Ch21.1 Sit on lap
The Huo family's mansion was lit up like a Christmas tree, and the driveway was jam-packed with fancy cars.
Even Uncle Li, the butler, put on fancy clothes and stood at the door with a big smile to welcome the important guests who had come for the banquet.
When Xia Wan noticed Huo Yu parking the car, he grinned and said, "Hey, Eldest Master, it's time for a show!"
Huo Yu gave him a cold glance but remained silent. He got out of the car and went to the other side to open the door, extending his hand to Xia Wan.
With a cheerful smile, Xia Wan joyfully placed his hand on Huo Yu's before unexpectedly leaping into his arms, catching him by surprise.
Caught off guard, Huo Yu stumbled back a step, but he quickly regained his balance and steadied Xia Wan by placing a hand on his waist, before pulling his securely into his arms.
The sensation beneath his hands was soft and comforting, and he could feel Xia Wan's warm breath against his neck.
As Xia Wan pulled away from his embrace, Huo Yu couldn't help but feel a sudden chill wash over him.
With a smile on his face, Xia Wan approached Huo Yu and asked him in a hushed tone, "Eldest Master, what do you think about my performance?"
Huo Yu glanced at him sideways. He paused briefly for movement before he nodded. There was a hint of approval in his voice, "Not bad."
"Eldest Master." Uncle Li called out. When Uncle Li caught sight of Huo Yu, he quickly stepped back. He looked scared.
However when he noticed Xia Wan standing next to Huo Yu, his expression turned even uglier.
Why was that vixen here?
Didn't the master and madam say that he wouldn't come?
Then, tonight...
Uncle Li hesitated for a brief moment, and the smile he had been wearing all evening stiffened, betraying a hint of
unease.
"It seems that the kick last time was too gentle?" Huo Yu couldn't help but sneer as he looked at him, his tone laced with sarcasm.
Uncle Li gulped nervously, then reluctantly lowered his head and addressed Xia Wan "Master Xia."
Xia Wan, who was easygoing waved his hand casually and smiled warmly, "Carry on with your duties."
As they walked away, Uncle Li lifted his head and observed their tightly intertwined hands, his brows furrowing involuntarily.
Does this Xia kid really think of himself as his master?
The Huo family's courtyard was really spacious, and it took about fifteen minutes to walk from the entrance to the annex building where the banquet was held. Even before anyone got close, the sound of greetings and laughter could be faintly heard in the night breeze.
The fountain in the courtyard looked like a rainbow because of the colorful lights shining on it. The lights on the outdoor dance floor and the venue were flashing, making it hard to see the stars in the sky.
"Wow, your uncle's house is super big!" Xia Wan said, stopping to feel the cool mist from the fountain on his face.
Huo Yu reached out to the fountain's center, and water shot up, touching his fingers before turning into a pretty flower made of splashes.
Xia Wan found it amusing and cautiously extended his finger. The force of the fountain was surprisingly strong, causing a tingling and exhilarating sensation on his hand. Colorful flowers bloomed one after another on his fingertips. He burst into laughter, his eyes were shining even brighter than the moon above.
"This house is indeed huge," Huo Yu muttered, his eyes drifting down to the colorful flower on his fingertips. "When my dad built it. He included both my uncle's and grandpa's residences."
Xia Wan turned around in astonishment. It was surprising to learn that Huo Yu's father had built this house. However, now Huo Pei had taken over the property.
"But he wasn't very lucky," Huo Yu said with a slight smile. "They left before the house was built."
Xia Wan stayed quiet for a bit and grabbed Huo Yu's hand in the fountain.
After they stepped away, he pulled out a tissue and carefully wiped the water off his hand.
"Do you want to take it back, Eldest master?" He gazed into Huo Yu's eyes and inquired.
Huo Yu's gaze descended to meet his, revealing eyes that mirrored the cold depths of a tranquil lake. The intensity of his stare emanated an aura of chilling mystery, evoking a sense of unease and leaving one to ponder the unfathomable depths concealed within.
