Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Unexpected_1
Chapter 178: Chapter 178: Unexpected_1
Huo Linong sat back in his chair, with a new level of seriousness on his face. His whole demeanor underwent a sharp change, exuding a faint intimidation.
Nan Fei was inwardly startled, wondering if all the members of the Huo family were skilled in such rapid shifts in attitude.
Huo Linong glanced several times at Zhou Yongxian’s leg wrapped in a cast, and with an inscrutable expression said, “Mother, my approach was based on your leg injury.”
Although magnanimous in nature, he was not one to be trifled with. Anyone who dared to treat him as a fool or a soft-hearted, useless individual, was gravely mistaken.
The look on Zhou Yongxian’s face improved a little. At least she was not like his wife who seemed to have lost her mind.
“Right now, it’s just my leg. In the future, it might be my life. I’m getting old, I can’t withstrand such turmoil,” she added.
Huo Linong shot up from his seat, a glimpse of shock and utter surprise flashed in his eyes. He even took an incredulous step backward. He looked at Zhou Yongxian with surprise and sorrow which eventually morphed into overwhelming guilt.
“I’m sorry, it’s my fault! I was momentarily soft-hearted, but it ended up hurting you instead,” Huo Linong apologized, bowing to Zhou Yongxian, his eyes filled with remorse. Without her permission, he didn’t dare to move closer, in fear of agitating her further.
“Enough!” Zhou Yongxian sighed helplessly, “Who would have thought! Even I did not foresee this.”
Mother and son shared a look, their expressions complicated.
Guan Rufang didn’t lift her gaze at any point. She had guessed long before that her good friend was not an ordinary person. Now, her suspicions had been confirmed.
Huo Linong had initially intended to accompany Zhou Yongxian home, but in the end, he dismissed that idea and returned home alone.
As he entered the house, it was lunchtime. Yuan Xueshan and Huo Jinlan were sitting face-to-face at the dining table, where three dishes and a soup had been laid out.
“Mom, eat more!” Huo Jinlan actively piled food onto Yuan Xueshan’s plate, “You worked hard last night, it pains me to see you suffer.”
Yuan Xueshan, preoccupied with her thoughts, didn’t know how to explain her actions to her husband when he returned. She was devoid of energy. Normally, she would have been overjoyed when Huo Jinlan served her, but today she showed no response.
Huo Linong stood at the entrance watching, expressionless.
Seeing him, Yuan Xueshan put down her bowl in surprise and hurriedly approached him.
“Linong, you’re home! Have you eaten? Let me serve you.”
An unsettled feeling clung to Huo Jinlan. With a trace of bewilderment and dependence on her face, she approached him, her hand around his arm as she said in her soft voice, “Dad, you’re finally back, I’ve missed you.”
From his tall stance, Huo Linong just looked down at her as she clung to his arm, but said nothing and sat at the dining table.
Huo Jinlan’s unease intensified. Her father had always cherished her and never looked at her the way he did just now. Her reflexes were swift as she pretended to notice nothing and coquettishly held onto his arm.
“Dad, did you bring me any presents? I heard you went to the provincial city, I have never been there and I’ve always wanted to visit!”
“No, you’ve been to the provincial city.”
Yuan Xueshan returned with the served rice and looked up in amazement at his words.
“How could that be?” Huo Jinlan tilted her head in innocence, paused to think before shaking her head and saying, “How is that possible? How could I not remember? Did you or Mom take me there?”
At the end, her sweet smile crept back onto her face as she coyly added, “Or was it my brother who took me there? If so, that would be great.”
Huo Linong gestured for Yuan Xueshan to pass him the dish she was holding, then said after receiving it, “No, it was none of them! When you traveled there, your brother was busy with school and training, he didn’t have time to take you around.”
The smile that Huo Jinlan was struggling to maintain on her face faltered for a split second. At the same time, her sense of unease soared to an all-time high.
Her father had never spoken to her in such a tone before.