DLRAS Chapter 118

Chapter 118: What’s your impression of me?

When he opened his eyes the next day, there was a red and white stocking hanging by the bedside. Chen Wengang was dazed for a moment before he fully woke up.

He shouted at Huo Niansheng, “Do you take me for a child?”

The stocking was filled with colorful candies. Chen Wengang unwrapped one and tasted it; it was so sour that he squinted, completely tricked by its appearance.

Huo Niansheng returned from the bathroom after shaving, pounced on the bed, his eyes filled with teasing laughter. “In my eyes, what else are you if not a child? The first time I saw you at the Zheng family home, your elementary school uniform was blue, and you were even wearing overalls and knee-high socks.”

Chen Wengang bit the candy and indignantly pushed it into Huo Niansheng’s mouth, then wrapped his arms around his neck and asked, “You still remember me?”

“Of course I remember, but you were so small then, you probably wouldn’t have any impression of me, right?”

“Not true. I actually do have an impression of you.”

“Your memory is that good? What impression do you have of me?”

“Hmm, I definitely must have thought you were a ‘bad’ older brother.”

Huo Niansheng knew exactly where he was ticklish and reached under his pajamas to tickle him. Chen Wengang laughed until he couldn’t catch his breath, and the two tumbled around, laughing together.

Chen Wengang touched Huo Niansheng’s cheek. He truly remembered the first time he saw this face. It was the first family banquet he attended after arriving at the Zheng house. There were simply too many unfamiliar faces, and the various scrutinizing looks and discussions left an elementary school student at a loss. He had stood cautiously against the wall, stepping back to let others pass, when he bumped into a young man.

Huo Niansheng had been wearing a three-piece suit, caught in that transitional period between a teenager and a young man, and he had looked down at him. Then, Chen Wengang had heard Zheng Yucheng find him and say, “That’s Zheng Maoxun’s cousin. Don’t pay any attention to him.”

In the blink of an eye, the playful mood turned intimate again. For two days, they lived in this secluded paradise, undisturbed, living the lives of Adam and Eve in their own garden. Their clothes were constantly being put on and taken off, to the point where, sometimes, Chen Wengang couldn’t even remember what state he was in.

Chen Wengang also confirmed that he wasn’t the only one lacking a sense of security.

Huo Niansheng just didn’t show it, but whenever it crossed his mind, he would coax Chen Wengang to say “I love you” over and over again, anywhere and at any time, as if he were trying to make up for the emptiness of their past life with interest. They never spoke of the suicide note that had brought a lifetime of regret, but when passion deepened, Huo Niansheng would whisper his heart out while holding him with a force as if he wanted to knead Chen Wengang into his very flesh and blood.

Chen Wengang embraced and accepted him with utmost tenderness.

It wasn’t until Christmas had passed that they headed down the mountain back to the city center. If it weren’t for the many things that still needed to be resolved, Chen Wengang believed they could have spent their days lost in each other until the New Year holiday.

When they met Huo Zhenfei, the thick winter clothes couldn’t hide the blue and red bruises on Chen Wengang’s neck. Huo Zhenfei coughed, pretending not to notice, and glanced at Huo Niansheng. “The police side has already been sorted out. It’s mainly an issue of Uncle Second and his faction being involved in illegal business and money laundering. You are going as a witness to be interviewed by the police, fulfilling your civic duty to provide them with clues. This is standard procedure. Various senior executives of the group, including myself and Dad, have already been through it.”

He was partly explaining it to Chen Wengang, who was a character capable of threatening to drag half the Huo family down with him at the slightest disagreement.

Huo Zhenfei continued, “Of course, you also need to cooperate with the investigation into how they bribed that local assistant to try and hijack you. That assistant is likely gone for good; there’s no way to confront him now. But there are still traces to be found in the funds flowing through his accounts while he was alive. Huo Yingfei has a loose tongue and let something slip; it’s said that a confidant of Uncle Second’s did it behind his back, and that Uncle Second and his faction didn’t know about it themselves.”

