The reason Chen Yan looked at Zhao Ying was that he had never forgotten that Zhao Ying had a special kind of intuition.

It seemed like she could see through people's hearts or sense the secrets they hid.

Considering how important Zhao Xuan's affairs were, if the butler was hiding something, she would probably have noticed.

Unfortunately, when Chen Yan looked at Zhao Ying, she just gave him a puzzled glance and asked, "What's wrong?"

Chen Yan did not know whether Zhao Ying had failed to notice anything or if the matter was as the butler had said.

However, no matter what, the issue was too significant, so Chen Yan asked again, "Then, how did you manage to deceive the investigators and Zhao Qingtian?"

Chen Yan said, "Normally, the investigators would need to verify DNA and inform the family, right?"

"How could such a thing be hidden?"

While bringing up this crucial question, Chen Yan couldn't help but turn on his "inner headphones" to hear the true thoughts of the butler.

Then he heard the butler say, "This situation might look like one issue, but it's actually two."

"First, we didn't hide the Family Head's faked death from the investigators."

The butler explained, "From the beginning, we knew we couldn't hide it. So, we didn't make additional arrangements."

"Because, in essence, the Family Head just wanted to free himself."

"So, it doesn't matter whose body it is. What matters is that the Family Head is dead in the public eye."

"For this, we just needed to pretend to claim the body and announce this within our small circle, and that was enough."

"People with vested interests naturally wouldn't believe it, but they can't find the Family Head and have to accept his death."

"People without a vested interest wouldn't bother to investigate, so they would believe the rumor."

"As for Zheng Juan, outside of the Family Head, being his secretary, not many cared about her, only Zhao Qingtian and his group were interested."

"So, we didn't need to hide anything from the investigators but just needed to make sure Zhao Qingtian received the message we wanted him to get."

Hearing the butler's words, Chen Yan brightened and asked, "Do you also have a spy at Zhao Qingtian's place?"

The butler nodded and then said, "Yes. It's just that our person hasn't climbed to a very high position. So we haven't paid much attention."

"However, who knew it would play a major role in planning this plot?"

With that, he paused and then added, "Also, after the Family Head's faked death, Zheng Juan was taken away by us. Although she betrayed the Family Head, he did not blame or punish her."

"Instead, he gave her a chance to restart."

"She had been with the Family Head for many years, and after this scare, coupled with his emotional persuasion and logical appeals, she ultimately decided to switch sides and return to the Family Head."

"Moreover, the plan was supposed to end there."

"The Family Head had planned that once he 'came back to life', he would let Zheng Juan 'resurrect' as well."

"But as it turns out, when he was preparing to 'come back to life' and team up with you, Zhao Qingtian approached him, and the rest, you should know..."

The butler paused for a long time.

Although he didn't continue, Chen Yan understood the development: it involved Zhao Qingtian's false cooperation and agreement with Zhao Xuan, who decided to give Zhao Qingtian a chance, abandoning his partnership with Chen Yan to return to the Zhao Family.

After a pause, the butler continued, "However, when deciding to cooperate with Zhao Qingtian, the Family Head had many concerns, so he left behind two trump cards."

"One is Cao Weiguo."

"The other is... Zheng Juan."

"Cao Weiguo should have contacted you. I won't say more."

"Zheng Juan, then, was a deliberate loophole he left for Zhao Qingtian."

"He guessed that if Zhao Qingtian wanted to harm him, he would most likely start with Zheng Juan's case."

"So, he talked to Zheng Juan for a long time, hoping she could fake her death for a few more years and not show up."

"And indeed, Zhao Qingtian didn't disappoint the Family Head's expectations."

"After lying low for more than a year, Zhao Qingtian finally chose to use Zheng Juan as a breakthrough to make his move against the Family Head."

Chen Yan couldn't help but ask, "Being as cautious as Zhao Qingtian, would he not investigate such an important matter further?"

The butler smiled and said,

"He was already very careful, waiting patiently for so long."

"Keep in mind, these past years, Zheng Juan has effectively been 'dead' in front of her friends and family; no matter how much Zhao Qingtian investigated, he wouldn't find any trace of her."

"Plus, he did try to review the files from back then."

"But don't forget, the person handling the case at Zhao Qingtian's end was one of our people. So after his extensive investigations, he most likely became convinced of Zheng Juan's death."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yan finally had a comprehensive and full understanding of the year's events and the secret battle between Zhao Xuan and Zhao Qingtian.

In truth, Chen Yan had once doubted whether Zhao Xuan, who so easily trusted Zhao Qingtian and made a compromise, was really the same Zhao Xuan capable of contending against Zhao Qingtian to the death.

But now, Chen Yan understood: Uncle Zhao's strategy was sophisticated; this retreat was a feint, brilliantly executed.

With a rough idea of Zhao Xuan's overall plan, Chen Yan no longer needed the butler to elaborate; he grasped the considerations Zhao Xuan had for the scheme.

Having been forced to fake his death after a failed struggle, it would be very difficult for him to return to the core of the Zhao Family.

Even with Chen Yan's help, the likelihood of defeating Zhao Qingtian wasn't high.

However, if he covertly cooperated with Zhao Qingtian, allowing him to invite Zhao Xuan back into the core of the Zhao Family, his range of actions would expand significantly.

Not only could he use his position to rally other factions within the Zhao Family against Zhao Qingtian, but he could also place his people in various departments to monitor Zhao Qingtian's plans for the family.

In that year, he accomplished more than in the many cautious years of plotting.

Moreover, it was Zhao Qingtian who had used the family's name to pressure Zhao Xuan into a settlement.

