All the young masters showed astonishment and exchanged glances.
Shang Yazhi suddenly understood, slapping his forehead. So that's how it was! That's why Father treated these two with courtesy!
As the veil of mystery was lifted, Shang Yazhi's gaze toward Fang Yuan hid deep hatred.
He was no longer afraid.
Now that I know your background, after I pass this evaluation and catch my breath, I'll slowly deal with you two bastards!
For a moment, silence reigned in the small yard.
Shang Yanfei smiled, scanning the surroundings, giving everyone time to process.
Fang Yuan "cooperatively" showed shock, mixed with realization and doubt, murmuring, “Could it be?”
“Correct.” Shang Yanfei looked at him and nodded. “She is exactly the Miss Zhang whom you two escorted on your business trip. She is my daughter. The moment she stepped into Shang City, I sensed her bloodline, and we have already been reunited.”
“Zhang Xinci!” Bai Ningbing blurted out.
Shang Yanfei laughed heartily. “Hehehe, now she no longer bears the surname Zhang, but Shang. You two saved my beloved daughter's life, and so you are benefactors of our Shang clan. You deserve a toast from the whole family.”
As he spoke, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open.
The young Gu master Tian Lan, dressed as a maidservant, pushed the door open and returned to Shang Xinci's side.
“Miss…” Xiao Die looked at the people in the yard, feeling timid.
“Let's go in.” Shang Xinci exhaled a turbid breath and, under everyone's gaze, walked into the courtyard.
Suddenly, she stopped, and a mix of surprise and delight appeared on her face.
She saw Fang Yuan and Bai Ningbing.
“It really is her!” At the sight of Shang Xinci, Bai Ningbing's pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks. She was utterly shocked!
No one present understood the magnitude of her shock.
That shock in Bai Ningbing's heart did not come from Shang Xinci, but from Fang Yuan.
She was sharp as ice. The moment Shang Xinci appeared, she understood everything and finally knew the true purpose Fang Yuan had been hiding!
Zhang Xinci was Shang Xinci, so he had protected her all along. How did he know her identity? Could all of this be his scheme?
For a moment, Bai Ningbing's thoughts churned. Waves surged in her heart.
“Brother Heitu, Sister Baiyun, how are you here?” Shang Xinci stared at Fang Yuan without blinking, her eyes shining.
“Cier, I told you I would give you a surprise. Was I wrong?” Shang Yanfei smiled warmly.
Shang Xinci performed a bow. “Thank you, Father. This is the happiest day since I came to Shang City.”
After these days of confusion, she had accepted the fact that Shang Yanfei was her biological father.
No matter how much Father had wronged Mother, he was still her family!
Even if Shang Xinci still held resentment and hatred toward Shang Yanfei, the deep bond of kinship, for her kind-hearted nature, could never be severed.
Hearing Shang Xinci call him Father for the first time, Shang Yanfei's lips curled into a broad smile.
Shang Xinci turned around and, with a hint of anxiety, explained to Fang Yuan, “Brother Heitu, I didn't mean to deceive you. Before she passed away, Mother instructed me to go to Shang City. I only understood her intentions after meeting Father.”
These words struck Bai Ningbing's heart like a thunderbolt.
Her icy blue eyes narrowed. Extreme shock and confusion filled her heart: “Even Shang Xinci didn't know her own identity? Why? How does Fang Yuan know everything?”
Originally, Fang Yuan had been shrouded in mist in her eyes, unclear.
Now, the mist in Bai Ningbing's heart thickened, and Fang Yuan became even more mysterious!
“So that's how it is. I wondered why the Shang clan was so courteous to me. So that's how it is…” Fang Yuan looked up and sighed, then slowly shook his head in disbelief. “I never thought, truly never thought that you would be the Shang clan leader's daughter!”
“Brother Heitu, can you forgive me?” Shang Xinci clenched her hands, her voice tense.
Shang Yanfei frowned slightly, seeing his daughter's expression and tone; it seemed this boy weighed heavily in her heart.
Fang Yuan laughed heartily. “It's no problem. How could I blame you? Ignorance is innocence. In fact, I also deceived you.”
“What?” Shang Xinci was taken aback.
Fang Yuan rubbed his nose. “Heitu and Baiyun are just aliases.”
Shang Xinci immediately smiled and said softly, “I already guessed that long ago.”
Fang Yuan deliberately hesitated, then finally gritted his teeth and clasped his fists. “I'm ashamed to say this, but my real name is Gu Yue Fang Zheng, and this is my companion Bai Ningbing.”
“Gu Yue Fang Zheng, Fang Zheng…” Shang Xinci repeated the name to herself, etching it in her memory.
Shang Yanfei's smile grew even wider; he appreciated Fang Yuan's candor.
In fact, he had already conducted a thorough investigation.
Although Gu Yue Village had been destroyed, the Shang clan had immense resources and had obtained much intelligence from the Jia clan.
There was indeed a Gu Yue Fang Zheng in Gu Yue Village, a youth with Grade A talent who was being groomed as the clan leader's successor.
Similarly, Bai Ningbing had been designated as the heir of Bai Village.
Both had reputations as geniuses.