Chapter 42: How could he be willing to give up after being provoked?

The next morning, the alarm rang, and Gu Ci sat up, but he hesitated, somewhat reluctant to leave the room.

Last night, Huo Wenyuan's condition had stabilized, and he had originally wanted to stay in the ward for a while longer, but under the persuasion of Housekeeper Feng, he returned to the Huo family. That night, he wasn't sure if it was an illusion, but out of the corner of his eye he saw a black SUV turn into the basement garage.

He rubbed his eyes, then opened them again, and the car had indeed vanished. It looked like an illusion. He

'd thought it was Uncle Huo returning... But Uncle Huo was so busy, and he had only seen him on the news yesterday, so it was probably a mistake.

Ultimately, Gu Ci wasn't afraid of a confrontation with Sun Shumiao, especially since he wasn't the one who did anything wrong. But when it came to Uncle Feng accompanying him, he hesitated.

But Uncle Feng said... they were family.

He loved that word. He felt so lucky to be part of their family.

Gu Ci took a deep breath, the images of Huo Wenyuan and Butler Feng flashing through his mind. Suddenly, nothing seemed to frighten him anymore, so he pushed open the door and walked out. He

said good morning to Butler Feng, had breakfast, and headed out... everything went on as usual.

Just as he was about to get into his car, a black, stretched-out sedan pulled up.

Gu Ci looked up, startled to see that the person sitting in the car was, in fact, Huo Xiao.

"Huo... Uncle Huo!"

After a long time, Huo Xiao still looked as imposing as ever. He sat dignified in the back seat, nodded gently, and said, "Get in."

Gu Ci looked at Butler Feng, who smiled and said, "Xiao Ci, Mr. Huo came back last night. He'll be going to school with you today."

"Remember what I told you yesterday? Me, the young master, and Mr. Huo—we're all your family."

Gu Ci nodded solemnly, looked at Huo Xiao again, and nervously tugged on the shoulder strap of his schoolbag before getting into the car.

They traveled in silence, Huo Xiao keeping his eyes closed the entire time. As they neared the school, he suddenly opened them and said, "Your relationship with Wen Yuan... is even stronger than I imagined." He

emphasized the word "stronger."

Although unsure of his meaning, Gu Ci nodded in acknowledgment.

Despite the initial awkwardness, Huo Wen Yuan had always been very caring towards him.

Huo Xiao, lost in memory, spoke slowly, "Many years ago, your father and I were just as close."

"From school to the army, and then later, he's always been by my side. He's my friend and my greatest support."

He turned and looked at Gu Ci with a scrutinizing gaze. "If you had a choice, would you stay by Wen Yuan's side, just like your father did?" Gu

Ci paused, then nodded with unwavering confidence.

Huo Xiao suddenly smiled.

A truly profound friendship.

He said to Gu Ci, "It's almost the anniversary of your parents' death. I'll take you to pay your respects to them then."

The car drove into the campus unimpeded. After seeing the license plate number, the security guard at the gate immediately called the school's top management to inform them.

The atmosphere in the conference room was silent. Huo Xiao sat in the middle, his hands folded. He didn't say a word, but his aura was still so strong that it silenced everyone else present.

The director of the Academic Affairs Office and the people from the Sun family looked at each other. They never dreamed that Huo Xiao would come to the school in person for a child with the surname Gu.

Who was this Gu Ci?

Sun Shumiao also came. It seemed that Huo Wenyuan had hit him really hard. Even now, there were several overlapping slap marks on his face, and the corners of his mouth were swollen.

He didn't realize the seriousness of the situation. As soon as he came in, he pointed his finger at Gu Ci's nose and said to his father, "Dad, he hit me!"

Gu Ci must be expelled from the school!

"Shut up!"

Sun Shumiao's father shouted at his son. He quickly studied Huo Xiao's expression, then stood up and asked tentatively, "Mr. Huo, why are you here in person?"

Huo Xiao raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you here to talk to me about something? You want to apologize and expel Gu Ci?"

"How dare I bother you..." The principal stood up flatteringly, glaring at the dean. Then he explained, "We heard there was a conflict between two children, and we wanted to have a meeting between the parents..."

