Chapter 78

Chapter 78

In the living room.

Lin Yi held a landscape painting, contemplating where to hang it in the living room.

Last night, when they went to the old house for his second uncle's birthday banquet, the second uncle noticed Lin Yi staring at one of the paintings and directly took it down to give to him.

Lin Yi was overjoyed.

This was the first landscape painting he had ever seen, perfectly capturing the essence of "a small bridge over flowing water," evoking a profound sense of tranquility that invited repeated contemplation.

Finally, Lin Yi hung the painting on the wall near the staircase, instantly giving the entire wall an artistic touch.

After hanging it, Lin Yi stepped back a few paces, admiring it for a while before sighing, "Our home now has a scholarly ambiance."

It was great having a relative who was a master of traditional Chinese painting; even works that were hard to come by could be brought home and hung on their walls.

Huo Mianmian couldn't appreciate such masterpieces yet, but seeing his father standing there looking at it, he also stood there, his round eyes fixed on the painting.

The steward, noticing this, walked over to join them in appreciation.

The servants, curious, followed suit.

When Lin Yi turned around, he saw a crowd behind him.

He was startled and asked, "Why are all of you here?"

The steward smiled, "We saw Mr. Lin looking so intently and couldn't help but come over to see."

Lin Yi nodded, then joked, "Oh, so what did everyone see? What elements are in this painting? What emotions does each element express?"

The steward: "..."

The servants: "..."

Was their Mr. Lin a devil?

They quickly dispersed, deciding it was better to get back to work.

Soon, only Huo Mianmian remained, still standing there in confusion.

Lin Yi squatted down, catching the little one and said, "Mianmian, why don't you answer the question?"

Huo Mianmian blinked, confused: "Mianmian doesn't know."

Lin Yi grabbed him: "Not knowing isn't acceptable; you'll have to be punished."

Huo Mianmian blinked again: "What kind of punishment?"

Lin Yi thought for a moment and said, "I'll make you smile, and it has to be a very sweet smile to pass."

Huo Mianmian tilted his head and smiled, his beautiful big eyes slightly curved, sparkling like stars.

It was enough to melt anyone's heart!

Lin Yi immediately forgave him: "Alright, alright, you pass."

He felt that if he were really Huo Mianmian's teacher, he wouldn't even have the heart to ask questions of such a cute little one.

After playing for a while, they sat down on the sofa in the living room to eat some fruit.

The servants had already prepared watermelon juice for them, made from watermelons picked from their own fields.

Two large glasses of watermelon juice, with ice cubes inside.

Lin Yi picked up one glass and took a big gulp, drinking nearly half of it in one go.

The watermelon juice was sweet and icy cold, perfect for summer.

Huo Mianmian drank much more slowly, holding the glass with both hands and taking a small sip, shivering slightly from the cold.

But the refreshing watermelon juice was too good, and he couldn't resist another small sip.

After finishing his watermelon juice, Lin Yi picked up a longan from the fruit platter and peeled one, putting it in his mouth.

Seeing Lin Yi eating longans, Huo Mianmian remembered something and asked, "Dad, why are longans called dragon eyes?"

To answer this, Lin Yi peeled another longan, took a bite, and showed the remaining part to Huo Mianmian: "Look, doesn't this look like a dragon's eye?"

The bitten longan revealed its black seed.

At that moment, the black seed looked like a black pupil, while the white flesh resembled the whites of an eye.

Huo Mianmian, seeing this vivid demonstration, blinked and said, "Indeed, it looks like a dragon's eye."

Lin Yi laughed, "That's probably why longans are called dragon eyes."

Saying this, he put the remaining half of the longan in his mouth.

The longan's flesh was refreshingly sweet, making it hard to stop eating.

Huo Mianmian, being a three-year-old full of curiosity, tasted a longan and, after savoring its flavor, said to Lin Yi, "Dad, aren't the flesh of longans similar to lychees? Are they related?"

To him, both fruits had a translucent white texture and a similar taste.

Lin Yi chuckled, "Maybe they're cousins."

After saying this, Lin Yi noticed that Huo Mianmian hadn't responded. Turning his head, he saw the little one nodding off, his eyes half-closed, clearly sleepy.

Lin Yi smiled and took the longan from Huo Mianmian's hand, then gently laid him down on the sofa.

Soon, Huo Mianmian fell into a deep sleep, his breathing soft and shallow, even smacking his lips as if savoring the taste of the longan.

Lin Yi pulled a blanket over him and continued eating the longans himself.

Not long after, he received a message from Huo Yun.

