“Why are you still standing there? Go prepare the betrothal gifts and arrangements for tomorrow’s visit to the Su family.” Huo Jingsheng’s lips curved upward.
Liu Yan: “…”
What’s going on? Wasn’t Professor Huo asleep?
Lin Cheng’an: “…”
Was the professor thinking about marrying that ungrateful woman the whole time he was resting with his eyes closed?
They both looked at Huo Jingsheng in confusion. His handsome features, usually sharp and cold, now appeared gentle. His keen, hawk-like eyes held a discernible warmth.
Under the collective gaze of three pairs of eyes, Huo Jingsheng showed no embarrassment. Instead, he calmly stared back at them.
It was his personal assistant, Chen Jian, who quickly adjusted his expression and asked, “Professor, what standard should we follow for the preparations?”
“The highest standard. She must have everything others have, and if there’s anything others don’t have but I do, give it all to her.” Huo Jingsheng’s clear voice carried a hint of joy.
Six eyes around the hospital bed widened like copper bells as they stared at him. Lin Cheng’an opened his mouth, wanting to say, “The highest standard—is she worthy?” But he knew his young professor and friend too well. If he spoke those words, their friendship would be over.
Seeing the disbelief on the faces of the three before him, the faint smile in Huo Jingsheng’s eyes instantly turned cold and profound.
He parted his thin lips and spoke slowly, “To be honest, I’m willing to marry her. I’ve wanted to marry her since I was five.”
“Professor Huo—you wanted to marry at five? What a genius!” Liu Yan’s booming voice nearly pierced the ceiling.
Lin Cheng’an and Chen Jian simultaneously covered Huo Jingsheng’s ears, both glaring disdainfully at Liu Yan.
“Liu Yan, what’s the fuss? Back then, I might not have understood love, but I knew I wanted to give her the best things in the world—and I was the best.”
The three in the hospital room: “…”
Liu Yan’s face remained expressionless, but inwardly he screamed, No wonder Professor Huo is so accomplished—he was thinking about marriage at five! And here I am at twenty-five, never having considered it!
Chen Jian suppressed a laugh and silently handed a cup of warm water to Huo Jingsheng.
After taking a sip, Huo Jingsheng continued, “I met her when I was five and wanted to marry her. For the next seven years, that desire only grew stronger.”
The three in the hospital room: “…”
“When I was twelve, I left Kaoshan Village and left her. Though I still didn’t understand love, I knew what marriage meant—spending a lifetime with someone you love.”
The three in the hospital room: “…”
Lin Cheng’an had always known Huo Jingsheng’s feelings, which was why he hated Su Yiwei even more—now to the extreme.
The other two, however, looked relieved. They listened with great interest, eager to hear more. Fortunately, Huo Jingsheng’s low, magnetic voice sounded again.
“By the time I was sixteen, I fully understood what love was. But I was abroad, so I could only call my father and ask him to send someone to arrange the engagement with her. Back then, all I wanted was to pluck the flower that had bloomed in my heart and give it to her.”
The three in the hospital room: “…”
They all thought to themselves: Geniuses really know how to be romantic!
“After our engagement was set, she worked hard to get into university. At the time, I was overjoyed, thinking the little girl must love me too.”
But after she was recognized and brought back to the Su family, her admission letter was given to her foster sister, who even declared she would transfer my marriage contract to that wicked woman.
At that moment, my heart shattered!
I rushed to complete my studies and return, but it was already too late—my marriage contract with her had been swapped!
That year, we turned eighteen. I suddenly realized that perhaps she didn’t understand love, but I did. Yet why hadn’t I written to her?
All of this is my fault, all caused by me. Do you know that?”
The three people in the hospital room: “…”
Six eyes stared blankly and helplessly at Huo Jingsheng. What did they know?
Did they know that the genius professor was too skilled at self-persuasion?
As the three were racking their brains for comforting words, the low, pleasant voice of their respected professor sounded again.
“Do you know that only by experiencing the journey from infatuation to heartbreak can one gradually understand the essence of love?
Only then can one realize that in the years of youth, people believe that those who love each other should stay together forever, that holding hands will lead to growing old together.
Everyone says I’m a genius, and indeed I am. Not only do I understand the essence of love and the truth of fate,
I also grasp better than most that not every encounter leads to a perfect ending.
Nor does every deep love guarantee lasting companionship. Some feelings are not meant to bear fruit but to foster growth.
When the marriage was swapped, I originally intended to withdraw from the engagement. Since she liked Jiang Wentao, I was willing to step aside for her. If I couldn’t marry her, what was the point of marrying anyone else?
But my parents told me that only by marrying Su Yirou could I truly fulfill her wishes; otherwise, Su Yirou would ruin her happiness.
In life, one must experience a few moments of infatuation and endure several heartbreaks to gradually understand the essence of love and the truth of fate.”
“Professor Huo, you truly understand love!” Liu Yan said admiringly.
“Professor, you’ve endured so much!” Chen Jian said sympathetically.
“Professor, after sacrificing so much, does she know?” Lin Cheng’an asked through gritted teeth.
“As long as I know, that’s enough. I’ll teach her slowly in the future. Now, go prepare with all your heart!” Huo Jingsheng commanded with a radiant expression.
The three in the hospital room: “…”
In a south-facing, well-ventilated bedroom on the second floor of the Su family home, Su Yiwei lay sprawled on the hard bed.
Naturally, she had no idea of Huo Jingsheng’s thoughts, because she didn’t even know that Huo Jingsheng was her childhood playmate, Huo Xiaoliu.
Since childhood, she had been doted on by her parents and three older brothers. Her father was the village chief of Kaoshan Village, and she was the most remarkable child in the village.
The reason she helped Huo Xiaoliu was that he was the most handsome boy in Kaoshan Village. Just seeing him made her eat an extra bowl of rice.
Her parents and brothers always supported the people and things she liked. Fortunately, in her past life, her foster brothers had all achieved success, so now she didn’t feel too guilty.
After her biological father and stepmother brought her home, her stepmother treated her as her own, and her foster sister was as dear as a blood sister, spoiling her to the point where she lost track of time.
Su Yirou asked flatteringly, “Little sister, you’re so smart. If you give me the admission letter, you can still get into a better school, right?”
Jiang Wentao smiled warmly and elegantly, “Yiwei, if you give the admission letter to Rou Rou, can you really get into a better school?”
She gazed at Jiang Wentao, whose face was as flawless as jade, features exquisite like a celestial being from the heavens. In his peach blossom eyes, which seemed to hold deep affection even for a dog, she saw only herself.
She said foolishly, “Alright, I’ll give it to my sister. I’m sure I can get into an even better school.”
Then the two of them showered her with flattery again. Back then, she was too naive, blinded by the illusion…