Shu Qiang’s gaze shifted to Huo Chao.
Huo Chao said, “I’m not going to help.”
Without any help to move her things, the “green tea” girl would have no chance to say those words. Stopping the other party’s performance at its source was enough.
Shu Qiang scratched his head, thinking Huo Chao’s answer showed a strong will to survive. But, wasn’t that approach too cold and distant for other girls? Not every girl is a “green tea,” after all. Even when dating, it’s not like you can’t have other social connections. In college, having normal interactions with girls is quite necessary, isn’t it? Wouldn’t refusing to help a girl in need come across as ungentlemanly?
Though Shu Qiang was only turning 13 this Chinese New Year, boys his age already understood quite a bit.
He scratched his face and asked, “Brother-in-law, is this really okay?”
Huo Chao glanced at Shu Jia Er, a smile tugging at his lips. “What else?” He sat down on the bench beside Shu Jia Er, draped his arm over her shoulders, and leaned his head close affectionately, adding, “If she really needs help, I’ll find someone for her.”
In short, he wouldn’t let a girl in trouble be completely left out in the cold.
Shu Qiang gave Huo Chao a thumbs up.
On the fifth day of the Chinese New Year, Shu Jia Er went with Huo Chao to visit his family for the first time.
During the Chinese New Year, Huo’s father and Huo Chi were both at home.
When Huo Chao brought his girlfriend home, Huo’s father was deeply shocked. The reason was simple: his eldest son was still single and had never dated, while his youngest son, who hadn’t even graduated high school, was already bringing a girlfriend home. If it weren’t for the age, Huo’s father might have thought they were already discussing marriage.
Huo’s father, a stern man with a few strands of white hair at his temples, had a serious look that rarely softened. But given it was the Chinese New Year and Shu Jia Er was a girl, his attitude was rather amiable.
Huo Chi gave Shu Jia Er a polite nod as a greeting.
It was Shu Jia Er’s first time meeting Huo Chao’s older brother, Huo Chi. As Huo Chao’s older brother by blood, he was handsome, with a sharp brow that lent him a certain fierceness.
His face bore a maturity that made him three points similar to Huo Chao, yet distinctly more mature.
Truthfully, Huo Chi is indeed good-looking, but in Shu Jia Er’s eyes, Huo Chao is always the most handsome.
The four of them had dinner together.
The three men of the Huo family were not talkative, so the task of livening up the atmosphere naturally fell to Shu Jia Er. Of course, there were certain topics that were taboo and couldn’t be mentioned casually. For instance… anything about the family’s matriarch.
Since Shu Jia Er didn’t know much about Huo’s father or Huo Chi, nor was she good at discussing family matters, the only topic she seemed able to talk about was Huo Chao.
She knew Huo Chao had a weak presence at home, wasn’t his father’s favored son, and was often overlooked, so she wanted to make a good impression on Huo’s father for him.
She mentioned recent events, “My brother’s grades improved a lot last semester. If he performs well in June, he’ll definitely get into a good university.”
“Brother is particularly sharp in math and almost always scores full marks in exams.”
“He’s also very good in science subjects.”
“Brother is working really hard right now.”
“He’ll definitely become someone exceptional in the future.”
In junior high school, Huo Chao’s grades had actually been very good. However, because he could never get his father’s attention no matter how hard he worked or how outstanding he was, he eventually gave up on himself. For the first two years of high school, he played around and didn’t take exams seriously, but he still attended classes sporadically. With a solid foundation and high IQ, it wasn’t difficult for him to pick up the material again.
Shu Jia Er showered endless rainbow farts on Huo Chao as if she could go on for days without stopping, lavishing him with compliments as if they cost nothing.
Even Huo Chi eventually put down his chopsticks, focusing on her words.
After saying so much, Shu Jia Er grew a bit thirsty. She paused to take a sip of water, only to find the three men of the Huo family staring at her with different expressions.
Huo Chi was listening intently, Huo’s father was looking pleased, and Huo Chao had a faint smile on his face.
For some reason, facing this scene, the usually thick-skinned Shu Jia Er blushed a little for the first time.
Did she overdo it?
Otherwise, why would they all stop eating and focus on her?
Shu Jia Er pursed her lips, feeling a bit uneasy.
As Huo Chao’s girlfriend visiting for the first time, was she being too familiar? Should she have been more reserved?
Other girls coming to visit for the first time would probably be too shy to speak much, right?
Not like her, chattering non-stop.
While Shu Jia Er was feeling anxious, another hand reached over and gently held her hand on the table, giving her a reassuring squeeze.
It was Huo Chao’s hand.
Huo Chao chuckled, amused that the “little princess” could have a moment of embarrassment.
Both Huo’s father and Huo Chi noticed the scene at the table.
Huo’s father felt both pleased and amused.
His little son had grown up and now knew how to protect others.
At this moment, a smile appeared on Father Huo’s serious face as he asked her, “Are you full?”
Shu Jiaer shook her head honestly, “No.”
All the Huo family meals were prepared by their cook, and the dishes were always delicious and creatively made.
This was evident from the diet prepared for the little fragrant pig, “Chao Chao” in the past.
Shu Jia Er felt she could eat another bowl of rice.
