Chapter 1419: Return

"If you have something to say, just say it; don't make me guess. If I can handle it, I will; if I can't, don't blame me."

Wang Ying crossed her arms, shot him a sideways glare, then let out a long sigh and said, "Something has happened to my uncle."

"What happened?" Wang Yan asked cooperatively.

"He owns a construction company and used my father's connections to undertake some projects. Didn't a bridge collapse a couple of days ago? Several people died..."

Wang Yan turned to look at her: "Do you think this is something I can manage? When cutting corners, you thought you wouldn't be so unlucky; now that misfortune has struck, you're scared to death? Wang Ying, that's not how things work."

"My uncle doesn't matter; it's mainly my father's side..."

"He cannot be saved." Wang Yan shook his head. "Remember, we've discussed these issues before: corruption, the trading of power, wealth, and sex—these were bound to happen sooner or later. Moreover, people died. Your father cannot escape involvement; countless people are eyeing him. I suspect the investigation into your father has already begun; they are just waiting until the probe is nearly complete before coming to arrest him."

"I have always believed that if you dare to act, you must dare to face the consequences. When holding great power, you treated the people as mere slogans while indulging in extreme luxury, pointing at rivers and mountains, enjoying people's flattery. Now that the day has come when the tree falls and the monkeys scatter, don't blame anyone. Of course, as a beneficiary of those interests, your unwillingness is understandable."

"Is this retribution?"

"What retribution? Tell me, what do you think your uncle is thinking about right now?"

"Bad luck?" Wang Ying turned her head blankly.

"What a fine 'bad luck' that is." Wang Yan laughed heartily, reaching out to pat her head. "This is your original sin: when trouble arises, you think of bad luck rather than acknowledging that you shouldn't have been greedy. Perhaps you also wish no one had died, so it wouldn't have blown up so big."

"If you want to blame someone, blame your uncle for being useless. He was too greedy, which compromised the engineering quality. Had he been slightly less greedy and made the project more solid, this disaster likely wouldn't have occurred. Of course, I believe your uncle did a fine job initially; it was only later that things gradually spiraled out of control. That is greed."

Wang Ying frowned and asked, "Is there really no way?"

"Even if there were, it wouldn't matter." Wang Yan shook his head ruthlessly. "Now, it is inevitable that your father must fall. Moreover, relatively speaking, your family's position isn't that high or that important."

"Politics is the art of compromise—I assume you've heard that phrase. Your family lacks the capital to force anyone into compromise, you've been caught with flaws, and your hands aren't clean to begin with. Who do you think could suppress this? Would anyone capable of resolving this matter risk making such a mistake for your sake?"

Wang Ying fell silent, letting out a soft sigh. After all, he was her biological father; after all, she had enjoyed privileged conditions since childhood. Now that her family was facing ruin and her father might not be saved, the only reason she was sharing a bed with Wang Yan was to vent her frustrations.

In truth, she also knew Wang Yan wouldn't intervene in her family's affairs; furthermore, whether he even had the capability was debatable. Ultimately, there remains a wide gulf between politics and business.

Seeing her state, Wang Yan said, "I can't help your father, but I can still assist you and your mother. I may not have much else, but I have plenty of money; you certainly won't need to worry about your future life."

"Who would have thought I would actually end up being kept by you?"

"Don't make it sound so ugly. I have money, you are willing to be with me, and no one can stop us; we are simply in a free love relationship."

"You are truly shameless."

"We've been sleeping together for nearly five years; how can you still say such things?"

Wang Ying rolled her eyes at him, then lay back in Wang Yan's arms, sighing repeatedly...

Wang Yan actually had no particular thoughts on the matter. If he truly wanted to rescue someone, his current capabilities could achieve it. Of course, not by pulling them out directly as if nothing happened, but by downplaying the case so that thereafter they would simply become a retired old man.

But he clearly would not do so. To be honest, not actively reporting them was already generous; where would the intention to save them come from? Just as he said, if you dare to act, you must dare to face the consequences, and this applies equally to Wang Ying, who enjoyed the benefits.

Or to put it even more broadly, even if Wang Ying were in her father's position, Wang Yan would absolutely not indulge such faults. In that scenario, he would most likely prioritize his own comfort and enjoyment first, deal with the person once he was done playing, and definitely not keep them around.

Favoritism depends on what kind of favor is being shown; bending the law depends on what kind of law is being bent...

Although Wang Mou has a weakness for beauty, he has never been vague about major matters; how can a beautiful woman and a skeleton be compared?

The next day, Wang Ying returned home to accompany her frightened mother. For several days there was no news; the two of them huddled together at home, filled with anxiety.

A few days later, Qin Fang Qian invited him again. Wang Yan had originally intended to meet Ren Siyu, but after thinking it over, he decided to visit Qin Fang Qian instead.

In a certain high-end residential compound, Wang Yan, having just gotten off work, arrived at the location, took out his key, and opened the door.

As soon as the door opened, a fragrance wafted out.

"Oh my, has the big sister changed her style? Becoming a virtuous wife and good mother?"

