Chapter 50 Huo Yanchi, Are You Messing With Me?

Chapter 50 Huo Yanchi, Are You Messing With Me?

“So, Liu Qishan, are we third-wheeling here? Should we, like, leave?”

Liu Qishan nodded. Xiao Lan probably had something private to discuss with Huo Yanchi; their presence was indeed superfluous.

“Bro, stick around a bit longer, won’t you? It’s not like you have anything pressing to do back home.”

Liu Qishan playfully pinched Shen Junlan’s nose and firmly removed Shen Junlan’s hand from his arm.

“I'll come by when I miss you. I really have to go today.”

Huo Yanchi and Shen Junlan symbolically saw him to the door, then Huo Yanchi pulled Shen Junlan straight back into the house.

“Brother, do you have something to say?”

Huo Yanchi grunted in agreement. He opened a text message he had received—another bloody picture. But this time, it wasn’t some unidentifiable small animal; it was a person.

A mangled, bloody human hand.

Ugh.

Shen Junlan rubbed his chest, trying to suppress the rising nausea. It was too shocking, even more repulsive than that package they had received before.

“This isn't from Huo Yaoyang again, is it? What does he want?”

The photo was cryptic, and Huo Yanchi couldn’t guess his intentions either. This person was skirting the line—where did he get the audacity to think he could get away clean every time?

“This might be the person we were just talking about.”

Huo Yaoyang was truly ruthless. How did he manage to so easily sever that person’s hand?

“Brother, he must have some leverage over that person, right? Otherwise, why wouldn’t he report it to the police? These days, everyone needs their hands to work. How can Huo Yaoyang still get off scot-free?”

“Possibly.”

Huo Yanchi deleted the received photo and sat down to think carefully. The struggle with the Huo family had shifted from overt to covert, and he had no idea what Huo Yaoyang would do next.

Restlessness began to spread again. Huo Yanchi unconsciously drummed his fingers on his watch strap, his eyes half-closed as he pondered, eventually landing on one possibility.

This was Huo Yaoyang testing him—testing whether he knew about the existence of that love child, observing his reactions so Huo Yaoyang could figure out how to deal with him.

The Huo family affairs were getting messier. The ones making waves had increased from two to three, and from the looks of it, it wasn’t the infighting he’d assumed.

That person was totally under Huo Yaoyang's thumb, with little chance of resistance.

“Xiao Yezi, stay at home. I’m going to the company.”

“Brother, let me come with you. Maybe there’s something I can help with.”

Shen Junlan followed closely behind. Huo Yanchi’s state of mind wasn't right again, and he was afraid Huo Yanchi might do something reckless.

***

“President Huo, you’re here.”

Zhao Qi glanced at Shen Junlan following behind Huo Yanchi. Their relationship didn’t seem to have broken down—that clinginess couldn’t be faked.

“Help me pick out a watch in your free time. Xiao Yezi’s brother, who basically raised him, is here. You met him yesterday. Pick one that suits his style.”

“Hey, how did Zhao Qi meet him?”

Zhao Qi smiled awkwardly at Huo Yanchi and quickly finished reporting his current work.

“Wait, investigate whether anyone at Huo Corp has been injured recently and which hospital they’re in.”

“Yes, President Huo. I’ll do it right away.”

Once the office door closed, Shen Junlan draped himself over Huo Yanchi’s back, idly playing with his earlobe with a knowing expression.

“Huo Yanchi, you checked the surveillance footage, didn’t you? What did you see?”

“I saw you hugging Liu Qishan, clinging to him and saying you missed him.”

Huo Yanchi’s tone reeked of jealousy. He paused while flipping through documents, grabbed Shen Junlan’s wrist, and pulled him onto his lap.

“Xiao Yezi, I’ve thought it through since yesterday—if you like him, I’ll let you go.”

