DLRAS Chapter 95

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Chapter 95: Do you really not know whether people are laughing at you?

The old servant showed a displeased expression.

He had served in this mansion for many years, and the silver threads in his hair seemed to represent his achievements. After decades of toil, the Huo family’s mansion was also his domain. Now he was asked to bow to someone of questionable character on his own turf, which was undignified.

He stood still, unmoving, as Chen Wengang took off his coat himself, and Huo Niansheng took it from him, handing it over in midair.

After three seconds, the other party relented, reluctantly taking it and hanging it up.

Huo Niansheng then handed him a box, saying, “I don’t care what day it is. Uncle Zhong, you are senior, so don’t overdo it by relying on your old age.”

Chen Wengang remained silent.

The old servant accepted the gift without saying a word and left without looking back.

They arrived early, and the Huo Zhenfei family was still having breakfast in the dining room. “Do you want to join us for some?” 

Huo Nian was so angry that he leaned back on his chair and complained: “Forget it, I’m not in the mood.”

“Oh, Uncle Zhong, ah,” Huo Zhenfei heard the commotion at the door, “After all, he has taken care of Grandpa for half his life. Even your dad and my dad have been raised by him since they were born. He’s done a lot of hard work. I’m going to let him have his way. You guys shouldn’t argue with him.”

Huo Niansheng made an exaggerated expression. “When I came here many years ago, it was the same old argument. How come it’s still the same now? If he is going to climb up to the master’s head, what’s the point of ‘a lot of hard work’? You’re going to be the master in the future; can’t you control him?”

Huo Zhenfei just smiled and said, “It’s not about whether we can control him or not. Out of respect for the older generation, we should also consider giving face.”

Huo Niansheng picked up a crab roe bun and put it in his mouth, saying, “In my opinion, let him stay for a while longer, but kick him out later.”

When he said “later” — that meant after Huo Kaishan passed away. Huo Zhenfei glanced in Chen Wengang’s direction.

“He’s not behaving any differently than before. You’ve never had a problem with him in the past, so what’s the matter now?” He lowered his voice, “You just brought someone home and are already showing off your anger to win over a beauty?”

Huo Niansheng chuckled, saying he didn’t want anything to eat, but then picked up a barbecue pork bun and ate it, one after another.

Chen Wengang looked around, but Jiang Cai wasn’t at the table right now.

Huo Zhenfei’s secretary had arranged for her to transfer to school, and she usually stayed at the school. She should have been brought back by now.

Huo Zhenfei turned to him, as if explaining, and cleared his throat, “She didn’t want to eat with us. She requested to eat in her own room.”

His son, Huo Yuxiang, was curious about Chen Wengang, and the child came over and asked, “What does ‘showing off your anger  to win over a beauty’ mean?”

Huo Zhenfei’s wife, however, was very polite and gently scolded him, “Don’t be rude.”

She was already showing signs of pregnancy with her next child; her lower abdomen was slightly protruding. She patted her son’s head and said, “Alright, after you finish eating, you can go play with this brother… Uncle. Uncle Chen is visiting for the first time. How about you show him around the house?”

Uncle Chen flashed a friendly smile, and Yuxiang stared at him, nodding his head and jumping down from his chair, grabbing his hand.

Huo Niansheng and Huo Zhenfei, the cousins, went to the study.

Chen Wengang glanced up and saw a nurse-like figure carrying a tray up the stairs.

The child was very enthusiastic, leading Chen Wengang around inside and outside the mansion. “Over there is the kitchen, and here is the flower room… Look, these are the strawberries I planted.” Yuxiang rummaged around and picked up a box of marbles from the windowsill in the flower room. “These were given to me by Grandpa Zhong’s grandson.”

He squatted down on the ground, placed one marble in front of him, and flicked another with his thumb. The two glass balls collided.

Yuxiang stuck out his tongue. “I can only play when Feifei is here. My mom says it’s not proper, and I should practice baseball when I have time.”

Chen Wengang chuckled and also crouched down, winked at him, and whispered, “I’ll play with you too.”

