Meeting

Shi Ruyan deliberately struggled against the arm Huo Zhenyun was holding. How could Huo Zhenyun let her break free? He was afraid she would run the moment she got loose. They had only just managed to meet again.

Shi Ruyan struggled for a while longer before seeming to give up. "I saw on the news that you were sick. I was a little worried, so I came to take a look."

"Now it seems it was just a rumor, so I'll be leaving first, Brother Zhenyun." Although Shi Ruyan said she was leaving, how could Huo Zhenyun possibly let her go?

"Ru Yan, are you still going to keep hiding from me? I know I wronged you in the past. I let you suffer, and I owe you. But you have to give me a chance to make it up to you. And the child—must the child continue being a child without a father?"

"Ru Yan, that isn't fair to the child. How can the Huo Household's bloodline remain out there? Come back, Ru Yan. Come back to my side, and bring the child with you. All these years, I've been thinking about you and the child."

"I'll give you both the very best of everything. The child should also reclaim her rightful identity." After speaking with deep affection, Huo Zhenyun waited for Shi Ruyan's answer.

Shi Ruyan did indeed fall silent. After thinking for a long time, she finally said with reddened eyes, "Brother Zhenyun, I don't know how you found out that I had your child, but I never wanted to fight for anything on my child's behalf. I only wanted her to be an ordinary person."

"After you left, I saw your prenatal checkup report. Back then, I had such mixed feelings. I regretted letting you go. I thought I should have bought a house somewhere else for you and the child to live in. You and the child must have suffered a lot, right?"

Huo Zhenyun pulled Shi Ruyan into his arms and patted her back. "Ru Yan, bring the child back to my side." Shi Ruyan seemed to deliberate for a long time before agreeing.

"Is it a boy or a girl?" Huo Zhenyun was finally happy. If he had known pretending to be sick could lure Shi Ruyan over, he should have acted sooner.

Thinking of her child, Shi Ruyan smiled sweetly. "A girl. She's already married. Brother Zhenyun, you have a grandson now. Aren't you happy?"

If Shen Can had been there, he definitely would have mocked them mercilessly. They were already an old man and an old woman, yet they were more over-the-top than couples in the throes of romance. Didn't they find it nauseating?

In truth, Shi Ruyan had been very unhappy when she first learned it was a girl. But she did not dare confuse the Huo Household's bloodline, so she could only accept it.

Besides, it was not as if her daughter had no chance to bear a son. Weren't there cases where grandsons inherited the family business? She would also do her best to plan for her grandson.

Huo Zhenyun took Shi Ruyan back to the courtyard where he was recuperating. After that, the two of them kept reminiscing about their youthful school days and talking about the child.

Butler Zheng looked at the text message he had finished composing on his phone and pressed send. After confirming it had gone through, he deleted the sending record.

He had not expected the old master to have another child outside the family. He had to pass the news on to Huo Xi. Otherwise, it would be bad if Huo Xi were caught off guard.

He had only become Huo Xi's butler when Huo Xi was five years old. The previous butler had truly grown old and needed a successor, which was how he got the opportunity. Therefore, he knew nothing about Huo Zhenyun's affairs when he was young. Perhaps only Huo Zhenyun's old secretary and old assistant knew.

Those people's children still worked at some companies under the Huo Household. After all, following Huo Zhenyun for a lifetime naturally came with certain benefits.

Likewise, he had to consider his own future. He was only in his forties, and he would certainly follow Huo Xi in the future. His salary for the next twenty-plus years, as well as whether he could retire in comfort when he was old, all depended on Huo Xi.

He followed Old Master Huo now because he was the elder with the greatest authority in the Huo Household. Although Huo Xi was the head of the family, Old Master Huo naturally outranked him by status. After all, he was Huo Xi's grandfather.

Huo Xi also did not stay at the old residence often, always running between various companies. Besides, Butler Zheng had followed Old Master Huo for more than twenty years, so it would be inconvenient for Old Master Huo to replace him.

