Edited March 11, 2024
As Huo Yu climbed into the car, he noticed Xia Wan leaning against the seat. He was engrossed in his phone, and casually snacking on some treats.
“What are you looking at?” Huo Yu asked casually, his tone reflecting a relaxed curiosity as he leaned forward slightly to peer at Xia Wan’s phone screen, intrigued by what might have captured his attention.
Xia Wan replied casually, “Just chatting with my roommate.”
“You have such a good relationship with your roommate?” Huo Yu remarked, clicking the seat belt buckle into place.
As he clicked the seat belt, his voice sounded a bit chilly.
Xia Wan gave Huo Yu a perplexed look. He didn’t really care when Huo Yu was chatting on the phone without him knowing, but now, Huo Yu seemed to be shifting the blame onto him, which struck Xia Wan as unfair.
But considering things from Huo Yu’s point of view, Xia Wan could understand his caution.
Even in a strange and twisted environment, the innocent little rabbit might have to become a fierce wolf.
It wasn’t surprising that Huo Yu was suspicious of every move.
Without saying a word, Xia Wan poured the beef cubes into his soft, white palm and held them out in front of Huo Yu. “Do you want some?” he asked.
The beef cubes were wrapped in colorful paper, resembling small candy cubes, making Xia Wan’s hand appear even brighter. His fair skin, tinged with a hint of pink, almost seemed translucent under the sunlight.
Huo Yu fell silent for a moment, then took a pill from Xia Wan’s palm, unwrapped it, and tossed it into his mouth.
It tastes good. He thought.
He used to eat these often as a child, but he couldn’t remember the last time he had one. He couldn’t recall even a little bit.
“Is it tasty?” Xia Wan asked, keeping his hand steady. Seeing Huo Yu enjoy the first one, he quickly offered another one.
Huo Yu declined any more, but instead, he looked at Xia Wan and said, “Do you have any more? Give me a fresh one.”
Is it because he thinks my hands are dirty? Xia Wan couldn’t help but curse inwardly.
Reluctantly, he withdrew his hand and fetched an unopened package, and handed it over to Huo Yu.
So there are really more. Huo Yu couldn’t contain his amusement, a chuckle escaping him as he realized Xia Wan had more of the treats to offer.
“Your backpack is so big, what kind of treasures are you hiding in it?” Huo Yu asked with a hint of amusement, as he took the beef jerky in his hand and turned slightly towards Xia Wan.
Xia Wan quickly shifted his bag away, ensuring it was out of sight from Huo Yu’s view.
Huo Yu didn’t bother to watch Xia Wan’s bag. Instead, he chuckled softly and started the car.
It seemed like Huo Yu’s mood improved after the phone call. He appeared a bit livelier, with a noticeable lift in his demeanor.
Xia Wan leaned slightly against the car window and intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Huo Yu’s cheeks.
Huo Yu’s eyes sparkled as he drove, his hand resting on the steering wheel, occasionally tapping it lightly. It was a rare sight to see him so relaxed and joyful, his demeanor reflecting a sense of contentment in that moment. As if he received some good news that brought him joy.
Maybe Yan Rui’s transfer has already been decided? Xia Wan couldn’t help but ponder aloud, his thoughts drifting away, causing him to eat the beef jerky at a slower pace.
He struggled to figure out a natural way to remind Huo Yu without revealing any signs of his intentions.
The sound of wrappers being peeled off in the car slowly faded. Huo Yu glanced sideways at Xia Wan and asked, “What do you want for lunch?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“You decide,” Xia Wan replied, “I think anything will be delicious.”
“Sja tba qba?” Leb Te reuufrafv, “Ktf Vtfc ojwlis’r mtjlc rabgf pera ijecmtfv j cfk tba qba yjrf. Kkb vjsr jub, Vtfc Tjc lcnlafv wf ab ags la bea.”
“Yxjs,” Wlj Qjc’r fsfr yglutafcfv klat fcaterljrw, jcv tf fnfc ragjlutafcfv eq j yla lc tlr rfja. Ktfgf kjr j rfcrf bo ecrqbxfc jugffwfca yfakffc tlw jcv Leb Te jr lo atfs rtjgfv j ajmla ecvfgrajcvlcu.
He had eaten a lot of dishes recently, but he had never tried hot pot. He had even mentioned this several times during the live broadcast. Netizens had also recommended him the best combination of hot pot. He had been waiting to show off.
As the hot pot heated up, steam rose, carrying a mouthwatering aroma.
Xia Wan’s lips were painted a bright red, his eyelashes glistened with the mist, and a delicate pink blush adorned his fair cheeks.
He aimed his phone at the hot pot and snapped a picture, then uploaded it to his account with a satisfied grin.
In no time, Fu Ling’s message popped up.
[Small Sweet Ling: Ah~~~~~]
[Big Bowl of Sweet Tea: Baby, don’t cry, what’s wrong?】
[Small Sweet Ling: I also want to eat hot pot.]
