Chapter 38 — Friends’ Gathering and Rumor Clarification Meeting

Sheffield actually came to China, which made Zhou Ziyi a little surprised.

However, Zhou Ziyi was too lazy to flatter himself. What does Sheffield’s visit to China have to do with him?

So Zhou Ziyi’s days went on, submitting two approaching deadline drafts, and also drawing the previously mentioned double portrait of himself and Yan Xiuzhi.

When the rough drafts were finished, he even asked Yan Xiuzhi if he wanted to see them. Yan Xiuzhi didn’t care about these trivial matters and let him do as he pleased. So it wasn’t until before printing that he finally gave Yan Xiuzhi one last look

It was then that Yan Xiuzhi knew that Zhou Ziyi had drawn the picture of their wedding day.

It wasn’t a completely faithful reproduction, all beautified. The sparkling pool, the transparent glass bridge, and the colored glass projection that seemed to have been designed in some unknown way. Two men in white suits walked across the glass bridge. Although they were only a small part of the scene, you could immediately feel the overflowing happiness.

Zhou Ziyi asked, “What do you think?”

“It’s fine,” Yan Xiuzhi said. “I have no objections.”

“I originally wanted to hang it in the living room… right here.” Zhou Ziyi walked to the wall and gestured. “But it seems like it might disrupt your interior design style?”

“It’s okay,” Yan Xiuzhi said.

Zhou Ziyi was very surprised: “Really?”

“Anyway, the furniture has already been changed,” Yan Xiuzhi said, “Hang it wherever you want, no need to ask me so cautiously.”

Zhou Ziyi said, “What about the study?”

“The study or the master bedroom won’t do,” Yan Xiuzhi glanced at him, “Stop being cheeky.”

Zhou Ziyi chuckled, then remembered something else: “Oh, I’m going out for dinner tomorrow night, not sure what time I’ll be back. Brother Tang is going too, with some old classmates from our time in Country E.”

“No need to report it so clearly, just say you’re going out to eat,” Yan Xiuzhi said, “But didn’t you say you were not in touch with these classmates anymore? You didn’t even invite them to the wedding.”

“Hmm, did they come to the wedding to see me? Or to bask in your glory?” Zhou Ziyi snorted, “There are even people saying they want to be my best man, just to get close to you and the Chu family? How delusional.”

Yan Xiuzhi hadn’t expected this: “So does that mean no one wants to come?”

“Not really,” Zhou Ziyi said, “But I have a clear self-perception. I’m already clinging to your coattails, why would I bring a tag along? Am I crazy?”

“Then are you going now?”

“Hey, Brother Tang also went,” Zhou Ziyi said, “And I heard that this group of people is backbiting me, saying that I married into a wealthy family, that my husband’s biological father disapproved of the marriage, and that I’m living a very miserable life. I have to go and clarify the rumors! Otherwise, wouldn’t it tarnish Mr. Yan’s reputation?”

Yan Xiuzhi said, “Is this a friends’ gathering or a rumor clarification meeting?”

“Both works,” Zhou Ziyi smiled, “Anyway, isn’t it just chatting, eating, drinking, and spreading rumors? I know what’s going on.”

“…” Yan Xiuzhi was speechless at his metaphor, but he had gotten used to it, “I don’t restrict your friendships.”

“Hmm?” Zhou Ziyi didn’t quite understand his statement, “I know.”

“I mean, if you want to make friends with someone, you don’t have to consider me,” Yan Xiuzhi explained, “I’m a businessman, I know what to do.”

This statement was very clear, implying that even if people got to know Yan Xiuzhi through Zhou Ziyi, Mr. Yan might not have a particularly special reaction. After all, he had never lacked such people around him since he was young, and he could handle them with ease.

Zhou Ziyi probably guessed his meaning and laughed, “If there really is a need, when we divorce, won’t I be left all alone again?”

Yan Xiuzhi looked at him.

Zhou Ziyi continued, “But it’s not that different from before, it’s okay.”

Yan Xiuzhi felt that this statement was not quite right, but for the time being, he couldn’t find the right words, so he continued to be silent. Zhou Ziyi leaned against the cabinet and looked at him, “Mr. Yan, since we’re talking about this, can I ask you something?”

“What?”

“After we divorce… what are the rules?” Zhou Ziyi smiled, “Cut off all contact? Or can we still be friends?”

Yan Xiuzhi had actually thought about this before.

It wasn’t a deliberate thought, but when they talked about how Zhou Ziyi’s past friends all avoided him because he borrowed money, Yan Xiuzhi had briefly imagined what his own reaction would be if Zhou Ziyi came to him for help.

So now that Zhou Ziyi asked, Mr. Yan replied quite quickly, “We can be friends.”

“Really?” Zhou Ziyi was a bit surprised and curious, “What kind of friends? By the way, what’s your definition of a friend? Is it just acknowledging someone you know, does that count as being friends?”

Yan Xiuzhi said, “It depends on the impression you leave on me in the end.”

“What if we go by the current situation?”

Yan Xiuzhi looked at him for a moment.

Zhou Ziyi didn’t move and asked, “So, what score would you give me, Mr. Yan?”

Yan Xiuzhi said, “At the moment, if you ask me for money, I can lend it, but I don’t want to see you in person, kind of friends.”

Zhou Ziyi: “Why don’t you want to see me?”

Yan Xiuzhi: “You talk too much.”

“Hahaha…” Zhou Ziyi laughed, “Okay, I’ll bother someone else tomorrow.”

