Chapter 16 [Update 1 and 2]

For workers, the cruelest thing is to hear the word "company" after get off work.

Especially since it was about “returning to the company”, and especially since he gave this excuse to the boss.

The subordinate suddenly sobered up and realized that he had done something stupid because he was drunk. He shook all over and said tremblingly: "Boss Huo, are you coming back now...?"

Huo Yuyan had already put on his coat and was ready to leave.

The lively drinking party that had just been celebrating suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked at the boss who was about to leave in confusion.

"We can't delay solving important matters."

Huo Yuyan paused while buttoning his shirt and asked, "Will she come tonight?"

The subordinate was dumbfounded, and after a long while he swallowed his saliva and said, "Yes, I will come."

She would stay in the company for a long time and get close to the employees on duty.

It’s okay as long as you come, Huo Yuyan nodded.

Seeing that he had already walked out, the subordinate slapped his head in regret, "Look at his cheap mouth! Why does he mention the company for no reason? He can't control his pig brain when he drinks too much!"

Later, his colleagues, who learned that Mr. Huo had to return to the company temporarily because he had let the cat out of the bag, teamed up to beat him up.

"Hey, hey, hey, stop, stop, stop. The important thing is that we catch up with President Huo! Good brothers and sisters, let's go first!" the subordinates wailed.

The others then stopped and went back to the company in a bad mood.

Originally, the subordinate thought that there really was some unknown story between that woman and Mr. Huo, and since there were rumors among the secretaries a while ago that Mr. Huo had someone outside, he believed it.

But thinking back carefully to what Mr. Huo said just now, that tone -

What kind of tea is it?

...This is obviously irony, another person who wants to get promoted.

Thinking that Mr. Huo didn't know her at all, why did she pretend to be hesitant, ambiguous, hesitant, and unresolved?

As a result, he took it seriously and even talked about it in front of Mr. Huo!

It's a good thing that Mr. Huo didn't get angry and kick him out of the project team. If that scheming woman really had ulterior motives to ruin Mr. Huo's reputation, he would probably be demoted.

He was angry and regretful. Thinking of the pitiful appearance of that scheming woman, he wanted to run back immediately to confront her face to face and tear off her mask of misery.

After everyone had left, the subordinate slapped him twice before he followed with deep regret. This was a big enough lesson, and he would never dare to believe rumors again, even if he was beaten to death.

When Huo Yuyan arrived at the company, there were only a few people left.

He pushed the door open with one hand and walked in with big strides.

At the front desk, a girl was lying on the table and telling a story with a nostalgic look on her face.

"…Since then, I have been thinking about him day and night. I remember his face, his voice, and everything about him is extremely clear in my mind."

"I even sketched out his growing environment. He might have a strict but loving father and a gentle and kind mother. He grew up like this, with a heart full of kindness towards the world, so he saved me..."

"I really want to marry him. I really, really want to."

The girl's face was full of tenderness and longing.

Huo Yuyan paused with his swift footsteps: "..."

There's no way he can be fixed.

He thought she was just making up a story, but it turned out to be an immersed rumor maker. It looked like she almost believed it herself.

The receptionist listened to her politely but awkwardly, nodding in agreement, "Miss Wen really has a good memory."

Wen Yanyan held her face with her hands, her expression filled with happiness: "Of course, I will recall everything about him every day until the day I meet him again."

"...No," Huo Yuyan finally couldn't help himself, walked to the front desk, and asked her in confusion, "Have I met you before?"

Wen Yanyan, who was immersed in memories, was stunned.

This voice is so familiar, it seems like the older brother in my memory, just a little deeper and more mature.

She only had time to think about it for a second before she heard the man's question. After realizing the meaning, Wen Yanyan turned her head abruptly and looked over in disbelief.

The tall and handsome man stood there, with a small mole on the tip of his nose and a slightly furrowed brow that revealed a kind of indifference that attracted her deeply.

——It’s him!

Wen Yanyan covered her mouth suddenly and almost sobbed.

She looked at the face she had been thinking about day and night through her tears and said tremblingly, "My benefactor brother... I found you..."

Huo Yuyan remained silent, stretched his knuckles, and resisted the urge to throw her out.

This kind of thing is something that only comes with practice. Now Huo Yuyan has enough experience and knows that he should not let the other party take the lead and get into the game.

So he interrupted her spell with a blank expression: "Stop trying to get close to me. Who is your brother?"

The crying stopped abruptly.

That tear-filled face was filled with astonishment, and then fear.

