Chapter 2: Get Close (Revised) “Come with me.”

Chapter 2: Get Close (Revised) "Come with me."

The villa was eerily quiet, to the point that you could hear a pin drop.

No one expected that Jiang Fengmian would cause such a shock, like a thunderclap on flat ground, creating such a huge surprise.

Jiang Fengmian's fingertips were cold, and when they touched Huo Zong's wrist, warmth spread. He comfortably narrowed his eyes in pleasure.

Oh, how wonderful, got to get close to my baby. So happy.

The next moment, Huo Zong broke free from the wrist that Jiang Fengmian had hooked. His fingers hanging by his side curled slightly, and a subtle emotion flickered in his eyes, disappearing quickly.

Huo Zong's emotionless eyes stared intently at Jiang Fengmian's face. Everyone held their breath, afraid to provoke Huo Zong, the living Hell God.

No one was bold enough to grab Huo Zong's wrist.

This was the first time Huo Zong had spoken in a long time, his voice low and magnetic, making Jiang Fengmian's bones feel like jelly. Jiang Fengmian didn't think it was a problem that Huo Zong pushed him away and enthusiastically nodded.

Huo Qilin let out a soft scoff, such a fool, unable to tell that Huo Zong was angry.

"Who taught you to call me that way?"

To call someone you met for the first time 'husband' so easily.

"You're handsome, I really like you." Jiang Fengmian's eyes were still filled with tears, but the words 'I really like you' were sincere.

"Sorry for the mess, Mr. Huo, Fengmian, sigh."

"Fengmian, quick, come here."

Jiang Fengmian slowly shook his head, staring at his despicable father's awkward smile, watching him quickly walk over. Just as Jiang's father was about to raise his hand, Jiang Fengmian immediately raised his arm to cover his face, fearfully hiding behind Huo Zong.

"No, please, don't hit my face."

"No, no, Fengmian, Dad didn't intend to hit you."

But Jiang Fengmian's shrinking back in fear made his defense unconvincing. The more he tried to explain, the more suspicious he looked.

There was a barely perceptible pause from Huo Zong, who subtly shifted half a step sideways, but the stiffness of his clothes became even more noticeable.

He cast a sideways glance and saw Jiang Fengmian clutching a corner of his shirt, his eyes full of pleading, the corners of his eyes red, trying hard to hold back his tears.

"Jiang Fengmian, come here." Jiang's father smiled apologetically, bowing to Huo Zong, then forcefully pulled Jiang Fengmian aside.

Hiss.

Jiang Fengmian softly inhaled, inadvertently showing the wound on his arm, whimpering, "It hurts, it hurts."

"Dad didn't use force, how could it hurt? Speak properly, don't let Mr. Huo see you as a joke."

Huo Zong followed Jiang Fengmian's movement and saw that he was resisting Jiang's father's touch, trying to break free from the restraint, but the grip only tightened, leaving a red mark on Jiang Fengmian's wrist.

Huo Zong frowned slightly and coldly said, "Mr. Jiang."

Jiang's father looked as if he had no choice, wiping away a tear at the corner of his eye that didn't exist, complaining, "I'm sorry, Mr. Huo. Jiang Fengmian's mother passed away early. I've worked hard to raise him on my own, doing my best not to let him suffer any grievances. I don't even know who to talk to about the hardships in between."

"Fengmian's situation is special. He's always been restless at home. He was in a hurry when he left the house and fell, maybe he hurt his arm. Boys are tough, a little medicine will do."

"I just fell, and my clothes got torn. The clothes bought by the Jiang family aren't of good quality, huh."

Jiang Fengmian's clothes were obviously two sizes too small; his arms were bare, the hem slightly rolled up, and there was a hole in his lower back.

"Husband, I'm scared,"

Jiang Fengmian desperately pushed away his terrible father, still shaken up, and hid behind Huo Zong.

"He beat me, it hurts."

"Fengmian, with so many people here, don't make a scene."

"Please, don't hit me. Please, I'm begging you."

Jiang Fengmian cried out and knelt on the ground, kowtowing repeatedly. His father was at a loss as Jiang Fengmian sobbed and kowtowed repeatedly.

He tried to explain but was silenced by Huo Zong's cold gaze.

