Tang You originally wanted to go back to Haicheng with him, but was rejected by Zhou Qinyao.
This time he went back not only for Tang You, but also to clean up the mess behind him.
In the case of uncertainty about the outcome, Zhou Qinyao didn't want to rashly cause Tang You more trouble.
He left with nothing, and he returned with nothing. The difference is that the Zhou family was prosperous at that time, but now there are countless regrets.
Zhou Qinyao took the earliest flight and after arriving in Haicheng, Zhou Yan came to pick him up.
In the car, he contacted Fang Lai.
Fang Lai didn't expect Zhou Qinyao to come so soon. She was surprised but also felt that this man was sincere. However, she was too busy to spare any time, so she told him:
"Take a taxi and come to the lounge on the 23rd floor of the Zhou Group Building to find me."
Zhou Qinyao paused for a moment and said, "Okay."
This is the address he was going to anyway.
Haicheng, Zhou Group Building.
After the stock market opened in the morning, all shareholders gathered in the conference room on the 23rd floor to discuss countermeasures. The entire conference room was full of people, but Wu Meng was the only one missing.
The world was in chaos, but she was not in a hurry. The secretary informed her that she was still having morning tea and would arrive at the meeting room in half an hour.
The chairman of the board is in hospital and the situation is in chaos. If we don't come up with a plan today, the company may face collapse and bankruptcy at any moment.
The shareholders were all extremely angry, but there was nothing they could do.
As one of the shareholders, Fang Lai was trapped in the conference room and worried in vain. After receiving a call from Zhou Qinyao, he thought that since Wu Meng had not arrived yet, he might as well take some time to go to the lounge outside to meet the man who kidnapped his daughter.
Fang Lai still remembers the impression he had when he first met him: he was calm and steady, with a confident look in his eyes. He looked like a man who would do great things. But in the end, he was wrong about him. He actually used someone else's name and identity to deceive him. He was not an honest man.
While I was drinking a cup of tea in the lounge, the door in front of me was finally pushed open.
Two men came in together. Fang Lai looked up and saw that they were Zhou Yan and Zhou Qinyao.
Thinking that Zhou Yan came in to inform him of the meeting, Fang Lai hurriedly asked, "Is it Mr. Wu who is here?"
Zhou Yan shook his head and pointed at Zhou Qinyao: "I'll bring him to the lounge to see you."
He probably couldn't find the way and happened to run into Zhou Yan.
Fang Lai nodded and glanced at Zhou Qinyao:
"Come in."
Zhou Yan automatically closed the door and went out, and Zhou Qinyao sat opposite Fang Lai.
Fang Lai looked him up and down, re-examining him without saying a word.
The man was wearing a black leather jacket, which was casually opened. There was a hint of fatigue in his eyes, but his expression was unusually calm and steady. He did not show any timidity when facing her.
Fang Lai liked his confidence from the beginning, it was just a pity.
She retracted her gaze and asked him coldly:
"Did I come to see you last night?"
Zhou Qinyao: “Yeah.”
Fang Lai asked bluntly: "So what happened to you?"
Zhou Qinyao was stunned for a moment when asked, then smiled softly: "What happened?"
Fang Lai raised his eyebrows, somewhat dissatisfied with his pretending to be stupid: "Don't ask when you already know the answer."
"Aunt." Zhou Qinyao looked back calmly: "You asked this question, first of all, you have no trust in Tang You at all."
Fang Lai: “…”
I was actually speechless.
But what he said was also a kind of answer.
Fang Lai sneered and put down the teacup:
"You are trying to lecture me. Let me ask you, how long have you known Youyou?"
"More than half a year."
Fang Lai calculated in his mind, wow, it turns out that his daughter had been entangled with him just after moving to City C, and he had never noticed any signs of connection between the two.
"Okay, let's be frank. I admire your instinct towards her at the jewelry show, but I'm sorry, you're not the right one for her."
Zhou Qinyao leaned slightly towards the sofa: "What are the conditions for your judgment?"
Fang Lai didn't need to hide anything and said frankly: "We are a perfect match."
Zhou Qinyao smiled lightly.
Fang Lai interpreted his smile as the embarrassment after being hit.
