121 A Champion Falls from the Sky
◎ Qubing: I traveled through time and space, and I seem to be treated as a fool. ◎
Seventeen-year-old Huo Qubing felt as if he had been stuffed into a wildly spinning clay pot and then slammed hard to the ground. When he opened his eyes, he was instantly overwhelmed by dizziness, nausea, a pungent smell, and deafening noise.
One moment, he was galloping on his horse, the next, he was standing beside a bizarre street filled with large iron boxes. People were dressed in strange clothes, speaking a language he couldn't understand, and towering pillars reflected a glaring light.
Where is this?
He instinctively clenched his waist - empty.
His ring-handled sword was gone, and an unprecedented sense of crisis gripped him.
He couldn't help but look around.
At this moment, a ruffian-looking man with a fierce look in his eyes suddenly rushed in front of him, with alcohol reeking from his mouth, roaring in a loud voice, and trying to push him hard with his hand.
"Huo Yan! You're a heartless little bastard! How dare you send Dad to jail and cut off my source of income! I'm coming out, and today I'm going to kill you!"
Huo was destitute after being released from prison, and he hated Huo Yan, the man who had put him in jail. He waited for a few days and finally caught him.
His drunken brain mistook the young man in front of him, who was wearing a strange costume and had a blank but sharp look in his eyes, for Huo Yan, whom he hated to the core. Not only did he push him, he also wanted to chop him with a knife.
Huo Qubing didn't understand, but he understood the murderous intent in the other person's eyes and the insult in his actions. He didn't like it, and no one dared to treat him like that.
Instincts honed on the battlefield were faster than thought. Almost the moment Huo Gang's hand touched his chest, Huo Qubing's eyes flashed, his waist and horse united, and he lifted his right leg.
"Bang—crack!"
There was a dull thud, followed by the distinct sound of bone cracking. Huo Gang flew backward like a broken sack, slamming hard into a roadside trash can. He screamed like a butchered pig and curled up on the ground, unable to move, breathing in but not out. The surroundings fell silent for a moment, followed by exclamations and the sound of cellphones snapping photos.
The flashing lights made Huo Qubing almost blind. He retracted his legs, stood still, frowned, lowered his brows, and was about to move forward when a crowd gathered around him. Their words were all urgent, a mixture of good and evil, with a turbid atmosphere.
The crowd dispersed only after the arrival of the iron box, emitting a shrill sound and flashing red and blue lights. A few strange people tried to grab his shoulders, but they seemed to have no ill intentions. He didn't understand what was happening, but his intuition told him that he couldn't kick them like a football.
He followed very obediently, but did not allow others to get close to him.
The police didn't want to anger this violent man who had broken three ribs with one kick, so they could only carefully follow him and take him to the police station.
Police station mediation room.
The air was filled with the smell of disinfectant, sweat, and Huo Gang's intermittent wailing and groaning.
Huo Qubing has been here for two days.
He adapted well, thinking it was a military camp, with food and drink. There were no soldiers, though. He had only seen a few minions these days, their hair a riot of colors, like roosters, which annoyed him.
"Name? Age? Place of residence? Hands over your ID card!"
The police knocked on the table and questioned him again in a serious tone.
Across from him, Huo Qubing, dressed in an inappropriate ancient costume, his face smeared with dust, stood erect. He glanced up at the sound, his eyes sharp yet tinged with a subtle blankness. His lips were tightly shut, and he showed no reaction to the question.
These people have no ill intentions, they are just too noisy.
He didn't want to pay any attention to it. He wanted to close his eyes and rest, but the malice next to him was so obvious that it made his legs itchy.
"Officer! He hit me! He broke my ribs! I'm going to sue him! Make him pay! Make him lose everything!"
Huo Gang was lying on a stretcher. He had no money to stay in the hospital, so he was trying to extort money from Huo Qubing. Naturally, he shouted at the top of his lungs, with resentment and greed in his eyes.
