Chapter 6
Although he didn’t dare to look at him, Huo Youqiao’s gaze was too oppressive. The moment he was stared at, Ye Zhi became even more nervous, wishing he could flee.
It wasn’t because he felt guilty or anything else; it was just that he was naturally timid and accustomed to feeling fearful of strong individuals.
But he couldn’t afford to be impolite.
So, he made an effort to glance at the man and forced a shallow smile, greeting him, “Big brother.”
This “big brother” was only spoken for the second time; the first time was when they first met, and Huo Youcheng had also returned home. Upon hearing this, Huo Youcheng emitted a small chuckle, as if mocking him for climbing the social ladder shamelessly.
Although Huo Youqiao had returned home and lived there, he often left early and returned late, so he and Ye Zhi rarely crossed paths, and Ye Zhi deliberately avoided them, so they hadn’t met again.
Children didn’t know how to beat around the bush; their emotions were straightforward. If they wanted something, they wanted it, and they wouldn’t change their minds even if they were coaxed. Ranran still insisted, “Zhi Zhi, come up quickly, let’s go home together!”
Ye Zhi felt a little awkward. Just as he didn’t know what to do, Huo Youqiao spoke, “Come up.”
His tone and expression carried an irresistible sense of authority, making Ye Zhi’s heart tighten. It was difficult to refuse any further, so he nodded.
The back seat was occupied by the father and daughter, and the secretary sat in the front passenger seat, leaving Ye Zhi feeling uncomfortable. Ranran said, “Zhi Zhi, come sit next to me.” She scooted over to make room in the middle seat.
The mayor’s car was naturally provided by the government, belonging to a model not available on the market. The interior was more spacious than a regular sedan, and with only two adults and a child, it didn’t feel cramped. Besides, Ye Zhi stayed within his space the entire time, not encroaching on Huo Youqiao’s seat.
The stern man only said two words before lowering his head to focus on a document.
Compared to Ye Zhi’s nervousness, Ranran was much more relaxed. She grabbed Ye Zhi’s hand and shook it, smiling at him affectionately, “Zhi Zhi, the omelette you made for me this morning was delicious! I’ve never had such a delicious omelette before! And the roll was tasty too. Can I have them again tomorrow?”
The little girl’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Ye Zhi smiled, “If you like it, I’ll make them for you tomorrow. What else do you like to eat, Ranran?”
Ranran immediately exclaimed, “I like xiaolongbao!”
“I’ll make them for you tomorrow.”
His voice was slightly softer than usual, gentle but not artificially so, more like a habitual way of speaking. Huo Youqiao, who could usually focus on work at any time, even while picking up his daughter, inexplicably diverted his attention when Ye Zhi spoke. His gaze shifted away from the document in front of him, and the words he read didn’t register in his mind.
The distance wasn’t far indeed. Even though the driver wasn’t driving fast, they reached the gate of the Huo family’s mansion in less than five minutes. The driver parked the car in the yard, and Huo Youqiao was about to carry his daughter, but she had already hopped out to the other side.
Her school bag was handed to Ye Zhi’s arm.
The difference in height was noticeable when they stood together. People who could be classified as alphas were generally stronger in all aspects, both physically and emotionally, and tended to be taller, whether male or female. The Huo brothers were both over 1.85 meters tall.
Standing at a modest 1.72 meters, Ye Zhi seemed even more ordinary in their presence.
As they entered the house, although busy, Huo Youqiao still asked, “Ranran, do you want Daddy to play with you?”
Ranran pouted, “But you don’t have time. Uncle Lin just said in the car that you have a meeting. I just need Zhi Zhi to play with me.”
After giving a quick glance at the slender man, Huo Youqiao spoke more than usual, “You can’t be impolite; you should call him aunt.”
“No, no, I want to call Zhi Zhi. He’s my good friend!”