Chapter 52 Part 2

“Yes, have Huo Zhixiao…” Huo Tinghua trailed off midway as Huo Zhixiao, in the distance, flew into a rage and kicked over two bodyguards. Huo Tinghua sighed, shaking his head in disappointment. “Forget it. You handle it for me.”

“No,” Anna shook her head. “I’m too lazy to deal with your family matters. My only job is to keep you healthy.”

This rebellious son of his, whom he had raised for so many years, wasn’t even as thoughtful as Anna.

Huo Tinghua felt a warmth in his heart. He patted his young wife’s arm, his expression softening a bit. “Don’t be afraid. You’re my wife. After I’m gone, you’ll have to learn to handle these things.”

Anna suddenly fell quiet. When Huo Tinghua looked up, he saw tears streaming down her face.

Huo Tinghua softened again. At his age, money, power, and fame were all fleeting—only a sincere heart could still move him. Unfortunately, his son and grandson didn’t understand that.

Tears flowing, Anna prostrated herself over Huo Tinghua’s aged body, sobbing uncontrollably. “Don’t say such inauspicious things. You’ll live to a hundred. You saved my life—when you go, I’ll go with you.”

“What nonsense,” Huo Tinghua said. He extended his trembling right hand with great effort to wipe the tears from her face. He couldn’t help feeling a bit smug: he had lived a life of battles and hardships, but in his later years, someone truly cried for him from the heart. That was some consolation.

“Alright, take me home.” Huo Tinghua patted Anna’s shoulder.

Anna finally dried her tears and pushed him away. At a blind spot from the cameras around the corner, she slipped her other hand into her pocket and stopped the recording.

That night proved sleepless for many.

Zhu Ran didn’t sleep well either, plagued by nightmares all night. The next morning, he learned that news of Huo Boyan’s injury had spread. Everyone discussed it over breakfast, but there were no new details.

Zhu Ran managed half a bowl of porridge before losing his appetite. After much hesitation, he finally told Wang Ruyun after breakfast, “Mom, I want to move out.”

Wang Ruyun was watering the plants in the garden. Though the maids handled such chores, she did it every day without fail, unable to relax without keeping busy. Hearing this, she paused.

Under her scrutinizing gaze, Zhu Ran immediately chickened out and added softly, “Just for a little while…”

Wang Ruyun finally spoke. “Does this have to do with that injured Huo family member?”

Zhu Ran pursed his lips and admitted frankly, “Yes. We’re dating.”

He braced himself, thinking he’d take a beating if it came to that—he could handle it.

But Wang Ruyun didn’t oppose as fiercely as he’d expected. She only asked, “If you throw yourself in headfirst, aren’t you afraid of heartbreak later?”

“I’ll accept it,” Zhu Ran said firmly, standing beneath the fiery phoenix trees. “At least I don’t regret my choice now.”

The sun suddenly intensified, nearly stinging Wang Ruyun’s eyes.

She turned her face away from the light. After a moment, she nodded. “As long as you don’t regret it.”

“Mom, you agree?” Zhu Ran’s eyes lit up with a vibrancy Wang Ruyun had never seen.

Compared to Zhu Ran’s excitement, Wang Ruyun looked worried. She added, “You’re a boy, so living together won’t at least…”

She sighed suddenly and trailed off.

Zhu Ran froze, understanding her unspoken meaning. A sour ache filled his heart, mingled with gratitude for her support. Standing rigidly in place, he watched her evasive movements. An impulse surged within him, and he stepped forward to hug her. “Thank you, Mom.”

Wang Ruyun’s eyes widened in shock; she stiffened even more than Zhu Ran. But in the end, she closed her eyes. After so many years, the hardness between mother and son began to melt away bit by bit.

Zhu Ran went upstairs, packed his bags, and was about to tell Huo Boyan when he received a message from the latter: he had been discharged and told him not to worry.

How could he not worry!

The wound had looked so severe, yet Huo Boyan was already out of the hospital!

Zhu Ran had planned to give advance notice about moving in, but now he decided on a surprise attack—to catch Huo Boyan slacking off and not taking care of himself.

Zhu Ran didn’t have much luggage: one suitcase and one backpack held all his belongings. He ordered his bodyguard not to blab and sneaked to Huo Boyan’s apartment like a commando, planning either to catch him red-handed or deliver a big shock.

He calculated everything, but he never expected to run into Huo Junlin in the elevator. The doors opened, and it was too late to run—he had no choice but to tough it out and ride up.

So the brothers lived in the same complex? If he’d known they lived together, Zhu Ran wouldn’t have been so reckless.

Huo Junlin seemed distracted. Spotting Zhu Ran, he casually asked what he was doing there.

Zhu Ran stammered, then spotted his suitcase and had a flash of inspiration. “I’m delivering artwork for Mr. Huo.”

Huo Junlin, lost in thought, didn’t question the lame excuse. He just stared anxiously at the elevator numbers.