Finally, she smiled knowingly and said, "You don't remember me anymore, um... Mr. Huo, do you still remember the little girl whose life you saved ten years ago? I am -"

Huo Yuyan didn't even blink: "I don't remember."

He has helped so many people in his life. Is it because he has too much free time to remember everyone's information?

Wen Yanyan seemed to have suffered a great blow, but she quickly cheered herself up and told herself that Mr. Huo was just being ruthless because he didn't know her. She could tell him what happened that year and let him know how grateful she was to him.

Wen Yanyan wiped away her tears firmly and said unyieldingly: "Ten years ago, I was abducted by human traffickers. It was Mr. Huo who stopped him and saved me from him. Since then, I have always remembered Mr. Huo's voice and face, and I swear to find you and repay you..."

Huo Yuyan: “…”

First he couldn't get the love he wanted, then he received a life-saving grace. He never thought that there would be so many outrageous plots in his short life of more than 20 years. Will the next script be about returning to the airport with twins?

Huo Yuyan was frightened by his own imagination, and woke up in time to interrupt her again:

"Wait, shouldn't you be thanking me then? Why are you harassing me?"

Wen Yanyan was stunned again. After a while, tears fell from her red eyes. She was shocked and heartbroken.

"Harassment...Mr. Huo actually thinks that I am harassing you?"

"I just... I didn't do anything. I just wanted to see you so much that I quietly waited for you where you might appear. Just one look, just one look." She was so flustered that she spoke incoherently, tears falling non-stop. "I really didn't do anything. I just wanted to take a look at the person I love..."

Huo Yuyan was too lazy to talk to her. He raised his hand to signal her to shut up and said without interruption: "If you think it's not, then it's not. Whether it is harassment is determined by the victim, not the perpetrator. Not only do you squat in my company every day and don't pay the air-conditioning fee, but you also hide in the dark and spy on me. What's going on? Are you trying to find out the route and assassinate me?"

"Do you think it's enjoyable, happy and satisfying to have a stranger hiding on your way home and secretly staring at you every day?"

"Thank you so much for your attention, I just feel creepy."

Not everyone can stand Huo Yuyan's venomous words, not to mention that Wen Yanyan was already extremely fragile after being hit by him, and this blow was even more tragic. The receptionist almost heard the sound of her heart breaking.

The reception lady was intimidating.

Fortunately, she stayed at her post and didn't let Wen Yanyan bribe her to go upstairs with her small favors. Afterwards, when Mr. Huo investigated the matter, she was the one with the least guilt!

At this time, the project team that followed Huo Yuyan back to the company also arrived. As soon as they ran in breathlessly, they saw President Huo and Wen Yanyan, who was crying, confronting each other.

Everyone: “Hiss——”

What is going on.

Anyone who cares about gossip in the company these days knows about the sudden appearance of Wen Yanyan.

Seeing how confident she was, as if she was immersed in sweet memories, everyone sighed in admiration and discussed the boss's love history many times in the small group.

But gossip in private is one thing, and it is another thing to be talked about openly.

The people who came later couldn't help but look at each other in bewilderment. "How did Mr. Huo bump into her? Did he suddenly come back to the company just to see her?"

"Did we run into something we shouldn't have?"

"…"

Only the subordinate who knew the situation fell silent.

He thought to himself with a sad face, don't be afraid, you will be slapped in the face soon.

So, they immediately saw Huo Yuyan's merciless scolding.

Finally, he ended with an even more ruthless statement: "Don't blame others for not wanting to see you, just do something normal people do."

Wen Yanyan's girlish love was completely shattered.

She was shaking all over like an autumn leaf falling in the wind, covering her face and running out crying.

He passed by them without looking at the road and even bumped into someone.

"Oh, this is really..." The man who was hit was about to complain when his colleague next to him pulled his sleeve. He turned around and saw that the boss had turned around, his face looked very, very, very bad.

They all felt a jolt in their hearts.

Huo Yuyan then walked towards them.

That expression was not much better than when he faced Wen Yanyan.

He glanced at the guilty-looking people present and said calmly, "Does the whole company know about this?"

“…”

"I heard that my family is in disharmony, and I have countless female confidantes, and each of them can come to my house and cause trouble?"

“…”

No one dared to respond. Huo Yuyan nodded and said, "Those who are mainly involved in spreading rumors should resign tomorrow. I think those who listen to and discuss rumors casually may not be worthy of staying in their current positions."

He raised his chin slightly and said to one of them, "Tell the rest of the company to keep their word."