She actually felt a little bit reluctant.
To be honest, she was very satisfied with this man before.
Whether in terms of height, appearance, or ability to deal with things, he is the best among the young people she has ever met.
But I can take off Xie Cheng's skin and put on the cloak of an ordinary person...
As a mother, who could have the heart to let her daughter, whom she holds dearly in her palm, marry off
From the very beginning, being well matched was Fang Lai's first criterion.
There is no such thing as a perfect solution. Although Fang Lai feels regretful, she has to be a little selfish for Tang You's second half of life.
"Don't worry, there is still a long way to go, and you will meet the right person for you."
Zhou Qinyao had imagined all kinds of intense scenes in his meeting with Fang Lai, but he didn't expect it to be so peaceful.
In the end, she actually comforted herself.
This caring and comforting statement made Zhou Qinyao feel that his future mother-in-law was not so cruel and unjust.
He paused: "Aunt, actually I—"
Before he finished speaking, Zhou Yan came in and knocked on the door of the lounge, and said to the people in the room:
"Boss Wu is here."
Fang Lai naturally stood up immediately and straightened his clothes: "I have to go to a meeting, you wait here for me, now that I'm here, let's have lunch together at noon."
Zhou Qinyao also stood up: "Okay."
Fang Lai went out, and Zhou Qinyao also went out.
She glanced at him, thinking that the young man was being polite and was sending her off, so she said nothing.
But she had already walked to the door of the conference room and Zhou Qinyao was still following her.
Fang Lai frowned and turned back: "Why are you following me?"
Zhou Yan pushed open the door of the conference room and said, "Brother, come in."
Fang Lai: “???”
Zhou Qinyao took two steps forward and turned around when he passed Fang Lai.
The man's brows were cold and his words were powerful:
"By the way, Auntie, I haven't formally introduced myself to you yet."
He extended his hand—"Hello, my name is Zhou Zhan."
Fang Lai: “… ?”
Zhou Zhan
The name rang in Fang Lai's ears for a second. Although she didn't remember who it was right away, her subconscious mind told her to reach out and shake hands with him.
Then, when she finally realized who Zhou Zhan was, the man had already stepped into the conference room before her.
Fang Lai stood there, his head buzzing and dazed.
She still remembered what she had said to Tang You—
Zhou Zhan, the most outstanding eldest son of the Zhou family, is proud and noble. He went straight to the Italian Jewelry Design Institute at the age of 16. He grew up surrounded by diamonds and is currently studying abroad...
etc.
Didn't he study abroad
How did he hook up with his own daughter
Is this Zhou Zhan sure to be the Zhou Zhan who inherited the Diamond Kingdom
Unbelievable, how is it possible
Fang Lai held onto the door, feeling a little dizzy.
Zhou Yan came to invite her, "Mr. Fang, why don't you come in?"
Fang Lai came back to his senses, suppressed his surprise, and calmly followed him into the meeting room.
As soon as I entered, I could smell the strong smell of gunpowder.
Wu Meng had always sat in the president's seat in the conference room. Not long after she came in and sat down after having her morning tea, she heard a commotion from the audience.
Then everyone stood up.
Sensing that the atmosphere was not right, she glanced to the side and her pupils suddenly shrank.
The figure of a man dressed casually and full of arrogance, long-missed, yet familiar.
Wu Meng opened her mouth slightly, her eyes unable to hide the shock, but after all, she had been a leader for so long that she had a certain psychological quality. She quickly hid her emotions, turned her chair and smiled politely at him: "You're back?"
Zhou Qinyao didn't respond to her. He just pulled out a chair and sat down. Zhou Yan handed him a pile of information.
The two of them were very methodical and ignored Wu Meng in all their communications.
The woman's smile froze in awkwardness.
Zhou Yan: "When the market opened this morning, Moon's stock price had already fallen by 11%. Currently, major stores across the country receive more than a thousand refunds every day. Based on the claims information from various sources, the losses so far are conservatively estimated to have reached..."
Zhou Yan hesitated to speak, unable to say anything. But even if he didn't say it, Zhou Qinyao saw it all.