Huo Xi was young and unmarried. No matter how one looked at it, Old Master Huo needed him more. Thus, neither side had brought up transferring him to serve Huo Xi.

Assistant He looked at Huo Xi, who was sitting in his office chair with his eyes closed in rest. "Butler Zheng sent word that a woman went to see the old master. The two of them have a child and even a grandson. It matches the news Zhao Liang gave us about a woman visiting, and there's also the additional information about the child."

"It seems Butler Zheng is still on our side. He wrote down all the details of what he overheard them discussing and sent it to us." Assistant He added that after finishing his report.

Huo Xi gave a quiet hum to indicate he understood, then asked, "If I remember correctly, Butler Zheng's younger daughter graduated, right?"

After Assistant He confirmed it, Huo Xi thought for a moment. "Make arrangements for his younger daughter to join the branch office in B City. His eldest son has performed well at the S City branch, so transfer him to headquarters."

Assistant He was somewhat uncertain about the timing. "Should we arrange it after some time, or do it soon? Would doing it soon attract the old master's attention?"

"Do it soon. Their positions aren't high enough to attract any attention. Butler Zheng has worked for over twenty years. Can't he have a few connections? Huo Zhenyun has seen this sort of thing plenty of times. He won't ask."

Assistant He acknowledged the order and handed his phone to Huo Xi. It was still better to follow President Huo. If he followed the old master, the descendants of the old master's longtime subordinates were all waiting in line. When would it ever be the turn of someone who came later?

And even if it did become their turn, the old master would not arrange a particularly good position. The good ones had long since been claimed. There were far more opportunities following President Huo.

Because they had not initially known exactly how Huo Xi had been stripped of power, after hearing Shen Can's inner thoughts mention a scheme, it was only natural for him to suspect more people.

After reading the chat log, Huo Xi smiled. Han Yi happened to be there to discuss the technology company with Huo Xi. He had been resting just now as well, but he took the phone and read it too. "Pah! Reclaim her rightful identity? What identity? The identity of an illegitimate daughter?"

"Didn't he say the Huo Household's bloodline couldn't remain out there? I remember quite a few of them are out there. When the time comes, you and Secretary Wu, after she returns, should arrange for people to stir up their emotions in advance."

After giving the order, Huo Xi continued discussing the technology company with Han Yi.

That evening, Shen Can suddenly received an invitation from Huo Xi to dinner. Shen Can was extremely puzzled, but Huo Xi was his sugar daddy, so he could not exactly refuse and went anyway.

Only after Shen Can arrived did he learn that Huo Xi was there because of his game studio. Huo Xi told him that if he encountered any problems, he could tell him and Huo Xi would find a way to help.

Shen Can did not refuse. He said he had not encountered any problems for the time being, but if he did, he would seek Huo Xi out. He was not stupid. Huo Xi's connections and resources were far greater than his. Huo Xi telling him to come to him if he had problems was clearly helping him.

"How are things with your family? Has that woman made a move?" After thinking about it, Shen Can also showed some concern for Huo Xi.

Huo Xi did not hide anything and answered truthfully, "She has. She already went to find Huo Zhenyun and has moved into the sanatorium."

Oh my, then Huo Xi should know who that woman is. Can Can, I've finally waited for you to reveal this mystery. Come on, what are you going to mock? Can Can is all ears.

Yet Huo Xi said nothing. Shen Can pursed his lips in disappointment. I was all ready to gossip and curse people alongside you, but you're not saying anything at all.

Forget it. Huo Xi probably wasn't interested in cursing her anyway. He probably only wanted to crush and defeat him through his actions.

"If nothing unexpected happens, you should see them at my grandfather's seventieth birthday banquet."

Upon hearing that, Shen Can became excited again. Even if I can't gossip and curse people with Huo Xi, I can gossip and curse people with my brothers, Sister-in-law Su Nanxing, and the others. I really can't wait to see their expressions when they find out who that family is.