Shen Junlan said “Oh.” He didn’t buy it for a second that Huo Yanchi would actually let him go. The moment he left, Huo Yanchi would be chasing the car down, shouting, “Xiao Yezi, don’t leave me!”

Shen Junlan chuckled at the thought. He unexpectedly kissed Huo Yanchi on the cheek and mumbled, “I remember someone saying they’d lock me up if I left.”

“Huh?”

Huo Yanchi acted offended. When had he ever used that word? It was more like “lock up” or something similar—definitely not “imprison.”

“Brother, how can you play dumb after you've had your fun?”

Shen Junlan was quite pleased with his smooth moves, waiting for Huo Yanchi to praise him to the skies.

“Xiao Yezi, hand me your phone.”

Shen Junlan, confused, obediently passed his phone to Huo Yanchi, only to watch him delete his learning app.

Delete, lock screen, return phone—done in one fluid motion, leaving Shen Junlan no time to react.

“Guai Yezi, go find something else to do. Less of this—it’s bad for your brain.”

Shen Junlan pouted and swatted at Huo Yanchi, though the force was more like a tickle, no different from flirting.

Hmph, fine, if he couldn’t look, he’d learn from somewhere else. He’d get Xiao Que to tell him when he got home, and then he’d re-download it.

“How to Seduce the Unattainable Flower” and “The CEO Falls for the Dominant Me”—great books, definitely worth bookmarking.

Once he got the hang of this, he was sure Huo Yanchi would be blown away.

Knock, knock, knock.

“Come in.”

Huo Yanchi didn’t even look up from the documents he was reviewing. They had just snagged a huge deal from Huo Corp, and the entire company was busy.

“President Huo, we found out that an employee from Huo Corp’s marketing department was hit by a car during his commute. Fortunately, only his hand was injured. He’s currently still receiving treatment at the hospital.”

“Can you find out which hospital?” Huo Yanchi thought to himself that he had probably guessed right—this was a warning.

“At Capital Second People’s Hospital.”

Heh, the same hospital as Huo Yaoyang. Now that's interesting.

“Zhao Qi, what other tasks do you have on hand?”

"Right now, I'm just following up on the deal we intercepted. Many colleagues aren't clear on the specific requirements, so I plan to hold a meeting this afternoon to reassess our progress."

Huo Yanchi finished handling the documents in front of him, placed the pen back in the pen holder, and murmured, "Go get the car. We’re heading to Capital Second People's Hospital."

He was curious—how satisfying it would be if he ran into the Huo family at the hospital.

Huo Yanchi logged into an account he hadn’t used in a long time. His eyes flickered slightly, just as he had expected: only a handful of messages, all news updates.

For eight long years, not a single message showed any concern for him.

He had anticipated it, but the moment he logged in, his heart still clenched painfully.

Zhou Jiayun, who always claimed to love him, had her social feed filled with posts about Huo Yaoyang—she never missed a single birthday of his. Last year, on his own birthday, Zhou Jiayun made a rare post:

"A son’s birthday is a mother’s day of pain."

Heh. Right next to it was a celebration video she posted for Huo Yaoyang’s birthday. She wore a canary-yellow dress, holding an exquisite cake, wishing her dearest son a happy birthday.

Huo Yanchi’s finger hovered over the chat interface with Zhou Jiayun. The limited chat history was no different from that of strangers—terse, perfunctory "uh-huhs" and "ohs," so cold that after scrolling a few times, he couldn’t find a single caring word.

[Huo Yanchi: Capital Second People's Hospital. There’s a surprise.]

No red "failed to send" exclamation mark appeared on the screen. Huo Yanchi sneered. He should thank Zhou Jiayun for not blocking him.

When he switched back to his primary account, it chimed several times.

[Xiao Yezi: Boss, I like you even more today than yesterday.]

[Xiao Yezi: You were way too much today!]

[Xiao Yezi: Way too handsome, way too domineering, way too lovable~]

[Xiao Yezi: Huo Yanchi, are you happy now?]