"By the way," he paused before leaving and turned around to say, "No matter what the relationship between my wife and I is, it is not for outsiders to discuss."

In silence, Huo Yuyan signaled to some of them for the last time, "Mind yourselves."

…

Huo Yuyan was originally planning to go back to the house he bought, but halfway through the drive, he lost his focus for a moment and when he came to his senses, he had turned onto another road, which was heading back to the Huo residence.

By the time he arrived, eight o'clock had long passed.

He turned off the car lights, held the steering wheel, and continued to daydream in the dark.

Huo Yuyan didn't know why he suddenly wanted to come back. He had been back to the Huo residence quite frequently recently, and the house he usually lived in seemed a little deserted.

He always felt very strange today, and some inexplicable doubts were lingering in him, but he couldn't tell what was strange.

In this kind of unsettling confusion, perhaps he subconsciously feels that being in a crowded place will make him feel more real.

After a long silence, he opened the door and got out of the car.

The room was quiet, with only a few warm night lights in the corridor, which he had fought hard for from Shen Yuntang.

Huo Yuyan walked through the corridor and suddenly found that the light was still on in Huo Xihuai's room.

He paused, briefly breaking free from his confusion, and knocked lightly on the door.

Huo Xihuai was doing his homework, with draft paper and a pen spread out on the table.

He glanced at her and asked, "Are you tired?"

Huo Xihuai shook his head.

Huo Yuyan nodded and said, "Go to bed early."

After closing the door, he fell into confusion again.

He didn't know to whom he could convey his confused and troubled mood, or who could answer this question, so he just moved forward based on his instinct.

Finally I reached the door of the master bedroom.

After Huo Yuyan woke up, he started to laugh at himself. What was wrong with him so late at night? Shen Yuntang had already fallen asleep. Did he still want to chat with this young lady?

I guess she knew his confusion and would feel uncomfortable if she didn't scold him.

Thinking this in his heart, he still knocked on the door honestly, very gently, for fear of waking Shen Yuntang. But he seemed unwilling to not knock just once.

After knocking, he stood at the door in a daze. After a while, he found that there was no movement. Huo Yuyan breathed a sigh of relief and turned around to leave.

“Ding Dong.”

A message popped up on his phone, in the middle of the night, and it was from an account he had not blocked.

Huo Yuyan was stunned for a moment, then picked up his phone to look at it. As he was picking up the phone, it dinged several times.

Shen Yuntang: Are you sick?

Shen Yuntang: Are you playing tricks with this?

Shen Yuntang: He must have walked about 10,000 steps in the corridor. Did Mr. Huo secretly take all the steps he needed by strolling in the middle of the night?

Huo Yuyan: "..."

Sure enough, Shen Yuntang, who was still awake, would not give up any opportunity to confront him.

He immediately recovered from his lost state and wanted to regain his face with full confidence.

But he typed and deleted, deleted and typed again, and his confidence became weaker and weaker with each revision.

In the end, Huo Yuyan still endured the humiliation.

Huo Yuyan: ...I just want to ask if I can come in

You can feel Shen Yuntang's speechlessness even through the phone screen.

Shen Yuntang: Get lost.

As expected, Huo Yuyan was not surprised at all and didn't care.

I took this opportunity to ask all the questions in my mind in one breath.

Huo Yuyan: Shen Yuntang, have you ever felt that this world is particularly outrageous?

…

Shen Yuntang didn't reply to him for a long time.

Huo Yuyan continued to himself: I always feel that my life is too dramatic. How could so many bizarre things happen to me?

Huo Yuyan: These people I met seem to have no IQ, are easily instigated, have one-sided personalities, and always do things that normal people cannot understand.

Huo Yuyan: For example, can you believe that someone would discuss his love history in front of his direct superior?

Huo Yuyan: Can you believe that someone is squatting at the door of your company every day to peek at you in order to repay a favor?

He was increasingly mumbling to himself: I know there are a lot of weirdos in the world, but why are all these messed up people gathered around me?

…

Shen Yuntang finally showed mercy and responded to him.

"Have you ever thought, Mr. Huo, that you might be the male protagonist of a world? Aren't there always cannon fodder and top-notch people around the male protagonist?"

Huo Yuyan: ...

Huo Yuyan: Okay^_^

Shen Yuntang sneered. He didn't believe it even when I told him the truth. Maybe this was the reason why he was always surrounded by the best people.

Shen Yuntang: Stop talking nonsense. Is there any reliable lawyer you can recommend to me?

Huo Yuyan: What are you going to do?

