Chapter 92: No One Has It Easy

"Why did you hang up on me?"

"What right do you have to hang up on me?"

Fan Shengmei screamed hysterically.

Just moments ago, she had been dazzlingly drinking with Qu Lianjie when she received a text from her brother saying her parents and nephew had come to Shanghai to hide. By now, they should have arrived long ago. But her parents had no money and no phone, and she couldn't reach them at all.

Fan Shengmei was frantic, calling over and over—to her brother, to her sister-in-law, to… Wang Baichuan. None of the calls went through, and it drove her crazy.

She wandered alone through Shanghai's train station, searching everywhere, but found nothing.

Just as Fan Shengmei was consumed with regret, she received Wang Baichuan's call—and he immediately fired off those two questions.

Wang Baichuan didn't mind: "I was just talking with your brother's neighbor, couldn't take your call. Why are you crying?"

Fan Shengmei sobbed: "My brother told me my parents came to Shanghai. I've been searching everywhere, but I can't find them…"

Then Wang Baichuan comforted Fan Shengmei, drove to her parents' home, and explained the situation.

Fan Shengmei had no interest in listening to the details—she heard it once and pushed Wang Baichuan to hurry to her house to see if her parents were there.

Wang Baichuan asked: "Are you alone at the train station right now?"

This made Fan Shengmei feel even more wronged. She looked around the vast station and cried: "My friends are coming any minute—they're on the way…"

After a long while, Wang Baichuan arrived, knocked for a long time with no answer, then said: "Xiao Mei, no one's home. The lights are on. Maybe they left them on purpose so someone would know they're inside." He paused, voice heavy with self-blame: "Sorry I couldn't help you…"

"Okay… I understand. Thank you, Baichuan…"

Listening to the dial tone, Wang Baichuan felt helpless, yet beneath that helplessness was a small flicker of joy—because just now, Fan Shengmei had said "Thank you, Baichuan." But remembering how she'd forced herself to sound strong about her friends arriving, Wang Baichuan clearly sensed she was lying.

The only person he could reach, Qu Xiaoxiao, clearly didn't care about Fan Shengmei's fate, let alone help. As for her other roommates or neighbors, he couldn't contact a single one. Even if he drove to Shanghai now, it wouldn't be quick—and by the time he arrived, everything would already be over. There was nothing he could do but wait, helpless.

Fan Shengmei hung up, crying, and kept scanning the station, searching for her parents. But the station was packed with people—where could she even begin?

With no other option, Fan Shengmei finally chose to call for help. Whether from panic or sheer stupidity, she didn't call the police—she called Guan Juer first, with no thought at all.

She hadn't told anyone before because she didn't want to expose her broken family. But now she had no choice—she'd have to face it sooner or later, and she couldn't afford to care anymore.

Today was a day off. Guan Juer wasn't working overtime; she was cozying up with Zhao Qiping.

"Hello? Sister Fan? What's wrong?"

Without preamble, Fan Shengmei burst into tears: "Xiao Guan, please help me. My parents and nephew came to Shanghai, but they have no money and no phone. I can't find them. It's so cold here—I'm afraid they'll get sick."

"Sister Fan, don't panic. Hmm… go find a patrolling officer nearby for help. I'll notify Xiao Qiu and Sister Andi right away." Compared to Fan Shengmei, Guan Juer was far more level-headed—she knew panicking did nothing and offered a practical suggestion.

"Okay, okay, thank you, Xiao Guan. I'll go find someone now. Please come quickly—I'm scared…"

"Sister Fan, don't worry. We're on our way."

After hanging up, Guan Juer immediately stood up, pulled on her coat, and said to Zhao Qiping: "Brother Zhao, let's hurry to the train station. Sister Fan's parents came to Shanghai and are lost there."

Zhao Qiping didn't hesitate: "Alright, I'll drive."

Nodding, Guan Juer turned to contact Qiu Yingying and Andi.

