A majestic voice interrupted the quarrel in the study.
Everyone looked back and saw a man in his thirties standing outside the wool-carpeted corridor. His unusually tall figure blocked the crystal chandelier hanging at the entrance of the spiral staircase, casting a thick shadow.
He frowned with sharp eyebrows like a knife, as if he was extremely displeased. His eyes were like an eagle, staring straight at me. His thin lips were tightly pursed, his expression was cold and hard, and his whole body exuded a sense of oppression.
He walked slowly into the study, took off his leather gloves, and handed them to the butler without looking back. He sat on a separate sofa placed nearby and said in a deep voice, "Everyone, please sit down. If you have any dissatisfaction with Zhuang Li, you can tell me in person. I will help you to arbitrate the matter."
In fact, he is indeed an arbitrator.
As the chief executive of China, he has the power to legislate, amend laws, and make decisions. He represents the country's laws, morals, and order.
He is the kind of person that Zhuang Jincheng will never meet in his life. He is powerful and his words are law.
Zhuang Jincheng's face, which was distorted by anger, immediately twisted into a humble smile. He nodded and bowed to the man, greeting him frequently, looking like a funny clown.
Liao Xiujing had already learned from her son who this newly appointed administrator was, so she could only lower her head to hide her resentful expression. Old Shao had already turned to ash, yet he still left Zhuang Li with such a powerful supporter! God was so unfair!
Only Zhuang Han acted neither servile nor overbearing, but rather gracefully and politely greeted the man, "Uncle Zongzheng, you're back. Was this trip difficult?"
Uncle Zong Zheng? Zhuang Li looked his lover up and down, his expression somewhat subtle. For no reason, he was actually a generation younger?
Zong Zhengming ignored Zhuang Han. His gaze passed over Zhuang Jincheng and locked onto Zhuang Li. He pointed at the sofa across from him and softened his stern and solemn voice a little: "Sit down."
Zhuang Li slowly walked over and sat down across from him, his thin, blood-red lips curling into a sincere arc. Seeing this person, he finally felt much better.
Zong Zhengming stared at Zhuang Li for a moment before glancing at Zhuang Jincheng, his face filled with cold impatience. "Didn't you have a lot to say just now? I'm giving you a chance to accuse me, why aren't you speaking?"
How could Zhuang Jincheng dare to say those words that belittled Zhuang Li in front of Zong Zhengming?
Everyone knows that this administrator received favors from Mr. Shao when he was young. Due to work reasons, he has not had much contact with the Shao family in recent years, but he will still stand up at the most critical moment.
He personally admitted that he was a member of the network left by Mr. Shao, and the meaning of this was very subtle.
Zhuang Jincheng understood everything. Zong Zhengming wasn't here to act as an arbitrator; he clearly wanted to help Zhuang Li suppress the other members of the Zhuang family. Although Mr. Shao was gone, he would take his place and continue to be Zhuang Li's protector.
Zhuang Jincheng couldn't afford to offend Zong Zhengming, so he could only grit his teeth and bow to apologize, his attitude was really humble.
Zhuang Han smiled bitterly and said, "Mr. Zong Zheng, you misunderstood. We didn't intend to cause a conflict with Big Brother. Big Brother has been upset and is a little emotionally unstable. Please help us comfort him. Don't say those words that want to kill me in public anymore. It won't be good for Big Brother if people spread them outside. Mr. Zong Zheng, we will be leaving now. Big Brother, you should rest well and don't let your mind wander. We are all your family and will stand by you when you need us."
After saying these words, he nodded slightly, then took Zhuang Jincheng and walked away slowly, without any panic or servility.
Compared with his elegant demeanor, Zhuang Jincheng looks like a grumpy and ignorant clown.
Zhuang Li didn't even bother to give the Zhuang family a glance, he just stared at his lover sitting opposite him.
Zong Zhengming was also looking at him, but his gaze was deeper and his emotions were more obscure.
On weekdays, he would often call Mr. Shao, and the topics they talked about most were what trouble Zhuang Li had gotten into yesterday, who he had offended today, and what kind of mess he would leave behind tomorrow.
Mr. Shao had a lot of headaches because of this naughty grandson.
Over time, Zong Zhengming's impression of Zhuang Li hit rock bottom.
If he hadn't already promised Mr. Shao that he would look after Zhuang Li, he wouldn't have come this time. In his mind, Zhuang Li was a rude and outspoken person, a playboy with a decadent private life, a brainless fool who loved to show off his abilities, and there was almost no redeeming quality in his body.
However, when he actually met this person, all his negative impressions were instantly overturned.
It was true that Zhuang Li had been outspoken, but under the immense grief and indignation, Zong Zhengming could fully understand his feelings. If he hadn't reacted to his grandfather's sudden and suspicious death, he would have let down his grandfather's meticulous care and attention.
This shows that he is a straightforward person who takes feelings very seriously, but his personality is still a bit impulsive and needs to be polished.
Zong Zhengming was also surprised by Zhuang Li's appearance. He had expected to see a pale-skinned young man with dark eyes, looking listless and exhausted from excessive pursuit of women.
But the real Zhuang Li is not decadent at all. He bears almost no resemblance to the one in the news pages. His facial features are still the same, but his temperament is completely different.
The corners of his narrow, upturned eyes were tinged with crimson, as if he had just cried, but his pupils were surprisingly bright. Every line on his face was soft, yet it outlined a cold face.
He is a complete contradiction, with an aura of mystery all over him.
No wonder he changed so many girlfriends, it turned out that it was this face that caused the trouble.
Thinking of this, Zong Zhengming's sharp brows furrowed even further, and he warned in a deep voice, "Some things are better kept in your heart, and don't speak them out loud. Your grandfather is gone now, so you'd better be more restrained in your actions from now on."
