CHAPTER 275: HIS SILLY LITTLE SCHEMES" -1

The Zhou Family understood Zhou Luchen’s heart. Only when he resolved to choose Shen Jing, to truly have her, did the Zhou Family grow anxious, and Zhou Zhengliang began to fret. Generations of clan elders had awaited his marriage, only to be met with an unsatisfactory outcome.

The old lady Zhou looked at him. Her grandson, she knew, deigned to visit only out of filial piety. Once he left Xiangshan, he would still choose that beloved girl of his.

"You bear the Zhou name. Do you think you can make your own decisions about something as vital as marriage? Go ask the uncles in the clan if they would accept such a woman as the family’s matriarch," she said.

Zhou Luchen remained composed, his temper unaroused. "I can’t be bothered to ask. It’s none of your concern. She’s not inferior to anyone."

These fiercely protective words, to the matriarch long accustomed to her high station, were merely inconsequential drivel—to be heard and dismissed.

With that, Zhou Luchen offered no further explanations to the old lady.

The old lady watched him for a long while, but he remained calm and indifferent.

"Grandma is very comforted that you’ve returned. It seems I still count for a little more than your precious sweetheart, after all. That you would even come to Beijing, presumably for her sake... I almost thought you resented Grandma, had forgotten all about me. Let’s not, grandmother and grandson, quarrel over a young woman."

Zhou Luchen strove to keep his voice steady. "You need to take care of yourself. If you can’t sleep at night, inform the butler, and I’ll call you personally. Save your strength to see your great-grandchildren. Isn’t that what you’ve been hoping for?"

After he finished speaking, the old lady turned her face away coldly. A servant gently tucked in the blankets and nodded to Zhou Luchen. "Second Young Master, you can go rest now. The kitchen has prepared clear porridge for you."

At this, Zhou Luchen turned and walked out of the room. The main doors were opened from the outside, and he stepped out.

The night grew deeper. Members of the Zhou Family clan were still gathered outside the courtyard.

The younger members of the family respectfully lowered their heads to greet Zhou Luchen when they saw him.

"Little Uncle."

Out of apprehension, the seven-year-old boy’s "Little Uncle" was uttered in a near whisper.

For a moment, it reminded him of Shen Jing peeking out from under the covers, timidly calling his name.

Zhou Luchen shifted his suit jacket to his other hand and looked at the child, who didn’t even reach his waist. He remained silent for a long moment.

The child, intimidated by that cold and desolate figure, shrank back slightly and followed quietly behind him. "I... I came to see Great-Grandma. Little Uncle, you haven’t been back to Shanghai for so long. I... I just missed you."

He acknowledged with a hum. That sound, a simple response to his young relative, softened some of his aloofness. The child continued, "My mom said Little Uncle is going to have a Little Aunt soon, and that’s why Great-Grandma is so angry."

A slight smile touched Zhou Luchen’s lips, and he hummed once more, his voice somewhat hoarse.

"Congratulations, Little Uncle."

Zhou Luchen bent down, his voice gentle. "Congratulations for what? Go back to the rear courtyard and do your homework."

The child nodded quickly. "Understood, Little Uncle."

The child before him was the youngest of the Zhou Family’s ninth generation. How old was he? Zhou Luchen couldn’t recall. He had a bodyguard prepare a large red envelope—compensation for his absence during the Spring Festival.

"Little Uncle is the best. Although Great-Grandma doesn’t like Little Aunt, I do," the child said.

Zhou Luchen had already walked far away.

The old Xiangshan residence was large, and the walk to the main gate was long.

Due to the marriage alliance with the Wei Family, United Bank had fallen completely under Zhou Luchen’s control. Now, the businesses run by the rest of the Zhou clan were peripheral to the Zhou Family’s core interests. Though profitable, they couldn’t compare to United Bank’s command over capital operations—the real prize.

Yet, as the sole direct heir of the Zhou Family, Zhou Luchen’s position was irrefutable.

Zhou Luchen remained silent, not acknowledging anyone as he descended the steps of the main house. After a moment, he seemed to deliberately remember something.

He turned around. "Who has been handling the business in Hong Kong and Macau in recent years?"

Someone replied, "The Sixth Branch."

