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The moment Zou Le Xiao mentioned canceling her bank card, an eerie silence hung in the air for a full half-minute.
Yu Jing Ze stared at her. Occasionally, she glanced over, but even a second of eye contact was too much—she quickly turned her face away.
As for the card cancellation, he didn’t say much.
Every day at Yu Bank, countless people opened accounts, and just as many closed them.
He still had somewhere to be. “Excuse me.”
He opened the car door but paused before getting in. “President Yu, may I trouble you for two more minutes?”
Yu Jing Ze turned around, unusually patient: “What is it?”
Zou Le Xiao wanted to settle everything today—her own closure. He wouldn’t care either way.
“Everything related to you—I’ve reset it all.”
Yu Jing Ze watched her silently.
Saying those words left her heart aching in ways she couldn’t describe.
From June until now, she had spent half a year transitioning. She realized that this so-called transition period was nothing but self-deception, clinging to thoughts of him.
After finishing her business at the bank, she had casually changed all her payment passwords.
What she wanted to say was, “I’m sorry. For over two years, my actions and words have caused you a lot of trouble, especially in the past year.”
She finally dared to meet his eyes. “Whether you believe me or not, the wild talk about pursuing you and then dumping you was just something I blurted out while drinking with friends at a bar. I don’t know how it got to you, making all your friends aware. They must have teased you plenty, right?”
She apologized again. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
Yu Jing Ze: “I don’t have time to dwell on these things.”
Zou Le Xiao forced a smile. “You’re right—you’re so busy.”
Yu Jing Ze’s phone rang. The caller ID read ‘Zhou Si Yuan.’ He silenced it temporarily and asked Zou Le Xiao, “Anything else?”
Zou Le Xiao shook her head. “No.”
She waved, glanced at him one last time, and walked past the rear of his car, crossing toward her own.
Yu Jing Ze watched her retreating figure for a while.
His phone rang again. He got into the car and answered.
“If it weren’t urgent, I wouldn’t call you. No need to avoid me like the plague,” Zhou Si Yuan’s voice was cold, tinged with resentment.
This was the first time she had contacted Yu Jing Ze in two months, and her first call had gone unanswered.
She thought that after the SZ acquisition case ended and things settled down, he might slightly change his attitude. But no—it was still the same.
Yu Jing Ze didn’t explain. “What is it?”
Zhou Si Yuan swallowed her anger. “Mm. Mom is sick and hospitalized. It’s been several days, nothing serious—just exhaustion and stress triggering her stomach issues. Dad insisted she stay in the hospital for recovery. You were abroad before, so we didn’t bother you. Isn’t your bank holding a shareholders’ meeting? I figured you must be back.”
“If you have time, come see Mom. Rebuilding your mother-son relationship will help her recovery.”
Yu Jing Ze: “Send me the hospital, ward, and bed number.”
Without another word, he hung up. Less than a minute later, he received the message.
After reading it, Yu Jing Ze instructed the driver to head to the hospital. He also reminded the driver to stop by a flower shop along the way.
It had been nearly six months since he last saw his mother, and they hadn’t spoken on the phone during that time.
At the flower shop, he bought two bouquets—one for himself and one for Jing Xin.
________________________________________
Hospital
Ms. Lan was staying in a VIP ward—it was her fifth day in the hospital.
She had just woken from her afternoon nap and was sitting up, leaning against the headboard.
Zhou Si Yuan had come to the hospital at noon and was still there.
“The shareholders’ meeting at Yu Bank ended yesterday. I heard Jing Ze is going abroad again in the next couple of days.” The exact date of departure and return was known only to those close to him—even his friends were unaware.
She had tried to inquire through Yu Jing Ze’s staff but came up empty-handed.
To protect their jobs, his employees refused to disclose his schedule.
Ms. Lan chuckled bitterly. “Ungrateful brat.”
Even now, she couldn’t get over this emotional hurdle. How Jing Xin and Jing Ze treated her—it broke her heart. Each claimed they owed her nothing.
Zhou Si Yuan handed her a cup of warm water. “Mom, try to relax. After all—”
She paused. “In other people’s eyes, our family is wealthy—luxury cars, villas, and a publicly listed company. But to the Yu and Ji families, we’re poor relatives they can barely tolerate, let alone help.”
Ms. Lan didn’t respond. Her heart felt heavy.
