EIP 29

As the housemaid entered, she was shocked to discover the chaos her master had created. The telephone lay shattered, the bedding was in disarray, and the carpet was stained with various unsightly marks, along with difficult-to-clean glass shards scattered about. When she finally retrieved the tattered stockings and cheongsam from under the bed, her expression shifted to one of disbelief.

Zhou Jun, staggering with a wine glass in hand and groaning as he moved, noticed the housemaid’s reaction and, for once, felt a pang of shame. He carefully placed a soft pillow on the chair before lowering himself into it, then retrieved twenty bucks from his wallet, handing it to her as compensation for her trouble in cleaning up after his mess.

After receiving the money, the housemaid’s expression improved somewhat, but she still felt uneasy. Despite Master Zhou’s wild behavior, he had never brought anyone home before. What had happened today? As she glanced at the clothing in her hands, she wondered whose it might be. It probably wasn’t a lady of good standing; someone who indulged in such antics was likely a performer.

Looking at the man, who was leaning against the wall, it was clear he had been drained by that woman. She must have been both enchanting and skilled.

If Zhou Jun could hear the housemaid’s thoughts, he would likely agree. Although Yong Jin didn’t possess traditional beauty, his cunning surpassed that of many women. With his power and ruthlessness, there was no woman who could compare to him.

After a few days of rest at home, a new telephone was delivered. It was from the Yong residence, which puzzled Zhou Jun. After all, it was Yong Jin who had refused to compensate him for the broken phone; why was he receiving a replacement now? The people from the Yong residence kept their lips sealed, and despite Zhou Jun’s inquiries, they answered with vague responses, leaving him feeling rather bored. He couldn’t be bothered to escort them out, which surprised the housemaid.

Despite his reckless behavior, Zhou Jun usually knew how to conduct himself properly. He would greet even the water carriers with a smile and a friendly hello. However, the housemaid chose not to comment. While the master appeared easygoing, she couldn’t forget her position. After hanging the blankets out to dry and preparing dinner, she took her leave.

Zhou Jun had just lazily moved to the dining table when the phone rang. His face turned a shade of green with anger, but he couldn’t ignore the call. Since the phone had just arrived, he hadn’t made any outgoing calls yet. The only people who could reach him at this moment were the ones he expected. Reluctant to answer immediately, he let the phone ring several times until it eventually disconnected right as he picked it up.

Zhou Jun listened to the busy tone in the receiver before slamming the phone down. After dinner, he called some acquaintances from the Zhou family, a few friends, and his close female friends to check in. The Zhou family invited him back for dinner the next day, as there were guests at home, apparently a classmate of his. Zhou Yan had asked him to return to entertain them.

After dealing with a series of trivial matters, Yong Jin’s call finally came through, albeit late. The voice on the phone was slightly distorted, and Yong Jin’s tone was low, mixed with a metallic quality that added a hint of ambiguity to the night. He asked Zhou Jun how he was feeling, noting that Zhou Jun’s waist looked quite bad when he left. Zhou Jun forced a smile, gritting his teeth, and replied, “How could that be? You underestimate my constitution, Major. I’m perfectly fine. You, on the other hand, should pay attention to your kidneys.”

Yong Jin chuckled softly on the other end of the line, “Perhaps I worried too much. Jun Jun’s health is indeed good; you even got out of bed and handled a gun that day.” Zhou Jun huffed coldly, “So that means you were even worse off. Not just handling one gun, but more than that.” Yong Jin didn’t argue with him, playfully admitting he was wrong. Zhou Jun then asked, “Weren’t you the one who said you wouldn’t compensate for the phone and told me to stay put?”

Zhou Jun felt a flush creeping up his face. He had been flirting too much with Miss Wen, assuming Yong Jin couldn’t understand, only to have his facade ripped away. On the other end, Yong Jin was quiet for a moment, and Zhou Jun could faintly hear the sound of a lighter clicking, a rhythmic tap, tap. Then he heard Yong Jin’s voice, smooth and deliberate: “I didn’t expect myself thinking about you all the time.”