*
The next day, Zhou Ziyi really went. Tang Shirong picked him up, insisting on driving the sports car, as flashy as possible. However, Zhou Ziyi and he were in sync. He put on a well designed casual suit, stepped into leather shoes, fixed his hair, dabbed a hint of cologne on the back of his neck, and then walked out.

When Tang Shirong opened the car door and saw him, he whistled, “Not bad, our esteemed young master Zhou is back!”

“Don’t flatter me.” Zhou Ziyi got into the passenger seat. “Let’s go.”

Tang Shirong said, “Why are you still wearing pink sunglasses? If other guys wear them, it’s blinding, but when you wear them, it’s like you want to debut as the center of a boy group, and you look pretty and tender. Where did you get them?”

Zhou Ziyi casually replied, “My husband bought it.”

Tang Shirong almost stepped on the gas in surprise, “What the hell?!”

“Hey, President Yan bought me a toy,” Zhou Ziyi briefly mentioned the matter. Tang Shirong laughed heartily and gave him a thumbs up, “Bro, you dare to pull off this kind of stunt in front of Yan Xiuzhi, you are something!”

“Come on, don’t spill the beans, it was my husband who bought it for me,” Zhou Ziyi stretched his long legs comfortably, “Let’s go, what are you standing there for? Do you want me to start the car for you?”

“Alright, alright.” Tang Shirong started the sports car, the engine roared, “It’s only because you asked me to cover the roof. If it was a convertible, that would be even more fun, right?”

Zhou Ziyi glanced at him, “Brother Tang, my hairstyle.”

“OK, OK, Young Master Zhou’s hairstyle, I just need to insure it,” Tang Shirong exclaimed happily, “Luxury car and beautiful people, I’m making a big profit here!”

“Let’s go!”

This gathering, although it was said to be a reunion of classmates, was actually a gathering of people from the same hometown as Zhou Ziyi when he was studying in Country E.

When Zhou Ziyi’s parents had an accident, he had approached many people to repay the debts. Therefore, within this circle, it was widely known that Zhou Ziyi suddenly lost both parents and was burdened with a huge debt. In recent years, Zhou Ziyi had not contacted these people, so they had practically forgotten about him. Unexpectedly, this year, out of the blue, Zhou Ziyi had actually married the head of the Hua Hao Group. Many people were astonished.

On one hand, they marveled at Zhou Ziyi’s luck, but on the other hand, people couldn’t help but secretly wonder if there was some poignant gossip behind it.

After speculating about the gossip, even the false ones became believable. Moreover, these people all had some family background—otherwise, they couldn’t afford to study abroad—and most of them spoke without restraint. Eventually, these words reached Tang Shirong’s ears.

Tang Shirong really wants to sew up their mouths. When Zhou Ziyi had an accident, Tang Shirong was not the wealthiest person among those who were approached at the time, but he was the one who lent the most to Zhou Ziyi. He didn’t touch the family’s industry, had no income in hand, and the family also managed it relatively strictly, not having so much cash that could be used for mischief. He scraped together the money himself, and after reporting to the family, borrowed one million for Zhou Ziyi, regardless of the repayment date and interest.

At that time, his father, Mr. Tang, first felt that Zhou Ziyi seemed to be quite reliable. If he didn’t help this kid, he might be finished. Second, if he really couldn’t pay it back, it would be a heavy lesson for his own son, making him think twice about hanging out with bad friends in the future, so he agreed to the loan.

Who could have imagined that this kid could still marry Yan Xiuzhi today?

In any case, Tang Shirong being a groomsman at Yan Xiuzhi’s wedding made many people look at this idle young man in a new light, and some people also began to pay attention to the cooperation with the Tang family.

This kind of luck made many people who had initially ignored Zhou Ziyi secretly resentful.
And these people, inviting Zhou Ziyi to the party today, were also doing so with a try-it-out attitude. Unexpectedly, Zhou Ziyi really is coming. This news made many people have their own thoughts, generally divided into two groups:

One group wants to see if they can benefit from Zhou Ziyi through Yan Xiuzhi.

The other group wants to see if Zhou Ziyi, after ‘marrying into a wealthy family,’ is actually living a life of unbearable hardship.

In this atmosphere of smiling faces and unspoken understanding among everyone, Zhou Ziyi and Tang Shirong arrived.

It was different from everyone’s imagination.

In the imagination of others, the current Zhou Ziyi, who has experienced ups and downs, should be very different from the past. Some even wondered, would he look tired? Would he dress in a flashy and ostentatious way to show off himself once again entering the wealthy family? Would he make it excessively grand, like a newly rich parvenu?

None of that happened.

When Zhou Ziyi walked into the small banquet hall, everyone involuntarily looked over and had the same thought.

“Oh, he’s still the same young master as before.”

Zhou Ziyi is like a clothes hanger, looking good in anything he wears, and a well-fitted casual suit accentuates his long limbs. The style of suit he chose makes him look not overly grand or serious, but lively and youthful. His demeanor, behavior, and expression still shine brightly.
He even looks unchanged, just like he did before, appearing particularly young among the peers who have become sophisticated, pretending to be serious, and even boasting about their experiences.

He doesn’t need to make any deliberate effort; Zhou Ziyi naturally attracts people’s attention.

Some of the women present even secretly wondered: Did he come after getting a makeover?

Zhou Ziyi bathed in the gaze of the whole room, not feeling the least bit uncomfortable. Instead, he calmly took off his sunglasses. He wasn’t more arrogant than before, nor had he become more restrained. He just looked around and smiled softly.

“Long time no see, everyone.”