make trouble
Shen Zhou's face darkened, and he strode toward the source of the sound. Zhou Jingxing hurriedly followed him out.
In the plaza outside the exhibition hall, an elderly woman with graying hair was being held by security guards. As she struggled to break free, she shouted, "You heartless bastards, let me go! Those people inside are murderers, are you going to be their accomplices?"
Seeing her frantic state, the security guard dared not let go. Unable to break free, the woman plopped down on the ground and then lay down. "Ouch! My arm! My back!" she cried, pounding the ground. "Murder! The security guards are trying to kill me to silence me!"
Zhou Jingxing was dumbfounded. What was all this? At this moment, Chen Zhou gave him a wink. He understood, gave an OK sign, and stepped aside.
Chen Zhou walked over and squatted down, reaching out to help the woman up, but his hand was brushed away. "What are you doing! Trying to hit me? I'm warning you, the security guards just beat me up, you're fully responsible!"
The security guard said helplessly, "Ma'am, we just helped you up, we didn't hit you, you can't talk nonsense! There's an event in this exhibition hall, you need an invitation to enter, you just barged in like that, aren't you making things difficult for us?"
The woman spat angrily, then scrambled to her feet and shouted at the security guard, "What invitation? I don't know anything about that! All I know is that my son had an accident here, and I'm here to get justice!"
Shen Zhou also stood up and said gently, "Auntie, I am the person in charge of the exhibition. Please tell me if you need anything."
The woman glanced at him sideways, her fat twitching. "Who are you? Do you even have the right to speak?"
Shen Zhou said good-naturedly, "Auntie, my name is Shen Zhou, and I'm in charge of all the activities for this exhibition. You just said your son is also one of our employees, right? What's his name? Let me talk to him and you'll find out."
"You're the one who slew Chen Zhou? Fine, I'll talk to you. You people are all cunning and deceitful. My son is still bedridden, so don't try to get any information out of him."
Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Didn't you just say he was dead? How come he's paralyzed in bed now? Auntie, you must be mistaken?"
A moment of panic flashed across the woman's face, but she quickly regained her composure and accused him fiercely, "You heartless bastard, you're cursing my son! When did I ever say he was dead? He fell off the scaffolding while working here and has been bedridden for over a month with no explanation. How dare you spout such nonsense here!"
Chen Zhou shrugged. "Oh, maybe I misheard. How about this, Auntie, would you like to come to my office to talk? I didn't know about this before; my people probably kept it from me. Don't worry, I'll definitely give you the compensation you're owed, but we need to discuss how exactly to do it, right?"
The woman hesitated for a moment, then said, "No, I won't go! Who knows if you're trying to trick me? You, surnamed Chen, are the most heartless person. I've heard that you deceive your superiors and oppress your subordinates. You're no good!"
Chen Zhou chuckled. "You've really heard a lot, haven't you? Look at you, you have absolutely no professional skills as a con artist. At least you should have done your research. Last month, one of my workers did get injured, but he only sprained his leg and will be fine after some rest. He's not bedridden like you're saying. Besides, I visited him at home. His mother passed away last year. Are you some kind of ghost?"
He wiped the smile from his face and stared coldly at the woman. "How much did they pay you to dare cause trouble here? Do you know how many leaders are coming here today? Those bodyguards aren't pushovers." Shen Zhou pointed to the rooftop of the shopping mall building. "There are SWAT snipers stationed here and there. Didn't they tell you what will happen if you recklessly charge in like this?"
The woman was terrified and asked in a trembling voice, "Wh-what's the result?"
Chen Zhou shrugged. "He'd probably be mistaken for a terrorist and shot dead on the spot."
The woman trembled, but forced herself to speak loudly, "Don't scare me! How could anyone do this in a society governed by law! I'm a law-abiding citizen!"
Chen Zhou scoffed, "A law-abiding citizen who's been scammed? Don't you feel ashamed saying that?" He stared at the woman, "Although you've caused a scene today, we haven't suffered any losses so far, so I can let you off the hook. Now go, or don't blame me for being impolite."
Seeing that Chen Zhou's tone had softened, the woman thought he was bluffing and said, "I knew you were lying to me. Do you dare to touch me? I'm not leaving today, so what can you do about it?"
Chen Zhou glanced at the commotion not far away, finally breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "I can't do anything about you, but the police are a different story."
Zhou Jingxing and Zhang Jin strode over. Zhang Jin showed his identification to the woman. "I heard you're here to seek justice? Tell me what you want to complain about." He looked up at the security guard and smirked. "Uncle, could you do me a favor? I didn't bring my body camera. Could you record a video or audio clip for me? Are there any empty houses nearby to house someone? My colleagues will be here soon to help."
This woman was nothing more than a scoundrel, who usually only tried to extort money from ignorant ordinary people. Seeing the administrative enforcement officer's certificate, she was so frightened her legs went weak. She stammered, "I...I didn't...I want to go home. It's all a misunderstanding, haha, a misunderstanding!"
Zhang Jin glared at her menacingly, "Whether there's a misunderstanding or not, come to the police station and we'll talk. Please!"
Zhang Jin took the woman, who was almost crying from fright, to the security room to wait for the nearby police officers to arrive. Shen Zhou and Zhou Jingxing returned to the exhibition hall—Shen Zhou had just received a call that the leaders would arrive in about five minutes.
Seeing the leaders beaming with smiles as they completed the ribbon-cutting ceremony amidst applause, Shen Zhou smiled and said to Zhou Jingxing, "It's a good thing you invited Zhang Jin, otherwise the opening ceremony might have been ruined by that person."
