The Fallen Film Queen’s Possessive Alpha - Chapter 53

[At 2:37 AM on New Year’s Day, Ms. Zhou Mu of Kyushu Enterprises was involved in a car accident on the highway from the Capital Special City back to Luocheng. The number of casualties, injuries, and the cause of the accident remain unknown.]

The reporters were certainly diligent in the early hours of the New Year, though they hadn’t yet uncovered the specifics.

In the hospital corridor, Song Haoyin patted the vending machine, and the two cans of hot coffee she bought finally thudded into the retrieval slot.

At 3:15 AM, Zhou Qiwei was awakened by Zhou Zhao, which also roused Song Haoyin. Upon learning about Zhou Mu’s accident, Zhou Qiwei initially planned to go to the Capital Air Force General Hospital alone with Zhou Zhao. But at a time like this, Song Haoyin believed she should stay by her side.

Now, only she remained with Zhou Qiwei as family in the hospital. Zhou Zhao had just left the eldest daughter had accompanied them here, but after confirming Zhou Mu’s condition in the early morning, she took a helicopter back to Luocheng to deliver the news to their mother.

Handing the canned hot coffee to Zhou Qiwei, Song Haoyin asked, “Will your mother come?”

Zhou Qiwei cradled the coffee to warm her hands, shaking her head after a long pause. “Today is important. Many people will visit them, and they’ll have numerous meetings to attend. Madam Du will stay with Madam Zhou.” Noticing Song Haoyin’s surprised expression, Zhou Qiwei suddenly smiled. “She’s not dead, after all. Only death can disrupt their schedule.”

“Besides, arrangements need to be made official press releases, internal reassignments of her duties, and so on.”

Seeing Zhou Qiwei’s matter-of-fact demeanor, Song Haoyin sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Zhou Qiwei leaned into Song Haoyin’s embrace, sighing regretfully. “I’d hoped to take you home for some New Year’s cheer.”

“Don’t say that. Whether I go to your home or come here, the reason is the same.”

Zhou Qiwei took a deep breath, suddenly finding even the hospital’s antiseptic scent sweet. As the two sat intimately outside the ward, an attendant entered to report, “Miss Li You is here.”

Li You’s face was pale with a sickly tinge of green. At first glance, the two mistook her for a patient.

“I just saw the news. I came to see her.” The short sentence was barely out before Li You broke down in tears.

Zhou Qiwei looked exasperated, finding the situation awkward. On the way here, Zhou Zhao had mentioned that Zhou Mu and Li You’s engagement might fall through. Who knew what was really going on between them? Why did this Miss Li seem so fragile, her gaze avoiding Zhou Qiwei’s?

A gentle tug on her sleeve made Zhou Qiwei turn Song Haoyin was giving her a meaningful look. Song Haoyin had already discerned that Miss Li was acting guilty and uneasy. Her current state likely stemmed not just from her fiancée’s accident but from something else.

“Her injuries are serious, but not life-threatening,” Zhou Qiwei said politely, stepping aside and gesturing toward the window. “You can see her here for now. She’s not allowed visitors yet.”

Outside the ICU, Li You peered through the glass at her fiancée or perhaps soon-to-be ex-fiancée.

Song Haoyin’s guess was right, Miss Li did indeed have a guilty conscience. Last night’s conversation with Zhou Mu hadn’t gone well, and they’d once again fallen into mutual accusations. Strangely enough, while her professional competence might not be outstanding, she’d never shifted blame onto colleagues at work. Yet for some reason, whenever she saw Zhou Mu, she felt compelled to clarify every detail.

Emotions and interests were entangled between them, each drawing both affection and benefits from the other. Just like how her visits to Panyan Culture ensured all legal procedures were expedited without delay. Meanwhile, the legal foundation her family elders were involved with had received several substantial donations from major corporations over the past two years.

Last night’s emotions had run too high, ending in an unpleasant parting. Looking back now, it all seemed so unnecessary.

After their argument, Zhou Mu drove off alone while Li You returned to her hotel room, slept soundly through the night, and woke up sober only to turn on the TV and hear news of Zhou Mu’s car accident.

“Will there be any lasting effects?”

The doctor patiently explained to Li You: “The main issue is Miss Zhou’s concussion, along with bone injuries. Fortunately, the fractures didn’t puncture any internal organs just an open fracture in her leg. We’ll need to examine her after she wakes up to determine the full impact of the concussion.”

Zhou Qiwei leaned against Song Haoyin, watching Li You finish consulting the doctor before standing motionless, lost in thought. Before the coffee in Zhou Qiwei’s hands could even cool, Li You came over to say she had work to attend to and needed to leave.

After exchanging polite goodbyes and watching Li You depart, Song Haoyin couldn’t help remarking, “They’re probably breaking up, aren’t they?”

Zhou Qiwei popped open a can of coffee and took a sip before answering: “Hard to say.”

By noon, Zhou Mu had regained consciousness. Doctors confirmed she indeed had a severe concussion and suspected she might develop post-concussion syndrome. While not life-threatening, considering both the concussion and fractures, she would need three months or more for full recovery.

