Young Master Is Being Jealous Again!
Chapter 847: A Branch of the Huo Clan Visits, Ruanruan Personally Hosts

Chapter 847: Chapter 847: A Branch of the Huo Clan Visits, Ruanruan Personally Hosts

Huo Yunjiao’s gaze scrutinized Qin Ruan, and under the deep black of his eyes, Qin Ruan felt inexplicably guilty, solely because the gentle smile on his face was fading bit by bit.

"Didn’t sleep all night?"

His deep voice reached Qin Ruan’s ears.

Qin Ruan tensed unconsciously, inadvertently shifting her gaze away, calmly saying, "Things were a bit troublesome, and before I knew it, it was dawn."

Huo Yunjiao stared at her intently, his eyebrows slightly furrowed, then quickly relaxed.

He handed over the toy he was holding to Huo Yao, who was closest to him, as if he hadn’t noticed Qin Ruan’s guilt, and stood up to approach her.

"I saved you some breakfast. How about eating and then going upstairs to rest?"

Qin Ruan’s hand was held by his cool, large palm; she lowered her gaze to look at their clasped hands and was momentarily startled.

Looking up at the man standing before her, Huo Yunjiao, her mind inexplicably flashed back to that bloody, ragged figure in Feidu City.

The sourness and sadness that emerged in her eyes were caught by Huo Yunjiao, his brows slightly furrowing, "What’s wrong? Did something happen outside?"

Qin Ruan shook her head, blinked her acid-filled eyes, and spoke with a light tone, "Nothing, just tired and a bit sleepy."

"Eat and then sleep."

With a gentle tone, Huo Yunjiao pulled Qin Ruan’s hand towards the dining room.

His eyelids drooped slightly, hiding the dark flash in the depths of his eyes.

Something was not quite right with Qin Ruan.

Returning from this trip, she seemed to carry a heavy weight on her shoulders.

On the way back, Qin Ruan reflected on everything she had experienced and everyone she had encountered since her rebirth.

Each event seemed unconnected, but the more she interacted, the deeper her inner fear grew.

Continuing forward, she didn’t know what awaited her, and her unease grew greater and greater.

Some things seemed to be spiraling out of control.

Sitting at the dining room table, under the gentle gaze of Huo Yunjiao, Qin Ruan dined as quietly and obediently as ever.

...

Two o’clock in the afternoon.

Qin Ruan lay on the comfortable, soft bed, opening her lazy eyes, feeling completely rested.

She stretched her arms out from under the covers, stretching her back indelicately.

The fatigue from a night of running around had disappeared without a trace, leaving only comfort throughout her body.

If she could ignore the occasional stabbing pain below her waist when she sat up, the feeling couldn’t be better.

"Knock knock!"

Qin Ruan had just leaned against the headboard when the room door was knocked from the outside.

If it were Huo Yunjiao, he wouldn’t knock.

Qin Ruan paused as she was about to lift the blanket, reaching for the water glass on the bedside table, and called out to the door, "Come in."

The door was pushed open and Huo Zhi walked in with even steps.

Standing by the bed, she spoke respectfully, "Madam, the Huo family’s southern branch has come; Huo Yunjiao usually entertains them, but he’s gone to the company today. Would you like to go down and see them?"

Qin Ruan drank half a glass of water, her clear, calm eyes fixed on Huo Zhi standing by the bed.

"When did Huo Yunjiao leave?"

Huo Zhi: "After lunch, he received a phone call and went to the company."

Qin Ruan asked again, "How many people came from the branch?"

"Twelve people, including Uncle Nine’s family."

On hearing this, Qin Ruan raised an eyebrow.

Uncle Nine, a representative of the Huo Family elders, held a relatively senior standing within the family and also possessed some degree of speaking power. The Family Head would not embarrass him in front of others.

This man had strong objections to her and had been actively trying to prevent her from taking over the Punishment Hall.

Qin Ruan put down the water glass she was holding, lifted the blanket, got out of bed, and instructed Huo Zhi clearly, "Since they have arrived, treat them according to the precedent set by Elder Three in previous years."

She had no intention of getting involved in this matter.

She hadn’t even fully recognized all members of the Huo Family’s main branch, let alone getting involved with the collateral branches.

Huo Zhi looked up cautiously at Qin Ruan and said with increasing respect, "Madam, the master has said that you are the mistress of the house, and in the future, all such matters will go through your hands."

Qin Ruan paused on her way to the bathroom, looking back uncertainly, "When did Elder Three say that?"

Huo Zhi confessed honestly, "Before he went to the company."

Qin Ruan couldn’t help but laugh bitterly at the response; it was clearly a premeditated plan.

The room fell silent for a long while before Qin Ruan relented, "Then you tell me, how did Elder Three entertain them in past years? What should I pay attention to when dealing with people from the collateral branches?"

"Yes—"

Huo Zhi instructed the servants downstairs to bring the members of the Huo Clan’s collateral branches who were waiting downstairs to the side hall.

She then quickly went into the bathroom, and while Qin Ruan was washing up, she informed her of the precautions Elder Three had taken when entertaining the collateral branches in past years, including the details of how to entertain different people during festive seasons.

Half an hour later, Qin Ruan and Huo Zhi descended the stairs one after the other.

Three young men were sitting in the downstairs hall, all appearing to be around twenty years old.

The young man sitting in the middle of the sofa looked disheveled and emotionally unstable.

His eyes were slightly closed, one hand clenched into a fist resting on his knee, and the other hand held a half-smoked cigarette.

The man on the left spoke in a deep voice, "Huo Qi, what’s the matter with you?"

The young man in the middle named Huo Qi opened his bloodshot eyes, his voice weary, "I haven’t slept well for several days, Brother Six, please give me some peace."

The young man ranked sixth among the siblings gritted his teeth in frustration, "Is this a place for you to sleep?! Be honest, what have you been doing these days?

Looking at your exhausted and hollowed-out appearance, if Aunt Three finds out I didn’t take good care of you, who knows what trouble there will be later. You’re the only one in the family who can make something of yourself. This time, bringing you here was also for you to stay by Uncle Nine’s side. Don’t fail us at the critical moment!"

Huo Qi took a deep drag of his cigarette, listening to the buzzing in his ears like that of flies, and ground out the remainder in the ashtray.

With reddened eyes, he pleaded amicably to his cousin beside him, "Brother Six, I’m really exhausted, almost stupidly so. Just let me nap for a bit, just a little while."

After speaking, he crossed his arms and leaned back in the sofa, closing his eyes.

"You, you—"

Huo Six pointed his finger at him, started to voice a critic but, seeing the dark circles under Huo Qi’s eyes, ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say more.

He shot a cold glance at another young man sitting beside his cousin and stood up, gesturing with his hand, "Come with me!"

The young man got up and followed Huo Six to the display cabinet. Huo Six asked in a low voice, "Awen, you’ve been with Huo Qi all this time; just where has he been messing around to end up in this state?"

The young man named Awen stood before him, looking downcast, and replied, "Young Master Six, the Young Master hasn’t gone anywhere, he just can’t sleep."

"Nonsense!" Huo Six exploded in anger.

Such words could fool a puppet!

Huo Qi had visibly lost weight these past few days, and his complexion was so poor that anyone could tell he had been out messing around.

Deep down, he believed that the bodyguard Awen was covering for Huo Qi.

Awen said, "It’s true, the Young Master has been off recently, staying up all night. I thought he was just nervous about coming to the main house in the capital for the first time, but now it seems like he might be possessed."