Zhou Cheng had left.

He came hurriedly and departed without delay.

He rushed to Shangdu just to handle Xia Xiaolan’s troubles.

Upon hearing this, Shao Limin remarked to his trusted Secretary Hou: “The Zhou family has produced quite the passionate romantic.”

Whether the Zhou family approved or not, Shao Limin didn’t know, but he found it quite remarkable. Being passionate wasn’t necessarily bad – people might be wary of someone with a weakness, but not fearful. Zhou Cheng previously had no weaknesses; at such a young age, he handled matters flawlessly. Those who had dealt with Zhou Cheng wondered how the Zhou family had raised him…

Secretary Hou listened to his leader’s musings and silently elevated the importance level of Xia Xiaolan, the boutique’s young owner.

If the leader called Young Master Zhou a passionate romantic, Xia Xiaolan would likely become the Zhou family’s daughter-in-law.

This was truly a case of a phoenix rising from humble beginnings – a beautiful woman changing her fate through marriage!

Secretary Hou knew nothing about Xia Xiaolan and assumed she would change her fate through her looks. While his attitude adjustment toward Xia Xiaolan remained to be seen, that day in Hedong County was truly chaotic.

Xiao Yu returned to Hedong County in a daze.

She anxiously waited for news in her newly rented house.

Wanting to inquire about the situation, she found herself isolated – Aunt Li despised her, those previously close to Fan Zhenchuan were struggling to protect themselves, and who would share information with a mere housekeeper? Even though many knew she was Fan Zhenchuan’s mistress, no one respected her.

Hedong County was in upheaval, with many being taken away for investigation.

Instead of good news, Xiao Yu received a visit from Fan Han.

Fan Han cornered Xiao Yu in her house with a group of people. “Sister Xiao Yu, did you ever imagine this day would come when you drove my mother to death?”

When Xiao Yu first arrived at the Fan household, she mainly did housework and helped care for Fan Han. Fan Han was around ten then, and they were close, with only a few years’ age difference. As an only child, Fan Han truly saw Xiao Yu as an elder sister. Later, when her affair with Fan Zhenchuan was exposed and Fan Han’s mother committed suicide, Fan Han suffered a double betrayal. He resented not just Fan Zhenchuan but felt betrayed by Xiao Yu!

“Fan Han, I… I didn’t want this…”

Xiao Yu backed away.

She felt innocent – how could a weak woman resist Fan Zhenchuan?

Fan Han disagreed with her innocence. Not wanting to go to jail himself, he had his people beat Xiao Yu and took all her money and jewelry.

“If you’re not satisfied, go report it to the police. But first, you’ll need to explain to them how you got these things as our family’s housekeeper.”

Fan Han’s words dripped with malice.

Xiao Yu could neither fight back nor argue.

What family would give a housekeeper tens of thousands of yuan? At that time, a housekeeper’s monthly salary was at most several dozen yuan. Even if she hadn’t spent a penny during her years with the Fan family, she couldn’t have saved over ten thousand yuan. Fan Han felt both the adulterous couple had received their karma. Aunt Li, unaware that Fan Han had secretly reported his father, hugged him crying, wondering about their future.

Fan Han was straightforward, “We’ll just live as we can. Grandmother, your crying won’t help. Let’s see if they release my father!”

He was unlikely to be released, and Fan Han feared his father’s downfall wasn’t complete enough, so he kept adding fuel to the fire.

Aunt Li remained ignorant, looking haggard.

Although Fan Zhenchuan had left some money and their old house wouldn’t be confiscated, without his protection, could they keep that money? Aunt Li was terrified. When the Fan family was powerful, they showed no mercy to anyone. Now in their moment of weakness, those waiting to trample them would surely surge forward.

Fan Han thought of the money he’d taken from Xiao Yu and his savings over the years, feeling quite secure.

Considering himself unsuited for studies, he planned to take the money south once his father’s case concluded!

While the former “young prince” of Hedong had plans for his future, Liang Huan’s future remained uncertain.

After returning from the municipal party committee guesthouse, the Liang household was shrouded in gloom.

Beyond Fan Zhenchuan, many in Hedong County had been taken away. Liang Bing’an was like a startled bird. He had been close to Fan Zhenchuan recently – would he be implicated? Surely he would be, thanks to Liu Fang trying to marry Xia Xiaolan to Fan Zhenchuan without proper investigation! Liang Bing’an now blamed his wife but dared not show it – if Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend wanted to deal with him, he still hoped Liu Fang could intercede. Despite his disgust with Liu Fang, she was still Xia Xiaolan’s aunt.

Liu Fang was furious.

From any angle, her daughter Liang Huan seemed born for a blessed life – born into a good family that spared no expense in nurturing her.

When Liang Huan was learning dance, Xia Xiaolan ran barefoot in the fields. While Liang Huan wore pretty dresses and ate cream cakes, Xia Xiaolan was the despised girl in the Xia family… How could her carefully raised daughter be inferior to Xia Xiaolan?

In Liu Fang’s mind, a woman’s success didn’t count – only marrying well mattered.

She failed to consider that Liang Huan was only 17 – how could a high school student find a boyfriend better than Zhou Cheng? Instead of studying properly, was she expecting Liang Huan to date early? Liu Fang was blinded by jealousy, and completely obsessed.

Now she just couldn’t accept how Liang Huan could be inferior to Xia Xiaolan.

Besides good looks, what made Xia Xiaolan so special?!

Even those two impressive bodyguards must have been arranged by Xia Xiaolan’s boyfriend.

With Fan Zhenchuan’s arrest throwing Hedong County into chaos, Liu Fang’s parents-in-law, hearing the news, made a rare visit. When asked about Fan Zhenchuan’s situation and learning the marriage was impossible, they expressed both disappointment and concern.

They had thought Liu Fang capable when her niece could marry Fan Zhenchuan.

Now they felt the Liang family was unfortunate to be connected with the Fan family at such a critical time.

“Fortunately, she hadn’t married yet.”

It was lucky timing – both for Liu Fang’s niece and the Liang family, they had dodged a bullet.

Liu Fang suffered in silence. Yes, Xia Xiaolan was too lucky – not only avoiding marriage into the ill-fated Fan family but also securing an even better man. Liu Fang couldn’t sleep well thinking about her second sister having such a son-in-law.

Liu Fang tried to convince herself it was just dating, perhaps he was just playing with Xia Xiaolan – surely he wouldn’t actually marry her?

“My niece’s situation is hopeless, she’s not destined for good fortune. Our family’s future depends on Huanhuan.”

Her in-laws loved hearing this.

How could the Liang family rely on an outsider?

Of course, their precious granddaughter Liang Huan was more reliable. They had watched her grow up – proper, talented, and in a few years she’d enter university. Her future couldn’t be bad!

Liang Huan, the focus of her family’s high hopes, was lost in thought. She looked up with a shy smile, thinking of Zhou Cheng.