Hades, the Urban Legend

Chapter 481: The Pitiful Ones

Outside the sanatorium was a vast forest. It was spring, and although the birdsong and flowers weren't particularly remarkable, the lush greenery provided a beautiful view.

Yang Chen sat at the edge of the woods in an old pavilion that seemed seldom used, as the benches were covered in dust. He didn't mind and sat down anyway.

A middle-aged man stood at the other end of the pavilion, wearing a white shirt and black suit pants. His face showed signs of weathering and contemplation, as if unsure of what to say.

Another young man stood outside the pavilion, his expression cold and his posture straight. Occasionally, he glanced at Yang Chen, his eyes showing a hint of complexity.

These two men were Fang Zhongping, who had pursued Tang Wan for decades without success and was Tangtang's biological father, and his bodyguard, Dugu Zui, whom Yang Chen had once easily defeated.

Seeing these two appear at the sanatorium was somewhat surprising to Yang Chen. In fact, he thought he would never have dealings with Fang Zhongping again. Not that he particularly disliked Fang Zhongping, who was actually a very well-mannered man. Though initially somewhat arrogant due to his high status, who doesn't have their moments of pride?

However, their relationship was complicated because of Tang Wan. Tang Wan hadn't accepted Fang Zhongping, who had pursued her for over ten years, but had shown favor to Yang Chen, whom she had known for less than a year. From Yang Chen's perspective, this wasn't something an average man could endure.

If Fang Zhongping didn't know that Yang Chen was someone he couldn't afford to offend, he might have already found a way to dismember him.

So, to avoid further aggravation, Yang Chen found it surprising that Fang Zhongping had requested to talk to him.

After a long while, Fang Zhongping seemed to have had enough of the greenery and turned around, saying with a hint of sentimentality, "I first met Old Tang when I was a child. My father took me to visit him in Yanjing once. Unknowingly, over twenty years have passed."

Yang Chen remained silent, listening. He knew Fang Zhongping wasn't finished.

"The impression of Old Tang that stayed in my mind was that of a stern, commanding elder. When I was in Yanjing for a meeting recently, I intended to visit him but heard he had been sent to Zhonghai to recuperate," Fang Zhongping said, frowning slightly. "Seeing Old Tang in such a state today, I feel very uncomfortable."

Yang Chen thought, who wouldn't feel uncomfortable seeing him like this?

"Tang Wan didn't tell me about this," Fang Zhongping suddenly said. "If I hadn't happened to hear about it, I still wouldn't know that the Tang family had gone through so much trouble."

Yang Chen blinked and said, "What are you trying to say?"

Fang Zhongping sighed. "Although I feel very angry and frustrated, I have to admit that in her eyes, I am indeed not as important as you."

Yang Chen smiled slightly. "Maybe she thinks you're busy, and besides, she needs my help."

"You're right; she needs your help, but she doesn't need me," Fang Zhongping said with a bitter smile. "To her, our Fang family is just a prominent household in Zhonghai. For a woman like her, it's something she doesn't really value. My power and influence are insignificant to her."

"She doesn't see you that way," Yang Chen frowned.

"I know," Fang Zhongping smiled. "I know she doesn't care about these things. It's just that through this incident, I realized that I am indeed not as good as you. You are the one who can help her through critical times, while I seem pale and powerless in such moments."

Yang Chen remained silent. This was true; the enemies Tang Wan faced were not ones that a mere city party secretary like Fang Zhongping could handle.

"I heard you brought Miss Jane from the Royal Academy of Sciences to treat the elder. I've heard of her reputation, and there are probably not many people in the world who can invite her. It seems Tang Wan didn't misjudge you," Fang Zhongping said.

"Jane is my friend, not my subordinate," Yang Chen replied.

"The nature of the relationship doesn't matter. I just want to say that if Tang Wan encounters any trouble in the future, please, you must help her as you are doing now," Fang Zhongping said earnestly.

Yang Chen laughed lightly, "You asked me to sit down and talk just to tell me this?"

"Yes, although I know it's somewhat inappropriate, I still want to say it," Fang Zhongping said bitterly. "Tang Wan has sacrificed a lot for the Tang family. She has almost single-handedly supported everything until now. It's been very tough for her. Because of my incompetence, although I admire her, I can't help her much. Now that she finally has someone she can rely on, I think it's time for me to completely give up."

Yang Chen pondered for a moment and asked, "From your tone, it sounds like you know something."

A trace of hesitation flashed in Fang Zhongping's eyes before he shook his head. "I think Tang Wan didn't want to bring it up, but since you asked, it doesn't hurt to tell you. Do you know why Tang Wan never married but decided to have Tangtang so early?"

