Young Master Is Being Jealous Again!
Chapter 932: Pearls and Jade First, Mudu Behind, Such is Fate

Chapter 932: Chapter 932: Pearls and Jade First, Mudu Behind, Such is Fate

Three days!

She had been confined to her room for a full three days!

Recalling the nightmarish despair, Qin Ruan’s breathing grew heavier.

Her trip to Sea City was simply due to her foul mood!

But now she felt guilty and dared not show even a hint of it.

How could an old fox like Huo Yunjiao not see the feigned innocence on Qin Ruan’s face, her eyes brimming with defiance?

He hugged her contentedly, lifting her chin to meet a pair of eyes filled with resentment and shame.

Huo Yunjiao sighed softly and kissed her near the lips, whispering softly, "Ruanruan, you’re still blaming me."

His voice was as gentle as ever, whispering in her ear as though he were a lover.

Qin Ruan was not beguiled; on the contrary, her mind was clear and rational, and she quickly wriggled out of his embrace and retreated.

"You’re thinking too much!"

She covered her kissed mouth, jumped out of bed, and headed for the bathroom, exclaiming, "I haven’t even brushed my teeth or washed my face, and you don’t mind the filth!"

"Did you forget how you tormented me last night? I didn’t mind when you vomited all over my hands, and now you suddenly become so self-aware."

The man’s low, teasing voice followed from behind her.

Qin Ruan, who had been jogging, paused slightly as forgotten memories flooded her mind.

Suffused with embarrassment as she was, this only compounded her discomfort.

As if she hadn’t heard, she dashed into the bathroom and with a bang, closed the door behind her.

As she shut the door, she could still hear the man’s cheerful laughter outside.

Qin Ruan leaned against the door, her bare toes scrabbling at the floor.

Her toes found no respite, as if given the chance, she could scratch out a castle.

By the time she adjusted her emotions and stood under the shower to rinse off, she seemed to hear the laughter of children outside.

Turning off the shower valve, Qin Ruan pressed against the door, and this time she clearly heard Huo Yao and Huo Anqi’s joyful laughter outside.

After not seeing the children for four or five days, she missed them a bit.

Qin Ruan prepared herself as quickly as possible, adjusted her mood, and got ready to face Grandpa’s mockery once she stepped out.

When she opened the bathroom door, she realized it wasn’t just the father and sons in the room; Huo Zhi and Huo Qi were also there.

Huo Yao: "Ah—" Mommy!

Huo Anqi: "Yiya—" Mommy!

Huo Zhi: "Madam—"

Huo Qi: "Sister-in-law—"

As everyone saw her, they greeted her in turn.

Even Huo Yunjiao, leaning against the bedside with those unfathomable eyes, was sizing her up.

Qin Ruan tightened the bathrobe around her, taking measured steps towards the only large bed in the room.

Huo Yao and Huo Anqi, who had been frolicking in Huo Yunjiao’s arms, instantly abandoned their father and scurried to the edge of the bed upon seeing Qin Ruan.

The brothers stood at the edge of the bed, simultaneously stretching out their little arms to Qin Ruan who was approaching.

Huo Yao: "Ah—"

Mommy, hold me!

Huo Anqi: "Yiya—"

Mommy, hold me first!

Qin Ruan stepped forward, scooped up both of her precious sons into her arms, and sat down at the foot of the bed.

She looked up at Huo Qi, noticing the dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep, "How’s Wu Fan?"

What Wu Fan and she had done at the tavern was somewhat absurd.

Conducting oneself with such brazenness was a bit too wild, reminding her of the unrestrained days back in West City.

Huo Qi’s lips curled into a detached smile, his tone casual, "Still sleeping. He made quite a fuss last night, only fell asleep when it was nearly dawn."

His words carried a hint of ambiguity, and an unknowing listener might have thought something had happened between them.

Qin Ruan’s lips drew a wicked arc, "How about you, did you sleep well?"

"Quite well."

Huo Qi’s voice was cool, yet his demeanor was respectful and polite.

A desolate and lonely air enveloped him, lacking his usual distinct energy.

Qin Ruan chuckled, her meaning unclear, "I hope you continue to do well."

Huo Qi glanced at Huo Yunjiao leaning against the bed in a seemingly casual posture, an air of elegance about him, his heart and eyes filled with Qin Ruan, not glancing towards him, and a strong urge to know more rose within Huo Qi.

Qin Ruan, however, acted as though she hadn’t noticed; she looked down at Huo Yao and Huo Anqi in her arms.

Suddenly, her expression turned cold.

The tips of Huo Yao’s and Huo Anqi’s noses and their fair little faces were a bit red, as if someone had pinched them deliberately.

With a stern face, she turned to Huo Yunjiao with a hint of accusation, "Why are Ayao and Anqi’s faces red? Their noses don’t look right either."

The brothers, sitting in her lap, were stunned.

They looked at each other, their little dumpling faces wrinkling up in distress.

Huo Yunjiao, caught off guard by Qin Ruan’s counterattack, paused for a moment.

He showed a look of helplessness, raised his head to rub his temple, and chuckled, "Why don’t you take a closer look at their ears?"

Qin Ruan looked down at Huo Yao and Huo Anqi’s ears and noticed they too were reddened.

Instantly, she was enraged, her voice tinged with chilling anger, "What is the meaning of this?"

"Ah—" Huo Yao cried out, tugging at Qin Ruan’s bathrobe.

Huo Anqi also pinched her arm with a pair of little hands.

