4 – Third Brother, let me tell you something interesting
The next day.
Song Yuan, who had slept until past three in the afternoon, had just woken up with one thought dominating her mind: how to kill Huo Yuzhou!
But the moment she moved, she felt as if she’d been run over by a cart, her whole body aching and sore.
The spot beside her had long been empty, leaving only the lingering scent of cedarwood.
She grabbed his pillow and hurled it to the floor, cursing inwardly: That dog of a man!
Last night, he’d deliberately held back his strength just to torment her!
Meanwhile, downstairs.
“Mr. Huo has specifically instructed that no one may set foot on the second floor.”
The kindly-faced Aunt Lin said with a hint of embarrassment as she explained to Su Hua, “I’m really sorry.”
Su Hua, Song Yuan’s agent, was highly capable and never one to beat around the bush. Once she’d made up her mind about something, no one could change it, and she had a formidable reputation in the industry. She was married to a university professor.
She’d come knocking today because of the variety show she’d discussed with Song Yuan a couple of days prior.
Song Yuan—even in the entertainment industry, where beautiful women were a dime a dozen—was the most eye-catching of them all.
When Su Hua had first decided to take her on, it was that one stunning look that had hooked her. Add to that Song Yuan’s privileged family background, and shooting straight to A-list status should have been a sure thing!
But as it turned out, she didn’t care about money, didn’t want fame, and couldn’t be bothered to deal with the troublemaking paparazzi.
To this day, she was still floating around at the bottom of the industry.
Su Hua had thought of putting her on a variety show to get her more exposure in front of the public. With that bewitching, stunning face of hers, she was bound to make a name for herself somehow.
As it happened, a private training camp variety show was in the works—a big-budget production.
Director Tang Qi, who had been off the grid for two or three years, was suddenly making a comeback. Quite a few veteran artists had been revived by his shows, and he’d launched no shortage of new talent.
Su Hua wanted to seize this opportunity to give her own artist some face time.
But Song Yuan’s response was that she’d think about it.
Two days had passed, and still no word.
Several other artists were fighting tooth and nail to get in, and Su Hua was worried that if they delayed any longer, the spots would be snatched up.
Early that morning, she’d texted and called Song Yuan, but all had gone unanswered, so she’d driven straight over—only to find Song Yuan still asleep.
But when Su Hua heard what Huo Yuzhou had instructed, she didn’t pry. She just said it was fine and that she’d wait a bit longer.
About an hour later.
Light footsteps finally came from the staircase.
“Aunt Lin, is there any food left?”
Song Yuan, wrapped in a pink bathrobe, felt as if she were treading on clouds—soft and weightless. She figured it would take days to recover.
If not for her stomach growling incessantly, she wouldn’t have bothered getting out of bed.
With every step, she cursed Huo Yuzhou under her breath!
Hearing her voice, Aunt Lin immediately ladled out a bowl of seafood congee from the pot and set it on the dining table, adding, “Ma’am, someone’s here to see you.”
Song Yuan turned slightly and locked eyes with Su Hua, who was sitting on the sofa. She gave a slight start. “Sister Su?”
Su Hua rose and walked over. “I texted and called you, but you didn’t reply. I was worried something had happened to you.”
The moment Song Yuan heard her mention the phone, her teeth itched with hatred for Huo Yuzhou.
Last night, his phone had suddenly started buzzing—one call after another. Huo Yuzhou hadn’t stopped what he was doing and had just answered it. Song Yuan had nearly ground her teeth to dust, but he’d kept his grip on her waist without pause.
“I came to ask—what did you decide about the variety show?”
“Director Tang’s side is about to sign contracts and finalize the guest list.”
“If you’re going, I’ll handle it for you. If not, I won’t keep pushing.”
Su Hua continued, “The show is filmed at a private training base, all ruggedly handsome guys.”
“Every single one of them genuinely strong and built. I heard the training sessions are done shirtless—gorgeous men everywhere. Open your eyes and you see them, close your eyes and you can imagine them.”
She was deliberately baiting her!
Song Yuan scooped up a spoonful of seafood congee. Handsome guys or not, she had no energy to think about that right now. All she could think about was that hard nut Huo Yuzhou—
That phone call last night had lasted only a few minutes.
She vaguely remembered the other party mentioning something about negotiating a cooperation deal with the Huo Group—something tricky.
The thought of him staying home to handle things and doing this to her every day… she’d probably lose her life!
She might as well go film the variety show.
With that thought, Song Yuan nodded in agreement. “I’ll go. I’m going.”
As long as she got far away from Huo Yuzhou, forget a variety show—she’d even go to another planet!
Su Hua knew that the right tool for the right job—to crack Song Yuan, it had to be handsome men!
A smile instantly spread across her face. “I’ll get it arranged for you right away!”
Seeing her about to leave, Song Yuan said, “Stay a bit longer. I’ll have Aunt Lin make you some juice.”
Su Hua looked at her with a knowing smile. “You must have had a tiring night. Get some good rest these next few days—I won’t disturb you.”
“Seems Mr. Huo really is something else.”
With that, she grabbed her bag and left.
Song Yuan felt something was slightly off, but it wasn’t until she finished her bowl of congee and went to the bathroom to draw a hot bath that her gaze met the mirror—and her ears instantly burned with heat.
The hickeys on her chest and neck were on full, shameless display.
Anyone who saw them would know the bedroom action had been scorching hot.
At this point, going to film the variety show was an absolute must!
Huo Group.
The CEO’s office.
Huo Yuzhou had just finished handling the matters at hand. It was merely a business collaboration, yet the higher-ups had been unable to reach a decision for ages—the meeting had dragged on from nine in the morning until just half an hour ago.
He’d barely settled into his office chair for a few minutes when He Chuan pushed open the office door and walked in.
“Third Brother’s dedicated enough, isn’t he? Worked all night and still won’t take a break?”
The teasing started right away.
Lu Cheng, following behind him, had a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Third Brother’s stamina is legendary—he could sprint even at eighty!”
Huo Yuzhou didn’t even lift his eyes. He signed the documents with a few swift strokes, then twisted the cap back onto his pen with his left hand before finally looking at the two uninvited idlers lounging on the sofa. “Something on your minds?” he asked.
He Chuan dropped the roguish demeanor and got down to business. “Remember how Tang Qi was talking about borrowing the base to film that variety show a while back?”
“You never gave him an answer.”
“So we’re here to ask.”
“Are you going to agree or not?”
Lu Cheng played with the wording and grinned. “Of course he’s hard—who’s harder than Third Brother?”
Huo Yuzhou hurled his pen at him, brows furrowing slightly. “Tone down that slacker attitude of yours!”
“If we were at the base, ten kilometers would be the lightest punishment!”
That unruly streak of his—he only ever aimed it at Song Yuan. To outsiders, he presented an image of righteous solemnity, an unassailable fortress of restraint.
The moment Lu Cheng heard he’d be punished, he immediately zipped his lips and sealed his mouth, not daring to say another word.
Huo Yuzhou steered back to business. “We’ll talk about it once the final list of participants is confirmed.”
Filming at the base wasn’t a big deal.
It was the celebrities themselves—the slightest bit of fussiness and things could easily go sideways.
He Chuan had been pestered by Tang Qi about this for days, and he’d caught bits and pieces about the celebrities involved. But the real reason he’d come to Huo Group to see Huo Yuzhou was something fresh he’d just heard.
“Third Brother, let me tell you something interesting.”
Lu Cheng perked up at that—even more eager than Huo Yuzhou.
He’d been holding out on them in the car, refusing to spill.
“Sister-in-law is joining this variety show too.”