Young Master Is Being Jealous Again!
Chapter 1050: After Grandpa Huo Returns, Qin Ruan’s Days Are Not Easy (5000 words)

Chapter 1050: Chapter 1050: After Grandpa Huo Returns, Qin Ruan’s Days Are Not Easy (5000 words)

Huo Yao and Huo Anqi sat to the side, watching the standoff between master and servant with cute, milk-faced grins that seemed to say they were enjoying the show.

And honestly, having seen Xueqiu’s fierce demeanor all the time, suddenly hearing its coquettish cries left them somewhat unable to cope.

It somehow gave off the impression of a burly, strong man trying to speak in the sweet, cutesy voice of a young girl.

Just impossible to imagine, too disillusioning!

Qin Mei noticed that Xueqiu was clearly angry and not just a little; those emerald eyes even started to gleam with a red light.

Ignoring his injured leg, he dashed to the storage cabinet, rummaged tins of cat food, jerky, cookies, and drinks out, and laid them all out on the ground.

While doing this, Qin Mei murmured relentlessly, "Ancestor, I will never try to teach you to be gentle like the other cats again. Theirs is coquettishness, an affectionate interaction with their poop scoopers.

You’re after my life here, I want to live a few more years. Do whatever you want in the future, please just don’t stress my weak heart anymore."

Seeing the array of food and drink laid out, the red light in Xueqiu’s eyes faded.

Chin uplifted, it gave Qin Mei a haughty glance then strolled over with a leisurely gait.

Qin Mei, feeling the ’I understand’ look from the little ancestor, felt the anxiety in his heart slowly subside.

Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead and shaking out his hands, he said seriously to Huo Yao and Huo Anqi, "This cat is too ferocious; you guys can’t keep it. If you really like Xueqiu, you can come over to play with it often."

Huo Yao was no real child; how could he not hear his uncle’s reluctance?

He said with a beaming smile, "Uncle, if you can’t bear to part with Xueqiu, just say it. Aqi and I are going to start school and won’t have time to take care of it anyway."

Qin Mei still feigned toughness, "It’s not that I can’t bear to let it go. Xueqiu is uncontrollable, and I fear it would hurt you guys."

His posture was so caring towards his two nephews; it was truly touching.

Qin Ruan, who came down from upstairs, joined in with a laugh, "I don’t think there’s any need for Second Brother to worry. If you’re not at ease, I can help Huo Yao and Anqi take care of it until it becomes docile, and then hand it over to them."

Her words were clearly teasing Qin Mei, but Xueqiu seemed to take it seriously.

Not bothering with its favorite canned food and jerky, it sprang up and leapt onto Qin Mei’s shoulder in one bound.

It pressed down with its four fluffy paws on his shoulder, rubbing its head against his cheek, "Meow, meow, meow!!!"

Don’t let the affectionate gestures fool you—its calls were particularly ferocious.

Xueqiu: Brat! If you dare send me away, I’ll scratch up your face!

Qin Mei raised his hand to stroke Xueqiu’s fur, smoothing it down: "There, there, I won’t send you away. You cost all my pocket money!"

Huo Yunjiao and Qin Ruan, descending the stairs, could not help but be both amused and exasperated hearing this.

After all, it was the pocket money that bore all the burden.

Qin Ruan walked up to Huo Yao and Huo Anqi, touching their heads and asking, "Have you eaten breakfast?"

Both children nodded at her.

Huo Yao pointed at Qin Mei and declared, "Uncle fed us."

They could have eaten by themselves, but Qin Mei had wanted to indulge in the joy of feeding the children.

Qin Ruan effortlessly picked up Huo Yao, sat on the sofa, and surveyed Qin Mei and Xueqiu with a teasing look.

Huo Anqi, watching his brother being picked up, had eyes full of envy.

Grandfather stepped forward and lifted his younger son, setting him down beside Qin Ruan.

Qin Ruan embraced Huo Anqi too with her uninjured arm.

Huo Yunjiao glanced at the time then spoke to Qin Ruan, "It’s almost noon; do we go home for lunch or stay here?"

Qin Ruan looked up at Second Brother holding Xueqiu, observing his fear of the cat being taken away, and candidly asked him, "Second Brother, what’s there to eat in the kitchen?"

As Qin Mei stroked Xueqiu, whose fur had stopped bristling, he counted on his fingers, "There’s your favorite tomato beef stew, the dark beef tongue pies that Big Brother had the driver buy when he went to the company this morning, some side dishes, and there’s still porridge warming in the pot. If none of these suit your taste, tell someone what you’d like to eat."

