Plunder-Chapter 73 - Youre Not Qualified to Enter

Chapter 73: Chapter 73: You’re Not Qualified to Enter

Chapter 73 -73: You’re Not Qualified to Enter

That day was in the afternoon, and the sun was particularly harsh.

Qiao En had just cooked the pumpkin when Cheng Lu appeared, driving the Maybach.

She hurried out of the kitchen.

Cheng Lu, with her hands hanging down, seemed to be saying something to Zhou Jin’an, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

“Assistant Cheng, you’re here.”

Qiao En greeted her.

She nodded slightly.

Zhou Jin’an’s complexion was very unsightly, dark and gloomy, his thin lips compressed into a cold, lonely curve, and beads of sweat were forming on his forehead.

Accustomed to comfort, he had not experienced much hardship in life; the environment of the small courtyard was too shabby,

and the room was damp; he was also running a fever, which made him look much thinner.

“The pumpkin is ready; I’ll bring it over for you.”

Qiao En turned to head back to the kitchen, but Zhou Jin’an stopped her, “Don’t bother, we’re going back to Rong City now.”

He had made up his mind, a determined one, and turned around to walk towards the Maybach.

Qiao En went back into the house, tidied up the kitchen, and followed them into the car.

In the backseat, Zhou Jin’an leaned back in his seat, his eyes tightly closed, his fists clenched tightly as if he was enduring something.

Qiao En knew, something significant must have happened.

Zhou Jin’an hadn’t mentioned it, and Qiao En knew she shouldn’t ask more.

The Maybach retraced its way back, the road muddy and bumpy.

Qiao En turned several times to look at Zhou Jin’an; he seemed to be asleep, yet immersed in his own world.

Both of them were the type to keep things to themselves.

They would digest bad emotions alone, and seek answers themselves for unresolved problems.

She had been by Zhou Jin’an’s side for three years, knowing him inside out, often able to guess his thoughts; but this time, Qiao En was somewhat at a loss.

The car sped all the way, taking nearly four hours to finally arrive at Rong City.

“Assistant Cheng, drop me off at the next intersection.”

Although she had agreed with Zhou Jin’an, once back in Rong City, she had to maintain distance from him, returning to her proper place.

Cheng Lu looked at Zhou Jin’an through the rearview mirror; he didn’t speak, and Cheng Lu dared not make a decision on her own.

“Secretary Qiao, get off the car when we arrive at the destination.”

Qiao En thought the place might be Nanchen or Chu Garden, but she never expected it to be Zhou Residence.

Zhou Residence was where Zhou Zhendong and Yao Chuman lived, and of course, it was also Zhou Jin’an’s former home.

However, apart from during festivals, Zhou Jin’an did not visit here.

Qiao En had come here once with Zhou Jin’an before, but he did not let her in.

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It was Zhou Zhendong’s sixtieth birthday. Zhou Residence had a big banquet to entertain guests. Zhou Jin’an, considering the father-son relationship, came over to deliver a birthday gift.

Qiao En waited for him in the car; Zhou Jin’an delivered the birthday gift and then came out.

“Director Zhou, let me get off the car.”

Qiao En turned her head to look at Zhou Jin’an.

He gripped her hand tightly.

“Stay with me when we go in.”

The Maybach turned into the green path outside Zhou Residence.

Suddenly, a striking white flashed into Qiao En’s eyes.

On both sides of the road, tree trunks were wrapped with white cloth, and branches had white lanterns hanging from them; yellow paper money was scattered all over the ground.

The sound of mourning music began, and distant cries of grief could also be heard.

As soon as Zhou Jin’an’s car was spotted, someone notified the house, and Uncle Zhong, dressed in plain clothes, came out from the gate.

He was about the same age as Zhou Zhendong, not yet seventy, hunched over and shakily kneeling down on the ground.

“Young Master, the old master is gone.”

Uncle Zhong sobbed loudly, his cries filled with sorrow.

Qiao En sat in the car, feeling as if the air itself had become stagnant.

When she had first joined Nanchen, Zhou Zhendong had still been sitting in the top position, and he was known for his terrible temper, often furrowing his brow in anger.

