Chapter 140 Ultimatum

"Miss Song, you've been 'kidnapped' by me. Don't even think about leaving until you give me a clear answer today."

she:"……"

Why is this person like this?

He was the one begging her to agree to date him.

But the attitude was like a kidnapping, domineering and unreasonable.

She opened her mouth, about to retort, but her voice was interrupted by a sudden ringing of a bell.

Zhou Yuze's cold, deep voice suddenly came from the phone.

"Zhiwei".

It's over.

I was in such a rush that I forgot to hang up the phone.

Her heart sank.

Did he... hear everything from beginning to end?

She dared not think about it further, and even less dared to look up at Sheng Tingzhou's reaction.

She raised her hand, trembling, to take back her phone, wanting to say something to explain.

Before she could even get close, Sheng Tingzhou swiftly snatched the phone away.

He gently brought the phone to his lips, a meaningful smile playing on his lips.

"Yu Ce? What a coincidence, you're here too?"

Zhou Yuze, on the other end of the phone, gripped his phone tightly.

His breathing almost stopped, and his eyes instantly darkened.

Sheng Tingzhou is a real bastard!

To take advantage of someone's vulnerability at such a time and declare possession in this way!

He knew that Song Zhiwei's feelings were always wavering.

But Sheng Tingzhou chose this crucial moment to lay everything out in the open.

When people are overcome by emotions, reason recedes like the tide, and the mind becomes muddled.

"Tingzhou, I'm so glad you're alright. Just now... I really thought something had happened to you."

Sheng Tingzhou snorted lightly, his smile not reaching his eyes, his tone sarcastic.

"Uncle, I'm so touched that you care about me so much."

He deliberately dragged out the words, saying slowly and deliberately, "Don't worry, I'm doing very well now, and I've even found my own happiness."

Zhou Yuze dug his fingernails deep into his palms, the pain almost numbing him.

If he could see the person's face through the phone line right now, he would definitely rush up and punch him.

"I'm glad you're alright."

"Let Zhiwei answer the phone."

Sheng Tingzhou lowered his head, his gaze falling on Song Zhiwei in his arms.

She was wearing a simple white sweater, her long hair was draped over her shoulders, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

He looked at her and suddenly smiled.

"That's not important."

He spoke into his phone.

“As my brothers of many years and my future ‘uncle,’ you should witness my happiness with your own eyes.”

He said this without giving the other person any time to react.

"Song Zhiwei, will you be my girlfriend?"

I was afraid Zhou Yuze would hear me clearly.

He casually turned the phone volume down to the lowest setting and lowered the phone body as much as possible.

Song Zhiwei was taken aback by this sudden question.

The missed phone call flashed through my mind for a moment.

She finally understood that she was truly afraid.

I'm afraid I'll never be able to contact him again, afraid he'll disappear.

She tried to escape and struggled.

But when death was imminent, she finally saw it clearly.

She still loved him; she never stopped.

The man had a well-defined profile, deep-set eyes, and a cautious yet undisguised anticipation.

I know it might all be a dream.

He will leave after I wake up; he will change his mind.

But at this moment, a thousand words were stuck in her throat, and she simply nodded gently.

"good."

Sheng Tingzhou felt a sudden sense of relief.

A warm current welled up from the bottom of my heart.

He didn't speak immediately, but slowly turned up the volume on his phone.

Then, he looked at Song Zhiwei again.

Say it again.

Song Zhiwei took a deep breath, her fingertips trembling slightly, but she pursed her lips tightly.

She looked at him and said, clearly and distinctly, "I promise you."

On the other end of the phone, Zhou Yuze clenched his fists so tightly they cracked.

He closed his eyes, and the dark mist in his eyes grew thicker and thicker.

He once thought he still had a chance.

If he just waited a little longer and got a little closer, he could make her turn around and look at him.

But now, it's all over.

Sheng Tingzhou spoke calmly into his phone.

"Uncle, I'm taking my girlfriend home now, bye."

As soon as he finished speaking, without waiting for a response, he pressed the button to end the call.

The world fell silent instantly.

"Bang!"

He slammed his phone hard onto the coffee table.

The glass tabletop shook violently, emitting a piercing buzzing sound.

The shattered screen gleamed faintly under the light.

The maid rushed out of the kitchen in fright, her shoes slipping on the floor.

Her face was pale, her fingers gripping the edge of her apron tightly, and she asked tremblingly, "Mr. Zhou, what's wrong? Has something happened? Should we call a doctor?"

Zhou Yuze rubbed his temples, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.

He closed his eyes briefly, and when he opened them again, his eyes were filled with darkness.

"It's alright, go ahead and do your work. Don't stay here."

The maid glanced at him hesitantly, her gaze sweeping over the broken cell phone on the ground before quickly looking away.

She didn't dare ask any more questions and quickly ran out.

Zhou Yuze stood there, stunned for a few seconds.

The wind from outside seeped in through the gap in the half-open curtains.

He suddenly remembered something, frowned, bent down, and his fingertips touched the phone whose screen was shattered into a spider web.

The screen was still lit, its pale blue light reflecting off his face.

But as soon as you touch it, the touch screen completely stops working; you can't swipe or tap.

He stood up, turned around, opened a drawer in the low cabinet next to him, rummaged through it a few times, and pulled out a silver-gray backup phone.

The casing is clean, and the battery is fully charged.

He looked down and entered the password.

He opened his contacts, swiped his finger across the densely packed numbers, picked out a name, and gently tapped it.

The phone rang twice and was answered.

"Hey? Zhou Yuze? What do you want from me right now?"

It was Chen Yun's voice on the other end of the phone.

He was expressionless, his gaze fixed on the gray sky outside the window.

"Sheng Tingzhou has a girlfriend."

There was a sudden silence on Chen Yun's end.

A moment later, a trembling voice rang out: "What...when did this happen?"

"Just now."

"He was holding a woman's hand at the hotel entrance, and the reporters took pictures."

Were you there at the time?

Her voice suddenly rose to a high pitch, becoming so shrill it almost cracked.

"Why didn't you try to stop them? Why should I bear this alone? Do you know how my dad will scold me if this gets out? Where will the Chen family's reputation be?"

Zhou Yuze sneered, a mocking smile curving his lips.

“Do you think I’m as stupid as you? If I could stop him, would I have waited for you to yell at me? I sent people to stop him a long time ago, but the reporters were swarming around him, and he didn’t even glance at me. He just put his arm around that woman and got into the car.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Yun's anger flared up instantly, and she gripped the edge of her phone tightly with her fingers.

"Zhou Yuze, everyone outside says you're noble and refined, a gentleman like jade, but now it seems you're nothing but a wolf in sheep's clothing! What are you pretending to be so high and mighty for? When it comes down to it, you're the first to run away!"

His gaze darkened, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"And you, Miss Chen, how clean are you? Three years ago, you promised to marry me for those shares in the Chen family business. And now? You've turned around and started seducing Sheng Tingzhou. What are you pretending to be so devoted to?"

“Stop pretending,” he continued, “I know your plans better than anyone. The Chen family is rotten to the core, its accounts are riddled with holes, its cash flow is about to dry up, and the banks have already given an ultimatum. The collapse is just around the corner, it just needs a fuse.”