Seeing Huo Chuyun come downstairs with the photo album, Lu Xingchen picked up his bag and rose. Huo Chuyun took his hand, and the two were about to head for the door.
Song Zhihua turned to look at Huo Chuyun's retreating figure, her eyes red. She choked out, "Xiao Jun, are you never going to acknowledge the Huo family again? You don't want your mother anymore either?"
Huo Chuyun turned back and looked coldly at Song Zhihua's affected expression, sparing her no consideration.
"Song Zhihua, do you know that you've always been selfish? You've never considered what I wanted. All you wanted was Huo Zhiyuan's love. Now I'm giving you both what you want."
"You're going to cut ties with your own parents?"
Song Zhihua had no idea why her usual tactics no longer had any effect. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
"Yes. And don't call yourselves members of the Huo family in public anymore. Don't forget, I'm the one in charge of Huo Group now."
Huo Chuyun stared impassively at Song Zhihua, not missing the flash of resentment and astonishment in her eyes. Song Zhihua had never imagined he would go this far.
At those words, Huo Zhiyuan staggered, barely steadying himself against the sofa.
"Huo Chuyun, have you gone mad? I'm your father! What is the meaning of this?"
Huo Chuyun scoffed. "I'm in charge of Huo Group, so naturally, I'm the head of the Huo family. I don't recognize your standing in this family, so you can pack your things and get out of the old residence today. Of course, if you won't leave, someone will show you out."
At the thought of his dream of wealth and luxury shattering, Huo Junchi protested indignantly.
"We're not leaving! You think you can take back the old residence just because you want to? Huo Chuyun, if Dad has no right, what gives you the right?"
"Grandpa left the old residence to the next head of the Huo family, and I'm its current head."
"Huo Junchi, you really are stupid. I hold the most shares in Huo Group. What do you think gives me the right? Do you still think I'll give way to you because I have no choice, like I did when we were children? An illegitimate son like you has no right to even appear before me."
Song Zhihua had not expected Huo Chuyun to be so ruthless and unsparing. As though clutching her last lifeline, she threw caution aside and spoke.
"Huo Chuyun, give Xiao Chi your engagement to the Lu family's young master, and we'll leave! Cut ties with us if that's what you want!"
Grandpa Lu had supposedly left an enormous number of shares to his most beloved youngest grandson. Just because they could not deal with Huo Chuyun now did not mean they could not do so in the future.
Hearing this, Huo Junchi immediately cast aside his pride and pleaded, "This is the last time I'll call you my big brother. Big Brother, I really like Chenchen. Please give me your engagement to Chenchen."
Huo Chuyun frowned, hostility surging in his eyes as his gaze cut into Huo Junchi like a knife. He turned to glance at Lu Xingchen. Chenchen?
Lu Xingchen leaned against Huo Chuyun with a smile, his lips curling as he asked, "This Chenchen you're talking about-is that Lu Yichen of the Lu family?"
Huo Junchi lifted his chin and looked at Lu Xingchen with disdain.
"Who else could the Lu family's young master be but Lu Yichen? What do you know? It certainly couldn't be that unfavored Lu Xingchen from the Lu family!"
"Oh, really?"
Lu Xingchen raised his brows at Huo Chuyun and said generously, "Brother Chu, let them have it."
"All right."
Huo Chuyun inwardly sighed with relief. He had thought Huo Junchi was coveting Lu Xingchen right in front of him, and agreed in a cheerful mood.
Before leaving, Huo Chuyun thoughtfully instructed the steward.
"Uncle Huo, once they move out, professionals will come this afternoon to clean the old residence. You've been with the Huo family for so many years. You won't have to wait on anyone anymore. Just enjoy your retirement here, and help me look after the place while you're at it."
Steward Huo looked down on these members of the Huo family too. Back when Huo Chuyun had moved in with the Song family during high school, he had breathed a deep sigh of relief. Huo Chuyun had finally escaped his misery, and his life would only get better.
Now, seeing Huo Chuyun throw these people out as the head of the Huo family, he felt deeply gratified.
"Young Master, you've grown up. Your Uncle Huo supports everything you're doing. You've lived up to Old Master Huo's wishes. Don't let this weigh on you."
When Old Master Huo had been near death, Huo Zhiyuan had still wanted him to leave the majority of his shares to him, even going so far as to skimp on Old Master Huo's food and care.
As a result, Old Master Huo had only thrown him a paltry five percent of the shares in the end. Steward Huo thought the old master had simply grown too softhearted in his old age.
Old Master Huo had originally been revising his will, intending to leave his entire estate to Huo Chuyun.
But after Huo Zhiyuan found out, he had wept at Old Master Huo's bedside, tears and snot streaming down his face, until he had dragged out the old master's paternal affection. Only then had he received that five percent of the shares.
Yet that shameless Huo Zhiyuan had kept coveting Huo Chuyun's shares, egging Song Zhihua on to make Huo Chuyun transfer them to him.
Fortunately, the young master had been clever since childhood and had only parted with a small portion of his shares to protect himself. In the end, his own parents had still broken his heart, and he had only found peace after seeking shelter with the Song family.
Lu Xingchen chimed in, "Exactly. You've already done very well. You're the best, Huo Chuyun. Uncle Huo and I are on your side."
"I know. Thank you, baby." Huo Chuyun ruffled Lu Xingchen's hair helplessly, then turned to the steward.
"Take care of yourself. I'll come see you when I have time. If you want to see me, you can call me, and I'll send someone to pick you up."
After they said their goodbyes, Huo Chuyun took Lu Xingchen to a restaurant for a meal.
Lu Xingchen glanced at the photo album Huo Chuyun had brought with him and asked, "Are all the photos in the album?"
"All of them."
Huo Chuyun gave Lu Xingchen an amused look and placed a boneless slice of fish in his bowl. "I was wondering why you insisted on taking a bag when we went out, and even went to the kitchen."
Lu Xingchen poked at his rice with his chopsticks. "I didn't scare you today, did I, Brother Chu? This is how I do things. I'll use any means necessary to get what I want."
Huo Chuyun did not even pause as he ladled out soup. "Then it looks like we're the same kind of person. People who share the same outlook go further together."
Lu Xingchen's expression instantly brightened, like a wilted sunflower blooming toward the sun again. "Wasn't I cool today, taking on four people all by myself?"
"Incredibly cool. It was all thanks to you backing me up today, baby."
Huo Chuyun set the soup in front of Lu Xingchen. "Careful, it's hot. Let it cool a little before you drink it."
After the meal, the two returned to Huo Chuyun's home together.
Lu Xingchen had the television on and was watching a dating show. Every so often, his eyes sparkled, only for him to frown and squeeze them shut a moment later.
Huo Chuyun cut up a plate of fruit and handed it to Lu Xingchen, then sat down with an arm around his waist and asked in amusement, "What's going on?"
Lu Xingchen vented his exasperation to Huo Chuyun.
"Can't the director of this dating show file workplace injury claims for the female guests? Every time another woman comes on, my eyes light up all over again. But when I see those four male guests, I just shut my eyes, drop my head, and go straight to sleep."
Huo Chuyun glanced at the television, then immediately turned back to Lu Xingchen and nodded in agreement. "True. They should file workplace injury claims for the audience too."
Before you continue