…………

Finding Fan Shengmei crouched there, weeping helplessly, Andi said: "Little Fan, stop crying. Xiao Guan told you to find a police officer—have you looked around nearby?"

Fan Shengmei's makeup was smeared, her face a mess: "I looked. No one. No one at all."

Wang Yan thought for a moment: "It's so cold. Have you checked the nearby underground passages?" He remembered Fan Shengmei's parents had finally been found in one nearby. Seeing Fan Shengmei shake her head, he added: "Then what are you waiting for? Let's go."

"Huh? Oh, right, let's go." Fan Shengmei snapped to attention, stood up to follow Wang Yan—but she'd crouched too long, stood too fast, and lost her balance, stumbling forward.

Andi caught her, preventing a disastrous fall.

"Thank you, Andi, I'm fine on my own."

Fan Shengmei pulled away from Andi's grip and hurried after Wang Yan.

Watching her, Andi shook her head and quickly followed.

After asking around, Wang Yan pinpointed the location and led Fan Shengmei straight to her parents and nephew.

Seeing her parents huddled together on the ground for warmth, Fan Shengmei rushed over, crying: "Dad~~ Mom~~ Why didn't you tell me you were coming?!"

Fan's mother sobbed: "How were we supposed to tell you? Those people came to the house every day demanding money. Your brother and sister-in-law couldn't take it anymore, so they fled to hide. We had no phone and dared not go home, so we brought Lei Lei to come to you." She gripped Fan Shengmei's hand: "Your brother needs money—he took all our savings. I only kept enough for two train tickets…"

Hearing this, Fan Shengmei looked at Wang Yan and Andi standing behind her, and a wave of crushing shame surged through her. She cut her mother off: "Enough, Mom. Let's talk when we get home, okay?"

Fan's mother kept going: "You have to find a way to save your brother! Those people won't give him a chance to live! You don't know—"

"Enough, Mom. Let's go home first. Look at Lei Lei—he's freezing. Let's go."

"Oh, right, right! Lei Lei matters most. Let's go."

Andi glanced at Wang Yan: "I didn't realize how hard Little Fan's life is." From the conversation, she'd already pieced together Fan Shengmei's family situation.

Wang Yan said calmly: "Too many people have it hard. Let's go."

Saying that, Wang Yan put his arm around Andi and followed them.

Everyone received the news around the same time. When they reached the parking area, Guan Juer, Zhao Qiping, and Qiu Yingying were already waiting.

"Uncle, Auntie, nice to meet you. I'm Sister Fan's roommate." Seeing Wang Yan and the others approach, Guan Juer stepped forward to greet them, then turned to Fan Shengmei: "Sorry we're late, Sister Fan."

Qiu Yingying added: "Yeah, Sister Fan, I took a cab the moment I heard—I just lived far away."

Fan Shengmei shook her head: "Don't say that. I should thank you both."

"No need to thank us—we didn't really help."

Andi, standing beside Wang Yan and Zhao Qiping, said: "Enough with the thanks. Little Fan, what are you planning to do with your parents? We're heading back—we can give you a ride."

What to do? Fan Shengmei paused, then said: "Tonight we'll just make do. Tomorrow I'll find you a hotel…" She turned her head to look at her mother.

Andi blinked, then understood and stayed silent.

Fan's mother said: "Why stay at a hotel? That's wasting money. Tonight we'll just squeeze together. Tomorrow, you move into the company dorm—it's free! I've been telling you to move into the dorm for ages." She gave Fan Shengmei an annoyed side-eye.

Fan Shengmei glanced awkwardly at everyone present—everyone except Wang Yan had frowned at her mother—and forced a smile: "Alright, Mom, let's talk when we get home. Andi, look…"

Qiu Yingying opened her mouth to speak, but seeing no one else say anything, she quietly closed it.

Andi said nothing, and looked apologetically at Wang Yan.

