Chapter 5

The commotion in the attic was naturally heard downstairs.

Su Rui frowned. He had been so honest, yet Mama Huo had even brought bodyguards. He sneered: “You’re too cautious.”

When Mama Huo contacted Su Rui, he realized things were gradually getting out of his control.

Su Rui thought the Huo family was different from other wealthy families and wouldn’t restrict personal freedom like the He family did.

But it turned out that all wealthy families were the same.

The He family was like this, and so was the Huo family.

Since Mama Huo had come to him, there was no point in entangling with Huo Yan any longer. It was better to make a clean break early.

So, despite some regret, Su Rui quickly adjusted his mindset and had already planned how to maximize his interests before the meeting.

The Huo family had only one request— for him to leave Huo Yan.

It would be better for Su Rui to propose leaving Huo Yan himself, provided the Huo family gave enough money.

Su Rui just didn’t expect that, even after being so honest, Mama Huo was still so cautious. Fortunately, he wasn’t unprepared today.

Su Rui immediately said coldly, “Since I’ve asked for money, once I get it, I won’t bother Huo Yan anymore. Of course, if you don’t let me go today—” He paused and smiled, “Tonight, all the major entertainment sections will announce the good news about me and Huo Yan.”

Mama Huo could barely suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth.

Su Rui couldn’t even be bothered to pretend anymore; he was already threatening her.

Ye Leyao was indeed right; Su Rui approached Huo Yan for money.

From the time Su Rui entered the private room until now, it had only been two minutes. Mama Huo hadn’t even started digging according to the plan, and Su Rui had already dug himself a big pit and jumped right in.

Mama Huo looked up at Su Rui in front of her, feeling unprecedentedly relaxed. She smiled: “So, as long as I give you the money, you won’t appear in front of us again?”

Su Rui didn’t hesitate: “Of course, but please mark it as a voluntary gift.”

He didn’t want to get involved in any legal disputes.

Mama Huo almost laughed out loud, quickly picking up the teacup to hide her smile.

Unable to sit still any longer, Huo Yan got up and hurried downstairs.

Ye Leyao was startled: “Second Brother, you—”

【Just going down like that? Not listening a bit more?】

【Why isn’t Dad stopping him? I can’t stop him—】

Mama Huo thought it’s better not to stop him.

Huo Yan should personally come down and talk to Su Rui.

The noise Huo Yan made coming downstairs was so loud that Su Rui couldn’t help but look over.

The hidden door behind the private room was suddenly pulled open. The moment Su Rui saw Huo Yan, his pupils shrank sharply, and he almost couldn’t maintain his expression.

Why is Huo Yan here?!

Su Rui looked at Huo Yan in disbelief, his expression instantly colorful. His hands under the table clenched, and his knuckles turned white.

Not giving Su Rui more time to think, Huo Yan hurried to him.

The man’s eyes were red, his face full of disappointment, and his expression was unhideably sorrowful. He stared at Su Rui without blinking and spoke with difficulty: “So… in your eyes, my feelings for you can be measured by money?”

Sweat appeared on Su Rui’s forehead. He opened his mouth but couldn’t say a word.

Ye Leyao, who had followed Papa Huo downstairs, silently ridiculed in his heart:

【Of course, it can be measured by money, it’s a whole five million!】

【It’s actually half of what Mom and Dad expected, isn’t that a bargain?】

Papa Huo almost couldn’t hold back his laughter.

Mama Huo gave him a glance, and he timely restrained his smile.

Huo Yan felt as if his heart had been ripped open, bleeding drop by drop, the cold wind making it sting painfully: “Five million…” Huo Yan gritted his teeth, “You were with me just for a mere five million? Is that all my feelings for you are worth?”

Ye Leyao corrected: 【It’s not just worth that much; it’s just that you only got caught and could only get this much!】

At this moment, what else did Su Rui not understand?

Today’s meeting was a trap!

And he jumped in without knowing anything!

Facing Huo Yan’s questioning, Su Rui was panicked, but he still forced himself to stay calm, his mind racing to come up with an explanation. He had to explain clearly!

If he didn’t, he might lose both money and love!

Huo Yan still had feelings for Su Rui and didn’t want to press him too hard. He stood there stubbornly, waiting for an answer.

But Ye Leyao had no such concerns. Seeing that Su Rui didn’t speak for a long time, he muttered to himself:

【What’s taking Su Rui so long to come up with a reason?】@@novelbin@@

【Let me think… Su Rui probably won’t say he did this because he had no choice, right?】

Ye Leyao recalled the plot and the “tea talk” he saw online and started to imitate vividly:

【Su Rui is, after all, still pregnant, and the agency was pressing hard. He couldn’t go on shows with a big belly! But he couldn’t afford the penalty either, and Huo Yan was unreachable at that time! Mom’s call to Su Rui at that moment was a lifeline.】

【Of course, Su Rui’s offer of five million to leave Huo Yan was also a last resort! Just a stalling tactic~】

【Anyway, Su Rui is the perfect victim! The most innocent person!】

As Ye Leyao’s inner monologue ended, Su Rui tearfully spoke up: “Brother Yan… I had no choice, after all, I’m pregnant…”

Ye Leyao: 【Pfft—】

Mama Huo covered her mouth.

