Chapter 200: Her Mother’s Affair

Li Yan was very displeased at this moment.

What made him displeased, besides being investigated and arranged in secret, was also his attitude towards Nian Yufei!

In his view, a little cunning in girls was a more interesting thing. For example, he was not displeased by some of Wen Qianyi’s cunning. Even when Nian Yufei previously turned ’next year’ into ’after New Year’s Day’, he just laughed it off.

But the things he heard now made him feel a bit malicious. Using power and financial resources to silently infiltrate his surroundings. Whatever the intention, whether just to get close to him or create coincidences, it was unacceptable to him. Compared to Wen Qianyi’s intelligent cunning, this had to be categorized as very scheming!

Hearing what Nian Yufei said next, it seemed she didn’t know, but to Li Yan, it seemed she was pretending to create a coincidence!

"So it’s your secret industry, and with Mr. Wood’s presence, it must be safe!" Li Yan said with a bit of sarcasm.

Nian Yufei didn’t catch on, and earnestly said: "Yes, I didn’t know before. It’s just that after the last time, when I came over here, they were worried about me staying in a hotel and arranged for me to stay here for convenience in protection. But you don’t need to feel restrained, no one will interfere with you, you’ve met Grandpa Wood."

Li Yan was no longer interested in having dinner with her, but he was still going; he wanted to question her face to face and get a clear answer!

After casually responding a few times, he immediately drove back. After reaching the villa area, instead of going back to his own house as usual, he found the one where Nian Yufei lived.

This could be considered as being neighbors, but not close in proximity—rather at a distance. After pressing the doorbell, Nian Yufei was a bit surprised at how fast he came and immediately had someone open the door for Li Yan.

After parking the car and entering, Li Yan quickly met with Nian Yufei. As he went in, he also secretly noted that the security of this villa was tighter than his own home. Besides the advanced electronic equipment, there were bodyguards guarding.

Though it’s New Year and she’s a year older, in reality, Nian Yufei hasn’t changed much. She was very happy to welcome Li Yan in, and the old man Wood, who had been accompanying her for protection, was also courteous to Li Yan. After leading them in, he instructed someone to serve tea and didn’t disturb them further.

Even so, Li Yan knew that there were people on standby at all times, and if anything unusual happened here, someone would rush in immediately.

"Bodyguards, attendants, servants... quite a lot of people. Just for you to come here and play, not only buying a house but equipping it with so many people. Your father is really generous!" Li Yan said in a half-joking, half-sarcastic tone.

Nian Yufei kept smiling at first because her lifestyle appeared luxurious to others but was a shackle without freedom to her. When she heard the last sentence, her smile froze a bit...

"Brother Li Yan, there’s a little time before dinner, would you like to take a look around here?" Nian Yufei suggested to Li Yan, glancing outside.

"Sure." Li Yan stood up, still maintaining courtesy before things got ugly.

Nian Yufei wasn’t trying to change the subject but wanted to move to a place more convenient for talking! Living a life constantly under protection for years, she was somewhat familiar with security measures. Only her bedroom was a private place.

Pretending to show him around, she brought Li Yan upstairs and then invited him into the master bedroom after a quick tour.

"This is my bedroom, where I spend a lot of time alone..."

Li Yan heard her lock the door after closing it, and he stayed silent, waiting for her to speak and contemplating how to start asking the questions he wanted to ask.

"What you said earlier... actually has nothing to do with my father."

"Hmm?" Li Yan responded casually, nothing to do with her father? Right, she said it was her secret industry. Could it be she spent her own money? A classical musician, only debuted a couple of years ago; how much could she earn?

But it didn’t matter, he kept his doubts to himself; he wasn’t interested in her affairs.

"Yes, nothing to do with my father, he’s not the one taking care of me." Nian Yufei said again, then invited Li Yan to sit.

"Oh." Li Yan responded casually, looking at the beautiful girl in front of him; if he wanted, he could easily strangle her!

Of course, he wouldn’t really strangle Nian Yufei, even though he was annoyed and disliked her, at most he would ignore her. After all, he once protected her life back then. The little girl in his memories had already merged with the girl now.

"This house... when did you buy it? It’s so big, it can’t be cheap, right?" He asked, seemingly offhand, not intending to listen to Nian Yufei vent.

"Oh, this place. I don’t know how much it costs... actually, it’s my mother’s property." Nian Yufei said, a bit embarrassed.

