Lin Sen… the real Young Master Huo.
The impostor who had occupied the magpie’s nest!
What a shameless bastard…
Huo Xiang was grinding his back teeth so hard they nearly shattered. He cursed Su Ning the beast tens of thousands of times in his heart before finally coming to his senses. Frowning, he looked past her at Lin Sen, who was following close behind her.
Could he actually be Huo Lin?
At first, Huo Xiang had thought Su Ning had simply found someone in some forgotten corner. But this person was her assistant—Lin Sen.
That would be far too much of a coincidence…
So—
He deliberately put on a surprised expression. “What a coincidence. Miss Su went looking for someone, and he just happened to be right beside you. They say that after searching high and low, you’ll find what you’re looking for without even trying. But Assistant Lin doesn’t look much like anyone from the Huo family, does he?”
His words were loaded.
Everyone knew he was implying that Su Ning had fabricated the whole thing and that Lin Sen was not Huo Lin.
“So I don’t look like a member of the Huo family?”
Lin Sen’s expression turned blank. He looked at Old Master Huo, then lowered his head and said softly, “I understand now. No wonder my family could never find me. When I was little, I was always wondering what my family looked like and why they were willing to abandon me. Was it because I wasn’t obedient or clever enough?
“If it was an accident, then why didn’t they come looking for me? I thought about it every day, year after year. When I grew up, I stopped thinking about it. So it wasn’t that my family had forgotten me or didn’t want to find me. I was just unlucky enough not to look like them, which was why they couldn’t find me?”
Old Master Huo’s heart broke when he heard this.
“How could we not have looked for you?”
Tears streamed down his weathered face as he took Lin Sen’s hand. “The family searched for you until we nearly went mad. It was all because of those wretched people who deserve to be struck by lightning that you ended up wandering outside all these years. Your grandfather hasn’t gone a single day without thinking of you.”
Madam Huo’s expression became unnatural for an instant.
Su Ning noticed it and thoughtfully narrowed her eyes. Then she spoke in a languid tone.
“That’s right. Don’t let your imagination run wild. Does Huo Xiang get to decide whether you look like a member of the Huo family? A pheasant dresses itself up and starts questioning the true phoenix? How amusing.”
Huo Xiang: …
“Miss Su is right.” Old Master Huo had no doubts whatsoever. The evidence was all laid out before him, fitting together perfectly.
“Don’t overthink it. Could I really mistake my own grandson? Let me see… your eyes, your nose… Well, the shape of your face does look quite like your mother’s.”
Su Ning almost laughed out loud.
Apparently, even when Old Master Huo was pointing at a deer and calling it a horse, he still couldn’t bring himself to lie through his teeth with a straight face.
He could only claim that their face shapes looked alike…
After all, faces were either round or pointed. There wasn’t that much difference.
Old Master Huo also felt his explanation was a little forced, so he quickly changed the subject and had Lin Sen call him Grandfather, formally acknowledging him as family.
From the corner of his eye, he saw that his daughter-in-law, Madam Huo, was standing there with an indifferent expression, saying nothing. He felt somewhat displeased.
He didn’t want his grandson to be hurt.
Trying to smooth things over, he said, “Look at your mother. She’s so overjoyed to see you that she’s forgotten how to speak. The child has finally come home—this is a day for the whole family to reunite. Come over and say hello.”
Only then did Madam Huo snap back to reality.
Her biological child had finally been found.
Yet she couldn’t bring herself to feel excited.
Looking at that face, she felt none of the instinctive stirrings of blood ties. He seemed like a complete stranger.
On top of that, the child had gotten into an argument with Xiang the moment he returned and showed no consideration for the family at all. She truly disliked his temperament. With someone as domineering as Su Ning by his side, Xiang’s future situation would be difficult, and the thought filled her with worry.
So she forced herself to summon some energy and said, “Good child, it’s wonderful that you’ve come home. The Huo family is a respectable, prominent household, and your identity will be different from now on. You must conduct yourself properly and get rid of the bad habits you picked up outside. There are some things you should understand without me having to spell them out.”
