838: Chapter 833 This is just the beginning

Chen Guangke's fingers stiffened; he suspected he had misheard.

"What?"

"You'll know when the time comes."

Shen Yan did not explain.

Some things were too troublesome to explain, and besides, walls had ears.

Even inside this maybach that had followed him for a long time, he was accustomed to maintaining that caution.

The car drove into a high-end villa complex.

This was the first house Shen Yan bought after his comeback.

The environment was quiet, and the security was tight.

Most importantly, it was very close to Liu Hui's Parents' home, making it convenient to look after the elders.

"Pick me up at eight tomorrow morning."

Shen Yan pushed the door open and got out.

"Got it, boss!"

Chen Guangke agreed and watched Shen Yan walk into the villa gate.

It was late at night.

The lights on the first floor of the villa were still on.

It was a warm yellow floor lamp; the light was not harsh but gave people an inexplicable sense of security.

Shen Yan pushed the door open.

A pair of men's slippers were neatly placed at the entrance.

The air was filled with the faint fragrance of pork rib and lotus root soup—the smell of home.

The tension Shen Yan had held all evening finally relaxed at this moment.

He took off his trench coat and hung it on the rack.

"You're back?"

Liu Hui's voice came from the living room.

She was wearing a set of off-white loungewear, holding a parenting book, and sitting on the sofa.

Her hair was casually tied up at the back of her head, with a few wisps of stray hair hanging by her ears.

She lacked the glitter and glamour of the socialites at the banquet, but she was comfortable to look at.

"Mmm."

Shen Yan walked over and sat down beside the sofa.

Liu Hui put down the book and naturally reached out to touch Shen Yan's forehead.

"Didn't drink?"

"I didn't."

Shen Yan held her hand.

The palm was warm.

"Are you hungry? There's still warm soup in the pot. Grandma specifically sent it over, saying lotus root soup is good for the lungs this season."

Liu Hui started to get up as she spoke.

Shen Yan held her back.

"No need to bother, I'm not hungry."

He looked into Liu Hui's eyes.

There was no calculation of the marketplace in those eyes, only pure concern.

During that darkest period, when he was betrayed by his Ex-wife, forced out by shareholders, penniless, and still needing to pay for his sister's medical expenses—it was this woman who stood silently behind him.

Grandma Liu said Huihui was a straightforward child.

Truly straightforward—so much so that she was willing to be with him when he had nothing.

"What's wrong?"

Liu Hui sensed the strangeness in Shen Yan's mood.

She held Shen Yan's hand back, gently stroking it.

"Did something happen at the company?"

"No."

Shen Yan shook his head.

"The company is doing great; we won a big victory today."

"That's good then."

Liu Hui smiled, her eyes curving.

"Then why do you look so preoccupied?"

Shen Yan was silent for a moment.

"Huihui, I have to go to Country F tomorrow."

Liu Hui paused slightly.

"So suddenly?"

"Mmm."

Shen Yan nodded.

"There's an opportunity that must be seized."

Liu Hui didn't ask what the opportunity was.

She didn't understand business matters, but she understood Shen Yan.

This man was like a fully drawn bow; once he aimed at a target, he wouldn't look back.

"How many days will you be gone?"

"If things go smoothly, four or five days."

Shen Yan calculated the time.

The auction was in three days; adding travel time and follow-up work, he should be back within a week.

"Then Anan's birthday celebration..."

Liu Hui hesitated slightly; in a few days, it would be their son Shen An's second birthday.

Shen Yan's heart tightened; he had been too busy lately and had almost forgotten about it, a wave of guilt washing over him.

"I will try my best to rush back."

Shen Yan said.

"If I can't make it back..."

"It's fine."

Liu Hui interrupted him and reached out to straighten his collar.

"Business is important."

"Anan is still young; he'll have many more birthdays."

"You take care of yourself out there. I'm here with the house, and Grandma Liu will help. Don't worry."

These words were spoken lightly, yet they acted like a massive stone, firmly securing Shen Yan's rear base.

To have such a wife—what more could a husband ask for?

Shen Yan reached out and pulled Liu Hui into his embrace. He didn't say any mushy sweet nothings, just held her quietly for a while.

"I'm going to check on Youyou and Anan."

Shen Yan stood up.

Upstairs in the children's rooms.

The pink room belonged to Youyou.

The little girl was sleeping soundly, still hugging the large panda doll Shen Yan brought back from his last business trip.

Her breathing was even, and her complexion was rosy.

Shen Yan tucked the corner of her blanket in. Looking at his daughter's delicate sleeping face, a trace of tenderness flashed in his eyes.

In this lifetime, no one would ever touch his family again.

Next door was Shen An's room.

The little fellow was sleeping in a sprawling posture, spread out on his back.

Shen Yan reached out a finger and gently poked his son's chubby cheek.

The little guy wrinkled his nose, smacked his lips a couple of times, turned over, and continued sleeping.

Shen Yan smiled.

The ferocity gained from fighting in the marketplace completely dissipated at this moment.

He wanted to be the strongest person.

Not to prove anything to anyone, but so that everyone in this house could sleep as peacefully as they were now in this cruel world.

This trip to Country F was a must-win.

The next morning, at Jinghai International Airport.

It was barely dawn, and the air carried a hint of late autumn chill.

In the VIP lounge.

Chen Guangke, sporting dark circles under his eyes, was reporting the situation to Shen Yan.

"Brother Yan, Ning Ke pulled strings to get us an expedited business visa. It just arrived."

"The ticket is for the earliest flight, direct to Marseille, then a transfer to Marseille."

"Also, I've briefed Wu Ya on things."

"She said not to worry. As long as you don't cause an uproar in Country F, she can stabilize the domestic situation."

Chen Guangke handed Shen Yan a cup of hot Americano.

Shen Yan took the coffee and took a sip. The bitter taste spread across his tongue, instantly sobering him up.

"Any movement from Liang Zexu?"

Shen Yan asked.

"Hah, don't even mention it."

Chen Guangke got animated as soon as this name came up.

"I heard he bought a ticket last night to fly back to the States."

"Probably has no face left to stay in Jinghai."

"But Brother Yan, are we just going to let him go like that?"

"That kid stole Old Feng's fifteen years of hard work!"

Shen Yan looked at the planes taking off and landing outside the floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze as calm as stagnant water.

"He can't escape."

"As long as he remains active in this circle, this debt will always hang over his head."

"We don't need to bother with him now. He's already socially dead in academia."

"Keep your sights set further ahead."

Chen Guangke nodded, half-understanding.

At that moment, the boarding announcement sounded over the loudspeaker.

"Let's go."

Shen Yan stood up and straightened his trench coat.

The two passed through the VIP channel and boarded the flight heading across the ocean.

First class was very spacious.

Shen Yan declined the champagne offered by the flight attendant and asked for a glass of warm water instead.

The plane began to taxi, and the immense G-force pressed him back.

Shen Yan watched Jinghai City shrink outside the window.

This Jinghai was already under his feet.

But this was not enough.

This was only the beginning.