Young Master Is Being Jealous Again!
Chapter 849: Third Master’s Tender Comfort, Puppet Shadow in the Small Building at Midnight

Chapter 849: Chapter 849: Third Master’s Tender Comfort, Puppet Shadow in the Small Building at Midnight

Huo Father’s expression turned blank as he followed her gaze and saw the bewilderment in his son’s eyes, a foolishness he could hardly bear to witness.

He did not know what Qin Ruan intended to do and hesitated for a moment before nodding, "... Yes."

Qin Ruan said with a smile, "When I first met the two younger cousins, I felt an unusual kinship, why not have them stay in Capital City for the New Year?"

Huo Father looked at Qin Ruan’s smiling face and at the indifference hidden deep in her eyes, feeling an unexplainable chill in his heart.

"This..."

"If the Third Young Madam doesn’t mind their mischief, it would be their good fortune to be able to stay in Capital City for the New Year."

Without waiting for Huo Father to refuse, another middle-aged person who seemed to be older eagerly agreed.

Qin Ruan turned towards the person who had spoken, who seemed to be a member of Huo Qi’s family, and nodded, "That settles it then. I’ll give Third Master a heads up later and arrange for the two younger cousins to stay at our place."

Her tone was slow, and her voice was low, conveying a rather genial feeling.

But no matter how gentle her demeanor was, it still exuded an undeniable presence.

Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Huo Father stroked the edge of the table, pondering his words, "These two lads are stubborn and have caused endless worries since they were young. If they do anything improper, the Third Young Madam should be strict in her discipline. They are growing up, with more thoughts of their own, and they are getting harder and harder to understand, please be tolerant of them, Third Young Madam."

Qin Ruan’s eyes flashed with surprise; the man did not take the opportunity to curry favor.

What Huo Father said on the surface seemed to allow her to toy with Huo Chengying and Huo Qi as she wished, but in reality, he was pleading on their behalf.

If they caused trouble in Capital City, it would be because of their past unruliness, and he hoped the Huo Family would be lenient and not blame them.

Having met Huo Qi and Huo Chengying for the first time, Qin Ruan could tell from their speech and manners that they were well-bred and did not seem like ill-tempered types.

She shook her head at Huo Father, who was visibly worried, and said with a chuckle, "You make it sound as though I’m a harbinger of doom.

I am about the same age as the two younger cousins, and I merely wanted to keep some companions with common interests around. Since they are staying in Capital City, I will not neglect their basic needs. After all, they are from the Huo Family, how could they possibly suffer any grievances?"

Hearing this, Huo Father’s expression relaxed, and a smile appeared on his face, "To be favored by the Young Madam is their honor."

The always quiet Huo Chengying: "..."

Thus, he was sold by his father, with mixed feelings beyond description.

...

When Huo Yunjiao returned in the evening and heard the report from Huo Zhi, he learned that the Huo Clan from Sea City had already departed.

The only thing that surprised him was that Qin Ruan had kept two young members behind.

As he handed off his overcoat to the hands of the waiting servant, Huo Yunjiao asked in an unhurried voice, "Do you know why Madam kept them?"

Huo Zhi: "Madam said she found them affable and wished to have them stay in the main house for the New Year. I believe Madam’s words serve as a plausible excuse for those from Sea City to leave them behind."

Huo Yunjiao’s eyes flickered with suspicion, "Who were the ones left behind?"

Huo Zhi quickly responded, "The young master who is Sea City’s leading figure, Huo Chengying, and one from a family that is closely associated with the ninth elder uncle, a young man named Huo Qi."

"Where have they been arranged to stay?"

"In the guest room on the first floor."

Huo Yunjiao slightly furrowed his brows, pausing in thought where he stood.

He did not believe that Qin Ruan had kept people from Sea City, whom she had just met, to stay in their home without good reason.

"Where is Madam?"

"Upstairs, accompanying the two young masters."

