Chapter 168: Chapter 168: It’s My Fortune to Be Able to Drink Third Uncle’s Tea

An hour later, Cheng Zhiwei was brought into a villa with a garden filled with various chrysanthemums.

Zhou Jinzhong was methodically brewing tea.

Cheng Zhiwei was forced to sit across from him.

Zhou Jinzhong, already like the Zhou family’s ancient ancestor, had his face layered with wrinkles yet his hands were very steady as he poured the boiling hot water into the tea cup, causing a waft of steam to rise.

He gently nodded toward Cheng Zhiwei, his tone much friendlier than last time at the hospital, "To invite you over for a cup of tea like this, I hope it didn’t scare you?"

Cheng Zhiwei had long anticipated such a day, and seeing the posture Zhou Jinzhong had put on, the tea she was about to drink today should at least be palatable.

She politely said, "To be able to drink tea made by Third Uncle is my fortune."

Zhou Jinzhong placed a teacup baked from red clay in front of Cheng Zhiwei, "I’ve grown old, and my heart has become much softer. I’m very kind to youngsters, but Ah Lin looks at you as if he’s looking at his own pupils. I’ve wanted to invite you several times, but his people turned me away."

His words sounded casual, but they contained warnings everywhere.

Cheng Zhiwei took a small sip and praised, "It leaves a lingering fragrance on the lips and teeth, it’s good tea, thank you, Third Uncle."

Zhou Jinzhong squinted his eyes as he savored it finely, "Last time at the hospital scared you, didn’t it? But you can’t blame Third Uncle. You and Zhou Lin got married without even a wedding ceremony; I didn’t even know there was such a good child like you."

Cheng Zhiwei looked down, "Yes."

Zhou Jinzhong raised his hand, and immediately someone placed a red lacquered wooden box next to Cheng Zhiwei’s hand.

The finest red lacquered wood, expensive and of great texture, certainly held something of high value inside.

Indeed, upon opening the box, there were a pair of jade bracelets inside, the stones soothing and shiny with top-quality.

Zhou Jinzhong said, "It’s remiss of me that Young Madam Zhou, as plain as you are, this bracelet is something I chanced upon. Today I shall give it to you as a wedding gift for you and Zhou Lin."

In between the lines, he was reminding Cheng Zhiwei that Zhou Lin did not treat her as a wife; otherwise, as the distinguished Young Madam Zhou, why would her appearance be so plain without even a proper piece of jewelry?

Cheng Zhiwei lowered her eyes to her palms. Although Zhou Lin had never bought her any jewelry, in fact, she owned many things. Lin Yu cherished her and liked to buy her anything beautiful and expensive he found; it was just that she herself didn’t like wearing those, so she kept them all at home.

But these things, there was no need to tell Zhou Jinzhong.

This visit made her understand that Zhou Jinzhong was intentionally reminding her of Zhou Lin’s dislike for her, while simultaneously trying to woo her with kindness.

She closed the box, "This is too valuable, I cannot accept it."

Zhou Jinzhong’s eyelids drooped, displaying a mix of authority and displeasure, "When an elder gives you something, just take it. If Zhou Lin asks, just tell him the truth. If he gets angry, let him come to me. He doesn’t cherish his wife, and won’t allow elders to show affection either?"

"I appreciate your kindness, Third Uncle."

"I heard you have a sister, right? She suffered a great misfortune recently because of you. You can take it and give it to her as a token of your feelings."

Cheng Zhiwei then knew she had to accept it, "Thank you, Third Uncle."

Zhou Jinzhong’s expression finally softened.

Just then, a petulant voice called out, "Grandfather."

Zhou Hui came over in a white coat, her hair hanging straight down her back. Upon seeing Cheng Zhiwei, her lips immediately pursed in displeasure, "Why are you here?"

Zhou Jinzhong frowned, "How rude, she is your cousin’s wife."

"Cousin’s wife? That’s laughable. What kind of cousin’s wife is she, anyway? I heard that since she married Zhou Lin three years ago, Zhou Lin hardly ever comes home and always has some Z-lister celebrity with him." Zhou Hui sat down carelessly, her tone mocking.

"Shut up." Zhou Jinzhong scolded her, then shook his head helplessly, "Zhiwei, she’s just childish. Don’t mind her."

"Of course not." Cheng Zhiwei smiled lightly, her expression unchanged in the slightest, where she couldn’t see that this grandfather and granddaughter duo was playing good cop, bad cop?

Obviously, their purpose was to make her hate Zhou Lin with all their might.

Zhou Hui’s gaze fell on the bracelets, and she suddenly bounced up from her seat, her eyes wide, "Grandfather, how could you bring these out?"

She looked at Cheng Zhiwei incredulously, her teeth showing in jealousy, "Grandfather, you’re giving them to her?"

Zhou Jinzhong spoke indifferently, "Your cousin’s wife has just arrived, and no one feels for her. I can’t stand that, so I’m giving her these bracelets so she doesn’t feel like we in the Zhou family are all cold-hearted people."

Zhou Hui clearly coveted the jade bracelet, and snorted, "Grandfather, why are you so sympathetic towards an outsider."

"Huihui, Zhiwei is not an outsider."

"Well, since she is Zhou Lin’s wife, she might as well persuade Zhou Lin to be lenient with my health center." Zhou Hui huffed in annoyance, "I was the one who discovered uncle’s cancer, and he even blamed me. Doesn’t he just want uncle to die of illness so that he can inherit that hundred-billion fortune?"

Cheng Zhiwei just listened quietly, without expressing any opinion.

It was clear that they had set up Zhou Chenyuan. Even if Zhou Chenyuan didn’t have cancer, something else would have been brought to light, allowing them to publicly intervene in Zhou Group’s affairs.

Pretending to be aggrieved here now, as if she was a fool.

"Zhiwei is having a tough time too, Huihui. Don’t make it difficult for her," Zhou Jinzhong completely took Chen Zhiwei’s side.

Zhou Hui sneered contemptuously, "If she can’t control her own man, she deserves it. If a man dared to do this to me, I would definitely make him pay."

Cheng Zhiwei still sat quietly, not speaking or taking a stance, to avoid falling into this young and old duo’s trap.

Complaining wouldn’t cost Zhou Lin a piece of flesh.

Just then, the butler hurried over, "Old Master, Young President Zhou has arrived."

Cheng Zhi’s gaze finally wavered slightly, Zhou Lin was finally here, and she really couldn’t sit still.

Supported by Zhou Hui, Zhou Jinzhong stood up, his appearance not very friendly, but somewhat benevolent, "He actually came, it seems he still cares about you."

They went to the living room.

As they entered, a loud crash was heard, along with the butler’s hurried voice, "Young President Zhou, this table is fine rosewood, the Old Master’s favorite..."

"Where is she?" Zhou Lin’s voice was cold and menacing, "If you don’t hand Zhiwei over, I’ll tear down this house."

As he spoke, the seven or eight people he brought with him were about to take action.

"Stop." Zhou Jinzhong stepped into the living room, his cloudy gaze swept over the messy floor, and finally landed lightly on Zhou Lin’s face, "Ah Lin, aren’t you being too excessive?"

Zhou Lin ignored him and instead walked briskly to Cheng Zhiwei’s side, carefully looked her over to make sure she was unharmed, then finally looked coldly at Zhou Jinzhong.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read