MTLNOVEL Chapter 66:
Chapter 66: Drawing the Protagonist In! Offering the Heroine as Bait!:
Zheng Feifan shook his head in disbelief.
How could he have thought about this?
He had only just returned from abroad and was completely unaware of the situation back home. But as he pondered over everything, a sudden thought crossed his mind, and his eyes lit up.
“Uncle Xu has a close relationship with my father. Maybe he knows something about his connections.”
Feigning deep thought, Xu Hao responded with a serious expression.
“Your father is a remarkable man, with a sharp eye for investments. He avoids conflict as much as possible and always values peace. But if there’s ever a dispute…”
He paused for a moment, his tone shifting subtly.
“…a real feud is unlikely. However, there was something he once mentioned.”
Zheng Feifan’s curiosity was piqued. “What was it?”
“During one of our tea sessions, he casually mentioned knowing some secret about the chairman of Zhao Media. When I asked what it was, he refused to tell me, saying it was too dangerous to know.”
Xu Hao continued, shaking his head, “After he learned this secret, he quickly sold off all his Zhao Media shares. He feared that if it was exposed, it might bring trouble his way.”
“But… it’s been many years now. It might not even matter anymore.”
This was the perfect lie—mostly true but just enough falsehood to serve its purpose. Zheng Feifan’s father had indeed sold Zhao Media shares after discovering a secret. However, the secret he uncovered had nothing to do with Zhao Media’s chairman; it was about himself. Xu Hao simply twisted the details, transferring the blame to the chairman of Zhao Media.
Of course, there was no way Zheng Feifan could verify any of this. Xu Hao didn’t expect him to believe everything outright; it was simply a way to nudge him in the wrong direction. If Zheng Feifan decided to stir up trouble with Zhao Media, it would be a dog-eat-dog situation that Xu Hao would enjoy watching unfold.
And if he didn’t take action?
Well, at least it would lead him to waste time and energy investigating the wrong people. It would give Xu Hao more time to focus on his own plans and strengthen his position.
“Zhao Media?” Zheng Feifan muttered, deep in thought. He remembered hearing about the tension between Xu Hao and Zhao Media over Xu Hongjiao’s ban. With his experience in the darker corners of the world, he wasn’t about to take everything at face value. He would investigate further before making any moves.
As they walked together, the atmosphere between the two men remained friendly. When they reached the front door of the villa, Zheng Feifan couldn’t help but admire the luxurious design and layout. The home of a billionaire was truly impressive. He made a mental note to get a place like this someday.
From the study, the soft sound of piano music drifted out.
Xu Hao smiled and said, “It seems like Hongjiao and her best friend are practicing piano. Let’s not disturb them. We gentlemen should stay out of their way.”
It was clear that Xu Hao had no intention of inviting Zheng Feifan inside the villa. Instead, they strolled around the yard.
“By the way, thank you for bringing Wanling here. Her presence has lifted Hongjiao’s spirits a bit. They’re good friends, and it’s helped her feel a little better.” Xu Hao said with a sigh.
Zheng Feifan’s eyebrow furrowed slightly as he asked, “I heard that Zhao Media has banned Xu Hongjiao. Has it affected her that much?”
“More than you can imagine. Becoming a star has been her lifelong dream. She’s poured years of hard work into it.” Xu Hao replied gravely.
Zheng Feifan nodded in understanding. Anyone who had spent years pursuing a dream would be devastated to have it snatched away just as it was within reach.
“She became an overnight sensation after a breakout performance in a concert hall. Her dream finally came true… only for it to be shattered by Zhao Media’s ban.”
“Since then, she’s been locked away in her room, barely eating or sleeping. She’s lost weight and looks completely drained.”
Xu Hao spoke with such emotion, as if every word were true. Zheng Feifan couldn’t help but feel anger toward the person responsible for banning her. If the guy were standing in front of him now, he’d probably give him a good beating.
“Why didn’t you go straight to the source and confront the person behind the ban?” Zheng Feifan asked, confused.
Xu Hao said with a heavy sigh, “I tried. But he flatly refused to lift the ban. If he wants a fight, I’ll give him one. The Xu Group won’t back down. If he thinks he can use my daughter, he’ll have to go through me first.”
Zheng Feifan admired Xu Hao’s determination to fight for his daughter’s honor. After a moment of hesitation, he spoke up. “I might have a way to help.”
“What?” Xu Hao turned to him sharply, eyes full of hope.
“If I can help Hongjiao get through this, I don’t need any payment…” Zheng Feifan began, but Xu Hao quickly interrupted.
“Don’t be modest! If you can help my daughter regain her confidence, I’ll give you 10 million yuan. And if you resolve the issue in a month, I’ll reward you with 100 million yuan. You can name any other request you have, and I’ll make it happen.”
Zheng Feifan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected such a generous offer. A 100 million yuan for helping Xu Hongjiao? It was tempting, especially considering Xu Hongjiao’s beauty and elegance. If he helped her, not only would he earn a fortune, but she might also feel indebted to him.
With his heart racing, Zheng Feifan nodded. “Alright, I’ll see what I can do.”
He wasn’t helping out of kindness—he was driven by the reward. He didn’t believe that Xu Hao would go back on his promise. And if he managed to get the job done, the wealth and admiration of a beautiful woman awaited him.
Xu Hao smiled and patted Zheng Feifan on the shoulder. “Thank you, Feifan. If you need anything, just come to me. I’ll support you in any way I can.”
Zheng Feifan excused himself, casting one last glance at the study, disappointed that he hadn’t seen much of Xu Hongjiao. But no matter—he would take care of business quickly, and then he’d have all the time in the world to get closer to her.
