The Bigger Picture

Because he was taking the kids along, Shen Can thought lunch would be better, so he set off for the Huo Household with Shen Zhuo a little after ten.

Although he knew Huo Xi had moved nearby, this was Shen Can's first time visiting his home.

They had not walked far before reaching Huo Xi's house. Huo Xi had given instructions in advance, so Shen Can and Shen Zhuo were quickly let in.

Huo Huan had been waiting in the living room for a long time. The moment he heard Shen Can and Shen Zhuo talking, he immediately rushed out.

He happened to meet Shen Can and Shen Zhuo just as they reached the entrance. Shen Can smiled and greeted Huo Huan. "Good morning, Xiao Huan. Is Huo Xi busy with work?"

Huo Huan nodded. This was the first time anyone had called him Xiao Huan. His mother never called him that, nor did the neighbors around him.

"Since Huo Xi is still busy, I'll wait in the living room for a while. You can take Xiao Zhuo and go play."

After hearing Shen Can, Huo Huan did not leave right away. Instead, he asked Shen Can if he wanted to watch TV, saying he could turn it on for him.

Shen Can smiled and said there was no need since he had his phone. Then, remembering that he had not brought Shen Zhuo a change of clothes, he added, "Don't get your clothes dirty while you're playing, Xiao Zhuo. Your little uncle forgot to bring you any spare clothes."

"Okay, Little Uncle. Xiao Zhuo won't get dirty," Shen Zhuo answered obediently.

Shen Can sat on the sofa playing with his phone, while Huo Huan took Shen Zhuo into his room to play with building blocks.

"Wow, your room is so big!" Shen Zhuo exclaimed the moment he entered Huo Huan's room.

Huo Huan glanced around his room before saying, "The small rooms are all used for storage, so the remaining rooms are all big."

"Even if there were small rooms, Uncle Huo probably wouldn't have let you choose one. Oh, right, I remembered—you have your own apartment too. When you live there by yourself, it'll be even bigger."

After Shen Zhuo said that, Huo Huan did not answer. Shen Zhuo leaned closer and asked, "You don't want to move?"

He calculated that school would be starting again soon, and he would have to go back to kindergarten too.

Huo Huan was silent for a long time before finally nodding. What was the point of living alone? Huo Xi did not really look after him much here either, but at least there were two people living together, so he had company.

Besides, it was close to Shen Zhuo's home, and Shen Zhuo was his first friend.

"Then don't move. Just tell Uncle Huo that you don't want to leave," Shen Zhuo said as he pulled Huo Huan down to sit.

Huo Huan shook his head and said nothing more. He and Huo Xi did not really have any connection, only a thin thread of blood relation. How could he shamelessly keep living in Huo Xi's house?

Seeing Huo Huan stay silent, Shen Zhuo wanted to say something else. But when Huo Huan said, "Let's play with blocks," Shen Zhuo did not speak again.

Shen Can was watching funny videos on his phone and laughing so hard he wanted to slap the table when Huo Xi suddenly appeared in front of him.

Shen Can was so startled that he choked on his laughter. Huo Xi hurried over and patted his back to help him recover.

Once he had recovered, Shen Can looked at Huo Xi, who was very close to him, then at the faintly visible chest muscles beneath his wide-open collar. Is he giving me a morning dose of overflowing hormones? Is this a benefit?

Yes, Huo Xi was wearing pajamas. He had been working in the study, and after finishing, he had planned to go downstairs and tell Huo Huan to get ready to change clothes.

But from the stairs, he saw that Shen Can had already arrived and was sitting there giggling.

Huo Xi had forgotten that he had undone two buttons earlier when he felt hot in the study. Only after hearing Shen Can's thoughts did he remember, and he casually buttoned them back up.

How stingy, Huo Xi! I only got two looks. I was wondering what my life had been missing. It was handsome men!

Even though I said my career was my true love, Canca, that doesn't mean I can't admire handsome men's muscles.