If Zhao Xuan had refused, he would have lost his moral standing within the family.

But now that he had agreed, he had established a positive image of setting aside personal grievances for the sake of the family, and the choice then fell to Zhao Qingtian.

If Zhao Qingtian initiated conflict, he would be the one losing moral high ground.

At that point, whatever Zhao Xuan did, no one in the family would oppose or disagree.

Undoubtedly, it was a brilliant plan for gaining the upper hand.

Indeed, individuals who had stood at the pinnacle for decades were no ordinary characters.

After getting a clear grasp of Zhao Xuan's entire plan, Chen Yan also verified the butler's words with his "inner headphones" to ensure he wasn't being deceived.

After carefully listening, Chen Yan confirmed that, aside from some rhetorical and descriptive embellishments, the butler's inner words didn't differ much from what he had told Chen Yan.

In fact, because the butler thought more carefully, Chen Yan learned even more details.

For instance, ever since Zhao Xuan's incident, Zheng Juan had been protected by the butler to avoid accidents, which explained his sudden departure.

Furthermore, Zhao Xuan wasn't worried about his own arrest. When he confirmed that Zhao Qingtian was planning against him, he decided to go along with it.

Additionally, knowing his plan could only protect but not counterattack, he passed his backup plans to Chen Yan.

He trusted Chen Yan would handle these matters and work with him to take down Zhao Qingtian.

For that goal, he was willing to bear any humiliation for some time.

With an understanding of Zhao Xuan's plan, Chen Yan could finally be at ease.

After all, it seemed that everything had turned around; Zhao Qingtian had fallen into a trap, not Zhao Xuan...

...

After discussing these matters, the butler went down.

According to what he had told Chen Yan, he would be on standby nearby, ready to act upon any request from Chen Yan, whether it was cleaning the villa or cooking meals. Someone would handle these mundane tasks.

Watching his retreating figure, Chen Yan thought that the workings of a great family were indeed different.

Chen Yan recalled that he had met at least three or four of Zhao Xuan's butlers, each unique.

The butler at the seaside manor was stately and kindly, with a certain nobility, while the black-clad butler who came out for tasks was young and promising, orderly, and diligent.

This butler, however, remained hidden by his side, appearing when needed and virtually non-existent otherwise.

Honestly, Chen Yan felt a bit envious, thinking about when his own family might have such depth...

While Chen Yan was lost in thought, Zhao Ying tugged gently at his sleeve.

Chen Yan turned to look at her.

Zhao Ying said, "Chen Yan. I'm hungry."

Chen Yan was momentarily taken aback, then suggested, "Should I ask the butler to arrange some food for you?"

Zhao Ying shook her head, "I want barbecue."

Chen Yan thought of how the two of them had originally bonded over barbecue.

Reflecting on this, a smile appeared on his face, and he nodded, saying, "Okay, let's do that."

Without notifying the butler, Chen Yan took Zhao Ying out as a regular couple would, hailing a taxi for a meal.

Perhaps because of some pent-up tension over the past few days, now that she was relaxed, Zhao Ying's mood also seemed much lighter.

This was evident when she ordered two bottles of beer.

Sitting at a roadside stall, enjoying barbecue and beer, chatting and laughing comfortably, they appeared nothing short of carefree.

To any onlooker, it would be unimaginable that one was a billionaire magnate, and the other, an heiress from a prominent family.

While eating and drinking, Chen Yan suddenly realized that he felt more at ease with Zhao Ying, ever since he invited Yu Qiao Qiao for their first meal.

Maybe it was due to Zhao Ying's natural affability, or perhaps because her personality was more like a boy's, straightforward and outgoing.

In the beginning, though Chen Yan found Yu Qiao Qiao beautiful, he ended up talking more and becoming more acquainted with his roommate and confidant, Zhao Ying...

After their meal and drinks, Chen Yan hailed a cab and they went home.

Back home, the house was brightly lit, with fruits, pastries, and snacks laid out on the table. The mess from the previous days had all been cleaned up, but there was no one inside.

Chen Yan thought back to the returning butler.

Such talent was really desirable; Chen Yan considered the idea of asking Zhao Xuan to let him take the butler for his own.

But upon remembering how many girls were around him, he dismissed the notion.

Better to train his own staff.

As he pondered this, Chen Yan went upstairs with Zhao Ying to freshen up.

They freshened up separately.

However, when Chen Yan had finished and gotten into bed, Zhao Ying came over in her pajamas, holding her blanket and pillow.

Perhaps it was her bath-fresh appearance, or the alcohol, but Chen Yan felt a fire kindle in his heart.

His gaze lingered on Zhao Ying with a bit more heat than usual.

Zhao Ying noticed Chen Yan's gaze and looked puzzled.

She looked at him and asked, "Are you... okay?"

Chen Yan snapped back to reality and quickly feigned nonchalance, "No, I'm fine. What about me?"

Zhao Ying said, "Your eyes looked strange just now. Like you were hungry."

'Like you were hungry...' Chen Yan couldn't help but think that it should be Zhao Ying who was 'hungry'... He was there to satisfy her hunger.

With that thought, he tentatively asked, "Brother Ying. Shall we have a spar tonight?"

Upon hearing Chen Yan's words, Zhao Ying's face lit up with enthusiasm.

But then, as if something dawned on her, she hesitated and shook her head, "Let's not. I don't feel like fighting tonight."

Chen Yan was puzzled.

Huh. That didn't seem like Zhao Ying's character...

As he wondered, suddenly his phone chimed with a "ding-dong."

Chen Yan glanced at it subtly and saw a message that read, "The ultimate challenge has been triggered again: first phase. Please choose carefully..."

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