Huo Yun mentioned finding a nice tea house and asked if Lin Yi wanted to go for some tea.

Lin Yi had no reason to refuse, so he agreed.

Ten minutes later, he changed his clothes and drove his Ferrari to the tea house Huo Yun had mentioned.

The tea house wasn't far, just a twenty-minute drive away.

Lin Yi parked his car, took out the keys, and walked toward the tea house.

At that moment, Huo Yun was waiting for him at the entrance.

Seeing Lin Yi, a rare smile appeared on his delicate face, and he stepped forward to greet him.

Lin Yi approached and casually asked, "Why did you suddenly think of inviting me for tea?"

Huo Yun smiled, "I thought the weather was nice today, so I wanted to go out for a stroll with you."

Hearing this, Lin Yi raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

In any case, whether Huo Yun's words were true or not, they would find out soon enough.

Together, they entered the tea house.

Upon entering, Lin Yi realized that this tea house was indeed excellent.

Despite being in a bustling area, it offered a serene retreat, creating a unique atmosphere.

The entire tea house was constructed of solid wood, adorned with lanterns, giving it an ancient teahouse ambiance.

They first walked through a wooden corridor, then arrived at an open area filled with green plants. Further inside was the seating area for tea.

Huo Yun had reserved a private room in advance.

Inside the room, they sat at a wooden table. Through the window, they could see the greenery outside, making it a tranquil spot.

However, what puzzled Lin Yi was that no staff came to serve them. Who would make the tea?

As he pondered this, Huo Yun picked up the tea set.

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow slightly, "So you're going to make the tea?"

Huo Yun smiled, "Yes, I learned a bit due to certain reasons."

With that, he began preparing the tea.

From Lin Yi's unprofessional perspective, Huo Yun's tea-making skills were quite impressive.

Handling the tea set, Huo Yun seemed to have put aside some of his hostility, his delicate features now more peaceful.

Lin Yi didn't ask further.

Instead, Huo Yun, while making the tea, started talking, "My mother used to be a tea artist here. One day, when she was on duty, she met someone from the Huo family. That person was already married but became infatuated with her."

Huo Yun didn't elaborate further, but Lin Yi understood the rest.

It was likely that Huo Yun's mother refused, and the Huo family member forcibly took her, abandoning her afterward.

Lin Yi listened in silence for a moment before saying, "I'm sorry about what happened to your mother."

By then, Huo Yun had finished making the tea. He placed a cup in front of Lin Yi and looked straight at him, "Mourning the past is meaningless; what matters is making those still alive pay."

His words were dark and resolute, his eyes revealing a hint of madness and obsession.

In contrast, Lin Yi remained calm. He picked up the cup Huo Yun had given him, blew on it gently, and took a sip.

After drinking, he put the cup down and commented, "Very good. It seems you've inherited your mother's skills."

Huo Yun, who had intended to discuss revenge plans, was caught off guard by Lin Yi's comment. His expression turned somewhat stiff, "R-really?"

Lin Yi picked up the cup again and took another sip, showing his appreciation for the tea.

Huo Yun was even more bewildered.

Just moments ago, he had been thinking about revenge, but now those thoughts had vanished.

Most importantly, Lin Yi then asked, "Where is your mother's grave? Since you often mention her, perhaps I should pay my respects too."

Huo Yun was stunned, stuttering, "Y-you want to pay respects to my mother?"

Lin Yi responded naturally, "Why not?"

Huo Yun never expected Lin Yi to suggest such a thing. This was completely beyond his comprehension.

Throughout his life, he and his mother had been shunned. He was considered an illegitimate child, and she was labeled a seductress.

No one ever treated them like human beings; they were always the humble figures living in the shadows.

Yet, now, Lin Yi said he wanted to pay respects to his mother.

This incident had frozen Huo Yun's thoughts, leaving him momentarily at a loss for how to respond.

Lin Yi's attitude, however, was natural and respectful, as if he were genuinely going to pay respects to an elder.

He said to Huo Yun, "I don't know what flowers your mother liked. Let's stop by a florist later and buy a bouquet."

Huo Yun was still unsure how to react, but he nodded in response to Lin Yi's words: "Okay, okay."

Soon, the two left the teahouse and headed to a nearby florist.

Upon hearing that Huo Yun's mother favored orchids, Lin Yi bought a bouquet of orchids and added another of chrysanthemums.

After settling the bill, he led Huo Yun to his Ferrari.

He carefully placed the flowers inside the car, then opened the driver's door and got in.

Once inside, he noticed Huo Yun still standing by the roadside, lost in thought.

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow at him: "Why aren't you getting in?"

