Chapter 120

Zhou Shuanglin hissed, then could only let out a cold snort and walk toward the dining hall.

Zhou Xuexiao was chatting with Zhou Yanqiu about company matters at the moment; seeing the eldest brother enter, his expression still a bit odd, he asked: "Eldest brother, what's wrong? Did I just hear Xiao Wu's voice? Where is he?".

"He's there sucking up to his mother." Zhou Shuanglin sat down, saying lightly.

Zhou Yanqiu raised his eyebrows at the words, threw down "I'll go check it out," and walked toward the living room.

Ning Qing was excitedly fiddling with those bags and jewelry; Zhou Yinhe sat nearby, head down looking at his phone; Zhou Yanqiu walked over, kicked Zhou Yinhe's leg, and asked: "You have to be asked to come back, and now you're putting on airs."

Ning Qing's bags and jewelry were already plenty; what Zhou Yinhe brought back she already had, but this was a son's intention she had never seen before—in her eyes, today, no, at least for a week, her little son's status was the highest.

Seeing the eldest son bullying the youngest, she furrowed her brows and scolded: "Why are you bullying your younger brother?"

"……" Zhou Yanqiu was so angry he laughed, looked at Ning Qing, and said: "Mom, don't be so biased; I've bought you so many things before and you never favored me this much."

"Then you also can't bully your younger brother."

"Fine, I'm disturbing you mother and son." Zhou Yanqiu tugged at the corner of his mouth, left a fake smile, then turned and left.

Zhou Yinhe didn't speak the whole time; only after Zhou Yanqiu returned to the dining hall did he interject: "Mom, my brother won't be angry, will he?"

"No." Ning Qing was quite certain.

Since childhood, the four siblings have never gotten angry because they favored Xiao Wu; even when Xiao Wu did something bad they couldn't tolerate, they would stop him.

Zhou Congyu and Zhou Zhaoning came back together; seeing Zhou Yinhe be so generous, they both found it a bit strange.

"How come you're so generous?" Zhou Congyu sat warmly smiling beside Zhou Yinhe, watching Ning Qing show off her jewelry in front of Zhou Zhaoning.

Zhou Yinhe didn't even lift his head, continued looking at his phone, and casually said: "Nothing much, I bought it because I thought it suited Mom."

"Really?" Zhou Congyu glanced at him sideways, caught a glimpse of Zhou Yinhe's phone screen seeing he kept sending messages, and clicked his tongue: "When are you planning to bring Wen Ling to our home as a guest?"

Ning Qing also leaned in upon hearing that, asking: "Yeah, you've basically met the parents already; when are you planning to bring her? Mom wants to prepare a gift for her."

Zhou Yinhe also wanted to bring Wen Ling, but Wen Ling seemed somewhat unwilling about it.

"Hmm, let me ask her." Zhou Yinhe lowered his eyes and responded perfunctorily.

Ning Qing sighed, said "Fine," and went to the dining hall together with Zhou Zhaoning.

After Zhou Congyu waited for the mother and daughter to leave, he then smiled and asked Zhou Yinhe: "Is it that Wen Ling is unwilling to settle down with you?"

How could Zhou Yinhe admit that? He replied coldly: "Impossible, we just haven't considered it yet."

"Really?" Zhou Congyu's demeanor was just like Zhou Shuanglin's that morning; Zhou Yinhe stood up, annoyed and angry, retorting: "Then what?"

He turned and walked away, closely followed into the dining hall, leaving Zhou Congyu behind who saw through everything.

——

When Wen Ling arrived at the hotel, Lu Zhaoye had already been waiting in the private room for a little while.

Seeing Wen Ling come, he said lightly: "You're still as unpunctual as before."

Wen Ling snorted and laughed: "That's still better than you, who says you'll disappear and then does."

Lu Zhaoye gave a light snort, gesturing to the waiter standing by that they could start serving dishes.

Wen Ling sat opposite him and asked: "What do you want to tell me?"

"What's the rush? Talk after we eat." Lu Zhaoye lazily lowered his eyes, poked his plate with chopsticks, not lifting his head, and asked: "How come? Is Zhou Yinhe waiting for you outside?"

"No, just curious." Wen Ling pursed her lips, shook her head, imitated him by poking the plate with chopsticks, and said boredly: "Since arriving in Sijiucheng, life has been too leisurely; I'm not used to it."

Lu Zhaoye finally deigned to look at her, lazily lifting his eyelids, then wordlessly withdrew his gaze.

"You have a man with you every day, and you're still bored?"

"How can that be the same? Men are men, boredom is boredom."

She confidently slapped her chopsticks, eagerly said: "Aren't you planning to open a company in Sijiucheng? Can I join you? I have a large sum of funds sitting idle in the bank; I'll invest in you."

"No need, I have money."

"Are you sure you don't need it? Isn't your card frozen by your dad?"

"In your eyes, am I still a good-for-nothing second-generation living off my parents' money?" Lu Zhaoye glared at her, gritting his teeth: "He froze the family dividend card; he can't freeze my own card."

"Fine." Wen Ling pursed her lips, somewhat regretful: "I still wanted to be your sponsor, but it seems there's no chance."

The waiter began serving dishes one after another; Lu Zhaoye swallowed the words he hadn't spoken, and only after the waiter had cleared away did he continue speaking.

"There's an opportunity; I sought you out precisely for this."

Wen Ling was somewhat surprised, also somewhat delighted, sat up straight excitedly and asked: "Really? You really want me to invest in you?"

"Mm." Lu Zhaoye didn't stand on ceremony with her, handed over the proposal he'd prepared, explained it a bit, then asked: "Are you willing?"

"Willing, I trust you." Wen Ling didn't even need to look; she pushed the proposal forward, clasped her hands and placed them against her cheek, her eyes seeming to sparkle.

"Can I be the chairman?"

Lu Zhaoye: "……"

"Yes."

"Wow." Wen Ling clapped her hands, saying: "Remember, from now on call me Chairwoman Wen."

Lu Zhaoye looked at her like that, couldn't help laughing: "Fine, Chairwoman Wen."

He stood up to serve Wen Ling some food, feigning nonchalance as he asked: "Don't you need to tell Zhou Yinhe? I'm afraid he'll get angry and not want you to be with me."

"What's there to be angry about?" Wen Ling frowned: "He's not that petty; it's just a partnership to start a company, not anything else."

"Really?" Lu Zhaoye said softly.

It seems Wen Ling truly doesn't understand men's jealousy; it would be fine if it were that simple, but fearing Zhou Yinhe might not agree, he won't say it outright and will secretly trip her up.

"Of course, don't worry."

Lu Zhaoye slowly nodded: "All right."

He could already imagine how dark Zhou Yinhe's face would turn upon finding out.

The two finished their meal; Zhou Yinhe also finished eating at the Zhou family home.

He greeted the elders at home, was about to get up to pick up Wen Ling, but was stopped by Second Uncle Zhou.

Zhou Xuexiao said lightly: "Xiao Wu, I heard your dad say that recently you were in M Country, you didn't even dodge a bullet. How about this: go back and say hello to Wen Ling; the day after tomorrow I'll head back, and you can come with me.".

"……" Zhou Yinhe's face stiffened, he directly refused: "I'm not going."