Chapter 45: No Longer Content with His Relationship with Huo Yanchi

Chapter 45: No Longer Content with His Relationship with Huo Yanchi

Shen Junlan leaned against the tree, his gaze meeting Huo Yanchi’s, a whirlwind of thoughts in his mind. When he finally spoke, all that emerged was, "Huo Yanchi, if you're unhappy, you must say so."

Bottling it up, Huo Yanchi offered no glimpse into his feelings. Shen Junlan could only piece together the fragments of Huo Yanchi’s story from these minor details.

He stood outside Huo Yanchi’s narrative, at best an accidental passerby. A subtle irritation stirred within him. Shen Junlan realized he was no longer satisfied with their current relationship.

If they were to take another step, how should they then interact?

Fireflies still rested on Huo Yanchi’s shoulders. He carefully cupped one, offering it as a borrowed gift, and held it out to Shen Junlan.

"Xiao Yezi, I’ve kept those past events buried deep in my heart for so long, I’ve almost forgotten them myself."

It had been ages since he’d dwelled in damp, dark places. The painful memories were now overshadowed by the sweetness of his time with Shen Junlan. He could barely recall anyone from the Huo family.

The sting of the whip had been healed by Xiao Yezi’s kisses. Looking back, it all felt like candy dipped in honey, sweet to the very core.

"Sorry, Xiao Yezi. Please accept my firefly, and don’t be angry with me, okay?"

"Hmph, this is *my* firefly."

A baseless sulkiness—Shen Junlan couldn’t pinpoint its origin. He could only attribute it to Huo Yanchi having one of his episodes. Beyond offering a hug, he was at a complete loss.

"If you accept it, it’s yours. But since you’ve given it to me, it’s mine now."

Huo Yanchi gently kissed the firefly in his hands, then bent slightly to offer it to Xiao Yezi, as devout as a worshipper, his eyes pleading with his deity.

Shen Junlan snorted, then, as if condescending, raised his hand. The firefly obediently settled on his palm and was soon absorbed into Shen Junlan's body.

A small, tender sprout pushed its way out, wriggling wildly and rubbing fiercely against Huo Yanchi’s cheek with such force and eagerness that Shen Junlan couldn’t stop it.

Huo Yanchi curved his lips into a soft laugh. His Xiao Yezi was just saying one thing and meaning another—he clearly liked him a lot.

"Guai Yezi, does this mean you forgive me?"

"No, I’m just evaluating you. If next time you can’t handle something but still insist on pushing yourself, I’ll deduct ten points."

Just ten points? Huo Yanchi had barely nodded when he heard Xiao Yezi add, "Out of a total of ten."

"Then let’s skip the haunted house. I’m afraid I might remember something from the past."

Shen Junlan’s gaze sharpened, and the little sprout followed suit, tugging and kneading Huo Yanchi’s earlobe.

"What past events? Huo Yanchi, I just finished saying—are you only bringing up the past because you’re afraid of losing points?"

That was five years ago. Huo Yaoyang’s usual tactics: at Huo Qu’s seventy-fifth birthday banquet, he forced his broken body to attend and offer congratulations.

The birthday gift was a green pine tree Huo Yaoyang had carved for him during his medical treatment, symbolizing Huo Qu’s eternal youth.

Huo Yaoyang burst into tears right at the birthday banquet, saying, "Grandpa, I don’t know how much longer I have to live. I originally wanted to carve an eagle for you, but there wasn’t enough time. My chest feels tight, and I’m short of breath. I always feel like… I’m not long for this world."

Huo Qu wept profusely, and the grandfather and grandson shared a deep embrace in the banquet hall.

That night, the entertainment headlines were filled with exposes on Huo Yanchi. When they dug deeper, all they found was how an unloved child from a wealthy family had, against all odds, become the chairman of a listed company.

Overnight, the company’s stock price soared, showing signs of surpassing the Huo family’s influence.

Just one day later, Huo Yanchi received the dismembered remains of his favorite childhood doll—a snow-white rabbit, the only birthday gift Huo Hongqing had ever given him.

Huo Yaoyang’s message was clear: whatever he wanted, Huo Yanchi had to step aside, whether it was the company or fame and fortune.

