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墨書 Inktalez
Zhou Xuanyu's gaze was unclear, and Junxi's sensitive nerves were pricked once again.
"What do you mean, Zhou Xuanyu?"
"It means nothing." He turned his face away and stood up. "I said I wouldn't care about him, and I absolutely won't."
Zhou Xuanyu felt as if something was gnawing at his heart, leaving him restless. He had thought that seeing Junxi would calm him down, but instead, her presence only made him more uncomfortable.
He lifted his foot to leave.
"If you don't care about him, he might end up in jail!" Junxi stepped in front of Zhou Xuanyu, arms outstretched to block his path. She continued, "Zhou Ziyan hasn't graduated yet; this will affect his ability to receive his diploma."
The lights in the room seemed unbearably bright, casting a halo around his figure that made her eyes sting.
But the more agitated she became, the more indifferent Zhou Xuanyu appeared.
"Move aside," he said, his voice so cold it felt like it could freeze the air.
"I'll move aside, but you have to answer me first. You can't really bear to ignore him, can you?" Junxi softened her tone and grasped Zhou Xuanyu's arm.
However, Zhou Xuanyu's attitude did not soften with her change in approach. He shook off her hand and bypassed her, pulling open the door to leave.
"Zhou Xuanyu!" Junxi called out.
But Zhou Xuanyu did not stop; he didn't even glance back.
This was the first time they had parted on such bitter terms, and Junxi felt a sense of panic. She rushed to the window and leaned over the sill to look down.
Zhou Xuanyu stepped out of the hallway, his strides quick and his back resolute. The way he opened the car door was somewhat rough.
Once inside, he wasted no time starting the engine. The Cayenne roared to life like a wounded beast, speeding away.
Junxi leaned against the windowsill for a moment, the suppressed discomfort finally bursting forth. With a sharp clap, she closed the window, raised her hand to wipe her eyes, and tears began to fall.
...
As Zhou Xuanyu exited the alley, his phone rang.
The screen displayed a call from the Zhou Family Old Residence. He dismissed it without answering. A while later, his phone rang again; this time it was his brother Zhou Xuan Yong's private number.
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Xuanyu drove for a short distance before answering.
"Brother, you don't need to say anything. This time he's gone too far; I won't deal with him."
Before Zhou Xuan Yong could respond, Zhou Xuanyu made his stance clear.
"Xuan Yu..."
Zhou Xuanyu didn't listen to any further words from Zhou Xuan Yong and hung up. When the phone rang again, he didn't even glance at it.
Listening to the busy tone in the receiver, Zhou Xuan Yong handed the phone to the woman beside him.
"What did he say?" Galen asked eagerly as she set the phone aside.
Zhou Xuan Yong shook his head.
"Xuan Yu is acting strangely."
"What's strange?"
"He never acts like this, hanging up the phone before I even finish speaking. No, that's not right; I hadn't even started talking." Zhou Xuan Yong furrowed his brow.
"He has every right to be angry," Galen gently pressed Zhou Xuan Yong's shoulder, signaling him to relax.
"Has there been any conflict between Zhou Ziyan and Xuan Yu lately?" Zhou Xuan Yong asked.
Zhou Xuanyu had always doted on Zhou Ziyan, to a degree that rivaled that of his own father. But this time, his resolute demeanor raised suspicions.
"Conflict? Aside from the incident of hitting someone, I really haven't seen any issues between the uncle and nephew," Galen paused, as if recalling something. "But..."
"But what?" Zhou Xuan Yong asked warily.
But it seemed they had both fallen in love with the same woman.
Zhou Xuanyu hadn’t slept all night. He finished a bottle of red wine at home, hoping the alcohol would help him sleep soundly, but by the early hours of the morning, he still couldn’t find rest.
So he got up and went to the study. He intended to handle some emails but found it impossible to calm his mind.
On his desk was a photo of him and Zhou Ziyan.
The timestamp on the photo was five years ago, taken in the United States. In the picture, he had his arm around Zhou Ziyan's shoulders, both of them smiling brightly.
At that time, Zhou Ziyan had just turned eighteen. The first impressive thing he did after reaching adulthood was bravely fighting off a thug on the street.
