Plunder-Chapter 266: Fanning the Flames

She closed her eyes.

At Central Hospital, Yao Chuman leaned against the headboard, watching the television with unblinking focus.

Bandages wrapped her forehead, and her eyes were wide open.

That morning, she had caused quite a scene at An Corporation, and by evening, the An Corporations building had collapsed spectacularly.

Her heart thudded wildly, as if it might leap out of her chest.

She reached up to clutch her chest, her body hair standing on end.

Though she was a traditional woman, having spent many years by Zhou Zhendong’s side, she knew a thing or two about business matters.

"Chucheng, tell your mother the truth, what exactly is going on here?"

Yao Chuman directly called Zhou Chucheng.

Zhou Chucheng was busy helping Jin’an deal with the An Corporation crisis, and had no time to entertain Yao Chuman.

"Mom, whatever the news says, that’s what’s happening. You should just focus on recovering at the hospital, and I’ll visit you when I’m free."

Zhou Chucheng was anxious to hang up the phone.

But Yao Chuman wouldn’t allow it, "If you don’t tell me the truth, do you think I can stay calm here? The news said An Jinhua has disappeared. We stirred up so much trouble at An Corporation today, do you think he might seek revenge on me? I’m terrified right now, come and pick me up, I want to go home."

Yao Chuman was as dramatic as ever.

Just thinking of An Jinhua’s grim face made her curl up into a ball on the hospital bed.

Zhou Chucheng let out a long sigh, "Mom, I’m really busy right now, if you’re really worried, then can’t you just go home by yourself?"

"No way, Zhou Chucheng, I’m your mother, you can’t just abandon me after crossing the river. I did all this today for you, if you don’t protect me, you are nothing but an ingrate."

"Even if I am an ingrate, I’m one you raised. If I’m the little ingrate, then you’re the big one."

Zhou Chucheng started to argue back with Yao Chuman.

"You ungrateful child, I am your mother, you’re being disrespectful!"

"Alright, Mom, I’m really busy right now, how about this, let brother pick you up and take you home, I’ll come over once I finish my work."

Zhou Chucheng didn’t wait for Yao Chuman to respond, and hung up the phone immediately.

"You can leave if you’re busy!"

Jin’an was bent over working and spoke to Zhou Chucheng.

He ended the call and walked swiftly towards Jin’an, "It’s all taken care of."

He sat down and continued working on related matters with Jin’an.

An Corporation had dodged taxes, and the tax office had ordered a large sum to be recollected within a specified deadline. If An Jinhua didn’t cooperate, An Corporation would definitely be auctioned off.

This was precisely what Jin’an had been hoping for.

However, to ensure everything proceeded as he wanted, careful planning and preparation were essential up front.

"I heard your mother got injured?"

Jin’an asked without lifting his head.

Zhou Chucheng scratched his head, aware of the friction between Jin’an and Yao Chuman.

"Yeah, a minor injury."

"This time, thank you all."

Jin’an thanked him, and Zhou Chucheng immediately waved his hand, "Big brother, we’re family, don’t be so formal. It’s true my mom went overboard, but since dad has passed, we need to focus on the big picture."

Jin’an remained silent.

Seeing him not respond, Zhou Chucheng also fell silent.

This was a taboo topic between them, not something that could be easily settled with a few words.

As closing time neared, Jin’an checked the time and was about to leave.

"I’ve arranged for the front desk to prepare some things; take them to the hospital later."

"Big brother, you really don’t need to be so formal."

Zhou Chucheng was surprised.

Jin’an’s eyes darkened, "No matter what, you all did it to help me. Aunt Man got injured because of me, I should have personally visited her, but..."

But he was afraid that going there might cause even more unnecessary trouble.

"I understand, big brother, don’t worry, I won’t let her know about this for now."

An hour later, Zhou Chucheng appeared in Yao Chuman’s hospital room carrying those high-end nutritional supplements.

"Why did you buy these useless things?"

Yao Chuman asked, her eyebrows furrowed in surprise.

"To help you recover. Don’t make me take them back."

Zhou Chucheng pretended to be angry and picked up the items as if to leave.