Huo Xiao's expression remained unchanged, but his words shocked everyone in the room.

"I'm Gu Ci's parent."

Everyone's expression deepened.

After a moment, Sun Shumiao's father hesitated, "You, you mean..."

Huo Xiao's eyes were stern, and he asked back, "Wasn't what I said specific enough?"

"What do you want to say? Say it."

"S-Sorry to bother you..." Sun Shumiao's father was already sweating profusely. He had assumed Gu Ci was at most the child of Butler Feng, but he didn't expect Huo Xiao to come out and support him directly...

Could it be that the Huo family had more than just Huo Wenyuan's only son? Or... it doesn't matter anymore. The only thing that's clear now is that Huo Xiao represents Gu Ci. And none of them present can afford to offend Huo Xiao.

He reacted immediately and put on a flattering smile: "It's a misunderstanding. The child didn't explain clearly. Mr. Huo, today is all a misunderstanding."

"Really?" Huo Xiao raised his eyes. "The child didn't explain clearly. I thought you all had eyes."

"Yesterday, Wen Yuan had an allergic reaction and was sent to the hospital."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's phone rang, and they received a surveillance video showing the scene of Sun Shumiao and his men bullying Gu Ci. Those provocative words were also clearly audible.

Sun Shumiao's father's face turned pale, and Sun Shumiao also lowered his head in evasion. The Dean of Academic Affairs said excitedly: "Sun Shumiao! I didn't expect it was you who started it first!"

"What did I teach you? Why are you so irrational!" Sun Shumiao's father quickly scolded Sun Shumiao, then looked at Huo Xiao and pleaded, "Mr. Huo, Shumiao is still young and naive. For the sake of my cousin..."

Huo Xiao interrupted him: "I gave him a chance a few years ago."

"It seems like he hasn't made much progress yet. You and him should both gain some experience."

Upon hearing this, Sun Shumiao's father collapsed to the ground, slapping Sun Shumiao across the face. He then pleaded with Huo Xiao, "Mr. Huo, Cousin Huo, it's been hard for us to settle down in Guicheng. Can you please let us go? Don't..."

Huo Xiao ignored his pleas and looked at the school administrators, "Anything else to discuss?"

The principal shook his head sharply, "No! We'll go through the formalities immediately!"

The scene quickly became chaotic and intriguing. Sun Shumiao covered her face in shock, letting her father lash out in anger. The principal and the dean of studies surrounded Huo Xiao with flattering compliments. From beginning to end, Huo Xiao never gave him a single friendly glance, even changing the situation with just a few words.

Gu Ci, standing behind Huo Xiao, suddenly felt something was unreal.

He couldn't articulate the emotion, but it simply felt that for Huo Xiao, controlling the fate of a single individual, or even a group of individuals, was far too easy.

He silently followed Huo Xiao out of the corridor. As the wind and rain came, the sky outside became obscured, and the surroundings were dark and gloomy, just like his own unclear heart.

Huo Xiao said the same thing: "From now on, no one can bully you."

Gu Ci raised his head and looked at his back, as if he was back to the first time he met Huo Xiao.

They were indeed very good to him.

Huo Xiao continued: "Wen Yuan will take over the Huo family sooner or later. Gu Ci, I will have to rely on you in the future."

Gu Ci nodded and promised: "Don't worry, Uncle Huo, no matter what, I will be with Brother Wen Yuan."

Even if Huo Xiao didn't ask him to do so, he would have done so.

Huo Xiao reached out and patted his shoulder with satisfaction, but stopped there.

"Go to class."

After evening self-study, Gu Ci went to the school to visit Huo Wen Yuan.

Huo Wenyuan was reading a book. When he saw Gu Ci come in, he immediately put down the book in his hand, curled his lips and said, "Didn't you say you didn't need to come? Why did you come anyway?"

Gu Ci glanced at the business management book in Huo Wenyuan's hand, walked over and said, "I'm worried about you."

Sitting in the visitor chair next to him, he still asked his concerns: "Brother Wenyuan, there are obviously many ways to stop them, why do you do it yourself?"