As he left, Xu Hao watched him go, his eyes narrowing.
“I need to strengthen myself as soon as possible. Dealing with a protagonist like him is too much trouble.” Xu Hao muttered to himself.
His strategy was perfect: use someone else’s hands to kill, mislead, and manipulate. Now, all he had to do was sit back and watch as the pieces fell into place.
The thirty-six strategies for riding a horse were nearly exhausted. In the study room, a voice called out, “Come down already! What are you talking about? Didn’t I just teach you?”
“It should be like this… why are you leaning over there?”
It turned out Xiao Wanling wanted to try playing after watching Xu Hongjiao perform so beautifully. Since she didn’t know how to play herself, she naturally turned to her best friend for guidance. Her friend had taught her once, but Xiao Wanling had already forgotten. The noise she produced was ear-piercing, making Xu Hongjiao wince.
Xu Hongjiao could barely tolerate the sound and wanted to pull her best friend away from the piano. Playing for others might cost money, but playing for your best friend could cost you your sanity.
Xiao Wanling clung to the piano, unwilling to stop. “Why didn’t I learn it? Maybe you didn’t teach me properly!”
“Didn’t teach properly? I went over every note with you, didn’t I?” Xu Hongjiao chuckled.
“I’m a beginner! How can I understand all that technical stuff?” Xiao Wanling shook her head, a mischievous gleam in her eyes. “You should learn from your dad. When he teaches, he goes step by step, making sure you understand.”
Xu Hongjiao’s hands loosened at the mention of her father. The memory of Xu Hao standing behind her, guiding her hands, made her blush. Normally, she wouldn’t think twice about it, but with her best friend bringing it up, she couldn’t help feeling shy. After all, the scene did seem a bit intimate.
But then again, he was her dad, the person she was closest to.
What was wrong with that?
It was people with dirty minds who turned innocent things into something indecent—like the best friend sitting in front of her.
With this thought, Xu Hongjiao tightened her grip, determined to drag Xiao Wanling off the piano.
“Hongjiao, teach me step by step! I want to feel what it’s like!” Xiao Wanling winked playfully.
Xu Hongjiao ignored her. “If you really want to know, go ask him yourself.”
“Don’t be jealous later when I actually do ask Uncle Xu to teach me.” Xiao Wanling teased, her eyes lighting up with excitement.
“Why would I be jealous? I’m more worried your short arms won’t survive his strength.” Xu Hongjiao shot back, rolling her eyes.
As soon as she finished, Xu Hongjiao realized what she had said and quickly covered her mouth. Xiao Wanling stared at her, confused, then a realization hit her, and her eyes widened in shock.
“…?” Xiao Wanling gaped, her mind racing to some wild conclusions.
Seeing her friend’s expression, Xu Hongjiao immediately understood she had been misunderstood. She had to clear things up before her best friend jumped to the wrong ideas.
“It’s not what you think! It’s just that… my dad and stepmom—” Xu Hongjiao quickly explained.
Xiao Wanling’s relief was instant. She patted her chest and exhaled deeply. So it wasn’t what she thought after all. But then, as she calmed down, her eyes twinkled with a new kind of curiosity. Her respect for Xu Hao grew even more.
Not only could he play the piano, but he was also skilled in painting and calligraphy. He looked so youthful for his age, too.
Incredible! A 50-year-old man, braver and stronger than someone half his age! She had met Xu Hongjiao’s stepmother before—a stunning woman in her thirties, full of charm. What kind of strength could make such a mature woman completely captivated?
“When you put it that way, I want to experience it for myself even more.” Xiao Wanling joked, though the mischief in her tone was unmistakable.
Even though she was bold enough to say anything around her friends, deep down, she was still a timid girl.
In reality, when faced with any real challenge, she would be the first to back down. Xu Hongjiao knew her best friend’s personality all too well and teased her in return. “Go ahead. Let’s see how loud you can scream.”
“Hongjiao, you’ve changed! Since when did you become such a shameless woman?” Xiao Wanling exclaimed dramatically. “Let me see if you’ve really changed!”
She pounced on her friend, and the two girls began playfully wrestling with each other, laughing and fighting until they were too tired to continue.
No longer in the mood for piano, they decided to head downstairs for some water.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs, they saw Xu Hao sitting on the sofa, a tea set laid out before him, ready to brew tea.
Xu Hao smiled when he saw them. “You two came down just in time. Come try the tea I made.”
Curious, they approached and each took a teacup from the coffee table.
Xu Hongjiao drank hers in one gulp, savoring the rich and mellow flavor. “This is delicious!”
However, Xiao Wanling took her time. She had loved tea since childhood and had some expertise in tea-making. If Xu Hongjiao’s passion was the piano, then tea art was hers. She believed there was nothing more relaxing than brewing a cup of tea alone. She took a delicate sip, and her eyes widened with disbelief.
She could taste the artistry in the tea. It was like being lost in a desert, parched and desperate, only to find an oasis in that one sip. It was pure bliss.
When Xiao Wanling finally composed herself, her gaze was filled with admiration. She had studied tea-making from a young age and had always prided herself on being just as skilled as the masters. But compared to what she had just tasted, her own efforts were laughable.
Uncle Xu could brew tea too? And at such an expert level?
Xiao Wanling’s curiosity piqued, and she watched as Xu Hao prepared another pot of tea. His movements were graceful and confident, and there was something comforting in the way he brewed. His calm and refined demeanor fascinated her, making her feel an inexplicable sense of closeness.
As he poured the water over the tea leaves, the fragrant aroma filled the room, captivating everyone. The tea flowed like silk into the cups, rippling gently at the surface.
The scent, much like Xu Hao’s presence at that moment, was intoxicating and impossible to resist.