When Xia Wan sensed that Huo Yu might not respond, he chose not to push further. Instead, he shook his hand and said, "Let's go inside."
"Yes," Huo Yu replied suddenly.
Xia Wan looked up and heard Huo Yu whisper, "I'll get back everything that belonged to my parents."
"The Eldest master is so
powerful," Xia Wan exclaimed with a laugh, his eyebrows arched in admiration. "I have no doubt that he can definitely achieve it." His voice carried a tone of confidence and belief in Huo Yu's abilities, highlighting his unwavering support for him.
For many years abroad, Huo Yu worked hard to save money for himself, keeping his abilities hidden. Like a bloodthirsty wolf, he patiently waited for the right movement to strike.
Until now, nobody has ever seen the good in him or had high hopes for him. And there were no people who were willing to stand by his side either.
But when Xia Wan said confidently, "The eldest master is so strong, he can definitely do it," with a firm belief in his abilities despite the doubts of others.
It was as if a subtle touch grazed the edge of his heart, tender yet unbreakable, leaving an impression that lingered with a sense of undeniable presence.
Huo Yu instinctively grasped Xia Wan's hand and squeezed it tightly. "Let's go."
The auxiliary building glowed with bright lights and was filled with the scent of exotic flowers mingled with the buzz of conversation.
Huo Lin stood at the center, graciously accepting everyone's congratulations, radiating confidence and charm effortlessly.
Huo Peixue and Li Yun stood by his side, smiling and chatting with the guests around them.
As the chatter abruptly ceased, Huo Lin felt a moment of confusion wash over him. He turned to follow the direction of everyone's gaze, his eyes landing on Huo Yu and Xia Wan standing together, their fingers intertwined.
Both of them wore matching outfits, one with a cool and handsome demeanor, while the other exuded beauty and gentleness. Simply standing together side by side was sufficient to capture everyone's attention.
Huo Lin couldn't tear his eyes away from Xia Wan's gentle smile and the slight uplift of his lips. His gaze eventually drifted down to the tightly clasped fingers of the two individuals.
His grip on the wine glass tightened involuntarily, and the high spirits in his eyes were tinged with a hint of gloom.
The congratulations around him slowly transformed into hushed whispers. Even though he couldn't quite make out what others were saying, Huo Lin could still sense the gossip stares being cast his way.
He was keenly aware that nearly everyone present had heard about him cheating on Xia Wan and subsequently humiliating him during the engagement party.
To be honest, if Xia Wan hadn't come today, maybe he would have felt remorseful.
But now, Xia Wan's presence at this moment felt like a public humiliation, as if he were being whipped to death in front of everyone during the peak of his life.
His expression turned sour, his mind went blank, and his senses became heightened, acutely aware of every sound around him.
"Is this the kid who caused the rift between those two brothers?" someone unfamiliar with Xia Wan whispered quietly.
"Yes," someone replied softly.
"How come he doesn't look like he comes from a lower-class family?" whispered the curious guest, their eyes flickering with Intrigue as they observed Xia Wan's demeanor and appearance, which seemed to contradict expectations based on his supposed background.
"Indeed, none of us here can compare to his appearance and demeanor," the guest agreed in a low murmur.
"If he weren't so outstanding, could he still charm those two brothers into falling out with each other?" someone chuckled, their tone laced with amusement.
Huo Lin fell into a silence, his eyes locked onto Xia Wan's figure without wavering. Despite the whispers and murmurs around him, his attention remained solely focused on him.
Huo Lin couldn't stop looking at Xia Wan. If he hadn't noticed the change in Xia Wan during the engagement banquet, it was even more apparent and obvious now.
On this special occasion, Xia Wan appeared not only less shy but also more confident and composed. His manner of greeting people was elegant and proper, as he was oblivious to the curious looks and hushed whispers from others.
His manner of greeting people exuded elegance and grace, painting a picture of refined sophistication. He doesn't resemble a child from a poor background who has never experienced the world. Instead, he exudes the air of a nobleman, as if he has been raised by superior people from a young age.
