Fog Returns to the Capital

Chapter 110 The Choice Made Back Then
A figure stood behind the desk, refined and scholarly, upright and vigorous. He wore only a simple dark gray knit sweater and was writing something on the desk.

See this.

Zhou Jinghuai stood quietly to the side, waiting for him to finish writing.

About ten minutes later, Zhou Zongyi put down his pen, then looked up at Zhou Jinghuai standing there. His eyes, as dark and deep as Zhou Jinghuai's, were calm and serene, exuding an imposing presence.

"You're looking for me?"

After a moment of silence, Zhou Jinghuai spoke first.

Zhou Zongyi didn't respond, but instead took a document from the top of his desk and gave it to him to read.

Zhou Jinghuai took it and looked down at it.

—This is a report about last night.

From the moment he gave the order, he knew what kind of impact it would have.

There was a few seconds of silence.

Zhou Jinghuai closed the document and said, "I will bear the consequences myself."

What consequences can you bear?

Zhou Zongyi said in a deep voice, "If you can take responsibility for the consequences, you'll be getting one phone call after another."

“You can have them come directly to me,” Zhou Jinghuai said calmly.

Beneath this calm lies a kind of desperate, reckless frenzy.

"Is it worth it to ruin all your achievements of the past ten years just because of a woman?" Zhou Zongyi said with a hint of anger.

Zhou Jinghuai: "This is my own choice."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Zongyi stared at him for a long time before finally speaking in a deep voice, "I hope you won't regret your 'choice'."

"You took the position of COSCO leader yourself; it's not my place to remove you."

Zhou Zongyi said in a deep and slow voice, "But apart from that, starting today, all your duties are suspended."

……

After Zhou Jinghuai came out.

Meng Dejiang, who was guarding outside the courtyard gate, knew something was wrong just by looking at his expression.

As he approached, he couldn't help but lower his voice and advise, "At two o'clock last night, that person personally called your father. Beijing is not like other places."

"Besides, you were originally the one everyone hoped you would succeed, you were just one step away from winning..."

"Uncle Jiang."

Zhou Jinghuai suddenly spoke, his voice steady, "It's cold in the middle of winter, please wear more clothes in the morning and take care of yourself."

Done.

Zhou Jinghuai nodded slightly to him, then strode away.

Meng Dejiang was taken aback, "Hey, you..."

……

On the way back to Yuqing Garden.

Old Master Zhou then had the housekeeper call again, asking Zhou Jinghuai to return to the Zhou family's old residence immediately.

Zhou Jinghuai had no choice but to change his route.

It was an hour later when the car finally stopped outside the Zhou family's old house.

The Zhou family's old residence was originally a prince's mansion, grand in scale and covering a vast area. However, from the outer walls, one could not glimpse anything inside, giving it an air of mystery and secrecy.

Most of the buildings still retain their original architectural style, exuding an antique charm. Long corridors, pavilions, gardens, and artificial hills are all present.

Grandpa Zhou preferred quiet and lived in the most secluded south courtyard. To his left was a lush bamboo grove, and to his right was a lotus pond. But now that winter had arrived, only withered lotus leaves remained, swaying in the cold wind and water.

When Zhou Jinghuai arrived, the old man was practicing calligraphy in his study.

He doesn't like to be disturbed when he's practicing calligraphy.

Zhou Jinghuai waited outside for nearly an hour before the butler came out and said that the old man wanted him to come in.

Upon entering.

Old Zhou was standing by the window, feeding a parrot under the eaves.

Dressed in a dark Tang suit, he stood tall and imposing, exuding an aura of authority. Although he was old, he was still vigorous and his proud spirit was evident.

Just a few steps away.

Zhou Jinghuai stopped behind him.

"You went to see your father?"

Grandpa Zhou asked, but didn't turn around.

Zhou Jinghuai responded respectfully, "I just left his place and you called me here."

"What did your father say?"

Zhou Jinghuai knew what he was asking, and then relayed what Zhou Zongyi had said to the old man.

Upon hearing that "all duties in Beijing are suspended," Old Master Zhou paused slightly while feeding the parrot. He then seemed to want to feed it again, but withdrew his hand halfway through.

There was silence for a while.

Grandpa Zhou walked from the window toward his desk.

See this.

Zhou Jinghuai reached out to help, but Old Master Zhou waved his hand away, saying, "I don't need you. I'm not so old that I can't walk."

“It’s been a long time since I’ve come back to see you, and I wanted to do something for you,” Zhou Jinghuai said.

"You still know you haven't been back for a long time. If you hadn't said anything, I would have thought you'd forgotten this is your home."

Old Master Zhou sat down at his desk, his words seemingly carrying a hint of reprimand, but the expression on his face softened almost imperceptibly.

"No," Zhou Jinghuai said cautiously.

Grandpa Zhou stared at him for a long time, then sighed and asked, "What do you think?"

"Do you know what it means once a punishment is handed down?"

"It means that your achievements in this life have stopped here, and you can't go any higher."

Zhou Zongyi and Yang Shuhua lived apart for many years, each with their own things to do. Zhou Jinghuai was raised by his grandfather from a young age, so naturally, he had a special affection for him.

"I know."

Zhou Jinghuai spoke slowly, making each word seem particularly solemn, "But I still can't let her leave."

Hear the words.

After a long silence, Old Master Zhou let out a deep sigh, "Jinghuai, do you still remember what you chose back then?"

"If that's all you're aiming for, why didn't you just take over your mother's business in the first place?"