Huo Zong frowned slightly and pulled Jiang Fengmian up gently but firmly. His eyes caught the back of Jiang Fengmian's neck, noticing a faint red mark.

"It hurts here, and here too."

Jiang Fengmian pulled up his sleeve, revealing his arm was bruised all over.

"What happened?"

Jiang Fengmian's eyes shifted to his abusive father. Sensing danger, he said fearfully, "He didn't hit me, he didn't."

"Mr. Jiang, putting in effort to beat your son, huh."

"It's a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding. Fengmian is a fool, he's clueless."

Sensing that Huo Zong's attitude had changed, Jiang Junling tried to salvage the situation, but it was too late.

What was supposed to be a nice banquet turned into chaos, and Huo Qing increasingly despised the Jiang family, directly saying, "Abusing your son isn't a good thing. If this gets out, your reputation will suffer."

"It's all a misunderstanding, Elder Huo."

Lv Minhui chipped in, and between the two of them, they managed to superficially smooth things over.

"Xiao Zheng, tell the kitchen to serve the food."

Huo Qing intended to settle things quietly, and Jiang Junling quickly took the opportunity to back down, saying nothing further.

Jiang Fengmian was still cowering behind Huo Zong, stealing glances at the silent Huo Qilin. This main protagonist, compared to his Huo Zong, was worlds apart.

Dish after dish was brought out. Jiang Fengmian glanced around and saw that none of them were dishes Huo Zong liked. Most of them were seafood, but Huo Zong had a seafood allergy.

"Huo Zong, come eat."

Huo Zong scoffed softly and turned to leave.

"Huo Zong, stop. Do you know what today is about? Let me tell you, you don't have a choice today."

Tsk, what about today? To save Huo Qing's face, silencing the rumors in the Beijing business circle.

"Huo Zong, I'm so hungry, I want to eat. I'm never full every day."

"Fengmian, this can't be nonsense talk. We're at home; how could we not have enough to eat?"

Seeing his cheap stepmother Lv Minhui's face turn from pale to livid, Jiang Fengmian felt greatly pleased.

"Not enough to eat, still hungry."

Accompanied by the sound of his stomach growling, Jiang Fengmian swallowed nervously, his stomach cramping painfully. He clutched his belly, looking utterly pitiful.

Jiang Fengmian narrowed his eyes and, not caring how he looked, grabbed meat dishes and stuffed them into his mouth. His cheeks bulged like a hoarding hamster. He barely chewed, just kept piling food onto his plate.

"Jiang Fengmian, what kind of behavior is this?"

Lv Minhui's sharp voice made Jiang Fengmian choke, his whole body trembling.

"Shut up."

Lv Minhui was startled by Jiang Junling's appearance, angry but not daring to speak out. She moved her mouth, about to say something, when Jiang Junling slapped her.

Not too hard, but it snapped Lv Minhui's nerves.

"You hit me? You actually hit me? You should be hitting your foolish son, not me."

Another slap, and Jiang Junling said angrily, "If it weren't for this incident, I wouldn't have known that Fengmian has been going hungry at home. Did you hit him? You have a heart of stone; he's your stepson after all."

"My son? Are you even ashamed to say that? You know full well who's been hitting him and who's been denying him food."

Lv Minhui wasn't someone to be taken lightly and immediately started fighting with Jiang Junling, grabbing his hair and slapping him hard.

Being a woman, she lacked strength and was pushed to the ground by Jiang Junling. She shot a fierce glance at the man in front of her, not caring where she was, and flipped the dining table over before storming out.

"Mr. Huo, I apologize for the embarrassment. Our family's discipline is lacking."

Huo Qing was almost taken aback before he could even sit down, thinking what kind of behavior this was from the Jiang family.

Huo Zong snorted coldly and said lightly, "You're quite the joke yourself."

Soup and other liquids were spilled all over the floor, Jiang Junling's clothes soaked in sticky broth, standing there like a misfit, a complete clown.

He couldn't leave, and it wasn't the right moment to apologize, so he just stood there awkwardly.

"Mr. Jiang, it's fine to like being a clown, but it's better to be a clown with some sense of timing."

Humiliated like this, Jiang Junling had no choice but to swallow his pride and apologize.

"Mr. Huo, it's all my fault, I apologize to you. I'll take care of her right away and will visit again another day."

