With the old man gone, the last bit of energy that had been holding Chenzhou together vanished, leaving him limp and collapsed to the ground.

Zhou Yuanxi rushed over and hugged him, "It's okay, it's okay. If you like Yan Yaoyao, you might as well marry Yan Qiao and keep her outside."

Shen Zhou lowered his head and remained silent, looking dejected.

Chen Wu whistled, his expression mischievous, which made Xu Ran nudge him with her elbow.

They're brothers, for goodness' sake. What's with that expression?

Chen Wu wrapped one arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, "I won."

Before Shen Zhou returned, they made a bet on whether Shen Zhou would stand firmly by Yan Yaoyao's side.

Xu Ran believed he would, firmly believing in the power of love.

Shen Wu won his gamble thanks to his knowledge of the sunken ship.

The most similar thing between Shen Zhou and Zhou Yuanxi is that they are both selfish.

This mother and son are exactly alike in their love for themselves, and only for themselves.

The mocking smile on his face caught Shen Qunbo's eye, causing Shen Qunbo to glare at him with a stern expression.

The child is already several years old, yet still so improper.

"Deal with the Zhou family's affairs. Don't give anyone face. The Shen family doesn't need traitors."

Shen Qunbo's words showed absolutely no respect for Zhou Yuanxi.

"And you! Tell your family to make up for the losses within a week. If they don't lose money, they'll go to jail. You'd better figure it out yourselves!"

After saying that, Shen Qunbo stormed upstairs.

He waited until Chen Wu was about to enter middle school before remarrying. After his first wife passed away, no other woman appeared in his life.

Compared to other men his age, he was remarkably celibate.

Shen Qunbo recalled Zhou Yuanxi when she was young, charming and lovely, which was clearly not like this.

Can time really change a person, and change them so thoroughly?

Zhou Yuanxi lowered her head in embarrassment, helped Chen Zhou up, and treated Chen Zhou's wounds with the help of the doctor.

Chen Zhou seemed oblivious to the pain, his face numb.

Suddenly, she asked in a low voice, "Why?"

Chen Wu raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Chen Zhou suddenly looked up at him, "Didn't my elder brother also not have an arranged marriage?"

Xu Ran was not born into a wealthy family. Her father was a university professor and her mother was a geologist. They could only be considered to be from a scholarly family.

Chen Wu laughed, his laughter growing increasingly sarcastic.

"Ranran, then tell him why."

Xu Ran glared at him, then said seriously, "When I was with your brother, he wasn't engaged. If I had known he had a fiancée, I wouldn't have been with him at all. I have principles; I don't touch men who are already in relationships. Don't tell me you don't like Yan Qiao at all, and that the engagement was unavoidable. Didn't Grandpa give you a choice today?"

"Oh, you're probably going to say that Grandpa threatened you with the shares. Come on, it all comes down to you not liking Yan Yaoyao enough. Even without the shares, you get a huge allowance every month, plus the assets the Shen family provided for you. Can't you go out and start your own business?"

He has money; could he make money investing in a project? Could he make money renting out all those properties?

Even Shen Wu, before taking over the family company, was starting a business with Pei Jingzhan, creating a new energy vehicle brand. Now, it has been ranked as the most valuable brand in the domestic automotive industry for five consecutive years, ranking first in the automotive industry.

Even if he is no longer employed by Hongmei Group, he is still one of the top rising stars in Yancheng.

Shen Zhou is definitely thinking about marrying Yan Qiao now, and then keeping Yan Yaoyao outside, wanting both benefits and love.

He never considered that making the one he loved his lover his mistress was a desecration of love.

"Why don't you ask your older brother what he would do if Grandpa said he would give him all the remaining shares on the condition that he divorces me?"

Chen Wu's face darkened. "Don't make that kind of assumption."

He can't stand the word "divorce" because it's considered unlucky.

Shen Zhou's face grew paler and paler; he was powerless to refute what Xu Ran had said.

After treating his injuries, he stood up abruptly.

Staying there any longer made him feel suffocated.