Xia Wan chuckled, then thought for a moment before sending a message:
[Big Bowl of Sweet Tea: I’ll treat you to a meal later to celebrate leaving singlehood.]
[Small Sweet Ling: Can you be kinder to singles? And haven’t you always been single?]
[Big bowl of sweet tea: Not the single anymore.]
[Small Sweet Ling: ?]
Xia Wan really wanted to snap a picture of the marriage certificate and send it to him, but seeing Huo Yu, who was eating with his eyes lowered across from him, he suppressed the urge and continued typing:
[Big Bowl of Sweet Tea: I’m married.]
[Small Sweet Ling: Ah~~~~]
Xia Wan was about to reply when Huo Yu reminded him coldly, “Eat your food.”
“Okay,” Xia Wan compiled and obediently set down his phone. He rolled his eyes before suddenly asking, “Do you know who I was chatting with?”
Huo Yu remained completely still, not even bothering to move his eyes.
Xia Wan continued, unfazed by Huo Yu’s lack of response: “He used to be my neighbor back in my hometown.”
“I didn’t realize that you were quite affectionate,” Huo Yu said calmly, his tone even as he observed Xia Wan.
“He told me something today,” Xia Wan said, unable to contain a sigh. “It’s just so unpredictable.”
Huo Yu found it amusing that Xia Wan seemed eager to share something and was waiting to be asked, so he played along kindly. “What is unpredictable?” he asked.
“You would have definitely been angry after hearing this,” Xia Wan started. “My neighbor’s distant uncle was supposed to be transferred to our city to oversee the company. But the official transfer order hadn’t been issued yet, and his colleagues heard about it from somewhere. Can you guess what happened next?”
Huo Yu couldn’t help but slow down his actions upon hearing this. He took a moment to process the information, and in an instant, he already had the answer in his mind.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, looking at Xia Wan, his eyes darkening slightly.
Xia Wan’s words made him realize that there were some gaps in his original plan.
However, the timing of Xia Wan’s remark made him feel skeptical and cautious.
“This distant uncle was set up by others. Not only did he not get promoted, but his career was also ruined,” Xia Wan said angrily as if he didn’t notice Huo Yu’s cautious gaze at all. “My neighbor was also mistakenly fired by the leader this year due to this. It was supposed to be a good thing for the family but it turned out to be a bad one. Isn’t that infuriating?”
Huo Yu lowered his eyes and began eating again, contemplating the question. “If you were your neighbor, what would you do?” he asked.
Xia Wan lifted his chin and replied, “I haven’t really thought about it. What would you do if you were in that situation?”
Huo Yu’s lips curved into a smile, but it was a chilling one, almost resembling a predatory grin. The coldness of his expression contrasted sharply with the steam rising from the hot pot, and the smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.
“I hadn’t thought about it either,” he said, then raised his hand and called the waiter over to order another beef ball.
“You finished eating all the beef balls?” Xia Wan inquired, a hint of surprise evident in his tone as he glanced at the table.
“You’re not going to let others eat just because you don’t want to?” Huo Yu glanced at Xia Wan.
He actually didn’t have much of an appetite, but seeing Xia Wan engrossed in chatting, he mischievously ate up all the meatballs.
Seeing Xia Wan puffing up his cheeks in dissatisfaction, Huo Yu laughed and said, “Isn’t this reward for you?”
……..
Huo Yu had been back home for over half a month, yet he showed no signs of leaving. This was the most challenging thing for Huo Peixue and Huo Lin.
More specifically, it was Huo Lin who was the most worried among them.
He wasn’t concerned about what Huo Yu might do, but his return did bring pressure from various angles, causing Huo Lin to feel uneasy.
“What do you mean by him getting in touch with Wen Yunzhi?” Huo Peixue asked with bitterness. “Is he trying to use the Xue family’s influence to turn the tables?”
In recent days, Huo Peixue began to test Huo Yu’s intentions openly or discreetly, but Huo Yu refused to acknowledge it at all. He remained unmoved, despite lacking the power to counteract it.
But today, when Wen Yunzhi’s car broke down, and coincidentally, Huo Yu happened to be there.
“I don’t know if they reached any agreement during the ride together,” Huo Peixue said.
“If the Xue family is truly powerful, wouldn’t they be able to deal with him?” Huo Lin remarked with indifference. “Plus, isn’t it quite a coincidence that Wen Yunzhi’s car happened to break down just as Huo Yu passed by?”
“So, what do you think?” Huo Peixue’s eyes gleamed with intensity.
“It was planned from early in the morning, wasn’t it?” Huo Lin unconsciously lowered his voice. “Just like that incident.”
Huo Peixue looked at him gloomily for a moment before finally saying, “Don’t bring up that incident again in the future.”
“You always have these baseless worries,” Huo Lin remarked, clicking his tongue. “If you have that much free time, you might as well take a look at the project I’m discussing now.”
“Even those who fall from the sky keep a cool demeanor,” Huo Peixue snorted, but his expression seemed to lighten up a bit.