Wang Yan asked Zhao Qiping, who stood beside him: "Are we driving?" When he nodded, Wang Yan turned to Fan Shengmei: "Can you drive?"

Fan Shengmei gave a forced smile in reply.

Wang Yan nodded, conceding: "You all ride with me. Sister Andi, Xiao Qiu, you ride with Doctor Zhao."

Everyone nodded without objection.

Wang Yan drove, with Fan Shengmei in the front passenger seat, and her parents holding the child in the back.

Throughout the journey, Fan's mother chattered incessantly about her family's mess, and Fan Shengmei, glancing at Wang Yan—who was focused on driving as if he hadn't heard—flushed red, said a few words to no effect, then fell silent, only responding half-heartedly with tear-filled eyes.

Today, her usual urban lady image had shattered completely. She had already exposed every ugly side—let it be what it may. She knew full well that Wang Yan had never once looked at her properly, and she had no interest in him either; otherwise, how could she have thought him a crude, nouveau riche bumpkin?

On the other side, in Zhao Qiping's car.

Qiu Yingying asked: "Sister Andi, why didn't you say anything just now?" She still didn't think deeply—she'd only heard Fan Shengmei say "make do," without wondering why.

Sister Andi replied coolly: "Xiao Qiu, Fan Xiao Mei said that because she's tight on money and can't say it outright, so we stayed quiet."

Guan Juer, sitting in the front passenger seat, turned back and asked: "Yingying, why didn't you say anything either?"

"Hehe, I saw you all weren't talking, so I didn't either," Qiu Yingying said with a smug "I'm so smart" expression: "But I've never seen a mom like this—she actually made Fan Jie move into the company dorm?"

Guan Juer nodded: "That's really excessive. Now I finally understand why Fan Jie seemed off these past few days—it must've been her family. Sister Andi, you and Wang Dage arrived first. Do you know what happened?"

Sister Andi frowned: "I don't know the details, but from what I heard, Fan Xiao Mei's brother got into trouble—some people showed up at their house demanding money. He couldn't handle it, took the cash, and ran off with his wife, leaving Fan Xiao Mei's parents to flee here for refuge."

"What? That serious?" Qiu Yingying gasped: "Fan Jie really has it rough—her parents treat her like that, and now this disaster at home… it's just…"

Guan Juer nodded in agreement, then added: "Since things are like this, and Fan Jie's brother and parents are hiding from debt, it won't be resolved anytime soon. How long will Fan Jie's parents stay?"

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"Yeah, and Fan Jie's bed is so small, two people barely fit—how can four sleep?" Qiu Yingying, naturally kind-hearted, worried: "Then Fan Jie will have to sleep on the floor or sofa. It's so cold now—she'll catch a cold. She just got better a few days ago."

Sister Andi thought for a moment: "2201 is empty. Why don't one of you come sleep at my place? Free up a room for Fan Xiao Mei?" As a woman, seeing Fan Shengmei like this, she couldn't help but feel sympathy.

At that moment, Zhao Qiping, who had been quietly driving, spoke: "Then Xiao Guan, just come stay with me. Let's wait a few days and see how Fan Jie's situation develops." It was a perfectly legitimate excuse—he wasn't the type to miss an opportunity.

Seeing Sister Andi and Qiu Yingying's teasing glances, Guan Juer blushed: "I can, but Zhao Dage, let's be clear—I'll move back once Fan Jie's parents leave."

"Of course," Zhao Qiping replied with a smile—by then, you won't have a choice.

Sister Andi smiled: "Alright, then it's settled. Oh, by the way, Fan Xiao Mei is very sensitive—she always fears being looked down on. After today's humiliation, everyone, please be careful not to trigger her."

"Don't worry, Sister Andi. I work overtime every day—I've got no time," Qiu Yingying said cheerfully, making a teasing gesture toward Guan Juer: "Guan Juer, we won't even see Fan Jie, let alone trigger her."

