Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Lin Yi had received a black card but was unsure what to buy with it.

After leaving the Huo Group, he stood by the roadside, twirling the black card in his hand, pondering what he still needed.

After much thought, he realized he lacked nothing.

Everything he needed, he had already bought; everything he wanted to experience, he had already tried.

Lin Yi continued twirling the black card, deeply troubled about how to spend some money.

Indeed, sometimes having too much money could be a problem.

Because he simply didn't know how to use it.

Lin Yi fretted for a while before letting out a laugh.

In the end, he decided to buy another sports car.

He had recently seen a renowned car company release a limited-edition supercar, each priced at over twenty million yuan.

At the time, he had been quite interested, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity to purchase one.

So, Lin Yi quickly headed to the sales center of that car.

When Lin Yi arrived at the sales center, several former colleagues from the entertainment industry spotted him.

These colleagues watched as Lin Yi entered the sales center and couldn't help but start chatting.

"Isn't that Lin Yi? What's he doing here?"

"Lin Yi must have some incredible luck. He used to be so timid, but now he's doing incredibly well, even gaining over twenty million followers on Weibo."

"Is he here to buy a supercar today?"

"No way! Does he have that much money?"

"Maybe he's just putting on a show. Let's go see."

Soon, the group quietly followed Lin Yi.

They were all once at the same level as Lin Yi, having even acted together in a drama series. Now, seeing Lin Yi seemingly living better than them, they couldn't help feeling resentful and wanted to see if he was truly living the good life.

Lin Yi, unaware of this, walked into the sales center with a leisurely pace.

A staff member greeted him enthusiastically, "Hello, sir. Are you here to buy a car?"

Lin Yi nodded casually, "Your brand recently released a new supercar, right?"

The staff member was surprised that Lin Yi asked about such an expensive car but quickly composed himself and said, "Yes, sir, but our supercar is quite pricey."

The few artists who had followed Lin Yi in couldn't help but sneer and whisper among themselves.

"I told you Lin Yi is just putting on a show. Look, even the staff member seems skeptical."

"Exactly. Lin Yi used to act in supporting roles alongside me. Could he really have changed so drastically?"

"But I have to admit, Lin Yi's presence seems completely different now. When I first saw him, I almost didn't recognize him. His face is the same, but he feels like a different person."

"Don't make it sound so mysterious. It's just posturing. Anyone can do it."

"Why isn't the staff member kicking Lin Yi out? I want to see him get embarrassed and leave."

"Haha, that would be quite a scene. I should record it and post it online."

Someone took out their phone and secretly aimed it at Lin Yi.

Meanwhile, Lin Yi reiterated his intention to buy the supercar.

He pulled out the black card and said, "I can pay by card later."

Upon seeing the black card, the staff member was momentarily stunned.

This... This is the legendary black card?! This is the first time he had ever seen one!

After a few seconds, he regained his composure and respectfully said to Lin Yi, "Sir, please follow me. I'll process the necessary paperwork for you."

Lin Yi followed the staff member.

On the other side, the colleagues exchanged glances.

"What did Lin Yi just take out?"

"It looked like a black card?"

"How could that be possible? Getting a black card isn't that easy. Even though Lin Yi has been doing well lately, it's unlikely he got a black card."

"Could it be a fake black card?"

"Lin Yi must be crazy to use a fake black card."

"Quick, take a picture. Let's see how he gets humiliated."

The colleagues waited, watching as Lin Yi completed the purchase, finished all the procedures, and then sat in a top-tier supercar.

Lin Yi got into the supercar, started the engine, and tested its feel.

The sports car instantly roared to life.

Just by the sound, one could tell how impressive this sports car's performance was.

To be honest, Lin Yi was quite satisfied with this sports car himself.

The car had an aerodynamic design, exuding a sense of being ready to take flight.

The body was a cool black and gold, both low-key and luxurious.

This convertible sports car was perfect for cruising around.

Lin Yi took it for a spin, then floored the accelerator and drove away.

Not only did those colleagues fail to capture Lin Yi getting humiliated, but they ended up inhaling a mouthful of exhaust fumes, coughing for a while.

They chased after him a few steps, but the sports car was incredibly fast, and Lin Yi soon disappeared from sight at the end of the road.

The colleagues looked at each other, struggling to come up with some self-consoling words.

