When not compared side by side, Faan looked more like Cui Yiru.

Only when Faan and Xu Zhongyi faced each other, especially after Xu Zhongyi’s appearance changed – with only his eyes untouched – did the identical feature between father and son become apparent… They truly looked alike!

Xu Zhongyi insisted on calling himself “Master Qiu.”

Without revenge, he felt unworthy of his real name and didn’t dare use it.

However, at this moment, he couldn’t maintain the Master Qiu persona. Seeing his son before him, he couldn’t help but be moved.

“Changle.”

Xia Xiaolan could see that Xu Zhongyi was extremely emotional, his hands and feet trembling slightly, his call filled with deep feelings.

Faan looked at Zhang Jiandong, who wore a smile: “He should be your birth father, Xu Zhongyi. Say hello – otherwise, people might think I haven’t raised you with proper manners all these years.”

Faan’s lips moved, seemingly unsure how to address Xu Zhongyi, and finally only said:

“He doesn’t look much like the photo.”

Of course not!

Xu Zhongyi had completely transformed his appearance.

Xia Xiaolan couldn’t help interjecting, “Nineteen years ago, to escape the gang’s pursuit, he suffered severe burns, and later underwent reconstructive surgery, right, Uncle Xu?”

Xu Zhongyi had composed himself – with his enemy undefeated, he shouldn’t reveal any weakness.

“I was indeed burned, so severely that it took half a year to recover. The fire destroyed my face but also saved my life. If I hadn’t hidden away to recover, I wouldn’t have escaped your assassination attempt. Zhang Jiandong, am I right? You must have been frantic then, having people search everywhere for me, not knowing I was right there in San Francisco, spending half a year in a basement, going nowhere.”

A basement – such a cramped space without natural light or any entertainment would drive normal people mad after just a few days, yet Xu Zhongyi stayed there for half a year!

During those six months, he kept thinking about how everything had happened.

Thinking about revenge.

Recalling every detail of the events.

His heart is constantly in torment.

Fortunately, those days were over, and he could finally sit down to settle accounts with Zhang Jiandong—

“You hid yourself well.”

Xu Zhongyi wasn’t afraid to reveal his past misery in front of everyone.

“After recovering in the basement, during those years of escape, I could only live as a homeless person. I was constantly careful, didn’t dare reveal my identity, and had to endure when Rat Qiang was buried under my name because I still hadn’t found Yiru and Changle’s whereabouts. When I finally found some clues, Yiru had been married to you for three years… Zhang Jiandong, ah Zhang Jiandong, you were too greedy. Not satisfied with half the antiques, you pretended to be a good person and married Yiru, hoping to learn the whereabouts of the other half from her!”

Were these words deliberately spoken for Faan to hear?

Xia Xiaolan had thought Xu Zhongyi would simply have Zhang Jiandong killed.

On second thought, it made sense – if Zhang Jiandong were killed, Cui Yiru, Tina, and Faan probably wouldn’t understand. Xu Zhongyi needed to expose Zhang Jiandong’s true nature.

But despite Xu Zhongyi’s lengthy speech, Zhang Jiandong showed no signs of anxiety.

He even pointed at his head, giving Faan a wry smile, suggesting your birth father’s mind was troubled:

“Xu Zhongyi, I don’t know who was trying to kill you, or what antiques you’re talking about. In all my years of marriage with Yiru, I’ve never once asked about such things. You found out Zhang Jiaqiang was my clan brother and assumed we were in cahoots… The old Chinese community in San Francisco might remember, that I was also a victim of Zhang Jiaqiang’s extortion. If I hadn’t paid attention to Zhang Jiaqiang’s drunken boasts and hidden at the dock beforehand, I wouldn’t have been able to save Yiru and her child. After hiding them safely, Yiru begged me to save you. I went to your rental apartment and found it engulfed in flames. The fire burned for a long time before being extinguished, and a body was found inside. At first, I thought it was you until Zhang Jiaqiang hadn’t been seen for a while, then I suspected the dead person was Zhang Jiaqiang, and you had escaped from the gang.”

Zhang Jiandong’s self-defense made veins pop on Du Zhaohui’s forehead:

“Damn it! So you’re the good guy! A law-abiding citizen – then why did you have someone try to run me over?”

Yes, that point didn’t add up.

Even Faan looked at Zhang Jiandong now.

Zhang Jiandong remained calm, “I won’t deny this, but I wasn’t trying to harm any of you. I just wanted to force Xu Zhongyi to show himself. He’s been lurking for years, occasionally spying on my life, unable to accept the fact that Yiru remarried me… Honestly, I’m tired of the psychological pressure he’s putting on Yiru. If you’re alive, be alive; if you’re dead, be dead. Don’t always act like you’re the only victim.”

Xu Zhongyi was truly unfortunate.

His opponent was someone like Zhang Jiandong.

Strong psychological fortitude.

Thick-skinned.

And clean-handed.

Even Xia Xiaolan wondered if Xu Zhongyi had any real evidence.

Xu Zhongyi didn’t disappoint her. These years weren’t spent just dealing in antiques. He signaled his men to throw a box onto the table, which when opened revealed various account records.

“The American IRS would be very interested in these materials, and the FBI wouldn’t refuse them either. I don’t need to know exactly what you did, I just know you’re the actual controller of San Francisco’s Chinese gangs. Even small-timers like Rat Qiang acted on your orders.”

Zhang Jiandong didn’t even look at them, instead smiling:

“We’re in Hong Kong now. You can produce as much of this kind of evidence as you want. If I’m guilty, you should report me to the U.S. federal government. Whether FBI or IRS, someone would surely arrest me.”

Zhang Jiandong was fearless.

Du Chengrong, bored with listening, knocked on the table:

“Gentlemen, I don’t have time to listen to your back-and-forth. Let’s all be straightforward – how do you want to resolve this?”

Xu Zhongyi slowly stood up, “Chairman Du is right. I found this evidence just to show Yiru and her children that I haven’t sought revenge against the wrong person. No matter how you try to defend yourself, since we’re both on this cruise ship today, only one of us will leave alive.”

As soon as Xu Zhongyi said this, Zhou Cheng and Pan Baohua had already moved to shield Xia Xiaolan.

Du Chengrong also frowned.

All three parties had brought their men, who slowly began to surround them.

Just as conflict seemed imminent, two people suddenly appeared at the lounge entrance – Cui Yiru and Tina!

Zhang Jiandong’s expression finally changed.

“Faan, I thought you would take care of your mother and sister. Tonight’s scene isn’t suitable for them.”

Faan casually picked up a document from the table:

“No, I think they should listen carefully. Right and wrong should be determined tonight. If he’s slandering you, even if he is my birth father, I won’t stand with him. If he isn’t slandering you—”

He didn’t finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

This twist surprised everyone.

Even Pan Baohua gave Faan a few extra glances. Earlier he’d thought Faan was an ungrateful wretch – as the old saying goes, a pretty face hides evil intentions – but who knew Faan had been hiding such depths!