Chapter 2: Give Me a House
Today, the Yunhai City Train Station Police Station encountered something novel.
What was initially thought to be a gang robbery turned out to be a human trafficking case upon closer investigation.
The little girl was incredible. A damp handkerchief capable of causing dizziness and paralysis was indeed found on the woman. A long, sharp bayonet was discovered on the man, hidden in a compartment between his insole and the sole of his shoe.
The two suspected human traffickers were immediately handed over to a higher authority for a thorough investigation.
Zhou Wanfeng had her train ticket, proving she had indeed traveled from Dongshan City to Yunhai to find her family. The police also learned she had come alone. They had originally intended to lecture her, as she was too young, and if something had happened, it would have been too late for regrets.
But this child was a bit different.
The police officers saw all sorts of people every day. Some were naturally timid, becoming nervous just by having an officer in uniform approach them, while others were brazen and unruly.
The impression Zhou Wanfeng gave was that she couldn’t be reasoned with. Although she verbally agreed, her heart wasn’t in it.
She looked like a child, but what ten-year-old could be so calm and experienced in such a situation? She spoke concisely and efficiently, saying what needed to be said. Afterward, she moved to an empty desk at the side, laid her head on her backpack, and said, “Uncle, I’ll rest here for a bit. Please wake me when someone comes to pick me up.” Then, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Everyone in the small police station was stunned by her. This child had some nerve, having just narrowly escaped being kidnapped by traffickers.
The young officer in charge of taking notes quietly gave a thumbs-up and turned to his colleague. “Think of all those who cry and panic when something happens, their minds even more chaotic than their limbs. Look at her. I really admire this kind. She’s clever, quick-witted, emotionally stable, and articulate. She even made me more efficient. Only twelve, yet she’s better than many adults. I dare say this child will have an extraordinary future.”
“What ‘extraordinary future’? Hurry up and sort out the paperwork. A child like this is audacious and reckless. It was just a stroke of luck this time. When her parents arrive, we need to have a serious talk with them. They need to rein in that temperament of hers when they get home.” The older officer had a different view. One look at her expression was enough to know this child would be difficult to manage, a real headache for her parents.
Zhou Wanfeng slept for nearly an hour, undisturbed by the commotion in the police station, until someone nudged her awake.
She rarely slept so soundly. In her past life, her sleep had been terrible. Most of the time, she couldn’t fall asleep even when she wanted to, and even when she did, the slightest noise would jolt her awake.
“Wakey wakey, sleepyhead. Your ride is here.” The young recording officer said with a light chuckle, pointing. “You know that person, right? He says he’s here to pick you up.”
A few red marks were imprinted on Zhou Wanfeng’s cheek, and a tuft of hair stuck up on her forehead. Her drowsy eyes gave her a somewhat childish look.
She merely glanced over. “He’s not my father.” Without any hurry, she shouldered her backpack and walked toward the man.
The driver, Old Chen, explained to the officer, “Officer, my boss is Zhou Zhiru. He asked me to pick up the child. He’s busy right now and can’t get away. If you don’t believe me, you can call him again to confirm.”
Someone on the other side had already made the call. “Driver Chen Liang, is that right, Master Chen?”
“Yes, yes, Liang as in ‘grain.’ My parents named me that because our family had no grain when I was little. Officer, look, here’s my ID card.” Old Chen hastily handed it over, turning his head to see someone had appeared beside him.
The girl’s eyes and brows were almost identical to President Zhou’s; it was indeed the person he was here to pick up.
His mouth opened and closed for a long moment, suddenly at a loss for how to address her. He bowed his head slightly with a reserved expression.
After verifying the ID, the older officer pointed at Old Chen and said to Zhou Wanfeng, “We’ve confirmed it. Your father did ask him to pick you up. You can go home after signing a form.”
Old Chen went to the side to sign.
Once outside the police station, Old Chen hurried a few steps ahead to open the car door, his expression kind. “Child, you must be tired. Get in the car.”
“Thank you.” Zhou Wanfeng got in and asked casually, “Where are we going now?”
Old Chen looked at her through the rearview mirror, his expression hesitant. Remembering what his boss had instructed, he steeled himself and said, “To a hotel. Um, the boss said for you to stay one night, and he’ll buy you a ticket back tomorrow. He’s already contacted your uncle back home; he’ll be at the station to pick you up.”
Though they were the boss’s words, Old Chen felt a pang of pity after saying them himself.
He stole a few glances at the rearview mirror, only to see the slender girl in the back, her face showing neither pleasure nor anger, quietly looking out the window.
