Ch 27 (Part 2): Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

They were both deeply poisoned by Yan Tong, to the point that even when presented with evidence, they didn’t believe the speculations online. They couldn’t help but think that it might be orchestrated by Fang Ziyang himself. After all, Fang Ziyang really disliked Yan Tong.

Thinking this way, they found a reason on their own and, in order to prevent their loved ones from feeling upset, they consciously used their connections to control any unfavorable comments about Yan Tong, making an effort to suppress all negative remarks.

The result was unexpected for the two of them—they ended up shooting themselves in the foot!

While controlling comments was something commonly done on the internet, it had its prerequisites. When the intensity of an event reached a certain point, suppression would cause a backlash, and it would be an even more intense one.

In the book, Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu’s abilities were actually quite strong.

But they were still young and inexperienced at this age. Despite their exposure to the company and group affairs through family grooming, they were still in school, lacking the experience and other aspects that would be sufficient in the real world.

After all, there weren’t many monsters like Xie Zheng that couldn’t be judged by common sense.

Therefore, Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu’s less meticulous public relations efforts led to a surge in speculations about Yan Tong from netizens.

Suppressing negative comments that had just appeared meant one thing—there was something fishy going on!

As the legitimate young master of the Fang family, Fang Ziyang didn’t receive any control when he was in trouble. But now, even a regular student like Yan Tong had someone using their background power to help him. It was impossible not to think further, especially with the genuine dislike Fang Ziyang had for Yan Tong.

Looking at Yan Tong’s innocent appearance and the things Xu Jiaqing, the crazed pursuer, had done, what else could people think of?

Lack of evidence didn’t matter; the internet was a place where rumors spread easily.

Moreover, Yan Tong hadn’t reached a point where everyone loved him. There were many who liked him, but there were also many who disliked him, such as some girls and boys in the same school who were jealous of his radiance.

The world was never short of people who threw stones in a well.

It was the case for Fang Ziyang back then.

And now, it was the same for Yan Tong.

Seeing the negative tide of speculation and discussion on the internet, Fang Ziyang almost died laughing.

He couldn’t believe he hadn’t realized how foolish Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu were. It seemed that intelligence reached negative levels when people fell in love. Or was it that love made them lose their focus?

He truly admired Yan Tong’s ability to manipulate men.

Fang Ziyang sat at home, laughing heartily while holding his computer.

Meanwhile, Yan Tong, who was at the center of the storm, couldn’t find any reason to laugh. He felt like he was going crazy at home.

He never expected the situation to turn out like this!

How did it come to this? How did it end up like this?

Everything was going so well. Wasn’t Fang Ziyang on the verge of collapse? How did all the circumstances suddenly reverse overnight? Not only that, but it also dragged him down!

If he hadn’t been vigilant enough, speaking half-truths to Xu Jiaqing from beginning to end, letting him believe that the whole incident was his own idea and design, he hadn’t interfered at all.

It seems that with Fang Ziyang’s thunderous methods this time, Yan Tong is going to be completely ruined…

Being speculated and discussed on the internet is already the best outcome for now.

“Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu, these two idiots, aren’t they usually smart? They’ve only made things worse.”

Thinking about how these two made things worse, Yan Tong felt even more frustrated.

In the book, both Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu were quite impressive, especially Xie Wenxu. He did many remarkable things for Fang Ziyang. How did their intelligence hit rock bottom now that they were with Yan Tong?

Could it be that Fang Ziyang’s protagonist halo was truly powerful enough to turn them into carefree idlers who could unleash their potential?

Although he didn’t want to believe it, that seemed to be the only reason…

In the book, Fang Ziyang’s abilities were truly undeniable. Even without any cheat-like abilities, his achievements were impressive.

Thinking of these things…

Yan Tong felt unwilling and a bit panicked.

Fang Ziyang wasn’t the kind of protagonist who would give up after a setback. He possessed all the traits of a protagonist, and that included not showing mercy to his enemies. Judging from Fang Ziyang’s attitude, it seemed like he already held a grudge against him and would eventually destroy him.

No, he couldn’t just wait for his doom.

He had to quickly get Fang Ziyang’s golden finger, or else once Fang Ziyang grew up, he would be completely hopeless.

…If that were the case, what was the point of him crossing over to this world?

Feeling heavy-hearted, Yan Tong hastily grabbed a bottle of water and took deep breaths, trying to calm his panicked emotions.

Just then…

His phone on the table suddenly rang, indicating a new notification from the browser’s news.

Yan Tong hesitated for a moment, then seemed to realize something. His previously heavy and frantic expression suddenly disappeared, replaced by excitement and eagerness as he quickly opened the webpage to check.

On the mobile webpage, it displayed:

“…According to the latest reporter’s report, on April 29th, Flight HC1325 of XX Airlines, flying to Los Angeles in M Country, encountered rare and severe thunderstorm weather during the flight and unfortunately malfunctioned due to a lightning strike, resulting in the plane crashing into the Pacific Ocean…”

It was a heartbreaking plane crash incident.

However, Yan Tong burst into laughter as if he had expected it all along.

“Hahaha, great, great! This plane crash is just perfect. Finally, there’s some good news. Hahaha.”

…

At the same time.

People from all over also saw the news about the crash of Flight HC1325.

Although science shows that airplanes are actually the safest mode of transportation, safety doesn’t mean accidents won’t happen. Once an airplane accident occurs, it is a catastrophic blow.

In each aviation accident, the number of passengers and flight crew who survive is chillingly low.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Most of the time, it’s zero.

Major TV channels immediately started reporting, and various browser notifications flooded in one after another. With such widespread dissemination, even those who didn’t care about the news would soon find out.

And for people like Xie Zheng and Rick, who had to follow the news every day because of company matters, they saw the news as soon as it came out.

The moment Xie Zheng saw the news…

He turned pale, and his body trembled due to the aftershock. “Xie, this… Is this Flight HC1325 that was flying to Los Angeles in M Country on April 29th? The itinerary I arranged for Tang? “

Just a few days ago, he had been persuading Tang to return to M Country, and he even booked the plane ticket for him.

And the plane he booked happened to be the one that just crashed.

Oh, God, he couldn’t even imagine the consequences if Tang hadn’t stayed because of Fang Ziyang’s situation and had taken the plane according to the normal schedule…

“Xie, did I almost kill Tang?”

Rick held his head, feeling a bit overwhelmed. A tall man of 1.9 meters almost cried.

He couldn’t fathom what he would become if Tang died.

Tang was the most important person in his life.

Xie Zheng watched the news on TV and broke out in a cold sweat.

But fortunately, they were lucky. They missed it. Tang Xun didn’t board that flight.

…

Fang Ziyang also saw the news of the crash of Flight HC1325.

His previously cheerful mood suddenly turned heavy.

There were so many things happening since his rebirth that he had forgotten about this major news.

During this time in his previous life, he was still immersed in the aftermath of the trending video, staying at home and not daring to go out due to the widespread criticism on the internet.

But the news of the HC1325 crash was too shocking, instantly overshadowing the attention on his situation. Even though he was mentally hazy at the time, he still learned a bit about it.

However, on the day the news came out, he suddenly experienced an unexplained severe cardiac episode, causing him to be unconscious in the hospital for a day and night before waking up.

After that, he didn’t pay much attention to it.

If he had remembered earlier, maybe he could have done something to prevent it.

He remembered… that there were no survivors in this plane crash.

Fang Ziyang felt a bit uncomfortable. Although his heart was filled with hatred for the people who had harmed him, he knew that this world wasn’t entirely filled with bad people or darkness. There was always light and warmth to aspire to.

For Yan Tong, this was a fictional world of paper characters.

But for him, everything here was real and alive.

He couldn’t blame himself for not preventing this plane crash, but he still felt a bit uneasy.

After all, he might have had the chance to save them. He had been given the opportunity to be reborn, and fate had given him many advantages.

Although revenge was important, he realized that his vision could be broader…

Staring at the news on his phone, he remained silent for a long time.

Fang Ziyang dialed Uncle Liu’s number. “Uncle Liu, after selling the batch of antique jades, keep the original value of 2.3 billion and convert the remaining compensation money into goods to be donated to impoverished mountainous areas and schools.”


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Ch 27 (Part 1): Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

The transaction of over 2 billion yuan was accomplished in just a few sentences.

Not to mention that Fang Yandong couldn’t accept having a myocardial infarction on the spot, even those who came to join in the fun were secretly amazed. They had never seen such a smooth transaction before.

Although everyone had the means to come up with the 2 billion yuan, there weren’t many who could immediately spend such a large amount of money on antiques and jade stones. Even if they loved those things, it wouldn’t lead to such extravagant spending. After all, there weren’t many enthusiasts who would go all out like that.

There were many wealthy families, but they were ranked and distinguished. Not everyone could make such a large-scale move.

While the onlookers marveled silently, they couldn’t help but glance at the displeased Fang Yandong, secretly lighting a candle for him.

Who in the circle didn’t know that Fang Yandong’s youngest son was a spendthrift? Although he had previously claimed to be ambitious, it wasn’t easy for someone who was used to a life of indulgence to change so easily. They were worried about the disappointing child in the family.

The spendthrift son was about to squander over 2 billion yuan… No wonder Fang Yandong had a bad expression.

What was even more annoying was that Fang Ziyang came over happily and said, “Dad, don’t worry. I will work hard not to disappoint your expectations. I will think carefully during this period, and after the college entrance examination, I will achieve excellent results for you to see. It can also be considered as a birthday gift for you this year. You will definitely be very happy.”

No, I’m definitely going to be furious!

On the night of the antique and jade stone exhibition, Fang Yandong returned home and vented his anger at Uncle Liu, who had suggested the idea of replacing the genuine antiques and jade stones with fake ones for the exhibition.

Then he went to the hospital.

Although Fang Yandong took good care of himself, regularly exercised, and looked handsome, appearing young and charming, he couldn’t deny his age. He was already 39 years old, and no matter how well he took care of himself, he would never be as young as a real young person.

He had been sailing smoothly for many years, and he hadn’t encountered any setbacks in a long time.

Those antiques and jade stones were all borrowed. He not only had to compensate for their value but also pay compensation for the loss. How much money would he lose this time?

Just thinking about it, Fang Yandong felt like he was going to vomit blood. He couldn’t even go to the hospital without considering it. He felt like he wanted to vomit blood…

After learning about the exhibition incident, Fang Qianhao was so angry that he almost fainted.

In his mind, his father’s belongings were meant to be his in the future. If Fang Ziyang squandered his father’s money, indirectly, he would be squandering his money too!

Thinking about Grandpa Lu’s inheritance, thinking about this additional large sum of money, Fang Qianhao couldn’t control his temper and came to confront Fang Ziyang.

But now Fang Ziyang wasn’t afraid of his tantrums. He even hoped that Fang Qianhao would become more agitated. The more agitated he was, the easier he would lose his rationality, and the easier he would make mistakes. After all, it was just a quarrel. He wasn’t afraid anymore.

“You have so much free time to bother me all the time. Why don’t you care more about your beloved Yan Tong? Did you think the incident where I live-streamed and called in a team of lawyers to report to the police was just for fun?”

“Yesterday, the law firm called me. The court’s decision has been made. Xu Jiaqing, the marketing studio, several gossip self-media, and even my homeroom teacher, Mr.s He… In the end, even those keyboard warriors who happily joined in the criticism against me didn’t get off lightly. I believe there will be news online tonight.”

“So, you better help your beloved Yan Tong and think about how to deal with the families of those keyboard warriors, as well as the online public opinion.”

Mocking the furious Fang Qianhao, who looked like an enraged lion, Fang Ziyang turned around in a good mood and left.

He was planning to use this as an excuse to leave home again and stay outside for a few more days.

He had been waiting for the verdict in the trending video case for so long, and now it had finally come.

With the powerful argumentation of the law firm and the complete evidence, as well as the operation by Uncle Zhao Jingyu, the case was handed over for discussion, and a decision was made to set it as a typical case.

So, it was impossible for a light sentence to be given to Xu Jiaqing, who could have received a maximum of three years. He was sentenced directly to ten years.

