Chapter 43: Separation. "He likes you."

When Gu Ci arrived at the ward, Huo Wenyuan was napping in the bed. He tiptoed in, expecting to be unnoticed. But just as he was about to approach, Huo Wenyuan, as if aware of him, opened his eyes.

"Are you here?" Huo Wenyuan affectionately laced his fingers and pulled him to a seat. "Why do you look so worried?"

Gu Ci shook his head, then, remembering Huo Xiao's earlier entrustment, asked, "Uncle Huo said there's a way to get you well. Do you want to go?"

Huo Wenyuan's mouth froze, staring at him. "Do you want me to go?"

"Of course," Gu Ci nodded without hesitation. "If I get the chance, I'll definitely try."

"Don't worry about me, though. I'm fine here. Uncle Feng treats me well. You can go for treatment without worry. I'll be waiting for you."

He assumed, as Huo Xiao had said, that Huo Wenyuan was worried about him and didn't want to go abroad for treatment.

And that wasn't wrong. Huo Wenyuan pinched Gu Ci's fingers, rubbing them subconsciously. "What if... I never come back?"

Gu Ci, hearing Huo Wenyuan's nonsense again, quickly stopped him with a look: "Don't talk nonsense! You're just going for treatment, how could you never come back?"

Huo Wenyuan knew Gu Ci was paying attention to his statement, so he forced a smile and shook his head. "That's not what I meant. But... aren't you afraid I'll stay abroad forever?"

Gu Ci tilted his head, puzzled. "Why stay abroad

forever?" Couldn't I come back once I'm well? Or did I have other plans for the future?

Huo Wenyuan lowered his eyes, unsure how to explain the situation to Gu Ci.

Gu Ci didn't know Huo Xiao, but he did. Without Gu Ci's knowledge, Huo Xiao had already dragged him into this, like a businessman weighing the pros and cons. Both he and Gu Ci were being used as pawns for the Huo family.

Huo Wenyuan patted Gu Ci's head and whispered, "I won't stay abroad forever. From now on, no matter what Huo Xiao says, you don't have to pay attention. I'm here."

Gu Ci leaned over his arm, his eyes darkening as he stared at him. Although he didn't understand Huo Wenyuan's intentions, he nodded.

"Don't worry, Brother Wenyuan, I'm here too. I'll be by your side."

Huo Wenyuan's eyelashes fluttered, and he tightened his grip on Gu Ci's hand.

This wasn't the first time Gu Ci had said this to him, and he never doubted the longevity of their future companionship. Even if Huo Xiao wanted to separate them, he wouldn't give in.

This was Huo Wenyuan's decision.

When he informed Huo Xiao of this decision, Huo Xiao wasn't surprised. On the contrary, his response seemed predictable.

Huo Xiao nodded silently, saying solemnly, "Since you insist, then you can be discharged."

Huo Wenyuan vaguely guessed that Huo Xiao wouldn't give in so quickly. After all, they were father and son, and Huo Xiao had laid his cards on the table with him. It was impossible for him to let his plan fall through so easily.

Sure enough, on the way home that night, an incident occurred.

Gu Ci and he came out of the hospital and just walked to the side of the road to get in the car when a motorcycle hidden in the corner suddenly rushed towards them. Gu Ci subconsciously pushed him away and blocked his way.

Seeing that the motorcycle was about to hit Gu Ci, Huo Wenyuan reacted faster and quickly pulled Gu Ci into his arms to protect him. His back brushed against the speeding motorcycle.

"Brother Wenyuan!" Gu Ci broke free from his arms and checked his back. "Are you okay?"

He was rarely angry: "That guy is too blind! How can he ride a bike!"

Huo Wenyuan didn't say anything. The motorcycle had disappeared from his sight, and the bodyguards who were usually distributed around him didn't seem to move at all. In the distance, it turned out to be Huo Xiao's car parked there.

Haha, it's really despicable.

"I'm fine." This time, Huo Wenyuan deliberately walked to the outside, letting Gu Ci get in first. "Let's go back."

Gu Ci was still a little shaken after such a shock. He told Butler Feng about his experience, but Butler Feng, somewhat absentmindedly, offered a few words of concern before becoming uncharacteristically quiet, seemingly troubled.

Gu Ci noticed that not only Butler Feng, but also the driver, Uncle Du, and even Huo Wenyuan, seemed somewhat absent-minded, a stark contrast to their usual reactions.

Strange.

Gu Ci couldn't help but ask Huo Wenyuan, "Brother Wenyuan, were you frightened just now?"

