A long time passed.
Zheng Yue's expression shifted repeatedly, her beautiful eyes crystal clear under the moonlight.
She slowly raised her head and looked at Lin Fan, her voice choked with emotion, "Thank you."
Lin Fan cautioned, "I hope you won't mention that I said it. It's best to pretend nothing happened."
"Mm."
Zheng Yue sniffled, "I'll take you back first."
There was silence along the way.
The two soon arrived at the guest room door.
A servant eagerly greeted them, bowing and smiling.
"I'm going back to sleep."
"Xiao Fan."
Zheng Yue called out, "I consider you a friend. From now on, if you need anything, just come to me. I'll help if I can."
"We are already friends."
Lin Fan gave a sunny smile.
"Uh? Yes."
Zheng Yue chuckled sheepishly.
Back in Luofeng Village, she had said she wanted to be friends with Lin Fan only to get closer to him, with a clear ulterior motive.
Now, she genuinely wanted to be friends with Lin Fan, with no ulterior motives.
"Rest well. We'll go to the Zheng family's main residence together tomorrow."
Zheng Yue finished speaking and turned to leave.
The night was deep.
Lin Fan lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
"Life in a prominent family isn't easy either."
Lin Fan vaguely guessed Yu Suxin's thoughts and felt a heavy heart.
Year after year, day after day, doing something one disliked, always having to wear a mask for others, just thinking about it made him feel the pain.
And Yu Suxin had lived like this for over twenty years!
"I'd better finish my business quickly and return to my peaceful nest."
---
Haadyai, Thailand.
In a picturesque and scenic mountain forest, luxurious mansions of various styles were scattered harmoniously, arranged in a nine-palace eight-trigram formation, extending up to the mountainside, numbering at least several hundred.
There was a helicopter landing pad, a golf course, and all sorts of other recreational facilities, providing residents with incredibly convenient and comfortable living.
Two small lakes, each covering over fifty mu, were windingly connected, with two small circular islands dotted within, designed in the shape of Tai Chi's yin-yang fish.
This was the Zheng family's main residence!
"Brother, do you think Lin Fan will throw a tantrum when he sees us tomorrow?"
Li Yurou secretly sneaked into her brother's room late at night, whispering in the dim lamplight.
"What can we do now that things have come to this?"
Li Yusheng hadn't expected Zheng Xingchao to be so stubborn, forcibly dragging them into being some kind of double insurance.
"What if we just refuse to admit anything?"
Li Yurou said timidly, "We'll just say it was a coincidence, and Zheng Xingchao acted on impulse. That should be acceptable, right?"
Li Yusheng shook his head, "He won't believe such foolish talk."
"Then what? They can't kill us, can they?"
Li Yurou threw a small tantrum.
"I'll apologize to him in person. Let's see what he says then?"
Li Yusheng waved his hand, "Go back to sleep. I'll handle it if the sky falls."
"Oh."
Li Yurou pouted and grudgingly walked out.
---
Early morning.
As the first rays of sunlight streamed into the room, footsteps were suddenly heard outside.
Lin Fan slowly opened his eyes, knowing it was a servant preparing washing supplies.
He rolled over, sat up, dressed, and walked out of the room.
Dining room.
Yu Suxin was even more enthusiastic than the night before. She had woken up before dawn to prepare ingredients. When Lin Fan arrived, the table was already laden with delicious and appealing dishes.
"Auntie, breakfast doesn't need to be this troublesome."
If it were yesterday, Lin Fan wouldn't have known Yu Suxin's intentions.
But today, he knew Yu Suxin wanted to gain his favor and ask him to help her daughter.
"It's alright. I'm old and wake up early. Master Lin, eat while it's hot. Try the porridge I cooked."
"Thank you, Auntie."
Lin Fan thanked her and then buried his head in eating.
Zheng Yue pursed her lips and hesitated before speaking, "Mom, you're old. Don't kneel for so long when praying to gods and Buddhas. It's bad for your knees."
Yu Suxin was taken aback, surprised by her daughter's attitude.
Her daughter had always disliked such matters, showing disdain whenever they were mentioned. Why had her attitude changed so much now?
"Did you hear me? Don't always take it lightly. When I come back, I'll take you to the hospital for a check-up."
Zheng Yue's scolding words were filled with deep concern.
"No need. The doctor at home checks on me regularly."
Yu Suxin smiled joyfully.
"Let's go to a big hospital. I don't trust the doctor at home. It's decided."
Zheng Yue was stubborn.
"You child, you've been willful since you were little, always acting on your own."
Although Yu Suxin said this, she was beaming inwardly and gave her daughter a deep look.
Zheng Yue lowered her head and ate, not speaking further.
Yu Suxin felt even more that something was amiss.
What had happened to her daughter?
She seemed like a different person after one night.
"Mom, I'm full."
"I'm full too."
Lin Fan stood up.
Zheng Yue also stood up and said to her mother, "Mom, take good care of yourself at home."
They walked out, one after the other.
Yu Suxin quickly caught up, "I'll see you off."
---
Zheng family's main residence.
In the grand hall with its ornate eaves, carved beams, and painted rafters, people were seated.
Zheng Xingchao, with a ruddy complexion, was chatting cheerfully with those beside him.
Li Yusheng and Li Yurou were hiding behind, secretly wiping cold sweat.
"Brother, the people from the eighteen families are all here."
Li Yurou's face was stiff. She spoke to her brother while glancing at each of the imposing Chinese magnate families.
Sitting next to Zheng Xingchao was the patriarch of the Xie family, Xie Wei.
According to family relations, Xie Wei was Zheng Xingchao's cousin's husband, and they were of similar age, so they were chatting merrily.
Not only were the Chinese aristocratic families from Thailand present, but representatives from other countries who were close to the Zheng family had also sent people.
On one hand, they were here to investigate the Zheng family's movements and prepare.
On the other hand, they wanted to witness how powerful Lin Fan, the "innately gifted with peculiar eyes" who was praised by the Zheng family patriarch and all the major family heads, truly was.
"Old Xie, don't just talk. Have some tea."
A slender woman adorned with dazzling jewels approached with maids, taking two cups of fragrant hot tea from a tray.
"Pre-Qingming Biluochun, what good tea!"
Xie Wei smiled as he accepted the teacup, "Thank you, sister-in-law, for your kindness. By the way, my family's jewelry company just received a top-grade South Sea black pearl. I'll have someone send it to you when it's processed."
"Oh dear, I can't accept such a gift."
The slender woman, named Zeng Shu, covered her mouth and laughed, "I'm already old, what do I need those things for?"
"Sister-in-law, your charm hasn't faded one bit."
The two families had been married for generations, so they spoke without reservation, making the smaller families behind them envious.
They had trouble even talking to Zheng Xingchao, let alone joking like this.
"Fifth Miss has arrived!"
"Master Lin has arrived!"
Servants outside announced loudly.
The clear and resonant voices echoed into the hall, immediately silencing everyone.
"Please invite Master Lin in quickly!"
Zheng Xingchao almost stood up.
He had been waiting and waiting, finally anticipating Lin Fan's arrival.
Zeng Shu's face darkened, her expression dismissive.
What kind of person dared to call herself Fifth Miss!