Chapter 2004: Studying Abroad

After picking up Fan Beibei and taking the little girl out for a big meal, Zhao Fusheng finally sent her home.

With a new baby at home and Fan Baobao about to give birth, the adults occasionally couldn't give the little girl enough attention. Zhao Fusheng didn't want Fan Beibei's rebellious phase to come early.

Holding the little girl's hand as they walked through the neighborhood, their figures—one big, one small—slowly stretched out. Behind them were a group of bodyguards secretly observing their surroundings.

"Brother, will I have to live like this too in the future?"

Fan Beibei, now twelve years old, suddenly asked Zhao Fusheng.

"What?"

Zhao Fusheng looked at the little girl in surprise, not quite understanding what she meant.

"Like you and sister—wherever you go, there are bodyguards around."

Fan Beibei pointed behind them, somewhat dejectedly. "I don't like this. I won't have any friends."

Zhao Fusheng laughed.

"Do you know how big the world is?"

Zhao Fusheng touched the little girl's head and said with a smile.

"The world?"

Fan Beibei was puzzled, not understanding what Zhao Fusheng meant.

Zhao Fusheng smiled. "People always judge based on their own knowledge. When reality exceeds that knowledge, many people's greatest fantasies are merely so-called sublimations based on what they already have."

He spoke slowly, revealing the truth as he knew it.

"The life a farmer can fantasize about for an emperor is just eating with golden chopsticks, because that's the pinnacle they can imagine. Wisdom can indeed compensate for much of what we don't know, but when the gap in levels is too great, beyond what wisdom can conceive, do you know what happens?"

"Huh?"

Fan Beibei was dumbfounded.

She had only asked one question, but unexpectedly, Zhao Fusheng had said so much to her.

"Don't understand?"

Zhao Fusheng asked with a smile.

"A bit confused. Is it because I don't know enough yet?" Fan Beibei replied.

She was actually very smart, but she had been well protected by Zhao Fusheng since she was little.

"Silly girl."

Zhao Fusheng gently patted Fan Beibei's head. "It's because your future life is destined to have nothing to do with the people around you now."

"Huh?"

Fan Beibei was a bit lost.

Zhao Fusheng smiled and said nothing more.

What he said was the truth.

People's fates are ultimately different.

Back home, he let Fan Beibei go play with his daughter. Watching Li Yuan take the two children away, Zhao Fusheng said to Fan Baobao, "I think we should prepare Beibei to go abroad."

"Huh?"

Fan Baobao was startled. "Abroad?"

"Yes, study abroad."

Zhao Fusheng smiled bitterly. "I always thought I could let her do whatever she wanted, but now I see I was wrong."

He was indeed wrong.

Originally, Zhao Fusheng believed that education for the next generation could be left to nature, since he never intended to turn the future group into a family business.

With professional managers in place, even just relying on stock dividends would be enough for Fan Beibei and his descendants to live comfortably.

But the problem was that Zhao Fusheng had overlooked the issue of social strata.

When Fan Beibei was three or four, Zhao Fusheng started his business. By the time she was a bit older and in elementary school, Zhao Fusheng's status had already changed.

Now, even when she went to learn painting, Fan Beibei had special protection around her.

That's life.

Everyone has their own life—the poor and the rich alike.

"That's fine."

Fan Baobao nodded. Her thoughts differed from Zhao Fusheng's. In her view, sending Fan Beibei abroad to study would at least give her a skill and make her life more fulfilling.

Moreover, studying abroad was relatively safer than staying in China.

After all, in the eyes of foreigners, Chinese people all look similar. No one would know Fan Beibei's identity, so at least her safety wouldn't be a concern.

"I'll have Zhang Qian arrange a few people to protect her discreetly."

Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said to Fan Baobao, "Also, hire a few female bodyguards from abroad."

"..."

Fan Baobao looked at Zhao Fusheng speechlessly. "Is it necessary to be so cautious?"

"Better safe than sorry."

Zhao Fusheng smiled at her.

"Alright, alright, whatever you say."

