Blood-sucking fangs

Chapter 35

She took it, and tears almost welled up in her eyes again.

"Don't be sad, miss, it's not a big deal."

Zhang Hanwen glanced at him, finding his words somewhat strange, but she had no time to dwell on them. She was trying to organize her thoughts, wanting to tell him everything, yet unsure how to begin. Moreover, she felt there were things she couldn't tell him—yes, things she couldn't say. She wasn't sure what exactly she couldn't tell him, but a shadow lingered in her heart.

Seeing that her lips were moving as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, Feng Nian'en stood up, poured a glass of warm water, and said again, "It's nothing serious, Miss."

"You're wrong." Zhang Hanwen took the water glass, speaking with a calmness that surprised even himself. "Many things are important." She suddenly became agitated. "They're all important!"

He looked at her silently without saying a word.

Yes, it is important. He acknowledged that many things are important, but what use are they if they cannot be changed?

Zhang Hanwen took a breath and looked at him sharply: "If I'm no longer a young lady, no longer my father's daughter, no longer your master's child, will you stop listening to me?"

Volume Two, Chapter Seventeen of Father's Last Words

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Feng Nian'en frowned, not understanding why she would suddenly ask such a question.

Before he could consider it, Zhang Hanwen eagerly asked again, "Is that right?!"

"No!" He swallowed hard. "No matter who you are, whoever you are..." He turned his face away, avoiding her gaze, and didn't finish his sentence.

Zhang Hanwen bit his lip, his voice a little hurried, but his tone was extremely firm: "Then listen carefully, no matter when or under what circumstances you must protect the Zhang family, do your best to protect it, no matter who wants to destroy it, even if it is me, Uncle Feng, someone you are very close to, someone you think is absolutely impossible, you cannot trust him, you must do everything possible to protect it!"

"Miss……"

Feng Nian'en's eyes were filled with surprise. Zhang Hanwen had never expressed any interest in the Zhang family, and Zhang Jiru had been quite lenient in this regard. This was the first time she had talked to him about the company, and she was doing it so solemnly, with her words being somewhat inexplicable, and her expectations of him were so high.

Promise me!

Feng Nian'en shook her head: "Not now, Miss. This burden is too heavy, the responsibility too great, and I... I don't have that ability yet. I just joined the company and I don't know anything. I can't, I'm sorry, I can't agree to you now. Maybe in a few years, when I have this ability, I will do everything in my power."

"A few years? No, that won't do, that's too late. You have to say yes now!"

“Now?” He gave a wry smile. “I can agree to that, but I’m just a salesman, I can’t guarantee anything.”

Zhang Hanwen bit his lip, his eyes revealing a near-despairing disappointment. Yes, he was just a salesman; there was no way he could help her. It was useless; even if he told her, it wouldn't make a difference.

Feng Nian'en lowered his head, feeling embarrassed for the first time about his position. If he were in a higher position or more capable, like Long Xinsheng, he would surely have agreed.

Neither of them spoke for a while. After some time, Zhang Hanwen grabbed his briefcase, stood up unsteadily, and walked towards the door.

"Miss……"

“No,” she waved her hand without turning around, “I know I’m asking for too much. It’s none of your business. I’ll think of another way.”

“Miss,” he stepped forward, “I’ll see you out.”

“No need,” she said, stepping out of the iron gate. “I know the way.”

"but……"

"I said I know the way!" she suddenly turned around and shouted, "I said I know the way, didn't you hear me? Didn't you hear me? Why are you bothering me? Since you can't do anything, why don't you just leave me alone? Why do you want me to think of another way? Take me! Take me! Where can you take me?"

A flicker of pain crossed Feng Nian'en's eyes. He had always thought that a stable job was enough. He didn't have high desires, didn't need luxurious enjoyment, and didn't want to scheme or compete with anyone. But now he knew he was wrong. He needed more ability and greater power.

"I'm sorry." Zhang Hanwen closed his eyes and said softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say those things, I'm just a little upset."

Feng Nian'en nodded, indicating that she understood: "Let me take you home, Miss. It's not a good time for you to drive right now."

Zhang Hanwen didn't say anything, but turned around and entered the elevator like a ghost.

Volume Two, Chapter Eighteen of Father's Last Words

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When the two arrived downstairs, Zhang Hanwen suddenly took out her car keys from her purse: "Could you drive it back for me? I'm going to sit somewhere else." As she spoke, she turned and walked out of the community, hailed a taxi, and sped away.