Too lazy for further fuss, Qin Ruan said to the grandfather standing in front of her, "I’ll go eat first, then leave after lunch."

Hearing she was planning to leave, Qin Mei limped over holding Xueqiu, "You guys are leaving?"

Qin Ruan hummed in affirmation, "We should prepare for school starting soon."

At the mention of school beginning, Qin Mei’s head began to ache as he muttered, "There’re still a few days left."

Qin Ruan gently stroked Huo Yao and Huo Anqi’s heads, her voice soft, "These two kids will be going to school with me. I need to get their school supplies ready."

Qin Mei eyed the two little ones suspiciously, his brows furrowing slightly, "They’re so young; is it really okay for them to go to school?"

Qin Ruan asked Huo Yao and Huo Anqi, "Do you have any questions?"

"No!"

"No!"

The two children replied in unison.

They were also looking forward to going to school, wondering if there would be any fun activities to pass the time.

After finishing dinner at the Qin Family, Qin Ruan left with the Third Master, taking the two children with them.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, two months had passed since school started.

During these two months, Qin Ruan spent very little time at school, as her daily schedule was packed with activities arranged by Huo Yirong.

Just as she was walking into the teaching building, she received another call from Huo Yirong.

Qin Ruan took out her cellphone, saw the name on the screen, and her face was filled with helplessness and resistance.

She didn’t know how many times this had happened.

Whenever she prepared to relax for a day, the other party always managed to arrange various studies and social engagements for her.

In the beginning, her daily routine was to review various reports of the HEA Group, understand the company’s numerous orders, and learn about detailed information regarding all the collaborators the company had worked with over the years; most of it involved intricately complex backgrounds and their families’ dark histories.

All this was the basic information Qin Ruan needed to absorb.

During the first month, her dreams were filled with the company’s astronomical figures and the dark histories of members of noble families and distinguished individuals from various fields.

Some of these people appeared to be successful, but in reality, they were puppets controlled by the wealth veins of the royal nobility.

The shocking dark histories of these collaborators uncovered by the Huo Family opened a new world for Qin Ruan.

Indeed, the upper class stood at the peak of human evil, looking down on everything; everyone trampled under their feet was merely a sacrifice in their game of life.

They even sought greater thrills by continually challenging the extreme limits of evil in the world.

If the sins of West City’s lower echelons were apparent, driven by envy and involving casualties,

then the sins of the upper echelons were subtle and even more chilling, representing something more terrifying than casualties.

In short, whatever evil one might imagine, they had not missed a single one; and those unimagined, they played with ease.

Qin Ruan shook her head to clear the chaotic thoughts and answered the call before Huo Yirong could hang up.

She massaged her lower back with her hand that held the textbook, asking in a drained voice, "Yirong, what is it today?"

Lately, the Third Master had been somewhat erratic, wanting to explore the creation of life with her every night.

It was not just a physical and spiritual exploration but was evolving in a variety of ways, racing forward in a frenzy of innovation.

Qin Ruan had suffered a great deal because of this, and every time she tried to refuse, it led to the Third Master inventing even more intense new forms of exploration, never tiring of them.

In any case, these two months had been extremely tough for her.

The cheerful voice of Huo Yirong came through the phone, "Little sister-in-law, someone wants to meet you tonight. They have been trying to book an appointment for nearly two months without seeing you. Today, they became impatient and pressured me through the Cabinet, insisting on seeing you at all costs."

Hearing it wasn’t another round of social obligations, Qin Ruan’s slightly furrowed brow relaxed as she asked, "Who is it?"

Huo Yirong replied, "Cai Yongliang from the Tianxing Team, he says he has something important to discuss with you."

Qin Ruan couldn’t help but recall that last year, when she received Uncle Nine, he came with Cai Yongliang carrying the S-class files of the Tianxing Team for her.

These were special-level files that important members of the Cabinet needed to go through multiple procedures just to view.

At that time, Cai Yongliang asked Uncle Nine to tell her that they needed her assistance with solving some cases related to the metaphysical.

This time, Qin Ruan was without her previous resistance, her tone mild as she asked, "Did they say what the matter was?"

Huo Yirong spoke in an offhand manner, "They didn’t say, but he seemed quite anxious. Oh, I just met him in the office, and I overheard him on the phone talking about that Ling sister of yours, the one chased out by the Ling Family."

Qin Ruan’s eyes widened slightly, "Ling Xiaoxuan?!"

Huo Yirong confirmed, "Yes, her."

