Chapter 148: Silence Speaks Volumes

Lin Fan was not good at expressing his emotions. Had it not been for Lin Yan's sudden remarks and his own inability to find any excuse to evade, he would never have spoken his inner thoughts aloud.

In fact, the moment Lin Fan spoke, he had already sensed someone at the door. Having walked the edge of life and death so many times, Lin Fan's hearing was naturally beyond the reach of ordinary people. How could he possibly not know that someone was eavesdropping outside the office door? When they arrived, Ren Qianxing had already told him that Feifei was also at the corporation, so aside from Feifei, Lin Fan truly could not think of anyone else who would be lingering outside.

With a slight smile, Lin Fan said, "Isn't it because you are here at the corporation? I haven't seen you in a few days, and your brother missed you." As he spoke, he intentionally smoothed down some slightly disheveled hair for Feifei.

Was he devoted in love? To be frank, Lin Fan did not know, which was why he had not answered Zhao Ying's question that night. Yet he knew that love was love, and the lack of it was the lack of it. From beginning to end, his feelings for Feifei were strictly those of an older brother toward a younger sister. If he were to yield to Feifei's wishes and take her, it would be equivalent to ruining her.

Had she heard Lin Fan say this previously, Feifei might have been overjoyed, but now she knew that the word "missed" in Lin Fan's mouth was merely a brother's concern for his sister.

"Humph, if you missed me, why didn't you come home last night?" Feifei asked with a playful smile. "It was Sister Ying'er who kept you, wasn't it?"

Lin Fan could tell that Feifei was trying her best to act as if nothing were wrong. His words just now must have dealt a blow to this young girl, and for any possible reason, Lin Fan would have wished to avoid doing so. As an older brother, he could not accept her simply because she fancied him. Right now, Lin Fan could only hope that this girl would come to terms with the matter swiftly and find a man who truly loved her.

"Then your brother will make amends by treating you to dinner tonight," Lin Fan coaxed Feifei deliberately, reaching out to pinch her nose lightly before smiling and saying, "Sis, why don't you join us too?"

"Not going. Do you think everyone is idle like you, with nothing to do all day?" Lin Yan kept her eyes fixed on the computer screen without even glancing at Lin Fan as she replied, "If you have time, spend more time with Feifei."

Lin Fan could only chuckle helplessly. He could tell that Lin Yan was still somewhat displeased. After all, he had just rejected Feifei so bluntly. As Feifei's older sister—and with both of them being women—Lin Yan naturally would not give Lin Fan a pleasant expression.

"Since Sister Yan'er isn't going, then I won't go either. You go by yourself," Feifei said, deliberately sticking out her tongue in a mischievous and eccentric manner. In truth, Feifei longed to go out for a meal with Lin Fan. If it were the past, it might not have mattered, but now Feifei always found herself at a loss as to how to face her feelings for Lin Fan. Therefore, seeing that Lin Yan was declining, she turned Lin Fan down as well.

Lin Fan sighed inwardly. He naturally knew what was passing through Feifei's mind, and wasn't he feeling the exact same way? That was why he had just invited Lin Yan to come along. Yet now that Lin Yan refused, Feifei was refusing as well. Realizing how rarely he actually accompanied Feifei, Lin Fan coaxed the girl for a little longer, mostly swapping playful jests and occasionally even lightly bickering and wrestling in the office.

Ren Qianxing, watching from the side, could tell that his boss truly cherished this younger sister; otherwise, he would not have gone to such great lengths to please her. In this world, the people capable of making Lin Fan care this deeply could probably be counted on the fingers of one hand.

Ever since Ling Xue betrayed Dragon Soul and broke Lin Fan's heart, the upper echelons of Dragon Soul—specifically the members of Star Soul—could tell that Lin Fan's personality had undergone a massive shift. It was as if he had matured tremendously overnight, occasionally exuding a chilling aura of wickedness, and whenever he faced women, he liked to act somewhat uninhibited and roguish, nothing more. Yet they all knew that Lin Fan simply cared too deeply about relationships, which was why he had ultimately been wounded by them.

Now, seeing his boss break into such a genuine smile and having a woman who loved him back by his side, Ren Qianxing felt an indescribable surge of joy as Lin Fan's brother.

Unfortunately, none of them knew what the future held at this moment, because this was merely the beginning, far from the end!

Seeing that Feifei still steadfastly refused to go out for a meal with him, Lin Fan did not press the matter further. After exchanging a few casual remarks, he gave Ren Qianxing a subtle cue and stood up to walk out, with Ren Qianxing quickly following behind.

Watching Lin Fan's departing figure, a flash of loss crossed Feifei's eyes. Through Lin Yan, Feifei had learned roughly what her brother was currently involved in, and his behavior just then clearly indicated he did not want her to worry about him. She knew Lin Fan still had countless tasks to attend to, and she did not want to distract her brother with her own affairs; she refused to become a burden to Lin Fan...

After emerging from Lin Yan's office, Lin Fan headed back to Tan Zhiyong's quarters. Xu Qiang had already left by then, presumably returning to issue instructions regarding the upcoming matters. After all, he and Lin Fan would be embarking on a long journey again in a few days. Although they did not yet know who else would be accompanying them, it was better to arrange certain things in advance to avoid being caught unprepared.

Seated on the sofa, Lin Fan glanced at Ren Qianxing and said, "Qianxing, City T has been rather unstable lately, and even people from the Hunter Association organization have arrived. Pay extra attention to the safety of Feifei and the other women."

"Understood, Boss," Ren Qianxing acknowledged with a nod.

"Qianxing, do you ever feel it's unfair? You are a steadfast warrior of Dragon Soul, yet I've relegated you to acting as a bodyguard." Pausing for a moment, Lin Fan set down his teacup and spoke.

"Not at all. We simply have different divisions of labor," Ren Qianxing replied with a grave expression.

"I'm sorry. If it hadn't been for me back then, you wouldn't have..." Whenever this matter was brought up, Lin Fan's heart felt as though it were being pricked by needles. His mind would invariably flash back to the image of Ren Qianxing shielding him with his body, collapsing onto the ground with a smile in the end while he himself had been utterly powerless to help...

In truth, everyone in Dragon Soul knew that Lin Fan was a decisive man who was not adept at expressing his inner feelings. Being able to utter words like these was already quite remarkable, especially after the incident with Ling Xue, which had caused Lin Fan to bury his emotions even deeper.

Before Lin Fan could finish speaking, he was interrupted by Ren Qianxing. A faint smile touched Ren Qianxing's lips as he said, "Boss, why are you acting so sentimental today? Let bygones be bygones. Besides, that was my duty, and I did it willingly. Look, my arm is still attached quite properly, isn't it?"

Lin Fan knew that this "properly attached" arm merely looked normal on the outside; in truth, it was too weak to even lift a cup of water. Back then, that male leader of the Purgatory Angels had practically shattered every single bone and joint in Ren Qianxing's left arm. Yet, drenched in cold sweat, Ren Qianxing had gritted his teeth and refused to let out a single groan. That scene remained forever etched in Lin Fan's mind, impossible to shake, because Ren Qianxing had done it for him, for Dragon Soul, and to buy time for his brothers...

Reaching out to pat his shoulder, Lin Fan cast a grateful look at him without uttering another word. Everything remained unspoken between them.