SAG -Chapter 44 Tian Yaohui’s Intentions

Zhang Ran narrowed his eyes as he watched Sun Gaixin’s retreating figure.

Hearing Meng Mingxuan proudly asking for praise, Zhang Ran smiled.

“Not bad. Looks like you weren’t lying before.”

He was referring to Meng Mingxuan’s earlier boast that he was exceptionally good at getting into trouble.

Meng Mingxuan grinned smugly.

“Of course!”

“Let’s go. Stop showing off—we’re heading inside.”

Elsewhere, only after Hao Yuan had dragged them a good distance away did Tian Ya finally ask, “Uncle Hao, who was that man?”

“And why didn’t you help Gaixin just now?”

Hao Yuan could hear the resentment in her voice.

Sun Gaixin had spent the entire fight getting beaten up.

By the time Meng Mingxuan stopped, Hao Yuan had immediately dragged him away, so he never got a clear look at Zhang Ran’s face.

Otherwise…

He probably would have understood why he’d been beaten.

Taking a deep breath, Hao Yuan replied, “Miss, don’t ask who that man is for now.”

“If you really want to know, ask your father directly.”

Tian Ya frowned.

Why was he being so mysterious?

No matter how much she questioned him afterward, Hao Yuan remained silent.

After dropping the two of them off, Hao Yuan hesitated before getting out of the car.

Finally, he said, “Miss… in the future…”

“It’s best not to provoke Zhang Siyan anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

Tian Ya became even more confused.

It sounded almost like a warning.

Sun Gaixin heard it too.

He was equally baffled.

Had Hao Yuan suddenly developed a conscience?

Yet…

For some reason…

A vague sense of unease began creeping into his heart.

As though…

He had made a terrible mistake.

But Hao Yuan said nothing more.

Some things were better left for Tian Yaohui to explain himself.

After leaving, Hao Yuan immediately pulled over and called Tian Yaohui, recounting everything that had happened.

Finally, he asked hesitantly, “Chairman Tian… do you think what Zhang Ran said was a warning?”

On the other end, Tian Yaohui answered calmly, “Something like that.”

“Then…”

Hao Yuan’s heart immediately began pounding.

It wasn’t that he was timid.

No one who knew Hao Yuan would ever call him a coward.

But what had happened years ago had been far too terrifying.

If he himself ever ended up like his former boss…

He’d rather die immediately.

Tian Yaohui could hear the fear in Hao Yuan’s voice and chuckled softly.

“If this had happened before, people like us really would have been worried.”

“But now…”

“We have nothing to fear.”

“Hm?”

Hao Yuan could clearly hear the ease in his boss’s tone.

It was nothing like the tense mood Tian Yaohui had been in when Zhang Ran first returned.

Had he already found a way to counter Zhang Ran’s mysterious methods?

Tian Yaohui continued, “First of all, Zhang Ran and the others from the Goddess of Destiny haven’t even officially been released from observation yet.”

“And even after they are…”

“Even after nobody is watching him anymore…”

“He’s no longer alone.”

“He has a son.”

“A daughter.”

“He even has grandchildren.”

By the end of his sentence, Hao Yuan could even hear the relaxed smile in Tian Yaohui’s voice.

Thinking it over carefully…

Hao Yuan realized it made sense.

Back then…

Although Zhang Ran’s methods had been mysterious—and ruthless in their own way—he had always been someone who followed rules.

As long as you didn’t resort to dirty tricks against him…

As long as you defeated him fairly…

He always accepted the outcome.

He never retaliated simply because he’d lost.

That was one thing Hao Yuan had genuinely admired about Zhang Ran.

But now…

Zhang Ran had children.

Grandchildren.

His family had become his weakness.

His actions would inevitably be restrained.

Hao Yuan also recalled something else.

Around the time the return of the Goddess of Destiny was announced…

Many prominent business figures had suddenly begun appearing publicly.

Their exposure skyrocketed overnight.