Qiao En had seen him a few times, and unfortunately, each time he had been in a thunderous rage.

At that time, Zhou Jin’an was just the general manager in charge of the marketing department, with all company decisions being determined by Zhou Zhendong.

He was strong-willed and authoritarian, Zhou Jin’an had inherited some of his characteristics.

But he had not inherited his violent temper.

Almost two years after Qiao En had joined, Zhou Zhendong’s heart had developed problems. At that time, Nanchen was in disarray, and Zhou Zhendong, having no desire to manage, had handed the messy situation to Zhou Jin’an, before going abroad with his delicate wife, Yao Chuman, to recuperate.

Under the iron-fisted management of Zhou Jin’an, Nanchen had revived from near death, and developed rapidly.

However, at the beginning of the year, there was a rumor in the board meeting saying that Zhou Zhendong’s health was no longer in serious danger, and he would soon return to control the company.

Qiao En had never expected that he would die so suddenly.

Zhou Jin’an opened the car door, and he strode out with long legs.

Qiao En and Cheng Lu also got out of the car, standing behind Zhou Jin’an, one on each side.

“Uncle Zhong, you have served my father all your life, and you accompanied him abroad this time for his health recuperation. Before, you told me his health was recovering well, how could he suddenly be gone?”

Zhou Jin’an’s voice was as cold as ice, chilling Uncle Zhong’s heart like a howling wind.

He was not close to Zhou Zhendong, but that man was, after all, his father.

He resented him, hated him, but never wished for his death.

Uncle Zhong was prostrate on the ground, crying so hard his shoulders heaved.

“Young master, mourn the loss! The master passed away suddenly from a heart attack, he… he…”

As Uncle Zhong spoke, he looked up suddenly, his eyes darting towards Qiao En.

Seeing Qiao En standing behind Zhou Jin’an, his face changed drastically, and he stuttered, unable to speak.

“What exactly happened to him? Speak!”

Zhou Jin’an sharply raised his voice, veins throbbing on his forehead.

He had just recovered from a high fever, and now, overwhelmed by fury, he nearly fainted as his vision darkened.

Cheng Lu and Qiao En quickly steadied him.

Uncle Zhong dared not speak, yet someone else spoke for him.

“He was angered to death by you!”

Suddenly, a woman’s voice echoed throughout the hall.

Qiao En looked towards the entrance of the hall, and saw Yao Chuman, dressed in mourning clothes, being surrounded and supported by others as she walked out.

She was Zhou Zhendong’s second wife, and nominally Zhou Jin’an’s stepmother.

It was the first time Qiao En had seen Yao Chuman.

She looked frail and pitiable, yet she was about the same age as Mrs. Zhou; however, due to better maintenance, she appeared much younger.

Grieving the death of Zhou Zhendong, her delicate face was covered in tear stains, her eyes swollen and red.

Being supported by others as she walked out, each step seemed to drain all her strength.

She trembled as she pointed at Zhou Jin’an, shouting, “I know you hate me, if you hate me take it out on me! What did your father do wrong? Did you have to force him into death in this manner? Zhou Jin’an, are you satisfied now? Are you satisfied now?”

Yao Chuman’s accusatory tone was emotional, drawing the attention of everyone present to Zhou Jin’an.

“Aunt Yao, you are falsely accusing me.”

Zhou Jin’an’s gloomy face was frosty, his brows tightly knotted, his eyes narrowed into sharp blades.

“I’m falsely accusing you? You angered Zhendong to death, and now you’re blaming me in return?”

Yao Chuman clutched her chest, tears streaming down her face.

As Zhou Zhendong’s wife, her words carried a certain authority, blaming Zhou Jin’an for Zhou Zhendong’s death.

Others, confused, began to side-eye Zhou Jin’an.

“I don’t admit to things I haven’t done. I will investigate how my father truly died. It’s not your place to stir up trouble here.”

Zhou Zhendong’s funeral hall was set up in the main hall, and Zhou Jin’an walked straight toward it.

Cheng Lu and Qiao En followed him.

However, just as Qiao En was about to pass by Yao Chuman, she suddenly blocked her way.

“You have no right to go in!”