The moment Han Yue heard the three words “Long Jiwei,” his expression changed instantly.
“Fuck him!” he snapped. “I’ve been running myself ragged in Qinghai for his damn project, and he’s stabbing me in the back in Beijing? I did it? On what grounds are they saying it was me? Did he see it with his own eyes?”
“On the day before you returned, Long Jiwei’s men took Zhao Ting out of the hospital. No one knows where he is now. From that day until yesterday, there was no news of Zhao Ting. This morning, the police said Zhao Ting identified one of your men, a guard named Xiao Xu, claiming he saw the killer’s face. Combined with your public threat before going to Qingdao that you would kill Zhao Ting, it’s easy for suspicion to fall on you.”
“Those investigators are useless? Whatever Zhao Ting says, they just believe it?!”
“Listen first. Back then, Long Jiwei had already offended several founding families. Before he woke up this time, I already suspected our family had become too prominent and would be one of his primary targets. As expected, after returning to Beijing, he started targeting Han Qiang,” Old Master Han sighed in a low voice. “Honestly, I was against your mother insisting on pushing Han Qiang into that position. The timing was simply too bad. Long Jiwei originally rose through the military logistics system; that position is extremely sensitive to him… and your brother hasn’t exactly been clean either.”
Han Yue recalled the cloying scene of his mother and sister-in-law when he entered the house earlier and twitched his lips. So it really wasn’t about him.
“Actually, I believe the Zhao Ting matter wasn’t done by you. Even if it were, it wouldn’t cause much of a storm. Zhao Ting is just a businessman without background. We could suppress it easily,” Old Master Han said, his expression somewhat unnatural. The old commander had lived upright his entire life; speaking of using power to suppress others never sat comfortably with him. “But the situation is different now. Han Qiang’s placement in military logistics was arranged by you, and now you’re entangled in the Zhao Ting incident. Both sides are on fire at the same time.”
That was how things worked: if Han Qiang performed well in a high position, then even if Han Yue was involved in something like Zhao Ting, it wouldn’t implicate him. If Han Yue had no connection to Zhao Ting, then even if Han Qiang performed terribly, no one would dare move against him because of Han Yue’s standing.
But now Han Qiang was creating chaos in military logistics, and Han Yue was tied to Zhao Ting’s case in an ambiguous and suspicious way. For a powerful family like the Hans, everything required extreme caution. Having both sons involved in problems at the same time was enough to set Old Master Han on edge.
Normally, even if problems arose, they could be managed. When Han Qiang killed two people in a car accident years ago, even massive public pressure eventually passed. The Han family was a giant ship—grandfather was a founding figure, the father a senior commander. It was a prestigious military lineage that was not easily shaken.
But this time was different. The one trying to drill a hole into this ship was not an ordinary opponent—it was Long Jiwei.
Long Jiwei’s influence in Beijing was now unprecedented, even stronger than before he fell into his two-year coma. At present, even those old aristocratic families who knew he was openly distorting facts had to nod along and play along.
Old Master Han explained the situation to his son and sighed. “Your brother isn’t particularly capable, and his position is already unstable. If Long Jiwei moves against him, it would be effortless. But I don’t think he’s worth direct attention. As for me, I’m about to retire. To deal with a family, you first target its active core.”
“Active core?” Han Yue paused. “—Me?”
Old Master Han said nothing.
“I can see that,” Han Yue replied easily. “I’ve been promoted too quickly these past two years. I’m supposed to be promoted to deputy bureau level next year. I’ve already listed everyone in our circle and noticed no one is rising this fast. I’ve become the exposed nail sticking out. If my brother’s been targeted by Long Jiwei, it might even be because of me.”
Old Master Han seemed uncomfortable with this and tried to interrupt. “You don’t need to—”
“It’s fine. We’re family. One stroke doesn’t make two ‘Han’s. As long as we preserve our core strength, we can recover after this storm,” Han Yue said after a pause. “Tomorrow I’ll tell my superiors I’m giving up the planned promotion next year. We need to stay lower profile. If I step down, Long Jiwei probably won’t waste time on my brother.”
After a long silence, Old Master Han finally sighed. “That’s the only option. It’s just… unfair to you.”