Shen Yuntang: Sue your father-in-law.

Huo Yuyan finally only popped up a question mark.

However, his confused and dazed mood was completely dissipated by Shen Yuntang's interruption.

Huo Yuyan couldn't help but mutter that Shen Yuntang might really have some magical abilities.

He called Shen Yuntang and asked, "Can I ask what's going on between Miss Shen and your father?"

…

"The chances of winning this case are actually very high. The key lies in how much evidence can be found from that year to prove whether Anguo Daily Chemicals was established before or after the marriage, and who the main investor was."

The lawyer flipped through two pages of records and couldn't help but wonder, "These materials are so easy to find. If someone were to look them up, they would definitely find that they were illegal. Why on earth has this company been able to remain safe and sound in his hands until now?"

Shen Yuntang paused and understood.

It’s “plot requirements” again.

However, the loophole left by the lazy creator of this world made it convenient for her to kill Shen Anguo and take back the inheritance. It was so smooth that she even thought that the money was deliberately left for her.

She propped her chin up in disinterest and said, "Just follow the procedure."

The lawyer agreed and turned to organize the documents.

Shen Yuntang was playing with his cell phone by the huge floor-to-ceiling window, when he suddenly saw a message on the screen.

When I cut it open, it was Master Charles.

"Dear Miss Shen, the incense tasting event will begin on September 3. If necessary, I will let my juniors accompany you."

"He is a very talented designer who has designed for famous European luxury brands..."

Seeing the brands listed by Master Charles, Shen Yuntang was excited. They were all her favorites. Last time she went shopping, she only saw some out-of-season styles. She had wanted to find time to go to the headquarters to have a look, but now the designer was delivered directly to her door.

She agreed with a smile: "It would be an honor. I love being friends with designers the most."

"Then I will pass his contact information to Miss Shen."

After a while, Master Charles sent a message with a number from China, who appeared to be a compatriot.

"Don't you have a social media account?" Shen Yuntang asked.

"He doesn't use social media much and only has one phone number. I'm sorry."

Shen Yuntang shrugged, thanked Charles, saved his phone number, and ignored him.

Anyway, this person will contact her actively when the time comes. Shen Yuntang has never done anything like rushing to chat with others.

At night, when she was taking a comfortable bath with the handmade essential oil sent by Master Charles, she suddenly remembered that Wen Yanyan seemed to be going to participate in this fragrance tasting event.

Shen Yuntang suddenly thought of another thing.

What did Huo Yuyan say a few nights ago? Could it be that the original heroine was squatting at the door of his company to peek at him in order to repay her kindness?

...It really seems like something she could do.

She really is haunting me.

Shen Yuntang didn't look very happy.

But her unhappiness soon disappeared because Huo Xihuai was about to take an exam.

When he goes to school, she won't have to take care of his food and drink, buy him clothes, or "communicate about the child's recent situation" with Huo Yuyan from time to time.

If she could say less to that bastard Huo Yuyan, she would be in a good mood all day.

Finally it was the end of August. After taking care of her skin, Shen Yuntang was enjoying the breakfast that Ji Liang had carefully prepared for her when the housekeeper came downstairs with a young man.

Shen Yuntang took a look and almost didn't recognize him.

Huo Xihuai cut the hair that always hung over his eyes, revealing his clean face. He wore a simple T-shirt and jeans, lowered his eyes, and seemed a little uncomfortable.

What was even more incongruous was that he had a schoolbag hanging on his shoulder.

Huo Xihuai raised his eyes for a moment, but was caught by Shen Yuntang's gaze, so he immediately lowered his eyes.

Housekeeper Li had an expression on his face that said, "My old X family has been doing good deeds for three generations and finally a college student has come out of it." He led him downstairs to eat happily, and then said to Shen Yuntang carefully, "Miss Shen, when do you think it's appropriate to leave?"

Shen Yuntang paused with the spoon he was using to scoop up the porridge and looked at him. "Why are you asking me?"

The housekeeper was stunned. "Didn't the master tell you? We need a parent to accompany us today to discuss the child's situation with the teacher."

Shen Yuntang raised his eyebrows: "Do I know his current situation very well?"

housekeeper:"……"

Shen Yuntang: "Can't you be his parent?"

"..." The housekeeper smiled bitterly, "Miss Shen, you are joking. I know nothing about school. It has been forty years since I went to school."

"Just right, it's a return to youth." She drank the spoonful of porridge, her voice crisp, and put down the spoon and said, "Let him take Butler Li to relive his childhood memories."

