Still a child
"Breaking news from this station—early this morning, our city's police, in conjunction with the General Administration of Customs, cracked a major smuggling case involving a huge sum of money and causing a severe negative social impact. Investigation revealed that the defective products originated from the Yulong Group. According to relevant provisions of the Criminal Law, smuggling counterfeit and substandard products not only carries criminal penalties, but the funds involved will also be confiscated. The case is currently under further investigation..."
Snap!
The wall-mounted TV was turned off, and Yu Zou withdrew his gaze, feeling quite regretful. The next second would be the scene of him being taken away by the police, and he was quite curious to know how his filming went.
Across from them sat a pair of uniformed police officers, an Alpha and a Beta, both with short hair. The Alpha tapped the table, his voice hoarse, indicating he had been working several sleepless nights: "Where was the original destination of the cargo?"
"The Strait of Vegetarianism".
"Why send it there?"
"To sell? Shao Jinfeng wanted the goods; he was in charge of overseas business."
Why were the goods able to clear customs smoothly?
"Because it meets the standards. Customs has checked it and there's a report. Everything is up to standard. There are still some left in the warehouse, which you can also inspect."
Alpha clicked his tongue. This prisoner was cunning. Everything was as he said, but the export consisted of two parts. To use it, it had to be assembled. Once the two parts were assembled, problems would arise. Unfortunately, there was only one type of part left in the warehouse. So he changed the subject: "Where did your company's large amount of funds go?"
"I don't know, I didn't share it."
"You didn't know? The funds were withdrawn after you joined the company, and you're saying you didn't know?"
"I don't know, officer. I only have partial control over Long's operations; the real power still lies with Shao Yuan."
Who is Shao Yuan?
"My biological Alpha father."
"Not on good terms?"
"Very bad."
"So he'll still give you the company?"
"Officer, if you can find out why, I'm willing to give you money. Just name your price, and I'll try my best to gather it."
Snap!
Alpha slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "Do I look poor? Do I lack this little bit of money?" He stood up, took off his coat, and was about to show Yu Zou his crocodile skin belt.
"Ahem." Beta's partner's cough stopped him, but he had already stood up, casually adjusting his coat and showing off his police rank: "You dare to mock the police? You'll be locked up for another 24 hours!"
When Yu Zou came out of the police station, Zhao Junjie and Li Kuo were waiting at the door wearing sunglasses, one holding mugwort water and the other holding pomelo leaves.
After completing the formalities, the three of them went to Li Kuo's club and stayed up all night. Li Kuo was particularly pleased. Because the Luo family's shipping routes were obstructed, their goods could not arrive in the capital on time. Facing breach of contract penalties and a crisis of reputation, they had no choice but to use backup routes and warehouses and try to get through customs to shorten inspection time and make up for the losses. Yu Zou told them to tighten customs inspections. Even if he had connections everywhere, he would still suffer a lot.
When Yu Zou returned to work, Shao Yuan had been waiting for him in the office for a long time.
Yu Zou greeted him, and this time he sat down on the sofa first, saying, "Why didn't you call me? I would have come back if you had called me, why waste time waiting here?"
Shao Yuan was furious. He knew that because of Zhao Li's influence, he dared not act rashly. Yu's move not only froze his accounts and cut off his way out of the country, but also forced Shao Jinfeng, who had already fled, to return.
Shao Yuan had been smoking before Yu Zou returned, and now even nicotine couldn't keep him rational and calm. He roared, "Do you know what you've done? Do you want me dead? Do you want your brother dead?"
Yu Zou sneered, "Surprised? Didn't you want me dead too? You were the one who said there was a part of you in my body." From the moment he forced him to inherit Yu Long's legacy, he had already prepared to make him a scapegoat.
He walked a short distance around the desk and rushed up to Yu Zou: "You idiot! You'll get us all killed! Do you think I sent Jin Feng abroad? Why did I remarry your mother..."
At the crucial moment, Shao Yuan shut his mouth, his tightly pursed lips trembling uncontrollably.