It was really unlucky for Xu Jiaqing. He was caught just after turning eighteen, just entering adulthood, without any consideration as a minor. The entire incident had a significant impact, and he had to learn a profound lesson.

As for Mrs. He, the homeroom teacher, the marketing studio, and others, they also received different degrees of sentencing.

Even those keyboard warriors were sentenced this time, not just a simple detention for education. The degree of influence caused by their posts, comments, and shares had reached the standard for sentencing.

This was intentionally done by Fang Ziyang.

Among the many people criticizing him online, why were only these few being punished?

Naturally, it wasn’t that he randomly arrested and framed people. These netizens were carefully selected by him.

From the internet traces on their computers, these people had not only criticized him but had also used vicious language and exhibited aggressive behavior, taking advantage of the anonymity of the internet to cause trouble everywhere and vent their frustrations in life.

They were not the same as those naive followers who blindly followed the trend.

Since that was the case, they shouldn’t blame him for being too ruthless. He used these few people as examples to deter others, to warn those netizens who lacked judgment and had overly simplistic minds. This was his contribution to a harmonious internet.

As soon as the court’s decision came out, the major reporters who had been waiting immediately went back to work overtime to write their articles.

By the next day, the previously quiet online world exploded once again. The netizens who had been eagerly awaiting the follow-up to the Fang Ziyang incident went crazy discussing it.

There was no other choice.

Although Fang Ziyang had created an intimidating spectacle before, few people actually took it seriously. Most people thought that Fang Ziyang had done all that to clear his name, and the thunder was loud but the rain was small, making a big fuss over nothing.

Later, as the case dragged on and there was no court verdict for so many days, people became less concerned about the court trial.

And now…

They didn’t know it would turn out like this. When the court ruling was finally made, it was shocking.

With the powerful argumentation of the law firm and the help of Uncle Zhao Jingyu, the case was directly established as a serious case. Could a case established as serious be lightly sentenced? Haha, that was impossible. The government always delivered a thunderous blow in such cases.

Nowadays, with freedom of speech and the chaotic and bad state of the internet, the government was very willing to use this opportunity to improve the online environment.

“Oh my god, the sentence is so heavy, it’s really scary.”

“No kidding, I’ve been saying all along that Fang Ziyang was serious about it. The law firm even showed up. If it had ended so easily, wouldn’t it have been a waste of the drama?”

“The court has made its decision, it seems that what Fang Ziyang said before was true. Although he was a bit willful, it didn’t reach the level of bullying, at most just a rich second generation. Xu Jiaqing is really scary. I heard they were good friends for many years.”

“And that homeroom teacher, Mrs. He, is so malicious. As a teacher, she disregarded the law and ethics just for a bit of money to harm her own student. Although our homeroom teacher is also disliked, he still defends our classmates. This Mrs. He is really…”

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

“No.1 High School is the same. They’re in a hurry to distance themselves without thoroughly investigating the matter. Although there’s no evidence to prove anything about the school, I can’t help but find their attitude intriguing.”

“Hey, is your attention only focused on these areas? Haven’t you noticed Yan Tong? I used to pity him, but now that I’ve finished all the gossip, I feel like he might not be as simple as he appears…”

“Agreed, I also feel the same way. I didn’t notice it before, but now I see Yan Tong in a completely different light. He gives off the vibe of a deceptive white lotus.”

“Exactly. Do you remember what Fang Ziyang said? He said that his bad luck started after he met Yan Tong. I carefully studied the events he listed and secretly inquired with people I know from No.1 High School, and it turns out Fang Ziyang was telling the truth.”

“…So, the question is, is this all just a coincidence, or is there something else going on? If it’s the latter, it’s truly terrifying to think about.”

…”

As Fang Ziyang anticipated, the thoughts of the netizens began to turn against Yan Tong.

To be honest, Yan Tong wasn’t particularly intelligent in Fang Ziyang’s opinion. His greatest advantage was simply using the people around him to shield himself.

After carefully reviewing everything from his past life, Fang Ziyang hadn’t noticed that Yan Tong had achieved success entirely on his own.

When the netizens’ focus shifted away from the men around him and started to overlook his deceptive innocent appearance, it became easier to see the hidden things.

With a little guidance.

Netizens were always a group of people who enjoyed watching the show, and naturally, they couldn’t help but follow the direction he led them.

Isn’t Yan Tong fond of pretending to be innocent? And aren’t people like Xie Wenxu fond of wearing a sheep’s skin?… When these facades were gradually torn apart, Fang Ziyang wanted to see the paths these people would take in the future, and whether they would be as smooth as in his previous life.

…

As he placed the final piece of the puzzle into the frame, a painting depicting an angel and a devil was completed.

Fang Ziyang stared at his masterpiece with a cold expression.

These people didn’t deserve his kindness and benevolence.

They didn’t deserve it.

The power of public opinion on the internet should not be underestimated.

Back then, people had mercilessly criticized Fang Ziyang online, but now that they were discussing the aftermath of the incident, the intensity was much stronger, with Yan Tong’s name appearing most frequently.

If there wasn’t direct evidence, Yan Tong’s image as a white lotus would immediately collapse. But even so, many people on the internet began to view him more rationally and critically, unlike before when they were completely swayed without thinking.

Fang Qianhao and Xie Wenxu were worried when they saw the rumors circulating on the internet.


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Ch 26 (Part 2): Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

In such an atmosphere…

On the other end, the boss contacted by the talent trafficker had already confirmed the purchase of the software. He readily gave the money and expressed his desire to be friends and cooperate more in the future. He was indeed a big spender.

Although Fang Ziyang didn’t want to have much to do with the talent trafficker, he was still waiting for the guy to help him set up a trap for Yan Tong in the future. The transaction couldn’t be completed in a short time, so he could only respond with polite words and keep in touch for now.

As for chatting… sorry, he was busy!

He didn’t want to be influenced by the demonic genius talent trafficker. He was someone who wanted to build his own team and was determined to guard against this headhunter.

A week later.

The antique jade exhibition of the Fang family’s young master began successfully.

Since he had already lost money, Fang Yandong didn’t want to let his money go to waste. He encouraged the exhibition to be done well, inviting almost all the important figures in Jiang City.

This was to show how deeply he loved his youngest son and that the rumors online were completely false. He was the most loving father to his son.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Spending over two billion on a pile of useless hobbies for his child, indeed, it made those who laughed at the Fang family unable to say anything. If this wasn’t genuine love, then what was?

According to the standards of the upper class society, spending money on someone was far more meaningful than saying pretty words.

In his past life, Fang Yandong was like this, always trying to show others how much he loved his youngest son. As a result, whenever he did something even slightly wrong, others liked to say he was useless and no one spoke up for him when he was expelled from the Fang family.

Fang Ziyang had learned this lesson with tears.

In his second life, Fang Yandong wanted to use the same method to trap him again. No way!

So when the guests praised Fang Yandong for his deep love for his children and how harmonious their family was, Fang Ziyang accepted it generously and proudly raised his chin to show off.

“Uncle, you’re right. My dad loves me the most. Back then, when my dad found out that I liked collecting antiques and jade, not only did he not blame me for being a spendthrift, he even supported me specially. He said that the money he earned was for the family, and buying antiques and gambling on jade was better than buying sports cars and going to nightclubs. These things can retain their value…”

“So, to thank my dad, I’m also planning to authorize all my shares to him.”

Fang Ziyang happily showed off as if he really had such a great father and had done something remarkable.

However, while Fang Yandong listened to the beginning with satisfaction, his expression froze as Fang Ziyang continued.

He thought he might know who had spread the news about authorizing the shares, but the problem was he couldn’t refute it!

People didn’t know the inside story, and upon hearing it, they couldn’t help but envy and resent, “Yandong, you really have a good son. Although Yangyang is not as capable as Qianhao, when it comes to filial piety, there are few in our circle who can compare…”

Indeed, a good son. In a wealthy family, shares were a significant bargaining chip, and no one would easily give them away once they were distributed. At most, they would show their support, even among close family members.

It was rare to see someone like Fang Ziyang. Although they inwardly criticized him as an idiot, they couldn’t help but feel envious. If their sons were as filial and trusting as him…

Fang Yandong who was being envied:…

Fang Yandong could only force a smile.

Fang Ziyang, on the other hand, was even happier.

“Alright, uncles, don’t stand outside in the wind. Come in quickly and let me show you my treasures. I’ve never shown these treasures to anyone before, so today I’ll let you all enjoy them.”

“By the way, if any of you uncles see something you like, I can transfer and sell it to you…”

A thunderclap out of the blue.

Fang Yandong felt like he had been struck by lightning, and his voice changed, “You want to sell these things?”

Everyone looked at Fang Ziyang in surprise.

For someone who enjoyed collecting antiques and jade, they usually wouldn’t sell unless they were in desperate need of money.

Fang Ziyang nodded, seemingly unaware of how shocking his actions were.

With an admiring gaze toward Fang Yandong, he spoke with determination, “Dad, after the incident with the viral video, although I was harshly criticized online, it made me realize something.”

“W-what did you realize?”

Fang Yandong had a bad feeling.

Fang Ziyang straightened his chest and passionately declared, “I think although Xu Jiaqing framed me in that incident, if it wasn’t for my own shortcomings and always portraying an image of indulgence in eating, drinking, and having fun, others wouldn’t have easily believed those one-sided words. So I’ve decided to learn from my pain and change for the better. I can still make progress at my age…”

“I’ve decided to sell all these antiques and jade and turn them into capital to try out investments and gain experience. Then, when I graduate from university, I’ll be able to help you manage the company even better, Dad!”

Fang Yandong’s expression froze, and he almost couldn’t hold back from collapsing to the ground.

He couldn’t maintain his composure anymore, and he forced a smile, “Yangyang, if you have this intention, Dad will be very happy. But you’re still young, there’s no need to rush like this. These things are your treasures, and you’ve been collecting them for many years. They have great value, and it would be a pity to sell them.”

“If you really want to try investing and gaining experience, Dad can give you money. You don’t have to spend your own…”

Fang Yandong’s voice trembled, and he tried to persuade him.

But Fang Ziyang felt it.

As a good son who wholeheartedly supported and loved his father, Fang Ziyang immediately hugged his arm, “Dad, I knew you loved me the most. But I’ve grown up now, and you work so hard to earn money. How could I casually spend your money? For the sake of you, Dad, I can temporarily give up my hobbies. When I earn money in the future, I’ll buy them back.”

“Dad, rest assured, I have a sense of proportion. If I really lose all this money, when I inherit Grandpa’s inheritance in the future, I’ll give you all that money to manage, okay?”

Wasn’t Grandpa Lu’s inheritance close to forty billion?

Everyone immediately looked at Fang Yandong, and their eyes were filled with admiration. Having such a loving and trusting son, this guy really had good luck!

Fang Yandong felt his eyesight darken under the gazes of everyone.

Was Grandpa Lu’s money so easy to get? That was something to be dealt with when his son became an adult! Changing his mind and going back on his word was just a matter of a sentence. Now he was supposed to lose 23 billion immediately! All the money he had earned over the years would go down the drain, and his efforts would be wasted!

And his impulsive and foolish son hadn’t even transferred the shares to him yet! The previously signed documents had been torn apart. Damn it!

Fang Yandong struggled to suppress his emotions, his face stiff with a forced smile.

Everyone’s gazes turned to Fang Yandong once again, and they couldn’t help but envy him for having such a good son. This guy really had hit the jackpot!

Meanwhile, Fang Ziyang continued to maintain his cheerful demeanor and welcomed the arriving guests.

Whenever he met someone, he would mention authorizing his shares to Fang Yandong and his plan to entrust his future inheritance to him.

Fang Yandong, the “good father.”

He was also a “good son.”

So by the time all the guests had arrived and the atmosphere was maintained, a middle-aged boss with a Hong Kong accent suddenly walked in. He was amazed by the antiques and jade in the exhibition.

