Thud.
The phone slipped from his palm and hit the ground with a crisp thud.
The screen seemed to crack a little... but Thomas Wang paid it no mind. All that remained in his head was President Victor Zhang's sigh—'Fend for yourself.'
He wasn't stupid.
President Victor Zhang knows his family's situation—so why did he sigh?
Whoosh—
Thomas Wang took a deep breath, his body still trembling, his head buzzing, his heart sinking as if into a bottomless abyss—utterly shocked, panicked, and at a loss.
"This can't be happening."
I've met martial arts students from Elite University before. Just two years ago, back in high school, I could easily put one of them in his place.
He was utterly terrified, his face deathly pale.
He feared he had provoked someone far beyond his reach. His mind was a tangled mess, and all he could do was shakily pick up his phone and dial his father's number.
Unfortunately—
The line was busy. He couldn't get through.
Seven or eight minutes passed. The cold wind blew, the winter sun shone, and Thomas Wang, leaning against the driver's door of his car, finally got through.
Before he could say a word—
"You wretch!"
His father's familiar voice roared through the phone: "You wretch! I've worked so hard for so many years, and you've ruined it! What did you do? The suppliers have already unconditionally terminated our contracts!!"
What?
Thomas Wang was struck as if by lightning, frozen in place.
How much time had passed? Not even twenty minutes... The thunderous consequences sent him plummeting to rock bottom, his gaze utterly blank.
"Andrew Han?" Vivian Xu's voice trembled.
"Who is he, really? What does it mean to solve everything with force?"
Countless questions swirled in her mind.
Her thoughts churned in turmoil.
Thomas Wang leaned against the car door, drawing in a deep breath of cold air. He slapped his cheeks, trying to clear his head, but the lingering effects of Inspiration's suppression were far too severe.
Vivian Xu watched in shock, her nerves stretched tight. In just moments, everything had spiraled far beyond her expectations.
The students from Elite University, seeing Thomas Wang's ghastly pale face, either shook their heads in disdain or stared in confusion. No one came forward to check on him; they simply drifted away.
Smack!
Thomas Wang slammed his fist against the crimson car door, forcing himself to suppress the discomfort coursing through his body. He glared coldly at Vivian Xu, trying to sound calm: "What are you staring at?"
Vivian Xu said nothing, her face frozen in terror.
"Who are you trying to scare, Vivian Xu? Let me tell you, just wait and see..." Thomas Wang spat out the threat, determined to go home and figure things out.
Unfortunately—
Before he could turn around—
Two blue-and-white police cars, from the government security department, pulled up on either side of the crimson sports car.
What!?
Thomas Wang's expression froze, his mind wiped blank.
Vivian Xu stood frozen, finally grasping the terrifying power Andrew Han wielded. A chill of fear crept into her heart, and she could only be grateful that, for Monica Zhang's sake, she had never openly mocked Andrew Han.
Still—
She simply couldn't make sense of it.
If he were truly from a wealthy family, his clothes would surely be expensive. Even if he kept a low profile, there would be subtle signs of luxury... Vivian Xu never believed those stories online about hidden tycoons living incognito nearby.
He didn't care about clothes or cars—but what about watches? Accessories? Little things?
No matter how discreet, no matter how well-hidden, it shouldn't be possible to fool a keen observer.
A glance at his WeChat Moments should reveal everything.
Vivian Xu had always trusted her own insight, but in front of Andrew Han, it seemed childish and utterly out of place.
The next morning.
In Greenfield City's newly developed district, rows of lush trees lined the immaculate streets. May Lin lived in a stylish townhouse in one of these upscale neighborhoods.
The air was crisp and cold, yet refreshingly clean.
Sunlight spilled across the earth, gentle and warm.
"May Lin?"
"If you ask me, we shouldn't cook at home. It's better to go out. I'll book a private room at a high-end hotel right now to welcome Andrew Han. We absolutely can't be too casual!"
It was Mark Jiang's voice.
He was May Lin's husband, the father of Lily Lin and Ryan Jiang, and a senior official in Jiangnan Province. At this moment, he sat on the edge of the sofa, gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose, his face unusually grave.
Famous calligraphy hung on the living room wall.
On the eastern wall, elegant wallpaper framed a handwritten scroll: "Do not blind yourself with even a hint of selfish gain; do not burden yourself with even a hint of selfish desire."
Likewise—
On the western wall hung another vertical scroll: 'A single cup cleanses all, fame and profit are but fleeting clouds.'
Swish.
Mark Jiang adjusted his glasses, stood up from the sofa, and called out to May Lin, who was busy in the kitchen: "May Lin, what are you really thinking?"
Lily Lin and Ryan Jiang exchanged glances, both silent.
Lily was just a sophomore at Elite University; Ryan was younger and introverted. The siblings only felt a heavy pressure in their hearts, as if thunderclouds loomed overhead, making it hard to breathe.
"Is this really necessary?"
Ryan Jiang tilted his head, lips pressed tight.
He couldn't understand why his father was being so cautious, as if bracing for the arrival of some heavenly authority. All morning, he'd been muttering about how to properly welcome Andrew Han.
Of course, he had no idea.
But Lily Lin had a vague sense of what was going on.
"Just two weeks ago, I asked Andrew Han for help. Not even a week passed before Mom solved the crisis—Andrew Han must have stepped in."
Otherwise—
"Dad wouldn't be this careful." Lily Lin thought to herself, both shocked and a little embarrassed... remembering her first meeting with Andrew Han, she had wondered how an ordinary 'little animal' could ever help dragons and phoenixes.
But now—
Who was the true dragon soaring in the heavens was now obvious to all.
"May Lin?"
Mark Jiang called out again, urging her.
May Lin, chopping vegetables in the kitchen, shook off her hands and walked out: "Mark, Andrew's not one of your superiors. What's the point of eating out?"