"H-Having a sports car is no big deal. I'm not jealous."

"Exactly. Who knows where Lin Yi got the money for this car? It might have been stolen."

"I-I think so too."

But they all knew their words were unconvincing, and after a few attempts, they fell silent.

Lin Yi drove the sports car all the way out to the suburbs, taking a few laps around.

It was undeniable; this was a globally limited-edition supercar, and driving it felt incredible!

Fast and smooth, a light press on the accelerator gave him the sensation of flying.

Lin Yi drove freely, his expression joyful and exhilarated.

The wind blew his bangs aside, revealing his dazzling eyes.

He drove around the outskirts several times, finally heading home as the sky began to darken.

When Lin Yi arrived home, Huo Mianmian was squatting on the lawn outside the villa, feeding pigeons.

Hearing the commotion, Huo Mianmian lifted his head. Upon seeing his little dad, he immediately ran over to Lin Yi.

The Steward and others also heard the unusual noise and came out to greet them.

They discovered that Lin Yi had bought a new sports car.

So when Lin Yi stepped out of the car, he was welcomed by everyone, even getting hugged by a little bundle of joy.

Huo Mianmian looked up, calling out sweetly, "Little Dad."

He hadn't seen Lin Yi for almost a whole day and missed him dearly, his eyes shining brightly.

Lin Yi asked, "Was Mianmian good today?"

Huo Mianmian nodded. "Yes, I played with the pigeons all day."

Lin Yi rewarded him with a gentle rub on the cheek. "Good job!"

At this moment, the Steward also smiled and asked Lin Yi, "Mr. Lin, did you buy a new car?"

Lin Yi nodded and laughed. "Yes, just bought it today."

The Steward smiled kindly. "Dinner is about to be served. Come in."

What he always wanted to see was this family living harmoniously and happily, and now his wish had come true.

While everything was peaceful at Lin Yi's place, two earth-shattering events occurred at the old Huo residence.

The first was that Huo Yiping had been in a car accident.

This young master had heard about a newly opened club and decided to gather his group of friends to go there.

The kind of club they frequented was filled with bright lights, loud music, and excess.

After a wild night, according to Huo Yiping's usual habits, he would find a lover and spend the night at the club.

But for some reason, he decided to take his lover out for a reckless drive instead.

Naturally, the result was a car crash.

Huo Yiping was rushed to the hospital.

Despite the doctors' efforts, they had to announce a grim reality—Huo Yiping's life was saved, but he was paralyzed from the waist down and would have to rely on a wheelchair.

Huo Yiping, who had always gotten whatever he wanted, went berserk upon hearing this news, smashing everything on the bedside table while screaming hysterically.

His parents had no choice but to have the doctor administer a sedative.

Amidst the chaos, Huo Yun remained calm, like an outsider.

He watched the immobile Huo Yiping lying on the bed for a while before turning to leave the ward, a smile playing on his lips, distorting his otherwise handsome face.

There was another major event at the Huo residence.

That was when an elder from the Huo family suddenly lost his mind.

This elder was the one who had raped Huo Yun's mother in the past.

He was babbling about seeing the ghost of that wretched woman and claimed that she had come back to take his life.

The Huo family, being a prestigious clan, naturally did not believe in such supernatural nonsense and immediately sent the elder to the hospital for treatment.

However, on the way to the hospital, the elder suffered from excessive shock, leading to cerebral hemorrhage and fell into a coma.

Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctors regretfully informed them that whether he would wake up was uncertain, and it was highly likely that he would become a vegetable.

With two major incidents happening one after another in the Huo family, their first action was to suppress the news, ensuring not a single negative detail leaked out. The second action was to send someone to notify Huo Jihan.

After all, Huo Jihan was now the head of the entire Huo family, and with these two significant events occurring, it was necessary for him to return and handle the situation.

At eleven o'clock at night, Huo Jihan walked out of his study, preparing to go downstairs and then head to the old residence.

Lin Yi was just about to go upstairs to sleep when he ran into Huo Jihan.

He subconsciously asked, "Are you going out?"

At that moment, Huo Jihan was dressed neatly, clearly ready to leave.

Huo Jihan did not hide anything from Lin Yi and truthfully said, "Yes, something happened at the old residence."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yi, for some reason, thought of Huo Yun.