Huo Lin tightened his fists, grappling with a sense of unease. He couldn't quite understand what was bothering him. Despite feeling a strong dislike towards Xia Wan, that animosity seemed to morph into an intense burning sensation, engulfing his heart and making it increasingly challenging for him to tear his gaze away from him.
As he watched them drawing nearer, Huo Lin gritted his teeth, composed his expression, and lifted his head upright.
Beside him, Huo Peixue's face appeared tense, and Li Yun's expression seemed even worse.
Her cultural knowledge was never extensive, and over the years, she had grown increasingly impulsive. At this moment, her face wore a deep frown, her expression so gloomy that it almost seemed as if water could be squeezed out of it.
After a moment, she cast a glance at Xia Yang, who had finally earned the chance to attend this banquet due to his commendable service.
Xia Yang's hands trembled at the glance, and he didn't bother to wipe up the wine he had spilled all over his lapel.
Oh no! How was Xia Wan here? Wasn't he supposed to be at the concert? He felt that Xia Wan's presence was ruining the opportunity he had finally gained with the Huo family.
Damn it...
What a complete disaster, he thought to himself, his frustration boiling beneath the surface.
He glared angrily at Xia Wan, but despite his intense gaze, Xia Wan remained unfazed, his smile as serene as the gentle spring breeze outside the window. However, he didn't even spare him a glance, further fueling his irritation.
Xia Yang temporarily forgot all about trying to make connections with the powerful. He felt as if he were sitting on pins and needles, his discomfort akin to being roasted over a charcoal fire, leaving him feeling restless and uneasy.
"Uncle, aunt," Huo Yu said, taking
Xia Wan's hand as they approached Huo Lin's family of three. He spoke politely and extended the gift box he held to Huo Lin. "Congratulations."
Huo Lin stiffly accepted the gift box, his expression unreadable as he stood there in silence.
Li Yun glanced around cautiously and lowered his voice to a whisper: "You really don't care about your face."
Despite her efforts to suppress it, the look of disgust on her face was evident and impossible to conceal.
"Uncle and aunt naturally have the right to be angry," Huo Yu said with a casual smile. "After all, how else could you bother to put on so many performances?"
His tone was neutral, neither loud nor soft, and some of the people around him smiled knowingly upon hearing his words.
"Huo Yu," Huo Peixue said coldly, "be mindful of your image!"
"What image do I have?" Huo Yu glanced sideways, his tone carrying a hint of defiance. "Isn't Uncle the one who knows best?"
"I don't think you're here to offer your congratulations," Huo Lin forced himself to speak, his voice strained. "You know I'm doing better than you, so you're here to stir up trouble, isn't that right?"
Huo Yu looked at him with a mysterious expression, leaving Huo Lin feeling a surge of guilt.
He wasn't sure if Huo Yu had the ability to do anything. Even if he did, the Huo family never gave him a chance. Everyone in the Huo family was aware of this.
"Is that so?" Huo Yu said lazily, causing Huo Lin to instinctively avoid his gaze. "I came here to congratulate you as a gesture of goodwill, didn't my aunt scold me first?"
Li Yun: ".."
Li Yun remained silent, her expression was unreadable.
If so many people weren't watching, she would have really wanted to smash the wine glass on this idiot's face.
"Stop it," Huo Peixue's voice pierced through the tension. "Do you still think others haven't seen enough jokes?" His tone carried a mixture of frustration and admonishment.
He cast a sinister glance at Xia Wan. As long as this person remains in our circle, the Huo family will always be the subject of others' ridicule.
Fortunately, he had prepared a backup plan; otherwise, this event would have been a total embarrassment, putting them all in a difficult position.
Huo Yu's lips curved slightly as he returned to his polite demeanor. "Uncle is busy, I'll take Wan Wan to grab a bite to eat."
Huo Peixue emitted a disdainful snort, his displeasure evident. With that, the conversation came to an abrupt halt, enveloping the atmosphere in tense silence.