Papa Huo turned his head, trying not to laugh until tears almost came out.

Ye Leyao’s words were really spot on!

Huo Yan felt it was even more ridiculous, unable to suppress his disappointment any longer: “Enough! Don’t tell me you want to say that asking for five million to leave me was just a stalling tactic?!”

Su Rui’s eyes widened in shock. How did Huo Yan know what he was going to say?!

Seeing Su Rui’s expression as if his secret had been exposed, Huo Yan became even angrier, his chest heaving. For the first time, he felt that the Su Rui in front of him was a complete stranger, as if he had just met him today.

At this moment, Su Rui was really panicking.

Could it be that Huo Yan already saw through him?

What should he do next?

Unconsciously, Su Rui reached out to touch his belly, and his eyes suddenly brightened.

But Ye Leyao preempted him: 【Going to fake a stomach ache?】

Su Rui frowned beautifully, his face full of anxiety: “Brother Yan, my stomach…”

Mama Huo cleared her throat and pressed the call button on the table. The doctor at the door immediately entered.

Mama Huo nodded to the doctor, who then looked at Su Rui: “Sir, is there anything you need my help with?”

Su Rui looked at the doctor, his breath caught in his throat, his eyes turning red with anger.

If it were before, seeing Su Rui like this, Huo Yan would have felt distressed.

But now, Huo Yan looked at Su Rui with undisguised disappointment, having no intention of comforting him.

Su Rui could no longer maintain his composure and stopped pretending to have a stomach ache. He turned to Huo Yan, tears streaming down: “Brother Yan… so you knew about today’s meeting? You all did this on purpose?”

Su Rui bit his lip, feeling extremely wronged: “…Yes, it was my fault for asking for money to leave, but I couldn’t reach you for two days. Shouldn’t I consider myself and the child?”

【Stop using the child as an excuse! The child isn’t even my brother’s!】

Mama Huo timely spoke: “Let’s do an amniocentesis.”

Su Rui’s crying stopped abruptly.

The family doctor explained at the right moment: “Amniocentesis can test DNA.”

Su Rui’s lips moved, forgetting even to cry, looking at Huo Yan in disbelief: “Brother Yan… you actually doubt me?”

【That’s not right, brother didn’t doubt you at all!】

Ye Leyao rarely spoke up for Huo Yan:

【Su Rui, you’re completely limiting yourself.】

【You’re focusing on the wrong thing entirely. For someone as romantically obsessed as my second brother, the issue isn’t about money at all; what he cares about is whether you truly love him or not!】

【Forget about the child, even if you were caught cheating in front of him, as long as you confessed your love sincerely, he would be willing to wear the green hat and forgive you!】

Mama Huo and Papa Huo immediately looked at Huo Yan.

Really?

Huo Yan gritted his teeth.

Is he such a pathetic person?

Forgiving someone caught cheating in front of him?

However—

Ye Leyao was right about one thing: Huo Yan indeed only cared about whether Su Rui liked him.

Huo Yan didn’t care about Su Rui’s past, nor did he mind Su Rui’s secrets. He just humbly hoped Su Rui would like him.

Unfortunately, now even this last bit of hope was shattered by Su Rui himself.

In extreme disappointment, Huo Yan concluded: it turns out Su Rui really doesn’t care about him.

Huo Yan’s mouth was full of a bitter smile.

The deeper the love, the more rational the romantic fool becomes when they wake up.

“Su Rui,” Huo Yan’s voice was somewhat dry, looking calmly at Su Rui in front of him.

Su Rui felt a bit guilty under his gaze and slightly averted his eyes: “Brother Yan…”

“Let’s break up.” After saying the last three words, Huo Yan took a deep breath, unwilling to see Su Rui’s reaction, and turned to leave the private room first.

Su Rui’s heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively raised his voice: “Brother Yan—”

He lifted his foot to chase.

Mama Huo timely blocked him: “Su Rui.”

Su Rui’s rationality barely returned, and he no longer had the calm composure he had when he first entered the private room.

He couldn’t lose the five million!

“Auntie, we agreed before—”

Mama Huo slightly raised her chin, feeling pleased: “Fine, let’s do a DNA test first. Once it’s confirmed the child is Huo Yan’s, I’ll give you five million.”

Then, Mama Huo blinked and added: “As a voluntary gift.”

Su Rui opened his mouth: “I…”

“Can’t do it?” Mama Huo smiled lightly at him, “Then there’s no money.”

The color drained from Su Rui’s face.

Mama Huo beckoned Ye Leyao and walked out of the private room with her arm around his shoulder.

Papa Huo glanced coldly at Su Rui and said: “You have three days to consider. If you don’t do the DNA test in three days, it means this child isn’t of the Huo family!”

After speaking, Papa Huo quickly left as well.

The family doctor handed Su Rui a business card before leaving: “Within three days, if you decide to do the test, you can contact me anytime.”

The door of the private room was gently closed, and Su Rui’s legs gave out, causing him to collapse directly to the floor.

It’s over, completely over!

…

Ye Leyao, with Mama Huo’s arm around his shoulder, got into the car. Just as he sat down, Mama Huo handed him a check.

Ye Leyao took a look, and his eyes instantly widened: “Five, wait… five million!”