In the dining room of the villa, Long Yinglan had prepared a table full of dishes.
Seeing Chen Fan and Qin Shuran, Zhang Chongshan greeted them with a smile, "Your face is really big. You have no idea how difficult it is for me to get your aunt to cook a meal for me. Today, I'm also benefiting from you, getting to eat a meal made by your aunt."
As she placed the last dish on the table, Long Yinglan untied her apron. "How can that be the same? Xiao Fan is a junior, and you don't know how to cook. Are you expecting Xiao Fan to cook for us when he comes?"
"That's true," Zhang Chongshan scratched his head and could only give an awkward laugh.
"Xiao Fan, sit down quickly. You must be hungry," Zhang Chongshan then beckoned Chen Fan and Qin Shuran to the dining table.
After lunch, Chen Fan followed Long Yinglan to the study.
"Xiao Fan, you seem preoccupied today. Is something bothering you?" Long Yinglan asked, looking at Chen Fan.
Chen Fan nodded.
"Whatever it is, just tell me. Your aunt will do her best to help you," Long Yinglan said, patting Chen Fan's arm.
"Aunt Long, why didn't you accompany me to Kyoto back then?"
Long Yinglan sighed. "I had intended to go to Kyoto with you, but on the very day I was supposed to leave, some issues suddenly arose at the company. Actually, I wanted to contact you when you returned a few days ago, but I was so busy until yesterday that things only just concluded."
As she spoke, Chen Fan could see the weariness on Long Yinglan's face.
It was clearly caused by overwork in the past few days.
"Aunt Long, what happened to Wanhao Group?" Chen Fan asked in surprise, standing up and moving behind Long Yinglan to massage her temples.
Immediately, Long Yinglan's complexion improved, and a happy smile bloomed on her face.
"Several hotel groups ganged up to suppress Wanhao Group, and a previously agreed-upon acquisition was suddenly terminated. It's obvious that someone is manipulating all of this from behind the scenes," Long Yinglan said softly, her eyes closed.
"Someone actually dares to make a move against Wanhao Group?" Chen Fan was surprised.
However, Chen Fan suddenly recalled the words of the mysterious person. He felt that the trouble Wanhao Group was facing must be related to that mysterious person.
But Chen Fan couldn't understand why the mysterious person would target Long Yinglan, and even warned him to be wary of her.
"Aunt Long, I saw my mother."
Hearing this, Long Yinglan opened her eyes and looked at Chen Fan behind her, asking anxiously, "How is your mother's condition? Do you have a way to wake her up?"
Chen Fan shook his head. "I've tried all my methods, but there's been no effect. Moreover, Huangfu Qin Yuan kicked me out the next day and wouldn't let me see my mother again. He also recognized my identity."
"What? Huangfu Qin Yuan recognized your identity? Did he make things difficult for you?" Long Yinglan sounded worried.
"He wanted to make things difficult for me, but I didn't give him the chance."
"Aunt Long, I want to continue treating my mother. Do you have a way for me to keep seeing her?" Chen Fan asked Long Yinglan.
Long Yinglan sighed. "Since he has already recognized your identity, it will be very difficult to get close to her again."
"Then what if I snatch my mother out?" Chen Fan continued to ask.
"Absolutely not. If Huangfu Qin Yuan finds out, you will surely die. Even the Long family will come after you! At that time, even I, your aunt, won't be able to protect you." Long Yinglan's answer suggested she was unaware of the events in Kyoto.
"I understand. I will study medicine diligently and become stronger, so that one day I can rescue my mother," Chen Fan said, his eyes full of determination.
"Good, your aunt believes in you!" Long Yinglan nodded in response.
To ease the tension, Chen Fan changed the subject. "Aunt Long, you and Uncle have been together for so many years, why don't you have any children?"
Chen Fan had already examined both Long Yinglan and Zhang Chongshan. They were both healthy, so it wasn't due to their physical condition that they hadn't had children for so many years.
Upon hearing this, Long Yinglan's expression suddenly changed, her eyes filled with sadness.
"Aunt Long, I didn't mean anything by it. Please don't be angry," Chen Fan quickly explained.
He didn't realize that his words would elicit such a reaction from Long Yinglan.
A few tears welled up in Long Yinglan's eyes. She slowly wiped them away and forced a smile. "It's alright, Aunt Long isn't angry."
"If she were still alive, she would probably be around your age."
Chen Fan was stunned and looked at Long Yinglan in surprise.
Long Yinglan, knowing what Chen Fan was surprised about, did not hide it. She continued, "I had a daughter, but she passed away shortly after she was born."
"Aunt Long, I'm sorry," Chen Fan said, apologizing immediately as he hadn't expected to bring up Long Yinglan's painful past.
"It's alright. You are my nephew, and it's fine that you know about this. Because of this, in my heart, you are like my own child. In the future, my Wanhao Group will also be handed over to you."
Chen Fan was astonished again. He hadn't expected Long Yinglan to entrust all her assets to him.
They chatted for a while longer, and Chen Fan prescribed some medicine for Long Yinglan to help restore her vitality.
Afterward, he and Qin Shuran left Long Yinglan's villa.
In the study on the second floor, Long Yinglan stood by the window, watching the BMW drive out of the community, and murmured, "He was testing me just now."
Hearing this, Zhang Chongshan, who was standing behind Long Yinglan, frowned. "Xiao Fan suspects you?"
"He probably doesn't. He's just testing to see if I'm aware of what's happening in Kyoto."
"Why is he testing this?" Zhang Chongshan was a little confused.
"I'm not sure, but I feel that Xiao Fan is different this time since his return."
Zhang Chongshan nodded. "He has indeed changed a lot. Since he came back, he hasn't been to the hospital, and I heard he rarely goes to the mental hospital either. He's handed over his affairs to that Zheng Hairong."
"And I also heard that the one called Da Xiong is now the underground king of South China. To be able to push Ma Peng to this point, Xiao Fan is truly capable."
Long Yinglan smiled faintly. "It seems that the trip to Kyoto was not a bad thing for his growth."
"What did the old man say? Does he still need to observe him? After all, he hasn't woken up your second sister yet."
"Let's wait a bit longer. I have a feeling he has a way."
"If he can wake up your second sister and obtain that item, the old man might let you return to Kyoto, and even hand over the entire family to you as a reward," Zhang Chongshan added.
"Heh," Long Yinglan merely let out two cold laughs, a look of disdain on her face.
"By the way, I just received news that Da Xiong has taken over all the ports in South China belonging to the Huangfu family. The Huangfu family will definitely intervene. Should we prepare in advance?" Zhang Chongshan asked.
"That's good too. I also want to know who is standing behind Xiao Fan."
"You want to wait for him to show himself?" Zhang Chongshan seemed to have guessed something.