Chapter 99: He Was Not the First Choice

The light in the study was dimmed, and the afterglow of the setting sun turned into a warm orange-red, casting a soft golden hue on the objects in the room through the window.

After finishing his story, Old Master Huo picked up his slightly cooled tea and took a sip. His gaze remained fixed on the view outside the window, as if he could still see that solitary figure in the cemetery from years ago.

Huo Yanli sat there, speechless for a long time. His grandfather's narration unfolded before his eyes like a vivid picture. He could almost feel the cold wind of that day, see the thin but upright figure in front of the tombstone, and hear that calm yet weighty promise.

His heart was gripped by a complex mix of emotions. There was shock, belated understanding, and a stinging pain that was almost shame.

“So,” Huo Yanli’s voice was a little dry, and he cleared his throat, “you saw her at the funeral and felt… that she needed the Huo family’s protection?”

"Yes and no." The old man withdrew his gaze, looked at his grandson, and his eyes became somewhat profound. "Seeing her like that, my heart ached, and I wanted to take care of her for Old Shen, that's true. But more importantly..."

He paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words.

"More importantly, I saw the strength in her. The strength of knowing where she was going and going without hesitation. This kind of strength is rare, especially at her age after experiencing so much."

Old Master Huo leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice: "Yanli, our Huo family has reached the pinnacle of wealth and status today. But sometimes, staying in the nest of wealth and status for too long can dull people, make them arrogant, and make them forget where their roots are, forget that there are other things in this world more important than money and power."

Huo Yanli lowered his eyes. His grandfather's words pierced his heart like needles. There was a time when he truly believed that. He thought that a business empire was everything, and that the glitz and glamour of Beijing's elite circles were the center of the world.

"I can see that Zhiyi has the world in her heart and a broad vision in her eyes. She is walking a difficult but righteous path." The old man said slowly. "I thought back then that if she could have some connection with the Huo family, perhaps... she could bring something different to our family. She could give a warning to some people who have been corrupted by wealth, and... make the future of the Huo family have something more than just money."

Huo Yanli suddenly looked up at his grandfather. He had never imagined that his grandfather had such profound considerations in arranging this marriage.

The old man met his gaze and nodded: "That's right. I have my own reasons. For Old Shen's entrustment, and for the future of the Huo family."

He leaned back in his rocking chair, his tone suddenly becoming somewhat subtle: "However, Yanli, there's something I haven't told you yet."

Huo Yanli's heart skipped a beat: "What is it?"

The old man looked at him and said, word by word, "Actually, the first choice I made with your Grandpa Shen back then wasn't you."

The air seemed to freeze for a moment.

Huo Yanli froze, his pupils contracting slightly: "...Not me?"

"Yes." The old man nodded calmly. "It's Huo Zheng."

Huo Yanli's expression changed almost imperceptibly. Although he quickly regained his composure, the fleeting surprise and some indescribable fluctuation did not escape the old man's eyes.

The study was so quiet that you could faintly hear car horns in the distance.

"Why... is it my uncle?" Huo Yanli heard his own voice tighten.

“Huo Zheng is more suitable, and his personality is more stable.” The old man spoke frankly. “He travels around all year round, has broad experience, and is determined. He understands what Zhiyi is thinking and doing better. Moreover, he is single and has no messy past.”

Huo Yanli's hands, resting on his knees, unconsciously clenched into fists. He suddenly recalled his uncle Huo Zheng's unusual reaction when he first heard Song Zhiyi's name, and the later words, "You are not good enough for her." It turned out, there was no unfounded rumor.

"Then... what happened later?" he asked with difficulty.

The old man's face showed a complex expression, as if he were sighing and helpless: "That kid Huo Zheng refused outright after he found out about this."

"He refused?" Huo Yanli was taken aback again.

“Yes.” The old man recalled, “I showed him Zhiyi’s photo and basic information, and also told him my thoughts. He looked at it for a long time, especially when he saw the briefings and photos of Zhiyi working on the battlefield.”

The old man paused, seemingly recalling Huo Zheng's original words.

(remember)

Huo Zheng said in a low voice, "A girl like Song Zhiyi carries in her heart the mountains and rivers, the ideals that generations have failed to realize. She was not born to be trapped in the trivialities of love and family feuds. Her world is too vast, and too heavy. I understand her, and even admire her. I understand her ideals and perseverance, because to some extent, we are the same kind of people—people who are willing to pay the price for certain beliefs."

He looked at his father, his eyes clear: "But it is precisely because I understand that I know I am not suitable. I can be her comrade-in-arms, her comrade-in-arms, and perhaps give her understanding and respect. But I cannot give her... the warmth of human life."

The old man was stunned: "Human warmth?"

“Yes.” Huo Zheng nodded. “She’s too clear-headed, and too lonely. She’s sealed away all her tender emotions to support her on that difficult path. What she needs is someone who can occasionally pull her back from that ‘warrior’ state, someone who can make her feel the warmth of the ordinary, someone who makes her willing to occasionally take off her armor. Someone who can ignite that bit of human warmth in her heart that belongs to ‘Song Zhiyi’ herself, not the ‘diplomat’. This person must have enough patience and warmth to slowly melt the ice on her outside, and more importantly, a strong enough heart and perspective to stand firmly by her side, rather than trying to pull her into their own world.”

Huo Zheng's gaze deepened: "Yan Li appears cold on the surface, seemingly indifferent to everything, and after being hurt by Lin Wei, he's become even more withdrawn. But deep down, he's a man of deep feelings, and once he's made up his mind, he's more persistent than anyone else. He needs someone to awaken him, to shatter his arrogance and superficiality, and to let him see a bigger world. And the one who can awaken him must be someone powerful enough, powerful enough for him to look up to and feel insignificant. Song Zhiyi is that person."

"So you think Yanli is appropriate?" the old man asked.

Huo Zheng smiled, a smile that reflected his understanding of his nephew and a certain expectation for the girl's future: "His world seems completely different from Zhiyi's, but it is precisely this difference that could create unexpected chemical reactions. He can provide her with the stable support and backing she needs, while her brilliance can illuminate the corners of his heart obscured by fame and fortune. But this process will definitely not be easy; Yanli must first shatter herself and then rebuild herself. As for whether it will succeed..." He shrugged, "It depends on fate, and also on Yanli's own understanding and determination. But at least, it's an opportunity. For me," he said frankly, "we are the same kind of people, and it's easy for us to stop at understanding and respect, without sparking anything else. I can't do that."

(End of flashback)

The old man slowly recounted Huo Zheng's words from back then to Huo Yanli. Huo Yanli's heart felt as if it had been struck heavily, a dull ache mixed with a thrilling sense of sudden enlightenment.

“Now you should know,” the old man’s voice was old and tired, yet strong, “that Zhiyi’s marriage to you was not because she was marrying above her station in the Huo family, but because our Huo family was fortunate to have met her.”

Huo Yanli lowered his head, his hands clenched into fists, his nails digging deep into his palms, but he felt no pain.

The sun had completely set, and the study was dimly lit without any lights on. Sitting in that dim light, Huo Yanli felt his face burning.

What has he done in the past four years?

They ignored and treated others with indifference, prejudice, and a so-called "white moonlight" complex, keeping that truly star-like person out of their world.

A belated sense of guilt overwhelmed him like a tidal wave. Not for the engagement itself, but for his own blindness and shallowness, and for the precious time wasted on meaningless pride.

Looking out the window at the completely dark sky, he realized for the first time with such clarity:

Some opportunities, which may seem like constraints, are actually gifts.

And he almost turned this gift into a real shackle with his own hands.