202 Act Now

"Mother." Ming Rushi's greeting sounded formal for a dialogue in their house.

Madam Ming did not look happy. She slammed her hand on the oak table.

"Who told you to get so reckless as to get yourself pregnant?!"

Ming Rushi shivered as she was shocked as to how her mother found out.

"What? You think I wouldn't know?! You imbecile!" Madam Ming threw a pen towards her daughter, losing all gracefulness as the lady of the house. "Xiu Jin will not take someone like you to be his heir!"

Madam Ming was shaking with the intense emotions. Her old, but still delicate, facial features were distorted in an ugly, menacing glare. It was as if she was going to punish a slave, not scolding her own flesh and blood.

"Mom...I..."

Ming Xiaoyu turned calm, then with a straight face, said, "Get rid of that baby."

"No! Mom, I can't...I won't!"

"No one is asking for your opinion. It seems like you are more vulnerable than necessary. I believe we need to act now. XCG should be ours!"

Ming Rushi did not even get the last few statements as she mumbled while holding her still flat lower abdomen, "No...no..."

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"So he really survived the cliff?! Mojito, did I not tell you to make sure he's dead?" The old man looked like he could burst an artery or two as his eyes were almost popping out of their sockets.

The man who had been talking with Verdan Zhou before he was pushed off the cliff had grown a full beard and mustache. He looked down as he lamented on a failed mission.

"What? Cat got your tongue now?! Did you forget how to kill people?! Then let me remind you..." The old man pointed a pistol with attached silencer towards the bearded man's head.

The bearded man closed his eyes as he accepted his fate.

The trigger was pulled. The pale man standing diagonally from the bearded man fell face forward. Blood pooled from his head.

"Now you remember?" The old man had a mocking look on his face. He turned towards a bald man with a long scar traversing his cheek down to his neck. "Gin, clean this up."

The scarred man nodded and simply took the dead body over his shoulder as if he was just taking out the trash.

The man called 'Mojito' gulped. "Will make it up to you, Chairman." He bowed as a sign of obedience.

The old man took out a photograph from his pocket.

Mojito's eyes shook as his target turned out to be an infant.

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A pair of hazel eyes surrounded by crowfeet due to aging had a glint in them.

"Looking sharp, aren't we?" Victor Zhou had a teasing smile on his face.

A pair of hazel eyes which seemed to be the younger version of the old man smiled with the nice set of teeth which goes with them.

"I'll be out to dinner." Verdan Zhou was looking dapper in his navy blue suit, beneath which is a white shirt and dark gray slim tie.

"Date with your wife?" Victor continued teasing.

"It isn't until she recognizes me." Verdan's wide grin transformed into a regretful subtle smile.

"Son, even if you don't remember the past, use every opportunity to remember new encounters with her. You...you had hurt her before, when you were just kids exploring romance. It took her years to forgive and forget that misunderstanding. You need to persevere to resolve this one. After all, I cannot let my heir take up another man's name."

"Heir? You're giving ZFC to my son?!"

"Why not? You're gonna give it to him eventually as your firstborn..." Victor was a bit disappointed that his son was not happy about it.

Verdan curled his thin lips in contemplation. "It's not a problem, Dad, but I just wish that I was the one who will turn the company over to him. It was as if you skipped my generation for this turnover."

"Jealous?" Victor Zhou guffawed.

Verdan Zhou laughed with his father.

When they had calmed their emotions down, Verdan adjusted his tie and coat.

"I'll go now, Dad. Can't let the wife wait." He flashed his toothpaste commercial smile before heading for the door.

"Good luck, Son." Victor Zhou mumbled with a gentle smile.