Chapter 425: Chapter 425: Future Brother-in-Law
Half an hour later.
Lan Yan left the hotel and returned to her car.
As soon as she got in, she dialed Bai Yang’s number.
Bai Yang asked, “Did you meet the person?”
Lan Yan responded with a hum, “Delete the surveillance footage.”
“No problem.”
Curious, Bai Yang asked, “So, what did you ask him about?”
Lan Yan answered, “He denied that the child Hu Yunqin gave birth to all those years ago had anything to do with him.”
“What do you mean? Are you saying he’s not your biological father?”
“I don’t know, but I got a strand of his hair.”
Suddenly, however, it seemed as if she wasn’t too interested in the truth anymore.
To her, her biological parents didn’t hold much significance. They were like dispensable strangers.
Maybe it was because she had grown accustomed to being alone since she was young.
After experiencing so much, she no longer had any expectations for such belated familial bonds.
After leaving the hotel, Lan Yan returned to Moon Gift Villa.
“Hey, Aunt Yan, you’re back~”
Su Baobao was playing in the yard with Paomian. He hadn’t seen Lan Yan in days.
He dashed over to her and wrapped himself around her leg.
Lan Yan caught him just in time.
“Baobao, did you miss me?”
Su Baobao tilted his little face upwards and said, “Yeah, yeah, I missed you a lot.”
“Aunt Yan, were you and Uncle Xiao on a honeymoon or something?”
Lan Yan looked at this little rascal, laughed, and asked, “Who told you that nonsense?”
“I saw it on my dad’s phone. Uncle Xiao said it himself.”
Lan Yan was speechless when she heard this. Xiao Si, that man could really spew nonsense without batting an eye. It seemed like his thick skin had gained another layer.
“Baobao, don’t listen to his gibberish. Your Uncle Xiao’s words can’t be trusted. When you grow up, don’t learn from him, okay?”
Su Baobao eagerly nodded in agreement. “Okay, Baobao understands.”
At that moment, a low male voice came from behind her. “What shouldn’t he learn from me? What are you two talking about?”
The big and the small turned around to see Xiao Si walking towards them.
Lan Yan looked at him and asked, “Why are you here?”
Xiao Si knew she’d return to Moon Gift Villa, so he came over after taking care of matters at the hospital.
“Uncle Xiao, Aunt Yan told me not to learn from you because your words can’t be trusted.”
Su Yimo turned to Xiao Si and grinned, instantly selling out Lan Yan.
Lan Yan: “…”
This little rascal was really something…
Xiao Si raised his deep black eyes and stared at Lan Yan. “Oh? My words can’t be trusted? And what exactly can’t be trusted about them? These lips of mine—they’ve only kissed you, you know.”
Lan Yan raised her hand and covered Su Baobao’s ears.
Instead of responding, she took Su Baobao’s hand and walked toward the lawn in the backyard.
This man truly had no sense of propriety in his words. Couldn’t he see there was a child nearby?
Xiao Si: “…”
In the living room, Jiang Yan was sitting on the couch reading some documents.
Xiao Si walked in casually.
“Yo, President Jiang, reading files in the living room now?”
Hearing the voice, Jiang Yan looked up and gave him a glance. “You coming to my place this often makes it feel like it’s your home instead.”
Xiao Si plopped down into a single-seat sofa beside him. “We’re brothers, right? And soon, in-laws too. One family—why make distinctions so clearly?”
Jiang Yan let out a chuckle. “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Lan Yan only agreed to date you, not to marry you.”
Xiao Si clicked his tongue. “Hey, now you’re making me unhappy. Are we still brothers or not?”
“Can’t you root for me? Can’t you care a little about your lonely, single brother?”
Jiang Yan spared him a glance. “Caring for you doesn’t pay my bills.”
“…”
“No love at all. These years of brotherhood I’ve given you have been for nothing. I’ve saved you so many times—who was always there when you were sick or injured? Me!”
Jiang Yan replied slowly, “So, all those medical bills I’ve paid over the years were for nothing?”
Xiao Si pressed a hand to his mouth in mock disbelief. “That’s not what I mean. This-and-that are two separate matters.”
Jiang Yan: “Then give me back the money I spent. We’ll call it even.”
Xiao Si retorted, “Why are you so petty? All I did was give you a little lip.”
Jiang Yan smirked. “It’s foolish to refuse money, plain and simple. Do you think I’m foolish?”
Realizing he wasn’t winning this, Xiao Si decided to drop the banter. He had only been shooting the breeze to itch his chatterbox spirit.
“Let’s forget that and get to business. What about the thing I asked you to investigate—any results?” he asked.
Jiang Yan picked up his phone, sent a message, and then looked up. “First pay, then I’ll deliver.”
Xiao Si blinked in surprise. “What? Are you serious?”
Jiang Yan’s expression remained calm. “Do I look like I’m joking? You don’t show up empty-handed when asking for favors.”
Xiao Si argued, “But you didn’t mention anything about payment before.”
Jiang Yan nodded. “True, but I’ve changed my mind.”
“…”
“Fine. How much?”
“The friends-and-family discount: one million.”
“What?! A million? You might as well rob a bank! It’s just some info—why the steep price?”
Xiao Si wasn’t broke, but this price seemed outrageous.
Jiang Yan: “I had Shadow’s team look into it. Do you think skilled people come cheap? If you’d prefer, you’re free to hire someone else.”
Xiao Si regretted his earlier banter. If he had known, he wouldn’t have provoked Jiang Yan. The man was vindictive, exploiting the perfect opportunity to gouge him without flinching.
“Alright, alright. I’ll send the money. Happy now?”
He muttered under his breath as he pulled out his phone, opened his banking app, and transferred a million.
“The money’s sent. Now, hand over the info.”
Just then, Fei Yang appeared out of nowhere and said, “Young Master Xiao, here’s the data you requested.”
Xiao Si jumped in surprise. “Fei Yang! Are you a ghost or something? Walking around without making a sound—are you trying to scare me to death?”
Timing couldn’t have been worse. Having just paid such a hefty sum, Xiao Si was already in a sour mood and began grumbling.
Fei Yang: “… Young Master Xiao, you were just too engrossed in your transaction.”
Xiao Si replied, “If I get scared into a hospital stay, you’ll be covering the medical bills.”
Fei Yang was speechless: “…”
He glanced at Jiang Yan, looking for a cue on how to proceed.
Jiang Yan said, “Ignore him and get back to work.”
“Understood, Master.”
Fei Yang dropped off the documents in his hand and promptly left.
Xiao Si looked at the paperwork before him and asked, “You’re sure this is worth the price? You better not have swindled me!”
Jiang Yan calmly stated, “Anything my people dig up is worth every penny.”
“…”
After collecting the documents, Xiao Si left.
When Lan Yan returned with Su Baobao, he was already gone.
Jiang Yan glanced at her and said, “He’s gone.”
Lan Yan let out an “Oh.” She had thought Xiao Si might pester them all evening.
Then she asked, “Master, is the boss here?”
Jiang Yan: “She’s in the study.”
“Alright, then I’ll go find her.”
“Okay, go ahead.”
…