Chapter 29: The Face of Hypocrisy

As the saying goes, “You can know a person’s face but not their heart.” Having been battered by the harsh realities of society, Zhou Sen would never so easily bare his soul to a “stranger.” Besides, every time he looked at this Uncle Ivanovich, he couldn’t help but sense a faint trace of falseness in his smile.

The original host of this body had idolized Ivanovich as a model to emulate. Clearly, his ability to judge people was severely lacking; had he not died by accident, he probably wouldn’t have lived much longer anyway. Zhou Sen felt he’d actually done a good deed by taking over and living properly in this era—this thought brought him a measure of comfort. After all, the idea of “a cuckoo occupying a magpie’s nest” went against his own moral principles; he couldn’t help but feel a bit of resistance toward it.

“Vasim, without Anthony’s personal seal, Uncle can’t handle much of his work. Some contracts require both the company seal and his personal seal, so Anthony never carries it around; he must keep it at home. If you know where it is, could you give it to Uncle?” After some reminiscing, Ivanovich finally revealed the purpose of his visit.

He already possessed the company seal, yet he wanted Anthony’s personal seal as well. This was a transparent grab for absolute control over the company; once the personal seal was in his hands, all company affairs would be decided by him alone.

Though Zhou Sen had no intention of managing the company—his energy was limited after all—if Ivanovich were trustworthy, handing over Anthony’s personal seal wouldn’t be a problem. But if Ivanovich gained complete decision-making power and pushed Zhou Sen out, he could easily hollow out the company, taking everything that belonged to Anthony’s father.

Zhou Sen even suspected that Ivanovich knew more than he let on about Anthony’s father’s death. Why hadn’t he come earlier or later, but precisely after Zhou Sen received news of the death? Why did he visit before Zhou Sen could pay his respects? In these sensitive times, such things inevitably aroused suspicion.

For now, he could only feign ignorance.

“Uncle Ivan, I truly don’t know where Father kept his seal. I’ve never interfered in company matters, as you know,” Zhou Sen replied.

“Vasim, you’re putting Uncle in a difficult position. Without his personal seal, I can’t conduct much business!” Ivanovich said.

“Uncle Ivan, I may not understand company management, but I do know that a personal seal is usually only needed for private documents. All this time, without Father’s personal seal, the company has run smoothly under your care, hasn’t it?” Zhou Sen retorted.

With the company seal already in Ivanovich’s possession, if he acquired Anthony’s personal seal as well, the company Anthony’s father had painstakingly built would soon become someone else’s. Though none of it originally belonged to Zhou Sen, once Anthony’s father passed, it would all fall to the original host—and by extension, Zhou Sen, who had inherited his memories and body.

He wouldn’t mind giving Ivanovich something for all his years of hard work, especially since Zhou Sen lacked the energy to manage it himself. But to take it all—now that was going too far.

No matter how “weak” Zhou Sen appeared, he wasn’t going to be so easily swayed.

“Things aren’t so simple, Vasim. You don’t understand business. While many documents only require the company seal, some need both your father’s personal seal and the company’s. Without both, business becomes difficult,” Ivanovich explained.

“Uncle Ivan, since you say so, I honestly don’t know where Father kept his seal. Maybe he took it with him. If you like, you can search the study upstairs yourself,” Zhou Sen spread his hands, waiting to see what Ivanovich would do.

Ivanovich’s gaze flickered with a brief struggle, but he stood up. “Since you say so, I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Zhou Sen watched him ascend the stairs, pondering for a moment before following.

Ivanovich entered the study with practiced ease.

“Vasim, come help Uncle search,” Ivanovich beckoned.

“If I’d known where it was, I’d have given it to you already. Why make you come all this way?” Zhou Sen replied with a hint of sarcasm.

Ivanovich’s expression didn’t change. He seemed unbothered by Zhou Sen’s sardonic tone; his sole aim was to find Anthony’s personal seal, with which he could accomplish much.

After rummaging through several drawers, he asked Zhou Sen to open the study’s safe. Zhou Sen had never opened it himself, but with the original host’s memories, he managed it easily.

Inside were some cash—more than Zhou Sen needed for daily expenses, since he had his own private stash, as well as hayang (roughly equivalent to 0.75 taels of silver), gold bars, and various jewels. But the most valuable items were shares and certificates.

Despite Ivanovich’s efforts to mask his greed, Zhou Sen caught the subtle flicker in his eyes as he surveyed the contents.

