Xu Zhuo immediately turned to look at Du Ziyou, seeing his widened eyes, evidently not expecting the situation to escalate like this.
"Ziyou?" Xu Zhuo called to him, reaching out to grab his hand, "This has nothing to do with you. Let's first understand the situation, don't rush into it."
Du Ziyou gripped back, nodded, and said, "I'll talk to them."
Xu Zhuo opened the door, the man with glasses recounted the details of the incident after seeing his boss, "First, a journalist called, before Yue Laiyong jumped, he notified the media, the news of this incident came out a few minutes ago, and the police just called, seeking assistance in the investigation."
"Where's Director Wen?" Du Ziyou asked. Director Wen was the head of Bingyou's public relations department, who had been with him for four years and was competent in all aspects, "Is he here today too?"
"Director Wen was the first to receive the news, he has already started contacting the media," the man with glasses answered, "but he said, Mr. Du, it's best if you..."
Du Ziyou was impatient, "Best what?"
"It's best to disclose more information to him, otherwise, both Bingyou and you will be in a passive and beaten situation."
Du Ziyou fell silent for a moment before saying, "Have Director Wen send all the information to me. I might not be at the company for a while, contact me on my phone if there's anything."
"Mr. Du, it's, it's not very appropriate, is it?" the man with glasses said, in a corporate crisis, it wouldn't be acceptable for the leader to not be present and in charge.
But Du Ziyou was firm, he frowned and said, "I have my own plans, alright, I don't have time to chat with you."
He glanced back at Xu Zhuo, who understood, took two big steps and stood in front of him, with the security following behind.
As they left the lounge and entered the venue, the media, who were previously whispering, instantly quieted down and turned to look at them.
Then a bolder reporter stood up and asked loudly, "Mr. Du, what do you think about the high-ranking executive of Bingyou being dismissed and jumping off a building to commit suicide?"
They had obviously seen the online reports, maybe even received internal information, and now they had the chance to interview the main person in the story, Mr. Du.
But the central figure did not stay to entertain their questions, he didn't even give them any attention, and simply walked out of the door.
Seeing him leave, the media couldn't just let him go easily, ignoring order and propriety, they all clamored and asked him:
"Yue Laiyong before his death specifically named you as the reason for his suicide. Could you share your thoughts on this?"
"Before, he used a knife to attack you. Did you take retaliatory measures against him because of this?"
"What exactly does the scandal mentioned by the deceased Oya refer to?"
The media that digs deeply has strong combat power. Fortunately, there were many security personnel on the scene, and they managed to intercept them all, including the microphone held by a reporter who was trying to get close to Du Ziyu’s face, but it was promptly blocked by Xu Zhuo's quick hands and keen eyes.
Under the escort of the crowd, Du Ziyu left the meeting room and went directly to the elevator.
"Security stay, others don't follow me," he said as he entered the elevator.
Several executives and secretaries hesitated and stopped, but Xu Zhuo followed and stood beside Du Ziyu.
Du Ziyu glanced at him, and Xu Zhuo smiled at him. Without words, his eyes revealed everything: "I'm with you."
Two security guards escorted them all the way to the parking lot, fortunately avoiding all the journalists who were alerted.
Du Ziyu called the driver and got into the back seat himself, while Xu Zhuo naturally sat in the driver's seat.
As he fastened his seat belt, he asked, "Where to?"
Du Ziyu leaned back in his seat, his weary appearance evident as he covered his eyes with one hand. Letting out a long sigh, he replied, "The old house."
The streets were bright with colorful lights and shadows, which diffused onto his face through the car window. Then the lights gradually dispersed, and the car drove out of the city center.
Looking at him through the rearview mirror, Xu Zhuo saw that he had closed his eyes, with a calm and expressionless face, giving nothing away.
However, Xu Zhuo knew that he was not as calm as he appeared. Du Ziyu had a bad relationship with his family, and he never mentioned anything about the people and affairs of the Du family in normal times. He had rarely seen him go back to the old house.
This time, there must be a reason that he couldn't avoid. He had no choice.
The only comfort for Xu Zhuo was that he could accompany him, at least providing him with spiritual support and encouragement.
Thinking of this, Xu Zhuo couldn't help but smile. His beloved was actually strong, just a little fragile in spirit, and he happened to have a strong will. They were indeed a perfect match.
When they stopped at the manor, Du Ziyu opened his eyes, and Xu Zhuo got out of the car, opened the door for him, and said, "I thought you fell asleep."
Du Ziyu got out of the car, shook his head, and said, "I closed my eyes for a moment, and what follows is a time of consuming energy."
Leaning on the roof, Xu Zhuo looked down at the person in the car, and said in a soft voice, "So, are you in high spirits now?"
Du Ziyu looked up at him, "It's fine, just get used to it. Are you coming in with me later?"
Although it was a question, to Xu Zhuo's keen ears, it was actually a statement: I want you to come in with me.
"But I haven't gathered my spirits yet," Xu Zhuo smiled, reaching out to touch Du Ziyu's tense cheek, "What should we do about it?"
Du Ziyu grabbed his hand, warning, "Don't get carried away and forget where we are."
Xu Zhuo looked around, and saw a few gardeners working in the distance, not paying attention to this side, and the nearest monitoring equipment also couldn't capture this angle.
