165: Mingyuan's emotions

Dongguan City, Nancheng District, Yujingwan Villa Area, the Zhou Family study...

Located south of the center of Dongguan City and adjacent to Dongguan Avenue, the Yujingwan Villa Area is a quiet, highly secure residential area for many city officials and their families.

The study in one of the Zhou Family's three-story detached villas was brightly lit.

Zhou Wentao sat behind a wide desk, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the tabletop.

He was nearly fifty, dressed in a pressed shirt and wool vest, wearing gold-rimmed glasses; his face was scholarly but carried a lingering trace of fatigue and gravity.

On the desk, some documents and a red telephone were spread out.

Zhou Mingyuan sat on the sofa opposite, his posture still quite upright, but between his brows was a sense of relaxation from just having returned from outside, along with a trace of imperceptible residual excitement.

In his mind echoed the music and laughter from the VIP box at Phoenix City last night, as well as Li Zhan's effortless, bold spirit.

"Mingyuan..."

Zhou Wentao finally spoke, his voice steady but heavy, "How... did things go with Li Zhan yesterday?"

He asked with some deliberation.

Zhou Mingyuan came back to his senses and smiled, "Dad, it was quite good.

A-Zhan is a stand-up guy; he arranged everything thoughtfully and speaks straightforwardly.

He has strong ideas about that land in Changan and has prepared sufficient funds; it looks like he really wants to make a big move in real estate."

His tone unconsciously carried admiration for Li Zhan.

Zhou Wentao listened quietly, and only after his son finished speaking did he slowly say, "Hmm... He has ability and courage; that is beyond doubt. Otherwise, your grandfather wouldn't have noticed him."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious, "However, Mingyuan, you must always remember his other identity. He is the underground spokesperson of Changan Town. A large part of his wealth and influence comes from those illicit industries. This point will never change."

The smile on Zhou Mingyuan's face faded a little, and he nodded, "I know, Dad."

Zhou Wentao pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses, his gaze behind the lenses becoming profound, "Your grandfather's intention is very clear. Li Zhan is the sharpest blade we currently have to deal with the Liu Family. But a blade is ultimately a blade; it cannot be allowed to hurt oneself. We must use it, but more importantly, we must be able to control it..."

He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice, "We must make him more dependent on us. Land, policies, planning... these are the foundations for him to legitimize himself and grow stronger, and they are also the reins with which we tie him down. We must make him understand... how much he can possess in the sunlight depends on how much we are willing to give him. Only in this way will he always be used by us, rather than becoming too big to handle in the future, or even turning against his master."

The Zhou Family's upbringing was always strict, adhering to the path of moderation and conservatism. Zhou Wentao grew up in this environment, doing things by the book, but because of this, he had been suppressed for years by the more unscrupulous Liu Family.

At this moment, repeating his father's cold and realistic strategy, he actually felt a trace of imperceptible struggle and discomfort, but this emotion was quickly suppressed by his awe of his father and the concept that family interests come first.

As Zhou Mingyuan listened to his father's words, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter. He was young, and his blood still carried an inextinguishable heat and sense of loyalty.

Just last night, he was calling Li Zhan brother, drinking and laughing, and envisioning the future together, but now he was hearing his family planning how to more effectively control and use the other party, even implying the meaning of "killing the dog after the hunt," which made him feel extremely uncomfortable.

He couldn't help but mutter, "Dad, is Grandfather's plan... isn't it a bit too... Li Zhan is currently fighting the Liu Family to the death, and to some extent, he is standing up for our Zhou Family. How arrogant was that bastard Young Master Liu at the restaurant last time? And what was the result? I heard someone beat him up so badly his own mother wouldn't recognize him; it was gratifying! We were already at odds with the Liu Family, so instead of thinking about how to crush the Liu Family together, we're thinking about how to... how to backstab our own people in the future? This..."

"Mingyuan!" Zhou Wentao interrupted him sharply, his face sinking, "Watch your language! What backstabbing? This is strategy! This is taking precautions! This is a necessary means to ensure the maximization of family interests! Are your grandfather's vision and considerations something you can recklessly criticize?"