[Xiao Yezi: If not, come here—]

Huo Yanchi gripped his phone, his heart aching with a bittersweet swell. He unconsciously bit his lip and said hoarsely, "Xiao Yezi."

"Come here, come here." Shen Junlan hooked his finger, sitting on Huo Yanchi’s desk, one hand propped on the surface, blinking flirtatiously.

Shen Junlan’s slender fingers wound around Huo Yanchi’s tie, pulling slightly. The silky black tie now looped around Shen Junlan’s neck.

He lifted the tie and sniffed it, his eyes fixed on Huo Yanchi, then lingeringly, as if in slow motion, kissed the tie.

"Brother, I really love your scent."

Fuck.

Could Huo Yanchi resist? Of course...

He could.

Huo Yanchi held back, his clenched fists cracking audibly, afraid he might do something unprofessional in the office.

"Brother, notice me."

Shen Junlan pulled Huo Yanchi closer, his knee brushing against Huo Yanchi’s abs. After going through what felt like an exhausting routine, he finally just kissed Huo Yanchi’s lips.

"Xiao Yezi, is that all?"

Hmph. Shen Junlan widened his eyes. You bastard Huo Yanchi—what more did he want?

"Xiao Yezi, you’re not cutting it. I’ll show you what real action looks like tonight."

Pfft, if he had the guts, he’d show him now.

"Brother, slow your roll, wait for me. Don’t you want your tie back?"

Huo Yanchi took the tie from Shen Junlan’s fingers, pressed his wrist down, and gently tied it into what looked like a pretty bow when he raised his arm.

"Little Rascal, if you like it, wear it."

Huo Yanchi undid the top two buttons of his shirt, his long legs striding out first. Every move was as elegant and sly as a fox.

Left behind, Shen Junlan gazed blankly at his wrist, his soul utterly stolen by Huo Yanchi.

"Huo Yanchi, wait for me."

Three, two, one.

As the countdown ended, Shen Junlan just managed to grab his wrist. Before Shen Junlan even reached him, his scent arrived. Huo Yanchi pursed his lips, inhaling deeply. He loved this lively Xiao Yezi.

"Xiao Yezi, thank you."

They understood each other without words. Shen Junlan knew what he was thanking him for, and his response was to squeeze his hand tighter.

***

"Mr. Huo, should we bring some get-well gifts?"

Zhao Qi had a vague idea about the Huo family’s secret son situation. The information hidden in what Huo Yanchi had asked him to investigate last time was overwhelming, and he made it a rule not to ask unless Huo Yanchi brought it up.

This sudden visit to the hospital left Zhao Qi confused.

"Have you ever seen a CEO bring get-well gifts to watch a show?"

Zhao Qi hit the accelerator, chuckling nervously to change the topic. "Mr. Huo, should I come up with you?"

"Yes, you’re responsible for recording."

Oh wow, this is a major drama—even recording is involved.

"Understood, Mr. Huo. I won’t fail the mission."

Huo Yanchi could find out the ward number. Huo Yaoyang, the mastermind, was probably already waiting by the door, ready to watch the show.

The person had been moved from the emergency room directly to a special ward. The hit was calculated perfectly—it looked gory, but only one finger bone was broken. Once set, it would be fine.

In the ward.

Huo Hongqing was busy running around, dutifully smoothing the sheets for Wu Yaozong. The woman beside him was weeping dramatically, wiping her tears while calling out to Huo Hongqing.

"Our son has only been at your company for half a month, and this happens. How could you, as his father, arrange things like this?"

Wu Fangfang tenderly patted Wu Yaozong’s head. Her son seemed traumatized, spaced-out and unresponsive, only responding after she repeated her questions several times.

"Son, don’t scare me. If there’s anywhere else you’re uncomfortable, tell us. Dad will find the best doctors to make sure you’re cured."

