The news of Feng Xiao's disappearance plunged the Feng family into utter shock. Their esteemed eldest young master, the heir apparent to the family's leadership, had vanished without a trace in Jiangnan City. No one could possibly accept such a development.
Especially not the Feng family patriarch. He had poured his life's energy into Feng Xiao, pinning his hopes on him to lead the Feng family to glory. Now, with his painstakingly cultivated heir missing, how could he not be distraught?
"Old Patriarch, should we report this to the enforcement team? Ask them to help search for the young master?"
Seeing the Patriarch wake up, the butler hurried forward to inquire.
The Patriarch's face was devoid of color. After being extorted by Ye Fan and then experiencing Feng Xiao's disappearance, his spirit had long since collapsed.
"You scoundrel."
To everyone's surprise, the Patriarch suddenly sat up from the bed and, with a raised hand, slapped the butler.
"Reporting this to the enforcement officers would be tantamount to telling all of Jiangnan City that the Feng family's eldest young master is missing! At that time, families hostile to the Feng family, like the Wang family, would surely seize the opportunity to make a move against Feng Xiao, and his life would be forfeit. After following me for so many years, you still don't understand such basic reasoning?"
The Patriarch roared in anger. They had been searching for two days and a night, yet there was still no news. Feng Xiao was likely in grave danger.
Just then, Feng Ting walked in slowly.
When the main stewards of the Feng family saw Feng Ting, they all looked at him with surprise. How could this usually sickly second young master appear so vibrant today? He didn't even need support to walk!
In the past, to deceive Feng Xiao, Feng Ting had pretended to be sickly every day, even needing someone to help him walk. The Feng family members were all accustomed to this.
"Grandfather, is there any news of Eldest Brother yet?"
Standing by the Patriarch's bed, Feng Ting asked in a low voice.
The Patriarch glanced at him impatiently.
"Are your eyes blind? Can't you see if there's any news?"
The Patriarch harbored a deep-seated dislike for Feng Ting and didn't even want to look at him.
Feng Ting was not angered by the Patriarch's attitude. Instead, he smiled slightly.
"Eldest Brother has many enemies. His notorious reputation spreads throughout Jiangnan City. Countless people would want him dead. Perhaps some enemy secretly took his life."
Boom!
These words were like a sudden clap of thunder in the quiet night, causing the Feng family stewards to look up, their faces filled with shock.
The Feng Patriarch's gaze immediately turned cold as he looked at Feng Ting. "Do you know something?"
His icy gaze fixed on Feng Ting, as if trying to see through his very soul.
Feng Ting, however, smiled and shook his head.
"Eldest Brother has done many bad things in the past. It's only natural for him to have enemies. Does Grandfather not know this?"
"Or, at this point, does Grandfather still intend to cover up for Eldest Brother?"
At this moment, Feng Ting was a far cry from the sickly person everyone knew.
Almost everyone's eyes widened as they looked at this unfamiliar second young master before them.
The Feng Patriarch also frowned deeply. "Feng Ting, are you speaking to me like this?"
His tone instantly turned serious, and the chill in his eyes intensified.
Sensing the cold aura emanating from the Patriarch, Feng Ting showed no fear. Instead, he smiled leisurely.
"Grandfather, you are also advanced in years. Your life's work has been wasted on Feng Xiao. Now that Feng Xiao is missing, what are your plans for the future of the Feng family? Currently, I am the only one left in the direct lineage of the Feng family."
Feng Ting stressed the last sentence.
This immediately ignited the Patriarch's anger, and he glared coldly at Feng Ting.
"Are you threatening me?"
The Patriarch asked furiously, his body trembling with rage.
Undeniably, within the Feng family, the Patriarch had always had absolute authority. No one had ever dared to threaten him.
Even Feng Xiao dared not. This was why, when Ye Fan came to extort them, Feng Xiao had obediently followed the Patriarch's orders.
But now, Feng Ting dared to act like this. Even the Patriarch was stunned.
Seeing the Patriarch's enraged expression, Feng Ting paid it no mind. The cold smile on his face grew even more pronounced.
"I am merely stating a fact. If Grandfather truly considers the family's interests, he should know what to do now, instead of wasting time on a futile search here."
With that, Feng Ting turned around and scanned the faces of the several chief stewards.
"This afternoon, I plan to convene a family meeting to discuss the family's current predicament. The Feng family is being suppressed by various forces and is struggling to survive. If we don't think of a solution, we may very well become a second-rate family. Rather than exhausting ourselves over trivial matters, it would be better to focus on handling the current crisis. If you wish to participate, I, Feng Ting, will await you this afternoon in the family's conference room."
With that, Feng Ting slowly left.
The stewards exchanged glances, their gazes all falling upon the Patriarch.
The Feng Patriarch's expression was grim, as if a storm was about to break.
"You all may leave."
Seeing the stewards' gazes, the Patriarch understood their thoughts and let out a helpless sigh.
These people were only concerned with the Feng family's future. They cared nothing for Feng Xiao's life or death.
Or rather, Feng Xiao was nothing more than an expendable person.
As for Feng Xiao's various misdeeds mentioned by Feng Ting, the Patriarch naturally knew about them, and the stewards were also well aware. Thus, they wished Feng Xiao would disappear forever.
The stewards sighed helplessly and then took their leave one by one.
What could have been a moment of turmoil was, under Feng Ting's forceful demeanor, quelled.
In the afternoon, in the Feng family's conference room, Feng Ting sat high in the main seat.
His expression was somber, and his eyes were tinged with coldness.
His gaze kept darting towards the doorway.
He was waiting for the stewards to arrive.
Feng Ting was gambling, staking the Feng family's current situation against his own future.
Five minutes passed, and still, no one arrived. This made Feng Ting somewhat puzzled. Had those people truly stopped caring about benefits?
In large families, only benefits were eternal. Feng Ting had known this all along, and it was precisely because of this that he had spoken those words in front of the Patriarch.
Another ten minutes passed, and finally, footsteps were heard from outside.
A cold smile touched Feng Ting's lips. It seemed he had guessed correctly.
Over a dozen stewards slowly walked in and approached Feng Ting.
"Second Young Master."
The dozen or so people bowed respectfully.
Seeing them so respectful, Feng Ting smiled and stood up.
"You are all the pillars of our Feng family. I am not worthy of such courtesy. Moreover, I am not one for many formalities. As long as the family develops well and everyone earns more, I will be content."
These pleasantries served to shorten the distance between them.