"What, am I not allowed to cook?"

"Unsolicited kindness means either villainy or theft; I'm afraid you might be drugging me." Wang Yan changed his shoes, entered the room, and shook his head repeatedly.

"Just eat." Qin Fang Qian shot him a glare, then hurriedly ran back to the kitchen to busy herself.

After such bustling activity, the two sat down at the dining table, and Qin Fang Qian eagerly poured wine for Wang Yan.

Wang Yan picked up his chopsticks to grab some food; it was quite ordinary...

"Alright, if there's something to say, just say it. I prefer your old self; hurry up and revert to it."

"Can't I be gentle?"

"Your gentleness is reserved for little hooligans; with me, it's merely a mutual exchange of needs. What, have you developed feelings over time?"

Qin Fang Qian glared at him, then took a small sip of white liquor herself, crunching on peanuts with a 'crunch-crunch' sound.

"I have a favor to ask."

"Speak."

"Lend me ten million; deduct it slowly from my dividends later."

Qin Fang Qian stared at Wang Yan, but saw him still calmly eating: "Is it urgent?"

"By tomorrow."

"Fine, I'll transfer it to your account tomorrow."

So Wang Yan picked up his phone and made a call, instructing finance to transfer the money to Qin Fang Qian when they started work tomorrow.

Seeing Wang Yan hang up the phone and continue eating and drinking, Qin Fang Qian couldn't help but ask, "That's it?"

Wang Yan looked at her strangely: "Is there something else?"

"Aren't you going to ask what it's for?"

"I'm more concerned about how you'll perform later."

"I guarantee your satisfaction." Qin Fang Qian laughed coquettishly and said, "Actually, it's nothing much; my father lost eight million playing the stock market, and our family can't even afford food now. We have to sell the house; you could say we've returned to square one overnight. That's why I came to you for help."

Wang Yan nodded: "The stock market has indeed been somewhat volatile recently. Your father isn't unjustly treated; with all the family's money invested in stocks, it would be strange if he were doing well."

"It was all due to adding to positions. He started with just over two million, but as the prices fell, he kept buying more; his gambling instinct kicked in." Qin Fang Qian sighed. "My father tried to hide it at first, but today he couldn't cover it up anymore; the creditors couldn't be held off, so he had to confess. He sat at home all day today, laughing and crying; the man has gone mad."

"My mother couldn't handle it either, so she quickly called me. I went back to check, dealt with the debt collectors, and that's why I came to find you."

Speaking of which, she laughed again, "Come to think of it, it's quite interesting; if I hadn't become your mistress, our family would probably be finished this time. I'm starting to believe in the fate you spoke of."

"Don't make it sound so ugly. What mistress? We are a boyfriend and girlfriend with deep involvement."

"It's all the same; isn't it just you sleeping with me and me sleeping with you?" Qin Fang Qian could no longer keep up the pretense and reverted to her bold, boss-lady demeanor.

"You are a reasonable person," Wang Yan said with a smile and a nod.

"Eat quickly; after you finish, watch how this old lady arranges things for you." Qin Fang Qian's eyes and brows flew with coquetry...

For Wang Yan, this was truly a trivial matter. Even in reality, though his wealth consisted mostly of assets with little cash on hand—after all, to this day, he had not sold a single share to cash out.

But what did that matter?

As long as the financial accounts were clear and the taxes paid properly, the company's money was his money.

For instance, he had bought himself a three-courtyard residence, decorated to blend ancient charm with modern minimalism, with all interior soft and hard furnishings being top-tier products. He had converted spaces into a private cinema and a large study, and dedicated one room solely to piling up a huge collection of photography equipment.

However, the house was still under renovation and would properly take some time to complete.

He had also reserved an entire floor at the top of his company's headquarters building for his own residence, equally luxurious. It was all funded by the company's money, yet enjoyed only by him. Of course, construction on the headquarters was still ongoing; full completion and occupancy would not happen until the spring of 2008.

When it came to enjoyment, whenever conditions allowed, he never stinted on himself...

Another week passed, and Wang Ying arranged to meet Wang Yan at a teahouse.

The moment she saw Wang Yan, she said, "My father is finished..."

"Normal," Wang Yan nodded, sitting down and brewing tea himself.

After a moment of silence, staring blankly at Wang Yan brewing tea, Wang Ying said, "I let my mother live in the house you bought for me."

"I expected that. The day before yesterday, people from the relevant authorities came to the company to see me; they investigated your house and found out I was the one who paid for it. Although their attitude was strictly business, I could clearly see the excitement in their eyes," Wang Yan told a joke that wasn't very funny.

He had bought houses for every woman, registering them all in their names.

"By 'excitement,' do you mean they're thrilled about chaotic sexual relations, or that they intend to investigate you?"

"Of course, the sexual relations," Wang Yan said, pouring tea for her. "That's my only non-issue; everything else is practically an impenetrable golden body. People love a spectacle; they cannot imagine how I managed to coax an official's daughter like you into a relationship without title or status. Thanks to you, all my girlfriends have been exposed within those relevant authorities."