Han Yue smiled. “What’s there to be unfair about between family?”
Old Master Han knew very well that Han Yue had originally opposed placing the eldest son in military logistics. It was his wife who insisted, and he had reluctantly agreed. Now Han Qiang’s conduct there had created chaos, embarrassing not only the father but also making things difficult for Han Yue.
Han Yue’s promotion to deputy bureau level had been planned since the previous year, but due to Han Qiang’s misconduct and to avoid drawing attention from Long Jiwei, it had to be postponed.
The madam had always favored the eldest son, prioritizing him in everything. While parental bias was common, this situation was clearly unfair to the second son.
Old Master Han showed rare regret and said quietly, “Han Yue, I know you’re doing this for the family, but you should also think about yourself… You’re already this old and still don’t have a home. Last time I suggested buying you a place and getting married, you refused. That property should have been yours… I’m not pressuring you to marry, but your mother and I are getting old. We just hope to see you settled and living well before we go…”
Unexpectedly, Han Yue, who had just been speaking selflessly, suddenly straightened his expression and stepped back half a pace, bowing respectfully.
“What are you doing?” Old Master Han was startled.
“Dad,” Han Yue said, “while I was in Qingdao, Mom called me and said she’d introduced me to a girl from Vice Mayor Wang’s family.”
He paused and let out a sorrowful sigh. “Apparently she’s talented, beautiful, and virtuous—but I’m an unfilial son. I don’t think I’ll be getting married in this lifetime.”
Old Master Han nearly spat out his water. “What did you say? Not getting married?”
“Yes. I’ve already found someone I want to spend my life with.”
“….” Old Master Han opened his mouth several times before finally managing to ask, cautiously:
“…That engineer you had hospitalized with gastric bleeding?”
“I didn’t do it on purpose!” Han Yue suddenly exploded, lowering his voice as he shouted, “I really like him!”
As a father, Old Master Han had never seen his rebellious, independent son be this stubborn about anyone before. He was caught completely off guard by Han Yue’s reaction.
So that was it—the righteous act of giving up next year’s promotion to deputy bureau level was actually just a bargaining chip to his parents: Look, I’ve sacrificed my future for the Han family. You can’t keep pressuring me about getting married.
Old Master Han’s temple twitched twice. He tried to assert his authority as head of the family, but looking at his son—now taller than him—his momentum immediately deflated. After a long pause, he could only sigh and ask, “So you want to refuse marriage for him, but does he even want to spend his life with you? Two years ago, when you finished your leave in Beijing and delayed returning to the unit for half a month, that was when you got involved with him, wasn’t it? I heard from that kid from the Pei family—you even blocked him at his doorstep with a gun back then. That engineer wasn’t exactly willing to be with you, was he…”
“So what if he wasn’t willing?” Han Yue shot back. “As long as he’s still here, I can make up for it slowly in the future. Besides, I’m changing, aren’t I?”
He raised one hand as if making a solemn oath. “I swear, if I ever hit someone again, I’ll be struck by lightning. From now on I’ll fix my temper, live properly, and be filial to you both every day.”
Old Master Han stared at him for a long moment and asked quietly, “—Are you serious?”
“Absolutely fucking serious. What, you can’t accept it? No way, Dad! It’s a new era—society has long since—”
“I’ve eaten more salt than you’ve eaten rice, crossed more bridges than you’ve walked roads. I can’t accept it?” Old Master Han let out a cold snort, his voice lowering. “Back when we were at war, we lived with our heads tied to our belts—no one knew if they’d live to see tomorrow. I’ve seen everything in the military… someone like you? Hmph. Child’s play.”
This time, it was Han Yue who was completely stunned.
“It’s a blessing to find someone you truly like,” Old Master Han continued. “But as for spending a lifetime together, that’s not so easy. Back when our army was fighting in Vietnam…” He fell silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed, exhaustion in his voice. “If you really want it, then bring him home sometime. Have a meal with us so your mother and I can meet him. Hiding him outside and never bringing him home isn’t proper.”
Han Yue knew his father had always been relatively open-minded, but he didn’t expect him to be this open-minded. He immediately brightened.
“Alright! No problem! But make sure you talk to Mom first. I’ll bring him home this Sunday!”