He quickly flipped through the stack of data in his hand, and the more he looked, the more his brows furrowed.
The situation was worse than he thought.
Fang Lai sat down next to him at this time, looking at him as if to say, "Is this really not an illusion?"
"All refunds are accepted without reason. The public relations department immediately drafted an apology statement and announced that Moon would be completely shut down for rectification."
Everyone was silent, and no one seemed to object to Zhou Qinyao's words. Wu Meng sat in the chairman's seat, stunned for a while, and laughed:
"What are you doing?"
Zhou Qinyao didn't even raise his head: "Can't you see I'm cleaning up your mess?"
Wu Meng found it even funnier: "Zhou Zhan, who is the person sitting in the president's position now?"
After Wu Meng finished speaking, everyone was shocked.
The Second Lady has been in power for a long time, and now the Crown Prince has suddenly returned. This battle for power is bound to be full of turmoil.
Zhou Qinyao dropped the information in his hand and looked up.
He looked at Wu Meng intriguingly for a while, then leaned forward and spoke coldly:
"Just because I am willing to let you sit in this position doesn't mean you really deserve to sit here, understand?"
This simple sentence slapped Wu Meng in the face.
You can temporarily own something I no longer want, but I also have the right to take it back at any time.
"Please leave, Miss Wu. She is not needed here." Zhou Qinyao drove her away as if no one was around, without giving her any face at all, and his words were harsh and decisive.
Wu Meng was unprepared for his sudden appearance. After a few rounds, her face turned pale, but she still wanted to suppress him with her status: "Zhou Zhan, I am the person in charge of the company!"
"It's me now."
Five cold words, in a light but firm tone:
"go out."
Wu Meng did not move. Zhou Qinyao raised his dark eyes, with obvious impatience in his indifference:
"Do you want me to say it twice?"
Zhou Yan immediately stood next to Wu Meng and extended his hand to lead the way: "Mr. Wu, please."
The implication of expulsion was already very obvious, and the unfriendly nature of the two Zhou brothers was evident at a glance. Wu Meng looked at the shareholders in the audience, all of them had their heads down, and no one stood up to speak for themselves.
She knew that she had gone too far this time and could no longer stand her ground. She was not in a favorable position at the moment and there was no point in forcing herself to do so.
He pulled his lips and found a way out, but his tone was distorted and strange: "Okay, I just have to go to the hospital to take care of your father, so I'll leave this to you to play with."
…
Zhou Qinyao's meeting lasted for three hours without stopping.
Everyone acquiesced and rejoiced at his return, as if a shaky ship in the vast ocean finally had a sail to guide its direction.
Although some of Wu Meng's people were not convinced, they were outnumbered and had to accept the fact that the prince had returned.
At the end of the meeting, Zhou Qinyao listed a solution to resolve the crisis. Although it was very detailed and sincere, he knew very well that in the fiercely competitive jewelry industry, Moon's brand value had fallen to an irreversible level.
Everything he is doing now is paving the way for his future plans.
"Any other questions?" Zhou Qinyao asked everyone after the meeting.
Everyone shook their heads. Zhou Qinyao slightly turned sideways and suddenly asked Fang Lai:
"Aunt, what about you?"
Fang Lai: “…”
After the meeting, Fang Lai witnessed how this man analyzed the crisis so deeply in just a few hours, and his response was calm and impeccable.
This is what Moon should be like.
The meeting ended and everyone left, but Fang Lai stayed.
Life changes rapidly. The man who just abducted his daughter and ran away from home has now transformed into the legendary most noble prince of the Zhou family.
Fang Lai didn't know what expression to give. She just sighed that life was like a play. She felt that she had everything under control, but she didn't know that life had also played a trick on her.
She laughed at herself and said, "After all this time, it turns out it's not Master Xie, but Master Zhou."
Zhou Qinyao frowned, his expression became gentle, not as sharp as in the meeting:
"Aunt, whether I am a young master or not, I am 100% sincere to your daughter."
Fang Lai followed with a smile: "But sincerity cannot be expressed with words."
She knocked on the table and pointed at the documents on it: "I am also in business. Moon's crisis this time is enough to bankrupt your Zhou family."
