Yue Ning was stunned into silence. She finally understood why Huo Feng had been so cold and distant earlier that morning.
She had thought she had done something wrong, but in reality... he was grieving.
"Yanyan," Yue Ning whispered softly, moving closer until she could pull the younger girl into her arms.
"You don’t have to hold it in. If you feel like crying, then cry. Tears don’t make you weak... they make you strong."
Perhaps those words unlocked the gates—Huo Yan suddenly burst into tears, her body trembling as she clung to Yue Ning.
"Sister-in-law... I miss them. I miss them so much..." she sobbed against Yue Ning’s shoulder, her voice muffled yet heart-wrenching.
Yue Ning tightened her embrace, one hand gently rubbing Huo Yan’s back, the other shielding her head as if to protect her from the weight of her own sorrow.
The maids passing by slowed, their expressions dimming. The entire villa seemed to quiet, the heavy silence broken only by Huo Yan’s grief-stricken cries.
Time seemed to blur. Eventually, her sobs softened, her body loosening in Yue Ning’s arms until she finally pulled back.
"Take." Yue Ning handed her a clean handkerchief.
Huo Yan sniffled and accepted it with a shaky, embarrassed smile. "I’m sorry, Sister-in-law... I must look so silly right now."
Yue Ning shook her head firmly. "You did no such thing. Crying isn’t foolish—it’s courage. It takes strength to let yourself feel and to let go."
Huo Yan lowered her gaze, dabbing at her swollen eyes. Her lips trembled, as if there was more she wanted to say but couldn’t find the words.
Yue Ning squeezed her hand gently, grounding her. "I’m here." Her voice softened further, almost like a lullaby. "And Yanyan, you said it was on your birthday that they passed... four days before, wasn’t it?"
Huo Yan froze for a moment, then nodded faintly. "Yes. Ever since then, I never wanted to celebrate. What"s the point when the ones I love most aren’t here?"
Yue Ning’s heart clenched. She brushed a strand of hair from the girl’s damp face and said quietly, "Because they would want you to keep living. To smile, to celebrate, even when it hurts. That’s the best way to honor them."
Huo Yan’s eyes wavered, as if Yue Ning’s words planted a seed she wasn’t ready to water yet. But she leaned into her sister-in-law’s warmth, letting it soothe the ache in her chest.
Meanwhile, in the city’s tallest building, Huo Feng was seated in the conference room, surrounded by restless shareholders.
"That is enough!" he barked suddenly, his voice cutting through their arguments like a whip.
The room fell into an uneasy silence, every man and woman clamping their mouths shut instantly.
"Are you all done passing the blame?" His gaze swept across them, cold and sharp. None dared meet his eyes, and they had their heads lowered in shame.
"If you are done, can I speak now?" Huo Feng’s tone had returned to calm, but the sharpness in his eyes remained.
"As you all know, some of our shares have been transferred to Song Group. Naturally, I know who is behind this..." He paused deliberately, studying their faces.
A few showed fleeting panic before quickly masking it, but it was too late. Huo Feng had already seen. His lips tilted upward faintly, amusement and danger flickering in his gaze.
"You don’t have to worry," he said at last. "I won’t let anything happen to this company. Anyone who wishes to bring it down... would be playing with fire." There was a hint of threat in his voice.
Several older shareholders exchanged glances and nodded, reassured by his confidence. But Huo Feng didn’t wait for their approval. He turned on his heel and walked out of the conference room.
As he strode toward his office, his thoughts darkened. Today was his parents’ death anniversary. A day he always dreaded because it dragged up memories he both cherished and hated.
He could still see his mother’s gentle smile, his father’s stern but protective gaze. They had been happy... until death tore them away.
And yet, in his heart, a shadow lingered. It was no accident. He had always believed someone orchestrated their deaths.
But every time he dug deeper, every lead ended in a dead end—as though someone had deliberately buried the truth.
Reaching his office, he sank into his chair and spread the documents before him, though his mind wasn’t on the documents. Instead, it wandered back to Yue Ning.
He remembered how coldly he had treated her that morning, and guilt pricked at him instantly.
Pulling out his phone, he dialed her number. It rang... and then disconnected.
He tried again, but there was still no answer.
His chest tightened. He tried calling Huo Yan, but the result was the same. The line didn’t even go through. His guilt deepened, blending with unease.
But what he didn’t know was that both Yue Ning and Huo Yan had set their phones to ’do not disturb.’
Just as frustration threatened to overwhelm him, a sharp knock came at his office door.
"Come in," he said curtly.
Ah Si entered, unease written all over his face.
Huo Feng frowned. "What’s wrong? Why do you look like you’ve been chased by a thousand men?" His voice carried a faint tease, but his eyes were already sharp.
"Boss..." Ah Si hesitated, then exhaled heavily. "Bad news."
Huo Feng sat up straight, the last trace of playfulness leaving his face. "What is it?"
Ah Si leaned closer, lowering his voice. "It’s Huo Mingjie..."
Xu Yuelan descended the staircase, every step echoing her elegance. Dressed in a fiery red gown, glittering jewels draped across her neck and wrists, she looked every bit the noble daughter she was born to be.
As she passed her mother’s lounge, the door was slightly ajar, and Lu Shi’s sharp eyes caught her.
"Yuelan? Where are you going, dressed ?" Lu Shi asked, surprise obvious in her usually composed tone.
Xu Yuelan turned her head and smiled sweetly, though the glint in her eyes was unreadable. "You told me to explore other options, to forget Huo Feng. That’s exactly what I’m doing."
She paused, her lips curling into a confident smirk. "Wish me luck, Mother."
Without waiting for a reply, she walked out of the hall. Discover more novels at novel·fıre·net
Lu Shi remained in her seat, stunned. She didn’t know whether to believe her daughter’s words—or suspect that this was yet another dangerous game.