Plunder-Chapter 277: You Are Innocent

"Yao Jian?"

Zhou Chucheng looked at the stranger before him with a face full of shock.

Hearing his cry of surprise, Qiao En curiously peered inside.

She saw Yao Jian, with his jacket unbuttoned, about to walk out of Yao Chuman’s bedroom.

He had a look of embarrassment, and his eyes darted about evasively.

"Third Young Master."

As he walked out, he quickly started buttoning up his jacket.

Zhou Chucheng grabbed Yao Jian’s arm before he could fully step out.

His eyes were gleaming with a chilling intent, and he was barely containing his fury.

"What were you doing in my mother’s bedroom?" 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

In a room alone together, an unrelated man and woman, with Yao Jian coming out in such a state, it was inevitable that others would think the worst.

Yao Jian turned around to look at Yao Chuman, wanting to say something, but then he hesitated, on the verge of speaking but deciding against it.

"Son, what are you thinking?"

Yao Chuman walked out wearing a silk nightgown. Her figure was slightly plump, yet curvaceously appealing, full of allure.

"Ah Jian, you go first."

Yao Chuman came over and nodded at Yao Jian.

"Don’t go."

Zhou Chucheng blocked him again.

"Today, no one leaves until we talk things out clearly."

A pained expression crossed Zhou Chucheng’s face.

His father had died less than a year ago, and now, a strange man was emerging from his mother’s bedroom.

He was an adult male, and even if Yao Chuman denied it, Zhou Chucheng could guess what had happened.

It was precisely because he had thought of those things, he now found it unbearable.

"Chucheng, what are you doing? Ah Jian is one of us; we were merely having a private conversation. What in the world are you thinking?"

Her face showed a trace of anger, and then Yao Chuman’s gaze shifted to Qiao En.

"Who let you bring this woman here? Don’t you know? Your father was driven to his death by her! Zhou Chucheng, I must remind you, I am your real mother; you are a child born of Yao Chuman. If you get involved with those wild seeds, don’t blame me—"

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Chucheng glared fiercely at Yao Chuman.

His stare made her uneasy, and she immediately shut her mouth.

"My elder brother is not a wild seed, and even though you are my real mother, you must respect him."

"Also, this is my sister-in-law, not just some woman from your mouth. This is the Zhou family’s home, she belongs here, and has every right to be here. Plus, how my dad died, you know better than anyone else, so don’t try to pin the blame on others."

Zhou Chucheng was very assertive.

In that moment, Qiao En looked at him with gratitude.

He was defending the dignity of Zhou Jin’an and Qiao En in his own way.

"Director Zhou, thank you,"

Qiao En whispered softly.

Zhou Chucheng still looked angry, but his tone softened a bit when he spoke to Qiao En.

"Sister-in-law, I’m sorry to have embarrassed you. Please, go and have a seat in the living room. I’ll handle some family matters."

Qiao En nodded and walked straight to the sofa in the living room.

"Come on, let’s go to the bedroom and talk this over,"

Zhou Chucheng commanded.

"Chucheng, could we perhaps do this another day?"

Yao Chuman was dragging the matter out with Zhou Chucheng while signaling Yao Jian with her eyes to make a quick escape.

She grabbed Zhou Chucheng’s arm, "Wait for the right time, I’ll explain everything. You just got back today, why don’t I cook some of your favorite dishes for you?"

She put on a pleasing face, trying to appease Zhou Chucheng.

But he remained unmoved.

"No," Zhou Chucheng sternly refused.

Even though Zhou Zhendong was gone, he still couldn’t accept his mother being involved with another man.

Yao Chuman sighed heavily.

"Third Young Master, it’s all a misunderstanding."

Yao Jian seemed unable to keep quiet any longer and was about to speak when Yao Chuman quickly stopped him.

"What are you still babbling about? Just go!"

She grabbed Zhou Chucheng’s arm and spoke to Yao Jian.

Yao Jian didn’t care any longer and hurriedly left.

But he had underestimated Zhou Chucheng.

Zhou Chucheng flung Yao Chuman’s arm off, lunged at Yao Jian, caught him in a hold, and pinned him to the ground.

"Chucheng!"

Although Yao Chuman cried out Zhou Chucheng’s name, it was clear her worried eyes were fixed on Yao Jian.

