My Perfect Female CEO

Chapter 823: Lunatic

When Zhang Furen was stopped by Haige and his group, the car where Ye Fan and the other two were also came to a halt.All three understood that Zhang Furen was in trouble, and the outcome looked grim.

Qiu Wen eagerly suggested, "Should I step in and help?"

"No need," Ye Fan and Mengyao replied in unison.

"Why?" Qiu Wen asked, looking at the two with a face full of confusion.

"Let’s just watch and see what really happens. We still have many unresolved questions. It’s important," Mengyao said. "If Zhang Furen turns out to be a decent person, we can offer more help. If not, considering Fire Phoenix’s relationship, allowing him to take over Zhang Family’s business is enough, and that’s the biggest help we can offer."

"Judging by Zhang Furen’s interaction with those people, this isn’t their first encounter. Go and eavesdrop, see what they say. Maybe it can help us," Ye Fan instructed.

"Okay," Qiu Wen agreed and stealthily moved closer.

Qiu Wen’s presence went unnoticed by both Haige’s group and Zhang Furen. Once everyone had dispersed, Qiu Wen returned to the car and described in detail everything she had seen and heard to Ye Fan and Mengyao.

"Given the current situation, Zhang Furen has been bullied by thugs multiple times. Enduring without fighting back is a survival tactic. Although he seems helplessly servile now, it’s his self-defense mechanism under the circumstances," Mengyao started analyzing, focusing solely on facts, without commenting on Zhang Furen’s character.

"Remember, a barking dog doesn’t bite. Once he gains real power, who knows what he’ll become. Right now, he’s self-aware and doesn’t act excessively. This also makes you wonder: enduring such humiliation is unusual," Ye Fan shared his perspective.

"To help Zhang Furen, we must understand the entire situation. Zhang Wushan, a scoundrel who abandoned his wife and daughter, has to be severely punished. But we must handle Ma Huifang and her son carefully without hurting them too much," Mengyao said seriously. "We have two major questions in front of us, and we must clarify them. Otherwise, innocent people might get hurt. First, is the story about Zhang Furen harassing his stepmother true? Is Zhang Furen morally corrupt, or did Ma Huifang set him up? That’s a question. Especially considering someone released the video, likely with malintent. Zhang Furen wouldn’t be stupid enough to do it, and Ma Huifang wouldn’t damage her own reputation. We’ve met Ma Huifang, a traditional, dutiful woman whose greatest wish is to be a good wife and mother. She wouldn’t intentionally disgrace herself, so Zhang Furen harboring ill intentions seems likely, unless Ma Huifang’s demeanor is just a façade fooling us all."

Mengyao continued, "The second big question is why Zhang Furen is being beaten and bullied by those thugs. We can see those thugs are directed by someone, which complicates matters further. Who is the mastermind? Zhang Wushan, Ma Huifang, and Zhang Jiren all have motives to act but also motives not to."

Ye Fan and Mengyao are considering all these factors because they don’t want to harm the innocent. Given Zhang Furen’s character, they want to provide different levels of help, so they have to put effort into understanding things clearly.

"If Zhang Furen truly did harass his stepmother, it explains many things. According to Zhang Wushan, Zhang Family servants filmed the video and accidentally leaked it. If that’s true, we can completely discredit Zhang Furen," Qiu Wen thought aloud. "If someone intentionally framed him, the situation is far more complex, given Zhang Furen is clearly being deliberately beaten. I believe Zhang Furen is innocent."

"Every action must have a purpose and logic. If we start by investigating who benefits most from Zhang Furen losing everything, we might find the prime suspect is Ma Huifang and her child. Ma Huifang has places where she’s beyond doubt, and Zhang Jiren too. There must be something fishy. If Zhang Jiren is young and naive, then Ma Huifang must be hiding something deep," Ye Fan remarked.

"Talking too much won’t help. With the contract we have, maybe we can find a breakthrough. Solving one question might unravel the others," Mengyao said confidently.

"It’s time to confront Zhang Furen and reveal our intentions and identities," Ye Fan decided.

With the decision made, the trio continued tailing Zhang Furen.

They waited until Zhang Furen returned to his rented apartment before approaching him.

After knocking for a while and waiting a moment, the door opened. Zhang Furen was clearly treating the wounds from his beating, the strong smell of medicine giving it away.

"Who are you looking for?" Zhang Furen asked warily after opening the door, then seemed puzzled, saying, "We met earlier today, didn’t we? You guys ate at the restaurant where I work."

Zhang Furen remembered Ye Fan and the others among many customers because their clothing and bearing were extraordinary, which piqued his curiosity and attention, leaving a deep impression that enabled him to recognize them.

He glanced at them, genuinely puzzled. The two women were incredibly beautiful, each uniquely charming, while the man exuded a regal aura. Looking at them from any angle, they were undoubtedly significant figures, yet they came looking for him, leaving him truly perplexed.

"We did meet," Ye Fan said calmly.

"Who are you? What do you want with me?" Zhang Furen asked warily, "Are you sure you’re looking for me and not mistaking me for someone else?"

"No mistake," Ye Fan replied casually.

"Then who exactly are you?" Zhang Furen continued to press for the trio’s identities.

"We’ll explain after we go inside," Ye Fan said calmly.

"Not until you reveal your identities. Otherwise, I won’t let you in. If you force your way in, I’ll call the police," Zhang Furen threatened.

"If I remember correctly, your biological mother has another child, your sister," Ye Fan said with significant meaning.

"My biological mother? Sister?" Zhang Furen repeated to himself in confusion, then muttered, "Crazy people."

He didn’t dare say it to Ye Fan and the others directly, chuckled oddly, and prepared to close the door.

As soon as the door was shut, he wouldn’t respond to further knocking.

Ye Fan stepped into the doorway, stopping Zhang Furen from closing the door.