Huo Qubing didn't understand what was said and just thought the man's voice was noisy and annoying.
He was about to manually silence the man.
Suddenly, light came on across the street outside the mediation room window.
Opposite is the shopping mall owned by the Huo Group.
Financial news is playing on the screen.
"...The new chairman of the Huo Group, Mr. Huo Yan, only 27 years old, has successfully led the group into transformation through the Xinghai project he spearheaded. His market capitalization has surpassed 100 billion yuan, making him the most anticipated business leader of the year..."
As the host's voice echoed, a young, distinguished face appeared on the screen. He wore a dark navy suit, a crisp white shirt with a sharp collar, and a small, geometric, platinum, diamond-encrusted cufflink glittered on his wrist. The young man, with almond-shaped eyes and rosy lips, wore a faint smile, his aura naturally relaxed.
"Being praised like that by a beautiful lady makes me sweat."
A joke made the somewhat nervous host relax and show his grace.
A Yan!
Huo Qubing stood up suddenly! His eyes were fixed on the face on the screen!
Although his temperament has become more mature and cold, and his hairstyle and clothes are completely different, but the outline of his eyebrows and eyes, that familiar feeling... there is no way he can be wrong!
A Yan is here!
"Hey! Sit down! Don't move!"
The police scolded.
Huo Qubing turned a deaf ear to it. He pointed at the big screen outside the window and said in the official language of the Han Dynasty, "Take me to find him. There will be a big reward."
He had a strong aura, but his words were garbled. In the eyes of the police and Huo Gang, who was groaning in pain, he was a dangerous person with a mental problem, strange behavior, and violent behavior.
Huo Qubing frowned and pointed again, "Ayan, he's my younger brother."
"What is he referring to? Mr. Huo on the screen?"
A young policeman asked doubtfully, "Huo Gang, he said he knew Mr. Huo? You know him, right?"
"Bah! Bullshit!" Huo Gang spat, suppressing the pain. "He's a fool! A lunatic! He intentionally hurt people! I don't know him. This guy must be Huo Yan's secret lover! Otherwise, why would he dress like this? Huo Yan likes this kind of style! Officer, notify Huo Yan quickly! Let him pay the compensation! He has money!"
Huo Gang made malicious speculations, trying to muddy the waters and blackmail Huo Yan.
"If you don't pay me, I'll expose it online! Saying that Chairman Huo allowed his mistress to commit a crime in public!"
Huo Gang's face was pale, his forehead covered in sweat, but he continued to roar with all his might, his eyes filled with resentment, greed, and a twisted excitement. He seemed to have something on Huo Yan, and his voice was distorted by the pain, but it became even sharper and more piercing.
"Dressed like this, what else could he be but a lover? That bastard Huo Yan has been a psychopath since he was a child! He must have gotten tired of the trouble he couldn't get rid of, so he deliberately let it out to bite people! Officers, you have to make the decision for me!"
He did his utmost to slander, trying to muddy the waters with the most vicious language, inflame public opinion, and force Huo Yan to submit.
Seeing Huo Qubing's anxious but uncommunicative expression, and considering Huo Gang's assertiveness, and considering that Huo Qubing lacked an ID card and was an illegal immigrant, making his case difficult to handle, the police decided to give it a try. They called the Huo Group's publicly available contact number. After several transfers, they forcefully demanded that Huo Yan come to the police station in person to collect him and to handle compensation for the injuries inflicted by his "companion."
When Huo Yan received the call, he was on the top floor of the Huo Group headquarters, located at the top of the city.
The office, over 500 square meters, was surrounded on three sides by vast floor-to-ceiling windows, offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline and winding river. He was reviewing the final terms of a multi-billion dollar international merger and acquisition. The computer screen cast a cold shadow on his chiseled profile. The police station's explanation on the phone struck him as both absurd and irritating.