Wu Yaozong’s eyes were full of fear. The car had been just three fingers away from his head. If he had moved even slightly, it would have crushed his head.

The anonymous texter hadn’t lied—he really could have seen his own brain matter.

He was terrified, genuinely terrified.

"Wu Yaozong, tell your Dad, where do you feel unwell?"

Huo Hongqing spoke as gently as possible. The police investigation concluded it was an accident, but deep down, he was still uneasy. Though he thought he'd covered everything up well, there were always loopholes.

If it was someone with ulterior motives, his standing in the Huo family could be in jeopardy.

"Dad, I want some water."

The water dispenser in the room was empty. Huo Hongqing held Wu Fangfang and comforted her for a few words, telling her to keep an eye on their son while he took the kettle to fetch water.

At the corner of the hallway, Huo Yanchi leaned against the wall, his piercing glare fixed intently on Huo Hongqing.

Huo Hongqing's steps faltered as he held the kettle. He suddenly suspected Huo Yanchi might be responsible.

Their eyes met, but neither spoke.

A few seconds later, Huo Yanchi said mockingly, "Which son is staying here? Huo Yaoyang is in Zone B, 27th floor. I heard he's sick again."

"Zone A, 17th floor. Huo Hongqing, you're quite busy with work, aren't you?"

Faced with Huo Yanchi's sarcasm, Huo Hongqing remained calm. He tried to sidestep Huo Yanchi but was blocked by Shen Junlan, who stood behind him.

"Xiao Chi, what nonsense are you talking about? A friend of mine is sick, and I came to visit him. Why are you here? What's wrong with Xiao Yang? I'll go see him now."

No matter which direction Huo Hongqing tried to leave from, Huo Yanchi consistently blocked his path.

"Huo Yanchi, don't push me. Have you gone mad? I'm your Dad. What are you doing? Trying to pressure me?"

"Nothing much. It's just that the main event is starting. What would we do if the lead actor left?"

Huo Yanchi casually straightened his shirt sleeves. His gaze shifted backward as he heard the clicking of high heels approaching, and he signaled Zhao Qi to start recording.

"Hongqing, why are you still here? Our son is waiting for water."

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

Huo Yanchi clapped mechanically, watching as Huo Hongqing pulled his arm away from Wu Fangfang and snapped, "Who are you? You've got the wrong person."

Wu Fangfang flinched, her face paling as she managed a weak smile. "Sorry, it's too dark in the hallway. I must have mistaken you for someone else."

Her heart pounded wildly. She spun around disoriented, unable to find her way out.

A short video was sent over. Huo Yanchi didn't even watch it and forwarded it directly.

He should thank Huo Qu for not removing him from the family chat group all these years.

Ding dong.

Huo Hongqing glanced at his phone. Even though the group was silent, he knew how many people had already seen the video.

"Goddamn it, Huo Yanchi, you bastard! I'll kill you!"

Huo Hongqing's swinging fist didn't land, as his wrist was tightly gripped by Huo Yanchi, unable to move an inch forward.

Huo Yanchi gave a light flick, and Huo Hongqing stumbled back a few steps. When he looked up again, his eyes were bloodshot.

A lunatic, a total goddamn lunatic.

"You said you're no longer part of the Huo family. What right do you have to meddle in Huo family affairs? You son of a bitch! Is this all you're capable of?"

Calling him a dog and a bastard—he sure didn't hold back when insulting himself.

"Of course, I'm here to enjoy the spectacle."

Huo Yanchi sneered and glanced at his phone. It was understandable that Huo Qu, with his old bones, couldn't run fast, but why hadn't Zhou Jiayun arrived yet?

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Jiayun appeared at the elevator entrance nearby. Her eyes were red, as if she'd been crying.

"Huo Hongqing!"

Her shrill, tear-filled shout made Huo Hongqing bolt. After a moment's hesitation, he returned to Wu Yaozong's hospital room. He wasn't fast enough to lock the door before an enraged Zhou Jiayun stormed in.

