Father Huo fell silent.
Before this, Qiao Zhiwei hadn’t really understood Huo Jingnian. She hadn’t expected that when he spoke, every word would hit the mark sharp, precise, without a single unnecessary sentence.
Not knowing him well was only natural. She had met Huo Jingnian only three times in total. The first time was during Old Master Huo’s injury treatment, when Huo Jingnian was just fourteen.
And she had been twelve.
The second time was at Old Master Huo’s birthday banquet, when the Qiao and Huo families officially formed a marriage alliance. Old Master Huo had asked her with a chuckle, “I hear you’re a little girl who’s used to making her own decisions. If you don’t object to this match, you can choose between Jingchen and Jingnian.”
That year, she was sixteen, Huo Jingchen fifteen, and Huo Jingnian eighteen.
In front of her, Huo Jingchen had always been obedient and well-behaved. He never went through a so-called rebellious teenage phase. Sitting there, he looked at her with a gentle smile, the very image of a mild and quiet handsome youth.
Huo Jingnian, on the other hand, sat upright at the side, his posture straight, features striking. His face was expressionless, yet his presence was like that of a young military officer stepping out of an oil painting.
In terms of looks and bearing, although both were one in ten thousand, Huo Jingnian clearly stood out more. But he was too cold Qiao Zhiwei didn’t like that.
Besides, she wasn’t truly just sixteen. At eighteen, Huo Jingnian had already been admitted to the country’s top military academy. Talented in both ability and character, outstanding in every way, he was the heir Old Master Huo personally groomed and kept by his side.
He was destined for an official career, and his future partner would certainly not be an ordinary person.
Old Master Huo had given her face by letting her choose, but she couldn’t possibly be so naïve or inconsiderate as to choose Huo Jingnian.
The third time was when he was twenty. The Huo family held a banquet, and several young women competed jealously over him, making a very ugly scene.
When informed of it, Huo Jingnian remained completely indifferent, staying out of it as though it had nothing to do with him.
At the time, she had felt especially fortunate. Thankfully, she had been sensible and chosen Huo Jingchen otherwise, she would have had to endure scenes like that again and again in the future.
But now it seemed she had been sensible too early.
Huo Jingchen either spared her embarrassment entirely or, once he did embarrass her, made her wish she were dead.
Thinking of this, she spoke calmly, “Then let’s settle accounts. Since Jingchen has found a better choice, I’ll grant him his wish.”
Huo Jingnian lifted his eyes to look at her but said nothing.
Father Huo, on the other hand, let out a breath of relief.
Qiao Zhiwei continued, “All the expenses for Huo Jingchen’s four years of study abroad were paid by my Qiao family a total of thirty thousand. If Uncle and Aunt think I’m making this up, I’ve kept the remittance slips and can show them to you.”
Hearing such a large sum, Madam Huo nearly fainted. “He only went to study, not to start a factory or invest in a business. Why would it cost so much?”
Her words were clearly double-edged.
Huo Jingli also panicked. “Don’t talk nonsense. Even if he ate delicacies every day, wore silk and brocade, and lived it up, he couldn’t have spent that much!”
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “Second Brother went to Country E. The cost of living in developed countries is different from that in developing ones. And he needed to broaden his horizons and visit renowned mentors what part of that doesn’t cost money?
“Do you really think he achieved his current vision and accomplishments purely through hard work? That he could return to the country and take a teaching post at a university at such a young age?”
Father Huo’s hand trembled slightly. “Weiwei, your Qiao family wasn’t this calculating in the past.
“Besides, Jingchen and I never said we wouldn’t take responsibility. There’s no need to make things so stiff all at once.”
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. “Uncle Huo, you’re absolutely right I don’t want things to become this stiff either. Since you want me not to be calculating under these circumstances, then shouldn’t you also refrain from calculating the twelve hundred thousand in debt my Qiao family owes outside, and keep our relationship the same as before?”
Madam Huo was displeased, but with Huo Jingnian sitting nearby, she didn’t dare say much. She immediately tried to smooth things over. “Alright, alright, let’s not talk about these troubling matters for now. We’ll wait for the old master to decide.
“It’s almost dinner time, and Jingchen should be back soon. If Weiwei has any dissatisfaction or misunderstandings, she can talk it out with Jingchen later.”
Qiao Zhiwei said nothing.
Madam Huo hurried upstairs, entered Huo Jingchen’s study, and made a phone call.
When the call connected and she heard her son’s voice, she quickly asked, “Jingchen, how are your onboarding procedures going over there?”
“Everything’s going smoothly.”
“Your eldest brother is back and brought the Qiao sisters with him. Weiwei is sitting in our living room right now, settling accounts with us.
“She says she sent you thirty thousand during your years studying abroad.”
Huo Jingchen frowned slightly. “She’s actually settling this account with me?”
“Then did she or didn’t she send you that money?”
Huo Jingchen didn’t answer directly. Instead, he said, “Wait for me. I’ll be back right away.”
“Talk to her nicely.”
“Got it.” Huo Jingchen hung up and returned shortly after.