Huo Wenyuan shook his head and said, "The situation was urgent at the time and I didn't have time to react."

Gu Ci looked at Huo Wenyuan quietly without saying anything else.

Huo Wenyuan reached out and brushed aside a strand of Gu Ci's hair, saying gently, "Don't be so sullen. Everything's resolved."

"I'm fine, isn't it? It's fine."

Seeing that Gu Ci was still uneasy, he deliberately imitated Gu Ci's previous behavior and asked, "A hug?"

Gu Ci blushed instantly and pushed Huo Wenyuan away, "Who wants to hug you?"

Huo Wenyuan pouted and pulled him into a hug without a word, "It's okay. Everything will be fine."

Gu Ci was wrapped in a warm embrace, leaning against Huo Wenyuan's strong arms, and suddenly relaxed.

Huo Wenyuan felt the same way. If it was a pity, he hoped they could hold each other like this forever. His heartbeat was a steady beat, and he put his lips to Gu Ci's ear and said, "Gu Ci, actually, I..."

He was interrupted by a sudden noise at the door. Gu Ci turned around and happened to meet Huo Xiao's calm eyes. Frightened for a moment, he subconsciously tried to push Huo Wenyuan away.

Huo Wenyuan remained unmoved.

Huo Xiao and Huo Wenyuan faced each other, and Huo Ci spoke first, "Xiao Ci, it's getting late. Go back and rest. I have something to tell Wenyuan."

Gu Ci nodded, patting the back of Huo Wenyuan's hand to let go. He smiled again, urging him to rest and come back tomorrow to accompany him.

Huo Xiao's eyes fell on Huo Wenyuan's hand, a look of deep scrutiny in his eyes.

After Gu Ci left, his chilling coldness was evident. He questioned Huo Wenyuan, "Did you attack him on purpose yesterday?"

He could have asked someone else to intervene, but he insisted on doing it himself, simply wanting to use his own body as leverage.

Regardless of whether Huo Xiao personally intervened, Huo Wenyuan's health condition was enough to prompt the Huo family to target the Sun family. Firstly, they could punish the Sun family's disobedient youngest son, and secondly, no one at school would dare to target Gu Ci again. Killing

two birds with one stone—his son was indeed his.

After hearing Huo Xiao's inference, Huo Wenyuan turned his head away and said nothing.

Huo Xiao suddenly said, "Yesterday I contacted the expert team abroad. You'll come with me after the anniversary of Gu Ci's parents' death."

It was a notification, not a negotiation.

Huo Wenyuan's head jerked up. "What do you mean?"

Huo Xiao said, "Isn't that what I mean?"

He saw through Huo Wenyuan's thoughts and, with his back to him, said, "I support Gu Ci, and I have my own considerations. Frankly, besides explaining to Gu Li, I once hoped he would stand up for you in a critical moment, just as Gu Li did for me."

"But I didn't mean to let you have any other unreasonable expectations."

Huo Wenyuan's eyes froze for a moment.

...How did Huo Xiao know this?

"I have many eyes." Huo Xiao glanced at him sideways, as if mocking his youthful arrogance. "I saw every move you made, every expression you made, even every word you said." "You

were very satisfied with your study session with Gu Ci the other day, weren't you?"

"Huo Wenyuan, you are the future of the Huo family. I will never allow you to fall for something like this."

Huo Wenyuan understood what was going on.

It turned out Huo Xiao had been watching his actions.

He lowered his eyes in mockery, shaking his head with a wry smile. "This is how you control my life."

"You're even taking away the right to like someone."

"I've said it all along," Huo Xiao said. "From the moment you took the surname Huo, you represented more than just yourself. You were responsible for the millions of people who stood behind you."

Huo Wenyuan said, "Then I'd rather not have the surname Huo."

"Okay," Huo Xiao finally revealed his true colors. "What about Gu Ci? He's also standing behind you. Do you want to protect him?"

"If I don't intervene, relying solely on yourself, without the Huo family's support, can you protect him?"

Huo Wenyuan fell silent. Not everyone is as selfish as Huo Xiao.