Butler Li said with a headache: "Miss Shen..."

Huo Xihuai drank the porridge in his bowl without saying a word. He seemed not to have heard the discussion about him, but he breathed a sigh of relief unconsciously.

After a while, he packed his things, went out and took a car to the sea.

As soon as I opened the car door and was about to get in, I saw Shen Yuntang already sitting at the other end.

Her expression looked like she was going to kill someone.

Huo Xihuai was visibly stunned for a moment.

It was not until the car started that he heard her talking to Huo Yuyan on the phone. Her sweet voice said to him mercilessly, "If you dare to forget about those flowers, I will throw Huo Xihuai out."

"Okay, okay, I won't forget. Thank you for being a parent for a day, Miss Shen." Huo Yuyan smiled kindly.

Huo Xihuai, who was threatened to be thrown down by her without any hesitation, remained silent and turned his head away.

It seems that her brother has agreed to some extremely expensive conditions for her.

They themselves seemed to be unaware that their relationship was getting closer and closer.

Huo Xihuai thought silently.

My brother is actually a very good person.

He received the most decent education since he was a child. Like most elites who grew up in a good and wealthy environment, he is firm, confident, independent, opinionated, principled, and has a human touch.

Everyone can see his shortcomings, but no one can ignore his shining strengths.

He is actually very kind-hearted.

As for Huo Xihuai, a hot potato that no one wanted to deal with, he was willing to take it over and let it go, treating him in his own way. He did not show any closeness, but in fact he did a lot for him.

And Shen Yuntang...

Huo Xihuai was silent. On the other side, Shen Yuntang was folding his arms and looking at the traffic ahead impatiently.

He turned his head back.

Shen Yuntang, who is gradually getting closer to his brother, doesn't seem to be a bad person.

At least her alter ego was.

The annual entrance exam at Haizhong is always a big event. There are banners at the entrance, private cars parked on the road, and parents outnumber the students by several times.

While the parents were busy joining the group and pushing their children to introduce themselves to a group of uncles and aunts they had just met, Shen Yuntang's car did not stop at all and drove directly to the teaching building in the hinterland with a clear goal.

When she urged Huo Xihuai to get off the car, the teacher who had set up the examination room was just about to go in.

The teacher saw a strange boy being pushed off the bus, and was stunned for a moment. He asked tentatively: "Student, are you here to take the exam? Are your parents with you?"

Hearing this long-lost name, Huo Xihuai froze.

He was silent, and tried to tell himself that he had to get used to it, and he must get used to it in the future.

After a moment, he finally responded: "Yes...teacher."

After confirming his identity, the teacher greeted him warmly, "Come over and sign in. I'll go and post your exam numbers and you can enter. By the way, where are your parents? Do you want them to accompany you to find the exam room?"

Huo Xihuai was silent for a moment, "...No need."

He signed his name on the form after a long absence.

The examination room had not opened yet, so he had to wait.

The driver found a place to stop the car and went to the bathroom. Shen Yuntang in the car didn't care at all about Huo Xihuai having an exam and was having fun playing Candy Crush.

Huo Xihuai stood on the side of the road for a while, and suddenly felt that he was too conspicuous, so he squatted down again, paused a little uncomfortable, and sat down beside the flower bed.

Gradually more and more people came.

They came over in groups of three or five, talking and laughing. Some were trembling with nervousness, while others were confident.

Huo Xihuai unconsciously followed Shen Yuntang's example and lifted up his face.

Originally, he was just observing these people like a bystander, but when he saw a mother and son among them, Huo Xihuai's gaze suddenly stopped and he couldn't move away at all.

He thought he wouldn't care anymore.

But the fact is, when he was sitting alone in the corner, waiting for the entrance exam, if he saw his mother was caring for his stepbrother.

Huo Xihuai still felt a pain in his heart.

He took a deep breath for a while and forced himself to look away.

It was just a chance encounter. They are already strangers. It would be best not to run into them.

But Huo Xihuai wanted to hide, but some people didn't.

When his stepbrother saw Huo Xihuai sitting by the flower bed, he was stunned for a moment, then excitedly patted his stepmother on the shoulder.

"Mom, guess who I saw?"

He even deliberately kept it a secret, his provocative malice gushing out, grinning with pride, "I saw that little loser Huo Xihuai, didn't he drop out of school? He's actually here too, what is he doing in the sea? Is he applying for a job as a janitor?"

His stepmother was stunned for a moment, then turned around and saw it.

His expression changed immediately.