Listening to Wu Zhaoyang’s words, Chen Fan smiled and said, “Young Master Wu is too kind!”
“I merely had someone look into your movements after you arrived in the capital; I wouldn’t call it being kind.”
Wu Zhaoyang stated, “It’s not as impressive as you, using your position as a branch manager of Longteng to infiltrate the Xingyue Lake project.”
“Therefore, I can’t help but wonder, Chen Tianjiao, what is your objective?”
Chen Fan chewed the steak in his mouth and chuckled, “Then, what do you think, Young Master Wu?”
He paused and asked, “You don’t think I orchestrated the attack on you yesterday, do you?”
“Quite the contrary.”
Wu Zhaoyang said, “I believe it has nothing to do with you. If your Chen family doesn’t want to get by anymore, then if I were to have an accident, the already precarious Chen family would absolutely not withstand the wrath of the Wu family. Even if Old Master Chen were to put on a brave face, it wouldn’t be enough!”
“Your saving me was indeed a coincidence. If you hadn’t been there, I might have truly died yesterday.”
Chen Fan smiled, “Fortunately, Young Master Wu has some discernment, otherwise I might be in big trouble?”
“That doesn’t mean I, Wu, am easily bullied.”
His gaze suddenly turned cold, and Wu Zhaoyang said ominously, “The assassin who attacked me was gunned down less than two miles away. Could that be a coincidence?”
Chen Fan savored the exquisite dishes served, offering no reply.
The question was obvious; anyone with a brain would realize something was amiss.
“You are an expert in this field, and you were a witness. Tell me, what level of skill would be required for that sniping shot?”
Wu Zhaoyang asked in a deep voice.
“A sharpshooter,” Chen Fan replied this time, saying, “The lighting, distance, wind direction, and prediction of the target’s movements, all indicate a sharpshooter. Such talent is rare, perhaps not even one per division in the army!”
“This is interesting, isn’t it?”
Picking up his wine glass, Wu Zhaoyang stood up and walked to Chen Fan’s side, saying, “Yesterday at dinner, Xu Yuntian only called in the afternoon to inform me. I happened to be free and agreed to go. As soon as I arrived, I was attacked. If you hadn’t been there, it wouldn’t have been as simple as a bandage on my neck; I might have met my maker.”
“And you, Chen Tianjiao, also happened to be there. So many factors combined, Chen Tianjiao, can you shed some light on this for me?”
“That depends on what kind of clarification Young Master Wu seeks. Many things remain unclear even to me!”
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes and smiled, looking around.
Wu Manzhu looked at Chen Fan, then at Wu Zhaoyang, her eyes filled with curiosity and surprise.
She knew about yesterday’s events, of course, but she hadn’t expected such a complex plot hidden beneath. Her interest was piqued.
Seeing Chen Fan’s expression, Wu Zhaoyang waved his hand, signaling for everyone else to leave.
All the servants and waitstaff left the dining room.
Wu Manzhu remained seated.
“Why are you hiding your identity?” Wu Zhaoyang asked directly.
Chen Fan gestured towards Wu Manzhu.
Wu Manzhu looked surprised, “I have to leave too?”
“No need, I can’t trust my own sister?” Wu Zhaoyang said, “Young Master Chen, stop playing coy.”
Chen Fan said calmly, “It’s not that I’m being coy, but since Young Master Wu has been plotted against, you are surely under the observation of certain individuals, aren’t you?”
Chen Fan continued, “I am hiding my identity, and I naturally have a purpose, but it’s not for Young Master Wu. It’s most likely for Du Fumin or Xu Yuntian.”
“How so?”
Wu Zhaoyang asked.
“This is an organization, weaving a vast net, omnipresent, and seemingly omnipotent!”
Chen Fan said.
“The incident three years ago?”
Wu Zhaoyang immediately thought of something, his eyes chilling, and said.
Wu Manzhu’s expression also stiffened.
Chen Fan nodded and said, “Through certain clues, I came into contact with the Xingyue Lake project and then entered the project to search for my target.”
“What have you found out?”
Wu Zhaoyang asked.
Chen Fan swirled his wine glass, a playful smile on his face, and said, “If you were me, Young Master Wu, would you tell me?”
Wu Zhaoyang’s face darkened slightly, clearly displeased, but after a moment’s thought, he calmed down and said, “Aren’t you worried I might be the target?”
“After what happened yesterday, the possibility of you being the target is too low.”
Chen Fan said, “In terms of combat, I consider myself somewhat of an expert. With that stab yesterday, if I hadn’t thrown the bowl, and you had been hit, even if the attacker had held back at the last moment, you would have needed immediate medical attention.”
Wu Zhaoyang recalled the scene from yesterday, his gaze gloomy. Although he tried his best to conceal his anger, it was still evident in his eyes.
“What kind of organization is that, to dare to harm my brother?”
Wu Manzhu said indignantly.
Chen Fan did not answer.
The reason he revealed these details was to explain himself, and also to gain favor and plant a seed of suspicion within the Wu family.
However, to reveal the name of the Brotherhood and more information, he didn’t trust Wu Zhaoyang that much.
Regarding the events three years ago, the Wu family’s stance was not as clear-cut as the Han or Xiang families.
This was not Chen Fan holding a grudge, but rather a need for caution until it was definitively confirmed that the Han family had no connection to the Brotherhood.
After all, even if Wu Zhaoyang was not a suspect, it did not mean the Wu family had no ties to the Brotherhood.
Assuming Du Fumin was a core member of the Brotherhood, Chen Fan speculated that a powerful figure within one of the seven top aristocratic families was a higher-level member of the Brotherhood.
The Xiang family alone, three years ago, could not have mobilized such immense power in the incident back then.
“Manzhu, you leave too.”
After a period of contemplation, Wu Zhaoyang suddenly said.
“You’re keeping secrets from me too?” Wu Manzhu asked.
“There are some things that are not good for you to know too much about.”
Wu Zhaoyang said.
“Alright.” Although slightly displeased, Wu Manzhu stood up and left the dining room.
“Is it Du Fumin or Xu Yuntian?” As soon as Wu Manzhu left, Wu Zhaoyang asked with a dark expression, “They dared to plot against me?”
“I don’t know, maybe both, maybe neither!”
Chen Fan shrugged and said.
“What are you going to do next? Can you find that sniper?”
Wu Zhaoyang asked again in a deep voice.
Chen Fan smiled, “What about you, Young Master Wu?”
“I have mobilized the Wu family’s resources, but so far, I haven’t found that sniper, nor can I even determine his identity!”
Wu Zhaoyang grumbled, “Regardless of the reason, whoever wants my life, Wu Zhaoyang, must pay the price. This is the pride of us Wu family members, our principle of conduct!”
“Tell me, what is the name of that organization, what have you found out, and what clues do you have!”
“I can lend you a hand!”
Wu Zhaoyang said ominously.
Such a proud man could not tolerate someone trying to kill him and getting away with it.
He could not allow himself to be manipulated, becoming a pawn in someone else’s game!
Chen Fan put down his wine glass and said, “The food tonight is excellent. Young Master Wu, thank you for your hospitality!”
“What do you mean?”
Wu Zhaoyang asked angrily.
“What I mean is,” Chen Fan smiled, “given your status, if you stay at home and don’t stir up trouble outside, trouble won’t dare to find you casually.”
“You… mean to say you look down on me?”
Wu Zhaoyang knew Chen Fan was provoking him, but he still slammed the table and said darkly.