Zhou Luchen turned back, nodding politely. "Sixth Granduncle, you’ve worked hard."

A single sentence, profound in meaning.

Zhou Zhenhua, the family’s Sixth Uncle, understood the implication behind Zhou Luchen’s "you’ve worked hard." He nodded in return. "Whatever the Second Young Master decides is right. It’s all business within the family; we should naturally coexist harmoniously." Zhou Zhenhua uttered the words "coexist harmoniously" with great warmth and sincerity.

The evening breeze rustled the open collar of Zhou Luchen’s loose, iron-gray shirt. Standing in the darkness, his nonchalant posture seemed to acquire a shadowy depth as a faint smile touched his lips.

Yet this shallow smile did not reach his eyes.

"Thank you for your understanding, Sixth Granduncle."

Outwardly, he maintained the deep-seated propriety and respect due to an elder.

He uttered no word about Shen Jing. Yet every unspoken sentiment was carefully calculated, ensuring that, aside from the Old Madam, no one in the Zhou Family would dare voice dissent.

As the most senior elder of the Xiangshan Zhou Family with significant influence, Zhou Zhenhua—his hair graying, dressed in a white robe adorned with red-crowned cranes—personally escorting Zhou Luchen out was a clear act of taking sides.

"You have a keen eye, Second Young Master. This Granduncle has no objections to your decisions. As for the Third, Fourth, and Fifth Branches, I will reason with them."

Seated in the car, Zhou Luchen replied with three calm words: "Much appreciated."

"Drive slowly, it’s late at night," said Zhou Zhenhua.

Zhou Luchen started the engine. "Your youngest son should go to the branch in Singapore. The prospects there are bright. Projects will be coming down from the European side. The information is reliable."

This was internal information, Zhou Luchen’s way of repaying the favor.

With a tacit understanding, Zhou Zhenhua nodded, watching the Bentley depart from Xiangshan into the night.

「The next day, Old Madam Zhou summoned the clan’s uncles for a discussion. However, each, as if having received some benefit, merely stated, "It is truly inconvenient for us to involve ourselves in the Second Young Master’s personal affairs."」

The Old Madam’s smile was cold.

Very well.

His father had just approached him yesterday. He used the visit to the old residence to see me as an opportunity to make his move as well.

"I merely wanted to choose someone suitable for him in every aspect, not for him to compromise himself, to stoop to coddling some young chit in the palm of his hand. Look at him. Is he even salvageable anymore?"

「 」

These past two days, Shen Jing hadn’t remained on Long Island. Instead, she had gone to Los Angeles, staying at Beverly Manor.

Upon returning to Manhattan, Zhou Luchen didn’t go directly to the estate. No need to guess, he thought, she’s still angry with me. She probably doesn’t even remember why she wanted me to change clothes.

Over the phone, Zhuang Ming reported, "She’s out shopping. Says she wants to go on a spree, travel a bit, and buy gifts for her business partners."

After all, the Second Young Master is in a tight spot, yet she has the leisure to amuse herself, Zhuang Ming mused, glancing at the shopping bag in his right hand.

In the silence, Zhou Luchen unhurriedly extinguished the cigarette in his hand, four cool words escaping his throat: "Heartless."

Zhuang Ming was speechless.

The man thoroughly crushed the last faint ember into ash. "Will she be back?"

Zhuang Ming reported truthfully, "She’s not coming back. She’s going to a concert at the Forum Arena at six."

In less than half a minute, Zhou Luchen lit another cigarette. "Leave her outside."

Zhuang Ming didn’t dare to raise his voice. He glanced at the ice cream that had been handed to him; its owner, Shen Jing, was offering a smile that was clearly a struggle for composure.

Zhuang Ming, taking it all in, relayed what he perceived from the ice cream’s owner: "She hasn’t been happy these past two days. She said she wants to cool down, and that you should too. When you two meet, you argue too easily."

Seeing Zhuang Ming say that, Shen Jing heaved a sigh of relief and looked up at the palm trees lining the streets.

Zhou Luchen’s temper hadn’t been the best lately. When they met, aside from quarreling, they would engage in desperate lovemaking that stretched until dawn, moving from the bathtub to the sofa.