She might as well have pointed at his nose and told him not to keep thinking of himself as Su Ning’s subordinate.
Lin Sen’s gaze turned cold.
Madam Huo, however, grew more and more impassioned. “You need to set your mind straight. Xiang has been raised by my side since he was little, and everyone praises him. You should call him Older Brother and learn from him in the future—”
“Older Brother?”
Lin Sen cut her off deliberately. “Isn’t there only one young master in the Huo family? Where did I get an older brother from? Besides, our statuses are different. I’ll be inheriting the Huo family in the future. Why would I need to learn from someone beneath me?”
Madam Huo stared at him in astonishment.
She couldn’t believe it.
In the Huo family, which always held itself above others, even Old Master Huo had to show her some respect. No one had ever dared to contradict her, no matter how harshly she spoke.
But now, her own biological son had publicly embarrassed her!
“Is this how you speak to your own mother? You’ll be the death of me! You have no manners at all. You grew up outside, and sure enough, you’ve learned nothing but bad habits…”
The atmosphere froze.
Huo Xiang felt considerably more pleased. He cast a smug glance at Lin Sen. He had assumed that after being scolded by Madam Huo, Lin Sen would be dejected. Yet Lin Sen merely looked calm.
Like master, like servant. Putting on an act…
He must be devastated inside.
Before Old Master Huo could lose his temper, Huo Xiang promptly took Madam Huo by the arm and tried to persuade her.
“Please don’t be angry. Be careful not to harm your health. The most important thing is that Little Brother Lin has only just returned. Even if he’s been thoughtless, you should explain things to him properly. Don’t damage the bond between mother and son.”
Madam Huo’s expression softened.
She was deeply comforted.
The one she had raised by her side really did know how to care for her. Then she looked at the other one, who had just returned and was already talking back to her.
No wonder people said that the bond formed by raising a child was greater than the bond of birth.
Huo Xiang turned toward Lin Sen apologetically, his voice exceptionally gentle.
“Don’t misunderstand. Mother has always missed you. She took me in when I was little because she wanted to ease her longing for you. After all these years, she’s sentimental and softhearted, and without realizing it, she came to regard me as her own son. That’s why she wants us to get along.”
“Madam Huo is softhearted, but you should at least have the sense to act accordingly.”
A voice rang out from the side.
Su Ning frowned. “Madam Huo has already shown you plenty of consideration. Think about it—her biological son was left to suffer outside while you enjoyed the best food and drink and strutted around as Young Master Huo. Yet you keep bringing it up. Aren’t you rubbing salt into Madam Huo’s wounds? She’s well-bred and doesn’t want to say it outright, so how can you still be so oblivious?”
Huo Xiang: …
Madam Huo: …
Old Master Huo, who had just been about to curse: …
A faint smile flickered in Lin Sen’s eyes.
“Oh, fine. I’ll be kind and teach you what you’re supposed to do in this situation.”
Su Ning cleared her throat twice, then looked at Huo Xiang and began earnestly offering guidance.
“You should say that you’re eternally grateful for the great kindness you’ve received, and that you’re willing to serve Lin Sen as a slave and repay the debt. In your next life, you’ll continue working like an ox or a horse for him. Doesn’t that sound sincere? If word got out, it might even become a touching family legend.”
What a load of bullshit!
Huo Xiang clenched his fists.
He glared at Su Ning’s hateful face, wishing he could punch her.
“Ding. The host has been detected acting heartlessly despite her wealth. Target: first-level plot character Huo Xiang…”
The reward was fairly substantial.
More importantly, the progress had jumped another two percent.
Su Ning brightened.
Sure enough, she had to step in herself. Lin Sen had contributed so much just now, but it had only raised the progress by one percent. Victory was finally within sight.
System: …
Should I praise your extraordinary talent for infuriating people?