He wanted to offer a few words of comfort but didn’t know how to start. He knew a little about his boss’s family affairs. This child was the one he had left back in his hometown.
To travel all the way to Yunhai City alone to find her father, only to be sent away without even seeing him.
Just thinking about it made Old Chen’s own nose tingle.
Zhou Wanfeng chuckled silently to herself. She hadn’t expected him to avoid seeing her altogether.
“Uncle, where is he now? Can you take me to him? I have something I need to say to him.”
Old Chen’s heart softened immediately. Without hesitation, he turned at the intersection. “The boss is at the factory right now. I’ll take you there.”
After Zhou Wanfeng thanked him, the atmosphere lightened, and they exchanged a few words of small talk.
When Old Chen spoke of President Zhou, his admiration was palpable, his praise almost endless. Although there was some exaggeration, it also let Zhou Wanfeng know that some of the things she had heard about Zhou Zhiru in Xuxu Village were different from reality.
“Years ago, our Longyun Refrigerator Factory was on the verge of bankruptcy. The factory couldn’t even pay wages. President Zhou came and took over the mess, borrowing money to pay the employees. He strictly controlled quality and personally led the sales team, going from door to door. That’s how the factory slowly recovered. Now, it’s been renamed Changfeng Electrical Appliance Manufacturing Co., Ltd. At the beginning of the year, it even won the Yunhai City Outstanding Home Appliance Product Award. The boss’s ability is undeniable. He’s busy with work all year round, so he can’t always take care of things at home…”
Hearing this, Zhou Wanfeng understood. He was trying to comfort her. She just smiled and said nothing.
The Changfeng Factory campus had a straight main road upon entry, lined with neat privet trees whose lush leaves made for a pleasant sight.
The office building and the factory workshops were separate. Near the office building, many flowers and fruit trees were planted in the flowerbeds.
At the end of the second-floor hallway, the atmosphere in the executive conference room was lively. The meeting had just ended, and Manager Xiao from the sales department, having just returned from a business trip, couldn’t resist sharing an anecdote after briefly reporting his results.
Manager Xiao placed his black square bag on the table. Seeing that President Zhou at the head of the table didn’t stop him, he began to vividly recount his experience at the train station.
Salespeople are always good talkers.
“With my build, you’d think no one would dare to rob me in broad daylight, right? Well, it happened today at the train station. A skinny little girl, about ten years old and only up to my chest, whoosh, snatched my bag.”
The manager of the development department asked curiously, “So how did you get your bag back?” The others also became interested.
At the head of the table, Zhou Zhiru glanced up before returning his attention to his documents.
“Hold on, here comes the twist.” Manager Xiao recounted the entire interrogation at the police station. “It was all a misunderstanding. Not just me, even the police officers were stunned. That kid didn’t show a hint of fear in her eyes or expression. She even apologized to me for the trouble. Man, I was thinking, whose kid is this? So well-raised, and so pretty too. Those big eyes, that high nose bridge…” As Manager Xiao was speaking, he turned and saw President Zhou Zhiru looking at him. He suddenly slapped his thigh. “I knew I was forgetting something! Come to think of it, that girl’s features look a bit like President Zhou’s.”
Zhou Zhiru, remembering the call from the police station, asked, “You were at the police station near the train station?”
“Yes.”
“Was the girl’s name Zhou Wanfeng?”
Manager Xiao’s eyes widened, as if to say, How did you know?
“Meeting adjourned.” Zhou Zhiru stood up, gathered his documents, and headed back to his office. Just as he stepped out of the conference room, he saw the driver, Old Chen, standing outside.
Old Chen approached with a reserved expression, his face contorted as he whispered, “President Zhou, the child said she has something to tell you and insisted on seeing you before going to the hotel. I was worried it might be urgent, so I brought her here.”
“Where is she?”
Zhou Zhiru couldn’t really remember the child’s personality. His impression was that the folks back home always said she was sensible and obedient. But clearly, there was a discrepancy.
If she was the child Manager Xiao had described, he worried that the soft-hearted and kind Old Chen wouldn’t be able to handle her.
“She’s in your office.” Old Chen followed behind, wanting to say a few words in the child’s defense but afraid of angering his boss.
“You can go back first,” Zhou Zhiru instructed before pushing the door open and walking into his office.
As soon as he entered, he saw a girl sitting in his leather chair. Their eyes met. The girl’s face remained composed, showing no sign of awkwardness, nor any intention of getting up.
Zhou Zhiru studied her. His eyes were filled with unfamiliarity. Apart from the similar facial features confirming their blood relation, she was no different from a stranger he was meeting for the first time.