Zhou Jun abruptly hung up the phone, doing so in a panic as if startled into fleeing. He was indeed shocked. Yong Jin’s affectionate demeanor was difficult to accept. How could it be that after sharing a bed, Yong Jin had discarded all rationality along with his semen? Or was this merely another ploy to draw him in?

Despite his best efforts to cast Yong Jin in a negative light, Zhou Jun couldn’t help his emotions. By the time he realized it, he found himself humming a tune, flipping through a book without absorbing a single word. Frustrated with his own weakness, he lightly slapped his cheeks, only to discover how unusually warm they felt. Grabbing a mirror from the drawer, he confirmed that his face was indeed flushed.

After some thought, he decided to change into a white long coat and drove over to the Zhou family home. Upon arrival, he learned that his older brother was out and wouldn’t be back for a while. With that, Zhou Jun headed toward his sister-in-law’s courtyard. His sister-in-law was quite a character. After getting married, she appeared gentle, considerate, and virtuous.

In the courtyard, wooden posts were still set up, along with his sister-in-law’s martial arts practice room and weapon display, all arranged by his older brother to indulge her. Naturally, such matters were best kept private to avoid gossip about the Zhou family having a fierce wife. Aside from protecting his sister-in-law’s reputation, his brother was adamant that outsiders shouldn’t have a say in how he treated his wife.

As Zhou Jun entered the courtyard, he spotted his sister-in-law in casual attire, striking the wooden posts with impressive agility. He hesitated, feeling a shiver down his spine and thinking about leaving. However, she caught sight of him and called out playfully, “Stop right there! Come over here.” Reluctantly, Zhou Jun approached her, dragging his feet. She examined him closely from head to toe and remarked, “You look unsteady and pale. What have you been up to these past few days?”

Zhou Jun wore a playful grin, avoiding a direct response. His sister-in-law, unfazed, lifted her right hand and beckoned him with a flick of her fingers. “Come on, let’s spar a few rounds.” Zhou Jun’s expression turned serious. “I really can’t, sister-in-law. Please, don’t get physical with me.” She dismissed his words as nonsense and swung a punch at him.

Unfortunately for Zhou Jun, he found himself forced into a retreat, ultimately landing hard on the ground, tears springing to his eyes. His sister-in-law stood over him, her long shadow enveloping him like the weight of his own failures. As expected, she scolded him fiercely: “Those flashy moves of yours were never impressive to begin with. Have you forgotten your basics after going abroad? Should I go find your master to give you a proper lesson?”

Zhou Jun’s backside, sore from days of rest, throbbed painfully as he heard his sister-in-law’s words. He scrambled to his feet, quickly shaking his head. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! Please don’t call Master! He’ll definitely drag me back and make me suffer.”

“Get up,” she said. “Your brother told me you ran into trouble on the streets a few days ago. If you had taken your training seriously back then, you wouldn’t have lost to a bunch of thugs.”

Her anger was genuine, stemming from Zhou Jun’s waste of talent. She lamented that he never dedicated himself to training and had forgotten everything after going abroad, choosing instead to indulge in a life of excess. Zhou Jun didn’t argue. He replied, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry! I wasn’t just playing around while I was abroad. I’ve actually become quite good with a gun. You just have to believe me.”

At that moment, Zhou Yan happened to return from outside. Seeing his elder brother, Zhou Jun was about to step forward to greet him, but Zhou Yan barked, “Kneel!” Zhou Jun dropped to his knees like a puppet with its strings cut, while his sister-in-law hurriedly moved to help him up. Zhou Yan instructed his wife to step outside first. She glanced between the two of them, hesitating before reluctantly leaving the courtyard.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Zhou Jun didn’t wait for his brother to speak. Instead, he blurted out, “Elder Brother! You have to hear me out first! I… I slept with Yong Jin.”