Zhou Xuanyu remembered that when the media reported on it, they mentioned that the thug had been wielding a knife and had already injured a middle-aged man before Zhou Ziyan intervened. There were many people on the street at that moment, yet no one dared to confront the criminal.
Zhou Ziyan had just finished his workout at the stadium and was heading home when he witnessed the scene unfold. Without even blinking, he jumped off his bike and engaged in a fierce struggle with the assailant. Although it was the bystanders who ultimately subdued the criminal, everyone interviewed later remarked that it was Zhou Ziyan's bravery and righteousness that inspired them.
Taking Zhou Ziyan to America to watch a game was Zhou Xuanyu's reward for his integrity and courage.
Integrity and courage...
Yes, Zhou Ziyan had always been that kind of person at heart. How could he ever resort to violence without reason?
Zhou Xuanyu, despite knowing Zhou Ziyan well, still held onto this trust.
The harsh words he had spoken were merely out of spite towards Junxi. But now, having said those words, he realized they were like water spilled; in matters of emotion, he too was just a naive fool.
...
Zhou Xuanyu claimed he wouldn’t concern himself with Zhou Ziyan, yet rationality ultimately triumphed over childishness. The next morning, he went to the hotel to request the surveillance footage.
When Galen knocked on the door, Zhou Xuanyu was already seated in the office, having watched the surveillance video five times over.
There were no individual cameras installed in the hotel’s private room; only the hallway had surveillance. Therefore, what transpired between Zhou Ziyan and others inside should have been invisible.
However, at that moment, Jia Man and an Italian guest had exited without closing the door tightly. The surveillance camera captured a glimpse of the scene through the slightly ajar door.
The footage was neither large nor clear, but it vaguely showed Zhou Ziyan quietly eating with his head down. Suddenly, after something was said by the guest across from him, he burst into laughter. Then, that guest, who spoke a little Chinese, turned to engage Zhou Ziyan in conversation, though the content remained unclear.
From the surveillance video, it was evident that as soon as the guest finished speaking, Zhou Ziyan sprang up without giving him a moment to react and swiftly knocked him to the ground before delivering a flurry of punches...
Due to the distance, Zhou Xuanyu could only roughly discern what happened but could not gauge any emotions from their expressions.
If the other party truly intends to accuse Zhou Ziyan of intentional injury, this visual evidence will be one of the crucial pieces of proof. Zhou Xuanyu, fearing complications, directly purchased the original surveillance footage as soon as he obtained it.
He has already settled matters with the hotel; if the staff are summoned, they will only provide testimony favorable to Zhou Ziyan. However, the main concern is how to get Zhou Ziyan to contradict his previous statements…
“Mr. Zhou,” Galen called out.
Zhou Xuanyu snapped back to attention.
“Speak.”
“The client has confirmed they will sue Zhou Ziyan, and this deal has already been taken by another company.”
Zhou Xuanyu nodded; this outcome was within his expectations. The Hengfu Group not only ended up with nothing but also suffered a double loss.
Now the media has begun reporting extensively, claiming that Zhou Xuan Yong handed the Hengfu Group over to his younger brother because his son was incompetent. Although these remarks were not directed at him, Zhou Xuanyu found them even more uncomfortable than if they had been aimed at him.
“Mr. Zhou,” Galen called again.
“Go ahead.” Zhou Xuanyu’s chair spun slightly as he replied, “Manager Gao, I know you have something to say.”
“Yes, I do.” Galen paused, as if weighing her words. “Mr. Zhou, since we have lost this client and the possibility of doing business, there’s nothing left to hold back. I know you care about Zhou Ziyan more than anyone else. Right now, nothing is more important than getting Zhou Ziyan out of the police station…”
“Who said I was worried about him?”
“Just by the fact that you’ve been watching this surveillance footage so intently, I can tell you’re definitely thinking of ways regarding Zhou Ziyan.”
Galen's voice grew quieter as she realized that while she spoke, Zhou Xuanyu hadn’t even glanced her way. His gaze remained fixed outside the glass window, as if searching for someone.
“Mr. Zhou…”
“Where is Wen Junxi?” Zhou Xuanyu suddenly asked out of the blue.
Galen turned to look, and indeed, Junxi's spot was empty.
He was looking for her.
“Junxi took the day off to go to the police station.”