He paused and then asked Huo Jihan, "Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Huo Jihan told Lin Yi about the two incidents that occurred at the Huo residence.

After listening, Lin Yi nodded and then asked Huo Jihan, "How do you plan to handle these two incidents?"

Huo Jihan sensed that Lin Yi seemed very concerned about this matter and countered, "Why?"

Lin Yi thought for a moment and said, "Actually, I think everything has its cause and effect. Today's result might be due to some past cause."

He knew that once Huo Jihan got involved, both the car accident and the supernatural claims would be thoroughly investigated, and no one could predict what fate Huo Yun would face.

After hearing Lin Yi's words, Huo Jihan looked at him for a long time.

However, he did not ask if Lin Yi knew any inside information; he simply said, "Understood."

Then he added, "It's late, go to rest."

With that, he took large strides and left the villa.

Lin Yi watched Huo Jihan's departing figure before quickly turning away.

Saying those words was enough; as for the final outcome, it was beyond his control.

It turned out that Lin Yi's words indeed played a significant role.

The next day, nothing happened to Huo Yun, and he even invited Lin Yi for tea.

It was the same place and the same private room as before.

But now, Huo Yun seemed to have let go of something heavy, looking much more relaxed, and there was finally a pure smile on his delicate features.

He looked at Lin Yi seriously and said, "Thank you."

This "thank you" contained many layers of meaning.

However, both sides tacitly avoided mentioning it further.

Lin Yi slowly picked up his teacup, took a sip, and then asked, "What are your plans moving forward?"

Huo Yun smiled and said, "I plan to follow your advice and see a psychologist."

He knew that his prolonged depression had caused some issues that he could no longer resolve on his own and needed professional help.

Lin Yi nodded, "That's good."

At this moment, Huo Yun took out a bag and handed it to Lin Yi, "Before I see the psychologist, I want to give this to you."

Lin Yi put down his teacup and took the bag, "What is this?"

Huo Yun handed him a manila envelope containing several sheets of paper.

He explained, "These are some documents related to... Mianmian."

Lin Yi immediately looked up at Huo Yun.

Huo Yun was startled and hurriedly waved his hands, "Don't worry, I didn't do anything to Mianmian."

Perhaps Huo Mianmian was once part of his plan, and these documents were collected during that time.

But everything changed because of Lin Yi's appearance. He did do some things, but he stopped before causing more harm to the innocent.

He once wanted to drag the entire Huo family down with him, but now, he chose to reconcile with those grudges.

As Lin Yi said, everything has a limit, and if it exceeds that limit, it's uncertain who the real culprit is.

After hearing Huo Yun's explanation, Lin Yi looked away.

Of course, he knew that Huo Yun hadn't done anything to Huo Mianmian.

After all, he had already arranged for bodyguards to watch over Huo Mianmian around the clock, and they hadn’t reported any abnormalities.

Lin Yi looked at the paper bag in his hand and asked instinctively, "What’s inside this?"

Huo Yun hesitated for a moment, seemingly unsure how to explain. After a while, he simply said, "It’s about some things related to Mianmian. Pretty much everyone in the Huo family knows about these things, but the Huo family has always kept them tightly under wraps, never letting them spread outside. You’ll understand when you read it yourself."

By the time they finished their tea, half an hour had passed.

The two walked out of the teahouse, and then Lin Yi escorted Huo Yun to a psychological clinic.

Huo Yun walked all the way to the door of the clinic.

Then, he stopped, turned around, and waved at Lin Yi.

Lin Yi nodded slightly, gesturing, "Go in."

And so, Huo Yun stepped into the psychological clinic one step at a time.

A ray of sunlight shone through the window, illuminating him, making his entire being glow.

He walked towards the clinic as if walking towards a new life.

A person’s life should not be filled only with painful and oppressive hatred; there should also be vast and brilliant stars and oceans.

Lin Yi watched Huo Yun enter the psychological clinic, then turned and returned to his car.

After getting back into the car, he didn’t rush to drive away but opened the paper bag Huo Yun had given him.

Inside were records of some events involving Huo Mianmian.

Lin Yi opened the paper bag and took out several sheets of paper.

He began reading from the beginning, and slowly, his brows furrowed.

Huo Mianmian was not Huo Jihan’s biological son.

He was the child of another wealthy family, the Xiao family, but his birth was not anticipated.

