Chapter 17 – Protecting His Own

Over the course of half an hour, Xiao Fang and Old Master Fei chatted so congenially that they almost became a real grandfather-grandson pair.

To Old Master Fei, Xiao Fang was more sensible than he had imagined. He wasn’t clingy and knew what he should and shouldn’t do. He also wasn’t timid and fearful like the other younger family members, who would only tuck their tails between their legs and scheme behind people’s backs. He despised that kind of person the most in his life. Xiao Fang, on the other hand, said what was on his mind and acted openly and honorably in front of others, making everyone feel comfortable.

As for Xiao Fang, being someone with a God’s-eye view, he had always known what Old Master Fei wanted. After a lifetime of being iron-willed, he now yearned for familial affection, but no one dared to or would give it to him anymore. Needless to say, the few downstairs certainly wouldn’t. And Fei Xiangnan, having grown up in that environment, couldn’t be expected to trust anyone.

After all was said and done, that left only Xiao Fang, the flatterer. It had to be said that he had gotten lucky thanks to the Fei family.

“Old Master, dinner has been arranged,” the butler announced respectfully from outside the door.

“Good. Xiao Fang, let’s go, let’s go. Don’t go hungry,” Old Master Fei stood up, and Xiao Fang immediately scurried over with the cane to support him.

Old Master Fei once again gave Xiao Fang an appreciative look, while Fei Xiangnan watched him from the side with a complex expression.

Xiao Fang’s combat power was even stronger than he had imagined.

Over at the dining table, Zhang Yuliu and Liu Qian were already standing by, just waiting for the family head to start eating. Next to them stood an unfamiliar girl with a neat short haircut, a heroic face, and an aura that was completely out of place in this family.

But when they saw Xiao Fang supporting Old Master Fei’s arm as they came downstairs, their jaws nearly hit the floor. Not just anyone could support Old Master Fei’s arm.

“Dad, let me help you,” Zhang Yuliu said, a complex expression on her face. She had just reached out her hand when Old Master Fei subtly avoided it, leaving her looking embarrassed.

“Let’s eat. Xiao Fang, eat more,” Old Master Fei said as he sat at the head of the table, pulling Xiao Fang to sit next to him. The seat on the other side was for Fei Xiangnan.

From this, it was clear how high Xiao Fang’s status was. The two women’s faces became even more embarrassed. There was no way to hide the fact that they had humiliated him downstairs earlier today.

“Mr. Xiao Fang is truly a promising young man. My daughter is still training at university at this age, yet you can already negotiate business deals on your own. Truly, the younger generation is to be feared,” Liu Qian struck first, offering praise to avoid being criticized too harshly by Old Master Fei later.

“Hmm? Who said Xiao Fang is here to talk business?” Old Master Fei’s gaze swept over the people at the table. One was composed, two were astonished, and the other girl continued to eat as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

“Dad, this… Mr. Xiao was just downstairs…” Zhang Yuliu tried to salvage the situation.

“I didn’t say that. Did Auntie mishear? The servants downstairs can testify,” Xiao Fang blinked innocently. He really hadn’t said it. Who said that smiling was an admission? What a fallacy!

Zhang Yuliu and Liu Qian’s faces immediately darkened.

Old Master Fei looked at their expressions and instantly knew what had happened. These two daughters-in-law of his were good for nothing but stirring up trouble.

“Nonsense! I’ve never seen you two do a single good thing. This is Xiangnan’s spouse. They’re already legally married. In the future, don’t make wild guesses. He’s pregnant now, so you all better be careful. This is the first great-grandchild of the Fei family!”

At Old Master Fei’s words, the atmosphere at the dining table instantly froze. The few of them had been harboring their own ulterior motives for so many years, but they never expected this outcome. And he was a Third Gender. Third Genders were so rare in the country; how did they happen to meet one today?

“Pregnant? Why didn’t we hear about Xiangnan getting married before? And now there’s a child all of a sudden?” Zhang Yuliu forced a smile.

“When you married my little uncle, didn’t the family also not know?” Fei Xiangnan said, elegantly cutting his steak. The words that came out of his mouth, however, were enough to infuriate anyone.