Huo Yunjiao walked up the stairs with a steady gait, his handsome fingertips rolling up his shirt sleeves to his forearms.

In the nursery, Qin Ruan leaned against the crib, her arms wrapped around Huo Yao and Huo Anqi, one hand holding a book as she read fairy tales to the two children.

Her voice was pleasant and gentle, and the two adorable children in her arms stared off into space, completely uninterested in listening to fairy tales.

Huo Yao glared at his brother, his little mouth pouted enough to hang an oil bottle from it.

Huo Anqi’s dark eyes fixed on him, his lips curved into a cold smile that somehow looked bizarre yet unexpectedly harmonious.

Qin Ruan was so engrossed in reading fairy tales to the children that she failed to notice the silent battle taking place between their gazes.

It wasn’t until the sound of knocking at the door reached them that all three looked over.

Leaning on the door frame, Huo Yunjiao let out a faint chuckle upon seeing the similar eyes of the mother and sons turn toward him.

Leaning against the headboard, Qin Ruan smiled, "When did Third Master arrive?"

"Just now." He walked over to his wife and children, exuding an air of grace and nobility, "I hear Ruanruan detained two people?"

Qin Ruan honestly replied, "There was a problem with one of them, so I thought we’d keep the person for now."

Huo Yunjiao sat on the edge of the bed, pulled her into his arms, and casually stroked the heads of Huo Yao and Huo Anqi, his tone ambiguous, "And here I thought you truly wanted to socialize with your peers."

Qin Ruan chuckled lightly, "I’m not familiar with them."

Huo Yunjiao rubbed her head and gently reminded her, "Huo Qi has a deep relationship with Uncle Jiu, and given you’ve kept him, it’s very likely he’ll come knocking tomorrow. Are you afraid of the hassle?"

Thinking of the stubborn old man, Qin Ruan snuggled into Huo Yunjiao’s embrace and looked up, "Would fear allow us to avoid it?"

Huo Yunjiao shook his head and teasingly pinched her ear, "Work at the company has been rather hectic these past few days, and I won’t be home much. You’ll have to be more attentive with Uncle Jiu and his lot. Just remember one thing, don’t let yourself be wronged."

Qin Ruan pouted, "All said and done, you’re still putting me to work."

The Third Master soothed her with his seductive voice, "I know you’re reluctant to take over, but Ayao and Anqi are still young. You’ll have to hold the household together for them."

Qin Ruan looked thoughtful, "Understood."

After the arrival of their father, Huo Yao and Huo Anqi became exceptionally well-behaved, one lying on Qin Ruan and the other nestling into Third Master’s arms.

That night, at two in the morning.

In the living room on the first floor, within the guest room where Huo Qi was staying, the room was filled with a chilling coldness.

The person on the bed, as if attacked by the coldness, reached out in his sleep to pull up the covers.

His hands felt around on the bed, but grasped nothing.

There was no blanket on the bed, and he wore only a thin nightgown, the chilly cold air enveloping his whole body.

Unable to endure the cold, Huo Qi groggily opened his eyes.

Before he could find a blanket, upon opening his eyes, he saw a slender, frail figure standing by the window.

Huo Qi blinked, his rationality snapping back instantly, his expression tense as he stared at the shadow, fear and terror in his eyes, along with a trace of recognition.

At that moment, the shadow moved.

It extended a hand to comb through its long hair.

The long hair that reached down to the figure’s hips, as the woman combed through with her hand, slowly turned sticky, and the room was quickly filled with a pungent smell of blood.

Huo Qi sat up abruptly, a grown man shrinking at the head of the bed, his body trembling, eyes reddened as he glared at the woman’s silhouette, shouting tremulously, "I bear you no grudge, why do you still haunt me?!"

The woman stopped combing her hair, her head slowly turning to face the trembling man curled up on the bed.

Huo Qi’s pupils constricted, his face turning deathly pale as he stared at the woman.