Junxi had arrived at the police station early in the morning, though she had always been afraid of entering this place.
The officer on duty was a female police officer. When Junxi mentioned she was there to see Zhou Ziyan, the sweet-looking officer glanced at the visitation log and said, “Zhou Ziyan still refuses to see anyone today.”
Junxi, being sensitive, immediately asked, “Officer, does that mean someone has already come to see him today?”
The female officer nodded but did not reveal who had visited in the morning.
Junxi felt disheartened. She had hoped that after a calm night, Zhou Ziyan would have mellowed a bit. But who knew he hadn’t changed at all; in fact, he seemed more stubborn than ever. Did he really plan to stay locked up for two or three years?
That place was no good. It was a place that would only make people wither away. She didn’t want to watch someone she cared about be wrongfully imprisoned there.
“Officer, could you do me a favor?” Junxi leaned closer to the female officer's desk and asked quietly.
The officer nodded. “As long as it’s not something outrageous, it’s our duty to assist you.”
“It’s not anything outrageous. Just go in and tell Zhou Ziyan that someone came to see him but got hit by a tricycle outside. He insisted on seeing you before going to the hospital. He will definitely ask who you are; just say you’re Wen Junxi.”
“Lie?” The officer seemed reluctant.
Junxi quickly made a pleading gesture, saying, "Officer, that guy is actually innocent. He admits that he had his reasons for hitting someone. We can't let a good person go to jail, can we? Please help me out."
The female officer considered it for a moment. In fact, she had noticed during the interrogation yesterday that although Zhou Ziyan was a wealthy young master, he lacked the arrogant traits typically associated with his status. Instead, it was the customer who had been beaten who was using his foreign identity to exert pressure and threats within the station, which was quite distasteful.
"Alright, but I can't guarantee he will see you," she finally said.
"Thank you." Junxi quickly expressed her gratitude and confidently added, "He will see me."
Sure enough, not long after the female officer went in, Zhou Ziyan agreed to meet Junxi.
In a small room adjacent to the interrogation chamber, Junxi saw Zhou Ziyan. It had only been one night since they last met, but he seemed to have lost weight.
She figured that while he verbally admitted his guilt, he must be worried about going to prison deep down.
"You got hit by a tricycle?" Upon seeing her, Zhou Ziyan looked her up and down from across the table. "Where did it hit you? How come your arms and legs are fine?"
Junxi scoffed, "If I hadn't said that, would you even want to see me?"
Zhou Ziyan took a seat opposite her but refused to meet her gaze.
"What could be so important that you'd curse yourself just to see me?" he asked coolly.
"So you really believe it?" she replied.
"Of course I believe it; you're that stupid," Zhou Ziyan said without a second thought.
Junxi had indeed been hit by a tricycle. Back in her sophomore year of college, she had been rushing down the street for a part-time job, completely oblivious to her surroundings until a reckless tricycle collided with her.
The injury wasn't serious; he had just twisted his ankle, making it difficult to walk.
To ensure she didn't lose her part-time job and the opportunity to earn money, Zhou Ziyan rode his bike every day to take her to work and picked her up after her shift, rain or shine.
"Am I stupid? You're the one who's stupid! So, how did you sleep last night? Did you realize that sleeping inside is better than outside, so you didn't want to come out?" Junxi launched into a tirade.
Zhou Ziyan remained silent, refusing to respond.
Junxi tapped on the table. "Why is it so hard for you to tell me why you hit someone?"
"I'm not saying anything," he stubbornly replied.
"If you won't tell me, I'll go to the hospital and ask that poor guy myself," Junxi said, pretending to stand up.
"Don't move." Zhou Ziyan finally lost his composure. He shot a glare at Junxi. "You can't go find him."
"Why not?" Junxi asked, suspicious. She felt that Zhou Ziyan's hostility towards that customer was somehow related to her. "Did you get into a fight because of me?"
"No," Zhou Ziyan denied flatly.
"Really?"
"Of course not. What could I possibly do for you? You don't look that great, and your figure isn't anything special..."
"Shut up." Junxi interrupted him loudly. "You can say what you want, but can you refrain from personal attacks?"
Zhou Ziyan smirked. "This is just a little teasing; I have plenty more to say."
"How would you know what my figure is like?"
