Chapter 22 Apologizing in Person

Chapter 22: Going to Apologize

When Gu Qingyin entered, Huo Xingye's expression was already composed as he sat calmly behind his desk, watching her. "I thought you had dinner plans with old friends? It ended so early?"

Gu Qingyin sighed. "They weren't that important. Seeing them once was enough."

She wrinkled her nose and asked, "Did you eat properly today?"

"Of course," Huo Xingye replied with a smile. "I've been keeping up with it lately."

Gu Qingyin narrowed her eyes. "Really?"

Huo Xingye paused, then admitted helplessly, "Alright, just a little late."

Gu Qingyin hmphed and didn’t press further. As long as he had eaten, it was fine.

Huo Xingye relaxed.

Just then, Gu Qingyin suddenly asked, "Who is Miss Wen?"

Huo Xingye fell silent.

"The friend who stayed at your place?" Gu Qingyin pressed step by step. "A girlfriend or a mistress? Are you breaking up now?"

Huo Xingye rubbed his temples, feeling strangely guilty. Before this, he hadn’t thought he’d done anything wrong—just used the wrong method to pursue a woman.

Gu Qingyin saw right through him and said coolly, "You better tell me the truth. If I find out you lied..."

Huo Xingye gave a bitter smile. As if he would dare.

"Wen Ting. Someone I like," Huo Xingye said, his lips tightening as he forced out the words. "I wanted her to be with me, so I used... somewhat extreme methods. She fought back hard."

"Later, I realized I was wrong. After reflecting, I sent her to the hospital." Huo Xingye looked dejected. "She'd rather die than be with me."

Gu Qingyin put it together, both shocked and furious. "You actually resorted to imprisonment! Huo Xingye, how dare you!"

She'd just handled a case involving confinement, and now she found out there was another one right beside her—and it was her own son!

"I know I was wrong," Huo Xingye said calmly, though his body was tense. This was the first time Gu Qingyin had been truly angry since her return, and he didn't know what to do.

Gu Qingyin wanted to slap him silly. What's the point of saying sorry now when the harm had already been done?

Thinking of this, she suddenly asked, "Did you apologize?"

Huo Xingye had no reply.

Gu Qingyin grew even angrier. "You're too used to being a CEO, aren't you? You know you're wrong but can't even apologize? Who cares about your proud little apology?"

Her expression turned stormy. "I really want to smack you to death."

Huo Xingye: "..."

"Where is Wen Ting now?"

Huo Xingye didn’t dare hide it. Lowering his gaze slightly, he said, "Recovering at the hospital."

Gu Qingyin snorted and dropped onto the couch. "Wrap up your work quickly. After that, you’re coming with me to the hospital—to apologize and make it right until she forgives you," she added.

Huo Xingye: "...Alright."

Gu Qingyin exhaled, but her frown didn't ease.

She had noticed Huo Xingye's low fortune earlier, which improved slightly after she gave him a beating, but then it continued to decline. She couldn’t figure out what was wrong until now—he brought it on himself.

They waited until 5:30 p.m., and under Gu Qingyin’s watch, Huo Xingye quickly finished the day’s work and left early.

"Let’s go."

Gu Qingyin stood up with a huff, without even looking at him.

Huo Xingye wanted to sigh. Even when he seized power back then, he hadn’t felt this frustrated.

The mother and son remained silent on the way to the hospital. Huo Xingye wanted to strike up a conversation, but Gu Qingyin kept her face turned toward the window, leaving him with only the back of her head, as if making sure he knew she was sulking.

Huo Xingye felt both helpless and amused. Deep down, he found this sulking Gu Qingyin really cute, and he couldn’t help but feel even closer to her.

When he thought about it... It made sense. Gu Qingyin had trained on the mountain since childhood and only came down at the age of twenty. Aside from her mastery of mystical arts, she was less experienced in social matters than most young women.

Straightforward, clear in love and hate, completely incapable of hiding her feelings.

Huo Xingye didn’t mind indulging her—after all, she was his mother.

When the car stopped, Huo Xingye got out first and walked around to open Gu Qingyin’s door, saying softly, trying to make peace, "I know I was wrong. Please don’t be angry."

Gu Qingyin glanced at him sideways but still didn’t speak.

Huo Xingye smiled and stepped forward to lead the way. "Wen Ting is in the VIP ward on the top floor."

Hearing this, Gu Qingyin’s expression softened slightly as she followed him upstairs.

The top floor was quiet, with few people, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.

Gu Qingyin suddenly felt starving and thought about finishing this quickly so she could eat. That BBQ joint they'd passed looked good.

Distracted by her thoughts, she soon arrived at the ward.

Huo Xingye knocked on the door, and a gentle male voice answered, "Come in."

Huo Xingye pushed the door open and wasn’t surprised to see Chen Ming—but he was very surprised to see the spoon and lunchbox in his hands.

"Doctor Chen, are you expanding into patient care now?"

Chen Ming wasn’t fazed by the sarcasm and replied with a smile, "Doctors care like parents do. Try to understand."

Huo Xingye froze and was about to retort when a slap landed on his back, accompanied by a warning, "Watch your tone."

Huo Xingye stiffened, then stepped aside expressionlessly to reveal Gu Qingyin behind him.

Gu Qingyin smiled brightly. "Hello, I’m Gu Qingyin." Her gaze swept past Chen Ming and settled on Wen Ting, her smile growing even more sincere. "I’m here today specifically to accompany Huo Xingye in apologizing."

Chen Ming couldn’t hide his shock at these words, and Wen Ting was completely floored.

After Chen Ming had explained Huo Xingye’s power and influence to her, she had decided to just accept the unfairness, hoping only for better days ahead—free from such nightmares.

The Family Head of the Huo Clan, apologizing to her? Was this some kind of daydream?

Wen Ting blinked in confusion and instinctively looked at Chen Ming. "Has my condition worsened?" Otherwise, why was she hallucinating? Her resentment burned fiercely!

Chen Ming set down the lunchbox, still smiling gently. "No, you’re recovering well. Eating normally will speed up your recovery." He stood up. "Miss Wen, I hope you’ll cooperate with the doctors and nurses so you can be discharged soon."

Wen Ting nodded sheepishly. It wasn't that she didn't want to eat, but having gone hungry for so long, she got full quickly.

Chen Ming, understanding her situation, suggested, "You can have small meals more often to let your stomach gradually adjust."

Wen Ting nodded repeatedly.

Satisfied, Chen Ming turned to Huo Xingye and Gu Qingyin and nodded. "You two talk. I'll take my leave first."

Once Chen Ming left, Gu Qingyin stepped forward and studied Wen Ting's face, smiling as she said, "Miss Wen is a blessed person. Life's been easy for you since childhood, and once you overcome this ordeal, you'll enjoy a lifetime of happiness."

Wen Ting thought it was kind of weird, but since the words were meant as a blessing, she could only smile and thank her.

Gu Qingyin handed her a protective talisman. "Keep this with you—it's good for your health."

Too exhausted to refuse, Wen Ting could only watch as the octagonal yellow talisman was tucked into her shirt pocket.

Gu Qingyin gave her a reassuring smile before turning to Huo Xingye with an expressionless face. "Cat got your tongue?"

Huo Xingye sighed helplessly, then looked at Wen Ting. Several seconds passed before he spoke.

Wen Ting's heart pounded—was Huo Xingye actually here to say sorry, not to kill her?

"...I'm sorry."