They wanted to help Mom skip this topic, after all, the marks on them had all been caused by her own hands last night.

Huo Yunjiao sat up straight, raising her chin reservedly at Qin Ruan, "Ruanruan, think again about what you did to the kids last night."

Qin Ruan blinked, her expression becoming blank, then contemplative.

Soon, a flush of embarrassment spread across her angry face.

Excellent!

On the way back last night, the memories of her pinching their faces, pulling their ears, and generally abusing the two little ones in the car finally bubbled up in her mind.

Qin Ruan hugged Huo Yao and Huo Anqi, cleared her throat quietly, and darted a glance at Huo Qi.

Noticing the hesitation on his face, she asked, "Are you thinking of asking about Miss Duan?"

Huo Qi nodded eagerly, "Has she been reincarnated?"

Qin Ruan feigned calm, "Given the efficiency of the arrangements below, she should have by now."

"That’s good."

A slight curve appeared on Huo Qi’s lips, revealing a sense of relief.

"Madam, would you like something to eat?"

Huo Zhi, holding the black ox tongue pastry delivered from the Capital City this morning along with a pot of aromatic medicinal porridge, offered it to Qin Ruan.

Seeing the ox tongue pastry and smelling its scent, Qin Ruan knew this was a delicacy from Guilan Square in West City.

Taking Huo Yao and Huo Anqi from her arms, Huo Yunjiao said warmly, "Ruanruan, Grandfather and Father are waiting for us in the Capital City to celebrate the New Year. Shall we eat and then head back to the Capital?"

Qin Ruan didn’t respond, taking the bowl of medicinal porridge from Huo Zhi’s hands.

After just one sip, she knew it came from the Huo Family’s medicinal cuisine chef.

A small bowl of medicinal porridge, still warm in her hands after traveling from the Capital City to Sea City, showed the meticulous care taken during transportation.

Qin Ruan sipped the porridge in small mouthfuls, replying softly, "I’m afraid I can’t this morning, there’s one thing I need to do. Let’s return in the afternoon."

Her voice betrayed an obvious sense of guilt.

"Alright—"

Huo Yunjiao indulged her without hesitation.

Awen, standing outside the bedroom door unnoticed, said to Huo Qi inside the room, "Seventh Master, Miss Wu is awake."

"Got it," Huo Qi responded to Awen before turning to Huo Yunjiao and Qin Ruan, "I will go check on her first."

Qin Ruan looked up with cool eyes, asking him, "You’ll be alright later, won’t you?"

"Yes."

"That’s good, come with me for a bit later."

Huo Qi did not ask what for, but nodded, "Alright!"

As he turned and left with Awen to the room where Wu Fan was.

In the spacious guest room, Wu Fan, wearing a cotton nightgown, stood before the large floor-to-ceiling window.

The warm sunlight bathed her, warming the heart.

Huo Qi stood politely outside the opened door, knocking.

Wu Fan turned slowly, her tranquil eyes red-rimmed as she gazed at him, "You’ve come."

Huo Qi entered the room, concern in his tone as he asked, "Are you feeling alright?"

"I feel good, better than I’ve ever felt before," said Wu Fan, stretching and smiling warmly.

Her smile, bathed in the sunlight, seemed utterly beautiful.

Having had a heavy drink, it was as if she had gone through a transformation, with something about her having become different.

Huo Qi stood by her, evidently awkward and out of place, yet there was a worrying light in his eyes.

He was detached, maintaining a respectful distance, "Is there anything you need me to do?"

Wu Fan shook her head, giving him a resigned smile, "Do you know when I found out about Miss Duan and your connection to her?"

Huo Qi shook his head, his tone neutral, "Not very clear."

"A long time. Ever since I knew she had an ambiguous entanglement with you, I felt threatened. I always thought that if our connection deepened, it would be my trump card."

Wu Fan chuckled self-deprecatingly, shaking her head, "Unfortunately, superior gems are valued over inferior ones."

Huo Qi, seeing the unmistakable gloom on her face, blurted out, "That’s not true, you are a gem too, it’s just that... "

Wu Fan glanced back at him, clear and rational, "It’s just that in your eyes, I still don’t compare to Miss Duan."

Huo Qi opened his mouth but found no words. Some people and some things are simply beyond comparison.

"Enough, don’t show that pained look in front of me, I know you’re just like a block of wood now, with hardly any affection to speak of. We’ve been together for seven years without crossing the last barrier, neither of us has lost anything, so... let’s part on good terms."

Wu Fan’s frankness relieved Huo Qi.

The strange atmosphere surrounding him dissipated like receding tide waters.

He truly wanted to care for Wu Fan but felt little stirring in his heart.

Now, with his facade torn away, indifference returned to Huo Qi’s eyes as he said to Wu Fan, "The promises I made to you before are as good as the day I made them, for as long as I live."

Wu Fan playfully blinked at him, "Actually, I really want to say, who cares!"

Then she added, "But the Huo family in Sea City is prestigious and wealthy, and you’ll do well when you join the Capital City’s development. So, I won’t decline your offer. I only hope that when I find the man who treasures me like a jewel and we marry, you won’t renege on your promise today."

Huo Qi promised solemnly, "My word is my bond!"

Wu Fan laughed, tears falling.

She raised her hand nonchalantly to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes, jesting, "I’m not after a fortune here. You think I can be sent away with mere millions? Do you underestimate me, or do you lack confidence in your ability to climb higher and acquire greater wealth?"