The intense pain left Zhang Kui unable to steady himself. Cold sweat instantly beaded on his forehead, dripping down to the floor one drop at a time.
"You actually... Ah..."
His two underlings were stunned at first, but quickly recovering, they charged straight at Fang Yan.
Without even glancing at them, Fang Yan lashed out with a kick, sending both men flying. One of them landed squarely on the back of his head and passed out cold on the spot.
Fang Yan walked slowly toward Zhang Kui.
Zhang Kui's face was twisted in terror.
"Dude—oh no... Big Brother, don't... don't hit me anymore. I give up, I give up, okay?"
With a cold, indifferent expression, Fang Yan asked, "How much is the rent?"
"Huh? N-no, you don't have to pay! Just live here for free!"
"How much is the rent?" Fang Yan asked again, making Zhang Kui shudder all over.
"T-two thousand."
Fang Yan nodded. "Take out your phone."
Daring not to waste another word, Zhang Kui immediately pulled out his phone.
Much to Zhang Kui's surprise, however, Fang Yan actually transferred two thousand yuan over.
"Big Brother, you really didn't have to..."
"I won't owe a single cent, but if you ever dare harass my sister again, I'll take your life!"
"I wouldn't dare. Absolutely not again."
Before long, the underlings helped Zhang Kui away, and the three of them went inside.
As soon as they stepped through the door, Su Wan'er turned around. "Fang Yan, why did you have to hit people just now?"
Huh?
Fang Yan was utterly speechless.
That was quite a peculiar question.
Ignoring Su Wan'er entirely, Fang Yan looked instead at Fang Miaoxue.
"Sis, they didn't hurt you, did they?"
Fang Miaoxue shook her head. "No, Brother. But... how were you so amazing just now?"
"Amazing? Miaoxue, you call that amazing? That was savagery!"
Su Wan'er walked closer to Fang Yan. "Fang Yan, those people are obviously no good. Did you even stop to think about the consequences before acting on impulse?"
"Consequences?" Fang Yan asked.
"Right! You might not care, but what about Miaoxue? She's a young woman. Is she supposed to live this kind of life with you forever?"
Fang Yan looked around their humble living conditions and nodded.
"You have a point. Miaoxue, how about we move? I'll go buy an apartment in a few days."
"Huh? B-buy an apartment?"
Fang Miaoxue looked completely bewildered.
Su Wan'er let out a long breath. "Fang Yan, is that something an adult would say? You should be figuring out how to solve our problems instead of standing here spouting nonsense!"
Fang Yan smiled and shook his head. Your inability to believe I can pull it off merely reflects your own narrow vision.
Though making tens of thousands earlier hadn't been entirely above board, given his current strength, what was buying an apartment?
Seeing Fang Yan smile, Su Wan'er pressed on. "And you can still smile! Fang Yan, listen to me. Sun Chen is treating everyone to an outing in a couple of days. You're coming with me, and I'll talk to him about getting you a job."
"I already said, I'm not going."
With that, he walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down.
Sun Chen, the man Su Wan'er had just mentioned, was someone Fang Yan knew.
They had been college classmates, and back then, Sun Chen was the epitome of a wealthy second-generation heir.
His family originally made their fortune in construction, but later somehow managed to establish connections with the Tianzhou Investment Promotion Office and branched out into maritime logistics, skyrocketing to wealth.
Crucially, the guy had persistently pursued Su Wan'er, and had even gone so far as to block Fang Yan's path once over it.
Fang Yan remembered that incident vividly. Though centuries had passed and all resentment had long since faded, he still disdained dealing with the likes of him.
Su Wan'er followed him over.
"Fang Yan, is it because I left you in the past that you're still holding a grudge, even resorting to giving up on life just to spite me?"
Hearing this, Fang Yan couldn't help a moment of blank astonishment.
"Where on earth do you get such confidence?"
Su Wan'er took a deep breath and puffed out her chest.
"Fang Yan, don't tell me you never loved me, because I wouldn't believe it anyway. Maybe my actions back then weren't well thought out, but I'm apologizing to you now. You shouldn't gamble with your own future just to be petty!"
A hint of impatience flickered across Fang Yan's face. "Petty? You're overthinking things. I've already found a job!"
Su Wan'er froze.
Before she could speak, however, Fang Miaoxue chimed in, "What? Brother, you really found a job?"
Fang Yan smiled gently. "Yes, or where do you think I got the rent money?"
Fang Miaoxue was genuinely and wholeheartedly happy.
"Brother, you're the best! I hear finding a job is so hard nowadays. My brother is amazing!"