"You're too nervous," Xu Zhuo reassured him, "Relax, am I a careless person?"
Du Ziyu said, "Let's go up quickly, it's getting late."
As he spoke, he was about to get out, but Xu Zhuo grabbed his shoulder and said, "Wait."
Then, with lightning speed, he bent down and lightly kissed him on the lips, and then pulled away.
Du Ziyu stared at him blankly, and it was only a moment later that the blood rushed to his cheeks.
"Alright," Xu Zhuo said as if enjoying himself, licking his own lips, "I'm in high spirits now. Let's go."
He pulled Du Ziyu along, waking him from his daze—no matter how many times they had been intimate before, he always behaved as shy as he did the first time they kissed. Xu Zhuo loved this about him.
They walked side by side, through the huge garden, and the gardeners far away stood up and watched them.
When they reached the entrance, a man in a suit with gray hair was already waiting there. He spoke as soon as they arrived, "Young Master, have you had dinner yet?"
The butler lowered his head slightly, speaking in a calm and confident tone—this was his territory.
Du Ziyu said, "Is my father feeling better? I want to see him."
"The old sir just took his medicine and went to bed," the butler replied. "It's best not to disturb him."
"Then..." Du Ziyu swallowed, "What about my elder brother, is he back?"
"The eldest young master comes back home every day," he said in a stiff manner that seemed mocking. "He's in the study now. I'll inform him for you."
Then he looked at Xu Zhuo, "Is this guest Young Master's assistant? I'll have someone show you to the guest room."
Xu Zhuo looked at Du Ziyu.
"No need," Du Ziyu was assertive. "He's with me. There's no need for notification, I have hands, I can knock on the door myself."
Although the butler was initially surprised at Du Ziyu's response, he no longer paid him any attention. Instead, Du Ziyu, ignoring the butler, went straight upstairs.
Naturally, Xu Zhuo followed suit without saying much. When they paused in front of the study door, he stretched out his hand and squeezed Du Ziyu's hand to show support.
Du Ziyu smiled at him, gathered his courage, and knocked on the door. "Elder brother, it's me."
The study of Du Yongfeng was simply a more luxurious version of Du Ziyu's study, with the same structure and style, but a slightly larger area and more high-end decorative art— at least that's how Xu Zhuo saw it, as a layman.
The master of the study was sitting behind the desk, his hands clasped on the documents, and his sharp eagle-like gaze pierced over the top of his glasses toward the visitor. Even at home, he maintained a meticulous appearance.
Xu Zhuo suddenly felt an invisible force pressing down on him—foreigners were not allowed to be insolent on the Du family's territory.
And today, it was their own people who were being insolent.
Du Ziyu obviously is somewhat nervous, his hands clenched into fists, forcing himself to meet Du Yongfeng's eyes and saying, "Big Brother."
Du Yongfeng waited for the continuation.
"Yue Laiyong committed suicide by jumping off a building," Du Ziyu said.
Du Yongfeng's eyes shifted, and he looked at the person next to Du Ziyu, calmly assessing them without saying a word.
"Family matters should not involve outsiders," he said in a deep voice.
Du Ziyu closed his mouth, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and Xu Zhuo, taking his cue from Du Yongfeng, didn't move under Du Yongfeng's scrutiny.
The atmosphere of the three people confrontationally pressed down on them, making it hard to breathe. Eventually, Du Ziyu spoke, "This is no longer just a family matter. His suicide has already affected Bingyou's reputation. I must handle this crisis in a professional manner."
Du Yongfeng's gaze returned to his younger brother, and he said in a slow voice, "It's just a typical public relations event. Let the media suppress it, and it will settle down after a period of time. Being in the advertising industry, I refuse to believe that you don't understand this much."
Du Ziyu pursed his lips and remained silent. Of course, he understood, even the police investigation. He had a clear conscience and nothing to fear.
But he was at a loss.
The media had already dug deeper, and he couldn't stop it. The hidden truths would eventually be dragged out from the dark corners, exposed in the light, and become a topic of public gossip.
He would again be criticized by unknown people, always talked about behind his back, and when he went to question, he couldn't find out who was talking, who was laughing.
Du Yongfeng certainly didn't want such a thing to happen either.
But he was gambling, like a spectator sitting outside the coliseum, proudly watching his younger brother wrestling with a bloodthirsty beast, getting scarred, and waiting until the last moment to surrender, and then begging his older brother for help.
Listening to their clash, Xu Zhuo's gaze swept to the desk.
At one corner of the table, next to Du Yongfeng's right hand, was a family photo.
It was more of a group photo than a family photo, as there were only the three father-son members, just like the ones in Du Ziyu's room.
In Du Ziyu's room, there were photos from when he was ten to his early twenties, all arranged in a line. In the study, there was only one, and in it, Du Ziyu seemed younger, about seven or eight years old.
However, what surprised Xu Zhuo even more was that—Young Ziyu was smiling.
He was wearing a small grey suit, with short pants and white long socks on his feet, a typical European little gentleman's attire.
The little gentleman stood in front of his tall father and elder brother, standing upright, but with his head slightly tilted, pulling the corners of his mouth into a small smile while looking at the camera, even his eyes sparkling.