Chapter 71 -0071 Hospital Ward Dispute
How to handle it?
This question indeed stumped Huo Tingxiao.
“I’ve told you before, no one cares if you’re independent or not, the other members of the Huo Family will continue to watch you.
You’ve been so cautious for so many years, and the moment a small flaw appeared, wouldn’t this bunch grasp the opportunity to the death?
This is called ‘not listening to me, suffering is right before your eyes.’
...
Yunzhan carried the demeanor of a man who had been through it all. After all, he was very familiar with family infighting—if it weren’t for having experienced a storm of blood and violence, where would his regal bearing as a ruler come from?
What so-called noble temperament is nothing but the outcome of a great deal of money and stepping over countless people to rise to the top.
“So, they want to pin this incident on the Xie Family and think they can do it without making a sound?”
“In my view, it’s not just that.”
“Not just that?”
Huo Tingxiao seemed to suddenly think of something, and his eyes darkened. Seeing this, Yunzhan continued with his argument.
“Illegitimate children seeking power is an ancient story. If there’s anyone to blame, it’s your father for being too promiscuous, leaving you with future trouble. The difficulty now lies in whether it’s out in the open or underhanded, unknown; the former is still okay, but the latter…”
Of course, Huo Tingxiao knew what his father was like—the home flag never fell while banners outside fluttered everywhere.
Han Yongmei was originally reliant on her family’s influence to have a place in front of Huo Qidong, but as the Han Family gradually declined, her confidence waned. As for those romantic entanglements and illegitimate sons and daughters outside, as long as they didn’t show up in front of her, she turned a blind eye to them.
“Huo Tingyang doesn’t have the guts, I’m not suspicious of him.”
“If not him, then who? Your position in the family is not rock-solid? Could there actually be someone so unafraid of death? It’s remarkable enough for relatives by marriage to share a piece of the pie, yet they dare to think about replacing you?”
The relatives by marriage Yunzhan spoke of were Huo Tingxiao’s uncles, each of them cunning to the core, always scheming to reap benefits from the Huo Family.
Huo Tingxiao might not care about Huo Group’s affairs, but he was not blind.
“Even if they have the will and the courage, they don’t have the capability.”
This imperious tone made Yunzhan laugh.
“Oh, what’s the meaning of this, planning to go back and take over the family business?”
Huo Tingxiao spoke indifferently.
“Going back would be falling into their trap.”
Yunzhan knew that Huo Tingxiao always had his own plans, so he wasn’t worried about him being at a disadvantage in this regard.
“As long as you have a clear understanding, that’s good.”
The car stopped in front of a large building near the hospital, a hotel owned by the Huo Group.
Huo Tingxiao had arranged for Yunzhan the top floor’s reserved VVIP suite. This time Yunzhan brought ten people over, five of whom were personal bodyguards for Huo Tingxiao. He glanced at the group and his gaze landed on a slender short-haired girl among them.
“She’s also a bodyguard?”
The dubious tone made Yunzhan raise his eyebrows.
“Don’t underestimate her, she looks young, but she’s actually 25. She’s been a mercenary for a few years; killing a grown man with her bare hands is no problem. Yun Xi, come here.”
Yun Xi walked over, a small face devoid of expression.
“Mr. Yun.”
“Give your new master a demonstration of ‘breaking boulders with your chest.’
“…”
Yun Xi watched Yunzhan without blinking and didn’t move for a long time.
Huo Tingxiao glared at Yunzhan, thinking that this guy never said anything serious.
“Fine, I admit that joke wasn’t funny. Just show off a skill or two.”
Yun Xi looked around and spotted a stack of A4 printing paper on the coffee table in the suite’s living room. She picked up a sheet and started folding it with focus.
Standing next to Huo Tingxiao, He Yan watched Yun Xi concentrating on folding the paper and couldn’t help raising an eyebrow. Was this her idea of showing off a skill? A paper folding contest?
Soon, the paper in Yun Xi’s hands turned into a crown shape, except the middle was elongated. Huo Tingxiao understood and curved his lips into a smile. The next second, Yun Xi drove the makeshift paper dagger into the wooden coffee table with lightning speed, startling He Yan who widened his eyes in shock.
“How’s that?”
“Passable.”
Yunzhan pursed his lips in disdain. His good buddy was just so stingy. Complimenting someone was like asking him to die. He had sent some of his most capable people this time, couldn’t he at least say something auspicious?
“It’s getting late. You get some rest. Yun Xi, come with me.”
——–
At the hospital ward, best friend Gu Xiaoman had already packed up, ready to stay overnight, when Mu Lan’s mother-in-law, Han Yongmei, unexpectedly showed up, insisting she would take care of her.
Mu Lan didn’t have a good impression of her mother-in-law, and this sudden closeness was too abnormal.
“Mom, how did you find out…”
Han Yongmei was taken aback. She didn’t expect Mu Lan to ask directly, and her daughter-in-law was really getting out of line.
“Stop worrying about how I found out. You’re hospitalized for no serious reason, and if I, as your mother-in-law, didn’t come, wouldn’t it just invite gossip?”
Gossip? Han Yongmei’s words made Mu Lan purse her lips.
“It’s just a minor injury, nothing serious. I didn’t want everyone to know, and there shouldn’t be any gossip. You’re really overthinking it.”
Han Yongmei looked at Mu Lan with dissatisfaction in her eyes, not minding Gu Xiaoman’s presence as she assumed the mother-in-law’s posture.
“Everyone knows that Tingxiao hasn’t gone to the company and is staying in the hospital with you, they even thought the old master was ill. They’ve gone to so much trouble, only to find out, you’re in the hospital over a headache and fever.”
The words sounded harsh to the ear, and it seemed someone had deliberately stirred up trouble.
“May I know who are these ‘everyone’ you’re talking about, mom?”
Han Yongmei huffed. She couldn’t just betray Huo Qitang; after all, they had a pleasant disagreement last time. She roughly knew that Huo Qitang looked down on Mu Lan, but she had to speak well of her daughter-in-law on the surface before settling scores privately.
This content is taken from freёwebnovel.com.
“Why are you digging so deep? Are you looking to settle scores with someone or…”
Mu Lan faced Han Yongmei without cringing or arrogance:
“You’re right, I really do want to ask this person face to face what their intentions are.”
Han Yongmei’s face darkened, her tone laced with annoyance.
“What do you mean by that?”
Mu Lan saw displeasure on her mother-in-law’s face, remained calm nonetheless, but left Gu Xiaoman terribly anxious. Why hadn’t Huo Tingxiao come back? Wasn’t he worried about leaving her here to watch over her? Being a junior, she couldn’t just speak out of turn and risk becoming Mu Lan’s liability or give others a handle, but she was truly anxious to see her best friend being scolded without being able to help.
“Don’t be upset, mom. What I’m doing is also for the good of the Huo family.”
“It sounds nice, but I think you’re just looking for an excuse to vent and seek revenge. Haven’t you forgotten what I taught you before? How much trouble have you caused these recent days? Aren’t you going to reflect on yourself at all?”