"Pah! Who wants your compensation?" Su Wanwan said first, with a wary look on her face, as if she were wary of a pervert.
"Oh? That's not up to you." Han Feng chuckled mischievously and joined the two girls in their playful banter.
"By the way, Han Feng, your aunt and uncle came by yesterday," Liu Mengran reminded him softly.
"Yes, it's been a long time since I've seen Mom and Dad. It's almost dinnertime, so let's go over for dinner today. Otherwise, if I leave tomorrow, I don't know how many days it will be before I come back," Han Feng said seriously.
"Are you going out again?" Su Wanwan asked, looking displeased. It seemed that Han Feng always had to go out again after only a few days of returning home.
Han Feng scratched his head helplessly: "There's no way around it, I have to go to the Dongfang family, otherwise my life won't be peaceful in the future."
Su Wanwan said with some regret, "Okay."
---This is the dividing line---
Han Feng stood at the door of Villa No. 3 and skillfully opened the door with his fingerprint.
The moment the door opened, Han's mother's joyful voice rang out: "You're back! Come in quickly, it's cold outside!"
"Hello, Auntie," Liu Mengran greeted gently, handing over the fruit basket. "These are strawberries that were air-freighted in this morning; they're very fresh."
"Where's Uncle? I brought almond cookies!" Su Wanwan peeked into the house, like an impatient little squirrel.
Han Feng was sandwiched between two girls with very different styles. Looking at his mother's knowing smile, she said, "We're all family, why bring anything?" She then gave her son a meaningful look: "Your dad's in the kitchen researching a new dish; he said he wants to show off his skills to you."
The sounds of spatulas clattering and Mr. Han humming a tune came from the kitchen. He seemed to be in a good mood; it looked like there wouldn't be any "interrogation" tonight.
The aroma of food filled the restaurant. Mr. Han, carrying the last dish of braised fish, came out of the kitchen and beamed with joy upon seeing the three of them: "Perfect timing! You should all try my cooking."
"Dad, your cooking is pretty good! Why did Mom always cook before?" Han Feng changed the subject at the right moment and reached out to steal a piece of food.
"Uh, I only started learning to cook from your mom recently because I had some free time. I'll try to do the cooking as much as possible from now on so your mom can rest." Mr. Han blushed slightly, a little embarrassed, and turned to the two girls, saying, "Wanwan, Mengran, please sit down and try Uncle's cooking."
Su Wanwan chuckled and made a face at Han Feng. Liu Mengran obediently helped set the table, her skillful movements earning frequent nods of approval from Han's mother.
The atmosphere at the dinner table was unexpectedly relaxed. Han's mother kept piling food onto Liu Mengran and Su Wanwan's plates, quickly filling their bowls. Han's father, meanwhile, pulled Han Feng aside for a couple of drinks.
"Auntie, that's enough!" Su Wanwan begged repeatedly, looking at the mountain of vegetables teetering on the edge of her bowl.
"Eat more, look how thin you are." Han's mother pinched Su Wanwan's cheek tenderly, then turned to Liu Mengran, "Mengran, you too, no matter how busy you are with work, you must take care of your health."
As Han Feng watched this scene, a soft spot in his heart was gently touched. This kind of ordinary warmth was exactly what he desperately wanted to protect.
After the meal, Liu Mengran took the initiative to get up and help clear the dishes, and Su Wanwan also skipped and hopped to the kitchen to "help". Han's father took the opportunity to wink at his son and tilted his head towards the backyard.
"Go to the yard and have a smoke," Han's father said loudly on purpose, pulling out half a pack of Zhonghua cigarettes from under the coffee table.
Han Feng understood and followed his father to the backyard.
Han's father lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and suddenly said, "I heard about the Dongfang family from Old Lin."
Han Feng was taken aback. He should have realized that Lin Zhengguo would inform his father.
"You...know about ancient martial arts families?"
"Twenty years earlier than you." Han's father chuckled. "Once, during a mission, our team encountered a strange person who could control vines. I couldn't dodge in time and was whipped, breaking three of my ribs."
Han Feng's breath hitched. Lin Zhengguo had never mentioned this matter.
"Later I found out they were ancient martial arts practitioners of the wood element." Han's father flicked his cigarette ash. "After that, Longyuan established a special intelligence department about ancient martial arts families, and I was transferred there for three years."
"The Dongfang family is one of the three great ancient martial arts families," he suddenly said. "That girl, Mengran, should be the widow of the Liu family, who were almost wiped out, right?"
Han Feng leaned forward slightly: "How do you even know this?"
Han's father finally turned his head, his eyes sharper than Han Feng had ever seen before. "I've noticed the changes in you for a while now. Every time you come home, you give me the feeling of encountering those people from ancient martial arts families again."
"Dad," Han Feng interrupted him, "how much else do you know?"
The cigarette stopped between Han's father's fingers. The father and son looked at each other for a second, then both gave a wry smile. Instinct made them both test each other's limits.
"Enough to save your life," Han's father finally said, his tone softening. "Son, the world of ancient martial arts is more complex than you imagine. Those powerful families may appear to have disappeared, but they've been operating in the shadows all along." He pointed to Han Feng's chest. "You're like a firefly in the darkness right now."
Han's father patted his son's shoulder, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. "I don't know when you acquired the same abilities as those from ancient martial arts families, but I still need to remind you to be careful when dealing with them."
Laughter from the girls drifted in from the kitchen window. Mr. Han glanced inside, then suddenly lowered his voice: "Do those two girls know you're going on an adventure?"
Han Feng smiled wryly: "I can probably guess."
"You little rascal," Han's father chuckled, a hint of approval in his voice. "Better than your father. If I had told your mother my true identity earlier, things wouldn't have come to this..."
His words trailed off, but Han Feng understood.
"I'll be careful." Han Feng clenched his fists. "Besides, the Dongfang family has already contacted me beforehand; they mean no harm, otherwise they would have already made their move."
Han's father nodded, then suddenly revealed a mischievous smile: "Does Mengran know about you and Wanwan?"
"Dad!" Han Feng was immediately embarrassed.
"Alright, alright, I don't concern myself with your young people's affairs," Mr. Han laughed as he walked into the house. "But your mother is really looking forward to holding her grandson!"
Han Feng stood speechlessly in the courtyard, his father's words lingering in his mind.
After saying goodbye to her parents and returning to the villa with her two daughters, Su Wanwan couldn't wait to ask, "What did your uncle say to you just now? Your expression was quite something when you got back to the living room."
Han Feng grinned mischievously, "My dad asked me when we're going to let them hold their grandson."
"Tch, you're just trying to fool us."
Han Feng said with a smile, "You'll soon find out whether I'm lying or not."
As he spoke, Han Feng picked up Su Wanwan and headed upstairs. Ignoring her struggles, he turned to Liu Mengran and said, "Mengran, my darling, do you want me to do it, or will you come with me obediently?"
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