Plunder-Chapter 23 - Mr. Zhou Please Show Some Respect

Chapter 23 -23 Mr. Zhou, Please Show Some Respect

Chapter 23 -23 Mr. Zhou, Please Show Some Respect

She became alarmed and suddenly turned around.

“Mr. Zhou?”

Zhou Jin’an had gone on a business trip a week ago, and they hadn’t seen each other for a while.

Qiao En stood at the entrance of the apartment unit, under a white incandescent light, its halo blurry, creating a hazy fog above her head.

Though they had not seen each other for just a week, she seemed to have become leaner, her tiny, palm-sized face even sharper, making her eyes appear larger by contrast.

Zhou Jin’an didn’t approach too closely, towering over her as he looked down at Qiao En.

“You went to An Corporation?”

He asked directly, knowing full well.

“Mm.”

Qiao En didn’t hide it; there was no point in doing so. The circles in Rong City were so small, and both families headed leading enterprises—it was only a matter of time before they met.

“Did you do public relations?”

Zhou Jin’an asked again.

He showed no emotion, but Qiao En still felt a wave of concealed anger.

She had been his chief secretary, commanding respect and prestige. But now, Qiao En had stooped to doing public relations elsewhere.

In the business world, acquaintances were common.

Nanchen’s business was extensive, and Qiao En often appeared in public with Zhou Jin’an. If people recognized her, it would be like slapping his face.

Qiao En didn’t care about losing face, but Zhou Jin’an did.

But sometimes, for the sake of survival, who cares about losing face?

Qiao En had her own difficulties, which she simply didn’t wish to share with Zhou Jin’an.

“Mm.”

“Quit.”

Zhou Jin’an gave the order.

Qiao En wasn’t surprised; Zhou Jin’an had always been like this—arrogant, domineering, and dictatorial.

What he didn’t allow her to do, she absolutely could not do.

But that was in the past.

Qiao En hadn’t forgotten that she was no longer Zhou Jin’an’s secretary, nor was she his woman anymore.

Their relationship had ended, and she didn’t need to continue tiptoeing around him.

“Director Zhou, you are overstepping your bounds.”

Qiao En gently reminded, inadvertently stepping on a landmine with Zhou Jin’an.

His suppressed anger, hidden all night, finally erupted.

“This is degradation!”

He labelled Qiao En.

She had abandoned the promising position of Secretary Qiao to work in public relations for a “shell” company under the An Corporation—if that wasn’t degradation, what was?

Qiao En slowly lifted her head, meeting Zhou Jin’an’s gaze.

His eyes were deep and dark as the night, with flames burning fiercely within them, growing more intense.

Qiao En pulled the corners of her mouth into a faint smile.

“It’s not the first time I’ve degraded myself; why are you making such a fuss, Mr. Zhou?”

Three years ago, she climbed into his bed and became a mistress shrouded in secrecy—wasn’t that also degradation?

Qiao En’s words were loaded with meaning, and Zhou Jin’an immediately caught on.

Her words were like fuel to the fire; the flames in his eyes erupted as his hand clamped around Qiao En’s slender neck.

His fingers tightened, the pressure intense.

Qiao En was thin, and it wasn’t long before veins protruded on her neck and her cheeks flushed red.

As the choking sensation set in, she didn’t cry out for help or push him away.

Qiao En simply looked at Zhou Jin’an calmly, letting the rage in his eyes consume her.

However, the calmer she was, the angrier he became.

A shadow suddenly loomed over her.

Before Qiao En could react, Zhou Jin’an’s lips were on hers.

Her lips were soft, with a sweet fragrance.

It was a flavor Zhou Jin’an was familiar with.

Having not touched her for some time, Zhou Jin’an briefly lost control; his burning tongue pried open her teeth, as if he might consume her right there and then.

Qiao En dodged Zhou Jin’an’s kisses while trying to push him away.

There was a stark disparity in strength; she was no match for Zhou Jin’an.

His kissing skills were impeccable, and gradually Qiao En’s legs began to weaken, leaving her feeling as if she were lost in a fog.

Worst of all, her body started to go limp, and she even felt an urge to kiss him back.

Zhou Jin’an was Qiao En’s first man; he had trained her, shaping her body and soul.

Zhang Ailing said, “To seduce a woman, start with her body.”

That was exactly how Zhou Jin’an had claimed Qiao En’s heart.

For three years, she had restrained all her emotions with her rational mind.

But emotions are like ferocious beasts that surge like a flood—sometimes uncontrollable.

For a woman, the most precious thing in the world is love.

Love requires deed and word.

But for Zhou Jin’an, love was a burden, a shackle.

He would act on it wholeheartedly, but would not say a word.

When she suggested they split up, he had no word to retain her.

She wanted to leave, but he was entangled and wouldn’t let go.

Was it because of love? Qiao En didn’t believe it.

What he probably loved was only her body!

“Ah—”

Zhou Jin’an let out an exclamation, and suddenly pushed Qiao En away forcefully; he touched his lips, his hand covered in blood.

Qiao En had bitten him, with considerable force.

