On the balcony.
Huo Nuanyang opened a window and lit a cigarette for himself.
He had just taken a puff when a female voice came from behind him.
âHey, stinky little brother!â
Huo Nuanyang turned around.
With his long fingers hooked around a half-lit cigarette, a pair of profound black eyes slightly squinted, his voice deep with an obvious tone of indifference, âWhatâs up?â
Fu Qi slowly walked over.
She came right up to him, her voice lowered to an almost-threatening whisper, âYouâre not allowed to tell Su Wanwan about what just happened, got it?â
Faced with her threat, Huo Nuanyang remained indifferent, even casually raising an eyebrow, âWhat thing?â
Fu Qi sensed that he was playing dumb on purpose.
Her hands instinctively clenched into fists, her expression attempting to maintain sternness, âAnyway, youâre not allowed to tell her. If you dare to utter even one word, Iâll⦠â
âYouâll what?â
Dared to challenge her words?
Fu Qiâs delicate brows furrowed as she pondered for a while before finally saying, âIâll have my big brother sort you out! You do know who my brother is, right?â
âWho is he?â Huo Nuanyangâs tone remained calm.
Fu Qi immediately lifted her chin, saying boastfully, âMy brotherâs name is Fu Xihan, he and Brother Jingshen are the most famous Chinese Gemini in the UK. Anyone he wants to deal with, itâs as easy as squishing an ant for him!â
After she said that, Fu Qi started to laugh, âSo, you get my point, right?â
A young woman in her twenties, dressed in a frail and gentle white sundress, trying to intimidate him?
With his black eyes squinted, Huo Nuanyang appeared somewhat speechless.
Fu Qi, unable to hold back her irritation, âDid you hear what I said?â
Huo Nuanyang didnât reply, he simply put the cigarette between his lips, turned around again, and gazed outside the window.
The sparks of the cigarette flickered, the corridor light was dim, the expression on the manâs face appeared somewhat indistinct in the obscurity.
âHey, stinky little brother, stop right there!â
As her words fell, the man suddenly spun around.
Fu Qi got a bit frightened.
Huo Nuanyang towered over her, his pitch-black gaze staring at her, âIs it customary for girls growing up in foreign countries to lack manners like you?â
Fu Qi was taken aback.
Lacking manners?
How was she lacking manners?
Before she could react, Huo Nuanyang extinguished his cigarette, casually tossing it out of the window. Without a word, he turned to head back towards the living room.
Fu Qi stood there, watching as his tall figure retreated, her small face filled with confusion.
So, was the threat effective or not?
Did this stinky little brother actually listen to her words?
Feeling helpless at being caught out was truly frustrating!
*
*
Upon returning to the living room and just getting seated, Su Wanwanâs voice echoed, âFu Qi, what were you doing outside?â
It was just a casual question, but Fu Qi guiltily responded with an unfriendly tone, âWhatâs it to you?â
Su Wanwan shrugged, âGrandma said thereâs no room left to sleep here, theyâre about to ask someone to send you home. They have been looking for you just now.â
âAm I going home to sleep by myself?â Fu Qi instantly got anxious, âWhat about Ziyang?â
âZiyang is staying here, he has his own room.â
Fu Qi was visibly frightened, âBut Iâm scared to sleep alone, and that villa is too big, the servants have gone home.â
There used to be two servants with Fu Ziyang at least in that villa. Now that Ziyang was staying here and the servants were only coming back the day after tomorrow.
Granny Huo laughed, âWell⦠Miss Fu, why donât you sleep in the same room as Ziyang? The bed in that room is quite big. Both of you can share for tonight.â
Fu Qi furrowed her brows.
She was truly afraid to sleep alone, but staying in someone elseâs house, she didnât feel right being too picky. Finally, she nodded, âThank you, Granny Huo. Iâll bother you all for one night then.â
âItâs okay, itâs okay.â Granny Huo smiled.
*
*
Nancheng has the tradition of staying up late on New Yearâs Eve, but both Mr. and Mrs. Huo were getting up in years, they didnât reside in it.
Huo Jingshen quickly brought Su Wanwan to their room, leaving Fu Qi with no choice but to follow Fu Ziyang to the bedroom upstairs.
She thought it would just be a temporary small room, butâ¦
Fu Qi looked at the luxurious childrenâs room, utterly surprised, âZiyang, is Granny Huo really this nice to you?â
So many toys, learning tools, a closet full of clothes for all seasons.
She casually picked up a piece, all of them were internationally well-known brands!
Fu Qi had grown up with her brother ever since their parents passed away at an early age, but now she felt, if her parents were still alive, perhaps this would be the extent of their love for their grandchildren?
Fu Ziyang looked at her, his little face serious, but his tone was cute, âLittle aunty, donât mess with my stuff.â
Fu Qi: ââ¦â
Returning the clothes to their place, she couldnât help muttering under her breath, âStingy!â
Once she had finished washing up and laid on the bed, she couldnât resist beginning her lecture, âZiyang, why have you become distant with your little aunty? Donât you like your little aunty anymore?â
During the New Yearâs Eve dinner, the kid was all about âgreat-grandpaâ, âgreat-grandmaâ, âlittle auntâ, barely speaking with her.
Even about spending the night, it was Granny Huo who proposed it.
In the darkness, Fu Ziyang enunciated clearly, âLittle Aunty, as long as you donât disrupt the relationship between little aunty and Uncle Huo, Iâll still be close with you.â
âI didnât interrupt any relationship! I didnât do anything wrong!â
What does a five-year-old know about disrupting relationships?
It must be that little bully Su Wanwan instilling these ideas in his head, right?
Fu Ziyang didnât say anything.