Chapter 82 – The Fei Family
Xiao Fang followed Fei Xiangnan outside and waited for less than two minutes before three luxury cars drove into the Fei Family Old Residence one after another. A silver Porsche led the way.
“Don’t be nervous. Just be yourself,” Fei Xiangnan whispered into Xiao Fang’s ear. Standing so close together gave Xiao Fang a profound sense of security.
The Porsche came to a steady stop in front of Fei Xiangnan. The door opened, and out stepped a woman in a gray overcoat. She moved with a brisk energy despite her ten-centimeter heels. She looked to be around thirty, exuding a sharp competence. Her chestnut-colored, wavy hair had a very international flair, and she wore a well-designed black dress underneath. Her queenly aura was on full display, rivaling that of any celebrity and even surpassing them in terms of charisma.
The woman’s face broke into a happy smile as soon as she got out of the car. She walked straight up and hugged Fei Xiangnan, who was standing nearby. “My dear nephew, it’s been a while. You’ve grown so much. Let your aunt give you a good hug.”
After three seconds, Fei Xiangnan unceremoniously pushed his aunt away, bluntly puncturing her pretense. “We had a video conference just a few days ago. This kind of reunion is too cliché.”
With anyone other than Xiao Fang, even his aunt, Fei Xiangnan’s words were never polite. He showed his disdain when he felt it.
Xiao Fang, holding Da Bao, watched the beautiful aunt with sparkling eyes. After her playful banter with Fei Xiangnan was over, Xiao Fang stepped forward and greeted her politely, “Hello, Auntie. You look so beautiful today.”
Fei Xiangnan’s aunt, Fei Jin, was also very enthusiastic and gave Xiao Fang a hug. She was about to give him a welcoming kiss when Fei Xiangnan pulled her back. She had to settle for standing and talking to Xiao Fang, not forgetting to grumble a complaint.
“This is what your country calls an overprotective husband, right, Little Fangfang?” Fei Jin said with a look of mock disdain.
Fei Xiangnan let out a cold, noncommittal snort, while Xiao Fang just smiled a little sheepishly, his eyes curving into crescent moons. The sight suddenly made Fei Jin think of a rabbit. Where on earth did her nephew find such a soft and cute little thing?
“Little Fangfang, you’re so sweet. I haven’t given you a red envelope for your marriage registration yet. Here, a red envelope for my new nephew’s spouse. Take it!” Fei Jin graciously pulled out a small, exquisite red envelope and handed it to Xiao Fang.
Of course, Xiao Fang had no reason to refuse. He took it with one hand, quickly stashed it in his pocket, and said sweetly, “Thank you, Auntie. You’re the best!” This was so much better than the one sitting inside. It seemed the Fei family had fairies as well as monsters. Hehe.
Seeing Xiao Fang’s money-grubbing look, Fei Xiangnan found him even more endearing. Even his love for money was so cute!
Fei Jin shot a glance at her nephew’s proud expression. It seemed he really did like the person beside him. Even if he was a little rabbit, he was far better than that arctic fox—arrogant, overconfident, and utterly brainless.
After chatting with the adults, Fei Jin turned her attention to the star of today’s Full Moon Banquet.
“Let Auntie have a look at my little grandnephew. To be able to hold this little baby, I practiced for a long time at home and even passed Renee’s test.” Renee was her same-sex partner. Faced with this warm and rational woman, Xiao Fang instinctively felt at ease and carefully placed Da Bao into Fei Jin’s arms.
Da Bao didn’t cry despite leaving his father’s embrace. Facing a beautiful stranger, he first stared at her with his big eyes for a moment and then started giggling. No one could resist a smiling baby, especially not women. Fei Jin was instantly charmed.
“Oh my god, this little baby is so well-behaved. His nose is like Nannan’s, and his eyes are quite like Little Fangfang’s. He’s so cute,” Fei Jin exclaimed sincerely.