"Why?" Yu Zou pressed.
"You think you can outmaneuver Luo Zangqi? Those surnamed Zhao and Li are your friends?" Shao Yuan grabbed Yu Zou by the collar with both hands, lifting him off the sofa like a hoarse leopard. "Before you are killed by Luo Zangqi, you will be killed by your friends first!"
"Don't blame your father for not reminding you." Shao Yuan let out a long breath, regaining some composure. He loosened Yu Zou's collar and straightened his clothes carefully, his voice almost gentle. "The police told me that in addition to defective goods, they also found addictive substances on those ships. Why don't you ask if the ship owners have been arrested?"
Shao Yuan sensed that Yu Zou's body was stiff, and his bad mood dissipated considerably. He continued, "November 17th, the day after tomorrow, 10 a.m., at Banshan Tea House. You must come. Your mother will also be there."
Through the green and yellow leaves, the wooden structure of the gable roof appeared and disappeared intermittently, and the gray tiles extended wide eaves to both sides, like birds poised to take flight. Yu Zou leaned against the car and stared at it for a long time in a daze.
About fifteen minutes later, Shao Yuan's car arrived. The passenger seat was immediately pushed open, and a quiet and dignified woman stepped out. She was over fifty years old, but still retained her charm. Her extremely pale face showed slight signs of fatigue, and her eyes, which resembled Yu Zou's ten-fold diluted features, were shrouded in a mist of worry. The moment she looked over, Yu Zou was instantly reduced to a seven or eight-year-old child. All the negative emotions rushed out from her shrinking heart, and she even choked up a little: "Mom, are you alright?"
Yu Wangyue wiped away the tears from the corner of her eye with her finger, her voice more broken than the autumn leaves: "I'm sorry. It's all my fault, I've dragged you down with me."
"Mom! You don't need to apologize. I know you were worried about me, which is why you let him take advantage of you."
Yu Wangyue shook her head and sighed again: "This should be a matter between the two of us, and I should handle it. It must be tiring to always involve you."
"How can I watch my mother and Yu Long be ruined by him?"
The high compatibility brought the mother only false pleasure and endless torment. Shao Yuan meticulously planned every step, aiming to obtain everything he desired but lacked from Yu Wangyue.
How could two people so different be so well-matched? Everyone says the body always takes care of others, but how could genes choose someone like this?
“I can’t stand by and watch you be ruined.” Yu Wangyue never cared about Long’s fate or whether he stayed or left, but only said, “Remember, always put your own safety first. Listen carefully to what your mother is about to say.”
Yu Wangyue succinctly explained the current situation with Long: the Luo family's intention to annex, and Zhao Li's opportunistic approach, were all part of a power struggle with Long. They were already on the table; the first step was to find a way to make them unable to take a bite. Yu Wangyue pointed in a direction, and the gloom that had hung over Yu Zou for days finally saw a ray of light.
"None of all these difficulties make me as happy as you finding someone you truly love." Yu Wangyue reached out and touched her son's hair, the fine lines at the corners of her eyes an extension of happiness. "I can teach you business tactics, but the feelings of love and being loved cannot be taught. I am truly happy that you can have such a person."
Yu Zou immediately understood: Shao Yuan hadn't told his mother that he was forced into an arranged marriage. The reason he was allowed to meet his mother was so she could instruct him on the next steps in the power struggle. Didn't his mother understand this?
"Mom." Yu Zou's heart clenched with the urge to save his mother, a mixture of pain and helplessness. "Do you still love him?" After being betrayed, used, and hurt so much by him, do you still love him?
Yu Wangyue was neither surprised nor evasive, and smiled, saying, "Children shouldn't interfere in their parents' affairs." This was an admission.
"Why?"
"You'll understand when you're a little older."
How much older do I have to grow before I understand? Yu Zou didn't understand, he just couldn't understand.
Shao Yuan realized they had said enough, so he got out of the car and passed by them, coldly leaving them with only one sentence: "Follow me."