"Your mother?" Li Yan was slightly stunned, wasn’t it bought near my home to get close to me? Blaming it on your deceased mother, that’s too much?

Nian Yufei nodded: "I actually didn’t know. It was when I thought of living here that Grandpa Wood mentioned this property. He said back when it was just being developed, my mother pre-ordered a unit. But later she... you know..."

Her mood turned a bit somber, then she smiled and relaxed, saying: "So when it was completed, we didn’t even come to take possession. Some of my mom’s things were transferred to my name. But I was still young and didn’t understand these matters. These... should probably have been handled by a lawyer or so, until a while ago when I wanted to come over, Grandpa Wood reminded me of it and arranged it."

As she spoke, Li Yan kept watching her eyes, wanting to see if she was lying. If she were lying, especially using her deceased mother as an excuse, he wouldn’t need to listen any further, let alone speak to her, he could just leave directly.

But he didn’t see any signs of lying. Nian Yufei was still as she always was, with a bit of sorrow on her face when mentioning her deceased mother. But only a bit, as her heart had been tempered not to be as fragile as people her age.

...

Realizing this might just be a coincidence, Li Yan’s attitude improved a lot. He decided not to confront her and would continue observing as if he knew nothing.

"So that’s how it is. So... these people outside, including Mr. Wood, weren’t arranged by your father, but by your mother?"

Nian Yufei nodded and then shook her head.

"Brother Li Yan, don’t you find it annoying? If you’re not annoyed, I can slowly tell you. I... I really have no one else to talk to."

Seeing her a bit self-deprecating, Li Yan could imagine her life, though materially affluent, lacking freedom, and growing up essentially in danger.

"Go on! I’m willing to listen, after all... it’s not time to eat yet!" Li Yan softened a bit.

"Thank you! I knew you would listen to my confessions." Nian Yufei said with slight excitement, then began to tell:

"I’m an illegitimate child..."

Li Yan vaguely recalled her family’s situation: Nian Yufei’s father intended to pass most of the family business to this illegitimate daughter, which incensed her half-brother, who was heavily involved in the father’s business but dared not act out of line as the father was still alive. Perhaps finding it impossible, he placed a hefty bounty for an assassin to handle it.

What does she mean now? Not like ordinary people?

A hidden truth?

Nian Yufei glanced at the door, lowered her voice, and whispered: "My mother wasn’t supported by my dad... like a mistress."

"Mmm." Li Yan thought to himself, if this villa was really pre-ordered by your mom back then with her own money, of course, she wouldn’t be just a mistress.

"... When my mom met my dad, he was already married, and even my brother was in his teens. But despite all odds, they still fell in love, deeply in love. Maybe when feelings arise, age, identity gaps don’t matter..."

Li Yan was a bit sweaty; this sounded a bit... He then mockingly laughed at himself, even if Nian Yufei appreciated, respected, or was attached to him, it wouldn’t reach the level of romantic pursuit.

"According to Grandpa Wood, my mom... was born into an old big family. They ventured overseas for business during the late Qing dynasty. After nearly two hundred years and several generations of efforts, they built a considerable fortune. My mom met my dad while managing family assets on Cloud Island."

Nian Yufei wasn’t good at storytelling, or maybe because of her age, she didn’t know much.

But just from this, Li Yan, who had been observing her closely and didn’t find any signs of lying, was quite shocked.

"You mean... Mr. Wood actually belongs to your mom, not your dad, and the people who saved you and your mom back then were from her family? And she didn’t need to fight for your dad’s property, the one who placed a bounty on your mom wasn’t your half-brother?"

(Thanks to friends who voted with monthly passes, Old Lai strives to have four updates tomorrow, and earnestly requests those with monthly passes to continue giving some encouragement. The recent troubles have also had a tentative arrangement, "Springtime Leaked" will be renamed "Dreams Come True", "Legend of Enchanting Encounter" will be renamed "Legend of Heaven Yu". Readers who haven’t read it can go check it out. Click Heaven Yu or the author’s other works for links. Much gratitude to all friends supporting the author, and those who don’t like it, just treat us as—release it. Reality is already unsatisfactory enough, both author and readers are just seeking some entertainment.) (To be continued in the next installment. Please log on to www.qidian.com for more Chapters, support the author, and read the official version!)