"Did I cause you trouble?"

"What kind of trouble is this? I've said it many times: if you dare to do it, you dare to admit it." Wang Yan shook his head with a smile, then continued, "If your mother is living in that house, let her stay. Tomorrow I'll have my assistant contact you; go look at another property, and I'll buy you one more."

"No need; let me save you some money. I need to spend more time with my mother." Wang Ying let out a long sigh. "This time I've truly witnessed the fickleness of human relationships. Good heavens, of all my former friends and sisters, the only one I could still reach was Yangcheng..."

"You should have expected this long ago."

"I couldn't expect it; this is too realistic."

"What we have is pure: you seek my excellence, and I seek your beauty—an absolutely solid friendship." Wang Yan smiled. "What are your plans next?"

"I don't know," Wang Ying said. "Originally, my mother wanted to send me abroad, but after learning about my relationship with you, she stopped mentioning it. I'm unwilling to suffer hardship anyway; from now on, I'm counting on you."

"As it should be. Spend these few days at home accompanying your mother, and think about what you want to do."

Saying this, Wang Yan picked up his phone and made a call, instructing someone to transfer one million into Wang Ying's account. The transfer was swift; as soon as he finished giving orders over the phone, the finance department transferred the funds, and Wang Ying immediately received a deposit notification via text message.

"A cunning rabbit has three burrows. I know your family may still have some money, so life won't be a problem, though you can't be as extravagant as before. Since things have come to this pass and I have the ability, we must still guarantee your standard of living. Spend this money first; if it's not enough, tell me."

Wang Ying put down her phone and said with a bitter smile, "Don't say it, but I actually feel somewhat like a kept woman now. So this is what it's like."

"Like what?"

"I don't know about others, but I feel quite at ease. Thinking back, from the moment I learned my father was finished, I wasn't really panicked, just rather sad."

Wang Yan shook his head with a light laugh. "Since you're with me, how could I let you eat chaff and swallow vegetables? Your brother may lack many things, but he certainly has money."

Wang Ying smiled gently, raising her cup to drink tea with Wang Yan...

Less than two months later, Wang Ying's father died. Wang Ying and her mother grieved for a while, but eventually moved on. One must always look forward; there is no other choice.

In Wang Yan's view, the matter had long been settled and was not worthy of pity.

His life stabilized once again. Zhiwo Network was on the right track, and Youxiang Network had successfully gone public under the leadership of Liu Qiangdong, requiring no worry from him. Other businesses were developing steadily; the company grew larger, profits increased, and its influence became ever more immense.

After many years, Wang Yan finally had the time to realize his photography career.

Sichuan, mountainous region.

An off-road vehicle traveled along a muddy mountain road.

"I had to walk this road when I was in school; back then I..." Xiao Qianxi, sitting in the passenger seat, enthusiastically recounted her journey through education, her speech already carrying a local accent.

"I came too late," Wang Yan said after listening. "If I had come earlier, this road of yours would have been repaired long ago."

Xiao Qianxi smiled gently. "I bought a house for my parents in the county town, but they said they were used to living in the countryside and didn't want to move to the city. I even wanted to bring them to Jingcheng; they stayed there for a while but ran back, saying they weren't accustomed to it."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"You were busy; I didn't want to disturb you."

"You think too much. But it's also my fault; I said long ago that I would come to your home to meet your parents, yet I kept delaying and delaying until only now have I finally made the trip."

"It's good that you're here; my parents are especially happy knowing you're coming."

Wang Yan laughed. "As long as they don't beat me, it's fine."

"How would they know all that? They only know I now have money and power." Xiao Qianxi turned and said, "Wang Yan, I want a child."

"Have one. However many you want, have that many."

"Who needs that many? Just one will do." Xiao Qianxi stared at Wang Yan's profile, then continued, "Actually... I know everything."

"Know what?"

"Xie Da Qiao, Wang Ying, and Li Nana."

Wang Yan turned to look at her. "Why expose it yourself?"

"There's nothing bad about exposing it; saying it out loud actually makes me feel lighter."

"I do feel somewhat sorry toward you."

"Don't blame yourself; as I said long ago, I volunteered. You explained it yourself: you're just too excellent. Actually, with only this few people, sometimes even I think you have principles. With so many women available, you haven't sought a single new one in all these years."

"What would I need so many for? Even with these current ones, I'm already stretched too thin to handle; any more and I'd truly exhaust myself to death."

Xiao Qianxi smiled gently and said no more on the subject. Pointing to a large tree ahead, she said, "Let's stop there. In the past, when I was tired from walking, I often rested under this tree. Since you mentioned building a road, I'm afraid it won't be here much longer. Let's take a few photos to commemorate it."

"Alright."

Wang Yan adjusted the camera on the tripod and set the countdown. Click! The moment was frozen in the frame.

Beneath the great tree, a gust of wind swept past, lifting Xiao Qianxi's hair.

Embracing Xiao Qianxi, Wang Yan curved the corners of his lips slightly; it was the smile he had maintained for over a thousand years...

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(End of Chapter)