Pain and Perplexity

Tai Leng Han gazed at the photo for a while, then drifted off to sleep. In his hazy dream, his mind gradually drifted back to the morning of the grave-sweeping ritual. The poetic scene, the sweet kiss... But then, the scene shifted to Zhao Wan Ru's shy nod when she admitted to having a secret crush on someone. Then his mind was pushed back more than ten years, to be haunted by the image of Zhao Wan Ru holding Yang Tian Yu's hand. However, Yang Tian Yu's face was no longer that of a naive teenager, but the handsome and elegant face of the present.
Next, that Yang Tian Yu, tightly holding Zhao Wan Ru's hand, turned back to look at Tai Leng Han with a smug expression. He smirked, repeatedly asking Tai Leng Han:
"Tai Leng Han, do you dare to return Wan Ru's freedom?"
"Tai Leng Han, do you dare to let Wan Ru choose for herself?"
"Do you dare?"
"Dare you?"
"Dare you?"
Tai Leng Han woke up with a start. His back was drenched in sweat. Even his forehead was covered in a thin layer of moisture. Remembering the question echoing in his dream, Tai Leng Han let out a self-mocking and bitter laugh. Did he dare to return Zhao Wan Ru's freedom? Did he dare to let Zhao Wan Ru choose for herself? Did this even need thinking about? Of course, he... didn't dare. Tai Leng Han sighed, lamenting his own cowardice and despicableness. He felt unworthy, no longer daring to look at Zhao Wan Ru's picture. Placing the framed photo on the table, Tai Leng Han then noticed the parcel that Fang Xie He had brought in.
Tai Leng Han opened the folder and saw that it contained only a stack of papers. He took out the papers, recognizing them as documents. Tai Leng Han was stunned, his eyes fixed on the title of the cover page, where the bold, clear words read: Zhao Group 2024 – Q3 Financial Report and Analysis.
Tai Leng Han froze for a long time before he could muster enough courage to turn each page and read the content. As the title clearly stated, this report presented a comprehensive overview of Zhao Group's financial figures, revenues, expenses, and profits for Q3. According to it, Zhao Group's situation had rapidly improved. The company's overall profit had stabilized in August at the beginning of the quarter, and by October, profits were trending upwards. Zhao Group's stock had also escaped the red and turned green; in fact, as of this morning, a few minutes before this document was printed, their stock had increased by fifteen percent. At this rate, Zhao Group would soon be able to recover to its original state, perhaps even achieving better growth.
Tai Leng Han read this report with an incredibly complex mix of emotions. He was happy for Zhao Group, and also admired their ability to quickly recover after a fall. But at the same time, Tai Leng Han felt immensely bitter and perplexed.
Nearly half a year ago, Tai Leng Han transferred money to Zhao Group to help them overcome their immediate difficulties. He had never requested or needed to know about Zhao Group's financial situation. In fact, when Tai Leng Han offered that sum of money, he never intended to get it back. During this time, Tai Leng Han had been continuously working overtime to make up for the ten billion he had given to Shengli Group. But now, Zhao Group had proactively sent him a financial report and analysis like this – what did it mean? Why did this report not arrive sooner or later, but at this specific time?
Tai Leng Han speculated and re-speculated, thinking it over for a while but still unable to come up with a precise answer. Ultimately, was Zhao Group trying to show that they were not useless, to prove that they deserved help and were capable of recovery; or were they trying to clearly define the boundaries with him? Because Zhao Group sending such a financial report and analysis made Tai Leng Han feel that they were trying to remind and affirm that the relationship between him and them was merely that of a creditor and a debtor. And this action happened right after Yang Tian Yu returned to the country. What further meaning did this imply?
As if by instinct, Tai Leng Han looked towards the framed photo on the table again. Tai Leng Han knew clearly that from the moment he brought ten billion to Zhao Group, he knew that the entire Zhao Group had no goodwill towards him. If not for his mother's health and his father's three bloods, Zhao Wan Ru would never have agreed to marry him in such a way. Moreover, at this moment, Yang Tian Yu had returned with capital.