"Mom, I'm going home now."

“Where should we go? Let’s stay at home for a couple of days,” Zhou Yuanxi said anxiously.

Shen Zhou thought of Yan Yaoyao and still refused.

He couldn't bring her inside, and he couldn't leave her alone when he left.

Yan Yaoyao came out of the side hall, already feeling restless and impatient.

Upon seeing Chen Zhou, she didn't notice his unusual expression and was only concerned with asking about her own affairs: "Brother Chen Zhou, how did it go? Did Grandpa agree to our relationship?"

Chen Zhou was in pain all over his body, especially his back, which was burning hot.

The pain became sharp the moment she touched me.

"What's wrong with you?" Yan Yaoyao finally noticed that something was wrong with him.

Shen Zhou gently pushed her hand away. "It's alright. Grandpa disciplined me and hasn't agreed to break off my engagement with Yan Qiao yet."

Yan Yaoyao's face paled. "But Yan Qiao already agreed, didn't she?"

Shen Zhou lifted his foot and walked out. "The marriage was arranged by my grandfather and Old Master Yan. It's a matter between the two families. Even if Yan Qiao agrees, it won't make a difference."

Because Yan Qiao had no say.

Yan Yaoyao was very unhappy, but she couldn't show it.

"So what do we do now?"

Shen Zhou didn't really know what to do. He couldn't let go of Yan Yaoyao, but he also couldn't give up his shares in the group.

"You might have to make do for now. I'll have someone transfer the ownership of the house in Zixingyuan to you later, and you can move there."

The unexpected surprise left her completely bewildered.

"The houses over there must be expensive, right? Let's not get together. I'm not with you for that."

Chen Zhou smiled and said, "I know you don't want it, but I want to give it to you."

Yan Yaoyao suppressed her excitement, and all her dissatisfaction vanished instantly.

If you suffer a little injustice, you can get a house worth tens of millions. What's wrong with that?

Meanwhile, Chen Zhou, on the other hand, was trying to find a solution that would satisfy both sides.

After taking Yan Yaoyao back, he contacted Yan Qiao.

"I want to talk to you."

Yan Qiao said coldly, "Between us, there is nothing else to talk about except the matter of breaking off the engagement."

Her attitude was resolute, as if it were more urgent than sinking a ship.

This displeased Shen Zhou, as if she were trash that Shen Zhou couldn't wait to throw away.

"My grandfather doesn't want to break off the engagement, and I need your cooperation."

"If your grandfather doesn't agree, that's a matter for your Shen family. I have no obligation to cooperate with you."

Chen Zhou was furious and deliberately provoked her: "Then we have no choice but to fulfill the marriage agreement, but I hope you won't care about Yao Yao's existence after the marriage."

Unexpectedly, Yan Qiao did not get angry; instead, she laughed.

"Okay, then let's do as you say. Anyway, it's Yan Yaoyao who's having an affair, not me, so why should I mind? But let me make this clear first: once I marry you, I'll be your legal wife. With Grandpa Shen as my backer, I don't know what I might do to Yan Yaoyao. Just don't feel sorry for me."

Yan Qiao was truly disgusted by him, and hung up the phone after speaking, leaving Chen Zhou alone, his back aching with anger.

At that moment, Yan Yaoyao knocked on the door from the outside.

"Brother Chenzhou, I bought some medicine. Shall I apply some to you?"

Shen Zhou waved his hand, "No need, I've taken care of it at home. There's a banquet at the Xi family tomorrow night, would you like to go? I can introduce you to some friends."

Yan Yaoyao was intrigued; if she could get to know these people, it would be like entering a different circle.

Of course she wanted to go.

"Wouldn't that be inappropriate?"

"What's inappropriate about it?"

Yan Yaoyao hesitated for a moment and asked, "Is Yan Qiao going? If she goes, I won't go, so as not to be looked down upon by others."

Shen Zhou inevitably thought of what Yan Qiao had just said, and another headache struck him.

"I'll find a way. She definitely won't show up at the banquet. Don't worry."