Chapter 84

"Father, the typhoon is here, let's go back." Zhu Jin Yan said, sobbing.

"I've told you, a man shouldn't cry easily." Zhu Guoxu still looked so calm.

The typhoon had arrived, with howling winds that seemed capable of lifting a person. But Zhu Guoxu stood there motionless, his eyes still fixed on the sea.

His eyes were red, and he seemed to have aged a decade in an instant.

He couldn't believe his daughter was just gone like that, the one who always pestered him and made all sorts of whimsical demands. Could she really be gone?

Impossible, impossible, there must be a miracle in this world.

But the miracle seemed so remote...

The typhoon had already arrived, making any rescue impossible. What was worse, Annie couldn't swim at all.

When he was young, Zhu Guoxu had taken her to learn swimming, but after swallowing a few mouthfuls of water, Annie pouted and refused to continue.

If he had known this would happen, he would have forced her to learn no matter what.

But even if she had learned, what difference would it make?

In such a vast sea, with such violent waves, how could even the best swimmer have a chance of survival?

"Father..." Zhu Jin Yan tried hard not to cry, but as soon as he opened his mouth, tears streamed down his face.

"I've told you, don't cry." Zhu Guoxu's tone became stern: "If crying could bring your sister back, I would cry for three days and three nights. But it's useless. Remember who hurt your sister, remember how to make him pay, remember to make him regret what he did."

Zhu Jin Yan hesitated: "Father, why not let the police handle it?"

"You were weak and sickly when you were young, so I always pampered you. But things are different now. You are my son, and you will take over in the future." Zhu Guoxu said coldly: "Even if that Pang Shiqiang is found guilty, what's the point? Manslaughter? How many years would he get? Three? Five? Your sister is gone. Jin Yan, if you choose an enemy, you must crush him in the most ruthless way, so he can never hold his head up again, and even if he wants revenge, he won't have the chance."

"I... I understand..."

"Cowardly." Zhu Guoxu sighed.

Perhaps the family had spoiled this son too much, and he lacked his own character.

Annie, Annie... Annie's personality was more like his, but now she was gone...

"Let's go back, let's go back." At this moment, Zhu Guoxu no longer seemed like a strong man. At this moment, he was more like a father who had just lost his daughter.

Tired, helpless, heartbroken...

Just as he was about to turn and leave, Zhu Jin Yan suddenly opened his mouth wide, his hand trembling as he pointed forward:

"Father, you... look..."

A figure was slowly walking toward them from the distant beach.

And in his arms, he seemed to be carrying someone else.

The Zhu family father and son stared blankly at the figure... That was...

Lei Xihuan!

That was Lei Xihuan!

Who was he carrying?

"Sister!" Zhu Jin Yan suddenly screamed, then ran madly toward him.

In an instant, tears streamed uncontrollably from Zhu Guoxu's eyes.

Annie, he could see clearly now, Lei Xihuan was carrying Annie!

He quickly turned his head and wiped away his tears.

He was Zhu Guoxu, a man who never showed weakness or shed tears...

Annie's eyes were tightly closed, but she was still breathing.

When Lei Xihuan reached Zhu Guoxu, he said wearily:

"Mr. Zhu, if you're not busy, could you please call an ambulance for me..."

...

Annie was fine.

She had swallowed some water, been chilled, and caught a cold, which caused a fever. But these were not life-threatening. After a few days in the hospital, she would be back to her lively self, shopping in the mall.

But everyone looked at Lei Xihuan with shock.

Who was this young man? In the midst of a typhoon, in the raging sea, he had managed to rescue someone who had fallen in?

Was he even human?

How did he do it?

But no one could ask Lei Xihuan.

Even with his incredible strength, rescuing a person from the sea had almost drained him.

"Have some water." Zhu Guoxu poured a glass of water and placed it in front of Lei Xihuan: "This is the hospital director's office, rest here."

"Being rich is good, even the director's office can be given to you." Lei Xihuan drank some water and patted the pocket where Xiao Pang was sleeping.

Xiao Pang was also exhausted and had fallen asleep in his pocket.

Zhu Guoxu sat down opposite him: "Xihuan, you saved my son, and now you've saved my daughter. What do you want?"

"A set of clothes, a phone."

"What?" Zhu Guoxu was taken aback.