It took Huo Yun a while to react, and then he opened the passenger door.

Only when he told Lin Yi where his mother was buried and Lin Yi entered it into the navigation system did he truly feel the reality of the situation.

Lin Yi was genuinely going to pay respects to his mother.

But why?

Huo Yun couldn't understand why Lin Yi would do this, yet he felt deeply honored and surprised.

Huo Yun's mother was buried in a remote suburb.

When she passed away, the person from the Huo family found her unlucky and ignored her. Her own family lived far away and had long since lost contact, so no one came to handle her burial.

In the end, she was hastily buried in a desolate area.

Over the years, apart from Huo Yun, no one else had visited this place. But today—

There was Lin Yi.

Lin Yi parked the car at the foot of the mountain, then carried the two bouquets out and said to Huo Yun, "Let's go. You lead the way."

Huo Yun felt both joy and unease at finally having someone besides himself come to pay respects to his mother. He told Lin Yi, "The path up the mountain is difficult, full of wild grass and thorns. I'm worried about you..."

Lin Yi interrupted him: "Lead the way."

Huo Yun pursed his lips, said nothing more, and led Lin Yi up the mountain.

As Huo Yun had said, the path was treacherous, steep, and muddy, with overgrown weeds on either side, making it seem like wild animals might emerge at any moment.

They walked for a long time and had barely covered half the distance.

Today, Lin Yi happened to be wearing white sneakers.

Now, these sneakers were utterly filthy.

Huo Yun, feeling uneasy again, suggested, "Why don't you wait here? I can take the flowers up for you."

In his memory, Lin Yi usually appeared lazy and relaxed, not someone who could handle such a long hike.

However, Lin Yi's breathing remained steady, only a light sweat on his forehead.

Most importantly, he showed no signs of impatience, saying, "We've come this far; naturally, we should pay our respects at Auntie's grave."

Huo Yun opened his mouth as if to say something but ultimately remained silent and continued leading Lin Yi forward.

They walked for a long stretch before finally reaching a tombstone.

Huo Yun said, "We're here."

Lin Yi looked up at the tombstone.

It was simple, just a common mound of earth with a stone marker in front.

However, it was clear that Huo Yun often came here to clean it, as there were no weeds around, keeping it neat and tidy.

On the tombstone was a photo of a woman.

She had lively, beautiful features and a gentle demeanor.

If she were alive, she would surely have been someone who loved life.

Lin Yi approached and placed the two bouquets at the tombstone.

Standing up, he said to Huo Yun, "Auntie was very beautiful."

Huo Yun smiled, "I heard my mother was the most beautiful person in the entire teahouse, and many customers came to have tea with her."

Unfortunately, this beauty brought her misfortune.

Then, Huo Yun also paid his respects to his mother.

Looking at her tombstone, his expression was complex, his thoughts unknown.

After a while, they began walking back down.

Reaching the foot of the mountain, Huo Yun sincerely thanked Lin Yi, "Lin Yi, thank you for coming today."

It's not an exaggeration to say that Lin Yi's visit to pay respects to his mother was the most shocking and gratifying event of his entire life up until now.

Lin Yi said to him, "Didn't you say we're companions? It's only natural for a companion to come with you to pay respects to your mother."

Huo Yun was deeply moved; what he meant by "companion" wasn't exactly this.

What he meant was that he and Lin Yi would join forces against the Lin and Huo families.

But at this moment, he couldn't bring himself to refute Lin Yi, as this was the only warmth he could grasp onto right now.

Then Lin Yi continued, "How about now, do you want me, your companion, to accompany you to see a psychologist?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Yun's eyes widened in surprise, as if he hadn't expected Lin Yi to suddenly say such a thing.

After a long pause, he replied, "I can go see one."

It was because Lin Yi asked him this that he was willing to make a concession.

However, he added, "But I need to wait a bit."

Lin Yi asked back, "Wait a bit?"

What did Huo Yun plan to do during this waiting period?

Huo Yun looked at Lin Yi with a stubborn glint in his eyes.

The two stared at each other for a while.

Lin Yi nodded, "Do as you wish."

After all, if someone is determined to do something, no one can stop them.

With that, he tilted his head and gestured, "Get in the car."

Soon, the two returned to the city center.

Once they arrived, Huo Yun hurriedly got out of the car and left, without revealing where he was going.

Lin Yi drove to a car wash and changed into a new outfit.

An hour later, dressed in clean clothes, he drove to the Huo Group.

He knew the way well and made his way to Huo Jihan's office.

When Li Feng saw him, he was quite surprised, "Mr. Lin, why did you suddenly come here?"