My vision is too narrow. I really was too narrow-minded. Tomorrow night, I'm going to a bar and ordering a few muscular handsome guys to look at.

Did he like looking at muscles? He would give him the chance that afternoon. As for anyone else's, there was no need for him to see those.

He had only met him today, yet tomorrow he was going to look at other men. Then what was the point of Huo Xi going to such lengths to join Shen Can and Huo Huan for lunch?

Whenever Huo Xi wanted something, he would make a move. He never hesitated. Shen Can did not seem to have any feelings for him yet, but he was not in a hurry. He had plenty of patience.

"Why did you come so early? You didn't even send me a message," Huo Xi asked as he sat beside Shen Can.

"Wasn't I worried about disturbing you? What if you were in some important video meeting?"

After saying that, Shen Can thought, I'm not admitting that I was thinking of some novel plot at the time.

Like when a boss suddenly receives a message during a meeting. Usually cold and aloof, he picks up his phone, and the moment he sees it, he actually reveals a faint smile!

All the subordinates in front of their screens are shocked, but they understand that the person who sent the message must be important to the CEO. Otherwise, why would their CEO be smiling?

But of course Huo Xi wouldn't smile at my messages. What exactly was I thinking before?

After hearing Shen Can's thoughts, Huo Xi thought, Who said that? Maybe he would smile after all. He simply had no interest in displaying his private life in front of a computer screen.

The moment he received the message, he would probably pause the meeting, turn off the camera and microphone, and only then check it.

"Has Huo Huan already changed?" Huo Xi asked. If he had, Huo Xi would not go into his room and interrupt the two children playing.

Shen Can hummed. "He was already changed when we arrived, and he looked like he'd been waiting for quite a while."

Maybe it's his first time having an elder take him out for a meal, so he's probably excited.

After hearing Shen Can's thoughts, Huo Xi stood up. "Since he's been waiting for a while, I won't delay any longer. I'll go change."

After Huo Xi changed and came downstairs, Shen Can called the two children out.

When they left, the driver was already waiting at the entrance. He had specifically brought out an extended car so they could all sit in the back.

The moment Shen Can got in, he gave the driver the address. He had chosen a private home-style restaurant.

Since Huo Xi had said before that he had never taken Huo Huan out for a meal, Shen Can thought it would be best for Huo Huan's first outing to be for home-style food.

There were not as many rules as Western food, so Huo Huan would probably feel more comfortable. And unlike T-country cuisine or Japanese food, the flavors were not so distinctive that they might be difficult for him to adapt to.

Huo Huan tried hard to remain calm, but he was still a child. From his reactions that differed from usual, it was clear he was very happy.

As soon as they entered the private room, Shen Can asked the two children what they liked to eat, saying they had all kinds of home-style dishes here. Shen Zhuo immediately named two dishes, and only after seeing Shen Zhuo do so did Huo Huan name two of his own.

After Shen Can checked off their choices and ordered what he liked, he handed the menu to Huo Xi for him to order. As Huo Xi marked the menu with his pen, he thought that Shen Can truly was considerate.

He had not let the children see the menu because he was afraid Huo Huan would see the prices. Private home-style restaurants were indeed a little expensive, and Shen Can had deliberately chosen a very good one, so the prices were even less ordinary.

Huo Huan had only returned to the Huo Household recently, and he was naturally independent and mature for his age. If he saw the prices, he might feel burdened while eating, thinking Shen Can had spent too much money on him.

After all, when Huo Xi told Huo Huan yesterday that Shen Can wanted to treat him to a meal, Huo Huan had immediately said there was no need. He had only said one sentence, so it was unnecessary.

Only after Huo Xi persuaded him that he could invite Shen Can over for a meal at home too—he only needed to tell the cooks what day he wanted to treat them, and they would prepare the food—did Huo Huan agree to go out for a meal today.

The more Huo Xi got to know Shen Can, the more he felt that Shen Can was truly a good person.