Today, Huo Xiao finally achieved his goal.

He had long known that his son was both self-important and world-weary. Nothing in this world seemed to hold him back. He preferred death to medical treatment or the taking over of the Huo family.

One day, he realized that Gu Ci's appearance could change his mind, and he decided to use her to tame Huo Wenyuan.

As he had said before, once a person is bound by something, they will become timid and even choose to compromise.

This move was the right one for him.

Huo Wenyuan asked tiredly, "What exactly do you want me to do?"

Huo Xiao said firmly, "It's very simple, I want you to assume your responsibilities in advance."

"Go abroad, receive treatment, study, and take over the Huo family. As long as you do this, the Huo family will always be Gu Ci's support during this period."

Huo Wenyuan was silent for a while, and suddenly laughed, "Mr. Huo, your son is a homosexual. You didn't express your opinion, but you made a request to him so rationally. How could my mother like you if you are cruel and cold-blooded?"

Huo Xiao said seriously, "Your mother and I are truly in love. As for you... your feelings are too immature, and I don't think Gu Ci has such an idea. When you don't know whether the future will be smooth and your personal wings are not yet fully grown, as a father, I advise you to know when to advance and retreat."

Huo Wenyuan sneered and asked unconvincedly, "What if I don't?"

Huo Xiao said firmly, "I will let you hit a wall, and then still follow the path I designed."

Huo Wenyuan: "..."

He closed his eyes and stopped talking until Huo Xiao left. The rain was noisy outside the window. He lay on the bed and began to recall every detail after meeting Gu Ci.

He didn't know when it started, but Gu Ci was like a ray of light, illuminating his barren and desolate life filled with unfreedom and the end of the world.

He once thought that he would be isolated from the world forever, but Gu Ci made him understand what touch, hug, and even... heartbeat are.

He was used to companionship, and some things had just sprouted, but he was faced with the situation of separation. How could he be willing to give up?

-Rainy

day, cemetery.

Gu Ci stood under the black umbrella held by Butler Feng, watching Mr. Huo personally place two bouquets of white flowers in front of his parents' tombstone.

He looked at the warm smiles of his parents in the black and white photos, his nose unconsciously sour, and tears rolled in his eyes along with the sound of rain.

Mr. Huo whispered softly to the two tombstones, "Gu Li, Ci Que, I've brought little Ci to see you."

"Don't worry, we'll take good care of him and see he grows up well."

Gu Ci looked at his parents, his voice choking. A thousand words filled his heart, but he didn't know where to begin.

He'd saved so much in his diary, but now nothing came out... He wanted to cry, but it was useless.

He took a step closer, gently stroking the tombstones with his fingers, and said wistfully, "Dad, Mom, I'm here to see you."

"Uncle Huo, Uncle Feng, and Brother Wen Yuan have all been so kind to me. Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself... In the future, I'll definitely repay their kindness..."

Huo Xiao gave the others a wink, leaving the rest of the time to Gu Ci. Gu Ci sat alone, slowly expressing his longing. On this damp, cool day, in a different sense, he had reunited with his parents. The

pine forest was verdant, the soil was fresh, and the petals in the bouquet swayed in the breeze. Gu Ci glanced back one last time before reluctantly getting into the car.

Huo Xiao looked at him nonchalantly, and suddenly said, "Xiao Ci, there is something Uncle Huo wants to ask you for help."

Gu Ci raised his head, his eyes still a little red: "What is it, Uncle Huo?"

Huo Xiao said, "I have contacted a team abroad that can completely cure Wen Yuan. I want Wen Yuan to go abroad with me, but he is a little worried about you and is reluctant to agree. Can you help your uncle persuade him?"

There was no mention that Huo Wenyuan would stay abroad for a long time.

Gu Ci blinked his misty eyes, and his first reaction to hearing what Huo Xiao said was surprise.

Is there a way to completely cure brother Wen Yuan?

He nodded immediately: "No problem, Uncle Huo, I will persuade him."

Huo Xiao's eyes paused, and then looked into the distance.

"Okay, thank you uncle."