“Ding! Host detected to be heartless and uncharitable. Primary plot character Huo Xiang…”
“Ding! Host detected…”
“Ding…”
A continuous stream of reward notifications rang out. Most of them came from Huo Xiang, with a few mixed in from Guan Jixing and Mu Wan. The reason was not difficult to guess: their superior’s position was no longer secure, and they were afraid they would be dragged down with him.
The system complained to Su Ning, “When is this going to end? It’s been two whole days. No matter how great the blow, he should have accepted it by now. The rewards haven’t stopped coming, and he’s supposed to be the male lead? I think he’s not even as good as Wu Yi!”
It had even brought Wu Yi into the comparison.
That showed just how contemptuous the system was.
Su Ning said sympathetically, “Don’t put it that way. You have to be considerate. His nightmare since childhood was probably the thought that the real young master would suddenly return and he would be reduced to his original status. Now that nightmare has come true, so this reaction is understandable.”
As she spoke, she abruptly changed course and let out a regretful sigh.
“Still, prolonged suffering is worse than a swift end. I think he should just slit his throat or hang himself right in front of Old Master Huo. Let the old man regret it. Let him suffer unbearable pain. Let him realize that his most important grandson is actually the one he wronged!”
The grandpa-chasing-after-the-grandson crematorium trope—check.
The system: …
After thinking it over, it agreed. “That’s true. In the end, he must not crave his grandfather’s love enough. It really is true that a non-biological child can never be treated like a biological one. A male lead who doesn’t even have that much resolve—what a disappointment. Fortunately, we found the true heir for Old Master Huo.”
One person and one system sighed at the same time.
Why wouldn’t Huo Xiang prove his determination by dying?
What a pity.
Su Ning glanced at Huo Xiang’s mission progress. It had originally been below fifty percent, but after the “real young master” appeared two days ago, it had shot straight up to sixty-five percent!
And that was not the end of it.
Two hours later, it reached sixty-eight percent.
Five hours later, seventy-two percent.
A day later, seventy-five percent.
Up until now, it had stopped at seventy-six percent and barely moved.
Su Ning was only marginally satisfied with that number.
Since it had not been completed in one stroke, she would have to personally step in and give him a good dose of stimulation. With the real-world blow dealt by the white-feather chicken added to the mix, attacking him from both sides still gave them a good chance.
Just as she was thinking this, Lin Sen arrived.
“Miss, the plane will be here soon.”
“Mm.”
Su Ning nodded, then suddenly asked him, “Did you look over the things I gave you?”
Assistant Lin, who usually remained unruffled even when Mount Tai collapsed before his eyes, took several seconds before replying awkwardly in a low voice, “I did.”
“Good. Study them carefully. They were difficult to find.”
They were classic irritating plot devices about real and fake heirs.
Lin Sen took a deep breath.
He could not understand it. Were there really so many wealthy families in the world who lost their own children, then adopted someone else to take their place? And after finding their biological child, they still doted on the adopted son or daughter while belittling their own flesh and blood.
No, first of all, wealthy families generally had many children.
There was no need to adopt one.
Secondly, the wealthier the family, the more importance they placed on bloodlines. This principle applied everywhere. No matter how useless, uncultured, or foolish their own child was, they were still family. At worst, they could raise the child properly and cultivate the next generation.
How could they possibly value an adopted child more?
…
Blood ties came first.
Old Master Huo thought the same way. Before his grandson was found, he had been utterly disheartened and felt that his end was near. But once his grandson was found, he seemed to grow ten years younger!
When he led people out to welcome his grandson, his face was rosy and his spirits were high. While waiting, he did not forget to give orders.
“Go have them clean everything again. Every corner must be spotless. Hang up the red silk and red ribbons as well. Make sure all the servants wear the new clothes they were given, and tell them to smile. No one is allowed to fight or bicker and ruin the festive atmosphere, or I’ll deal with them. Also, check the young master’s room again to see whether anything is missing. Go straight to the storeroom and replenish whatever he needs.”
Every now and then, he would think of something else.
For instance, the placement of the flowers and plants in his grandson’s courtyard.
The expensive ice sculptures that had been purchased.
The dishes for the welcoming banquet.
There were countless details.
The servants could only run back and forth again and again, but they were happy to do so. The rewards were generous, after all. Whenever the old master was in a good mood, he was extremely generous.
Everyone in the household received two new outfits.
They were all made of fine fabric.
Even the food was rich and oily.
Such a commotion naturally attracted plenty of attention, and people passing by whispered among themselves. Madam Huo glanced at Huo Xiang’s haggard, pale face and could not help saying, “Father, was all this really necessary? Lin’er is only a junior, after all. You’re making such a grand display over him. I’m afraid it might be too much for him to bear.”
There was another concern as well.
The child had grown up outside since infancy. Anyone could imagine that he would not have received a proper education. It was good enough if he knew a few characters, and he might even have picked up some bad habits.
They would certainly have to be strict with him to straighten him out before he could be presented to the outside world.
If they treated him too well and placed too much importance on him now, it would be difficult to discipline him later.
“Bullshit.”
Old Master Huo’s expression darkened. Looking at his astonished daughter-in-law, he sneered, “My grandson has finally come home after suffering so much outside. How is this making too much of it? You’re the mother, yet you only feel sorry for the child you raised. If I, his grandfather, don’t feel sorry for him, who will? Everything in the Huo family will belong to Lin’er in the future. His fortune is immense—nothing could possibly diminish it!”
She heard the reproach hidden in his words.
Madam Huo’s face went pale.
She was just about to defend herself when someone came to announce—
He had arrived.
At once, everyone held their breath. Huo Xiang in particular straightened his back, his face glowing with confidence and his bearing composed. Yet his eyes were filled with malice.
He was determined to see just how pathetic that Huo Lin was…
A line of figures slowly appeared.
Closer.
Closer.
The face that came into view was one he could never forget, even if his bones were ground to dust—
Su Ning!
“Ding! Host detected to be heartless and uncharitable. Primary plot character Huo Xiang…”
Su Ning did not even blink.
She swaggered over, making no attempt to conceal her hostility toward Huo Xiang. Raising an eyebrow, she said, “Why are you here?”
“That’s what I should be asking you.”
Huo Xiang clenched his teeth.
“What?” Su Ning looked as though she had heard something utterly absurd. “Of course I have every right to be here. Who would have thought that my assistant, Lin Sen, would turn out to be the Huo family’s true eldest young master? And you, an impostor who occupied another person’s place, should have had the sense to leave the Huo family on your own instead of getting in the real young master’s way. Yet here you are, appearing openly as if nothing happened. Your skin really is thick.”
