441 A Pretense

Sky City.

\"Jack has properties everywhere. UK, England, Germany, Poland, India, the Philippines, Mainland China and some properties in Thailand and Indonesia. He also has a mansion in Australia!\" Bei Tian exclaimed. \"This is not even everything. I know he is hiding a couple more.\"

\"That man… is dangerous.\" Secretary Go butted in. \"But without the madam's help, he is nothing.\"

\"Agree! It was Lily who helped him and his father. He would not be that ungrateful, right?\"

Zhou Jingren listened as Bei Tian, and Secretary Go talked. His eyes examined the locations listed in front of him. \"Did Fernando told you the places he frequents the most?\"

Bei Tian shook his head. \"That is very difficult to trace. But we are doing our best. Plus, we have Cathy's help this time.\"

He nodded.

After a few minutes, Secretary Go received a call. \"President… we have a situation downstairs.\" He said, his face dark. \"Someone claimed that he knows your…\" he gulped and hesitated for a few seconds, \"The man said that he is here to deliver a message from your mother and father.\"

A suffocating silence followed his words. It made Secretary Go swallow his non-existent saliva. \"Shall I… ask our men to…\"

\"No.\" Zhou Jingren answered and met Bei Tian's eyes. He had so many things to think about and his parents were the least of his concern right now. \"I don't have time for them.\" He clenched his jaws. \"Let's go to Zhuo Capital. I have more important things to do.\"

Bei Tian and Secretary Go eyed each other before they followed him towards the elevator and into the car.

The drive towards the Zhou Capital was full of silence. It was as if a dark cloud hovered over them, its cold air creeping towards their skin. Slowly, their ears become accustomed to the sound of the car and the busy streets of Hong Kong.

\"President… a car is following us.\" Secretary Go muttered. His voice broke the dark atmosphere. Zhou Jingren frowned in response. He looked out of the window, his eyes unfocused. For some reason, the fact that they are showing themselves now is disturbing his state of mind.

\"Stop the car,\" he said, almost grimly. Secretary Go stopped the car and contrary to their expectations, the car following them did not halt and just drove passed them. But, it came to a full stop a few meters in front of them.

A man wearing a gray suit got out of the car and started walking towards them. Seeing this, both Bei Tian and Secretary Go chambered a handgun.

The man did not approach them. Instead, he stood in front of the car and took off his coat, leaving his white shirt behind. It was as if he was telling them that he was not carrying any weapon and he meant no harm.

He then turned around to show that he does not have any weapons behind him either.

After a few seconds, the man approached the driver's side of the car and knocked.

\"Open it.\"

Secretary Go did not wait for Zhou Jingren to repeat his words. He immediately opened the window.

\"Mr. Go, I would like to apologize for disturbing you. But… my boss would like to speak to Mr. Zhuo. I know you already declined my previous request earlier… But…\" the man tried to look passed Secretary Go as he increased the volume of his voice. As if he wanted to make sure that Zhou Jingren can hear him. \"It is very important that I deliver a message to Mr. Zhuo.\"

\"What is it?\" Zhou Jingren asked. They are using a simple five-seater Mercedes. So it is normal for him to hear the man's words.

\"Sir,\" the man started. \"Your parents wanted to talk to you. I would implore you to please accept their invitation. This is to…\"

\"I have nothing to say to them.\" Zhou Jingren interrupted him. His voice was cold, chilly. It was enough to send shivers down the man's spine. \"And I don't have the time to do it.\"

\"Sir, it is very important that you see them as soon as possible. Please understand that they cannot just waltz around here like they own the place. They are in hiding because…\"

\"For their safety.\" Zhou Jingren said. \"They are hiding for their own safety.\"

The man gulped as he nodded. \"Yes, Sir.\"

\"Then… ask them to continue hiding in their hole.\" Zhou Jingren said. \"And stop following me around. Tell them I have more important things to attend to.\"

\"Sir… please, your parents have missed you for so long. We have been watching you and…\"

\"Tell them… I don't hate them.\" Zhou Jingren said. \"But I felt nothing towards them either.\" After this, Secretary Go immediately closed the window drove, leaving the man standing staring at the back of their car.

\"If she reveals herself, then… Zhou Kang… might have another breakdown and attack us.\" Bei Tian said, his face dark. \"She is still trying to protect you, you know.\"

\"If you think watching is the same as protecting, then you are mistaken.\" Zhou Jingren fired back. \"If she has eyes everywhere, then she should have seen and watched as someone took Lily in broad daylight. She knew I am very capable of protecting myself. She knew I could destroy Zhou Kang easily. Yet she is still hiding, telling me that she is doing this to protect me.\" He made a deliberate paused as he shifted his gaze at Bei Tian. His jaws clenched, eyes devoid of any expression.

\"Bei Tian… she is not protecting me. She is protecting herself… she is hiding because she can't face me. This meeting is nothing but a pretense.\" he added.

Bei Tian clenched his jaw in response. He let out a sigh and turned his gaze towards the streets. Zhou Jingren was right. All her mother did was run away and hide. Her initial purpose might be to protect him and Bei Tian. But protecting them now that Zhou Kang is already aware of their presence is quite futile.