Chapter 91: “Come Back Early” (3000+)
Chapter 91: "Come Back Early" (3000+)
Luo Le furrowed his brows. "How did you know?"
Huo Lanjing avoided his gaze. "Uncle Wang told me."
Upon entering the room, Chen Chen noticed Luo Le wasn't following and asked, "Dad... Uncle, aren't you coming in?"
Luo Le held out his hand. "Keys."
Huo Lanjing understood what he meant. "Stay with him for a few more days."
Chen Chen rushed over upon hearing this and clung to Luo Le's legs. "Uncle, where are you going? Chen Chen wants to go too!"
Luo Le pushed him away.
Chen Chen panicked and clung even tighter. "Daddy, Chen Chen doesn't want to be alone here. Take Chen Chen with you."
Seeing this, Huo Lanjing approached. "Actually, I'll only be staying for a few days. You don't have to leave."
Luo Le shook her head. "We're already divorced."
The implication was clear: with Huo Lanjing around, there was no place for Luo Le in this house.
Huo Lanjing looked slightly hurt. "Chen Chen will be taking his grading exam in a few days. He might not be used to a new environment. How about you stay here for now? After that, I'll move Chen Chen's things to your place, and Mr. can visit you there."
With his arms wrapped around his legs, Chen Chen looked pitiful. As Luo Le gazed down at his wide, earnest eyes, she fell into contemplation.
She was certain that she didn't want to share the same roof as Huo Lanjing.
However, he had said he would leave in a few days.
Hearing the commotion, the auntie descended the stairs while asking what had happened. Just a few steps away from the ground floor, she missed a step and tumbled down.
The three of them rushed over, concerned. The auntie held her foot and cried out in pain.
Huo Lanjing and Luo Le exchanged glances and decided to take her to the hospital.
After a check-up, she was sent straight to the treatment pod. When she came out, she seemed to be fine.
Still, they allowed Auntie to take a few days off.
By the time they returned from the hospital, it was already dark.
Luo Le gazed at the few stars shimmering in the sky, his expression somber.
Huo Lanjing followed his gaze, then shifted his eyes to Luo Le's face.
That morning, Uncle Wang had mentioned that Luo Le had encountered three peculiar individuals, after which Luo Le spent the entire day at the café.
Huo Lanjing could more or less guess what had happened.
He reached out and stroked Chen Chen's head.
Feeling the touch, Luo Le turned back.
Holding Chen Chen for too long would inevitably tire his arms, and Chen Chen kept clinging to Luo Le, refusing to let anyone else hold him.
Huo Lanjing extended his hand to take Chen Chen: "He hasn't had dinner yet; he might get hungry when he wakes up. There doesn't seem to be much food at home. Should we make a trip to the supermarket?"
Luo Le glanced at Chen Chen, who was sleeping soundly, and nodded in approval.
They were in the city center, and there was a supermarket about one kilometer away.
In five minutes, the car pulled up in front of the supermarket. Huo Lanjing alighted first, holding Chen Chen with one hand, then reached out to open the car door for Luo Le.
Noticing his gesture, Luo Le's expression froze momentarily before he calmly got out of the car.
The weather had turned cooler over the past week. As the wind blew, Luo Le couldn't help but tuck his neck in.
Huo Lanjing's eyes flickered slightly as he allowed Luo Le to lead the way.
The entire building was a supermarket, with shopping carts available at the entrance.
Luo Le went over to retrieve one.
Huo Lanjing's tall figure was accentuated by his black coat, while a child hung on his right shoulder, his casual demeanor exuding a sense of composure.
Someone like him would attract many admirers even if he were to stroll into a school right now.
Perhaps back then, he was indeed captivated by that face.
"Excuse me, are you alright?"
Luo Le was bumped into by another person who had suddenly rushed out, nearly causing him to fall.
The man wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, his face filled with concern as he asked Luo Le.
