The young man was Gu Zhongqiu. Several times, he had wanted to strike up a conversation with Jian Dan, but each time, he hesitated, unsure how to begin.
Jian Dan's spiritual sense enveloped her surroundings, naturally taking in his expressions, yet she had no intention of responding. No words could make up for the fact that her mother had already left her. What pained her even more was her own powerlessness at the time.
With a ding, the elevator stopped on the first floor. Jian Dan nodded politely to Wu Kai and Gu Zhongqiu before stepping out first and walking toward the entrance.
Young Master Gu was about to call out to her, but Wu Kai immediately raised a hand to stop him, shaking his head silently. Understanding the hint, Gu Zhongqiu didn't call after her, and she smoothly left the hospital.
For Jian Dan, understanding was one thing—facing it was another. Standing beside Gu Zhongqiu, the familiar aura emanating from the talisman inside him still made her heart ache. Everything her mother had done was for her sake, and she would never let her mother's efforts go to waste.
Following the winding mountain road, Jian Dan returned to the Zhao family villa where she had first arrived. Without prior notice, Zhou Bing parked the car directly at the entrance and entered the hall with her.
Butler Zhao hurried out to greet her:
"Second Miss, why didn't you inform us before returning? I could have arranged for someone to pick you up! Your father misses you dearly—he's been constantly saying he couldn't reach you and was terribly worried!"
"I've troubled you, Butler Zhao. But as you can see, I'm back now, safe and sound. I'll go see Father right away—is he home?"
"Yes, yes, he's in the study."
"Good. I'll go see him first."
Without waiting for Butler Zhao to announce her, Jian Dan went straight to the second-floor study. Raising her hand, she lightly knocked on the door. Hearing a "Come in" in response, she pushed the door open.
The furnishings inside were exactly as she had first seen them, unchanged. However, Zhao Mufeng, sitting behind the desk, now appeared somewhat gloomy—his cheeks thinner, his eyes bloodshot—though his attire remained immaculate, without a trace of disarray.
Zhao Mufeng looked at his daughter, who resembled Jian Rou more and more, and felt a flicker of irritation. His tone was sharp as he spoke:
"Where have you been all this year? Why couldn't you be reached? Do you even see me as your father anymore?"
"My apologies for worrying you. I've been fine—just traveling around. When I heard about the family's recent troubles, I came back immediately."
Jian Dan brushed off his reproach with little concern, offering a half-hearted explanation before handing him a file folder and gesturing for him to take it.
"This is the transfer agreement for the remaining Zhao shares. Please review it—if there are no issues, sign it. This is the most I can do to help you, Father."
A flash of surprise crossed Zhao Mufeng's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. He took the folder and carefully examined the documents inside. Only after confirming everything was in order did he look up at Jian Dan, his demeanor noticeably lighter, his voice softening:
"I spoke too harshly earlier—I was just worried about you. Your sudden disappearance was alarming. After all, you're my daughter, and you're the only one who stepped up to help in this crisis. It's just…"
He glanced at her, testing the waters.
"I am your daughter. That's a bond of blood that can't be severed. This is also in accordance with Mother's final wishes. Don't worry, Father—the Zhao Group is your life's work."
"Good, good, good!"
A faint smile finally appeared on Zhao Mufeng's face, his spirits lifting as if revitalized.
Recovering these 10% of shares—no small amount—without spending a single cent not only resolved his urgent crisis but also solidified his position as the largest shareholder. Naturally, he was pleased.
Now that Jian Dan's share transfer had relieved his pressing concerns, Zhao Mufeng was more inclined to chat with her, hoping to mend their strained father-daughter relationship.
"I'll have Butler Zhao prepare lunch. We'll have a family meal together."
"It's a shame Zihan and Ziyu aren't here, and Auntie Qian is at the hospital with them. Otherwise, we could have had a proper reunion."
Jian Dan smiled sincerely as she spoke, watching Zhao Mufeng closely. An uncomfortable expression flickered across his face before he cleared his throat.
"We'll do it another time."
Unfazed, Jian Dan continued:
"Father, I'm not a child anymore—I've come of age. The reason I returned this time is that I've heard some unpleasant rumors. I know how much you value the family's reputation, especially when it involves Zihan. I…"
Zhao Mufeng removed his glasses, rubbing the bridge of his nose before waving a hand dismissively.
"I know. I've weathered greater storms than this—it won't break our family. You played a crucial role in Zihan's situation. Who knows how much worse it could've been without you?"
His gaze softened as he spoke.
"As long as you don't blame me for acting on my own, that's enough. I don't understand the legal battles of the business world—I just didn't want it to affect you while still helping Zihan."
Jian Dan spoke frankly, without the slightest hint of concealment.
Zhao Mufeng was satisfied with her response and was about to ask where she had been this past year when Butler Zhao burst into the room in a panic—without even knocking.
"Bad news! Zihan and Ziyu—something's happened!"