Chapter 3: Stubborn as a Mule

...Chapter 3: Stubborn as a Mule...

The Huo family was taken aback.

Huo Jing and Huo Dad rushed out first, followed by the butler and servants who helped Huo Yan up, while the resident doctor hurried over.

After a brief examination, the resident doctor concluded, "Low blood sugar combined with acute distress."

In short: Fainted from anger.

The doctor took Huo Yan back to his room and administered glucose.

After the chaos, upon learning that Huo Yan was not seriously harmed, everyone present heaved a sigh of relief.

Ye Leyao let out a long breath of relief.

Although he didn't understand why things were progressing in a positive direction without him doing anything, it was indeed something worth celebrating.

Despite today's events where Second Brother had both fallen and fainted, at least he hadn't completely severed ties with the Huo family and had seen a glimpse of Su Rui's true colors.

As long as Second Brother could thoroughly let go and separate from Su Rui, there shouldn't be any subsequent series of incidents, right?

"Thinking about it, Second Brother still had a pretty good day today. This way, he doesn't have to go to RT-Mart to kill fish!"

"But isn't Second Brother's tolerance a bit too low? Su Rui just left him, and he was already angered to fainting. If Su Rui repeatedly abandons Second Brother later on, wouldn't he be fainting every day?"

At this thought, Ye Leyao couldn't help but chuckle:

"In that case, my Second Brother is truly more delicate than the Princess and the Pea!"

Inside the room, the Huo family exchanged glances.

Was it possible that it wasn't that Huo Yan was too weak, but rather that what you said was too infuriating?

But Ye Leyao, the person involved, didn't even consider this possibility, and continued to analyse quickly in his mind:

"But I think Su Rui won't give up so easily. He's now broken up with He Shi, and for the sake of face, he definitely won't seek out He Shi. However, he has several contracts on his body, and if he wants to breach them, he needs money. And if he wants to have a child, he'll need money too. If he comes to Second Brother for money later, will Second Brother, with his love-struck brain, give it to him?"

As the glucose drip was administered, Huo Yan quickly recovered. The moment he opened his eyes, he heard these words.

Huo Yan struggled to sit up, his eyes red, staring intently at Ye Leyao, explaining slowly and deliberately, "I... Xiao Rui is not the kind of person you think! He... he must have some reason, he wouldn't do this to me..."

Ye Leyao met Huo Yan's red-rimmed eyes and couldn't help but move slightly behind Huo Mother, his face full of innocence. "Second Brother, it's no use explaining to me. The fact is that Su Rui has already abandoned you because of money."

Huo Mother couldn't resist turning around, wanting Ye Leyao to stop talking.

Then she met Ye Leyao's innocent gaze.

Huo Mother: "..."

Right.

Ye Leyao hadn't said anything, he just had a vivid imagination.

Huo Yan was provoked by this statement, drawing a sharp breath. When he spoke again, his voice trembled slightly: "Xiao Rui and I are deeply in love! I've liked him since college, although he was still with his ex at the time, but they've been broken up for four months now..."

Ye Leyao listened attentively, nodding repeatedly. "Yes, so the child in Su Rui's belly is also four months old, no problem!"

Huo Yan's body shook, his breathing grew heavier, and he stiffened his neck. "No, impossible! That night... that night..."

Ye Leyao seemed to remember something and quickly opened the notes on his phone. After all, he had already lived in this world for eighteen years, and having just regained the memories of his previous life, his mind was still a bit confused. Many of the novel's plots needed to be sorted out slowly, so Ye Leyao had just written down everything he could remember in the notes downstairs.

As he flipped through the notes, Ye Leyao nodded repeatedly.

"So that's how it is. On the night of the celebration banquet, Second Brother got drunk, and Su Rui helped him back to the hotel, then the two of them slept under the covers purely."

"So it turns out that not only is my Second Brother a love-struck fool, but he also lacks physiological knowledge!"

"I ask you, how can someone who's drunk out of their mind make passionate love and hit the bullseye?"

Ye Leyao put away his phone and made a definitive statement:

"I'm a clear-headed yet foolish college student, but I'm not stupid!"

With each sentence Ye Leyao uttered, Huo Yan's complexion paled a shade.

By the end, Huo Yan's mouth hung open, the last trace of color drained from his face, his body trembling slightly, still shaking his head muttering, "No... Xiao Rui couldn't have lied to me..."

Huo Dad and Huo Mom, who had been puzzled about how Su Rui became pregnant, finally understood.

Seeing that Huo Yan was still unwilling to face reality, Huo Mom signaled to Huo Dad with her eyes.

Huo Dad cleared his throat. It was indeed a bit embarrassing to talk about such matters in front of the three younger generations, but after hesitating for a moment, he still spoke up: "Pregnancy... isn't as easy as you imagine. Back when your mother and I..."

Ye Leyao's gossip-loving spirit flared up instantly, his eyes shining as he looked at Huo Dad. "What happened, what happened, what happened?"

Huo Mom glared at Huo Dad.

Huo Dad hastily swallowed the rest of his sentence and turned to look at his eldest son, Huo Jing.

His eyes signaled: Quickly, say something!

Despite being twenty-six, Huo Jing had devoted himself to his career over the years, leading an extremely ascetic private life.

Receiving Huo Dad's signal, his deep brows furrowed slightly, and the tips of his ears turned a faint red. After a long pause, he spoke somewhat awkwardly, "Second Brother, alcohol inhibits the central nervous system after getting drunk, leading to... um... cough cough... difficulties."

Ye Leyao: "Mm-hmm!"

Huo Mom added appropriately, "Think carefully about the details of that night."

What else could Huo Yan be pondering?

The only clear memory he had was of himself being tipsy, with Su Rui supporting him back to the hotel, and after that, his recollections were a blank slate.

