Ch10 Don't blush just like you did earlier
Xia Wan was so confident during his phone call with Huo Yu, but the moment the call ended, anxiety and panic quickly took over.
He rampaged through his entire closet, tossing clothes aside and digging through the shelves until he finally found a set of clothes that would work.
After a brief pause, he also pulled out a facial mask from the closet.
"What are you doing?" Su Tang asked, his eyes scanning the pile of clothes scattered in front of Xia Wan. He quickly picked up on the unusual scene, sensing that something wasn't quite right, he asked. "Is there an event tomorrow?"
"Yeah," Xia Wan replied, tilting his head back slightly as he handed the facial mask to Su Tang. "Could you help me put it on?"
Su Tang grabbed the facial mask, tore open the package, and the oily essence quickly stained his hands. He looked at Xia Wan with a teasing smile and asked, "Is there anyone who can irritate single dogs as much as you?"
"Tangtang," Xia Wan said, not paying attention to Su Tang's teasing. He tilted his head slightly, his expression serious, and asked, "Can you tell me more about the Huo family? How many members are there in Huo's family"
Su Tang thought for a moment before answering, "There's old Mr. Huo, who had a stroke a few years ago. In the family, aside from Huo Yu and Huo Lin-who's just for show and pretty useless -there's also Huo Lin's father. I met him when I visited my aunt. He seems like a simple man, but he's actually quite shrewd. But why do you suddenly want to know about the Huo family?"
"Because I'm meeting Huo Yu's family tomorrow," Xia Wan said with a sigh.
The mask was only halfway opened when it suddenly fell onto Xia Wan's face with a loud "bang." It felt heavy as it landed, hitting his skin hard.
"Already?" Su Tang was shocked and surprised. After a moment to recover, he picked up the mask that had slipped from his hand and unfolded it properly. "The news about you and the Huo brothers is still being discussed. Aren't you worried that Huo Lin's father might explode if you go there in the midst of all the commotion? What if he ends up beating you to death in anger?"
It wasn't that Xia Wan wasn't worried-he was definitely scared, but there wasn't much he could do. Besides, Huo Yu would be there with him, so he wasn't completely alone.
"Even an ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her parents-in-law at some point," Xia Wan sighed. "It's only a matter of time. It was bound to happen sooner or
later."
"Since you can't really avoid it," Su Tang said, "If it gets tough, just call me. I'll be at Aunt's place, and I'll have her people take me over. They'll have to give me some face."
"Tangtang!" With the mask on, Xia Wan couldn't show much on his face, but his actions spoke for him. He wrapped his arms around Su Tang in a big bear hug, causing the mask to crinkle, but he didn't care. He hugged Su Tang tightly, his voice filled with appreciation. "You're so kind. You're the best!"
"In return," Su Tang pushed him away, wary of the mask smudging on his pajamas. "As repayment, share those private skills Huo Yu taught you."
"Sure, no problem" Xia Wan agreed without hesitation.
The next day, just after his Friday's class ended, Xia Wan received a message from Huo Yu.
He went back to the dormitory and quickly changed into a fresh set of clothes. Afterward, he grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder, and made his way out through the school gate.
Huo Yu's car was parked near the coffee shop, not far from the school gate. It was the new car that Huo Peixue supposedly got it for him. The car caught a lot of attention, with people constantly looking at it as they passed by.
Excitedly, Xia Wan ran up to the car, jumped inside, and tossed his bag onto the backseat. "This car is amazing, it looks even cooler than in the pictures!" he exclaimed.
"Do you like it?" Huo Yu asked casually, "I'll give it to you"
While saying this, he glanced at Xia Wan and noticed he was wearing black jeans that made his legs look long and slender, paired with a snow-white shirt. A black tie was neatly tied at his collar, making him look very charismatic.
The young man, who was looking sharp and composed, like a young master, was startled and his eyes widened in shock after hearing his words, as if he was greatly frightened.
"What's wrong?" Huo Yu asked deliberately, pretending not to know the reason.
"So generous?" Xia Wan quickly regained his composure. "You're brave enough to offer me the car, but I'm too shy to accept it." He waved his hands back and forth, clearly uncomfortable.
While talking, he noticed Huo Yu suddenly leaning towards him, in a somewhat ambiguous and suggestive manner.
Xia Wan's body suddenly stiffened, and he could clearly smell the faint scent of perfume mixed with tobacco as Huo Yu leaned in closer.
