## Chapter Two:
The silence left by Zhao Fu's departure didn't last long in Lin Feng's mind. His brain was working at full speed, trying to sort through the chaos he had inherited along with this body. Xiao Yanran, the main heroine, had come with the police. This meant the incident wasn't just an accidental fall or a trivial brawl between two reckless young men, as it might initially seem. The original Lin Feng must have done something stupid, as usual, something that warranted police intervention and possibly... formal charges.
Lin Feng sighed, feeling a slight twinge in his broken ribs, a constant reminder of how bad his situation was. He tried to focus, summoning the scattered remnants of the original body's memories. Fuzzy images of a lavish banquet, loud laughter, wine glasses... then Xiao Yanran's cold face, and sharp words exchanged. Then Chu Fan, the protagonist with the saintly aura, intervening like a noble knight... then a scuffle, a hard push, and the pain of falling onto the cold marble stairs.
The memories were fragmented and unclear, tainted by the original Lin Feng's arrogance and anger, making it difficult to grasp the true context. But one thing was clear: Chu Fan was directly involved in his fall, and Xiao Yanran was the center of the dispute.
"This typical protagonist... seems he doesn't waste any time starting his career of crushing villains," Lin Feng muttered sarcastically, but it hid genuine concern. If the police were involved, things could escalate quickly.
He pressed the call button beside the bed. A few moments later, the door opened, and Zhao Fu entered again, the same anxious, cautious expression on his face.
"Young Master Lin? Do you need something?" he asked softly.
This time, Lin Feng looked at him with a calmer, colder gaze, devoid of the usual emotion or arrogance. "Sit down, Zhao Fu," he said in a calm, even tone, gesturing to the nearby chair.
Confusion was evident on Zhao Fu's face as he hesitantly complied. He wasn't used to this tone from the young master. Usually, orders were accompanied by shouting or annoyance.
"Tell me everything about the incident," Lin Feng said, his eyes fixed on the assistant. "I don't want guesses or pleasantries. I want the facts. What exactly happened at that banquet? What did the police say? And what was Miss Xiao's specific reaction?"
Zhao Fu swallowed, then began to speak in a low voice, choosing his words carefully. He recounted how the original Lin Feng, after drinking too much, had tried to harass Miss Xiao Yanran, and how Mr. Chu Fan had intervened. A sharp argument ensued, which then escalated into a physical altercation ending with Lin Feng's fall down the stairs.
"The police came based on a report from the hotel management," Zhao Fu continued. "They questioned some witnesses and took statements from Miss Xiao and Mr. Chu Fan. No formal charges have been filed yet, sir, but they said they would continue the investigation. Miss Xiao... seemed very angry, but she didn't file a formal complaint at the time, perhaps because... Mr. Chu Fan intervened and calmed the situation down a bit in front of the police."
"Chu Fan calmed the situation?" Lin Feng raised an eyebrow slightly. That didn't seem logical in the context of the original novel, where Chu Fan seized every opportunity to crush Lin Feng. Had the plot already started to change, or was there something he didn't know?
"And what about my family?" Lin Feng asked, ignoring the Chu Fan matter for the moment.
"The Old Master hasn't given any specific instructions, but his secretary called just to ask about your condition. Madam... your mother, was here yesterday, and she was very upset, said she would deal with the matter when you get out of the hospital," Zhao Fu replied.
"Deal with the matter..." Lin Feng smiled coldly. That likely meant more trouble. "Alright. Bring me my mobile phone, my laptop, and my wallet. I want to review some things."
"Right away, sir." Zhao Fu quickly stood up and left the room.
Once alone again, Lin Feng closed his eyes. The information was worrying, but not yet catastrophic. The lack of a formal complaint from Xiao Yanran was an unexpected positive point. But Chu Fan's mysterious intervention was suspicious. Was he trying to appear magnanimous in front of everyone while plotting something else behind the scenes? That fit his character in the novel better.
Zhao Fu returned a few minutes later with the requested items. A latest-model smartphone, a slim laptop, and a luxurious leather wallet containing a stack of platinum credit cards and a large amount of cash.
"Thank you," Lin Feng said, taking the items. "You can go now. Don't let anyone disturb me unless it's extremely urgent. And I want you to gather all available information on this Chu Fan. His background, his business, his connections... everything. Quietly, don't attract attention."
Zhao Fu's eyes widened slightly in surprise at the unusual request, but he quickly hid his reaction and bowed. "Understood, sir. I'll start on that immediately."
After Zhao Fu left, Lin Feng opened the phone first. It was protected by fingerprint ID, and luckily, the phone recognized the new body's print. He quickly scrolled through the contacts and messages, trying to glean any additional information about the original Lin Feng's relationships and social circle. He didn't find anything particularly useful, just a lot of names that seemed related to the boisterous life of wealthy young people.
Then he opened the laptop. It was filled with games and entertainment software, but he also found a folder containing some documents related to the Lin family business. He glanced through them quickly but realized he would need more time to understand the family's financial and business situation.
The most important thing now was to remember the novel's events. He closed his eyes again, concentrating. The early arcs... after this incident, the original Lin Feng was supposed to try to take revenge on Chu Fan and Xiao Yanran in stupid and direct ways, leading to his repeated humiliation and loss of more support and influence. Another heroine was also supposed to appear soon, get involved in a new conflict with Chu Fan, and the original Lin Feng would try to exploit the situation for his own gain, only to fail again.
"This path must be avoided at all costs," Lin Feng thought seriously. "Direct revenge is foolish. I need to be more careful. The first step is to get out of this hospital, then deal with the aftermath of the banquet incident calmly. I need to present a different image, more mature and composed, perhaps that will change some people's perception of me, or at least confuse them."
The phone suddenly rang, interrupting his thoughts. He looked at the screen; it was his mother's number. He hesitated for a moment, then decided to answer, keeping his tone as calm and neutral as possible.
"Mom."
Her sharp, nervous voice came through the phone. "Lin Feng! Are you finally well enough to answer your phone? Do you know how much trouble you've caused us? Your reputation is in tatters! Your father is furious!"
"I'm recovering, Mom," Lin Feng said calmly, ignoring the blame. "I'll be out of the hospital soon and I'll handle everything. Don't worry."
His mother fell silent for a moment, perhaps surprised by his unusual calmness. "Handle everything? How will you handle it? With more stupidity and recklessness?"
"No, Mom. This time will be different," Lin Feng said in a steady voice. "Just trust me a little this time."
He ended the call before she could reply, feeling slightly drained. Dealing with the family would be a challenge in itself. But he had taken his first step, a small step towards changing the script. He looked out the window again at the bustling city below, feeling a mixture of anxiety and determination. The road ahead was long and difficult, but he wouldn't succumb to the pre-written fate of the villain. It was time for a rewrite.