As soon as he entered and saw his father and mother sitting in the hall, he immediately asked, “Where’s Weiwei?”
Madam Huo’s expression wasn’t very good. “Your eldest brother had Aunt Liu take her to rest in the guest room.”
Father Huo shot him a glare. “Hurry and go discuss things properly with her. Your grandfather will probably be back in about half an hour.”
Huo Jingchen nodded, went to the guest room door, and knocked. From inside came Qiao Zhiwei’s voice: “Come in.”
Huo Jingchen pushed the door open and entered.
His gaze fell on Qiao Zhiwei’s face. In just over half a month without seeing her, she seemed much more haggard.
Qiao Zhiwei ignored him and sat at the table, flipping through a book.
Meeting Qiao Zhilan’s fierce glare, he smiled and said, “Lanlan, I have a few words to say to your sister. Why don’t you go take a walk in the courtyard first?”
“What are you going to say now to make my sister angry? I’m telling you, Huo Jingchen”
“Alright, Zhilan, go out first,” Qiao Zhiwei said softly.
This was the Huo family’s home. No matter how much right they had, they were still under someone else’s roof.
Qiao Zhilan shot him a hard glare and left.
Huo Jingchen walked over and sat in front of Qiao Zhiwei, still wearing that obedient younger-brother expression from before. “Sister Weiwei, are you angry?”
“Of course. Betrayal would be one thing, but you even added insult to injury by sending He Gang to humiliate me.”
“What’s wrong with He Gang? Only he can solve your debt problem.”
Qiao Zhiwei was both furious and enraged. “You shameless bastard.”
Huo Jingchen wasn’t angry. “Sister Weiwei, that’s one hundred and twenty thousand. Aside from the He family, who else has that kind of power? I know you don’t like He Gang, but in marriage alliances, which one is about love anyway?
“If I can marry without regard for who it is, for the sake of my future, can’t you marry someone who can help you, for the sake of yours?”
Hearing this, Qiao Zhiwei looked at the young man in front of her in a daze and let out a soft laugh. A man who had studied abroad and seen the world yet he was actually scared stiff by one hundred and twenty thousand.
Thankfully, she had been the one guiding her father in setting up the daily-use chemical factory back then. If Huo Jingchen knew her true capabilities, she feared she’d never see his true face in this lifetime.
He really was good at pretending.
Seeing her remain silent, Huo Jingchen thought she was wavering. “Haven’t you heard the saying that forced melons aren’t sweet? Even if Grandpa comes back, it won’t help.
“If you truly don’t like He Gang, isn’t my father’s suggestion workable?”
Qiao Zhiwei said coldly, “Even if a rotten melon like you were cut up into slices after being forced off the vine, I still wouldn’t accept it.”
Huo Jingchen was always gentle in front of Qiao Zhiwei, even when his belly was full of schemes.
His mild brows lifted slightly. “Fine. As long as you don’t make me repay that debt, anything is acceptable.
“I’m just about to start my job. Even once I’m working, I’ll only earn a bit over two hundred a month. If you demand repayment now, aren’t you deliberately making things difficult—trying to force me to marry you?”
He propped his chin with one hand and looked at her with curved eyes, his tone carrying a hint of coaxing.
Looking at him, Qiao Zhiwei sighed inwardly. She had to admit, Huo Jingchen was really well suited to living off others thick-skinned, flexible, and, most importantly, able to be scummy with utter confidence.
“Don’t flatter yourself. From the moment you decided to marry He Manman, I had no such thought.”
Huo Jingchen’s lips curved. “Discarding me so thoroughly and so quickly—it seems Sister didn’t like me all that much after all.”
As he spoke, his posture didn’t change, and his gaze remained on Qiao Zhiwei’s beautiful face.
Qiao Zhiwei shot him a cold glance. “We’re the same.”
After that, she added, “Huo Jingchen, when you speak to me in the future, could you stop using that kind of attitude?”
Huo Jingchen didn’t care. He put his hand down, sat up straight, and tidied his clothes.
He was wearing a long Zhongshan suit that day. His words and actions were refined and gentle as he asked unhurriedly, “Why?”
“So He Manman won’t misunderstand. I advise you to change this habit sooner rather than later.”
Huo Jingchen smiled. “How could that be? Although we’re fated but not destined now, you did genuinely pour your heart and soul into paving my way. So no matter what happens, I’ll maintain at least basic courtesy toward you, Sister.”
Just as before never losing his temper or showing her a sour face.
“So you still know that.”
Huo Jingchen nodded. “I’m not an idiot.”
For a moment, Qiao Zhiwei couldn’t quite describe what she was feeling inside.
Huo Jingchen was really good at placating people. Even when arguing, he was gentle. But having lived one more lifetime, she wasn’t some love-brained fool. “Whether you’re an idiot or not, I must settle this account in front of Grandpa.”
Huo Jingchen wasn’t annoyed. “My grandfather may be powerful, but he’s incorruptible. The Huo family can’t produce this money.”
After a pause, he added, “But it’s not without hope.”
“I don’t care about hope, nor whether the Huo family can repay it. If the He family comes to me for payment, then I’ll come to the Huo family. My family owes the He family twenty thousand, but you owe me thirty thousand.”
