Jiang Feng noticed the reluctance in Situ Yan's smile and asked puzzledly, "What's wrong, have you encountered some difficulty?"
"No." Situ Yan shook her head, not revealing her situation to Jiang Feng because she knew telling him wouldn't help; this matter couldn't be resolved by force, and the He Family wasn't like the local families in Binhai. Once she made a promise, there was no turning back.
Jiang Feng wanted to ask more, but Chu Feifei had already walked up behind them. She looked at Situ Yan and asked, "Chief Situ, do you know the situation in the city now? How is my father?"
"Your father's funeral is today, if you go back now, you'll make it in time." Situ Yan replied.
Chu Feifei froze upon hearing this, then her face was filled with deep sorrow, and she immediately asked, "Is Chu Yan there?"
"Yes. I heard that yesterday several big shots of the Chu Family met up for a meeting and elected Chu Yan as the new chairman. He is now the new person in charge, and at your father's funeral and memorial, he is the main figure."
Even though Situ Yan had no particular liking for the Chu Family, it had nothing to do with Chu Feifei because she didn't take part in the early underworld battles of the Chu Family.
"That despicable bastard really took everything from my dad!" Chu Feifei said angrily, clenching her fists tightly.
"I haven't asked you what happened at White Ridge Cemetery that day. Zhu Ge Yuheng from the Chu Family contacted us, requesting an investigation, but I've been busy going out to sea looking for you all, so I haven't followed up on it and don't know the situation." Situ Yan said.
"It was that beast who killed my father and forced me to jump off the cliff!" Chu Feifei spoke with intense hatred, without hiding anything, she then recounted everything that happened that day to Situ Yan from beginning to end.
After hearing it, Situ Yan felt heavy-hearted, empathizing with Chu Feifei's plight and shocked by Chu Yan's ruthlessness!
"When we get back to shore, I'll personally take you back to the Chu Family, to unmask that hypocrite!" Situ Yan said coldly!
...
The morning passed by quickly.
After Chu Renxiong was cremated, Zhu Ge Yuheng and the other three big shots personally brought the ashes back to Emperor Garden and placed them in the spirit hall.
As afternoon arrived, guests who came to mourn started arriving one after another.
Chu Yan and Su Dieche, along with Zhu Ge Yuheng and other big shots, stood outside the villa welcoming the guests.
Amidst the crowd, Chu Yan stood out impeccably dressed. No one would have guessed that just this morning he had gone for three hundred rounds with Su Dieche in Chu Renxiong's bed, and now he was portraying the duty of a loyal and righteous adoptive son to perfection.
"Zhou Family, Chairman Zhou Rongfa has arrived!!!" With a loud announcement from the security chief outside, Zhou Rongfa, surrounded by several bodyguards and accompanied by his son Zhou Zikun, walked towards the spirit hall.
Both father and son were dressed in black, appearing solemn and serious, especially Zhou Rongfa, who had a good personal relationship with Chu Renxiong and was genuinely saddened by Chu Renxiong's sudden passing.
"Chairman Zhou, you're here!" Chu Yan greeted immediately, speaking very courteously.
"Xiao Yan, my condolences." Zhou Rongfa in turn comforted Chu Yan.
"Thank you, Chairman Zhou. I'll accompany you inside to offer some incense to my adoptive father." Although Chu Yan had climbed to the pinnacle of life, he did not act arrogantly. Instead, he behaved more humbly than usual, fully portraying the demeanor of a junior.
This was also a reminder from Su Dieche; one shouldn't get carried away with pride. He must earn a good reputation among these mourning big shots to truly make people view him differently and thus genuinely establish his own authority.
Accompanied by Chu Yan, Zhou Rongfa and his son entered the spirit hall and saw the luxuriously arranged incense table, displaying a large photo of the late Chu Renxiong, with his ashes arranged among a splendid array of flowers below. Sorehearted, Zhou Rongfa followed the local custom to offer incense to Chu Renxiong.
"President Chu, we were just having tea and chatting not long ago, and I never thought you'd now face mishap, separating us by life and death. I, Mr. Zhou, am deeply regretful and saddened. The person who ambushed and killed you will eventually be held accountable. May you rest in peace." Zhou Rongfa spoke while solemnly offering three sticks of incense for Chu Renxiong, then presented his monetary gift.
Chu Yan felt a bit guilty at once, especially after Zhou Rongfa finished speaking. He had an eerie feeling that Chu Renxiong's eyes in the black-and-white photo were staring straight at him, feeling inexplicably chilly. He immediately said to Zhou Rongfa, "Chairman Zhou, let me take you to the reception room. Please wait inside until the funeral begins."
"Alright." Zhou Rongfa nodded, coming here meant he would act as a guest follows the host, and he followed Chu Yan to the reception room.
Shortly after, Pan Haoting and his son Pan Sheng from the Pan Group also arrived, similarly dressed formally and solemnly, offering incense to Chu Renxiong with Chu Yan's accompaniment.
Pan Haoting also felt quite regretful over Chu Renxiong's sudden passing. They were people of the same era, who despite taking different paths understood how difficult it was to fight their way through during those times. Moreover, Chu Renxiong's conduct in the South City in recent years was well-known, having reciprocated relationships with many business leaders, making him a friend of substantial weight.
Unlike Pan Haoting's somberness, Pan Sheng did not express much sorrow. On the contrary, he seemed to find a hint of schadenfreude in it, only bowing ceremoniously a few times.
At that moment, Jiang Feng came to mind. Jiang Feng had previously relied on his good relations with Chu Renxiong to embarrass them, even causing him humiliation to the extent of being a joke within their circle for having to kneel publicly!
But now, with Chu Renxiong dead and his support lost, regretfully, Jiang Feng's whereabouts were also unknown, probably buried at sea. Otherwise, Pan Sheng would genuinely like to see Jiang Feng's reaction again.
After Pan Haoting sincerely offered a generous sum of money, the two were also invited into the reception room.
After that, more and more renowned and influential figures from the city, not ordinary people, all capable of mourning Chu Renxiong, began to arrive. Zhu Ge Yuheng, Tang Tianpeng, and the other three big shots were in charge of reception outside, while these guests queued up to offer incense to Chu Renxiong and present their monetary gifts.
Han Shilong and Han Shiliang arrived neither early nor late, attending partly for courtesy and partly to exhibit their status--with numerous major figures from the city present, people would gossip if they didn't show up.
"Chu Renxiong, so you have this day too!"
Han Shilong sneered coldly after offering incense to Chu Renxiong's portrait, inserting the incense upright before directly heading to the reception room.
Han Shiliang was responsible for placing the monetary gift, then exchanged a few meaningful glances with Chu Yan, conveying everything without words.
Four days ago, they both conspired with Mr. Scar, so Chu Yan's actions might deceive others but not them!
Now, with Chu Yan ascending to the top as the new leader of the Chu Family, deepening cooperation with the Han Group is inevitable.
Just as Chu Yan escorted the Han Brothers into the reception room, a loud announcement was heard from outside, "Chairwoman Feng Yueji of West City Fengyu Group has arrived!!!"
Chu Yan was instantly surprised, knowing one of the real main figures of today's gathering had arrived--the Wu Zetian of West City came visiting!