“If you like him so much, hurry up and adopt one. Don’t always give Great-Granduncle a reason to lecture you,” Fei Xiangnan said to his aunt, who was a few years his senior, in the same old preachy tone.
Liking him was one thing, but Fei Jin still had her own ideas. “No, no. Before I’m forty, I’m still a free woman. I’ll wait until Renee and I have had our fill of fun.” She didn’t want a little baby interrupting the blissful time she and Renee had together. With Renee’s personality, she would definitely be pushed to second place.
Just as the three of them and the baby were about to go inside, two more cars drove into the old residence. In front was a flashy Rolls-Royce, followed by a relatively understated Lincoln.
President Fei had said that the other two family heads of the Fei family wouldn’t be coming due to the long distance. As an elder, Fei Jin’s presence was enough. The third branch hadn’t sent anyone at all, so the only ones left to arrive were the descendants of Fei Zhao and Fei Shen.
The Rolls-Royce parked to the side, and a man with ordinary features stepped out. His brow was furrowed with an unyielding harshness. He wore thick glasses, and when he looked at people, there was no trace of a smile.
The man walked over and politely greeted his aunt first. Fei Jin seemed to have no strong feelings for this nephew and gave a flat “Mm.” The man didn’t find it strange and proceeded to greet the others.
“Cousin, this must be your spouse. Congratulations on the birth of your son.” His words were blandly courteous, and he didn’t even bother to inject any emotion into them. From start to finish, he seemed to be merely completing a task.
Fei Xiangnan nodded, accustomed to it. “Cousin,” he said.
Xiao Fang was stunned for a moment before quickly echoing, “Cousin.” The man’s expression showed no change in emotion.
Based on his age and behavior, Xiao Fang guessed the man’s identity. It was likely Fei Zhao’s son, Fei Hezhi. He had heard that Fei Hezhi’s abilities were mediocre, but his ambition was immense.
Following that, someone emerged from the Lincoln behind them, though his entrance was a bit unusual. He was in a wheelchair, pushed by a bodyguard. When Xiao Fang finally got a clear look at the man’s face, he silently gasped.
What kind of otherworldly person was this? He was breathtakingly handsome. One could only say that the Fei family’s genes were too powerful; each descendant was more good-looking than the last. If President Fei’s looks were an eighty-five, the man before him was nearly a perfect score. If he were in the entertainment industry, he wouldn’t have to worry about becoming famous; he could reach the pinnacle of life on his face alone.
He was as cool and refined as jade. Even sitting in a wheelchair couldn’t hide his grace. His complexion was rather pale, somewhat resembling the popular “sickly beauty” trope of the day. The simplest suit looked completely different on him, exuding a unique charm. Every movement of his hands and every gesture could form a painting. It wouldn’t be strange to say he was a god descended to the mortal realm.
“Th-th-this is…” Xiao Fang stammered. He was just too damn handsome!
The wheelchair was slowly pushed forward, finally stopping in front of everyone. He first greeted the highest-ranking elder present, his aunt, his voice as gentle and smooth as his appearance. “Aunt, it’s been a long time. Have you been well?”
Faced with such a handsome person, everyone subconsciously let down their guard. Looking at her devilishly handsome young nephew, Fei Jin couldn’t bring herself to say a single harsh word. “I’m doing well, very well.”
Fei Heyu nodded, a hint of a smile in his eyes. Before his lips even moved, he naturally exuded an air of amiability.
“Cousin, cousin, and new cousin-in-law, hello.” Fei Heyu’s posture was perfectly straight. Even though he was a head lower than everyone else, he couldn’t be looked down upon. His simple greeting was more memorable than others’ fawning words, carrying the natural aura of a person in power.
Faced with such beauty, Xiao Fang’s brain simply shut down. He nodded like an idiot, repeatedly saying, “Hello, hello, hello.” Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his waist. Beside him, Fei Xiangnan’s expression remained unchanged, but a certain patch of Xiao Fang’s own stomach was aching. Xiao Fang silently wiped away his drool and composed himself.