"What...what are you doing?" Xia Wan asked, his voice shaky. Maybe it was because of Su Tang and Fu Ling's teasing, but his mind was filled with all sorts of Inappropriate thoughts. As Huo Yu leaned in closer, all the unhealthy images he could Imagine instantly flooded his
mind.
Then, there was a soft chuckle. Before Xia Wan could react, Huo Yu reached over, pulled the seatbelt from his side, and clicked it into place.
It turned out, he had forgotten to fasten his seatbelt.
Xia Wan couldn't help but raise his hand to rub his ear, still feeling the faint warmth from Huo Yu's chuckle. It had been brief, but the feeling lingered, like a light tickle that made his ear itch badly.
"You thought I was trying to do something?" Huo Yu asked, sitting up straight with a teasing smile on his face.
He was dressed in a formal suit-trousers, a brown shirt, and a tie around his neck. His pale, cold skin gave him an aloof, restrained appearance. But when he smiled, Xia Wan couldn't help but think of the phrase: a polite yet scummy gentleman.
"Nothing," Xia Wan muttered, his cheeks involuntarily warming from his own wild thoughts. Even his voice dropped a little more than usual, as if he was trying to conceal his embarrassment.
Xia Wan couldn't tell whether or not Huo Yu heard him, as he didn't reply and simply stepped on the gas to start the car.
TThe weather was nice today, and the temperature had gone up a little. Xia Wan rolled down the window just a bit, and as the car moved, he could smell the fresh fragrance of flowers and plants from outside.
After an hour of driving, the traffic around them gradually thinned, and they were almost near Huo Lin's house.
"Aside from what you mentioned yesterday, is there anything else I should remember or pay attention to?" Xia Wan decided to break the silence as they neared and hugged Buddha's feet once again. Forgetting all about his earlier embarrassment.
"Nothing much," Huo Yu said casually. "Just, don't blush like you did earlier just by saying a couple of sentences."
Xia Wan: "."
He was truly speechless.
"I meant other things," Xia Wan muttered under his breath. "Who asked you about that?"
"Do you have any other questions?" Huo Yu asked.
"Then what do you like to eat? What do you dislike?" Xia Wan thought for a moment and asked again.
It was unrealistic to know everything, but he could at least try to gather some useful details, like eating habits and preferences, for the dinner.
"It's genuinely not a big deal," Huo Yu said. "I suppose I haven't really thought about whether I like certain foods or not. It doesn't matter if you know or not."
"That makes things simpler." Xia Wan chuckled, looking at Huo Yu as he drove the car through the gate.
Almost everyone in the Huo family recognized the car driven by Huo Yu, as it was a gift from Huo Peixue.
As soon as the car stopped, a middle-aged man, probably a butler, approached and greeted Huo Yu with slight bow, "Eldest
Master."
Huo Yu tossed the car keys to the butler, then walked around to the other side of the car and opened the door. He took Xia Wan's hand and, caringly, helped him out of the car.
The butler, who had been standing to one side, watched Xia Wan with an icy expression, his face filled with disdain.
"This is Young Master Xia," Huo Yu said, glancing at the butler. His gaze held a pressure that made the butler feel uneasy and tense.
Honestly, the butler wasn't thrilled about having someone like Xia Wan, a child from a low background, around. He couldn't understand what kind of Influence this "devil" had on the two young masters of the Huo family.
What kind of master could this vixen become?
"Like he could really become one?" The butler muttered under his breath, his reluctance clear in his delayed greeting. This was enough to test Huo Yu's patience.
Without saying another word, Huo Yu swiftly lifted his leg and delivered a sharp, dismissive kick to the butler. His eyes darkened as he spoke coldly, "If you can't greet someone properly, then get lost."
The butler was caught off guard by the sudden kick, causing him to lose his balance and fall hard onto his back. He let out a loud cry, a mix of shock and pain, that echoed in the air.
Xia Wan didn't expect Huo Yu to be so direct. He was startled by the butler's scream and quickly shrank into Huo Yu's arms, peeking out from behind Huo Yu with only one eye visible.
Meanwhile, Huo Lin, who had come out after hearing the noise, watched the scene with a mix of tenderness and complexity in his eyes.
Seeing Xia Wan, who was now looking very much like a fragile and frightened bird, stirred a deep sense of pity and compassion within him.
Especially in the way the young man was holding himself, with his waist looking both slim and firm, it made it hard not to picture what it would feel like to hold onto such a slender waist.
In fact, someone was indeed holding it, but it wasn't him; it was Huo Yu, who had lowered his head, tenderly coaxing the person he had been thinking about since their last meeting Into his arms.
