Chapter 2

85 years later

°Xinyue Restaurant°

Zhang Rishan walked into his office. "Did you meet the woman you like?" Zhang Qingyuan asked. "What about you?" Zhang Rishan countered. Both of them laughed. "Did you come to settle the bill?" Zhang Rishan asked.

"Let them pay for it themselves. I work hard managing the Zhang family's finances, yet the Patriarch... well, he burns through money faster than I can make it. He, Wu Xie, and Wang Pangzi can pay their own way. That 260 million will make them realize that money isn't easily earned." Zhang Qingyuan protested. "Then why did you come?" Zhang Rishan asked.

"To see you. After all, you and I both worked under Fo Ye's command in the past, so I wanted to see how you're doing." Zhang Qingyuan said. "Are you leaving Beijing?" Zhang Rishan asked. "There's a meeting with members from other regions. If I’d known it would be this much trouble, I would have faked my own death." Zhang Qingyuan said.

"You say that, but you never complain in your heart, even when the Patriarch does something unreasonable." Zhang Rishan noted. "The Patriarch is old, so I cut him some slack." Zhang Qingyuan said teasingly.

"You're older than him." Zhang Rishan pointed out. "You're right; technically, I am his senior. Talking to you makes me feel more relaxed. I'm off now." Zhang Qingyuan said, preparing to leave. "Have you recovered your memories yet?" Zhang Rishan asked.

"Not yet. I've forgotten which ancient tomb I was supposed to excavate. I haven't had time to go tomb-raiding these past few years; the Patriarch burns through too much money." Zhang Qingyuan said before leaving. "Perhaps it's better if you don't remember." Zhang Rishan said sadly.

°Zhang Family Meeting Room°

"Zhang Haike, what are you trying to do? Don't you know I'm very busy?" Zhang Qingyuan asked. "I was thinking. couldn't you let someone help you manage the Zhang company?" Zhang Haike suggested. "Zhang Haike, what is your objective? Do you intend to split the Zhang family's assets?" Zhang Qingyuan asked suspiciously.

"What do you mean? My brother has good intentions!" Zhang Haixing said angrily. "Was I speaking to you? Shut your mouth! Otherwise, I'll kill you." Zhang Qingyuan said flatly. "Why does your temper seem to grow worse by the day?" Zhang Longban asked.

"You showed up; I thought you’d been eaten by zongzi." Zhang Qingyuan remarked sarcastically. "Your temper getting worse." Zhang Longban admitted. "Zhang Haiqi? Isn't she coming?" Zhang Longban asked. "She has stepped down from her position. Her disciple, Zhang Haiyan, has taken over her work." Zhang Haike said.

"Where are they?" Zhang Qingyuan asked. "They haven't arrived yet." Zhang Haike replied. Zhang Qingyuan gazed up at the ceiling, her fingers tapping the table as if weighing the best course of action. "If willing to help, it's not problem, but if you can't reach me, don't cause trouble," Zhang Qingyuan said flatly.

"Are you going to the ancient tomb again?" Zhang Longban asked with concern. "I won't die that easily." Zhang Qingyuan said, standing up and grabbing her jacket from the chair. "Be careful," Zhang Haike said worriedly. "Don't worry; isn't there someone to carry on the business affairs?" Zhang Qingyuan said as she put on her black jacket and pulled up the hood.

"Tomorrow, 10 a.m. Right here. I'll bring everything regarding the Zhang company's affairs," Zhang Qingyuan said before walking away, her hands in her pockets. "Where is she actually from?" Zhang Haixing asked. "I'm not entirely sure myself. The Patriarch brought her in. But her abilities are second only to the Patriarch's. She used to be one of the Mystic Nine." Zhang Longban said.

"The Mystic Nine?" Zhang Haixing asked curiously. "She is one of Zhang Da Fo Ye's people; the Patriarch brought her into the inner circle of the main family. Since then, she has managed all of the Zhang family's finances. Rumor has it that she has no memory of her past, and she was likely a disciple of the former Patriarch." said Zhang Longban.