Feng Nian'en took the keys, immediately started the engine, and followed the taxi until the car arrived at the Zhang family mansion. He watched Zhang Hanwen go inside before turning the car around and driving the Ferrari into the underground parking garage of the residential area where Zhang Hanwen lived.

Zhang Hanwen's visit had an unimaginable impact on Feng Nian'en, especially her request, her almost desperate expression, her tears, and her lonely figure. All of these things formed a huge auger, constantly twisting his nerves and heart.

Since that night, he had never seen Siwen again. He had pretended not to notice the green iron gate, but there was no movement. It wasn't until one day when he saw workers moving furniture that he learned that the couple had finally divorced and the house had been sold to a newlywed couple.

He never heard the deafening noise again, nor did he ever see the short-haired girl with a cigarette dangling from her neck, casually swearing. He went to work listlessly, met clients, nodded, shook hands, drank, and read piles of documents as Ruoya instructed.

He no longer thought about tomorrow; the course of fate was already predetermined, and no matter how hard he tried, he could not escape it—and he no longer wanted to escape it.

But now, he was being torn apart by the auger, and his mind snapped out of his despair.

You're already beyond help, you're beyond change. But why force others to be like you? Just because you're unchangeable, does that mean others should be like you? Can you...can you bear to let her despair?

He stood on the balcony, looking at the clear night sky, as wisps of white smoke drifted past him and slowly dissipated in the wind.

Okay, whatever, whether he really has the ability to change anything or not, whether it was all predetermined or not, he has to do something, he has to!

Zhang Hanwen had the taxi drive to Zhang Family Mansion just to avoid being followed by Feng Nian'en. She knew that no matter what, he wouldn't leave her alone in that situation. But just as they were about to arrive, she suddenly remembered that she had to do one more thing.

Her return brought a pleasant surprise to everyone in the community, including Zhang Jiru. Although they lived in the same city, she had been coming back less and less often and staying for shorter and shorter periods since she moved out to university.

Zhang Jiru treated her very well, and the servants naturally treated her with great respect. But she was young after all, and preferred bold, unrestrained music, vibrant and dazzling colors; her favorite places were Western restaurants. Of course, she didn't dislike classical garden architecture, nor did she reject the delicate fragrance of green tea, but...

She is more attracted to lively places.

After a hurried dinner and a brief, playful chat with Zhang Jiru, Zhang Hanwen went to the pond in the back garden. She knew that Feng Mingqian always came here to sit for a while after dinner, almost without fail, rain or shine. This habit of his had long since become a romantic tradition in the Zhang family's main hall; legend has it that it was here that he and his future wife, Feng Nian'en's mother, pledged their love.

The evenings in mid-June are still extremely comfortable. Without the sunlight, the cool evening air brings a sense of tranquility. The sky is filled with many bright stars, and the moon, a round shape with one edge missing, hangs yellow and translucent in a corner of the sky.

The wind was light, and there were slight ripples on the pond. Feng Mingqian sat on a stone bench in the pavilion, with a purple clay teacup beside him.

Volume Two, Chapter Nineteen of Father's Last Words

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Hearing footsteps, Feng Mingqian turned around and saw Zhang Hanwen. He quickly smiled and said, "Miss."

"Uncle Feng." Zhang Hanwen stepped into the pavilion, a faint, cloying fragrance mixed with the scent of mint wafting through the air.

The scent of mosquito coils wafted into his nose, revealing that Feng Mingqian had lit them. "Uncle Feng is truly a refined man. He has been sitting alone with tea by the moonlit water for over a decade. In the past, he would have been renowned as a famous scholar throughout the country."

Feng Mingqian laughed: "Miss's mouth is getting sharper and sharper. An old man sitting by the pond after dinner is described as a refined person and a famous scholar, with words like moonlight and starlight. Isn't that a waste of those words? Either Miss is deliberately making fun of this old man."

"Uncle Feng's mouth is really sharp! He was clearly speaking the truth, but you interpreted it like that. If Feng Nian'en had half of your eloquence, I would have been bullied to death by him these past few years."

"He wouldn't dare!" Feng Mingqian glared, then shook his head and said, "My son..."

"He doesn't have that kind of eloquence, but you, Uncle Feng, certainly do. Even I am no match for you. You can imagine how much more Aunt Feng must have been under your thumb back then."

These words stirred up Feng Mingqian's memories, and he seemed to picture a gentle smile spreading across his face:

"Nian'en's mother is such a good woman..."