They found no personal seal in the safe, and Ivanovich’s disappointment was evident, though he refused to give up. He continued searching the study for any hidden places where the seal might be kept.

Clearly, he would not leave today without finding Anthony’s seal. Zhou Sen merely watched, refraining from helping—lest Ivanovich think Zhou Sen had found it and decided to keep it from him.

After searching thoroughly, Ivanovich finally noticed something odd about the portrait of Anthony’s father hanging on the wall. He first tried to lift it, hoping to find a secret compartment behind, but it was fixed firmly, unmoving.

This piqued his interest, and he scrutinized the painting closely.

Zhou Sen played along, feigning curiosity as he approached. “Uncle Ivan, is there something wrong with the painting?”

Ivanovich didn’t reply, running his hand over the canvas and checking his fingertips. At last, his finger reached the emerald ring depicted in the painting. Sensing something amiss, he withdrew his hand, inspected his finger, then pressed the ring again.

With a click, a hidden compartment behind the bookshelf was revealed.

No longer bothering to hide his excitement, Ivanovich turned and rushed forward, his steps faster than Zhou Sen’s.

Ivanovich immediately grabbed the wooden box from the secret compartment, while Zhou Sen, a step behind, could only watch as the box fell into his hands.

“Uncle Ivan, that box belongs to my godfather, Anthony—”

“Vasim, the box is Anthony’s, but what’s inside may not be his,” Ivanovich chuckled smugly.

“Uncle Ivan, isn’t this inappropriate? My godfather is absent; everything here belongs to me as his heir. Even if you’re after Anthony’s personal seal, that doesn’t include the box or its contents.”

“This box should contain Anthony’s personal seal. Uncle will keep it safe for you. When Anthony returns, I’ll give it back to him!” Ivanovich was about to leave, not even bothering to open the box.

“Uncle Ivan, isn’t this just blatant theft?” Zhou Sen, seeing Ivanovich’s mask slip to reveal his greed, was equally blunt, blocking his way.

“Vasim, you’d better not stop me today, or you’ll bear the consequences!” Ivanovich sneered.

“Uncle Ivan, my father trusted you so deeply—how could you treat him like this?” Zhou Sen said angrily.

“Who knows if your father will ever return alive?” Ivanovich laughed coldly. “Don’t stop me, or I won’t be so polite.”

Zhou Sen trembled with rage, helplessly watching Ivanovich descend the stairs with the box.

“Oh, and the valuables in the safe should cover your expenses for years. Besides, I’ll give you two hundred a month for pocket money. Don’t entertain any unrealistic ideas, Master Vasim!” Ivanovich paused at the door, turned, and gave a mocking, dismissive smile.

Despicable!

Zhou Sen clenched his fists, his eyes blazing, but there was nothing he could do.

Ivanovich, triumphant, laughed and left.

By then, Zhou Sen had already regained his composure. His gaze grew deep and foreboding; fortunately, he’d prepared in advance.

He had already removed the contents of the box. Had Ivanovich truly taken it with the items inside, things would have been troublesome.

“Master Vasim…” Irina, too, had noticed the subtle shift in relations between Ivanovich and her young master.

“It’s nothing. From now on, don’t let him in the house.”

If not for the bigger picture, Zhou Sen would have confronted this ungrateful Ivanovich right then and there. But the days ahead were long—revenge need not be taken today.

…

Ivanovich sat in his carriage, itching to open the box and see what treasures it held, but he restrained himself. He urged the coachman to drive faster, eager to return to his home in the Xiangfang District.

“Dear Ivan, did you get it?” Upon arriving home, a tall, beautiful young Russian woman greeted him.

“Yes, it’s right here in this box,” Ivanovich replied, patting the box with excitement.

“Wonderful!” The woman cheered, snatching the box from Ivanovich’s hands.

“Aimila, what’s the rush? All of this will be ours eventually.” Ivanovich followed her inside.

The two climbed the stairs to the study, closed the door, and, hearts pounding with anticipation, opened the box.

They were both stunned.

The box was empty—not a seal, not even a stray hair.

Frustrated, Ivanovich picked up the box, inspected it carefully, but found no false bottom or hidden compartment.

He sank into a chair, regretting deeply that he hadn’t opened the box in Anthony’s study, right in front of Vasim…

Damn it, could Anthony really have taken the personal seal with him?

All his hopes had vanished like smoke.