That evening, Ye Zhi busied himself with taking care of Huo Ran, preparing her clothes and making her bed. After Huo Ran entered the bathroom, the bedroom door opened, and Huo Youqiao stepped inside.
Upon seeing him, Ye Zhi’s panic intensified, his face paling as he stammered, “What are you doing here? Go, go out…” The words “What if we get caught?” were stuck in his throat, but his anxious demeanor conveyed the message clearly to Huo Youqiao.
Huo Youqiao didn’t leave. Instead, he closed the bedroom door behind him and slowly approached. As he got closer, Ye Zhi retreated until he could go no further.
Noticing his fear, Huo Youqiao kept his distance, staring at him intently and asking in a low voice, “Did father’s attitude scare you?”
Ye Zhi took a deep breath, his lips trembling, and whispered, “We can’t be discovered now…” They absolutely couldn’t. Such a revelation would bring great harm to Huo Youqiao and cause an enormous scandal.
For businessmen, affairs with celebrities might just be gossip fodder. People might say, “The rich sure know how to play” or “There are always sponsors behind famous stars” without moral judgment. But Huo Youqiao was different. He was a public servant, and an affair with his brother’s wife would cause a scandal of epic proportions. Even if only the family knew, Huo Tian’s strict nature might lead to severe punishments.
Huo Youqiao looked at him with pity in his eyes. “I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’m here.” He extended his hand towards Ye Zhi, “Come, let me hold you. I haven’t touched you in a long time, and I miss you terribly.”
The sound of running water from the bathroom masked their conversation. Huo Ran was a meticulous little girl who took almost half an hour to shower, giving them enough time for an embrace or a kiss.
But Ye Zhi didn’t move forward. He stood there, pale and trembling. The thoughts he had previously avoided now filled him with fear.
He couldn’t let Huo Youqiao be caught in such a predicament. To be with this man, he had to divorce first, wait for the right time, and then they could be together. Even if they were criticized, he could lie and say their relationship began after the divorce.
They couldn’t be exposed before the divorce. They couldn’t confront Huo Youcheng together either.
But Huo Youqiao must have known this, right? He was so smart, he must have thought of everything. That’s why he had been restrained and kept his distance, and only when Ye Zhi reached out did things escalate to this point.
It shouldn’t have happened. Ye Zhi realized this again. So, despite his longing, he didn’t dare approach Huo Youqiao.
“Don’t worry, and don’t be afraid,” Huo Youqiao said gently. Seeing no response, he moved forward and enveloped Ye Zhi in a hug. “I’ve considered all the consequences of every decision I’ve made. I’ve thought through all your worries, but I’m not afraid or concerned.” He kissed Ye Zhi’s trembling lips, gently soothing him. “I’ll face everything for you, whether it’s beatings or insults. You don’t need to fear anything, understand?”
In the public eye, even with immense desire, they couldn’t risk any overt intimacy. And Ye Zhi was too scared to allow any such risk, so they maintained a proper distance, not even exchanging glances.
The Huo residence was spotless, and Grandma Huo loved flowers, especially chrysanthemums. Despite it being early autumn, various chrysanthemums—red, yellow, purple, and white—were already displayed, looking vibrant and beautiful.
Many guests attended the party: relatives, friends, Huo Tian’s colleagues, and even the highest-ranking officer from the military sent a gift, which delighted Grandma Huo.
With so many guests to host, everyone was busy. Huo Youcheng, still recovering, was relatively free. Ye Zhi didn’t assign him any important tasks, just asked him to watch over Huo Ran.
The birthday party was lively, and several guests drank too much. Some were taken home by drivers, while closer relatives like Huo Youcheng’s uncle stayed over.
The Huo family mansion, over a hundred years old, was where Huo Youcheng’s uncle was born. After marriage, he moved out, leaving the mansion to the eldest son. Returning now was more like visiting than coming home, though they still had their old rooms.
The Huo family adhered strictly to the order of succession. The mansion’s future inheritor would be Huo Youqiao, not Huo Youcheng.
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