82 1.3.4: Results
A few days later, Zhou Elder received the investigation results. According to what his bodyguard and driver investigated, she was named Xiahu Yunhua.
She had been hospitalized in the private wing for being comatose for quite a bit. In fact, a little too private as no information was leaked out from her. If Zhou Elder didn't use his connection, he wouldn't have figured anything out either. According to her photo of before and after the coma, he immediately recognized her as the girlfriend that Zhou Lang brought home.
But to have such a drastic change, did she have plastic surgery? But Zhou Elder ruled out that possibility since there was no evidence or induction of plastic surgery. For her to go through such a drastic change... Zhou Elder could only use the the excuse that it was the heaven's will.
If she was Zhou Lang's girlfriend, then why was she around Qiang Yue? Even though Qiang Yue wasn't his grandson, he still cared for him since Qiang Luo was his friend. But this girl... was she cheating and manipulating both of them?
Zhou Elder felt repulsion directed at Xiahu Yunhua. He knew that the only way for her to be exposed was if both men found her in the same place.
But where?
Suddenly, he remembered his favorite grandson, Zhou Ming, having a birthday celebration happening in a couple of days. He was certain that Zhou Lang would be there, he would make sure of it.
As for Qiang Yue...
Zhou Elder pulled out his phone and dialed Qiang Yue's number. An emotionless voice on the other line picked up and said, "Hello?"
"Qiang Yue!" Qiang Yue immediately recognized the aged voice as Zhou Elder and cleared his throat, immediately becoming more polite.
"Mr. Zhou, I'm surprised to be getting a call from you. Are there any problems?" As a doctor, and since Zhou Elder rarely—if not ever—called him, he couldn't help but make assumptions that something was wrong.
"Young man, there is nothing wrong." Zhou Elder tried to sound cheerful and then asked, "We are holding a birthday celebration for Zhou Ming, and I wanted to invite you personally since you are childhood friends with Ming'er."
This was a true fact that Qiang Yue could not refute. He had indeed grown up with Zhou Ming and since the young master was going to celebrate his birthday at home despite being gone majority of the time, Qiang Yue nodded but realized that Zhou Elder couldn't see him. "Yes, I would love to be there."
"Great..." Zhou Elder pretended to ponder and then added, "Your girlfriend that I met at the funeral, you should bring her too. I didn't get to properly meet her last time as we were in the funeral."
As much as Qiang Yue wanted to refute by saying she wasn't exactly his 'girlfriend', he couldn't because Zhou Elder wouldn't believe him. The rumors floated around that they were together everywhere. Friends were never together everywhere nor would he feel his heart palpitating if he really thought of her as a friend. Hence why he made a mental note to arrange for flowers and to formally ask her to be his.
As for bringing her to the celebration, Qiang Yue agreed to ask her, but he told Zhou Elder that he couldn't guarantee that she would go.
He and Zhou Elder made some more small talk and then ended the call.
He then called Xiahu Yunhua and her sweet voice answering immediately softened his heart.
"Would you want to go with me to a birthday celebration of a friend of mine in a couple of days as my date?" His heart nervously thumped as he waited for her to answer.
After what seemed like an eternity yet was only a few seconds, she agreed. He told her that he would pick her up after she got ready.
When the call ended, Xiao Yunhua sighed. She didn't want to give him false hope or expectations, but the man had just lost his father.
Going with him to a small birthday celebration shouldn't be too troublesome and would ease the loneliness in his heart.
Unfortunately, Xiao Yunhua didn't know just how much trouble she would be getting from the 'small' birthday celebration.