The following day at noon.

Chen Cheng was sitting on the sofa, reviewing the financial audit progress report for Company Name, when the doorbell rang.

Chen Cheng frowned, put down his tablet, and walked toward the entryway.

He glanced at the security monitor and was momentarily stunned.

Standing at the door, to his surprise, was Gu Jia.

Scum Cheng's lips curled up slightly as he reached out to open the door.

He hadn't even cast the bait yet, and the fish had already taken the hook on its own.

Gu Jia was holding a cake, her face full of smiles. "Hello, I'm a resident of 1201 downstairs. My surname is Gu, and I just moved in."

"I happened to make a cake today, so I thought I'd bring some for you to try."

Chen Cheng smiled brightly. "My surname is Chen."

"You're too kind. Please, come in."

As he spoke, Chen Cheng stepped aside to let Gu Jia in.

Gu Jia paused for a moment before quickly regaining her composure. She kicked off her shoes, picked a pair of slippers from under the shoe-changing bench by the door, and put them on.

Watching her nimble movements, Chen Cheng smiled. "Miss Gu, you really don't need to change your shoes."

Gu Jia wore a smile. "It's still necessary; there's always some dust in the stairwell."

After saying this, she followed Chen Cheng into the house.

Walking into the living room, Chen Cheng pointed to the coffee table. "Just put it on the coffee table."

He went into the kitchen. "Would you like something to drink, Miss Gu?"

Gu Jia turned her head. "No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Chen."

Chen Cheng ignored her, took a bottle of Evian from the fridge, and found two dessert plates and sets of cutlery in the cabinet.

Watching Chen Cheng's back, Gu Jia frowned, feeling like she had seen this face somewhere before.

For a moment, she couldn't recall where, so she let out a breath and temporarily pushed the thought aside.

She turned to look at the interior decor.

The style was quite similar to her own home, both leaning toward modern light luxury.

However, the ornaments, armchairs, decorative items, and the abstract expressionist and futurist paintings in the room were all very tasteful.

It was clear that the homeowner was a very fashionable and avant-garde person.

Chen Cheng walked back to the sofa and smiled. "Sit down, please don't be a stranger."

He placed the mineral water on the coffee table in front of Gu Jia. "Is cold water okay?"

Gu Jia smiled apologetically. "That's fine, Mr. Chen."

Chen Cheng smiled faintly, glanced at the cake, and continued the conversation. "Did you make this cake yourself?"

Gu Jia took the cake knife from Chen Cheng's hand and nodded with a smile. "Yes, Mr. Chen."

"It's low-fat and low-sugar. You can give it a try."

Chen Cheng maintained a smile. "I haven't had cake in a long time."

Gu Jia cut a slice and handed it to Chen Cheng. "Please, try it."

Chen Cheng took the cake. "Thank you."

As he spoke, he met Gu Jia's gaze. "Since we're neighbors, there's no need for all the formal 'you's."

"My name is Chen Cheng; just call me by my name."

"Chen Cheng..." Gu Jia repeated the name softly.

A flash of realization crossed Gu Jia's mind, and her eyes suddenly lit up.

She stared wide-eyed at Chen Cheng, who was eating the cake, and tentatively asked, "Are you the Chen Cheng from Zhencheng Capital?"

Chen Cheng's lips curled into a faint smile. "You know me?"

Gu Jia's smile became even brighter. "It really is you."

Chen Cheng frowned slightly. This woman was indeed impressive.

She was sharp and observant.

Chen Cheng had been here for less than twenty-four hours, and she had already shown up with a cake.

In all likelihood, she had been keeping an eye on the activity upstairs.

And once she heard his name, she immediately identified who Chen Cheng was.

Logically speaking, someone at her level shouldn't be able to encounter Chen Cheng.

Yet she had still managed to notice him.

While being a full-time housewife, she never gave up her dedication to business and her desire to control the company.

It only goes to show that this woman has a burning ambition inside.

"I was fortunate enough to read a report about you last year."

Gu Jia was still using the formal "you," and Chen Cheng didn't correct her.

It may be called respect, but in this situation, it was simply the flattery of a subordinate toward a superior.

This kind of flattery wouldn't last long.

Once she felt—yes, felt—that she had gotten close to this superior, she would unconsciously change how she addressed him.

Chen Cheng chuckled. "It seems I'm somewhat of a celebrity."

Gu Jia smiled. "I think that's the case in the business world."

Chen Cheng changed the subject. "What about you? What do you do?"

"I'm a full-time housewife, usually at home taking care of my child."

Chen Cheng feigned surprise. "I wouldn't have guessed. Miss Gu is so young and beautiful, I didn't realize you were already a mother."

Gu Jia felt a bit embarrassed. "You're too kind. I'm almost thirty. I'm not young anymore."

Chen Cheng chuckled. "Thirty is just a number. Isn't it the prime of your life?"

Gu Jia nodded in agreement. "You're right."

"Thirty is indeed an age for striving."

After saying this, she took the opportunity to bring up her own business. "Before I had my child, I was also incredibly busy, working alongside my husband to start our business."

"After having the child, I couldn't push myself that hard anymore. Between two people, one has to dedicate more energy to taking care of the family."

Chen Cheng nodded and complimented her. "That's very impressive. Giving things up is not an easy thing to do."

Gu Jia beamed, thinking Chen Cheng was genuinely complimenting her.

Her face flushed slightly. "You're too kind."

As she spoke, Gu Jia glanced at the laptop and tablet on the coffee table. "Mr. Chen, am I interrupting your work?"

Chen Cheng waved his hand with a smile. "Not at all. It's a good time for a break."

He raised an eyebrow and continued, "What does your husband do?"

"Oh," Gu Jia smiled. "My husband is a fireworks designer, and he currently runs a fireworks design company."

"Fireworks design, that's very romantic."

"Does Mr. Chen like fireworks too?"

Chen Cheng shook his head. "Fireworks are beautiful, but they are fleeting. Personally, I don't care for things that only shine for a moment."

"In terms of art, I prefer things like paintings and sculptures that can endure for a long time."

As he spoke, he smiled and pointed to the cake on the coffee table. "Why don't you have some of the cake you made?"

"You brought such a big one, I can't finish it all by myself."

Gu Jia was a bit surprised. "You live alone?"

Chen Cheng nodded faintly. "For now, yes. In the future... who knows."

"..."

The two ate and chatted for almost an hour before Gu Jia said her goodbyes and left 1301.

Gu Jia changed back into her shoes, holding her breath, and walked downstairs with light steps.

Once she walked back into her own home, she finally dared to clench her fists and squeal with excitement, "Yes!"

"Yes!"

She caught her breath, suppressing her restless emotions.

Her eyes rolled, and as she walked toward the living room, she took out her phone and called Zhong Xiaoqin.

Gu Jia sat back on the sofa, picked up her tablet, and typed Chen Cheng's name into a search engine.

Just then, Zhong Xiaoqin's call went through.

"Gu Gu, what's up?"

Gu Jia immediately said with excitement, "Xiao Qin, do you know what?"

"The Mr. Chen who lives upstairs, the one you know, is actually a top-tier tycoon."

"And he's even wealthier than Mrs. Wang on the top floor."