Si Yunxiang had originally agreed with Old Huo that they would thank him in person. With their resources, finding someone's address was a piece of cake.
But Huo Sili had stopped them.
According to Huo Sili, he had his own way of doing things and did not need anyone else stepping in for now.
From their subsequent interactions, she could tell that rather than simply thanking Qu Nanzhu and going their separate ways, her son wanted to become his friend.
And he had indeed succeeded.
Huo Sili was only twenty-three this year, but he acted mature beyond his years and had no close friends around him.
He had been precocious, always unable to understand the thoughts of children his age. He found them childish and impossible to communicate with. While a group of six- and seven-year-olds played in the yard, Huo Sili would hide off to one side with a book.
Once, a child had insisted on pestering Huo Sili to play with him. When Huo Sili refused, the child threw his book into the water.
For the first time, little Huo Sili lost his temper. He pushed the child into the water and told him to retrieve it.
Fortunately, a servant was there and pulled the child out as soon as they saw him fall in.
Later, Si Yunxiang took Huo Sili to their home to apologize over the incident. Whether they accepted out of consideration for the Huo family or genuinely forgave him, she did not know. In any case, no family was willing to let their children associate with Huo Sili after that.
At the time, Huo Sili did not think he had done anything wrong. That person had thrown his book into the water first, so what was wrong with making him retrieve it?
Huo Sili had been on his own throughout his elementary school years. He went abroad for high school and only returned after graduating from university to take over the company, leaving him no opportunity to make friends either.
Other people returned from studying abroad to welcome-home parties enthusiastically organized by their friends. Huo Sili had not even had time to get over his jet lag before rushing to shoulder the burden of Huo.
Before he met Qu Nanzhu, Si Yunxiang had thought her son was still completely uninterested in making friends. Now it seemed he simply had not found the opportunity.
Childhood grudges did not last into adulthood. Si Yunxiang did not know that Huo Sili had once attended a birthday party for someone his age.
The host had politely sent an invitation to Huo without specifying whom it was for, so Huo Sili had gone himself.
His appearance had clearly surprised everyone. No one dared approach him to strike up a friendship, partly because they saw no need to invite a rebuff, and partly because they feared saying something wrong and angering Huo's new head.
Huo Sili had two drinks alone in a corner.
Finding it rather dull, he informed the host and left through the back door.
After that, invitations to banquets continued to arrive, but Huo Sili never attended another.
Everything fell back into a vicious cycle.
Although Si Yunxiang found the sight of the two sleeping together heartwarming, she worried they would catch a cold if they slept by the lake too long, so she woke them.
Huo Sili opened his eyes groggily. Once he saw who it was, his eyes curved into a smile.
"Mom."
Si Yunxiang smiled gently at him and pointed to his other side.
Huo Sili looked over. Qu Nanzhu was sleeping peacefully beside him.
He propped himself halfway up, leaned over, and brushed aside the hair covering Qu Nanzhu's eyes and brows.
The tickle of his hair being brushed aside woke Qu Nanzhu.
His hazy eyes widened instantly when he saw the other person there, his gaze clearing.
Si Yunxiang was delighted by that adorable little reaction and waved to greet him.
"Hello, Xiao Qu. I'm Huo Sili's mother. Just call me Auntie Si."
Qu Nanzhu instinctively echoed, "Auntie Si." He wanted to stand up and greet her, but his body would not cooperate.
After a great deal of effort, he managed to roll over.
He gave up.
With his mother's hand for support, Huo Sili settled back into his wheelchair. Looking at a certain slacking salted fish who had flipped himself over, he chuckled. "Still can't stand?"
"Yeah," Qu Nanzhu said. "Overdid it."
In the end, Qu Nanzhu was carried back. With his stamina depleted, he had no choice but to skip the livestream. Once again, he posted a text-only video, captioned-
[Did something big today and wore myself out. Taking a day off.]
His fans were oddly accepting.
[Honestly, I'm not surprised at all by the contents of Qu Bao's new video.]
[I'm even getting a little scared of him posting new videos.]
[It's fine, isn't it? Qu Bao never takes time off except under special circumstances. He's gone ten straight days without a break this time. He deserves a good rest.]
[Take care of yourself, baby. See you tomorrow night.]
[See you tomorrow night.]
In the end, Qu Nanzhu did not even eat dinner. He spent the night resting at the Huo residence and woke from hunger shortly after six in the morning.
