Chapter 5 | It Wasn't a Chance After All

The wind on the playground suddenly turned chilly.

Only one last sentence remained on the other end of the phone—

“Ask him why he suddenly changed careers back then.”

Then he hung up.

Beep—

Shen Zhiyi held the phone, her fingertips slightly cold.

Lu Chenzhou looked at her, his gaze slowly shifting from gentle to calm.

“Who was it?”

“The number from yesterday.” She answered truthfully.

He didn’t press further.

He simply nodded.

“What did he say?”

She looked at him.

“He said there was a reason why Chenzhou Capital suddenly changed its business model back then.”

The air was silent for a moment.

The sun had already set, leaving only a final touch of orange-red in the sky.

He was silent for a few seconds.

Then he spoke slowly.

“He’s right.”

Her heart sank slightly.

“What do you mean?”

Lu Chenzhou turned around, looking towards the distant playground.

His tone was lower than usual.

“Sinking Boat Capital didn’t start out in real estate.”

“It was technology investment.”

“Then it suddenly withdrew entirely and shifted to urban development.”

She nodded.

She had read this in the documents.

“Why?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

The evening breeze swept across the stands.

The laughter of students in the distance gradually faded.

“Because of you.”

When those two words fell, she almost thought she had misheard.

“What?”

He turned to look at her.

His gaze was serious, almost cruel.

“The year I went abroad, I originally planned to study finance.”

“Then I heard you applied for architecture.”

“That’s why I changed my direction.”

She froze.

“But that’s just a university major.”

“Right.”

“Then why did you even change your company’s direction—”

He interrupted her.

“Because I wanted to give you a way out.”

The air fell silent instantly.

Her heart felt like it had been struck a heavy blow.

"A way out?"

"During those years abroad, all the projects you took on were commercial projects."

"I know you didn't like them."

"I know you wanted to create public spaces."

"I also know that those kinds of projects are hard to realize without capital support."

He spoke calmly, step by step.

But every word was heavy.

"So I started planning."

"Acquiring land, building a team, developing the city."

"I thought that one day, if you were willing to come back,"

"I could give you a project that was entirely yours."

Her breathing quickened.

"So this collaboration wasn't a coincidence?"

"No."

"I heard about your return from the design association."

"This land was secured two years ago."

"I've been waiting for you."

The wind suddenly stopped.

The world seemed to consist only of the two of them.

"Lu Chenzhou..."

Her voice trembled.

"What right do you have to decide for me?"

He didn't back down.

“I didn’t decide for you.”

“I was just preparing.”

“The choice has always been yours.”

Her eyes began to well up.

Ten years.

He didn’t bother her.

He didn’t cross the line.

He simply paved a path silently.

“That phone call, was it from your rival?”

She asked.

“Sort of.”

“They always thought my transformation was too radical.”

“They thought I was betting too much on an ‘uncertain person.’”

Her heart tightened.

“How much?”

He looked at her.

A second of silence.

“Almost everything.”

The air suddenly became heavy.

“Lu Chenzhou, are you crazy?”

“Maybe.”

He chuckled softly.

“But I gambled right.”

She suddenly felt a surge of anger.

“What if I hadn’t come back?”

“Then I’d turn this land into a charity project.”

“In your name.”

Her breath caught in her throat.

“You—”

“Shen Zhiyi.”

He interrupted her.

His tone was more serious than ever before.

“I didn’t ask for your response.”

“I didn’t ask you to take responsibility.”

“I just wanted to tell you—”

“You’ve never been just a passing impulse.”

“You’re my ten-year plan.”

Those words fell.

She couldn’t speak anymore.

So.

It wasn’t a chance encounter.

It wasn’t fate.

It was someone who spent ten years turning their feelings into reality.

She suddenly took a step closer.

“Why are you only saying this now?”

“Because I was afraid you’d feel burdened.”

“And now?”

“Now I don’t want any more secrets.”

The evening breeze blew gently.

She looked up at him.

“Lu Chenzhou.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s hard for me to feel at ease with this.”

“Then don’t feel at ease.”

He said softly.

“Sharing this burden with me.”

Her heart pounded.

“Sharing what?”

“The future.”

The air froze.

At this moment.

She finally understood.

He wasn't pursuing her.

He was inviting her into his world.

Not ambiguity.

It was standing shoulder to shoulder.

She remained silent for a long time.

Then she spoke softly.

“What if one day I can't do what you want?”

He answered without hesitation.

“Then I'll change direction.”

“Lu Chenzhou—”

“I said it.”

He looked at her.

“I'm not standing still waiting.”

“I'm walking towards you.”

Her tears finally fell.

Not sadness.

It was the shock of being taken seriously.

She suddenly reached out and hugged him.

Not restraint.

Not a test.

It was a real embrace.

He paused for a moment.

Then he hugged her tightly. “Shen Zhiyi.”

“Mm.”

“This time, we won’t miss each other again.”

She nodded gently.

“Okay.”

The sun completely set.

Night slowly enveloped the playground.

The lights in the distance came on.

Just like that night ten years ago.

But this time.

They didn’t miss each other.