On the other hand, Huo Peixue, who had also followed Huo Lin after hearing the noise, was so angry that he felt a headache coming on. He had asked Huo Yu to come for dinner, but he hadn't expected him to also bring that along.
Seeing the lost and distressed look on Huo Lin's face, Huo Peixue's anger grew even more. "Help Uncle Li up," he snapped at Huo Lin.
Hearing his father's sharp voice, Huo Lin finally came back to his senses. He quickly walked over and helped the butler to his feet. Unable to stop himself, he sneered and said, "You've only been abroad for two years, and yet your temper has gotten so much worse."
Seeing the situation settle down a bit, especially with Huo Peixue's arrival, Xia Wan quickly straightened up, though he still keep leaning against Huo Yu's arms.
Huo Lin looked at Xia Wan, who wasn't scared anymore, yet still remained in Huo Yu's arms.
In that moment, Huo Lin felt a mix of emotions, with jealousy and bitterness being the strongest.
Looking at them being so lovey dovey he couldn't help but feel even more frustrated.
At first, Huo Lin was mainly drawn to Xia Wan's looks and he only desired for his body. But after the engagement party, he saw a new side of Xia Wan-so lively and full of energy-that he couldn't help but feel even more drawn to him. It was as if he was seeing a whole new spark in him for the first time.
That sharpness, combined with his beauty, made it impossible for Huo Lin to forget Xia Wan. He couldn't get him out of his mind, and the more he thought about him, the stronger his obsession became.
"Come in and eat," Huo Peixue's voice broke the tension, though his tone was heavy.
Since things had reached this point, there wasn't much he could do about it-at least for now.
Huo Lin stood in front of the two, who were leaning against each other so closely. He wanted to talk to Xia Wan, but Xia Wan didn't even glance at him.
It wasn't until Huo Yu coldly said with disdain, "Are you done staring?" that Huo Lin finally turned away and reluctantly followed his father into the dinning room.
The dining table was neatly arranged with a delicious spread of food. The soft lighting above made everything look even more appetizing, making people feel even more hungry.
"What happened just now?" Huo Peixue asked. They went outside after hearing the noise and had no idea what had happened.
Huo Yu didn't answer immediately. First, he helped Xia Wan pull out the chair, then sat down beside him before replying, "The old guy was disrespecting Wanwan, so I taught him a small lesson."
"I've never seen Uncle Li be disrespectful to anyone," Huo Lin retorted, clearly not believing any of the lies Huo Yu was saying.
Uncle Li was a relative from Huo Lin's mother's side of the family. When Li Yun heard his name, she smiled, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. She looked Xia Wan up and down, sizing him up, and asked in not so friendly tone, "Are you Xia Wan?"
Xia Wan nodded obediently: "Yes, Auntie."
Li Yun didn't say anything further. She simply picked up her water cup, took a sip, and snorted with contempt.
Who did this person think he was, calling her "Aunt"?
Did he really think she could become an aunt of someone so lowly. He really think they were on the same level?
Li Yun had a lot to say but stayed silent, knowing it wasn't the right moment. When the time was right, she would make sure to put this filthy guy in his place.
Soon after, the chef arrived to serve the soup, and Huo Peixue picked up some piece of beef brisket and placed it on Huo Yu's plate.
Xia Wan was listening to the conversation. Seeing the beef brisket being placed on Huo Yu's plate, he quickly picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it on his own plate. He whispered, "Didn't you say that you hate this the most?"
Then, with a small smile, he added, "Were you lying to me?"
Xia Wan's voice was soft, but it was clear enough for all three members of the Huo family to hear his words clearly.
Hearing this, Huo Peixue awkwardly cleared his throat. "You've been away for a few years, so Uncle must've forgotten what you like."
"It's no big deal," Huo Yu said lightly as he picked up a piece of braised pork and placed it on Xia Wan's plate. "But I do have something important to discuss with Uncle."
"What is it?" Huo Peixue asked warmly, sounding just like a caring elder.
Huo Yu took Xia Wan's hand, intertwined their fingers before placing it on the table. With a serious tone, he said, 'I've decided to marry Wanwan. I hope uncle and aunt will treat him with the same respect you've both shown me from now on.'
At that moment, Huo Lin's face instantly turned dark. The spoon he was holding slipped from his hand and hit the plate with a loud clatter, drawing everyone's attention.
Huo Peixue shot Huo Lin a sharp glare, clearly annoyed by the sudden outburst.
Huo Yu was shameless, but the Huo family still had its dignity to uphold.
Two brothers fighting over a boy had already become a joke for Huo family, and if this continued, who knew what kind of rumors would start spreading?
By then, what face would he still have to show to others...
No.. he wouldn't let this happen!
On the other side, Li Yun's expression grew even more unpleasant and cold.
This little goblin not only tried to seduce her son, but when that didn't work, he now had set his sights on Huo Yu, attempting to charm and manipulate him to secure a place in the family.
He was clearly trying to latch onto Huo Yu to get into the family by winning his heart.
"We'll talk about the marriage later," Huo Peixue said coolly. "You're still young. You're only 25, and what about Xia Wan? How old is he?"
"Twenty," Xia Wan said, looking well-behaved. But then, his next words caused Huo Peixue to frown with displeasure: "I'm already at the right age to get married."
Huo Peixue didn't respond to Xia Wan. Instead, he turned to Huo Yu and said, "When your parents were your age, they were more focused on building their careers. Why are you in such a rush to get married? You're still young, why
think about marriage so soon?"
"And your uncle," he added, "you need to inform him about this before making any decisions."
He was too lazy to argue with Huo Yu over this matter; after all, the family's reputation still had to be maintained. It was better to pass this issue onto Huo Yu's uncle.
Meanwhile, Xia Wan, who had been focused on eating, suddenly stopped when he heard the word "uncle."
Like a flash of lightning, a realization struck Xia Wan's mind.
He suddenly remembered that Huo Yu did have an uncle, but the book had only mentioned it briefly in one or two sentences, causing him to overlook this crucial detail.
Now, hearing the word "uncle," this forgotten information resurfaced in his mind.
Huo Yu's true darkening began when his uncle, Yan Rui, was framed and fell from power.
It was already summer at that time, as everyone in the book was described wearing short sleeves.
So, that incident has not happened yet?
Which also means that Huo Yu has not blackened yet...
"What's wrong?" Huo Yu asked when he noticed Xia Wan had stopped. He reached up and gently ruffled his hair. "Is it not to your liking? Do you want anything else to eat? I'll give it."
"Nothing," Xia Wan said with a smile, his eyes were bright and sparkling as he looked at Huo Yu. "Could I have some more of the red-braised pork?"
As Huo Yu observed Xia Wan's appearance, he couldn't help but appreciate the superb acting skills on display.
The way Xia Wan's expression was, it truly made others believe he was genuinely happy with him.
"Okay." Huo Yu smiled dotingly, matching Xia Wan's affectionate tone, and added two more pieces of meat to his plate.
"That is..." Huo Peixue's eyes fell on the hand Huo Yu had just used to ruffle Xia Wan's hair. On the slender, well-proportioned knuckles was a ring that looked very familiar. "Is.. that your father's ring?"
"Yeah," Huo Yu smiled faintly, but the look in his eyes when he met Huo Peixue's gaze was ambiguous. "It's something my father left behind. Of course, as his son, I have to take back what was his."
When Huo Peixue heard these words, he smiled, but there was a hint of something gloomy in his eyes, something unspoken.
Huo Yu's words, along with Huo Peixue's expression, seemed to carry hidden meaning that was far deeper than what it appeared to be.
While enjoying his meal, Xia Wan observed the growing tension at the table. He also noticed that with each passing second, Huo Lin and Li Yun's expressions grew more and more worst.
A sense of unease crept into his heart.
He couldn't help but think about everything again, but this time, from a different point of view.
From beginning to end, the book portrayed Huo Yu as the villain, someone who was constantly fighting for the Huo family's wealth.
As for why he was considered a villain and why he wanted to take his uncle's business, despite his uncle being so kind to him, the book never explained a word.
Just like how there was no explanation about the background of the little cannon fodder, Xia Wan, or what had happened to him.
At first, Huo Yu appeared to be just a bad guy, created solely to be the villain for the protagonist to defeat. He was only there to serve as the antagonist.
But now...
Based on Huo Yu's words and the various expressions on the faces of the people at the table, Xia Wan had different theory...
Maybe Huo Yu was a villain just for the sake of having a villain?
Maybe, from the start, he wasn't really a villain to begin with.
"If it's your father's," Xia Wan smiled and took Huo Yu's hand in his to get a better look. "Then your mother must have one as well."
"Yeah," Huo Yu chuckled indulgently. "when I get my mom's ring, I'll personally put it on you."
"That sounds great," Xia Wan let out a soft laugh, then leaned over and gave Huo Yu's cheek a light peck. It was warm, soft, and carried a faint sweetness in its scent. Yet, the words that followed carried more weight.
"Then, I'll help you take it back."