Yuxiang was delighted. He dug two small holes in the ground, one big and one small, and crouched in the flower room, playing marbles. The little one knelt on the ground, waiting for his turn, and by the time he remembered, his pants were already covered in dirt. He scrambled up nervously and patted his knees.

“It’s okay, it’s okay,” he reassured himself. “It just got a little dirty; don’t tell my dad.”

Chen Wengang smiled and waved to him, stopped him, and helped him brush off the dirt from his bottom.

Yuxiang covered his bottom, turning his head to look up at him, feeling reassured.

Chen Wengang held his little hand, and the two sneaked back into the house.

Yuxiang planned to sneak off to wash his hands and felt a bit of a need to pee. “Uncle, wait a moment; I need to go to the bathroom.”

Chen Wengang waited for him at the staircase.

At the corner was a wall of photographs. He looked up at the wall, where various family portraits were displayed. Chen Wengang searched for Huo Niansheng’s face among the aged faces, but it wasn’t an easy task. Huo Niansheng appeared infrequently in the frames.

A familiar face flashed by in his peripheral vision, almost causing him to mistake it, but upon closer inspection, it wasn’t him.

A handsome young man of seventeen or eighteen, with a charming pair of peach blossom eyes, stood between his parents, with three younger brothers beside him.

This was Huo Fenglai.

Despite knowing this man’s unfaithfulness and irresponsibility, his appearance was still captivating, romantic, and wealthy, like a singing sea nymph. No wonder women kept getting entangled with him, one after another, whether it was for his money or for him.

Huo Niansheng resembled his biological father a lot, but in terms of appearance, he surpassed him. He seemed to have inherited all the excellent genes from his parents. While Huo Fenglai appeared relatively softer, both of them exuded the same pride and disdain in their gaze.

Chen Wengang stared at Huo Fenglai in a daze, lost in thought.

At that moment, someone approached from behind and said, “Looking at the photos? These are the historical legacies passed down through generations of the family.”

Chen Wengang turned around, and Huo Yingfei came over from the corridor along the wall.

He moved casually, and Chen Wengang took a step back, politely but perfunctorily smiling.

Huo Yingfei didn’t pay much attention, as if even the embarrassing incident of being punched by Huo Niansheng had never happened. He pointed to a frame at the bottom of the wall and said, “This family portrait has the most people. It was taken when Grandma was still alive, the year Yuxiang was born.”

In the photo, Chen Wengang indeed saw Huo Zhenfei’s wife holding a swaddled baby in her arms.

Finally, in this photo, he spotted Huo Niansheng as well, with his hands in his pockets, standing on the far edge, casually glancing at the camera.

Above that, there was a photo of Huo Zhenfei’s wedding when he was young. His wife was wearing a wedding dress, pure and holy, and the scene was grand.

Huo Yingfei’s face bore a meaningful smile as he reminisced, “Their wedding was reported by the media as the ‘wedding of the century’. It cost a billion just to organize, and it was a match made in heaven. All the prominent figures from politics, business, and entertainment attended to congratulate them. That’s how a grand wedding of a wealthy family should be. Speaking of which, when Yuxiang was born, because the family had a new heir, I remember Grandpa being overjoyed. On the same day, he gave them a yacht named after him. Oh… you probably wouldn’t be surprised, right? After all, Huo Niansheng also gave you a boat. But his generosity doesn’t compare to Grandpa’s. Back then, when my sister-in-law hadn’t even finished her postpartum recovery, Grandpa directly rewarded her with a villa worth fifty million and two billion in cash. Otherwise, why do you think she’s in such a hurry to have another one?”

Chen Wengang had already understood, and his face turned cold.

Huo Yingfei hinted at something, glancing at his belly, “So it’s a pity. If you could bear children, the family wouldn’t mistreat you. Wouldn’t it be better to be a woman after all? Easy earnings, legitimate status, and being a wealthy wife are a matter of course.”

