The meal was warm and joyful, with all three of them, the grandfather and grandchildren, in high spirits.
However, Elder Chen, advanced in years, grew sleepy in the afternoon and soon succumbed to a nap.
"Chen Tianjiao, after all these years, you haven't given me any news. Don't you owe me some compensation?"
In the small courtyard's living room, Chen Xing'er's dark, sparkling eyes darted around as she spoke.
"Call me 'ge'," Chen Fan said, feigning annoyance.
"No, I'll only call you Chen Tianjiao, you stinky Chen Tianjiao. In Hang Jiang, I wanted to call you 'ge,' but you refused to admit it. Now that you want me to call you 'ge,' forget it!"
Chen Xing'er pouted dismissively.
Chen Fan shrugged, too lazy to bicker over the name.
One reason was his guilt, and the other was that the title held no substantial meaning.
Unexpectedly, seeing Chen Fan's lack of reaction, Chen Xing'er then said with a touch of pride, "Unless you bribe me."
"How do I bribe you? What do you lack?"
Chen Fan rolled his eyes and asked.
Chen Xing'er was also a wealthy woman worth hundreds of millions, and she hadn't acquired this wealth through the Chen family. It was from her own investments after receiving dividends from the Chen family's enterprises.
Chen Fan also knew that she had bought a courtyard house and lived there alone.
"I don't lack anything, but you have to compensate me!" Chen Xing'er said unapologetically. "You are Mr. Long, and that Purple Bauhinia Dragon Card was your idea to give to me, right? Tsk tsk!"
"Alright."
Money was just a number to Chen Fan, so he naturally wouldn't refuse.
When he left to join the army, he was only fifteen, while Chen Xing'er was twelve at the time.
With their parents missing, he hadn't fulfilled his duty to care for his sister, and he owed her a great deal.
Let alone just buying some things, even moving a mountain of gold, if Chen Xing'er truly desired it, it wouldn't be impossible.
"Then let's go, let's go shopping!"
Chen Xing'er said.
"Buy what?" Chen Fan asked.
"What do I buy, that's none of your business?" Chen Xing'er said with a grin. "As long as I like it, you buy it for me, Mr. Long, don't you agree?"
Chen Fan was speechless. Together with Chen Xing'er, he walked out.
Chen Xing'er smilingly linked her arm with his, looking very happy.
Soon, the two arrived at a large shopping mall in the city center.
Chen Xing'er indeed did not hold back and indulged in a spree.
However, her taste was discerning. Ordinary items didn't catch her eye. She bought things she had long desired but hesitated to buy for herself.
In her words, she would feel heartache if she bought them with her own money, but with Chen Fan paying, there was no need for any reservations.
Chen Fan let her have her way.
After browsing for over an hour, Chen Fan, carrying several bags, walked out of the mall with Chen Xing'er's arm linked.
As they reached the entrance, a surprised exclamation suddenly rang out.
"Xing'er!"
Appearing before them was a young man, around twenty years old, with a buzz cut and a sturdy build.
He ran over with a look of surprise and said, "Why didn't you call me when you came out shopping? I could have accompanied you. I'm good at carrying bags and running errands."
"Who wants you to carry bags and run errands?" Seeing this person, Chen Xing'er frowned and huffed, "Han Tong, get lost! I don't want to see you!"
The young man was unfazed and said with a smarmy face, "Xing'er, wherever you are, I should be. If I get lost, I won't be able to see you, so that's absolutely not allowed..."
He stopped midway through his sentence.
Only then did he realize that Chen Xing'er was different from usual; she was linking arms with a man.
And this man was carrying several shopping bags.
"Who is he?"
Han Tong's face changed. He pointed at Chen Fan and said, "Chen Xing'er, how could you do this? You're holding hands with another man? Are you cheating on me?"
"Are you sick? He is... Bah! Cheating on you? What does that have to do with me?"
Chen Xing'er paused mid-sentence, realizing something was wrong, and cursed, "Get lost!"
Han Tong trembled with anger and questioned, "Chen Xing'er, your... Wuwu, who is he? How is he better than me?"
He was on the verge of tears.
Chen Fan listened from the side, feeling puzzled.
He didn't know Han Tong, but he must have paid attention to matters in the capital and known this person's identity.
A member of the Han family, a simple-minded, clumsy, and somewhat foolish young master.
Among the top young masters in the capital, his reputation wasn't very good, not for being dissolute or idle, but for his rash and impulsive temper. He was a bit of a hothead.
It was said that when he got angry, he would lose his temper and act aggressively regardless of the occasion.
However, seeing him questioning and on the verge of tears, Chen Fan felt somewhat surprised.
It was somewhat different from what he had heard.
Furthermore, this person was actually Chen Xing'er's suitor, and he seemed quite devoted?
Chen Xing'er, however, smiled. Seeing that people were drawn by the commotion and gathering to watch, she said with a grin, "Han Tong, never mind who he is. What do you think you're better at than him?"
Han Tong looked at Chen Fan, then at himself, and was somewhat speechless.
In terms of looks and physique, he knew himself; he couldn't compare to Chen Fan.
Even in terms of clothing, his outfit was custom-made, and it couldn't compare to Chen Fan's seemingly ordinary clothes.
But he, the mighty little overlord of the Han family, disdained comparing himself to others in terms of clothing or wealth.
The Han family was one of the top clans, not some nouveau riche. He wouldn't flaunt his wealth in public.
"I... Besides superficial appearance, what merits does he have?"
After stammering for a moment, Han Tong said indignantly.
"He has many merits."
Seeing Han Tong at a loss for words, Chen Xing'er felt a surge of satisfaction.
This Han Tong pestered her constantly, like a stubborn shadow she couldn't shake off.
Naturally, she wouldn't be polite and had often beaten him.
However, Han Tong was still a member of the Han family, so Chen Xing'er couldn't beat him to a pulp. She had to hold back when she hit him.
After many such encounters, it had led to this fellow becoming addicted to being beaten, feeling uncomfortable if he didn't get beaten by her for three days, which drove her to despair.
This fellow had even claimed that hitting and scolding were forms of affection, and he wanted to be beaten by Chen Xing'er for his entire life.
Occasions like this were rare, and she felt inexplicably pleased.
Therefore, Chen Xing'er's mind raced, and she decided not to reveal Chen Fan's true identity.
"He's skilled in everything, from playing musical instruments, chess, calligraphy, painting, and appraisal of antiques, to fighting," Chen Xing'er said, slinging an arm around Chen Fan's shoulder with a smile. "Why don't you try fighting him and teach him a good lesson, how about it?"
Hearing Chen Xing'er's enticing tone, Han Tong became wary.
He was quite skilled at fighting within his circle, but the problem was he couldn't defeat Chen Xing'er and always ended up bruised and swollen.
Even Chen Xing'er said this man was good at fighting; could he fall for this trick?
But he clearly couldn't back down. He huffed, "What era are we in? Fighting is nothing; we're all civilized people."
"Then how dare you ask?"
Chen Xing'er said with a grin, "Scram, go somewhere cool and stay there."
She then linked her arm with Chen Fan's and said, "You useless fellow, don't bother me!"
Han Tong's face turned dark. His mind raced, and he shouted, "Chen Xing'er, who says I have no merits? If you have the guts, let him race me!" Da Feng Novel Network
Chen Xing'er giggled and ignored him, pulling Chen Fan away.
Han Tong wouldn't stand for it. He ran around to block them, pointing at Chen Fan and saying, "As a man, hiding behind a woman, what kind of skill is that? Let's have a race. If you lose, you get away from Chen Xing'er and stay far away from her!"