Qin Ruan’s expression darkened, "What happened to her?"

She tucked the textbook under her arm and began calculating with her fingers, quickly deducing that the other party was still alive.

Huo Yirong recalled, "It seems she has disappeared. I’m not too clear on the details; I have no interest in asking about trivial matters."

Taking a deep breath, Qin Ruan asked him, "Yirong, is Officer Cai still with you?"

Huo Yirong informed her, "He just left."

Qin Ruan, "Hold him off for me, I’m heading to the company now!"

"Tch, I’m busy here."

Despite saying that, Huo Yirong, sitting in his office, had already stood up to press the intercom on his desk.

The secretary’s office quickly picked up the phone, and Huo Yirong ordered in a cold voice, "There’s a middle-aged man surnamed Cai downstairs, have the security personnel stop him!"

"Yes, Second Master!"

When Qin Ruan heard Huo Yirong had stopped the man for her, she hung up the phone and called Ling Xiaoxuan.

Mobile voice prompt—Hello, the phone you are trying to reach is switched off! Sorry...

Qin Ruan hung up directly, turned around, and ran out of the teaching building toward the direction where she had parked her car.

She had been too busy these past two months, and every time she saw Ling Xiaoxuan at school, it was just a brief encounter with no time for pleasantries.

She hadn’t expected that the next time she’d hear about her would be because something happened.

Although her life was not in danger, her situation wasn’t good.

HEA Group.

Half an hour later, Cai Yongliang, who was asked upstairs again, relaxed a touch when he learned that Qin Ruan was coming, the heaviness of his exhausted face easing somewhat.

Half an hour later, Qin Ruan arrived at the company and rode the elevator up, under the respectful gaze of the company employees.

She met Cai Yongliang in the reception room.

Compared to their meeting before the New Year, his cheeks were thinner, and his face bore an exhausted and haggard expression.

Seeing Qin Ruan walk in, Cai Yongliang, holding a black bag in his arms, immediately stood and approached her, "Madam Huo!"

Qin Ruan’s face was as still as water, her gloomy eyes fixed on him as she asked, "What happened to Ling Xiaoxuan?"

Cai Yongliang said gravely, "She’s missing, and along with her, my two foster sons."

Qin Ruan didn’t care about his foster sons, only about Ling Xiaoxuan’s safety, "What exactly happened?"

Cai Yongliang opened the black bag, "There’s a town in Yan City where supernatural events are happening again and again, dozens of people have already gone missing, and a week ago my two foster sons led a team to investigate, but then they all went missing, including Ling Xiaoxuan. Another team was sent to investigate after, and they too all went missing."

He took out a sophisticated camera from the black bag, pressed a few buttons, and handed it over to Qin Ruan.

"There’s a video inside that was recorded at the time, you can have a look," he offered.

Qin Ruan took the camera and watched the screen, where she saw Ling Xiaoxuan wearing Tianxing Team’s black training suit, wielding an imposing modified mechanical gun, walking briskly along a dimly lit path.

"Xiaoxuan, slow down, the people who had accidents before all happened on this alley," a male voice in the video proposed, reminding Ling Xiaoxuan.

The voice was clear, probably from the person filming.

Cai Yongliang stood next to Qin Ruan and explained, "This is my foster son, Zhong Zuo, he’s the one filming."

Qin Ruan didn’t say anything and nodded to indicate her understanding.

Suddenly, the camera angle shifted to a utility pole in the alley, accidentally capturing the blur of roadside garbage as well.

"Got it. I just want to see what exactly is causing the trouble," Ling Xiaoxuan’s response came from the video.

Her tone was confident and bold, lacking the previous fear when facing ghosts and demons.

Qin Ruan couldn’t help but feel relieved inside. She hadn’t expected that in just a few months, her senior would be able to face wicked spirits with composure.

By the sound of her confident voice, she must not have shied away from confrontations with evil spirits.

As Qin Ruan watched the not-so-clear video, she asked Cai Yongliang, "How many missions has my senior been on with the Tianxing Team?"

Cai Yongliang appeared thoughtful, "She must have gone on at least ten missions. She was timid at first, but still better than some of the newbies. After two missions, she was as skilled as the veterans. She was decisive and ruthless when facing those evil spirits; she’s a promising recruit."

Qin Ruan knew Ling Xiaoxuan had been working so hard to climb the ranks quickly and gain recognition to stand on equal footing with Ling Zeheng.

"Xiaoxuan, don’t move! There’s something!" Zhong Zuo hissed in a low voice while filming.