She massaged her temples. Her nap had been restless, her mood sour. She asked Zhou Si Yuan, “When you called Jing Ze, what did he say?”
Zhou Si Yuan: “Not much. He just asked for the ward and bed number. He didn’t say when he’d come.”
Ms. Lan hummed softly, leaving the untouched water on the bedside table.
She leaned back against the headboard, closing her eyes. She looked tired.
Her feigned rest was just an excuse to avoid talking to Zhou Si Yuan. Every word out of her mouth carried hidden barbs, irritating and disheartening.
If it weren’t for Zhou Si Yuan secretly scheming against Yu Qing and Fu Ji Chen, Zhou Holdings’ business wouldn’t have plummeted. During the days Zhou Si Yuan posted her apology online, Si Yuan Holdings’ stock price had crashed.
Those days, even Ms. Lan couldn’t face anyone. When people asked, she didn’t know what to say.
She had long witnessed the hypocrisy of this circle—superficial concern masking mockery and ridicule behind closed doors.
After enduring that period, she hoped the stock price would recover.
But reality wasn’t as optimistic as she imagined. Six months later, the stock price remained low.
For half a year, she had been losing sleep over it.
She pitied her younger son, who was dragged down by his foolish older sister.
But as a stepmother, she couldn’t lash out at Zhou Si Yuan, lest others call her cruel.
If Zhou Si Yuan were her biological child, she would have scolded her outright.
Zhou Si Yuan sat by the bed, flipping through a magazine.
Occasionally, she glanced at her stepmother and sneered inwardly.
Did she really think she wanted to visit the hospital to care for her?
She had been pressured by her father to come.
Today, she had planned to go shopping and relax. But her father’s calls kept coming, asking if she was done with her errands and insisting she visit the hospital.
On the surface, her stepmother pretended to be kind to her, maintaining a facade of harmony.
Even after the incident involving Yu Qing, which dragged down the company’s stock price, her stepmother hadn’t criticized her a single word. Instead, she offered comforting words: “Don’t worry. Your father and I are here. The sky won’t fall—we’ll hold it up. Just don’t do anything stupid again.”
These few simple words moved her father deeply. He believed he had married the most understanding and well-mannered woman in the world.
Privately, her father had spoken to her several times, urging her to treat her stepmother better and show filial piety.
For the past two days, her stepmother had been hospitalized. Though there were nurses, her father insisted on staying overnight, claiming he couldn’t rest at home.
Today, being Saturday, her father deliberately said he had to work overtime, sending her to the hospital instead.
Her phone vibrated—the women in the ‘Plastic’ group were discussing Fashion Week again.
Leng Wen Ning specifically @’d her: [We’re chartering a flight. Are you coming? I’ll save you a spot.]
Zhou Si Yuan stared at the message. Go screw yourself!
Nowadays, she could only afford to window-shop for clothes and bags costing tens of thousands. Anything over a hundred thousand made her hesitate. Gone were the days when she could casually spend millions without batting an eye.
If she attended Fashion Week, all those women would flock to the haute couture shows. If she went and didn’t place an order, they’d mock her mercilessly.
In August, she had posted an apology to Yu Qing on her social media, leaving it up for a week. On the very day she posted it, she trended on social media by noon.
Her trending didn’t matter much, but it dragged down Si Yuan Holdings’ stock price.
By market close that day, it had hit the floor.
Though there was no evidence, she was certain Leng Wen Ning had leaked the news to the media, using her resources to fan the flames and harm their company.
Knowing it was Leng Wen Ning, she couldn’t find any proof. Countless people had seen the apology on her social media. Over the years, she had unintentionally offended many.
She could only watch helplessly as Leng Wen Ning took advantage of the situation.
Later, Ms. Lan personally approached Yu Jing Ze’s grandfather, apologizing and asking for help.
Out of respect for Ms. Lan, who was still Jing Xin and Jing Ze’s mother, the elder Yu helped reduce the media hype.
Meanwhile, in the ‘Plastic’ group, someone chimed in with Leng Wen Ning: [Sister Leng, isn’t this unnecessary? When has our Miss Zhou ever missed a haute couture show?]
Zhou Si Yuan was so furious she wanted to leave the group. But if she did, she’d sever ties with this circle entirely. Getting back in wouldn’t be easy.
Swallowing her pride, she replied: [You all go ahead and have fun. I’m swamped with work at the end of the year—I can’t leave.]
