EIP 83

Zhou Jun hadn’t gone to see his eldest brother for several days. However, since he had been away for quite some time, there was a mountain of tasks to deal with, which kept him busy for days. Xiao Fu told him that his sister-in-law had a private discussion with his brother, and in the end, she decided to leave. Xiao Fu personally escorted her back to the Rong family.

Recently, Zhou Jun had been working on several business deals, and one was nearly finalized before it unexpectedly fell apart. Perplexed, he called the intermediary to inquire about what happened. The intermediary asked in return if Zhou Jun had offended anyone lately. Zhou Jun thought to himself, I’ve offended quite a few people. He pressed further, hoping for more details.

Given their relationship, the intermediary eventually provided a clue. Someone from Mr. Bai’s side had snatched his deal. The intermediary found it strange, noting that Zhou Jun’s deal wasn’t particularly large, while Mr. Bai’s company was a major player in the import-export industry. Why would such a powerful company stoop to disrupt Zhou Jun’s small-scale business?

Zhou Jun thanked the intermediary and ended the call. After some thought, he decided to call Xin Wanjun. She answered, sounding pleased despite her recent struggles with severe pregnancy symptoms, which had affected her work on set. The director had granted her a few days off to recover before resuming filming. At the moment, she was at home, with her mother preparing nourishing congee for her in the kitchen as part of her prescribed diet.

Zhou Jun asked, “Miss Xin, would you like to go out for a stroll and get some clothes made?” Xin Wanjun, who hadn’t been out shopping in a long time, readily agreed. After hanging up, Zhou Jun strategized. Since Mr. Bai was targeting him despite no direct conflict, perhaps approaching Xin Wanjun might help draw this mysterious figure into the open.

Aware that this outing had ulterior motives, Zhou Jun first bought a bouquet of lavender and waited downstairs at Xin Wanjun’s residence. His eager stance seemed to attract unwanted attention, as two tall men in suits soon approached him, saying their employer wished to meet him. Zhou Jun feigned innocence, looking at the men without responding. Before he could speak, Xin Wanjun’s melodic voice called out urgently from nearby.

“Mr. Zhou!”

The two men exchanged glances before retreating in unison. Xin Wanjun, now visibly pregnant, had dressed loosely for the occasion. She wore sunglasses, a small hat, and a silk scarf tied in a pretty bow that partially covered her chin. She jogged toward Zhou Jun, who instinctively reached out to steady her, clearly anxious about any harm coming to a pregnant woman.

However, Xin Wanjun herself seemed unconcerned. After steadying herself with Zhou Jun’s arm, she glanced toward where the suited men had disappeared and asked worriedly, “Mr. Zhou, did you offend someone?”

Zhou Jun handed her the lavender bouquet, equal parts amused and exasperated. “You think they looked like bad guys too? Then why did you call out to me! Next time, if you see something suspicious, hide or run. Whatever you do, don’t get involved, understand?”

Xin Wanjun sniffed the lavender bouquet in her arms, nodding obediently like a well-behaved girl who had just been taught a lesson. Zhou Jun, satisfied, gave her a small nod and instinctively patted her head. He immediately realized the gesture was too intimate, but Wanjun didn’t seem to mind. Perhaps it was her maternal instincts kicking in due to her pregnancy, she seemed to naturally grow closer to Zhou Jun.

She had already planned to get some clothes made today, so the two of them boarded a rickshaw together. As expected, the two men in black followed them in a car, while Zhou Jun also noticed Zhong Qing discreetly observing from a distance. Seeing him glance around repeatedly, Wanjun asked, “What’s wrong, Mr. Zhou? Are you looking for something?”

Zhou Jun smoothed the hem of his suit and sat upright. Glancing at his watch, he replied, “Nothing, I just find it amusing.” How could he not? The two of them were being followed by four little tails.

Xin Wanjun thought for a moment before leaning in and whispering to Zhou Jun, “Those two men earlier looked quite formidable. Maybe Mr. Shi sent them?”