Zhou Qinyao paused and nodded in acknowledgment: "Yes."
Fang Lai then asked: "Then what sincerity do you have to give to Youyou?"
Although what she said is realistic, it is also true.
Zhou Qinyao knew what a big mess he had taken over, and he also knew that he would face many complicated and tedious tasks.
He was silent for a while, then calmly said to Fang Lai: "I can start over."
"But what if it fails?"
As Fang Lai spoke, he took out a small bottle from his bag, poured out a pill, and swallowed it with the water on the table.
Zhou Qinyao frowned: "What's wrong with you?"
"It's okay." Fang Lai swallowed it in one gulp and waved his hand: "It's just an old problem."
Zhou Qinyao took the bottle and took a look at it. It was a sedative.
He looked at Fang Lai with a hint of doubt.
Fang Lai took back her medicine and put it in her bag.
After a moment of silence, she slowly said:
"When she was one and a half years old, she was abducted by human traffickers. Fortunately, she was found two days later. No one knows how I survived those two days... Since then, I have had this disease. As long as my daughter is not under my control, I will feel insecure and have strong anxiety. So when I heard the maid say that she ran away from home this morning, I almost fainted. Fortunately, you sent her back."
Zhou Qinyao: “…”
I didn't know this before, but after listening to it now, I seemed to understand Fang Lai's abnormal desire to control Tang You.
This kind of psychological shadow is somewhat sad and helpless.
"But Tang You is already eighteen years old. She has her own thoughts and hobbies. You should give her space and freedom."
After a pause, Zhou Qinyao said softly: "She is stronger than you think."
Fang Lai was silent and didn't speak for a long time.
In fact, she later reflected on Tang You’s confession that night. She felt satisfied and safe by forcing control over her daughter, but she didn’t know that the person being controlled would be more tired.
"I will consider what you said, but I'm sorry,"
Fang Lai thought for a long time and said:
"The Zhou family is in this state now. Rebuilding it will not be done in two days. Maybe you think I'm too snobbish, but I hope Youyou's future will be stable."
Zhou Qinyao understood what Fang Lai meant.
"Then what do you want me to do?"
Fang Lai suddenly smiled calmly: "Do you know why my daughter's maiden name is not Youyou, but Youyou?"
Zhou Qinyao shook his head lightly.
"From the day she came back to me, I hoped that she would be rich and powerful, loved and cared for, and have the best of everything in the world, everything she wanted, and no more suffering."
Fang Lai paused and said, "But you can't give her these now."
Zhou Qinyao: “…”
Fang Lai was telling the truth.
It is unknown how long it will take to overcome the current difficulties. Restoring the Zhou family's reputation will require time, energy and many factors.
"You have to devote all your energy to saving your family business, and Youyou also has to study for the college entrance examination. Your entanglement at this time will only affect each other. You will be distracted by her, and she will also worry about you, so—"
Fang Lai's clear voice fell:
"I can agree that you two can be together, but not now. You are not allowed to see her or tell her your identity until you turn the company around."
"… "
Reconstruction is a difficult road. Once Tang You knew that Zhou Qinyao's company was facing countless debts and was almost going bankrupt, given her personality, she would inevitably worry about herself.
Zhou Qinyao also knew that Fang Lai's agreement, but not now, was also a way of motivating himself to some extent.
But Zhou Qinyao couldn't let go.
He couldn't live without Tang You.
"I can agree to your request, but I also have a request," said Zhou Qinyao.
—
That afternoon, Zhou Yan accompanied Zhou Qinyao back to City C.
It was already eight o'clock in the evening when I landed. I simply went back to the courtyard, packed a few pieces of luggage, said goodbye to Wu Zhiyu and Song Xiaoyang, and the remaining thing, which was also the most important thing after returning, was to explain to Tang You.
Zhou Yan was muttering about tomorrow's plans, and a bunch of trivial things were waiting for Zhou Qinyao to do.
He felt as if a thousand pounds were lifted off his shoulders. He smoked a cigarette to calm his tense thoughts before arriving at the door of Villa No. 7.
Tang You actually sent him a lot of text messages, but Zhou Qinyao always felt that these words needed to be said to her in person.
