"Yes, Huo Zhongcheng is my father," Huo Shiqian said calmly.
He knew revealing his father’s identity would certainly cause surprise, but he never intended to hide it.
"My mother passed away when I was young, and the lady here now is the one my father married later."
"I have a younger brother and sister, born afterwards."
These personal details were state secrets, in a way.
Uncle Xia and Aunt Xia couldn’t calm down for a long time.
It was one thing that the family backgrounds were different, but this was also very complicated.
"Huo... Huo Commander, your relationship with Chuyi is still..." Uncle Xia hesitated, searching for the right words.
No matter how good Huo Shiqian was, with such a family, he genuinely couldn’t protect her.
The sphere in which Huo Zhongcheng existed was one where even if he were reduced to dust, he couldn’t cause the slightest ripple.
Huo Shiqian always knew that disclosing his family would bring obstacles.
With a light smile, he stepped forward and took Xia Chuyi’s hand firmly, addressing Uncle Xia with utmost composure, "Uncle, as I said, unless Chuyi lets go herself, no one else will stand in our way."
"After the wedding, we will not live with my father, Chuyi will accompany the military."
The other three people in the room watched him earnestly.
Huo Shiqian’s expression and gaze clearly communicated to everyone that he was serious.
His eyes were full of determination.
He was making a promise.
Curling her lips inwardly, Xia Chuyi thought: Who agreed to accompany the military?
Yet a warm ripple spread through her heart, reaching her limbs.
Feeling the strength from his hand, Xia Chuyi gripped his in return and said with a gentle smile, "I won’t let go."
No matter what she would face in the future by following him, she would advance courageously.
Just as he had never thought too much about being with her.
In fact, Huo Shiqian didn’t know that being with him, she only had to confront family opposition.
With her, however, she faced fate itself.
This time, because of his presence, she managed to protect Uncle Xia’s family.
What about the future? What was the secret that led Xia Lan to send He Qing to disgust her, ultimately leading to her accidental death? If it wasn’t uncovered, would she still die to this secret one day?
By that time, would she have dragged him down to become a widower?
So, call her selfish, but she insisted on pulling this man along.
The two stood there, in front of the elders, holding hands with devotion, firmly expressing their stance.
At the doorway, Li Zitao was on high alert to prevent anyone from approaching, while feeling so moved he was nearly brought to tears.
So this is what it feels like to have a wife.
Heart to heart, invincible together.
In the end, Uncle Xia sighed and said solemnly to Huo Shiqian, "Alright, Commander Huo, I trust you. From today on, Chuyi is in your hands."
"You two go back first, your aunt and I need some quiet time."
Huo Shiqian knew that his family background was a heavy burden for Uncle Xia—if the man were someone who sought vain glory, he would have attached himself to the connection already.
This was Chuyi’s good fortune.
He led Xia Chuyi out of the ward.
Li Zitao followed quietly at a distance, without making a sound.
"Chuyi, your uncle and aunt are good people," he said in a low voice.
Xia Chuyi raised her eyebrows, her face beaming with pride. "Of course they are!"
Huo Shiqian rarely showed a soft expression, and as he held her hand, they slowly walked towards Youwei, attracting many curious glances along the way.
Fortunately, his military uniform spared them countless unnecessary speculations.
As they neared Youwei, Xia Chuyi saw from a distance a group of people blocking the entrance—it was the Xia Family she knew.
"Brother Shiqian, wait for me here, I’ll go handle some things," Xia Chuyi said with a stern face.
Huo Shiqian furrowed his brow and, ultimately letting go of her hand, said, "Go ahead, but remember, I’ve got your back."