"My adopted lover? Fighting in the street? Breaking Huo Gang's ribs?"
Is this human language? How come I recognize every single word, but not when they're put together?
Huo Yan's voice through the microphone is enough to freeze people to death.
"Gutter maggots like Huo Gang, being beaten to death will purify the environment. As for the lover?"
He scoffed softly, his contempt undisguised. "Tell Huo Gang, if you want to extort money, make him crawl to the court and file a lawsuit. I don't have time to play such a despicable trick with him."
He hung up the phone decisively.
However, the calls from the police station continued, and the tone became increasingly tough, even suggesting that if he did not come to deal with it, this unidentified and violent young man might be subject to more severe measures and face criminal prosecution.
Huo Yan pinched his eyebrows irritably.
Huo Gang? What trouble has that loser gotten himself into again?
What about his little lover?
He instinctively felt that Huo Gang was plotting something. But… that so-called "little lover" carried a certain malicious intent, which made him feel uncomfortable. He wanted to personally extinguish any spark that might affect his reputation or the Huo family's.
"Prepare the car."
He spoke into the intercom, his voice calm.
Fifteen minutes later, a matte black Rolls-Royce Phantom, like a giant whale in the deep sea, glided silently to a stop at the police station entrance. The doors opened, and two burly, sharp-eyed bodyguards in black suits emerged first. Huo Yancai then bowed and stepped out of the car.
He wore a long, dark gray cashmere coat with a matching high-necked cashmere sweater underneath. He had no accessories, save for a discreet Patek Philippe watch on his left wrist, which was faintly visible between the cuffs. His face was handsome, but the vertical lines between his brows were furrowed, indicating his displeasure.
His appearance instantly quieted the noisy police station hall. Even the air seemed to stagnate and the temperature dropped sharply.
Under the guidance of the police, Huo Yan walked into the mediation room.
His eyes first fell on Huo Gang, who was groaning and looking miserable on the stretcher. A hint of undisguised sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth. "Oh, still alive? It seems that evildoers have a strong life. What's this? A new trick to extort money? Coming here to embarrass yourself?"
His voice was not loud, but every word was clear.
Huo Gang felt pain, fear and hatred. Just as he was about to open his mouth to curse, Huo Yan lightly swept his arm around him, as if his neck was being strangled. All the dirty words were stuck in his throat, and only the trembling of fear remained.
Huo Yan then slowly shifted his gaze towards the silent young man in the corner. The young man was still wearing his dark suit, stained with dust and dirt, and his posture was straight and upright.
The child had an extremely handsome face, yet still held a touch of youthful innocence. His eyebrows reached down to his temples, his eyes were almond-shaped, his lips were red, and his nose was high and sharp. What inexplicably jarred Huo Yan's heart was the striking, almost mirror-image-like resemblance between the boy's eyebrows and eyes! Especially the shape of his eyes, with their slightly upturned corners...
An indescribable sense of familiarity silently flooded my heart like a tide.
This must be that old man’s illegitimate son!
"Even illegitimate children can fight each other."
He chuckled and then someone took his hand directly.
He looked closely and saw the illegitimate son smiling at him and calling him Ayan.
This is the routine used by young people nowadays!
From the moment Huo Yan entered the room, Huo Qubing never took his eyes off him.
Ah Yan! It’s really Ah Yan!
Although the outfit resembles that of a foreigner and the temperament is cold and inhuman, he will never mistake the tacit understanding between the twins!
He stood up suddenly and wanted to rush over, but was held down by the policeman next to him on the shoulders. Then Guan Junhou easily fought off two people alone.
My brother is here!
"Ah Yan!" Huo Qubing called out again, shaking his hand. His pronunciation was a little awkward, but unusually clear and powerful. He pointed at Huo Yan, then at himself, his eyes eager, pure, and filled with the immense joy of having lost and regained.
