Chapter 143 Not an Accident

Chapter 143: Not an Accident

Seeing Fu Yanhua sitting inside, Fang Ran paused for a moment.

He instinctively turned his head and exchanged a glance with the Sentinel beside him.

Fu Zhangzhou’s gaze shifted, filled with confusion and wariness, and the hand holding Fang Ran’s tightened slightly.

Clearly, he was also unaware.

According to the Federation regulations, only Sentinels, Guides, and relevant staff were allowed near chaotic scenes like this. However, since the venue and vehicles were arranged by Hua Yan Pharmaceutical, it wasn’t entirely surprising that Fu Yanhua, as an executive, had found a way to be here.

The question was, what was his purpose?

And one more thing... It was Fang Liyu who had told them to board the vehicle. She distinctly knew about this arrangement.

Fang Ran nodded at Fu Yanhua, then turned to Fang Liyu with a perplexed expression:

"Sister Fang, what’s... going on?"

Fang Liyu’s expression remained completely normal as she pointed to the sofa in the cabin.

"Take a seat first. You’ll understand in a moment."

Fang Ran glanced at Fu Yanhua again and saw him make a "please" gesture.

Though deeply confused by their actions, he felt that Fang Liyu wouldn’t harm him.

After a moment’s thought, Fang Ran led Fu Zhangzhou to sit down opposite Fu Yanhua. Zhong Wan and Lu Wenchuan followed and sat beside them.

"Fang Ran," Zhong Wan tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "Who is this?"

"You must be Guide Zhong Wan, right?" Fu Yanhua clearly heard him and smiled, answering for Fang Ran. "I’m an executive at Hua Yan Pharmaceutical and also Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou’s father."

"You... hello, you’re... Fu Zhangzhou’s father?"

Zhong Wan stared at him in shock, then glanced at Fu Zhangzhou beside Fang Ran.

These two... one appeared refined and steady, the other unruly and defiant. Though there was some slight resemblance in their features, their temperaments were worlds apart.

Moreover, Fu Yanhua showed no energy fluctuations—he was neither a Sentinel nor a Guide, just an ordinary person.

How could someone like him have fathered a top-tier Sentinel like Fu Zhangzhou?

Fu Yanhua seemed to read his expression and smiled gently, explaining, "Fu Zhangzhou... takes after my wife more."

Fu Zhangzhou let out a scoff.

He naturally draped his arm around Fang Ran’s waist, pulling him close in a protective gesture. But his expression toward Fu Yanhua on the other side was entirely guarded.

"Don’t bring up my mother."

Amid this tense atmosphere, the vehicle door slowly closed, and the hovercar began to ascend, though not very quickly.

A few minutes later, the lights in the cockpit suddenly turned on.

A soft "beep" sounded.

The cabin door opened.

A tall figure appeared behind it and stepped inside.

Lu Wenchuan froze for a moment, then stood up.

"Father?"

"Hmm."

The person who entered was none other than Lu Tianlin.

Fang Ran was also taken aback.

Lu Tianlin?

The executive from District 4—the last time they had met Fu Yanhua, the two had been at odds.

Why were both of them here now?

He glanced at Fang Liyu and saw no trace of surprise in her eyes.

This... was truly strange.

Lu Tianlin gave Lu Wenchuan a stern look, acknowledged Fang Liyu standing nearby, and then, under the astonished gazes of everyone, slowly walked over to Fu Yanhua and sat down beside him.

"Father," Lu Wenchuan called out again, "why are you... on this vehicle?"

Lu Tianlin motioned for him to sit down. "We have something to discuss with you."

His eyes swept slowly over Fang Ran and the others before settling on Zhong Wan. He frowned slightly and glanced at Fang Liyu, as if questioning why Zhong Wan was here.

Fang Liyu smiled understandingly. "Guide Zhong Wan is one of us now."

Hearing this, Lu Tianlin’s eyes flickered. He turned to Lu Wenchuan and asked:

"What happened?"

"Father," Lu Wenchuan steadied himself, took Zhong Wan’s hand, and said solemnly, "Zhong Wan and I have bonded. We... won’t be separated from now on."

Zhong Wan’s face flushed red, but he nodded in agreement with Lu Wenchuan’s words.

"Although I’m only a B-class Guide, since Lu Wenchuan and I have chosen each other, we will stay together no matter what."

"The bonding... may not follow procedure, but we have no regrets. This was inevitable—it’s just happening sooner than expected. Even if the Center punishes us... we’ll accept it."

After they finished speaking, both waited for Lu Tianlin’s reaction.

Lu Tianlin stared at them for a while, his gaze deepening, though his expression remained largely unchanged. He merely rubbed his temples and didn’t respond directly.

Fu Yanhua, sitting beside him, smiled. "It’s good for young people to have their own convictions."

"Since it’s already done, there’s no use saying more."

He patted Lu Tianlin’s shoulder. "Just let them take things as they come."

Fang Ran had been observing their interaction closely.

Since Lu Tianlin’s appearance, confusion had clouded his thoughts.

Strange.

The atmosphere between these two was completely different from last time, almost like... old friends?

Then what was the point of their act in the meeting room?

Fu Yanhua had already noticed his probing gaze.

"Fang Ran, what about... you and Fu Zhangzhou?"

He smiled gently and continued, "Jin Ming suggested last time that you two go through with the marking directly. I think... although it might be a bit disrespectful to you, it's also a workable solution."

"As long as both parties are willing, there's no need to stick to all those rules."

"......"

Fang Ran couldn't help but glance at Fu Zhangzhou beside him.

Although this father and son didn't get along, in this regard... they seemed to be on the same page.

Fu Zhangzhou chuckled again but didn't refute Fu Yanhua's words. Instead, he said impatiently, "Why are you still hanging around?"

Fang Liyu stood up. "Fang Ran, and Sentinel Fu Zhangzhou. Hear us out first..."

She paused for a moment, then sighed heavily.

"Fang Ran, first, I owe you an apology."

"Everything that happened in the meeting room last time was being monitored by the Central Department. Some things... we had to do."

"Surveillance?"

Fang Ran recalled the scene from last time.

Jin Ming and Fu Yanhua's behavior that day was indeed very strange. They argued while also revealing important information in front of him.

He exclaimed, "Could it be... you were acting that day?"

Fu Yanhua smiled somewhat helplessly. "There was indeed some acting involved, but that old fox Jin Ming... probably also wanted to take a jab at me for a long time."

"Acting?"

Fu Zhangzhou frowned, his face full of distrust.

"Why should we believe you?"

Fang Ran reached out and gave the sentinel’s back a reassuring pat, signaling him to calm down.

Fu Zhangzhou glanced down at him, tightened the arm around Fang Ran’s waist slightly, and said nothing more.

Fang Ran then continued asking:

"Mr. Fu, why did you do this?"

Fu Yanhua shook his head.

"Because the people in the Central Department have already begun to suspect the relationships among us. However, I also genuinely wanted to take that opportunity to meet you."

He glanced at Fu Zhangzhou again. "After all, this kid has been guarding you too closely. I just wanted to know what kind of Guide he had chosen."

After a moment of silence, Fu Yanhua continued:

"Fu Zhangzhou, the battle that took your mother's life back then was not an accident."