"So what if I don't restrain myself?" Zhuang Li raised his chin and spoke with a smile.
When he put on an arrogant look, this cold face suddenly became extremely beautiful.
Zong Zhengming's gaze froze for a moment, but he quickly looked away as if nothing had happened. He said patiently, "I know you're sad right now, but you're the only one left in the Shao family, and the people in the Zhuang family are unreliable. You must learn to be independent as soon as possible. You must control your emotions, manage your expressions, and especially, keep your mouth shut. If you can't say something, you must hide it; if you don't want to say something but must, you must learn to package it beautifully. The adult world is very complicated. You must learn to compromise, give in, and endure, but you must also learn to be strong, brave, and decisive."
Zong Zhengming said coldly, "I know this is difficult, but I will teach you."
Zhuang Li knocked his elbows on his knees, clasped his fingers together, and leaned forward, looking very closely at Zong Zhengming. His tone was aggressive, "What are you teaching me? What do you want me to become? Like you, wearing a cold mask, hiding my true self, never revealing any sincerity? Like you, clearly in love but pretending to be indifferent, and then pushing the person I want further and further away?"
"I'm sorry, I can't learn any of these, and I don't want to learn them." Zhuang Li shook his head slowly, then sat up straight.
The lover in this world had already climbed to the pinnacle of power and was accustomed to the intrigues of politics. Therefore, he was very reserved and acted very cautiously. When they first met, he showed no emotion at all, making it difficult for Zhuang Li to tell whether he still had feelings for her.
But it doesn't matter. He will force this person's true face out even if he has to.
"Don't try to change me. I won't listen to you. Do you understand—"
Zhuang Li stood up and slowly walked forward, placing his hands on the armrests of Zong Zhengming's sofa, drawing him into his shadow. He whispered, "If I like someone, I'll tell him out loud; if I want someone, I'll reach out and embrace him. I love when I want to love, and hate when I want to hate, without suppressing anything or pretending. Don't try to make me like you."
His eyes were dark, deep, and bright, with a hint of light flowing in his irises, as if they contained a vast universe. He was indeed mysterious, but when necessary, he was surprisingly frank.
Zong Zhengming's mind was unknowingly absorbed by the universe and he fell into a state where he could not think.
He finally understood why Mr. Shao doted on this naughty grandson so much. His debauchery, his recklessness, his madness, were actually the most powerful true strength.
He is out of tune with this world where everyone wears a mask, yet he is so dazzling and so special.
Zong Zhengming's steady heartbeat suddenly became chaotic.
He lowered his voice and said, "If you don't know how to conceal yourself at all, you will suffer a great loss in the business world sooner or later. Billions of dollars in assets fell into the hands of an incompetent playboy. What do you think those wolves out there will think? I'm not belittling you, but that's the impression you leave on others. Faced with someone who is unable to resist, those experienced business people will never show mercy and will only gang up on them. Sit back down and think about your future."
The last sentence was full of irritability.
Zhuang Li sat back, crossed his long legs, and narrowed his narrow eyes slightly, as if thinking, but his gaze was always fixed on Zong Zhengming.
Zong Zhengming took out a pack of cigarettes from his suit pocket, lit it and took a deep puff, his thick brows tightly furrowed from beginning to end.
He thought he could easily deal with Zhuang Li, but he didn't expect that the other party would be such a difficult person.
With such looks, such personality, and such charm, it’s no wonder that the internet is flooded with gossip about Zhuang Li.
Zong Zhengming grew increasingly irritated the more he thought about it, but he didn't show it on his face. He simply smoked one cigarette after another, then looked across through the smoke. After the swirling mist blurred his vision, his rapid heartbeat finally calmed down a little.
Zhuang Li suddenly chuckled, "Uncle Zong Zheng, it's said that when a man suddenly feels sexual urges in public, he will use smoking to suppress and relieve these emotions."
Zong Zhengming, who was smoking a cigarette hard: "..."
If he had not been accustomed to strong winds and waves and adapted to various situations, he might have been choked by the smoke and started coughing uncontrollably.
Zong Zhengming fiercely shoved his burning cigarette into the ashtray and asked in a deep voice, "Where did you hear that? Is it appropriate for a junior like you to tease an elder like that?"
"This was said by Sigmund Freud. It has nothing to do with me." Zhuang Li spread his hands with an innocent look on his face.
"If you can't control your mouth, you'll offend everyone sooner or later." Zong Zhengming stood up, his tone very helpless: "Since you won't listen to me, then forget it."
He was about to say he'd leave you alone, but when the words hit his lips, he changed them to, "Here's my business card. Call me if you need anything. If you still have feelings for your grandfather, take good care of what he left you and stop being idle. I'll tell the police station to continue investigating you and your grandfather's case and will help you find the murderer."
Placing the business card next to the ashtray, Zong Zhengming turned and left. But when he reached the door, he turned back and warned in a deep voice, "Don't date random girls anymore. People who want to deal with you might start from that aspect. Exposing your weaknesses is the most dangerous and foolish thing to do. Get a few more bodyguards, and don't go out alone. My phone is on 24 hours a day."
The butler bent down and presented a pair of black gloves.
Zong Zhengming put on his gloves and walked down the spiral staircase without looking back.
Zhuang Li leaned on the railing and watched him go. He smiled and said, "Uncle Zong Zheng, I forgot to tell you that I don't like women now. I only like men, especially tall and mighty men like you."
Zong Zhengming paused slightly, then quickened his pace and left.
7480 said cautiously, "Master, it seems the gods of this world don't like you very much."
Zhuang Li laughed even more enthusiastically: "You don't understand, this is the real fun. I like to drive serious people crazy."
7480: “…”
Okay, big devil.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
