Young Master Is Being Jealous Again!
Chapter 848 Ruanruan purses her lips into a smile, looking as innocent as can be

Chapter 848: Chapter 848 Ruanruan purses her lips into a smile, looking as innocent as can be

Huo Liuyi heard the tale of possession, his expression turning grave.

He furrowed his brows tightly and asked, "How long has Huo Qi been like this?"

Awen pressed his lips together, his eyes anxiously looking towards Huo Qi, who was slumped on the sofa, asleep and relaxed, and said quietly, "Four or five days now."

"Why didn’t you speak of this sooner!"

"The young master forbade it—"

Qin Ruan stood upstairs, observing for a while before continuing down with Huo Zhi.

The two didn’t lighten their footsteps, startling Huo Liuyi and Awen.

When they looked up towards the staircase, the first thing they saw was a pair of long, straight, and slender legs wrapped in trouser fabric.

Moving their gaze up, the sight of Qin Ruan in a casual shirt with her cool and aloof visage took Huo Liuyi and Awen by surprise.

Her fox-like eyes were cold yet captivating. When she stared expressionlessly, there was an ignorant clarity to her, yet also an aloof distance that made her hard to approach.

Qin Ruan descended the stairs as the curtains on the balcony were lifted by the wind, blowing her satiny, ink-black hair that was pinned behind her ears into disarray.

The moment Huo Liuyi saw Qin Ruan, he was astonished by her beauty, but his eyes soon changed from admiration to solemnity and caution.

He saw Huo Zhi standing behind Qin Ruan.

One of the leaders of the Huo Family’s Secret Guard Department, Huo Zhi stood respectfully behind Qin Ruan, his submissive demeanor making Huo Liuyi immediately think of the young Madam newly married by Huo Sanye.

But Qin Ruan seemed too young for that role.

As she approached, Huo Liuyi composed his complex emotions and strode forward to greet her.

He stood opposite Qin Ruan and said warmly to Huo Zhi, "Leader Huo Zhi, another year has passed without seeing you, you’ve changed so much for the better each year, I might not dare to recognize you the next time you visit."

"You flatter me, Liushao," Huo Zhi replied with due respect, introducing Qin Ruan to Huo Liuyi, "This is Madam of Sanshaoye; with Sanshaoye absent today, Madam will host our guests."

Huo Chengying touched the back of his head naively, and when he looked at Qin Ruan, his face showed embarrassment, "I guessed it was the new Madam married by my third cousin brother, hello Madam, I am Huo Chengying."

Qin Ruan had a good impression of him and reached out her hand proactively, "Hello, Qin Ruan."

Huo Chengying excitedly shook Qin Ruan’s hand, his voice animated and thrilled, "Hello, Madam of the Third Cousin Brother!"

Feeling his tight grip, Qin Ruan raised an eyebrow and effortlessly pulled her hand free.

She glanced towards the young man on the sofa, her voice faintly inquiring, "I hear from Huo Zhi that you are from the Sea City branch?"

Huo Chengying nodded, "Yes, our branch has been separated by three degrees of kinship from the main family. We’ve lived in Sea City for many years, and we would always visit Capital City every year. We owe a lot to the main family’s care over the years."

Qin Ruan nodded and, pointing towards the sleeping Huo Qi on the sofa, spoke to Huo Zhi standing behind her, "He’s so tired he’s asleep like this; arrange for him to go to a guest room. It’s easy to catch a cold sleeping here with the breeze."

"Yes, Madam—"

The moment Huo Chengying heard this, he panicked, fearing his temper would be annoying, and quickly waved his hand to stop Huo Zhi, "No need, no need, this is seventh brother’s first visit to the main house, and he’s been too excited to rest well for several days now. I’ll go wake him up immediately."

Qin Ruan watched Huo Chengying quietly, seeing the panic on his face and the tension in the depths of his eyes.

She showed her teeth in a smile, her demeanor warm and friendly, "We are all family. If Qiushao is sleepy, it’s unthinkable for our house not to have a place for rest. If Sanshaoye finds out, he’ll blame me for not being hospitable."

