TFRLTOP Chapter 20 Part 2

He glanced at her, then nodded.

Mingming turned her head, pupils dilating as she sucked in a sharp breath.

On Saturday evening, she showed up with a dark green handbag.

Huo Xiao asked, “Where’s the Yu bag?”

Mingming answered smoothly, “Oh, maybe I remembered wrong. I couldn’t find it in the dorm, so I just grabbed another. This one looks nice too, doesn’t it? Matches my dress.” She held it up and struck a pose, beaming.

Huo Xiao gave her a cool glance. “The Yu bag suits young girls—lively, spirited. The one you’re holding is the kind society ladies bring to afternoon tea.”

Not that the bag was lacking in quality—it was simply better suited for day-to-day use, not a formal banquet.

Feigning ignorance, Mingming bowed her head meekly and twisted his words: “Oh, got it. From now on, I’ll use the mistress bags instead of the madam ones.”

Huo Xiao frowned. “Who told you that?”

Ming Ming looked up at him in confusion, her eyes innocent.

He waved his hand, dropping the subject. “Go get yourself something to eat. I have something to discuss with someone. Just follow me later.”

“Alright.”

Ming Ming quietly walked away, letting out a sigh of relief, grumbling to herself: Why does he remember things so clearly? Why does he even have to remember that clearly?!

Of course, she knew about the Yu brand—she was practically an expert in luxury goods by now, especially the ones she owned herself.

And just her luck, she had sold that exact Yu bag to He Lu last week.

The only way not to get caught was to play dumb and muddle through.

She exhaled softly, thankful he didn’t press further.

The system chimed in: “You don’t need to be so nervous. This banquet was arranged specifically by the Ye family to announce Ye Weiran’s return. Before long, you won’t even have the qualifications to stay by Huo Xiao’s side.”

And wouldn’t that be even scarier? She thought. He’d have no reason to show me mercy.

Ming Ming drifted into a corner, making sure to stay completely out of Huo Xiao’s line of sight.

This banquet had drawn the entire upper class of S City. The Ye family of the south had once been a powerful and prestigious clan. Though their influence had waned in recent years, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse, and plenty of families were willing to show them respect. Besides, the return of their long-lost granddaughter was a huge event—offering congratulations was only proper.

Huo Xiao approached the Ye family patriarch, Ye Haisheng, and shook his hand as they exchanged polite words.

From a distance, the old man and the younger one seemed as warm as old friends, leading everyone present to silently marvel at how close the Ye and Huo families must be.

If Ming Ming had been at Huo Xiao’s side, she would have seen the truth: Huo Xiao’s smile never reached his eyes, and Ye Haisheng clenched his molars. Their handshake was practically a battle of strength.

But age had caught up with Ye Haisheng—he couldn’t match the younger man’s grip. Pulling his hand back, he put on a warm and kindly face as he beckoned his granddaughter forward. “Master Huo, this is my long-lost granddaughter, Ye Weiran.”

“Of course, the two of you should already know each other.”

Ye Weiran softly greeted him with a “hello.” Huo Xiao gave her a glance and a faint nod, no warmth in his demeanor.

Weiran felt stiff and uncomfortable all over.

She had lived with her adoptive mother for years, scraping by with difficulty. Then one day, she was suddenly told she was the lost child of a wealthy family. Her birth parents had died long ago in a plane crash, and it was her grandfather who personally brought her back.

The house was full of people, bustling and lively, every face showing warmth and kindness—something she had never known before.

But beneath that warm exterior was an undercurrent of schemes and tension.

She vaguely understood that it was Fifth Master Huo—the man who had once protected her on the cruise ship—who had helped the Ye family find her. But her grandfather refused to elaborate.

She remembered overhearing her third aunt cursing the Huo family’s ruthless ambition. Even though the Ye family had never stopped searching for their granddaughter, once she was found, the Huo family had demanded two of Ye’s East Sea shipping routes as “thanks.”

Who asks for “thanks” like that? He had only been taking advantage of their desperation, using her as leverage.

Weiran didn’t know the exact value of shipping routes, but she had heard those two accounted for half the Ye family’s revenue.

Even so, Ye Haisheng agreed, sacrificing half his foundation to bring back his daughter’s only child.

The knowledge left Weiran deeply unsettled.

This man… he was far too unfathomable. His so-called protection had nearly bled her family dry.

For a moment, she thought of Chu Yun, and wondered whether following Huo Xiao would ever win someone’s true heart.

After a few polite words, Huo Xiao left. Ye Weiran stared blankly at his retreating, only to be suddenly pulled aside by her two uncles.

“Weiran, I think Fifth Master Huo is quite different from you,” her younger uncle said eagerly. “When you interacted with him before, how did he treat you?”

Weiran shook her head and gave a simple answer. “Nothing special.”

Her uncles exchanged a look. The elder said, “See? I told you. Everyone knows Fifth Master Huo isn’t interested in women. Why would he be any different with Weiran?”

The younger uncle frowned. “That’s outdated news. Don’t you know Fifth Master Huo already has a woman by his side? Didn’t you see him bring a female companion today?”

“What?” The elder uncle was genuinely surprised—he hadn’t noticed.

The younger grabbed Weiran’s hand, speaking earnestly. “Weiran, trust your uncle. Fifth Master Huo isn’t the same as before. He’s still a man, after all. And you are special to him. If you could be with him, then in the future, the Ye and Huo families would be one.”

“What?” Weiran took a step back.

The elder uncle smacked his brother’s hand away, scolding, “What nonsense are you feeding the child?!”

“I’m only thinking of Weiran’s good!”

“For her good? By pushing her toward a man who can’t stay faithful? You think Father would ever agree?”

“Then what, we just give up those two shipping routes for nothing?”

The elder uncle shoved his younger brother, shooting him a warning glance. Only then did the younger uncle realize he had said too much. He glanced nervously at Weiran.

She lowered her head, fiddling with her fingers, pretending she hadn’t heard a thing.

Her face burned hot, while her heart felt ice cold.

After a pause, she whispered, “Fifth Master Huo already has a girlfriend—my classmate. They’re in a real relationship. You want me to interfere?”

“Exactly.” The elder uncle shot the younger a reproachful glare. “Is that how you act as an uncle?”

“Bah!” the younger scoffed. “Girlfriend? She’s just some kept woman! Weiran, you’re buried in your books all day, you don’t know the outside world. Our Junjun is friends with the He family’s young master—that girl is nothing but a social climber. No background, no qualifications. Huo Xiao’s just keeping her around for fun. She’s not really his girlfriend. And honestly, with a man of his status, he can’t be clean. If you ever do get together with him, you’d better be prepared for that. Don’t make a fuss about it…”

“You’re going too far.” The elder shoved him away again. “This is not the time or place to be filling her head with this nonsense. Weiran, don’t listen to him.”

But the younger uncle still raised his voice. “Everything I say is for the Ye family—for Weiran!”

Not far away, Ming Ming sat nibbling on cake, gossiping with her system. “Wow, Huo Xiao is ruthless. And these two are still supposed to have some happy ending? That’s ridiculous. Oh, and did you notice? When he greeted Old Master Ye, he didn’t even look at Ye Weiran properly.”

The system stayed silent for a moment before replying with shaky confidence but firm tone: “He’s laying the groundwork for the ultimate redemption arc—what they call ‘the crematorium for the wife-chasing husband.’”

Ming Ming’s eyes lit up. “You’re right!”

After all, if the male lead could slaughter the heroine’s whole family and still get a happy ending, then what’s bleeding her family of half their wealth? That practically makes him a good man!