"Let's go," Huo Yu gently released Xia Wan's hand, instead draping his arm protectively around his shoulders. Together, they made their way towards the bar, Huo Yu guiding Xia Wan with a reassuring presence.
As soon as the two groups parted ways, some people approached to greet them.
"Huo Yu, when did you get back?" A young man holding a wine glass asked, his gaze unconsciously drifted towards Xia Wan.
"I just got back recently," Huo Yu responded calmly, maintaining his protective stance with Xia Wan nestled in his arms.
"You should have mentioned it sooner, I would have looked out for you," the young man remarked.
"That's alright. Next time I organize an event, let's all gather together," Huo Yu suggested.
Huo Yu's identity was sensitive, and these people had a close relationship with Huo Lin, so naturally, they were not inclined to side with Huo Yu. When Huo Yu mentioned "next time," it was Just a polite gesture with no real intention of it happening.
"Okay," the man affirmed boldly, lifting his glass in a confident manner.
"Master Huo," someone stopped Huo Yu before he could take two steps, "When are you going to make a comeback? To be honest, the racing circuit hasn't been the same since you disappeared."
"There will be opportunities in the future," Huo Yu replied with a slight smile.
"You can race cars too?" Xia Wan sounded surprised.
"I used to race when I was young," Huo Yu explained. "But then I had an accident, and later I went abroad."
The two of them headed to the bar while conversing. Xia Wan selected a small cake, and with a fork, he took a small bite, but didn't eat it himself. Instead, he raised it to Huo Yu's lips.
"Eldest Master, try it. It's delicious," Xia Wan encouraged.
Huo Yu lowered his head and took a bite. The sweet aroma of cream immediately filled his mouth.
"Is it delicious?" Xia Wan asked eagerly as he waited for Huo Yu's response.
"It's delicious," Huo Yu confirmed with a smile.
"Would you like me to get you a piece?" Xia Wan offered. When he spoke with his face raised, he seemed a bit obedient.
Huo Yu smiled and replied, "Not for now."
"Oh," Xia Wan replied, his expression thoughtful as he selected another piece of cake and delicately brought it to his mouth. The sweetness of the cake filled his senses as he savored the flavor.
The creamy white frosting left a faint tint on Xia Wan's red lips which reminded Huo Yu of sweet strawberries.
More importantly, Xia Wan didn't change the fork at all; instead, he put the fork he had just used directly into his mouth.
Huo Yu's gaze involuntarily shifted away, his cheeks warming inexplicably.
A variety of drinks lined the bar, and the bartender skillfully shook the cocktail shaker in his hand with a cool demeanor.
Intrigued by the scene, Xia Wan took a seat on a stool and picked up the cake. Holding his chin in his hands, he observed it closely, taking in its appearance and texture. He then proceeded to take a few bites, savoring the flavor while continuing to gaze at it thoughtfully.
He had never tasted alcohol before and had only read about it in books. It seemed like a mysterious and fascinating liquid to him.
In the past, his grandfather and brother would have a few drinks when they had nothing to do, and they seemed to enjoy it very much. Xia Wan felt a bit curious and couldn't resist biting his lip.
The liquid from the shaker was poured into a cone-shaped glass, gleaming bright red under the light. The bartender then added a slice of lemon and a few mint leaves to the rim of the glass to enhance its appearance.
"Would you like to try it?" inquired the bartender with a friendly smile, pushing the wine towards Xia Wan. "Love in Hawaii, it suits you very well," he added.
"Thank you," Xia Wan's eyes lit up with excitement as he eagerly reached out to pick up the glass.
But Huo Yu was one step ahead. He gently pushed the glass of wine back across the bar, his tone polite but firm. "Sorry, could you please change it to a glass of orange juice?" he requested.
"Hey," the two found an empty seat and sat down. Xia Wan glanced at the whiskey beside Huo Yu and couldn't help feeling annoyed. "Why can you drink and I can't? I'm already an adult."