"Let's just see, shall we?"
"......"
Wait, what was she here for?
Junxi emerged from the police station feeling drained. Not only did she fail to extract any information from Zhou Ziyan, but she also endured a barrage of insults from him.
That guy just wouldn't let up.
Although Zhou Ziyan continued their usual bickering, Junxi could clearly sense that he was hiding something from her.
Seeing that she couldn't get anything out of Zhou Ziyan, she decided to turn her attention to the Foreigner, who was still lying in the hospital pretending to be injured.
Junxi took a bus straight to the hospital after leaving the police station. Upon entering, she ran into Jason. It turned out that Zhou Xuanyu had arranged for Jason to treat the Foreigner.
Zhou Xuanyu truly was thorough; with Jason overseeing things, there was no way that guest could pull any tricks while in the hospital.
"Junxi, what brings you here?" Jason approached her, his white coat billowing in the breeze.
"You must have heard about Zhou Ziyan's situation. I'm here to check on the guest who got beaten up," Junxi stated directly.
Jason nodded and then asked, "Does Ken know you're here?"
Junxi scoffed, "What does it have to do with him?"
Jason chuckled, "Sounds like there's been some arguing."
Junxi waved her hand. "Let's not talk about our matters for now. Can you take me to meet that guest?"
"Sure, since you're here, why would I stop you from seeing him?" Jason lifted his chin. "Follow me."
The guest's hospital room was on a high floor. From Jason's words, it was clear that Zhou Xuanyu had arranged this to prevent any reporters from showing up, placing the guest upstairs.
"Ken is the most meticulous person I've ever met, so anything he handles is bound to be done well," Jason praised Zhou Xuanyu all the way, which made Junxi a bit suspicious about whether Jason had feelings for him.
"Jason, you and Zhou Xuanyu aren't..." she hesitated, a mischievous smile dancing in her eyes.
Jason paused for a moment before realizing what Junxi meant. He burst into laughter and teased, "You should know better than I do whether Ken is straight or not."
What kind of talk was that?
Junxi's face immediately flushed red. She had intended to joke with Jason but ended up being caught off guard by his response, feeling quite embarrassed.
They laughed and joked their way to the patient's room. On the day of the incident, Junxi hadn't really taken a good look at him due to the rush. Now that she saw him clearly, she noticed several bruises on his face. Although they were shocking to see, they were merely superficial injuries. The most serious issue was his broken ribs, which would take longer to heal and could potentially lead to a drawn-out recovery process.
If things dragged on without resolution, Zhou Ziyan would be the one to suffer the most. Last night had already been torturous enough; if he were sentenced, Zhou Ziyan's life would not only face hardships but also bear an indelible stain.
Junxi thought to herself that she absolutely could not let this situation develop in such a terrifying direction.
"Hello, sir!" Junxi greeted as she entered the room.
The atmosphere in the hospital room felt somewhat cold.
Jason intended to follow her inside, but Junxi stopped him at the door. She needed an environment that was completely quiet and free of any defenses from the other party so she could have a proper "talk" with him.
The Foreign Guest lifted his gaze to look at her, initially surprised, and then sat up in bed, his posture awkward due to the pain.
"I do not accept any reconciliation," he said quickly in English.
"I'm not here to discuss reconciliation," Junxi replied with a smile as she walked to the bedside and placed the fruit basket she had bought downstairs on the nightstand. "I just came to see how you're recovering."
The Foreign Guest shot her a sidelong glance, his expression still skeptical.
Junxi set down her bag and took a seat in the chair opposite him.
"Sir, you look terrible. I never expected the heir of Zhou Group to be such a rude and uncivilized brute," Junxi remarked.
The Foreign Guest blinked. "Aren't you in cahoots with that Zhou Ziyan?"
"Of course not. While I am part of Zhou Group, I'm just a small employee oppressed by capitalism."
"That's refreshing," the guest laughed openly, revealing the bruises and scars on his face in a rather grim manner.
"It's true. You have no idea how difficult it is for an intern at Zhou Group."
"Oh?" The Foreign Guest suddenly reached out, firmly covering Junxi's hand with his own. "Then tell me, just how hard is it?"
Junxi froze for a moment, immediately feeling a wave of nausea rising from deep within her.
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