Luo Le pulled his bike back slightly. In truth, he wasn't looking where he was going either, so he shared some blame.
"It's fine."
The man gave him a glance. Perhaps seeing his expressionless face, he assumed Luo Le was angry and continued apologizing.
Luo Le sighed, "Really, it's no big deal."
The man then said, "You might not see it now, but just in case, why don't we exchange contact information? If there's anything, you can find me."
Luo Le furrowed his brow. Seeing the man's determined look, he raised his hand.
In the next moment, Luo Le's wrist was restrained by Huo Lanjing with one hand.
Initially, Huo Lanjing had thought it was an accidental touch when he was over there. It wasn't until he saw Luo Le reaching out that he suddenly realized something was amiss.
With a stern expression, he asked the man, "What do you want?"
Huo Lanjing, being in a high position for a long time and already in a bad mood, exuded a low-pressure aura around him.
The man felt intimidated and quickly claimed that there was nothing, before scurrying away.
Then, Huo Lanjing turned to Luo Le, "He clearly had ulterior motives. Why did you engage with him so much?"
Upon hearing the sarcastic remark, Luo Le couldn't help but retort, "I think you're the one with ulterior motives."
After saying that, she pushed her cart forward without waiting for a response.
Huo Lanjing knew he was being inexplicably irrational, but he just couldn't control himself.
He pinched the palm of his hand and hurriedly followed, "Sorry, I shouldn't have..."
"Uncle?"
In his arms, Chen Chen rubbed his eyes and suddenly realized that the person holding him wasn't his father. He hurriedly turned his head to search, "Where's my daddy?"
Luo Le was right there and, upon hearing this, patted Chen Chen on the back. "He hasn't left."
Chen Chen heaved a sigh of relief and looked around, realizing where he was.
With a face full of delight, he asked, "Are we going grocery shopping?"
The previous conversation had to be cut short.
Luo Le responded with a nod and inquired if there was anything Chen Chen wanted to eat.
Chen Chen nodded. "Yes, I want grapes, melon, noodles, and little cookies..."
Huo Lanjing pinched his cheek, causing Chen Chen to pout. "What are you doing?"
"You can't have snacks," Huo Lanjing said.
Chen Chen pouted, a look of grievance on his face. "Then, I want to be up high."
Huo Lanjing pressed his lips together before lifting Chen Chen above his head in the next moment, placing him on his neck.
Chen Chen held onto Huo Lanjing's hair. "Up high, up high."
Luo Le, standing by the side, couldn't help but remind them, "Be careful."
Huo Lanjing replied, "It's fine."
Suddenly, a father and son walked past them.
The son said, "Daddy, I want to fly up high too."
The father responded, "Fly what? If we don't go back soon, your papa will get angry."
Upon hearing this, Luo Le paused, his gaze fixed ahead.
Chen Chen directed the way from atop Huo Lanjing's neck, while Huo Lanjing walked at a moderate distance in front of him, pushing the stroller behind.
The trio made their way to the fresh produce section.
Luo Le gazed at the pork ribs and, after some thought, approached to weigh out some for himself.
There were several varieties available.
Not knowing which was the best, Luo Le opted for the most expensive one.
At the weighing station stood a young lady. As the queue reached Luo Le, she couldn't help but admire his handsome face.
She could sense the subtle glances coming his way, yet she sensed that he was already taken - a pity.
Nevertheless, those who could afford to shop in such a place were either wealthy or of high status; it was unlikely there was any chance for her.
"Sir, have a good day," she said politely as he left.
Luo Le responded with a hint of confusion.
Huo Lanjing, naturally, had heard it, his face darkening.
But Luo Le paid him no mind and continued browsing.
Eventually, Chen Chen's command center shifted to the toddler seat of a supermarket shopping cart.
By the end, they had filled two carts: one with Chen Chen's snacks and fruits, and the other with meat, dairy, and vegetables.
