28: Chapter 28 Welcome Home, Princess

5:00 PM, at the entrance of the piano shop.

Su Nianyao massaged her aching calves and stuffed the last flyer into her bag.

After standing all day, the soles of her feet felt like they were stepping on a bed of needles.

Just as she was about to head to the bus stop, a black bentley mulsanne glided over silently and came to a steady stop in front of her.

The window rolled down, revealing Chen Fan's face behind a pair of sunglasses.

"Get in."

Su Nianyao was stunned for a moment. Looking at the glossy black car body, she instinctively pulled her feet back.

Her shoes were covered in dust, and her trouser legs were splattered with mud.

"Dad... this car is too expensive. I'm dirty. I can just take the bus back."

Chen Fan didn't waste words; he pushed the door open, got out, grabbed her hand, and tucked her into the leather back seat.

"Cars are bought to be sat in. Don't worry about a little dust; even if you just crawled out of a mud pit, this is still your private car."

Chen Fan closed the door and walked around to the driver's seat.

The air conditioning inside was strong, cutting off the sweltering heat from outside.

Su Nianyao sat in the spacious back row, not daring to touch anything, her body as stiff as a stone.

"Dad, where are we going? Back to that... that neighborhood?"

While turning the steering wheel, Chen Fan glanced at his daughter in the rearview mirror.

"We're not going back. That dump isn't worthy of my daughter."

The Bentley roared and entered the main road, heading toward the core luxury residential area of Jiang City—Longwan Peninsula.

Half an hour later.

The car entered a private mountain road.

Both sides of the road were lined with lush, green London plane trees.

Su Nianyao looked out the window, her heart beating faster and faster.

She knew this road.

When she used to hand out flyers, she had passed by here, and the security guards wouldn't even let her get close.

This was the road leading to "Longwan No. 1."

Legend has it that if the people living here sneeze, the whole of Jiang City catches a cold.

"Dad... are we on the wrong road?" Su Nianyao gripped her seatbelt, her voice tight.

"We're not."

Chen Fan held the steering wheel with one hand, his tone indifferent. "From now on, this is your way home."

Just as he finished speaking, the car rounded a bend.

The view suddenly opened up.

A massive European-style manor stood halfway up the mountain, backed by green hills and facing the great river.

The black wrought-iron gates were ten meters high, adorned with golden dragon-patterned reliefs.

Before the car even arrived, the gates slowly opened to both sides.

Chen Fan stepped on the gas, and the car entered the manor square.

In the next second, Su Nianyao completely lost the ability to speak.

On the massive fountain square, a bright red carpet over a hundred meters long was laid out, leading directly to the main entrance of the villa.

On both sides of the red carpet stood a dense crowd of people.

On the left were fifty male servants in black tailcoats, and on the right were fifty maids in black-and-white uniforms.

They stood perfectly straight, like an army being reviewed.

Standing at the very front was a grey-haired, energetic old man wearing a sophisticated British butler's uniform and white gloves.

He was Xuanwu, a top-tier butler Chen Fan had just recalled from overseas, who had previously served a royal family.

Chen Fan parked the car and turned off the engine.

"Get out. We're home."

Su Nianyao's legs felt a bit weak, and her hand shook as she pushed the car door open.

Her foot had just stepped onto the red carpet.

The old man named Xuanwu immediately stepped forward, placed his right hand over his chest, and bowed ninety degrees.

Then...

Whoosh—!

On both sides of the red carpet, the hundred servants moved in perfect unison, bowing simultaneously.

Their voices were thunderous, echoing into the sky:

"Welcome home, Princess!"

This shout startled the birds in the manor's woods.

Su Nianyao was so startled by the display that she took a step back, her back bumping into Chen Fan's broad chest.

"Dad... what... what is this?"

Her face flushed, and she felt flustered, like a Cinderella who had stumbled into a royal palace.

Chen Fan held her shoulders, his warm hands giving her a bit of strength.

"This is for grandeur."

Chen Fan looked at the crowd without a ripple of emotion on his face, as if all of this were only natural.

"Xuanwu," Chen Fan called out.

"Your servant is here." Xuanwu walked over quickly, his attitude extremely respectful.

"Take the Young Mistress to her room. Tell everyone to remember this face. From now on, in this house, her word is law."

"Yes, Master."

Xuanwu turned around and made a "please" gesture to Su Nianyao, his face full of a kind smile: "Eldest Young Mistress, please follow me. Your room has been prepared according to Master's instructions."

Like a puppet, Su Nianyao was led by Chen Fan, walking unsteadily across the long red carpet.

They entered the villa lobby.

From the twenty-meter-high vaulted ceiling, a massive crystal chandelier cast a dreamlike glow.

Famous paintings hung on the walls, and antique vases stood in the corners; every item exuded the scent of money.

Xuanwu led them to the second floor and pushed open a double door covered in gold leaf.

"Eldest Young Mistress, this is your suite."

Su Nianyao stood at the doorway, her breath hitching.

This wasn't just a room; it was practically a small department store.

The pink and white color scheme was both dreamlike and high-end.

The large bed looked like it was made of clouds, covered in silk bedding.

But what shocked her most was the massive walk-in closet connected to the bedroom.

The cabinets on three walls were filled with the latest season's haute couture gowns and casual wear.

In the center display case were dozens of designer bags: Hermès, Chanel, LV... all limited editions.

On the vanity, there was a dazzling array of skincare and cosmetics, and even a dedicated jewelry box containing several diamond necklaces that were blinding under the lights.

"This..."

Su Nianyao walked into the closet, her fingers gently brushing against the expensive fabrics.

The touch was cool and silky.

Just a few hours ago, she was wearing a heavy mascot costume and baking under the scorching sun for an eighty-yuan part-time fee.

And now, any single piece of clothing here was worth more than a lifetime of handing out flyers.

This massive sense of disconnect made her feel like this was all a surreal dream.

"Do you like it?"

Chen Fan leaned against the doorway, looking at his daughter's stunned back with a smile on his lips.

Su Nianyao turned around.

She looked at Chen Fan, this father who had been missing for nineteen years and suddenly returned to overwhelm her with wealth.

Tears fell without warning.

It wasn't excitement; it was fear.

Fear that when the dream ended, she would still be in that leaky rental apartment.

"Dad..."

Su Nianyao's voice choked. She gripped a dress in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the effort.

"Is... is this real? We're not dreaming, are we?"

Chen Fan's heart softened.

He walked over and used his thumb to gently wipe away the tears on her face.

His movements were as gentle as if he were wiping a rare treasure.

"Silly girl, why are you crying."

Chen Fan pulled her into his arms and patted her back.

"Of course it's real. All of this is yours. The entire manor is yours."

He looked down at his daughter's red-rimmed eyes, his tone carrying a domineering air that looked down upon the world.

"This is only the beginning."

"This is just the start."

"In the future, Dad will bring all the best things in the world to you."

Su Nianyao sniffled, buried her head in Chen Fan's chest, and finally burst into tears.

At this moment, nineteen years of grievances and poverty were completely shattered within this priceless embrace.

Chen Fan let her tears soak his expensive shirt.

He looked up at the city lights gradually flickering on outside the window, his gaze deep.

His daughter was back.

Next, it was time to settle the score with that reckless Wang family.

"Dad..." Su Nianyao finished crying and looked up, asking with a sob, "Then... just how rich is our family?"

Chen Fan smiled.

He led his daughter to the floor-to-ceiling window and pointed at the tallest landmark in Jiang City in the distance—Tiansheng Mansion.

"See that building?"