Huo Junchi had never expected Huo Chuyun to tell Lu Xingchen that he was an illegitimate son. After all, outside the family, he was the Huo family's second young master. Who didn't treat him with respect?
Very few people knew he was an illegitimate son, though it was hardly surprising that the Capital's other wealthy families knew. After all, no wealthy family could keep every secret under wraps.
But how had this little bitch in front of him found out?
What Huo Junchi hated most in his life was people calling him an illegitimate son and his mother a mistress. Clenching his fist, he stepped forward twice and swung at Lu Xingchen. "Bitch, you think someone like you can marry into the Huo family?"
Huo Chuyun frowned and was about to raise an arm to block the punch.
Who could have expected Lu Xingchen to move even faster than him? Like a nimble rabbit, he slipped out of his embrace, then gave Huo Chuyun a gentle backward push, sending him to safety like a light breeze.
Lu Xingchen swiftly ducked, easily avoiding the fist. Planting one hand on the ground, he swept his long leg out like the wind, knocking Huo Junchi flat.
"Ah! That hurts! My ass!"
As that piercing scream rang out, Huo Junchi crashed heavily to the ground like a cannonball, landing ass-first with a dull, thunderous thud, as though the entire floor had shaken.
The tremendous impact made Huo Junchi's body jerk. His face twisted in pain, and he clutched his backside with both hands, seemingly trying to ease the unbearable agony.
Huo Junchi's howls immediately caused a commotion inside the villa.
"Junchi, what happened? Are you all right?" A richly dressed woman heard the noise and rushed out first, helping Huo Junchi up.
Huo Junchi was in too much pain to speak, but he shakily raised a hand to point at Lu Xingchen and Huo Chuyun.
Song Zhihua looked up. Seeing that Huo Chuyun had brought someone of unknown background back to the Huo family, she immediately put on a stern face and said unhappily,
"Chuyun, I wanted you to come home for a visit. You could have simply come yourself, but what is the meaning of bringing some lover of unknown background to the Huo family's ancestral home? Do you think just any stray can enter our home?"
"Oh? You missed me?" Huo Chuyun scoffed, a flash of mockery crossing his eyes. "Then why didn't I see you waiting at the door for me? Is sitting high and mighty inside the villa how you show that you miss someone?"
Huo Chuyun held Lu Xingchen's hand tightly. "And he isn't some stray, nor is he my little lover. He is the only person I, Huo Chuyun, love."
Seeing Huo Chuyun's displeasure, Song Zhihua remembered why she had called him home this time and could only swallow her anger, saying with a hollow smile,
"Is that so? I just thought this boy was so good-looking that he seemed like someone who didn't do honest work. But as long as you like him."
Lu Xingchen leaned lightly against Huo Chuyun, gave her a thumbs-up, and shot back,
"I certainly can't compare with how you do things, Auntie Song. After all, Huo Chuyun and I are in a proper relationship. Taking a mistress into your home, becoming as close as sisters with her, and treating her son as more important than your own-you're the first in the country, Auntie Song."
"Who are you calling a mistress?" A voluptuous woman dressed in a flashy, seductive style rushed out, pointing at Lu Xingchen's nose as she snapped, "You're the one who hit my son?"
Holding Huo Chuyun's hand, Lu Xingchen stepped back twice to dodge Zhou Fenghe's flying spit and said arrogantly, "So what? Why don't you beat me to death if you've got what it takes?"
Zhou Fenghe seethed with anger. Rolling up her sleeves, she was about to charge forward when a square-faced man appeared in the doorway and barked,
"Are you done making a scene? Chuyun has only just come home with his guest. Let them come inside first."
Zhou Fenghe glared at Lu Xingchen, then helped Song Zhihua support Huo Junchi into the villa.
Lu Xingchen followed Huo Chuyun inside, studying the decor. One word: tacky. The Huo family was clearly one of the Capital's foremost wealthy families, yet its decorating style was no different from that of the nouveau riche.
As soon as they sat down, Huo Chuyun asked Song Zhihua bluntly, "Where's the photo album?"
A trace of smugness flashed through Song Zhihua's eyes. "I've missed you so much," she said gently. "We can discuss the album later. Let's chat first."
As long as she had the album, Huo Chuyun would have no choice but to behave.
Seeing that the time was right, Zhou Fenghe glanced at Huo Junchi. Still clutching his aching backside, Huo Junchi looked utterly entitled.
"Chuyun, I lost a car race against my friends a few days ago and gambled away all the shares I had. Don't you still have fifty-one percent of Huo Corporation's shares? Give me some."
The scar around Huo Chuyun's brow, set against his indifferent expression, looked thoroughly chilling.
"Do you know how much two percent of Huo Corporation's shares are worth? As I recall, your father still has eight percent. Ask him to give you some. I only came for the album today."
Seeing Huo Chuyun act as though this had nothing to do with him infuriated Huo Zhiyuan, and he said sternly,
"What use do you have for all those shares? If I tell you to share them, then share them! And now you're even eyeing your own father's shares! Is this how your grandfather taught you to respect your elders?"
Clap, clap, clap.
Crisp applause abruptly rang out in the spacious hall.
"Is this how Old Master Huo taught you to guilt-trip his precious grandson into handing over his shares?"
Lu Xingchen looked at Huo Zhiyuan with a smile. "Listen to yourself. Your head's like a zebra's-all those stripes, and you think every point you make is sound. Do you seriously have no fucking clue what use Huo Chuyun's shares are? Why did Old Master Huo give most of his shares to Huo Chuyun and entrust Huo Corporation to him too? Is your piss matte?"
"Do you really need someone to point in your face and tell you you're incompetent? If you think Huo Corporation's shares are useless, give all your own shares to Huo Junchi. Instead, you're trying to guilt-trip him. Don't you know my husband takes after me? He has no morals, so moral blackmail won't work on him."
After watching Lu Xingchen rattle all that off and leave Huo Zhiyuan utterly bewildered, Huo Chuyun twisted open a bottle of mineral water and handed it over. "Yes, I take after you. No morals."
Seeing that he hadn't achieved his goal, Huo Junchi snapped in humiliated anger, "This is a conversation between members of the Huo family. What right does an outsider like you have to butt in?"
"What makes you a member of the Huo family? Did Old Master Huo ever acknowledge you?" Lu Xingchen took a sip of water to moisten his throat. Growing fiercer as the battle went on, he pointed at Huo Junchi's nose and berated him.
"Who doesn't know how Old Master Huo took Huo Corporation back from a bunch of illegitimate children after leaving the military? You and your mistress mother only dared throw your weight around after Old Master Huo passed away. Do you really think moving into the Huo family home made you and your mother its masters?"
"You're waving a chicken feather around like it's an imperial decree. Your brain isn't even the size of a melon seed, and you think you're fit to challenge Huo Chuyun?"
Huo Junchi was so furious that he laughed. "Whatever else I am, my surname is still Huo. So what if you're dating my older brother? You haven't married into the Huo family yet, have you?"
With that, Huo Junchi turned to the other three and asked with a smile, "Dad, Mom, Little Mom, would you agree to let someone this sharp-tongued, who has no respect for hierarchy, into the Huo family?"
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