Chapter 402: Seizing Power Must Not Neglect the People's Hearts

Ke Zhongyu receives a call from his mother.

"The Gu family asked where you are; I told them you two have already returned to A City, don't bring up any detours."

"Ask A Lai to go back?"

"Probably, hasn't the Song family's elder and matriarch arrived? They want Jiang Lai to go back to see them." Ms. Nian looked puzzled, "Weren't you planning to go back last night? Why the sudden change."

Ke Zhongyu looks toward the bathroom; Jiang Lai is seriously brushing her teeth and washing her face in front of the mirror, having dawdled until midnight last night and overslept again today.

"Gu Jin is still in B City; her daughter Youyou really likes A Lai, got in touch with A Lai, and A Lai also likes Youyou; they arranged to have lunch today at noon."

Ms. Nian has a deep impression of Gu Jin, after all she is one of the few daughters in the Gu family; she lost her mother young, walked daily hugging the wall, once accidentally bumped into her and Song Shiwei, wanted to kneel immediately to apologize, but Song Shiwei was the one who first steadied Gu Jin and said it wasn't Gu Jin's fault.

However, that was a long time ago.

Even Ms. Nian's early memories are hazy; seeing the current Song Shiwei, she can't imagine the Song Shiwei of back then.

Time not only ages people, it also changes hearts.

After regaining her composure, Ms. Nian retorted to her son, "Aren't you the one who dislikes Jiang Lai getting close to the Gu family?"

Ke Zhongyu: "One cannot seize a throne without winning the people's hearts."

Ms. Nian was stunned for a moment, then laughed, "Does Jiang Lai know about your twists and turns?"

"She doesn't need to know," Ke Zhongyu said, glancing again; Jiang Lai had finished brushing and was washing her face, "Besides, Gu Jin's husband works at the Petition Office."

Ms. Nian recalled, "You're still thinking about the matter of Ji Lao being reported."

Ke Zhongyu: "I've examined every vested beneficiary of that case; now I only need an IP address, and I can follow the trail."

"What do you mean by 'follow the trail'?" Jiang Lai, after washing her face, came over, didn't see his headphones, asked that, and when Ke Zhongyu turned his head she realized he was on a call, and she immediately fell silent.

Ke Zhongyu explained to Jiang Lai who was on the phone: "Ms. Nian, shall I greet you?"

Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu's relationship has developed to this point; everyone in the Ke family knows and is involved, and although they haven't formally met each other's parents, they've each met the other's family more than once, so Jiang Lai has gotten used to it and nodded.

Ke Zhongyu took off his headphones, grabbed the phone from the table, and turned on speaker.

Ms. Nian's voice came through first.

"Good morning, Jiang Lai."

"Aunt, good morning," Jiang Lai called obediently, leaning her upper body toward Ke Zhongyu's phone.

Ke Zhongyu deliberately teased her, moving the phone closer to himself, and Jiang Lai leaned that way too.

Jiang Lai realized she was already being held in Ke Zhongyu's arms with one hand, and he said to his mother, "A Lai and I will return to A City this afternoon; the school's schedule has already been sent over."

Ms. Nian exclaimed with delight, "Going to start a job? Which day exactly? When is the first class?"

Ke Zhongyu looked at Jiang Lai in his arms.

Jiang Lai leaned toward the phone and said, "The first class is scheduled for the day after tomorrow, from 8 to 10 a. m."

Ms. Nian said with a smile, "You go back this afternoon; we'll return tomorrow as well."

The call ended.

Ke Zhongyu lowered his head and kissed Jiang Lai's lips, "We have to set off."

Jiang Lai nodded, and as Ke Zhongyu released her, she rose onto her tiptoes and kissed his lips as well, then, composed, walked away, reaching the doorway and looking back at the man in meditation, "Not leaving?"

Ke Zhongyu chuckled lightly, lifted his foot and followed.

…

Gu Jin and her daughter Youyou arrived at the restaurant early; she reminded her daughter, "Youyou, although Aunt Jiang doesn't dislike you, you still can't, like yesterday, take out your phone and message Aunt Jiang yourself."

Youyou tilted her head, "Aunt Jiang already gave me her phone."

Gu Jin pinched her daughter's nose, "Isn't it because your car is already running, and you still have to run back to ask someone for their phone."

