Chapter 1: The Beautiful “Father-in-law” Comes to Apologize Part 2

Precisely because of this, the Steward, reporting the current situation, felt as if he was facing a formidable enemy. After uttering the five words “The Little Young Master has run away,” he hung his head deeply, not daring to meet Pei Lianyi’s gaze.

“What did you say?!” A crack instantly appeared on Pei Lianyi’s face, which had remained composed and calm for years.

“Where is Huo Jingzhao now?” He walked out of the Crystal Room, his voice urgent.

“Replying to the Master, Young Master Huo has… already left,” the Steward said, following behind him.

Why didn’t you stop him?! Pei Lianyi roared internally, but he could only hurry back to his bedchamber.

After ordering a maid to fetch his outer garment, he paced back and forth in the room, a rare display of agitation on his face.

“How could such a thing happen…!” Pei Lianyi questioned angrily, then added, “Did I not order you all to watch him carefully?”

Before the Steward could reply, Pei Lianyi clutched his chest and gritted his teeth. “This unfilial son! He’s trying to anger me to death.”

“By tomorrow, the Pei family will be the biggest laughingstock in Rongchu City… no, in the entire Rong Kingdom!” Thinking that today’s events would become the topic of juicy gossip over tea and dinner for the common folk, the extremely face-conscious Pei Lianyi trembled with fury.

The Steward standing by couldn’t even get a word in.

Pei Lianyi was just like the flowers he raised—jade leaves and golden branches. Whenever he was present, everyone else became mere background scenery. When he flew into a rage and harsh words poured from his mouth, even fewer dared to utter a peep.

“Find him! Get him back here, quickly…” After berating him for a while, perhaps tired from cursing, or perhaps thinking of the reason he had forced his son to marry Huo Jingzhao in the first place, Pei Lianyi, feeling both guilty and exhausted, slumped into a chair by the table and gave a hoarse order.

“Several hundred people have already been sent to search!” the Steward immediately responded.

Pei Lianyi propped his forehead with his hand. His Floating Light Brocade robe shifted slightly with the movement, revealing a honey-toned section of his arm.

The maids at the door hurriedly lowered their heads, their faces slightly flushed.

The Master was a famous beauty in the Rong Kingdom. It was said that when he was young, he married his wife. Not only were their affections deep, but after she tragically died in childbirth, he swore never to remarry and painstakingly raised the Little Young Master alone.

Compared to the merchants in the city with their swarms of wives and concubines, such a chaste, devoted man was truly rare in this world.

Whether in status or conduct, Pei Lianyi deserved the title, Pearl of Rongchu.

And now, this “Pearl” was pushed to desperation, utterly vexed.

“Master, the most urgent matter now is to send someone to apologize to our future Son-in-law…”

Apologize? The Steward’s words made Pei Lianyi’s expression freeze. He was speechless for a long time.

Although Huo Jingzhao had a good temper and a gentle disposition, and didn’t seem like the type to cling on because a marriage fell through, Pei Lianyi still couldn’t get over the hurdle in his heart.

The man was someone he had practically forced into this. But to ask him, a lofty Family Head, the mightiest Master Pei of Rongchu, to lower himself and apologize to a junior? He couldn’t do it.

So Pei Lianyi could only pin his hopes on quickly finding Pei Ziying, planning to deliver the person to the Huo family before things blew up too much.

But as the sky grew darker, there was still no sign of his beloved son.

Hearing that Madam Huo had fainted from crying several times over this affair, Pei Lianyi had no choice but to grit his teeth. Bringing several carts of tonics and gifts, he went personally to the Huo family to make amends to Huo Jingzhao.

Arriving at the Huo family home, it wasn’t Huo Jingzhao who received him, but the nervous and fearful Huo couple.

Noticing their awkward stances, Pei Lianyi put down the gifts and prepared to take his leave. But just as he stepped out the door, he couldn’t resist asking about Huo Jingzhao’s whereabouts.

“Jingzhao came back, changed his clothes, and then went to the wharf to help with work…” The sickly Madam Huo hurriedly answered him.

Pei Lianyi glanced at the sky. Thinking of Huo Jingzhao’s diligence, he felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment and said, “Since he’s not here, I’ll come back another day.”

His demeanor was dignified. Just a few short words carried an immensely powerful aura, giving the couple no room to refuse. They could only force smiles and agree, saying things like “Master Pei’s visit graces our humble home with glory.”

His son’s broken engagement had added frost to the snow for the already down-and-out Huo family. Pei Lianyi, knowing he was in the wrong, uttered an “Mm” and led his entourage, heads down, towards the courtyard gate.

He walked quickly, not noticing the old, rotting beam above the gate about to collapse. By the time he heard the Steward shout “Family Head, watch out!”, it was too late.

What the…?! Hearing the loud noise from above, Pei Lianyi was startled. He looked up to see the house pillar collapsing, a thick wooden beam about to crash down on him.

“Family Head—!”

“Master Pei…!”

Just as everyone’s faces were distorted with terror, a long, slender hand suddenly appeared, steadily supporting the broken wooden pillar and shielding Pei Lianyi from harm.