"You talk so much," Huo Yu looked at him with a smile that seemed affectionate to anyone watching. Yet, his words were enough to drive anyone crazy. "Talking too much can easily give away your secrets when you're drunk," he added.
"Humph," Xia Wan pursed his lips, a flicker of annoyance crossing his features as he fell silent, choosing not to engage further in the conversation.
"Are you angry?" Huo Yu inquired.
"I'm too lazy to be angry with you," Xia Wan replied, raising the glass of orange juice. "Anyway, the orange juice is delicious."
As they were talking, a few more people entered through the door.
Xia Wan looked up and accidentally locked eyes with Qiu Qi.
Qiu Qi glanced at Xia Wan with disgust before quickly looking away with disdain.
"Eldest Master," Xia Wan leaned closer to Huo Yu. He whispered, "Do we still have to sit there?"
He had noticed when they entered that Huo Yu's name tag was on the front table..
In addition to the Huo family, there were also the Qiu, Zhou, and Xue families seated at the table, but his name was conspicuously absent.
Moreover, since the Huo family presumed he wouldn't be present, they wouldn't have prepared his name tag.
Huo Yu paused for a moment, his expression unreadable as he contemplated the situation.
Before today, he might not have dwelled on it much, but now, as he gazed into Xia Wan's clear and smiling eyes, he suddenly felt a reluctance to involve him in such a complicated situation.
"Sister-in-law, Huo Yu," Shen Yan approached after finishing his socializing, holding a wine glass.
"The main event hasn't even started, and you've already had quite a bit to drink?" Huo Yu looked at him and asked.
Shen Yan is usually into having fun and not very serious. That's why everyone loves hanging out with him.
"Can you blame me?" Shen Yan leaned against the back of the seat, raising his hands and loosening his tie. "If Sun Baijiang hadn't shown up, I wouldn't have been able to leave," he explained.
Upon hearing this, Xia Wan turned his head to look in the other direction, and sure enough, there were quite a few people gathered not far away, with Sun Baijiang in the center.
Xia Wan leaned close to Huo Yu's
ear, his lips almost touching Huo Yu's earlobe, and there was a hint of amusement in his tone as he remarked, "It's quite lively today."
"I can handle the liveliness, can you?" Huo Yu gave him a tepid glance.
Xia Wan picked up the orange juice and took a sip with a smile, but suddenly it caught Shen Yan's eye.
"Who dares to be so ignorant as to offer orange juice to my sister-in-law?" Shen Yan said angrily. "Who do they think they're looking down upon?"
Xia Wan almost spit out a mouthful of orange juice. Unable to hold it in, he tilted his head back, coughing, and burst into laughter.
Shen Yan was a bit puzzled. It took him a moment to finally react, but when he met Huo Yu's cold gaze, he understood.
"It's fine for my sister-in-law to drink orange juice," Shen Yan said with a strained smile "He has only been an adult for two years, so he should not touch other things."
"It's quite lively here," Sun Baijiang moved over at some point and sat down next to Shen Yan.
Observing Huo Yu gently wiping Xia Wan's wet eyelashes with a tissue, he silently handed over a glass of water.
"Thank you." Xia Wan said. As he took it and smiled at Sun Baijiang.
The child was indeed good-looking and well-behaved. Sun Baijiang couldn't help but think, no wonder Huo Yu held onto him so dearly and protected him.
He didn't know what he was feeling, so he instinctively smiled back at Xia Wan.
"I saw Uncle Sun just now, didn't you go over and talk to him?" Shen Yan suddenly asked Sun Baijiang.
Sun Baijiang shook his head and after a moment, he spoke, "No."
Shen Yan fell silent, but Huo Yu, who had been passive since his arrival, finally raised his eyelids after he heard the next sentence.
Sun Baijiang paused for a moment, then gathered his courage to speak. He glanced towards the main table and said softly, "I heard Uncle Huo flew to France a few days ago to meet Zhou Ke, and now Zhou Ke is seated at the main table. It might not mean anything significant."
