Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
âWhy are you here? Are you willing to come back?â
Huo Yangpingâs voice didnât sound old. It was actually quite vigorous.
Huo Jinyao stepped forward and stood beside him. âGrandpa, your calligraphy is getting better and better,â he said.
âDonât flatter me.â Huo Yangping glanced at him and it was hard to tell whether he was angry or happy from his expressionless face. âIâm too old for that.â
âGrandpa, what are you talking about? Iâm not just flattering you.â
Huo Jinyao pointed to the characters written by Huo Yangping and said, âLook here and here. These strokes are so powerful and sharp. Seriously, Grandpa, your calligraphy is getting stronger day by day.â
Huo Yangping stepped back, sat down in the chair, and picked up the teacup. He took a sip.
âHuo Jinyao.â
Huo Jinyao stood up straight. Every time Huo Yangping called him by his full name, it meant that he was quite angry.
âGrandpa, just say anything you want to say. You donât have to say my name so forcefully.â
âIf youâre afraid Iâm too forceful, then donât do anything that makes me angry.â
âWhat did I do that made you angry?â
Huo Yangping was over eighty years old, but he was still full of spirit. Looking at Huo Jinyao playing dumb, he laughed
âYou think I donât know about all the things you have done in Lin City?â
âGrandpaââ Huo Jinyao took on a tone that suggested he was begging for mercy.
âIâm old, and youâre used to having your own ideas, so I donât want to say anything about it. Tell your father yourself.â
Huo Jinyaoâs expression changed slightly and he nodded. âDonât worry, Grandpa. As long as you do not object, I have nothing to worry about.â
âNothing to worry about?â Huo Yangping gave him a look and said, âIf she is really a good girl, bring her here. She is the eldest granddaughter-in-law of the Huo Family. Do you have anything to hide?â
âGrandpaââ He would like to bring Su Qingsang back, but not now.
âDonât blame me only telling you now, but your mother has already set aside a person for you.â
Huo Jinyaoâs expression changed completely. He pursed his lips and furrowed his eyebrows.
âI see. Thanks, Grandpa.â
...
Huo Jinyao took a bath and changed his clothes. He went back to his study and handled some documents.
At dinner, Huo Jinyaoâs parents came back. A servant came up and told Huo Jinyao to go down for dinner. When Huo Jinyao went downstairs, his parents, Huo Mingguang and Liu Tongjia, were already sitting at the table.
âYou are willing to come back, huh?â
This had been the exact same opening remarks as Huo Yangping had made. Huo Mingguang looked at his son, with obvious dissatisfaction in his eyes.
âDad, what are you talking about? This is my home. Of course, I should come back.â
âSo, you know this is your home?â Huo Mingguang snorted coldly. âI thought you werenât sure where your home was.â
Huo Jinyao smiled at Liu when he saw her pulling a chair up for him, as if he had not heard his father. âThank you,â he said.
Turning around to look at Huo Mingguang, he raised his eyebrows and looked puzzled. âHow could I not know this is my home? The Huo Mansion is such a distinctive place, that Iâm afraid the whole city knows it. I, certainly, am no exception.â
Liu Tongjia got angry seeing him act like this.
âThatâs enough. Stop clowning around. How old are you? Behave yourself.â
Huo Jinyao touched his nose and deliberately sat upright with his hands on his knees. He turned around to look at Liu Tongjia and mimicked zipping his mouth. Liu Tongjia was so angry with him that she almost vomited blood.
âHuo Jinyao.â
âYes? I am not deaf.â
She became so angry that her chest heaved violently and she took several deep breathes to try and calm down.