Why did they all look so wary?

Huo Wenyuan shook his head in denial, "No."

He turned, met Gu Ci's eyes, and said, "Gu Ci, actually, I..."

He suddenly had a premonition: he couldn't wait any longer.

Huo Xiao was most likely responsible for the accident. If he was right, Huo Xiao was giving him a warning.

Without the Huo family, neither he nor Gu Ci could protect themselves.

But the more he felt at this moment, the more he wanted to declare his feelings to Gu Ci. But...what if Gu Ci can't accept it?

Gu Ci waited for his next words, and Butler Feng turned his head sharply to look at him, as if ready to interrupt at any time.

Huo Wenyuan smiled and said to Gu Ci, "I'll tell you when we get back."

Gu Ci nodded, and the group returned to the Huo family. Butler Feng answered a phone call with a serious expression, and then said to him, "Xiao Ci, Mr. Huo wants you to come over."

"Me?" Gu Ci glanced at Huo Wenyuan, who gave him a look with obvious disapproval in his eyes.

Huo Wenyuan turned and said to Butler Feng, "Where's Huo Xiao? I'll go find him."

Butler Feng, displaying a rare level of meticulousness, explained with principled precision, "Master, Mr. Huo wants to see Xiao Ci."

Huo Wenyuan frowned, "Gu Ci won't see him. If you have anything to say, tell me."

"Master," Butler Feng sighed and advised, "I don't recommend confronting Mr. Huo right now. It won't do you any good."

Huo Wenyuan countered with, "Butler Feng, when did you become like Huo Xiao?"

Did he also hear what Huo Xiao said?

"I..." Butler Feng, not knowing what else to say, simply sighed. "Alas!"

He had indeed heard the conversation between Huo Xiao and Huo Wenyuan. He had assumed that the Master and Gu Ci were close friends, but he hadn't expected... the Master actually had such feelings for Gu Ci!

If Mr. Huo knew about this, it would be a disaster! As expected, as soon as Mr. Huo realized it, he had already made the decision to send Master Huo abroad.

Normally, Butler Feng would have obeyed Master Huo's orders almost to the letter; after all, Master Huo was his junior master. But in this matter... he could only follow Mr. Huo's instructions.

Unwilling to continue the standoff with Master Huo, Butler Feng reminded Gu Ci again, "Xiao Ci, Mr. Huo wants you to go to his study."

Just as Gu Ci was about to take a step, Huo Wenyuan reached out and stopped him, "Don't go."

"..." Gu Ci stopped.

Butler Feng advised, "Xiao Ci, be obedient. Don't forget who brought you back."

Gu Ci fell silent.

How could he not remember this favor? At his parents' tombstone, he'd made a promise to repay Mr. Huo.

Seeing the atmosphere growing increasingly tense, Gu Ci, not wanting to embarrass either Butler Feng or Huo Wenyuan, turned to Butler Feng and said, "Uncle Feng, don't worry. I'll be there right away." He

then reassured Huo Wenyuan, "It's okay, Brother Wenyuan. Uncle Huo must have something to ask me. I'll be back soon."

Huo Wenyuan took Gu Ci's hand and said, "Don't go."

Gu Ci shook it back, giving Huo Wenyuan a reassuring smile. "I have to go."

As Huo Wenyuan watched him go, he went upstairs and knocked on Huo Xiao's study door.

The door was actually wide open. Huo Xiao called out, "Come in," from a distance. Gu Ci walked in curiously. Huo Xiao was writing calligraphy with a brush.

Gu Ci's gaze naturally caught sight of a few words already written on the rice paper.

"Unbroken, un..."

"Established," he softly read the last word.

"That's right." Huo Xiao put down his brush and looked at Gu Ci. "Xiao Ci, has Wen Yuan agreed to treatment?"

Gu Ci bit his lip and lowered his head. "I'm sorry, Uncle Huo, I couldn't persuade Brother Wen Yuan. He still hasn't agreed to go abroad for treatment."

Thinking of Huo Wenyuan's previous resistance, he couldn't help but ask, "Uncle Huo, can overseas medical treatment really cure him? Why did he say...that if he went out this time, he might not come back?" "

Don't worry about that, Xiao Ci," Huo Xiao said with a smile. "I've had people liaising with that team for a while, and Dr. Chen's medical team will be going there too. The chances of curing Wen Yuan are very high." "

But Xiao Ci... do you know why Wen Yuan is so worried about you?" Huo Xiao looked Gu Ci straight in the eye the whole time. "Under what circumstances do you think he would give up medical treatment for you?"

