"This is it. You wait in the car, I'll go in and take a look," Xu Yan said.
Zhou Luming grabbed her wrist. "I'll go with you."
"What if someone plants a bomb in the car if we both leave?" Xu Yan said. "You stay here and guard it; he won't do anything to me."
Zhou Luming was still unwilling, so he got out of the car decisively and followed closely behind Xu Yan, showing his determination through his actions.
Xu Yan had no choice but to let her stay with him.
The sanatorium looked dilapidated from the outside, with peeling paint on the exterior walls. The interior was also broken and dilapidated, with chairs that were broken and overturned. However, once you went up to the second floor, everything changed.
The floor was covered with a clean carpet, the walls had been repainted, and at the end of the corridor was a room. Pushing open the door revealed a large, street-facing suite. It had a living room, an open kitchen, and several bedrooms, and there was even a television playing financial news.
Xu Yan slowly and cautiously stepped into the living room, and heard an electronic voice that didn't sound human say to her, "Change into slippers, put on a shower cap and a mask before you come in."
Xu Yan noticed a white coat hanging on the right wall, and brand-new slippers, gloves, masks, and other items on the floor. She changed into them one by one, covering herself up completely, and Zhou Luming did the same.
After they finished dressing, a sensor-activated glass door opened automatically, and the two finally entered the innermost room.
The television sound became clearer, and Xu Yan saw a bed with a person lying on it. The person had tubes inserted all over their body, and several medical instruments displaying numbers were beside them. They were emaciated, with sunken eyes and a pale bluish-purple skin. The back of their hand, which was resting on the blanket, had prominent blue veins. If it weren't for the fact that their eyes were still moving, they could easily mistake them for a dead person.
Xu Yan slowly walked to his side, while Zhou Luming remained where she was, watching this scene unfold. Although she had already suspected something, she still couldn't quite believe it when she saw the real person—how could someone who was clearly dead appear alive before her eyes?!
Was she dreaming or hallucinating?
However, only he could command Xu Lang, control Zhou Jiasang, and direct Lu Yong. He was incredibly wealthy and powerful, and his influence and power in Haishi were unmatched.
Xu Yan looked down and gazed quietly at the emaciated old man lying on the bed. The bed was mechanical and automatic, with the headboard able to be raised at an angle. The old man was now leaning against the headboard, and could see Xu Yan's face with just a slight lift of his eyes.
However, his eyes were cloudy and empty, like those of a person in a vegetative state who had lost consciousness.
Xu Yan said, "Grandpa, so you really are still alive."
The old man lying on the bed had a thin, expressionless face. He didn't answer, but a mechanical electronic voice came from the machine by the bedside: "My granddaughter has finally found me."
Xu Yan: "Are you unable to speak or move anymore?"
"As you can see, only my consciousness is still active. If I were to leave these machines, I would be dead."
Why did it turn out like this?
“I suddenly contracted a rare disease that is incurable, and slowly I became like this. At first, only my toes couldn’t move, but then my whole body became paralyzed. Now, I can’t even move my tongue. I can only rely on a smart computer to read my thoughts and communicate with you in this mechanical voice,” said Mr. Zhou.
“I can control everything in this room with my mind. My money wasn’t wasted. Those engineers who developed biological intelligent computers are indeed somewhat useful.”
His eyes flickered, and the television, which was playing the financial channel, switched to the entertainment channel. It was showing photos and videos of Zhou Luming and Wu Fan on a date, taken by paparazzi. The host was excitedly discussing Zhou Luming's scandal, even speculating that the two would soon announce their marriage.
Old Master Zhou said, "Xu Lang has been arrested, and Lu Yong has been brought to the brink of death by your machinations. Your biggest enemies have been eliminated, and this farce of impersonation that you orchestrated should come to an end. Lu Ming, you should immediately announce your identity, return to the Zhou family, and officially take over the business that belongs to you."
“I am Xu Yan, not Zhou Luming.”
"No matter what you say, the blood of the Zhou family flows in your veins," said Old Master Zhou. "Just like your father, you can never escape the fate of the Zhou family, and you can never escape my grasp."
Xu Yan said coldly, "If I insist that I don't have the surname Zhou, what will you do? Will you send someone to assassinate me like you would your father?"
Grandpa Zhou said, "You scoundrel, who taught you to talk to your elders like that? Is this the kind of upbringing your mother taught you? This woman not only cheated away my only son, but also my granddaughter! Even if she dies, I will not let her rest in peace."
"So you're admitting that you killed my parents?"
"I just want to find my son. What happened was an accident."
"An accident? You actually use those two words to brush me off?" Xu Yan sneered, pulled up a stool and sat down next to Grandpa Zhou's bed. "Grandpa, I have some time today, please tell me a story. I want to hear about my father."