Huo’s father said in a calm tone, “Eat slowly.”
“Okay, Uncle.”
Although Father Huo said to eat slowly, the meal ended fairly quickly. The Huo family members all ate fast, and Shu Jiaer was too embarrassed to make them wait just for her, so she stopped eating once she’d had enough.
After the meal, the family’s nanny brought out the little pig.
It was clear that Huo Chao had taken the responsibility to ask the cook to take good care of it; it was clean and well-fed, its fur looking glossy and rich—definitely a pampered pig raised in a wealthy household.
Shu Jia Er tapped the pig’s nose and teased softly, “Look how happy you are.”
But shortly after, she saw another little pig emerge from a small room.
Two pigs?
How could there be two?
The nanny noticed Shu Jia Er’s confusion right away and patiently explained, “This little pig that looks so much like Chao Chao was bought by the second young master himself.”
“Oh,” Shu Jia Er replied, not asking further. She assumed Huo Chao thought a solo pig might feel lonely, so he bought another to keep it company.
Unexpectedly, Huo Chao was quite thoughtful.
But the next second, the nanny revealed the name of the new pig, “This one is called Mu Mu.”
“Mu Mu?”
“Yes, the ‘Mu Mu’ of ‘Chao Chao and Mu Mu.’”
Chao Chao.
Mu Mu.
It sounded just like a couple’s name.
At that moment, Huo Chao brought Shu Jia Er a plate of fruit. “I’m going to talk with… Dad for a bit. You can have some fruit in the living room.”
Shu Jia Er accepted the fruit plate without further questions, picking up a slice of mango for herself.
The nanny had been busy with the pig and chatting with her, so the plate of freshly cut fruit was definitely prepared by Huo Chao himself.
Shu Jia Er now felt that Huo Chao was truly an all-around boyfriend. As long as he put his mind to it, he could excel at anything.
With that thought, she realized that the compliments she had just given Huo Chao in front of Huo’s father and Huo Chi still hadn’t done him justice.
She could definitely say even more!
In the study, Huo’s father and Huo Chao sat on adjacent mahogany chairs.
After a moment of silence, Father Huo initiated the conversation, “You’ve matured a lot recently.”
Huo Chao appeared different than he did around Shu Jia Er, coming across as more reserved.
Upon hearing this, he nodded slightly.
He and his father rarely had a chance to talk this calmly. Now, having the opportunity, he found he had little to say.
In truth, he wanted to say that everyone grows up eventually.
And he was no different.
Huo’s father took a sip of tea and brought up Shu Jia Er, “She likes you very much.”
When Shu Jia Er spoke up for Huo Chao at the dinner table just now, her eyes were shining.
If she didn’t like him, she wouldn’t have seen so many good qualities in him or spoken so highly of him in front of his father and brother.
She had even confidently said that he would become a truly outstanding person in the future.
There was no hesitation in her voice when she said that. She truly believed in him.
Thinking of Shu Jia Er, a touch of warmth entered Huo Chao’s gaze.
She is a good person; he knew that well.
“She’s a great girl. Since you’re in a relationship, cherish it.”
“I know.”
Their short conversation came to a temporary close.
For a moment, neither father nor son spoke.
Huo’s father let out a gentle sigh.
Over the years, he focused so much on his eldest son that he unintentionally neglected his younger son. In his memory, his youngest was still that troublemaker—always fighting, smoking, speeding, and struggling academically.
But hearing Shu Jia Er’s lengthy praise today, he realized that, in his absence, his youngest son had grown into a remarkable individual, reliable enough to be seen as a trustworthy figure by someone else.
He patted his younger son on the shoulder, noticing for the first time how broad Huo Chao’s shoulders had become—broad enough to be a safe harbor for someone else, and broad enough to inspire more security than he, as a father, ever had.
He smiled slightly and, in an unprecedented show of encouragement, said, “You’re impressive. Keep it up.”
Huo Chao didn’t expect to receive his father’s approval in his lifetime.
When he really finally got his father’s approval, he realized that he was no longer as eager as he was when he was young, and even when he heard this encouragement, his heart didn’t fluctuate much.
He will become a better person.
But it wasn’t for his father’s approval, nor was it to catch up to his older brother or to replace his position in his father’s heart. It was purely for himself—and for Shu Jia Er.
Once he had something else to believe in, Huo Chao found he could be calm when dealing with his father.
Hearing these words, he replied in a composed and steady tone, “Alright.”
When Huo Chao walked out of the study, he saw Shu Jia Er feeding fruit to Chao Chao and Mu Mu.
Seeing her, his face softened a bit.
Shu Jia Er pointed at Mu Mu and said, “Brother, you’re so thoughtful, you even found Chao Chao a companion.”
Huo Chao patted Mu Mu’s head and replied, “No, I bought this one as a gift for you.”
Shu Jia Er: ???
Huo Chao picked up Mu Mu and placed her in Shu Jia Er’s arms. “One for you, one for me. Isn’t that just right?”
That… actually made sense.
Then Shu Jia Er thought of something and suddenly said, “Chao Chao is a boar.”
“Mu Mu is a sow.”
Just like their owners.
Alright, Shu Jia Er happily accepted this gift.
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