The next morning, the housekeeper prepared breakfast and served it on the table.

Feng Haoming came out of his room, glanced at Jiang Hao with a look of resentment, and then strode out of the house without eating.

After breakfast, just as Jiang Hao was about to leave, Feng Wanming asked in confusion, "Haozi, where are you heading so early?"

"To find an old acquaintance!" Jiang Hao replied.

"An old acquaintance?" Feng Wanming was puzzled. "Do you have acquaintances in Wuling City?"

It was understandable. From what he knew, Jiang Hao lived in a small mountain village in another province. How could he have acquaintances in Wuling City?

Jiang Hao simply nodded.

Today, he planned to look for Red Wolf's family, something he couldn't explain in detail to Feng Haoming, so he vaguely mentioned looking for an old acquaintance.

Since joining 'Wolf,' Red Wolf had never contacted his family, fearing that his identity as an assassin might endanger them. It had been seven years now.

Originally, he planned to retire after earning enough money, but an unexpected turn in a mission led to Red Wolf's death while saving him.

He had intended to visit Red Wolf's family after saving up some money, but unexpectedly, the kidnappers yesterday had generously given him sixty to seventy thousand, prompting him to move up his plans.

Feng Wanming didn't press further and just nodded. "Remember Uncle Feng's words when you're out. It's a sensitive time now, so avoid secluded places. By the way, what's your phone number?"

"I don't have a phone yet."

Jiang Hao wasn't lying. His old phone had been discarded abroad after his last mission failed. Bringing it back would have exposed his identity as an assassin.

Feng Wanming was slightly taken aback, not expecting Jiang Hao to be without a phone. "I'll have my secretary take you to the mall to buy a phone and some clothes later."

Jiang Hao's current clothes were all old ones given by villagers when he was recuperating in the mountain village, looking shabby and out of place in the big city.

"No need, I'll go buy it myself later." With that, Jiang Hao left the Feng Family and headed straight to the mall.

But he went to the mall not to buy clothes, but to buy a phone.

To him, clothes were just for covering the body, and their appearance didn't matter.

At the mall, he browsed around and stopped in front of a counter.

"Sir, which phone are you interested in?" A young woman in professional attire with a round face asked with a smile.

Jiang Hao pointed to a basic phone. "This one."

"If it's for your parents, I suggest getting a smartphone to ease their loneliness," the girl continued with a smile. "When children aren't home, they can video call. Elderly people are quite capable of learning, so you don't need to worry."

Jiang Hao glanced at the girl and said calmly, "I'm buying it for myself."

He had chosen this counter specifically for the basic phone.

He wasn't buying it because it was cheap but because it was durable and had a long standby time. The smart features were not only unnecessary for him but also unsafe.

The round-faced girl was slightly surprised that someone as young as Jiang Hao would choose a basic phone, but she quickly understood. Jiang Hao's shabby attire suggested financial difficulties, which might explain his choice.

She nodded, took a new basic phone from the cabinet behind her, and placed it in front of Jiang Hao. "One hundred and ninety-eight yuan."

Jiang Hao pulled out a wad of cash, extracted three hundred-yuan bills, and placed them in front of the girl. "Also, get me a number." He then placed his ID on the counter.

Assassins' identities were strictly confidential, even among organizations. If a mission required identity information, it was usually borrowed from others.

Jiang Hao's current identity was clean and could withstand any organizational scrutiny.

The salesgirl, who initially thought Jiang Hao was struggling financially, was surprised to see him pull out a large wad of cash, easily over ten thousand by her estimate.

If she knew Jiang Hao had another fifty to sixty thousand in his pocket, she would have been even more surprised.

After leaving the mall, Jiang Hao took an unlicensed taxi straight to Red Wolf's family address.

He avoided official taxis due to his habit of avoiding exposure, as they usually had internal and external cameras and GPS.

Even though he was returning to a normal life, old habits died hard.

After getting off, he followed Red Wolf's address to 38 Puyang Road in Changxing District.

Upon arrival, Jiang Hao discovered that Red Wolf's family had sold their home a year ago and moved elsewhere.

He asked the neighbors about Red Wolf's family's new location, but no one knew.

Before leaving, a kind neighbor informed him that a girl renting upstairs was close to Red Wolf's sister and might know where they moved.

However, the girl recently got a boyfriend and only returned once every ten days or so.

Jiang Hao couldn't wait there every day, so he left his phone number with a retired lady downstairs and gave her three hundred yuan as a service fee, instructing her to notify him when the girl returned.

On the way back, Jiang Hao pondered why Red Wolf's family suddenly sold their lifelong home and moved without anyone knowing their new location. It didn't make sense.

