"Ruth’s phone can’t send or receive Chinese text messages because her network isn’t China Mobile or Unicom, so if you send her Chinese texts, all she gets is gibberish." Back in the living room, Mia curled up on the sofa again and stared at Yusuf curiously. Despite her large frame, she’s never known what the words ’shame’ or ’embarrassment’ mean."
Yusuf nodded, foreigners’ phones being able to receive Chinese text messages would be odd indeed; he had only asked out of curiosity.
"So, what’s this party you’re attending tomorrow night where you have to bring a male companion?" Yusuf suddenly remembered he had previously agreed to be her date for the evening.
"It’s a regional charity event hosted by ’Sichuan-Western Business Friends.’ All the attendees are well-known wealthy merchants from Sichuan and the West. I’m representing my family’s company. You know I’m a director there. With my dad not in the country, and the other managers not carrying enough weight, my dad asked me to go."
"As for why I need a male companion, it’s because you’re my shield. At these kinds of parties, there are always some annoying second-generation rich kids who try to bother me. I can’t be bothered with them, so if anyone pester me tomorrow night, you’ll just send them packing for me."
"Oh, sure, no problem, I’ll send them packing!" Yusuf readily nodded and said.
"That’s what I’m talking about, real brotherhood there!" Mia praised him.
"A promise is a promise, right? How could I go back on my word?" Yusuf chuckled.
"Hmm, dress formally tomorrow, that’s all," Mia advised.
"Got it, won’t let you down, Miss Lara," Yusuf laughed.
"Alright then, let’s call it a night. I’m tired, going upstairs to sleep." Mia yawned. It was past midnight, and she would have already been asleep had Yusuf not come back.
Yusuf also returned to his room. The reason he had come back today was to clear his head by himself, but between Mia’s antics and the call with Ruth, his mind was anything but calm.
Lying on the bed in a daze, he soon drifted off to sleep.
When he woke up again, he found it was light outside, and he could hear the soft sounds of practicing martial arts in the courtyard.
Yusuf got up, brushed his teeth and washed his face before heading outside.
Ross’s mother and Lynn were practicing push hands in the courtyard, both dressed in practice clothes. When they saw Yusuf emerge, they both stopped and Ross’s mother said with a smile, "Mr. Zuck is up early too."
"Yeah, I have things to do and need to leave. You two carry on. When Mia wakes up, tell her I’ll come back to pick her up tonight, that’s it." Yusuf got into the car and left. After buying breakfast, he went straight to the hospital.
Nurse Paisley Kirk was already up, cleaning early in the morning.
After giving her a portion of the breakfast, Yusuf carried another portion to Jade Cooke’s floor.
His release from the hospital last night had to do with testimonies from witnesses, and Jade Cooke must have played an important role in that.
When Yusuf entered Jade’s room, Jade was also having breakfast, fed by his mother.
Seeing Yusuf, both his mother and Jade smiled, and Jade asked, "Yusuf, are you okay?"
"I’m fine, just upset some people, got reported, and was framed on purpose."
"Glad you’re okay." Jade’s mother nodded but didn’t say much else.
Yusuf Zuck chatted with the two in the hospital room for a while before getting up to take his leave. These days, he had been visiting almost daily. Although he had no intention of borrowing the Shepherd Family’s power, maintaining a good relationship with them was undoubtedly beneficial.
At seven o’clock in the morning, Fleur Carson arrived at the hospital to take over from Paisley Kirk. This had been the routine for the past few days, with Fleur on the day shift and Paisley on the night shift, as it was impossible to have Paisley work continuously on her own.
Yusuf Zuck and Fleur Carson went to the corridor and Yusuf informed her about what had happened the previous night.
Fleur was taken aback after hearing everything and asked Yusuf who else knew about the incident.
"Who else could it be? The employer of the six, of course," Yusuf scoffed.
"Who is the employer? Where is he? Give me the address and name. Within a week, I’ll take care of him!" Fleur’s murderous intent was evident, as this was no small matter—it was a matter of life and death.
"No need, I have it under control. That person can’t be killed right now," Yusuf shook his head. He did want to get rid of the dead eunuch, but killing the eunuch could likely lead to a frenzied retaliation from the Nash family. His real father would show no old affections and would probably kill him and even his brothers!
Therefore, Tyler Nash could not die yet, at least not now. He couldn’t act.
He didn’t yet have the power to oppose the Nash family. If he acted now, everything he had would vanish like bubbles.
"Don’t say anything taboo over the phone in the future. Let’s meet face-to-face for any matters. Later, notify the others to prepare two mobile phones, and use the other one for single-line contact. Also, pay attention lately to whether you are being followed. I suspect that I might be under surveillance by the police or similar entities, and we must move the treasures at home by tonight or tomorrow evening. If someone comes to search the house, won’t they be found during the search? With so many items, it would be hard to explain."
"Hmm, I understand. But where should we move them?" Fleur wondered aloud.
"I’ll arrange a place. I’m going to buy a house today," Yusuf replied. A few days ago, when chatting with Felix Zuck, Felix suggested that Yusuf should buy a house for Sara Zuck in the capital, and Felix would also move there later. That place would become the Zuck Family’s home and the root for the whole family.
Therefore, Yusuf planned to buy two additional houses: one in Sara’s name and the other in Miles O’Brien’s name.
"Buying more houses? You’re something else, but it’s good to buy them," Fleur gave a thumbs up.
"Hehe, if I have money and don’t spend it, I get uncomfortable. I’m off now; I have a contract to sign with someone today," Yusuf said goodbye to Fleur and then went downstairs with Paisley. Nᴇw novel chapters are publɪshed on novel[f]ire.net
As Paisley’s shift had just ended with Fleur’s arrival, Yusuf took her home along the way.
Fleur’s apartment was within the third ring of the city center. It was a high-rise building. Fleur had been an assassin abroad, where he made some money, and also inherited his stepfather’s wealth. Although the place he bought wasn’t a villa, it was a spacious duplex with floors above and below.
This was Yusuf’s first visit to Fleur’s home, and as he entered and saw the exquisite interior design and the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking half of the capital, he couldn’t help but be impressed, at the same time scolding Fleur for knowing how to live lavishly, with such a large house for one person.
"Damn, he’s raising these turtles too?" Inside the balcony was a landscaped rockery and a small pebble-lined pond, where to his surprise, there were more than a dozen turtles.
Paisley nodded, "Yes, Fleur said that if you raise turtles with care, they can save your life. I don’t know what he really means."
"I know what he means," Yusuf shook his head, understanding this to be a superstitious belief among the people, one where turtles can take the place of their owner’s death.
"Alright, I’m off. You should get some sleep and rest early. I have something to do tonight, so you’ll have to cover the shift," Yusuf said.
"Hmm, Yusuf, you go ahead with your work, no problem," the young nurse Paisley escorted Yusuf to the door, watching his departing figure and then said concernedly, "Be careful when driving, Yusuf. Stay safe."