Huo Yan's bloodless lips parted slightly, his face bearing an expression of profound defeat.

Seeing this, Ye Leyao couldn't help but remark once again, "Second Brother looks like he's about to..."

"Xiaoyao," Huo Mother interrupted Ye Leyao's inner commentary at the opportune moment, preventing him from uttering the remaining two words, "shattered again," "It's not early anymore, are you hungry?"

Ye Leyao wanted to say he wasn't hungry, just tired, mainly because the memories from his past life and this life were jumbled in his mind, and he might need some time to sort them out.

But Huo mother had already affectionately draped her arm around his shoulders, smiling warmly as she said, "Let your Second Brother rest for a bit, we'll go out first."

With Huo Mother saying so, Ye Leyao didn't want to linger any longer and followed her out of the room.

Approaching noon, the family chef had long prepared lunch.

After eating his fill, Ye Leyao felt even more drowsy.

Deciding that he should sleep first, Ye Leyao informed Father Huo and Mother Huo before heading upstairs.

Back in his room, Ye Leyao fell asleep immediately.

Although he hadn't slept for too long, the memories from his past life came flooding in like a tide. In his dreams, Ye Leyao finally sorted out the memories from his previous life.

Just like his current identity, he had been a college student in his past life, and also a college student who loved reading various popular online novels.

After staying up all night for two days straight reading novels, he died suddenly. After death, he found himself transmigrated into this world composed of multiple novels, becoming a child of the Ye family.

Unfortunately, his biological parents passed away in an accident when he was five years old, and since then, he had been taken in by Father Huo and Mother Huo and raised in the Huo household. However, the entire Huo family were villains in the novel, while he himself was an unnamed extra in the story.

After over a decade of living together, in Ye Leyao's heart, Father Huo and Mother Huo had become his parents. Although his relationship with his three older brothers was still average, Ye Leyao didn't wish for them to meet the tragic endings described in the book.

Upon waking from his dream, Ye Leyao took advantage of his still vivid memory of the plot and recorded everything he could remember in his notes.

As he documented, he couldn't help but sigh repeatedly—

"Huo Mother is actually this kind of person..."

"It's too much, how could Father Huo..."

"I can't let this happen, I have to find a chance to warn third brother..."

The other members of the Huo family downstairs: "..."

Was there no limit to the range of these thoughts?

The three members of the Huo family on the sofa exchanged glances, all feeling as if something was tickling their hearts. Why didn't Ye Leyao finish his sentences this time?

What exactly was he leaving out!

Huo Mother glanced at Huo Father.

Huo Father reflected inwardly, although he really hadn't done anything, there was a vague sense of guilt for reasons unknown.

During the time Ye Leyao was sleeping, the Huo family held a small family meeting.

Naturally, the meeting revolved around the sudden ability to hear Ye Leyao's thoughts.

When they first heard Ye Leyao's thoughts, they were indeed startled.

Even Huo Mother had suspected whether Ye Leyao had been "possessed," but after a brief observation, she confirmed that the child in front of her was indeed Ye Leyao. Could she not recognize the child she had raised?

Although they didn't understand what had happened to Ye Leyao or where he had obtained the so-called "plot," as long as Ye Leyao was healthy and safe, they were relieved.

The only thing that needed careful consideration was—

Whether the "plot" Ye Leyao spoke of was true.

In fact, after the incident with Su Rui in the morning, Huo Father and Huo Mother were already inclined to believe it somewhat. However, without concrete evidence, they couldn't make any definitive statements.

And the most pressing question now was—should they tell Ye Leyao about their ability to hear his thoughts?

If they told Ye Leyao about their ability to hear his thoughts, would it affect the subsequent "plot"?

No one could rashly make a judgment, nor dare to evaluate the unknown consequences of the butterfly effect.

Ultimately, after a family discussion, they decided to temporarily not inform Ye Leyao.

By the time Ye Leyao finished recording the entire plot, the sky had darkened.

He descended the stairs with his phone in hand, coincidentally encountering Huo Yan who had just emerged from his room.

At this moment, Huo Yan resembled an eggplant that had been beaten by frost, his entire being listless and his eyes devoid of spirit.

Upon seeing Ye Leyao, a fleeting emotion flashed across his eyes before being quickly suppressed.

Ye Leyao blinked uncertainly, hesitating before asking, "Second Brother, are you alright?"

Do you need my comfort?

Huo Yan turned his head, not wanting to look at Ye Leyao.

Ye Leyao remained silent, but couldn't resist thinking, "It seems Second Brother truly loves his first love, alas, he only loves money."

Huo Yan gritted his teeth, his chest heaving violently. Remembering Huo Mother's instructions from the afternoon, he took a deep breath and decided not to argue with Ye Leyao, turning to descend the stairs.

Ye Leyao followed him downstairs. As the two reached the stairwell, they overheard Father Huo and Mother Huo discussing:

"Still refuses to believe it?" Mr. Huo asked.

Mrs. Huo said, "Your son is as stubborn as a mule, you know that better than anyone."

Mr. Huo sighed, "What can we do then?"

Mrs. Huo: "Haojing will talk to the Chi family about calling off the engagement tomorrow. As for Su Rui..."

Mrs. Huo hesitated, clearly finding this particularly tricky.

Even if they wanted to conduct an amniocentesis to test the DNA, they would need Su Rui's cooperation...

Hearing this, Huo Yan could no longer hold back. Just as he was about to step forward and speak, a voice sounded from behind him—

[What's so difficult about this! Su Rui just wants money. To stop Su Rui from bothering Second Brother, Mrs. Huo can simply throw a check at him, then say domineeringly, "Here's ten million, leave my son alone!"]

Huo Yan felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

Mrs. Huo's eyes lit up.

Good idea!

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