Zhou Hua Fan did not bother Liang Zhong Zemin and force him to go eat dinner downstairs. Instead, she pretends that he doesn't exist and sat beside her grandfather to serve him until he ate his fill with a patient smile. Zhou Jian Kong also did not ask about Zhong Zemin or what the two had talked about as well and the two smartly kept the conversation about Hua Fan's experience at the small gathering she had attended today. "The Tang family and Yang family are rather carefree these days Ye Ye." Jian Kong's chopsticks do not stop and neither does his chewing, he was not feigning calm but he truly was not concerned when hearing her beginning of complaint. In answer, only the corner of his lip rose subtly and a faint shimmer of amusement was shown in his glance.
Hua Fan was not discouraged and also continued speaking casually while lovingly placing a piece of crispy yet soft fried tofu into his bowl. Her actions were graceful and not at all awkward under his daunting aura. "As a concerned classmate, I looked into their family issues and found something rather disturbing." She feigns concern with a twitching frown threatening to turn into a smile of glee to match her glowing eyes. "The Tang family has a third son who was sent overseas with his mother to live on a rundown farm under the guard of a very fierce nanny. Not only that but this farm can hardly be called a farm at all, it's more of a, how to put it nicely, human highway."
Jian Kong finally pays full attention to her words and his brows furrow instantly. He silently pats his mouth and clasps his hands in front of himself seeming to be full so Hua Fan no long places food into his bowl and serves herself instead. "Fan'er this is not a matter you can bring up so casually." Lightly reprimanding the girl he was a bit displeased with her carefree attitude after bringing up such shocking news. Hua Fan pauses while serving herself soup and slowly puts the ladle back down to face her Ye Ye with innocence and a hint of confusion.
"Ye Ye it is not as if I am the one dealing with human lives." He sighs and sent her a stern look which made Hua Fan transform her innocent expression into a docile and warm smile instead. "Ye Ye~ don't worry. I have yet to alert the police with the search and my sources will all keep their mouths shut or also suffer the consequences. After all, on the surface, the Tang family still has connections with our family. In reality, I too did not expect to uncover such a disgusting secret when I dug up things on a whim."
Jian Kong scrutinizes her expression to confirm her claim and seeing no sign of deceit he massages his temples with an irritated and gloomy look. "Hui Ning!" His sharp bark was unnecessary since Shuang Hui Ning was actually standing right behind them the entire time they had the conversation and he too had a gloomy expression on his face. "Yes, Master Zhou?" "Go gather the rest of those scheming old men to the meeting room this instant."
"-Until I have a thorough report on every single dirty secret they have in my hands they are not allowed to leave!" Hua Fan took her Ye Ye's hand to calm the old man before he let his rage consume him and soothe him with her sweet voice. "Ye Ye do not anger yourself to death for such unworthy people. The best thing we can do is to put on a relaxed manner to not beat the bush and scare the snakes away." To Hui Ning, Hua Fan put on a serious expression and orders him coldly after helping her Ye Ye control his temper.
"The Tang family has two secondary branches living in A city who help them cover things up in the shadows that is why we have not been alert to their schemes for so long. Our people do not usually bother with the second branches and only deal with the main family so our ears cannot be stretched thin." To her grandfather who successfully retained his calm, she gently tugs his sleeve to get his attention again. "-Ye Ye, since the Tang family has a fair share of our company why don't we use this as a time to settle our grievances with being used as a cover all these years. The third son although surely not a benevolent person after suffering under his father's abuse all these years we can use that to our advantage."
"-Instead of pulling the roots out, let us chop off a branch and cultivated the seedling into a straighter and more firm tree that will not sway with the wind or shiver under thunder. At the end of the day, he will be more grateful to us and as I am around the same age perhaps I can befriend him one day too." Jian Kong gave her a sharp look, Hua Fan was still giving him the same serene smile she had on since entering the dining room. There was not a ripple in her eyes or a sincere feeling of regret besides love and respect for him. He knew she really did not care for the fate of the people under the Tang family's abuse, what she cared for were only him and her future empire.
A pang of sadness hit him then as he again ponders the hidden sufferings she kept in her heart that turned her into this kind of person. Jian Kong's hard heart softens and forgetting his anger for the moment her gently pets her head making the girl give him an even sweeter smile. "No need to force yourself for my sake. I will arrange for the right people to teach the boy properly with or without your help. Risking infatuation is more dangerous than giving him a stable base with my word and silent support." Hua Fan felt a bit disappointed with his decision but seeing he was doing it for her sake she hums in agreement and quietly hung her head feigning an obedient posture.
Hui Ning exchanged nods with Jian Kong over her head and left the room to deal with serious matters as per his orders. "Ah, Ye Ye there is another matter which I wish to discuss with you." Like she had an epiphany the girl's expression lit up once more. "The Yang family daughter, you remember the one who I spent time with today? She told me that dogs who bite the hands that feed them should be executed without hesitation."
She tilts her head with a small smile "Fan thought about it a bit more and felt that she really does speak the truth. After all, a dog who can't tell between the one who feeds him and the one who steals his treats is the worst kind of dog." Jian Kong thought for a second, "You are saying the Yang family has a part in that dirty business as well?" Her smile deepens into a light sneer of contempt and mockery, not towards Jian Kong, but towards the foolish people who were still trying to uproot her grandfather misusing his trust. They did not think the honorable Jian Kong would stoop so low as to suspect them of treachery without proof.
And they were right. But too bad that they did not account for someone like Hua Fan who would suspect everyone and anyone while not fearing to tattle tale even if she was laughed at for it. Hua Fan doesn't laugh at him for guessing wrong and leads in him the right direction with an innocent but heavy statement. "Ye Ye, Zhou Feng Ming is still alive and well. What will he do with a dirty business that gives him nothing but trouble in the future? There are still many who secretly oppose your selection of an heir, even your own son rejects your orders. Surely Ye Ye did not forget that?"
Her grandfather's oppressive aura dominates the entire dining room making a chill run down the maids and butler's spines who stood outside the room. His expression was terrifyingly stormy with the promise of murder quite similar to Hua Fan's own when she is angry. Like cotton replaced the air anyone within a few meters of her grandfather felt as if they could not breathe properly. They cast each other nervous looks before looking back down at their feet smartly not uttering a single word. The girl who was one of the reasons such a bombshell was revealed to be the cause of their unease was carefreely pouring him a warm cup of tea no longer seeking to soothe his anger.
Why would she help Feng Ming? Was she crazy? Let him die on the inside quicker and be force-fed a spoon of his own medicine. Feng Ming had already shamed himself in public and yet he still dared to covet her Ye Ye's lands and shares in the shadows while pretending to be nursing a wound. There was no one more shameless than him.