World 1: Brooding Retired Third-Generation X Ex-Female Lead’s Coworker “Little Pitiful” 05

Huo Hanting had just reached the doorway when he overheard Huo Tailing trying to sell him off. He was ready to give her a proper lesson on her behavior and manners.

But then he saw Fu Yu pick Huo Tailing up, her expression serious.

“You can really do that?”

Do what, exactly?
Take his money—or take him?

Huo Hanting’s heart skipped a beat, his gaze drawn to Fu Yu’s calm, serene face.

Shamelessly, Huo Tailing nestled in the crook of Fu Yu’s neck, sucking on her lollipop and murmuring sweetly, “Sister, which one do you want?”

Huo Hanting’s throat went dry.

At that moment, he wanted to know the answer even more than Huo Tailing did.

“President Huo, I apologize—I failed to keep an eye on Miss Tailing,”

The head of the secretary department finally realized that Huo Hanting was right behind him and immediately bowed at a ninety-degree angle with utmost respect.

Fu Yu looked over and nodded slightly, “President Huo.”

Huo Hanting frowned.

Useless.

His sharp, cold gaze fell on the department head. “Take Tailing out.”

“Yes, sir.”

“No, no—I want to stay with Sister!”

“Huo Tailing, this is a company, not a place for you to mess around.”

Huo Hanting took on the tone of a strict older brother.

Huo Tailing was infamous in Shen City as a little tyrant—feared by all, except Huo Hanting.

But today, for some reason, not only was she acting unusually sweet to Fu Yu, she was even defying her brother’s orders for her.

“No! Big brother is too mean!”

Fu Yu had no experience with children. She just felt like she was holding a round little ball squirming around in her arms.

“Miss Fu, give her to me.”

Huo Hanting stepped forward, signaling her to let go.

Just as Fu Yu was about to lower her arms, Huo Tailing jumped down on her own.

“Careful.”

Both reached out to catch her at the same time—resulting in their bodies brushing against one another.

Huo Hanting could see the fine fuzz on Fu Yu’s face, smell her unique scent.

Usually composed and reserved, he suddenly felt like he was on the edge of losing control.

Just before his reason could completely snap, he scooped up Huo Tailing and tossed her to the department head.

“Huo Tailing, we’ll settle this at home.”

He waved his hand, signaling the department head to escort her away.

The room fell silent again.

But Fu Yu’s expression revealed a rare flicker of excitement.

This task… might actually have a glimmer of hope.

Just moments ago, when the two were nearly embracing, she watched as Huo Hanting’s favorability score skyrocketed—zooming from 1000 to 5000.

For the past few days, his favorability had remained stuck at 1000, leaving Fu Yu completely unmotivated to carry out her mission.

“You…”

“Sorry, Tailing’s been spoiled since she was little.”

That was Huo Hanting’s usual line every time Huo Tailing caused trouble.

But when he said it in front of Fu Yu now, it actually carried a hint of grievance—like he was looking for comfort.

Huo Hanting’s parents had been childhood sweethearts. They were engaged early and married young.

Their grand wedding had stirred a buzz in Shen City; they were the picture-perfect golden couple.

Until… his mother aged, and his father began keeping mistresses—each one resembling her younger self.

His father claimed it was because he loved her too much. Even when in bed with other women, his mind was full of thoughts of her.

His mother, already in poor health, was crushed. That betrayal became the final straw.

She couldn’t understand—how could the man who once swore eternal love and devotion turn into someone so rotten?

Was that once-devoted man… a lie?

The fallout from that betrayal didn’t just ruin his mother—it changed Huo Hanting too.

From a young age, women who resembled his mother swarmed him.

Some declared they’d give birth to a son to replace him.

Some vowed to drive his sickly mother away and become the rightful wife.

Some insisted that they and his father were true love.

True love?

Huo Hanting only thought they were laughably pathetic.

There was no such thing as true love in this world—only greed and desire.

In the end, his love-struck mother tried to use a child to keep his father.

But the daughter she risked her life to give birth to—Huo Tailing—opened her eyes and saw only Huo Hanting.

His father never showed up—not for the birth, not for the funeral, not for Tailing’s 100-day celebration, her first birthday, nor even when she had a fever.

He remained tangled in the bedsheets of women who looked like his mother—as if she’d never left him.

“It’s fine, it’s normal for kids to be a bit wild~”

Fu Yu glanced at Huo Hanting’s favorability screen.

A 4000-point boost from a single physical contact. If the full score is 100 million, then she’ll need to touch him 250,000 times.

No way—that’s too slow. She needed a way to accelerate this.

She wasn’t one for clingy affection, but for the sake of the mission—

Going full cling mode was totally on the table.

Huo Hanting had no idea what Fu Yu was thinking.

Her words sounded comforting… but also like a subtle evasion—dodging Huo Tailing’s earlier question.

What did she want?

Huo Hanting wanted to ask, but he was afraid of scaring Fu Yu—or worse, hearing an answer he couldn’t accept.

For the first time, he felt anxious. Afraid that any wrong move would push Fu Yu further away.

“There’s a drone exhibition in Yao City in a few days. Come with me.”

His heart beat faster for some reason. Afraid she’d refuse, he quickly added:

“Huo Group just entered the drone market. We need to understand current industry trends.”

“Sure.”

Fu Yu agreed easily.

Meanwhile, Chen Manzi saw the news of Fu Yu attending the exhibition with Huo Hanting while she was on a date with Gu Huai.

Her first thought: Fu Yu is doomed.

Huo Hanting must be planning to punish Fu Yu—why else bring her along?

In her past life, women who dared seduce Huo Hanting—flirting in front of Chen Manzi, no less—ended up being carted off by him with a smile.

Later, those same women were rumored to have gone insane—some even institutionalized.

Chen Manzi felt a little bad.

After all, Fu Yu had always been her loyal follower and never actually harmed her.

But then she thought of how Fu Yu and Gu Huai had lived a happy married life in their past life…

And she couldn’t help but feel bitter.

Even if she was dating Huo Hanting now, that didn’t mean Gu Huai couldn’t still be hers.

Only children make choices—adults take everything.

She just couldn’t get over the fact that Fu Yu had “stolen” Gu Huai.

So instead of warning Fu Yu to be careful, she openly liked the news post about the exhibition.

“You’re smiling so happily—what’s going on?”
Gu Huai peeled shrimp for her.

“Lately, have you talked to Fu Yu? She’s joined Huo Group.”

Chen Manzi asked meaningfully, “Ah Huai, what do you think of Fu Yu?”

“She’s great. All your friends are nice.”

Gu Huai fed her a peeled shrimp.

“Not as a friend—as a woman, what do you think of Fu Yu?”

“Babe.”

Gu Huai seemed to catch her meaning. A smile played on his lips.
“In my eyes, you’re the best.”