Huo Lin had experienced some bad luck recently when a project fell into his lap unexpectedly. Fortunately, he was quick-thinking and managed to handle it adeptly.
Now, it was basically confirmed. Right in his hand.
Even if it falls from the sky, he will always catch it quickly. Huo Lin thought proudly, his head held high as he spoke with confidence, reflecting his determination to seize opportunities as they come.
A month and a half later, the Huo family didn’t expect Huo Yu to leave but instead awaited the transfer order for Huo Yu’s uncle, Yan Rui.
Yan Rui was officially transferred to Beijing to oversee economic affairs.
Upon receiving the news, Huo Peixue was furious on the spot. He couldn’t understand why there was no prior information about Yan Rui’s transfer this time. If they had known earlier, they wouldn’t have been caught off guard like this.
His eyebrows furrowed deeply, as it was never his style to willingly walk into trouble.
…….
A painting was finally completed. Xia Wan signed his name with a lowercase “w” in the blank space, and then uploaded it.
Recently, several galleries had extended an olive branch to him, and Xia Wan was still comparing them. Although his popularity had been soaring, he also had his own shortcomings, namely, he had too few works.
So recently, he devoted most of his time to creating new artworks.
He was alone in the dormitory. Xia Wan stretched out and glanced out the window. The setting sun painted the window with a lingering red hue.
Xia Wan paused for a moment, as if a sudden realization struck him, and he hastily reached into his backpack to fetch his phone.
There were five missed calls displayed on the screen.
Xia Wan hastily dialed back. The call was answered swiftly, but Huo Yu’s voice didn’t sound pleasant. “Xia Wan.”
He called out Xia Wan’s name slowly and deeply, indicating a serious tone.
“Hello, Eldest Master,” Xia Wan greeted as he lifted the phone receiver with one hand, his other hand already occupied with packing his belongings. With a sense of urgency, he began gathering his items,”I’m coming downstairs now,” he said.
Without giving Huo Yu a chance to respond, Xia Wan promptly ended the call and made his way directly to the school gate.
“Sorry, Eldest Master,” Xia Wan panted as he got into the car, immediately apologizing, “I forgot to unmute my phone.”
Huo Yu pursed his lips tightly, his expression devoid of any emotion, as he gazed at Xia Wan.
“You don’t need to pick me up anymore,” Xia Wan said, feeling guilty. “I’ll just take the bus.”
Huo Yu gave Xia Wan the car which he got from Huo Peixue as a gift, but Xia Wan only used it twice. He found it challenging to park and decided to set it aside.
Huo Yu looked at Xia Wan but didn’t mention whether he would keep picking him up. He just started the car without saying anything.
Halfway through the ride, he reminded Xia Wan, “Don’t forget to turn on your phone after class tomorrow. I’ll come to get you.”
“Tomorrow?” Xia Wan was momentarily stunned. “But we have classes tomorrow afternoon.”
His schedule was very clear. If there were classes that afternoon, he would stay at school overnight. If there were no classes in the afternoon, he would go back to Huo Yu’s place. On weekends, he would return to accompany Xia Chengzhang.
Since Huo Yu mentioned it, there must be some special circumstances.
As expected, Huo Yu explained, “I’m going back to the Huo family tomorrow to attend a party.”
“You’ve got a lot of prestigious gatherings in your Huo family,” Xia Wan murmured, then leaned in closer and asked, “Is there anything I need to prepare or do?”
Huo Yu glanced at Xia Wan with a hint of indifference. However, noticing Xia Wan’s hopeful expression, he couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll take you shopping for clothes tomorrow,” he said. “You just need to dress nicely and show some affection.”
“Is it really that simple?” Xia Wan asked, feeling skeptical. He thought he had to do a lot of things but..
The Huo family claimed they were celebrating Huo Lin’s engagement, so they hosted a banquet for guests, but Huo Yu understood it was more complicated than that.
If Yan Rui issues orders, there will surely be retaliation from Huo Peixue’s faction.
It’s like trying to hide the sun with a sieve. They were clearly hiding their real intention behind the facade.
Furthermore, there were rumors circulating that he and Huo Lin were in a conflict over Xia Wan, so simply having Xia Wan present would deal a significant blow to Huo Peixue.
Regardless of the situation or circumstances, Xia Wan remains a key factor that cannot be overlooked.
Huo Yu smiled softly and replied, “Hmm.”
After a brief glance at Huo Yu, Xia Wan asked, “Eldest Master, are you not angry anymore?”
Our baby not simple~
Thank you for your translation 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚
I’m guessing that the Huo family is going to try and set Huo Yu up with a fiancee. Or maybe a suprise wedding with Huo Yu as the groom.
that will be wild lol
I wonder how shocked/ surprised the Huo family will be when they find out the mc is married to Huo yu
Ahahahaah Huo Yu getting forgotten for a painting. So sad, so angry ~
Thank you for the chapter !
It will be a battlefield!
Thank You for the new chapter ♡(˃͈ દ ˂͈ ༶ )
Ahh no! I’ve caught up qaq
Thanks for all the hard work! <3