesh and blood now, she wouldn't be a proper mother. "Miss Gao, you might not know, but my Wuzi is already married. The young couple didn't want a big celebration, so they didn't send out wedding invitations to you classmates and colleagues. Afterward, I will have them invite you over for a proper celebration. Please don't hold a grudge."

Gao Yue’s expression faltered. "Auntie, not at all..."

Yet, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to offer congratulations.

"Miss Gao," Yang Zhi continued smoothly, "in the past, when you were classmates and colleagues with Wuzi, and he wasn't married, it was perfectly normal for you all to get along well. From now on, Wuzi will be your legitimate superior, and he is a married man who must be responsible to his family. Further socializing with you all will only blur the lines and affect his authority at the company. Moreover, it’s not good for you either, as Wuzi is now wed. Young lady, I would be happy to see you at any company gatherings in the future, but perhaps there’s no need for these kinds of one-on-one visits. I don't hold much sway in Wuzi's company, and I can't offer any assistance."

With that, she picked up her tea cup, signaling the end of the visit—she had even adopted the old Mrs. Chi’s technique for seeing guests out.

Chi Yong realized for the first time that his wife possessed considerable skill; compared to their own daughter, she was no less capable. No wonder they were mother and daughter.

Gao Yue’s face flushed scarlet, and she stammered out her defense. "Auntie, no, that’s not what I meant! I just came to visit you two elders, to pay my respects. I seek nothing from the company; my work is excellent."

Yang Zhi’s face darkened. The last part of my statement was meant to save face for you; I didn't want to explicitly tell you to stop putting the moves on my son-in-law.

If you seek nothing from the company, you seek something from my son-in-law—which is even more infuriating.

She didn't even lift her eyes to look at Gao Yue. Even a glance hurt too much.

Gao Yue left feeling utterly dejected. Perhaps the girl had low emotional intelligence, or perhaps Wuzi’s charisma was just too overwhelming. Who knew why the girl was so fixated, clinging so stubbornly to this spot?

She looked the part, she had the education—why be so determined on this single path? It was easy to say that matters of the heart cause ruin.

Even I feel embarrassed by Gao Yue’s persistence; she’s even convincing herself for the sake of the company’s future. How utterly stuck she is! Good men are everywhere if one only opens their eyes; why let a crack under a door narrow their entire vision?

Chi Yong closed the door, and the first thing he said was not to defend his son, but to shield himself: "His business has nothing to do with me."

Yang Zhi had the habit of bottling up her anger. She simply refused to engage, never clearly articulating why she was upset. It was the type of anger designed to force self-reflection.

Chi Yong scratched his head. He immediately called Chi Wu over and proceeded to verbally dismantle him in front of Yang Zhi, cursing him so thoroughly that only the sole of a shoe was withheld.

Yang Zhi finally glanced at Chi Yong. Cursing was acceptable; physical punishment was not—that was her son-in-law. That single look conveyed everything.

Yang Zhi said, "Wuzi, Yingzi is pregnant. Mom didn't want to trouble you with this, but you have a family, a career, and a child now. We must be responsible for the child. You can't just invite any sort of person into our home, nor can you invite trouble from outside."

Chi Wu felt utterly wronged. He hadn't done anything, so why was he summoned only to be shouted at and berated? "Mom, I understand."

"Mom watched you grow up; Mom trusts you."

Downstairs, Chi Yong kicked Chi Wu. "This is all your fault! I told you to be good to Yingzi. If you provoke someone, you must take responsibility! Look at the kind of person who showed up at our door! Fortunately, it was here; at worst, your mother gets angry with me. If she had gone to your house, do you think Yingzi is someone who takes things lightly? Do you think the Old Madam is easy to deal with? She could sort you out even when she's confused."

Chi Wu scoffed inwardly. My wife is far more perceptive than your wife; she never gets angry over things that don't yield any real result.

Nevertheless, he kept his head down and accepted the lecture; he was causing trouble for others, after all.

If one had to assess Gao Yue, her devotion was genuine; she had even treated Old Mrs. Cheng with such reverence. Having realized she had mistaken the true matriarch, she certainly wouldn't let the real one slip away.

As an elderly, cultured woman, Old Mrs. Chi was quite welcoming to the intellectual young lady. They could converse well; although their fields of knowledge differed, they could find a balance at a certain intellectual altitude. If her grandson had met someone like this girl before he married, how wonderful that would have been.

The Old Madam sighed inwardly: they had met too late. In the end, she said nothing to the shy Miss Gao, nor did she invite her to return.

She then turned around and called Chi Wu for a stern lecture. Old Mr. Chi overheard his wife say one sentence to their grandson over the phone: "If you hadn't been married, I would support whatever antics you pulled. But now that you are wed, you must live your life properly. Some things can be regretted, but others cannot, like marriage. Don't think Yingzi and the others are so broad-minded that you can misbehave outside. Most importantly, Yingzi is carrying a child of the Chi family right now!"

She had hit the nail right on the head with her priority.

Chi Wu felt unjustly besieged. Why was he always so troublesome? He hadn't done a thing, yet he received this treatment. He just hoped this Gao Yue wouldn't become a persistent source of romantic trouble. The next time he saw her, he would steer clear; the scope of the potential disaster was too wide.

Old Mr. Chi looked at his wife with newfound respect. "Your stance is exceptionally firm."

Old Mrs. Chi was resigned. "I am doing this for the sake of the family. Perhaps Yingzi is already carrying my great-grandchild. Do you think I could bear to let this family be broken up by someone who is only slightly... better? Later, you must have a serious talk with Wuzi. What kind of situation is this? If it gets out, we will be the ones in the wrong."

Old Mr. Chi gave his wife a thumbs-up. "My dear, excellent insight."

"I’m sacrificing my grandson for the sake of my great-grandchild," the Old Madam sighed.

Old Mr. Chi had no room for flattery now; the Cheng family already felt slighted by Chi Wu.

Finally, Old Mr. Chi offered a candid assessment: "Whether we gain or lose, it’s all within the family."

As Chi Wu lay down next to his wife, he felt a profound sense of grievance. "You know how wrongly I’ve been treated."

Cheng Ying thought that Gao Yue was truly persistent, resilient, and indomitable. This girl would surely achieve something great in the future. "It’s fine. I trust you, don't I?"

"What kind of character do you think I have? They judge me too harshly."

Cheng Ying gave him a sidelong glance. "If you say they don't know your character, I’ll believe you. But if you claim your character is lofty? I truly wouldn't dare say that aloud. You’ve never been a man of high moral character."

"How can you say that about me?"

"Sleep now. You're exhausting me over one woman."

She was genuinely unconcerned, which Chi Wu found unsettling. "Why aren't you angry at all? Shouldn't you be jealous? Is your affection for me not deep enough?"

"Relax. If someone genuinely comes to steal you away, I certainly won't let go. But since I know they can't succeed, you are firmly lodged in my heart."

Chi Wu looked at Cheng Ying, who had already fallen asleep after speaking, and felt that her words were merely a perfunctory reassurance.

After Chi Wu’s research lab decided to relocate, he spent over a month in a flurry of activity. As for Miss Gao Yue, Cheng Ying never asked about her again. It was presumed that unless Chi Wu specifically dismissed her, she wouldn't return to work—after all, three successive blows were quite substantial.