Chapter 18

"You and BJOP?" Chen Lingyun was genuinely angered into laughter this time. "You even know about BJOP? If you can really get in, I'll be burning incense in thanks!"

"Mom!" Seeing the tension between mother and son growing sharper, Cheng Shao quickly cut Chen Lingyun off again. "Isn't it a good thing that Cheng Yu has ambitions? You should encourage him."

"Shut up!" Chen Lingyun shot Cheng Shao a glare. "Don't think I'm only talking about your brother. You have plenty of problems too. I know you like playing games and want to apply for computer science, but don't even dream of it. I won't agree. Your college application must be for business. You'll study management, minor in jewelry design, and take over for your father and me in the future."

As she said this, Chen Lingyun could not help glaring at Cheng Yu again. "Don't be like certain people, daydreaming all day long. Your grandparents spoiled you rotten."

Cheng Yu felt they simply could not see eye to eye, so he could not be bothered to respond to Chen Lingyun.

Seeing Cheng Yu's expression, Chen Lingyun's temples began throbbing again. The old saying was right—giving birth to Cheng Yu had been like giving birth to a debt collector.

"I'm practically being driven insane by you." Chen Lingyun covered her forehead, feeling as though even her brain hurt.

Cheng Yu looked at Chen Lingyun expressionlessly. He thought Chen Lingyun was the insane one to begin with, and he did not want to take the blame for it.

Chen Lingyun knew what the little bastard was thinking the moment she saw his eyes. Her fury surged straight to her head, but Cheng Shao quickly stopped her.

"Mom, it's getting late. You should go back and rest too." Cheng Shao pushed Chen Lingyun toward the door while signaling Cheng Yu with his eyes.

Cheng Yu lounged lazily against the headboard, completely ignoring Cheng Shao. Only after Cheng Shao closed the door behind him did he listlessly take a shower and go to sleep. At five the next morning, he woke up on schedule and coaxed the auntie into making chicken soup, nourishing porridge, and the refreshing side dishes his grandparents loved. He packed them into thermoses and carried them to the hospital.

By the time Cheng Yu arrived at the hospital, Chen Simiao had just woken up as well. He was lying in bed talking with Lin Sufen, complaining that the doctor would not let him move around, which meant he could not even do his morning exercises.

Through the glass in the door, Cheng Yu saw his grandfather looking so full of vigor that he could not help curling his lips into a smile. He pushed the door open and walked in. "Grandpa, Grandma, I brought you breakfast."

Cheng Yu set the two thermoses on the table, poured out a bowl of chicken soup and a bowl of porridge, and handed them to his grandfather and grandmother respectively.

Chen Simiao accepted the chicken soup with a smile. "Where are your mother and brother?"

"They're probably not awake yet." Cheng Yu sat at the bedside, took Chen Simiao's wrist, and felt his pulse for a while. "What did the doctor say?"

"It's nothing serious. He just told your grandfather to rest and recuperate properly." As Lin Sufen drank her porridge, she asked, "You didn't quarrel after going home last night, did you?"

"Not really." Cheng Yu shook his head.

Cheng Kaiyun, who was lying on the sofa with his suit jacket draped over him, was awakened by the quiet conversation in the ward and the rich, savory scent of chicken soup and seafood. He sat up groggily. "What smells so good?"

"Seafood porridge and chicken soup. But none of it is for you," Cheng Yu said honestly. He had asked the auntie to make four side dishes. The thermoses were only so big, and after packing a bowl of porridge and a bowl of chicken soup according to his grandparents' appetites, he had used the remaining space for the side dishes.

"This kid..." Cheng Kaiyun shook his head helplessly. Still, he was used to this treatment. He got up on his own. "Dad, Mom, I'll head back first. I'll shower and change clothes, then go to work."

"Go on." Lin Sufen nodded. "There's no need to rush off to work. You stayed up all night, so get some proper rest too."

Cheng Kaiyun nodded. Before leaving, he glanced at Cheng Yu again. "Those materials you have on Feng Guangxu..."

"Hm?" Cheng Yu looked up.

Cheng Kaiyun shook his head. "Forget it."

Cheng Kaiyun draped his suit over his arm. Before leaving, he still reminded Cheng Yu, "Stop overthinking things all the time. Put more of your mind into studying."

Cheng Yu rolled his eyes. After Cheng Kaiyun left, Chen Simiao asked as well, "How exactly did you get those materials? Are they all real?"

"Of course they're real," Cheng Yu said. "Would I lie about something like this?"

"Of course Grandpa believes you. Your parents may not necessarily disbelieve you either. They're just worried that you're young and might be used by someone." Seeing Cheng Yu dismissively curl his lip, Chen Simiao shook his head with an amused smile. "All right. Let's not talk about your parents. Grandpa is just curious—what are you planning to do now?"

"I want to start a business," Cheng Yu said.

Chen Simiao: "?"

For a moment, Chen Simiao could not keep up with his grandson's train of thought. He and Lin Sufen looked at each other.

Chapter 18

Cheng Yu did not really want to go into the unpleasant conversation he had had with Chen Lingyun the night before. He simply said, "I think I'm old enough to find something serious to do."

Cheng Yu's tone was far too mature and composed. His earnest manner left the elderly couple speechless with laughter. Chen Simiao asked, "Then what do you want to do?"

"I want to create my own jewelry brand. Within ten years, its market value will exceed C&C Jewelry's by ten times."

Once again, Chen Simiao was charmed by his grandson's overly serious expression and could not help laughing. "That's quite an ambition. Do you have any concrete plan?"

Building a brand from scratch required more than a designer's professional skill; it placed even greater importance on the designer's reputation and connections. Cheng Yu had great confidence in his own abilities, but in this dream, he was not yet the group president from ten years later who had single-handedly propelled C&C Jewelry into an international top luxury brand. He had no fame, no awards, no achievements, and not even a BJOP diploma anymore. If he wanted to break away from C&C Jewelry's influence, where should he begin to make more consumers recognize the new brand's reputation and standing in the shortest possible time? It truly was a question that required careful thought.

"I need to think it over carefully," Cheng Yu said seriously.