Forced to Marry a Female Billionaire CEO

Zhou Xiuyun's expression immediately darkened. "Second Brother, what are you talking about?"

This statement sounded like a compliment for Xu Ke, but anyone could hear the sarcastic and mocking undertones.

"Nothing. I'm just complimenting Doctor Xu. Is there anything wrong with that?" Zhou Qingyong chuckled, and the smile that accompanied it seemed remarkably honest.

But Xu Ke and Tang Yingchang didn't believe for a second that this man was as he appeared; they suspected he was full of cunning.

"I don't dare accept President Yong's praise," Xu Ke replied with a faint smile, offering no further response.

If it had been anyone else being so sarcastic at their first meeting, Xu Ke wouldn't have hesitated to retaliate. But Zhou Qingyong was a Zhou, after all. On Zhou Family territory, he had to show some respect.

Zhou Qingyong's lips curled. "Doctor Xu is too humble. I heard…"

Seeing that he was about to ramble on, Zhou Qingzhi cut him off coldly, "Enough. There's no need for more pleasantries. Let's eat first."

He knew that nothing good ever came of Zhou Qingyong coming home.

At those words, Zhou Qingyong's eyes narrowed slightly. "Alright! But before we eat, isn't there some important business we haven't taken care of?"

Hearing this, Ouyang Hao spoke up. "Qingyong, what could be more important than filling our stomachs? I'm starving."

They hadn't just met Zhou Qingyong for the first time. How could they not see that he was still planning to make trouble?

So, Ouyang Hao intended to forcibly change the subject and focus on the meal.

Xu Ke, however, sat there quite calmly, staring at Zhou Qingyong without a word.

"Brother Hao, if you want to eat, feel free to start," Zhou Qingyong said casually. "We're all family here, so why stand on ceremony?"

"It's Doctor Xu's first time dining with the Zhou Family. We cannot neglect the proper etiquette," Zhou Qingzhi said, his gaze growing even colder.

Zhou Qingyong spoke with renewed sarcasm, "Since Yihe Pharmaceuticals is about to change hands, how can Doctor Xu be considered one of us?"

"That's enough!" This time, Zhou Xiuyun, who was naturally direct, could no longer hold back. "Second Brother, what are you really trying to say?"

Ouyang Hao's expression changed instantly. "Xiuyun…"

How did a fight break out already?

Meanwhile, Zhou Qingzhi cast an apologetic glance at Xu Ke, who simply shook his head to indicate that it was fine.

Zhou Xiuyun glared at Zhou Qingyong. "It's been less than five minutes since you walked in the door, and eight out of ten sentences have been about Yihe Pharmaceuticals. What exactly are you trying to do?"

Seeing her lay it all out, Zhou Qingyong simply sneered. "What am I trying to do? You're just handing over Yihe Pharmaceuticals, and not a single one of you thought to tell me? If Xiao Fan hadn't notified me, the whole Zhou Family might have been sold out by you all, right?"

Xu Ke's expression remained unchanged, but inside, he was thinking. The conflict between Zhou Qingyong and Zhou Qingzhi seems quite serious. Yihe Pharmaceuticals is valued at a billion, which sounds impressive, but it's nothing to the entire Zhou's Medical Corporation. Yet, just for Yihe Pharmaceuticals, Zhou Qingyong is willing to have a falling out with Zhou Qingzhi in front of an outsider… This conflict has to be about more than just Yihe.

Zhou Qingzhi smiled. "It's just Yihe. Dad doesn't even care about it, so why are you making such a big deal?"

"Making a big deal?" Zhou Qingyong looked at Zhou Qingzhi coldly. "Today you give away Yihe, tomorrow you'll let an outsider take over the Zhou Family?"

Zhou Qingzhi replied indifferently, "This is Dad's way of repaying Doctor Xu for saving his life. Is there a problem with that?"

"Repaying a life-saving favor?" Zhou Qingyong scoffed. "The promise made before was for shares that wouldn't affect the Zhou Family's control, so how did it turn into fifty-three percent of Yihe Pharmaceuticals?"

Originally, the reward for saving Zhou Hongsheng did not include Yihe Pharmaceuticals—only treasures and shares in the Zhou Family Corporation that wouldn't affect their control. But after Xu Ke took action, the Zhou Family, wanting to win him over, offered a better welcoming gift. That's why Zhou Hongsheng decided to just give him Yihe Pharmaceuticals.

While it wasn't stock in the parent company, giving him control over the powerful Yihe Pharmaceuticals was a more significant gesture. Giving someone shares means they still have to listen to the Zhou Family. But giving them control meant the company was his to run as he pleased. The difference clearly showed their sincerity in wanting to bind Xu Ke to their cause.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his anger, Zhou Qingzhi said, "I already told you, it was Dad's decision. Besides, I was the one managing Yihe Pharmaceuticals, wasn't I? This doesn't seem to encroach on your interests, does it?"

His subtext was simple: What was given away wasn't yours, Zhou Qingyong, so why are you meddling?

But Zhou Qingyong exploded. "Big Brother, what do you mean by that? We're all members of the Zhou Family! Are we really going to start drawing lines between 'yours' and 'mine'?"

Seeing this, Zhou Qingzhi knew he had misspoken. "My apologies, I spoke too hastily. But you didn't have to cause trouble today, of all days, did you?"

After all the effort to invite Xu Ke over, Zhou Qingyong was now making a scene. Wasn't it all for nothing?

Just as Zhou Qingyong was about to speak, Xu Ke suddenly cut in. "President Yong, if you feel it's inappropriate for Yihe Pharmaceuticals to be given to me, I can decline the offer. The shares haven't been transferred yet, so the matter can still be reversed. There's no need to damage your brotherly bond over this."

Honestly, if anyone else had done this, he certainly wouldn't have given up so easily. Even taking the shares and doing nothing with them would be better than being provoked like this. But with Zhou Qingzhi stuck in the middle, he didn't want to make things difficult for him.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Zhou Qingzhi and Zhou Xiuyun changed drastically.

Zhou Qingyong, seeing their reactions, narrowed his eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Of course. I prefer my freedom and dislike being tied down. A company, to me, is more of a burden," Xu Ke said with a light smile.

Seeing Xu Ke's nonchalance, it was Zhou Qingyong who showed a hint of hesitation. His goal in coming was simple: to stop Xu Ke from gaining absolute control of Yihe Pharmaceuticals. Although Zhou Qingzhi was currently in charge, it was also where his eldest son, Zhou Fan, worked. Whenever Zhou Qingzhi was too busy to manage the company, Zhou Fan had free rein, calling all the shots and earning his father a considerable amount of money.

But having grown accustomed to living like emperors, neither father nor son had anticipated Xu Ke appearing out of nowhere. How could Zhou Fan not be infuriated? That was why he had asked his father to seek "justice" for him.

But now, when Zhou Qingyong was pushing his luck, Xu Ke had surprisingly taken a step back, which made Zhou Qingyong wary.

Could it be that Xu Ke has some other scheme in mind?

Just then, Zhou Qingzhi exclaimed, "No way! Yihe Pharmaceuticals was a gift from Dad to you. How can you just say you don't want it? At his age, the most important thing for my father is to be happy and content. As his children, it's our duty to fulfill all his wishes. If you refuse to help us fulfill this wish, aren't you causing us to be branded as unfilial?"

When he finished, everyone was utterly dumbfounded.

Giving away money was one thing… but this was the first time in their lives they had ever heard that refusing to accept it could make someone unfilial