Chapter 230

I just feel that I indirectly caused this incident to happen.

Lu Zhaoye sighed helplessly, then said seriously: "With You has nothing to do, and with Zhou Yinhe also has nothing to do, so you don't need to blame yourself, nor do you need to apologize to him on my behalf."

I... Wen Ling bit the corner of her lip, flushed with anger and said: "I said I didn't apologize for him."

Lu Zhaoye snorted laughter, turned to look at the countless wine bottles on the table.

Wen Ling still wanted to say something, but was pulled away by a blonde, blue-eyed beauty who walked over.

Zhou Yinhe remained silent from the moment he got in the car; Edward wanted to strike up a conversation, but closed his mouth awkwardly because of his expression.

He had just swallowed the words he hadn't spoken, when Zhou Yinhe opened his mouth: "Where has Wen Ling been living lately?"

Miss Wen used to live in Wen Garden regularly, but recently she moved to Southshore.

Then just live there; I'll stay at a hotel first, you arrange it. After saying that, Zhou Yinhe turned his head to look out the window.

Edward nodded, then pulled out a cigarette and was about to light it; as soon as he lifted his eyes, his gaze met Zhou Yinhe's renewed look.

His eyes showed no ripple, yet they made Edward feel chilled.

Edward smiled, tossed the cigarette onto the center console, and thought to himself, this young master of the Zhou Family has no lack of presence, not at all like someone raised with endless indulgence.

Zhou Yinhe gave a silent sneer: the eldest son of the Kuzu family, how can he be so timid?

Edward parked the car outside the hotel, intending to send Zhou Yinhe upstairs, but Zhou Yinhe lightly refused.

No need to send me; leave the car with me, you can go back—there's no need to come look for me before the house is repaired.

Edward was stunned, about to say something, when Zhou Yinhe already extended his hand in front of him, waiting for him to hand over the car key.

Alright, then Fifth Young Master, if you need anything, give me a call.

Zhou Yinhe hummed in acknowledgment, took the key and walked into the elevator.

He was already exhausted; upon learning that Wen Ling's memory only stopped at their breakup, he even found it hard to accept this fact.

Returning to the room, he leaned against the door, his strength no longer able to support him walking into the bedroom; he could only slowly slide down to sit on the floor.

Zhou Yinhe raised his hand to rub his forehead, a sour feeling at the tip of his nose, and tears dropped pattering onto the floor, making a crisp sound.

He couldn't convince himself; waves of tightness in his chest made even breathing difficult.

Just as he was silently weeping, the phone rang; Zhou Yinhe wiped away his tears and, with blurred vision, looked at the phone screen.

It was Ning Qing's call, but his hands were covered in tears, making the screen impossible to slide; this drove his already edge-of-collapse thoughts completely over the edge, and Zhou Yinhe burst into loud sobs, continuing to cry even after the phone hung up and then rang again.

He used his clothes to wipe the tears from his hands, sniffling as he went to answer the phone.

As Ning Qing's voice came through the phone, Zhou Yinhe's choked sobs could not be suppressed.

"Son, what's wrong?" Ning Qing said in a somewhat cautious tone.

Zhou Yinhe's crying tone was obvious; he muttered, "It's fine."

Ning Qing sighed before saying: "I already learned this from Jingyuan, son, don't rush; your fate with Wen Ling still exists, since you had that opportunity, there might not be a second chance, so work hard and don't cry."

This little son of hers cries more and more as he grows up; since he and Wen Ling broke up, she can't even remember how many times Zhou Yinhe has cried.

Zhou Yinhe hummed in acknowledgment, sniffling as he pushed himself up from the wall, walked to the window, and gazed at the cars coming and going below.

Ning Qing had thought he wouldn't want to talk to her, was about to find an excuse to hang up, when she suddenly heard Zhou Yinhe say: "Mom, I'm scared."

His panic was too obvious, written all over his face; Ning Qing felt a pang in her chest, almost wanting to cry.

Don't be scared, don't be scared, Mom and Dad and your older siblings are all here; if it really comes to that, Mom and Dad will go to M Country to force a marriage, forcing Wen Ling to marry you. She said with a trembling voice: "If worse comes to worst, there's still Jingyuan's side; if all else fails, let him study it properly, then send you back again, and we'll lock him up so he doesn't cause trouble."

Ning Qing knew her little son was currently on the verge of a fragile breakdown, so she could only try to cheer him up, even if it had just a slight effect.

Zhou Yinhe indeed let out a light laugh, exhaled a breath, and raised his hand to wipe away a tear.

He suddenly thought of something, frowned, and said: "Mom, do me a favor—I'll give you an address, it's a pet store; please go ask the owner what channel they use to purchase show-grade Maine Coon cats."

Ning Qing agreed, and before hanging up she urged: "Son, work hard, don't be afraid; Mom and Dad will back you up in everything."

Zhou Yinhe's lips curled slightly, and he gave a clear, crisp hum.

After hanging up, his mood improved a little; he sat on the balcony lounge chair, flipping through the photos and chat logs still left on his phone.

Something inexplicably popped into his mind, leaving him puzzled for a long time.

If Wen Ling's earlier breakup was due to being controlled, then now, without any device controlling her, why would she choose to break up with him?

Surely she isn't just genuinely bored of him, right?

Zhou Yinhe furrowed his brows tightly and called Ning Qing again.

Ning Qing answered quickly: "What's up? Did you forget to mention something?"

"Mom, what about Jingyuan?" Zhou Yinhe thought of Jingyuan, and a ruthless glint appeared in his eyes.

He's been locked by your father in the Zhou Family ancestral hall, given only water and steamed buns each day, with nothing else provided, and his company has also been shut down by your father. Ning Qing said this with a sigh, helplessly: "I really don't know what caused him to become like this; your father can question him all he wants and still get no reason, he——"

"Mom," Zhou Yinhe interrupted her, pressing: "Did he say anything about Wen Ling?"

Ning Qing thought seriously, shook her head, and said: "No, he only mentioned using you two for experiments; he didn't say anything else."

Zhou Yinhe lowered his gaze, his mind in turmoil, and casually found another excuse before hanging up.

At this time, it was daytime in Hua Guo; Ning Qing really missed her son and couldn't stay at home, so she instructed the driver to take her to the address Zhou Yinhe had sent.

The pet store wasn't busy at the moment; upon seeing Ning Qing, dressed in a noble lady's attire, walk in, the staff hurried forward.

Madam, hello, are you looking to pick a cat or a dog? Our shop has a full variety, most of them are show-quality——

Before she could finish, Ning Qing smiled and interrupted the clerk, speaking gently: "Hello, is the store owner in? I have something I'd like to discuss with him."

The clerk was a bit taken aback, but still hurried to make a phone call.

The owner was nearby; hearing the clerk say a noble lady had come to the store and wanted to talk to the owner, possibly a big deal, he hurried back, and upon seeing the gentle Ning Qing seated beside the sofa, he was genuinely taken aback.

He enjoys reading financial news, is fairly familiar with the major clans of Hua Guo, and this lady before him seems very familiar to him.