Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Huo Xiao also understood that it was impossible for the child to disappear without a reason. The second branch said that it was the Sixth Brother who did it. The other branches had also been stirring things up these few days, hinting indirectly that Sixth Brother was the one who kidnapped the child.
They shouldnât treat him like a fool. Second Brother wasnât a good person either. All these years, he had been pretending to be repentant and fearful of doing something wrong. However, he knew in his heart that he was the most greedy and ruthless person in the Huo family.
When the Second Brother was young, he was able to harm his own brother and almost killed the Sixth Brother. Today, during the New Year, the Sixth Brother had fallen out with them and offended the Second Brother, causing him to feel threatened and he feared that his plan might be ruined.
Last week, something had happened when Sixth Brother and Yuâer had taken Xiaoqi to record a show. Sixth Brother and the others thought they could keep it from him and that he didnât know anything. But little did they know that he already knew everything.
Someone knocked on the study door.
âCome in!â Huo Xiao looked in the direction of the door and said. He watched the person enter and said, âClose the door.â
Huo Zhen walked in with his walking stick. When he saw the Old Master standing at the window facing him, his eyes darkened. He frowned slightly and called out in a deep voice, âDad.â
âSecond Brother, donât look for me regarding this matter. Itâs useless even if you look for me.â Huo Xiao put his hands behind his back and looked up at the sunset outside the window. His eyes were filled with deep sorrow.
âDad!â Huo Zhen threw away his walking stick and knelt down with a thud. His eyes were red as he clenched his fists tightly. âI know that you know everything. Xuâer and the rest were kidnapped by the Sixth Brother. You know that he did it, but you didnât let him hand them over. What is the meaning behind your actions?â
Huo Xiao did not speak and only sighed softly.
Huo Zhen thought for a long time and hesitated. In the end, he really could not find them, so he came to look for this heartless father who had never treated him as his son. âDad, for the first time in my life, I beg you to let Xuâer and the rest go.â
Huo Xiao finally spoke up. He pointed at him as if he expected better from him. âSecond Brother, donât be silly!â
Huo Zhen said, âDad, what are you talking about? I donât understand. Because of that incident back then, Sixth Brother has hated me for so many years. He couldnât wait for me to die. At that time, I did something wrong because I was young and reckless. All these years, Iâve been avoiding him every day. What else does he want from me? To apologize with death?â
Huo Xiao did not expect him to say that at this point. His heart turned cold and disappointed, he smiled bitterly. âIs that so? Ask yourself honestly. Is the Sixth Brother taking revenge on you because of what happened 32 years ago?â
Huo Zhen said, âIf itâs not because of that, what else could it be? Iâve been living in fear for so many years. I was afraid that I would make you unhappy. I was afraid that Sixth Brother would hate me because of that matter. However, he still hasnât forgotten it, he still wants me to die!â
âWhat about Xiaoqi?â Huo Xiao didnât want to fall out with him, but his attitude really made him angry. He pointed at him and growled angrily, âSecond Brother, if you donât want people to know, donât do it. Do you think you can hide those things from the Sixth Brother? This is between the two of you. I donât care about anything.â
He was already old and did not have many years left. His children and grandchildren had their own blessings. Since he was the one who was being targeted, why did he have to come over and beg him! He still had the cheek to say that he had been living in fear. Sixth Brother was the one who really thought for his family and did not want to cause trouble!
But what about them? All of them were so overbearing. Wasnât it enough that they caused trouble during the Lunar New Year? Wasnât it enough that they forced the Sixth Brother into a corner? Now, he had actually harmed a child. If Sixth Brother and the rest didnât manage to find Xiaoqiâ¦
Forget it, they were all his descendants. He just hated them and really wanted to beat them to death, these bastards who only knew how to scheme and plot against each other!
âWhat about me?â Huo Zhen finally stopped pretending. When he stood up, his eyes were filled with hatred. He shouted angrily, âDad, what about me? Do you know how much Iâve suffered all these years? I know that youâve never treated me as your son!â
âI didnât treat you as my son?â Huo Xiao trembled in anger. âI didnât treat you as my son, I should have slapped you to death back then. You attacked your own brother. Did I teach you this?â
âDad, youâre wrong. You were wrong from the beginning. You shouldnât have married that slut, Su Xiyin. She spoke nice words, but what happened in the end? Didnât she give birth to the Sixth Brother in order to secure her position in the Huo family?â Huo Zhenâs smile was bitter. âWhat about you back then? That slut was whispering nonsense to you. You only had Sixth Brother in your eyes. When did you care about us brothers?â
âYou⦠youâ¦â Huo Xiao was so angry that his chest felt tight. The blood vessels in his eyes started to spread and he felt uncomfortable. âIf I didnât care about you guys back then, how could you guys have lived for so long? You guys are all grown up, and Sixth Brother is still young. You dare say I only doted on Sixth Brother and never doted on you guys?â
âYouâve doted on us before? If you really doted on us, you shouldnât have married that bitch for your own selfish reasons. That vixen is only a few years older than Big Brother and me. What will others think of us?â Huo Zhen was not to be outdone. Every word was like a knife, and his smile was twisted. âIâve become like this because of you.â
âCough, cough, cough!â Huo Xiao coughed violently. With trembling hands, he picked up his walking stick and hit him. âYou⦠Why did I spare your life back then? I should have killed you, you bastard.â
Huo Zhen grabbed his walking stick, his entire face twisted with joy. He grinned hideously. âDad, youâre old and weak. Do you think youâre still young? You have to tell Sixth Brother. If Xuâer and Linâer canât come back safely, I wonât be polite to your little wife.â
âYou⦠you beast!â Huo Xiao felt his vision go dark, he could not catch his breath. He gripped his walking stick tightly and squeezed out a few words. âYou unfilial son, Iâll beat you to death!â
Huo Zhen smiled, and with a forceful tug, he snatched the walking stick from his hand. He laughed even more arrogantly and threatened in a sinister voice, âDad, youâd better think this through. Huo Ci and you canât keep an eye on that bitch every second. If Huo Ci doesnât send my grandson back safely within a day, Iâll let him have a taste of the pain of losing his mother. Oh right, you should also have a taste of the pain of losing your wife..â