manynovel Chapter 1782 They are all good kids
Chapter 1782 They are all good kids
She looked to be in her early twenties, wearing a well-tailored long black dress with a high-quality long white wool trench coat over it.
She was not wearing any conspicuous jewelry.
On her slender left wrist, she wore a minimalist rose gold antique watch.
The design is classic and understated, yet it subtly exudes an extraordinary depth.
She possesses a beauty that carries an air of scholarly refinement and a touch of aloofness.
Her eyebrows and eyes were like a painting, her nose was straight and delicate, and her lips were a natural light cherry color.
Her long, jet-black hair cascaded smoothly over her shoulders, the ends of which had a slight curve.
What is most striking about her are her eyes, which are beautifully shaped and have light-colored pupils, like amber soaked in a clear spring.
At this moment, with barely concealed curiosity and curiosity, she quietly looked down at Jiang Cheng.
Seeing Jiang Cheng looking at her, she was not afraid at all, and met his gaze openly.
After averting her gaze first, she took a light step forward.
With an elegant yet humble demeanor, she bowed slightly, her voice clear and melodious, carrying just the right amount of respect: "Hello, Grandpa. I am Lin Jianwei."
She didn't elaborate on her identity, but her surname spoke volumes.
She is Lin Hong's granddaughter.
Lin Hong added at the opportune moment, his tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible reserve and display: "Jianwei just returned from Cambridge not long ago. She's studying Classical Literature and Comparative Politics. This girl is quiet by nature; she just likes to read books and listen to music. I often say that she doesn't seem like a child of our Lin family; she's more like a female scholar from the old days."
Grandpa glanced at the two of them and gave a very superficial compliment: "Both are good children."
After speaking, the boy turned to Jiang Cheng, a perfectly timed smile on his face, tinged with a hint of curiosity from their first meeting, and extended his hand.
"This must be Brother Jiang Cheng, right? It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm Lin Chen."
The moment Jiang Cheng's name was clearly pronounced, the great-grandfather's expression finally changed.
His brows furrowed instantly, his gaze shooting towards Lin Hong like lightning, before abruptly turning to Qiu Wu standing beside him.
The questioning and chill in his eyes were almost tangible.
Qiu Wu's embarrassment instantly turned into astonishment and panic.
He suddenly widened his eyes and instinctively shook his head vigorously.
His lips moved silently, desperately trying to show that he was not the one who had leaked the information, and a fine layer of cold sweat even seeped from his forehead.
Seeing this, he maintained his deep calm on his face, but his aura seemed even more somber.
Jiang Cheng's existence, especially his name, was intentionally obscured and protected by his family in the past, and was never officially announced to the public.
Since the beginning, Jiang Cheng has been using his Mind Perception skill to monitor the inner thoughts of the people present.
Naturally, he also sensed the unusual relationship between his grandfather and Lin Hong.
Jiang Cheng was also inwardly alarmed, but he didn't show it on his face.
He reached out and shook hands with Lin Chen. His hand felt dry and strong, yet also carried a hint of coolness that didn't match his smile.
"Nice to meet you." Jiang Cheng said calmly, as if it were perfectly normal for the other party to know his name.
Lin Hong took in everyone's subtle reactions, and his smile widened.
He said to his great-grandfather, "Brother Jiang, you see, we are getting old, but it is really gratifying to see these younger generations grow up. Lin Chen, Jiang Cheng... Hey, it's quite a coincidence, your names do sound a bit similar."
He seemed to suddenly remember something, patted his forehead, and addressed Jiang Cheng with a gentle, elder-like tone:
"Oh, by the way, nephew Jiang Cheng, there's something interesting about this. My son's name is 'Chenhan,' the 'Chen' in 'Chenhan,' which means imperial palace. It sounds grand, but it also carries a heavy burden. I actually prefer the 'Cheng' that your grandfather gave you. It means 'to keep one's word,' 'to be true to one's word,' and 'to be down-to-earth,' which means to be able to bear all things. It's a good name with profound meaning!"
These words, seemingly praising Jiang Cheng's name, are actually a veiled attack!
