CH 26

Chapter 26: Inevitable Fate

Zhou Mushi was so surprised that his jaw dropped.

What sort of eternal love and enmity across three lives and worlds is this?

Regarding the affair between Zhou Hang and his ex-girlfriend Li Lingling, Lin Shucheng was with him throughout the entire process.

When Zhou Hang was young and reckless, he fell in love with a female classmate at school. After not much time had passed, he said he wanted to become a young father and even held a farewell-to-bachelorhood party. However, before he could bring his pregnant girlfriend home, he found out that the girl was pregnant with someone else’s child.

Zhou Hang, a young man who received higher education all year round, got into a fight with a muscle man who couldn’t even keep his pants up, and ended up in the police station. It was Lin Shucheng who bailed him out. As for his promiscuous ex-girlfriend Li Lingling, who didn’t even know who the father of her child was, she had to go to the hospital to have an abortion.

As a result, Zhou Hang had also been in a slump for a long time. Just as he was beginning to emerge from the shadow of his failed romance, Zhou Mushi threw him back in.

“Zhou Hang is not the type of person who seeks revenge. What happened in the past is over, so why is he getting involved with that Li Lingling now?”

“Such a doomed fate. Zhou Hang’s family introduced him to a potential partner, who happens to be a second or third-tier actress, and coincidentally, she is playing the supporting actress in this same drama.”

Zhou Mushi twitched her mouth corner. “Did Zhou Hang run all the way to Hengdian because of Li Lingling, or because of the new girlfriend introduced by his family?”

“Who knows? This guy has become more tight-lipped recently!”

Lin Shucheng’s husband, Shen Qirun arrived just in time, as if he had planned it, right after they finished gossiping.

“When you come to my house, remember to bring my daughter’s red envelope. I clearly remember that you, as her uncle, haven’t given her a red envelope yet.”

In the midst of their conversation, Lin Shucheng had already snuggled into Shen Qirun’s arms. The sight of these two lovey-dovey people was almost nauseating.

Zhou Mushi agreed absentmindedly, personally opened the car door, and sent Lin Shucheng off in the car.

Z City is a first-tier city, and even at half-past eleven in the evening, there were still many pedestrians and vehicles on the road.

Zhou Mushi slowly walked home along the pedestrian crossing, with the wind blowing on his face, already carrying a warm and cozy feeling.

Valentine’s Day has just passed not long ago. Some stores have not had time to remove the roses displayed at their doorsteps. However, having not returned for four or five years, Zhou Mushi suddenly felt that he was somewhat out of place with the nights here.

He had somewhat forgotten that he was back home. When he saw that the lights were still on in the study, he knocked on the door and with a stiff neck, told his father, “I’m not interested in getting in touch with the godson of the CEO of Yucheng Group. Please find someone else.”

Zhou Qingwen glared at him and became angry at Zhou Mushi’s stubborn expression. He slammed the pile of papers in his hand onto the solid wood table with a loud “bang”.

“Don’t think that just because you’ve spent a few more years studying outside, you can challenge your father. You haven’t even met him yet, and now you’re saying you don’t want to meet him?”

Zhou Mushi felt a little tired and yawned while standing in front of his desk. Zhou Qingwen saw this and thought that this kid was simply about to lose his mind!

With a thick palm slamming on the table, he said, “Do you think I’m here to negotiate with you? Whether you want to get involved or not, you have to get involved. Are you a three or five-year-old child? Should everything just be done according to your temper?”

“Can’t you arrange a girl from a certain family for me?”

A crack split across Zhou Qingwen’s face as he tightly gripped the cup in his hand. He almost threw the ceramic cup full of bamboo leaves at the person’s face, yelling “Get out of here!”

Zhou Mushi knew very well why his father had this attitude. While studying in the United States, his family had tried to set him up with numerous girlfriends, but he had rejected them all outright.

During that time, there was a bold and unrestrained girl who took herself to climb onto Zhou Mushi’s bed while completely undressed, and all she got in return was a hug from him.

Rolling the person and the quilt together, holding the girl’s clothes, and throwing them out of the door while hugging the person, Zhou Mushi had done the same before.

Since then, Zhou Qingwen had also given up on trying to persuade him. But even if his son had decided to go down the twisted path with no intention of returning, he couldn’t just let him do as he pleased. He still had to choose what he thought was best.

As for the words about the godson of the CEO of Yucheng Group, although it seems like an opportunity to connect with business talents, Zhou Mushi knows that his father is actually trying to set him up with a man.

Zhou Mushi felt a little aggrieved, which was strange since he had clearly chosen this path for himself in the first place. But now, his own father had given up on him, and he was the one feeling wronged.

Even if one feels powerless and believes that their son is like a piece of mud that can’t be lifted onto the wall, as a parent, they will try to find a way to give him a good home.

After drinking some alcohol at the dinner table and walking in the wind, Zhou Mushi blew away the effects of the alcohol, but his mind was in turmoil. This inner turmoil made his stomach uneasy, causing the acidic contents to churn and irritate his throat, giving rise to a burning sensation. He felt an indescribable fire raging inside him.

He returned to his room listlessly and threw himself on the bed. Memories surged like a tide, rushing towards him as if they were going to engulf the helpless person on the shore.

He struggled desperately, but once he was trapped in memories, he could only let them run wild. It was like a drowning person; the more they struggled, the more water would fill their abdomen and nasal cavity.

After sleeping for most of the day, now they’re having insomnia again…

Zhou Mushi hated insomnia, and he hated it even more when he was already numbed by alcohol.

The room was very quiet, with an old-fashioned clock hanging on the wall, complete with a swinging pendulum and a photograph. Each time the pendulum swung, it made a soft “click” sound, reminding people of the passage of time without being annoying.

In fact, during these years in the United States, Zhou Mushi gradually came to understand Jin Yang’s “frugal” way of living.

After all, his mother had passed away, and he came to the United States to study only after throwing a tantrum. Besides, he wasn’t someone who was easy to persuade or obedient.

Naturally, there were no days when everything was provided for him. During his two years of study, he received only the average living expenses of students at that time. After finishing his studies, he entered his family’s business and received only the appropriate salary. If he couldn’t achieve good results, his subordinates would even doubt his abilities.

His father was also tough, and didn’t even provide him with a place to rent. With only a month’s salary in hand, he had to budget carefully and plan how to spend it each month. Whenever he needed to buy something new, he always had to re-plan his budget.

Living life carefully budgeting every expense helped him understand the sayings “you don’t know how expensive the necessities are until you’re in charge” and “a penny saved is a penny earned.”

Despite his eyelids feeling heavy and struggling to stay open, Zhou Mushi’s mind was alert and focused. He retreated under the covers and couldn’t determine the exact time he finally drifted off to sleep.