Chen Wengang said, “In that case, your uncle’s crimes are reduced by one degree. But do you believe he is innocent?”

Huo Zhenfei gave a dry laugh. “I suppose we’ll leave the rest for the police to investigate.”

Chen Wengang knew what he was thinking—the Huo family’s second branch being involved in money laundering was already a sensational economic crime. If you added fratricide and hiring hitmen to kidnap their own family members, it would be even more shocking. If such a family scandal were exposed, they would be the subject of gossip for at least half a year.

But Huo Zhenfei couldn’t imagine that this moment of softness might, in the future, be what leads to him and the rest of the Huo family being sent to the bottom of the ocean.

Chen Wengang advised, “Since this uncle of yours is heartless enough to disregard family ties, I think… it’s better to have a short pain than a long suffering.”

Huo Zhenfei looked at him, and in Chen Wengang’s gentle gaze, there was a flash of indifferent coldness and ruthlessness.

He said, “Of course, this is just something we need to discuss together and plan carefully.”

Chen Wengang smiled. “We should discuss it, but even if you don’t do it, Huo Niansheng will. They’ve already raised the knife over your heads; there’s no room for retreat. Today it was him who met with danger; tomorrow they will target you, your son, your parents, and your wife.”

Since it was just providing evidence, the conversation went quickly. Huo Niansheng signed the papers and came out. Chen Wengang immediately turned into his smiling self, went to meet him, and put a scarf around his neck.

Huo Zhenfei watched as Chen Wengang clung to Huo Niansheng like a bird returning to the woods, and Huo Niansheng kissed his forehead, as sweet as honey. He could feel the change in the atmosphere between the two—it was a feeling that was hard to describe, but he could never guess what had happened. He could only interpret it as the joy of surviving a disaster, the intensity of lovers reunited after a short separation.

Huo Zhenfei didn’t think too much about it. “Since you’ve returned, and it’s almost New Year, let the whole family have a meal together.”

Chen Wengang looked up at him.

Huo Zhenfei said, “This is my father’s intention as well.”

On the last day of the old year, the dinner was set at the Century Grand Restaurant. Third Uncle Huo sat at the head of the table; Huo Zhenfei’s family of three sat on one side; Huo Niansheng and Chen Wengang sat on the other, and Jiang Cai was also invited.

Huo Jingsheng was not called—Uncle Second was currently a mud bodhisattva crossing the river, barely able to save himself, and it was likely that Huo Jingsheng wasn’t very clean either and couldn’t withstand an investigation. The benefits he had scavenged in the past would now have to be paid back with interest. He had gone into hiding and wouldn’t show his face, and even if they had called him, he wouldn’t have come.

Throughout the meal, everyone had a tacit understanding not to bring up the matter.

Just as Chen Wengang moved his chopsticks, his sister-in-law, Fang Qin, nudged him, reminding him, “Let’s toast Dad.”

Doing this would put Chen Wengang on the same footing as her—she was Huo Zhenfei’s other half, and he was Huo Niansheng’s.

Before Chen Wengang could speak, Third Uncle Huo waved his hand, signaling her to sit back down, his expression indifferent. “No need. Just eat.”

And so, the meal was eaten in an awkward, stifled atmosphere.

Midway through, Jiang Cai went to the restroom and slipped out to smoke a cigarette. She was caught red-handed by Chen Wengang. She complained defiantly, “I have no appetite! That old man is so fierce with a straight face. Eating feels like having stones in my stomach, and I’m not even allowed to smoke.”

Just then, Huo Niansheng arrived. She reflexively hid behind Chen Wengang.

Huo Niansheng smiled slightly and beckoned her over. “What’s this? Are you disappointed to see me back?”

Jiang Cai retorted, “No, it’s fine. Congratulations on returning safely.”

Chen Wengang also smiled and reprimanded her, “Give me the cigarette.”