Along with the dismembered doll came a warning from Huo Hongqing. He went through countless phone numbers just to get through and tell Huo Yanchi that if he ever bullied Huo Yaoyang again, the Huo family would fight him to the death.

How ironic—the Huo family, coming to take his life.

Later, Huo Yanchi found out that Huo Yaoyang had coughed up blood that day and produced a fabricated chat record. The content was of a conversation between Huo Yanchi and him, filled with vitriol, every word cursing Huo Yaoyang to die.

With a forged record and a tearful son, Huo Yanchi was once again the perpetrator under trumped-up charges.

"Xiao Yezi, I confess—before I discovered the true nature of Huo Yaoyang’s illness, I still held onto illusions about the Huo family. I thought, as the older brother, if they loved Huo Yaoyang, then as long as I cared for him more, I would receive the same love in return."

"Later, I faced reality. Just as Elder Qin said, in their hearts, I am a curse. They would never truly love me."

"I swear, there’s nothing else. You know Huo Yaoyang’s methods, you’ve seen them. Over all these years, it’s only been the same few tricks. Sometimes I even wonder if Huo Hongqing is just a puppet at home. He’s controlled by Huo Qu’s strings and manipulated by Huo Yaoyang’s ropes—neither fully human nor fully ghost."

"Guai Yezi, I'm not clever. I can’t think of anything else. If you feel there’s more to add, just say it, and I’ll remember immediately."

Huo Yanchi straightened his waist slightly, his gaze level with Xiao Yezi’s, just enough to see every shift in his emotions—from his tightened lips to his misty eyes. Huo Yanchi didn’t miss a single change in Xiao Yezi.

"So, what were you doing in the bathroom that night?"

An abrupt question. Huo Yanchi’s heart skipped a beat. Perhaps only he understood what Xiao Yezi was asking.

He was asking what Huo Yanchi was doing in the bathroom on the night, five years ago, when he returned soaked from the heavy rain, after receiving the dismembered rabbit.

The reason lay in the latter part of the story. Hidden inside the dismembered doll was a blood-stained white cloth, wrapped around the severed finger of the housekeeper who had once been very kind to Huo Yanchi.

In that moment, Huo Yanchi’s sanity snapped completely. After reporting it to the police, the investigation concluded it was an accident—the housekeeper had accidentally cut his finger while chopping vegetables.

Hah, what a convenient accident.

Huo Yanchi had tried repeatedly to persuade the housekeeper to come to his home, but he refused. That day, for the first time in three years, Huo Yanchi stepped into the Huo family’s old mansion, only to learn that the housekeeper had returned to his hometown and would never come back.

All of the housekeeper’s contact information had been changed. Even after using some connections, Huo Yanchi found nothing. He tucked the severed finger into his pocket and trashed the Huo family home completely.

It was another stormy night, just like eight years before. Huo Yanchi, consumed by rage, found Huo Yaoyang and, like last time, beat him within an inch of his life.

"Huo Yanchi, you’re an unwanted stray dog. Let me tell you the truth—the housekeeper will never come back in this lifetime. Of course, he’s alive and well. He just doesn’t want to see you again. Think about it—you caused him to lose a finger, lose his job, nearly his family falling apart. Do you still think he would want to see you?"

"Ah, sorry, I almost forgot. The fact that he was kind to you was a crime in the first place. Serves him right for not knowing what's good for him. Huo Yanchi, no need to glare at me. I haven’t reached the point of killing anyone yet."

"But if you don’t behave, I can’t make any promises. Grandpa used to like you quite a bit, didn’t he? Too bad he passed away from asthma."

Huo Yanchi’s blood ran cold. That was the kindest, most loving grandfather. In truth, Grandpa had always favored Huo Yaoyang far more. Was it too much to ask for just a little normal treatment?

"You’re a beast."

Huo Yaoyang, blood at the corner of his mouth, laughed maniacally. Rubbing his temple, he spoke with a neurotic tone, "How am I a beast? Is Grandpa’s asthma my fault too? Huo Yanchi, just remember this."

Remember: anyone connected to him, Huo Yaoyang would find a way to eliminate.

