Chapter Thirteen: Returning Is Inevitable, But Not Now

Early the next morning, Chen Fan took Leng Shuang with him to the government office. To avoid exposing his identity, Chen Fan wore a mask and went straight to the office of the person in charge as soon as he entered.

He knocked on the door, and a voice from within called, "Come in!"

Qin Sen, seated in his chair, looked up with a frown. "May I ask what brings the two of you here?" he said, eyeing Chen Fan and Leng Shuang as he spoke. The man was unremarkable, but the woman was striking—tall, with an alluring figure that was a feast for the eyes.

Leng Shuang noticed Qin Sen’s gaze and a flicker of disgust crossed her eyes. She gestured to Chen Fan at her side and said, "This is the newly appointed person in charge. We’re here today for the handover. Here’s the notice."

With that, she handed over a document.

Qin Sen was startled, his doubts plain, but upon careful inspection he found the document in order—except for the notable omission of the successor's name.

His curiosity piqued, he asked, "May I ask how I should address you, sir?"

Chen Fan cast a cool glance at Qin Sen and shook his head. Leng Shuang stepped in to explain, "The new leader’s identity is confidential. If you have any questions, feel free to inquire with the higher-ups. For now, let’s proceed with the handover."

"Such airs—won’t even give a name," Qin Sen muttered inwardly. Still, to be safe, he said, "Please wait a moment while I make a call for confirmation."

Despite his words, Qin Sen intended to probe into Chen Fan’s background. After all, he had been doing well as the East City’s leader, and to be replaced without warning left him more than a little resentful.

He called his superior, but the only reply he received was a cold, "Don’t ask questions you shouldn’t."

This only deepened Qin Sen’s curiosity about Chen Fan’s origins.

“Very well, if there are no issues, let’s begin the handover," Qin Sen said with a nod.

He glanced at Chen Fan, who showed no inclination to listen to his report. Just as he was wondering, Leng Shuang said, "If there’s anything you need to explain, simply tell me."

Qin Sen was momentarily taken aback but said nothing, and began handing things over to Leng Shuang. The process took nearly an hour. As they neared the end, Qin Sen smiled and said, "There’s just one last matter: the bidding for the old city district. I’ve preliminarily selected Guanghua Group. They have deep pockets, solid technical expertise, and a wealth of experience—they’re more than up to the task."

"I recall the chairman of Guanghua Group is surnamed Qin. Aren’t you afraid of what people might say behind your back?" Leng Shuang retorted coldly, without even glancing up.

“What do you mean by that?” Qin Sen’s face darkened.

Leng Shuang replied calmly, "Nothing by it. The new leader and I will reevaluate all these matters. Your advice is no longer needed. If there’s nothing else, you may go."

"You…"

Qin Sen, long accustomed to flattery and deference, was deeply mortified by this repeated snubbing. His voice frosted over: "Then I won’t trouble the new leader any further." With a cold snort, he stormed out in a huff.

After he left, Leng Shuang finally turned to Chen Fan, a wry note in her voice. "Just now, I almost felt hypocritical myself. He’s just looking out for his own family, and here you are, planning to support your future wife."

"There's a difference," Chen Fan replied, his gaze drifting out the window. "They coldly pursue profit above all, neglecting the most basic things. As for Xia Xin, my confidence in her isn’t just because she’s my fiancée—it’s her innate kindness. I believe she can handle this well. She just needs a chance."

Lost in thought, Chen Fan recalled his recent encounters with Xia Xin—she was different from other women, neither calculating nor affected, and most of all, fiercely independent, something he deeply admired.

Determined, he instructed, "Find some time for me to introduce you to her. Pretend I’ve asked for your help, and then let the word spread."

"You seem to enjoy this little game," Leng Shuang teased. "Why not just tell her who you are? I imagine she’d throw herself into your arms—after all, you’re the famed God of War, unmatched across the land."

"Don’t mock me, Shuang’er," Chen Fan sighed. "I’ve told you before—our families arranged our engagement long ago. I returned this time intending to break it off, but never expected her to accept me. That truly caught me by surprise."

"But as you said, she only wants you as a shield, and in her heart, she actually dislikes you. After all, you used to be a notorious playboy. What if, after five years, nothing comes of it?"

"Well… I haven’t considered that. If it comes to that, we’ll get married instead."

"So I’m just your backup," Leng Shuang said with a chuckle.

Chen Fan rolled his eyes at her, the grievance in his gaze unmistakable.

Leng Shuang gave a faint smile and continued, "You said you wanted to investigate your parents' attempted murder. You’ve been back in East City for some time—aren’t you going to visit your family home?"

At this, Chen Fan’s brow furrowed. "You think someone within the Chen family was involved?"

"Think about it," Leng Shuang said. "A group of people broke into your family estate under mysterious circumstances and killed nearly all the servants. Your parents fled with you, barely escaping to your grandmother’s house in the capital, isn’t that right?"

Chen Fan nodded, puzzled. "I was only a teenager then. The attackers wore skull masks, armed with guns and blades, and slaughtered everyone in sight. But what are you getting at?"

"Let me ask you—was it night or day?"

"Night."

"And your family isn’t ordinary. Your parents were the heads of the Chen family, with their own estate and professional security. No matter how useless, they couldn’t have been that ineffective, right?"

Leng Shuang’s analysis struck Chen Fan like lightning. "You mean to say, someone from the Chen family was there that night—someone familiar who often visited, so the guards let their guard down?"

"That’s very possible. Or perhaps there was an informant among the servants, which would explain how such a large estate’s defenses were so easily breached."

Hearing this, Chen Fan’s eyes turned as cold as ice. If that were true, he would not hesitate in seeking vengeance.

"So you suggest I return to the Chen family, show my face, and let them know I’m back. If the mastermind truly is someone from within, they’ll try to finish off the last survivor."

Leng Shuang said nothing, but her silence was answer enough.

Chen Fan pondered for a moment before replying, "I will go back—but not just yet."