Chapter 272 — Take Care of Yourself

"...Understood!" Xiao Wang's expression flickered slightly, but he still agreed to it.

Though he was a man cultivated by Tian Long, he had, after all, followed Sun Lin for so many years—even without any genuine feeling at the start, feeling had grown over time. And Sun Lin had always treated him generously. Now, being ordered to relay such a command, Xiao Wang's heart was still very uneasy.

But what good was unease? Unease changed nothing. Such was his fate, and he had no way to resist it.

"Take another look at Donghua for me... see how he's doing now..." Tian Long's expression darkened as he said this. Tian Yan was, after all, his own son, and having him under house arrest now left a bitter taste in his heart. Yet Tian Long had no way to visit Tian Yan—at this moment, he could not go to see him.

Only once the overall situation had stabilized, once he had fully taken over the Sun family's holdings, and once Yang Shuoxuan no longer posed a threat, would he release Tian Yan. He hoped Tian Yan could understand his painstaking intentions.

As for Heng, Tian Long could not exactly say he feared him, but from that brief encounter at the resort, he had sensed that Yang Ce was more than just a student. Especially after learning that the man behind the scenes wanted to deal with Yang Ce, Tian Long became even more certain that Yang Yongjin was no ordinary person.

It was precisely for this reason that Tian Long was so cautious. Otherwise, a college student would never have been worth a second glance from him.

After receiving Tian Long's instructions, Xiao Wang hurriedly left the current temporary villa and headed for the abandoned garbage collection yard.

As the one who had distinguished himself in this affair, Xiao Wang was naturally also one of Tian Long's most trusted men. Tian Long had assigned him many tasks, and he had not concealed the overall plan of this mission from Xiao Wang either—much of it had been carried out by Xiao Wang's own hand.

Because Tian Long believed Xiao Wang would never betray him.

Yes, Xiao Wang could not betray him either, because Xiao Wang's parents were both under Tian Long's surveillance. If he dared to betray him, Tian Long would kill his parents without hesitation.

The moment he sold out Sun Lin, Xiao Wang's feelings were complicated. He had even thought of ending his own life, but he could not die. He knew that once he died, his aged parents would not come to any good end either—even if Tian Long did nothing to them, the loss of their only son would break their hearts to death.

So Xiao Wang had to live, and he had to do his job well. He was a pawn of Tian Long's, one that could never escape.

Though he now enjoyed Tian Long's trust, just as he once had at Sun Lin's side—respected by all within the group, second only to one man and above all others—his position had not changed; he still played the same role as before.

Yet deep in his heart, Xiao Wang carried a profound sense of guilt. There was no help for it; the debt of remorse he owed Sun Lin was one he would likely never be able to repay in this life.

He kept hoping the car would go slower, slower still, but they arrived at the abandoned garbage dump—the place where the Sun family and Tian Yan were held under house arrest—all too quickly.

The man in charge here was Zhang Jinguo, a brother who had trained alongside Xiao Wang back in the day and had since become one of Tian Long's right-hand men. His position, however, was not as high as Xiao Wang's. Xiao Wang was now Tian Long's spokesman, and his words represented Tian Long's will, so Zhang Jinguo did not dare treat him lightly.

"Brother Wang, you've come?" Zhang Jinguo greeted him with a smile. "Any instructions?"

Xiao Wang sighed and said mildly, "Let's talk inside."

Though this was an abandoned garbage dump, the rooms were actually quite decent—Zhang Jinguo's office was, and so were the rooms where the Sun family and Tian Yan were confined.

"President Tian has issued a new order." Only after entering the office and closing the door did Xiao Wang say to Zhang Jinguo, "President Tian and I will contact you every day. If ever a day comes when neither of us has contacted you, then finish off the Sun family..."

"I understand!" Zhang Jinguo had no particular feeling for the Sun family, so the moment Xiao Wang spoke, he agreed. "Tell President Tian to rest easy. I'll handle this properly."

"Mm... How about this—before you do away with them, call me or President Tian first. Only if you truly can't get through should you act..." Xiao Wang also feared that he or Tian Long might forget to call because they were too busy—and then wouldn't the Sun family lose their lives for nothing?

In his heart, Xiao Wang did not want anything to happen to the Sun family, which was why he added that extra sentence.

"All right, I've noted it down." Zhang Jinguo naturally could not tell whether these words came from Tian Long or from Xiao Wang, but anything spoken by Xiao Wang represented Tian Long's words as well, so Zhang Jinguo readily agreed.

Xiao Wang nodded, then asked, "How is young Master Tian?"

"Ah!" At the mention of Tian Yan, Zhang Jinguo grew somewhat worried, his brows knitting together. "Since young Master Tian was locked up here, he hasn't eaten or drunk a thing. When I talk to him, he ignores me. It's been nearly half a day, and he still hasn't touched anything..."

Xiao Wang had overheard Tian Yan's argument with Tian Long from behind the scenes at the time, so he could naturally understand Tian Yan's feelings. For the sake of his friends and of justice, Tian Yan had resolutely fallen out with his father—what resolve and courage that must have taken!

So from the bottom of his heart, Xiao Wang admired Tian Yan—at least he dared to fight back. But admiration was admiration; it did not affect Xiao Wang in the slightest. Because of Tian Yan's special status, Tian Long could not possibly do anything to him. No matter what, Tian Yan was Tian Long's son, and that could never be changed.

But he, Xiao Wang, was different. Xiao Wang could only accept the lot fate had dealt him.

"I'll go see him." Xiao Wang was fairly familiar with Tian Yan—he had often driven him to and from school in the past.

Back then, the person Sun Lin trusted most was Tian Long, so Tian Long could also direct Xiao Wang to do certain things. Naturally, Xiao Wang had grown familiar with Tian Yan as well.

Arriving at the door of Tian Yan's room, Zhang Jinguo gestured, and one of his men opened the door.

Tian Yan was lying on the bed at that moment. When someone came in, he did not even look, because he knew that even if the door were left open and he were allowed to run, he could not get away. His father's men were all around; how far could he possibly run? He would probably be caught before he even got out.

So Tian Yan could not be bothered to waste his energy on such futile efforts.

"Donghua, why aren't you eating?" Xiao Wang walked in, sat down on the edge of Tian Yan's bed, and asked amiably.

Hearing Xiao Wang's voice, Tian Yan turned his head, glanced at him, then lay flat on the bed again and asked flatly, "What are you doing here?"

"President Tian... your father sent me to check on you..." Xiao Wang sighed. "Donghua, you can't go without eating. Your body is your own—if you starve yourself, you're the one who suffers!"

"So my dad sent you to talk me around." Tian Yan spoke without any expression. "But you tell him this: he can't change my mind. I don't want to get involved in your affairs, but my affairs, and the friendship between my friends and me—I hope you won't meddle in those either! Go back and tell my dad to take care of himself!"

Hearing this, Xiao Wang could only smile bitterly. Take care of himself? Of course he could not relay those words to Tian Long—otherwise, wouldn't Tian Long blow his top? But in front of Tian Yan, Xiao Wang still said, "All right, I'll do my best."