The entire mediation room instantly fell silent, a pin drop audible. The police officers looked at each other, bewildered. This idiot...did he really know Mr. Huo? And he called him so affectionately? Was he really his lover? No wonder, the child was indeed beautiful. With that age difference, they must be raising him like a son.
Huo Gang's eyes almost popped out, and then he screamed in pain as if he had grasped something.
"Look! Look! I told you! They must be having an affair! Huo Yan! You're so fucking frivolous! Even this idiot in a costume..."
"Shut up!" Huo Yan interrupted sharply, his voice quiet, but it instantly shuddered Huo Gang. Huo Yan ignored him, his entire attention focused on Huo Qubing. The young man's pure, unadulterated, eager gaze, a wave of indescribable bitterness and warmth, suddenly struck his heart. Especially the word "Ah Yan," like a stone dropped into an icy lake, sending subtle yet distinct ripples through it.
Huo Yan lowered his eyes slightly, carefully, almost scrutinizing the boy before him. The boy stared back fearlessly, his eyes clear and filled with the immense joy of having found his family and unconditional trust, like a powerful yet lost young beast that had finally found its master.
"Do you know me?"
Huo Yan asked in the most standard Mandarin, speaking very slowly.
Huo Qubing blinked blankly and shook his head.
He doesn't understand.
Huo Yan pointed at his ear and waved his hand.
Huo Qubing shook his head. He could hear it, so there was nothing wrong with his ears.
Huo Yan understood.
He's an unsocialized little fool.
No wonder he smiles at everyone he sees.
Mr. Huo had a blank expression on his face, but he felt sour.
Huo Qubing called out again, but when his brother didn't respond, he shook his hand again and pointed at Huo Gang.
"Ah Yan, he offended you and seems to hate you. Don't be afraid, I will help you beat him to death."
Huo Yan understood. The gesture, the look, the ferocity.
He waved his hand, indicating no.
Huo Qubing snorted lightly, very unhappy.
"He even scolded me. My clothes are all dirty. He's still arguing. I don't know why he doesn't run away. Only the Huns know how to run!"
Huo Yan heard a sense of grievance in it.
An extremely rare softness emerged from him, which he himself was not even aware of.
"Stupidity has its advantages. It is better than those who are self-righteous."
There wasn't much disgust in his voice, but rather a hint of helplessness and...indulgence that even he himself hadn't expected.
He turned and spoke to the police officer waiting nearby, his tone returning to his usual businesslike manner.
"I don't know this person. I hope you will continue to look for his family."
"Let Huo Gang go through the legal process to get his injuries examined and sue. I'll pay whatever medical expenses and lost wages the court awards on his behalf. I won't give a penny less, but I won't give a penny more either. As for his slander and defamation of me," he glanced coldly at Huo Gang on the stretcher, "I'll have my lawyer handle it separately."
After saying that, he turned around without hesitation, striding out the door with his long legs.
An illegitimate child of unknown origin and strange behavior, he had no obligation or interest to take over.
A moment of silence is what he needs most at this moment.
"Ayan!"
Suddenly, a young man called out from behind, his voice filled with anxiety, grievance, and a subtle hint of panic. The voice was not loud, but it was like a thin thread that suddenly entangled Huo Yan's steps.
He paused, without looking back.
“Ayan…Ayan…”
Huo Qubing's voice sounded stubbornly, with the clarity and a hint of grievance unique to young people. His eyes followed Huo Yan's straight back closely, and there was confusion and puzzlement in his eyes.
He didn't chase after him, but just stood there, then turned his head to look at Huo Gang, "You seem to have something to do with my brother, tell me where he is."
He had a blank expression and looked down on others.
"No need, I will find it. And you, bug, cannot stay."
He kicked again, as if the gentleness he showed towards Huo Yan just now was all fake. His aura was scary and a bit violent.
Huo Gang was so frightened that he dared not utter a sound and could only hold his stomach and scream.
The policeman stared at the teenager and just shouted, "Bring the electric baton."
