Chapter 81

Chapter 81

There were many people waiting for the elevator at this time, so Shen Tingzhou and Xu Xun turned into the stairwell.

The restaurant was on the third floor of the hotel. When Shen Tingzhou reached the second-floor landing, he heard someone talking by the stairs on the third floor.

"This is meant for you; take it."

Shen Tingzhou recognized the voice and glanced up. From his angle, he only saw a glimpse of clothing.

Taking a half-step forward, a face that was strikingly handsome yet understated came into Shen Tingzhou's view.

It was Zhou Zhizhong, Zhou Zitan’s nominal father.

The moment he saw Zhou Zhizhong, Shen Tingzhou stopped in his tracks.

Zhou Zitan didn’t accept the bank card, looking down as he said, "No need, I have money."

Since discovering he wasn't Zhou Zhizhong's child, this was their first meeting, and Zhou Zitan felt awkward. A few days ago, he had sent Zhou Zhizhong the card with his company dividends.

Although Zhou Zhizhong hadn’t shown much concern over the years, he had never been stingy with money.

Now that Zhou Zitan was changing his surname, there was little legal or factual connection between them, yet Zhou Zhizhong seemed less cold than before.

He instructed, "You’re grown now; take good care of your mother and don’t let her worry too much."

Shen Tingzhou didn’t hear Zhou Zitan respond.

Zhou Zitan’s face was partially illuminated, his youthful features blurred, making it hard to discern his expression.

Over the years, Zhou Zhizhong had caused He Ranjie the most harm.

Zhou Zitan harbored deep resentment and fear towards him.

Zhou Zitan would always remember being abandoned by his birth mother, sitting alone in front of the Zhou family home, while Zhou Zhizhong passed by without even glancing at him.

Zhou Zitan clenched his fingers tightly, managing to utter a muffled "Hmm" after a long pause.

Shen Tingzhou sighed softly inwardly. In matters of emotion, Zhou Zitan was pure and intense—dislike was dislike, and like was like.

For those he disliked, no matter what they did, it was hard to change his initial impression, such as Yu Jurong.

Similarly, for those he liked, he would forgive anything, such as the He family and Shen Tingzhou.

Zhou Zhizhong stood on the boundary line. Zhou Zitan hated him but also yearned for his fatherly love.

Thus, Zhou Zhizhong could easily hurt Zhou Zitan like the He family, yet couldn’t fully earn his trust.

Knowing Zhou Zitan was uncomfortable, Shen Tingzhou deliberately knocked on the stair railing, creating the sound of footsteps.

Noticing someone coming up, Zhou Zhizhong didn’t say anything more to Zhou Zitan.

Once they left, Shen Tingzhou breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Xun glanced at Shen Tingzhou and squeezed his hand.

Confused, Shen Tingzhou tilted his head, "What’s wrong?"

Xu Xun reassured him, "Don’t worry, he’ll be fine with his personality."

Hearing this, Shen Tingzhou was initially taken aback, then chuckled. Despite having limited contact with Zhou Zitan, Xu Xun surprisingly understood him well.

Zhou Zitan might feel upset seeing Zhou Zhizhong, but it wouldn’t last long.

Xu Xun held Shen Tingzhou’s hand as they emerged from the stairwell.

Just as Shen Tingzhou took a step out, he quickly pulled Xu Xun back.

Xu Xun, puzzled, looked outside into the corridor, where Zhou Zhizhong and He Ranjie had encountered each other.

They had already finalized their divorce and hadn’t seen each other in a long time.

Zhou Zhizhong looked at He Ranjie, his expression dazed.

He Ranjie broke the silence first, greeting Zhou Zhizhong, "How have you been lately?"

Zhou Zhizhong’s throat felt tight, "I’m okay... how about you? How’s your health?"

He Ranjie often suffered from insomnia-induced headaches due to poor sleep.

"I’m doing well," she said naturally, her complexion rosy, seeming to have completely moved on. She asked Zhou Zhizhong, "Here for business?"

Zhou Zhizhong’s gaze lingered on He Ranjie, giving a barely audible "Hmm."

He Ranjie said, "Then I won’t disturb you."

Zhou Zitan didn’t want them to talk much either, so he interjected, "Let’s go, Mom."

Seizing the opportunity, Shen Tingzhou led Xu Xun out, breaking the awkward atmosphere in the corridor.

Seeing more people in the corridor, Zhou Zhizhong reined in his gaze and whispered, "I’ll leave first."

He Ranjie: "Okay."