Yao Chuman immediately stood up and grabbed his arm, "My dear, I just don’t want you to waste money on me. It’s just a minor injury. The doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow. I want them; how could I not want something my beloved son bought for me?"

Yao Chuman quickly took the items from Zhou Chucheng’s hands.

She had seen expensive things before, but because these were bought by Zhou Chucheng, she looked at each one joyfully.

"Chucheng, I didn’t expect that after these years away, you’ve learned to care for others, unlike your brother who only knows how to live it up all the time."

Before Yao Chuman could finish speaking, the door opened, and Zhou Ziyan walked in with a blonde girl in his arms.

"Mom, who did you say only knows how to live it up? I’m just experiencing life. You’ve said yourself I’m good for nothing. Isn’t avoiding you just to spare you the trouble?"

Yao Chuman rolled her eyes at him and began scolding with her finger pointed at Zhou Ziyan, "Look at you, wasting your days. Changing girlfriends like clothes, why don’t you settle down and give me a grandson? All you do is mess around!"

"I mess around? How am I messing around? Zhou Jin’an at least pretends to be decent; why don’t you make him your son?"

Zhou Ziyan retorted with each statement, turning Yao Chuman’s face red with anger, and Zhou Chucheng hurried over to break it up.

"Brother, Mom didn’t mean it that way, don’t take it to heart."

He had intended to mediate, but it only added fuel to the fire.

Zhou Ziyan with a tilt of his chin, "Stop stirring things up here. Do you think I don’t know? You’re just Jin’an’s lackey, following him around like a little follower. Do you think you’re so capable?"

Zhou Chucheng and Zhou Jin’an had been secretly collaborating, but somehow, Zhou Ziyan had accidentally found out.

"Chucheng, is what your brother just said true?"

Yao Chuman’s face changed dramatically.

Zhou Chucheng wasn’t very good at lying, and he hurried to explain, "Mom, that’s not true! I own a company, and I’ve been busy with my own affairs!"

"Yiyi, tell them what you saw that night?"

Zhou Ziyan patted the blonde girl on the shoulder, signalling her to speak.

The blonde girl began delicately, "That night at the lakeside, I saw you get into Director Zhou’s car..."

Faced with the facts, Zhou Chucheng couldn’t deny it anymore.

"Chucheng, what have I always told you? Didn’t I say to stay away from that wretched man? Why didn’t you listen, secretly dealing with that rebel? Have you forgotten how he humiliated your mom and your brother? After your dad died, he took over the family business all by himself; don’t you realize what kind of life we’re living now?"

As Yao Chuman spoke, tears began to slide down her cheeks.

"Mom, it’s not what you think. I was contacting him about work, and besides, he is my brother too, we don’t need to..."

Before Zhou Chucheng could finish, Zhou Ziyan scoffed.

"It seems I’m not your brother, he is. Mom, this is your ’good son’."

He suddenly noticed the high-end nutritional supplements on the bedside table, pointed at them, and laughed, "These were bought by him for you to bring, right? If I’m not mistaken, mom’s injury has something to do with him, doesn’t it? Zhou Chucheng, you’ve actually teamed up with an outsider to bully our mom, do you realize she almost lost her life?"

"No!"

Zhou Chucheng flatly denied.

But Yao Chuman no longer believed him, "Throw out the stuff that rebel bought. I, Yao Chuman, have said it, we will have nothing to do with him in this lifetime."

She grabbed the shopping bags and immediately threw the items all over the floor.

After throwing the items, she was still not appeased, "No, I can’t let him off so easily."

She got off the bed, intending to confront Zhou Jin’an.

"Mom, please, don’t make a scene. Big brother really didn’t harm me, he’s not what you think."

"Now are you siding with him? Zhou Chucheng, this is our mom, I’m your brother. What has Zhou Jin’an given you? Mom, I’ll go with you, this time, we must make Zhou Jin’an answer for this!"

Fueled by Zhou Ziyan, Yao Chuman felt emboldened, and Zhou Chucheng couldn’t hold them back; mother and son headed straight for Chu Garden.