Evan frowned, staring at him inscrutable for a long while, before suddenly asking, "Zhou Yan, this matter is of utmost importance, as you know. Everything we've done is to prepare for Madam's team's negotiations, so even I can't casually reveal other people's missions. Why do you insist on knowing? What is your purpose in needing to know?"
Zhou Yan sneered, took out a cigarette case from his pocket, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it with a "click".
Through the swirling smoke, his eyes revealed impatience: "Uncle Evan, have you forgotten why I approached Ning Yuan? Besides gathering intelligence on the Ning family, there's also—money! Her money and the Ning family's money behind her!"
He paused, his tone laced with sarcasm: "You don't really think I was joking when I said I wanted to inherit my elder brother's estate, do you?"
Zhou Yan took a drag of his cigarette and said lazily and roguishly, "Hmph, if it weren't for the money, would I bother applying for this mission and coming all the way to the Hong Kong government to suffer like this? Am I out of my mind? Who would risk their life for their superiors without money? Aren't you the same!"
Evan was taken aback by his words, then retorted angrily, "Your Zhou family isn't short of money! You have three sports cars stored in your garage!"
Zhou Yan exhaled smoke expressionlessly, his tone growing even colder: "How do you know we don't lack anything? You go to my castle and manor for vacation every now and then, do you really think I have mountains of gold and silver that I can't spend? Didn't you notice that my sports car is a ten-year-old model?"
Evan's eyes widened, as if he had heard something unbelievable: "Old Zhou clearly owns several banks, that castle, and those estates..."
Zhou Yan scoffed, his tone full of disdain: "A castle? Do you know how much it costs to maintain that dilapidated castle every year? Apart from the manor you often go to for vacation, all the other manors have been sold, leaving only the castle and one manor. The Zhou family relies entirely on selling land to maintain that pitiful semblance of dignity!"
He paused, then added, "As for the Zhou family's banks, ha, the Zhou family is no longer the controlling shareholder. They barely manage to cover the expenses of the castle and the remaining estate with those meager dividends. Do you really think the Zhou family is so powerful?"
While smoking, Zhou Yan said expressionlessly, "My second uncle, although he is an illegitimate child, thinks that because he is a man, he should be the rightful heir of the Zhou family. He insists that I call him second uncle, as if using a paternal title can prove that he is the rightful heir. It's utterly ridiculous!"
Evan was stunned, completely unprepared for the Zhou family's current state of decline.
Looking at Evan's shocked expression, Zhou Yan's mockery deepened: "If it weren't for my mother and second uncle... or rather, my second maternal uncle, fighting tooth and nail over the family fortune, resulting in a massive loss of assets, would I have had to go to such lengths?"
"Being an agent is exciting, but if you could live a peaceful life as a rich young master, traveling the world with beautiful women and yachts by your side, wouldn't that be a hundred times better than this life of licking blood off the knife? Who would be willing to risk their life just to maintain the Zhou family's pitiful dignity and connections?"
Evan was completely stunned, processing the impact of Zhou Yan's words.
He opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but didn't know where to begin: "Could it be..."
Zhou Yan gave him a cynical and roguish look: "That's right, congratulations, Uncle Evan, you are also one of the 'connections' that my second uncle has carefully maintained... As you know, we Chinese are rich, but we lack the protection of power, so we naturally have to spend money to socialize and lobby with people above us, and become good friends with you white gentlemen in order to protect our assets."
Evan's expression changed, and he wanted to say something more, but couldn't find the words.
He received plenty of money and hospitality from Zhou Lao Er, which is one of the reasons why he was so patient with Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan had already stubbed out his cigarette and said impatiently, "So, Uncle Evan, if you really care about me, then stop hindering my actions."
"I just want to figure out what Chen Jingsong is up to, forcing me to abandon my own money-making goals to cooperate with him. My time is precious, and I don't have time to play hide-and-seek with him. If it doesn't work out, I'll take matters into my own hands!"
Evan could tell that his tone was calm but contained a hidden murderous intent, and he couldn't help but get angry.
This kid has always been very capable, and the Zhou family has been supporting his career ever since they met...
If the Zhou family's financial situation is like this, it's no wonder this kid is so determined to make money.
Evan rubbed his temples: "Zhou Yan, you're like a rock in a latrine, both smelly and stubborn!"
Then, he leaned closer to Zhou Yan and whispered a few words in his ear.
Zhou Yan's expression gradually darkened as Evan spoke.
After Evan finished speaking, he straightened up and patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder, his voice low and serious: "Yan, this is no small matter. You must keep your mouth shut and cooperate fully with the instructions from above. Otherwise, forget about promotion and a raise; you might even lose your life!"
Zhou Yan lowered his eyes, his gaze seemingly carrying a dark, sharp glint: "Uncle Evan, don't worry, I understand the importance of this."
Evan patted Zhou Yan on the shoulder: "It's good that you understand. Remember, this matter ends here. Don't cause any more trouble. As long as you don't sabotage the operation, we'll all get a share of the Ning family's money."
A faint, enigmatic smile appeared on Zhou Yan's thin lips: "I want the lion's share."
Evan rolled his eyes at him, annoyed: "Dream on!"
After saying that, Evan turned and left the terrace, leaving Zhou Yan standing there alone.
Zhou Yan stood on the terrace with his arms crossed, the night breeze ruffling his hair.
The dazzling lights of Hong Kong Island, like stars scattered across the earth, appeared to him like cold fragments.
After a while, he lowered his eyes and looked into the courtyard.
Ning Yuan and Ning Bing'an stood there, as if waiting for a car.
Ning Bing'an leaned down and whispered something in her ear, then turned and left, leaving Ning Yuan standing there alone.
Zhou Yan raised an eyebrow, braced his arms on the balcony railing, and with agile body like a black panther ready to pounce, he leaped off the balcony in an instant!
The night breeze carried a slight chill, and Ning Yuan tightened her coat, waiting for Ning Bing'an to return from the restroom.
Suddenly, a sense of crisis, as if she were being watched by a wild beast, made her hair stand on end.
She whirled around, a long, thin, modified Emei dagger that her fourth uncle had made for her now in her hand—
She usually disguises this thing as a hairpin, sticking it in her hair; in reality, it's a weapon with a blood drain groove.
Almost instinctively, she pressed the Emei dagger against the newcomer's lower abdomen, her voice icy as she hissed, "Who!"
Upon seeing who it was, Ning Yuan's pupils contracted slightly—Zhou Yan!
He appeared behind her silently, like a ghost, so close they could almost feel each other's breath.
Meeting his unfathomable black eyes unexpectedly, Ning Yuan showed no fear: "Zhou Sir, I hope you won't always appear and disappear like this, lest I accidentally... hurt you."
Zhou Yan looked at her guarded posture, but his tone remained cold: "Are you really determined to marry Ning Bing'an according to the family's arrangement? I warned you, Ning Bing'an is a dirty man."
Ning Yuan chuckled lightly: "Heh? Then I'll be all ears. My future husband, where is he not clean?"
The word "husband" pierced Zhou Yan's eardrums like needles.
He stepped forward, closing in on her, his tone icy: "Nowhere is clean! There are some things I'm still waiting for evidence to come back from the United States."
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