Gu Ci shook his head, indicating he didn't know.

Huo Xiao said, "He likes you."

The words came out of Huo Xiao's mouth like a thunderbolt. Gu Ci looked up suddenly, trying to find any trace of joking in his eyes or words, but sadly, there was none.

Huo Xiao was serious.

Gu Ci couldn't fathom his intentions, and managed a forced reply, "As friends... it's normal to like someone..."

Huo Xiao bluntly replied, "He's my son, I know him all too well. His affection for you isn't just a friendship."

Gu Ci's temples throbbed, and he felt dizzy, but he listened. "You're still young, even still in school. I don't want this to affect your studies or your future. But one thing is foreseeable. If you were to stay with Wen Yuan for now, I wouldn't worry about Xiao Ci, but I doubt he could control himself."

"Xiao Ci, do you understand me?"

Gu Ci watched Huo Xiao's mouth open and close, filtering his words through his mind. He didn't seem to hear them clearly, yet they lingered deeply.

Huo Xiao said... Huo Wenyuan liked him? And it wasn't just a friendship.

Huo Xiao said Huo Wenyuan was aloof by nature, and if he'd just considered him a friend, he probably wouldn't have been so attentive. Over all this time, had he noticed Huo Wenyuan's unusual kindness towards him?

Huo Xiao said…

Gu Ci felt a knot in his stomach, his throat tightening. He wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

Huo Xiao finally said, "Xiao Ci, although Uncle Huo's original intention was for you and Wen Yuan to support each other, and that's all very well, you're too young to judge right from wrong. Developing special feelings too early wouldn't be beneficial to your growth."

"Uncle wants to take this opportunity to send Wen Yuan abroad. Firstly, to recuperate, and secondly, to create some distance between you. Only with time can you see things more clearly. Later, when you're older, you can contact each other anytime you want. What do you think?"

Gu Ci: "…"

He had so many questions and confusions in his heart, but he forced them back, condensing them into a single sentence: "Okay, Uncle Huo."

He understood it all. He

understood why Huo Wenyuan had been acting so strangely these past few days, why he refused treatment, and why he wanted to distance himself from Huo Xiao.

But… Uncle Huo was actually right about one thing: they were still too young.

He didn't seem to have any feelings for Huo Wenyuan… in that

sense. No matter how he looked at it, there was no reason for him to delay Huo Wenyuan.

Coming down from upstairs, Gu Ci stood above, staring at Huo Wenyuan, who was still downstairs, through the dim light of the crystal chandelier.

They said nothing, but their eyes met, yet it seemed as if they had spoken a thousand words.

Huo Wenyuan asked calmly, "What did he tell you?"

Gu Ci raised his eyes, his nose a little red: "Brother Wenyuan, you should go get treatment. Don't delay it because of me."

Huo Wenyuan clenched his fists, veins bulging: "What did Huo Xiao say! I'll go find him."

Gu Ci quickly grabbed him to stop him: "No, Brother Wenyuan, don't go."

He let go of Huo Wenyuan and said, "Actually... I'm not worth you giving so much for me. I'm already very lucky to have met you two."

Huo Wenyuan looked into Gu Ci's eyes and realized: "Did he tell you that I like..."

Soft fingers rested on his lips, blocking the words he hadn't yet finished speaking.

Gu Ci looked at him, his eyes pleading. "Stop talking, Brother Wen Yuan."

"Just listen to Uncle Huo and do what we have to do."

"Take care of yourself, study hard, and your future... will be a bright future."

"What about you?" Huo Wenyuan felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him, gradually cooling down.

His future... without him, would it be a bright future?

"Me?" Gu Ci smiled casually. "Me too. I'll study hard, find a good job, and not hold you and Uncle Huo back. Don't worry, Brother Wen Yuan, we'll see each other often."

The last words, "Brother Wen Yuan," undoubtedly struck a blow to Huo Wenyuan's heart.

He was beginning to dislike the term.

But in the end, he narrowed his eyes, nodded, and took a step back.

"So, that's it?"

Gu Ci withdrew his hand, still smiling at him with a smile, and took a step back.

"So... that's it."

It was late autumn, and Gu Ci, hidden behind the French window, secretly watched the cars below leave the Huo residence and speed towards the helicopter pad in the dead of night.

He didn't know why he wanted to cry, he only knew that when he opened the door again the next day, the room opposite was already empty.

He raised his head, smiled, and strode from late autumn to late autumn.