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The situation seemed to have been resolved, and Ding Fan was not inclined to pursue it further.
The shrewish woman had been taught a lesson, and Ding Fan had no desire to delve into a dispute with such a petty person. Xiao Ma, that vulgar individual, would probably not have an easy time afterwards.
Ding Fan didn't want to stay here any longer.
"Ruoran, let's go."
For Ding Fan to address her as Ruoran, Zhou Ruoran took a couple of looks at him, but didn't say anything at the moment. She lowered her head, ignoring Ding Fan, and walked away first.
It seemed like Ding Fan had solved the siege for her, but she didn't appreciate his help at all. Zhou Ruoran didn't believe that Ding Fan had saved her just to help her. Today's various performances of his were probably all for that big star to see, right?
It was absolutely so.
Ding Fan had no reason to save her. Although for a moment, Zhou Ruoran saw a trace of pity in Ding Fan's eyes, how could a playboy like him actually feel compassion for her?
When the Ding Family was still around, he treated her like a servant; if she didn't serve well, he would scold and hit her. Even her disfigured looks were due to his insults.
If Ding Fan hadn't joined in the bullying, that would have been enough, but his intervention could only mean one thing.
That was Ding Fan wanted to show his heroism in front of the big star in order to please that actress. Zhou Ruoran clearly remembered, at the crucial moment, Lin Qingqing affectionately calling Ding Fan 'Brother Fan.' ...
With Zhou Ruoran having left, Ding Fan was about to follow.
"Brother Ding, our meeting today must be fate. Why don't you leave your phone number so we can stay in touch?" Lin Zhanting said eagerly.
Ding Fan shook his head slightly. "I really don't have a phone."
Ding Fan was speaking the truth. He really didn't have a phone.
Lin Qingqing glanced at Ding Fan. Now that mobile phones were so common, who wouldn't have a phone? But from what she knew of him during this time, she didn't think Ding Fan was someone who lied. She became even more curious about him.
Lin Zhanting just smiled without minding. "Well, if that's the case, here's my phone number. If you ever need anything, feel free to call me."
While speaking, Lin Zhanting handed a business card to Ding Fan.
Ding Fan glanced at the text on the card.
'General Manager of Tianyang Company in Honggang City, Lin Zhanting.'
"Here's my card," Lin Qingqing said, emulating her brother Lin Zhanting and handing her card to Ding Fan.
"Once you have a phone, make sure to call," Lin Qingqing said somewhat playfully, winking her right eye as if worried Ding Fan wouldn't call them.
Ding Fan nodded. He liked the personalities of these siblings and, after taking Lin Qingqing's card, placed it in his pocket.
With a simple goodbye, Ding Fan went off to catch up with Zhou Ruoran.
Feng Yunsheng, who had been silent all along, firmly remembered Ding Fan—simply because Ding Fan was a friend of the Lin Family.
The Lin siblings' family had a very strong background. Although they could not compare to the Four Great Families in Huaxia Country on the mainland, the Lin Family's influence was immense in Yahuan State. Tianyang Group, owned by the Lin Family, had businesses in fifteen countries across Yahuan State. It was said that the Lin Family was now assessing the mainland market and would soon expand its operations there.
Once the Lin Family's business extends to the mainland, it would not take many years for them to join the ranks of the new elite in the inland market.
The national leaders also place great importance on the Lin Family, and the reason the Lin Family was able to visit the mainland for inspections this time was because the national leaders visited the helmsman of the Lin Family several times, finally achieving that effect.
So, for ordinary people to be able to curry favor with someone from the Lin Family, that would be a fortune they couldn't cultivate in several lifetimes. And judging from Lin Zhanting and Lin Qingqing's attitude just now, the two of them even seemed to be currying favor with that young man named Ding Fan.
Feng Yunsheng thought about arranging someone to look into Ding Fan's background later. If he could use this person to get closer to the Lin Family, even a casual appointment as a regional agent from the Lin Family would be like a chicken flying to the heavens. After all, if it wasn't for the matter involving Ding Fan, the Lin siblings wouldn't normally give him the time of day.
"Director Lin, the unpleasant matter has been resolved, you see, I have arranged a banquet in the VIP room..." Feng Yunsheng said to Lin Zhanting, who was by his side.
"No need, I only came here today to treat my friend," Lin Zhanting waved his hand right away, showing no interest in having a meal with Feng Yunsheng.
As soon as Lin Zhanting and Lin Qingqing arrived at the Phoenix Building, Feng Yunsheng hurried over, but seeing that Ding Fan had gone out looking a bit off, they originally wanted to check on him. At that moment, Feng Yunsheng came over, and the group ended up appearing here together.
Although he was rejected, Feng Yunsheng wasn't unhappy. He was self-aware enough to realize that the gap between him and them was indeed too big.
"Manager Zhang, that employee just now offended Director Lin's friend. I'll leave this matter to you to handle, to make sure Director Lin's friend doesn't harbor any resentment," Feng Yunsheng told the woman with the sallow complexion beside him.
Although the order was given to his subordinate, the action was meant to show the Lin siblings.
At this time, the woman with the sallow complexion certainly understood her boss's intent. She quickly stood up. "General Manager, Director Lin, please rest assured, I will definitely resolve this matter properly. Moreover, I also misunderstood Director Lin's friend before, I will go and apologize in person."
"There's no need to apologize," Lin Zhanting waved his hand. "My friend likes peace and quiet. It's best you don't disturb him."
Although their interaction had been brief, Lin Zhanting knew that Ding Fan definitely wouldn't like this sallow-faced woman bothering him.
"Alright then, I will go and strictly punish the subordinate who was rude to Director Lin's friend," the sallow-faced woman said, busying herself.
"That's your business, if there's nothing else, I will be leaving first," Lin Zhanting said, and without further ado, he took his sister Lin Qingqing by the hand and left.
...
Zhou Ruoran walked very quickly all the way, almost not caring about Ding Fan behind her. When she got back home, she suddenly felt aggrieved and locked herself in the bedroom.
The Ding Family was gone now, and she was truly alone. Just like today's incident, if Ding Fan hadn't put on a show in front of the actress and inadvertently helped her, she might have completely lost the opportunity to be admitted as a graduate student at the Central Institute of Politics and Law.
Sob sob... Zhou Ruoran cried...
Although Zhou Ruoran always appeared very strong in front of others, she had been neglecting sleep and meals for the sake of academic achievement, often studying all night. During her university years, so she wouldn't have to spend the Ding Family's money, she worked during the winter and summer breaks. The medical expenses for Ding Fan's hospitalization were what she had saved up bit by bit...
But no matter how strong Zhou Ruoran was, she was still just an ordinary woman. She too wished that when something happened, there would be a shoulder to lean on, someone to consult with... even if it was just someone to wipe away her tears when she was being bullied.
Today, when she was most helpless, Ding Fan stood up for her. He shielded her from the storm, but the ridiculous part was that everything Ding Fan did wasn't for her, it was all a performance for that actress.
At that time, if the actress hadn't been there, and she was bullied, would Ding Fan have stepped in to help?
Zhou Ruoran, with tears in her eyes, let out a bitter smile. No, he definitely wouldn't have...
Zhou Ruoran touched the scar on her left cheek with her hand. There was no reason for him to save her. In Ding Fan's eyes, she was nothing more than a servant.
But why was she crying? What was wrong with her? Did she actually want to be saved by that profligate young master? Why did she suddenly start to care about Ding Fan...
Zhou Ruoran shook her head, perhaps it was because there had been too much pent up in her heart recently...
...