“…! You… are—” Pei Lianyi opened his eyes in shock. Looking past the hazy night into that handsome face, his startled pupils trembled slightly.

The man before him was holding up the heavy wood, weighing several dozen kilograms, with a single hand. Veins bulged along the back of his hand and forearm from the strain. A wave of intense masculine heat washed over him.

Looking at Huo Jingzhao’s refined, scholarly appearance alone, one would never imagine he possessed such strength.

“What are you standing around for?! Hurry and help!” Seeing Pei Lianyi was unharmed, the Steward behind him let out a long sigh of relief and turned to urge the servants.

The servants quickly stepped forward to take the broken beam from Huo Jingzhao’s hand and moved to the side.

Sawdust drifted down. Huo Jingzhao brushed off his clothes, then extended a hand toward Pei Lianyi and asked, “Are you alright?”

Pei Lianyi immediately stepped back, avoiding his touch.

“…”

Not allowed to touch? Huo Jingzhao narrowed his eyes, an imperceptible smile flickering at the corner of his lips.

At that moment, the Head Steward, Cao Xian, stepped forward and bellowed, “Insolence! The Family Head’s noble body is not something a junior like you can touch!”

Hearing this, everyone present lowered their heads. Huo Jingzhao’s parents’ faces were dark and purple with embarrassment.

Huo Jingzhao, however, stood there calmly, unmoved.

“Steward Cao, do not be disrespectful to Young Master Huo. Stand down.” In the strange silence, Pei Lianyi turned his head and said to Cao Xian.

Though he said this, the slight lift of his chin and the distant look in his eyes made it clear he tacitly approved, even agreed with, the old Steward’s words.

“Yes, Old Servant obeys…”

After the old Steward retreated, Pei Lianyi looked at the young man before him and spoke slowly: “…You’re back.”

Such an opening remark, as if their relationship was very close.

In reality, besides arranging the marriage for his son, Pei Lianyi had only met Huo Jingzhao once, at the restaurant.

He spoke this way because he was too tense and worried about his beloved son’s actions, momentarily unsure how to face the honest, simple Huo Jingzhao.

Compared to his own complicated thoughts and scheming mind, Huo Jingzhao seemed much more at ease. He nodded and answered naturally, “I’m back.”

“Regarding Ziying’s actions… I am at fault for not teaching my son properly. The Pei family has wronged you…”

Before Pei Lianyi could finish, Huo Jingzhao slowly let out an “Ah.”

“Family Head Pei need not dwell on it.” He bowed calmly and said warmly, “I won’t blame the Little Young Master for the marriage. More importantly, has he been found? Is he hurt?”

Truly a modest gentleman, so understanding and considerate.

Half the weight hanging in Pei Lianyi’s heart instantly lifted. He pursed his lips and shook his head. “Ziying’s whereabouts are still unknown. But rest assured, once this unfilial son is found, I will certainly bring him to apologize to you personally…”

“When the time comes, the matter of the wedding… will still be up to you.”

Hearing this, Huo Jingzhao raised his eyes and looked directly at him, speaking unhurriedly, “Then I shall thank my future Respected Father-in-law in advance.”

Hearing him address him as Father-in-law, Pei Lianyi felt an inexplicable flush of embarrassment. He averted his gaze and gathered Steward Cao and the others to return to the mansion.

“I’ll be off now.”

“Alright.”

Huo Jingzhao remained where he was to see them off. Even when Pei Lianyi was about to step into his sedan chair, he still hadn’t left.

Seeing this, Pei Lianyi’s hand paused mid-lift of the sedan curtain. He turned his head and instructed Cao Xian on something.

Then Steward Cao was seen trotting all the way back, pressing a brocade pouch into Huo Jingzhao’s hand.

“Master Pei said this is money for repairing your roof beam,” the old servant said curtly, then departed with an arrogant air.

Weighing the money pouch made of Soft Mist Gauze in his hand, watching Pei Lianyi’s sedan chair disappear into the distance, the smile on Huo Jingzhao’s face quickly vanished.

“Father, Mother, you should go back to your rooms too. I’d like to be alone for a bit,” he turned and said to the Huo couple.

“Yes… yes!”

The couple simply assumed their beloved son was in low spirits. They said nothing more and helped each other back to their room.

After they were gone, Huo Jingzhao walked over to the corner of the yard, to the firewood pile. He opened the money pouch and poured all the silver out onto the wood.

The silver coins cascaded onto the firewood like a waterfall. Huo Jingzhao gave a wave of his palm, using his Internal Energy to violently ignite the woodpile.

In an instant, flames melted the gold, a fierce crimson reflected in his pitch-black eyes.

“Master Pei… heh, Pei Lianyi. Trying to brush me off with this little bit of money—do you take me, your father, for a beggar?!”

Clenching the empty brocade pouch tight, he slowly lowered his head to sniff the scent on it, his Adam’s apple bobbing up and down.

“This debt… I won’t let you settle it so easily.”

The night was bleak and hazy. Under his strange and unpredictable Internal Energy, the scattered gold on the ground was burned to ashes in the blink of an eye.

Kicking the ash on the ground with the toe of his boot, a satisfied Huo Jingzhao returned to his room to change clothes.