Zhang Yuliu’s face turned extremely pale. Back then, Old Master Fei didn’t like her, and it was only because he couldn’t dissuade Fei Tao, who was threatening to die, that he agreed to let her into the family. Even now, she knew in her heart that Old Master Fei had never really accepted her.

Xiao Fang, eating his expensive steak, almost burst out laughing. As expected of his Boss Fei, his words were so sharp.

“There are only three Third Genders in this city, and all three are considered celebrities. One is Xiao Qi, another is the famous director Ruan Tan, and the last is the young master of the Zhang family. How come I’ve never heard the name Xiao Fang?” Liu Qian’s tone became heavy now that she knew Xiao Fang wasn’t a business partner of the Fei family. When facing Fei Xiangnan, she didn’t even need to be too concerned about Old Master Fei. After all, he owed her this.

Fei Xiangnan glanced at his arrogant great-aunt, slowly swallowed the food in his mouth, and then retorted, “Not all Third Genders need to be heard of by my great-aunt to exist.”

“Pfft.” Xiao Fang managed to swallow his red wine, otherwise he really would have sprayed it out.

“What’s so funny!” Liu Qian shot a venomous glare at Xiao Fang. Fei Xiangnan was hard to deal with, but crushing a mere Xiao Fang should be easy.

“He’s laughing at what I said. What does it have to do with you? If you’re eating, then eat properly. Stopping and laughing all the time can cause indigestion,” Fei Xiangnan said, not forgetting to supervise Xiao Fang’s dietary health while retorting.

“Oh, oh,” Xiao Fang nodded obediently and continued to chew his food.

“Yes, Xiangnan is right. Xiao Fang, you’re filming now, so you need to pay attention to your diet. You can’t just eat anything. At five months, you should just take a break,” Old Master Fei instructed. His principle had always been to not interfere in the family’s minor squabbles. If someone could rise above it and show him what they were made of, he would be more than happy.

“Okay, Grandpa,” Xiao Fang nodded obediently. The grandfather and grandson looked like a real family.

Zhang Yuliu and Liu Qian became even more furious watching them. This Xiao Fang was really putting on a good act in front of Old Master Fei. In front of them, he had shown all sorts of despicable behavior. It was simply unbearable!

“An actor? Xiao Fang is an actor? How come I’ve never really seen you on TV? Are you a… voice actor?” Zhang Yuliu said with a laugh. Liu Qian also started laughing upon hearing this.

Xiao Fang wasn’t embarrassed at all. Instead, he smiled good-naturedly. “My aptitude isn’t great, but luckily I’m still young and can strive for a few more years. Don’t you think so, Auntie? And you too, Great-Aunt.”

Zhang Yuliu and Liu Qian forced a smile, their anger bottled up inside.

Having said all that, Zhang Yuliu had tried to hit every sore spot, but all to no avail. She could only watch helplessly as they prepared to go home.

“Yes, yes, being young is good. But now that you’re pregnant, Xiao Fang, the risks of filming outside are just too great. Why don’t you stay at home for now? Sister-in-law and I happen to be free and can take care of you. Don’t you think so, Dad?” Zhang Yuliu’s only thought now was to keep him here. If he was here, wouldn’t tormenting him be a matter of minutes?

Old Master Fei didn’t say anything, his gaze shifting to Xiao Fang, meaning it was his decision to make.

Xiao Fang naturally shifted his gaze to Fei Xiangnan. In the end, it was all up to the boss.

Fei Xiangnan happened to meet Xiao Fang’s gaze. It was a very strange feeling. In this family, he had never put his heart into anyone. Now, he was actually putting it into this little fool.

Boss Fei, what’s your decision? Xiao Fang asked with his eyes.

Fei Xiangnan shot him a nonchalant look. Do you even need to ask?

Understood!

“I’m sorry, I can’t leave my husband!” Xiao Fang declared righteously.

“Ahem, ahem,” Old Master Fei couldn’t hold back a choke this time. It was the first time he had heard a declaration of love that sounded like it came from a gangster movie.

The old butler immediately stepped forward to help his master catch his breath.

The remaining women’s faces were all extremely grim.

Fei Xiangnan didn’t say anything, elegantly raising his red wine glass to hide the slight upward curve of his lips.