With Zhou Mu out of danger, Zhou Qiwei prepared to take Song Haoyin home their shared home. Since Zhou Zhao had returned to the hospital, there was no need for everyone to stay.

“Wait.” Zhou Zhao, her face showing clear signs of sleep deprivation, stopped her sister: “You can take Miss Song home, but then you need to come back to the family estate.”

The commanding tone made Zhou Qiwei frown. She refused bluntly: “No.” Then she felt Song Haoyin’s hand close around hers.

“Not even for business negotiations?”

Zhou Zhao moderated her tone, too exhausted to maintain her usual demeanor: “It’s about the share swap between Jiuzhou and Rubik’s. With Mumu in this condition, we need to complete the exchange quickly to appoint you to Jiuzhou’s board. It can’t be Du Xin it has to be you.”

“You’re all suffering from persecution complexes.” Zhou Qiwei took Song Haoyin’s hand and left the hospital without another word.

The drive home passed in silence until they reached their house and settled into the bathtub. Song Haoyin asked Zhou Qiwei if she was upset about being brought into Jiuzhou, or if the share swap deal was unfair to Rubik’s.

“Negotiations are part of any share swap both sides push and pull based on their interests. That’s normal.” Zhou Qiwei reclined in the tub, propping her chin on one hand while using the other to splash water playfully at Song Haoyin.

Song Haoyin let her play in the water for a while before asking, “Is it because you’re worried some board members might have ulterior motives after your sister got injured?”

“Wow, you figured that out too.”

Zhou Qiwei laughed and moved closer to Song Haoyin, only to be blocked by Song’s leg forming an invisible barrier. Song splashed water at her face, “You’re making fun of me!”

“Absolutely not making fun of you,” Zhou wiped her face, somewhat helpless. “You’re right, that’s part of it, but there’s more.”

“After the share swap, I can naturally join the board. It creates a tighter relationship between Rubik’s and Jiuzhou a win-win.”

Zhou chuckled dryly, “But think about it. who didn’t benefit from this deal?”

“Zhou Mu?”

Song tentatively offered the answer. Zhou emerged from the water, moved close, and kissed her cheek. “Bullseye.”

“Zhou Mu probably objects to the share swap. All three of them knew our original plan Du Xin and I wanted her on Jiuzhou’s board while I maintained independence. We’d discussed this with them.” Zhou’s tone turned sarcastic and brittle. “That’s why we’re pushing it through now, while she’s hospitalized to catch her off guard.”

“Impressive, right? Not a hint yesterday, then seizing the moment decisively today without hesitation.”

Song’s heart raced, but she didn’t understand there had to be a reason. Everyone had assumed Zhou Mu was the heir all these years. Unless…

“Does your mother want you to take over?”

“That’s exactly the problem.”

Zhou grew agitated. “She’s not retiring! If she hands me the chairmanship now, does she expect me to work diligently as CEO for her? I’d rather not restructure the company at all.”

Song frowned silently before speaking, “Zhou Mu’s just injured. Would they really remove her? If not, when she returns”

“That’s not the issue.”

Zhou pulled her girlfriend under the shower to rinse off, wrapped them both in towels, and continued as they returned to the bedroom. “If I’m right, Zhou Mu probably sensed it too. Otherwise she wouldn’t have lied about meeting Li You in the middle of the night.”

“Too bad they didn’t reach an agreement.”

Zhou Family Estate

The party had just ended, the lively atmosphere gradually fading as the vast manor grew quiet. Zhou Qing took a sip of wine, finding the silence unnerving.

As Du Ning came downstairs after changing, she found her wife flushed from drinking, clearly tipsy.

“Don’t worry, I’m going to the hospital to see Mumu now.”

Zhou Qing didn’t resist when Du took her hand and pressed it to her own cheek. “Do I feel hot?”

Definitely drunk, Du thought, trying to guide her upstairs to bed. Zhou pushed and grabbed at things, refusing to go. Du soothed her, “I know this is hard for you.”

“I’m a terrible mother, aren’t I? My daughter’s hospitalized, and all I can think about is how to use this to my advantage.”

“I want Weiwei on the board immediately, to start building her own influence. I’ve put so much pressure on Mumu.”

“Enough,” Du Ning interrupted her, embracing Zhou Qing to offer her full support. “We don’t need to hold ourselves to impossibly high moral standards. Didn’t you say it yourself? You’re responsible for Jiuzhou, and for all its employees.”

“What happened to Mumu was an accident. You only did what you had to do.”

On the evening of New Year’s Day, Du Xin and Xuan Tinglu visited Song Haoyin’s place, with Zhou Qiwei personally cooking to host them.

Xuan Tinglu kept saying she wanted to be the epitome of virtuous excellence as an Alpha, so she also went to the kitchen, leaving Song Haoyin and Du Xin sitting together to talk about Zhou Mu.

“Qiwei mentioned her mother really wants her to return to Jiuzhou.”

This wasn’t exactly a light topic. Du Xin nodded silently in agreement with Song Haoyin’s words, then glanced toward the kitchen as they began discussing the Zhou family.

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