Chapter 24

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

There were many moments in Fang Yan’s life when she really wanted to forget that she had a father.

However, there was too little time for people to truly do as they pleased.

Every time Fang Yan was about to forget, someone would jump out and press her face down into the suffocating memories.

When they were young, Fang Yan would only glare at them. Later, when Zhang Yan found out, he started to use his fists.

There was no need to beat people up. As long as one pretended to be imposing and ruthless, they could scare away those snobs who bullied the weak and feared the strong.

But now, this person was Zhang Yan.

Zhang Yan sat down on the stone steps. “Your father hasn’t been doing well these past few years. He’s also getting older. He worked hard in a foreign country alone and has suffered all kinds of hardships. He still doesn’t know about your mother’s death. He said that he wants to earn more money and try his best to take care of his wife and daughter.”

Fang Yan looked at Yue Ji and said calmly, “Isn’t this karma?”

“Yan, he’s still your father, you…”

“I don’t have a father!”

Fang Yan was agitated. Zhang Yan didn’t know that after so many years, Fang Yan’s resistance to that man hadn’t decreased at all.

“I also have times where I need a father. Where was he then? He’s at the bar, at the casino, on the way to play basketball with his pals! When I had a high fever and my mom had to carry me because we couldn’t find a taxi, what did he do? He beat us up because he felt that we had embarrassed him in front of outsiders! Uncle, have you forgotten how many scars my mother has?”

Zhang Yan thought of his sister and turned his head away. However, he advised, “But it’s been so many years. You’re still family after all. Your blood is connected. Even if there’s something huge, he’s suffered so much. It should be enough, right?”

Fang Yan said loudly, “I can’t! There are so many injuries. What can I use to offset them? It will never be offset! Uncle, are you still thinking about the favor he gave you when he sponsored your business back then? You want to use me as a favor now? Then I have to remind you that 20 years ago, he could fork out 500,000 yuan to you. Now, he might not even be able to fork out a hundred thousand yuan.”

“Fang Yan! How can you say that!” Zhang Yan blushed and straightened his body.

Back then, Fang Yan’s mother, Zhang Rong, didn’t insist on her father, Fang Ke. On the contrary, she had a better choice. It was Zhang Yan who had failed several times in his entrepreneurial career and caused the Zhang family to suffer. That was why Fang Ke persuaded him to become his wingman.

Fang Ke also agreed to give him 500,000 yuan to make a comeback, in addition to a generous betrothal gift.

Zhang Yan originally thought that his sister would be able to live comfortably after marrying into the family, but he did not expect that he had pushed his sister into a fire pit. He had been blaming himself for this.

“Even if I was blinded by greed back then, I’ve long regretted it! Now, I’m doing this for you!” Zhang Yan looked at Fang Yan and said, “You’re not young anymore, right? Those classmates of yours have already given birth to two children! In the past, you always said that you wanted to protect your grandmother. Now, the old lady is also… Xiao Yan, don’t you want your grandmother to watch you get married?”

Fang Yan was silent.

Zhang Yan continued, “I know that he’s guilty, but he’s your father. A father is different from an uncle. In the future, in front of your in-laws, he can support you. No one will dare to bully you!”

Fang Yan was so angry that she laughed. “Are you gathering people at your in-laws’ house to fight?”

However, Zhang Yan’s attention was not on Fang Yan. He kept looking behind her.

Behind Fang Yan was the entrance. This corridor was lit by solar energy. Sea City had been cloudy for a few days, and even the light in the corridor was dim.

Seeing that the two of them had stopped arguing, Cheng Zheng patted his white coat and walked out of the shadows.

Zhang Yan widened his eyes and shouted angrily, “You eavesdropped! As a department director, you came to listen to other people’s gossip in the middle of the night. Is this the integrity of a department director?”

This sentence reminded Fang Yan of the strange couple with the surname Li. If she traced back to the source, it was Zhang Yan who caused the trouble.

Fang Yan glared fiercely at her uncle, then pulled Cheng Zheng along and turned to leave.

Zhang Yan received a glare for no reason. Before he could feel aggrieved, he became nervous. “Xiao Yan, don’t cry! It’s uncle’s fault. Uncle said something wrong! Xiao Yan!”

Ever since Fang Yan matured, she had never cried in front of Zhang Yan.

Looking at Fang Yan’s tear-stained face, Zhang Yan panicked.