Chapter 696 : Private Meeting
Chapter 696: Private Meeting
On the day Chen Fan returned to Yunhai, Fang Ling couldn't wait to come and find him.
It seemed she was truly desperate.
"How do you want me to help you?" Chen Fan asked, catching Fang Ling off guard with his first sentence.
"What do you mean? Didn't... didn't you say you would lend me money?" she stammered.
"You don't want to lend me money anymore?"
Chen Fan shook his head with a smile: "That's not what I meant."
"I'm asking how you want me to help you?"
"Doesn't your family owe the bank 60 million yuan? Is paying back this 60 million all you need to avoid marrying that rich second generation?"
Fang Ling fell silent.
"If we pay back the 60 million, my family can temporarily solve the bank's problem, but as for the family business..." She shook her head. "Anyway, I don't care anymore. As for the rest, let them figure it out."
Chen Fan smiled and said, "I think you're considering this too simply."
"If your family's problems aren't solved, I estimate your marriage issue will never be resolved."
"Then what do you suggest?" Fang Ling asked, feeling a bit dejected.
"Did you previously agree to the marriage?"
Fang Ling's eyes immediately became evasive.
"I... I had no choice. After all, I'm part of the Fang family, I couldn't just..."
Chen Fan sighed, "I understand."
"Find some time for me to meet with your father. I'll talk to him and see if we can properly handle this problem."
Fang Ling's eyes lit up.
"You have a solution?"
Chen Fan smiled, "Solutions are always thought up by people. We have to at least try."
Fang Ling felt a bit embarrassed.
"Actually, you agreeing to lend me money is already a big help."
Chen Fan waved his hand: "Let's not talk about that now. Go back and discuss with your father, see if we can arrange a time to meet."
"Oh... okay."
Fang Ling stood up to leave. When she reached the door, she suddenly turned back.
"Chen Fan, thank you."
Chen Fan smiled and waved.
After seeing Fang Ling off, Chen Fan received a call from Guo Wendong.
"The mayor's office called?"
Chen Fan was a bit surprised: "Did they say what it was about?"
"They said if you have time tomorrow, the mayor would like to meet with you."
"But they didn't say what it was about over the phone."
Chen Fan was puzzled: "Is there some big business conference tomorrow?"
"No. The mayor wants to meet you privately."
"A private meeting?"
Chen Fan suddenly recalled his last meeting with Tong Haoran.
A private meeting?
What was his purpose?
"Tell them I'll be there on time tomorrow."
"Alright."
After hanging up, Chen Fan fell into deep thought.
For this kind of invitation, although it was just a polite inquiry, he couldn't casually refuse.
He had to go no matter what.
But Chen Fan couldn't understand why Mayor Tong wanted to see him.
Especially remembering Mayor Tong's warning at the end of their last meeting.
Chen Fan felt somewhat helpless.
He had a feeling this meeting wouldn't be about anything good.
The next morning, Chen Fan drove himself to the location mentioned in the phone call, without bringing a driver.
The meeting place wasn't some high-end club, nor was it at the city office, but a very ordinary leisure farmhouse.
After parking his car at the entrance, Chen Fan curiously looked around.
Confirming that this was indeed a very ordinary farmhouse, he became even more confused about the other party's intentions.
Why meet in a place like this?
Wasn't he afraid of being seen by someone with ulterior motives and having unfavorable rumors spread about him?
Just as Chen Fan was about to make a phone call, his gaze suddenly froze, and then he put down his phone, feeling a bit speechless.
"Say, why are you here too?"
Across from him, Tong Yao was wearing a super short skirt, showing off her two snow-white long legs, looking youthful and vibrant.
The girl was wearing a straw fisherman's hat on her head and was looking at Chen Fan with a bored expression.
"Why can't I be here?"
Chen Fan smiled as he approached her, "Did your dad send you to receive me?"
"What else? You think just anyone has the privilege to have this young lady personally come out to welcome them."
"Follow me."
Tong Yao turned and led the way in front, the two of them passing through a patch of tall bamboo.
"Where is this place?" Chen Fan asked with a smile. "I never knew Yunhai had such a leisurely place."
"Stop trying to pump me for information." Tong Yao glanced back at Chen Fan.
"The one meeting you today is my dad. I'm just responsible for showing you the way. I don't know anything else."
"However... this farmhouse belongs to my second uncle. My dad likes to come here to fish when he has nothing to do."
Hearing this, Chen Fan understood why they chose to meet here.
"You really don't know why your dad wants to see me?"
Tong Yao looked at Chen Fan and suddenly smiled.
"You seem very nervous."
"It's interesting, this is the first time I've seen the great Mr. Chen show a nervous expression."
Chen Fan was speechless: "Come on, that's Mayor Tong we're talking about. I have to handle this properly, don't I?"
Tong Yao pursed her lips: "Bootlicker."
She led Chen Fan through the bamboo grove and came to a beautiful lakeside area.
Chen Fan then noticed that on one side of the lake, there were beautiful wooden cabins spaced at intervals.
A wooden plank path led directly across, with the small houses built over the lake.
It was indeed a good place for leisure fishing.
Tong Yao led Chen Fan up to one of the small wooden cabins.
From a distance, Chen Fan could see a middle-aged man sitting there wearing casual clothes and a sun hat, leisurely fishing.
Next to him stood a young man in a suit, fiddling with tea utensils.
As they approached, Tong Yao called out.
"Dad, I've brought him."
The middle-aged man turned around, and it was indeed Mayor Tong Haoran.
"You girl, can't you be a little quieter? You've scared away all my fish."
Tong Yao muttered boredly, "You've been fishing all morning and haven't caught a single one."
Tong Haoran wasn't angry and chuckled, pointing at Tong Yao.
"You girl, always exposing your old man's shortcomings."
He then stood up, took off his hat, and extended his hand to Chen Fan.
"Mr. Chen. We meet again."
Chen Fan felt somewhat "flattered" and hurriedly went over to shake hands with him.
"Mayor Tong is in such a good mood. I really didn't expect Mayor Tong to ask to meet me in a place like this."
"Haha, I wanted to discuss some private matters with you today. Meeting in the office would be too formal. It's better to come out and do some fishing, drink some tea..."
"Mayor Tong is right."
Seeing these two putting on airs, Tong Yao rolled her eyes again.
She knew Chen Fan too well and could see that he was deliberately acting.
"Mr. Chen, do you know how to fish? Why don't you cast a line or two?" Tong Haoran invited.
Chen Fan laughed, "I used to fish with bamboo poles when I was young, but I can't say I'm skilled. I'm afraid I can't match Mayor Tong's level."
"Haha, it's just for leisure, to relax a bit."
"Xiao Li, bring a rod for Mr. Chen."
The secretary immediately brought over a fishing rod. Chen Fan thanked him, then cast a line next to them. The two then sat down.
Tong Yao was originally curious about what they were going to discuss.
But she found that these two just sat there staring at their fishing rods without saying a word.
She felt utterly speechless.
These two, they weren't going to just sit there without saying anything, were they?
If she had known, she wouldn't have come along today.