Tang You seemed to have not slept well that night. Finally, when someone came back, he pulled him into his room, closed the door, and asked nervously:
"Have you seen my mother? Did you have a fight? Was she mean to you?"
Zhou Qinyao shook his head gently and lifted the hair beside her ear:
"Your mother doesn't know how much she loves me."
"… "
"real."
"Stop it." Tang You didn't believe it at all, "Can you tell me the truth?"
Zhou Qinyao held her hand and said, "I didn't lie to you. Your mother agrees that we can be together."
Tang You opened his eyes wide, feeling incredible, and then came to his senses: "What conditions?"
"..." Zhou Qinyao didn't expect Tang You to know his biological mother so well.
But he promised Fang Lai that he could not tell Tang You what happened now, so he had to keep this promise.
I had to try to calmly say to the little girl: "It's not a harsh condition... your mother just hopes that I can be better."
Tang You felt uneasy: "So what?"
"So I fought for a place in our store for further studies outside the city. After I finish my studies, I can become the store manager. What do you think?"
Tang You: “…”
After hearing this, she finally understood why Zhou Qinyao had laid out such a long story for her. Her eyes welled up:
"You want to leave?"
Before Zhou Qinyao could say anything, the little girl threw herself into his arms: "I don't want it!"
Zhou Qinyao was caught off guard and she jumped into his arms. He staggered back two steps.
No matter how hard the heart is, it cannot stop softening, and it is filled with reluctance and nostalgia that has nowhere to hide.
"Be good." He touched her head and comforted her, "But I also want to become a better person."
"You're already fine!" Tang You raised her head from his arms, her eyes sparkling, and she stubbornly went to find her phone: "I want to call my mother."
Zhou Qinyao looked at the little girl with pity, stopped her and hugged her.
Hold her tight.
"Listen to me Tangyou, this is my own choice."
Tang You was stunned.
The man said in a low and gentle voice: "Give me some time, okay."
Tang You is a considerate girl.
After Zhou Qinyao said this, she began to sniffle. She endured it again and again, and compromised aggrievedly: "Then how long will it take to study...?"
According to conservative estimates, it would take three to five years at the fastest to rebuild a brand's reputation, or even impossible to make a comeback.
Zhou Qinyao smiled easily: "It will only take one or two years, it will be quick."
Tang You: “…”
Fortunately, it was only a year or two.
Unlike before when she went abroad, it was always for four years.
Tang You tried hard to look at the positive side of the matter, which was that Fang Lai agreed to her and Zhou Qinyao's relationship.
In comparison, Zhou Qinyao only needed to study for a year or two, so there was nothing he couldn't wait for.
To them, this seems to be the best outcome.
Sniffing, Tang You said softly, "Then you must study quickly and come back soon."
Zhou Qinyao's heart melted, and he held back the various emotions that surged in his heart, "I will."
He put the chain he was wearing around Tang You's neck. It was his mother Yao Yue's favorite pendant before she passed away, and Zhou Qinyao had been wearing it for all these years.
Giving it to Tang You was a promise to her and also a covenant.
The girl's face was pure and beautiful under the light. Zhou Qinyao gently kissed her soft lips, leaving behind the last warm memory before they parted:
"Be good and wait for me."
I will definitely get you back to me soon, very soon.
The author has something to say: Sorry for being a little late today.
——
◎ The Sunset Diamond is the largest pear-shaped vivid yellow diamond known in the world. In 2010, the American diamond producer Cora International discovered the rough stone of this giant yellow diamond in South Africa. After careful polishing and cutting, it was publicly exhibited in London, New York, Hong Kong and other regions. Wherever it went, people were amazed at its dazzling beauty and majestic "figure". This yellow diamond is as big as a lady's thumb and is figuratively called the "Sunset Diamond".
On the evening of November 15, 2011, the world's largest pear-shaped yellow diamond was bought by an anonymous buyer at Sotheby's auction house in Geneva for $12.36 million, setting a world record for the price of a yellow diamond. The 110.03-carat diamond was mined in South Africa last year. Experts have identified the diamond as bright yellow, a rare and exquisite yellow diamond.