His mother was originally a young lady of high status, but this Miss Xiao was rebellious and defiant, spending her days in bars and nightclubs, indulging in wild behavior.

Her family was not only wealthy but also from a scholarly background, so naturally, her parents felt ashamed of her actions and even once publicly denied having such a daughter.

This state of tension continued until an unusual night.

Miss Xiao was drugged by a playboy and taken to a hotel where they had relations.

Originally, this wasn’t a particularly big deal for Miss Xiao, as she had engaged in similar behavior before.

However, one of the girls who disliked her secretly filmed the incident and leaked it.

In the video, Miss Xiao was drunk and displayed embarrassing behavior on the bed.

This incident quickly caused a stir throughout the upper social circles, turning the young lady into a laughingstock.

Miss Xiao finally panicked. This time, the situation was too serious for her to control.

She had no choice but to return home and seek help from her parents.

The Xiao parents were utterly disappointed with her and no longer cared about her affairs. The family’s reputation was already ruined, so nothing else mattered.

They barely glanced at their daughter, found a place for her to stay, let her carry the pregnancy to term, and then sent her abroad, out of sight and mind.

If the Xiao parents treated their daughter this way, they certainly didn’t care about their unwanted grandson.

They left the one-month-old Huo Mianmian in the care of a few servants.

One servant tentatively asked, "How should we take care of the young master?"

Xiao Father replied impatiently, "Just make sure he doesn’t starve."

Just make sure he doesn’t starve.

These words determined Huo Mianmian’s fate for nearly two years.

The servants’ care for Huo Mianmian was shockingly negligent.

They would lock him in a dark servant’s room during the day, ignoring his cries, occasionally feeding him milk and then locking him up again.

At night, after a long day of work, the servants wanted rest.

If Huo Mianmian cried from hunger or discomfort, seeking help, the servants would merely find something to stuff his mouth to silence him.

This continued for over a year as Huo Mianmian grew a little older.

But he was different from other children.

He didn’t smile or talk much, preferring to stay alone in the dark servant’s room.

He vaguely understood that he was unwanted, so he rarely cried aloud.

Sometimes, when the servants were upset, they would vent their frustration by hitting him, leaving red marks on his body. He would just stare tearfully, biting his lip to keep from crying out loud.

Because if he did cry out, he would be considered noisy and have his mouth stuffed again.

This torturous existence continued until the Huo family’s patriarch and matriarch visited the Xiao family.

Although the Xiao family was far less wealthy than the Huo family, the two families were old acquaintances and often interacted.

After a lively lunch, Mr. and Mrs. Huo bid their farewells and left.

As they passed by the servants' quarters, they heard a faint cry from inside, so small that it could be easily overlooked if one wasn't attentive.

Mrs. Huo had always been soft-hearted and dedicated to charitable causes. Hearing what sounded like a child crying, she couldn't help but worry.

She turned to ask the Xiao family what was going on.

Mr. Xiao clearly felt this was a disgrace to his family, but he didn't hide the truth from his good friend and explained the situation honestly.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Huo immediately disapproved and insisted they open the servants' quarters so she could see the child.

The Xiao family couldn't refuse and reluctantly opened the door to the servants' quarters.

Then Mr. and Mrs. Huo saw Huo Mianmian for the first time.

Almost instantly, Mrs. Huo's heart ached at the sight before her.

In the servants' quarters, a frail and pale little boy sat on the cement floor covered with an old newspaper.

He hadn't even been allowed to sleep on a bed.

It was clear that this child had once been fair and beautiful, but due to long-term abuse, his face was dirty, and his clothes were covered in dust.

The child appeared malnourished, with only a bit of flesh left on his face, while the rest of his body was very thin, not at all like a child his age should be.

At that moment, tears filled his large, beautiful eyes, falling one by one, quickly wetting his entire face.

He kept holding his stomach with his small hands, indicating that he was in pain, which was why he was crying.

However, he didn't dare cry loudly; instead, he sobbed softly, his tiny body trembling slightly.

Seeing this, Mrs. Huo, usually gentle and composed, became enraged.

She questioned the Xiao family about the situation.

Although the Xiao family disliked Huo Mianmian, being caught in this situation made them somewhat embarrassed.

Still, they refused to change their stance and insisted on mistreating the child.

