Chapter 169
Huo Ran still remembered, “Isn’t this the one Dad gave to Zhi Zhi?”
Huo Youcheng glanced at Ye Zhi before smiling, “Your aunt heard that wearing a red string can bless one with peace and health, so he gave it to me.” He said to his brother, “Big brother is so stingy. He didn’t even think of buying a few more, how come only Zhi Zhi and Ranran have them? I’m the patient, so it should have been given to me.”
Huo Youqiao remained calm, saying, “You don’t wear anything that’s not expensive or custom-made, so I didn’t know if you would want it.”
“If you sincerely give it to me, I’ll definitely take it.” Huo Youcheng smiled with narrowed eyes and added, “Let’s have dinner together here.”
There was also a dedicated dining room in the house. Although the dining table was not as large as at home, it was spacious enough for four or five people. Huo Youcheng’s assistant had left, so only the four of them were dining together. The hospital food focused on balanced nutrition, and since Huo Youcheng’s legs were injured, there were some delicious-looking pork ribs. Although the seasoning was light, the taste was still good, cooked tender and fatty, suitable for a child like Huo Ran.
Huo Ran happily gnawed on the bones and praised, “Uncle, the food here is so delicious.”
Huo Youcheng smiled, “Is it better than what your aunt makes?”
“They’re both delicious! But what Zhi Zhi makes is the most delicious!”
The conversation between the child and the adult was lively, making the other two appear quite quiet. Suddenly, Huo Youcheng said, “Why aren’t you two saying anything?”
Huo Youqiao glanced at him and said calmly, “A meal is meant for eating, not talking.”
Huo Youcheng chuckled.
His attitude was no different from usual, so there was no way to tell if he had found out anything, but Ye Zhi couldn’t completely relax. He reluctantly finished the rice in his bowl. After the meal, it was time for the Huo family father and daughter to leave.
Ye Zhi originally wanted to send them off alone. Maybe he could find an opportunity to talk to Huo Youqiao, but Huo Youcheng also followed them out, saying, “I’ll accompany you to walk it off. I need to digest.”
Huo Ran held onto Ye Zhi reluctantly, looking up with her little face and asking, “Zhi Zhi, aren’t you coming back with us? You haven’t been home for a long time. I want you to tell me a story.”
Ye Zhi’s heart skipped a beat, about to answer, when Huo Youcheng, smiling, interjected, “He won’t be coming back with you. He has an exam tomorrow, and the exam center is closer to here.”
This reason left no room for doubt, and Huo Ran could only let go of Ye Zhi’s hand, saying dejectedly, “Okay. Then Zhi Zhi, you have to come back after the exam, okay?”
Huo Youcheng said, “Hmm, we’ll come back together then. After all, Mother’s birthday is coming soon.”
Until the car started moving, Ye Zhi hadn’t been able to say a word to Huo Youqiao.
Although they had met, they were still so close yet so far, and for various reasons, they couldn’t touch each other. This made Ye Zhi even more tormented than not being able to see him. Ye Zhi watched as the taillights of the car gradually disappeared, feeling a strong sense of loss in his heart, until Huo Youcheng leaned in, “So reluctant?”
Ye Zhi’s heart tightened, and he looked at him sideways.
Huo Youcheng smiled relaxedly, just like usual, so Ye Zhi breathed a sigh of relief and calmly replied, “Of course, I don’t want to part with Ranran.”
Huo Youcheng didn’t say anything, but the smile on his face gradually faded after Ye Zhi shifted his gaze away.
After spending a while longer with him, Ye Zhi also drove back.
As the red luxury car slowly disappeared from view, Huo Youcheng almost immediately opened the screen and stared at the red dot on it. As he watched the dot move along its usual route, he didn’t know what he was feeling.
He really wanted to breathe a sigh of relief, but all the signs told him that things wouldn’t turn out as he hoped. The best outcome would be what Cheng Yanzhou had said — “Ye Zhi is just in unrequited love,” and his brother hadn’t betrayed him with his partner.
But unrequited love is bitter, and it shouldn’t make Ye Zhi change like this.