Chapter 6: We Don’t Ask About the Past, Only About the Future

Su Nian had a good memory. She had memorized everything she needed from the materials Zhou Beiming gave her.

Clearly, Zhou Beiming didn’t just want her to know all the dirt on his relatives—he wanted her to recognize them all and avoid any awkwardness.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have printed photos and bios of each one alongside their scandals.

She nodded obediently. “I’m ready.”

Zhou Beiming let go of her and gently patted the top of her head. “Go sit in the front.”

He got out of the car and opened the passenger door for her.

Su Nian followed, got in the front seat, and he closed the door for her before getting back in the driver’s seat.

Half an hour later, they arrived at the Zhou family home.

A crowd of people stood outside the villa entrance.

Old and young, all dressed sharply. It was quite the gathering.

Looking through the windshield at the sea of unfamiliar faces, Su Nian started to panic a little.

She hadn’t expected ‘this’ many people waiting at the door.

Zhou Beiming turned to her. Seeing her tense expression, he placed his warm hand over hers. “First time bringing a girlfriend home—everyone’s here out of curiosity.”

“First time?”

Su Nian was surprised. She thought Zhou Beiming had brought home tons of women before.

She licked her dry lips and remarked, “You sure have a lot of relatives.”

Zhou Beiming unbuckled her seatbelt. “Family planning started too late. No one stopped Old Zhou from having six kids.”

Su Nian knew he was referring to his grandfather, the Zhou family patriarch.

Zhou Beiming’s parents had died in a maritime accident over twenty years ago.

He got out first and instructed her, “Wait for me to open your door before getting out.”

Su Nian understood—if he valued her, his relatives wouldn’t dare look down on her.

She obediently waited in the car.

Soon, the door opened.

Zhou Beiming extended his hand like a gentleman. “Little bunny, welcome to the Zhou family.”

Always so lofty and detached, Su Nian couldn’t help but tease, “You’ve got a real talent for being a greeter.”

Zhou Beiming casually stuck one hand in his pocket, smiling deeply. “To greet Miss Su personally is my greatest honor.”

Su Nian relaxed a little and smiled as well.

She placed her hand in his. His palm, rough with faint calluses, immediately enclosed hers—and she noticed he was wearing a ring on his middle finger. It matched the one on her hand.

Within a second, Zhou Beiming tightened his grip on her hand.

He wasn’t a good man, nor a serious one—but somehow, he made her feel safe.

They walked side by side into the crowd.

Dozens of probing, suspicious, even disdainful gazes fell on Su Nian.

The Zhou family was part of the absolute elite. The meaning behind their stares went far beyond curiosity about Zhou Beiming’s latest partner.

They didn’t care about Su Nian’s casual clothes.

What they were calculating was her background, her motives for being with Zhou Beiming, and how long his “interest” in her would last.

Most of them were just waiting for the novelty to wear off, hoping he would dump her and marry someone they’d picked for him.

But when they saw the heirloom jewelry—locked in a bank vault for twenty years—now worn on Su Nian, many of their eyes narrowed in shock.

Zhou Beiming properly held Su Nian’s hand and stood before everyone.

He looked lazy with one hand in his pocket, but his posture was upright and proud. He was always arrogant—untouchable.

He introduced her without a care, “My girlfriend, Nian Nian. PhD. Scientist. Don’t try to show off in front of her—I can’t even keep up. You’re not even in the same league.”

Just a few words, lazy and flippant—but clearly stating he was the one who “lucked out.”

Su Nian knew her own background. She felt nervous, palms sweating.

Zhou Beiming lightly stroked her palm with his thumb.

He turned his face slightly to her, the corners of his lips lifted in a faint smile, laced with gentleness—quietly giving her strength, holding her up when her legs nearly gave out.

At the front of the crowd stood a man in his fifties.

He eyed Su Nian and said coolly, “She’s certainly plainer than the vixens you used to bring around.”

Su Nian greeted politely, “Hello, Second Uncle.”

Zhou Beiming had given her detailed notes—she recognized most of the people here.

This man was Zhou Zhanhe, vice chairman of Yongtai Group and Zhou Beiming’s second uncle.

