Chapter 33: A Strong Will Despite Broken Body

Very soon, all the Zhao family’s assets and the businesses under Zhao Kai’s control were transferred to Zhao Yan’er. Although everyone found it puzzling, considering Zhao Kai’s relationship with the Zhao family, they all thought him remarkably loyal. Only Zhou Chengwang knew the real reason, and he felt elated, immediately seeking out Lin Zhenting.

Lin Zhenting was so delighted he couldn’t sleep the entire night. The assassin he had sent was truly formidable—dispatching Zhao Kai with ease. Although the news of Zhao Kai’s crippling hadn’t yet spread, it was only a matter of time before the Zhao family fell into his hands.

But who exactly was this Zhou Chengwang? His assassins were so skilled, and he could summon so many at once—could it be...?

“How satisfying!” Zhou Chengwang shouted. “Now that his legs are crippled, Zhao Yan’er will never love him again.”

Lin Zhenting studied him, and after a moment’s thought, tried to flatter him. “Quite right—who would ever love a cripple? But since he’s still in the Zhao family, shouldn’t we take this chance to finish him off for good?”

“No!” Zhou Chengwang refused instantly, almost by reflex.

“Why not? Don’t you despise Zhao Kai?”

He did…he really resented him, but only because Zhao Kai had taken Zhao Yan’er from him and hurt his pride; he’d never wanted his life...

Seeing his hesitation, Lin Zhenting pressed him further. “Zhao Kai is shrewd. What if he pulls some trick and the Zhao family obeys his every word? Then Zhao Yan’er will never escape his grasp—doesn’t that pain you?”

Zhou Chengwang hesitated, struggling internally for a long moment, but finally said, “No, it’s impossible—I won’t do it.”

Lin Zhenting sneered coldly. So be it, he thought; he’d handle it himself. Soft-hearted people never accomplish great things.

“These bodyguards of yours—will they take orders only from you, or can I use them for now? Don’t misunderstand, I only want them to create chaos, so Zhao Yan’er won’t know how to respond. Then you can swoop in like a hero to the rescue, and she’ll be sure to fall for you.”

Since Lin Zhenting seemed to be acting in his interest, Zhou Chengwang tossed him the token. “These guards are specially trained assassins. They only obey the token.”

Lin Zhenting’s eyes flashed as he accepted it.

“Now that Zhao Yan’er has just taken over the Zhao family, trouble will surely follow. Before, when I asked you to tamper with Zhao Kai’s contract, you did as I asked, didn’t you?”

“I did.”

“Good. From now on, follow my lead.”

“Alright.”

After their discussion, Zhou Chengwang felt an oppressive heaviness in his heart. Even though the plan would win him the beauty in the end, something felt wrong.

He wandered restlessly for a long while until he found himself at Zhao Kai’s room.

After handing everything over to Zhao Yan’er, Zhao Kai was busy arranging things for her future.

Fortunately, the shares contract had already been signed. Even if something happened with the casino and Yan’er couldn’t manage, she had their support.

As Zhao Kai pondered this, he sensed a figure at the door.

“Fei’er, is that you?”

Zhou Chengwang panicked, but summoned his courage and stepped forward. “Brother Zhao, it’s me.”

“Chengwang! Come in,” Zhao Kai called him in warmly.

Zhao Kai was now crippled and spent most of his time in bed, yet he showed no trace of despair. Instead, he saw his injury as an opportunity for much-needed rest.

He was optimistic: even if his legs were gone, his mind remained. That was better than those whose legs worked but whose spirits were broken.

Zhou Chengwang, seeing his clear gaze and smiling lips, suddenly felt uneasy.

“What’s wrong? I’m truly fine. Did Fei’er say something to you?”

Other than the Zhao family and Fei’er, only Zhou Chengwang knew about his injury.

“No…”

“Don’t lie. I can see your restless mind, the way you avoid my eyes—is there something weighing on your conscience?”

A cold sweat broke out down Zhou Chengwang’s back. He steadied himself and replied, “No, I just feel regret seeing you like this.”

“I don’t feel that way,” Zhao Kai answered with an unusual openness. “There are many ways to live. If a little setback makes you want to die, you do a disservice to those who care about you, and to yourself.”

Zhou Chengwang looked up, his gaze burning.

Zhao Kai noticed and smiled faintly. “You haven’t seen much of the world. In time, you’ll understand.”

“Brother Zhao…” Zhou Chengwang gripped his sleeve tightly. “Don’t you want to find out who tried to kill you? Don’t you hate them?”

Zhao Kai gazed at him. “No. For them to go to such lengths, I must have taken something precious from them. This is karma, and I’ll bear it. But if I have the chance, I’d like to know why—what exactly did I take from them?”

Zhou Chengwang could sit no longer. In front of Zhao Kai’s open and optimistic nature, he felt like a petty clown, his own life unbearably sordid.

“I heard… I heard you have a sworn enemy, Lin Zhenting. Haven’t you suspected him?”

A sworn enemy? Zhao Kai snorted. Lin Zhenting did not have that kind of ability.

“He’s not capable of this,” he replied.

Zhou Chengwang couldn’t describe his feelings. He had managed to cripple Zhao Kai—by rights, he had won—but he felt no joy at all.

“By the way, Yan’er is now in charge of everything. If anything goes wrong, lend her a hand, will you?”

When Zhao Kai handed everything over to Zhao Yan’er, he had already reminded Zhou Chengwang to assist her. Now, he mentioned it again, softly, “Brother Zhao, do you really trust me that much?”

“Of course. You’re my right-hand man. Even though I’m down, I’m at ease with you here.”

Zhou Chengwang could take no more. Muttering that he had something to do, he left.

Zhao Kai watched his retreating figure and chuckled.

Good, he thought.

Zhao Yan’er had already familiarized herself with all the affairs, though she could not stave off exhaustion. For two days, she had barely paused for a moment, not daring even to think of Zhao Kai.

She was not like Lin Fei’er, who bore no burdens and could show her vulnerability whenever she wished. Zhao Yan’er could not. The Zhao family needed her; even as a woman, she had to grit her teeth and endure.

She wished dearly to care for Zhao Kai, to cry with heartbreak at his side as Fei’er did, to draw forth his tenderness. But she could not allow herself to do so, nor could she show such weakness.

Brother Zhao had pinned all his hopes on her; she had to do everything well.

“Miss Yan’er…” Zhou Chengwang was startled by how much weight Zhao Yan’er had lost in just two days.

“Yes? What is it?”

“I… It’s nothing. I just came from Brother Zhao—he asked me to help you more.”

“There’s no need. I can manage. Besides, my brother has already brought in others to invest in the casino; I’m not fighting alone anymore.”

She added, “My brother’s idea was brilliant. Not only does it make the casino more stable, but it also ensures its security. Only he could have thought of such a thing.”