In anger, Mrs. Huo personally picked up Huo Mianmian and said to the Xiao family, "If you won't raise this child, I will."

She then declared firmly, "I will never step foot in your house again."

With that, she carried Huo Mianmian out of the Xiao residence.

The Xiao family panicked, not because they feared anything else but because they didn't want to strain their relationship with the Huos.

Mr. Xiao grabbed Mr. Huo anxiously and said, "Brother Huo, look at this..."

Mr. Huo shook him off without a word and left.

Thus, Huo Mianmian was taken home by Mr. and Mrs. Huo, and they gave him the name Huo Mianmian.

He hadn't even had a name before.

Mrs. Huo adored Huo Mianmian and would often hold him in her arms, comforting him several times a day.

When Mrs. Huo held Huo Mianmian, she would gently tell him that everything he had experienced before was just a dream. In his dreams, he had suffered much, but upon waking, he was Huo Mianmian, a lovely little angel.

Under her care, Huo Mianmian gradually became a bit plumper.

However, he remained quiet and withdrawn, never initiating contact with others and preferring to stay alone in his room without speaking.

As time passed, Mrs. Huo felt her health deteriorating. Knowing she wouldn't be able to accompany Huo Mianmian for long, she decided to send him to her eldest son, Huo Jihan, to avoid making such a young child experience the pain of losing a loved one.

To the outside world, they announced that Huo Mianmian was Huo Jihan's son. Few dared to investigate whether Huo Mianmian was truly a member of the Huo family.

Thus, the matter was settled.

From then on, the Huo family had another member: Huo Mianmian.

Inside the car.

Lin Yi read until the last page.

At that moment, his hands trembled uncontrollably as he held the paper.

No wonder, when he first met Huo Mianmian, he felt that Huo Mianmian was different from other children—

Huo Mianmian didn't like to talk and preferred to stay alone in his room.

All these behaviors stemmed from the hardships he endured during his childhood.

Huo Mianmian didn't like to talk because whenever he made a sound as a child, he was considered noisy and had his mouth covered.

He always stayed alone in his room because since he could remember, he had been confined to the dark servants' quarters.

Even though Mrs. Huo told him that everything he had experienced was just a dream, the trauma had already become deeply ingrained in his bones. He subconsciously lived that way as a form of self-protection.

Lin Yi put down the papers, feeling suffocated and finding it hard to breathe.

After a long pause, he finally managed to start the car and drive home.

When Lin Yi arrived home, Huo Mianmian was sitting on the living room carpet, building with blocks.

Lin Yi stood still, watching Huo Mianmian from a distance.

At that moment, Huo Mianmian was carefully holding a block, his expression focused and serious as he began to build.

After successfully placing a building block, he tilted his little head and smiled, his eyes curving into crescents. Then, he picked up another block.

At that moment, Huo Mianmian noticed someone looking at him out of the corner of his eye.

He turned his head and saw Lin Yi, immediately becoming happy. He dropped the block in his hand and ran over to Lin Yi with quick steps.

Reaching Lin Yi, he lifted his little head and said, "Dad, you're back!"

Lin Yi adjusted his emotions, then squatted down to look at Huo Mianmian, trying to show a bit of a smile. "Yes, did Mianmian miss me?"

Huo Mianmian replied earnestly, "I did miss you. I just went to the door to see when Dad would come back."

Lin Yi felt a pang in his heart. He gently stroked Huo Mianmian's head and said, "Dad missed you too."

At this moment, Huo Mianmian seemed to sense that Lin Yi was a bit unhappy, so he looked at Lin Yi with concern and asked, "Dad, what's wrong?"

Lin Yi took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions, and smiled. "Nothing. Mianmian, have I ever told you how much I like you?"

Hearing Lin Yi say this, Huo Mianmian blushed slightly and pursed his lips before asking, "Really?"

Lin Yi looked at him tenderly. "Of course it's true. Mianmian is so adorable; no one could dislike you."

Huo Mianmian blinked, somewhat uncertain. "Would... would people really like me?"

Would many people really like him?

Lin Yi nodded, speaking with certainty. "They would. Many people would like Mianmian. Your father likes you very much too; he just hasn't told you."

Hearing that his father also liked him, Huo Mianmian became even happier, his eyes curving into crescents.

He had gained so much affection.

How happy!~