That single term of ’family’ from Qin Ruan’s mouth rooted Huo Chengying to the spot.

In the past, when he and the elders from his branch visited the main house, they had always been hosted by that seemingly gentle, but actually indifferent third cousin brother.

Calling him "Third Uncle" was almost a shout, but after being removed by three degrees of mourning, the thin blood tie no longer allowed them to grow close.

Over the years, thanks to the main family’s care, they had become prominent figures in Sea City, with everyone nodding and bowing to them; yet in Capital City, they were nobodies.

Even though Third Master Huo personally hosted them, he never once mentioned them as his own family.

During Huo Chengying’s moment of distraction, Huo Zhi had the Hidden Guard carry the unconscious Huo Qi, who had collapsed on the sofa, into the guest room.

Logically speaking, Qin Ruan’s conversation with Huo Chengying wasn’t soft, and the bodyguard’s movement in carrying the person was not rough but certainly not gentle either.

Amidst such a commotion, Huo Qi was still sleeping soundly.

This unusual situation was indeed puzzling.

Qin Ruan’s cool and emotionless gaze lingered on Huo Qi as he was carried to the guest room, a meaningful expression crossing her face.

...

In the side hall.

Qin Ruan sat in the seat of honor, holding a teapot in her delicate hand and poured two cups of tea, placing one in front of the young man beside her.

After entering the side hall, she met all the members of the Huo Clan branch from Sea City, including the father of Huo Chengying, thanks to Huo Zhi’s introduction.

Under the astonished gazes of everyone present, Qin Ruan arranged for Huo Chengying to sit beside her.

Now, Huo Chengying was staring at the cup of water in front of him, the calm expression on his face breaking into one of startled delight.

The others sitting below were also baffled by Qin Ruan’s action.

They looked at Huo Chengying with meaningful gazes, speculating in their hearts whether the young sixth brother had caught the eye of Madam of the Third Young Master of Huo Family.

Qin Ruan picked up her cup of tea and took a sip.

Her gaze swept over the various expressions of the people in the side hall, her aloof face suddenly lighting up with a soft smile as she said slowly, "In past years, it was always the Third Master who hosted everyone. Unfortunately, today HEA Group had an urgent matter, and the Third Master went to the company and couldn’t meet with everyone.

I am usually idle at home, quite bored, and today it’s rare for our house to have visitors. Hearing that my uncles had come, I joined in the excitement; I hope I haven’t caused any inconvenience."

The middle-aged man seated on the lower left, carrying an air of official authority and a mild temperament, spoke opportunistically, "Where would Madam of Third Young Master get such an idea? We are the ones imposing."

This man was the father of Huo Chengying, the representative of the Sea City Huo Clan, and the paramount leader of Sea City—the local Emperor, so to speak.

Qin Ruan’s lips curled into a harmless smile.

She was already beautiful, and even her posture while holding the teacup was elegant. Having lived with the Third Master Huo for a long time, she had acquired his reserved and noble air.

In front of the leaders of the Sea City Huo Clan, she did not show the slightest timidity, her demeanor was calm and gentle, truly that of a major clan’s leading lady.

Qin Ruan put down the teacup in her hand and looked towards Huo Chengying’s father to ask, "With the holiday nearly upon us, how many days do you plan to stay this time?"

Huo Qi’s father pondered and replied, "This trip to the Capital with the clan members is partly for work-related matters and partly for an advance visit. In two days, once everything is nearly settled, we will return to Sea City for the celebration."

Qin Ruan twirled the teacup on the table and softly suggested, "Why not stay a few more days? It’s rare for the house to be this lively."

Huo Qi’s father shook his head, the smile reaching his eyes, "There’s still a pile of unavoidable matters back in Sea City. The closer it gets to the end of the year, the more things pile up on one’s shoulders."

Regardless of whether Qin Ruan’s invitation was sincere or merely polite, it was comforting to hear.

Qin Ruan’s cordial conversation abruptly shifted, "Will Huo Chengying and Huo Qi also be leaving together?"