Chapter 47

Luo Li stood at the entrance to the gala, feeling a bit uneasy. He had never seen a scene like this before—countless rich people gathered together, their outfits alone dazzling enough to blind him.

The stench of capitalist greed…

The little beggar silently shed tears in his heart.

Huo Yin had no idea about the turmoil in his mind. He simply found himself staring, utterly entranced.

His gaze locked firmly on Luo Li’s figure, unable to tear away.

【Oh my god, the Little Princess, Little Young Master, Little Prince is so gorgeous I can’t take it!】

【Those braids are so pretty—did Baby do them himself? Too cute!】

【Or maybe some husband did them (evil grin)—waiting till Baby wakes up all groggy, coaxing a kiss before braiding those little plaits.】

【Oh ho, he must’ve been with Huo Cheng last night, hehe. Look at Huo Cheng like a dog—dressing Little Rabbit Treasure and braiding hair is his job.】

【So blissful… Pure love married life between top and wife, I’m already fantasizing.】

Seeing these bullet comments, Huo Yin nearly choked on his breath, half dying of anger.

But he also felt he had no reason to be mad. Luo Li was Huo Jieqi’s widow, after all. Neither he nor Huo Cheng should have anything to do with him.

If he kept letting these wild thoughts run away with him, would he really throw aside all propriety and ethics?

He couldn’t do something like that.

His thoughts grew more chaotic. Just as Huo Yin turned to leave, someone bumped into him, halting his steps.

“What are you looking at?”

A man who had appeared out of nowhere clapped Huo Yin on the shoulder. “Oh, checking out a beauty, huh? Heh, what’s the point of just looking? If you like him, go invite him for a drink.”

He shook the wine glass in his hand.

Behind the wine tower, several young women in extremely low-cut V-neck gowns were toasting with a group of merchants.

There were unwritten rules at banquets like this. For instance, those pretty escort ladies—if you could get them drunk, they were yours for the night.

“He looks like he has a low tolerance for alcohol.”

The man’s hat was pulled low, hiding his face. Even so, Huo Yin could sense those eyes leering greedily at Luo Li. “Not just alcohol tolerance. He’s young too, small body… Just with your hands…”

He had finished the wine in his glass. His eyes stuck on the faint glimpse of pinkish skin under the boy’s sleeve, two fingers pressing the rim of the cup. The pads slowly circled the narrow shallow wall, one round after another.

Then, he brought those wine-wet fingers to his lips and licked them clean.

A vile, lewd insinuation.

Huo Yin grabbed his collar, his voice sinister with threat. “Who the hell are you to fantasize about him? Do you even know who he—”

His words cut off abruptly.

Huo Yin stared fixedly at the somewhat familiar foreign man, narrowing his eyes. “…Bern?”

Only then did the man tilt up his hat brim slightly. The Westerner’s profile was sharp and prominent—deep-set eyes, prominent brow ridge—while his gaze remained fixed on Luo Li.

“Yin, why didn’t you tell me beforehand your little stepmom was such a cute little treat.”

Huo Yin’s back stiffened instantly.

He knew this foreigner’s depraved tastes. His obsession with Eastern boys bordered on madness. He just held himself too highly to find any truly to his liking.

But now, that look clearly screamed he wanted to devour Luo Li whole.

Huo Yin couldn’t hold back a surge of fury. “You fucking dare think those filthy thoughts again, and I’ll slaughter you.”

Bern smiled. “You seem awfully protective of him.”

“Obviously. He has my dad’s child. As the rightful heir to the Chamber of Commerce’s inheritance, of course I’d care.”

Huo Yin sounded righteous, but only he knew his heart was pounding under his ribs from the lie.

“What if… he doesn’t?”

Huo Yin froze. “What do you mean?”

Bern slowly undid the buttons of his overcoat, pulling a stack of photos from an inner pocket.

“I mean, if he’s not your father’s widow and has no posthumous child—would you still care this much?”

The music and dancing swelled around the banquet hall, the surroundings a cacophony of noise. Huo Yin felt a ringing in his ears.

The photos passed one by one through his hands as Bern spoke. “I know Huo Jieqi’s character. That guy was rigid and conservative—he’d never set foot in a place like a brothel.”

Huo Yin knew that all too well.

But why did everyone else believe it so easily?

He thought of that fair, tempting little face, the upturned almond eyes, the legs trembling and swinging when sitting on a man’s lap—youthful and innocent. Those soft red lips pursing when he spoke, as if the next second he’d hook your tongue with his own, sweet with saliva, begging for a kiss.

Anyone who saw that face would unhesitatingly conclude: Even Huo Jieqi couldn’t have resisted such temptation.

Huo Yin’s gaze turned icy.

He tossed the stack of photos back into Bern’s hand. “Don’t think a few shitty prints will make me believe you. You’ve been trying to sow discord in the Huo Family for ages.”

He wouldn’t fall into this old fox’s trap so easily.

“If you still don’t believe me, why not use this banquet to verify it.”

Bern turned and walked into the crowd. “We’re partners anyway. Foiling Huo Cheng’s schemes benefits us without any downside, right?”

