The car arrived at the hospital parking lot.
This time, Zhao Yunzhou was finally not the invisible bystander quietly waiting below as before. With a look of dominance, he grabbed Xia Liuyue's hand.
"Sister, I'll take you to watch a good show."
The two arrived at the VIP suite in the inpatient department, where Zhao family bodyguards blocked the entrance.
"No unauthorized entry."
Zhao Yunzhou's peach blossom eyes lifted slightly as he smiled, took out a certificate, and handed it over.
Xia Liuyue glanced at it quickly—it was actually a senior physician's license.
"I was invited by Mr. Zhao."
The bodyguards looked at each other, then at Xia Liuyue beside him, asking doubtfully, "And this lady is..."
"My assistant."
"If you keep dawdling, I'm afraid that last breath might not hold on much longer."
The two bodyguards exchanged a look and cleared the passageway.
The room was noisy, as if filled with hundreds of ducks. All the Zhao relatives had gathered around the old master's sickbed, their faces full of anxiety.
Their hearts, however, were filled with their own little schemes.
This concerned how much of the estate they could get.
The eldest son-in-law of the Zhao family patriarch spoke first:
"Dad, you should still make a will. I'm not cursing you, but what if you collapse again next time?"
The second son-in-law chimed in, "Yes, yes, our Zhao family has so many businesses. Without you, father-in-law, everything would be in chaos."
The younger grandson, crouching by the bed, was different from the adults, his face etched with genuine worry.
He handed over a glass of warm water and said softly,
"Grandpa, have some water to steady yourself first."
Squinting his eyes, Old Master Zhao had just regained consciousness to see these family members, each with their own agenda. What was supposed to be a birthday celebration had nearly turned into a funeral.
He had lived seventy years and seen it all.
Whether it was the eldest son-in-law, the second son-in-law, or the grandson, they were all just eyeing the assets and shares he held in his hands.
"I will not make a will." Old Master Zhao's sharp, hawk-like eyes swept over the crowd, suddenly noticing an extra pair of young man and woman among them.
They were not family relatives.
Wait, that young woman seems to be the young madam of the Du family.
With Old Master Zhao's glance, the people surrounding the bed also turned their gaze towards the two of them.
"Who are you?"
The Zhao family grandson looked warily at the newcomer, Zhao Yunzhou. They appeared to be about the same age.
With the old man in trouble, everyone wanted to rush over for a share of the spoils.
He deeply suspected this man might be his mother's illegitimate child?
But he never expected Zhao Yunzhou's opening words to be utterly shocking.
"My name is Zhao Yunzhou. I am Zhao Xiangguo's illegitimate son."
Old Master Zhao's name was Zhao Xiangguo.
A wave of exclamations swept through the room.
The relatives looked at each other, then erupted into intense discussion.
"How is that possible? This young man looks so young. My uncle is seventy."
"Yes, this child looks about the same age as Xiaocheng, he could be a grandson, how could it be..."
"Hey, do you remember, about a dozen years after mother-in-law passed, father-in-law seemed to get quite close to a young maid?" the second son-in-law whispered to his wife.
On the sickbed, Old Master Zhao, Zhao Xiangguo, narrowed his eyes.
He waved at Zhao Yunzhou, signaling him to come forward.
"Your name is Zhao Yunzhou. Who gave you that name?"
Zhao Yunzhou replied coldly, "I chose it myself."
Zhao Xiangguo asked, "And your mother?"
Zhao Yunzhou: "Died in childbirth."
Zhao Xiangguo was stunned, the sharpness in his eyes fading slightly. "Then all these years you..."
"Grew up in an orphanage. It was fine, didn't die. Managed to see you before you finally kick the bucket." Zhao Yunzhou curled the corner of his mouth into a mocking smile.
Seeing this, the eldest daughter couldn't sit still anymore and quickly said,
"Dad, where did this brat come from claiming to be your son? He's younger than my own child, probably a fraud!"
Zhao Yunzhou wasn't intimidated in the slightest.
"Perfect, we're already at the hospital. Let's do a paternity test right away."
"I came today specifically to fight for my share of the inheritance."
Zhao Xiangguo had been studying him, and indeed there was a somewhat familiar shadow in his features. But when he heard the last part about 'fighting for the inheritance,' he was furious.
"I'm not dead yet!"
Zhao Yunzhou waved his hand dismissively. "Yeah, well, it's all about the same anyway."
"Look at them. They're all hoping you'll die soon, but also afraid you'll go too fast and they'll get too little."
The other relatives glared angrily, beginning to curse him one after another.
It was all stuff like 'Who does this brat think he is, talking so big?' and 'We grew up under the old master's care, we're concerned for him, how could we possibly wish him ill?'
The noisy clamor in the room continued.
Old Master Zhao slammed his hand heavily on the bedside table and shouted,
"Enough! All of you, shut up!"
"Everyone, get out. This young man stays. Also, arrange for medical staff to come in for a paternity test. I want to oversee it personally."
Though reluctant, under the old master's intimidating gaze, they all filed out one by one.
The room was left with only Old Master Zhao, Zhao Yunzhou, and Xia Liuyue.
Old Master Zhao asked, puzzled, "If I remember correctly, this young lady is the Du family's young madam. We just exchanged greetings this evening."
Xia Liuyue smiled and nodded. "The master is hale and hearty, with an excellent memory."
Old Master Zhao's gaze fell on their clasped hands.
Zhao Yunzhou showed no trace of embarrassment at all. He lifted their joined hands slightly and said,
"Sister gives me money, I handle things for sister."
"She's booked me for a month."
The nature of their relationship was clearly that Xia Liuyue had bought off Zhao Yunzhou so he could smoothly help her play the role of 'Tang Yinyao' in front of Yan Hechuan.
But the way he phrased it now,
carried an unmistakably flirtatious tone.
And what did he mean by 'booked for a month'? That was clearly just payment for a month's work.
Old Master Zhao had a sharp eye for people all his life. The moment he saw Zhao Yunzhou appear, he knew this kid had probably come prepared.
He might have even been planning this quietly for a long time.
He had built his fortune from scratch, left school in his teens, went to Southeast Asia for business in his twenties, lost his son in his thirties, and his wife in his forties.
The only accident was in his forties when he developed some inappropriate feelings for a young maid who was taking care of him.
The year he turned fifty, the young maid vanished without a trace.
His investigation revealed it was the work of several of his daughters and sons-in-law working together.
This young man before him was very likely his child.
Ah, forget it. Hadn't he done enough ridiculous things in his life?!
If this really was his child, then let him like what he likes and do what he wants. The Du family wasn't anything special either.
Old Master Zhao gave Xia Liuyue a kind smile.
Good child, no wonder I liked you the moment I first saw you. So after all, we truly are bound by fate.
Seeing the smile on his face, Zhao Yunzhou interrupted,
"Stop smiling. You're old, your face is full of wrinkles. You look ugly when you smile."
With that, he stepped in front of Xia Liuyue, flashed her a brilliant smile, his peach blossom eyes tilting up, and pointed at his own face.
"Sister, look at me. I'm young and handsome. My smile is much better looking."
