497 Looking Forward

If one had to describe Darren's relationship with his father, it would be worded as amiable, peaceful, close, and yet a little strained. Although Darren respected his father, this respect was completely different than the one he had for Francesca. And there was no need to say that even his father was aware of this fact.

"Did you meet your brother?" His father began making Darren's brows twitch slightly. "Xiao Jin had been in the same city for a while now. Didn't he across you? Or you both had been avoiding each other again?"

Darren took a moment to reply, "I didn't know he had been in the An City. And why would I avoid him?"

His father, Zhou Xichen took a deep breath as he said, "Are you both really going to play this game?"

"Who said we are playing a game?" wondered Darren. "We just don't talk anymore Like we used to do. I guess we grew up and grew apart as well."

"I can't believe both of my sons take me for a fool. Do you really think that I'd believe this 'we grew apart' crap? Something definitely happened between you both but neither of you is willing to say anything about it." Zhou Xichen was frustrated. He had heard this reply from both his sons for so long that it had gotten on his nerve now!

Either it was Zhou Jinhai as an elder brother or Darren as a younger brother, they always had been as close as real brothers even though they didn't share the same mother. They never even argued. Never had any squabbles about inheritance. After all, Darren never wanted to take anything from his father and Zhou Jinhai wanted to present the whole world to his brother even at the cost of angering his own mother.

This was the reason why Zhou Xichen was unable to understand why they both were unwilling to talk about each other much less talk to each other now. What created this rift between them?

"If we don't want to talk about it, why are you insisting on making us talk?"

"Because as a father, I deserve to know what's going on between my own sons."

"I really don't think it concerns you though," said Darren soberly. "It's between him and me."

"But it does concern me!" Zhou Xichen's voice turned sharp and he ended up coughing. Darren sprang up to his feet and offered him water while rubbing his back soothingly. After his coughing seized did he continue, "You both are the reason my health is deteriorating."

"Me included? What did I do?" Darren grumbled unhappily.

"Did you hear that Xiao Jin refused to inherit the family business?" Darren's brows quirked up perplexingly.

"Huh? But a few months ago, I heard that he was officially the new chairman of the Zhou Empires."

Darren stayed quiet for a long while before he muttered, "No wonder, he is living in An City now." He took a brief pause to add, "But why are you blaming me? I have no hand in all this."

"And what do you have to say about how you're hell-bent on destroying PassionArts Entertainment?"

Darren cleared his throat saying, "Well, that I can't deny." Before Zhou Xichen could say anything, he went on, "But in my defense, PassionArts Entertainment is not yours. It doesn't fall under the businesses of Zhou Empires. It's something started by your wife and I have all the right to destroy it if I feel like it. Besides, I have the capability to take over it so why should I hesitate?"

"I never knew my son could be so tyrannical," stated Zhou Xichen, a bit gruffly.

Darren contemplated what he had told him and frowned as if something clicked in his mind. "Dad, you aren't expecting me to convince him, right? If he's playing the rebel, it's not my fault. He had been an ideal son for way too long already. Maybe he is also tired of walking on the road that all of you paved for him."

Zhou Xichen squinted his eyes at his son as he said, "But I don't want you to convince him. Instead, I want you to take over-"

Darren raised his hand to interrupt him. He forgot all his manners as he dared to cut off his father's speech. "That's never happening. I still stand by what I said, I'll never take anything from you."

"Darren..." Zhou Xichen called out his name helplessly.

"Sorry, dad! But I don't have a habit of going back on my words. Besides, to maintain peace and happiness in my life, it's better for me to keep my distance from your wife. I don't want to give her another reason to attack me. Losing my dream once is enough for me. But what I have now is the most precious to me and I'm not gonna give her a chance to take that from me."

"And if both of my sons keep being this stubborn, then my family's legacy is gonna fall into that wife of mine's hands. The wife whom both my sons despise. What am I supposed to do here?"

Darren took a sip of water and said, "Dad, I can understand you. But seriously, I can't do this. You better look for your elder son. Even if he is angry with your wife, he can't be angry with you."

"I think he knows what I want to talk about so he's been avoiding me at all costs."

Darren nodded his head. "Then don't forget to attend Sister Meihui's wedding. He'd certainly be there."

"I was looking forward to meeting your girlfriend at that wedding. Looks like I have more to look forward to now."