Xia Wan didn't have any hard feelings towards Sun Baijiang and actually thought he must be a pretty thoughtful guy. I mean, using "no deep intentions" instead of "bad intentions" shows he's the type to give people the benefit of the doubt. It's not like Huo Yu, who comes off as more reserved and distant.
"What are you getting at?" Shen Yan questioned.
"I heard," Sun Baijiang began, "Uncle Sun went to discuss marriage with the Zhou family. It seems it's for Zhou Ke's son, Zhou Wen."
Huo Lin was already engaged, so It's only Huo Yu who can discuss marriage. When Sun Baijiang mentioned this, Huo Yu, who had been playing with Xia Wan's hand absentmindedly, finally looked up, his long eyelashes lifting up.
Huo Peixue intended to arrange a marriage for him, but as the person concerned, he wasn't even informed.
With a hint of sarcasm, he subtly raised the corners of his mouth Into a smirk, displaying a blend of bitterness and amusement.
Compared to Huo Yu's reaction, Xia Wan had felt that the plot trend was normal.
In the original book, Huo Yu's marriage had been arranged by Huo Peixue. The details of the arrangement, including whether Huo Yu resisted or who his specific partner was, were not provided. The narrative only hinted that the other party's situation was worse than that of the Qiu family.
From the detailed descriptions and dialogues between the protagonists, Xia Wan could infer that Huo Yu and his marriage partner were not living harmoniously.
In fact, his marriage partner was very likely to be on the so-called "Justice" side and betray Huo Yu.
Earlier, Sun Baijiang mentioned that Huo Yu's potential marriage partner resides in France, where Huo Yu has previously lived.
Huo Peixue likely still aimed to send Huo Yu abroad for good.
It was somewhat predictable that he would take this route. Once Yan Rui transfers, it will be nearly impossible for them to hinder Huo Yu's progress.
Sending Huo Yu abroad appeared to be the optimal solution for them.
Xia Wan discreetly glanced at the first table and noticed a very handsome boy who seemed to be covertly observing them. He speculated that it might be Zhou Wen, the individual Sun Baijiang mentioned.
Perhaps Zhou Wen was the one Huo Yu married into in his previous life?
Although some of the details are uncertain, one thing was very clear: Huo Yu didn't go abroad even after the marriage.
Xia Wan wondered how Huo Yu's life was during that time. Was he tormented? The author never described a sentence from his perspective. Thinking of this, Xia Wan couldn't help but feel sorry for Huo Yu.
It must have been desperate for Huo Yu, being robbed of everything, plotted against, and feeling trapped in that dark, hopeless narrative with an already predetermined ending.
How helpness Huo Yu must have been? Xia Wan can't fathom.
Xia Wan gently squeezed Huo Yu's hand and whispered, "I'll be here for you."
Xia Wan's touch was gentle, his voice carried a comforting tone, and his unwavering gaze conveyed a sense of solidarity and determination. Every aspect of his demeanor exuded warmth and empathy, offering Huo Yu a profound source of strength in that moment of uncertainty and turmoil.
Huo Yu gazed down at Xia Wan, feeling a surge of warmth and reassurance wash over him. His grip on Xia Wan's hand tightened involuntarily, and the usually stern contours of his jaw softened, reflecting the profound impact of Xia Wan's comforting presence.
When they looked at each other, they all understood why Xia Yang's mother was suddenly being so supportive.
The Huo family's meticulous planning wasn't solely driven by the fear of embarrassment from Xia Wan's presence. They understood that for Huo Yu's marriage to proceed smoothly, Xia Wan couldn't be part of the equation.
It's likely that the Huo family had already reached some sort of agreement with the Zhou family regarding Huo Yu's marriage, especially if Sun Baijiang was aware of Huo Peixue's discussions with the Zhou family.
If Xia Wan had accompanied Huo Yu to the event, it could have sparked a lot of drama and gossip among the attendees, potentially causing a scandal.