The airport was deserted late at night.
Countless soldiers armed with guns formed a tight cordon around the airfield.
A black private jet descended slowly.
As the cabin door opened, three to four soldiers carrying rifles emerged first.
Following them was a man in a black trench coat with a buzz cut, his face exuding a grim, killer aura.
A long scar ran across his face, adding to his fierce, unapproachable demeanor.
A palpable aura of killing intent seemed to be inherent to him, his cold eyes as frigid as ice, capable of chilling anyone who dared to meet their gaze.
At least ten armed soldiers surrounded him, ensuring his safety.
Upon disembarking, several middle-aged men in suits and Zhongshan suits greeted him.
These men were clearly prominent figures, their faces familiar from television.
It was evident that the person they were welcoming was someone of great importance.
The leader, Li Jiang, extended his hand and said, "Sir, you must be tired from your journey. A hotel has already been arranged for you, and the other person is also waiting."
A rare smile finally graced Gongye's stern face as he shook Li Jiang's hand.
His voice was as his appearance suggested, magnetic yet with a hard edge.
"Thank you, but there's no need for trouble. I have matters to attend to. I'll be going now."
His hand, rough and calloused like old tree bark, felt abrasive.
Before Li Jiang could react, the man had already left, striding purposefully as if genuinely pressed for time.
Getting into a black sedan, Gongye's sharp, cold eyes scanned the fleeting scenery outside the window.
He asked in a low, hard voice, "How is the investigation into the matter I assigned you?"
Qi Jun, his adjutant in the front passenger seat, replied, "We haven't found anything yet. Twenty years have passed, and the approximate area you mentioned has all been redeveloped..."
"Keep searching," Gongye said, his brow furrowed, his voice exceptionally sharp.
"Yes, Sir," Qi Jun acknowledged with a solemn nod.
The car sped down the road. Gongye's expression was grim, his voice as cold as glacial ice.
"Take me to Shushun Mausoleum."
The driver glanced back, puzzled.
After finally returning, the Sir wasn't going home or to see the other person, but to a cemetery?
Qi Jun could already feel the chilling air emanating from the back seat.
He urged the driver coldly, "Just drive as you're told. Stop wasting time."
He had been with the Sir the longest and knew the most.
The Sir's parents and wife were deceased. The only surviving daughter's whereabouts were currently unknown.
The other members of the Gong family were merely parasites who preyed on the old man.
If it weren't for their malicious intentions, the Sir's only daughter would have had no one to rely on.
Fortunately, though the driver didn't understand, he was sensible and drove as instructed without further questions.
The car drove towards the outskirts, its black frame blending into the night.
—(ง•̀_•́)ง—
The next morning.
Waking up, it was already dawn.
Blinking sleepily, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled light.
Xia Wantang blinked around groggily, her mind slowly clearing.
She picked up her phone to check the time; it was already half-past six. She wondered if Ling Yucheng had woken up yet.
Thinking of his hospitality and help, she felt she should make breakfast to repay him.
Opening the bedroom door, the entire apartment felt eerily quiet.
The door to another bedroom was ajar. Peeking in from the doorway, the quilt was neatly laid on the bed, as if no one had slept there.
The living room, kitchen, and dining area were all empty.
Ling Yucheng was not there.
He had probably gone to work!
After all, he was the CEO of such a large corporation; he must have had a lot to do.
After tidying up and washing the clothes she had worn yesterday, Xia Wantang left the apartment.
She had to go to work too.
She was a substitute teacher at a summer cram school, three classes a day, each class earning sixty yuan.
Boren Training Institution.
This was an educational and training center for primary and secondary school students.
It offered not only academic courses but also various arts and talent enrichment classes.
Xia Wantang's university was the best institution in Kyoto, and with her qualifications, being a tutor was more than sufficient.
She bought a few steamed buns and a cup of soy milk from a roadside stall before taking the bus.
As soon as she arrived at the entrance of Boren, she saw Xia Wanfu already waiting there.
Xia Wantang showed no surprise, clearly expecting this.
Seeing her get off the bus and walk towards them, Xia Wanfu immediately flashed a smug smile.
Ignoring her calls, not returning home.
You have to go to work sometime, don't you? You can run, but you can't hide.
Xia Wantang met Xia Wanfu's gaze directly, without flinching, and walked straight up to her.
She stared at her, as if to say, "If you have something to say, spit it out."
Xia Wanfu, oblivious to her meaning, continued to raise her eyebrows smugly.
"You thought you could block me and I wouldn't find you?"
Xia Wantang checked the time on her phone and said calmly, "I have twenty minutes before my class starts. You only have fifteen minutes to talk."
Xia Wanfu immediately laughed in anger, clearly displeased, "Believe it or not, I can stop you from teaching."
Xia Wantang looked at her expressionlessly, as if at an idiot.
Let alone the fact that the Xia family was already bankrupt, even if they weren't, they couldn't cover the sky with one hand.
In country M, powerful capital could achieve anything, even manipulate presidential elections.
In country H, powerful conglomerates could have puppet heads of state.
But in country L, no matter how powerful capital was, it was still just capital, not as formidable as the nation.
Boren Training Institution was a public educational center. She was a student at Nanjia University, and she was here for an internship.
With legitimacy on her side, she couldn't believe Xia Wanfu had the clout to prevent her from teaching.
Seeing that she was completely unfazed by threats and didn't take her seriously at all.
Xia Wanfu became furious, pointing at her and shouting, "Don't get cocky. A person with your tainted character has no right to be a teacher."
Xia Wantang's face immediately turned cold.
"I advise you to think before you speak. Slander is a legal offense."
Knowing she couldn't win an argument, Xia Wanfu suppressed her resentment.
Her attitude shifted, and she began to sob, "Save Mom and Dad. Are you really so heartless that you want them to go to jail? After all, they raised you."
Was this a shift from hard tactics to soft?
Too bad, she was impervious to both.
"You should ask them what they did. It wasn't me who sent them to the police station. Alright, I need to go to work."
Xia Wantang finished speaking and walked past Xia Wanfu, intending to enter Boren Training Institution.
However, after only a couple of steps, Xia Wanfu grabbed her wrist.
She said indignantly, "Are you really going to be so heartless and abandon Mom and Dad?"
Xia Wantang shook off her hand and sneered, "Who is heartless? The moment they drugged me and sent me to a hotel, I repaid their upbringing. Don't forget, we signed an agreement to sever ties."