The camera in his hands continued to steady on Ling Xiaoxuan.

As if there was something by his side, he dared not move an inch.

In the camera’s frame, upon Zhong Zuo’s warning, Ling Xiaoxuan propped the modified mechanical gun capable of firing energy on her shoulder, pointing the barrel straight at the camera.

Her big, wavy red hair was lifted by the wind in the dark night, revealing her pretty yet demonic face with a solemn expression, her eyes staring at the camera filled with aggression.

There were coarse panting sounds coming from the video, which didn’t sound like they could be made by a human, but rather by a gigantic beast. Qin Ruan subconsciously thought of the Mountain Demon they had encountered back at the school.

The camera suddenly started shaking violently.

Then, with a loud thud, the recording equipment crashed harshly onto the ground.

From the looks of it, it seemed like Zhong Zuo, who was filming, had been attacked by something.

The camera, now lying on the ground, tilted and clearly captured the image of Ling Xiaoxuan firing her gun, emitting a sapphire blue energy light from the muzzle.

"Team Zhong!"

Urgent calls for help were followed by the sound of chaotic footsteps.

The camera’s image started to ripple, going in and out of focus as Qin Ruan saw Ling Xiaoxuan’s figure rushing towards the device at high speed.

With a fizz, the video feed stopped.

Qin Ruan was about to return the camera to Cai Yongliang when he spoke with added emphasis, "There’s more."

Qin Ruan looked down, and the video resumed normally, but the image in the lens made her skin crawl.

Ling Xiaoxuan’s body collapsed on the ground in a state of disarray. A claw the size of a carry-on luggage piece gripped her slender ankle and dragged her away slowly.

"Snap!"

The recording equipment was crushed by something, and the screen went completely black.

Qin Ruan stared at the black screen in front of her, and in her mind, she saw that ugly twenty-inch claw from the footage.

What kind of evil spirit could have such a huge hand? Judging by the veins on its back and its shape, it didn’t resemble anything human but more like the limb of some monstrous demon or beast.

"Madam Huo might not have noticed, but when that thing appeared, fan-shaped shadows emerged on both sides of the alley. It likely has a pair of wings," Cai Yongliang said.

Qin Ruan looked up in confusion at Cai Yongliang, "Wings?"

Cai Yongliang took back the camera, and started to rewind the video.

When he rewound to the moment Zhong Zuo spoke up to remind Ling Xiaoxuan not to move, fan-shaped shadows did indeed appear on both sides of the dark alley.

Qin Ruan stared intently at the shadows in the video, her brows tightly knitted as she muttered, "What could it be?"

Cai Yongliang shared his view, "It’s definitely not an evil spirit from a human death; it’s more likely a Mountain Demon, given that the town where the incident occurred is near the mountains."

Qin Ruan nodded in agreement.

With a solemn look, Cai Yongliang spoke to Qin Ruan, his tone carrying a plea, "We’ve now confirmed that the team members are alive, but we don’t know how much longer they can hold on. Madam Huo, the Tianxing Team needs your help."

Qin Ruan looked up at him and asked, "If we leave now, how long will it take to reach the town in Yan City where the incident occurred?"

Cai Yongliang replied, "Driving there would take over three hours."

Qin Ruan asked further, "What about by plane?"

Cai Yongliang showed a troubled expression and said in a low tone, "Less than an hour."

In the past, the Tianxing Team had also been allocated planes for their missions.

However, due to the tight budget over the past few years for researching energy weapons, they hadn’t experienced the luxury of quick travel in a long time.

Qin Ruan nodded, took out her mobile phone, and called Huo Zhi.

The call was answered, and she commanded in a stern voice, "Huo Zhi, I need to fly to Yan City now. How long will it take the plane to come and pick me up from the HEA rooftop?"

Huo Zhi replied, "Within five minutes."

A satisfied expression appeared on Qin Ruan’s face, "Good, I’ll go and wait up there now."

Huo Zhi asked respectfully, "Madam, how many people would you need to take with you on this trip?"

Qin Ruan didn’t hesitate to respond, "Just follow me, and be quick about it."

"Yes, Madam—"

After Huo Zhi hung up, Qin Ruan put away her phone.

She kept the camera cradled in her arms without any intention of returning it to Cai Yongliang, planning to watch it a few more times while on the plane.

Seeing Cai Yongliang standing aside, lost in thought as he watched her, she tilted her chin at him, "What are you spacing out for? Let’s go!"

Cai Yongliang looked surprised, "Madam Huo, just the two of us are going?"