However, seeing that Ji Tong was only a little tired and unharmed from the recent fight, Zhan Mohan could tell that he had not had an easy time abroad over the years.
Moreover, the fact that he could accurately pinpoint his whereabouts suggested he had been observing for a long time. Zhan Mohan also had another bold guess.
"Jiang Siyu was also helped out by you."
Upon hearing this, Ji Tong feigned applause, "President Zhan is truly wise; you've guessed it. We are both down on our luck, both harmed by you, so naturally, I had to help her."
Zhan Mohan truly couldn't fathom how his reach extended so far, even to interfere in domestic affairs.
But Ji Tong didn't seem inclined to settle things today. Instead, he walked to the door and made a "please" gesture.
"President Zhan, you should tend to your wounds. When you're better, we can continue to play."
Seeing that he seemed intent on a prolonged struggle, Zhan Mohan knew it wasn't the time to conclude matters and didn't push his luck.
"Yichen, let's go."
Now that they were both clear about their opponent, there was no rush to resolve the conflict. They didn't need to confront him forcefully when they clearly wouldn't gain any advantage.
Leaving the villa, both men were in low spirits. It was evident they had underestimated their opponent. Ji Tong must have experienced a great deal during his years abroad and achieved significant success there, otherwise, he wouldn't possess such financial resources.
As for Zhan Yichen, his thoughts were entirely consumed by the incident of Mu Linjing being thrown into the sea. Even though he didn't show it, his face was etched with pain.
Zhan Mohan, fearful that Wei Yumeng would find out, specifically warned him not to mention it.
However, with Mu Linjing's whereabouts still unknown, Wei Yumeng couldn't help but prepare for the worst.
After being missing for two years, she would be declared dead. She didn't know how she would face Lin Jing's parents if her whereabouts remained undiscovered by then.
Upon their return, Zhan Mohan's immediate action was to enhance the security at home. Based on Ji Tong's words, he would surely target Wei Yumeng and even the children, who were Zhan Mohan's weakness. Precaution was essential.
Seeing the sudden influx of bodyguards, Wei Yumeng couldn't help but sense the gravity of the situation. Once they were back in their private bedroom, she immediately asked, "Did something happen? Why are there so many more security guards at home?"
Zhan Mohan nodded but didn't elaborate, "Try to go out as little as possible during this period, or better yet, don't go out at all. Once I've handled things outside, you can go wherever you want."
Wei Yumeng didn't press further, only urging him to find Mu Linjing's whereabouts quickly.
"These days, Lin Jing's parents have been frantic because they can't reach her. I've only been able to tell them that Lin Jing is studying abroad and contact is inconvenient. But the Lunar New Year is only a few months away, and she has to come home. What will we do if she's still missing then?"
Mentioning Mu Linjing's issue made Zhan Mohan uneasy. Although he repeatedly told Zhan Yichen that not finding her didn't mean all hope was lost, that was mostly to prevent Zhan Yichen from falling into despair day after day.
From his own perspective, Mu Linjing was already gone and could no longer be found.
His prolonged silence made Wei Yumeng suspicious, "Do you know something?"
He flatly denied it, "No, I'm just thinking about what other ways there are to find her."
Although she found his reaction a bit strange, Wei Yumeng didn't ask any more questions. After all, some things, when truly spoken, were heart-wrenching.
Not explicitly stating something wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Often, people liked to deceive themselves for a reason; at least it provided some solace.
"By the way, Grandpa hasn't been feeling well these past few days. I'd like to take him for a check-up when I have time. Elderly people's health always requires extra attention."
Zhan Mohan lowered his head and kissed her forehead, "You've worked hard, my dear."
"What's hard about it? Isn't it our duty to show filial piety to Grandpa together?"
Too many things had happened recently. Even though Grandpa Zhan had once held absolute power in the Zhan family, he was old. The emotional distress from Wen Yulan's incident had taken a toll, and he hadn't recovered. An examination was necessary.
Zhan Mohan instructed her to bring several bodyguards when she went, which made her uneasy. Zhan Mohan rarely exhibited such extreme caution unless he knew something untoward was about to happen.
Despite their unspoken understanding where one wouldn't ask if the other didn't speak, they were intimately connected and could sense each other's unease.
However, at present, they couldn't even comfort themselves, let alone calm each other.
Zhan Mohan had to admit that Ji Tong was a formidable opponent, posing pressure from all sides. The fact that he could make these arrangements without his knowledge demonstrated his depth of calculation and the vast reach of his current influence.
That evening, Wei Yumeng went to discuss taking Grandpa Zhan for a check-up the next day.
Grandpa Zhan was initially reluctant, "I'm fine, just haven't been sleeping well lately. Why go to the hospital? I can't stand the smell of disinfectant."
It was said that the older one gets, the more childlike one becomes, and the elderly needed coaxing. This held true for Grandpa Zhan.
Wei Yumeng smiled and sat beside him, "Grandpa, we don't go to the hospital more than a few times a year. I know you're healthy; we just want to go to the hospital to ease our minds. You see how busy Yichen and Mohan are every day? They can only feel at ease if you're well, right?"
Seeing the additional security guards at home, Grandpa Zhan knew that these two brothers had encountered a tough opponent this time.
Though he was old and couldn't help much, he didn't want to be a burden to the younger generation.
Besides, Wei Yumeng had already provided him with a way out, so he gracefully accepted.
He let out a sigh of resignation, "Since you've said so, we'll get checked tomorrow to put your minds at ease, alright?"
"Thank you, Grandpa."
Wei Yumeng smiled, realizing that Grandpa Zhan wasn't that difficult to persuade. Finding the right approach and going along with his temperament always worked.
If only Mu Linjing could also marry in, how wonderful it would be.
Thinking of Mu Linjing, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. Grandpa Zhan, seeing through her thoughts, patted her hand.
"If we can find Shi Ming, we might be able to find out about that girl Lin Jing's whereabouts."
Wen Yulan had openly admitted in front of the whole family that she had faked her death with the help of Feng Shixing. Wei Yumeng remembered this and understood that Grandpa Zhan was pointing her in a direction.