Yun Haisheng finally lifted his eyes and looked at Yan Hai with unusual seriousness.
Yan Hai met his gaze, and for the first time since entering the hall, the atmosphere between them changed.
It was no longer just a subordinate speaking to a senior.
It became something else that was hidden from the eyes of others.
Something long buried under years of polite distance and careful appearances.
Yan Hai frowned and said quietly, "Father, what exactly are you thinking?"
That one word made the whole hall seem to tighten.
Father.
If anyone else had been there to hear it clearly, they probably would have been so shocked their souls would leave by the back door.
Because outside, in the city, no one knew this truth.
People only knew that Yan Hai was close to Yun Haisheng, and because he was talented and favored, many assumed the city overseer simply thought highly of him.
