Warning: If some parts of this chapter begin to upset you, kindly stop reading. There are mentions of abuse, manipulation, violence, and etc.

---

31st Meow

---

If possible, Huo Zheng could quietly stand in this corner unknown to He Yunzhou, watching the two of them with a despairing heart forever.

But after a few minutes’ delay, the previously calm and reserved lobby manager gradually became more and more restless.

He frequently glanced at his wristwatch, and more and more cold sweat seeped out of his temples.

“Mr. Huo, your…” Just as the lobby manager, out of sheer helplessness, mustered the courage to call out Huo Zheng’s name once again, Huo Zheng suddenly turned his head, casting his gaze back on him.

“I heard you.” The handsome yet extremely sinister man said softly in an exceptionally cold voice.

“My mother is waiting for me. I don’t need you to remind me of that.”

With tense nerves and sweating profusely, the lobby manager took a few steps back, clearing the way to the VIP box.

“I deeply apologize, but Madam Huo had previously expressed her wish to see you as soon as possible.”

The phone in the lobby manager’s pocket vibrated slightly. Without looking, he knew it was likely a call for help from the waiter in the private room—

At the mention of “Madam Huo,” an already exceptionally cold Huo Zheng instantly wore an icy mask.

He closed his eyes, then turned back for one last look at the pair sitting by the round table with warm smiles.

“What’s the most expensive item you have here?” Huo Zheng asked.

“Ah?”

“Bring all of it to them. Put the bill on my tab.”

With that, Huo Zheng walked quickly down the corridor.

He would wish them well. Huo Zheng told himself.

He had been the one to let go of He Yunzhou first, so standing here today, enduring the bitter jealousy gnawing at his heart, was his own doing.

It was precisely this sudden surge of emotion that, when he opened the door to the VIP room and saw the woman sitting calmly by the floor-to-ceiling window, left him unable to fully mask his feelings, giving her an immediate opening to attack.

“You look like you’re in a bad mood, my child. Did something happen?” The woman smiled leisurely at Huo Zheng.

Huo Zheng had a faint pain in his chest and didn’t pay any attention to her.

However, He Xiaoyun seemed completely unaware of her son’s extreme coldness towards her. She rested her chin in her hand, stared intently at Huo Zheng’s face, and then giggled.

“You look really unpleasant when you’re angry, A’Zheng. It would help if you controlled your expression better. Seeing such an ugly expression on your face… really makes me a bit nauseous.” He Xiaoyun said with a smile.

Contrary to the harshness in her words, her smile was quite sweet. Only two faint lines at the corners of her eyes hinted at her age, but they did not detract from her extraordinary beauty. Her features were remarkably similar to Huo Zheng’s, with only some softer contours around her eyes and eyebrows. With snow-white skin, long black hair, light green eyes, and blood-red lips, her petite figure and slender limbs complemented her deliberately sweet and childlike doll-like voice, making it hard for an ordinary person to realize at first glance that she was nearly fifty and had a son as old as Huo Zheng.

Yes, she was very pretty.

And her beauty had reached an unnatural, uncomfortable degree—

Like a highly poisonous flower.

In the luxuriously decorated VIP lounge, some cakes and broken bone china plates were scattered messily on the deep red carpet. Recalling the tear-streaked faces and numerous scratch marks on the attendants when the door was opened earlier, it was easy to deduce that she had already thrown a tantrum like a madwoman.

Huo Zheng strode over to her, then pulled out a chair and sat down.

He looked coldly at his mother, forcibly suppressing all his emotions to the deepest part of his being in the shortest time possible.

“What the hell do you want.” Huo Zheng said.

He was no longer the young child who allowed this woman to abuse and humiliate him. He had been away from her for many years and had become a strong, tall, and indifferent man.

But even so, whenever he had to meet He Xiaoyun, he still had to arm himself fully. This was not something difficult in the past; Huo Zheng knew how to deal with this woman in front of him.

Today, however, was not a good time for him.

In a sense, his thoughts at this moment were almost identical to He Yunzhou’s — he just wanted to quickly get through this ordeal in front of him and then swiftly escape back to his own world to silently lick his wounds.

“Is it that you would never come to see me if I didn’t call your father and have him pressure you?” He Xiaoyun’s voice was sweet, but her gaze was as cold and merciless as a reptile’s.

Huo Zheng could even sense her gaze — she was precisely observing him, collecting all his expressions and body movements to analyze his state and thoughts.

“There has never been any need for us to meet, Mother.” Huo Zheng said to He Xiaoyun, enunciating each word clearly.

“You called Grandfather, made a fuss, threatened to kill yourself, but that only made things uglier. You knew from the beginning I wouldn’t agree to what you said…”

“Yes ah, but you listen to your Grandfather.” He Xiaoyun suddenly interrupted Huo Zheng, smiling sweetly.

Huo Zheng’s breath caught, and in the next second, he saw He Xiaoyun curl her lips in satisfaction, “…and you would be very upset about this, wouldn’t you? Baby.”

