Chapter 46

Zhang Xiyang nodded silently and replied in a low voice, "Dad, don't worry. I definitely won't let you down."

Zhang Linmo smiled. "Why are you talking like that to family?"

Then he reminded Zhang Xianyang, "Once you get to Yanjing, stay obediently by your eldest brother's side. You're not as skilled as your eldest brother, and your temperament is gentler too. The Li Family and the Kyoto Zhang Family suffered such a huge loss because of you—they definitely won't let this go. The Old District is our territory, so we aren't afraid no matter how they stir things up. But Yanjing is different. That's their home ground. If they really try anything, I'll be too far away to help."

Zhang Xianyang smiled with narrowed eyes. "Dad, don't worry. I know all their little tricks. I'll be careful and won't let them get their way."

"Caution is the best policy." Zhang Linmo handed Zhang Xianyang a slip of paper with a phone number written on it. "This person isn't from our Old District, but he has some business dealings with your father. If there's anything inconvenient to handle in Yanjing, contact him directly. Don't worry—even if he gets caught, it won't lead back to us."

Zhang Xianyang was speechless at Zhang Linmo's approach of sacrificing others to save himself. He obediently accepted the note and saved the number in his phone. Then he nodded and promised, "Dad, don't worry. I won't let myself suffer."

Seeing his son acting as docile as a kitten, Zhang Linmo reluctantly rubbed his third son's head. His sons had been around him for more than a decade, and now they were all flying away at once. Zhang Linmo still wasn't used to it. But once young eagles grew up, they had to soar into the sky. He couldn't tie down his children's feet. The descendants of the Old Zhang Family had to be beasts that dared to fight and struggle, never cats who craved warmth and stayed home feeling stifled.

Noticing his elder brother's reluctance, Zhang Tumo smiled and said, "Now that Mu Yang and the others are gone, the villa will be empty anyway. If you don't mind, Big Brother, I'll bring my whole family over to stay for a while. It's been so long since I last saw Old Zhang. I really miss his cooking."

After hearing her husband, Second Aunt Zhang chimed in, "Exactly. Qingyang is about to leave with an exchange group for an academic seminar in Germany, and he won't be back for one or two months. It's cold and lonely with just the two of us at home. If Big Brother doesn't mind, we'll pack up and move in."

Hearing that, Zhang Linmo's sense of loss over his sons leaving faded considerably. He immediately smiled. "I'm all alone anyway, so I don't mind. As long as you two don't feel awkward or uncomfortable."

Second Aunt Zhang blushed at his words and laughed. "The two of us are nearly eighty between us. We're not newlyweds. What's there to feel awkward about?"

Seeing that their father would have company, the three Zhang brothers laughed in good spirits. "Not necessarily. Don't they say that a long separation makes a couple feel like newlyweds again? Second Aunt only just came back from teaching in the west. It's perfectly normal for her to be lovey-dovey with Second Uncle."

Second Aunt Zhang flushed crimson and angrily poked Zhang Xianyang in the forehead. "You little brat, can't you ever be serious?"

Zhang Xianyang leaned back, immediately grabbed his luggage, and ran toward the plane. Watching his third son's bouncing figure, Zhang Linmo sighed. "You should get on the plane too. The earlier you arrive, the sooner you can rest."

Zhang Muyang and the other nodded, then turned and boarded the plane as well. Jiang Peize and the production crew followed the Zhang brothers. Soon, everyone boarded in twos and threes.

The flight from Kanto Airport to Yanjing took less than two hours in total. It was no more than the time it took to take a nap.

As they got off the plane, Jiang Peize pulled Zhang Muyang aside and said mysteriously, "My grandfather knows we're arriving in Yanjing today, and he's arranged a welcome banquet. We'll welcome you after getting off the plane. The production crew can go to the hotel to rest first. Can your people come with us?"

Looking at Jiang Peize's expectant expression, Zhang Muyang had not expected them to be in such a hurry. He blinked thoughtfully, then smiled. "As long as the production crew is settled properly, we're fine with anything."

Wang Zhaoyi, seated behind them, leaned forward and asked mysteriously, "This isn't some kind of trap banquet, is it?"

Jiang Peize had known Wang Zhaoyi for more than half a year and was already used to his cheap habit of never saying anything decent. He could completely ignore whatever Wang Zhaoyi said. Still smiling, he said to the Zhang brothers, "Once we get off the plane, the production crew will leave through the front. We'll take the confidential passage directly to my home."

The Zhang brothers understood Jiang Peize's need to conceal things due to certain concerns. Only Wang Zhaoyi kept muttering as though dissatisfied, "Sneaking around all mysterious-like. It's as if we're all mistresses being kept on the side and can't be seen in public."

With that one sentence, he had dragged all the guys from the Old District into it.

Gao Ci, the production crew's accountant, gave Wang Zhaoyi a hard knock on the head. "Mianmian should have come too, so she could keep that filthy mouth of yours under control."

"Hmph." Wang Zhaoyi rubbed his aching head in dissatisfaction, then turned around and sneered, "At least I have someone willing to keep me in line. What do you have? Eternal virgin? Eternal virgin?"

Gao Ci's face turned purple-red with rage. He grabbed Wang Zhaoyi by the throat and shook him violently, repeating over and over, "Say that again! Say it again if you dare! Go on, say it again..."

"Eternal virgin, eternal virgin, eternal virgin..."

The other production crew members had no idea what was going on and immediately stepped forward to break up the fight. Zhang Xianyang casually picked at his ear and said, "Don't mind them. Nobody's going to die."