When he left his room, he saw servants moving about. The kitchen auntie was preparing breakfast on the first floor.
A servant who recognized him saw him come downstairs and warmly approached to ask what he needed.
Qu Nanzhu had never lived the wealthy life of having breakfast prepared and brought to him as soon as he woke. He said he was going out to buy breakfast, and since he had happened to run into the servant, they could help tell Huo Sili he was leaving first.
The servant sounded surprised. "Aren't you staying for breakfast? Madam had us prepare a portion for you."
Qu Nanzhu was puzzled, recalled what had happened, thought it over, and finally understood.
"All right. Sorry for the trouble, then." Before turning to go upstairs, he asked, "May I ask how much longer it'll be?"
The servant replied with a smile, "Soon. Everyone will come down for breakfast at seven thirty."
Qu Nanzhu nodded mechanically.
Another hour and a half. If I'd known, I wouldn't have agreed to stay.
Seeing his conflict, the servant offered, "If you're hungry, there are some desserts in the refrigerator. Butler Si prepared them to send over to you yesterday. Would you like me to bring them?"
The person on the stairs nodded reservedly. "Thank you."
Sometime after seven, someone knocked on his door from outside.
Qu Nanzhu ran over to answer it. It was Huo Sili.
At the sight of him, the man outside unconsciously tightened the hands resting on his blanket.
"Good morning. How did you sleep last night?"
Qu Nanzhu pulled the door all the way open as he replied, "Very well. I feel full of energy today."
Huo Sili nodded. "That's good. The servants said you had a few desserts this morning. You would be a little hungry after missing dinner last night. Will you still be having breakfast?"
"Sure." After all, desserts were not filling.
Downstairs, several people were already seated at the dining table, waiting to eat.
Apart from Si Yunxiang, whom he had met yesterday, Qu Nanzhu did not know any of the other four.
Huo Sili introduced them as they approached.
The middle-aged man at the head of the table was Huo Sili's father, Huo Juncheng. To his right was Huo Sili's younger paternal aunt, Huo Qinglong. Beside Huo Qinglong was her husband, Fang Moshan, and next to him was their daughter, Fang Pingyue.
They knew about Qu Nanzhu. After all, Huo Sili had cleared out the entire front courtyard last time just to invite him over for a meal, and afterward had even arranged for Butler Si to deliver desserts every other day.
But this was their first time meeting him.
Fang Moshan and Huo Qinglong were composed, greeting him with slight smiles.
Fang Pingyue, however, was anything but composed. She had heard that a guest had arrived yesterday and knew that her cousin had been giving him special treatment all along.
But! No one had told her that this person was-Qu! Nan! Zhu!
Good heavens, what a dreamlike moment for a fan to discover that her idol was actually her cousin's friend, yet she could not whip out her phone right this very second and share this earth-shattering, spirit-moving moment with her family, friends, sworn enemies, bastards she could not stand, and even the entire world!!!
Inside Fang Pingyue's mind, a little figure pounded the ground and sobbed madly.
Her gaze was so blatant and burning that Qu Nanzhu simply could not ignore it.
Even by the end of breakfast, Qu Nanzhu had not escaped that gaze, which looked as though it wanted to devour him.
Huo Sili finally noticed and reminded Fang Pingyue to mind her manners.
But Fang Pingyue seemed to have finally found an outlet for her emotions, complaining that since Huo Sili knew Qu Bao, why had he not told her?
Huo Sili looked baffled. "Why would I tell you who I've met?"
Fang Pingyue was indignant. "I'm Qu Bao's diehard fan! A true fan! The kind who'll never jump ship for her entire life!"
Huo Sili was speechless. "Did you ever tell me that?"
Fang Pingyue fell silent. After a few angry huffs, she moved to Qu Nanzhu's side and wheedled in a sugary voice, "Qu Bao, Qu Baobao, could I get your contact details? Don't worry, I absolutely, absolutely won't bother you for no reason!"
Those two consecutive pet names made Qu Nanzhu uncomfortable all over. He whipped a Heart-Calming Talisman out of his bag and slapped it onto Fang Pingyue's forehead.
"You need to calm down."
Fang Pingyue, now sporting a talisman: "..."
How strange. I'm not angry at all, and even that excitement from just now has settled down.
Before long, Huo Sili watched his usually boisterous cousin not only conduct herself with perfect poise, but also apologize very politely to Qu Nanzhu for her earlier behavior.
It felt... very off and very strange.