"There's nothing to say about him. He's dead. You are the future of the Zhou family."
"Really? But why did you choose me? I'm not the only one with the surname Zhou. There's Zhou Jiayi, Zhou Jiasang, and other cousins. I believe there are many people who want the Zhou Group and your inheritance. Why not choose them?"
“I look down on them. Only you are most like your father. You are smart and cautious. Apart from being a little soft-hearted, you are the perfect heir.”
"To be honest, it's all because you love my dad the most, so after he passed away, you transferred your expectations of him onto me," Xu Yan said. "But I won't accept your arrangements; I want to walk my own path."
"Oh? You're really willing to give up my inheritance?" Old Master Zhou countered. "If you're willing to give it up, will this young lady be willing to give it up as well?"
He was referring to Li Ruo, who had come with Xu Yan and was impersonating Zhou Luming.
"Li Ruo, as long as you help me, I will give you what you want."
--------------------
Author's Note:
The story in this article is based on the inheritance law of the Civil Code. Those who are interested can look up some cases themselves; they are quite interesting, but I didn't write that part of the story.
Chapter 97
===================
Li Ruo listened quietly, and finally her name was mentioned. She smiled and asked, "Can you really give me everything I want?"
Grandpa Zhou replied, "Tell me about it."
Li Ruo glanced at Xu Yan, who remained expressionless. To negotiate terms like this in front of the parties involved showed Old Master Zhou a complete lack of respect for Xu Yan.
Li Ruo curled the corners of her lips and said, "I want her." She pointed at Xu Yan.
Old Master Zhou's eye twitched; this was the maximum he could control. "Besides her."
Li Ruo shook her head and said, "I don't want anything but her. But you and I both made a mistake—Xu Yan is a living, breathing person with her own thoughts and personality. She is not an appendage of any person or family. We have no right to tell her what to do, let alone treat her as a transactional object."
Xu Yan looked up and stared at Li Ruo. This was the real Li Ruo, not the Li Ruo who had impersonated someone else to complete a mission.
“Besides, I’m the chairman of the Zhou Group now, and the entire Zhou Group belongs to us. You’re practically a ‘dead man’ now. Do you have some rare treasure hidden away as your retirement savings? If that’s the case, how could I possibly take your retirement savings? That would be too immoral,” Li Ruo said.
Old Master Zhou snorted, "Those 30% of the shares were transferred to my granddaughter Zhou Luming, not to you. Once your identity is made public, you won't get any of the property."
"Really? How can you prove I'm not Zhou Luming?" Li Ruo asked. Whether it was DNA evidence or witness testimonies from those around her, Xu Yan could handle it all; she wasn't worried at all.
Grandpa Zhou said, "The solution is simple: just reverse the inheritance process. If I, the 'deceased,' reappear, all the distribution of the estate will be suspended, and my property can be returned... Even if you are still Zhou Luming, you won't get what you want."
"Oh, so there's such a loophole." Li Ruo slowly approached Grandpa Zhou's hospital bed, looking down at the emaciated old man. He was sick and should have been enjoying his old age and spending his final days in peace, but instead he was pointing fingers at the younger generation and others, trying to control everything.
He's old and his health isn't what it used to be. What he does is his business, but he can't interfere in other people's lives, even if that person is his son, daughter, or granddaughter.
Xu Yan was sitting opposite Li Ruo, separated from her by the reclining Old Master Zhou. She was listening to Li Ruo's words and sensed a hidden meaning in them, as well as a threatening air about her and a cunning glint in her eyes.
Li Ruo gently tucked the blanket around Old Master Zhou and said softly, "Not many people know you're still alive, right? The location of the nursing home and your life support equipment were all provided by Zhou Jiasang. No one knows you're alive except her. If... I make your 'death' a reality, the inheritance will still proceed as before, and the outside world won't change because of you." Li Ruo held the blanket and slowly pulled it up over the old man.
Terrification flashed in Old Master Zhou's eyes. "You want to murder me? You actually dare to murder me?!"
Li Ruo looked around. The life support equipment was beeping, and Zhou Jiasang was probably watching this scene somewhere. However, two minutes passed and no one rushed in to protect Grandpa Zhou.
"It seems you've been abandoned by everyone and are now all alone." Li Ruo chuckled, her smile laced with sarcasm.
"Zhou Luming, are you going to watch an outsider murder your grandfather?!" Old Master Zhou shouted at Xu Yan. The electronic voice had a stiff tone, but the volume could be adjusted to increase or decrease depending on the tone of voice.
Just now, Grandpa Zhou was very emotional, so the electronic sound was very loud, so loud that Li Ruo had to cover her ears.