Leng Wen Ning privately messaged her: [Your company’s in such a state, and you’re still busy?]
Zhou Si Yuan: “… “
During spring’s haute couture show, she had attended, but Leng Wen Ning hadn’t. Leng Wen Ning’s company had been cut off from all financing channels by Fu Ji Chen’s side, leaving her overwhelmed and uninterested.
At the time, Zhou Si Yuan had mocked her for it.
Now, in winter, Leng Wen Ning returned the favor.
She sent a smiley face: [Thanks for asking—I’m busy.]
[By the way, I haven’t congratulated you yet. I heard Lemong’s star-studded concert was a success, and you landed three big deals this year. Yesterday, I discussed with friends how much I admire your high-mindedness—working so hard to earn money for your ex-boyfriend’s wife.]
Zhou Si Yuan had intended to say more, continuing to jab at Leng Wen Ning, but her phone rang. It was Yu Jing Ze: “Come downstairs to meet me—I don’t have access to the building.”
Zhou Si Yuan was startled. He was already here? “Oh, okay. I’ll be right down.”
She ended the call, closed the magazine, and stood up.
Ms. Lan opened her eyes. “Who is it?”
Zhou Si Yuan: “Brother’s here.”
She picked up the access card, took a few steps, then turned back to remind her stepmother, “Take this chance to mend your relationship with Brother. Don’t stay angry—it’s bad for your health. Look at you now, suffering in the hospital while we can only keep you company. Also, don’t bring up the company around Brother—it’ll make him dislike you even more, thinking you’re playing the sympathy card.”
Ms. Lan waved her hand, signaling Zhou Si Yuan to go downstairs.
She found it utterly meaningless. Her own children showed no humanity. Her company was in shambles, and both Jing Ze and Jing Xin stood by, doing nothing.
________________________________________
When Zhou Si Yuan reached the lobby, Yu Jing Ze was standing outside the glass doors, holding two bouquets of lilies.
She swiped her card and opened the door for him. “Not working overtime?”
Yu Jing Ze gave a noncommittal “Mm” and strode toward the elevator.
Zhou Si Yuan swiped her card to enter the elevator and glanced at the flowers in his arms. Knowing one bouquet was for Jing Xin, she teased, “I must be out of touch. Is it trendy now to give double bouquets?”
Yu Jing Ze shot her a look. “Can’t you speak properly?”
Zhou Si Yuan choked on his words. Unable to swallow her pride, she retorted, “What’s wrong with how I’m speaking?”
Fed up, she seized the opportunity to vent: “If you really have a problem with me, just say it. Why beat around the bush? What’s wrong with my question? You’re holding two bouquets, and I simply asked if it’s trendy to give doubles. How is that improper?”
Yu Jing Ze ignored her and changed the subject: “When Zou Le Xiao announced she was pursuing me, causing a stir, you didn’t hold back from adding fuel to the fire, did you?”
Zhou Si Yuan froze. “Yu Jing Ze, what do you mean? Do you think that because I secretly attacked Yu Qing and Fu Ji Chen, you can dump all the blame on me?”
The elevator stopped, and Yu Jing Ze stepped out first.
Zhou Si Yuan hurried after him. “Wait. Explain yourself.”
Yu Jing Ze glanced at her sideways. “Isn’t what I just said clear enough?”
Zhou Si Yuan didn’t admit it. She let out a bitter laugh, feigning helplessness.
She looked at him. “Whatever you say goes. Since I’m already branded as the villain, you naturally assume I’m guilty. Even jumping into the Yellow River won’t clear my name.”
She didn’t elaborate further, lest she reveal her defensiveness.
This was ancient history from a year ago. Who knew who had dug it up out of boredom?
Yu Jing Ze didn’t respond. His gaze said it all.
Zhou Si Yuan clenched the access card tightly, feeling utterly wronged. “Can you stop looking at me through colored glasses? In your eyes, everyone’s a saint—Zou Le Xiao included—but I’m the sole sinner, irredeemable.”
Yu Jing Ze took her words and countered: “Why don’t you reflect on yourself? You’ve ruined your reputation and credibility all on your own. And now you’re blaming others?”
Zhou Si Yuan opened her mouth but found no words to defend herself.
She asked him: “If I say this has nothing to do with me, will you believe me?”
Yu Jing Ze was firm: “No.”
Zhou Si Yuan: “… “
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