Jiang Cai curled her lip but said nothing, throwing it and the lighter into his hands. Chen Wengang knew she was afraid of Huo Niansheng; he just saw through it without exposing her. The bad habits she had picked up from those delinquent friends in society needed to be rooted out. At her age, in adolescence, if she didn’t have someone she was afraid of, she would be hard to manage.

After the reunion dinner was over, Huo Zhenfei arranged for a driver to take his wife and children home before approaching them.

“Don’t mind him. My father is just having a hard time getting over it for now.”

Huo Niansheng hugged Chen Wengang and asked with an indifferent laugh, “They say the New Year brings a new outlook, so what’s with the temper?”

Huo Zhenfei raised an eyebrow and pointed at Chen Wengang. “That’s because you didn’t see it—this person of yours slammed the table in the Chairman’s office. The old man hasn’t seen anyone directly challenge him like that in years. He’s acknowledged it, but at his age, he cares too much about his pride. You two should try to understand.”

Chen Wengang was humble about it now. “What about you? You aren’t holding a grudge, are you?”

Huo Zhenfei smiled. “I’m fine. I haven’t reached that age yet; I don’t have the qualifications to hold grudges.”

The streets were bustling—it was almost the New Year, and since this was a prosperous commercial area, many young people were flooding the streets. After saying goodbye to Huo Zhenfei, Chen Wengang and Huo Niansheng walked casually, hand in hand, toward the square. There was music playing in the surroundings, so loud that they couldn’t even hear their own voices.

They didn’t say a word, looking up and waiting for the countdown on the building’s light display.

At the stroke of midnight, they officially entered the new year. The magnificent bell tolled, fireworks bloomed in the sky, and the crowd cheered wildly. Strangers were hugging each other; when someone tried to hug Chen Wengang, Huo Niansheng pulled him back.

Huo Niansheng bought a balloon from a vendor; it was filled with glittering confetti. He handed the balloon to Chen Wengang.

Chen Wengang smiled as he took it. “Why are you giving me a balloon?”

Huo Niansheng watched a child run past with a balloon. “Look, all the other children have one.”

The two walked outside the range of the deafening cheers to discuss what to do for the New Year. Chen Wengang remembered something:

“Tomorrow—no, wait, tonight—our school has a New Year’s dance. Will you accompany me?”

“You want to go?” Huo Niansheng asked.

Chen Wengang tugged at the balloon, hiding his hand under Huo Niansheng’s arm for warmth. “While I haven’t graduated yet, I should attend it while I can.”

They didn’t get home until after midnight. Before sleeping, he checked the news on his phone and suddenly saw a report: the Wang family had fallen. The investigative committee was taking a strict approach, and the case of gambling and bribery was spreading outward through Wang Qiming’s connections. The recent cruise trip was a focal point.

In addition to people like Huo Yingfei, He Jiajun had also participated in the gambling on the boat. The news was analyzing how he had been caught in the act and whether the consequences would be more severe than ever before. He Jiajun himself had a rotten reputation—eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling; some were moral issues, some were illegal, and some were criminal. In the past, his family could always turn big problems into small ones, but the He family had also received a lot of criticism because of this.

Huo Niansheng rested his chin on Chen Wengang’s shoulder. “Once things accumulate to a certain point, there will come a time when even the He family can’t suppress it.”

Chen Wengang realized, “So the He family is in such trouble; no wonder they wanted to send He Wanxin abroad first to avoid the calamity.”

“How did you know?”

“Lawyer Zhu told me.”

Huo Niansheng nodded. “That’s exactly it. The He family is in a turbulent time; sending a time bomb away is better than keeping it local.”

Chen Wengang knew Lawyer Zhu was also acting under his instructions. “So what’s the progress now? She shouldn’t be able to leave for the time being, right?”

Huo Niansheng promised, “Nobody is doing anything extra. It’s just that if she wants to leave, she has to be able to obtain a criminal record certificate herself.”

Chen Wengang patted his hand. “Our great lawyer works hard for you; you should give him a raise.”

Huo Niansheng smiled. “Alright, I definitely will.”

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