Now that the greetings were over, it was getting a bit cold outside, so they ushered the family inside.
The originally bustling hall seemed to hit the mute button the moment this group of handsome individuals entered. Everyone turned to look. Even the least attractive of them, Fei Hezhi, could crush everyone in the hall with his aura alone. The Fei family members who had been schmoozing with guests all walked over, led by Old Master Fei.
“Heyu, I told you that you didn’t have to come. You’ve only been resting for a few days.” The first person Old Master Fei showed concern for was the little grandson his eldest brother doted on. He had been frail and sickly since childhood, yet his abilities were extraordinary. The number of matters, big and small, that he handled alone surpassed that of many veterans. And he was blessed by the heavens with a handsome face.
“Grandpa, it’s my cousin’s son’s first month celebration. It’s a big event. My brother has a major case to handle recently, so it’s only natural for me, the one idling at home, to come and offer my congratulations. This is a gift from our family, just a small present for my little nephew,” Fei Heyu said, raising his well-defined wrist. A thin, milky-white scar with a faint pinkish hue was visible on it.
A bodyguard who wasn’t pushing the wheelchair immediately handed over a beautifully wrapped gift box.
Old Master Fei accepted it with a smile and immediately had a bodyguard push him to a sofa on the side to rest. Next came greetings from the other Fei family members. When they announced their names one by one, gasps could be heard from the surrounding crowd. It was for no other reason than that these names were too famous abroad. Compared to Fei Heyu, who was in the Shadow Department, Fei Jin and Fei Hezhi were easier to curry favor with. After Old Master Fei finished his greetings, a crowd of people swarmed them.
Fei Xiangnan, having long anticipated this scene, directly ignored his aunt’s pleading expression and focused solely on Xiao Fang. “Are you tired? Take our son upstairs to rest first. By the time it’s formal dinner, it will only be the Fei family left. You can come down to eat then.”
Xiao Fang’s eyes drifted to the little beauty sitting alone in a corner of the sofa. He couldn’t bear to leave and started racking his brain for an excuse. “No need. Look, your cousin is still sitting on the sofa. It would be awkward for him to be alone. I’ll go keep him company. This banquet is almost over anyway.”
Fei Xiangnan looked at Xiao Fang questioningly. “Are you really just going to chat with him?”
Xiao Fang’s heart was pounding, but for the sake of the little beauty, he held his ground. “Yes, yes, just chatting. If he sits there all by himself, people might think our family is neglecting him.”
“Aww~” His son in his arms let out a supportive cry.
“President Fei, about that piece of land we discussed…” Before Fei Xiangnan could continue his questioning, a wealthy middle-aged man walked in with a wine glass. The timing was perfect. Xiao Fang silently gave a victory sign in his heart.
Fei Xiangnan had no choice but to give him a look that said: If you have any other ideas, we’ll try out every single bookshelf in our room!
That was truly vicious!
Xiao Fang nodded with a sincere expression on his face, then turned and walked excitedly toward the beauty, holding his child. Thinking that someone with such a frail body definitely couldn’t drink alcohol, he very nimbly brought over a glass of apple juice.
“Cousin, have some juice.” Xiao Fang held Da Bao in one arm and handed over the apple juice with the other.
Fei Heyu took it, looked at the semi-clear liquid swirling in the small highball glass, and chuckled teasingly, “Cousin, I’m an adult.”
Xiao Fang sat down beside him and shook his head earnestly. “No, that’s not what I meant. Aren’t you injured, cousin? It’s better to drink less alcohol.”
Fei Heyu chuckled inwardly. He hadn’t expected that Fei Xiangnan, whom he and his brother considered a rival, would marry such a simple-minded spouse. But this kind of straightforward child was quite refreshing to be around; there was no need to scheme and plot.
Fei Heyu elegantly took a sip of the apple juice, his pale lips pursing slightly before he set the glass down.
