Heard by the Bentley, the person inside heard the movement, pushed open the door, and got out.
It was a girl in her early twenties, with a pretty face, carrying a hint of girlish innocence and arrogance.
She watched Chen Fan get out of the car, sizing him up with a scrutinizing gaze, and asked, "Are you Chen Zhuo?"
Seeing this woman, Chen Fan was slightly stunned.
It wasn't that he had seen her before, but rather, he knew her identity: Wu Manzhu, the young lady of the Wu family, the biological sister of Wu Chaoyang.
The reception was quite grand.
"It's me."
Chen Fan nodded.
As the young lady of the Wu family, Wu Manzhu had been the focus of countless eyes since birth, with innumerable admirers. Chen Fan hadn't expected Wu Chaoyang to send her to pick him up.
"My name is Wu Manzhu, and Wu Chaoyang is my brother." Indeed, the woman introduced herself. "Get in this car; someone will take you back."
"Alright." Chen Fan agreed with a nod, walked around to the other side, got into the back seat, and sat next to Wu Manzhu.
"You saved my brother. What kind of reward do you want?"
After instructing the driver to start the car, Wu Manzhu got straight to the point. "Our Wu family values reputation above all else. My brother is the future heir of the Wu family, and his status is noble. You saved him, and as long as it's not an excessive request, the Wu family can satisfy you."
Chen Fan glanced at Wu Manzhu upon hearing this, somewhat surprised by her directness.
However, considering Wu Chaoyang's arrogant personality, this wasn't entirely unexpected, was it?
"As long as it's not excessive?" Chen Fan asked.
"Yes, for example, if you want monetary compensation, within a billion, feel free to name your price. It won't be a direct gift, but it will definitely satisfy you!"
Wu Manzhu said.
Her tone wasn't overly condescending, but it certainly wasn't friendly either. She maintained a sufficient distance, with a hint of looking down, yet not to the point of being too offensive.
Chen Fan smiled. "This, yesterday's incident, was actually a coincidence. I didn't think much of it at the time, so it's not really a debt of gratitude."
"No need to say that." Wu Manzhu replied. "My brother's life is more important than anything. I believe you when you say you weren't thinking about the Wu family's reward at the time. But the Wu family cannot make no gesture, so you should consider it carefully."
Chen Fan's expression turned a little peculiar.
The Wu family's style, while domineering, also had a unique flair.
Wu Manzhu didn't say much during the journey, seemingly not very interested in Chen Fan.
After more than half an hour, the car arrived at Fragrant Hills.
It was already November, and the weather was getting colder, but the red leaves of Fragrant Hills still had some embers, the lingering crimson particularly striking.
This was a famous scenic spot in the capital. There were very few villa areas here, and to own a villa here, one had to be among the top elite.
The car stopped outside a Western-style villa. Several bodyguards were on duty and rushed forward as soon as the car entered.
"We're here."
Wu Manzhu said in a cool tone.
"Miss Manzhu!"
The bodyguards respectfully greeted Wu Manzhu upon seeing her.
Wu Manzhu merely nodded and walked into the main gate.
An elder who looked like a butler greeted them and smiled at Chen Fan. "You must be Mr. Chen. Please have a seat. I'll go and invite our young master down!"
Chen Fan took a seat. A maid brought tea, polite and attentive.
As for Wu Manzhu, she went upstairs.
After a short while, two figures descended the circular staircase.
Wu Chaoyang, dressed in casual home clothes, walked ahead, talking to Wu Manzhu.
Chen Fan stood up.
"Come, Chen Zhuo, to the dining room. Let's eat and chat."
Wu Chaoyang nodded at Chen Fan and said.
Chen Fan acknowledged with a nod and walked into the dining room.
It was a spacious dining room with a long crystal dining table. Servants were waiting by the side, offering hand towels and bibs.
"Serve the food!"
After instructing the butler, Wu Chaoyang smiled. "Let's open my bottle of Mantini from '61 first."
"Yes, young master."
Wu Manzhu was somewhat surprised. She sat down and said, "Brother, you're quite generous today!"
"A life-saving favor, how could I not be generous?"
Wu Chaoyang said with a half-smile.
Wu Manzhu clearly didn't quite believe this, pouting her lips.
She knew her brother well, of course. He wasn't ungrateful, but he also wasn't the type to repay a single drop of kindness with a gushing spring.
This was part of their Wu family's ethos, a pride etched into their bones that made them act loftily even when repaying favors, not particularly approachable.
Soon, the waiter brought the dishes, the first being a snow crab salad.
"Come, Chen Zhuo, I'll toast you. Thank you for saving my life."
Wu Chaoyang raised his glass, narrowed his eyes, and said leisurely. "But I'm not sure if addressing you as Chen Zhuo is correct. Perhaps I should call you Chen Tianjiao?"
Chen Fan picked up his glass, his hand suddenly freezing.
"Manzhu, the Mantini from '61 is indeed valuable, but if it's to entertain our army's invincible commander, the God of War who defends the nation, isn't it only fitting?"
Wu Chaoyang said to Wu Manzhu again.
Wu Manzhu, who had started eating, was suddenly stunned.
She awkwardly swallowed the exquisite salad in her mouth. Before she could speak, she realized it, took a hot towel from a servant to wipe her hands, and stared at Chen Fan. "He's Chen Tianjiao? Didn't he say his name was Chen Zhuo?"
"So, things are getting interesting, aren't they?"
Wu Chaoyang took a sip of wine and smiled. "I wonder if Du Fumin and Xu Yuntian truly didn't know the identity of our God of War, or if they deliberately concealed it from me?"
Chen Fan smiled, took a sip of wine, and leisurely tasted the first appetizer. "The cooking is really excellent. Did you specifically invite a chef, Young Master Wu, to entertain me?"
"You guessed correctly."
Wu Chaoyang said. "I specifically invited a special chef from a Michelin three-star Western restaurant."
"Then I'm in for a treat today."
Chen Fan raised his glass again. "Young Master Wu, you've gone to great lengths. When did you find out my identity?"
"This morning, before I called you."
Wu Chaoyang said. "It wasn't difficult to investigate this identity of yours, was it?"
Chen Fan was unfazed. He watched as the waiter placed a filet mignon in front of him. He picked up his knife and fork, enjoying the meal, and said, "Knowing my identity yet still inviting me, at least shows you don't have any ill intentions, right?"
"That's not necessarily true."
Wu Chaoyang said leisurely. "The news of your return to the capital hasn't spread widely, but it can't be hidden from many. Every move you make attracts attention!"
"I didn't know until I investigated. After investigating, I was shocked to realize you've already caused quite a stir."
"The Chen family has already designated you as the principal. Even high-ranking officials like Chen Haoran have acknowledged your qualification as the head of the Chen family. At the Ghost Market crossroads, you forced the use of heavy weaponry, alarming the Kyoto Garrison. The officialdom outside the pass was purged, with many falling."
"In the Fang family, you defeated martial arts experts with your bare hands and repaired the tomb of Qingyan Town!"
"The above are what I could find. I estimate there are still many things I haven't discovered due to limited information!"
Chen Fan didn't find this particularly strange upon hearing it. Given Wu Chaoyang's status and the Wu family's influence, discovering these things was not surprising.
What interested him now was Wu Chaoyang's purpose for hosting him, knowing his identity.
Was it truly to repay a life-saving favor?
That would be a bit too naive.