Zheng Tian watched him for a moment, then slowly said, "Has Fei’Er ever told you about her mother’s background?"

Li Yan frowned slightly. Could it be related to her mother’s family?

"She said Old Man Mu told her that her mother was born into an old, prominent family that went overseas for adventure and business in the late Qing Dynasty. After nearly two hundred years and generations of efforts, they amassed a significant business empire. Her mother met you while managing the family business on Cloud Island. Because you were a married man, there was an age difference, and you couldn’t divorce, her family absolutely didn’t agree, yet she ultimately chose to be with you. Her family background, the estrangement to the point of severing ties, none of this she told you... Generally, that’s what she said. As for which exact family, and what happened later, I’m not clear, perhaps Nian Yufei isn’t very clear either..."

At this point, Li Yan stopped, noting that Zheng Tian seemed to be somewhat overwhelmed with tears.

Seeing him pause, Zheng Tian took out a handkerchief to wipe his tears. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

"It’s like this, years ago, her mother made a bold choice to be with me. She never mentioned the difficulties she faced, including losing her career, breaking ties with her family, I only learned about these later... Your words reminded me of Fei’Er’s mother, which is why I lost composure..."

Li Yan didn’t know what to say. Just moments before, before his bodyguards, subordinates, and son, he still possessed absolute authority, exuding a majestic presence without anger. But now, hearing the recounting of his lover’s past, he was moved to tears. It’s hard to believe; if he’s not a skillful actor, then he is a man of deep emotions. Given his status, there’s no need to act.

Zheng Tian wiped his tears again, quickly regaining his composure.

"In the end, who was trying to kill Fei’Er’s mother and daughter all those years? Fei’Er still doesn’t know. However, you’re no ordinary person. I believe you should consider things more than a young girl, right?"

Li Yan shook his head, "Her mother had already severed ties with the family and handed over the management rights of the Cloud Island business; the other members or enemies of her mother’s family shouldn’t want to eliminate her. I don’t know anything else and haven’t thought much about it."

Zheng Tian nodded, "Ultimately, this is our matter, and you’re merely Fei’Er’s friend. Let me tell you, things that Fei’Er doesn’t know..."

It turns out, Nian Yufei’s grandfather was once the head of the most powerful branch of the family. Her mother was exceptionally beautiful and capable, evident from her young age managing the family’s affairs on Cloud Island. A girl with a good family background and excellent qualities naturally wouldn’t lack suitors. One of her ardent pursuers back then, due to his family’s decline, wished to achieve financial and romantic success through her, using her family’s background to restore the brilliance of his own family’s business.

However, that person was already beneath Nian Yufei’s mother, let alone his opportunistic intentions? So she directly rejected him. Because of his frenzied pursuit, when rejection failed repeatedly, she finally had to say some very hurtful words to beat him back.

That person, already crazed, faced with shattered hopes and dashed expectations, began to go to extremes. He considered Nian Yufei’s mother as the enemy who ruined his family’s revival. Anyway, he couldn’t restore his family’s business, so he made an extreme decision, hiring assassins with the intent to kill Nian Yufei’s mother. Since he couldn’t have her, he wouldn’t allow anyone else to have her either. Old Man Mu was always protecting Nian Yufei’s mother, and this wasn’t a high-level assassination attempt, so it naturally failed.

And Nian Yufei’s mother’s family, upon learning about this, utilized the family business and wealth in various locations to crush that person, instantly leading the already declining family to ruin and failure. But that was merely a commercial hit in public; Nian Yufei’s mother didn’t pursue him personally.

A camel that has died of thirst is still larger than a horse; a rotten ship still has three pounds of nails. Even at that time, had he retreated, although he couldn’t rise again, he could still lead a decent life.

Yet, that person disappeared. He didn’t surrender or fear, instead chose greater extremes, believing Nian Yufei’s mother intended to destroy him and his family, escalating his hatred. He decided to use all his remaining money to support and train an assassin organization!

He adopted the strategy of lying low with the intention of revenge, adhering to the belief that a gentleman’s revenge can wait ten years, vanishing while dedicating himself entirely to building an assassin organization.

Back then, Nian Yufei’s mother and others believed he had simply failed and gone to an unknown place to live a secluded life of disappointment. No one imagined his hatred had burgeoned; the assassin organization’s matter became known only many years later.

Ten years later, Nian Yufei’s mother had nearly forgotten that person, meeting Zheng Tian on Cloud Island, and together they fell in love, resulting in Nian Yufei’s birth. That person, with the forces he had cultivated, sought to exact revenge. But he discovered not only Old Man Mu, the once successful bodyguard, but Zheng Tian was no ordinary businessman. Imagine the current Zheng Tian, who still takes several armed bodyguards with him on outings, even if he’s no longer involved in previous conflicts.

Though he had long returned, becoming a legitimate businessman, those past grievances didn’t mean they’d be erased completely. Surrounding him were still many, albeit no longer under the titles of gang members or thugs, now named as security or bodyguards.