“These jade pieces are so beautiful, and the antiques are perfectly preserved. It’s rare to see such excellent collections. Are these all up for auction? Can I buy them? If there are any leftovers, can I buy them all?”

The middle-aged boss had considerable wealth and generosity, and his face showed immense joy at the sight of the antiques and jade in the venue. It was evident that he was an experienced collector.

Fang Ziyang’s face lit up, but he hesitated, “If Uncle wants to buy them all, it’s possible, but it would cost at least several billion, and the payment would need to be made in a single installment…”

“No problem, I have the funds. I can go to the bank right away to arrange it. Coincidentally, I’m also returning to Hong Kong City tomorrow.”

The middle-aged boss readily agreed.

“Alright then, I’ll sell these treasures to you, Uncle.”

Fang Ziyang started his cunning move, sealing the deal.

Fang Yandong felt his heart seize, and his vision went dark.


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Ch 26 (Part 1): Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

Xie Zheng has never felt so unlucky before.

Even though he had consecutively lost four fiancées, and people around him always had accidents, privately calling him a star of misfortune, he never believed in such things.

And the fact proved that all these talk about misfortune were indeed superstitious beliefs, just someone meddling from beginning to end.

But during this period of time, his beliefs have been shaken a bit.

First, there was Fang Ziyang, who didn’t play by the rules, and then there was this troublemaker who appeared out of nowhere. The image he had worked so hard to maintain for years was completely ruined in just a short time!

As someone who grew up with a conservative grandfather and had been the head of the family for many years, Xie Zheng was utterly embarrassed.

These young people nowadays… they’re just so… unbearable.

Xie Zheng looked at the “login failed” message on the computer screen, his expression wooden: This troublemaker seems even more ruthless than the thick-skinned Fang Ziyang!

Seeing him like this, Rick couldn’t help but laugh.

Rick understood better than anyone how conservative Xie Zheng was. When they first met, Rick, being from a more liberal country, didn’t pay attention to certain cultural norms and often unintentionally engaged in hugging and kissing habits. He was often glared at and frozen by Xie Zheng’s icy stare.

Because of Xie Zheng, a genuine foreigner like him had forcefully transformed into someone who could barely say a few words of endearment and had behavior and manners even more reserved than the locals!

This goes to show how terrifyingly conservative Xie Zheng is.

Although he wouldn’t forcefully correct others, Xie Zheng’s conservative and serious demeanor, cultivated since childhood, was enough to influence the people around him, rather than the other way around.

However, today he had already witnessed Xie Zheng breaking character for the second time and being unable to maintain his usual composed and serious demeanor.

Even though it was amusing to watch, it felt somewhat unethical not to comfort him as a good friend.

Rick tried hard to suppress the urge to laugh out loud and comforted him, “Alright, dear Xie, this troublemaker is just trying to deceive and manipulate you by tearing off your disguise. At least he didn’t claim to be your spouse. If it was a beautiful girl or boy on the other side, you would have gained an advantage. It’s alright, it’s just a title, let it go…”

However, Xie Zheng couldn’t agree with such words at all.

His expression worsened as soon as he heard them. “How can these titles be thrown around casually!”

His voice was incredibly righteous, and his tone was extremely serious.

Xie Zheng’s earnest demeanor gave Rick an indescribable sense of being in the wrong. It was as if Xie Zheng’s words were the ultimate truth, and everything he said was a twisted ideology. Rick even felt a bit guilty, thinking that love should be pure, and even joking was not allowed…

Wait!

Rick suddenly felt struck by lightning.

Oh, what was he even thinking? What guilt, what pure love! Oh my, Mama, help, this guy is truly a manipulative devil!

Rick immediately halted his aimless train of thought.

He quickly changed the subject,

“Wait, Xie, now is not the time to dwell on these things. We should seriously consider this nonsense from the troublemaker. He dares to use you as a shield and even hack into your account. This shows that his skills are not inferior to yours and might even be better…”

“However, let’s not discuss the international aspect for now. Among the people we know who are on par with you, it’s unlikely that any of them would do such a thing. So, this troublemaker is either a well-hidden veteran or a rising star.”

“Personally, I lean towards the latter. Established veterans have their own stable channels to sell software and wouldn’t rashly go outside…”

As they got to the main point, Xie Zheng’s mood improved slightly.

He quickly engaged and regained his usual serious attitude towards work,

“You’re right. Based on the way he talks, he doesn’t seem like a veteran. His main goal in doing all this is probably to sell his software. A personal creation worth 2.3 billion is not something many people can afford.”

Although software developed by top-notch experts is valuable, it’s rare for an individual creation to reach such a high price. Most often, it’s the result of team research and development.

After all, no matter how talented an individual is, their energy is limited, and unless their skills have surpassed the entire era, independent research is a very time-consuming process.

Xie Zheng pondered for a moment, “Ask him what exactly his product is. If it’s really good, we can buy it.”

Rick nodded and typed out a series of responses on the keyboard.

Then, something came to his mind, and he provocatively said,

“Xie, although this troublemaker has spread nonsense and tarnished your reputation, we can’t deny that he’s skilled. Maybe we should think of ways to bring him over?”

Setting aside the indignation caused by the offense to his own reputation, this suggestion was indeed excellent.

Xie Zheng couldn’t refuse, “Sure, you handle it. But character is still a priority.”

“OK, no problem. Leave it to me.”

With Xie Zheng’s consent, Rick was very pleased and confidently made a big OK gesture.

Meanwhile, Fang Ziyang also received a delayed reply and couldn’t help but smile. The plan had succeeded. Indeed, the nickname he gave himself was quite useful. Heavenly Scourge truly lived up to his reputation as the number one god in the Midnight Union who had been famous for a long time.

It was normal to want to see a sample, after all, it was a business worth 2.3 billion.

Fortunately, Fang Ziyang was prepared and sent over compressed data and detailed information that could be made public, adding a line as well.

[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf]: I’ve sent you the stuff. Feel free to test it, but please don’t try to analyze it. I won’t be responsible if something bad happens. I hope to receive an accurate response from you within three days. Thank you.

[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf]: By the way, if the boss you mentioned is really willing to make a purchase, then I kindly suggest that after preparing for distribution, don’t rush. Wait for my notification before unveiling the product. There might be a pleasant surprise then.

Fang Ziyang smiled and replied on the keyboard.

The value of his software was not just limited to this amount of money. If everything went well, it would become a milestone in the history of software. It’s just that, with the current conditions, he couldn’t sell it for a higher price.

However, this didn’t prevent him from maximizing the benefits of his creation. He could consider it a bonus gift to the person who generously offered him money.

He hoped that Yan Tong would appreciate the “little gift” he had carefully prepared…

The final message was sent.

Fang Ziyang had no intention of continuing the conversation and logged out of the Midnight Union account to rest, giving the potential buyer some time to consider.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

In the next two days, his main focus was on arranging the antique jade exhibition.

At this point, Fang Yandong had no idea that the puppet he had always controlled had broken free. At the suggestion of Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang, he reluctantly agreed to temporarily rent a batch of genuine antique jades to cover up the deception about swindling money from his son.

However, the 2.3 billion-worth antiques were not a small amount, and it cost him a whopping 100 million in fees to borrow them.

This made Fang Yandong somewhat heartbroken.

Although 100 million was not a lavish expense for him at the moment, this time it was purely wasted money. Throwing it away without any benefit was really disheartening!

What frustrated Fang Yandong even more was…

He didn’t know when rumors started spreading that “his younger son was going to authorize shares to support his business, and his older son, out of concern for his younger brother, gave up the inheritance from their grandfather. The two brothers have such a great relationship…”!

Friends and business partners looked at him with envy and said he had good sons. Unlike their own useless sons who only knew how to waste money and didn’t appreciate their parents at all.

God, he felt like having a myocardial infarction upon hearing those words!

Because he hadn’t even obtained the shares from his younger son yet. His younger son was still throwing tantrums and ignoring his calls, adding him to the blacklist. These people envied him for nothing…

Fang Yandong wasn’t the only one with unspoken grievances.

Fang Qianhao was also in a gloomy mood.

After his friends learned about the situation, they called him countless times asking if his brain had short-circuited. Who didn’t know how the relationship between him and his brother was? He gave away more than a billion to Fang Ziyang for nothing. Is that something a sane person would do?

He was being questioned to the point of bleeding. He didn’t want to do it, but who asked his stupid brother to inadvertently trap him?

At this point, the rumors had already spread, and the father and son from the Fang family couldn’t refute or deny that they were not as harmonious and disgraceful as rumored. They could only plug their ears and ignore the annoyance!


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Ch 25 (Part 2): Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

There is no shortcut to take; it entirely relies on technical ability.

As Fang Ziyang’s new pseudonym gradually climbed the forum rankings and rapidly rose, just as he expected, the entire Midnight Union forum exploded!

Indeed, it was an explosion.

Everyone online in Midnight Union rushed over to witness Fang Ziyang’s new account. Among them were top ten powerhouses, and all of them widened their eyes at the incredibly eye-catching nickname.

Oh my god.

Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf!

Is this for real? Did this newcomer unintentionally choose this name without paying attention to the forum rules, or is he intentionally provoking trouble? Or perhaps he really is from Heavenly Scourge’s family… something like that?

As the number one guru in the Midnight Union forum, the influence of Heavenly Scourge was beyond doubt.

Bluntly speaking, among the ten members of the forum, eight of them were admirers and fans of Heavenly Scourge, while the remaining two were filled with envy and jealousy. Every time the Heavenly Scourge appeared, there would be a flood of confessions of love and adoration, along with a stack of sarcastic comments.

There was once a confident female guru who didn’t hesitate to risk exposing her identity by posting pictures of herself confessing her love on the forum, shocking everyone.

That female guru was indeed outstanding, whether in terms of appearance, technical expertise in common topics, or her real-life status — everything about her was top-notch.

However, unfortunately, Heavenly Scourge had no intention of taking pity on others.

The departure of the beautiful goddess left some people lamenting while others were relieved.

From then on, Heavenly Scourge not only acquired the title of “Lone Wolf,” but also became an unattainable ice flower.

However, now…

Someone had appeared using the name of Heavenly Scourge, and the meaning behind the nickname was full of imagination…

In any case, Fang Ziyang had successfully ridden on the wave of attention and caught everyone’s eye.

With his rising rank on the forum’s leaderboard, the discussions among forum spectators became more intense. Even the lurking veterans couldn’t resist joining in the conversation.

[Ah, what? Is this “Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf!” really that of Heavenly Scourge… that thing? Has my ice cold flower been plucked away like this?]

[No, no! Heavenly Scourge should be sitting on the throne, overlooking the world. No one should be able to take him away!]

[Where did this monster come from? I refuse to accept it! I don’t believe it! Our master would never be interested in anyone else. Heavenly Scourge, please show up and speak!]

[Please, please, please!]

[Wait a minute, everyone calm down. This little prodigy is extraordinary! Look how quickly his rank is rising. In less than four hours since creating this account, he has already reached the top ten. This speed is making me dizzy…]

[Ahhh, he’s already at eighth place, bro. Wasn’t it at this speed when Heavenly Scourge first joined the rankings? Are we about to welcome another prominent figure who will dominate the leaderboard? If it’s this level of skill, I accept him being from Heavenly Scourge!]

[Seventh…]

[Sixth…]

[Fifth… Fourth… Third…]

[Second… It stopped, finally stopped! Second place, right behind Heavenly Scourge!]

Within the Midnight Union forum, there was an uproar and frantic cheering.

In just five hours, he had climbed to the second position on the leaderboard with his new account. What kind of technical prowess was this? Heavenly Scourge had achieved a similar speed when they first climbed the rankings.

Midnight Union was, after all, a forum for technical exchanges. Although there were fangirls and fanboys, it wasn’t filled with mindless hype like some other places on the internet. The attention quickly shifted from the eye-catching nickname to the technical aspects.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Undoubtedly, they had gained another fierce expert in their forum!

And then, Fang Ziyang began to receive a flood of private messages, most of them saying, “Hi, friend xx” and “Great master, please take me as your apprentice.”

