Lily and Zhou Jingren knew nothing of the scenes happening after Lu Xialu’s death. To avoid interacting with anyone in the Yu Family, they stayed in Sky City and did not visit The Peak for a couple of days.
Since Lily didn’t hear about the old man’s death, she expected that their previous conversation about suicide was nothing but a ploy to make her agree to his offer. She was wrong.
Lily and Zhou Jingren didn’t receive any invites from the old man simply because he was the one planning on seeing them. But instead of seeing Lily, the old man decided to visit Zhou Jingren in his office while Lily was in Sky City.
Zhou Jingren stared at the old man silently, his eyes devoid of any expression. “Are you here to convince me about your offer to my wife?” he asked.
“No.” Old Man Yu shook his head. The confidence that the old man used to have before his wife’s death was now gone. Zhou Jingren frowned as he saw the vulnerability in the old man’s eyes. Does this mean that he is not planning to kill himself anymore? “I am here to talk to you.”
“About what? If it’s not yet clear to you… my wife and does not want to involve ourselves in your business. Please find someone else to help you.”
In response, the old man pursed his lips. He stared at Zhou Jingren for a few seconds. “I understand. But this is not about my family. I have decided to give my 53% shares to Lily. She deserves it more than my sons and daughter.”
“You can’t just— “
“I already did.” The old man stated. “I don’t care if she sells it or profit from it. My time is running out, and I already made up my mind.”
“You— “
“I understand the need to protect her. After all, she is already pregnant.” The old man gave him a mirthless smile. “Congratulations on being a father. I know how much she struggled to conceive and I…”
“What did you say?” Zhou Jingren interrupted him.
“I said congratulations on being…”
“How did you know these things?” Zhou Jingren’s face turned dark. Lily’s pregnancy was supposed to be a secret. Only a few people know of this matter. He narrowed his eyes at the old man’s calm expression. “How long have you been spying on us?”
The old man’s lips thinned. He only shook his head and smiled at Zhou Jingren. “There are things that cannot be explained using simple words. You have to see it to believe.”
“I am warning you old man if you do something to— “
“Don’t worry. I understand that her safety is the priority.” The old man was here to know the extent of Zhou Jingren’s emotions towards Lily. He knew that he does not have the right to test Zhou Jingren. However, he could not stop himself from doing so.
Zhou Jingren and Lily reminded him or his wife and him back when they were younger. “I would assume her pregnancy is one of the reasons why you declined my offer?”
Zhou Jingren didn’t answer the old man’s question. Since meeting Old Man Yu, Zhou Jingren had been flooded with questions about his peculiar ways. And the more he tried to dig into the old man’s past, the more confused he became.
Zhou Jingren also knew that this is one of the reasons why Lily decided not to get involve. He doesn’t need to ask his wife to know that she also found this old man… mysterious and confusing. His past seemed clean. It shows how an old man who used to sell newspapers and sleep on the sidewalk become successful because of his wits and hard work.
To be honest, it was very remarkable. With no one’s help, the old man and his wife raise from rags to riches and establish an empire from their own blood and sweat.
However, the fact that he cannot seem to read the old man bothered him. Zhou Jingren couldn’t tell if the old man was lying or if he was serious. The only reason why Lily knew that the old man is hiding something is not because of his expressions but because of Lily’s ability to analyze things.
Now, Zhou Jingren is not a god. He cannot predict anyone’s actions or accurately read someone’s emotions through their faces. However, seeing the old man’s blank look seemed to tell him that the old man is dangerous. All the bells in his mind were ringing, telling him that he was in front of a dangerous individual.
The thing is… the old man was never involved in the black market. He built his empire using clean methods and did not associate himself in dirty politics. He also didn’t have any issues or scandals. So how could he give off this aura of dominance and confidence?
Was he only faking it? Zhou Jingren wondered.
Maybe because of his age?
Maybe it was because of his experience in talking to businessmen for decades of years?
“I think you are underestimating your wife too much.” The old man’s voice interrupted his thoughts. “Lily is a strong woman. You should not underestimate a woman’s ability.”
“Protecting her does not mean that I underestimate her. This is not about who is stronger. This is about me protecting my wife and child,” He answered. “And I don’t appreciate you spying on my wife like you — like it is any of your business.”
The old man had the same blank look on his face as he nodded. He then rose from his seat and left Zhou Jingren’s office without saying any word of goodbye. This conversation was enough proof that he made the right choice. Zhou Jingren’s troubled expression told him what he needed to know.
Slowly the old man made his way into the elevator as a smile blossomed on his wizened face. Making Zhou Jingren the person who will inherit his seat is the right thing to do.
…..
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