Reflecting on it now, it seemed that my sister must have already made plans.

Without telling me, she went to Shanghai by herself to continue her studies.

Her purpose in doing so was mostly to distance herself from me...

Xia Yanyu had already asked our mother, and indeed, my sister went to Shanghai alone.

But what can you do once you know the outcome?

Xia Yanyu looked helplessly at Xu Fan beside her and smiled bitterly; she truly didn't know how to face her sister at this moment.

It was not possible to go to Shanghai and bring her sister back.

"..."

Having listened to Xia Yanyu detail everything, Xu Fan's expression was also not very good.

After all, Shanghai was Ke Family's territory; that girl running back there again would surely mean falling right under the Ke Family's watchful eyes, wouldn't it?

He felt worried and helpless at the same time.

The sisters each had their own difficulties; it really wasn't anyone's fault.

Having sighed, Xu Fan gently patted Xia Yanyu's back, comforting her, "Alright, don't worry now. I'll take care of Xiao Die from now on."

"Eh?"

Hearing Xu Fan's words, Xia Yanyu looked up in shock and gazed at him.

Xu Fan smiled and explained, "In the coming time, I might need to head over to Shanghai. Yes, there are many things I need to handle personally."

Now that Xu Fan was the Pavilion Master of Lingyan Pavilion, Xia Yanyu could roughly understand what he meant by those things.

"But…"

Yet Xia Yanyu still felt uneasy. By now, her sister was utterly disappointed in her, and Xu Fan, she feared, might end up implicated as well...

If he went to take care of Xiao Die, would Xiao Die appreciate it?

"Don't worry, the thing I'm best at isn't having a thick skin?"

Seeing Xia Yanyu's worried expression, Xu Fan winked and teased her.

"Xu Fan..."

Thinking of something, Xia Yanyu looked earnestly at Xu Fan and said, "If it's really impossible, then should we just... "

She couldn't finish her sentence. Between her sister and Xu Fan, she truly couldn't decide. Which one to choose?

Giving up either of them would be incredibly hard.

"Alright, don't think too much."

Not wanting Xia Yanyu to suffer too much over such a troubling dilemma, Xu Fan then patted her shoulder, urging her not to overthink things.

Everything will straighten out when it comes to the crunch; overthinking will only cause unnecessary headaches.

After comforting Xia Yanyu until she felt a bit better, Xu Fan stood up and left.

Before leaving, Xia Yanyu did not forget to implore him to keep her sister safe and sound.

The sisters depended on each other with deep emotional ties; the current situation, Xu Fan felt, could only be described as fate playing tricks on them.

...

After leaving Xia Group, Xu Fan notified Xiao Lan and then went straight back to the Lingyan Pavilion Clubhouse.

By the time he arrived, Zhou Zhanlong, Hu Busan, He Si, and the others were all already in place.

Xu Fan, now sitting in the main seat, first inquired about the situation with Zhou Zhanlong and Hu Busan.

Just as Xu Fan had expected, they indeed encountered a bit of trouble when they left that day.

However, the time was too short for Ke Bancheng to exert much force, and both of them got through without any real danger.

Following that, after everyone reported all the matters, Xu Fan looked towards Xiao Lan.

"Lan, I have a favor to ask of you."

"Hmm?"

Xiao Lan was startled and looked at Xu Fan with confusion, not quite understanding what he could possibly need from her.

"Go ahead."

"Do you think there's a way to arrange for me to go to Fudan University?"

Xu Fan said to Xiao Lan.

From what he had learned from Xia Yanyu, Xia Xiaodie had left Jinling and was directly arranged by her family to study at Fudan.

Xu Fan was very clear that he couldn't possibly bring her back from Shanghai at this moment. Therefore, if he could stay by her side, he could ensure she wouldn't be harmed.

Now standing in opposition to the major families in Shanghai, he himself needed to join the battlefield. This arrangement would conveniently take care of both sides.

"This shouldn't be too much of a problem. Leave it to me,"

Xiao Lan said with a smile, seemingly understanding Xu Fan's purpose behind this arrangement.

"Master, this…"

While pondering over the matter of applying for a leave of absence from school, Hu Busan, seated below, hesitantly started to speak.

From Xu Fan's intention, it seemed he was ready to start a clash with the forces in Shanghai.

It wasn't that Hu Busan was cowardly; it was just that from his trip to Shanghai, he had seen that the forces Lingyan Pavilion could mobilize there were not substantial.

Heading over now seemed too rash.

He felt the safest option was to wait a while longer until their preparations were more thorough and complete.

"Master, I also think the same way…"

Zhou Zhanlong nodded in agreement at this moment.

Even someone as impetuous as him thought Xu Fan's decision this time was too risky.

Lingyan Pavilion had only just begun to hold its head high with a glimmer of hope; neither Zhou Zhanlong nor Hu Busan wanted to see that spark of hope extinguished so simply.

Seeing everyone trying to persuade him, Xu Fan couldn't help but smile.

Indeed, from their perspective, his decision was akin to walking a tightrope at a great height. However, Xu Fan didn't see it that way.

"Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the Earth," not to mention the entire Earth, but just taking Shanghai as an example, if he utilized the Qing Gang, his hidden ace, properly, he believed he could gain quite an advantage.

Not to mention Li Qinghe, who had already sided with him, as well as Dong Buwang, that cur.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Fan explained, "I know what you're worried about, and I thank you for your concern."

"However, Zhou Zhanlong, Hu Busan, have you forgotten that I just came back today?"

"This?"

Reminded by Xu Fan, light dawned in the two men's eyes as they recalled this fact.

But they quickly felt something was amiss.

Even if Xu Fan had stayed in Shanghai for a few more days, it was only a few days. What could he have accomplished in such a short time?

Shaking their heads, the two men were unclear.

Seeing them wracking their brains, Xu Fan decided to keep them in suspense, smiling and saying, "Alright, there's no need to guess too much. When the time is ripe, you'll naturally find out."

"Let's end it here for today. In a few days, Zhou Zhanlong, and you, He Si, I'll have some tasks for you to handle."

After roughly instructing them on various matters, Xu Fan dismissed the group.

Now, only he and Xiao Lan were left in the clubhouse.

"Heh heh, Lan, let's go home."

Being all smiles and sticking close to Xiao Lan, Xu Fan got into her car and then asked, "By the way, Lan, where are those two from my place?"

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