There were also excited greetings and requests like, “Great master, are you really from Heavenly Scourge’s family?” “Did you come here because of Heavenly Scourge… blah blah blah.”

Every time a prominent figure appeared on the forum, this kind of frenzy always occurred.

People in every circle revered and were enthusiastic about top-notch experts.

In his previous life, when his skills were average, Fang Ziyang would occasionally create anonymous accounts to flirt and be cute with various experts.

Fang Ziyang couldn’t help but reminisce.

But even amidst the adoration, he didn’t forget his main objective. He scrolled through the private messages in the lower right corner of the screen, and when he saw a nickname that said “Tang Tang, I Adore You,” a smile finally appeared on his calm face.

[Tang Tang, I Adore You]: Ahhh, great master, you’re so amazing! Please take me as your apprentice~~

It was a very ordinary message.

However, this was the beginning of the “talent trafficking” operation conducted by the “kidnapping prodigy.”

In his previous life, when the stories of Tang Tang, I Adore You “kidnapping” people were exposed, some idle and bored fellow members compiled all the visible posts and comments made by Tang Tang, as well as the revelations from those who were “kidnapped.”

In the end, they summarized the ultimate tactics used by this person to “kidnap” others:

First, they pretended to be a newbie and successfully established a connection. Then, they probed further, testing if the person being targeted had the ability to be poached. After that, they bombarded them with money.

Although the money part seemed a bit cliché, money was an everlasting temptation.

Following that, they slowly cultivated a relationship…

To the point where this “kidnapping prodigy” managed to gather half of the talented individuals on the Midnight Union forum. It wasn’t an impossible feat.

Fang Ziyang curled the corners of his lips.

Without wasting time with idle talk, he immediately replied to the message.

[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf]: It’s just so-so, world rank three. How do you want to get close to me?

A somewhat arrogant tone.

Hmm, it fits the name “Little Elf” quite well.

He wondered what kind of expression and mood the person on the other end of the computer would have when they saw his reply. They probably didn’t expect him to respond, or perhaps they were shocked by his unabashed and non-humble answer.

In any case, after sending out the message, it took a while before he received two consecutive replies.

[Tang Tang, I Adore You]: Ahhh, great master, you actually replied to my message! Oh my God, how can I be so lucky! Great master, I’ve thoroughly observed your journey up the leaderboard, and your rank has already proven your skills. If you don’t mind, can I be your cute and spoiled apprentice?!

[Tang Tang, I Adore You]: If I can’t be an apprentice, can I at least be your loyal and obedient subordinate? I beg the great master to take me in!

Their excitement was akin to that of a screeching chicken, seizing the opportunity to seek guidance from the master. It perfectly aligned with the “kidnapping prodigy’s” usual approach to winning people over.

This tone…

It seemed that the other person held him in high regard.

But it wasn’t surprising. Someone who could climb into the top ten of the forum’s leaderboard within a day didn’t need to prove their abilities further; their value was already apparent. Their enthusiastic and proactive approach made sense.

With the “kidnapping prodigy” having successfully won over only a few talented individuals in the early stages, encountering such a “bigshot” who actually responded meant they had to seize the opportunity.

He had intentionally baited the conversation, and the other party had intentionally tried to get close. This connection was established easily.

Fang Ziyang pondered for a moment and didn’t waste time on small talk. He continued the conversation directly.

[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf]: You want to become my apprentice? That might be difficult. I won’t be staying in Midnight for long; I just came here today to make a post.

Can’t stay for long? Making a post?

Just one sentence immediately caught the other person’s attention. This time, there was no delay in their response, and they quickly replied.

[Tang Tang, I Adore You]: Ah? Great master, why won’t you stay for long? Midnight Union is great! With your excellent skills, if you could stay and exchange knowledge, the computer proficiency of all the forum members would definitely improve! Great master, take a look, the entire forum is your fan club~

[Tang Tang, I Adore You]: Making a post? What kind of post are you going to make? Can you give me a little spoiler? (Cute smile)

Two consecutive messages indicated that the other person was eager and excited.

However, he couldn’t tell their actual expression or emotions through the screen.

But Fang Ziyang didn’t intend to engage with this “kidnapping prodigy” for the long term. The person was too cunning. Those who had spent some time being close to them eventually ended up being fooled into working for them.

He didn’t want to fall into that trap. He was only interested in the shiny money behind this person!

With a smirk on his lips, Fang Ziyang leaned back against the chair and casually continued typing on the keyboard.

[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf]: Oh, there’s nothing I can’t say. I heard that there are many corporate bigwigs lurking in Midnight Union. Personal creations can fetch a good price here. I’m a bit short on money recently, so I made a software and came over. I wonder if I can find buyers who can afford the price.

The “kidnapping prodigy” was not only known for poaching talents on the forum but also for acquiring software.

As soon as they heard this, they seemed even more interested, and their response came quickly.

[Tang Tang, I Adore You]: Really? Great master, you have a new creation? Could you give some details? I’ve been around Midnight for a long time and know several wealthy big shots. I can discreetly inquire for you! If the deal goes well, I hope you’ll recognize my abilities and keep me here!

Ding, ding, ding… They knew how to play their part, always acting like a newbie.

Fang Ziyang smiled and replied promptly.

[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf]: Ah, are you that capable? Alright, help me inquire first. If you manage to pull it off, I’ll consider keeping you.

[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf]: Well, it’s a small thing for now, and the details are confidential. The fixed price is 2.3 billion. But my master, Heavenly Scourge, says that it’s worth at least that much. Do you know any wealthy individuals who have such financial power?

My master, Heavenly Scourge, says…

My master, Heavenly Scourge, says…

Such an affectionate tone!

In a certain villa.

The blond-haired, blue-eyed man sitting in front of the computer suddenly had a strange expression. He turned to look at the tall man next to him, who was solemnly watching, and then cautiously replied.

“Um… great master, do you have a close relationship with Heavenly Scourge?”

Fang Ziyang shamelessly raised the flag.

“Yeah, didn’t you see my nickname? He’s my top, my dominant partner. If you don’t believe me, go ask him. He’s the one who gave me this name, saying that when people hear it, they’ll know I’m his. (Blushing smile)”

…

Pfft!

Rick spewed out his coffee in a burst of laughter. “Oh my God, Xie, when did you get married? Why didn’t I know? And you even gave your wife the nickname ‘Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf’ to make everyone aware?”

Xie Zheng:…

Xie Zheng pushed him away and tremblingly logged into Heavenly Scourge account.

And then…

And then he couldn’t log in!


Previous TOC Next

Ch 25 (Part 1): Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

Watching Fang Ziyang swiftly run away, his figure disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Fang Yandong snapped back to reality, his face immediately turning grim.

Fang Qianhao was even worse off, staring at the scattered fragments of documents on the ground, on the verge of going insane.

“Dad, I told you not to listen to him! You’ve known all along how willful my younger brother can be. How could you believe his words? He must have done it on purpose! If he really wanted to authorize you with the shares, why would he wait until today?!”

Losing the inheritance rights of Grandpa Lu’s estate for nothing, Fang Qianhao couldn’t control his temper anymore, not even in front of Fang Yandong.

Originally, he didn’t want to let go of either the shares or the inheritance. Since they had already been given to him, they were his belongings. Even Dad shouldn’t have the audacity to ask for his son’s money, right? Besides, the family wasn’t lacking money anyway.

But who knew that his stupid brother would have a momentary lapse in judgment, not only surrendering his own shares but also implicating him!

Fang Qianhao knew better than anyone how controlling his father was. Once the shares fell into his hands, it would be impossible to take them back. That meant they would all be living under their father’s control and commands as long as they stayed in the Fang family.

His foolish brother only cared about indulging in pleasures, but he had ambitions!

He couldn’t hand over the shares no matter what, so he had to reluctantly give up on inheriting Grandpa Lu’s estate. Losing a few billion now was better than losing tens of billions in the future.

Fang Yandong had also promised him that if he handed over the entire inheritance to his brother, he would compensate him with a small portion of his shares in the future.

But the result…

Who could have known that now Fang Ziyang suffered no losses due to his tantrum, while he himself had lost billions in inheritance rights for nothing!

“Fang Ziyang must have done it on purpose! He deliberately deceived me for money, just so he could go and buy those worthless antiques and jade stones. He did it to retaliate against me for not taking his side in his fights with others!”

Fang Qianhao was infuriated.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

But how could Fang Yandong feel good about it? The cooked duck had flown away just like that. He regretted for the first time that he had raised his youngest son to be so willful and immature.

But who was responsible for the current outcome?

Compared to his willful younger son, Fang Yandong now hated his eldest son, whom he had always doted on. Unfortunately, Fang Qianhao was standing in front of him, demanding an explanation.

Smack!

A hard slap landed on Fang Yandong’s face, his expression darkening.

“Shut up! How dare you speak? If it wasn’t for your meddling, would your brother have thrown a tantrum? I’ve told you countless times that although I love your brother, he is meant to form an alliance. The entire Fang family’s assets will be passed on to you in the future. I told you not to quarrel with him all the time, but what did you do?”

“Furthermore, having ambition is a good thing, but don’t play tricks in front of me, your father. If you cause me trouble again, I won’t mind remarrying and giving you another brother…”

Fang Yandong coldly stared at his eldest son, giving a warning.

Although Qianhao was his true favorite, if this son was courageous but lacked wisdom, always trying to be clever and using his ambitions against him, he absolutely could not entrust the vast family business he had built to him.

Even if this was the son she had given birth to for him.

The blatant warning and threat made Fang Qianhao feel fearful and ashamed of being scolded.

But he didn’t dare to disobey. He could only reluctantly agree, “I understand, Dad. I will change. But what do we do now that the share authorization letter from my brother has been torn? Should we agree to cancel the engagement? My brother is too willful. He cancels the engagement with the Xie family just like that, without considering your situation! And you didn’t know yesterday, he actually beat up Xie Wenxu badly. I don’t know what will happen when the Xie family finds out…”

Fang Qianhao was unwilling, as his inheritance rights were deceived away, and Fang Ziyang would not have an easy time.

Fang Yandong glanced at him, not bothering with these petty thoughts.

“The Xie family values their reputation. The engagement was done very solemnly, which alarmed all the elders of the Xie family. It’s not something that can be easily canceled. It’s normal for young people to have arguments, and I will find an opportunity to apologize to the Xie family. As for Xie Wenxu… it’s just a case of cheating, a mistake that all men in the world make.”

With the temperament of the Xie family, they would never allow an heir with a pre-marital affair to have their engagement canceled and bring shame to the family.

What he needed to worry about more was whether his increasingly willful younger son would do something reckless.

Fang Yandong’s mood was gloomy.

…

Regardless of the thoughts of Fang Yandong and his sons in the villa, Fang Ziyang, who quickly escaped from home, was in an incredibly good mood.

Humming a tune, he left the garage and drove straight to the Fang Group headquarters. He handed over the renunciation document of Fang Qianhao’s inheritance to the team of lawyers to handle.

Who cares about the details? He first needed to settle the inheritance rights of his grandfather!

As for the authorization of his shares promised to Fang Yandong, he could delay it as long as possible. After all, it wasn’t him who was in a hurry.

After completing all of this, Fang Ziyang didn’t return home. He temporarily blacklisted Fang Yandong and his son’s phone numbers to avoid being disturbed. He went to stay in the small villa where he lived during the live stream, preparing to hide and enjoy some peace and quiet for a few more days.

As long as he had the opportunity, he really didn’t want to stay in the same place as those people for even a minute.

Comfortably taking a nap in the small villa, then ordering a table full of takeout, Fang Ziyang continued by taking out his computer to start working.

Opening the web browser, typing in the URL, and logging into the forum.

【Midnight Union】

The largest network technology exchange forum in China, a non-public online world that gathers the most elite group of computer technologists in the country.

In this forum, there is no distinction between hackers and cybersecurity experts, only pure technical exchanges.

All kinds of unimaginable tech gurus are here.

This forum is known by almost everyone in the country who knows computers, but it is extremely difficult to enter. Without real skills, ordinary people can’t even access the website!