Zhou Zhizhong lowered his eyes and walked past them toward the other end of the corridor.

Behind him, he heard Zhou Zitan calling He Ranjie "Mom" affectionately. For a moment, his tense expression softened.

Regardless of Zhou Zitan’s temperament, he genuinely treated He Ranjie as his mother.

Zhou Zhizhong walked to the elevator, and just as he arrived, the doors opened. A woman wearing sunglasses and red lipstick stepped out.

The woman glanced at Zhou Zhizhong casually, but when she saw his face clearly, her gaze became fixed on him.

Her chest heaved twice, and she spat out three words through clenched teeth, "Zhou Zhizhong!"

Zhou Zhizhong looked at her indifferently.

The woman yanked off her sunglasses and raised her hand to slap Zhou Zhizhong.

Zhou Zhizhong caught her wrist and immediately pushed it aside, frowning and asking, "Who are you?"

The anger on the woman's face grew more pronounced, and she laughed in frustration, "Who am I? Ha, you'll know who I am in a moment!"

She glared at Zhou Zhizhong, then pushed past him with her high heels and walked away arrogantly.

Once the woman disappeared from the hotel lobby, Zhou Zhizhong suddenly realized something, his expression turning cold. He quickly chased after her.

Blocking her path, he said sternly, "Whatever it is, let's talk outside."

The woman sneered, "So now you recognize me?"

Zhou Zhizhong didn't bother with pleasantries and pulled her towards the exit.

The woman struggled, "What do you think you're doing, Mr. Zhou? Let go of me; I'm here to see..."

Her shrill voice echoed down the corridor.

Shen Tingzhou was about to enter the restaurant's private room when he heard the commotion and instinctively looked over.

Zhou Zitan turned his head with an annoyed expression, seeing Zhou Zhizhong struggling with a woman. He quickly stepped in front of He Ranjie, "Mom, let's go inside."

As he spoke, the woman's last sentence reached them, "...my son."

"I'm here to see my son."

These words pierced Shen Tingzhou's ears, and a bad feeling surged within him.

This feeling made him look at Zhou Zitan, who had already turned away, his expression blank upon seeing the woman's face.

Shen Tingzhou's heart sank. Could this be...

The woman seemed to sense something and turned around, her eyes meeting Zhou Zitan's. She smiled, "Tantant, I'm your mother."

Zhou Zitan's pupils trembled, and he shouted reflexively, "No, my mother is surnamed He!"

The joy on the woman's face vanished completely.

"Today, don't provoke him," Zhou Zhizhong warned, pulling her towards the exit. "Let's talk outside."

The woman forcefully shook off Zhou Zhizhong's hand, "Now you want to talk? What were you doing twenty years ago?"

"And you," the woman looked at Zhou Zitan, mocking him, "without me, do you think you could have lived a life of luxury?"

Zhou Zitan clenched his fists, his arms trembling slightly.

He Ranjie held his hand, worried, "Don't be rash."

Zhou Zitan loosened his grip but still glared at the woman.

The woman said sternly, "Don't be stubborn. If it weren't for me leaving you with the Zhou family, would they have acknowledged you?"

He Ranjie pulled Zhou Zitan behind her and said to the woman, "This isn't the place to talk."

Zhou Zitan gritted his teeth, "There's nothing to say to her. You're the only mother I have."

The woman's face darkened, "Don't want to acknowledge me? Fine, make your current mother pay sixty million. See if she's willing to buy you out!"

Zhou Zitan's eyes flared with rage, and he lunged forward, but He Ranjie stopped him.

He pointed at the woman, breathing heavily, "You dare ask my mother for money?"

Just as the woman was about to respond, Zhou Zhizhong said coldly, "Come with me. We'll discuss the money outside."

The woman was clearly infuriated by Zhou Zitan, her chest heaving as she said, "You are you, and he is he. Your money, I will take!"

"And him." The woman pointed at Zhou Zitan, "He came out of my womb. It's not up to him to decide whether I deserve anything. Since he doesn't want to acknowledge me as his mother, let his current mother pay to buy him out!"

Even the most impartial judge struggles with family disputes.

Shen Tingzhou wasn't sure if the woman was genuinely there for money or just saying things out of anger to Zhou Zitan.

He Ranjie spoke calmly, "Today is a bit special. Let's discuss this tomorrow."

"What right does she have to talk to you?" Zhou Zitan said harshly, "Ever since she abandoned me, I've had no mother."

Fang Yunran showed no remorse, "If I hadn't left you with the Zhou family, could you have become Young Master Zhou and lived in a big house?"

