Chapter 62: At least you still have a chance

The photo lay before him, and he didn't know how to explain it to make Wen Ling believe.

Wen Ling put away her phone, her fingers moved a few times and she sent the photo to him, softly saying: "Think about it properly, don't say I'm slandering you."

She lowered her head and continued eating; Zhou Yinhe had no choice but to get up and sit back down, the more he thought the more uncomfortable he felt, and he sent the photo to their group chat.

【When was this photo taken? Why is Ruan MiaoMiao by my side?】

Others in the group chimed in, seeing him ask this, they found it somewhat amusing.

【Are you asking us?】

【Xiao Wu, it's only this late and you're already drunk?】

They were all being sarcastic, Zhou Yinhe furrowed his brows, and privately messaged Qin Yuchen.

Qin Yuchen usually doesn't like speaking in the group and doesn't read group messages, so he could only be reached via private chat.

Qin Yuchen replied quickly, but only sent a question mark.

Obviously, that question mark meant much the same as what those people in the group meant.

Zhou Yinhe had no choice but to send another message: 【When exactly in these three years have you brought Ruan MiaoMiao to the gatherings? Think quickly.】

Qin Yuchen was speechless, but still replied: 【Big brother, are you crazy?】

Zhou Yinhe lifted his eyes to glance at Wen Ling, who was eating quietly with a calm expression, then lowered his gaze and continued: 【You brought the person, you caused the trouble, you settle it for me, think quickly.】

Qin Yuchen could only say: 【I'll go look through the records.】

He doesn't often return home, and Ruan MiaoMiao's suggestion to go with him to the gatherings was basically made via message.

He spent considerable effort to record the dates for Zhou Yinhe, and by the time he sent them to Zhou Yinhe, they had already finished dinner.

Wen Ling didn't dwell on it; having felt upset when she saw the photo, now even if she feels uneasy inside, she won't be as sorrowful as when she first saw it.

She said a word to Zhou Yinhe, then entered the elevator and went up to the third-floor study, leaving Zhou Yinhe alone sitting in the first-floor living room, even Hehe was taken away by Wen Ling.

He looked at the long list of dates on his phone, and only then realized that Ruan MiaoMiao had appeared at their gatherings so many times.

He frowned, a flicker of impatience flashed in his eyes, and he sent Qin Yuchen a message: 【Don't bring her anymore.】

After Qin Yuchen agreed, he then asked him: 【Have you and Wen Ling reconciled?】

Why do these people always bring up the sore spot? Zhou Yinhe was annoyed, but still replied: 【No, I can't win her over.】

Qin Yuchen replied with an "oh", Zhou Yinhe didn't continue chatting with him, and seriously tried to recall exactly which occasion he had been photographed.

Wen Ling locked the study door from inside and called Lu Zhaoye.

Lu Zhaoye's tone was very unfriendly: "What do you want?"

Wen Ling questioned: "What are you up to? When Zhou Yinhe answered my call, did you say something to anger him?"

Lu Zhaoye seemed to laugh angrily, gave a "heh", and coldly said: "Does your question make sense? Why would I anger him?"

"..." Wen Ling felt something was off; each had their own story, and she didn't know whom to believe for a moment.

"It's fine, hang up." Lu Zhaoye was very irritable, and before hanging up he added: "Wen Ling, you truly have no conscience."

Wen Ling froze upon hearing that, was about to speak when the call was already hung up; she frowned and called back, but the call showed it could not be connected.

Had she been blocked? Wen Ling found it utterly unbelievable, so she could only send Lu Zhaoye a message.

【Do you have to be so petty? You two each hold your own version, and I can't even ask you?】

The other party quickly replied: 【ThankyouforremindingmenottoblockyourWeChat. Let'sbreakupforaweek. Goodbye】

【???】

Unfortunately the message wasn't sent, showing it was rejected.

Wen Ling truly hadn't expected Lu Zhaoye to react so strongly; they often argued before, but those fights were fierce and then forgotten, and she had never experienced such a situation.

She glanced at the time in M Country and called Wen Zhuo.

Wen Zhuo answered quickly, his voice gentle; after listening, Wen Ling felt her heart warm, and nobody had a more reliable younger brother.

"Older sister, good evening."

Wen Ling unconsciously softened her voice and lightly laughed: "Zhuo, are you busy with work?"

"Not busy, grandfather is resting, I'm outside." Wen Zhuo laughed and asked: "Older sister, what about you?"

"I'm at home." After Wen Ling answered, she continued: "Help me out."

Wen Zhuo raised an eyebrow at the man sitting beside him and asked: "What favor?"

"See Lu Zhaoye and help me beat him up." Wen Ling said word by word: "Better yet, also scold him thoroughly, scold him until he's drenched in dog's blood, then have him come groveling to apologize to me!"

Wen Zhuo chuckled lowly, agreed, and Wen Ling hung up.

"Heh."

Wen Zhuo looked at the man sneering nearby and seriously asked: "Should I beat you first or scold you first?"

"Let me beat you, it's also a good chance for me to stretch my muscles." Lu Zhaoye stood up, stepped over the boxing ring's safety rail, put on gloves and protective gear, and gestured for Wen Zhuo to hurry.

Wen Zhuo had no choice but to follow closely; the two exchanged heavy blows, punches thudding loudly, until both were exhausted and stopped.

Leaning against the rail, Lu Zhaoye took off his boxing headgear and threw it to the ground, muttering: "Zhou Yinhe is just a petty person."

Wen Zhuo slowly rose to his feet and asked: "What did your father say?"

"The old man relieved me of my post, letting me reflect properly." Lu Zhaoye sneered: "Zhou Yinhe really is something—he investigated my background to the core, sent those things to my father's sons, they all dislike me, and naturally won't miss this chance to suppress me."

"You brought this on yourself, no blame on others, but my older sister probably doesn't know about this." Wen Zhuo recalled Wen Ling's tone from just now on the phone, the corner of his mouth slightly lifted, his eyes a bit cool: "Zhou Yinhe deliberately concealed it; even if this matter caused a stir in M Country, it likely wouldn't reach my older sister's ears."

He asked: "Guess, if she knew the full story of this matter, would she first blame you or Zhou Yinhe?"

Lu Zhaoye lifted his eyelids to glance at Wen Zhuo, seeing his face written with the four big characters "schadenfreude", he suddenly sneered, his expression ominous: "You don't know your sister's temper?"

He propped himself on the rail and stood up, his tone carrying a hint of cold mockery: "When it comes to lacking conscience, she ranks first."

Wen Zhuo heard this, somewhat displeased, frowned and said: "How is my sister lacking conscience?"

"If she had a conscience, she wouldn't abandon everything in M Country to go look for Zhou Yinhe!" Not mentioning it is fine, but bring it up and Lu Zhaoye flies into a rage.

"For the sake of a Zhou Yinhe, she runs to Hua Guo to suffer injustice; at first she even called me to cry, now that things have improved she's partial again—where does she have any conscience?" When Lu Zhaoye gets angry, English starts spilling out; compared to speaking Chinese, which he isn't very familiar with, English suits him better for talking back.

Wen Zhuo burst into laughter upon hearing it, though his smile held a bitterness that probably only Lu Zhaoye could understand; he tossed out a sentence and then jumped down from the boxing ring and left.

"Be content, at least you still have a chance; in my sister's eyes, my identity can only be that of a younger brother."

Watching his retreating back, Lu Zhaoye let out a breath.