Although Fang Ziyang had great talent on the computer, it took him a lot of effort to enter this forum in the first place.

And after entering the forum, he was bullied by the experts inside for a long time before finally standing firm and making it into the top twenty rankings on the forum.

Although this ranking may not sound like much, one must understand that to rank in the top twenty in the Midnight Union, their technical skills must be top-notch.

So this achievement made the former Fang Ziyang very proud and happy.

After all, he had learned all his computer skills on his own, secretly reading books and exploring alternative methods. He never had anyone to teach him from start to finish, which shows how high his talent in this area is.

He used to particularly enjoy this forum because he could chat and freely discuss various technical issues without any worries.

Through the computer, he could be in the online world without any burdens.

In his previous life, after he turned dark, this became the only place where he could relax mentally…

However, today he didn’t come here to relax and have fun. He needed the help of his friends in this forum, specifically their financial assistance.

Yes, it was about money.

He planned to trick Fang Yandong during the antique and jade exhibition and reclaim the funds that had been swindled from him over the years. But finding someone to handle the replacement of those antique jades was not easy. No one in Jiang city had the audacity to buy back 2.3 billion worth of antiques at once.

Moreover, Fang Yandong currently had a stronger network than him. If he was to encounter resistance from Fang Yandong, the people in their circle wouldn’t accompany this ‘kid’ in his nonsense.

But the experts in the Midnight Union were different.

As far as he knew, the majority of people on this forum were experts in real life. They were either core technical personnel of a company, shareholders of a technology group, or top-notch professionals working for national institutions. They were outstanding individuals in their respective industries.

After all, anyone who could thrive in this forum was generally a highly intelligent talent, and there was no such thing as keyboard warriors or creepy stalkers.

So even if these people were poor, they wouldn’t be poor to the point of desperation.

Fang Ziyang remembered that in his previous life, a super wealthy tycoon appeared in the later stages of the forum. The individual’s technical skills weren’t high, and they couldn’t even make it to the ranking list of the forum. However, they were exceptionally wealthy and spent their time in the forum recruiting talents.

Initially, everyone thought this person was a scammer because their recruitment approach didn’t seem like a traditional talent search but more like a clueless newbie trying to flirt and learn from the masters.

However, when it was later discovered that half of the people in the forum became employees in this person’s real-life companies, everyone realized that this person was a master at “trafficking talent”!

He needed money now, and this wealthy friend in the forum would be a golden opportunity.

After some thought, Fang Ziyang didn’t log in with his previous ID but chose to register a new forum account.

When it came to choosing a name, he contemplated for a while and finally typed “Little Elf of Heavenly Scourge’s family” in the input box.

Heavenly Scourge was the number one expert on the Midnight Union’s ranking list, possessing super high technical skills. Since joining the forum, they had consistently held the top position and were revered and admired by everyone on the forum.

However, Heavenly Scourge had a reclusive personality and rarely interacted with others, except for answering questions and posing their own. But perhaps it was precisely because of this solitary nature that Heavenly Scourge had even higher popularity on the forum. Whenever anything related to Heavenly Scourge came up, it would cause a stir and capture the attention of everyone on the forum.

Including a nickname that contains the words “Heavenly Scourge.”

Because the Heavenly Scourge had a bit of a cleanliness obsession, he didn’t really like people using nicknames like “Heavenly Scourge’s xx” with blind admiration to spread messages and tarnish his image. Over time, the words “Heavenly Scourge” naturally became eye-catching.

It’s easy to imagine the sensation that would be caused by his nickname, “[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf.”

But that’s exactly what Fang Ziyang wanted.

In order to quickly catch the attention of that “talent poacher,” aside from climbing the rankings, he could only rely on riding the wave of popularity.

Although it was a bit shameless.

But in the “Midnight Union,” technical prowess was the key. With excellent technical skills, one could do as they pleased on the forum, and not only would people not criticize you, but they would also idolize you.

If Heavenly Scourge didn’t like him, he could directly come and attack him. If he lost, he would willingly kneel down and call him “daddy.”

But trying to attack him wouldn’t work so easily… hehe, sorry about that.

These were the survival rules of the Midnight Union forum.

Silently apologizing in his heart, Fang Ziyang embraced the name “[Heavenly Scourge’s Little Elf” and entered the forum’s problem-solving section.

And then… he began solving problems and climbing the rankings.

This was the way the forum rankings worked. The more difficult problems one solved in the problem-solving section and the higher the quality of the solutions, the better the ranking on the forum leaderboard.


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Ch 24: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

“…Actually, we didn’t know everything about what happened back then. Most of it was based on various clues and speculation, but even without concrete evidence, we can be fairly certain that these speculations are close to the truth.”

“I was hired by Madam shortly after she married into the Fang family. At that time, Madam offered a high salary, and she had a good personality. I valued this job greatly and worked diligently. To secure this position, I was more attentive than other maids and nannies. From the moment Madam became pregnant with the eldest young master until his birth, I never let my guard down.”

“During the entire year of Madam’s pregnancy and childbirth, I didn’t even take a single day off. On the day of Madam’s delivery, I stayed by her side from beginning to end. Fortunately, the eldest young master was safely born, and Madam understood my dedication, so she insisted that I take a vacation and rest at home.”

“At that time, after a whole year without rest, and considering that there were no major events during Madam’s confinement period, I happily went back home for half a month… But little did I know that when I returned after half a month, something was amiss.”

“Although most newborn babies look similar, there are always some differences. I remember the eldest young master had a red birthmark on his chest when he was born…”

“We folks from the countryside have our superstitions, and birthmarks have their own interpretations depending on where they appear on the body. A birthmark on the front of the body is said to bring good luck and blessings. I even happily praised it to other nannies and maids at the time.”

“However, when I returned from my vacation, I noticed that the red birthmark on the eldest young master’s chest was gone…”

At this point, Aunt Zhang couldn’t help but steal a glance at Fang Ziyang’s expression. She found that apart from a deep gaze, his expression remained unchanged, which made her even more nervous and fearful.

However, things had reached this point, and the young master was the only lifeline for their family. She had no choice but to gather her courage and continue her confession.

“At the time, I found it strange, but because the eldest young master resembled the master so much, I didn’t think much of it. I thought it was my own eyes playing tricks on me, that I had remembered incorrectly…”

“But later, when Madam went to the hospital for a check-up and surgery for her tumor, the surgery went smoothly. The doctor said that as long as she took good care of herself during the recovery period, complete recovery wouldn’t be a problem. But who could have known that just a few days after the surgery, Madam suddenly had a respiratory emergency one night and stopped breathing.”

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

“Although all the examinations at that time indicated that Madam’s passing was due to her own health issues, I had a feeling that something was amiss.”

“At that time, we weren’t lacking money in our family, and Madam had always treated me well. I had a favorable opinion of her. So, after much thought, I secretly had Uncle Liu investigate if there was anything unusual on the day Madam passed away… And the result…”

“What was the result?”

Fang Ziyang’s expression remained indifferent, and his voice seemed devoid of emotion.

Aunt Zhang trembled and dared not speak.

Uncle Liu had no choice but to speak up, albeit with a trembling voice. “The result was that I checked the hospital surveillance footage, but conveniently, the cameras were malfunctioning that day. However, according to the nurse on duty, the afternoon of the day Madam passed away, the eldest young master visited her and stayed for half an hour…”

“After the eldest young master left, Madam pressed the emergency button in an agitated state and called Mr. Fang. But on that day, Mr. Fang was busy and didn’t go in the afternoon. He only went later in the evening and spent an hour alone in the room with Madam.”

“But it seemed that their interaction wasn’t pleasant, as if they were arguing. In the end, Mr. Fang left angrily. And Madam… she had a sudden medical emergency and stopped breathing in the middle of the night.”

Uncle Liu’s voice grew quieter as he spoke.

Although the entire story was based on various speculations and abnormal incidents, when connected together, it was an incredibly terrifying sequence of events.

If it was true that Fang Qianhao was indeed Fang Yandong’s illegitimate child, many questions that had been troubling Fang Ziyang could be explained.

Because they had different mothers, he and Fang Qianhao weren’t as close as other siblings.

But because they had the same father, their blood relationship confirmed their kinship.

And because they had different mothers, Fang Yandong treated the two brothers completely differently…

And then there was his mother’s death.

Perhaps it was truly an accidental death due to health reasons, but it was highly likely that there was more to the story than met the eye.

One daring speculation was that on the day his mother passed away, she had met his elder brother and learned from his actions and words that the child she cared for so deeply was actually her husband’s illegitimate child, while her own biological son was nowhere to be found.

Enraged and irrational, she called Fang Yandong to confront him, and the conversation turned highly unpleasant. Her husband left in anger, and his mother, unable to comprehend the situation, became emotionally agitated and suddenly died in the middle of the night…

After all, a person who had just undergone surgery would be extremely weak physically and highly susceptible to stress.

Of course, it was also possible that someone tampered with the hospital equipment and breathing tube, but after so many years, it would be incredibly difficult to find any evidence. Even if there was evidence, it was likely destroyed long ago.

Fang Ziyang’s face remained expressionless, but inside, a volcanic eruption of anger surged, accompanied by a chilling sensation down his spine.

He was aware that Fang Yandong was ruthless, but if what Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang said was true, then he had clearly underestimated Fang Yandong’s cruelty toward him, his mother, and perhaps even his true older brother.

A tiger does not eat its cubs. What kind of person was his father, whom he once respected and admired?

Forcing himself to calm down, Fang Ziyang fell into a long silence and took out the photo he had received from Yan Tong. He handed it over.

“Do you recognize the woman in this photo?” Fang Ziyang asked as he handed it over.

Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang exchanged glances and cautiously took the photo.

Then, Uncle Liu shook his head.

However, Aunt Zhang seemed to recall something. After hesitating for a while, she nodded as if confirming, “I have a vague impression of this woman…”

Fang Ziyang’s heart tightened.

Aunt Zhang continued to recall, “I have seen this woman before, but I don’t remember her exact name. She can’t be considered a close friend of Madam’s, but they happened to meet during Madam’s prenatal check-ups… “

“At that time, Madam and she had a pleasant conversation. Later, it happened that their hospital rooms were next to each other, so the two pregnant women naturally became closer as they talked about their children. However, it was limited to socializing within the hospital.”

“The background of this photo is that hospital. It seems to have been taken right after Madam gave birth to the eldest young master. I happened to be on vacation at home, so I don’t remember Madam taking a photo with her.”

Although her memory was a bit hazy, Aunt Zhang still remembered the general details. After all, this woman had discussed child-rearing experiences with Madam for two or three months.

Aunt Zhang carefully handed the photo back, a bit curious. “Young Master, where did you get this photo? I don’t recall seeing this photo among Madam’s belongings…”

Fang Ziyang didn’t answer.

He also wanted to know where Yan Tong obtained this photo and what it had to do with him.

Or rather… what it had to do with his true older brother.

Fang Ziyang closed his eyes and tried to suppress his emotions. “Since you suspect that Fang Qianhao is my father’s illegitimate child, do you have any speculations about that woman?”

If there is an illegitimate child, there must naturally be a lover, and it might even be some kind of ‘true love.’ Otherwise, why would Fang Yandong be so biased and affectionate towards Fang Qianhao?

“Well…” Uncle Liu shook his head with difficulty. “Although we have some speculations, we don’t have any clear direction. Master seems to be very upright and clean.”

Since the suspicion of Fang Qianhao being the illegitimate child arose, they, as a couple, had conducted several investigations in private. They hoped to gather some substantial evidence to hold onto, just in case it became useful in the future and they needed to protect themselves.

But unfortunately, Master had hidden it very well, and they had gained nothing.

However, Aunt Zhang, being a woman, was more gossip-prone and knew more details.

“We don’t know if Master has any secret lovers, but there was a woman who used to pester him. It wasn’t much of a secret; many people knew about it back then. That woman was shameless, like a crazy person. No matter how much Master rejected her, it was futile. She clung to him like a piece of adhesive plaster…”

“Even after Madam gave birth to the eldest young master, that woman didn’t stop. She kept causing trouble for Master for several years until Madam became pregnant with you. Only then did that woman give up and leave.”