Zhou Zitan's eyes turned bloodshot, his voice heavy, "Didn't you know? I'm not even the Zhou family's child."

If it weren't for He Ranjie's kindness in taking him in, he might have died outside.

Fang Yunran reacted as if hearing a fairy tale, immediately countering, "Impossible!"

Then her eyes darted back and forth, falling into self-doubt and anxiety, but she kept repeating, "How could you not be Zhou Zhizhong's child? Impossible..."

Back then, after she got pregnant, she tried to contact Zhou Zhizhong, but he refused to see her, showing no mercy.

At that time, she was a rising star, and due to this scandal, her fame plummeted, and all her endorsements were lost.

But it was a rare opportunity to transcend her social class, and she wasn't willing to give up so easily.

She knew that Zhou Zhizhong had a strained relationship with his wife and that they had no children after four years of marriage. If she could bear a child, even if Zhou Zhizhong didn't give her any status, having the child would secure her future.

So she gritted her teeth and gave birth to the child. When Zhou Zhizhong refused to acknowledge it, she went to his father.

Perhaps he looked down on her, and thus wouldn't recognize the child either. After the paternity test, he claimed that the child wasn't his son Zhou Zhizhong's.

But how could that be possible?

Fang Yunran glared at Zhou Zhizhong. "Mr. Zhou, since I met you, I haven't been involved with any other men. You dare say that over twenty years ago, you didn't take me to a hotel?"

Zhou Zhizhong glanced at Zhou Zitan, his gaze lingering on He Ranjie for a few seconds.

Finally, he whispered, "Let's talk outside."

"Hisss—"

A sound suddenly rang in Shen Tingzhou's ears, making his heart flutter nervously.

Qin Shiyao, who had somehow appeared behind him, scanned the hallway's gossip subjects, touched her chin, and quietly asked Shen Tingzhou, "Do you think Xiao Zhou is really..."

Xu Xun subtly pulled Shen Tingzhou closer.

Qin Shiyao, engrossed in the drama, moved closer to Shen Tingzhou and continued, "I don't think so; there must be some misunderstanding."

Whether there was a misunderstanding or not, Shen Tingzhou knew that Xiao Zhou wasn't Zhou Zhizhong's child.

Fang Yunran sneered, "Say what you have to say here. You've cheated countless times; now you're afraid your wife will find out?"

Zhou Zhizhong felt a tightness in his chest and couldn't help but glance at He Ranjie, who showed little reaction. He pursed his lips.

Fang Yunran pressed on, "Speak up! You had the guts to do it, but not to admit it? If he weren't your son, would you have raised him all these years?"

Zhou Zitan shouted, "It's my mother who raised me!"

Fang Yunran scoffed, "Are you stupid? She did it to win Zhou Zhizhong's favor."

Zhou Zitan couldn't hold back anymore, "Do you think everyone is like you? We've done a paternity test; we're not father and son!"

With those words, everyone fell silent.

Zhou Zhizhong didn't know Zhou Zitan already knew, while Fang Yunran refused to believe it.

Qin Shiyao let out an "Oh!" in her mind. She knew there was a misunderstanding!

"Impossible!" Fang Yunran exclaimed emotionally, "I remember clearly that night when I got into his car, it was him..."

Zhou Zhizhong interrupted her, "I don't remember that night clearly, but I never touched you."

There were many women he'd been rumored to be involved with, but he didn't remember them clearly and hadn't touched any of them.

The only thing special about Fang Yunran was that she had fabricated a pregnancy with his child.

Because of her, he and He Ranjie had lived a peaceful, genuine married life for a while.

Fang Yunran felt as if the world was collapsing around her.

So the person that night wasn't Zhou Zhizhong; she must have mistaken someone else due to her intoxication.

Her fiery spirit instantly dimmed as she looked at Zhou Zitan and stammered, "Little Tan..."

Zhou Zitan's eyes filled with hatred, "Don't call me that. Before you abandoned me, didn't you forget how you used to beat me?"

Fang Yunran's pupils constricted.

At that time, she couldn't get work, her dreams of marrying into wealth were shattered, and she had to raise a child under immense pressure, leading her to develop a drinking problem.

When she was in a bad mood, she found Zhou Zitan particularly annoying and couldn't control her temper, often beating him.

Later, she met an older overseas Chinese man and, in a moment of desperation, left Zhou Zitan with the Zhou family and went abroad with him.

Six months ago, that man passed away, leaving her a considerable inheritance.