Jiang Fengmian's eyes lit up with satisfaction. His deadbeat dad had made a complete fool of himself, and he had witnessed a real dog-eat-dog spectacle. He was slightly satisfied; he had it coming.

Huo Zong looked at the mess on the floor, his gaze quickly shifting away, sitting properly on the main seat's sofa, cold eyes showing no emotion.

Huo Qilin said, "Uncle, you're sitting in Grandfather's spot."

Huo Qing's cane tapped the ground not too lightly. Hearing the sound, the cleaning staff moved more gently.

The authority of the Huo family's head, being undermined by his disrespectful son, made Huo Qing's expression serious.

"Huo Corporation was saved by my efforts. If you're not happy, go and close a few hundred-million-dollar deals yourself."

Ever since Huo Zong had reached adulthood and joined the company, he had sidelined Huo Qing. It wasn't that he had retired; he had been pushed aside by Huo Zong. As Huo Zong had said on the day he took office as chairman of Huo Corporation, when you're old, you have to know when to step down.

Huo Qing became a father late in life and is now seventy, truly old.

The scene suddenly fell into a stalemate. Jiang Fengmian nonchalantly sat down next to Huo Zong. He tentatively pinched a corner of Huo Zong's clothes, inadvertently brushing against his hand.

"Husband, you're dirty and smelly, let me wipe your hand."

Huo Zong stared at Jiang Fengmian. His fingers unconsciously twisted, and his mouth twitched as he randomly pulled a few wet wipes.

These individuals were indeed dirty and smelly.

Jiang Fengmian's eyes lit up when he smiled, his eyebrows curving along with his eyes. His watery eyes blinked, and a shallow dimple appeared on the right side of his mouth, deepening as he smiled. His small smile was somehow... cute.

Jiang Fengmian picked up the wet wipes and obediently wiped himself. His gaze followed Huo Zong, his hands busy at work. He wiped exactly seven times, just no more, no less.

To outsiders, these actions seemed extremely synchronized.

Jiang Fengmian curved his lips again. Huo Zong had obsessive-compulsive tendencies and liked to wipe exactly seven times, a little secret only he knew. Only he was special.

A secret sense of satisfaction washed over him, and not even a heavy force could suppress the upward movement of Jiang Fengmian's mouth.

It's just that the kid is so cold, and it's unknown if his condition can be cured.

Emotional detachment disorder makes it difficult to like someone, alas, a disastrous start.

"Uncle, that's a bit too much. No matter when, grandfather is the one in charge at home."

"Oh."

This "oh" broke Huo Qilin's defenses, leaving him seething with anger and no way to vent it. It was like kicking an inflated ball; it had no impact on the person.

Not to mention Huo Zong, even Jiang Fengmian felt like scoffing. Anyone would be dissatisfied being forced into an arranged marriage. Especially since he was considered a fool now.

In the book, Huo Qing never regarded Huo Zong as his son. Agreeing to the marriage alliance with the Jiang family was intended to humiliate him. What Huo Zong thought didn't matter; what was important was that Huo Qing was satisfied.

Huo Zong was different from those bastards. He wouldn't let Jiang Fengmian suffer any wrongs. Jiang Fengmian being pushed into the water and drowned was the work of those bastards, and Huo Zong was unaware.

Huo Qing suppressed his anger and slowly said, "Huo Zong, the matter of your marriage alliance with Jiang Fengmian is set. There's no rush to marry, just build some affection."

"Is there room for me to speak?"

Huo Zong threw out a sentence and left.

Behind him came the sound of crashing, as Huo Qing smashed several valuable vases.

"Husband, wait for me."

Jiang Fengmian chased after him quickly, pushing his suitcase. He ran so fast that he lost his shoe.

The pure white sock was slightly stained red, but Jiang Fengmian didn't care. His heart and eyes were full of Huo Zong.

His eyes were red at the corners, and he looked nervously at Huo Zong, a tear hanging at the corner of his eye. He clutched the suitcase handle and muttered, "I'm afraid of them."

The fallen shoe was a size too big, not sure where Jiang Fengmian had picked it up. The small and thin figure shrank, his eyes flickering at Huo Qing who had chased out, trembling uncontrollably.

Huo Zong's fingertips curled slightly, and he said coldly, "Put on your shoe and follow me."