“Was her name Zheng Yating?”

Fang Ziyang recalled the contents he had read in that golden book.

If he was the vicious cannon fodder in that golden book, then this Zheng Yating was the ultimate villainess. This woman was infatuated with Fang Yandong to the point of madness.

In the plot, Zheng Yating was willing to commit crimes and steal Fang Yandong’s sperm for artificial insemination in order to marry him and achieve her goals.

Unfortunately, the child didn’t survive. Because of this, Zheng Yating was relentless and adopted Yan Tong from an orphanage, planning to continue her insane and irrational plan.

But in the end, she failed, and the truth came to light. Yan Tong, Fang Yandong, and a group of backup men continued their love and affection…

His speculation was correct.

Aunt Zhang nodded. “That’s right, that’s her name. Young Master, have you heard of her? Speaking of this woman, she was truly bothersome. I heard that if it wasn’t for her sister having some connection with Master in the past and saving his life, Master would never have tolerated her for so many years.”

Sister?

Wait!

Fang Ziyang suddenly sat upright, an incredible guess flashing through his mind.

Investigate.

Start with Zheng Yating’s sister.

By following the thread, he might stumble upon a pleasant surprise.

If everything went smoothly, he would not only uncover the events of the past, but also possibly find his true… older brother.

Surprise, uneasiness, anticipation.

Although he didn’t yet know if his real older brother was as terrible as Fang Qianhao, Fang Ziyang couldn’t help but feel hopeful.

What if the other person was different from Fang Yandong and the other relatives?

Wouldn’t that mean he wasn’t alone in this world anymore?

He had to continue investigating.

But it wasn’t something that could be resolved quickly. For now, the most important thing was to quickly retrieve the money Fang Yandong had deceived from him over the years.

Finally, he couldn’t contain his emotions any longer and took a deep breath.

Fang Ziyang suppressed his joyous feelings and looked straight at Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang.

“I won’t hold you accountable for what happened in the past, for now. But starting from now, if you’re on my side, don’t even think about having any other ulterior motives. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee if I’ll be even harsher than Fang Yandong.”

“Now, I’m giving you your first task. Inform Fang Yandong that I’m planning to organize an antique jade exhibition…”

As for Fang Yandong.

Regardless of his cold and heartless nature in his previous life or the things Fang Ziyang gradually discovered after his rebirth, he had to give up on the idea of having a loving father.

If he used to deceive himself by thinking that his father had been misled and treated him poorly, the evidence now indicated that Fang Yandong probably never had a shred of paternal love for him.

In that case, he didn’t need to hold back anymore.

Just as Fang Yandong had deceived him out of his money, he would retrieve it from Fang Yandong!

…

After receiving Fang Ziyang’s instructions, Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang wasted no time and went to “report” to Fang Yandong that night.

Now that they had boarded Young Master’s ship, there was no turning back. Even if they didn’t consider Young Master’s methods, betraying Fang Yandong would likely shorten their lives.

It’s all because of their greed in the beginning, not seeing through Fang Yandong’s character and falling into his trap. They’ve been walking down this path all along.

Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang were never particularly loyal and steadfast individuals. To protect themselves and their family of three, they had no pressure in betraying Fang Yandong.

“What? He wants to organize an antique jade exhibition?”

Fang Yandong never expected his obedient son, who had been docile for over a decade, to suddenly awaken. He also didn’t regard Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang as anything significant. When he heard their report, he furrowed his brows.

His youngest son wanting to organize an antique jade exhibition was not good news for him.

Over the years, he had put in a lot of effort to coax the dividends from Fang Ziyang’s shares. He had deliberately molded him into a character that indulged in extravagant pleasures, and he had devised a plan to use fake antiques and fake jade to extract large sums of money from Fang Ziyang.

It was precisely because of these funds that he could easily participate in the company’s activities and eventually take the position of Chairman of the Board.

Now, Fang Ziyang wanted to organize an exhibition, which meant that those fake antiques and fake jade locked in the basement would be put on display for everyone to see?

If all the visitors to the exhibition were ignorant, it would be fine. But what if even one knowledgeable person attended? Wouldn’t they expose the whole scheme?

Considering the position of the Fang family, it was impossible that all the people who heard about the exhibition would be clueless fools. Even if one person who knew their stuff accidentally let slip, it would be a disaster.

Fang Yandong was in a bad mood.

“Why would he suddenly have such an idea?”

Everything was fine, so why organize an exhibition? Couldn’t he just enjoy the treasures locked in the basement by himself?

Uncle Liu wiped his sweat and spoke cautiously,

“According to Young Master, he feels that he has been unlucky and gloomy these past few days, so he wants to find something joyful to cheer himself up. He doesn’t want to attend parties or gatherings for the time being, and he finds bungee jumping and skiing too tiring. So, the only thing left is to play with his favorite antique jade. He thought it would be great to organize an exhibition to have some fun…”

Aunt Zhang nodded, looking very troubled.

“We have advised Young Master, but as you know, he has a temper. These past few days, he has been in a bad mood because of that viral video incident. He doesn’t listen to anyone’s advice. Whenever we mention it, he becomes irritable and angry. We can’t stop him at all.”

“Sir, what should we do now? Those antique jades are all fake. If we bring them out and someone sees them, the truth will be exposed!”

What should they do?

Fang Yandong also wanted to ask what they should do!

In these past years, everything had been smooth sailing, and he hadn’t been troubled like this in a long time. He never expected that the viral video incident would have such a big impact on his youngest son.

It not only almost made him lose his son’s trust, but he also heard that his son had even fought with Xie Wenxu yesterday! Many people witnessed the incident in public!

He hadn’t figured out how to handle that situation yet, and now this exhibition issue came up.

It was like opening Pandora’s box, one bad thing after another.

Fang Ziyang hadn’t obtained the shares of the company held by Fang Ziyang, and they couldn’t access the inheritance left by his grandfather Lu yet. If the youngest son noticed something now, given his temperament, he would probably make a big fuss.

A trace of darkness appeared on Fang Yandong’s elegant face. “We cannot proceed with the exhibition. Aunt Zhang, go and call Young Master over…”

Upon hearing this, Aunt Zhang hesitated.

Uncle Liu spoke up persuasively, “No, sir, it’s not possible. Young Master has been greatly affected by the viral video incident. He’s in a temperamental state right now. Given his temperament, the more we try to dissuade him, the more he will insist on doing it.”

“Are we just going to let him go wild and then report it to the police after the incident? It’s not a matter of a few dollars of junk; it’s worth over 2 billion! “

The series of unfortunate events recently had made it difficult for Fang Yandong to control his temper.

He looked at Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang with displeasure in his eyes.

“I give you a large sum of money every year to keep an eye on him, and is this how you repay me? You didn’t even notice when he contacted a team of lawyers to livestream, and now you can’t even stop him from organizing an exhibition. Am I feeding you for nothing?”

Anyone familiar with Fang Yandong would know that he was getting angry from his tone.

Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang had been with him for so long; how could they not sense it?

Aunt Zhang was frightened and hurriedly defended herself, “No, sir, that’s not the case. We have always been careful in looking after Young Master. But Young Master’s temperament is like that. He tends to act recklessly when he’s under some pressure…”

Uncle Liu nodded in agreement and cautiously suggested, “Sir, I and Huifen don’t mean to shirk responsibility, but unexpected things happen. It seems difficult to stop Young Master from organizing the antique jade exhibition. If we say anything, Young Master will definitely become suspicious. Why don’t we just go along with him and let him proceed?”

“After all, it’s just an exhibition. Young Master doesn’t pay much attention to those antique items in the basement. Before the exhibition, we can find some genuine items to replace them. We can deceive him on the day of the exhibition, and everything will be fine.”

“As for the items, my son has connections and can borrow them. It’s just the cost…”

It’s not easy to borrow a collection worth 2.3 billion; there are considerable fees involved.

Fang Yandong considered it with a grim face for a while before handing over a card.

“If you can’t handle this matter properly, the three of you can go back to the countryside. I won’t keep idle people here.”

His tone was no longer the usual elegance, but rather a commanding and authoritative tone, as if he held the power of life and death.

“We understand, sir.”

Aunt Zhang and Uncle Liu lowered their heads, trembling with fear, as they assured him as always.

However, deep down, they harbored some resentment. Wasn’t it just because he had more money than them? He wasn’t an ancient emperor, yet every order was given with this condescending manner, as if he didn’t regard them as human beings.

Since the sir didn’t see them as worthy of a livelihood, it was no wonder they resorted to betrayal.

…

Using the excuse of a drastic personality change due to being affected, Fang Yandong couldn’t stop the antique jade exhibition in order not to fail in his plan. However, he had a hunch that something wasn’t right. While he couldn’t prevent the exhibition, he could expedite the process of authorizing the Fang Corporation’s shares.

He promised to return the day after the exhibition, and he would have the share authorization agreement ready as previously agreed.

Fang Ziyang had anticipated this and didn’t resist. He obediently signed the documents.

Of course, as compensation and appeasement, Fang Qianhao was also forced by Fang Yandong to sign a renunciation of inheritance document for Grandfather Lu’s estate. All the inheritance funds left for their mother would be inherited by Fang Qianhao.

Naturally, Fang Qianhao was very unwilling. But compared to the shares of the Fang Corporation, he could bear to part with the money from Grandfather Lu’s estate!

His loved one was being bullied by Fang Ziyang, and now his own money was taken away by Fang Ziyang as well. When Fang Qianhao finished signing the renunciation document, the gaze he cast toward Fang Ziyang was filled with a desire for revenge.

In the past, if faced with such a gaze, Fang Ziyang would have felt distressed and hated himself for having such a selfish and greedy brother.

But now, all he had left was a cold sneer.

Since Fang Qianhao was not his mother’s biological son, why should he inherit Grandfather Lu’s estate? Why should he inherit his mother’s shares?

He was only taking back what was rightfully his, yet Fang Qianhao looked at him with such malicious eyes. How audacious!

He wondered if Fang Qianhao was aware of his true identity. If he didn’t know, it was fine. But if he did… well, he shouldn’t be surprised if another entry was added to his notebook in the future.

Just wait and see. He would gradually reclaim all the debts owed to him.

Compared to Fang Qianhao’s bitter expression, Fang Yandong’s mood improved significantly. With the share authorization in hand, he wasn’t so annoyed by Fang Ziyang’s plan to hold an antique jade exhibition. He resumed his role as a perfect father.

He also wanted to inquire about the invitation list for the antique jade exhibition and give some suggestions.

“Since you’re organizing an exhibition, why not make it grand? Besides inviting your friends, Dad will also invite a few uncles who are experts in antique jade collection to oversee the event and guide you.”

“By the way, you should also give Uncle Xiao and Aunt Yao a call. They were your mother’s good friends before and they care about you a lot. Don’t forget about them…”

It sounded nice, as if he was a loving father who cared deeply for his son.

However, if you remove the filter, you’ll see that Fang Yandong never fails to exploit his son’s value. Holding a grand exhibition would conveniently counterbalance the negative speculation and comments about the Fang family online. Inviting his late wife’s close friends would help regain the connections that had faded due to her passing.

If they were going to pretend, then they should all pretend together.

If they were going to act, then they should all act together.

Fang Ziyang happily complied, smiling cheerfully.

“Sure, Dad. Please invite some influential and prestigious uncles for me.”

Fang Yandong was pleased with his son’s obedience.

Next to them, Fang Qianhao clenched his teeth in frustration and inserted a snide remark.

“Heh, Fang Ziyang, I didn’t realize you had such a good mindset. Calling the police during a live broadcast two days ago, publicly assaulting your own fiance yesterday, and now organizing an exhibition today. Do you feel like you’re not famous enough? Please, have some self-awareness and don’t drag our Fang family’s reputation down with you!”

It would have been better if he hadn’t said anything.

