Chapter 1699

Zhu Yanyi sat quietly, listening to the story unfold. The scene shifted to a small apartment in the city. It was not large, but it had two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, and a bathroom.

Zhu Guifu and Gan Juhua sat nervously. They looked at Xiao Zhou, wondering who he was. When Chong Lou entered, he asked Xiao Zhou to leave. Then he looked at his parents.

"Dad, Mom, why are you in the capital?" Chong Lou asked.

"Xiang Yao, is that really you? You made a fortune here!" Gan Juhua said with joy.

Chong Lou frowned slightly. "Mom, who told you I made money?"

"Shun Yao’s family said so," Gan Juhua answered directly. "Shun Yao brought his father back for ancestor worship. He said you are in the capital. He also said you changed your name to Chong Lou. He said you are no longer a Zhu family member. They even said you died."

Chong Lou frowned. He looked at Zhu Guifu. "Dad, what is going on?"

Zhu Guifu sat down and lit his pipe. "Your mother is right. Shun Yao said you forgot your roots. You threw away your name and became Chong Lou. You are not a Zhu anymore. The whole clan crossed your name out."

Chong Lou’s face turned dark. He did not like Zhu Xiang Yao anymore, but he did not let others erase his name. He felt angry. But he noticed something important.

"You said Shun Yao’s family knows my name is Chong Lou?"

"Yes, they know," Zhu Guifu nodded. He looked at Chong Lou. "Did you really change your name?" Zhu Guifu did not want to believe it. If it was true, it would hurt him deeply.

Zhu Guifu always valued sons more than daughters. He believed only sons could continue the family line. If Chong Lou changed his name, it meant his branch would have no heirs. It meant the end of his line.

"Did they say anything else?" Chong Lou asked. He knew they would not stop at just the name.

Gan Juhua thought for a moment. "Oh, I remember! They said you joined a cult. That is why you got rich."

"Nonsense! When did the Holy Sect become a cult?" Chong Lou said. He realized Shun Yao’s family knew a lot about him.

Chong Lou felt confused. Why did Shun Yao know so much? What were they doing in the capital? Were they just simple merchants? If so, how did they know about the Holy Sect?

Chong Lou was smart. He started to suspect things. Many people knew about the Holy Sect, but they kept quiet. Even if they knew someone was a member, they did not speak out. Few people knew the high-level leaders.

Shun Yao’s family knew his identity and background. This made Chong Lou feel danger. He suspected someone was watching him. His heart trembled. His past experiences made him cautious. He did not want to be tricked.

She took out a stack of money. It looked like one or two thousand. She gave it to Zhu Guifu.

"Dad, Mom, this house is mine. I am busy and rarely come here. You can stay here for now. Use this money. I will send more later."

"Will you not live here?" Gan Juhua asked, unhappy. They wanted to live with their son, not just for money.

"I am busy. It is inconvenient for me to come here. I usually stay at my workplace. Also…" Chong Lou paused. "Shun Yao is right. I changed my name to Chong Lou. Do not call me Zhu Xiang Yao anymore. Call me Chong Lou."

Zhu Guifu’s face changed. He saw Chong Lou’s serious look. He believed Shun Yao. Hearing Chong Lou admit it, he felt despair. It meant he had no successor.

Before he could argue or get angry, Chong Lou said he was busy and left. Zhu Guifu had nowhere to vent his anger.

*

Elsewhere, Zhu Yanyi raised an eyebrow. "It seems the father and son have a rift."

Yan Aohan smiled faintly. "Chong Lou is investigating my father’s side now. I have avoided it. What do you plan to do?"

Zhu Yanyi snorted. "Did they not say Chong Lou is Silver Fox’s rival? Why are they pushing her to me?"

Yan Aohan laughed. "Maybe Silver Fox thinks Chong Lou is too simple. He is not worthy to be his rival."

"So he threw her to me. But I do not want to deal with Chong Lou," Zhu Yanyi said. She did not know Silver Fox could be so willful.

"If you do not want to see him, I will handle it," Yan Aohan said.

"I really do not want to see her. Besides, you know I am busy lately. I have no time for Chong Lou. Tell Silver Fox it is his problem. Do not dump it on me. I am not a trash can. I do not accept everything," Zhu Yanyi said calmly.

Yan Aohan smiled at her. "Fine. You do not need to worry about Chong Lou. And do not worry about my father. I am here."

Zhu Yanyi nodded. "What is Chong Lou thinking? Why does she want to spy on our family?"

"Ignorance makes him fearless," Yan Aohan summarized.

This was their shared thought. Only someone as ignorant as Chong Lou would do such things.

As they talked, Zhu Yanyi felt a cool touch on her face. She looked up. White ice crystals were falling slowly under the pale yellow light. They were not big, but beautiful.

"It is snowing," Zhu Yanyi smiled at Yan Aohan.

"Yes, it is snowing." Yan Aohan looked around and pointed to a nearby café. "Let’s go sit there."

"Okay." Zhu Yanyi decided to take a day off. She wanted to spend time with Yan Aohan.