“Old Chen said you have something to tell me.” His tone was cold and business-like, his voice deep, clear, and powerful, clean and transparent—just like the impression he gave.
Zhou Wanfeng got up from the leather chair, vacating the seat. A hint of a smile touched her cool eyes. “Prepare a house for me.” The man before her matched her expectations of Zhou Zhiru. There was no false sentimentality between father and daughter; cold indifference was their natural key.
She preferred this directness. She was incapable of feigning affection herself.
Zhou Zhiru sat down, pressing his fingers to his temples and pursing his lips, gesturing for her to continue.
“You want me to go back to Dongshan? But I have no family there anymore. You know Grandma is dead. You are my only relative.”
A layer of frost settled on Zhou Zhiru’s refined and scholarly face. His thin lips parted. “You don’t need to worry. Your uncle or great-uncle back home will take care of you.”
“I’m not willing.” Zhou Wanfeng looked up at him, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly. “Send me away tomorrow, and I can come back the day after. However many times you send me away, I can come back just as many. You can have someone watch me, but you can’t lock me up. I will keep coming. So, what are you going to do?”
Zhou Zhiru stared at Zhou Wanfeng. Her eyes were clear and distinct, showing no fear, no timidity, no evasion. After a moment of silence, he replied coldly, “I still refuse. What are you going to do?”
The conversation between them was bizarre, an invisible contest of wills.
Zhou Wanfeng’s eyes held a smile. “I can go to every police station and Public Security Bureau in Yunhai City. I can also go to every media outlet and newspaper. I can find your home, and I know the factory’s address now too. I have a natural advantage. Public opinion will side with me. I only have you, but you have a great deal to lose. Of course, that is a last resort, a mutually destructive choice. Before it comes to that, I hope you will change your mind. I can promise you that I won’t disturb your current life. Just give me a house, and I will live quietly on my own.”
It had been years since Zhou Zhiru had been threatened so brazenly to his face. His fingers toyed with a piece of paper. He narrowed his eyes and said coldly, “You’ve certainly learned all of your grandmother’s threatening tactics. What is it that makes you so determined to stay?” A reason to stay, even at the cost of his reputation.
This was his actual eldest daughter before him. Her back was ramrod straight, her tone steady. Even as she coerced and threatened him, her eyelashes didn’t so much as flutter.
Her eyes were clear. It seemed that whether he agreed or not would cause no great ripple in them. It was a contradiction.
She seems indifferent, yet she is stubbornly insistent on staying?
Zhou Wanfeng looked at Zhou Zhiru, her gaze serious. “I have a rich father. Why should I live like a pitiful orphan fostered in someone else’s home?”
The wretched events of her past life were still vivid in her memory. She had a beast of a father who was an alcoholic and an abuser. At the same age when others had no worries about food or drink and even got spending money from their parents, she had to be on guard against that beast who would demand money from her in his drunken rages.
Insufficient evidence for excessive self-defense led to a manslaughter conviction and imprisonment. A twisted, crooked life. One wrong step, and every step after was wrong.
In her last life, when she was assassinated and left to die in a remote, abandoned shack on the outskirts of the city, she had thought that if she had another life, she would want to live peacefully and simply.
She was Zhou Wanfeng, but she was also herself. She would not pretend to be someone else. Her past experiences had shaped who she was now. The pain and suffering had hardened into a protective callus, an armor. Nothing could shake her. In this one life, a person should live as they please.
After speaking, Zhou Wanfeng suddenly sighed and gave Zhou Zhiru a slight bow. “I will stay at the hotel tonight. I hope you will seriously consider my words. If we can coexist peacefully, why must we resort to mutual destruction? Besides, I personally don’t like airing dirty laundry in public, and I have no interest in your remarried family.”
She didn’t care what would happen to the book without its supporting female character.
Having said what she needed to, Zhou Wanfeng shouldered her backpack and pushed the door open to leave on her own.
Zhou Zhiru watched her slender back as she walked away without a backward glance, his expression complex.
A few seconds later, he dialed the number for Old Chen in the motor pool from his desk phone and instructed, “Take her home.”
On the phone, the driver Old Chen asked an extra question, “President Zhou, do you mean to Ziyuan Court?”
“Take her to South Lake Mansion.”
South Lake Mansion was a high-end residential complex. President Zhou’s wife’s family lived there, and President Zhou and his wife’s family had lived at South Lake Mansion year-round.
But sending a child who had just arrived from the countryside there… surely that wasn’t appropriate.