"A set of clothes, a phone." Lei Xihuan said matter-of-factly: "To save your daughter, I didn't even take off my clothes before diving in, and my phone is broken. It's not expensive, a cheap knockoff, but you should still compensate me, right?"

Zhu Guoxu smiled: "I like you, Lei Xihuan, I really do. Many people are ruined by greed. I used to say I might regret not bringing you into my company, and now I really do. I'll have my assistant arrange it tomorrow, the most expensive clothes, the best phone."

He didn't ask why Lei Xihuan was at the beach, or how he knew Annie had fallen in, or how he had rescued her.

To him, the process didn't matter; he only cared about the result.

And the result was that his son and daughter both owed this young man, Lei Xihuan, their lives.

"Annie likes you, go after her." Zhu Guoxu said suddenly.

"What?" This time it was Lei Xihuan's turn to ask.

"I said, Annie has a good impression of you, you can go after her." Zhu Guoxu smiled: "If you can win her over, that's your ability, and I promise not to interfere."

Lei Xihuan had never thought about it. He scratched his head: "Mr. Zhu, have you thought this through? I'm just a poor rural boy with nothing."

"Being poor is good, being a rural boy is good." Zhu Guoxu didn't seem to care: "A blank sheet of paper is easier to paint on. I can boldly shape you. Jin Yan is too weak, and Annie is a girl. If you can become my son-in-law, you'll be like a son to me. Plus, with your character, you won't mistreat Jin Yan in the future..."

You're thinking too far ahead, Lei Xihuan was a bit dazed.

Just suggesting something, and you're already thinking about marriage?

Zhu Guoxu looked at him and paused: "Besides, you're not completely without resources. Here, you saved my daughter, and though you don't want any reward, I don't want to owe you. I'll give you another month to raise the money."

"Raise money?" Lei Xihuan was confused.

Zhu Guoxu smiled, picked up his phone, and dialed a number. After a while, he said: "Lawyer Han, don't go to Xiantao Village tomorrow. Yes, wait for my call."

When he hung up, his gaze returned to Lei Xihuan: "Xihuan, you're smart, but I've been in this business for many years. What you thought of, I could also think of. You planned to move on Fairy Mountain early, and I also planned to move on Fairy Mountain."

Lei Xihuan smiled bitterly.

He had been so pleased with himself, thinking that by securing Fairy Mountain early, he would have an advantage in future negotiations, but Zhu Guoxu had already made his move.

With his wealth, 300,000 yuan was no problem.

"I've already found out that Xiantao Village offered you the contract for 300,000 yuan. Ha, that's ridiculously cheap." Zhu Guoxu's voice was mocking: "Such a valuable piece of land, yet they don't know how to develop it, wasting it. Using the money raised to enter an industry they don't understand. Xiantao Village's backwardness is due to the rigid and stubborn thinking of the village officials. You're good, knowing how to use your strengths to negotiate with me and gain an advantage. I really admire that..."

He took out a cigarette, but didn't smoke it, just held it to his nose.

Annie had once told him that Zhu Guoxu used to be a heavy smoker, smoking at least three packs a day, but after a health issue, the doctor advised him to quit, and he did, just smelling the cigarette when the craving hit. His willpower was evident.

He put the cigarette down: "I was planning to move before you, and I knew you were struggling with the contract fee, but since you saved my daughter, things have changed. I'll give you another month to raise the money, and during this time, I won't send anyone to Xiantao Village..."

Lei Xihuan took a deep breath.

Some things are hard to explain. If he hadn't come to Haishan, if it weren't for Xiao Pang's anger, Haishan 102 wouldn't have had an accident, and Annie wouldn't have fallen into the sea.

But then the contract for Fairy Mountain would have nothing to do with him, and Zhu Guoxu would have taken it by force with his wealth.

Now everything had changed dramatically.

Seeing Lei Xihuan silent, Zhu Guoxu asked: "Why didn't you ask me for a loan? 300,000 yuan is not a big deal for me, and you just saved my daughter's life."

"Someone once told me something." Lei Xihuan blinked: "In business, it's best to keep personal connections to a minimum. Otherwise, even if you create all the favorable conditions for me, the one who ultimately holds the dominant position will still be you."

Zhu Guoxu laughed again, this time genuinely: "I really like you more and more."