So cold. So cold it felt like his blood was freezing.

Huo Yanchi gripped Huo Yaoyang’s neck, tightening his hold relentlessly. He had long stopped wanting to live. Taking Huo Yaoyang with him wouldn’t be so bad.

"What are you doing?"

Zhou Jiayun shoved Huo Yanchi away, cradling Huo Yaoyang’s face tenderly, then stood up quickly and slapped Huo Yanchi without another word.

"You beast! How could I have given birth to something like you!"

Huo Yanchi turned his head slightly, swallowing the bloody saliva in his mouth, and looked coldly at Zhou Jiayun, saying, "Why did the butler leave?"

"He brought it on himself by wanting to leave—could we have stopped him? Huo Yanchi, you’ve completely lost it. What has your brother done wrong for you to treat him like this?"

Screams mingled with tearful cries for the doctor. Huo Yanchi snapped: "Because Huo Yaoyang is a murderer. You’d better call the police now, because I will too."

He had obtained evidence—a recording of Huo Yaoyang.

He had risked being caught to get that recording, but after submitting it, it vanished without a trace.

The reason turned out to be his illness. He had been on medication for years, and they said he was mentally unstable. The police dismissed him as mentally ill and refused to handle the case.

Returning in the pouring rain, Huo Yanchi locked himself in the bathroom and slit his wrist again.

He calmly watched a considerable amount of blood flow out, then applied medicine and bandaged it at the very brink of death.

Strangely, he had grown to like the feeling of nearing death and being abruptly pulled back—as if his soul had left his body, staring down at that shell and laughing.

When facing Huo Yaoyang, he couldn’t even use conventional methods. The Huo family’s bias toward him ran deep, and he couldn’t obtain any relevant evidence for Huo Yaoyang’s examination.

The key personnel treating Huo Yaoyang were all suppressed by him through various means. The illness fluctuated, entirely depending on his mood. Shielded by an impenetrable net, Huo Yanchi investigated for a long time but still found nothing.

It was only recently that he had some leads, but he wasn’t sure if they would lead to any substantial progress.

"Xiao Yezi, that day I was just tired and soaked in the bath for a long time."

"Is it this?" Shen Junlan interrupted Huo Yanchi, fingers stroking his nearly smooth wrist, staring straight into Huo Yanchi’s eyes.

Huo Yanchi’s heart ached sharply, and he softly murmured in agreement.

Suddenly, silence fell between the two. Shen Junlan gripped his arm with pain, muttering vaguely, "Huo Yanchi, here—it hurts too."

Shen Junlan’s finger pointed to his own heart. His eyes welled up again. Over the years, he had understood Huo Yanchi’s situation best—like walking on thin ice.

Even in the private space of his bedroom, he couldn’t relax. His nerves were constantly strained, even in sleep.

"Xiao Yezi, all of that is in the past."

The butler still refused to see him. Only on every New Year’s day, a message from a number that was both unfamiliar and familiar would arrive with four words:

"All is well."

Huo Yanchi had no right to disturb his life. He had his own family, a lovely pair of twin granddaughters. Living peacefully was what the butler needed.

"Xiao Yezi, don’t you always say we should look forward? If we dwell on the past, how exhausting it would be."

Shen Junlan turned away, quickly wiping the corner of his eye, then slowly nodded.

The hardest and most difficult days were already behind them. They needed to look forward, toward a happy life.

"Huo Yanchi, any other plans?"

"I asked Zhao Qi to pick us up on his way to see a movie. Sorry, Xiao Yezi, since I couldn’t show you a good time, let’s watch whatever movie you like."

Shen Junlan was tired. He shook his head and said softly, "I want to go home, not watch a movie."

Not only had he expended spiritual energy, but he’d also been shaken by Huo Yanchi. His head was dizzy, and he just wanted to go home and rest.

"Alright, we’ll go out next time."

As they left, Huo Yanchi glanced sideways and saw a spirit floating mid-air—it didn’t appear to be the same ghost that had just scared him.

More terrifying than a ghost following Huo Yanchi home was Shen Junlan, who had just lain down to rest for a few minutes, opening his eyes to see a ghost… floating right in front of him.