"Ugh, Yingying, you're annoying…"

The two bickered and laughed all the way back to Happy Song.

Fan Shengmei helped her parents and nephew out of the car, then walked to the window and said apologetically: "Thank you so much, Wang Yan. I'm really putting you out."

Wang Yan replied coolly: "It's cold—go inside." He rolled up the window, started the car, and drove toward the underground garage, still hearing Fan's mother's endless chatter—his head was buzzing.

Honestly, just listening to talk, Wang Yan could've handled it. But Fan's mother's nonsense, paired with her pitiful tone and peculiar phrasing—things like "We didn't mean to," "Your brother's getting divorced," "Why are you like this?"—it was just… indescribable.

Later, Sister Andi and the others returned to the 22nd floor with Fan Shengmei's family.

Fan Shengmei busied herself caring for her parents and nephew, who were still adjusting, and amid the chaos noticed Guan Juer packing clothes. She approached and asked: "Xiao Guan, what are you doing?"

"I'm going to stay with Zhao Dage," Guan Juer explained. "Fan Jie, now that I'm gone, the room's free—you can move in temporarily."

Fan Shengmei understood instantly—and broke down again, tears welling: "Thank you, Xiao Guan." She didn't refuse. The apartment was already too small with her parents and nephew; her parents disrupted daily life. Her pride meant nothing now.

Seeing her about to cry, Guan Juer quickly added: "Fan Jie, don't overthink it. I've stayed at Zhao Dage's before—this is no different."

After packing, she called Zhao Qiping—who was upstairs talking with Wang Yan and Sister Andi—and left. Qiu Yingying, glad to avoid the scene, retreated to her room.

Fan Shengmei, heart aching, helplessly settled her parents and nephew…

Leaning against Wang Yan's broad chest, flushed and blushing, Sister Andi said: "Do you think… Fan Xiao Mei became like this because of her family?"

"Who can say? Even Fan Shengmei herself probably has no answer."

Sister Andi nodded: "Fan Xiao Mei has it so hard… Should I help her? She clearly needs money."

Wang Yan replied coolly: "If you want to help her, then help. Money—and profit—are the root of most problems in this world, Andi. No one has it easy. If you're truly idle, go find Doctor Zhao and visit the critically ill."

Sister Andi rolled her eyes—Wang Yan's tone was infuriating. Every time he mentioned Fan Shengmei or Qu Xiaoxiao, he sounded so dismissive.

Her eyes darted, and her hand slid downward… The pleasures of the boudoir were endless—Sister Andi had learned, and she'd gotten good at it.

The next day, after morning exercise and breakfast, Wang Yan washed up and went downstairs to call for Qiu Yingying.

Qiu Yingying, still washing up due to Fan's mother's chaos, hoped Wang Yan would wait.

They usually left before the morning rush, but today, waiting for Qiu Yingying delayed them. Along the way, drowned in Qiu Yingying's furious complaints, they got stuck in traffic and arrived at the company.

After handling routine work, Wang Yan leaned back in his chair, frowning in thought.

In the original plot, Fan Shengmei's parents came to seek refuge; Fan's father smoked in the hallway, suffered a stroke, and was saved by Sister Andi. Because of him, she changed significantly. Now she was busy helping Tan Zongming eat meat, constantly occupied—there was no way she'd have free time to coincidentally return. So Fan's father was probably already gone.

In truth, Wang Yan didn't care about Fan's father's fate. In "One Generation of Masters," he'd personally killed over a thousand; those who died because of him were far more.

But the man wasn't meant to die—and knowing the truth, to ignore his suffering felt… morally bankrupt.

After thinking, Wang Yan summoned his subordinate, gave instructions, then returned to Happy Song to play housekeeper.

Wang Yan didn't know when Fan's father would have his stroke, so on the way he bought a Bluetooth pinhole camera, planning to install it in the hallway to keep watch.