Huo Jingchen’s dark pupils flickered. “I can have the He family stop pressing you for this debt for now but what about the other creditors?”
“If the other creditors press me, I’ll come to the Huo family as well. My family owes the He family twenty thousand, but you owe me thirty thousand.”
Huo Jingchen shook his head lightly. “Sister, you’re really ruthless.”
Qiao Zhiwei met his gaze. “So are you.”
“People climb upward; water flows downward. If your Qiao family were still as it once was, not to mention the He family even if it were the daughter of a high official or a tycoon, I wouldn’t marry her.
“Blame it on my future father-in-law for being too rash, dragging all of us down.”
For the first time, Qiao Zhiwei saw someone describe living off others so eloquently. She sneered inwardly and said aloud, “You’re really an embarrassment to the Huo family. From now on, call me Miss Qiao.”
Looking at her peerlessly beautiful face, Huo Jingchen smiled faintly. “You must be cursing yourself inside, wondering why you were blind enough to choose me back then, aren’t you?”
“You’re overthinking it.”
“But fortunately, I’ve been scolded like that by Grandpa and Father since I was young, so I’ve already disgraced the Huo family many times. One more time makes no difference.
“Since Miss Qiao insists on her principles, I won’t force you.”
There was no warmth at all in Huo Jingchen’s tone, making his emotions impossible to discern. It was the first time Qiao Zhiwei had felt a second side of him beyond his usual gentleness.
But so what? She no longer cared whether he was angry.
Huo Jingchen stood up. “I’ll be going now. If you come to your senses, you can come find me anytime.”
“There’s nothing I need to come to my senses about.”
Huo Jingchen paused. “The Huo family has no money, but my elder brother’s maternal family does. Why don’t you cry a little in front of Grandpa later? He might soften and have my elder brother go get it.”
“Shameless to the extreme!”
Huo Jingchen laughed. “Miss Qiao, aren’t you exaggerating a bit? Shameless, perhaps, but not to the extreme. If I truly were, I wouldn’t acknowledge that thirty thousand at all.
“Remittance slips are just evidence, not loan notes. I could easily find an excuse to explain where that money went. At most, I’d suffer some moral condemnation; legally, there’d be nothing you could do to me.
“And what I just suggested was teaching you how to solve the problem. How is that shameless?
“Including marrying He Gang, or sending you and Lanlan out of the capital all of that was genuinely meant to solve your problems.”
“Get out! You heartless, cold-blooded thing!” Qiao Zhiwei finally couldn’t suppress her emotions and shouted.
Huo Jingchen didn’t retort and turned to leave.
The room fell silent once more. Qiao Zhiwei sat quietly at the table, planning how she would negotiate with Old Master Huo later.
The door was gently pushed open, and a beam of bright light shot in. As someone turned and closed it again, the room returned to quiet.
Looking at the worried Qiao Zhiwei, Qiao Zhilan asked with concern, “Sister, what did that bastard Huo Jingchen say to you?”
“He wants me not to demand that thirty thousand from him.”
Qiao Zhilan cursed angrily, “What a hypocritical, snobbish pseudo-gentleman who wants all the benefits.
“We really were blind back then”
She regretted it halfway through and hurriedly apologized. “Sorry, Sister. I’m not saying you had poor judgment choosing such a thing back then.
“People are hard to truly know. Besides, he looks so upright and respectable very deceptive.
“I’m mainly worried about you.
“But with the Huo family’s situation, there’s no way we can get that thirty thousand back.”
Qiao Zhiwei smiled. The more her sister explained, the more it hurt. Understanding her meaning, she said, “Don’t worry. I have my own plan.
“He wants He Gang to marry me first, to get rid of me as a burden, and second, to show loyalty to He Manman, proving that he has no real feelings for me.
“Since that’s the case, why shouldn’t I use him to deal with the He family?
“I’ll use this thirty thousand to force Huo Jingchen to help stabilize the He family. Judging from his attitude just now, it shouldn’t be a problem.
“If He Manman wants to end everything once and for all, to eliminate future trouble, the He family might even help repay the thirty thousand.
“Of course, this will take some time.
“For now, our top priority is to stabilize the current situation.
“After that, everything will slowly get better.”
Listening to her sister’s confident analysis, Qiao Zhilan let out a long breath. “Sis, I knew you could do it.”
Just then, Aunt Liu’s voice sounded outside the door. “Comrades Qiao, Commander Huo has returned.”
Hearing this, the sisters immediately stood up.
Qiao Zhiwei whispered to Qiao Zhilan, “Zhilan, no matter what shameless things Uncle Huo and Aunt Huo say later, you must endure it.”
She then made a face. “Just try to look as pitiful and wronged as possible.”
Qiao Zhilan burst out laughing at her expression. “I can’t do that face. I’ll just stay quiet.”
Then she teased, “But the pitiful look you just made was really heartbreaking.
“Grandpa Huo will definitely feel sorry for you. He likes you the most.”
Qiao Zhiwei withdrew her expression. “Alright, let’s go.”