Qiao En sat quietly on the sofa, merely watching the scene unfold before her.

In her memory, Yao Jian should still be in prison.

Yet, a man who was supposed to be incarcerated was now in the Zhou family’s old house.

This matter couldn’t help but arouse suspicion.

However, it had little to do with her—she had come to the old mansion today for another matter. Thus, when it was inappropriate to speak, she maintained her silence.

"Hiss—"

Yao Jian clenched his teeth, took a sharp intake of cold air, and his face instantly turned pale as his thick eyebrows furrowed tightly together.

"Ah Jian."

Yao Chuman hurried over, pulling at Zhou Chucheng, trying to push him away.

"Chucheng, let go. If you have something to say, say it nicely. Why resort to violence?"

Zhou Chucheng, fueled by a surge of anger, kept pressing down on Yao Jian, refusing to let go.

"Chuman, let’s just tell the truth."

Yao Jian moaned in pain.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Chucheng realized that there was indeed something unusual between these two.

Yao Chuman seemed to still be conflicted. Yao Jian urged her: "The young master has grown up; we can’t hide it from him any longer."

Qiao En was some distance away from them, but she caught the whole story.

There was something fishy between the two, and it wasn’t just a simple affair.

Qiao En had never seen Yao Chuman this conflicted.

The way she struggled did not seem just out of embarrassment.

"Alright, since you want to know, I’ll tell you."

Yao Chuman glanced in Qiao En’s direction, "This is our family affair; it’s not appropriate for outsiders to know. Come with me to the bedroom."

She made her decision, as if relieved.

She gathered her disheveled hair at the temples and gracefully entered the bedroom, swaying her willowy waist.

Zhou Chucheng’s face was still terribly fearsome. He was a man of restrained nature and soon let go.

"Go in."

He barked at Yao Jian.

Afterward, the bedroom door closed.

What exactly happened in the bedroom that day, Qiao En did not know.

All she knew was that when the door finally opened, the anger on Zhou Chucheng’s face had completely dissipated.

"Ah Jian, you better leave now."

Yao Chuman said again.

This time, when Yao Jian left, Zhou Chucheng did not stop him.

He looked as if he was carrying a heavy burden, his eyelids drooping, immersed in his own world.

Yao Chuman looked deeply at him, yet she said nothing.

"What are you doing here?"

She approached Qiao En, asking her in a condescending tone of a superior hostess.

Qiao En stood up, looking calmly at Yao Chuman.

"I have something I would like to consult Auntie Man about."

"I am flattered."

Yao Chuman turned her head and reached up to adjust the hair by her ear.

"Zhou Jin’an must have told you, I don’t get along with the people from the main house. You are the daughter-in-law of the main house, so you should know this rule. If there’s nothing else, you should leave."

Yao Chuman was about to leave, twisting her waist.

"Auntie Man, you are the lady of the Zhou family; where is there a ’main house’ to speak of? I am Zhou family’s daughter-in-law, and you are the lady of the house; ultimately, I should even call you ’mother-in-law.’"

"I am flattered."

Yao Chuman rolled her eyes, "You don’t need to cozy up to me. Tell me, what do you want?"

Her demeanor was haughty, but her tone had softened somewhat.

"I want to ask you why Mrs. Zhou was driven out of the Zhou family back then?"

Qiao En didn’t beat around the bush.

Yao Chuman definitely knew this.

However, upon hearing it, Yao Chuman reacted as if she had heard a joke.

She covered her mouth and chuckled lightly, "Qiao En, is there something wrong with you here?" she asked, poking her forehead.

"The Mrs. Zhou you mentioned, she is Zhou Jin’an’s biological mother, his father’s first wife. You are asking me why she was driven out; how would I know? You are asking the wrong person; you should ask her instead."

Yao Chuman refused to speak.

Her steps as she left quickened.

Qiao En, holding her stomach, hastened to follow her.

"Auntie Man, I know you must be aware. What really happened back then, please tell me."

"Why should I?" Yao Chuman asked with a cold laugh.

"Because you are innocent."

Qiao En met Yao Chuman’s eyes as she spoke.

Time, it seemed, stopped right at that moment.

Qiao En noticed something flicker in Yao Chuman’s eyes.

Her lips trembled, as if she wanted to say something, but she held back.

After a long while, she finally spoke.

"Forget about it, I am not going to tell you."