226: If It Weren’t For Her

If It Weren’t For Her

At noon, Huo Jinyao came back. The company was far from the mansion, so they hadn't expected him to come back for lunch.2

Su Qingsang felt uneasy when she met Old Master Huo's playful glance. Xu Ruoli's eyes lit up when she saw Huo Jinyao, but the light soon faded.

Liu Tongjia was depressed after having heard Old Master Huo's words and did not say anything when her son returned home.

Old Master Huo was glad to have his grandson back for lunch. After serving the food, Huo Jinyao sat beside Old Master Huo as he was asked to and began to show his affection again. Like he had done the day before, he put select bits of food in Su Qingsang bowl and helped her to some soup from time to time.

Liu Tongjia had already seen this behavior previously, so she had no other reaction except getting a headache.

Xu Ruoli saw Huo Jinyao acting like this for the first time and it surprised her. She did not expect that Huo Jinyao would have such a side to him. In her memory, Huo Jinyao was casual in front of his childhood friends but rather serious in the company of his family or in other public situations. He had never even shown this tender side of him in front of his parents.

Is this really Huo Jinyao?

Xu Ruoli felt like she was suffocating as she looked at the loving couple before her. She didn't even feel the taste of food.

Old Master Huo said a few words to Huo Jinyao from time to time. He knew what the other two people at the table were thinking but had no time to pay attention to them for the time being.

Liu Tongjia had no appetite so she only had a few bites before going upstairs. She glanced at Xu Ruoli, feeling sorry for her but not saying anything.

Old Master Huo went to take his usual nap after lunch and, before he went upstairs, he said to Huo Jinyao, "You go and drive the Xu girl home later."

"Yes, Grandpa."

Huo Jinyao stood motionless with an unperturbed expression. Su Qingsang smiled at him and signaled for him to drive the guest home.

She's not jealous? Huo Jinyao narrowed his eyes in obvious discontent but went to drive Xu Ruoli home anyway.

Xu Ruoli could not help but see this visual exchange between Su Qingsang and Huo Jinyao. She felt sick but said with a smile, "Jinyao, thank you."

"You're welcome."

Huo Jinyao went out and got into the car with Xu Ruoli. In fact, the Xu Mansion was not far away from the Huo Mansion. After getting in the car, Xu Ruoli fastened her seatbelt and kept her eyes on Huo Jinyao.

"Jinyao, there were too many people yesterday, so I didn't get the chance to talk to you too much. You—"

Xu Ruoli seemed to be hesitating. She still felt uncomfortable thinking about that exchange between him and Su Qingsang. "Are you serious?" she asked.

"We've got the license. What do you think?"

Huo Jinyao started the car with a slightly unruly smile on his face. Xu Ruoli felt a pang of bitterness.

"Really? Why her?"

"Maybe it's fate."

Xu Ruoli did not believe him. Huo Jinyao was not a man who would talk about fate. "If she didn't exist, would we... would we possibly—"

She hesitated, not knowing that Huo Jinyao was far more determined than she thought.

"There is no if. Ruoli, to be very clear, nothing can ever happen between us," he interrupted her.

"Jinyao, I—" Xu Ruoli thought for a while and said recklessly, "Is this about the engagement? You don't want to be constrained, you don't want to—"

"No," again he interrupted her. "If you really knew me, you would know that I don't care about such worldly affairs or what people think of me. We're impossible, simply because I do not care about you that way."

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