Chapter 62: Reckless Driving Brings Tears to Loved Ones

"Alright, alright, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have ignored you and sent you to Mr. Zhou’s house. Do you want to lie down a bit longer, or take a shower and get dressed? We can’t delay any more. It’ll be dark soon."

It was indeed getting late. Zhou Jiayan glanced at the sky outside the window, tossed aside her blanket, and headed to the bathroom for a shower.

That day.

Yawning, Zhou Jiayan was delivered to the old mansion by Du Bin. Watching her own car being driven away by him, she was furious.

Jiang Zao, who came to greet her at the door, looked confused. "What happened? Why are you so upset?"

Zhou Jiayan stomped her foot. "He took my car!"

Jiang Zao scratched her head. "He’ll bring it back tomorrow. Don’t be angry."

"It’s not that! Ugh, forget it, he just doesn’t want me to go out. Come on, let’s go inside, it’s cold out here."

The air in Jingzhou was unusually dry this year.

Apart from a single snowfall at the start, there had been no precipitation since. It felt as if even the heavens were scheming, ready to unleash a storm at any moment.

Zhou Jiayan stood at the window, gazing at the lights in the courtyard, reluctant to hang up her overseas call. After a long pause, she finally set down her phone with reluctance and turned toward Jiang Zao and Shen Xiaonan, who were sitting together eating fruit.

Zhou Huai happened to come down from the study. Seeing Jiang Zao enjoying her fruit, he wanted to share a segment of orange. As he brought it to his mouth, the chairman of the mighty group had a moment of doubt about his own perception.

This should be an orange.

How could this possibly be an orange?

...

Shen Mushi had disappeared for several days, finally reappearing at the Villa on Pavilion Hill, holding a few documents in his hand.

"Chuan, everything you wanted is arranged. But are you really sure about this? If you go through with it... a lot of people will get hurt."

Zhou Lichuan was lost in thought, staring at Zhou Jiayan’s social media post on his phone.

She had poked fun at Jiang Zao for drawing childish pictures with her breath and fingers on the glass, accompanied by several live photos. Shen Xiaonan was smiling in the background, watching the two young girls play.

"Chuan?"

"Hmm?" Zhou Lichuan was pulled back to reality by Shen Mushi. "Oh, it’s nothing, I don’t even remember now. It doesn’t matter."

Shen Mushi straightened up, somewhat displeased. "Brother, think it over. Jiang Zao... she doesn’t deserve this outcome."

---

Zhou Lichuan looked up, staring at him for a while with a blank face before asking, "Why do you care so much about her?"

Shen Mushi met Zhou Lichuan’s gaze without a trace of fear. "Because I have more conscience than you. I thought with Jiang Zao around, you’d become more human. Turns out it was just an illusion—you’re as heartless as ever."

Zhou Lichuan turned off his phone and casually flipped through the books on the table. "Aside from being pretty, she’s nothing special. If you like her, you can try your luck."

Shen Mushi was instantly provoked, hurling his documents at Zhou Lichuan. "Zhou Lichuan! Take back what you just said!"

Zhou Lichuan had never seen Shen Mushi like this before. He was usually gentle and smiling, never so fiery or angry.

Zhou Lichuan put down his book, raising his head to meet Shen Mushi’s glare.

Years of dominance had given Zhou Lichuan an aura Shen Mushi could not withstand. In just a few minutes, Shen Mushi averted his gaze, saying, "I told you, your memory loss is temporary. Do you understand? Temporary. It’s very likely you’ll remember everything when you wake up tomorrow. What you’re doing now will only hurt Jiang Zao—and yourself. You will regret it!"

Zhou Lichuan bent to pick up the scattered documents, unconcerned. "I never regret anything."

Shen Mushi trembled with rage. "Fine. You said it. Remember what you said today. This is the last time I’ll help you. Don’t come to me again."

Leaving the Pavilion Hill villa, Shen Mushi sped his car down the mountain road.

The entire mountain belonged to the Zhou family, and there were few other vehicles. The high-performance sound system blared rapid beats, and he raced wildly down the empty road.

Suddenly!

A black Audi appeared head-on. Shen Mushi slammed on the brakes and turned, but the momentum was too great, and the two cars collided.

Bang!

Shen Mushi slapped the steering wheel. Great, the front hood was ruined—two months’ salary gone. His mood, already sour, worsened further when he saw the person getting out of the other car.

Meng Qiaoyuan looked at the crash site in silence. "Is drag racing fun?"

Shen Mushi let out a long breath. "There aren’t many cameras on this road. Can we each take responsibility?"

Meng Qiaoyuan crossed her arms. "No. You were speeding, it’s all your fault."

Shen Mushi was speechless—she had a point. "Alright, all my fault. Fix your car, send me the bill."

Meng Qiaoyuan sized him up from head to toe. "Coming from Pavilion Hill villa? Went to see Zhou Lichuan?"

Thinking of what Zhou Lichuan intended to do, Shen Mushi hesitated to face Meng Qiaoyuan.

Meng Qiaoyuan was always perceptive and noticed Shen Mushi’s unease. "I’m not going to the old mansion. Come with me to the repair shop."

Shen Mushi tried to refuse. "It’s fine, handle it however you want, I’ll pay."

Meng Qiaoyuan took out her phone, snapped photos of the scene, then pocketed it and said, "Either I call the police and follow procedure, or you come with me to fix the car."

Shen Mushi: "...Let’s go fix the car."

The white Bentley followed the black Audi, creeping along at a snail’s pace—completely different from the wild speeding just moments before.

...

The trending topics exploded.

#Did Zhou Kuan abandon his wife and daughter#
#Zhou Kuan’s image as a devoted lover collapses#
#Zhou Kuan had an illegitimate son before marriage, now he and his wife live in separate countries#

The headlines were refreshed one after another, all centered around Zhou Kuan’s family affairs.

Netizens rarely got to witness the drama of wealthy families, and now not only could they indulge in gossip, but the details were confirmed with follow-up stories. The vast internet was more lively than the New Year.

Jiang Zao hung up her call with Gao Chenggong, and Zhou Jiayan quietly approached.

"Jiang Zao, I want to ask you something."

Jiang Zao turned to her, smiling. "What is it?"

Zhou Jiayan seemed at a loss. "My brother just called me about the trending topics. I told him it was your arrangement. He said he’s coming to see you tonight."

The smile faded from Jiang Zao’s face. "I’m not really in the mood to see him. What did you want to ask me?"

Zhou Jiayan sat down, asking, "What’s really going on between you and my brother? Does he really not like you at all anymore? Has he lost his memory and his feelings together?"

Jiang Zao pulled a cushion into her arms. "Jiayan, I’m thirsty, I think Hui has made some juice."

Zhou Jiayan sat unmoving, determined to hear the answer.

Jiang Zao sighed. "Yan, please let me keep a bit of dignity. Don’t ask."

Zhou Jiayan’s nose tingled, she lowered her head, stood up, and ran out to get juice without looking back.

Jiang Zao continued scrolling through the online news, watching as netizens who knew nothing commented with conviction, feeling a secret delight inside.