Huo Yin stared at Bern’s retreating back. He had just taken a step when a commotion erupted from the crowd.

“Young Master Huo is here!”

“Oh, Young Master Huo!”

This wasn’t about him, of course.

Huo Cheng approached, surrounded by attendants and guests. He was clearly the undisputed star of the evening.

He spotted Luo Li and murmured something to the young man. The little beauty immediately flushed and retorted, “I didn’t wander off. I was waiting for you!”

Huo Cheng’s lips curved. He took Luo Li’s hand.

The two entered the hall together.

Huo Yin trailed behind, blending into the crowd.

Every now and then, someone came up to toast Huo Cheng and inquire about Luo Li, teasing, “Mr. Huo, is this your little sister? She’s so pretty, like she stepped out of a painting.”

Huo Cheng laughed. “No. He’s my father’s Little Madam. And… he’s a boy. Please don’t get the address wrong, everyone.”

Exaggerated murmurs immediately rose around them.

Some were bold enough, fueled by alcohol, to say outright, “So this Luo young master is the Little Concubine you mentioned, Mr. Huo? How intriguing—seems even younger than you!”

Luo Li’s ears burned hot.

He felt there was something else laced into those words.

Marrying such an old man at such a young age, while the man’s stepson was around the same age… It didn’t sound like a compliment.

He sneaked a glance at Huo Cheng’s profile. The young man had fully matured into a man, looking far more grown-up than him.

Fortunately, Huo Cheng ignored the drunkard and got to business. “Looks like most from the Chamber of Commerce are here. What about Mr. Bern? Haven’t seen him yet.”

Someone whispered in his ear. Huo Cheng nodded. “I see.”

He raised a hand, signaling the guests to enjoy themselves, then led Luo Li to a corner.

“Bern’s already at the hotel. I think… he’ll show up soon.”

Huo Cheng said softly, “If anyone toasts you, absolutely do not drink. Got it?”

Luo Li quickly said yes.

“Good. I’ll check on their preparations. Wait here for me.”

Huo Cheng hesitated, then reached out and ruffled his hair. “Be good. I’ll be right back.”

Luo Li stood in the corner, nervously twisting his sleeve cuff, afraid of giving himself away.

Luckily, Huo Cheng commanded real respect—he must have given special instructions, because no one dared approach Luo Li casually.

Still, he sensed figures creeping closer from the shadows.

Someone stopped behind him.

“Hey.”

“Ahem… Want to have a drink?”

A familiar voice. Luo Li’s almond eyes widened. He turned in stunned silence.

“Huo Yin—”

Huo Yin made a shushing gesture.

Luo Li’s back tensed. He whispered, “Why are you here? Does Huo Cheng know?”

Huo Yin didn’t answer. Instead, he awkwardly extended his rigid arm, offering the wine glass. “You drinking or not?”

No one offered a toast like that.

Luo Li waved it off. “No, I can’t drink.”

“It’s watermelon juice.” Huo Yin looked away. “Do I not know you can’t handle alcohol? Just poured it over there.”

Luo Li hesitated. He worried that accepting this might invite more toasts later, impossible to refuse.

But he was thirsty. Glancing around, he took the glass from Huo Yin.

He sipped the watermelon juice slowly.

Just as he set the glass down, a stir broke out nearby.

From behind the crowd emerged a blond, blue-eyed young man. The foreigner’s athletic build stood out prominently. Removing his hat revealed a strikingly youthful and handsome face.

“Seems I arrived a step late.” He held a wine glass too, raising it with a smile. “Just wondering if I have the honor of this Eastern beauty sharing a drink with me?”

As the second-in-command of the Chamber of Commerce, Bern was indeed much younger than most people imagined.

He slid that cup of wine toward Luo Li. “This is Lychee Sweet Brew—sweet and refreshing, straight from my hometown. See? Its color matches your cheeks perfectly.”

The wine in the cup had a translucent white base, topped with a delicate layer of pink that shimmered invitingly.

Luo Li didn’t reach for it. “I-I can’t drink alcohol…”

“Is that so?”

Disappointment flickered across Bern’s face as he glanced at Huo Yin. “But just moments ago, you drank with this gentleman, didn’t you?”

“That was…”

Before Luo Li could get the words out, Huo Yin stepped in front of him.

The young man shoved his hands into his pockets, his expression dark and stormy. “He said he doesn’t drink. That means he doesn’t want to humor you. Are you hard of hearing?”

Their business partnership was something outsiders couldn’t know about, so Bern played along, feigning total ignorance. “Oh? And what exactly is your relationship with this adorable little thing?”

Huo Yin nearly let it slip. “He’s my little—”

He caught himself abruptly.

Not yet. Not with all these eyes on them. He hadn’t been back from overseas long, and few people recognized him anyway. But if he owned up to it now, everyone would know he was a young master of the Huo Family too.

Besides, he couldn’t say it. Not out loud.

“Little mom”?

Luo Li’s delicate looks meant no one would bat an eye if Huo Yin called him his own little wife.

But…

If only he could really call him Mommy…

A shiver raced down Huo Yin’s spine.

For a wild moment, he almost gave in to the urge.