“You young people these days… forget it, forget it. This house is too rigid. You young people should live the lives you like. But the child is still the most important thing,” no matter what, the reason Old Master Fei accepted Xiao Fang was still this child. His superior Third Gender genes would only benefit this descendant, not harm him.

Xiao Fang immediately smiled and nodded. Now, those people had nothing more to say.

Fei Xiangnan didn’t stay long. He didn’t want to stay here for long either. After dinner, he took Xiao Fang and left.

“Yishan, see your brother off,” Old Master Fei said, sitting in the center of the sofa. It wasn’t a suggestion, but a command.

Fei Yishan’s face was cold. It was only after Liu Qian gave her a tug that she stood up.

“I know you all can’t stand him, but I hope you don’t forget the contributions Xiangnan has made. Otherwise, with my worthless little son and you two women, do you really think you can support such a large enterprise?”

As soon as these words were spoken, they hit the nail on the head. The faces of the people in the living room turned rather ugly.

Fei Yishan just stiffened for a moment before striding out.

“You did well today. Did they win the argument when I wasn’t around?” Fei Xiangnan asked as he opened the car door.

“No, President Fei. I would never bring shame to President Fei!” Xiao Fang smiled sycophantically.

“Fei Xiangnan!” A voice from behind called out, the tone extremely hostile, as if calling the name of an enemy.

Xiao Fang turned around. This was the first time he had heard this girl’s voice today. As he expected, it was a heroic and spirited voice.

Fei Xiangnan paused his action of getting into the car.

“Just you wait for the day I pull you down. A person like you doesn’t deserve to be the head of the Fei family. I’ve never used your money, so don’t think you’re so great for supporting this family. They may fall for that, but I won’t. You just watch yourself, and don’t let me catch your weakness!” Fei Yishan said with a determined gaze.

Fei Xiangnan’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. “Is that so? Then let me see what you’re capable of,” he said, getting back into the car.

Xiao Fang looked at this version of Fei Xiangnan, thought about how he worked through the night every day, and silently clenched his fists.

“Xiao Fang, let’s go.”

Xiao Fang walked straight over as if he hadn’t heard.

Fei Yishan looked at him in surprise, then her expression turned cold again, just like her brother’s.

“What are you doing here?”

“You graduated from a prestigious university, so you should be more rational than most people and know that you need to find evidence for everything. Did your father go to jail because President Fei paid to have him put there? Do you really think your father is an innocent man? If you still think so, I think you should go back and review your compulsory education. Let a teacher teach you what’s right and wrong!”

When Xiao Fang said this, there wasn’t a trace of his usual slackness. He was speaking from the heart. Why could some people casually spew their hatred, while others had to bear all sorts of accusations? Xiao Fang suddenly felt that Fei Xiangnan was sometimes a real idiot.

“What did you say!” Fei Yishan grabbed Xiao Fang by the collar, giving the illusion of lifting a small chick. Only then did Xiao Fang realize that Fei Yishan didn’t seem to be much shorter than him.

“I said, you can’t distinguish between black and white! You just randomly define others!” For the first time, Xiao Fang glared back without being cowardly.

Fei Yishan’s gaze grew fiercer, but Xiao Fang didn’t show any weakness either. The two remained in a standoff for more than ten seconds.

“If I didn’t use my brain to look for evidence, I would have stabbed him to death a long time ago. If you love him, then you’d better cover for him properly!” Fei Yishan fiercely let go of his hand, turned around, and went back into the house just as Fei Xiangnan was getting out of the car.

Fei Xiangnan walked over to pull Xiao Fang back, only to find that he hadn’t moved. He turned to see that his eyes were red.

“My cousin’s grades at the military academy were number one every year. Why did you provoke her when you’re afraid?” Fei Xiangnan gently pressed down the small tuft of hair sticking up on Xiao Fang’s head.

“Because what she said was too much. Doesn’t the whole family rely on your operations to eat? Why does everyone have this attitude, and even want to catch your weakness? And you work so hard every day,” Xiao Fang felt that this villain was too pitiful.

Seeing him like this, it would be a lie to say Fei Xiangnan wasn’t moved. He hummed for a moment and said, “It’s fine, I’m used to it. Let’s go home.”