Chapter 294: I'm Just One Chance Away

Ke Zhongyu asked, "Why not let her go to G Province?"

Ms. Nian: "Did you forget Gu Yinxue has a bad heart? Gu Sen and the others forbid her from going to the plateau, fearing altitude sickness would make her feel unwell."

Ke Zhongyu recalled seeing Gu Yinxue at the welfare institute last time; she was normal, no altitude sickness, but whether it had occurred before was unknown. Since Dean Tang was coming, he could ask.

Even a big man who trains year-round feels a bit uncomfortable there; Gu Yinxue, a heart patient, being like a normal person, doesn't seem plausible.

At that moment.

Gu Sen, staying at the hotel, also received news that the dean of the welfare institute where Jiang Lai is will come to A City; the information on Dean Tang had been handed to him.

Gu Hui had just finished mentioning Dean Tang's news when Gu Sen's phone rang; it was Song Shiwei calling.

"Old Gu, still not coming back?"

Gu Sen's gaze returned from the documents, and he said softly, "In a couple of days, there are still some matters."

"The son's matter?" Song Shiwei's tone seemed off, "I heard a bit. You say stop the card and just stop it? Stopping the card is one thing, but you also cut off his network resources—how can the son establish himself in the law firm?"

Gu Sen knew his wife would reproach him, but calmly said, "There's loss and gain; if he doesn't want to obey his parents and wants to act on his own ideas, he must accept the consequences of that choice."

Song Shiwei sighed, "That may be so, but it doesn't have to go this far; a little lesson would suffice. If he wants to date a woman named Lin, that's fine—it's not marriage. As for marriage, I have my own choice."

Gu Sen said nothing further.

After many years of marriage, Song Shiwei knew her husband's decision wouldn't change easily, so she said nothing else and brought up another matter.

"Since you're not in a hurry to return, wait for Ke Yue and Nian Zhaoning to go back; you all gather and then return. The daughter is also there, remember to bring her."

Ms. Nian, full name Nian Zhaoning, whose name means "loyal heart bright as the sun and moon" and "mountains and rivers at peace."

Ke Yue's yue is a ceremonial weapon of military authority.

Gu Sen, hearing his wife's emphasis, understood her meaning and said, "Ke Zhongyu already has someone he likes; he's already taken her to meet Ke Yue and Ms. Nian, and Ms. Nian likes her very much."

Song Shiwei: "I know, she's a self‑reliant, strong child, but she comes from a humble background and is divorced; marrying into a wealthy family isn't much benefit for her. Moreover, the Ke family isn't just a wealthy family, and the Nian family also has this place; marrying up for her would be like swallowing a needle."

Gu Sen frowned, "Shiwei, Ke Yue and Ms. Nian's situation is different, Jiang…"

"Gu Sen, that's enough." Song Shiwei on the phone sounded slightly angry, "Yin Xue is our daughter; not only have we lost her before, she always got into trouble as a child, and she has a heart condition. As parents we must consider our own child more. That child named Jiang Lai has others looking out for her."

The call ended.

Gu Sen frowned; a message from his wife popped up on his phone, urging him to think more about Yin Xue and find a way to match the two children together.

Gu Hui said beside him, "Sister‑in‑law also loves her daughter dearly."

Gu Sen looked out the window, "I know, but Ms. Nian is right; matters of fate are heaven‑ordained. I'm worried your sister‑in‑law will use the Nian family to pressure Ms. Nian, arranging a marriage between Ke Zhongyu and Yin Xue, which would be too unfair to Jiang Lai."

Gu Hui remained silent, because the issue not only involves the children's marriage but also the Gu family's official career path.

For now, this problem has no solution.

Gu Sen's eyes shifted, and he asked Gu Hui, "What percentage do you think the chance is that Ke Zhongyu, this child, won't submit?"

Gu Hui: "At least eighty percent."

Gu Sen nodded, "Then that's good."

Gu Hui: "Are we going to the airport this afternoon?"

Gu Sen: "If we go, they'll think we're heading back to B City. Let's wait a bit; we can probe Dean Tang's recent itinerary, keep an eye on Chongying as well, and meet at an appropriate time."

Gu Hui nodded, after a moment asked, "Really don't want me to go to G Province personally? Maybe we'll get the answer we want."

Gu Sen lowered his gaze, "Let's discuss later; I have my considerations."

…

Afternoon.

Airport.

Dean Tang, with Ping'an, got off the plane. The first person they saw was Ke Zhongyu, dressed in a well‑tailored suit, with a driver standing beside him holding a Lego model gift.

The driver handed the gift to Ping'an, "Dean Tang, Ping'an, welcome to A City."

Ping'an didn't take it immediately, but looked at Dean Tang. Dean Tang patted his head, indicating he could accept it, but should say thank you.

Ping'an simply blurted out "Thank you," and Ke Zhongyu was a bit surprised.

Dean Tang explained, "We also have to thank Director Ke for hiring the psychologist for our welfare institute."

Ke Zhongyu: "Progress is good."

Nearby, Ping'an took the gift, his timid gaze scanning around; he was looking for Jiang Lai.

Ke Zhongyu: "A Lai will be here soon."

He guessed Jiang Lai was stuck in traffic and would arrive a bit later.

But he was different; after finishing his matters in the morning, he came early, fearing that if he went to Number Ten Courtyard on Yanping Road to pick up Jiang Lai, she would just say no.

He already kissed, already expressed his liking; if he doesn't move forward now, what progress will he and Jiang Lai have? Probably only a "regression."

Dean Tang heard Ke Zhongyu call Jiang Lai by her nickname; her eyes flashed, the phone in her hand began to vibrate, and she looked at it—it was Jiang Lai.

"Dean Mom, traffic is pretty bad today; don't come out yet, wait inside and it'll be a bit warmer for me."

Dean Tang glanced at Ke Zhongyu and said, "Director Ke has received us."

Jiang Lai, sitting in the car, was slightly stunned; her lowered eyes trembled as she said, "I'll give him a call."

The next second, Jiang Lai's call rang on Ke Zhongyu's phone.

Ke Zhongyu's lips curled slightly, he turned and answered calmly, shouting, "A Lai."

Through the phone, Jiang Lai felt her ear get a little burned; she moved the phone a bit farther and said, "Ke Zhongyu, please take Dean Mom and Ping'an to the car first, thank you."

Jiang Lai thanked him.

Ke Zhongyu's mouth corner drooped slightly.

"No trouble, see you later."

Jiang Lai pursed her lips and softly uttered a single word: "Mm."

The taxi drop‑off point was on the ground; Ke Zhongyu and his group drove themselves over, parking in the lot. Jiang Lai got out, took the escalator down, about to ask Ke Zhongyu where he parked the car, when halfway up the escalator she looked up and saw Ke Zhongyu standing beside it, one hand in his pocket, quietly watching her.

The escalator gradually carried Jiang Lai to the front of Ke Zhongyu.

The two people's gazes gradually met.

Jiang Lai stepped off the escalator, Ke Zhongyu voluntarily gave way to the side, and the two stood side by side again, walking toward the underground parking lot.

Jiang Lai asked proactively, "You, how long has it been?"

Ke Zhongyu: "Not long."

Jiang Lai: "What does 'not long' mean?"

Ke Zhongyu stopped walking and said, "Not long means, as long as I am willing, an hour, a month, even a year—all are not long."

"A Lai, I don't lack time; I only lack a chance."

A chance that you give me.

The man's deep gaze fixed on Jiang Lai's slightly flustered eyes.