Chapter 51 Confrontation in the Eye of the Storm
Huo Shen's gaze was like two icy spikes, instantly piercing Su Yan. The fatigue of the previous few days was gone, leaving only the coldness of having experienced the fierce battles in the business world and a hint of the sinisterness of having violated the domain.
He strode over, carrying with him the cold air from outside and the lingering smell of gunpowder, and stopped in front of Su Yan. His tall figure brought a heavy sense of oppression.
"What are you doing here?" Huo Shen's voice was low, but it carried a dangerous aura of impending danger. His gaze swept across the closed study door and then back to Su Yan's pale face, as if trying to find any sign of misconduct.
Su Yan's heart nearly leaped from his throat, and his back was instantly drenched in cold sweat. He forced himself to calm himself, lowering his eyelashes. With a tone of fear and dependence, he whispered, "I... I heard some noise at the door, and thought it was you, so I came out to check..."
He deliberately blurred the time point and attributed the reason for his appearance at the study door to "hearing the noise and coming out to check", rather than staying there for a long time.
Huo Shen stared at him without saying a word. The sharp light in his deep eyes flickered, as if he was evaluating the truth of his words. The air seemed to freeze, and every second seemed as long as a year.
"Really?" After a long moment, Huo Shen spoke slowly, his tone unclear whether he believed or not. He reached out his hand, not to touch Su Yan, but to the doorknob of the study door, turning it gently—the door was locked.
This action made Su Yan's breathing stop.
Huo Shen withdrew his hand and his gaze fell on Su Yan again, with a hint of elusive inquiry in his eyes. "It seems that you are very interested in my study?"
The words were light and airy, but they made Su Yan feel a chill in his bones. He knew that Huo Shen didn't believe his words at all.
"No..." Su Yan hurriedly shook his head, his voice trembling slightly, "I'm just... just worried about you. You haven't come back, and the news..." He stopped at the right time, his face revealing real worry and uneasiness. This time it was not for a show, but Huo Shen's current state and the turmoil outside really made him feel scared.
Huo Shen looked at his frightened appearance, and the frost in his eyes seemed to melt for a moment, but was soon covered by deeper and more complicated emotions. He suddenly reached out and pinched Su Yan's chin with a strong force, forcing him to look up.
"Su Yan," Huo Shen's voice deepened, with an almost cruel calmness, "I'll ask you one last time - how much do you know about your brother?"
His eyes were fixed on Su Yan's, not missing any slight changes.
Su Yan's heart suddenly sank. He knew this was the most crucial moment. Any hesitation or lie could lead to eternal damnation.
He met Huo Shen's scrutinizing gaze, his eyes instantly reddened, tears streaming down without warning, his voice choked with despair and grievance: "I don't know... I don't know anything! Why would he do this?! He clearly knew... knew that this would anger you... Is he crazy?!"
He seemed to have collapsed, speaking incoherently, venting his confusion and anger at Su Chen's behavior, as well as his fear of his own situation, without reservation. This outburst based on real emotions was far more convincing than any carefully woven lie.
Huo Shen's grip on his chin loosened slightly. He looked at Su Yan's tearful face, filled with helplessness and panic. His eyes were filled with a variety of complex emotions—suspicion, irritation, and a hint of... a dark satisfaction that he himself hadn't even noticed, being pleased by this complete dependence and fear.
"He's not crazy," Huo Shen released his hand, his tone returning to his usual cold and hard tone, but with a bit less of the previous hostility, "He just chose the stupidest path."
He turned around, stopped looking at Su Yan, walked to the sofa in the living room, sat down a little tiredly, and loosened his tie.
"Come here," he ordered.
Su Yan wiped away her tears, walked over carefully, and sat down on the carpet at his feet, like a pet that finally received some easing signals from its owner but was still frightened.
Huo Shen leaned against the sofa, closed his eyes, and rubbed his eyebrows. The long period of nervous tension and fatigue made his face look a little haggard.
"What did Assistant Zhou say to you?" he suddenly asked, his eyes still closed.
Su Yan's heart tightened, and he answered truthfully, "He...he showed me the news about my brother being surrounded by reporters, and he said...this was just the beginning." He paused, and his voice lowered, "He also took my phone..."
Huo Shen's lips curled up in a faint, cold arc when he heard this. "He is indeed responsible."
This sentence sounded like a compliment, but Su Yan heard a different meaning in it.
Huo Shen opened his eyes and looked at Su Yan's still red eyes. After a long look, he slowly said, "Su Yan, remember your current identity. As long as you behave yourself, I can keep you safe. As for Su Chen..."
He paused, and his eyes suddenly became deep and cold, like a bottomless ice pond.
"He asked for it."
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