But now that he did, Fang Yandong also remembered the incident with Xie Wenxu being beaten. He immediately dropped his smile and put on a stern fatherly expression.

“Yangyang, your brother’s words may not be polite, but he does have a point. I heard that you beat up Xie Wenxu yesterday, and in front of others. What happened exactly? Did you have to resort to such violence, disregarding proper etiquette?”

“He cheated on me. If I didn’t beat him up, then who would?!”

His reason was valid, but Fang Yandong didn’t agree.

Men being indecisive is a common occurrence, not just in high society but also among ordinary people. Fang Yandong didn’t think it was a big deal at all. How many marriages in high society don’t involve playing around before or after the wedding? It’s just cheating, not something that ends in tragedy. Besides, the other party is the heir of the Xie family.

Fang Yandong furrowed his brows and spoke in an authoritative tone that brooked no opposition.

“Yangyang, although Dad loves you very much, living in our circle, you can’t be too willful. Sometimes, you have to endure certain things, especially in marriage. Being too demanding can easily lead to its breakdown.”

“Back then, Xie Wenxu voluntarily got engaged to you despite the pressure from his family, which means you held the most important place in his heart. Everyone else was just playing their part…”

He kept on talking, but in the end, wasn’t it all for his own benefit?

Fang Ziyang pursed his lips and interrupted, showing his displeasure. His eyes turned red as he exclaimed in a voice full of grievances,

“Dad, what you’re saying makes sense, but I can’t do it! You have no idea how Xie Wenxu treated me. He wasn’t just playing around. He acted all nice just to toy with me.”

“I’ve never suffered such humiliation before. Since he dared to cheat on me, what’s wrong with me giving him a beating? Not only do I want to beat him, but I also want to break off the engagement!”

Fang Yandong’s expression changed slightly, and his previous good mood vanished instantly.

How much would he lose if the engagement with the Xie family were to be broken?!

But Fang Ziyang didn’t give him a chance to continue speaking. He continued with his grievances,

“In any case, I must break off this engagement. Dad, don’t you love me the most? Why do you want me to tolerate Xie Wenxu’s infidelity? In the past, you used to do everything for me, but now you’re telling me to swallow my pride…”

“Dad, you’ve changed. You’ve become vulgar, materialistic, and unrecognizable! You’ve gone too far. I won’t give you the authority over my shares. I hate you!”

While uttering these exaggerated words, Fang Ziyang took the recently signed share authorization letter and tore it into pieces with a swift motion.

Fang Yandong couldn’t react in time, but Fang Qianhao felt as if he had been struck by lightning.


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Ch 23: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

After the incident at the clubhouse concluded and Fang Ziyang obtained the wallet photo thrown by Yan Tong, he quickly left the clubhouse and returned to the Fang residence.

Until the dust settled on the bullying video case, he had no intention of going to school. After all, this time he directly took his homeroom teacher to court without any negotiation. Regardless of the reason, it was a blow to the school’s reputation, and they would definitely not welcome him at this moment.

Moreover, he had never been popular at school, and being in such a controversial situation, he decided it was better not to go back and invite more criticism.

After all, there was a difference between livestreaming and facing the audience directly. In a livestream, he could say whatever he wanted behind the screen, but in front of a crowd, even if he was talented, he wouldn’t be able to win the argument. Although he was confident, he also knew his limits.

Besides, it was his senior year now, and he had already attended all the classes that were required. He could finish the remaining revisions at home, so it didn’t really matter whether he went to school or not.

As for whether the school would sabotage him during the college entrance examination, it was highly unlikely. After all, his identity was not ordinary. He wasn’t an ordinary person who had to endure bullying without any recourse.

Without lingering outside, Fang Ziyang went straight home after finishing his business, hoping to make more preparations for the future before the college entrance examination.

His current situation was weak, so he had to carefully calculate every step he took.

When he arrived at the Fang residence, it was still early, and Fang Qianhao hadn’t come back yet. Fang Yandong was at the company, and the entire villa was empty except for the servants.

This happened to facilitate Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang’s secret visit to him.

To be honest, Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang had been having a tough time these past few days. They were in a constant state of anxiety both day and night because of the things Fang Ziyang had said to Uncle Liu when he confronted him.

At the time, Fang Ziyang didn’t say much, but every word left endless room for speculation and imagination.

It was true that Uncle Liu was loyal to Fang Yandong, but it was uncertain how much loyalty was involved. After all, Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang had originally been on his mother’s side, and they were purely swayed by Fang Yandong.

As for people who switched sides like this, Fang Ziyang naturally had the ability to win them back and reuse them.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang were not foolish people. After being confronted and witnessing the argument that day, they saw Fang Ziyang play a trick on Fang Yandong and his son. Even someone as astute as Fang Yandong failed to notice it, and the balance in their hearts began to tilt.

Although they had received many benefits from serving Fang Yandong for many years, they also deeply understood what kind of person the master of the house was and how ruthless he could be.

Someone who could harm and exploit his own biological son would surely have no qualms about their fate once they outlived their usefulness.

Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang didn’t dare to think too much about it, but they could guess that their future wouldn’t be too promising. They could only silently worry.

However, at this moment, Fang Ziyang stepped forward.

It was like a ray of bright sunlight suddenly appearing in the darkness. They saw a glimpse of a new path. Instead of anxiously waiting for Fang Yandong to abandon them, they now had a chance to continue surviving.

However, they couldn’t be sure if Fang Ziyang would succeed in resisting and achieving victory. They hesitated until now because they didn’t want to make the wrong bet.

Fang Ziyang was unaware of the complicated conflicting thoughts in their minds, but he could make a reasonable guess.

Because Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang were in a really difficult situation right now. He remembered that in his previous life, not long after he was kicked out of the Fang family, Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang died in an accident while on a cruise. At that time, he felt it was retribution, but now, it was clear that their deaths were not accidental.

Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang’s main role was to ruin him, and once he became useless, they would naturally become useless as well.

Understanding this, betrayal was just a matter of a few words.

The two of them waited anxiously in the villa. When they saw Fang Ziyang’s car returning, they rushed forward almost without hesitation.

“Young, young master is back? Quick, the kitchen has freshly made snow fungus congee. Would young master like a bowl?”

Aunt Zhang tried hard to put on her usual kind demeanor, hoping to gain more affection from the new master. Unfortunately, her slightly stuttering tone gave away her inner anxiety.

Uncle Liu, on the other hand, couldn’t even utter a word while standing next to her. He was practically tormented by his overactive imagination in these past few days.

Clearly, both of them had realized that the innocent little rabbit they had thought Fang Ziyang was might actually be a wolf in sheep’s clothing, wearing a disguise for many years and bearing ferocious fangs. Their previous self-satisfaction now seemed laughable!

After leaving these two old individuals hanging for a couple of days, it was about time.

Fang Ziyang wasn’t in the mood to play games today. Without showing any traces, he glanced at the surrounding servants, nodded with a smile, and asked Aunt Zhang and Uncle Liu to bring the snow fungus congee to his room for a conversation.

Once inside the room, the door was closed.

Fang Ziyang didn’t want to waste any more words. He casually sat on the small sofa in the bedroom, adopting a dominant posture that exuded an oppressive aura.

“Speak up, have you made your decision? Will you join me or continue helping Fang Yandong dig his own grave?”

Since they had already torn off the facade, he could no longer address them as “father” in private.

The casual yet intensely oppressive image also startled Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang. Despite their anticipation, seeing the young master truly revealing his ferocious fangs still stirred up a storm in their hearts.

Having been in the Fang family and encountered many imposing figures in high society, they were no strangers to such presence. But witnessing it in a young man who was merely 18 years old was indeed rare.

Without hesitation, they dared to say that the current aura exuded by the young master was no less intimidating than that of the gentlemen who had been in the business world for many years!

It was even more formidable, evoking a sensation of facing a sharp sword.

Uncle Liu, being a man, had a more acute perception of danger than Aunt Zhang. He almost had the illusion of being stared down by a wild beast, immediately wanting to turn around and flee, his legs growing weak and uncontrollable.

Whether it was his imagination or not, he always felt that in the young master’s gaze, there was a desire to tear them apart with a thousand cuts!

On the other hand, Aunt Zhang, due to the closer relationship from long-term care, was in a better state than Uncle Liu. Despite her alarmed heart, her courage wasn’t completely shaken.

Seeing her husband appearing so frightened and pathetic, Aunt Zhang couldn’t help but curse silently. Only then did she gather the courage to speak up, her usually charitable demeanor turning ingratiating, tinged with a hint of probing.

“Young master, please consider your words. Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang have always stood by your side. However, you know that both Uncle Liu and I lack education. So, what do you mean by your words now?”

“Although Aunt Zhang and Uncle Liu may not be educated, they are both smart. I believe my words shouldn’t be difficult to understand,” Fang Ziyang replied calmly, his voice devoid of emotion. “Of course, if Aunt Zhang truly finds it incomprehensible, then you can leave. After all, I don’t like wasting time on people who pretend not to understand what’s clear to them, seeking death by playing dumb. What do you think, Aunt Zhang?”

Aunt Zhang’s expression turned grim. The words were too explicit.

Fang Ziyang had no intention of negotiating or bargaining because it simply wasn’t necessary. Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang were indeed useful, but they were not irreplaceable.

Moreover… he never intended to keep these two individuals by his side from the beginning.

If they were sensible enough, they might live a little longer. If they weren’t, he didn’t mind dealing with them right now.

Some words remained unsaid, but smart people could discern them.

Uncle Liu’s mind snapped, his legs going weak as he knelt down in fear, pleading for mercy.

“Young master, we were blind before and we apologize for our mistakes, but as servants, we had no choice. We had to obey the master’s orders. We beg for your forgiveness and give us a chance to make amends!”

As he spoke, he even pulled Aunt Zhang, who hadn’t realized the true danger, down to kneel beside him.

Compared to Aunt Zhang, who still hoped to use their relationship as leverage, Uncle Liu was clearly much more astute and understanding, making his decision decisively.

In fact, Uncle Liu was not someone who could be easily swayed by intimidation. However, he had already tortured himself with his own imagination for the past two days and nights, his nerves stretched to the extreme. Combined with Fang Yandong’s increasingly dismissive attitude towards them in recent years…

When a crafty rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked.

For the sake of their own family’s future, Fang Ziyang was currently their only way out.

Fearing that his wife couldn’t see the reality, Uncle Liu had to forcefully pinch Aunt Zhang’s thigh after speaking, using this gesture to warn her and drive the point home.

“We beg for your mercy. Although Uncle Liu is foolish, he has always understood that the young master is the foundation of our family’s survival. Without the young master, we no longer hold any value in the master’s eyes.”

“Over these years, although our family of three has done many things that have wronged the young master, allowing the young master to live peacefully until now, Uncle Liu must dare to speak up and take credit. Uncle Liu and Aunt Zhang still have the mistress in their hearts. If the young master has any needs, Uncle Liu’s family will never refuse…”

Uncle Liu had lowered the stance of his entire family.

Although Aunt Zhang was somewhat greedy, hearing her husband’s words was like being splashed with cold water, instantly awakening her.

Yes, Old Liu was right.

Their family of three could live so well all thanks to the young master! Despite this reliance being to monitor and manipulate the young master into doing things he shouldn’t, it couldn’t be denied that if the young master were gone, their family would lose its value.

And how did the master treat those who lost their value?

He abandoned them! Without any mercy! The master was a typical profit-driven businessman!

Suddenly, Aunt Zhang broke out in a cold sweat and dared not think about bargaining anymore. She nodded repeatedly, feeling anxious.

“Young master, we’re sorry. We really didn’t mean to harm you. It was all the master’s orders. If we didn’t obey the master, our family of three wouldn’t have any way to survive in Jiang City. Young master, it was the master who forced us…”

Fang Ziyang didn’t rush to respond, just gazed at them with indifference.

Although he had initiated this surrender, how could it be without a hint of submission?

Uncle Liu was the most adept at reading the situation. Seeing this, he knew that if he didn’t make a complete commitment today, it would be difficult to walk away unscathed.

