Zhou Jingren held his coffee cup as he listened to the person reporting in front of him. He leaned against his chair and stared at the presentation, his face stern, scrutinizing. Something that his subordinates are already used to.
After a few minutes, the light turned on, and the person who was standing in the front walk back to his seat. Silence blanketed the room as they waited for Zhuo Jingren to speak.
“Good.” He uttered. “The consumer market had been really demanding lately. We are aware that this is because of technology. The plan to invite financial experts to create a community hub instead of just a bank to transact loans and businesses is not the only initiative that I want to do this year. I want to double even triple our online presence. Improve our services online. People nowadays, don’t have the time to go to banks to ask about credit cards, or which one is the best debit card. They research and I want to target that.”
“Because of this, I am expecting to double our profit this year.” He added. “I know this is very ambitious. But I also believe that we can achieve this with our combined efforts. Planning and cooperation. We have one goal and I want everyone’s cooperation in this matter.”
“President, we are already expecting this. I think it is safe to say that you can leave everything to us… while you concentrate on your upcoming wedding.” One of his directors smiled. Contrary to what the media portrayed of him, Zhuo Jingren was not a cold boss who only speak one word and stared coldly at his subordinates. While he was aloof and does not attend parties with them, he had long considered them as friends. Each and every one of his directors had been with his company since he started it. Every one of them had already proven their loyalty to him and the Zhuo Capital.
“I agree.” Another one nodded. While they cannot be considered really close, everyone in this room is not only loyal to him, they are also happy for his upcoming marriage. “You have been working so hard in the past few years, I believe you deserve to relax and only think about your wedding.”
Seeing everyone nod their heads, Zhuo Jingren couldn’t stop the smile from blooming on his lips. A sigh escaped his lips.
“Thank you. I already assigned people to create a marketing analysis on…” His words were interrupted when Bei Tian suddenly barge inside the conference room. He raised an eyebrow at his friend. “Yes, Mr. Bei?”
“We need to talk.” Bei Tian said, his jaw’s clenched as he looked at everyone inside the room. “The meeting is adjourned. Everyone can leave now.” Seeing the tension in his face, Zhuo Jingren nodded and gestured for everyone to leave. He then walked out of the room with Bei Tian in tow.
“Let’s go to your car. Secretary Go is waiting.” Bei Tian said.
“What is it?” Zhuo Jingren halted his steps and turned towards him. A bad premonition started humming in his blood. His heart drummed against his chest. “What is it!?” he hissed.
“Lily…”
Hearing his wife’s name immediately made Zhou Jingren frowned.
“Lily got into an accident.” Bei Tian’s words came as a muffled scream inside Zhuo Jingren’s head. It echoed over and over as he felt his face lost all its colors.
Lily… was in an accident.
“Let’s go. We need to go now.” Bei Tian’s words woke him from his stupor. “Now.” Bei Tian held his friend’s arm and pulled him towards the elevator. He would not want for Zhou Jingren to lose control at this moment.
*DING*
“Hey!” Bei Tian tapped Zhou Jingren’s shoulders. “Let’s go,” The calmness in his voice broke. He tried to compose himself, but he knew it was futile. He was worried and concern about the man standing next to him. He knew a simple assurance is not enough to bring Zhou Jingren back. He snapped his fingers in front of Zhou Jingren’s face, attracting the latter’s attention.
“What did you say?” Zhou Jingren’s voice was coarse. Something that Bei Tian hasn’t heard for a few months now.
“We need to go now.” Bei Tian answered as he gritted his teeth. He then watched as Zhou Jingren marched towards the car with his back straight. Bei Tian couldn’t help but wonder about the thoughts in his friend’s head right now.
Silence.
That was how Zhou Jingren had dealt with Qin Jinghua’s disappearance. To be honest, Bei Tian fears that this accident will awake the previous trauma that Zhou Jingren felt before.
The reports of his men about the accident made him frowned. Lily’s body was badly burnt. The doctor already said that the probability that she will survive is extremely low. Slowly, he shifted his gaze at Zhou Jingren, whose face was devoid of any expression.
Should he tell his friend about this matter? Bei Tian shook his head inwardly. He couldn’t do that. He couldn’t just lay the truth in front of Zhou Jingren like that. The thought of his reaction and sadness… is going to break both of them.
Zhou Jingren and Bei Tian grew up together. Both of them suffered everything at the same time. He couldn’t just watch Zhou Jingren undergo what he had gone through all those years ago when Lily disappeared. Not again.
He sighed at the thought of the reports. Apparently, Lily was supposed to have a quick lunch with Zhou Lanying. Both women were injured and badly burnt because of the accident that caused the car to explode. The thought of Zhou Lanying accompanying Lily at this moment left a bitter taste in his mouth.
The vibration on Bei Tian’s phone made him flinched. He stared at his phone for a few seconds, deciding whether or not he should answer it.
“Answer it.” Zhou Jingren said. Bei Tian nodded in response.
“What is it?” he asked the moment he answered his phone. Slowly, prominent lines appeared between his brows. Then his face paled, his lashes fluttered as tears welled up in his eyes. He held his breath, trying to compose himself. “Are you sure?” he asked in a whisper, his voice laced with grief. He then nodded and shifted his gaze at Zhou Jingren next to him. “All right. Stand by.” He ended the call and turned towards Zhou Jingren.
“What is it?” Zhou Jingren asked as tension flooded the car. A suffocating silence permeated the air like an invisible mist. The sound of each other’s breathing was deafening. “What happened to my Lily?” Zhou Jingren returned Bei Tian’s blank stare. “What!?” he demanded.
“Lily —” Bei Tian swallowed his non-existent saliva. His throat tightened as he stared at Zhou Jingren’s eyes. “She was badly burnt from the explosion. They could barely recognize her body. She was with Zhou Lanying at the time of the accident. Our men are still trying to find out if it was indeed an accident or… something else.” He watched as Zhou Jingren clenched his jaws, his hands balled into a fist. He narrowed his eyes at Bei Tian.
“Is she…”
“She is dead.” Bei Tian interrupted him. He watched the emotions of grief swirled in Zhou Jingren’s orbs. “Lily… is dead.”
