Fang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow, realizing Wen Renhe had moved swiftly.
"What are you looking at?"
"I'm looking at how quick the old man was," Fang Miaomiao said, then paused. "But if he does this, won't the Ran family cause him trouble?"
Wen Zhiyan's eyelashes drooped, hiding the emotion in his eyes. "Perhaps he wants the Ran family to cause him trouble."
The Ran family was meticulous in their actions, leaving no openings to be exploited.
That was why Wen Renhe decided to take this step.
To lure the snake out of its hole, it was likely the fastest method in a short time.
However, he had never expected that the one to execute it would be his own father.
Fang Miaomiao was momentarily at a loss for words.
...
The man hurled the cup in his hand heavily to the ground. "Wen Renhe, Hmph. I never thought I'd be outmaneuvered by that old scoundrel Wen Renhe in the end."
"Second Master, what should we do now?"
"What's the situation in Thailand?"
The bodyguard's expression was grim. "It's troublesome. Our people still haven't made contact with our contacts there."
The man frowned. "What about the person in charge in City A? Haven't you found them yet?"
"Still no sign."
The man, enraged, kicked the bodyguard. "You can't contact them, and you can't contact the other. What good are you people to me?"
The bodyguard lowered his head, remaining silent.
"Enough, enough. I should also make a trip to Yu Garden."
The bodyguard continued to say nothing.
"Tell your people to search for the person in charge comprehensively. If you find them, get them out. If you can't, you know what to do." A glint ofๆๆ flashed in the man's eyes.
"Yes."
After speaking, the man stood up from the stone chair.
"Second Master?"
"Let's go. My dear sister has been in the hospital for so long. As her brother, how can I not visit her?"
"Yes."
"Why are you here?" Hong Lu was somewhat surprised to see the person who arrived.
"What? Surprised to see me?"
Hong Lu opened her mouth, about to say something, when Ran Lian slowly opened her eyes on the hospital bed.
Upon clearly recognizing the visitor, her initial surprise turned into excitement as she called out, "Second Brother."
This was the first time Second Brother had left the Ran family since their father and eldest brother had died.
Ran Qiu smiled faintly and walked past Hong Lu, taking a seat beside Ran Lian. "Are you blaming your second brother for not visiting you?"
Ran Lian shook her head vigorously. "Second Brother, you know I missed you."
"Silly child," Ran Qiu shook his head. "How did you end up like this?"
"I, I was sick," Ran Lian's voice was weak. "I just had surgery."
"Was it successful?"
Ran Lian nodded. "Yes, thank you for your concern, Second Brother."
"I have something I want to discuss with you."
Ran Lian's eyes flickered, and she asked Hong Lu to leave.
Once the spacious ward was left with only the siblings, Ran Lian asked excitedly, "Second Brother, what did you want to talk to me about?"
"Do you know that Wen Renhe has severed ties with Wen Zhiyan?"
Ran Lian was stunned for a moment upon hearing this, then said, "He's of no benefit to Wen Shi. It's only natural for Renhe to expel him. I actually think he did the right thing. Second Brother, don't worry, with Zhi Jia in charge, Wen Shi will only get better and better."
Ran Qiu chuckled. "Actually, there's something I'm very curious about. I wonder if my sister would be interested in answering it for her second brother."
"Second Brother, please ask."
"Why do you hate Wen Zhiyan so much and favor Wen Zhi Jia?"
Anyone with eyes could see that the fourth son of the Wen family was more than just a little better than the third son.
However, Madam Wen's eyes were always only on the third son, followed by the deceased eldest son, then Wen Zhiyu, and finally Wen Zhiyan.
Zhi Yan, Zhi Yan.
Even his name was merely perfunctory.
"Because Wen Zhiyan is here to collect debts, Second Brother. If it weren't for him, how could my body be so weak? How could Fifth and I not even meet?" Ran Lian clutched Ran Qiu's hand, her eyes reddening. "I heard from the doctor that Fifth died of lack of oxygen in my womb."
If Wen Zhiyan had come out sooner, if he had troubled her less, how could her Fifth have died?
Ran Qiu remained silent for a long moment. "What about Wen Zhi Jia?"
Hearing this name, Ran Lian smiled. "Second Brother, you must also think I dote on Third because he's sweet-mouthed and knows how to talk, right?"
But who knew that her Third had saved her life?
Back then, she was despondent over the matter of Fifth and eventually developed depression. It was Third who stayed by her side every day after school, entertaining her and telling her jokes.
It was Third who pulled her back from the brink of death time and again.
Once, when her depression flared, she fell into the swimming pool. It was Third who jumped in without a word and saved her.
How could she not dote on such a filial Third?
She knew that under her indulgence and pampering, Third's disposition had gradually changed.
But so what? He was her son, and she was willing to spoil him.
Ran Qiu was silent. "I apologize. I was very busy during that time and didn't pay attention to you."
Ran Lian shook her head. "Second Brother, this is the path I chose myself. I have no regrets."
Even if she had to do it all over again, she still wouldn't regret it.
Ran Qiu remained silent.
"Second Brother, what did you come here for this time?" Ran Lian sat up slightly, pressing him.
Ran Qiu shook his head. "Nothing."
Ran Lian panicked. "You can't lie to me, Second Brother. We're family. We can discuss anything together."
"I already said nothing's wrong. I just wanted to see you, after all, your brother hasn't been a good brother all these years, and I didn't even come to see you when you were sick and hospitalized."
Ran Lian shook her head. "No, I know you care about me in your heart. That's enough. I don't need anything else."
"Alright, alright, our Ran Lian is the best. Don't cry, you're already so old." Ran Qiu said with feigned annoyance.
"How old? Just fifty or sixty. Second Brother, you're older than me."
Ran Qiu glared. "I'm only two years older than you."
Ran Lian was about to say something more when the ward door was directly pushed open from the outside.
Ran Qiu turned his head to look.
"Brother-in-law, long time no see."
Wen Renhe looked at Ran Qiu for a while before saying, "Second Brother has gotten old."
"Really? I thought I was getting younger. After all, I don't have as many white hairs as you do, Brother-in-law."
The two men exchanged glances.
Ran Qiu then patted Ran Lian's hand. "Second Brother has other matters to attend to, so I'll be going now. Recover well. When you're better, Second Brother will take you out to play."
Ran Lian muttered, "I'm not a child," but the smile never left her lips.
"Renhe, please see Second Brother out for me."
"Certainly."
The two men left the ward one after another, heading towards the safety exit.
"Ran Qiu, what exactly do you mean?"
Ran Qiu smiled meaningfully. "What? My sister is sick, and I, as her brother, am not allowed to visit her?"
"Ran Qiu, you have no connection now."