You knew Zhan Bei Jue wouldn't show up without a reason, and his intentions today were definitely not good.
But unable to find an excuse to refuse, Zhou Jin Xiu could only tell his mother.
"You guys chat, I'll head back now. Don't worry, I'll be back before dinner."
As soon as he finished speaking, his father snatched the phone.
"Zhou Jin Xiu, you spend all day out of the company, not working, just indulging in debauchery! You're too busy to even have time to see your family, why don't you just drop dead from being busy?"
"I've been busy lately and haven't had time to discipline you. Don't think I'm not upset with you!"
"If your mother hadn't stopped me, I would have settled accounts with you long ago! Get back here quickly!"
"You live a life of leisure with my money every day, you're completely lawless!"
"If I don't see you within half an hour, I'm taking back your credit cards and car! Don't say I didn't warn you!"
With that, the call ended.
Zhou Jin Xiu cursed under his breath, then quickly informed the nurse at the station and rushed home.
At the Zhou residence, Zhan Bei Jue sat elegantly on the sofa, enjoying tea with his uncle, who was rarely off work.
Zhou Jin Bei had made a mistake a while ago and, fearing Zhan Bei Jue would expose her, sat opposite them with a submissive demeanor.
The atmosphere was pleasant and not stifling as the two men discussed business.
His uncle said, "I heard the electric company has made significant moves recently, launching a new circuit breaker that has been widely praised in the industry."
"Ah Jue, you excel in every field you enter, reaching the top in all of them. Uncle can't help but praise you."
Zhan Bei Jue smiled humbly.
"It's all thanks to Vice President Gao. He scouted the talent; I just provided the investment. There's no need for such praise."
"What has Ah Jin been up to this year? Last year, Uncle mentioned letting him take over the company this year. He's been busy and hasn't had time to ask, but is he adapting well?"
Knowing full well that Zhou Jin Xiu had done nothing and was indulging in idleness every day, Zhan Bei Jue had deliberately come to sow discord.
You touched my brother?
Let's see how you cry.
As soon as his uncle was mentioned, he shook his head.
"Don't mention this unfilial son to me. You two share some of the same genes, and you're both men who received the same education, so why is there such a big difference?"
"Look at you and then look at him. Not only does he not help me manage the company, but I'd be lucky if he doesn't squander the Zhou family fortune and make me die of anger!"
Hearing what he wanted to hear, Zhan Bei Jue immediately said in a faux innocent tone.
"Oh? So, the rumors I heard a while ago were true?"
"What rumors?"
His uncle and aunt's expressions visibly changed again.
Zhan Bei Jue pretended to have let something slip.
"Ah, it's nothing really. I just heard it through the grapevine."
"If it reached your ears, it's definitely not baseless. Tell me about it."
Zhan Bei Jue had no choice but to say.
"It's been quite some time. I was staying at a certain hotel in Beicheng for a business trip, and I encountered reporters following me. I initially thought they were filming me, but later realized they were filming an internet celebrity."
"My assistant said he happened to run into him, and that internet celebrity's boyfriend was Ah Jin."
"..." His uncle's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
"What does internet celebrity mean?"
Zhou Jin Bei explained to him, "It refers to women who become popular online through their talents or by attracting attention..."
From the sound of it, not a decent person!
His uncle flew into a rage, "This unfilial son! Does he think I earn money easily?"
"I worked hard to raise him, and instead of dating properly, he's dating a disreputable woman. How can he be so brainless!"
Zhan Bei Jue added, "I heard he only gave her a car, which isn't too much, is it?"
"With the Zhou family's resources, giving a girlfriend a car for dating isn't a big deal."
This time, Zhou Jin Bei was displeased.
"Which woman? My brother actually gave her a car! I don't even have one! Why her? What kind of car?"
Zhan Bei Jue, prepared for this, helpfully opened his phone.
"It's her. My assistant sent it to me, take a look yourself."
Zhou Jin Bei saw the screenshot. It showed an unnamed, 18th-tier internet celebrity, dressed provocatively, driving a fiery red Lamborghini.
And sitting next to her was none other than her brother!
"Dad, look, he actually gave that damned woman a Lamborghini! I don't even have a Mini Cooper, he's so biased! I'm not happy! Hmph!"
If this continued, his uncle would have a heart attack from anger.
Zhan Bei Jue took his phone back.
"It's no big deal, just a car. I'll buy you one."
"When you have time, let my assistant take you to pick one out. Choose whatever you like."
"Dad! Look, second brother is even more caring than my brother!"
His uncle sighed repeatedly.
"You're not exactly a worry-free child either. Don't think I don't know. You didn't study well abroad and did plenty of bad things."
"Your aunt has always indulged you. If it weren't for her, I would have cut off your cards long ago."
"I've arranged for you to attend a university here in China. You're to report on Monday. No driving, have the driver take you!"
"Zhou Jin Bei, this is the last chance I'm giving you. If you mess up again, I'll break your legs."
His father was truly angry.
Zhou Jin Bei, being sensible, immediately became quiet, intimidated.
Zhan Bei Jue, intending to win her over, spoke up for her.
"My mother often tells me Jin Bei is smart and well-behaved, and hasn't done anything out of line. Uncle, please don't scold her."
"Since you're worried about her driving, I'll get her something else. Jin Bei, tell your second brother what you like, and you can pick anything."
As they were speaking, the rumbling sound of car engines could be heard from the courtyard.
Zhou Jin Xiu had returned. Everyone stopped talking and turned their gazes towards the entrance, waiting for him to enter.
Zhou Jin Xiu parked his car and strode in.
"Dad, Mom, second brother, what a surprise to have you all here today..."
"Slap!"
His uncle grabbed the bone china teacup in front of him and threw it at him.
"You scoundrel, you still know how to come back? Get down on your knees!"
He hadn't even spoken a word after entering, and they were already furious?
"What did I do wrong? Why are you so angry?" Zhou Jin Xiu was confused.
"My words don't matter anymore, do they? You don't understand when I tell you to kneel? You dare talk back to me?"
"..." Zhou Jin Xiu looked at everyone staring at him and reluctantly knelt down.
"Come closer to me! Why are you kneeling so far away? Are you afraid of being hit?"
Zhou Jin Xiu had no choice but to walk over and kneel before his father.
"What happened? How did I offend you?"
"You degenerate, you still have the nerve to ask? Don't you know what you've done wrong? I won't say it today; you tell me yourself. What good deeds have you been doing behind my back for the past six months?"
"I..."
"How many girlfriends have you been dating behind my back? How much money have you spent on them? How much of the Zhou family's wealth have you squandered? How much of my reputation have you ruined? Speak!"
"I haven't done anything, I haven't dated any girlfriends. Did you hear something from someone?"
"Do I need to hear from someone? Don't I have eyes to see? Zhou Jin Xiu, how much of the thirty million I gave you for your startup at the beginning of the year is left? Take it out and let me see!"
"..."
"Slap!" He threw another cup.
"Don't force me to pull up your bank statements. Tell me yourself, how much is left now?"