CRACK! A vicious, stinging slap.

"Ah! What are you doing? Hongqing, Hongqing, are you okay?"

Wu Fangfang gently touched Huo Hongqing's cheek, completely forgetting her own position.

Zhou Jiayun didn't hold back either, slapping them both in quick succession.

"You disgusting couple, no need to rush. There's a slap for each of you."

"Get away!" Huo Hongqing shoved Wu Fangfang aside, almost kneeling before Zhou Jiayun. "Jiayun, she seduced me! It's all her fault. Let's talk about this at home, okay?"

Wu Fangfang fell against a nearby cabinet, her arm aching terribly. She stared at Huo Hongqing in disbelief. How could he say such things?

"Huo Hongqing, do you think I'm a three-year-old? What, you arranged for your son to join the company to undermine the Huo Corporation? Let me tell you, I own twenty percent of the shares. As long as I'm here, this bastard won't have it easy."

It was indeed a marriage of convenience at first, but after all these years of weathering storms together, she thought they would be perfectly harmonious for a lifetime. Little did she know he'd already started another family outside.

"You animal! What were you doing all those years Xiao Yang was receiving treatment? Busy making sons?"

Tears streamed uncontrollably from Zhou Jiayun's eyes. All those years of affection were wasted.

"Huo Hongqing, in your heart, is there even half a place for Xiao Yang?"

Shen Junlan silently squeezed his hand. These people only ever mentioned Huo Yaoyang. How much pain must Huo Yanchi be feeling?

"You have no affection for each other. Why are you still holding onto my Hongqing? He doesn't love you, not even a bit."

Wu Fangfang tugged at Huo Hongqing, a strange smile on her face. "Hongqing, didn't you say you wanted to ditch this hag as soon as possible and marry me? When are we getting married? Let's get married."

"Get lost! It was just a fling. Did you think I'd marry every woman I sleep with?"

She just happened to get pregnant. With so many women, if he gave each of them a title, how many times would he have to divorce?

Wu Fangfang could hardly believe her ears. She thought it was love, but it turned out to be just being used.

"Your son is good-for-nothing. What kind of son did you give birth to? He's no better than an idiot. Who knows if there's something wrong with him?"

Wu Yaozong winced in pain. He stumbled out of the hospital bed, helped Wu Fangfang up, and grabbed an ashtray, slamming it into Huo Hongqing's head.

"Huo Hongqing, you animal!"

Blood welled up. Wu Fangfang panicked, anxiously rushing to Huo Hongqing's side, but he shoved her away.

"All of you, get the fuck out!"

The commotion on site was too loud, alerting the staff, and they were all kicked out.

Huo Hongqing covered his head, his vision swimming.

"Zhou Jiayun, Zhou Jiayun, don’t go. Please forgive me just this once. I wasn't thinking straight. I won’t claim that child. Let’s live well together."

"No need. You three can live together as a family. Huo Hongqing, I’ll divide our assets. Just wait to sign the divorce agreement."

Zhou Jiayun’s heart was utterly broken. As she turned her head, she noticed Huo Yanchi’s assistant still dutifully recording the scene. She gave a self-mocking smile—if Huo Hongqing wasn’t afraid of losing face, why should she care?

One long video after another was sent into the family group chat. Huo Qu arrived late.

Ignoring the injury on Huo Hongqing’s head, he mustered all his strength and slapped Huo Hongqing hard across the face.

"Have you no shame? You’ve completely disgraced the Huo family. Xiao Yang just came out of the emergency room, and after watching these videos, he was sobbing uncontrollably."

"And you, Huo Yanchi, do you want this family to fall apart?"

Heh heh, nice one.

"That’s right, Huo Qu. You’ve known about Huo Hongqing’s illegitimate child all along. For the so-called Huo family’s reputation, you’ve endured until now—must have been tough. Stop pretending to be the doting grandpa. If you truly loved Huo Yaoyang, this illegitimate child would never have existed."

