Chapter 126: Suddenly Appearing

“What are you going back to school for at a time like this?”

Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan exchanged a glance, both grinning as they said they could not tell him.

“You’ll find out when we get there, Brother Fan.”

Zhao Fan found it strange, but did not dwell on it. They were merely returning to school; at worst, they were probably getting together with some classmates.

At the school gate, Zhao Fan parked his car and followed Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan inside.

To his surprise, the two did not head toward their classroom. Instead, they turned and ran straight for the sports field.

“Come on, Brother Fan.”

Zhao Fan was speechless.

Those two were being so mysterious. What exactly were they up to?

His suspicions deepening, Zhao Fan followed them with some resignation.

A group of people had gathered on the sports field. When they saw the three of them, they all greeted them with broad smiles.

“There you are! You’re the last ones to arrive.”

Chen Tianyu pushed Zhao Fan forward. “Hurry up, hurry up. Have a chat with them.”

Zhao Fan frowned slightly. He did not know any of the people on the field. Judging by their clothes, they seemed to be outsiders. Although the school was on holiday, some classes were still being held there.

How had this group gotten into the school?

Suppressing his doubts, Zhao Fan said, “Hello, I’m Zhao Fan.”

As he spoke, he extended his hand.

The next moment, the other man slapped it away.

“What a cultured fellow. You say hello and then expect a handshake too? Forget it—we don’t bother with all that. I’m Wan Daping, and I’m here to discuss something with you.”

“What is it?”

“That plot of land in the west—the one where they say some shopping center is going to be built. It belongs to you, doesn’t it?”

A flicker passed through Zhao Fan’s eyes. So they had come because of the land for the shopping center?

He nodded calmly. “That’s right. It’s mine.”

“Are you planning to buy the land surrounding it?”

Zhao Fan fell silent.

At that moment, he felt that someone had leaked his plans.

But soon, he sensed that something was wrong. He had never seen this Wan Daping before.

After a moment’s thought, Zhao Fan did not answer immediately.

Unable to hold back, Wan Daping asked again, “Are you planning to buy the surrounding land?”

Zhao Fan replied cautiously, “I’ve given it some thought.”

Wan Daping had been introduced to him through Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan, so he probably meant no harm. It should be safe to reveal a little.

Besides, if he was not mistaken, Wan Daping seemed extremely anxious.

“Have you merely considered it, or are you seriously planning to buy it?”

“What difference does that make?”

“If you’ve only considered it, then there’s no point in negotiating with you. But if you’re serious about buying, I can offer you a fair price—one with a considerable discount.”

Wan Daping’s words stunned Zhao Fan. Several minutes later, his expression had grown solemn.

“You have the authority to make that decision?”

“Of course I do. That land belongs to my family.”

Half an hour later, Zhao Fan and Wan Daping arrived in the west, at the site where the shopping center was supposed to be built.

Or rather, it was now going to be a commercial complex.

Curious, Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan had followed them as well.

Wan Daping pointed around them. “Everything from here to over there belongs to the Wan family. You needn’t doubt me. I heard that your company was planning to build here, so I wanted to meet you and discuss the price.”

Zhao Fan pondered this. “If I remember correctly, the land here was already scheduled to go through the auction process.”

If the land truly belonged to the Wan family, why had it entered the auction process? And why were they seeking him out privately?

Wan Daping gave a derisive laugh. “You’re probably wondering why I came to you when the land has already been put up for auction, aren’t you? I’ll be honest with you—the auction won’t fetch a high price.”

He put particular emphasis on the words “high price,” and his expression turned ugly.

“This is a large plot of land. Even if the current auction price isn’t especially high, it shouldn’t be too far below market value.”

Wan Daping shook his head. “That won’t help. The people interested in this land are the Du family of the capital.”

The Du family of the capital?

Du Xinyan!

Those three words suddenly surfaced in Zhao Fan’s mind. His gaze fixed on Wan Daping’s face.

“Who told you about me?”

Wan Daping’s revelation that Zhao Fan intended to buy the land had already aroused his suspicions. Now that the Du family of the capital had been mentioned as well, he knew that someone was behind all this.

Wan Daping hesitated. “I think it would be better if you didn’t know.”

“You want me to buy the land, but you don’t want me to know who is behind it? I’m sorry, but if you truly intend to conceal that person’s identity, then I can only proceed through the normal auction process.”

“You won’t be able to beat the Du family.” Wan Daping’s tone was certain.

Zhao Fan sneered. “If I lose to them at auction, that only means I have less money. But if I acquire the land privately, won’t I become a thorn in the Du family’s side?”

Wan Daping feared the Du family, yet still wanted to sell the land for a high price. What a predicament.

Zhao Fan glanced at Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan, then snorted coldly. “Whoever gave you this advice certainly knows me well. Unfortunately, I’ve still decided to proceed through the normal auction process.”

“Wait.”

Before Wan Daping could say anything more, several people suddenly emerged from the side. At their head was none other than Jiang Ying.

Zhao Fan was speechless.

He looked at Wan Daping, then at Jiang Ying, and could not help rolling his eyes.

“How did I not know that you, Jiang Ying, were capable of finding out about my company’s plans?”

Jiang Ying laughed heartily, showing no sign of embarrassment. He said casually, “It was a coincidence. Yesterday, I went to your company and happened to overhear something about purchasing a commercial complex. As it happened, I knew Wan Daping, and his family happened to own the land here. Then they happened to run into some trouble…”

Jiang Ying went on at length before finally concluding, “It was all just a coincidence. Do you believe me?”

Zhao Fan coldly replied, “No.”

What a joke.

No matter how coincidental something was, it could never be this coincidental.

Zhao Fan had never investigated Jiang Ying, but for Du Xinyan, a woman from the capital, to pursue him so relentlessly, Jiang Ying’s family background could hardly be ordinary.

“Ah, it really was a coincidence. Of course, there was also a little bit of personal motive involved.” As he spoke, Jiang Ying held up his thumb and forefinger, leaving barely any space between them. “Just a tiny bit.”

“You and Du Xinyan don’t get along. There’s no need to drag me into it. That woman may be out of her mind, but you’re a man—why quibble with her? You’re being petty.”

Petty.

Jiang Ying was stunned. “Wait. What exactly do you mean by that? I—”

“I’m not getting involved in your affairs.”

Zhao Fan turned to leave, calling for Chen Tianyu and Duan Gaoxuan to follow.

“You don’t want the land even if I sell it to you for fifty million?”

Zhao Fan stopped in his tracks.

Fifty million for the surrounding land? That was unquestionably worth it.

The small parcel the Bai family had given him was already worth that much, while the area Wan Daping was referring to was several times larger.

But…

Zhao Fan thought of Du Xinyan’s origins, then of the reputation of the Du family in the capital, and his brows drew together.

He was not afraid of confronting an established family. But if he had no room to fight back once the conflict began, that would be nothing less than walking straight into his own grave—a dead end from which there would be no turning back.

Jiang Ying sighed. “Fifty million is already the lowest price. Of course, if you still refuse to pay, then…”

“I’ll use the land as my investment in your company.”

Wan Daping cut him off, his words ringing with authority.

Zhao Fan fell silent. Wan Daping wanted to invest such a vast tract of land in his company.

“All right.”