“The way you look right now really makes me want to vomit.” Huo Zheng said softly, his lips pursed into a cold line.

Today, his condition was indeed too bad, he thought, which was why He Xiaoyun had found a way to attack him.

Even though it wasn’t obvious on the surface, Huo Zheng knew that when He Xiaoyun mentioned his grandfather, a bitter and heavy emotion surged in his chest.

To the entire Huo family, He Xiaoyun was a terrifying monster.

Ever since Huo Zheng became aware of himself, he had understood this clearly.

She was very beautiful.

Ever since she was a child, there was never anything she couldn’t obtain. She was like God’s favored child, blessed with beauty, health, and an astonishing family background. But… she was a madwoman.

It’s hard to say why He Xiaoyun eventually became like this, but she had gradually shown a frightening coldness and madness since her youth. She liked to use all her advantages to manipulate others’ hearts and bodies without any reason.

Countless people, under the bewitchment of her clever words, helplessly handed over everything they had, ultimately falling into an abyss of no return. Yet, no matter what fate befell those people, He Xiaoyun remained unmoved by the tragedies she caused — for her, playing with others was merely a small entertainment in her leisurely enjoyment of life.

And Old Mr. Huo, shrewd and cunning like an old fox in other matters, loved He Xiaoyun like a precious jewel. No matter what trouble she caused, he would unhesitatingly clean up everything for his beloved little daughter.

But even so, in Huo Zheng’s eyes, Huo Xiaoyun had never truly had any genuine feelings for Old Mr. Huo.

She was that kind of person, a monster; a monster capable of devouring all happiness and joy.

If there was one thing that Huo Xiaoyun had stumbled upon in her life, it was probably her love for that man.

She “fell in love” with that man.

And that man originally had a very happy family, a beautiful and gentle wife, and a young child. But Huo Xiaoyun, like a ghost, slowly swallowed up the happiness of that family bit by bit.

That man ended up falling in love with her.

Or rather, that man was eventually devoured by Huo Xiaoyun.

That thing called “love” bound Huo Xiaoyun to him to death.

It was in this twisted and pathological love that Huo Zheng was born.

“Your father really wants to see you. Go, my child… he has always loved you… I don’t know what you’re resisting…”

Huo Zheng did not answer her.

Huo Xiaoyun leaned forward, her emerald green eyes reflecting a figure that looked very much like herself.

She then reached out her hand and gently caressed Huo Zheng’s face.

“Honestly, I don’t understand how I could give birth to such an idiot like you. This face is so beautiful, yet you don’t know how to make good use of it… Your grandfather didn’t want to see you, so you really didn’t see him. Do you think that will win his favor? Pfft.” Huo Xiaoyun covered her mouth and let out a sickly, cheeky laugh.

“You’re always like this, little fool, you’re too stupid. I told you many times before, you can never please him. Who asked you to have your father’s blood flowing through you? As long as you’re still the child of him and me, that old man will never like you. See, he treats you like a dog, telling you what to do and you just do it.”

Perhaps sensing the little bit of emotion that Great Huo Zheng had for Old Mr. Huo, Huo Xiaoyun didn’t spare him at all.

Huo Zheng’s hands silently clenched until his knuckles turned white.

His mother’s hands, cold as snakes, rested against him.

“What grandfather thinks is his business,” Huo Zheng’s lips moved, and he heard himself say coldly to Huo Xiaoyun, “At least he didn’t actually lock me up like a dog in a cage—”

The moment he said those words, Huo Zheng knew that he had lost.

Chaos, noise, and terrifying memories surged like a tide, making his body involuntarily tremble.

From a very young age, Huo Zheng knew that his mother was terrifying.

When she was in a good mood, she would treat Huo Zheng like a real little prince. She dressed him in the finest clothes, took him to the most luxurious hotels for vacations, and kissed the young child’s face, calling him “my little darling” with a radiant smile.

However, her mood changes were always unpredictable, like a storm.

One moment she could be cheerful and gentle, and the next she would completely transform into a madly violent mother.

Huo Zheng couldn’t even remember how many times he had been locked in an empty house when he was a child. She wouldn’t allow him to eat but would happily eat exquisite pastries in front of him. If Huo Zheng showed any sign of wanting to eat, he would be met with another round of beatings.

Of course, these were not the most terrifying experiences for little Huo Zheng. What he feared the most as a child was the quarrels between Huo Xiaoyun and “that man.”

Because once an argument broke out between them, Huo Xiaoyun would forcibly lock Huo Zheng in a dog cage, making him bark like a dog, and then she would record videos to send to “that man.”

The first and second times, that man gave in and returned from his family to Huo Xiaoyun’s side.

But after that, such tricks no longer worked.

Huo Xiaoyun completely broke down.

She had navigated this world smoothly, manipulating people for so many years, only to ultimately fall completely for a worthless, clingy man.