No one hits a smiling face, and Su Nian even managed to recognize him. Zhou Zhanhe gave a curt nod. “Let’s go inside. My father’s waiting to meet his granddaughter-in-law.”

He led the way, and the rest of the curious crowd stepped aside to make a path.

Su Nian, used to being overlooked and invisible since childhood, felt extremely uncomfortable under so much attention.

Sensing her unease, Zhou Beiming moved her hand to rest on his shoulder and wrapped an arm around her.

In one move, he shielded her from the world.

He leaned down, his warm breath brushing her earlobe as he whispered:

“Just play along. If the sky falls, I’ll hold it up.”

His casual tone, deep and mellow like a cello, drifted into her ear and melted there.

Anyone else might’ve mistaken it for a love confession.

Zhou Beiming wasn’t asking her to handle things—just to be there like an accessory.

That eased a lot of pressure off her shoulders, and she began to relax.

The living room was spacious.

In the center sat an elderly man, spry and full of energy.

He wore a black traditional tunic, cloth shoes, and reading glasses as he scrolled short videos on his phone.

Hearing movement, he adjusted his glasses and looked up with a grunt. “What job is so important that Zhou Beiming ‘had’ to wait until you finished work to bring you here?”

Su Nian blinked.

She hadn’t said she couldn’t get off early.

Forget it—maybe Zhou Beiming just didn’t want to come early and preferred to rile up the old man.

She lowered her eyes and explained, “I’m still a student. My advisor was helping me revise my dissertation today—it’s important for graduation.”

She added apologetically, “I’m sorry, Grandpa. I’ll come earlier next time.”

The old man didn’t say anything more. He turned to the others, “Zhou Beiming stayed single for 28 years. Finally brings a girl home—don’t scare her off before she even warms up.”

Then he told the butler, “Everyone’s here. Let’s eat.”

Without even glancing at Su Nian again, he stood and walked to the dining room.

The message was clear—he didn’t approve of her.

If the old master of the Zhou family didn’t like her, she likely wouldn’t make it into the family.

No one needed to do anything. She’d eventually become just another “ex.”

Everyone else silently watched, waiting for the drama to unfold.

In the dining room, over a dozen people sat at the long table. The only sounds were clinking cutlery.

The whole meal was tense and stifling.

Su Nian got the sense that the old man was not an easy person to deal with.

After dinner, Zhou Beiming led Su Nian to the couch in the main hall.

Suddenly, the aunts and older female cousins swarmed over to chat with Su Nian.

At first, they asked harmless, polite questions.

But once Zhou Beiming was called away by the butler, a woman approached to examine the bracelet on Su Nian’s wrist.

She was Zhou Yunhe, Zhou Beiming’s eldest aunt.

Zhou Beiming had written in his notes: ‘No brains. A turkey.’

Zhou Yunhe stared at the bracelet and said sarcastically, “So it’s real.”

Then she asked, “Little girl, how did you and Beiming meet?”

Dressed like a student, Su Nian looked very young.

Zhou Yunhe figured Zhou Beiming had gotten bored of his usual flavor and was trying something bland to cleanse his palate.

Su Nian’s connection to Zhou Beiming wasn’t exactly innocent, so she answered half-truthfully, “It was raining. I didn’t have an umbrella. He gave me a ride home.”

Zhou Yunhe sneered, “Beiming’s given rides to lots of girls. Doesn’t bother you?”

Su Nian replied calmly, “We don’t ask about the past—only focus on the future.”

Zhou Yunhe scoffed, “The future isn’t just a poem you can make up. It’s built on the past.”

Su Nian, who had memorized Zhou Yunhe’s dirt thoroughly, smiled mildly.

Zhou Yunhe had an illegitimate child—conceived while she was still married to someone else—now secretly being raised in Finland.

Su Nian responded coolly, “You’re right, Aunt. But as long as Beiming doesn’t have any secret children, whatever affection he’s built with other women will be worn away by time.”

Her understated words made Zhou Yunhe’s face darken.

Then, Zhou Yunhe yanked the bracelet off Su Nian’s wrist with a forced smile. “Let me borrow this for a couple of days.”

Su Nian looked down at her reddened wrist.

The bracelet belonged to Zhou Beiming.

If someone else took it—he’d probably be furious.