Recalling the scene at the hospital that day, recalling their vast family connections, and then looking at himself.
Don't bother with that.
Ah Zhong had no standing to inquire about their affairs. He took a look and then quietly withdrew from the group.
His father hadn't returned to the country in a long time. Hearing that Ah Zhong was taking him back these days, he was so excited that he kept packing his luggage.
"Jia Ming, I bought some specialties for your Uncle Zhang and the others. I've packed a whole box, and I just weighed it. It's 23 pounds. Can I take it on the plane?"
"Can you help me see if there's anything else I need to bring? When are we leaving?"
Ah Zhong paused for a few seconds.
"If you're really in a hurry, I'll book the tickets now."
Zhou Jinxiu came downstairs wearing a set of Zhan Beijue's clothes.
After all, he was young and had good genes. A quick tidy-up, and the image of the dashing rich young master was back.
However, because of his worries, he looked dispirited and timid.
Zhan Beijue walked up to him, a rare gesture. He patted his shoulder and encouraged him.
"Straighten your back, lift your head, and don't look like the sky is falling."
"So what if you owe a few million? You won't die. Come on, I'll go with you."
Zhou Jinxiu couldn't quite describe his feelings towards him now.
If he felt grateful, Zhan Beijue always had a condescending attitude, looking down on him, so he couldn't really feel grateful.
If he didn't feel grateful, owing so much money, he could only rely on Zhan Beijue now.
He straightened his back slightly, and Zhou Jinxiu reminded him weakly.
"It's not a few million, it's ten million."
"He said ten million, and you actually believed him?"
Zhan Beijue was truly exasperated with him.
When faced with real trouble, he became timid. All his usual intelligence vanished without a trace. He was truly carved from the same mold as his father.
Ah Cheng and Ah Biao, the brothers, called up their subordinates.
Zhan Beijue's car led the way. A convoy of over a dozen cars majestically left the Zhan family mansion.
Zhou Jinxiu took the initiative to call them back. Hearing that he was going to repay the money, the other party was naturally delighted.
They gave the name of a club, and soon, the cars arrived outside the club.
Zhan Beijue led the group upstairs and told everyone to guard the door of the private room.
He and Zhou Jinxiu went in.
As the door opened, they unexpectedly encountered an old acquaintance inside.
These ruffians hadn't finished their nightlife yet. In the early morning, the private room was filled with flashing lights, swirling smoke, and an air of debauchery.
Through the haze, Zhan Beijue saw Jiang Sicheng on the left side of the sofa, engaged in an intimate moment with another man.
He instantly understood why Zhou Jinxiu had been duped.
"I thought it was some formidable character, but you can't even handle this sissy? You're really embarrassing me."
As soon as the two entered, they attracted the attention of everyone in the room.
Jiang Sicheng also lazily turned his gaze towards them.
He hadn't expected Zhou Jinxiu, that good-for-nothing, to call his brother for such a small matter.
In Nancheng's business circles, especially among the younger generation, everyone knew Zhan Beijue.
Ah Kun, who had originally lent money to Zhou Jinxiu, was no exception.
"Isn't this President Zhan? I didn't expect your esteemed presence, my apologies for not welcoming you properly."
"Come, come, have a seat. Move aside, everyone, move over there. President Zhan, please take the main seat."
Zhan Beijue glanced at this group of people with their tangled relationships and disdained to join them.
With his hands in his pockets, he stood rooted to the spot.
"Turn off the lights, turn on the incandescent lights. Stop the music, open the windows."
"I'm here to solve problems, not to indulge in debauchery."
Zhou Jinxiu obediently went to turn off the laser lights, turn on the incandescent lights, switch off the TV, and open the windows.
He returned to Zhan Beijue's side.
The environment of decadent indulgence, illuminated by sunlight and incandescent lights, instantly became normal.
Everyone was still a little unaccustomed to it.
Jiang Sicheng, in particular, slid off the man next to him irritably and smoothed his clothes.
He looked over defiantly.
Zhan Beijue glanced at him and asked Zhou Jinxiu.
"Who did you sign your contract with?"
Zhou Jinxiu pointed at Ah Kun.
"What about the project partner back then? Was it him too?"
"No. I can't find him now. But I met him through Ah Kun."
Zhan Beijue understood, nodded, and extended his hand.
"We'll resolve this one by one. First, let's repay the money. Bring out the contract for me to see."
Zhou Jinxiu: "I forgot to bring it, but they must have a copy."
Ah Kun cooperated immediately and had someone deliver the contract to Zhan Beijue.
Opening it and glancing through it briefly, Zhan Beijue tossed the contract onto the table.
"What's the verdict? Are you planning to sue Zhou Jinxiu if you don't get the ten million today?"
Ah Kun shrugged, putting on a show of being forced into a corner.
"President Zhan, we're not like you, doing big business with hundreds of billions in assets. A hundred million or so is just a drop in the bucket for you."
"We're small business owners. This is all our capital. He's already delayed for over a month, and I still owe the bank. We all need to eat..."
Zhan Beijue's sharp gaze cut off his pompous speech.
"Do you think I came all this way to listen to your nonsense?"
"..."
"Tell me the truth, why did you scam Zhou Jinxiu? Who instructed you? What did you want to get from him?"
"..."
Ah Kun was speechless.
"Your cousin borrowed our money, it's in black and white, clearly written on the contract. Judging by President Zhan's tone, you want to renege on the debt?"
"What do you mean 'we scammed him'? What did we want to get from him? President Zhan, your words are..."
"There are no perfect crimes in the world. As long as it's not the truth, there will always be a slip-up. Do you want to test my intelligence?"
Ah Kun: "...President Zhan, I don't understand what you mean..."
Zhan Beijue said indifferently.
"What I mean is, don't force me to personally come and find your weakness."
"The police have rules. It's normal for them to be hesitant when investigating something and fail to find evidence."
"But I, Zhan Beijue, am not like that. To find what I want, I will use any means necessary. Do you think everyone you hired can withstand my methods?"
"..."
"If even one person cracks, and I find out you were behind it, deliberately trying to slap me, Zhan Beijue, in the face, how do you think I'll settle the score with you?"
Ah Kun glanced back at Jiang Sicheng, his confidence clearly wavering.
"President Zhan, you..."
Zhan Beijue interrupted him.
"It's not that there's no solution. After all, as men, we all value face. I understand you."
"This contract is void. Sign a settlement agreement, return the two million Zhou Jinxiu gave you in full, and pay him three million in compensation for emotional distress. Then this matter will be settled."
What?
Their plan was ruined, and they not only gained nothing from Zhou Jinxiu but also had to pay him money?
Just because he was Zhan Beijue?
This was too much!
Ah Kun's expression couldn't help but change, and a look of disbelief and anger appeared on Jiang Sicheng's face.
Zhan Beijue sneered.
"You don't agree? I can see that."
"You don't even want your last shred of dignity and want to go all out. Then I'll fulfill your wish."