Chapter 917: Chapter 897: Focusing on the Minor Details, Ignoring the Major Ones
The mood finally eased a little after Jiayi’s intervention.
She gently patted Little Doubao’s head. "Forget it, you can call me that later. No rush."
Then she gestured toward Auntie Li. "Auntie Li, take the three little ones upstairs to rest. Arrange a room for Little Doubao."
Auntie Li led Zaizai, Gan Xinxin, and Little Doubao upstairs.
Jiayi watched as the three little figures disappeared around the stairwell corner. She let out a light sigh of relief. Turning back, she noticed someone still wearing a cold expression. Walking over, she raised her hand and lightly poked his arm with her fingertip. "Hey, you’re not actually mad, are you? Don’t be so petty..."
His handsome face twitched slightly. He grabbed her hand and pulled her onto his lap in one swift motion, his deep eyes burning intensely. "Bringing another kid back without telling me, and you call me petty? It was already inconvenient enough with Qiao Yongyong and Gan Xinxin staying at Disheng. I finally got Qiao Yongyong to leave, and now you’ve brought someone else home. Are you just trying to drive me crazy?"
Just earlier, Huo Tianpei had called him, saying Little Doubao had been picked up by Jiayi and her son, and would be staying at Disheng for a while. His face darkened immediately.
This little woman was getting more and more audacious, making decisions without consulting him.
While he viewed his own child differently, he had little interest in, or even actively disliked and rejected, other people’s children.
He tolerated Gan Xinxin only because Zaizai had asked, and additionally, the Huo Family had good relations with the Gan Family in the North.
But now, with yet another child at home, it truly gave him a headache.
Only then did Jiayi understand—it wasn’t that he disliked Little Doubao as his nephew, but rather he feared being "disturbed."
Seeing that he had not entirely calmed down, she mumbled, "Little Doubao is different from most kids. He’s very well-behaved and quiet. He won’t make a fuss, I promise. It’s just a few days. Initially, I wasn’t planning to bring him back, but Zaizai and I felt so sorry for him. Ever since he arrived at the Huo Family, he’s been locked in a hotel room, not going out or meeting anyone. That’s the only reason we decided, on the spot, to bring him back..."
She spoke pitifully, attempting to stir up a bit of sympathy in this man.
However, the more he listened, the darker his expression became. Suddenly, he interrupted her, his tone chilling: "Do you also think, like others, that I’ve been too cold-blooded toward this nephew?"
She looked into his deep, impenetrable eyes. Despite their cold and ghostly glow, they seemed to long for her trust and understanding.
Her heart stirred. She shook her head. "Sending Little Doubao away back then was the best decision for everyone."
He had originally planned to entrust Little Doubao to Mu Qingran after the fact, but the birth mother had refused to take him.
Later, Huo Shao had crippled Mu Qingran, broken the law, and fled abroad. So much had transpired...
If Little Doubao had stayed with the Huo Family, the world would’ve scrutinized and gossiped endlessly due to his presence.
Growing up in a stable, prosperous, and ordinary family with both parents would’ve been more suitable for Little Doubao.
Huo Zhenyang was simply more rational than others, thinking more thoroughly and far ahead.
You could tell from the adoptive parents he had carefully selected for Little Doubao.
The adoptive couple were both university professors. While not fabulously wealthy, they came from a well-off intellectual background and had been childless for years. Growing up in such a household would have ensured Little Doubao a far smoother and happier life than in the Huo Family.
But life always has its surprises.
He hadn’t expected Little Doubao to develop congenital autism.
The very day Su Yan brought Little Doubao back, Huo Zhenyang had George investigate Little Doubao’s life over the recent years as soon as he returned to Disheng.
That couple eventually had a child of their own.
As Little Doubao’s autism became increasingly apparent with age, they couldn’t accept his condition. Prioritizing raising their biological child, they sent him to an orphanage.
If it weren’t for this illness, Little Doubao would surely be living happily now. At the very least, he would have both parents, a healthy family, and would never have come to learn the ugly truth behind his birth—that his biological father crippled his mother, and his biological mother didn’t want him.
Huo Zhenyang’s deep gaze locked on her. Though his expression had softened slightly, he was clearly unmoved by her sugar-coated words. "Don’t think saying a few nice things will make this matter go away."
In any case, her habit of bringing kids home on a whim needed to be fixed.
He couldn’t let her off too easily; otherwise, she’d only take him, the head of the household, less and less seriously in the future.
Jiayi realized he intended to get up, so she pressed her body down and encircled his neck. "You’re still mad?"
"No, just going back to the study to work." He grabbed her arms, trying to pull them off his neck.
Ha, definitely still mad.
She noticed the lingering anger in his eyes and clung tightly to his neck, refusing to let go. "You’re obviously still mad."
"Do you want me to congratulate you for guessing right? Isn’t there another child to look after now? Go take care of them. Leave me alone."
His tone was biting, laced with an indiscernible tinge of jealousy. Lifting her off lightly, he set her on the sofa and strode upstairs.
This man, seriously, getting jealous over a kid? She couldn’t believe him.
Fine. She’d better not let him accuse her of favoring the little one and ignoring the big one.
Jiayi followed him upstairs and knocked on the study door.
No surprise, there was no response.
Biting her lip, she pushed open the unlocked door and walked inside.
The man was already seated behind the desk, staring at the computer.
"Hey..." She circled around behind the desk, only to find he wasn’t doing any actual work. Instead, he was playing an online game.
She had rarely ever seen him play games. On the rare occasion he did, it was only to relieve stress during work breaks, and it was usually a simple single-player game.
He seemed genuinely bothered, huh?
"Oh, so it’s this game. I’ve played it tons of times and even reached the final boss. Want me to guide you?" She propped her chin on her hands, leaning against the desk, making small talk.
He kept his face blank, staring at the screen and treating her like air.
"Hey hey... Why aren’t you killing this mini-boss? Take it down!" She started pointing at the screen and directing him.
"..."
"Pick up that gold chest! That’s a super useful item!"
"..."
"Behind you, behind you! Don’t forget to deal with that monster back there~"
"..."
"You need to team up with others for this. Cooperation is key. Playing all aloof and solitary like this will only get you killed miserably!"
Huo Zhenyang’s handsome face started to turn green bit by bit.
If the scariest thing in the world was a woman directing a man how to drive, then a woman giving a man gaming tips definitely ranked second.
He set the mouse down and said coldly, "Do you realize how noisy you are? Sit down and stay quiet."
Oh, finally a reaction?
Jiayi raised an eyebrow. "Alright."
Saying this, she turned her back to the computer, sat on his lap, wrapped her arms around his neck, and whispered into his ear,
"This way, I won’t disrupt your gaming, and I also get to sit comfortably."