On the one hand, he pointed out that the character "宸" in Lin Chen's name represents supreme status and ambition, subtly overshadowing everything else.
On the other hand, he "preferred" the character "诚" in Jiang Cheng's name, interpreting it as "needing to be down-to-earth".
It's as if they're drawing a line, implying that the Jiang family should be content with the status quo.
However, upon hearing this, Jiang Cheng merely raised his eyes slightly, his face showing no unease, but rather a faint, almost composed smile.
Ignoring his grandfather's slightly somber expression, Jiang Cheng met Lin Hong's sharp gaze and spoke calmly and clearly:
"Grandpa Lin, you flatter me. Names are bestowed by elders, each carrying their hopes and aspirations. The character 'Chen' is lofty and inspiring; the character 'Cheng' is simple and valuable in its practice. My grandfather often taught me that 'Cheng' means not only keeping promises to people, but also seeking truth in all matters and being loyal to the country. Only with a clear mind can one see the path ahead and not fear the long journey. As for how far one can go..."
Jiang Cheng paused, his gaze seemingly unintentionally sweeping over Lin Jianwei, who stood silently to the side, exuding an extraordinary aura.
His gaze returned to Lin Chen's face, his tone still calm, yet exuding an indescribable sense of composure and strength.
"What we're really looking at isn't whether the starting point is in a palace or in the fields, but whether every step we take is on a path that belongs to us and that we can be proud of. What do you say, Brother Lin Chen?"
Upon hearing this, the great-grandfather's usually expressionless face revealed a clear smile of approval and satisfaction for the first time.
He picked up where Jiang Cheng left off, his voice steady and full of strength:
“Well said. ‘A clear mind fears no distance.’ Names and starting points are external things. If the character ‘宸’ loses its foundation, it’s just a castle in the air; if the character ‘诚’ is forged into a backbone, it’s a smooth road to heaven. How far one can go depends on this.”
After he finished speaking, he paused, then pointed to his heart again, "It's here too."
His gaze then swept over Lin Chen as if it were a tangible object, finally landing on Jiang Cheng, filled with undisguised admiration.
The moment the grandfather and grandson uttered these words, the difference in their abilities became immediately apparent!
This elevates Lin Hong's subtly insightful critique to the level of his character and conduct.
He deftly defused the pressure from the other party's name and turned the tables, emphasizing that temperament and vision are fundamental.
Lin Chen's gaze sharpened slightly, and for a moment he didn't know how to respond.
Lin Jianwei, who had been seemingly detached and quietly observing, suddenly stirred in her clear, amber eyes.
The curiosity and inquiry that had been directed at Jiang Cheng suddenly rippled outwards, like a still lake tossed with a pebble.
"A clear mind fears no long journey"... "On a path where one has a clear conscience"...
These words, spoken calmly by Jiang Cheng, carried an inexplicable weight without any fervor.
Interesting, this man is no ordinary person!
Lin Jianwei lowered his eyes, concealing the sharp interest that flashed across his gaze.
This was quite different from the image she had envisioned—a person who might be suddenly found by her family, perhaps with some restraint or ambition.
His rebuttal wasn't sharp, but it was subtle and pointed, even implicitly drawing his brother Lin Chen into the discussion and forcing him to take a stand.
This composure and ability to instantly elevate the topic are far more than just "intelligence."
Seeing that Lin Chen couldn't respond, Lin Hong's eyes flickered slightly, but his smile remained unchanged.
He laughed and said, "Brother, you're absolutely right! The children have a long way to go, let's wait and see."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Lin Hong took his leave with Lin Chen and Lin Jianwei.
As the girl turned around, she glanced at Jiang Cheng again. The look of inquiry in her amber eyes had not faded, and there seemed to be a hint of complex and unfathomable meaning in them.
In the instant they turned around, Lin Chen and Jiang Cheng's eyes met for a fleeting moment.
The smile vanished from Lin Chen's eyes, replaced by a cold, sharp gaze, as if scrutinizing prey...
A hint of fighting spirit was being subtly stirred.