Before Fan Zhen Chuan could react, he was pinned to the ground.

“You all—!”

“Fan Zhen Chuan, please cooperate with our work.”

Several men twisted him like a braided pastry and forcibly led him out. Fan Zhen Chuan’s eyes were filled with hatred, but with his only useful driver subdued, he couldn’t resist. Aunt Li’s legs gave way and she collapsed, her jade bracelet shattering into pieces as it hit the table corner.

“Zhen Chuan… who are you people… you’ve got the wrong person!”

They completely ignored Aunt Li’s cries.

Instead, the team leader shook hands with Zhou Cheng. “Chief Zhou, thank you for cooperating with our arrest operation. Fan Zhen Chuan is a cunning man – if we’d attempted the arrest in He Dong County, it might have caused unnecessary complications.”

“It was my duty. Fan Zhen Chuan’s driver just tried to grab my—”

“We understand. That was your signal to act, as we discussed. Comrade Zhou Cheng, you were protecting innocent civilians. The driver was Fan Zhen Chuan’s confidant and participated in his illegal activities – he was also a target for arrest.”

They came urgently and left like a whirlwind, completely ignoring Zhou Cheng’s violent actions.

Even Fan Zhen Chuan’s mother stumbled after them, forgetting all elegance and dignity. With Fan Zhen Chuan suddenly taken away, what marriage proposal could matter more than his safety?

The Liang family of three stood frozen like statues.

Li Dong Liang and Ge Jian retreated to guard the door – being bodyguards meant knowing when to speak and when to stay silent for their employer.

Liang Bing An’s eyes were unfocused, overwhelmed by life’s rapid ups and downs. From initially hoping for Fan Zhen Chuan’s promotion to later fearing his revenge, Liang Bing An’s internal drama had been intense. Who would have thought that Comrade Fan Zhen Chuan, whom he both looked up to and feared, would fall from grace so quickly… Liang Bing An knew that no one taken away like this ever came back whole!

Fan Zhen Chuan was finished.

Liang Bing An’s hands trembled uncontrollably.

Xiao Lan’s partner held no small position, though he worked in a different system than Liang Bing An, so he wasn’t directly threatened by Zhou Cheng. But Zhou Cheng was so young and had managed to arrest Fan Zhen Chuan – didn’t that mean he, a mere deputy director of a minor bureau, was also in danger? The Liang family’s circumstances were comfortable, Liu Fang was a housewife, but Liang Bing An’s monthly salary was modest – he couldn’t withstand detailed scrutiny!

His lack of promotion over the years had been due to insufficient connections.

Not knowing Zhou Cheng’s true identity, Liang Bing An could only guess at his powerful background.

Such a young man was Xiao Lan’s partner!

If Liang Bing An could examine his intestines now, they’d surely be green with regret.

He shouldn’t have complicated things. When Liu Fen divorced and family relations resumed, he became Xiao Lan’s “uncle-in-law” – they were family. With Xiao Lan finding such an impressive partner, wouldn’t she have helped her uncle-in-law? After all his maneuvering, he had failed to recognize a true Buddha in the temple, losing the watermelon while picking up sesame seeds—

“Xiao Lan, this is… it’s all a misunderstanding.”

Liang Bing An’s smile was artificial, his years of thick skin coming in handy.

Though he dared not maintain his elder’s posture, years of habit made it hard to change. His thoughts and expressions are mismatched, making him appear stiff and comical.

Xiao Lan smiled, holding Zhou Cheng’s arm:

“There’s no misunderstanding. I just found myself a poor outsider instead of marrying Fan Zhen Chuan – sorry to disappoint your family.”

Liang Huan’s emotions had also ridden a roller coaster – from initial disdain for Xiao Lan’s partner to being dazzled by Zhou Cheng’s appearance, to convincing herself not to judge by looks alone, and now… He wasn’t just handsome, but capable and more formidable than Fan Zhen Chuan. Her heart was racing.

Liu Fang’s face was flushed, her mind buzzing like it might explode!

How dare Xiao Lan! A country girl with a tainted reputation – marrying Fan Zhen Chuan would have been an ancestor-blessed miracle. Without her aunt’s matchmaking, how could it have happened? Even if Fan Zhen Chuan was older, divorced with a son, even if his relationships were messy – wasn’t he more than good enough for Xiao Lan?

Yet Xiao Lan had spurned Fan Zhen Chuan and found herself an age-appropriate powerful figure!

Liu Fang choked on her anger. Did Xiao Lan think moving to the provincial capital would erase her scandals from Da He Village?

Liu Fang’s mind was clouded by jealousy and rage:

“Who do you think you are? Back in the village, when you were fooling around with—”

“Mom!”

Liang Huan was desperate – how could her mother speak so recklessly now?

Liang Huan wasn’t thinking of Xiao Lan’s interests; she feared losing any chance to see Zhou Cheng if he and Xiao Lan split up. Sometimes quick-witted, Liang Huan knew they’d already offended her cousin badly enough, and his impression of their family must be terrible – they couldn’t make things worse.

Liu Fang was bewildered.

Zhou Cheng understood what Liu Fang meant to say, and laughed coldly:

“The last ruffian who spread such rumors about Xiao Lan is still in prison. I advise you to watch your words – misfortune comes from the mouth. I won’t tolerate anyone speaking ill of Xiao Lan.”

In Zhou Cheng’s eyes, everything about Xiao Lan was perfect – a single strand of her hair was worth more than the entire Liang family combined.

His good upbringing only extended so far – did they think Zhou Cheng was some perfect nobleman? He had his temper and the arrogance of a high official’s son.

“It’s all a misunderstanding. Her aunt was just confused with excitement…”

Liang Bing An tried to salvage the situation, but Xiao Lan found it tedious.

She wanted to tell the Liang family she didn’t need their condescending charity, to say she wasn’t poor, that she was the other owner of ‘Lan Feng Huang.’ But the words died on her lips – why should she care about their opinion?

Besides, being a private business owner wasn’t something to brag about to the Liang family.

Private business was shameful – not just to the Liang family, but to many state employees. Telling them about her plans to attend university was equally pointless – with relatives like these, Xiao Lan feared they might shamelessly try to exploit the connection.

After this incident, Xiao Lan believed her mother would finally see the Liang family’s true nature and have the strength to cut ties with Liu Fang.

“Don’t look for my mother. I think our families shouldn’t continue associating. Do you agree, Aunt?”

Unnecessary family relationships might as well end.

Xiao Lan wasn’t afraid of Zhou Cheng’s judgment – hiding things from him was pointless since he’d handled even more embarrassing situations. When they first met, he’d heard about her damaged reputation but never mentioned it, instead dealing with Zhang Er Lai. Xiao Lan felt both joy and gratitude for Zhou Cheng’s trust.