Wang Yan ignored Lu Fan's question and turned to leave.
Lu Fan was momentarily stunned. He... alas! Forget it.
Before long, Li Mantang and his wife arrived. Seeing their daughter, the couple's eyes welled up with tears. They hadn't seen their daughter for half a year and had thought something had happened to her and Lu Fan. To their surprise, she had returned after half a year.
Lu Fan also hadn't expected that what seemed like a short absence had actually been more than half a year. Could he have traveled through time incorrectly upon his return?
The banquet was lavish and gathered many people, such as Taohua and her son, Xiao Hu. As soon as she heard Lu Fan had returned, Taohua was the first to rush over. If Xiao Hu hadn't been calling out to her from behind, she would have been left far behind.
Taohua was extremely happy. Liu Ruyan was missing, and Wang Yan was pregnant. It seemed she no longer had any rivals. Her chance had finally come!
Sitting at a large table filled with people, Taohua naturally sat next to Lu Changfu again. When drinking, one must sit with those who are drinking.
"Wang Yan! Your belly is already so big, and we still don't know who the father is! Don't tell us you got pregnant in a dream; that's a fairy tale, and we don't believe it!" Taohua said deliberately, glancing at Lu Fan and then at Wang Yan.
Lu Fan couldn't help but glance at Wang Yan as well. He also wanted to know who the father of this child was! Hmph! If he ever found out, he would surely castrate that scoundrel.
Wang Yan noticed Lu Fan's gaze and immediately rolled her eyes.
"Tch! The belly is mine, and I'll have a baby if I want to! The child will take my surname, it will be Wang Yan's! It has nothing to do with anyone else! Taohua, do you want to have another child too?" Wang Yan said with a slight smile.
"I... if I want to have a child, it will be a legitimate one. I won't just have a child with anyone," Taohua said, pouting.
"Stop talking nonsense! Today, Xiao Fan and the others are back, and we should all drink happily. No one is allowed to bring up useless matters!" Zhao Rongrong said, her face darkening.
Zhao Rongrong was a thoughtful woman and had long known that these two young widows had been secretly competing for Lu Fan. However, although Wang Yan was a young widow, she usually dressed fashionably. But she was definitely not the type of person to casually have a child with someone else.
Moreover, the child was over six months old, which coincided with the time Lu Fan left home... Zhao Rongrong had long suspected that this child was Lu Fan's. Wang Yan's refusal was simply to avoid damaging Lu Fan's reputation.
Now that Liu Ruyan was also missing, her wish to have a grandchild had suddenly fallen through. If Wang Yan truly carried her grandson, she would be overjoyed!
"Tch! Uncle! I'll have a drink with you!" Taohua was startled by Zhao Rongrong's sharp tone, but she smugly pouted, turned, picked up her wine glass, and drank with Lu Changfu.
She wanted to expose Wang Yan's pregnancy and make Lu Fan cut off contact with her. Even without her saying anything, anyone could tell.
Unexpectedly, Wang Yan didn't care at all. She just smiled slightly, reached out to caress her round belly, and suddenly said to Lu Fan, "Xiao Fan! I've been pregnant for more than half a year, and I haven't had a check-up yet. Since you're back, help me check it out later."
"Alright! Sister-in-law Wang Yan, I'll help you take a look later," Lu Fan nodded.
"Little Doctor! Thank you for taking care of the two children. I'll toast you," Li Mantang said, standing up with his wine glass and addressing Lu Fan.
"Old Li! I'm glad you're not blaming me for taking the two children out. It's my duty as their master to ensure they are safe! Otherwise, what kind of master would I be?" Lu Fan said, raising his wine glass.
"Not at all, not at all!" Li Mantang said hurriedly. Li Jingjing's current success was entirely due to Lu Fan's medical skills and support. Otherwise, she would still be a mentally ill patient who understood nothing but eating.
The banquet instantly entered a pleasant atmosphere. Everyone chatted and laughed, recounting the development of Fengyuan Town over the past half-year. Fengyuan Town was now a renowned prosperous county throughout the province and even the country. Several surrounding villages had leveraged the resources of Twelve Gully Village to develop tourism projects, and all had become prosperous.
Twelve Gully Village had also become the most impressive villa village. A large number of people had already moved into villas. The only regret was that Lu Fan had taken away the Spirit Gathering Bottle, limiting the spiritual energy coverage to the surrounding villages, making it impossible to expand the scale.
The Bufan Group, led by General Manager Wang Yan, had now established a company office. Several college graduates and experienced executives had been hired to form a management team. The company was no longer expanding its business but maintained its cooperative relationships with existing hotels in an orderly manner. The other part of sales was handled by Wang Yajie's online promotion team, selling products nationwide through retail channels.
The meal concluded in a good atmosphere. Lu Fan saw off Li Jingjing, Li Mantang, and his wife, among others.
"Xiao Fan! Ruyan has been gone for more than half a year. Shouldn't you also consider your own matters? I... I've been waiting for your news all along! As long as you say the word, I'll immediately bring Xiao Hu and move in with you," Taohua said to Lu Fan, emboldened by the alcohol, after Li Mantang had left.
"I'll go find Ruyan tomorrow!" Lu Fan said calmly, looking at Taohua.
"Xiao Fan! You're too heartless! I haven't looked for you for so long not because I didn't want to, but because I, Taohua, love you deeply. And yet you... do you believe I'll regret this!" Taohua's eyes reddened.
"Xiao Hu, you're a man now. Take care of your mother! Your mother has had too much to drink!" Lu Fan had Xiao Hu hold Taohua's hand, then escorted them outside the door. Slam! He closed the door.
He now regretted it, regretting that he shouldn't have left Taohua with any illusions in the past. It had led to this young widow being a bit out of control.
"Xiao Fan! Don't you have any feelings for Taohua at all?" Wang Yan's voice suddenly came from behind.
"We're not suitable! Sister-in-law, come inside, and I'll help you with the check-up," Lu Fan said, looking at Wang Yan.
"Tch! No need. I was just saying that to provoke Taohua. In fact, I can feel that the child is fine. By the way, you actually know where Ruyan is, don't you?" Wang Yan asked with a slight smile.
"Yes! I know!" Lu Fan nodded.
Wang Yan pushed the door open and left. The moment she stepped outside, her eyes turned red.
...
Watching Wang Yan leave, Lu Fan took a deep breath. He had made up his mind; he was going to find Liu Ruyan!
"Master!" Zhan Tai Ruomei stood behind Lu Fan and called out.
"Ruomei! Do you miss your sister and parents!? I'll take you to find your sister tomorrow!" Lu Fan patted Zhan Tai Ruomei's head and said.
"Master! Do you miss Mistress!" Zhan Tai Ruomei asked, tilting her small face up.