Xiao Ziye's casual question sent a ripple through the room, even darkening Grandpa Xiao's expression. "Little Moon, are you okay?" he asked urgently.
"Grandpa, you're all acting so strange," Ziye replied, exasperated. "What could've happened? I'm telling you, you've got it wrong. There are tons of people with the same name. The guy I met can't be the villain you're imagining. I'm sure of it—he's no bad guy." Though no fangirl, Ziye trusted her instincts.
On the train, Lei Zhengyang hadn't even shown interest in talking until they'd prodded him. That wasn't an act. At Huadan Academy, guys pulled every trick to win her favor, but their fakeness was obvious. She could feel the difference.
Seeing Ziye's earnestness, her mother chimed in. "Father, maybe we are mistaken. Let's not make a mountain out of a molehill. The important thing is Moon's safe, thank heavens. Young lady, no more reckless stunts—why skip a perfectly good flight to play adventurer on a train?"
But Ziye's curiosity was piqued. "Grandpa, what kind of person is this Lei Zhengyang you're all so wary of?"
Xiao Hanjiang glanced at Xiao Dasheng. "Let your Third Brother explain. They're friends."
Ziye frowned. "Wait, that's weird. If he's Third Brother's friend, he can't be that bad, right?" Dasheng's circle was small, but his friends were solid. She'd met them all—none were named Lei Zhengyang.
Dasheng looked sheepish. "It's not that he sought me out. I was the one cozying up to him."
Ziye, though young, was no stranger to her family's clout. She might not grasp the full scope of the Xiaos' influence in Jincheng, but the fawning crowds she encountered hinted at their power. If Dasheng had to butter someone up, that person was no small fry.
Noticing her confusion, Xiao Hanjiang decided it was time she understood. "Ziye, our Xiao family is a force in Jincheng, but compared to Beijing's titans, we're nothing. Every clan has rivals, and ours is Nanjing's Qian family."
Ziye nodded—she'd overheard her father and grandfather mention the Qians, their tones dripping with resentment.
"To survive, we leverage every resource," Hanjiang continued. "Beijing's Lei family is one such asset. We may not always tap their power, but we must avoid making them enemies. You've heard of the Leis. The Lei Zhengyang we're talking about is the third son of their eldest branch."
"Oh? What's he like?" Ziye asked, intrigued.
Dasheng avoided the question, saying, "That's why I got close to him—not as a true friend, just a drinking buddy. Remember when you teased me about blowing my allowance? Most of it went to him."
Hanjiang took over. "Lei Zhengyang is the Lei family's biggest flaw, but also our only way to get close to them. He's brash, shameless, a notorious womanizer—Beijing's top playboy. Last year's scandal? That was his doing."
Ziye's face paled. "What? The guy who assaulted Song Yingfei was him?"
"Exactly," Hanjiang said. "The case dragged on because he vanished. Then, last month, he resurfaced in Tianhai. Sounds like you met him on his way back to Beijing. Dasheng, show her his photo. It's probably him."
Dasheng pulled out a picture. Ziye's eyes widened in shock. "That's him! No mistake—but…"
Grandpa Xiao cut in. "Moon, now that you know, steer clear. If you see him again, walk away. He's a useless rake, good only for ruining women. No need to court trouble."
Ziye stared at the photo, struggling to reconcile it with her experience. She wasn't naive enough to read people perfectly, but in those hours on the train, Lei Zhengyang hadn't once leered at her beauty. That kind of restraint couldn't be faked—she'd have sensed any ulterior motive.
"Grandpa, Dad, something's off. I'm telling you, the Lei Zhengyang we met isn't the guy you're describing. Let me explain what happened." Ziye recounted the train incident in detail, leaving nothing out—no embellishments, just facts.
"Think about it. Ice was the one who pushed to talk to him—he didn't even want to know us. And he spotted that fake female officer instantly. That takes brains, sharpness. His moves were lightning-fast, precise, over in seconds. To outsiders, it looked like he swatted away petty thugs, but I know that assassin was strong—stronger than Third Brother.
"The world's been fooled. He plays the spoiled brat to hide who he really is. Maybe last year's scandal was a setup, a ruse to make everyone think he vanished to dodge trouble. What if he was on some secret mission?"
Her theory sounded far-fetched, even childish, but the three Xiao men fell silent, stunned. Grandpa Xiao broke into a cold sweat. A seasoned veteran, he caught the chilling precision of her analysis—near flawless.
Hanjiang spoke, voice unsteady. "Father, I'm uneasy. Ziye might be right. We've been blind, deceived by our own assumptions. To hide himself so perfectly, he's either a fool or a genius."
Grandpa Xiao sighed heavily. "We're the fools, played like puppets. Now I see why the Songs went quiet after the Tianhai fiasco. If I'm not wrong, the Leis and Songs might soon be allies. These people are demons, weaving a massive con. Anyone who thinks the Leis are idiots is the real fool."
He turned to Dasheng, urgent. "Dasheng, head to Beijing. Strengthen that drinking-buddy tie. We can't let the Qians get ahead, or the Xiaos are done."
Dasheng shivered, realizing his error. He'd scorned Lei Zhengyang, sharing drinks and women while never respecting him. Now, he saw the truth: while he sneered, Lei Zhengyang had been watching, cold and calculating. The real fool was him.
As Dasheng left, Grandpa Xiao looked at Ziye, his tone warm. "Moon, you've done the family a great service. You said Ice likes Lei Zhengyang, and he promised her a chance?"
Ziye nodded. Grandpa Xiao's expression softened, and he glanced at Hanjiang. "Hanjiang, nurture our ties with Keming. Visit more, even casually. Better safe than sorry. Who knows if a playful promise might come true?"
Hanjiang nodded, understanding the assignment.
Ziye wanted to protest—Bingbing's crush was one-sided; Lei Zhengyang showed no interest. How could it lead anywhere? But seeing Grandpa's grave demeanor, she swallowed her words. As he said, caution never hurt. Besides, she and Bingbing were like sisters—closer than most.
Lei Zhengyang had no inkling that his chance encounter would send shockwaves through the Xiao family. As the train neared Beijing, a nervous anticipation gripped him, the pull of home growing stronger. By ten in the morning, the train pulled into the station. The bustling crowds and familiar air hit him hard—he was finally home.
A lone figure, he stepped off the train, his shadow stretching behind him. The Lei family guards trailing him kept their distance. A year away wasn't long, but to Lei Zhengyang, it felt like a lifetime. Returning now was like rewinding forty years, a chance to start anew.