Plunder-Chapter 227: The Mastermind is Him

"You said you wouldn’t come to the office, right?"

Qiao En twisted her brows, extremely embarrassed.

Behind her, two young receptionists were craning their necks to watch the commotion.

"I didn’t go to your company, I was waiting for you here, this is miles away from where you work."

What he called far was a mere ten meters or so.

"Let’s hurry up."

Qiao En grabbed Zhou Jin’an’s wrist and scurried into the elevator.

At that moment, she wished she had a Disappearance Technique to vanish from everyone’s sight instantly.

However, no sooner had she dashed into the elevator than someone pressed the elevator button, and the doors opened again.

Standing outside were about a dozen of her colleagues.

"Good day, Assistant Qiao."

The colleagues greeted Qiao En, but their eyes were sizing up Zhou Jin’an.

Qiao En nodded politely.

The elevator descended, and the atmosphere in the confined space was oppressively tense.

Zhou Jin’an, worried that someone would bump into Qiao En, decidedly pulled her closer to him.

"I’m protecting you," he whispered in her ear.

However, the elevator was so silent that even his soft voice was heard by everyone.

Some glanced sideways, some covered their mouths to laugh, others sneaked peeks...

Qiao En was extremely awkward, her eyes cast down as she desperately tried to put distance between herself and Zhou Jin’an.

But that day, Zhou Jin’an was acting particularly out of the ordinary.

"Wife, after dinner tonight, how about I take you for a walk by the river?"

His voice was firm yet casual, and a dozen pairs of ears pricked up to listen.

Qiao En shot him a sharp look, warning Zhou Jin’an to keep his mouth shut.

Yet, as if on purpose, he reached over and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

"Wife, you’re so beautiful!"

The descent took less than a minute, but for Qiao En, it was agonizing.

Finally, the elevator reached the first floor, and those dozen people got out.

"Zhou Jin’an, you did that on purpose."

The elevator continued to descend. Now alone, Qiao En no longer suppressed her anger.

She glared at Zhou Jin’an with feigned ferocity.

He immediately caved in, "I’m sorry, wife, I thought you liked it. Since you don’t, then shall I change?"

He was triumphant, delighted with himself.

Qiao En could imagine that she had now become the talk of the company.

"Please go back to your old self, okay? Zhou classmate!"

"Roger that, my dear wife!"

Zhou Jin’an responded playfully and promptly.

On the way back, Qiao En’s anger had dissolved into thin air.

Cheng Lu was driving, while Zhou Jin’an in the back seat held Qiao En’s hand, sharing amusing anecdotes all the way.

For the first time, Qiao En realized that Zhou Jin’an actually had a lot of humor.

"How do you know so many interesting things?"

Qiao En asked curiously.

Before Zhou Jin’an could answer, Cheng Lu chimed in, "You have no idea, Director Zhou was very diligent today, reading an entire book of amusing anecdotes. I was just curious. I didn’t expect Director Zhou planned to share all this with Mrs. Shao."

"What are you doing sneaking in other things during work hours? Zhou Jin’an, you’ve changed."

Qiao En felt a sweetness inside, but she pretended to chide him.

"I asked the doctor, and the doctor said that a pregnant woman should be happy because when the mood is good, the baby will be very healthy. You know, my work isn’t very interesting, so I have to find it in books. Luckily, I can make you laugh."

This level of care was precious.

"Thank you."

Qiao En leaned on Zhou Jin’an’s shoulder and said softly.

"No need to thank me. You are working so hard now, and there’s not much I can do to share your burdens. Making you happy also makes me happy."

True affection is always a two-way journey.

"By the way, were you tired at work today? Did Zhou Chucheng give you a hard time?"

Zhou Jin’an, who was usually a man of few words, suddenly became much more talkative that day.

If he didn’t care, Qiao En certainly wouldn’t have thought much about it, but now that he had asked, she immediately thought of something.

"Did you meet with Zhou Chucheng today?"

Qiao En inquired.

Zhou Jin’an was not good at lying; if he were to lie, his eyes would certainly dart around.