Fan Baobao finally nodded in agreement.

"As for Mom, will you tell her, or should I?" Zhao Fusheng looked at Fan Baobao and asked.

"You go."

Fan Baobao shook her head. "If I tell her, she'll start nagging me again."

Li Yuan had been acting strange lately, constantly nagging Fan Baobao to try harder and give birth to a son, or else she wouldn't know how to face Zhao's parents.

No matter how many times Fan Baobao explained that Zhao Fusheng didn't care about the heir issue, Li Yuan just wouldn't listen.

Faced with her mother, Fan Baobao felt that if she couldn't win, she could at least avoid her.

Zhao Fusheng was amused. He knew about this, but he couldn't change the old lady's mindset, so he just let her keep nagging.

"Are you going or not?"

Fan Baobao glared at Zhao Fusheng.

"I'm going, I'm going. Don't worry."

Zhao Fusheng laughed and walked toward the door.

This matter was indeed best handled by him.

...

...

"Abroad?"

Li Yuan was quite surprised when faced with Zhao Fusheng.

"Yes, Baobao and I discussed it. We think it's best to let Beibei study abroad when she starts middle school, preferably in the UK." Zhao Fusheng said slowly, looking at Li Yuan.

"Can't she stay in China?" Li Yuan hesitated.

In her view, it was better for her daughter to stay close.

Although her younger daughter was a bit mischievous, sending a child of just over ten years abroad was hard for her to bear.

"In China, on one hand, there's the quality of education; on the other, it's not good for her growth."

Zhao Fusheng said seriously.

Li Yuan was silent for a long time, then hesitated, "Let me think it over."

"Alright, take your time."

Zhao Fusheng smiled. "There's still plenty of time."

Fan Beibei was still in elementary school, so there was no rush.

Li Yuan turned and took Zhao Xue out to play. As Zhao Fusheng was about to go upstairs, Fan Beibei, who had finished her homework, came over.

"Brother, are you sending me abroad?"

Fan Beibei suddenly asked Zhao Fusheng.

It seemed she had overheard Zhao Fusheng's words.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "Do you want to see the world outside?"

The world outside?

Fan Beibei was a bit puzzled. She thought for a moment but didn't answer Zhao Fusheng right away.

For her, this was indeed a difficult choice.

On one hand, she could stay home with her family; on the other, she was curious about what the outside world held.

Watching the little girl struggle, Zhao Fusheng smiled and tapped her head. "Don't worry. You're still young. You have a few more years."

"But I'll grow up eventually."

The little girl sat there, tilting her head, and said to Zhao Fusheng.

Zhao Fusheng laughed. "Yes, our Beibei will grow up to be a great beauty."

"Really?"

Fan Beibei's eyes lit up. She looked at Zhao Fusheng. "Brother, you think so too, right? I'll be very pretty, even prettier than sister, won't I?"

"Yes, yes, our Beibei is the prettiest."

Zhao Fusheng nodded with a smile.

Since Fan Beibei had grown up, they rarely had the chance to chat like this.

"Alright then, brother, wherever you send me, I'll go."

Fan Beibei was in a great mood and nodded to Zhao Fusheng.

In her mind, although she didn't understand what studying abroad meant, since Zhao Fusheng wanted her to go, she would go. After all, her brother wouldn't harm her.

It must be said that this girl was sometimes extremely clever.

Zhao Fusheng patted her head. "Okay, in a few years, I'll arrange for you to go."

"Next year."

Fan Beibei suddenly said. "I'll go next year. Let me get used to it first. If I'm not comfortable, brother, you can come pick me up, okay?"

Zhao Fusheng was startled, looking at Fan Beibei in surprise. He hadn't expected the girl to think so far ahead.

Was this still a child of just over ten?

"Is that okay?"

Seeing Zhao Fusheng hesitate, Fan Beibei asked timidly.

"Okay."

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "Brother promises to visit you every year. If you're unhappy there, I'll bring you home, alright?"

"Mm-hmm."

Fan Beibei beamed with joy.