Chapter 85: A Fine Partner?
Zhou Fan shook his head. There were no clues at all. Other than knowing the other party was called the Grand Elder, he knew nothing.
"Old Master, how we handle this is up to you." Zhou Fan circled the two men, patting them each on the body in a seemingly casual manner. He then looked up and handed them over to Chu Tianxiang.
"Lock them in the backyard for now. Then call for the men from Wolf Fang," Chu Tianxiang ordered his subordinates.
Led by Chu Qianqian, Zhou Fan went to where the detained servants and chefs were being held.
"The dozen or so people in there are the chefs and the servants who had contact with the old master," Chu Qianqian explained softly to Zhou Fan, glancing at the small house ahead.
Zhou Fan didn't go inside. He just stood where he was and scanned the crowd, his gaze finally landing on one man. "Who is he?"
"The new butler. The old butler wasn't feeling well a while back, so the old master had him return to his hometown to recuperate." Chu Qianqian glanced at the man. He was middle-aged, around forty, of average height and build—the type of person you wouldn't notice in a crowd.
At that moment, the man saw Zhou Fan as well. He froze for a second, then slowly stood up.
As the man rose, the few Chu Family bodyguards beside him all grew tense, staring daggers at him. At such a critical juncture, they couldn't afford to be careless.
"Han Huan... pays his respects... to Mr. Zhou!"
While everyone was on edge, the new butler completely ignored the others. He bowed deeply to Zhou Fan from a distance, his voice choked with emotion.
"Old Han, you... How did you end up like this?" A wry smile touched Zhou Fan's lips, but seeing the man's state, he was deeply moved.
"What do you mean? What's wrong with 'ending up like this'? Is being the butler for my Chu Family some kind of downgrade?" Chu Qianqian glared at Zhou Fan indignantly, her hand shooting out to pinch his waist like a little spitfire.
"Whoa, don't be so aggressive. I might have offended your Chu Family, but I also saved your life. Besides, do you have any idea what he used to do? Forget the Chu Family—no family in all of Nanjiang City is worthy of having Old Han as their butler!"
Zhou Fan was speechless. 'This woman is getting way too familiar with me,' he thought. 'She just puts her hands on me whenever she wants.' Luckily, after he'd learned her true background, he had stopped calling her "auntie." 'Hmph!'
"Old Han, come on and tell our little miss here what you used to do." Zhou Fan smugly took out a cigarette and said to Old Han. Just as he was about to light it, Chu Qianqian snatched it away.
'Damn it, you should count yourself lucky!'
Zhou Fan cursed inwardly. 'If it weren't for your relationship with Xiaoyan, I would have taught you a lesson sooner or later!'
"It's nothing worth mentioning. Before I met Mr. Zhou, I was the butler for the Puru Clan, though I only worked there for less than three years. After I met Mr. Zhou, I followed him and managed all logistics and internal affairs for the Netherworld King's Hall. You could say I was the Hall's chief steward." Old Han wasn't a fool. He didn't just shout from where he stood; instead, he came before the two of them and explained in a low voice.
But his soft voice didn't mean he lacked presence. Especially when he spoke of following Zhou Fan, he exuded a pride that Chu Qianqian found baffling.
"The Puru Clan... I know them. One of the top ten most powerful families in Britain!" Chu Qianqian was slightly stunned, then she suddenly turned her head to look at Zhou Fan. "Does this count as me getting to know you a little better? The Nether King of the Netherworld King's Hall?"
"Tch. Just remember, don't you dare tell anyone. Xiaoyan doesn't even know yet. Actually, there's a favor I need to ask you." Zhou Fan rolled his eyes, then gave her a mysterious smile.
"What is it?" Chu Qianqian asked casually, but inwardly, hearing that she now knew a secret that not even Chu Yan knew gave her a strange little thrill.
"In a little while, find someone reliable, have them wear a mask, and secretly release the fake Chu Peiyang and Song Qing. Make sure you do it before the men from Wolf Fang arrive!" Zhou Fan glanced left and right, as if worried about being overheard. He leaned in so close his lips almost brushed her ear as he whispered the words.
Feeling the warmth of his breath, Chu Qianqian was flustered for a moment. She kicked Zhou Fan in annoyance, then turned and walked away.
"Congratulations, Mr. Zhou, on winning over another fine lady," Han Huan, having followed Zhou Fan for so long, said with a slight smile upon seeing the scene.
"Don't be ridiculous. She's my wife's aunt—well, the daughter of the Chu Family's old master's comrade-in-arms," Zhou Fan retorted, feigning seriousness. Then the two men embraced and burst into loud laughter.
Before they left, Zhou Fan signaled to the bodyguards that they could release the rest of the staff.
From Old Han's account, Zhou Fan learned that a year ago, after hearing the news of Zhou Fan's assassination, Old Han had immediately packed up and fled. At the time, Ye Fei was busy consolidating power internally and hadn't sent many people to hunt him down.
He was pursued all the way back to Nanjiang City, where his parents lived. However, he had been injured and only started looking for work recently once his wounds had healed.
"Mr. Zhou, there is something I must say, though I'm not sure if it is my place." In front of Chu Tianxiang's door, Han Huan's expression suddenly turned serious.