Chapter 414: Chapter 414 She Dared to Jump Into the Sea Holding Qiancheng, Where Did She Get Scared?

Zhou Chenyuan would have been so shocked by the news that he would spring up from his bed if he weren’t so ill, "I’ve looked into the He family’s background, there’s no way she could be his person."

It was precisely because he had looked so carefully that he couldn’t accept such a fact.

He even suspected that Zhou Lin had made up this excuse on purpose to avoid an arranged marriage.

But... looking at his son who had grown into an adult, he ultimately couldn’t bring himself to ask the question.

He lay there, despondently staring at the ceiling, feeling suffocated because he couldn’t breathe properly.

How could this have happened?

After a long silence, Zhou Lin slowly said, "You should know what Zhiwei said about He Mingzhu instigating Qiqi."

"I know about that, but you all have no evidence."

"It’s true there’s no evidence proving that He Mingzhu instigated Qiqi, or that He Mingzhu and Qiqi were in contact, but a foreign number was found in Qiqi’s phone watch. It was labeled as ’auntie’ and didn’t look suspicious, so we missed it the first time we checked."

Zhou Chenyuan immediately understood, "It really was her."

"I have my people around Qiqi and I’ve checked everyone who could have contact with her. She’s the only one worth suspecting." Zhou Lin paused, then revealed an even more painful truth to Zhou Chenyuan, "Also, this cooperation is a trap."

"Not only that, but I’ve re-evaluated the projects from the past three years, and at least three of them have issues."

They were just well-hidden, and the projects weren’t big, so nobody noticed.

But small streams make great rivers, and piling up such projects is like ants that could eat an elephant, draining the Zhou Group dry.

"You were right initially, Meng Qiancheng is just a scout coming to probe for weaknesses."

Zhou Chenyuan hadn’t listened to his last sentence, still fixated on the problematic projects, "If there are issues, why would you agree to the cooperation?"

Wouldn’t this just be throwing the Zhou Group into a pit of fire?

Zhou Lin chuckled faintly, "All these years, you and mom have visited him every year. If he can pull off these schemes under such strict surveillance, how would he fall for it if I didn’t enter the field myself, without using Zhou Group as bait?"

"But..." Zhou Chenyuan’s lips trembled, "Aren’t you afraid of losing everything at the end?"

If that happened, the Zhou family’s generations of wealth and heritage would be gone.

Zhou Lin was indifferent, "No matter, my wife will support me."

Zhou Chenyuan became serious, "How confident are you?"

"I have no confidence." Zhou Lin admitted honestly; Zhou Chenyan was not only a rival to be taken seriously by Zhou Chenyuan, but he himself had only been fighting in the business world for a few years, far from Zhou Chenyan’s match. "But no matter how uncertain it is, we have to try, right? We can’t just hand everything over."

Zhou Chenyuan fell silent, finally uttering, "Protect your mother."

Zhou Lin looked down at his father, who was now at the brink of weakness, and nodded solemnly, "Alright."

After Zhou Lin left, Lin Yu entered the room immediately.

Standing in the hallway, Cheng Zhiwei watched Zhou Lin, waited a few seconds, then walked up to him, tip-toeing to tap on his shoulder, "It will be alright."

Zhou Lin held her hand tightly, looking down at her with exhaustion. He had put on a dismissive front when talking with Zhou Chenyuan, but now, in front of Cheng Zhiwei, his shoulders finally slumped, betraying his weariness.

"Zhiwei," he called her name, his voice hoarse with strain.

Cheng Zhiwei leaned into his embrace, closing her eyes, "I’m here."

"Thank you for being by my side." Zhou Lin whispered, resting his chin on top of her head, feeling courageous only when he held her like this, to face all that was coming.

Zhou Chenyuan was dying, and many came to visit.

Lin Yu’s eyes were red and swollen every day, and Cheng Zhiwei stayed by her side, her gaze slowly sweeping over the people in the living room, minds filled with different thoughts. She knew the most crucial person hadn’t arrived yet.

In the afternoon, Zhou Chenyuan woke from his coma again, his reaction even more sluggish.

Lin Yu covered her mouth to suppress her sobs, Cheng Zhiwei’s nose felt sour, holding back tears, she held on tightly to Lin Yu.

The butler knocked and entered, speaking softly, "Third Grand Master has arrived."

Before he finished speaking, Zhou Jinzhong strolled in with pomp, looking at Zhou Chenyuan on the bed with eyes briefly flashing with delight, before switching to a facade of sorrow.

"Chenyuan, how are you feeling?"

Zhou Chenyuan breathed more out than in, silent, instead turning to look at the man behind Zhou Jinzhong.

Zhou Jinzhong moved aside, revealing the tall figure behind him.

As that person wholly appeared before everyone, Cheng Zhiwei distinctly felt Lin Yu’s body tremble, her grip tightening.

Cheng Zhiwei lifted her gaze, looking at the second uncle, Zhou Chenyan, popularly rumored since youth to have shown remarkable talents.

Zhou Chenyan’s frame and demeanor were similar to Zhou Chenyuan’s. Of course, as brothers, resemblance was inevitable, but Zhou Chenyan was the extreme opposite of Zhou Chenyuan.

Zhou Chenyuan was dignified and imposing.

Zhou Chenyan was absolutely sinister and dark.

Just one glance would send chills down your spine.

He stepped forward to the bedside, his voice casually cocky, "Big brother, I’m back."

Zhou Chenyuan could see the malice deep in his brother’s heart with just a glance. He nodded, said nothing.

Zhou Chenyan looked at Zhou Lin, his smile meaningful, "So, you must be Ah Lin. I hear you’ve been managing the company well. Indeed, a young talent not to be underestimated."

After speaking, he turned and stood before Lin Yu, smile gaining a trace of distress, "Ah Yu, I’ve returned."

Yet, he whimsically corrected himself, "Look at me, I should call you sister-in-law now."

When Lin Yu saw him, dreadful memories uncontrollably surfaced in her mind. She clutched Cheng Zhiwei’s arm pale-faced, with nothing to say to this person.

Zhou Chenyan didn’t care about her indifference, lifted the corner of his mouth, and beckoned, "Qiancheng, come in and meet your mother."

Cheng Zhiwei sharply looked towards the door, freezing.

After many years, Meng Qiancheng hadn’t changed much, but a scar at the corner of his eye made his temperament even more gloomy and stern.

Standing emotionlessly in front of Lin Yu, he simply called out, "Mom."

It was clearly reluctant.

His gaze fell on Cheng Zhiwei; his eyes flickered with intimidating brilliance, "Zhiwei, long time no see."

Cheng Zhiwei was only briefly dazed and surprised; now, she had regained her composure, replying coolly, "Long time no see."

Zhou Chenyan raised an eyebrow, his sinister nature seeping through, "Is this Cheng Zhiwei?"

Before Cheng Zhiwei could speak, Zhou Lin had already walked over, wrapping his arms around Cheng Zhiwei’s shoulders, introducing her unhurriedly, "This is my wife, she is timid, don’t frighten her."

Zhou Chenyan chuckled, "She had the courage to jump into the sea with Qiancheng, doesn’t seem timid to me."

Meng Qiancheng’s eyes landed on Zhou Lin’s hand on Cheng Zhiwei’s shoulder, shadowed with a glint of chill.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read