Huo Qubing was about to kick again, but suddenly his ears moved, then he lifted his foot and sat back down.
Just as he was about to get in the car, Huo Yan stopped! His action was so abrupt that the air was stagnant.
The boy's aggrieved voice still lingered in my ears. His clothes were wrinkled, his face was dusty, and his hair hadn't been combed in ages.
He suffered a lot.
The thought of the child suffering made him feel sad. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
The cold air inhaled into the lungs could not suppress the inexplicable irritability and... a sharp pain in the heart.
I really... owe him!
Maybe it really is the lover from the previous life!
Huo Yan turned around abruptly and strode back to the mediation room.
"No one wants that child. He's still too young. I'll take him back first."
When Huo Qubing heard the footsteps, he stopped kicking Huo Gang and sat back in his original position.
Hearing Huo Yan's words, he raised his head slightly and looked at the boy's red eyes and stubborn expression. The awkwardness in Huo Yan's heart was instantly covered by a stronger emotion.
He felt very distressed.
He really feels distressed!
There is also a bit of sadness that others do not cherish his treasure.
Huo Qubing turned his head, not looking at him, but glancing at him out of the corner of his eye.
Don’t you want me anymore? Stupid Yan! You don’t want me anymore!
Huo Yan bent down, brushed away the messy long hair in front of his forehead, and wiped his face with a wet towel.
Huo Qubing turned his head to let him wipe it, and glanced fiercely at Huo Gang who was shouting on the ground.
"Is he your brother too?"
The boy spoke a bunch of gibberish again, but Huo Yan understood it easily. He let out an impatient sigh, but his eyes softened and he smiled gently with an indulgence that he himself was not aware of.
"He's a fallen dog, and I just don't like to kick fallen dogs."
Huo Qubing didn't quite understand what Huo Yan said, but he knew that this person was not A Yan's brother.
He didn't take this person seriously either.
He then asked, "Do you have any other brothers?"
He seemed very dissatisfied.
Huo Yan thought he was asking about his family. No wonder this illegitimate child couldn't enter the house.
You're so stupid, coming to see your dad now!
"It's all in. Don't think about him anymore. Follow me."
He smiled coldly and made a gesture of cutting his neck with a knife.
"Follow me, huh?"
When Huo Qubing saw Huo Yan's actions, he suddenly realized.
A Yan’s house was searched.
He couldn't help but hug his younger brother. Huo Yan thought this silly boy was quite well behaved.
Huo Qubing was just a young boy now, only seventeen years old, and had thin muscles. It looked like he was hugging, but in fact, he was nestling in Huo Yan's arms.
In fact, he didn't dare to sleep for the past two days. The room was very bright and there were people walking back and forth. He was worried that someone would kill him.
Now that Ah Yan was here, he seemed to have finally found his home and gently rubbed Huo Yan's neck.
Huo Yan put his coat on Huo Qubing, comforted him for a while, and then went to go through the procedures to apply for his household registration.
By the time everything was done, it was already very late.
Huo Qubing huddled in a corner and fell asleep holding his coat.
Huo Yan picked up the child and suddenly thought: This child is just like me when I was young.
Huo Gang lay on the stretcher, watching Huo Yan walk away with that "fool". He was so angry that his whole body was shaking, his broken bones were pulled, and he felt so painful that his vision went black. But he couldn't even utter a complete curse, and was left with only impotent rage and despair.
The police looked at each other, and felt that Mr. Huo seemed to really have a little lover.
【Author’s words】
Ah Yan: Bastard! Fuck!
A Yan: It’s not that annoying.
A Yan: The child is cute.
The seventeen-year-old Xiao Qubing is really a child in the eyes of 27-year-old A Yan.
Little lover, hahahaha.
I laughed my ass off while writing this.
I want to call this extra chapter "A Little Lover Falls from the Sky", hahaha, that sounds nice too.
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