At checkout, Huo Lanjing paid while Luo Le lifted Chen Chen down from the cart.
The cashier, a young man, commented with a smile, "You two make such a lovely couple."
Luo Le corrected him, "We're not a couple."
The young man apologized awkwardly. However, judging from the adoration in the eyes of the payer looking over at them, how could they not be a couple?
But since the customer insisted that they weren't, then they weren't.
Luo Le recalled how eagerly he once wanted to accompany Huo Lanjing on a supermarket trip, simply to hear the observant cashier utter those words.
If it were the old him, he might have been delighted by the clerk's remark. But not anymore.
Relieved, Luo Le saw Chen Chen, who had already rushed to the door, eagerly awaiting their departure. He was grateful he hadn't heard the comment; he wouldn't have known how to respond if he had.
That night, Luo Le and Chen Chen slept in the master bedroom, while Huo Lanjing took the guest room.
Three days later, early morning.
Dark circles adorned Luo Le's eyes as he picked at his breakfast with little appetite. Yesterday, Chen Chen had just completed an exam and was resting for the day, still asleep.
Lost in thought, Luo Le gazed at the porridge in his bowl when a stack of papers suddenly appeared before him.
He looked up, puzzled. "What's this?"
Huo Lanjing offered him a pen with a golden flower inlaid on its chest. "A property and share transfer agreement."
Luo Le furrowed his brows. "I don't want to."
Huo Lanjing asked, "Do you still remember Gu Heting?"
Luo Le gestured with his eyes for him to continue.
Huo Lanjing came straight to the point: "He succeeded. Every family connected to that incident from years ago has either gone bankrupt or had their members exiled or imprisoned. As for him, he was also incarcerated. This is what he asked me to give you; he hopes you'll sign it."
Having said this, he fell silent, simply watching Luo Le, who was studying the contract with his head lowered, granting him time to ponder over it.
After a moment, Luo Le pushed the items on the table back.
Huo Lanjing looked at what was in front of him. "The agreement is still valid for another year. If you change your mind during that time, you can come to me."
He paused before continuing, "He's in a prison just outside the city."
With that said, he retrieved the agreement from the table.
"Are you going out?"
Huo Lanjing observed Luo Le, dressed and ready to go, and eventually couldn't resist asking.
Luo Le nodded, acknowledging that he was indeed planning to leave.
Huo Lanjing had long since learned from Chen Wuxing that the trio would be departing today.
If Luo Le were to leave, what reason could he possibly give to make him stay?
Mercenaries treaded on the edge of peril. Given Luo Le's still-recovering health, Huo Lanjing couldn't bring himself to let him go.
"Certainly something is on your mind?" Luo Le asked, his face cold as he gazed at Huo Lanjing.
Huo Lanjing hesitated for a moment. "No."
After finishing their meal, Luo Le put on his shoes, preparing to head out.
Seeing Luo Le's hand reach for the door handle, Huo Lanjing shot up from the table. "Wait."
Luo Le turned around, looking at him with a puzzled expression.
Huo Lanjing said "wait" again before walking over to the sofa, picking up a neatly folded gray plaid scarf, and standing in front of Luo Le.
He draped the scarf around Luo Le's neck, looping it a few times before securing it with a knot. "It's cold out, wear this."
Luo Le glanced at the man still holding onto the scarf, brushed his hand away, and let out an "oh," before turning to leave.
Suddenly, his wrist was grasped by a large hand.
Luo Le turned his head, frowning. "What do you really want?"
A flicker of emotion passed through Huo Lanjing's eyes. "Come back early."
His tone was somewhat heavy, not sounding like a casual reminder.
This time, Luo Le didn't respond. He pushed away Huo Lanjing's hand and opened the door to leave.
As he walked away, his figure gradually disappeared, until the door closed, leaving him completely out of sight.
Yet, Huo Lanjing remained in his original position, lost in thought for a long while.