"Huo Yanchi—"

Huo Yanchi rushed over with a rag in hand, meeting Shen Junlan’s terrified gaze.

"Brother, did you…"

Seeing Huo Yanchi nod, Shen Junlan was utterly bewildered. He truly couldn’t understand how Huo Yanchi could see the ghost floating there.

Why couldn’t Huo Yanchi see it back then? Could it be because he wasn’t a ghost?

"Brother, why did it follow us home? It couldn’t be from the haunted house, could it? There really are ghosts in there? Why didn’t I notice when I was there?"

"Maybe you mistook them for NPCs."

Huo Yanchi naturally handed the rag to the little ghost, washed his hands again, and sat down beside Shen Junlan.

"Xiao Yezi, it seems he can’t speak. Why don’t you try to communicate with him?"

Can’t speak? Shen Junlan observed him carefully. He didn’t look like someone who had died unjustly, nor did he carry much resentment. He was unusually peaceful, with no intention of harming anyone.

And indeed, a little ghost wiping things with a rag—how could it harm anyone?

"Master, this world is getting more and more surreal. Is the magnetic field disordered? Think about it—all those plants and animals from Mount Buzhou came down, and now we’ve encountered a real ghost. I’ve been at home for eight years and never noticed anything unusual."

Huo Yanchi couldn’t explain it either. He couldn’t even explain how his Xiao Yezi had turned from a flower into a person, let alone where this ghost came from.

"Let me try asking him first."

The little ghost wasn’t unable to speak—he was just a bit afraid of Huo Yanchi. The ghost moved to Shen Junlan’s side, curled up, and then slowly spoke: "I have nowhere to go. I was just scraping by over there."

The little ghost survived by feeding on people’s vital energy. Most people at the haunted house didn’t mind, thinking their discomfort was just from being scared. Sneaking a little bit went unnoticed.

"What did you do before? You know, that thing."

Shen Junlan gestured, avoiding the word "death." He felt it would be a second injury to the little ghost, who didn’t look very old when he passed—twenty at most.

"Me? I should be, was…" The little ghost clutched his head, unable to remember. He let out an "ah" and squatted down in pain.

"Don’t think about it, don’t think about it. It doesn’t matter. If you have nowhere to go, you can stay at our place for now. By the way, why did you follow us home instead of staying at the haunted house?"

"Because… Merit."

Shen Junlan pointed at himself. The little ghost shook his head, pointing at Huo Yanchi, looking utterly famished as he muttered, "So much, so much Merit. It’s purple. I can’t eat it."

He had seen a fierce ghost try to steal Huo Yanchi’s Merit and get blown to bits. He didn’t dare try anything.

Shen Junlan let out an exaggerated "wow," tugging at Huo Yanchi’s sleeve. "Brother, it seems you’re even more powerful than me. Having Merit protecting you is a good thing. You’ll surely have smooth sailing, peace, and health for life."

"By the way, since you followed us back and can’t eat his Merit, what will you eat?"

The little ghost swallowed greedily and pointed to the room next door, saying reservedly, "Incense will do. I’m a good ghost. I only ever follow people and take a tiny bit of vital energy—at most, it gives them a headache for a few minutes."

Shen Junlan could believe that. If the little ghost had consumed a lot of vital energy, he wouldn’t look like this at all.

"Oh, got it. Then you'll be responsible for cleaning the house. Do you know how to do it?"

"I know, I know. Back at the amusement park, I learned from the cleaning NPCs. I can handle it all, as long as you don’t kick me out."

The little ghost was very diligent and quickly got to work.

"Boss, what should we do now? Our home is really turning into a zoo."

We've got animals and plants, and now a ghost on top of that.

"I’ll contact Lin Hang first. He knows a highly capable Taoist priest—I’ll ask him to come take a look. Xiao Yezi, I’m worried you might be discovered."

Shen Junlan patted Huo Yanchi’s shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry," Xiao Yezi said. "I’m in human form now. Unless he’s an immortal, there's no way he'd figure it out."

He was quite confident about that. After all, we couldn't just keep a little ghost at home indefinitely.