His tone softened, "It's not that I won't give it to you. There are things I know, but I was merely an eyewitness, without any evidence."
"Nannan, although being fired by your father was embarrassing, I haven't lost my humanity to the point of retaliating against him. I can assure you, I was not involved in what happened to your father and mother."
*She meant not directly involved, perhaps.*
Tang Nannan's expression remained placid, "Could you trouble yourself to elaborate?"
"Let me put it this way, because I knew your father for a long time and understood him well, someone did try to recruit me back then. Moreover, I witnessed them dividing up the spoils."
"To ensure the equitable distribution of benefits and prevent anyone from reneging later, they signed an agreement. As for who specifically, you'll have to figure that out yourself. If you can get close to him and find this agreement, you'll know the complete truth."
"However, knowing the truth won't help. As I said, you are just a tiny ant. They are a massive network of interests, something you alone cannot possibly shake. You might not even know how you died."
Tang Nannan certainly didn't believe his claim of not being involved in her parents' misfortune.
But she did believe his last statement.
It was a vast network of interests, and she couldn't easily shake it.
Nevertheless, she was determined to try, no matter what.
After leaving his house, Tang Nannan asked Hu Jiasheng for his thoughts. Hu Jiasheng replied,
"Judging by his demeanor, we've squeezed all the information we can from him. Besides, we can't openly engage in illegal activities. His suggestion, however, might be worth considering."
"Infiltrate the enemy's ranks to obtain evidence? How can we easily infiltrate families like theirs?"
Hu Jiasheng said, "I can't. But you definitely can. Do you know where I met your ex-boyfriend yesterday?"
"In front of a commercial building. You can find out with a little asking around. They were taking their child to early education classes."
Tang Nannan didn't understand what he was getting at. He explained,
"So, we can create an opportunity to 'accidentally' run into your ex. Trust me, seeing a beautiful ex, regardless of whether there's still lingering affection or not, men won't refuse an offer to catch up if you're proactive enough."
"As for me, I have other arrangements."
Hu Jiasheng had already inquired yesterday. This early education institution had three classes a week, every other day, each lasting an hour and a half.
As long as they appeared to be a loving couple, there was a high chance of encountering them.
The next day, the two staked out the location. They observed that the woman was dropped off by a driver, and Tang Nannan's ex-boyfriend did not appear.
The two of them didn't reveal themselves. Towards the end, Hu Jiasheng suggested Tang Nannan go to a beauty salon for some pampering, followed by shopping for clothes. There was no rush; they could take their time.
The following day, they went again, and it was still the woman alone.
Tang Nannan started to get anxious, "How can it be such a coincidence? Did you only run into him once, or is he on a business trip?"
Hu Jiasheng asked, "Don't you know his personality? Is he the type of person who is particularly attentive to his wife and child?"
Tang Nannan thought about it. He really wasn't necessarily that type.
He had been pampered as a young master since childhood, proud, conceited, and considered himself a celestial being. He had caused quite a few arguments with Tang Nannan during their relationship, and the cold wars had become increasingly prolonged. He didn't seem like the type of devoted husband and father who would cherish his wife and protect his child.
"I understand. Then you stay here and watch. I'll go to his workplace and wait for him."
Tang Nannan changed her strategy and waited at the entrance of his workplace.
She found him right after his work hours ended.
Tang Nannan let down her hair, put on a pair of black sunglasses, wore a simple, high-end black dress, her makeup exquisite. She held an umbrella and gazed towards the entrance.
Her ex-boyfriend drove his car directly to her, rolled down the window, and looked at her with surprise.
"Nannan, is that you? What are you doing here?"
The woman entered the elevator with her child and nanny, and Hu Jiasheng naturally followed.
As the doors closed, Hu Jiasheng, who was standing in front, pressed a floor one level higher than theirs and then politely turned back to ask,
"Where are you two headed? Do you need me to press the button for you?"
The woman nodded politely, "13A, thank you."
Hu Jiasheng glanced at her, his gaze briefly sweeping over the boy in the nanny's arms, and then pressed the floor.
As the elevator ascended at a steady pace, he smiled faintly.
"Are you going to an early education class? How old is your child?"
Women, by nature, tend to have a good impression of tall and handsome men, and this handsome man had even noticed her child.
"He's one year and seven months old. We're going to an early education class."
Hu Jiasheng smiled gently, "A child of one year and seven months, just starting to babble. While certain activities are beneficial for intellectual development, I believe parental companionship is the most important. Isn't your husband with you?"
The woman forced a slightly stiff smile, "Dad has to work."
Hu Jiasheng apologized, "This is the reality for most Chinese families. Fathers are busy with work, so they have to leave the child to the mother or grandmother. I apologize, I'm speaking nonsense."
Chinese?
From his words, it sounded like he had returned from abroad.
The woman sized him up, "Sir, are you in the education industry? Which country did you return from?"
"I'm actually not in the education industry. I'm an engineering student who just returned from Northern Europe. It's just that at my age, I'm quite interested in children. If I've been presumptuous, please don't mind."
The woman nodded, "What you said is true. The education of Chinese children is indeed mostly the responsibility of mothers."
Hu Jiasheng spoke with a veiled intention, "It also depends on the family. For instance, I was accompanied by my father more often during my childhood, and I place great importance on that. If I were to have children, especially a son, I would definitely try to spend as much time with him as possible."
"Foreign education experts say that a father's companionship is more beneficial than any extracurricular book or training class. I wonder if you agree with this viewpoint, madam."
The woman nodded, "I agree. Otherwise, I wouldn't have brought him here."
"Your son is very cute, and he looks a lot like you."
Hu Jiasheng offered her another compliment as the elevator reached their floor.
The doors opened. The woman nodded at him, took her son's hand, and prompted him to say goodbye to Hu Jiasheng.
"Say goodbye to Uncle."
The little child, of course, couldn't say such a thing. He cooed at Hu Jiasheng, who responded with an expression of overflowing fatherly affection.
"Can I hold him? I don't mean anything else, it's just that I recently returned from abroad and have a lot of free time."
The nanny handed the child to him.
Hu Jiasheng held him, looking him over from left to right, completely charmed. Suddenly, he said,
"I'm quite curious about how domestic education is being done here. Uh, if it's convenient, could I observe your early education class?"
"Does Sir intend to switch careers and go into education?"
"Not really. I'm just purely curious, laying the groundwork for my own future as a father."
The woman was amused by his sincerity and nodded. The two, like a couple, then went to the early education classroom with the child.
In fact, early education classes have regulations, with some parts requiring the mother and others the father.