Xu Yan asked, "How exactly did my parents die?"
Grandpa Zhou exclaimed in disbelief, "You actually side with an outsider?! A thief?! A lowly woman who lives at the bottom of society?!"
Xu Yan looked up and quietly stared at him: "You still don't understand your mistakes. I don't expect you to change your mind. I just want you to tell me if you were the one who caused my parents' car accident?"
"Zhou Luming, how dare you speak to me like that?!"
“I am not Zhou Luming, my surname is Xu, and my name is Xu Yan.”
Grandpa Zhou fell silent instantly, and the data from the equipment around him gradually calmed down; the piercing alarms stopped. Li Ruo was right; he was now completely isolated. Although this nursing home was far from the city center, his vital signs were linked to Zhou Jiasang's computer, so if an alarm had sounded, Zhou Jiasang would definitely have known.
But she made no move and sent no one.
As a result, even his own daughter betrayed him and abandoned him.
Knowing his days were numbered, Old Master Zhou devised a plan to fake his death. With Zhou Jiasang's help, he hid in a room at the sanatorium, using Zhou Jiasang to maintain contact with the outside world. Apart from Zhou Jiasang, no one knew he was still alive. It seems even this daughter couldn't be relied upon.
After faking her death, Grandpa Zhou hid in a secluded spot, quietly observing everything that happened outside. He knew Xu Yan had returned, and that she had even found a substitute—a very clever move, which Grandpa Zhou praised for her caution.
It was later discovered that Xu Yan seemed to have no real interest in the Zhou Group. She continued to get involved in cases involving the distribution of the estate, including those related to Yuan Universe Technology, Xinhang Aviation Insurance claims, and Lu Qi and Luke.
However, Old Master Zhou quickly realized that while Xu Yan appeared to be handling various estate management matters, the cases she was actually dealing with were all related to or revolved around the Zhou Group. Therefore, Old Master Zhou believed that Xu Yan, in essence, still harbored ambitions towards the Zhou Group, which was why she had set up multiple smokescreens and created numerous deceptions to conceal her true intentions.
The so-called estate administrators are just a cover.
Ultimately, she came for the massive Zhou Group.
Watching from afar, Old Master Zhou grew increasingly fond of his granddaughter. She was intelligent, decisive, and had the same style he had in his youth. He was certain that the Zhou Group would flourish under her leadership.
However, it was also discovered that Xu Yan had a fatal weakness—she was too kind and too easily swayed by emotions, and her feelings for the woman beside her were too genuine.
This reminded Old Master Zhou of his son from years ago. His son was also a business prodigy, exceptionally talented from a young age under his supervision and guidance, and the best heir to the Zhou Group. However, this perfect son was lured away by an ordinary woman. He quietly abandoned everything—his identity, status, power, and wealth—and even himself, escaping his control.
There was a period when he was completely out of contact. If it weren't for his daughter, Zhou Jiasang, still keeping in touch with him, the old man Zhou would never have been able to find his son.
It turns out he had been living abroad all along, and he and that woman had a daughter named Zhou Luming.
Very well, you can never escape your fate.
Old Master Zhou sent people to look for him, and even considered personally persuading him to return. However, he had to give up the idea due to the worsening of his illness.
Recalling what happened back then, Old Master Zhou's eyes changed slightly, and at times, Xu Yan saw a gentle light in his eyes.
Grandpa Zhou finally spoke: "Your parents' car accident was indeed an accident. Back then, I asked Lu Yong to find someone to kidnap them through the dark web, but he didn't expect to use too much force and cause the accident..."
"I never intended to hurt your father. He is my heir, my most beloved son..."
“You say you never intended to hurt him, but in reality, your actions are hurting him every moment,” Xu Yan said. “Parents impose their own standards and responsibilities on their children, making them live and act according to their own wishes. But they are also living, breathing people with their own thoughts and judgments. They cannot be exactly like you. Although your parents gave you life, how you live should be your own choice, and you should let go.”
"You make it sound so easy..."
Xu Yan sighed, "It seems you won't listen."
Grandpa Zhou said, "I'm doing this for your father's sake, and also for your own good."
Xu Yan coldly said, "Emotional blackmail."
Old Master Zhou cursed, "You good-for-nothing, you're defying me again."
Xu Yan said to Li Ruo, "I have nothing more to say to him. Let's go."
Li Ruo happily walked around the hospital bed to Xu Yan's side, affectionately taking his arm. "Xu Yan, let's go eat something delicious! I know a revolving restaurant where the sashimi is especially good, and the chef is very handsome..."
Xu Yan said, "I don't want to eat raw or cold food."
"Let's go eat hot pot! Hot pot is the best!" Li Ruo was still very excited.