He sighed again, not with good intentions, “It’s a pity for you, really; in terms of gender, you’re at a huge disadvantage. You and Huo Niansheng claim to be married, but at most, it’s just self-comfort. Did he deceive you so convincingly, or did you believe it yourself? Sneaking abroad, quietly holding a ceremony without even a significant guest—do you call that marriage or child’s play? He treats you like this; it doesn’t seem like he values you much. Do you really not know whether people are blessing you or laughing at you? Let me tell you straight, Huo Niansheng’s household registration information in China still says he’s unmarried. Even if he marries another woman, it won’t be considered bigamy. You should really think about it.”

In the study, Huo Zhenfei flicked away some cigarette ash and said, “Alright then.”

Huo Niansheng uncrossed his legs, stood up, straightened his hem, and gave him a glance.

The two of them left the study, heading downstairs, and saw more than one person standing at the corner.

Chen Wengang suddenly felt a tightening under his armpits, and his feet left the ground suddenly. Huo Niansheng had come up behind him and playfully lifted him up. Initially he was frowning and glaring at Huo Yingfei, but now he exclaimed in surprise, then lowered his voice to scold, “What are you doing? Stop playing around; put me down.”

Following his words, Huo Niansheng put him down as requested, his arm resting on Chen Wengang’s shoulder, his tone mocking Huo Yingfei, “Are you envious of being a woman, or envious of having two billion? If you want, you can try to find a wife yourself—forget it, it’s faster if you cut off the lower one.”

The two of them overheard part of the previous conversation. Huo Zhenfei didn’t interrupt, feeling somewhat uncomfortable with him mentioning his wife and child, so he stayed silent, and the atmosphere became tense. Huo Yingfei’s expression darkened, his eyes shifting.

At this moment, Huo Yuxiang came back from the bathroom, saying, “I want to fly too!”

Sensing the mood, he glanced at his father discreetly, his tone a bit softer, “Uncle… I want it too.”

Huo Niansheng raised an eyebrow and lifted him up again, rushing downstairs, while Huo Yuxiang let out an excited yell.

Huo Zhenfei followed behind, scolding his son and telling him not to shout loudly in the house.

Chen Wengang caught up with Huo Niansheng’s steps. The entrance was noisy, and the steward brought in several younger members of the Huo family. Everyone exchanged glances.

The newcomers greeted them, their eyes curious and inquisitive as they glanced at Chen Wengang.

Huo Niansheng, known for supposedly marrying abroad, and his alleged spouse, who managed to capture the attention of this playboy, had almost become a fox spirit in the gossip. Some had heard of it before, while others were completely unaware.

Regardless, everyone couldn’t help but take a closer look at this male enchantress.

Huo Niansheng was not one for socializing. He carried Huo Yuxiang to the backyard, with Huo Yuxiang still urging Chen Wengang to follow.

Chen Wengang smiled and closed the glass door behind him, leaving behind a tall and slender figure.

At noon, the banquet began.

Huo Kaishan was frail and needed rest, so he hadn’t come down even though everyone had gathered.

The patient couldn’t handle the noise, so while the birthday celebration was grand, there wasn’t the scene of a grand gathering. Those who came to wish him well were mostly the younger generations of the Huo family, mostly male members, filling up just one table. Even the daughters who had married weren’t called back.

Chen Wengang sat next to Huo Niansheng, which spared him from having to face Huo Meijie directly.

The only granddaughter present was Jiang Cai, who only emerged from her room when it was time to eat. This time, it wasn’t the fault of the adolescent child for being unsociable. She and Chen Wengang had become the two most eye-catching presences at the table, with all eyes trying to gauge the depth of their relationship.

The kitchen served each person a bowl of abalone and conch soup, but they ran out before reaching the two of them.

Huo Niansheng pushed his soup bowl in front of Chen Wengang and lifted his head, several gazes retreating.

Chen Wengang shook his head quietly, “You drink it.”

Huo Niansheng’s expression remained indifferent as he scooped up a spoonful and fed it to Chen Wengang’s lips, “It’s not something good, but taste it.”

Third Uncle Huo noticed this and rubbed his forehead, then turned to ask, “What’s going on again?”

