Chapter Twenty-One: Shifting Blame

Passing the Buck

"President Mu, you make a good point, but the loan amount is too small for me—it won’t really help," Zhao Fan replied imperturbably, swiftly steering the conversation elsewhere. "Hey, why is that area cordoned off? Are they repairing the road?"

Seeing this, Mu Tianrong shot Xu An a look before replying, "Yes, it’s for roadwork."

Xu An coughed a few times. "Mr. Zhao, about the market—"

Zhao Fan turned to him, wearing a look of sincere regret. "I’d really like to take over the market, but whether it’s to rent or to buy, I simply don’t have the means right now."

"Mr. Zhao, you wouldn’t consider purchasing it at all?"

"I would, but I’m strapped for cash."

"Wouldn’t you at least like to hear the asking price?"

A heavy silence fell over the car.

Zhao Fan sighed. "Manager Xu, you’re putting me in a difficult spot."

Mu Tianrong clicked his tongue inwardly. Xu An really couldn’t keep his composure—barely a few words exchanged, and he was already showing his hand.

Just as Xu An was about to speak again, Mu Tianrong coughed loudly.

"Ahem!"

Zhao Fan smiled slyly, "President Mu, why are you coughing? Could it be you caught a chill at the market just now? In that case, perhaps the market isn’t suitable after all…"

"Mr. Zhao, you have quite a sense of humor." Mu Tianrong cut him off with a sigh. "I know you must feel like you’re being set up, but we really have no choice. That market covers over three hundred square meters, with two stories built on it, and for more than three months, no one’s shown any interest. If this goes on, we won’t be able to keep it."

Since Xu An had already let their bottom line slip, Mu Tianrong had no choice but to lay the facts bare.

Zhao Fan zeroed in on the crux of the matter. "So, if the market stays empty any longer, it’ll be demolished?"

"That’s right."

Mu Tianrong was reluctant to admit it, but there was no denying it now.

Zhao Fan pondered. The real issue surely went deeper than Mu Tianrong claimed; these two were far too anxious. So anxious, in fact, that… perhaps the market was connected to them personally.

Connected to them? Really?

"We’re here," the driver’s voice broke Zhao Fan’s train of thought.

He smiled. "Let’s get out, then."

Mu Tianrong and Xu An exchanged glances and got out first.

Zhao Fan’s lips curled into a subtle smile as he glanced back. He was nearly certain now: the market was indeed tied to both men, and probably in a significant way. Maybe they’d even invested in it themselves.

This suspicion was confirmed by Xu An’s behavior half an hour later.

Mu Tianrong and Xu An had entirely changed their demeanor from earlier; instead of the anxiousness they’d shown at the market, they made idle small talk, not mentioning the market at all.

Observing this, Zhao Fan simply pretended nothing had happened, eating and drinking with a cheerful air.

Behind the seemingly harmonious atmosphere, all three were calculating, waiting to see who would yield first.

After the meal, Zhao Fan paid the bill and left.

Mu Tianrong and Xu An lagged behind, exchanging amused glances.

Xu An said, "After what I did at the market, he’s bound to believe us."

"Good. We stick to the plan," Mu Tianrong replied.

"Understood."

Meanwhile, Zhao Fan hailed a taxi and gave the driver the name of the school—he needed to ask someone something.

"Boss, you want me to find a finished building somewhere?"

When class let out, Zhao Fan hooked his arm around a chubby youth and steered him toward a quiet corner.

"Exactly. Preferably something over three hundred square meters. This is important, so if you have any connections, do me this favor."

The chubby boy was Chen Tianyu, Zhao Fan’s sworn brother from his previous life. Zhao Fan and Wang Ying had gotten married in that life, and as a student, Chen Tianyu had attended the wedding banquet. But after Chen Tianyu made a disparaging remark about Wang Ying’s character at the banquet, Zhao Fan had fought with him and cut off all contact.

During his recent visits back to school, Zhao Fan had been too busy to reconnect with Chen Tianyu.

Don’t be fooled by his pudgy appearance—he might look easy to bully, but his older brother ran with a small gang in a neighboring district, with twenty or so men under his command.

Chen Tianyu rubbed his double chin. "Helping out isn’t a problem, but what do you need a building for, Boss?"

"You don’t need to know that yet. Just help me find one, and I’ll explain later. Trust me, I have big plans."

"Alright, I’ll ask my brother to help. By the way, um…"

He started confidently but trailed off uncertainly. Zhao Fan raised an eyebrow and thumped him on the shoulder. "Out with it! Don’t beat around the bush—are you a man or not?"

"Hey! Don’t insult me; I, Chen Tianyu, am as manly as they come. It’s just…"

Chen Tianyu grew bashful again.

Zhao Fan rolled his eyes. "With that kind of hemming and hawing, you call yourself a man?"

"Alright, alright. I just wanted to ask about your withdrawal from school. Old He said you came back—are you really studying again?"

"Does Old He lie?"

"Of course not."

"Then there you go," Zhao Fan leaned against the wall. "I just had a change of heart and decided it was time to return to school."

Chen Tianyu asked cautiously, "And you and Wang Ying…?"

"It’s over."

"Really over?" Chen Tianyu’s voice shot up.

Smack! Zhao Fan slapped him on the head. "No reason to lie to you—it’s really over."

"But… why did you break up?"

Zhao Fan glanced at him, suddenly suspicious. Lowering his voice, he asked, "Chen Tianyu, be honest with me—do you know something about Wang Ying?"

Chen Tianyu froze, eyes darting. "If… if I do, you won't hit me, right?"

Smack! Another slap.

Zhao Fan said impatiently, "We’ve already broken up. Why would I hit you? Now, tell me—what did you find out?"

In his previous life, Chen Tianyu had told him Wang Ying was unfaithful, but Zhao Fan hadn’t believed him. In hindsight, Chen Tianyu must have seen something.

"The day after you made it official with Wang Ying, I saw her getting into a car with another man. They were all over each other…"

As expected!

Zhao Fan’s expression darkened. So it was Chen Tianyu who’d discovered Wang Ying’s true nature. The day after they became a couple, she was already using him as a cover.

"Boss, are you alright?" Chen Tianyu asked with concern.

Zhao Fan sighed, a touch of melancholy in his voice. "I’m fine."

"Really?"

"What’s with you today, repeating yourself like a broken record? Run out of things to say?"

"Not really. I’m just worried you’ll be so upset you lose your mind."

Zhao Fan was speechless.

Great—now Chen Tianyu saw him as fragile.

"Enough nonsense. Just ask around about the building for me. If this works out, I’ll treat you and your brother to a nice meal."

"Deal."

Just as they finished talking, a hand darted in from the side and grabbed Zhao Fan by the collar.

"Zhao Fan, didn’t you tell your family you were home studying? What are you doing back at school?"

Turning, Zhao Fan found himself face-to-face with He Yongshan, his body instantly tensing.

Damn, he’d been so focused on finding Chen Tianyu that he’d forgotten He Yongshan was also at school—caught red-handed.

"Well, I ran into some problems, so I came back to borrow some class notes. Yes, just to borrow notes."