Inside the manor, the atmosphere felt unusually oppressive. Dongfang Haoran was now practically disabled, and even if he could recover physically, the psychological trauma would leave a deep scar.
“Grandfather warned you before—business and the underworld must never be mixed. But you never listened, always insisting on your own way. Now you’ve finally tasted defeat!”
Looking at Dongfang Haoran’s dejected expression, the old patriarch’s gaze softened slightly. He had always been very pleased with his grandson, never imposing any restrictions on him no matter what he did. Yet he never expected things to turn out this way.
“If it weren’t for him, I could have unified the entire underworld of Beijing. Then the Dongfang family’s power would have reached a new level…”
Dongfang Haoran’s lips twitched violently, his icy eyes filled with hatred, wishing he could tear Xiao Yufan apart. Xiao Yufan had shattered everything he had built, and Dongfang Haoran could never forgive him.
“If you had unified all the underworld forces in Beijing, the Dongfang family would have fallen into an irreversible abyss…”
The old patriarch sighed, a bitter expression crossing his face. As the saying goes, when something reaches its extreme, it will inevitably swing in the opposite direction. The underworld powers had always balanced each other, which is why the authorities chose not to intervene. But if Dongfang Haoran had truly unified the underworld of Beijing, certain forces would have inevitably stepped in.
“Hao Ran did all this for the family. How could he possibly bring the Dongfang family into ruin? It’s all that brat’s fault!”
“Do you even think before you speak? Do you really think the authorities would allow the underworld to unite? And no one will mistake you for a mute if you keep quiet!”
A faint, enticing curve appeared on Dongfang Yanran’s lips as she spoke, instantly silencing the middle-aged man.
“Is this how you talk to your older brother? Don’t think you can act so arrogantly just because you control half of the Dongfang Conglomerate!”
It was clear the two didn’t get along very well—not because of any direct conflict, but because Dongfang Yanran couldn’t stand how her older brother wasted his days indulging in pleasures without purpose.
“Even without the Dongfang family’s support, I can still carve out my own path. Without the family, what would you even be? Besides, the man I’ve set my eyes on is not someone you can insult!”
Thinking of that handsome profile, Dongfang Yanran suddenly felt a surge of interest. She was very curious to find out just how strong the man who had made her father back down truly was.
The middle-aged man’s face turned deathly pale, at a loss for words. Indeed, Dongfang Yanran, a woman with an IQ over 200, possessed abilities that could outshine any man. Her expertise in finance had even earned praise from the old patriarch himself.
“He is our family’s greatest enemy, and you actually say he’s the man you fancy? What exactly are your intentions?”
“That’s my business, not yours. He merely made you lose face. If you had any strength, you could go and settle the score yourself instead of throwing a tantrum here!”
Meeting her older brother’s murderous gaze, Dongfang Yanran showed only disdain. There was a large age gap between them, and with it a serious generational divide. Besides, she had never been fond of this brother who neglected his responsibilities and constantly worried about her threatening his inheritance.
“Enough! If you keep arguing, both of you leave this place immediately. Can’t you two stop bickering for just one day?”
The old patriarch finally snapped, unable to bear the noise any longer. The middle-aged man reluctantly shut his mouth, while Dongfang Yanran turned her head away and then walked deeper into the manor.
Watching Dongfang Yanran leave, Dongfang Haoran couldn’t help but feel puzzled. He wondered why his aunt was so angry. Although she often argued with his father, he had always held her in great respect.
“Alright, forget about her. Haoran, what are your plans now? If you continue staying in Beijing, I think Xiao Yufan won’t let you off. You know his methods better than any of us…”
The old patriarch turned his gaze back to Dongfang Haoran, waiting to hear his decision. But he truly hoped his grandson wouldn’t remain in Beijing, for he believed Xiao Yufan would definitely follow through on his threats.
“Grandfather, you know my heart has never been in business. I want a life filled with passion and excitement, not a monotonous routine…”
Dongfang Haoran hesitated, but the old patriarch still caught the meaning behind his words. It seemed Dongfang Haoran still couldn’t let go of his original ambitions.
The atmosphere grew tense once again. Dongfang Haoran silently awaited his grandfather’s response. This defeat had matured him somewhat, but it had also planted a seed of hatred deep within his heart—one that was steadily growing.
“If that’s what you truly want, then go ahead. The leader of the Tianlang Gang in the south is an old friend of mine. Go pay him a visit. I believe he will take you in…”
After a long silence, the old patriarch finally gave up trying to persuade Dongfang Haoran. Forcing him to take over the family business might backfire. Perhaps, after this lesson, Dongfang Haoran could still achieve something on the path he had chosen.
Meanwhile, Xiao Yufan had no idea what had transpired inside the manor. All he knew was that he felt incredibly cheerful. Ever since he had stepped out of the manor, his face had been lit by a continuous smile.
Tianxuan, who had been waiting outside, finally felt relieved seeing Xiao Yufan walk out. Although he believed in Xiao Yufan’s strength, this was still the Dongfang family’s territory. If they had plotted something in secret, it might have been enough to trap him.
“Boss, why do you look so happy? Did something good happen?”
Leaning close to Xiao Yufan, Tianxuan’s subtle fragrance brought a refreshing calmness. Xiao Yufan wrapped an arm around her slim waist, his smile carrying a hint of mystery.
“If nothing good happened, would your husband be smiling this happily?”
He raised an eyebrow, his gaze landing on the blushing Tianxuan, his desires flaring again. Provoked earlier by Dongfang Yanran, his lust had been stirred, and now with Tianxuan beside him, those feelings surged once more.
“They’re still watching. Can we wait until we get home?”
Tianxuan didn’t need to guess what Xiao Yufan was thinking. After all, they were in public. If anything happened, she would die of embarrassment—especially with the Tian Team staring at them so intently…
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage