Chapter 83 Family secrets come to light

The proposal in the birch forest, that unique bullet-shell ring, was like a ray of warm light, completely dispelling the gloom and uncertainty that had long shrouded their relationship. Su Wanqing felt the weight of that special ring on her fingertips, yet her heart felt light as if it were about to fly. Although Huo Tingxiao remained quiet, the tenderness and focus in his eyes, along with his clumsy yet genuine thoughtfulness, announced that they had truly entered the sweetest and most intimate phase of their marriage.

They began planning their future like any other newlywed couple. Su Wanqing enthusiastically discussed the expansion plans for the "Watcher Design" studio, even half-jokingly suggesting that when Huo Tingxiao became less busy, they could go sketching together in the Jiangnan water towns, or seek design inspiration in the northwest desert. Huo Tingxiao listened, and although he didn't express his opinion explicitly, his eyes softened and the corners of his lips curled slightly, tacitly accepting all her aspirations for the future.

However, in this warm and peaceful atmosphere, an imperceptible shadow from the past is quietly approaching.

That evening, Huo Tingxiao returned home on time, a rare occurrence. His expression was even more stern than usual, a lingering solemnity veiled between his brows, as if he had encountered something difficult. At dinner, he ate very little and was unusually silent.

Su Wanqing noticed his strangeness and asked with concern: "What's wrong? Are there any more troubles in the follow-up of the mission?"

Huo Tingxiao put down his chopsticks, shook his head, and said in a low voice, "It's not about the mission." He paused, his eyes falling on the unique ring on her ring finger. His eyes were complicated for a moment, and he seemed a little hesitant. Finally, he said, "Grandpa asked us to go back to the old house tomorrow night and have dinner together."

Going back to the old house? Su Wanqing's heart skipped a beat. Although Mr. Huo had approved of her, she still felt a little nervous every time she faced the intimidating old man. Moreover, this time, he specifically asked them to go back, which didn't seem like an ordinary family dinner.

"Is... is there something wrong?" she asked softly.

Huo Tingxiao's brows knitted slightly, his tone calm, yet with a barely perceptible hint of melancholy: "Well. There are some... family matters that I need to let you know."

Family matters? Did she need to know? Su Wanqing's heartbeat inexplicably quickened, and a vague sense of unease quietly rose. She nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

The next evening, the atmosphere in the Huo family mansion was even more solemn than usual. The meal was exquisite, but the atmosphere around the table felt somewhat stagnant. Old Master Huo sat at the head table, his face calm and his eyes sharp as usual, but upon closer inspection, he seemed to have a heavier sense of fatigue than usual.

When the meal was almost finished, Mr. Huo put down his chopsticks, picked up a towel beside him and wiped his hands. His eyes slowly swept over Huo Tingxiao and finally landed on Su Wanqing's face.

"Wanqing," he began, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable weight. "You and Tingxiao have finally settled down. There are some things about the Huo family, about... the origins of your marriage to Tingxiao. It's time for you to know."

Su Wanqing's heart suddenly tightened, and her fingers gripping the chopsticks tightened slightly. The origin of marriage? Could it be... more than just a simple "substitute marriage"? She subconsciously glanced at Huo Tingxiao beside her and saw that his jaw was set, his eyes dark and unclear. He clearly knew what the old man was going to say.

Mr. Huo sighed slightly, his sigh carrying the vicissitudes of life and a hint of indescribable heaviness. He looked at no one, his gaze seemingly cast into the distant past, and began to narrate in a low voice:

"The Huo family may look prosperous, but its roots are stuck in the mire of the old times. Some things about it are very dirty." His words were filled with undisguised coldness and...disdain.

"Tingxiao's father, my eldest son, Huo Mingyuan." At the mention of this name, the old man's eyes suddenly grew cold and sharp, even tinged with a hint of deep pain and... contempt. "He was once my most highly-anticipated successor, capable and even more ambitious. Unfortunately, his intentions were corrupted and he went astray."

Su Wanqing held her breath, her heart pounding. She had never heard Huo Tingxiao mention his father before, only knowing that he seemed to have died a long time ago.

"In order to rapidly expand his influence and consolidate his position, he resorted to some... extraordinary measures in his early years." The old man's voice was filled with suppressed anger. "One of these was tying up interests with the then-thriving yet shady Su Group (Su Wanqing's biological father's company). He abused his position to give the Su Group a free pass, even allegedly assisting them in illegal border trade and money laundering activities, reaping huge profits and using this to build his own network of connections."

Su Wanqing's face instantly turned pale! Her father... and Huo Tingxiao's father... were actually colluding like this?! Illegal trade? Money laundering?! This...

"Truth will eventually come to light." Old Master Huo's voice was as cold as ice. "On the eve of the truth being revealed, Huo Mingyuan tried to cut off his roots and save his life by putting all the blame on the Su family, and even... considered silencing them." He paused here, and a trace of extremely complex emotions flashed in his eyes, including heartache, anger, and deep powerlessness.

Su Wanqing's heart felt like it was being gripped by an icy hand, making it almost impossible to breathe! Silencing?! The target was... her father?!

"Perhaps your father, Su Bingtian, was driven to despair, or perhaps he still had a conscience. At the last moment, he left behind some crucial evidence and asked someone to secretly deliver it to me." Mr. Huo's tone was extremely heavy. "He had only one request—to save the lives of his wife and daughter, and give them a chance to survive."

"I obtained the evidence and dealt with Huo Mingyuan with swift action. All his suspected illegal businesses were uprooted, he was completely expelled from the Huo family, and he was ordered to remain permanently confined to reflect on his actions." The old man's voice was iron-blooded, yet there was also a subtle hint of fatigue. "But Huo Mingyuan... died suddenly and unexpectedly not long after. Whether it was suicide or he was silenced remains a mystery."

Su Wanqing's body went cold, her fingers trembling uncontrollably. She finally understood why her father had suddenly gone bankrupt, why he had died of an acute illness... It turned out that behind it lay such a thrilling, filthy and terrifying truth! Her mother's remarriage and moving away from the capital was probably a way for Mr. Huo to fulfill his promise and protect her...

"The Su family fell, Huo Mingyuan died, but the mess and hidden dangers left behind by this incident remain." Old Master Huo's eyes became sharp again, looking at Su Wanqing, "Especially you, Su Wanqing. You are Su Bingtian's daughter, and the person most directly involved in this scandal. At that time, there were many people who were eyeing the Huo family and wanted to make a fuss about it. Your existence itself is a potential flashpoint."

He paused, his tone more serious. "Either, I make you disappear completely and put an end to it all. Or... I keep you firmly and legitimately under the Huo family's watchful eye, with someone powerful enough and whom I can trust absolutely. This will both fulfill my promise to keep you safe and prevent any outsiders from using you to bring up old scores and attack the Huo family."

The old man's gaze turned to Huo Tingxiao, whose face was ashen and lips were tightly pursed. He spoke in a low voice, "Tingxiao, you are the one I chose. You are the only one who can shoulder this responsibility and protect her. The marriage at that time was more of a... transaction and arrangement than a collaboration. I used the marriage of the future heir of the Huo family to completely cover up and put an end to this shameful past, and at the same time, to give you a place to settle down."

The truth was like an icy tide, overwhelming Su Wanqing and drowning her in an instant! She felt dizzy, her whole body was cold, and her blood seemed to freeze!

I see!

She had always thought that this "substitute marriage" was just a simple business marriage and a coincidence! But she never expected that behind it lay such a dirty and bloody family secret, power struggle and... a life-threatening entanglement!

From the very beginning, her marriage wasn't a marriage of love, or even a simple exchange of interests. Instead, it was a complete... tool for maintaining stability! It was Mr. Huo's best plan to cover up his eldest son's crimes, balance family interests, fulfill his cold promise, and completely control her, his "hidden danger"...

That "climbing up" that seemed like she was taking advantage was actually a carefully calculated, cold imprisonment and appeasement!

What about Huo Tingxiao? Did he know all this from the beginning? Did he know that the person he married wasn't just the Su family's daughter, but also a witness to his father's crimes, a "trouble" who needed to be "taken care of"?

So... so his initial indifference, rejection, and even disgust... all had the cruelest and most reasonable explanation!

A huge shock, a sense of absurdity, and an indescribable humiliation and heartache swept over Su Wanqing like a tsunami! Her face was pale without a trace of blood, and her body was shaking slightly, almost unable to sit still.

She turned her head abruptly and looked at Huo Tingxiao beside her, her voice trembling: "You...you knew it a long time ago? From the very beginning...?"

Huo Tingxiao pursed his lips, his jawline tense, his eyes filled with extreme complexity: pain, guilt, struggle, and a hint of... a depth she couldn't fathom. He met her gaze without avoiding it, nodding slowly and heavily.

"Yes." His voice was hoarse and broken. "I know."

boom--!

Su Wanqing only felt a roar in her ears, and the whole world seemed to collapse and shatter in an instant!

All the sweetness, all the touching moments, all the longing for the future... at this moment, all turned into the most ridiculous and cruel irony!

It turns out that what she thought was true love was built on such a poor and false foundation from the very beginning!

She stood up suddenly, staggered back two steps, and tears burst out without warning, but it was not sadness, but great despair and coldness.

She looked at Huo Tingxiao, then at Old Master Huo, her voice hoarse and cold, "So... the meaning of my existence... is to cover up your Huo family's scandal? Just to... be kept captive by your Huo family so I don't go out and talk nonsense? Is that right?"

Old Master Huo frowned and looked heavy-eyed, but he didn't say anything.

Huo Tingxiao stood up suddenly, trying to get closer to her, his eyes filled with anxiety and pain: "Wanqing! It's not what you think! I..."

"Don't touch me!" Su Wanqing violently swatted away his outstretched hand, tears streaming down her face. Her voice was bone-chillingly cold. "Huo Tingxiao, tell me, why were you so nice to me later... all that protection, all that... even this..." She raised her hand and looked at the bullet shell ring, feeling a surge of irony and burning pain. "Was it just out of... responsibility? Because you had to keep an eye on this 'trouble' of mine? Right?!"

Huo Tingxiao's face turned pale instantly, his eyes filled with immense pain and panic. He desperately wanted to explain, "No! Wanqing, listen to me..."

"That's enough!" Su Wanqing interrupted him sharply, her heart aching as if it were about to burst. She could no longer stay in this suffocating place. She turned abruptly, stumbling out of the old house's dining room and into the cold night.

Behind him, there were Huo Tingxiao's anxious cries and Mr. Huo's heavy sighs.

But she couldn't hear anything.

Family secrets come to light.

It did not bring relief, but a devastating blow.

The harbor of happiness she had always thought of was actually built on such dark lies and calculations.

What should she do?

Where will everything that has just begun between them go?