The group got off the plane amid laughter and horseplay. Zhang Chaofan led the production crew to the hotel first, only to be immediately surrounded by a swarm of reporters once they left the airport. Zhang Xiyang carried his luggage and transferred directly to a flight bound for the United States. Jiang Peize led the rest through the secret passage. Even as they got into the car, they could see the crowded, noisy scene at the airport's main entrance.

Seeing this, Gao Ci said with some satisfaction, "Looks like our show has caused quite a stir!"

"Let's hope the TV drama gets such a good response once it airs," Zhang Xianyang replied unhurriedly. Brain AI had arranged countless promotional plans for him, ensuring that the Old District's new image would take root in people's minds as the drama aired. Zhang Xianyang, meanwhile, intended to ride the wave of the drama's broadcast and establish a new entertainment company in Yanjing. If possible, he also wanted to buy several newspapers—that would be even better.

Noticing Zhang Xianyang's absent-mindedness, Zhang Muyang's heart stirred. He turned to look at Jiang Peize, who was busily introducing Yanjing City to them, and thoughtfully moved his fingers.

The car traveled at a steady pace, only gradually speeding up after passing through the bustling city center. The scenery around them changed from towering buildings to dense woods. The biting cold wind of early spring brushed against willows that had only just sprouted new buds, while the distant mountains remained blanketed in snow. Even inside the car, they seemed able to feel the sudden drop in temperature. There were fewer and fewer vehicles on the road, and an exceptionally quiet, upscale residential compound came into view. Soldiers holding firearms stood guard on either side of its entrance. When they saw the approaching car—or rather, the license plate mounted on its front—the soldiers saluted and let it pass.

It was afternoon, and the warm spring sunlight spilled across the compound, illuminating the villas with exceptional clarity. The car continued forward. Zhang Xianyang looked out through the black-tinted window and soon saw a building that was terribly familiar—

It was the place where he had once lived for ten years. Separated by an entire lifetime of time and space, Zhang Xianyang had returned to Yanjing, though his destination had changed.

Noticing Zhang Xianyang's gaze, Jiang Peize, sitting in the front passenger seat, smiled. "That's the Li Family residence. If you're interested, we can go over and take a look."

Zhang Xianyang withdrew his distant gaze, folded his hands over the knee of his crossed leg, and said with a faint smile, neither hurried nor slow, "No rush. One day, sooner or later, I'll go inside."

But definitely not as a guest.

Startled by the sudden force of Zhang Xianyang's presence, Jiang Peize came back to himself and could not help sighing softly.

They could be considered half family, yet things had reached this point. To be honest, he really did not know what the Li Family was thinking.

Wang Zhaoyi, who was sharing the car with Jiang Peize and the Zhang brothers, looked over the scenery outside and suddenly asked, "Where exactly are you taking us? You're not planning to sell us, are you?"

Jiang Peize replied irritably, "I'm taking you to the slaughterhouse."

Wang Zhaoyi raised his brows and leaned forward against the front passenger seat. He waved both arms around in front of Jiang Peize like a ghost and drawled in an eerie voice, "Honored guest, would you prefer to be steamed or braised—"

Before he could finish the final word, the driver slammed on the brakes. Caught off guard, Wang Zhaoyi's face hit the front passenger seatback from inertia, and he let out a muffled groan. The driver turned around expressionlessly and said in a dull voice, "We're here."

Inside the car, Zhang Xianyang and Zhang Muyang could not hold back their laughter. They twitched their mouths as they turned sideways to get out. Jiang Peize got out as well and led them onward. "This way."

Like the Li Family, the Jiang Family lived in a four-story building painted pale white. The courtyard outside was planted with lush grass and evergreen pines. Unfortunately, it was early spring, and the withered grass had not yet been dyed green again. Everywhere looked bleak and cold.

Jiang Peize warmly welcomed everyone inside. Unlike the Old District Zhang Family villa, whose many antiques were still maintained in magnificent splendor, the Jiang Family's decorations showed none of the luxury or refinement befitting its power. At a glance, the furniture inside gave off an aged feeling, like the decor in an old television drama set in the 1980s. Zhang Xianyang knew this was the restrained, understated style unique to those in power.

The Li Family had been the same. Having already grown used to luxurious homes, Zhang Xianyang had felt deeply uncomfortable there. So Old Master Li had personally decided to renovate Zhang Xianyang's room. Naturally, the room decorated according to Zhang Xianyang's tastes differed from the villa's original old-fashioned decor, making it seem especially out of place. Zhang Xianyang had not truly understood that sense of incompatibility until after he died once.

What was not his would never truly be his. No matter how much effort he put into it, he would still be rejected, still be out of place.

Besides, in Zhang Xianyang's view, a villa that so obviously belonged to an official housing compound and could be taken away by a successor the moment one lost power was not truly a home either. At most, it was a slightly more upscale company-assigned apartment. Perhaps that was why these bigwigs had no interest in decorating. Otherwise, how could one explain the lavish, palace-like decor exposed in the hidden private homes of corrupt officials whenever they fell from power?

Of course, Zhang Xianyang would only keep such clearly petty suspicions to himself. He would never say them aloud.

After passing through the entryway, Zhang Xianyang saw the Jiang Family members who had apparently been waiting on the sofa for quite some time. The seventy-year-old man seated in the middle of the sofa, dressed in military uniform and exuding an imposing air, was probably the grandfather Jiang Peize had mentioned—Jiang Rongzhen, commander of the Southwestern Military Region. Beside him sat a kind-looking old woman around the same age. Zhang Xianyang heard Jiang Peize greet her as Grandma.

As for the middle-aged couple in their forties or fifties seated nearby, they were probably Jiang Peize's parents.