Zhou Jun raised an eyebrow. “Maybe?”

Xin Wanjun fiddled with her small handbag and said, “Mr. Shi mentioned assigning me two bodyguards, but I’ve never actually seen them.”

When they arrived at the tailor shop, Xin Wanjun went to have her measurements taken while Zhou Jun browsed the fabric selection, not for himself but for Yong Jin. He considered his own taste fairly decent and thought it better to gift something to Yong Jin rather than have him repeatedly “borrow” his belongings. This way, Yong Jin wouldn’t need to sneak around, reminiscing sentimentally over stolen items.

Zhou Jun picked out a fabric he thought would suit Yong Jin and was immediately approached by a sharp-eyed shop assistant, who began praising his choice and how dashing he would look wearing it. Zhou Jun shook his head. “It’s for a friend.”

The shop assistant quickly shifted gears. “Well, with someone as outstanding as you, your friend must be remarkable too.”

Recalling the feel of holding Yong Jin in his arms, Zhou Jun estimated his measurements. The shop assistant hesitated. “Sir, for custom work, precise measurements are best; otherwise, it might not fit well.”

Zhou Jun nodded. “In that case, make it into a pocket square and a pair of leather gloves. When he returns, I’ll bring him back for proper measurements.” The shop assistant agreed, taking the fabric from Zhou Jun.

Xin Wanjun had finished her measurements and went into the back room to choose fabrics, but she didn’t come out for a long time. Zhou Jun went to check on her, only to find the old tailor lying on the ground with a bleeding head while Xin Wanjun was nowhere to be seen.

Zhou Jun was alarmed. He turned to leave the shop and alert the four “tails,” but before he could take a few steps, he felt a gun pressed against his back. Zhou Jun froze and slowly turned around, coming face to face with Allen, who was in a terrible state, unkempt with a scruffy beard, greasy hair, and a gloomy expression, living like a fugitive to avoid his enemies and the Yong family, reduced to a life resembling that of a rat scurrying underground.

And all of this was thanks to Zhou Jun. He still appeared refined and composed, strolling with a woman like nothing was wrong. Allen’s gaze was sharp and hateful, as though he wanted to tear Zhou Jun apart and drink his blood.

Zhou Jun raised his hands. “You can hurt me, but this has nothing to do with the woman. Let her go.”

Allen clearly had no intention of engaging in conversation. He struck Zhou Jun hard on the back of the neck with the gun. Zhou Jun’s body went limp, and he fell unconscious.

No one knew how much time had passed before Zhou Jun regained consciousness. When he woke, he found himself pressed against a soft body. It was Xin Wanjun, her makeup ruined from crying. They had been tied together, placed side by side. Seeing him awake, Xin Wanjun immediately asked, “Are you okay?”

Zhou Jun’s neck throbbed with a dull pain as he took in their surroundings: a dilapidated old house with a faint metallic smell lingering in the air.

He had expected Allen to kill him the moment he was captured, so why had it turned into mere captivity? Xin Wanjun quickly resolved his confusion. During the time he had been unconscious, the two captors had argued over how to deal with him. One wanted to kill Zhou Jun, while the other sought to use him for personal gain.

Originally, they had planned to deal with Xin Wanjun first. However, to protect herself, she claimed to have wealth and powerful connections, warning that her backers would not let them off easily if she were killed. The two men hesitated, leaving her unharmed.

Now, pressing close to Zhou Jun, Xin Wanjun whispered, “Mr. Shi once gave me a bracelet with a hidden knife inside. Can you retrieve it?”

Beads of sweat rolled down her forehead as she twisted her body, trying to position herself with her back to Zhou Jun. But after only a few attempts, her body froze. Zhou Jun noticed immediately and asked, “What’s wrong?”

Xin Wanjun trembled as she replied, “I-I think… I’m bleeding.”