Huo Qu seemed to have hit a nerve, furious but unable to retort.

Zhou Jiayun stared at Huo Qu for a long time, then glanced at Huo Hongqing, whose head was bleeding profusely. What did the Huo family even have left that was worth clinging to?

She had Xiao Yang—that was enough. He was her flesh and blood. As long as Xiao Yang recovered, she’d die happy.

"Dad, save the act. I’ll draft the divorce agreement as soon as possible."

Zhou Jiayun was exhausted. After all these years in the Huo family, she was still an outsider.

Was it that she couldn’t have children? No, they wouldn’t let her. She had a healthy child too—why deprive her of the right to have more?

Not allowing her to have children, yet letting those trashy women outside bear them? Just great, perfect.

"Zhou Jiayun, wait! Xiao Yang is still in the hospital room. Aren’t you going to see him?"

Huo Qu was so angry he was gasping for breath. He chased after Zhou Jiayun a few steps before collapsing straight to the ground, his hand clutching his chest.

"Dad, are you okay?"

Huo Hongqing, ignoring his own injury, yelled for a doctor. Zhou Jiayun also rushed over, helping the doctors lift Huo Qu onto a stretcher.

From beginning to end, Huo Yanchi was like a ghost, completely ignored by the family.

Amid the chaos, Huo Yanchi was detached from it all. He sent the last video into the group chat, only to see a notification that the group had been disbanded.

Huo Yanchi raised an eyebrow. Had Huo Yaoyang had his fill of the show and only then pretended to disband the group?

His goal for the day had been achieved. Indifferently, Huo Yanchi took Shen Junlan by the arm and left.

The three of them stayed quiet the entire way.

Zhao Qi kept stealing glances at Huo Yanchi’s expression in the rearview mirror, holding his breath and trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.

The bedroom door clicked shut.

Shen Junlan heard Huo Yanchi’s voice, "Xiao Yezi, did you like the show today?"

"Brother, you don’t have to fake a smile if you don’t want to."

The curve at the corner of Huo Yanchi’s lips straightened. He gently pulled Shen Junlan into his arms and whispered, "I thought they would at least think of me."

But they didn’t—not even a little.

"Brother, that’s their loss. Think about it—my Huo Yanchi is capable and handsome. They can only pin their hopes on a sickly weakling and a good-for-nothing."

Shen Junlan patted Huo Yanchi’s back, his lips brushing lightly against Huo Yanchi’s neck with soft, tingling kisses.

"Brother, do you want to play with me?"

A straightforward and bold invitation.

It had only been three days since downloading that app, and his Xiao Yezi had already picked up these tricks.

The curtains were suddenly drawn shut.

Huo Yanchi untied the tie that had been tied around Shen Junlan’s wrists, kissed the corner of his own lips with it, and then carefully placed it over Shen Junlan’s eyes.

"Guai Yezi, can you still see me?"

"Vaguely."

Huo Yanchi chuckled softly, lifted Shen Junlan’s chin, and began to nibble eagerly yet tenderly on his lips.

From his chin, all the way to the black tie covering his eyes.

With his vision blocked, Shen Junlan’s other senses intensified infinitely. He stiffened, carefully savoring Huo Yanchi’s kisses.

The kisses grew deeper, and Shen Junlan fumbled in his response, as if he wanted to devour Huo Yanchi whole.

"Huo Yanchi, you have me. That’s enough."

Just think of him—forget all those who hurt you. Better yet, lock those memories away and never look back.

"Guai Yezi."

Huo Yanchi nibbled and teased Shen Junlan’s Adam’s apple, causing his legs to go weak. Shen Junlan leaned limply into Huo Yanchi’s embrace, gulping for air.

Huo Yanchi’s large hand gripped Shen Junlan’s waist. Shen Junlan swallowed hard, a thrill of anticipation stirring within him.