"No, why would I?"

He flatly denied, his gaze beginning to flit about.

Qiao En immediately caught his slip-up, "Didn’t we agree? Mutual respect, not interfering with each other’s work?"

"That’s not interference, I am just worried you are wearing yourself out. You are not alone now, I tell you, I wish I could see you at all times."

Before Zhou Jin’an could finish his sentence, Qiao En raised her voice, "So you were planning to install a surveillance camera where I work?"

Her thought process was novel, and her reaction quick.

Zhou Jin’an immediately waved his hands, "No, no, you really misunderstand me, what I meant was, I hope you can come back and help me."

When the old topic was brought up again, Qiao En rolled her eyes at him.

"No way."

She refused decisively.

Zhou Jin’an, fearing that Qiao En would get angry, picked up some sweet words to appease her.

In terms of words, he was clumsy, but he kept trying.

During dinner, the family sat at the table, laughing and talking.

Qiao En noticed that everyone had been treating her like a panda ever since they found out she was pregnant.

As soon as she opened the door to her room, Auntie Jiang came up with her slippers.

"Yayun, you must be tired from a day’s work. Change your shoes and rest for a while before we have dinner."

She supported Qiao En by the arm, watching her change shoes at the entrance, following her every step without leaving her side.

Sister Rong came out from the kitchen, "Madam, what would you like to eat this evening? I asked the maternity nurse for advice and prepared some pregnancy-appropriate meals for you."

Even Zhou Jin’an’s usual words became "Be careful," "Let me do it," "You rest."

To be loved and pampered made one’s heart warm.

Qiao En felt she was the happiest person in the world.

She had regained her lost mother and had a thoughtful lover like Zhou Jin’an. In a few months, their child would be born.

After dinner, Cheng Lu arrived, and Zhou Jin’an went to the study with him.

"Director Zhou, the mastermind you’ve been waiting for has surfaced."

"Who?"

Zhou Jin’an asked in a lowered voice.

The villain who caused him and Qiao En’s child to leave this world— he had never given up the investigation.

Even though An Kexin took the blame, he still believed the true mastermind behind the scenes had yet to reveal themselves.

"You asked me to keep an eye on An Kexin. Just last night, Ding Hao went to the detention center. After his visit, An Kexin’s mood became very agitated. So, I suspect An Kexin might have taken the blame for Ding Hao."

"Have you checked on Ding Hao?"

Zhou Jin’an’s expression had darkened.

The pain of losing his child still haunted him, how could he allow the culprit to live in peace?

"I have. After Qiao De beat An Kexin badly and sent her to the hospital, it was Ding Hao who took care of her medical bills. After she was discharged with nowhere to live, Ding Hao gave her a small two-bedroom apartment to live in. The Ding Family and the An Family had no personal connections; after she was estranged from the An family, no one in their circle would deal with her, so, I conclude that their relationship is out of the ordinary."

Cheng Lu explained his speculation.

Zhou Jin’an pondered for a while; he had been negligent in paying attention to relationships, especially those involving people he didn’t care about.

"I need convincing evidence."

Zhou Jin’an’s demand was firm.

Cheng Lu responded immediately, "Yes, I will find that evidence as soon as possible."

Just as Cheng Lu was about to turn and leave the room, Zhou Jin’an called out to him again.

A name suddenly popped into Zhou Jin’an’s head.

As that person flickered through his mind, Zhou Jin’an’s whole body tensed.

"Director Zhou, your orders."

Cheng Lu stood respectfully at the door, waiting for Zhou Jin’an’s command.

His cold lips curved into a solitary, resolute arc as he said, "Have someone keep an eye on An Jinhua, and also, report An Corporation’s latest activities to me first thing tomorrow morning."

Cheng Lu felt puzzled and asked, "Director Zhou, why have you suddenly decided to investigate An Jinhua and An Corporation?"

After the last crisis, An Jinhua learned of Zhou Jin’an’s capabilities and had been much more docile recently, not provoking him lightly.

"To know your enemy, you must know yourself; only then can you win every battle."