Huo An was Huo Shiyue’s trusted aide. He usually stayed by Huo Shiyue’s side, and almost no one in Jingbei’s business world didn’t know who he was.
As the saying goes, even a gatekeeper outside a high-ranking official’s residence holds considerable power. Although Huo An was merely a special assistant, no one dared look down on him.
“What is Special Assistant Huo doing here at this hour?” Su Jingtai asked in confusion.
“Could he be here to call off the engagement?” Su Mengyao murmured softly, her voice just loud enough for everyone present to hear.
Su Jingxue and Su Jingtai exchanged a glance, both eager to see what would happen.
“Please, invite him in.”
Before long, Huo An entered. Su Jingtai hurriedly went forward to greet him.
“Special Assistant Huo, what brings you here personally today? Is there something you wanted to discuss?”
“Yes, there’s no need to be shy about it. Just say it,” Su Jingxue added, eager to see Su Ni humiliated and crushed.
Huo An looked at the two men with a puzzled expression. Then he walked straight past them and stopped in front of Su Ni, his manner extremely respectful.
“Miss Su, may I ask if you’re free at the moment? President Huo sent me to pick you up and take you to the Huo residence.”
Huo Shiyue wanted to see Su Ni—and had even sent his trusted aide to personally pick her up!
Su Mengyao was so jealous that she literally snapped a fingernail, yet she didn’t feel the pain at all. Her eyes were fixed viciously on Su Ni, as though she wanted to burn two holes straight through her.
Just moments ago, Su Jingtai and Su Jingxue had been mocking Su Ni. Now they had been slapped in the face in the most spectacular fashion.
Su Ni rose unhurriedly.
“I’m free. Let’s go.”
She couldn’t be bothered with the three lunatics anymore and simply walked toward the door.
Huo An was no fool. He had noticed that something was off the moment he entered. Now, without even sparing the three of them another glance, he followed Su Ni out.
Su Jingxue was so furious that he kicked over a nearby chair. The muscles in his face twisted with rage.
“What kind of seductive tricks did Su Ni use? How did she manage to make Huo Shiyue treat her differently?”
Su Jingtai, however, wasn’t convinced.
“I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. Maybe Huo Shiyue summoned her there to discuss calling off the engagement.”
“That’s true. With all the beautiful women Huo Shiyue could have, why would he take a liking to some country girl who has nothing going for her?”
Su Jingxue’s anger gradually faded from his face.
Su Mengyao stood to the side. A sharp pain throbbed from where her nail had broken, but even that pain was nothing compared to the jealousy and resentment burning inside her.
“Second Brother, Third Brother, then you have to think of a way to help Sister,” Su Mengyao said, her brows furrowing as she began to cry. “What will Sister do if Huo Shiyue really calls off the engagement?”
“It would be better if he did. Then Su Ni would become the laughingstock of all Jingbei. Besides, once Huo Shiyue rejects her, what man would dare marry her? She’ll have no choice but to go back to the countryside and marry some random village man.”
Su Jingtai seemed almost able to see that day already. He laughed gleefully.
“And it would be entirely her own fault.”
“Yaoyao, don’t worry about her anymore.”
Su Jingxue gently put an arm around Su Mengyao’s shoulders and led her outside.
“Come on. Let’s go see the present I brought you.”
With Huo An there this time, Su Ni entered the Huo residence without a hitch.
But Huo Shiyue was no longer living in the main building. He had moved to a secluded courtyard.
Huo An stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.
“Master, Miss Su is here.”
“Come in.”
Huo Shiyue’s steady voice came from inside, carrying a hint of cool detachment.
As soon as Su Ni entered, she saw Huo Shiyue sitting in a wheelchair with his back to her, gazing absentmindedly out the window.
Hearing the movement, he slowly turned the wheelchair around and looked at Su Ni.
Su Ni wasn’t intimidated in the slightest. She walked straight up to him, raised her hand, and took hold of his chin, gently tilting it upward.
Her beautiful eyes stared directly into his, unwavering.
Huo Shiyue hadn’t expected her to be so bold. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it quickly vanished, replaced once again by his usual impassive expression.
He simply looked quietly at Su Ni, allowing her to do as she pleased.