“My brother said can’t go with stranger.”
Yunke’s latest AI chip was about to hit the market. Huo Lin had just wrapped up a partnership dinner and was shaking hands with the other party as the group prepared to leave.
Unexpectedly, he ran straight into Huo Kairan in the hallway.
The young man’s cheeks were flushed, his eyes dazed, as he stumbled in circles around a pillar.
Huo Lin’s footsteps abruptly halted.
The tech company executives following behind didn’t understand what was happening. They only saw President Huo’s aura suddenly turn icy, his gaze locking onto the disheveled young man nearby like a hawk’s.
Someone immediately stepped forward, intending to shoo away this nonsensical drunkard to avoid disturbing President Huo’s peace.
But Huo Lin raised a hand to stop them.
Most of the accompanying executives were older, conservative sticklers for propriety. Seeing this, they frowned and whispered among themselves:
“This broad daylight, drunk to this state, what a disgrace.”
“His attire is also neither here nor there. Which family’s junior is this? Truly, the world is going downhill. Young people these days.”
Wang Zhi, who was accompanying Huo Lin today, answered matter-of-factly: “That’s President Huo’s younger brother, the Huo family’s young master.”
Instantly, everyone’s expressions changed again, their tone shifting immediately:
“Oh! So it’s the Huo family’s young master! No wonder. I observe this young man’s brow is intelligent, his demeanor… well, free and unrestrained, quite reminiscent of ancient scholars!”
“Exactly, exactly. Upon closer look, his bearing is truly exceptional. Even his drunken state has a unique charm, unlike ordinary wastrels.”
“President Huo’s family upbringing is open-minded. Your younger brother is truly a man of passion, haha.”
The corner of Wang Zhi’s mouth twitched almost imperceptibly.
“Then… will President Huo still accompany us back to Yunke?” A manager wiped nonexistent cold sweat from his brow. “There are still some matters we haven’t finished reporting.”
Wang Zhi looked toward his boss in the distance, his mind calculating rapidly like a running program before concluding decisively: “President Huo likely won’t be going to Yunke. Everyone else should return first. Manager Zheng, stay behind and give a concise report later.”
Everyone hurriedly agreed and dispersed, leaving only Manager Zheng and Assistant Wang waiting where they were.
Over by the pillar, Huo Lin stood quietly, waiting for the young man to stumble into his arms. Smelling the alcohol on his brother, his voice deepened: “Huo Kairan, you’ve really grown bold. Come home with me.”
The feeling of things or people slipping out of control always irritated Huo Lin somewhat. But facing the person before him, all his cold, hard emotions dissolved into helplessness.
“Who are you how do you know my name?” Huo Kairan shoved him away, turning to tightly hug the pillar. “My brother said can’t go home with strangers.”
Huo Lin: “I am your brother.”
Huo Kairan stared at him for a moment, then shook his head firmly. “You’re not Huo Lin. Huo Lin would scold me.”
Huo Lin looked down at him. “Why?”
Huo Kairan mumbled quietly: “Because I sneaked out.”
He actually had some self-awareness.
Huo Lin fell silent for a moment before saying, “I’ll keep it a secret for you. Can you come with me now?”
Huo Kairan shook his head again. “No, I haven’t said goodbye to the class monitor yet.”
Huo Lin frowned. “What class monitor?”
Huo Kairan suddenly remembered the urgent matter and tugged anxiously at his sleeve. “Room 3102… which one is 3102? My vision’s blurry help me find it, quick!” he demanded, shamelessly ordering him around.
Huo Lin sighed, turning the man in the right direction. “This way.”
“I’ll take you in to say goodbye, and then you’re coming home with me,” he said, suppressing his anger and trying to keep his tone as calm as possible.
Drunk and carried away, Huo Kairan completely forgot the obedient younger brother persona he had been faking for the past few days. His true, ill-tempered nature surfaced as he lifted his chin with an arrogant air. “Hmph, depends on my mood.”
Huo Lin: “…”
Inside the private room, the atmosphere had been thoroughly soured by Jiang Xu.
Upon hearing that he actually knew someone influential from Linjiang Estate, several classmates eager to climb the social ladder had already gathered around him, offering flattery and urging him to drink, their voices overlapping incessantly.
Jiang Xu, swelling with pride and having downed several shots of hard liquor, was floating on cloud nine, as if he had already ascended into high society.
He slammed his glass heavily on the table, his face flushed and his voice raised as he pointed at the empty seat where Huo Kairan had been sitting earlier. “Huo Kairan? Him? Acting all delicate, can’t lift a thing, hasn’t accomplished anything and he says he works at Linjiang Estate?”
“My guess is he’s being kept by someone there.”
Suddenly, as if struck by a realization, he added, “Hey, I suppose you could call that ‘work’ too,” his tone dripping with insinuation.
Someone couldn’t take it anymore:
“Is that really necessary? Huo always dressed well and seemed particular about his things he didn’t look like he was short on money.”
“Exactly, Jiang Xu. Even if you know someone, you shouldn’t speculate about them behind their back like that.”
“Speculate? I’m making a reasonable deduction!” Seeing the attention shifting away again, Jiang Xu snorted coldly. “If he’s not short on money, why didn’t he go to college? If he’s not short on money, why would he go work in a wealthy neighborhood, bowing and scraping? That face of his is exactly the type those so-called upper-class folks love, and he came from Linjiang Estate, talking all vague and evasive. What kind of ‘work’ he does those in the know, know.”
“You all just have too much of a filter when it comes to him.”
His tone was especially assertive, leaving everyone speechless and even somewhat convinced.
Gao Chaoguang stood up, his brow furrowed tightly. “Jiang Xu, that’s enough. Stop spreading rumors.”
Jiang Xu sneered, leaning in close with alcohol-laden breath and lowering his voice. “Class President, why so anxious? Weren’t you the one who happily went to pick him up? What you feel about him. you know it yourself.”
Gao Chaoguang’s eyes flickered. “I only went to pick him up because everyone mentioned Kairan and I asked about him. We haven’t been in touch at all since graduation.”
“Haven’t been in touch, or didn’t dare to?” Fueled by alcohol, Jiang Xu blurted out everything, whether appropriate or not. “Stop pretending. Don’t think no one knew how you felt about Huo Kairan back in school. Now you’re putting on this righteous act? Secretly thrilled, aren’t you? Seeing him like this, you finally don’t have to feel inferior or hurt anymore, finally able to stand tall, right? Kept by someone or not if you offer more money now, maybe you could win the beauty over yourself. Deep down, you’re probably hoping what I said is true!”
“Jiang Xu! You’re disgusting!” Gao Chaoguang’s face flushed crimson, trembling with anger.
“Hit a nerve, huh?” Jiang Xu made a gagging expression, then patted his chest like a buddy. “But out of brotherly loyalty, I never spilled what you wrote ”
Gao Chaoguang clenched his fist, then slowly relaxed it.
Just then, the private room door was pushed open.
Huo Kairan leaned against the doorframe, tilting his head, long hair cascading over his shoulder, a faint, ambiguous smile curling at the corner of his lips:
“Hmm? Were you just… talking about me?”