"What I said earlier was just out of anger. Now that I have money, Little Tan, come back with me. Mom really didn't know he wasn't... Mom will make it up to you."

Qin Shiyao leaned close to Shen Tingzhou, "Is this about her age catching up with her, wanting someone to support her in her old age?"

Shen Tingzhou: This does align with Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Once people have money and leisure, they naturally pursue spiritual needs.

Xu Xun also leaned in, whispering in Shen Tingzhou's ear, "Do you want some candy?"

Shen Tingzhou: ?

Xu Xun took out a mint candy.

Indeed, it was candy!

Xu Xun peeled off the wrapper and offered it to Shen Tingzhou, who had no choice but to take a bite.

Turning around, he saw Qin Shiyao looking at him with a complex expression, silently accusing them: "While others are spilling their drama, you two are spreading sweetness. That's not fair!"

Shen Tingzhou, with the candy in his mouth, silently shifted his gaze.

Zhou Zitan's face twisted with extreme anger, "I don't need it. If you don't leave, don't blame me for being rude!"

Fang Yunran's maternal love was extinguished like cold water, just as Qin Shiyao had said. She came to find Zhou Zitan indeed because of loneliness.

Although she received a considerable inheritance after the old man's death, her stepchildren were not close to her at all.

People are greedy, and Fang Yunran was no exception; she hoped to have her toy boy around while also having her own son by her side to fulfill his filial duties.

Now, Fang Yunran wished that the Zhou family and the He family had no money, so Zhou Zitan would come closer.

Fang Yunran stopped pestering him. "Alright, then Mom will come back to see you in a few days."

This self-proclaimed title made Zhou Zitan deeply resentful. "I only have one mother, and her name is He Ranjie."

Fang Yunran’s face didn’t look good, but she didn’t say anything and left with her bag.

As soon as she left, the outwardly tough but inwardly timid Zhou Zitan could no longer suppress his inner panic and looked at He Ranjie anxiously.

"Mom." His eyes welled up, and his voice was hoarse. "Please don't abandon me."

Zhou Zitan feared that if Fang Yunran came back, He Ranjie wouldn’t let him keep the He surname or even "drive him away."

He Ranjie raised her hand to stroke Zhou Zitan’s head, looking into his frightened and uneasy eyes. She gently said—

"I only have you as my child. Everything I have is yours."

I'm also afraid you'll leave me.

Zhou Zitan, like a tamed fierce dog, retracted his fangs and ferocity, lowering his head before He Ranjie, showing a bit of obedience.

-

Due to Fang Yunran’s sudden appearance, both Zhou Zitan and He Ranjie’s moods were affected.

Zhou Zitan clung to He Ranjie more than usual, barely eating himself and focusing all his attention on He Ranjie.

It seemed that Zhou Zitan was well-accepted by the He family; even Old Master He came.

But thinking about it carefully, it was normal. Since He Ranjie treated Zhou Zitan as her own son, Old Master He loved him by extension and wouldn’t dislike him.

Not only did he not dislike him, but Old Master He even gave Zhou Zitan some shares in the company as a gift for changing his surname.

This gift was significant. Zhou Zitan was stunned for a moment and looked at He Ranjie.

He Ranjie nodded at him. "Thank your grandfather."

Zhou Zitan’s eyes flickered. "Do I still need to call him grandfather?"

Old Master He said, "We’re all family now; you can call him whatever you want."

Zhou Zitan decisively said, "Grandpa."

Old Master He responded and then said, "Let’s eat."

He Yanting sent a sports car.

Xie Ning’s gifts were always unique; she gave Zhou Zitan her tarot cards. "Another day, I’ll teach you how to do divination."

Xie Ning had done divinations for Zhou Zitan several times, and they were always accurate, making the superstitious Xiao Zhou believe firmly.

He finally showed some interest and happily accepted the tarot cards. "Thank you, Sister."

Xie Ning said, "Just smile more today; that’s thanks enough."

Zhou Zitan’s abnormal behavior was too obvious; everyone at the table noticed, but no one pointed it out.

Seeing Zhou Zitan’s smile about to fade, Shen Tingzhou quickly took out his gift.

"This is something Xiao Xu and I got blessed by Master Yunming. See if you like it?"

Zhou Zitan took the box and was about to open it when the door of the private room was knocked twice.

Shen Tingzhou thought it was the food delivery, but when he opened the door, standing there was Yu Jurong with a slight smile on his lips.

Shen Tingzhou: What’s wrong with him?

Help, is today’s drama not over yet!