"Yes, I still remember the cookies Aunt Feng made. I've never eaten such good ones since. And the sweaters Aunt Feng knitted were both beautiful and warm."

"It's not just sweaters!" Feng Mingqian said excitedly, "Cooking, knitting, making quilts, Aci does everything quickly and well. There's no woman as virtuous as her."

"I really envy Feng Nian'en for having such a wonderful mother," she said softly, lowering her eyes.

Feng Mingqian glanced at her and quickly said, "Madam is very good too."

Zhang Hanwen suddenly raised his face and looked at him anxiously: "Uncle Feng, what kind of person is my mother?"

"Hmm..."

Zhang Hanwen waited a moment, and seeing that he was just drinking tea, he said again, "I've never seen her since I was a child."

Although Aunt Feng passed away early, Feng Nian'en had at least seen her mother's face. Unlike me, I never even said a word to her. She... she probably never even hugged me much..." she said, her voice choking up.

Feng Mingqian became anxious: "Miss, Miss, Madam likes you very much. She often held you when you were born."

“But what kind of person is she?” Zhang Hanwen looked at him, his big eyes filled with tears, shining brightly.

"Madam...is very beautiful, just as beautiful as Miss."

“I know that, I’ve seen my mother’s picture. But what kind of person was she? Was she as virtuous and gentle as Aunt Feng?”

"Well...yes." He picked up his teacup again, finished the last sip of tea, yawned, and said somewhat indistinctly, "When you get old, you always feel sleepy. I'll head back now, Miss. Don't sit too long, it's still a bit chilly at night."

Without waiting for her reply, he immediately stood up and walked towards the veranda.

Zhang Hanwen watched his retreating figure, and the expression she had been maintaining finally crumbled, her body trembling slightly. Long Xinsheng's words echoed in her ears again like a recording playing on repeat, and she finally couldn't hold back any longer and slumped onto the stone table.

As the last bit of mosquito coil burned out in the gentle breeze, Zhang Hanwen raised his flushed face, his eyes filled with a resolute determination that disregarded everything!

Volume Two, Chapter Twenty: Father's Last Words

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"What did you say?" Ruoya raised her face, squinted at Feng Nian'en standing in front of her, wondering if she had misheard.

"How can we succeed?" he repeated, his tone firm.

"You want to succeed?" She looked at him, her doubts deepening. "What kind of success?"

"Any kind!"

"For example?" What did Zhang Hanwen say to him yesterday? What could have caused such a big change in him?

"For example, it can manipulate Zhang's or Weite."

Ruoya laughed: "You want to manipulate the Zhang family? That's quite an ambition."

"Is there no way?" His pale face was expressionless, but his usually gentle eyes held an unprecedented sharpness.

Ruoya stopped laughing, leaned back in her chair, and stared at him for a moment: "If you just want to operate the Zhang family, all you need is enough money. Of course—if you have the patience, I believe you can reach that level in ten years with hard work."

"What about Weite? Does Weite have any special relationship with you?"

Ruoya raised an eyebrow: "Weite? Then you need more money." Seeing his puzzled look, she smiled slightly, "Weite's real boss is our dear Linya."

Feng Nian'en's expression changed. Long Xinsheng's outburst at the Moonlight Hotel, Zhang Hanwen's strange behavior yesterday, and all the rumors about Weite Company were all intertwined with a sinister face: "Xu Zuo? The boss of Weite Company is Xu Zuo?" He widened his eyes.

"That's good. He prefers this name."

Feng Nian'en was stunned for a long time: "He's planning to acquire the Zhang family?"

Ruoya raised an eyebrow again: "Perhaps. It's his company, he can do whatever he wants. However," she paused and continued, "even if he intends to do so, Zhang Jiru will naturally handle it."

Indeed, if that's really the case, and Long Xinsheng really did find out something, then Zhang Jiru would naturally already know and would naturally have begun preparations. If even he couldn't handle it, then he certainly couldn't either.

But—what if things aren't like that?

Zhang Hanwen's unusual behavior yesterday, and the demands she made, all indicated that things were not just like that; otherwise, why would she bother to come to him? But what other possibility was there? The market was currently stable, and according to his understanding, Zhang's situation was quite good. The company had a debt ratio of only 5%, and its annual profit was over 60%. Even if there were any economic crisis, they should be able to cope.

There must be something else going on; Zhang Hanwen must know something that's hard to say.