“Mr. Zhou, please control yourself.”

Qiao En’s eyes were as calm as water as she looked at Zhou Jin’an, the tumultuous waves at the bottom of her heart having already settled.

She didn’t glance at Zhou Jin’an again, turning around with her spine erect, she dove into the elevator under his watchful gaze.

Ruthless, indifferent—she played the part perfectly.

The elevator went straight to the twenty-sixth floor, and Qiao En quickly stepped into the room.

Looking down through the balcony window, she saw Zhou Jin’an’s departing figure, just a small dark shadow.

Reluctance is a common sentiment.

After all, parting with a pet after three years is tough, let alone a person you’ve lived with day and night?

But one cannot be tripped up by habit; what should go, must go, and what should end, must end.

On the way back, Zhou Jin’an’s mood was obviously not good.

He sat in the back seat with a slight frown, his eyes fixed outside the window.

Streetlights were bright, every sight familiar.

He was not a man of deep affection, being indifferent and cold to everyone.

This might have something to do with his upbringing. He was separated from Mrs. Zhou when he was three and never received much maternal love. Due to his mother, he naturally didn’t receive much affection from Zhou Zhendong either. As for the new wife that Director Zhou married, she was also quite distant with him. By the age of twelve, he went abroad alone, without many friends around.

As an adult, he joined Nanchen. There were many who drew close to him, some fawning over him for their own benefit. Likewise, there were those who, for their own benefit, set traps for him.

He had grown accustomed to being alone, not easily exploited nor harmed by others.

Qiao En was an exception, like a beam of light that brightened the cold darkness in his heart.

But this light had only paused for him for three years.

“Director Zhou, Mrs. Zhou called several times, saying she’s ill and would like you to visit.”

Cheng Lu reminded him.

Zhou Jin’an didn’t make a sound, but his brow furrowed slightly.

His relationship with Mrs. Zhou wasn’t close; they had little contact when he was young, it was only after he returned to Rong City that they started to interact more.

Mrs. Zhou had been living alone, not particularly well-off. Because of past events, her own family considered it disgraceful and had cut ties with her long ago. She had no friends, no relatives; Zhou Jin’an was her only concern.

Considering the bond between mother and child, Zhou Jin’an treated her quite well. He had arranged a mansion for her and assigned someone to take care of her, all expenses met according to her preferences.

However, Mrs. Zhou was not one to sit still; she always wanted to wash away the injustices of the past.

And Zhou Jin’an was the tool she used in her struggle against the Zhou family members.

All of this, Zhou Jin’an was well aware of, which is why he deliberately kept his distance from Mrs. Zhou.

After waiting for a while, seeing that Zhou Jin’an didn’t speak, Cheng Lu took the initiative and drove towards the Zhou family mansion.

The butler opened the door, and the car drove straight into the courtyard.

“Young Master, you’ve finally come. The lady has had a headache all day.”

As soon as Zhou Jin’an got out of the car, the butler greeted him, leading him inside while describing Mrs. Zhou’s condition.

“Has the doctor seen her?”

Zhou Jin’an inquired.

“Yes, and they said it’s the old ailment, only rest can help.”

As they spoke, Zhou Jin’an reached the living room.

Mrs. Zhou was curled up on the sofa, covered with a thin blanket.

Her complexion didn’t look good, waxen and haggard, as if she had aged significantly.

“Jin’an, you’ve come back.”

Mrs. Zhou’s voice was choked as she spoke.

Zhou Jin’an sat down at the other end of the sofa, his expression cold, his demeanor not very warm.

“Didn’t I tell you to stop dwelling on things? To take better care of yourself?”

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Mrs. Zhou looked down, her expression one of sorrow, “Isn’t it all for you? If you had secured that position, would I need to worry so much?”

Mrs. Zhou, flying the flag of doing things for his good, indeed did many things.

But among these, some were for his good, ones he didn’t need; whereas others were for her own sake, things she thought he didn’t know.

“Whether I can secure that position depends on my own abilities, don’t make things worse.”

Zhou Jin’an picked up an orange from the fruit plate and slowly peeled it, handing it to Mrs. Zhou.

She accepted it, broke it apart, and started placing the segments into her mouth.

Zhou Jin’an was cold-faced and spoke few, harsh words, but he was soft-hearted.

Mrs. Zhou knew his temperament, sighed deeply, and said, “I’m the one the Zhou family cast aside, what help could I possibly offer you?”

She uncovered her own scars, aiming to prick at Zhou Jin’an’s heart.

Mother and son were connected; if she was in pain, she wanted Zhou Jin’an to feel it too.

“Marry Kexin sooner rather than later; the An family has considerable strength, with Kexin, no one would be able to shake your position.”

Mrs. Zhou had a well laid-out plan.

She understood Zhou Jin’an but not well enough.

He did not like being controlled by others.

“I have other matters to attend to, I’m leaving. Take care of yourself.”

Zhou Jin’an’s expression darkened, he suddenly stood up, and strode towards the front door.

But at the doorway, he bumped into An Kexin.