Yang Chen was taken aback. He hadn't really thought about it in detail. If Tang Wan didn't like Fang Zhongping, she could have chosen another man. But that didn't seem to make sense either. After all, back when she was around twenty, Tang Wan had already used artificial methods to have Tangtang.

And when choosing a male candidate, Tang Wan chose Fang Zhongping, which was enough to confirm that Fang Zhongping was the man Tang Wan trusted the most.

Yang Chen shook his head; he couldn't figure it out.

Fang Zhongping pondered for a while before saying, "Actually, this needs to be traced back to Tang Wan's father, Tang Lun."

"Tang Lun?" Yang Chen frowned, recalling that the first time he saw old master Tang Zhechen, the old man seemed to be muttering "Ah Lun, Ah Lun." At the time, Yang Chen had asked Tang Wan who this "Ah Lun" was, but Tang Wan didn't want to talk about it. Now Yang Chen realized that the person was Tang Wan's father!

Then, Fang Zhongping gradually revealed the events of the past.

It turned out that Tang Zhechen's eldest son, Tang Lun, who was Tang Wan's father, was once the most talented individual among the younger generation of the Tang family, deeply loved by old Tang. If nothing unexpected had happened, Tang Lun would have been the undisputed successor of old Tang. Many people even believed that Tang Lun's achievements would surpass those of his father.

However, fate did not go as planned. Although Tang Lun was very successful outside, he had unknowingly buried some dark seeds in his heart. Perhaps being oppressed by various halos from a young age, Tang Lun's psyche needed an outlet. Ultimately, he transformed those negative emotions into domestic violence.

When Tang Wan's younger brother, Tang Jue, was born, Tang Lun's mental illness had reached an unprecedented level.

Although outsiders couldn't tell, some core members of the family gradually noticed a series of problems between Tang Lun and his wife. However, Old Tang, always concerned about the family's reputation, suppressed all rumors and gossip, hoping to adjust his eldest son's psychology over time.

One morning, the Tang family couldn't find Tang Lun and his wife. Eventually, they discovered that Tang Lun had brutally killed his wife and then, in a fit of madness, committed suicide in their room.

This incident from over twenty years ago caused quite a stir in Yanjing's upper society. If it weren't for Old Tang's strong control, the Tang family's reputation would have been completely ruined.

Nevertheless, this tragic event caused significant psychological changes in both Old Tang and Tang Wan and her brother.

The shadow of their father's cruel abuse of their mother was an indelible trauma for young Tang Wan, who already understood what was happening. Naturally, this led to her keeping a respectful distance from men. Although it didn't twist her psyche, it made it hard for her to accept men.

Moreover, internal factions within the Tang family made the siblings' growth difficult, even under Tang Zhechen's protection. Tang Jue, although obedient to Tang Wan, lacked the necessary capabilities. Tang Wan, acting both as a sister and a mother, grew up worrying that once she married, Tang Jue would be oppressed by some within the family.

However, for a noble lady not wanting to marry was not simple. Often, her status was more attractive than she herself. With her stunning beauty, many sought to form alliances with her family through marriage.

In the end, at just twenty, Tang Wan decisively chose a path no one expected: artificial insemination to have a child.

Such an event, almost a top-level scandal, did not meet with opposition from Old Tang. He suppressed the public outrage and even handed the family's Fenglin Group over to Tang Wan, making her one of the most powerful heirs of the Tang family. This background, having a child, freed Tang Wan from the nuisance of arranged marriages. No family would want to cause trouble or invite public criticism by aggressively pursuing Tang Wan just for the family's influence. Thus, Tang Wan could rightfully stay in the Tang family, manage the business, and take care of her only brother, Tang Jue. However, due to the significant opposition within the family, Tang Wan spent most of her years in Huinan.

With Fang Zhongping's recount, Yang Chen roughly pieced together the sequence of events.

Recalling their first meetings, Yang Chen realized Tang Wan's distant attitude toward men was due to these psychological shadows.

"She is a pitiful woman," Fang Zhongping sighed sincerely.

Yang Chen looked up at him, "And you are a pitiful man."

Fang Zhongping was taken aback, then laughed heartily, "That's right, fellow sufferers in life."

Seeing Fang Zhongping laugh and cry simultaneously, Yang Chen felt somewhat uneasy. However, relationships could not be forced, and there was nothing more he could say. He stood up and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving."

Fang Zhongping turned his back, seemingly unwilling to face Yang Chen directly, and nodded.

Yang Chen walked slowly to his car. As he opened the door, he glanced back at the man standing still in the pavilion, then at the seemingly calm and silent sanatorium. With a few mixed emotions flashing in his eyes, he turned back and got into the car.