Huo Yinting · Chat

Huo Yinting stands in the shadows at the edge of the ballroom, holding a champagne flute, watching the fake smiles on the guests' faces, feeling nothing but mockery in his heart. Tonight is Huo Yince's engagement party. In fact, they are to be married just one month after this party ends. A month ago, the old man suddenly announced that the Huo family would form an alliance with another S-class family through marriage, and the partner was the heir-apparent of that family. When Huo Yinting heard the news, he was in his apartment flipping through the ledgers of his underground business. The butler called to inform him: "The young master is getting engaged. The Master insists that you must attend." He hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair, thinking for a long time. This important alliance was given to Huo Yince. No matter how much the old man dotes on that useless grandson, he wouldn't hand such a precious resource to Huo Yince solely out of favoritism—this means the old man is "building momentum" for Huo Yince. Not only does the family background match, but the genetic compatibility rate is also perfect. Perfect genes, complementary bloodlines; the children born in the future will be at least peak A-class, if not S-class. This is paving a path for Huo Yince, a path a proper heir should have. And for him, Huo Yinting? The old man gave him nothing. No marriage arrangement, no resource allocation—even his position at an event like tonight's was clearly hinted at: an edge, an inconspicuous spot, the place an "observing elder brother" should stay. Huo Yinting smiles. He doesn't care; he really doesn't. He never intended to snatch the meager scraps of the Huo family; his plan is to build an empire larger than the Huo family himself. But he does need to confirm one thing: whether this so-called fiancé of Huo Yince is worth a bit of his effort. The engagement ceremony is long and grand. He stands in the crowd, clapping politely, watching Huo Yince coldly slide the ring onto your finger. He gives Huo Yince's expression an eight out of ten: his displeasure is obvious, but he at least knows to maintain basic decency in front of the cameras—slightly better than he expected. As for you, your face is expressionless throughout, making it impossible to tell if you are happy or not. After the ceremony comes the banquet. Guests are led to the buffet area, and the champagne tower on stage is dismantled by waiters to be distributed glass by glass. Huo Yinting carries a glass of largely untouched champagne and slowly strolls out of the main hall, heading down the corridor toward the side hall. He knows Huo Yince's temper; after the engagement party, he will surely find a place to vent his frustration: most likely cornering you in some nook to say something like, "Don't think you can control me." Sure enough, he hears Huo Yince's voice behind the carved wooden doors at the corner of the side hall. "...From now on, you and I will each do our own thing, no interference. How I play outside, how wild I get, who I play with—it's none of your business, and you’d better not try to make it your business. Understand?" Huo Yinting leans against the corridor wall, eyes downcast, bringing the champagne flute to his lips for a small sip. His useless brother is exactly as he expected—his head full of nothing but "don't control me," "don't ruin my fun," and "I want to keep being carefree," things only a teenager would take seriously. Huo Yinting even finds it a bit boring. He thought Huo Yince would at least have some more creative lines. After the conversation inside ends, and hearing the sound of Huo Yince storming off, Huo Yinting places his champagne flute on a nearby sideboard, straightens his suit lapels, and reaches out to push open the carved wooden door. You are leaning in the corner, the expression on your face hard to tell if it's grievance or anger, but you are clearly quite fuming. Huo Yinting steps inside at a measured pace, his leather shoes making crisp sounds on the marble floor. He stops two paces away from you, that signature gentle smile on his face, tilting his head slightly. "Did he startle you?" He speaks, his voice half a tone lower than Huo Yince's, carrying a soothing softness. "My brother is just like that—he speaks without thinking. Don't take it to heart." He observes the change in your expression and continues unhurriedly: "He's actually just spoiled, thinking everyone has to go along with his whims. Don't lower yourself to his level. If there's anything in the future..." He pauses, perfectly timing the lowering of his eyes as if weighing his words, then looks back at you with those smiling peach-blossom eyes. "You can come to me. I'm a bit more reliable than him. At least I wouldn't leave my newly engaged partner alone in a corridor and walk away." He extends a hand toward you, his posture polite yet distant, like a simple, well-meaning brother coming to smooth things over. "I am Huo Yinting, Huo Yince's older brother. I haven't had a chance to formally greet you until now... Happy engagement. Although my brother's face doesn't look very happy, on behalf of the Huo family, I truly welcome you." His smile is flawless. Tender, decent, and with just the right amount of proximity—neither too much nor too little. He even glosses over the words "Huo family" lightly, as if hinting at a fact: Huo Yince is a Huo, and he is also a Huo. As for who has more say in the Huo family, who is more reliable, and who is more worth cooperating with—he can leave that answer for you to figure out yourself. His extended hand hangs in mid-air, his posture kept low, as if waiting for a handshake, yet also as if confirming a partnership.