“Has a name been chosen for the little nephew?” Fei Heyu proactively started the conversation, his well-defined fingers elegantly interlaced on his lap.
“Yes, yes, it’s been decided. We’re just waiting for my maternal grandfather to announce it tonight,” Xiao Fang replied eagerly, holding Da Bao, completely lost in his cousin’s stunning beauty.
Fei Heyu was taken aback by his words and asked in a slightly surprised tone, “Your maternal grandfather is naming him?”
The little beauty was so handsome even when he turned his head. Xiao Fang silently swooned.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Xiao Fang answered unconsciously, completely unaware of the implications.
The Fei family was not one to be so accommodating.
Fei Heyu was even more surprised by this marriage. It seemed it wasn’t as hasty as outsiders thought. This time, Fei Xiangnan was serious. Although a thousand waves surged in Fei Heyu’s heart, his face remained as calm as still water as he chatted with Xiao Fang about everyday things.
“Being an actor must be quite difficult, with all the different engagements. I heard you won the Best Actor award this year. You’ll probably be very busy after the New Year,” Fei Heyu naturally steered the conversation to a topic Xiao Fang was familiar with.
Speaking of work, Xiao Fang, who had been idle for nearly half a year, immediately became animated. “Yeah, but it’s good to have a fulfilling life. If I stay at home all the time… I’m not the type who loves culture. I could stare at the books in Xiangnan’s study all day and not make heads or tails of them.” Xiao Fang was always honest when facing a beauty.
Fei Heyu smiled, noncommittal. “Indeed. Many truths can’t be figured out from books. When you go out and gain experience, your perspective will naturally broaden.”
The two of them chatted naturally, once again treating the other group on the sofa as if they were thin air.
Zhang Yuliu stared infatuatedly at Fei Heyu’s face. She had occasionally heard Fei Tao mention the two major overseas branches, but since she had never met them, she hadn’t paid them much mind. She assumed they were just minor branches subordinate to Old Master Fei. Still, she needed to build a good relationship to help Fei Tao’s future development.
“You must be Heyu. I’m Fei Tao’s wife. You can call me Auntie. How did you hurt your leg? Does it hurt? After such a long flight, would you like Auntie to push you to a guest room to rest?” Zhang Yuliu asked with the concerned tone of an elder.
Xiao Fang, sitting on the side, inexplicably got goosebumps.
Fei Heyu, however, maintained a perfect facade, his expression betraying no flaws, only an added sense of distance. “Thank you for your concern, Auntie. I’m fine, no need to rest.”
Three sentences, not a single wasted word, and he had rejected her.
Zhang Yuliu’s brother, Zhang Xiongca, let out a disdainful snort. In this Fei family, the only one in his father-in-law’s generation with any real power was his brother-in-law, Fei Tao. Yet someone was being so disrespectful. Just a mere branch family member, what was with the airs? Now that Fei Xiangnan was gone, it was the perfect time to pull rank as an elder and teach these two a lesson in respecting their elders.
“Sister, why are you trying so hard to curry favor here? It’s obvious that this branch family member and President Fei’s wife don’t respect you as an aunt. One won’t even let you hold the baby, and the other won’t accept your kindness. I think no one in this family takes you seriously,” Zhang Xiongca said boisterously.
Zhang Yuliu immediately picked up her brother’s cue, her eyes turning red. “Brother, what nonsense are you talking about? Xiao Fang was just trying to get the baby to sleep; he didn’t mean to not let me hold him. And, and Heyu is just really not tired.”
Xiao Fang gave Fei Heyu a helpless look. Any smart person knew what was going on, and Fei Heyu naturally understood. In this world, there were always people who loved to put on a show.
Just because he didn’t have time to deal with them when he was greeting his aunt didn’t mean Xiao Fang was afraid. He had been holding back his anger, waiting to deal with this disgusting family. Now that they had provoked him again, why would he back down?
“You can’t even discipline your own child. What gives you the right to lecture others?” Xiao Fang didn’t mince words with someone who had already torn off all pretense, retorting to Zhang Xiongca with a dark face.
