Tianhe Yuan Building 5, Unit 1901.
Chen Lan sat on the living room sofa, her brow furrowed as she read the day's newspaper.
What had happened in the neighborhood yesterday was already in the papers, which made her uneasy. She had seen Yang Jian at the scene at the time.
She was shocked and surprised that Yang Jian was working as a security guard in this residential area. His purpose was undoubtedly to find Lu Yao.
Fortunately, Lu Yao had been away on a business trip during this period. Otherwise, she would have encountered him long ago.
But now that Yang Jian was in the newspaper, and Lu Yao was returning tomorrow, this matter could not be kept from her. Once she knew Yang Jian was looking for her, this girl would be determined to go back with him.
This situation could not be allowed to happen. Lu Yao could not marry Yang Jian, a hooligan with a criminal record.
"Zheng Zheng, Grandma is going to make a call, don't run around."
Chen Lan decided to do something; she couldn't wait for Yang Jian to come looking for her.
Yang Zhengyuan was stacking building blocks. "Grandma, are you calling Mom?"
"No, Mom is coming back tomorrow and will bring you delicious food. Grandma is calling Uncle Fang. Do you like Uncle Fang?"
"No."
"Why? Doesn't he often buy you toys and good food?"
"Because Mom hates him, so I don't like him either."
Yang Zhengyuan's reason was simple: he didn't like what his mother didn't like.
Chen Lan glared at her grandson and then dialed Fang Yu's number.
"Auntie, how are you? I was planning to visit you tomorrow."
"Xiao Fang, thank you. I'm fine. Did you hear about what happened in our neighborhood yesterday?"
"You mean the incident where they set up a mourning hall for a dead dog? I heard about it. It's in the papers today. I guess the whole city of Kyoto knows about it. What's wrong, Auntie? Does this have anything to do with you?"
"It does, and it has something to do with you too."
"Auntie, don't joke. How could it have anything to do with me?"
Fang Yu's laughter came through the phone.
Chen Lan said very seriously, "Xiao Fang, do you know who the security guard Yang Jian reported in the newspaper is? He's Yao Yao's ex-boyfriend. He came to the neighborhood to be a security guard just to find Yao Yao."
"That's impossible, Auntie. Are you sure?"
"I'm sure. I saw him yesterday, and I think he saw me too."
"Auntie, what should we do? When is Yao Yao coming back?"
"Yao Yao is coming back tomorrow. The incident in the neighborhood has caused too much of a stir, and she's bound to find out. We need to get rid of Yang Jian or make him give up before Yao Yao returns."
"Auntie, leave this to me. Do you know where he is now?"
"I'll go ask at the property management office. He should be in the hospital; he was injured yesterday."
"Okay, I'll come out now. Send me the address once you get it."
Fang Yu was confident that dealing with a security guard wouldn't be difficult.
Chaoyang Hospital, Ward 306.
Yang Jian was lying on the bed, receiving an IV drip. He had been beaten severely by Zhang Heng yesterday. Not only had his wound reopened and enlarged, making it impossible to stitch, but his lungs were also injured.
Tang Huiling entered with breakfast and a newspaper.
"Brother Jian, what happened yesterday is in the papers. Do you want to see it?"
"No, I don't. I only care about what's happening to that director and Xu Jiao's group now. Have they been arrested?"
Yang Jian felt a piercing pain when he tried to move his back.
Tang Huiling put down the newspaper, placed a cup of hot milk and a basket of steamed buns on the bedside table. "Brother Jian, don't worry. The director was taken to the branch bureau for investigation yesterday. Xu Jiao was at the police station at the time and was also detained on the spot. The police will definitely give you justice."
"This director is truly arrogant. I warned him, and he still dared to use the tactic of torture. He must have done this more than once."
"He's kicked a steel plate this time. Brother Jian, your Brother Hao has immense influence. He managed to get the deputy director of the municipal bureau to the scene so quickly. Who exactly are you? I don't think you're a real security guard."
Tang Huiling was very suspicious of Yang Jian's identity. Not only was he skilled, but his connections were also terrifying. The deputy director of the Kyoto Police Bureau was at the deputy-departmental level. The fact that he could lower himself to personally go to a grassroots police station to bail out a security guard was itself suspicious.
"I am a security guard. I've been working at Tianhe Community for over a month."
"Alright, if you don't say it, I won't ask. Eat something. Is it convenient? Or should I feed you?"
As Tang Huiling spoke, she picked up a steamed bun with chopsticks and brought it to Yang Jian's mouth.
Before Yang Jian could refuse or open his mouth, he heard a "click" of a camera from the doorway.
Tang Huiling turned around and saw a man in his late twenties, wearing glasses and looking refined, holding a recently released smartphone and taking pictures of them.
"Hey, who are you? Why are you taking pictures of us? Delete them quickly, or I'll call the police."
"I'm here to see Yang Jian. Don't worry, I have no ill intentions. I just want to talk to him about Lu Yao. I believe he won't refuse."
Fang Yu put away his phone and walked to the bedside, smiling at Yang Jian.
Tang Huiling looked at Yang Jian. "Brother Jian, do you know him? Should I ask him to leave?"
The other person mentioned Lu Yao's name. To Yang Jian's surprise, he lifted his head with great effort. "Since you're here to see me, please go out for a while. I'll talk to him."
Tang Huiling went out somewhat reluctantly. Being photographed for no reason annoyed her.
"Sit down. It's tiring for me to look up at you. Who are you? Do you know Lu Yao?"
Yang Jian propped his head up with a pillow so he could observe the other person's expression.
"My name is Fang Yu, and I am Lu Yao's boyfriend. What happened yesterday had a big impact. Lu Yao just found out you came to Kyoto and are working as a security guard at Tianhe Community. You must be here to find her, right?"
Fang Yu didn't stand on ceremony and sat directly on the stool Tang Huiling had just vacated, stating his identity.
Yang Jian was very surprised. "You're Lu Yao's boyfriend? Where is she? Why isn't she here to see me?"
"She doesn't want to see you. The reason she quit her job in her hometown and came to Kyoto was to avoid you. You two are not from the same world. She graduated from university and is now a translator for a multinational trading company, earning three hundred thousand yuan a year.
As for you, you're just a migrant worker from the countryside, earning less than thirty thousand a year. Where did you get the courage to travel all the way to Kyoto to find her? Are you trying to live off her or just ask her for some money?"
Chen Lan had apparently not told Fang Yu about Yang Jian's background, only giving him the hospital address she had inquired about from Manager Su of the property management company. Fang Yu then naturally assumed Yang Jian was a real security guard.
Yang Jian heard the flaw in this statement. If he were truly Lu Yao's boyfriend and Lu Yao had asked him to see her, then the other party would definitely know his background and capabilities. Lu Yao knew that the Sharp Sword Company had developed very well when she left. No matter how poorly he was doing, he wouldn't actually be working as a security guard.
This Fang Yu was probably one of Lu Yao's suitors, and with the support of Chen Lan or Lu Wan, he was here today to dissuade Yang Jian. Lu Yao was likely unaware of this.