A sense of unease crept into his heart.

To access the premium content, go to [ pawread.com ].

...

In Wuling City, inside the presidential suite of the Five Continents Hotel.

Wan Zhiming was sleeping with a blonde beauty in his arms.

Knock, knock!

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

"Who has the nerve to disturb my sleep so early?" Wan Zhiming cursed upon being woken up.

"Young Master Wan, it's me!" came a deep male voice from outside.

Wan Zhiming nudged the blonde beauty beside him. "I have some business to attend to. You should leave." He then took a wad of cash from his bag and tossed it on the bed.

After the blonde left, the man outside entered.

The man, about twenty-five, was bald with a dragon tattoo on his right arm. His narrow features exuded a menacing aura, clearly not someone to be trifled with.

"Qiangzi, have you found out about the guy betrothed to Yiyun?"

As soon as the man entered, Wan Zhiming eagerly asked.

The bald man nodded. "I've got a rough idea." He lit a cigarette and continued, "The guy's name is Jiang Hao, a high school dropout. His father was a close comrade of Feng Wanming but died from injuries. His mother left, and the kid disappeared."

"Rumor has it he smuggled abroad to work illegally. Now he's back, probably because he heard about your engagement to Miss Feng and rushed back."

Hearing that the man engaged to Feng Yiyun was such a loser, Wan Zhiming gritted his teeth in anger. "Such a lowly waste, worse than a toad, a cockroach, a piece of shit!" His eyes bulged, and he spat as he spoke.

"Young Master Wan, if you hate Jiang Hao so much, why don't I take care of him for you? Rest assured, I'll do it without leaving a trace!" The bald man spoke of murder with a calm expression, clearly experienced.

Seeing Wan Zhiming remain silent, the bald man assumed he had permission and was about to leave.

"Wait!" Wan Zhiming called out, coldly saying, "Let's try diplomacy before force. I want to meet Yiyun first."

...

In a teahouse, inside a private room.

Wan Zhiming and Feng Yiyun sat across from each other.

"Brother Zhiming, why did you ask me out today?" Feng Yiyun sipped her tea, trying to hide her sorrowful expression.

She had a good impression of Wan Zhiming.

He had an excellent image, studied abroad like her, was handsome and courteous, and was the future heir of the Wan Group.

The marriage between the Feng and Wan families was a business alliance, but both parties were genuinely willing.

However, Jiang Hao's sudden appearance disrupted everything just as they were about to get engaged.

"Yiyun, you should know why I asked you here!" Wan Zhiming gazed at Feng Yiyun with deep affection. "Are you really willing to follow your father's arrangement and marry that stranger, that poor boy you know nothing about? Does he deserve you?"

"I met Jiang Hao when we were kids. His father was my father's closest comrade, who died saving my father." Feng Yiyun's voice was low. "I understand why my father wants me to marry Jiang Hao. It's a debt our Feng Family owes the Jiang Family."

Wan Zhiming suppressed his anger. "Yiyun, we're modern people, not living in the past feudal society. You've studied abroad. How can you willingly follow your father's arrangement?"

"Brother Zhiming, it's come to this. Let's accept reality. It's just that our fate was too shallow." Feng Yiyun's eyes shimmered with tears as she spoke.

"I won't accept reality!" Wan Zhiming couldn't contain his anger. "Your father has an ancient emperor's mindset, using his daughter's marriage to repay a debt. He's not fit to be a father."

"Don't speak about my father like that! No matter what, he's still my father!" Feng Yiyun stood up, glaring at Wan Zhiming in anger.

Though she defended her father, she internally agreed with Wan Zhiming. Otherwise, she wouldn't have resented her father and moved out to live in a hotel.

Wan Zhiming suppressed his anger and gently said, "Yiyun, why don't we elope? Go somewhere no one knows us, and return when the time is right."

He suggested eloping, hoping to consummate their relationship. Once Feng Yiyun was pregnant, Feng Wanming would have no choice but to agree.

Feng Yiyun shook her head in pain. "No, as a daughter, I can't do that. It would betray my father. He values promises above all. If I elope with you, it would be like killing him!"

"Your father kept his promise to his comrade, but what about my Wan Family?" Wan Zhiming gritted his teeth. "If all of Wuling knows I was rejected by the Feng Family, I'll be the biggest joke. Who will compensate me?"

"I apologize on behalf of my father to your family!" Feng Yiyun said, tears finally streaming down her face as she covered her mouth and hurriedly left the room.

Watching Feng Yiyun disappear through the door, Wan Zhiming's face darkened as he pulled out his phone and called Qiangzi.

Once connected, Wan Zhiming said in a low voice, "Qiangzi, proceed with the second plan."