Ch 22: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

Fang Ziyang stared at the photo in the wallet’s compartment, feeling puzzled and serious.

The person in the photo left by Yan Tong in the wallet compartment was none other than his mother!

To be precise, it was a photo of his mother and a strange woman together. In the photo, the two of them seemed to have a good relationship, with one of them holding a baby and wearing a radiant smile, appearing like friends.

Although his mother passed away early, Fang Ziyang was still quite clear about most of her life and friends. After all, regardless of anything, his mother was once a well-known beauty in the Jiang City circle. Due to the extensive connections of the Lu family as a research family, it was impossible for Fang Yandong to conceal everything about his mother.

From childhood to adulthood, several of his mother’s friends would send him things and call him every year. Through these aunts and uncles, he learned quite a bit about his mother’s life before her passing.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

But in his memory, he had no knowledge of his mother having another female friend in this photo.

Judging by the quality of the photo, it was probably taken about twenty years ago, before he was born. So the baby his mother was holding in the photo should be his… older brother?

Why did Yan Tong throw out this photo?

Who was it meant for?

Was that person in the private room?

What was their relationship with his mother?

And why did Yan Tong do this? Would it have any impact on him if the other person saw this photo?

Given Yan Tong’s personality, if this matter didn’t affect him, there was no way he would go through such lengths to do it, and even… this photo’s impact on him might be fatal.

It seems that the contents of the golden book are still incomplete. Everything he currently knows may just be superficial, and there are many deeper layers hidden in the depths, waiting for him to dig out the truth.

“Even if I have to die again, I’ll drag all these people down with me!”

“If I don’t understand, it’s okay. I’ll investigate slowly!”

Coldly putting away the photo, throwing the wallet into the trash bin, Fang Ziyang’s gaze became unusually determined.

…

Meanwhile.

In the private room of the club where a small incident had just occurred at the entrance.

Tang Xun’s face turned unpleasant as he listened to what Xie Zheng said. Rare emotions leaked onto his usually gentle face, and his hands clenched into fists, displaying his anger.

“Boss, are you saying that Xie Wenxu isn’t simply neglecting Ziyang but has actually had intentions of cheating for a while now?”

Rick’s expression also appeared strange. “Looking at today’s situation, Xie Wenxu might not just have intentions of cheating but was actually planning to do it. Maybe he just hasn’t found a suitable opportunity yet?”

“It’s not that he hasn’t found the opportunity, but he found it and tried but failed. He intentionally didn’t extend a helping hand during the trending event. Xie Wenxu wants to ruin Fang Ziyang and find an excuse to cancel the engagement!”

Tang Xun, who was usually calm and composed, couldn’t hide his anger in front of others for the first time.

He was not just anyone; he had been working alongside Xie Zheng for many years, and he had some understanding of the overall situation of the Xie family and the nature of each individual in the clan.

But now it seemed that they still knew too little about the people in the Xie family.

He had originally thought that Xie Wenxu was just a bit hypocritical and foolish, but still had some redeeming qualities. At least from the proposal and his behavior in the past few years, Tang Xun believed that Xie Wenxu’s feelings for Ziyang were genuine.

Although not completely satisfied, Ziyang also liked him a lot, and they were compatible with each other. He could only accept it.

With him around, even if Xie Wenxu was a bit foolish, their future marriage wouldn’t be too bad. For the sake of his reputation, Xie Zheng promised him that after the Xie family split, he would help Xie Wenxu gain control over the second branch and free himself from Mrs. Zhou’s control.

But he never expected that Xie Wenxu would be such a weak-willed and malicious person!

Wanting to cancel the engagement but not wanting to bear the infidelity accusation, he used his once beloved person as a stepping stone!

“This despicable scoundrel!”

Tang Xun was so angry that he slammed his fist hard on the table.

Xie Zheng’s serious face didn’t look any better. His voice was low, “It might be even worse than that…”

To be honest, he didn’t expect that his neglected illegitimate son would turn out to be such a person behind the scenes. He truly lived up to being carefully selected by Mrs. Zhou’s side, inheriting their stupidity and malice.

Xie Zheng poured a glass of water for Tang Xun and continued, “I think there might be something between Fang Ziyang and Xie Wenxu that we don’t know. Last time we met, his unconventional behavior caught me off guard, and today, I noticed a strong sense of resentment from him when he looked at Xie Wenxu.”

“Although he’s trying hard to conceal it, I still discovered it. That kind of emotion is incredibly intense, I don’t know how to describe it, but I can only say… it made me feel a shiver.”

Xie Zheng’s expression turned grave. “Tang Xun, do you understand what I mean?”

Tang Xun’s face turned pale.

Rick also widened his eyes. If even Xie Zheng felt a shiver from Fang Ziyang’s emotions, how intense could they be?