Lin Yi smiled, "I have something to discuss with Mr. Huo."

Li Feng nodded and promptly instructed the secretary to prepare some snacks.

Ever since Lin Yi had praised their snacks before, they were always kept ready in the pantry, just in case Lin Yi dropped by.

Without having Li Feng announce his arrival, Lin Yi entered Huo Jihan's office on his own.

Huo Jihan was sitting behind his desk signing documents when he heard the commotion and lifted his dark eyes.

Seeing Lin Yi, a natural smile appeared in his eyes, "Why the sudden visit?"

Lin Yi jingled his car keys and leaned casually against the desk, saying, "This is called a surprise inspection."

Huo Jihan raised the corner of his mouth and humorously responded, "Welcome. Should I have my staff line up to greet you next time?"

Lin Yi raised an eyebrow, "That won't be necessary, but having the secretaries prepare snacks would be nice."

Huo Jihan smiled indulgently, "Sure."

After exchanging a few jokes, Lin Yi didn't forget the reason for his visit.

He said to Huo Jihan, "Could you tell your bodyguards to keep a closer eye on Mianmian during this time? Make sure they protect her."

Huo Jihan's expression changed slightly, "Why?"

Lin Yi smiled, "There's nothing specific, I just think our Mianmian is so cute and gentle. I'm worried someone might target her."

Seeing that Lin Yi didn't want to elaborate, Huo Jihan didn't press further and instead said, "What about me? Aren't you worried someone might target me?"

Lin Yi couldn't help but laugh, thinking Huo Jihan seemed to be jealous of his own son. That couldn't be possible, right?

Lin Yi coughed and said, "Do you really think that's possible? Who would be so foolish as to target you?"

Huo Jihan nodded, "Alright, I'll accept that reason."

Lin Yi laughed, "That's the truth, after all."

At that moment, the secretary knocked and brought in the snacks.

The two paused their conversation.

Lin Yi took a snack, ate it while walking over to the floor-to-ceiling windows in the office.

The Huo Group building stood tall in the bustling city center, towering over its surroundings.

Standing by the window, the view was incredibly vast, inspiring a sense of ambition to achieve great things.

Of course, that was Lin Yi's thought from his previous life.

In this life, he had no ambitions of his own, merely looking at the surrounding commercial buildings and sighing, "How much money would it take to buy all of these?"

Huo Jihan stopped working and came to stand beside him, side by side.

Hearing this, he turned to Lin Yi and asked, "Do you want to buy it?"

His tone was casual, as if he could actually pay for it if Lin Yi really wanted to buy it.

Lin Yi nearly choked on his dessert, patting his chest before saying, "No, I was just sighing casually."

After all, with more money in his hands now, he had the capital to think about buying something.

At this moment, Huo Jihan had already poured him a glass of water.

Lin Yi took the water and drank a sip.

Then, in the next second, Huo Jihan handed him a black card.

Lin Yi's eyes widened slightly: "What's this?"

Huo Jihan said, "A black card, no limit."

Lin Yi was shocked: "Of course I know it's a black card, but why are you giving it to me?"

And he gave it so casually.

Should he say that Huo Jihan was too rich or too trusting? Wasn't he worried that Lin Yi would max out the card?

However, Huo Jihan said matter-of-factly, "Isn't making money meant for the person you like to use?"

Lin Yi choked again: "Pfft, cough cough..."

Huo Jihan patted his back: "Be careful."

Lin Yi: "..."

Could he blame himself for being careless?

It was because these waves from Huo Jihan were too much to handle.

At this moment, Huo Jihan had already shoved the black card into his hand.

Holding the card, Lin Yi felt conflicted and couldn't help but ask Huo Jihan, "Are you really not afraid I'll max out this card?"

Huo Jihan thought for a moment and then said, "You shouldn't be able to max out this card. If you're really worried, I can give you another one."

Lin Yi: "..."

Was he talking about the same thing as Huo Jihan?

For a moment, Lin Yi held the card, unsure whether to accept it or not.

He felt the card was too valuable, and given their current relationship, it didn't seem right to accept such an expensive gift.

Huo Jihan seemed to sense his hesitation and reassured him, "Don't worry. You taking this card comes with conditions."

Lin Yi asked subconsciously, "What conditions?"

Huo Jihan smiled slightly: "The condition is that you spend the money in this card and take care of me while doing so."

Lin Yi: "..."

As the president of the Huo Group, did he really need Lin Yi to take care of him?

The key point was, using Huo Jihan's money to take care of Huo Jihan—did that logic even make sense?!