Youyou swung her legs, "Hehe, I like Aunt Jiang, Aunt Jiang doesn't dislike Mom or Youyou."

Gu Jin laughed, "Your Aunt Jiang only hates people who bully her."

Youyou's eyes lit up, "Me too! I'm just like Aunt Jiang!"

The next second she saw Aunt Jiang and Aunt Jiang's boyfriend entering, instantly jumped off the bench, ran over, and clutched Aunt Jiang's leg, "Aunt Jiang, Aunt Jiang, you're here!"

Jiang Lai, accustomed to such enthusiastic children, naturally patted her head, "Why so early?"

"Not early, not early; I woke up at seven, Aunt Jiang, hurry up." Youyou tugged Jiang Lai's hand toward the restaurant.

Gu Jin gave an apologetic smile, "Sorry, Youyou was too rowdy."

Youyou, arms on hips, complained, "Mom! Dad said I'm very cute."

Gu Jin invited Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu to sit, and only then sat herself, explaining, "Youyou's father is quite busy, so he couldn't come this time; I hope you don't mind."

"I don't mind." Jiang Lai said, looking earnestly at Gu Jin, recalling on the way here Ke Zhongyu had told her that Gu Jin's husband is forty‑seven this year, sixteen years older than Gu Jin, and is on his second marriage; she couldn't help but ask a question she herself hadn't anticipated, "Is he good to you?"

In an instant, Gu Jin's tears fell.

She tried hard to lift her head, her face still plastered with a smile, but she couldn't control it.

Gu Jin said, "I'm sorry."

Jiang Lai shook her head, "There's nothing to apologize for." It is the Gu family that has wronged Gu Jin.

Since the Gu family likes to discuss politics, both ancient peace marriage and modern marriage alliances are clearly political activities, yet they don't take them seriously.

"Mom, don't cry, don't cry," Youyou climbed onto her mother's lap, raising a hand to wipe her mother's tears.

Gu Jin cradled her daughter on her lap, smiled and said, "Youyou's father is quite good to me; he and his ex‑wife separated peacefully and have no children. I married him less than two years before Youyou was born; Youyou's father especially dotes on her. He originally didn't want Youyou to come along, but Youyou insisted on accompanying me."

Jiang Lai, hearing this, felt a pang in her heart.

The two continued chatting naturally; the conversation wasn't lengthy, yet it never stalled, making them look like old acquaintances.

Ke Zhongyu's eyes flicked between them; as he drank water, the corner of his mouth twitched upward. He suddenly realized that Jiang Lai might not need his excessive scheming—her innate temperament here always draws some pure people, and those pure people would gladly stay by her side, perhaps even help her accomplish great things.

Jiang Lai mentioned her afternoon flight back to A City; Youyou said she and Mom also need to go to A City to find Dad, and Gu Jin said Youyou's father is on a business trip there.

Another pair of flights, the same aircraft—what a coincidence.

The four of them returned to A City together.

After the plane landed, Youyou's father came to pick up Gu Jin and her companions. Upon seeing Jiang Lai and Ke Zhongyu, he immediately stepped forward and shook hands, exchanged brief greetings, then went to hug his wife, and also lifted his daughter onto his arm. Youyou wrapped her arms around her father's neck and planted a loud kiss.

"Dr. Jiang, thank you for taking care of my wife and daughter at the Gu residence."

Jiang Lai looked at the sincere middle-aged man before her, who had no airs, and half-believed what Gu Jin had said. She replied, "Of course; by relation, Gu Jin is my cousin, and Youyou is my niece."

This is the only member of the Gu family that Jiang Lai privately acknowledges.

Gu Jin froze for a moment, and once again her eyes reddened.

When they parted, Gu Jin and Youyou bade farewell to Jiang Lai, while Youyou's father said to Ke Zhongyu, "Chief Ke, until we meet again."

Ke Zhongyu didn't beat around the bush; he wanted to exchange contact information with Youyou's father.

Youyou's father froze for a moment, then immediately smiled. Being able to meet in person the Chief of the Ke Group was naturally welcome, and he also understood that Chief Ke's initiative had its purpose—likely concerning Jiang Lai—and without further thought he readily agreed.