Zhou Jingxing said, "That's because you remained calm and handled things well; otherwise, how could things have gone so smoothly?"
Standing to the side, Sun Qian laughed and said, "Stop flattering each other. Shouldn't you be thanking me? Zhang Jin was originally reluctant to come, but I dragged him here."
"Yes, yes, thank you," Zhou Jingxing replied perfunctorily.
"If you're thanking me, go get me a glass of juice. I'm so thirsty."
Zhou Jingxing was reluctantly sent to the tea break area to get a drink. When he returned, he only saw Sun Qian. He handed the orange juice to Sun Qian and asked, "Where's Chen Zhou?"
"Thank you. He was just called away by Teacher Li, who said there was something to discuss."
As the art consultant for this exhibition, Li Weilin also attended the opening ceremony and just cut the ribbon on the stage with the leaders. Zhou Jingxing guessed that he was discussing the details of the exhibition with Shen Zhou, so he didn't take it to heart.
Meanwhile, in the office on the second floor of the exhibition hall, Li Weilin was having a serious conversation with Shen Zhou.
"Xiao Shen, come and sit down." Li Weilin nodded to Shen Zhou from the sofa, gesturing for him to sit down and talk.
Shen Zhou's heart pounded. Had something gone wrong with the exhibition? Why did Teacher Li look like she was about to interrogate him?
Shen Zhou first poured Li Weilin a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of him before sitting down next to him, one seat away.
Li Weilin gave him a satisfied look, took a sip of tea, and asked, "What do you think of Zhou Jingxing?"
"I think the opening ceremony... ah? Zhou Jingxing?" Shen Zhou was still pondering whether there was anything about the opening ceremony that Li Weilin was not satisfied with, when he unexpectedly asked about Zhou Jingxing.
Chen Zhou was bewildered. "He's a good person. He's meticulous in his work, has strong professional skills, and completed this restoration work very well."
“I’m not talking about work.” Li Weilin’s face lit up with pride. “Of course he’s excellent. How could my prized student be wrong?”
Li Weilin coughed. "I'm asking you what you think of him."
“I’ve been watching Zhou Jingxing closely. Although he’s honest and doesn’t talk much, he has a very good heart.”
The atmosphere suddenly became strange. Was she introducing him to a potential partner?
And Zhou Jingxing doesn't talk much? Teacher Li, you probably have some misunderstanding about him.
Li Weilin continued, "He's good-looking too. Although the income from the museum isn't high, the job is stable. With his skills, he'll get promoted sooner or later, so you don't need to worry about his future."
Shen Zhou was sweating profusely; he hadn't expected Li Weilin to suddenly adopt this matchmaking stance.
"Teacher Li, I haven't thought about my personal relationships yet..."
Li Weilin's eyes narrowed. "What? You didn't like him?"
Shen Zhou said awkwardly, "No, it's just that I think I might need to learn more about it..."
"If there's anything you don't know about him, ask me, and I can tell you right now."
Chen Zhou was at his wit's end. "What I mean is, let's not rush to make a decision now. After all, I haven't known him for very long."
Li Weilin sighed, "I was too hasty. I'm sorry, Xiao Shen, I've put you in a difficult position."
"It's okay, I know you're a good teacher who cares about and loves your students."
Li Weilin said, "I'm worried for him. He's not young anymore, and he's so hesitant to meet someone he likes. I have to try harder for him!"
Chen Zhou wanted to laugh, but he was timid and hesitant? You really have many misunderstandings about your students...
Li Weilin looked at Chen Zhou and said, "Just like a while ago, when the restored artifact exhibition was so badly criticized online, Jing Xing was extremely anxious and came to me to help you clarify things. Fortunately, I still have some influence, so I got it done. I thought your relationship would progress further after this, but I didn't expect you two to make absolutely no progress!"
Chen Zhou's pupils widened suddenly. "You mean Zhou Jingxing went to ask you for help? And the reversal of public opinion online was also a result of your influence?"
Li Weilin waved his hand. "I don't have that kind of power. At first, I got some official media and a few old friends to do an interview. After that, the situation developed in accordance with the will of the people." He paused. "Wait a minute, didn't you know he came to me for a favor?"
Should I know?
Chen Zhou felt a bittersweet ache in his heart. This fool, he did so much in secret but didn't tell me, and even lied to me, saying I was the chosen one. So the shift in public opinion was all because of him...
After Shen Zhou and Li Weilin finished their conversation, the two went downstairs together. Zhou Jingxing looked at them; one had a satisfied expression, and the other had a smile in his eyes. He wondered to himself if the teacher had praised Shen Zhou.
When Shen Zhou saw Zhou Jingxing, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes. He said to Zhou Jingxing, "Come with me."
The two walked to a corner of the exhibition hall. Seeing that no one was around, Chen Zhou asked him softly, "Why do you like me?"
Zhou Jingxing didn't expect that Shen Zhou had called him over to ask this question. He looked at Shen Zhou and honestly told him, "It was because you were good-looking at first."
Shen Zhou smiled briefly, but so quickly that Zhou Jingxing didn't even see his signature dimples.
"So that's why."
Zhou Jingxing corrected him, "It started because of this."
"I used to think it was a stupid thing for someone to feel joy or sorrow because of another person's existence, until I met you. I could list a whole bunch of reasons why I like you, but I don't want to do that."
"Why?" Chen Zhou's voice trembled slightly.
"Because you know better than I do how charming you are. Chenzhou, I want to stay by your side forever, as long as you're willing to give me that chance."
A buzzing sound suddenly filled Shen Zhou's mind, and before he knew it, he was already kissing Zhou Jingxing's lips.
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