On the way home from the hospital, they ran into Huo Xuewen, who was rushing over. He looked dusty and travel-worn, with a faint circle of stubble around his chin.
Chenchen was the first to spot him and called out happily, “Dad! Dad’s here!”
Huo Xuewen, seeing his son looking lively, seemed to breathe a long sigh of relief. He hurried over and carefully took the boy from Ning Shaoyun’s arms. “Dad heard you are sick. How do you feel?”
Chenchen wrapped his arms around his father’s neck happily. “Just need to take medicine! No shots!”
Huo Xuewen tested his forehead for fever, then turned to Ning Shaoyun. “Thank you for your hard work. What did the doctor say?”
“It’s nothing serious. Just take the medicine on time, drink more water, and rest,” Ning Shaoyun informed him. “Why are you here?”
“I just got off the train,” Huo Xuewen replied. “I heard Chenchen was sick.”
Ning Shaoyun responded with a simple “I see,” not even asking back how he had learned of their son’s situation.
Huo Xuewen silently followed behind, holding Chenchen in his arms.
Xia Mian cast him a curious glance. Based on what Ning Shaobai had told her, Huo Xuewen had likely suffered heavy losses after selling land in Hainan at low prices to avenge Chenchen. On top of that, with his true parentage exposed and the Huo family thrown into turmoil over Director Luo’s bribery scandal, his career must have been in shambles.
By all rights, his situation should have been disastrous. Any ordinary person would have been crushed, yet he seemed in much better spirits than before.
What Xia Mian had noticed, Ning Shaoyun, of course, saw even more clearly.
After parting ways with the Xias and returning home, Ning Shaoyun hesitated for a moment before asking, “How have you been lately?”
Huo Xuewen stroked Chenchen’s head, “Much better than I expected. It’s a relief not having to exhaust myself trying to please them.”
He had once believed that Huo Pengyi and Hu Cuihua’s coldness stemmed from his own shortcomings, and so he had pushed himself relentlessly—only to realize in the end that it had all been a cruel joke.
Looking at Ning Shaoyun and Chenchen, Huo Xuewen thought that, thankfully, in this absurd life, he still had two priceless treasures.
Ning Shaoyun sighed with mixed emotions. “What are your plans?”
“First, I’ll go back and meet my biological parents,” Huo Xuewen said. “Then I’ll use the money I have left to start a business. I need to build a future for Chenchen and…”
He paused before continuing, “Leave him a family fortune.”
He gently rubbed Chenchen’s back. “I’ve already failed him once.”
Chenchen turned his head in confusion. “Dad?”
“Dad’s here.” Huo Xuewen pinched his son’s face, with a gentle smile on his face, “I hope our Chenchen can grow up as he pleases and do whatever he wants.”
Not like him—crushed under the weight of fake expectation, unable even to protect his own wife and child.
Chenchen’s eyes lit up slightly. He glanced secretly at his mother, then leaned into Huo Xuewen’s ear and whispered, “Dad, I want to fly planes.”
Recently, he has been playing with Lego airplane sets.
Huo Xuewen’s eyes were full of determination. “Okay. When Dad earns enough money, I’ll buy you a plane. But it might take a little time. Can you wait for Dad?”
Chenchen nodded.
Ning Shaoyun frowned. “Don’t make promises to him lightly. You now—”
“Xiao Yun,” Huo Xuewen said solemnly, “from now on, everything I promise him, I will make happen.”
Ning Shaoyun met his gaze. Huo Xuewen said softly, “Even though I’m no longer the Huo family’s young master, I am still Chenchen’s father…” and your admirer.
“For him,” and for you.
“I will start over.”
Start over learning how to love, how to protect, and how to reclaim the treasures I had lost.
Ning Shaoyun had no words to respond.
A sudden ring of a phone broke the somewhat heavy atmosphere. Huo Xuewen glanced at the caller ID, his expression serious as he answered,
“Yes, this is Huo Xuewen.”
“…”
“What? An investigation?”
“…”
“The Chengbei project? Sir, that project was handed over more than a month ago; it’s no longer under my management.”
“…”
“Alright, understood. I’ll cooperate.”
After he hung up, Ning Shaoyun frowned. “What happened? What’s wrong with the Chengbei project?”
Huo Xuewen explained, “That was the police just now. They said there’s been an incident at the project.”
Seeing Ning Shaoyun’s concern, he reassured her, “It’s fine. I was merely asked to assist with the investigation.”
After pondering for a moment, he began explaining carefully, “Dad… I mean, Huo Pengyi has started shifting a lot of power to Huo Yuanlong beginning the last year.”
“I didn’t think much of it back then, so I didn’t pay attention. It wasn’t until Xiao Bai reminded me that I started digging and found out he had planted many of his own relatives and friends into that project, cutting corners to siphon money.”
“I’ve been busy gathering evidence and dealing with those people. I just hadn’t finished before the project was taken back…”
“You know the rest.”
Ning Shaoyun thought for a moment. “So this time it’s probably Huo Yuanlong who caused the trouble?”
“Most likely,” Huo Xuewen said with a self-deprecating laugh, a trace of coldness in his eyes. “Huo Pengyi probably wants me to take the blame for his real son.”
Ning Shaoyun frowned worriedly. “Then you…”
“It’s alright,” Huo Xuewen said. “I gathered a lot of evidence, and now’s time to put it to use.”
Ning Shaoyun felt much more at ease. “I see. Be careful.”
Looking at her, Huo Xuewen suddenly apologized, “I’m sorry. I should have communicated with you more before.”
Just a few more words could have saved her from worrying unnecessarily, but he had thought she didn’t need to bother with such matters and kept silent, which only made her feel insecure. In the end, they had almost nothing left to say to each other.
Ning Shaoyun lowered her eyelids to hide the emotions in her eyes. “It’s alright, it’s all in the past.”
Huo Xuewen didn’t say anything more. He stood up. “I have to go.”
Ning Shaoyun reached out to take Chenchen from him. Huo Xuewen suddenly took a step forward and hugged both her and the child tightly.
Just as Ning Shaoyun was about to struggle, she heard Huo Xuewen whisper, “Let me hug you for a moment.” He needed to draw some strength.
Ning Shaoyun sighed inwardly and stopped moving.
Fortunately, Huo Xuewen soon let go, rubbed Chenchen’s head, and said, “Dad has something to do. I’ll come see you in a few days.”
Chenchen nodded. “Dad, next Friday is Xiao Feng’s birthday. Will you come?”
Huo Xuewen thought for a moment. “Next Friday? Sure, Dad will come see you.”
Chenchen nodded cheerily, but just like before, it was more a reaction to hearing the words than truly believing that his father would keep the promise.
Huo Xuewen rubbed the boy’s soft hair. His best years had already been destroyed by others’ selfishness, but fortunately, he still had people worth fighting for.
He hoped that with this new beginning, there was still time to make everything right.