An Unexpected Change
Zuri glanced casually at the unique black and gold business card she had just received. It bore only a name and a phone number, a rare sight indeed.
She accepted the card. "Thank you. Please let Azura know that I am heading back now."
"Alright."
As Zuri stepped outside, Uncle Qin was already waiting by the door, opening the door of the Rolls-Royce for her.
"Miss Zuri, please get in."
Leo stood by the floor-to-ceiling window in the living room, watching the car gradually disappear from sight.
An interesting girl.
If it weren't for the fact that she was Azura's classmate, one might mistake her for someone much older.
The Lin family mansion was shrouded in a tense atmosphere. The servants moved cautiously, not daring to make a sound, as they hadn't seen Chairman Lin this furious in a long time.
Saira and Dalia sat together, while Aaron, looking grim, instructed, "Arianwen, check if that brat has come back yet."
Arianwen acknowledged and left.
After a while, there was still no sign of her.
"Call that brat and tell her if she doesn't come back within ten minutes, she shouldn't bother coming back at all," Aaron ordered angrily.
"Second Miss is already on her way and should be back soon," Arianwen couldn't help but speak up for Zuri.
Dalia sighed softly. "Where could she have gone so late? It's dangerous for a young girl to be out at this hour."
Aaron retorted angrily, "You've been back for so long, and you, as her mother, haven't managed to discipline her. Look at the mess she's caused for the family."
Dalia felt wronged, "You know her temper. How can I say anything to her? She resents us. She wouldn't listen to anything I say."
"Hmph," Aaron snorted but didn't blame her further.
Just then, a Rolls-Royce slowly drove up and stopped outside the door.
"Second Miss is back."
The people in the living room turned to look through the floor-to-ceiling window and saw the luxurious car. Aaron recognized it as Leo's car.
Saira noticed the change in her father's expression and remarked quietly, "Azura really takes good care of Zuri, even sending her back in their family car."
Aaron knew Azura, the illegitimate daughter of the Ye family's first branch, who was not well-regarded and was thus sent to Oceanic City.
Since it wasn't Leo but Azura, Aaron didn't pay much mind.
As soon as Zuri walked into the house, she felt the oppressive atmosphere.
Aaron immediately shouted, "Kneel!"
Saira's eyes lit up, her heart almost leaping with joy and excitement.
Zuri, today you meet your match.
Zuri looked at him skeptically. "I don't believe in ghosts or gods. And you two are alive and well."
The implication was clear: why kneel if they weren't dead?
Aaron was furious. "Arianwen, fetch the whip."
Arianwen hesitated, but a cold look from Dalia forced her to comply.
"You're getting bold, hitting Sergio's son. Do you know we have a cooperative relationship with the Hu family? Hitting his son is like slapping Sergio in the face. If that two-billion-dollar deal falls through, how will you compensate?"
"That's actually perfect," Zuri replied lightly.
Aaron, seeing her unrepentant attitude, was even angrier. "Without that deal, what will you eat, drink, and wear? Do you think what you have now just falls from the sky?"
"Regarding that question, you'll have your answer after hearing what I have to say."
Aaron, infuriated by her confident demeanor, laughed coldly. "Alright, then tell me what you have to say."
"Are you sure you want me to say it here?" Zuri glanced around the room.
The living room wasn't only filled with Lin family members but also several servants.
Aaron, calming down, looked around and said, "To the study."
They went upstairs, Saira frowning as she watched. She doubted that whatever Zuri had to say could turn black into white and calm their enraged father.
In the study, Zuri leisurely walked to the sitting area and sat down, ignoring the fuming middle-aged man behind her.
"Sit down. It's tiring to stand," Zuri gestured.
Aaron, looking at her relaxed manner, felt his anger fade.
Her calmness seemed to affect Aaron, and his anger gradually subsided.
"Speak," Aaron said, sitting opposite her.
"You probably don't know where I just came from, do you?" Zuri began, throwing out a bait. "I just came from Lake Island. Lately, I've been going there often and occasionally running into Azura's uncle, Leo."
Mentioning Leo piqued Aaron's interest.
"Did he say something to you? No, he wouldn't say anything to you."
"Of course not, but half a month ago, I overheard something about our cooperation with the Hu family. Initially, I didn't pay much attention, but after observing the municipal government's actions in the past half month, I am increasingly convinced that what Leo said is likely true."
"What did he say?" Aaron was completely hooked.
Zuri's eyes gleamed coldly as she spoke with a worried tone, "Our project with the Hu family to develop the west suburbs might be requisitioned by the government to build a train station."
"Are you sure?" Aaron's voice rose sharply.
Both families had spent a lot to acquire that land, planning to develop a high-end residential area. If a train station were built nearby, the losses would be catastrophic.
"Earlier, I wasn't sure, but now I'm about eighty to ninety percent confident," Zuri said firmly. "Leo hinted at it half a month ago."
"Are you sure?" Aaron was reluctant to believe it but had already believed most of it in his heart.
Zuri nodded decisively.
If Leo had mentioned it, then it was almost certainly true. Aaron and Sergio had been proud of acquiring that land from Leo, but now it seemed like it wasn't a victory at all.
"As for me hitting Hector, it was a strategic move. If we abruptly withdraw, it will alert the Hu family. If Sergio clings on, the Lin family will pay a greater price to extricate ourselves. Hector happened to pick a fight with me, so I took the opportunity to beat him up. Knowing Sergio's love for his son, he will certainly not let it go easily," Zuri calmly analyzed.