With determination, Uncle Liu signaled to Aunt Zhang.

Receiving her husband’s instructions, although she hesitated, considering the consequences of not making a complete commitment, she gritted her teeth and decided to sell out Fang Yandong completely.

“Young master, besides the evidence of the master manipulating and deceiving you over the years, we also have a secret about the madam and the eldest young master. As long as the young master promises to spare our family and give us a way out in the future, we will tell you everything we know!”

“Do you really think you have the qualifications to negotiate with me?”

Fang Ziyang didn’t even entertain their offer. How to handle the situation was already his plan. He didn’t need anyone’s guidance or threats. He detested the feeling of being manipulated and helpless from his previous life.

Aunt Zhang’s face turned pale, sensing the irresistible dominance in his words.

Uncle Liu’s heart tightened, as if he were seeing the seemingly harmless young man in front of him in a completely new light, generating an unprecedented fear within him.

The strong are not to be feared; what is truly frightening is a strong person who doesn’t care about anything.

Uncle Liu could tell that Fang Ziyang was intrigued by what Aunt Zhang had just said, but that intrigue couldn’t influence his decision. In the young master, he sensed a resolute determination, as if… if he couldn’t achieve his goal, he would rather die together with them.

However, they didn’t want to die! They didn’t have the courage for a mutual destruction!

“The madam didn’t die from a failed surgery, and the eldest young master isn’t the true eldest young master. He is the master’s illegitimate child.”

Uncle Liu, trembling with fear, observed Fang Ziyang’s expression as he made an astonishing revelation.


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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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Ch 21: Rebirth of the Tool Man in a Pampered Protagonist Novel

Yan Tong was going crazy with anger.

He never expected Fang Ziyang’s actions to be so decisive, so unabashed, without the slightest concern for public opinion. This time, he was determined to give him a big blow.

Although, based on his understanding of Fang Ziyang, it wasn’t surprising that he could do such things. Fang Ziyang was originally an arrogant and dominant person.

But he didn’t expect that after three years of setbacks from him, Fang Ziyang no longer appeared as wise and dazzling as he had seen in the books. He had become easily angered and mediocre. However, he never expected that this stimulation from the recent hot search would rekindle Fang Ziyang’s potential.

He suddenly felt a bit panicked.

Today’s Fang Ziyang reminded him of the scenes he had read in the novel before.

Although he had always felt that Fang Ziyang had character issues and hated how he hurt a group of devoted male characters, he had to admit that Fang Ziyang was truly outstanding and dazzling.

And just now, it was as if he saw that radiance in Fang Ziyang again. Everyone’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to him…

But this wasn’t what he wanted to see!

So what if Fang Ziyang is the protagonist? That’s all in the past. Now that he has transmigrated here, would the world in the book still develop as it originally did?

Perhaps even the heavens felt that Fang Ziyang wasn’t worthy of being the protagonist, so they allowed him to transmigrate to change things?

Moreover, setting aside the plot and transmigration itself, his current identity is in opposition to Fang Ziyang. Fang Ziyang’s mother took away the man who belonged to his mother, forcing her to leave and turning him, the original owner, from a young master of a prestigious family into a wild child from a single-parent family…

Although he had some doubts and felt that something was off about what his mother told him.

Overall, whether it’s his identity as a transmigrator or the situation with the illegitimate child of the Fang family, he and Fang Ziyang cannot coexist peacefully.

Translated on ho lo lo novels dot com.

If Yan Tong felt a bit guilty when he initially developed opposition towards Fang Ziyang, now he didn’t feel the slightest hint of remorse.

After witnessing Fang Ziyang’s “terrible” temper and character today, he believed that he was sent by the heavens to save these devoted male characters pin the world.

He comforted himself in this way.

When facing the scrutinizing gazes around him again, he had a much stronger sense of calm and confidence.

He never stole Fang Ziyang’s fiancé. He and Xie Wenxu were just pure friends. His interactions with Fang Ziyang were only meant to remind Xie Wenxu to stay away from Fang Ziyang, so as to avoid the fate of a sorrowful and heartbroken devoted male partner.

As for Xie Wenxu falling in love with him, it was something he couldn’t control at all.

And as for Fang Qianhao… it was simply impossible between them.

His mother said he was Fang Yandong’s illegitimate child, so Fang Qianhao was his older brother. How could they become a couple? Besides, he didn’t like Fang Qianhao in that way. He only saw him as a brother.

If Fang Qianhao liked him, it might just be a result of some misunderstanding due to their blood relationship as relatives.

Their once good friendship had become completely incomprehensible in the eyes of others due to Fang Ziyang’s interference today. For now, the best plan was to temporarily disentangle himself from the situation and then bring up the matter of acknowledging his identity. Once the truth about him being the illegitimate child of the Fang family came to light, everything would be resolved.

Thinking about acknowledging his identity, Yan Tong felt an even greater hatred towards Fang Ziyang.

He had never intended to return to the Fang family in the first place. The Fang family would go bankrupt in a few years anyway, and he wasn’t the original owner to begin with. He had no desire to get involved. But now, he had no choice but to use this bargaining chip.

He gritted his teeth.

Yan Tong looked at Xie Wenxu, who had already calmed down and was gazing at him affectionately. He could only cruelly show a shocked expression as if he had been struck by a massive secret and had to make a major decision. He appeared sad and humiliated.

“Xie Wenxu, I’m sorry. I thought we were good friends, but I didn’t expect that… Although Fang Ziyang was out of line, this is indeed my fault. I don’t blame him for what happened just now, and… I don’t blame you either. Love is something that’s hard to control.”

“However, now that things have come to this point, let’s find some time to talk and sort things out. It’s better for everyone. I also don’t want to… be a third party. I’m sorry.”

He didn’t want to be so heartless, but if he didn’t do this, his relationship with Xie Wenxu would probably be forced to progress!

Although Xie Wenxu was outstanding and affectionate, he wasn’t Yan Tong’s ideal partner.

After speaking, Yan Tong didn’t dare to look at Xie Wenxu’s expression of unrequited love being rejected. He turned to Fang Qianhao and couldn’t help but bite his lip. He really had no choice but to wade into the muddy waters of the Fang family.

Taking a deep breath, Yan Tong’s face showed a struggle between words and silence, even more difficult than before.

“Senior Fang, I… I’m sorry for dragging you into this today. I will come to apologize in person another day. Today, I will attend your gathering. Thank you for your invitation, Senior.”

After speaking, Yan Tong turned around and hurriedly left as well.

Deep down, he naturally wished to explain the situation to everyone in order to prevent his carefully maintained image from being destroyed. However, at the moment, he couldn’t explain it clearly in a short time, and even if he did, no one would believe him.

He could only show his attitude for now and wait until he went to the Fang family to acknowledge his identity. Then, all the problems would be resolved.

Moreover, there was another important matter he had to attend to at the club today. He had to temporarily set aside the entanglement with Xie Wenxu and Fang Qianhao. He couldn’t afford to lose their friendship because of it. Otherwise, the three years of patience he had endured since coming here would all be in vain.

That most loyal support of Fang Ziyang’s must not be obtained by Fang Ziyang again.

…

The main characters in both situations had left, leaving Xie Wenxu and Fang Qianhao dumbfounded in their original positions. The lively atmosphere couldn’t continue.

However, the attracted audience members still watched with great interest.

The argument between Fang Ziyang and the others didn’t last long, but the information revealed in their words was abundant, especially the reaction from Yan Tong at the end, which was truly intriguing.

Originally, this seemed like a common scandal of infidelity and being caught in the act by an unmarried fiancé, just with the twist of the other party being the heir of the Xie family, which made it more enticing. But now, it seemed even more dramatic.

Based on the current situation, it appeared that the heir of the Xie family had attempted infidelity but was brutally beaten by his own fiancé before succeeding. Yet, the third party involved didn’t even appreciate it…

Tsk tsk, it seems the Xie family is in for a big joke this time!

The onlookers exchanged knowing smiles.

And at the back of the crowd.

After witnessing all these developments, Xie Zheng’s already serious face became even colder. With a deep and suppressed anger in his low voice, he instructed the person beside him,

“Investigate what this idiot Xie Wenxu has done to Fang Ziyang. With the way Fang Ziyang looks at him, it’s impossible for him to be so heartless just because he didn’t lend a helping hand in the trending video…”

If he didn’t feel wrong, there was deep hatred in Fang Ziyang’s gaze when he looked at Xie Wenxu just now.

Although he had some objections to Fang Ziyang’s behavior, as he seemed to be unreasonably protected by Tang Xun, overall, Fang Ziyang was just a spoiled and willful child at heart, not truly malicious.

Even from years of observation, that child was actually quite innocent and cheerful. Well… although recently he seemed to have become a bit rebellious.

So, what exactly did Xie Wenxu do to evoke such deeply ingrained hatred from Fang Ziyang?

Thinking of this, Xie Zheng’s face grew even colder, and he added, “Notify everyone to act quickly. I’ve had enough of these idiots from the Xie family.”

Secretary Li, hearing this, straightened up and held onto the briefcase, “Yes, boss.”

…

The always well-regarded Xie family was destined to become the laughingstock of the upper-class circle this time.

But it had nothing to do with Fang Ziyang, and he even found it enjoyable.

After all, he wasn’t part of the Xie family, so what did he care if they became a laughingstock? As the background supporting Xie Wenxu, the worse things were for the other party, the happier he would naturally be.

After leaving with Zhou Jun and Zhao Jingyu just now, he didn’t actually leave the club. Instead, he let Zhou Jun and the others leave first and then found a corner to hide, waiting for Yan Tong’s move.

He never forgot the purpose of coming to the club today.

Provoking and tearing apart Xie Wenxu’s disguise was just something he did effortlessly.

And Yan Tong, clearly, also didn’t forget his own plan for coming to the club today. As he expected, he had no intention of meddling in Xie Wenxu and Fang Qianhao’s affairs, and he slipped away quickly.

Regarding this, Fang Ziyang was truly not surprised at all.

They say your enemies understand you the best. After having dealt with Yan Tong for so many years in his past life, how could he not know what kind of person Yan Tong was?

Selfish and hypocritical, that was his final evaluation of him.

Yan Tong was the kind of person who talked big about righteousness and morality, always claiming that he was doing things for the sake of others, as if he were the kindest and most sympathetic person in the world.

However, in reality, all his “kindness” was based on others’ sacrifices. Once it involved his own interests, he would stand on a moral high ground and passionately condemn you.

When it came to people like Xie Wenxu and Fang Qianhao, he would talk about them being good friends, brainwashing himself with his own words.

But in private interactions, the ambiguous signals he emitted made it clear that he himself couldn’t claim that his relationships with Xie Wenxu and the others were purely platonic friendships!

However, it had to be admitted that Yan Tong did have a talent for seducing men. Apart from Fang Yandong, who remained rational, every man he had been ambiguous with couldn’t help but become infatuated with him.

But precisely because he understood this point, Fang Ziyang was able to successfully use it to tear apart Xie Wenxu’s facade today.

But it was also because he knew that Yan Tong was accustomed to using the men around him to achieve his own goals that this particular action of Yan Tong personally coming to the club became even more significant.

Seeing Yan Tong leave alone, Fang Ziyang quietly followed.

Yan Tong had obviously familiarized himself with the rough layout of the club before coming. He walked through each corridor with a clear purpose.

Fang Ziyang followed behind, taking several twists and turns until they arrived at the entrance of a private room.

Once they reached the destination, Yan Tong didn’t act hastily or knock on the door of the private room. Instead, he pretended to pass by and observed the surroundings. After confirming that no one else was around, he discreetly avoided the surveillance and quickly threw a wallet at the door of the private room before swiftly leaving.

Fang Ziyang pursed his lips as he watched everything unfold.

After Yan Tong left, almost without hesitation, Fang Ziyang rushed over to pick up the wallet and then slipped into a nearby restroom stall to open and examine it.

As expected, there was indeed a photo inside the wallet.

However, the contents of the photo…

Fang Ziyang furrowed his brows.


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