He was in front, the mother and son behind. The corridor soon came to an end, and Yu Zou had many things he hadn't said but could only remain silent.
In the tea room, Du Junzhang, dressed in a suit and tie, sat at the head of the table, staring intently out the window. In front of him, besides the tea set, was a row of test papers. Separated by a chair was Du Pianjian, who was leaning back in his chair, his left hand idly tapping on the table as if playing the piano.
Upon seeing people enter, Du Junzhang withdrew his gaze and stood up, while Du Pianjian slowly followed suit.
The two sides greeted each other, shook hands, and introduced themselves briefly before taking their seats.
Then, both lawyers and a notary arrived. The lawyer standing next to Shao Yuan distributed the folders to the five people at the table.
As Shao Yuan opened the package, he said, "We're getting engaged on December 9th and getting married on March 21st next year. Both are auspicious dates; we consulted the temple and drew lots for the dates."
The documents detailed the entire process over the past six months, including wedding attire, banquet, route, and budget—leaving no detail overlooked, both rushed and grand. Assets, resources, equity, and connections were all meticulously planned, demonstrating both precision and elegance.
Yu Zou couldn't concentrate and secretly glanced at the person opposite him. Du Jun, wearing black-rimmed glasses, had a habitually taut mouth that looked like he was revising legal articles, flipping through each page at almost a steady pace. In contrast, Du Pianjian hadn't turned a single page of the documents in his hand for a long time, and he seemed lost in thought.
Perhaps only Yu Wangyue was truly happy. Yu Zou looked at her mother, the only one who didn't know the truth.
Du Junzhang turned to the last page, which stated that after the marriage, Du Pianjian would hold 5% of Yulong's shares, and if the marriage lasted for three years, an additional 3% of shares would be added. Shao Yuan raised his hand and said, "Everything is negotiable."
“That’s enough.” Du Junzhang remained expressionless.
After both lawyers reviewed each other's documents, they presented them to Yu Zou and Du Pianjian, handing them pens to sign. The documents would take effect the day after their marriage. Yu Zou looked at Du Pianjian's signature on the document—classical and elegant, clearly the work of a calligrapher—and hesitated for a moment before writing his own name.
After the lawyer left, Shao Yuan said, "Shall we order some food?"
The food was served, and as we chatted and laughed, it started raining outside, and the rain didn't stop until the meal was over.
Du Pianjian stood at the door, staring blankly up at the sky, holding the folder in her hand.
As Yu Zou drove past the door, he saw Du Pianjian looking in his direction through the rearview mirror. Hesitant, he shifted into reverse, then backed up to the door. The window slowly rolled down, and Yu Zou asked, "Why aren't you going back?"
Du Pianjian stared at him coldly without speaking. Only after Yu Zou looked away and started the car did he say, "Are you very busy?"
"What?" The tone was so harsh that even Yu Zou found it hard to remain polite. He had asked out of good intentions, so why was he being blamed?
"You are an hour late."
"Isn't it ten o'clock?"
"Nine o'clock," Du Pianjian said decisively. "I'll be waiting here at nine o'clock."
Yu Zou felt a lump in his throat, licked his lips, calmed himself down, and said, "Sorry, I remembered the time wrong."
Du Pianjian, no longer angry, said, "I want to go back."
Why didn't you ride in your dad's car?
"He was busy and went straight back to work, so he didn't have time to take me home."
"Let me take you home."
The windshield wipers were moving back and forth rhythmically.
Yu Zou began to regret his actions, wondering why he had gone to such lengths and made himself a victim. But who could bear to leave him standing there all alone?
Kindness is your sin, Yuzo.
In the passenger seat, Du Pianjian was bored, so he started flipping through his folders. Suddenly, he asked, "Do you remember who designed the wedding dress?"
"I didn't notice."
As the car reached the bend in the mountain road, Yu Zou checked the rearview mirror and slowly turned the steering wheel. When his gaze returned, he caught a glimpse of Du Pianjian's hand on the joystick, as if he were about to push it forward.
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