As Zhang Qingyuan stepped out, she crossed paths with Zhang Hailou and Zhang Haixia, who were entering the room. Zhang Haixia turned to watch Zhang Qingyuan’s retreating figure. "Xiazai? Hurry up, we're already late." said Zhang Hailou. Zhang Haixia looked away and followed Zhang Hailou into the meeting room.

"Sorry we're late," Zhang Hailou said as he sat down. Zhang Haixia sat down as well. "Where is the Patriarch's secretary?" Zhang Hailou asked. "She's already left." Zhang Longban replied. "You need to be here tomorrow at 10 a.m. She has an unstable temperament." Zhang Longban added.

"That's better than her showing a cold, indifferent face. Eventually, she'll become a second Patriarch." Haike said with a smile. "True enough." Zhang Longban agreed. "What is the secretary's name?" Zhang Haixia suddenly asked. "We don't know her real name. We call her A Qing." Zhang Longban said.

#The next day

Everyone had gathered, except for Zhang Qingyuan. "Is she coming or not?" Zhang Haixing asked irritably. Zhang Qingyuan walked in, yawning, with her jacket hood up and dragging three suitcases.

"Zhang Haixia and Zhang Hailou, these are the company files you need to understand and study. If there's anything you don't get, ask Zhang Haike." Zhang Qingyuan said, yawning mid-sentence; her eyes looked watery. Upon hearing her voice, Zhang Haixia froze. "A Yuan?" Zhang Haixia called out.

Zhang Qingyuan pulled back her hood and looked at Zhang Haixia. "Do you know me?" Zhang Qingyuan asked, staring at Zhang Haixia. Zhang Haixia looked at Zhang Qingyuan in shock. "She's the one who saved you." Zhang Hailou said; Zhang Haixia nodded in response. "Where did you go?" Zhang Haixia asked.

Zhang Qingyuan gave Zhang Haixia a blank look before turning her gaze to Zhang Haike. "I'm leaving now." Zhang Qingyuan said, but as she walked away, Zhang Hailou grabbed her shoulder. A scuffle broke out between Zhang Hailou and Zhang Qingyuan. Almost instinctively, Zhang Haixia joined the fight, but Zhang Qingyuan slammed both of them onto the floor.

Zhang Qingyuan yawned. "Spitting blades and moving quickly. Not bad, but not enough," Zhang Qingyuan said as she walked away. "Where are you rushing off to?" Zhang Haike asked. "To say goodbye to the Patriarch. If I'm late, he'll have already gone inside." Zhang Qingyuan replied. "In all likelihood, the Patriarch has already entered." Zhang Longban noted.

"I should have been faster." Zhang Qingyuan said with annoyance. "You broke both their bones. Fix them!" Zhang Haike ordered. Zhang Qingyuan approached Zhang Haixia and Zhang Hailou and set their bones back in place. "Sorry." Zhang Qingyuan said.

"Where are you going now?" Zhang Longban asked. Zhang Hailou and Zhang Haixia stared silently at Zhang Qingyuan. "To a good place." Zhang Qingyuan replied. "Don't you remember me?" Zhang Haixia asked, looking at Zhang Qingyuan seriously.

"This is our first meeting, so there's no way I would know you." Zhang Qingyuan said flatly. Zhang Qingyuan nodded at Zhang Hailou and Zhang Haixia before leaving. Zhang Haixia sighed, while Zhang Hailou followed after her. "Do you really not remember, or are you pretending not to?" Hailou asked seriously.

"Zhang Hailou? I've never met Zhang Haixia. So, you've got the wrong person." Zhang Qingyuan said. "Your blood attracts insects." Zhang Haixia said as he come out, pulling three suitcases. Zhang Qingyuan glanced at Zhang Haixia but continued on her way. "Zhang Hailou and Zhang Haixia? Interesting people," Zhang Qingyuan mused.

"It's as if she doesn't know you." Zhang Hailou said seriously. "Right, something might have happened to her. Now we have to go through this whole stack of documents." Zhang Haixia said, pointing to the three suitcases he had brought.

"For the Patriarch's sake, we have to give it our all!" Zhang Hailou declared. Zhang Haixia smiled. "Our Hailou, you've really grown up." she said. "I grew up a long time ago. But you're the one who spoils me too much." Zhang Hailou said with a smile. The two of them laughed together.

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