The memory of this morning’s great humiliation infuriated Zhang Xiongca. “You!”
“Yi Yi, do you think what Brother said is right?” Xiao Fang raised his voice. This time, Yi Yi, who had just calmed down in his mother’s arms, immediately turned red-eyed. He was subconsciously afraid of the way Xiao Fang questioned him.
“Right, right, Brother is right! Dad, it hurts! Stop talking! If you say another word, I don’t want you as my dad anymore!” The bratty child looked like he was about to cry, leaving Zhang Xiongca speechless with anger.
Xiao Fang snorted and turned his attention to Zhang Yuliu. “Auntie, we both know what kind of relationship we have. Why are you pretending here? This trick of using someone else to do your dirty work is getting old. It’s not even as good as last time.” Xiao Fang deliberately dropped a hint.
Zhang Yuliu’s face turned grim, and she stopped talking. If she said any more, everything would be out in the open. Could she really not win against this young brat?
“Also, if you know your brother is talking nonsense, stop crying first. Settle your family matters, then you can cry all you want. Does the wife of the Fei family’s young master only know how to cry?” Xiao Fang’s words were aimed squarely at the Fei family members, and he was not being polite!
“Heh.” Fei Heyu let out a soft chuckle, its meaning ambiguous. But he didn’t even bother to continue the conversation. Xiao Fang had already counterattacked completely, so there was no need for him to waste his breath. The husband of such a foolish woman couldn’t be very smart either. Some time ago, he didn’t know how Fei Tao had gotten their contact information, but he had been trying to partner with them to get some resources. Now, for Grandpa’s sake, he would just give him the worst one. If something went wrong, he would report it. Would Old Master Fei really trust his youngest son a second time?
Zhang Yuliu’s face turned pale and then dark as she moved away from the two of them. Not three minutes later, she saw her husband approaching with a fawning expression on his face. This was a look Zhang Yuliu had never seen on her husband before. In the past, he had never been like this, not even in front of Old Master Fei.
“Heyu, it’s the New Year. Is your brother still busy?” Fei Tao asked with a smile as he sat down beside them, speaking cautiously. Although Fei Heyu’s face was the most beautiful he had ever seen, facing this man who was as ruthless as a viper, he had no heart for appreciation.
“Yes, there’s still some work. A few big projects need to be handed over.” Fei Heyu knew what Fei Tao wanted and deliberately dangled a carrot.
Hearing that the major projects were already being handed over, a trace of eagerness appeared on Fei Tao’s face. “Well, Heyu, we’re all family. That collaboration Uncle has been wanting to discuss with you, should we talk about it tonight?”
Fei Heyu picked up the apple juice again and took a sip, revealing an expression that could be called innocent. “Talking about business at my little nephew’s first month celebration would spoil the mood. Uncle should wait until Heyu returns to the country with firsthand information to discuss it slowly. I came empty-handed and can’t remember the details.”
Fei Tao’s face stiffened. When they had discussed the collaboration before, Fei Heyu hadn’t been so unyielding. Why was he like this today?
Xiao Fang, listening on the side, also got a sense of what was happening. It seemed the little beauty was only innocent on the surface. As expected of someone from the Shadow Department, his methods were so ruthless. Poor Fei Tao. He had probably put a lot of effort into this, only to have it ruined by a single sentence from his wife.
Although Zhang Yuliu was sitting a little far away, she still heard everything clearly. Seeing her husband’s fawning behavior, she knew this person was not just from a minor branch. Had she just ruined a business deal with a single sentence?
If that was really the case…
Suddenly sensing a gaze on her from a distance, Zhang Yuliu shivered and sensitively looked up. At that moment, she seemed to see a grim reaper in an angel’s guise smiling at her. A cold sweat broke out instantly.
Fei Heyu only glanced at her once before finishing the apple juice in the small glass. The taste was surprisingly good.