But once Zhang Ran and the others actually returned…

Those same people quietly faded back into the background.

Now that he thought about it…

They had probably shared Tian Yaohui’s reasoning after learning about Zhang Ran’s current situation.

At that moment…

Hao Yuan finally understood why Tian Yaohui hadn’t tried to stop Tian Ya from getting involved with Sun Gaixin.

It wasn’t because he feared Zhang Ran no longer.

Rather…

He seemed to be using the situation…to probe Zhang Ran’s bottom line.

The realization sent a chill through Hao Yuan.

Tian Ya was Tian Yaohui’s own daughter.

Inside the Shopping Mall, Zhang Siyan and Qian Li had just seen Zhao Jingyu off.

They were tidying up the display counters and preparing for the afternoon customers.

At the same time…

They couldn’t hide their excitement.

Especially Zhang Siyan.

She was frightened.

Frightened that Tian Ya might really use her influence to take Susu’s custody away.

Because of that…

She no longer wanted to keep fighting over child support.

If this distributor opportunity succeeded…

She would immediately finalize the divorce.

“Xiao Qian, Xiao Zhang, have you eaten yet?”

The woman from the clothing store next door walked in smiling.

“We have.”

“Sister Liu, you seem to be in a great mood. Something good happen?”

Qian Li asked with a smile.

Since one store sold cosmetics and the other sold clothing, they weren’t competitors.

Being neighbors, they’d become quite friendly.

“What good news?”

Sister Liu laughed.

“I just saw two men fighting outside the mall.”

“One of them looked all refined and scholarly but got beaten black and blue.”

“I think they were both chasing the same woman.”

“Something like that.”

“Oh, right!”

“I recorded a video.”

“You’ve got to watch it.”

“It’s hilarious.”

Her conclusion came entirely from seeing Meng Mingxuan and Tian Ya recognize each other afterward.

Middle-aged women like her could imagine romantic drama plots every bit as well as television scriptwriters.

Qian Li laughed.

“Sister Liu…”

“Your hobbies are definitely unique.”

“You can actually enjoy watching people fight?”

“Heh, everyone’s got their own hobbies.”

“I already posted the video on Moments.”

“Take a look.”

“It’s really funny.”

She enthusiastically urged them.

Since there were no customers at the moment—and Sister Liu insisted so enthusiastically—

Qian Li and Zhang Siyan both opened their social media feeds.

The moment they saw the video…

They froze.

Qian Li immediately recognized the man getting beaten.

It was Sun Gaixin.

He had only just left their store.

Zhang Siyan recognized both men.

Although she’d only met Meng Mingxuan once…

She certainly hadn’t forgotten his face.

“How did these two end up fighting?” she murmured.

Qian Li’s eyes lit up.

“Wait, Siyan…”

“You know the guy doing the beating?”

“Don’t tell me he’s one of your admirers standing up for you?”

Zhang Siyan shook her head helplessly.

“What nonsense are you thinking?”

“Didn’t I tell you before?”

“When we went to pick up my dad, one of his old friends came too.”

“This young man is that friend’s son.”

“We’ve only met once.”

As Zhang Siyan explained…

Qian Li continued watching the video, grinning from ear to ear.

Seeing Sun Gaixin getting pummeled delighted her immensely.

“Sister Liu…”

“This video is amazing!”

“Hahaha!” she burst into laughter.

But then…

She suddenly noticed a familiar face among the crowd.

After staring carefully, she exclaimed, “Hey!”

“Doesn’t that person look just like Big Brother?”

Zhang Siyan looked carefully as well.

Sure enough…

Standing among the spectators…was Zhang Ran.

She was stunned for a moment.

Then everything clicked into place.

Meng Mingxuan hadn’t randomly picked a fight with Sun Gaixin.

There was no such coincidence.

Thinking of that…

Zhang Siyan’s emotions became unexpectedly complicated.

Yet beneath the confusion…

She felt something she hadn’t experienced in a very long time.

A quiet…

Warmth.