The neon lights of Kyoto shimmered in the night. Qin Chuan drove his black minivan smoothly back to Kyoto Huafu, the atmosphere inside the car unusually quiet.
"President Han," Qin Chuan glanced at Han Feng, who was resting with his eyes closed, through the rearview mirror, "according to the plan, shouldn't we be moving forward with our overseas expansion?"
Han Feng opened his eyes, the light from the window casting shifting shadows on his sharply defined profile: "Hmm, the new energy sector. The European market."
"Which country specifically?" Qin Chuan skillfully dodged a taxi that suddenly changed lanes. "Country D has preferential policies, but Country F's new energy vehicle subsidies are even more..."
"Choose Europe." Han Feng interrupted him, "A neutral country, easy for capital flow, and close to Silicon Crystal Technology."
Su Wanwan, who had been leaning against the car window lost in thought, suddenly sat up straight upon hearing this: "You're going to start a company overseas?"
Her voice was eight octaves higher than usual, causing Qin Chuan in the passenger seat to turn around and look. Han Feng raised an eyebrow slightly: "Is there a problem?"
"No...no." Su Wanwan shrank back, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt. "I was just asking."
Qin Chuan tactfully continued his work report, but Han Feng's attention was no longer on it. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Su Wanwan turn her face to the window, her short red hair falling down to cover her expression, making her look like she had suddenly shrunk a size.
As the car stopped in front of the Kyoto Huafu villa, Qin Chuan was about to get out and open the door when Han Feng pushed the door open himself and came out: "Send me the site selection plan tomorrow." After saying that, he led Su Wanwan into the villa.
Su Wanwan suddenly spoke up: "Um, you...do you mean you'll be traveling abroad more often after opening a branch office?"
Her voice was soft, with a slight nasal tone. Han Feng paused, his hand, which was loosening his tie,—this wasn't Su Wanwan's usual loud and boisterous tone.
"What's wrong?" he teased her deliberately, "Afraid of being bored at home alone?"
Su Wanwan didn't jump up to argue as usual. She slowly took off her high heels, stepping barefoot onto the marble floor, her back view looking rather thin.
"No!" Su Wanwan stubbornly insisted.
"That's fine. You can stay home by yourself as long as you don't blow up the house."
This time, Su Wanwan didn't get angry and argue with Han Feng as usual.
"Then how often will you come back?" she asked with her back to Han Feng.
Han Feng then realized something was wrong. He walked around to Su Wanwan and was surprised to find that her eyes were slightly red and there were tiny water droplets on her eyelashes.
"You..." Han Feng was speechless for a moment. He had seen Su Wanwan get angry, seen her smug, and even seen her injured and bleeding, but he had never seen her...cry?
This should have sparked a familiar argument, but Su Wanwan simply bit her lower lip, her voice so soft it was almost inaudible: "Then... how often will you come back?"
Han Feng was stunned. He had imagined Su Wanwan jumping up and yelling at him, or saying triumphantly, "Finally, no one cares about me anymore," but he never expected this...almost aggrieved reaction.
"Su Wanwan. Hey, why are you crying? I was just teasing you." Han Feng immediately explained, his voice softening unconsciously. "These things can be easily delegated; I don't need to do them myself."
Su Wanwan looked up abruptly: "Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Han Feng deliberately spoke in a lighthearted tone. "Besides, if I really went abroad, who would keep an eye on you so you wouldn't blow up the house?"
Su Wanwan's eyes shone brightly under the light, like two pools of clear spring water. Han Feng suddenly felt a tightness in his throat and unconsciously reached out to wipe away the suspicious glint of moisture from the corner of her eyes.
\"ah!\"
The next second, a sharp pain shot through his shoulder. Su Wanwan, like a little animal that had been provoked, bit down on his shoulder, her sharp little fangs palpable even through his shirt.
"Su Wanwan!" Han Feng winced in pain, "Are you a puppy?"
Instead of their usual banter, Su Wanwan answered with a suppressed sob. She let go of his mouth, rushed upstairs without looking back, and slammed the door shut.
Han Feng stood there, a slight stinging sensation still lingering on his shoulder. He slowly raised his hand to touch the spot; there was a small damp patch on the fabric—he couldn't tell if it was saliva or...tears.
"Ding~ Abnormal emotional fluctuations detected in the host~" the system's voice chimed in cheekily. "Need emotional counseling? This system recently downloaded 'The Complete Guide to the Psychology of Love'~"
"Shut up." Han Feng frowned, but couldn't help looking at the tightly closed door on the second floor.
Han Feng suddenly remembered the first time he returned from Longyuan a few months ago—Su Wanwan stood at his door with her suitcase, saying matter-of-factly, "I heard you have a spare room here." From that day on, this noisy red-haired girl barged into his life like a stray cat, turning his orderly world upside down.
And now, this "stray cat" seems... reluctant to part with him?
Han Feng returned to his room, took out his phone, and called Lin Zhengguo. The call connected quickly, and Lin Zhengguo's voice sounded sleepy: "Little Han? What happened?"
"Su Wanwan." Han Feng's voice was very low. "I need her complete information."
The sound of clothes rustling came from the other end of the phone. Lin Zhengguo seemed to sit up: "Why are you suddenly asking this?"
Han Feng's gaze unconsciously drifted towards the door. Su Wanwan was in the next room, and there had been no sound coming out since she went in.
"She's been acting... a bit strange lately." Han Feng carefully chose his words, "...after the auction today..."
He paused, recalling the image of Su Wanwan crying just now. The reflection of that tear was like a thorn, constantly etched into his mind.
Lin Zhengguo sighed deeply: "I told you before, her parents were national security agents who died in the line of duty six years ago. That child... has no other relatives."
The shadows of the trees outside the window swayed in the wind, casting eerie, menacing shadows on the wall. Han Feng suddenly remembered that Su Wanwan always liked to leave all the lights on when she stayed up late. So it wasn't out of habit, but rather... a fear of the dark?
"She doesn't know?"
"All I know is that your parents died in the line of duty." Lin Zhengguo paused, then continued, "Xiao Han, that child considers you family."
These words struck Han Feng like a heavy blow to the chest. He remembered how Su Wanwan always pestered him to play games, insisted on eating his cooking, and even stayed up all night with red eyes to watch over him when he was injured... It turned out that behind these seemingly willful behaviors lay a girl's fear of being abandoned again.
When Han Feng learned of all this, he silently hung up the phone.
The information Lin Zhengguo shared about Su Wanwan warmed Han Feng's heart with a strange warmth. He quietly opened the door and stood before Su Wanwan's door. He raised his hand to knock, then hesitated, unsure what to say. An apology? A promise? These were not his strengths.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Su Wanwan stood in the doorway, wearing cartoon pajamas and clutching a pillow, her eyes red like a rabbit's. She clearly hadn't expected Han Feng to be standing in the doorway, and froze on the spot.
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