An Fengyi took a deep breath, his chest heaving as he struggled to control his emotions.
He feigned calmness and asked, "Why him? Is Zhao Yunhai truly that powerful? Even you can't do anything about him?"
"Powerful, he's more than just powerful."
Guang Yuanyuan, oblivious to An Fengyi's growing distress, continued, "What can I do? I'm just a young girl. How could I dare provoke such a colossal power in the Nine Provinces?"
"He is quite possibly the most influential young man in the Nine Provinces. With a single word, he could even annihilate the An family."
"In his eyes, we are like how we view ordinary people."
"Are you even listening to me?"
Seeing An Fengyi's strange expression, Guang Yuanyuan's tone grew anxious. This was a matter of life and death. If she hadn't always lacked the opportunity to get close to Zhao Yunhai, she would have wanted to make a good impression on him long ago. Helping Brother Fengyi would then be a simple matter.
"I know," An Fengyi replied. He knew she meant well, but she was completely disregarding his masculine pride. What was the Zhao clan? His fate was his own to decide. He had overcome so many hardships; was he going to give up just because of Zhao Yunhai? To grovel before a man he'd never even met? He couldn't do that.
"It's good that you can hear me. An Fengcheng is probably meeting Zhao Yunhai by now. Sigh." Thinking of this, Guang Yuanyuan let out a deep sigh.
An Fengyi, seething with frustration, turned to leave. He wanted to prove that even without appeasing Zhao Yunhai, he would still be successful. No one knew how fragile An Fengyi's inner world was. His so-called pride and dignity stemmed from his status as an illegitimate son, which had always prevented him from holding his head high. An Fengyi had become increasingly sensitive since he started defeating An Fengcheng.
Feeling troubled, An Fengyi walked out of his home, wanting to clear his head. As soon as he stepped outside, he saw a young monk approaching him.
"Amitabha, benefactor, you seem to have worries." Wu Chen stopped in front of An Fengyi, looking up and speaking solemnly.
"I have no worries. If you're looking for a vegetarian meal, little monk, you should go elsewhere." An Fengyi was too vexed to pay attention to such a young monk.
"Thank you, benefactor." Wu Chen brushed past him, pulled a brick from his sleeve, and swung it at his head.
Just then, a van screeched to a halt in front of Wu Chen. The moment An Fengyi, caught off guard, began to fall, he was pulled into the vehicle. Wu Chen quickly got in, shut the door, and the van drove off.
"This... who taught you that?" Li Feng was dumbfounded in the van. The monk's fluid movements gave Li Feng a new appreciation for him.
"A benefactor surnamed Li taught me," Wu Chen said, uttering Amitabha. Wu Chen had only stayed with Li Mingyi for a few days, yet he had learned quite a few tricks for tricking people. It was mainly because Li Mingyi was bored, and seeing the monk's eagerness to learn had fully ignited Li Mingyi's desire to teach.
"It seems the benefactor you mentioned is not a righteous person, teaching you to be like this." Li Feng saw that Wu Chen was young and impressionable, and worried that he might be corrupted by Zhao Yunhai. Thus, Li Feng felt it was his responsibility to guide Wu Chen's values back onto the right track.
Things proceeded smoothly. When Zhao Yunhai met An Fengyi, he found it even stranger. This guy wasn't the protagonist? For the first time, Zhao Yunhai felt utterly bewildered. He, who had always foreseen everything, could actually misjudge the protagonist? Something was wrong.
Zhao Yunhai instructed Ah Da, "Wake him up for this young master." Ah Da immediately brought a basin of water and splashed it on An Fengyi's face. The chilling sensation instantly brought An Fengyi back to consciousness.
"An Fengyi, I never thought you'd end up like this, hahaha." An Fengcheng, sitting in his wheelchair, pointed at the conscious An Fengyi with arrogant glee, immensely satisfied. It was worth it for Young Master Zhao to take action; it was a sure win.
"Who are you people?" An Fengyi sat up in shock after waking. Then he spotted An Fengcheng. "An Fengcheng, you are despicable and shameless."
"Is this the kind of person worth your trouble?" Li Feng, seeing An Fengyi was just so-so, sneered and couldn't help but mock Zhao Yunhai.
"Do you think a person like you can understand the decisions of Young Master Yun?" Si Jinyan coldly snorted. "If you say another word, don't blame me for being rude."
"Tch, lackey," Li Feng scoffed, crossing his arms and falling silent, unwilling to argue further.
Si Jinyan smirked sarcastically, "Yes, I'm a lackey. But unlike some people, you're trying to become one yourself." Li Feng's face darkened. He realized he couldn't out-argue the man, so he wisely shut his mouth.
"Alright, stop bickering." Zhao Yunhai silenced them both. An Fengyi wasn't the protagonist; this shouldn't be happening. He was still preoccupied with the protagonist issue. An Fengyi, seeing An Fengcheng, finally understood his identity.
"So you are Zhao Yunhai. Heh... I didn't expect you would only resort to such despicable and shameful tactics." Since he wasn't the protagonist, Zhao Yunhai's patience wore thin. He waved his hand, "Take him away and lock him up."
"Yes." Si Jinyan forcefully gagged An Fengyi with a wet cloth and had his subordinates take him away.
Seeing An Fengyi dealt with so easily, An Fengcheng fawned, "I thank Young Master Zhao. Now that An Fengyi is gone, no matter what Guang Yuanyuan does, it will be futile."
"Mm, mm?" Zhao Yunhai, who had just nodded, suddenly realized someone he had overlooked.
"Did you just say Guang Yuanyuan?" Zhao Yunhai asked An Fengcheng slowly.
"Yes, Guang Yuanyuan. If Young Master Zhao is interested, I can..." An Fengcheng, thinking Zhao Yunhai was interested in the woman, quickly offered.
"I see." Zhao Yunhai finally understood. The protagonist wasn't necessarily male, was he? The heroine was also a protagonist, wasn't she? Zhao Yunhai had overlooked this point.
"Send him away. An Fengyi is dealt with. Ensure the An clan is under my control." Zhao Yunhai had no interest in the An clan, but gaining another subordinate was a simple matter.
"Thank you, Young Master Zhao." Before leaving, An Fengcheng continued to express his gratitude for Zhao Yunhai's immense favor. An Fengcheng was indeed a petty man, but he was also a petty man who knew how to read the room. Young Master Zhao was clearly a powerful figure; not latching onto him would be a sign of great foolishness.
"Let's go. I want to meet this Guang Yuanyuan." Zhao Yunhai was curious about the woman who would be his first heroine. Was she a saint, or a love-struck fool?