Fang Yan stroked his sister's hair, then turned his gaze back to Su Wan'er.
"Can you leave now?"
Su Wan'er stood rooted to the spot. She had been so concerned about his employment, yet he had actually gone and found one himself?
Impossible!
Jobs were so hard to come by outside right now—how could someone as ordinary as Fang Yan possibly find one?
"Fang Yan, what's the point of lying like this? Fine, tell me then, what kind of job did you find?"
Fang Yan raised his eyes to look at her. "That is none of your business. My sister and I need to rest, so please show yourself out."
"You..."
Clenching her teeth, Su Wan'er glared at Fang Yan, then stamped her foot and turned to leave.
Right before stepping out, she threw a parting look over her shoulder. "I brought this on myself! Just treating a donkey's liver as a lung's heart when I tried to be nice!"
Bang!
The door slammed shut.
Fang Miaoxue pouted her lips. "Brother, Sister Wan'er... seems kind of angry."
"It has nothing to do with us. Go wash up and get some rest."
...
In the suburbs of Tianzhou stood a sprawling estate.
The courtyard was built in a purely traditional Chinese style, featuring red-lacquered stone pillars, grey brick tiles, rockeries, blooming plants, and flowing water alongside pavilions.
Few people knew what this place was; they only knew that guards in military uniforms stood watch at the gates year-round, and no one dared to approach uninvited.
Upstairs in the attic study, an elderly man examined a potted plant in his hands for a long time before slowly nodding.
"That gentleman was right. This Fire Leaf Ganoderma is fake."
Beside him, a middle-aged man dressed in a Zhongshan suit observed the plant closely, a look of puzzlement on his face.
"Dad, the Fire Leaf Ganoderma was meant for your recuperation. That Zhiyuan Studio must be out of their minds to sell us fakes!"
The old man waved a hand. "Never mind, they likely didn't mean to, Nuo'en."
"Grandfather."
Chen Nuo'en stepped forward.
"Just take it back tomorrow for a refund. Don't give them a hard time."
"Yes, Grandfather."
The old man frowned slightly. "Still... the young man you mentioned... I'm rather interested in him, being able to tell the true from the false at a single glance..."
"Dad, this Fire Leaf Ganoderma has already faded in color. It shouldn't be that hard to tell it's fake, right?" the middle-aged man remarked.
The old man glanced at him. "According to Nuo'en's account, that young man must have realized the Fire Leaf Ganoderma was fake before even wiping it with a tissue, which means he had already seen through it. And since Fire Leaf Ganoderma is extremely rare, being able to identify it at a glance proves he is an expert!"
Hearing this, Chen Nuo'en nodded. "Grandfather, it really was like that. He just glanced at it and said it was fake."
The old man smiled faintly. "The younger generation is to be commended. Since that is the case, I, Chen Xingzhi, must certainly meet this expert. Nuo'en, get in touch with him and invite the gentleman over for a chat."
"Yes, Grandfather."
Chen Nuo'en felt a wave of relief. Fortunately, she had added that gentleman on WeChat, otherwise she truly wouldn't have known where to find him.
She immediately dialed Fang Yan's number.
"Is there something you need?"
"Mr. Fang, it's like this. Since you recognized the fake Fire Leaf Ganoderma today, my grandfather would like to invite you over to our home."
Fang Yan frowned slightly, a wave of instinctive wariness washing over him.
"Invite me? I don't know him. Why invite me?"
"Because that Fire Leaf Ganoderma was meant for Grandfather's recuperation, so he hopes to thank you in person."
Hearing those words, Fang Yan's expression shifted slightly.
Thank him in person? He wondered if money would be involved.
"Very well. Where is your place? I'll head over shortly."
"There's no need, I'll come right to Qingshui Garden to pick you up," Chen Nuo'en said hastily.
After hanging up the phone, Fang Yan leaned against the bed and thought that visiting the Chen Family might not be a bad thing after all.
After all, Chen Nuo'en possessed spiritual energy; perhaps... he could find the source of that spiritual energy.
Beside him, Fang Miaoxue asked, "Brother, who was that on the phone?"
"Oh... it was a call from the company where I passed my interview."
Fang Miaoxue's eyes lit up. "Ah! You really found a job? Heehee, as expected of my brother! They all say finding a job outside is so difficult right now, but you found one just like that—my brother is amazing!"
Seeing his sister's joy, a warm feeling flooded Fang Yan's heart.
Just like in his past life, no matter what he did, his sister offered unconditional support and genuinely rejoiced in his success.