He took a deep breath, his tone softening slightly but carrying indisputable authority, "I know you think Li Zhan is a good person who values loyalty. But you must remember, we are first and foremost people of the Zhou Family! The rise and fall of the family is higher than personal likes and dislikes! The Liu Family is our political enemy; Li Zhan... is at best a useful blade. This positioning must never be blurred!"

Zhou Mingyuan lowered his head after being scolded by his father, not daring to talk back, but his clenched fists and tightly pressed lips showed his internal dissatisfaction and conflict.

On one hand, he respected the authority of his grandfather and father and recognized the importance of family interests; on the other hand, Li Zhan's boldness, capability, and the "comrade-in-arms" friendship of fighting against the Liu Family together made him develop sincere affection and identification.

The study fell into a brief silence, with only the ticking of the clock. Looking at his son's struggle, how could Zhou Wentao not have similar conflicts in his heart? But in this position, he had long been accustomed to placing personal feelings behind the overall interests of the family.

"Alright..." Zhou Wentao finally sighed, "We will just execute your grandfather's decision. In the future, when dealing with Li Zhan, keep an eye out; you can give the necessary conveniences, but core things must be kept in our own hands. Especially the key nodes in land and projects, you must lock them down, do you understand?"

Zhou Mingyuan nodded silently, his heart heavy with complex emotions. He knew that from this moment on... his interactions with Li Zhan would no longer be pure. The family's order was like an invisible shackle placed upon him, casting an indescribable shadow over future cooperation with Li Zhan...

—At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun gilded the Xiagang Binhai residential area with a layer of warm gold.

Li Zhan, familiar with the route, arrived at Sister Qin's door and opened it directly with his key. The scent of home-cooked food wafted toward him.

Beside the dining table in the living room, Sister Qin, Xiao Qian, and the tutor, Teacher Bai Jie, were sitting together eating. Under the warm lighting, this scene looked ordinary and peaceful.

"Oh! A-Zhan is here!" Sister Qin was the first to see Li Zhan, and a look of surprise and joy instantly bloomed on her face; she quickly put down her bowl and chopsticks and went to greet him.

She was wearing a casual knitted long dress that outlined her mature and curvaceous figure, and the corners of her eyes and brows carried the flirtatious charm of seeing her lover.

"Brother Zhan!" Xiao Qian was like a happy little deer; she jumped up from her chair, cheered, and threw herself into Li Zhan's arms, wrapping her arms around his neck, her whole body almost hanging on him, her youthful, vibrant face full of excitement and dependence, "Why haven't you come for so long! I missed you to death!"

Li Zhan smiled and caught her, ruffling her hair, "I had some things to deal with at work; I just finished."

His gaze passed over Xiao Qian's shoulder and landed on Teacher Bai Jie, who had also stood up.

Today, Teacher Bai Jie was wearing a slightly loose beige sweater, but it still couldn't hide her slender and well-proportioned figure; she wore slim-fit jeans on her lower body, which highlighted her straight legs.

When she saw Li Zhan, two blushes flew onto her cheeks involuntarily, her eyes avoided his gaze in a panic, and her fingers subconsciously twisted together.

The details of that "erotic dream" from that night, so realistic that it made her heart race, flooded into her mind uncontrollably, making her ears burn and even her breathing become somewhat rapid.

Sister Qin, while skillfully helping Li Zhan take off his slightly heavy coat and hanging it on the coat rack, looked at Teacher Bai along his gaze and explained with a smile, "Oh, Teacher Bai's husband went back to his hometown to handle some business a few days ago, and it's not very safe for her to live there alone, so I asked her to move in for a while; anyway, there happens to be an empty room. It's livelier with more people."

As she spoke, her fingers seemed to brush unintentionally across Li Zhan's arm, carrying a hint of intimate suggestion.

Upon hearing this, Li Zhan hooked the corner of his mouth into an imperceptible arc and stole another glance at Teacher Bai Jie. Looking at her shy, uneasy, yet maturely charming appearance, and thinking back to her soft body and unconscious compliance in the darkness that night, his lower abdomen couldn't help but heat up slightly.

"Brother Zhan, sit down and eat! I'll go get you a bowl and chopsticks..." Xiao Qian didn't notice the subtle undercurrent in the air at all, hopped down from Li Zhan happily, and skipped toward the kitchen...