Uncle Zhong came over, hesitated for a moment, then bowed to explain, “It’s probably a mistake in the kitchen.”

Third Uncle Huo frowned and scolded a few words without reservation. The old servant lost his face in front of everyone, looking embarrassed and resentful. The soup was delicious, full of collagen and savory taste, but it was spoiled by the unpleasant atmosphere. The kitchen quickly brought two more bowls of soup. Jiang Cai made a disdainful expression and pushed it away angrily. Chen Wengang teased in Huo Niansheng’s ear, “You should be careful if someone spits in it.”

Huo Niansheng chuckled.

At that moment, a nurse pushed Huo Kaishan in.

He sat at the head of the table, his sunken eye sockets revealing cloudy eyes behind, his his sallow face looked haggard.

Huo Kaishan was frighteningly thin now, like skin draped over a skeleton.

In the morning, Huo Yuxiang secretly told Chen Wengang that he found Grandpa scary. His parents asked him to accompany Grandpa to cheer him up, but he dared not breathe loudly in the oppressive atmosphere of that huge bedroom. He didn’t dare tell anyone about it.

Chen Wengang sat next to Huo Niansheng, inconspicuous amidst the lively faces as the birthday celebrant gave his speech.

Huo Kaishan trembled as he raised his glass, delivering a few words of encouragement to future generations, his thoughts still clear.

The table was filled with delicious dishes, but they tasted bland, low in oil and salt, and prepared according to the patient’s dietary restrictions.

Sons and grandsons toasted with tea instead of wine, each standing up to offer well-wishes, repeating the same old phrases about longevity and blessings.

The meal ended quickly, as Huo Kaishan’s energy was depleted.

When it was Jiang Cai’s turn to rise, facing that aging face, her mind went blank. Earlier, she had wished to lecture the whole world, reminding everyone that entering this household relied on the patriarch’s benevolence and that they should be grateful—

She struggled to utter, “Happy birthday.”

But it didn’t matter. Huo Kaishan was soon wheeled back to his room, his hunched back unable to be nourished by the blessings of longevity and prosperity.

After the meal, everyone started to leave the table. Chen Wengang was lost in thought when Huo Niansheng whispered in his ear, “Let’s go; I’ll let you sleep in my room for a while.”

Chen Wengang still remembered how to get to his bedroom.

Its location wasn’t particularly ideal; it was situated near the end of the hallway, where ventilation and lighting were average at best. In his past life, Chen Wengang had also been to the Huo residence—but as an unwelcome intruder. Back then, strictly speaking, this room no longer belonged to Huo Niansheng; it had been cleared out by the servants, spotless. A person who no longer existed naturally didn’t need their own space.

As for now, Huo Niansheng’s room didn’t have any distinctive features either. The decor was old-fashioned, with hardwood floors and dark gold curtains setting a somber tone. There weren’t many items displayed outside, but there was no sense of orderliness either—just a slight messiness indicating someone lived there. The bookshelf had no ornaments, only heavyweight decorative volumes with gilt-edged spines, likely never taken out. There were only two rows of wine magazines, probably read by the owner himself.

But in this grand mansion, cloaked in twilight, this small corner was Huo Niansheng’s own territory, imbued with his essence.

As soon as Chen Wengang entered, he felt himself relax entirely, with no prying eyes to scrutinize him here.

He flopped onto Huo Niansheng’s large bed.

The furniture quality was top-notch; the solid wood bed was spacious and sturdy, with four tall bedposts and its canopy draped to the side. Chen Wengang felt physically relaxed and mentally at ease. Huo Niansheng sat down too, sinking into the soft mattress beside him.

Chen Wengang nestled against the warm chest, his head against Huo Niansheng’s hair. Lazily, he hooked a leg over Huo Niansheng’s thigh and waist, then rolled over, burying his face in his embrace. Huo Niansheng remembered something, got up, and fetched a photo album from the bookshelf.

“This is… when you were young?” 

“Yes.”

Chen Wengang, in a lazy manner, propped up his head with one arm and reached out with the other. “Let me see.”

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