What kind of person Xie Zheng was might not be clear to outsiders, but those close to him knew it very well. Xie Zheng’s calmness and strength were almost beyond imagination. Until now, they had never seen anything that could truly shake him.

To be able to secure the position of the head of the Xie family at the age of twenty-eight, to decide to empty the ancestral property and split the family due to disgust towards those corrupt individuals in the family, to quickly regain composure and launch a thunderous counterattack after being stabbed in the back by a deeply trusted friend…

It can be said that Xie Zheng’s composure and willpower were unimaginable.

However, this very Xie Zheng was influenced by an emotion that made him speak of his shivering. It was a terrifying fact.

Recalling the young man whom he had changed his opinion of twice in just two encounters, Xie Zheng’s feelings were complex as well.

He had also never encountered someone who could easily stir his emotions like this.

Xie Zheng rubbed his temples.

“I’ve already ordered an investigation into the matter. But before we find out the truth, Tang Xun, I hope you can stay calm and not do anything. If necessary, I will handle it for you.”

“But…”

“No ‘buts.'”

Xie Zheng said seriously, “Tang Xun, getting too involved will only lead to chaos. Fang Ziyang is not as weak as you imagine. On the contrary, if you rush to intervene, unexpected accidents may occur, and he will also become aware of your existence. How will you explain it to him then?”

“After all, even I and Rick cannot accept or understand why you are so good to him. Will he believe in a stranger who only gives without expecting anything in return?”

Rick nodded in agreement, his voice filled with anticipation. “Xie is right, Tang. Unless you tell us the reason why you’re protecting him?”

Tang Xun immediately pursed his lips and remained silent.

Clearly, it was impossible for him to give a reason, even if it was his closest and best friend and brother in front of him. Every time it was brought up, this was his response.

Xie Zheng and Rick had long been accustomed to it. There was some disappointment, but not too much, as everything was expected.

Tang Xun was always stubborn, which could be frustrating, but that was also his charm. Becoming true friends and brothers with him meant not having to worry about betrayal.

However, considering Tang Xun’s concern for Fang Ziyang, Xie Zheng felt the need to take precautions.

“Tang Xun, if you can’t control yourself from getting involved, then I suggest you and Rick go back to the Country M branch for a while…”

Rick’s eyes lit up upon hearing this and he nodded eagerly.

“Going back sounds great! Tang, I’ll take you to Phil Manor to attend my uncle’s fifth wedding. Although my uncle can be annoying, I have to admit he’s really romantic. Every wedding he has surprises people. I heard this time he’s with a new male lover who will be wearing a dress. I’ve seen the photos, and they look really beautiful. I think we can take inspiration from that… Ah!”

Rick’s excited voice turned into a painful scream.

Tang Xun’s temple couldn’t control its bulging and he kicked Rick’s shin hard. What a brainless guy.

Xie Zheng smiled upon witnessing the scene.

Life sometimes seemed quite amusing.

…

On the other side.

Yan Tong, who thought everything had gone smoothly, left the club with a much-improved mood due to an upcoming favorable event.

Although there was a slight tinge of guilt in his heart, the thought of cutting off Fang Ziyang’s greatest support made him believe that no matter how Fang Ziyang struggled in the future, he would never be able to stir up any significant storms or shine without restraint. That sense of guilt faded away.

In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures were necessary. He couldn’t let Fang Ziyang grow just because of a little guilt. Sacrificing one person could save many others. He had done nothing wrong.

Yan Tong comforted himself inwardly.

However, the good mood that had just emerged faded away when he returned home and saw the house in a mess, turned upside down. Zheng Yating, upon seeing her son returning, was also furious and shouting.

“Yan Tong, where is the box? The box where I keep my old stuff? Where did you put it? Find it quickly! I’ve told you not to touch my box. Why don’t you listen as you grow older? Why did you touch my things!”

She was clearly a charming and lovable beauty, but when she threw a tantrum, she behaved like an uncultured shrew.

Yan Tong had had enough of this cheap mother. If it wasn’t for the fact that they were biologically related and he still depended on her for a living, and if he hadn’t received his ID yet, he would have packed up and left a long time ago.

The original owner’s mother was simply a lunatic. She either threw tantrums while shopping or constantly reminded him of how ruthless Fang Ziyang’s mother was to them, how difficult and miserable his own mother’s life was, and how he must study hard and return to the Fang family… She seemed somewhat insane.

Originally, he didn’t want to listen to Zheng Yating and return to the Fang family, but now he had no choice.

“I don’t know where the box you’re talking about is. I don’t even have the key to your room. If you lost it while cleaning, don’t blame me.”

Impatiently glancing at the raging shrew, Zheng Yating, Yan Tong walked over and sat on the sofa in the living room. He coldly looked at his middle-aged yet well-maintained mother.

“I don’t want to argue with you. Sit down calmly and tell me about what happened back then. I want to go back to the Fang family…”

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