Amid countless arguments, Huo Xiaoyun’s abuse of Huo Zheng intensified. Her madness made it impossible for her to control her actions. Finally, after a life-threatening emergency, Old Mr. Huo, unable to stand it any longer, took the illegitimate child he despised back to the Huo family and kept him by his side.

“It’s been so long, you child, and you still hold a grudge,” Huo Xiaoyun said, raising her eyebrows and leaning back with a look of displeasure.

“Your father and I were on the verge of breaking up back then; I had to do something. Besides, do you really think the old man took you back because he cared about you… He just didn’t want your death to negatively affect me.”

Huo Zheng lifted his eyes and looked coldly at his mother, who was laughing hysterically.

“My little darling, listen to your mother. Go see your father. He is the one who loves you. If you visit him, you’ll receive good things… Why endure being the old man’s dog in the Huo family…”

“Hah.” Huo Zheng laughed coldly.

“What I choose to do is my business. But, Madam Huo, the real reason you’re so eager for me to go back and see that man is because that person’s child is pushing you to the brink, isn’t it?”

He reached out and picked up his coffee cup.

“You’re actually very scared, aren’t you? All these years you thought you were invincible and could control everything. But… you shouldn’t laugh at me for being a dog. Look at yourself now…”

Huo Zheng slightly twisted his wrist and poured the cup of coffee onto Huo Xiaoyun.

“Ah, ah, Ah—“

Huo Xiaoyun instantly held her face and screamed.

“You really look like a stray dog.” Huo Zheng said calmly.

After saying this, he stood up and walked towards the door.

“Bang—“

As he opened the door, a teapot flew at him from behind. Huo Zheng quickly turned his head, and the expensive teapot crashed into the wall, shattering with a crisp sound.

“Huo Zheng! You’ll regret this! You’ll regret treating me like this!”

Huo Zheng turned back, staring indifferently at the wretched woman trembling with rage behind him.

Her voice had lost its previous sweetness, becoming exceptionally sharp.

“Do you really think anyone would like a trash as disgusting as you? If the old man didn’t think you looked like me, he would have sent you away long ago! Everything you have at the Huo family is because of me! It’s all because of me! You ungrateful white-eyed wolf—you’re a monster—”

After a burst of frantic screaming, Huo Xiaoyun’s expression suddenly changed. She stared at Huo Zheng with a horrifying, sinister smile.

“I know you look down on me, you think I’m crazy… Hehehe… Don’t forget, you’re not much different from me. Remember that little bird? Hehehe, you remember it, right? Since then, I’ve known that the bloodline between us could never be severed. Look in the mirror yourself, you and I are so alike. One day, you’ll understand, you’ll understand how much your mother has suffered…”

A chill suddenly crept up Huo Zheng’s spine to his neck.

“Yes ah,” Huo Zheng said, staring deeply at Huo Xiaoyun’s face, which was so similar to his own. He heard himself speak in a hollow voice, “That’s why I won’t get married, won’t have children.”

Huo Zheng made a gesture with his finger at his temple.

“I will never fall in love with anyone, never.”

…

Huo Zheng walked briskly out of that suffocating room with a frosty face, leaving Huo Xiaoyun and his past behind that door.

“Mr. Huo? You ……”

Only the attendants he encountered along the way couldn’t help but look alarmed when they saw him.

Huo Zheng’s face was expressionless as he walked right past them.

“Mr. Huo… Mr. Huo… wait…”

The lobby manager had a terrified look on his face as he hurriedly followed behind Huo Zheng, but he almost couldn’t keep up because Huo Zheng was walking too fast. Huo Zheng didn’t care.

However, just then, Huo Zheng’s phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket, indicating a new message.

Huo Zheng’s footsteps paused.

Obviously, his emotions were still steeped in darkness, inexplicably… Huo Zheng couldn’t help but take out his phone and light up the screen.

He saw that he had received a message.

[A Little Boat Swaying: Thank you for the afternoon tea.]

[A Little Boat Swaying: It was really delicious.]

The young and handsome man stared blankly at his phone, then fixed his gaze on the lobby manager, who had finally caught up and was gasping for breath.

“You… I told you…”

For a moment, Huo Zheng couldn’t even organize his words properly.

The lobby manager wiped his sweat and quickly showed Huo Zheng a flattering smile. “Ah, we specifically checked to see if those two people you mentioned knew you—and of course, we also specifically informed those two guests that this full royal afternoon tea set was specially reserved for them by Mr. Huo.”

Huo Zheng: “…”

---

Author’s Note:

Lobby Manager: Mr. Huo, your friend is very happy!!!!

Huo Zheng remained silent.

(Inwardly)—

Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah ^[1]I had to count how many was that lmao! it was 39 TT [Groundhog scream]

—

A somewhat miserable chapter…

But it’s okay, in the next chapter, you can hide in He Yunzhou’s arms and be all sweet.

---

Jie Jie: Hello, guys! Sorry for the delay! To make up for it, I decided not to split this long chapter TT

Anyway, some schedule changes: Tuesdays & Thursdays (Hopefully, I get to follow! Time to keep this novel moving)