TFRLTOP Chapter 20 Part 1

Chapter 20 – The CEO’s Little Side Dish 

◎ Laying a solid foundation for the “chasing wife through the crematorium” arc ◎

Ever since Chu Yun came to the Huo family, mealtimes at the Huo residence have rarely been on schedule.

They’re either early or delayed.

As for whether it’s more often early or late, Butler Wu refuses to keep count.

When meals come early, it’s usually one of two scenarios:

—Either Fifth Master Huo isn’t home, and Chu the Monkey acts like a tyrant, determined to throw the entire household’s biological clock into chaos.

To match Chu Tyrant’s digestion system, the Huo family’s kitchen has mastered the art of “as soon as she says she’s hungry, the food is on the table.” As for the extra torment Butler Wu has to endure whenever Fifth Master isn’t home, the kitchen staff can only shrug—out of their hands.

“Report this much, Butler, we have a complete emergency response system for her stomach—but we can’t save you.”

—Or, Fifth Master Huo is home, and Chu Tyrant doesn’t dare act up too much… which, if anything, makes Butler Wu grit his teeth even harder: because then she just acts spoiled! And once she acts spoiled, Fifth Master gives in to her every whim! If she asked him to pluck a star from the sky, he’d probably find a way, so what’s making dinner a little early?

Truly, love makes a man blind.

Fifth Master even once suspected the butler of intentionally withholding food, just to make him stay home to eat with her—until one day he watched Chu Yun devour three bowls of rice and still reach for a fourth.

Afterward, Fifth Master simply said: “Good. Eating well is a blessing.”

And so, the long-standing mealtime rules of the Huo household vanished like clouds, replaced by one rule only: they ate whenever Chu Yun said she was hungry.

As for the delays…

That usually happened when Fifth Master was home.

Some indescribable activities got in the way. Sometimes they even missed a meal altogether.

Breakfast became lunch, lunch merged into dinner, dinner turned into a midnight snack…

Like now, for instance—Chu Yun’s usual mealtime had already been pushed back three hours, and the Huo family’s standard schedule was an hour and a half overdue.

Where were they?

At home.

But exactly where in the house?
No one dared ask. No one dared say.

After a long wait, Fifth Master Huo finally walked in carrying Chu Yun wrapped tightly in a wool blanket. The household staff had already tactfully disappeared.

Her arms were tucked inside the blanket, head buried against Huo Xiao’s chest, with only her loose black hair and pale little feet showing.

She looked asleep, but the way her toes curled gave her away.

She sneezed lightly in his arms, and the arm holding her tightened instinctively.

Huo Xiao instructed the kitchen: “Make a bowl of ginger tea. Send it up with the meal.”

The servant bowed and answered quietly, not daring to look twice.

“I don’t want ginger tea,” Mingming muttered into his chest, her voice muffled.

“Be good.”

Hidden under the blanket, Mingming pressed her hand against Huo Xiao’s firm chest, pinched his skin hard between her fingers, and hissed, “Who told you to do that…!”

Huo Xiao gave a low grunt and, on the stairs, pretended he might drop her. She panicked, quickly wrapping her arms around his neck, staring down at the steps in fright.

Her rebellious hands had been subdued, forced to cling to his neck, and Fifth Master chuckled low, thoroughly satisfied, ignoring her fiery glare.

When the food was brought up, Mingming was sitting cross-legged on the bed while Huo Xiao blow-dried her hair.

Seeing the servant come in, he switched off the dryer, took the ginger tea, and handed it to her. “Drink this first.”

Mingming’s eyes filled with resentment, like she was facing her greatest enemy.

The servant lowered their head, trying to disappear. Out of the corner of their eye, they caught sight of Fifth Master sitting at the bedside, speaking to the girl in a tone of gentleness that had never once graced the household before.

…Except his words didn’t sound particularly gentle.

He said, “If you finish this in one go, I’ll have them take the bowl away so it won’t bother you. But if you don’t, then when we eat, you’ll drink one sip of tea for every bite of food.”

Mingming looked even more miserable.

She glared at him, snatched the bowl, and downed it in one gulp.

“Good girl.”

He waved the servant out, then leaned down to taste her lips—parting them and sharing the aftertaste with her for a while.

They sat on the bed and had a simple lunch.

“Keep your weekend open. You’re coming to a banquet with me,” Huo Xiao said, setting a delicate plate of blueberry yams in front of her.

“Oh.”

Mingming scooped up a huge bite and stuffed it in her mouth. Her eyes crinkled shut in delight at how good it tasted. One leg dangled off the bed, the other was folded up, with her chin nearly resting on her knee.

Normally, Huo Xiao would have scolded her for sitting so improperly, but with his belly full and her looking so cute, he couldn’t bring himself to mention rules.

“Wear a gown. If you don’t like the ones you already have, Butler Wu will bring you some brand catalogs. Pick one yourself.”

Her mouth was too full to speak, so she just nodded.

A few days later, she’d chosen a gown, but the bag she paired with it didn’t really match. Fifth Master said casually, “The new autumn collection bag I bought you from Yu suits that outfit.”

Mingming froze, blinking blankly. “Huh?”

He even prompted her patiently: “Blue one. With the diamond clasp. You complained the strap was too long and thought the tassel was tacky, so you only ever carried it by hand.”

“Uh… really?” Mingming looked completely lost. When Huo Xiao signaled for the servant to fetch it, she quickly stopped them. “I—I think I left it at the dorm. I’ll look for it tomorrow.”