Chapter Thirty-Two: Could There Be Aliens Behind Zhang Fan?

Mother Zhao’s brows furrowed even tighter, her expression filled with disdain.

"It’s just a Rolls-Royce, isn't it?" she scoffed. "As if buying one is some impossible feat! My Zhu family even holds shares in the Rolls-Royce company."

Xiao Li, feeling somewhat helpless, had to patiently explain, mindful of the woman’s status. "This is no ordinary Rolls-Royce. There are only four of these in the entire world. Its full name is the 'Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail.' Its original retail price was over thirty million USD, and this year, it has surged to forty million."

"Converted into local currency, and including all taxes, it would cost over three hundred million to purchase."

Mother Zhao’s heart skipped a beat. How was this possible? Her shock didn't stem from the three-hundred-million price tag, nor the fact that only four existed. It was that she had personally utilized the Zhu family’s intelligence network to dig into every detail of Zhang Fan’s ancestry. She knew exactly what his great-grandfather did for a living; she knew more about his personal history and his parents’ background than Zhang Fan himself did. Yet, she had never uncovered any information suggesting he possessed savings exceeding a hundred million.

How could this be? Mother Zhao felt a genuine chill, her neck shrinking back in alarm. The intelligence networks at the Zhu family’s disposal were immense. They could mobilize resources even within the American FBI, let alone within China. They could strip bare the secrets of the other four great families. Yet, Zhang Fan had hidden information that they couldn't uncover?

Mother Zhao’s mind raced, and she drew a sharp breath. If he was someone even the Zhu family couldn't investigate, just how terrifying was he? Did there exist in this world a force even older and more secretive than the five great families?

Xiao Li’s voice interrupted her thoughts. "Madam, what should we do now? Should we still move against him?"

Mother Zhao hesitated, then said, "Follow him and see."

"Understood!"

The five of them sat in the same car, trailing Zhang Fan’s Rolls-Royce La Rose Noire Droptail. Zhang Fan remained unaware of the car following him. The group soon watched as Zhang Fan purchased two villas on Qingxi Road. Each villa there started at a minimum of three hundred million. He had bought two outright! Furthermore, she still couldn't trace the source of his payment.

After watching Zhang Fan leave, Mother Zhao dared not follow any further. Instead, she ordered her subordinates to use every resource available to investigate him, emphasizing the need to uncover his payment channels.

Within minutes, Xiao Li returned with a laptop. "Madam, I’ve found the payment method. It was a wire transfer via online banking. Normally, online banking wouldn't support such a large transaction, but one of his bank cards suddenly received a deposit of one billion. The bank president personally called him to ask if he needed assistance with the payment, which is how the transaction was completed."

Mother Zhao felt deeply uneasy. "Did you find out who sent him the money?"

Xiao Li shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, Madam. Even with the Zhu family's intelligence capabilities, we cannot find out."

Mother Zhao was plunged into total shock. "This is impossible! If the Zhu family wants to, we can even access the payment records of the American President. Why can’t we find Zhang Fan’s remittance records? Could his background be so powerful that it even overshadows the Zhu family?"

She found this utterly unacceptable. In her view, the Zhu family and the other four great families were the most powerful entities in the world—there was nothing greater! She could barely fathom what kind of organization or power could keep things hidden from the Zhu family. After a long period of contemplation, she gritted her teeth.

"Don't touch Zhang Fan for now. Let's head back and figure out what is really going on. Let's go!"

...

Zhang Fan had no idea that his withdrawal of funds from the system had scared Mother Zhao half to death. He had spent exactly one billion today, no more, no less. One villa was intended as a dowry for Qingyun when she grew up, and he would use the other one for now. He hired a moving company, and within a few hours, everything from his old home was moved to the villa.

After a busy day, it was time to pick up his daughter. Zhu Qing’an arrived as promised, but this time, she looked at Zhang Fan with a hint of surprise.

"Xiao An, why are you looking at me like that?" Zhang Fan touched his face, wondering if there was something on it.

Zhu Qing’an’s expression was one of confusion and bewilderment, but she shook her head. "No, it's nothing."

Her mother had returned at noon and recounted the entire story. After hearing it, not just Zhu Qing’an and Zhu Changshan, but every member of the Zhu family present had been shocked. After all, the five great families controlled the global economy and were practically the rule-makers of the financial game. They couldn't hide information from one another. Yet, the forces behind Zhang Fan had managed to disguise him as an ordinary person. How could this be? Was it possible that even the Zhu family couldn't uncover more? Even her mother, who always admired strength, had become a fan of Zhang Fan after meeting him, claiming the forces behind him were terrifying and even speculating whether he had extraterrestrial backing. She no longer opposed their marriage.

Zhu Qing’an’s feelings for Zhang Fan were now mixed with a great deal of curiosity alongside her love.

School was soon out. As a crowd of students walked out of the gates, both boys and girls were stunned.

"Zhang Qingyun, is that your mother?"
"Wow! She’s so beautiful!"
"Your father is very handsome too, they look like such a perfect couple!"

The children were innocent and spoke their minds. This made Zhang Qingyun beam with pride, her chest puffed out.

The adults, however, were not so innocent. Especially Teacher Li. She stared blankly at Zhu Qing’an, completely dumbfounded. When did Mr. Zhang find such a beautiful woman? Good heavens! Standing in front of her, she felt so inferior. Although her own looks were considered quite striking among her peers, and although the other woman was slightly older, in terms of skin, temperament, beauty, and even every gesture, she was far outclassed by the great beauty before her.

Even the male teachers, young and old, were too shy to look at her. She looked as if she had walked right out of a painting, without a single flaw. A sense of inferiority washed over Teacher Li, making her want to cry. Why? She had finally met a man who moved her, only for another woman to snatch him away so quickly. And this woman was someone she didn't even have the heart to be jealous of—she simply wasn't in the same league.

Teacher Li’s heart felt like it was being sliced by a knife. As Zhang Fan prepared to leave with them, Teacher Li regained her composure and hurriedly grabbed Zhang Fan’s hand.

As a woman, Zhu Qing’an sensed the scent of a romantic rival almost instantly. She frowned but didn't intervene. She would leave it to her brother to decide! She wasn't married to him yet; what right did she have to stop him from interacting with other women?

Teacher Li hurriedly offered a somewhat reasonable excuse. "Mr. Zhang, there is something regarding your daughter that I need to discuss with you privately. There are too many people here; let’s go back to the office."

Zhang Fan didn't understand. "Is there anything that can't be said here?"

"Oh, it’s a very private matter concerning your daughter. I wouldn't joke about this."

Seeing how serious she was, Zhang Fan grew concerned. He glanced at Zhang Qingyun and followed Teacher Li into the office, his expression turning grave. "What’s wrong with my daughter? Tell me."

Suddenly, Teacher Li’s eyes turned red. She lunged forward, grabbed Zhang Fan, and kissed his lips forcefully. She acted like a woman gone mad, begging in a tone that had lost all reason.

"Brother, will you be mine? Please! Seeing you with her makes my heart feel like it’s being crushed. I know I can't compare to her—at first glance, it's clear we aren't from the same world. But I really want you, just once! Please? Just this once!"

Teacher Li clung to Zhang Fan like a cat in heat, pressing herself against him, her words bordering on insanity.