He had never taken this new "stepmother" seriously.

At this moment, his eyes were indifferent; he couldn’t even bother to give her a proper look, let alone answer her.

Su Yan had long been accustomed to Huo Zhenyang’s neglect, though she frowned but said nothing: "The old man is inside, go in."

Huo Zhenyang, arm in arm with Jiayi, walked toward the bedroom.

As they brushed past Su Yan, Jiayi could feel her piercing gaze.

The gaze was filled with coldness and disdain, and rich in mockery.

————————

In the bedroom, Huo Tianpei was leaning on the bed, resting with closed eyes.

These days were the hottest in Huo Zhenxuan’s recent news.

Su Yan and his assistant, fearing that he would be disturbed, did not allow him to watch TV or read the newspaper.

Every day after taking his medication, Huo Tianpei would pretty much lie in bed all day.

Seeing Huo Zhenyang coming, a childlike surprise flickered through Huo Tianpei’s lonely eyes: "Zhenyang, you’re here."

Seeing Huo Tianpei like this, Jiayi realized how lonely he truly was.

Perhaps it was because of this loneliness that Su Yan could step in.

In a way, Huo Tianpei could also be considered pitiful.

What use was there in vigorously striving to make one’s mark and building an enterprise in youth?

The wife he truly loved had died young of illness.

His second wife was selfish, only scheming for her own biological son, finally being admitted to a psychiatric hospital by him.

This one now, even more so, harbors wild ambitions.

All the wealth could not compare to a happy family and the company of a true companion.

"Yeah, I came to visit Dad today," Huo Zhenyang replied.

Huo Tianpei smiled broadly, his somber mood much dispelled in recent days: "You’re going back to take over the corporation in a few days, you’ll be very busy. There’s no need for you to come here specifically, just let George come daily..."

Though he said so, the joy on his face couldn’t be concealed.

People get to a certain age and become like children, what they want most is just a bit more company by their side.

"Actually, it’s not just me, Jiayi insisted on coming to see you," Huo Zhenyang glanced sidelong at the petite woman in his arm, his eyes revealing boundless indulgence.

Jiayi was taken aback, but she understood his intent.

He wanted her to regain Huo Tianpei’s favor.

She could only go along with him: "Hmm..."

Huo Tianpei looked towards Jiayi, this time his gaze was somewhat more complicated and indescribable.

Two months ago, he heard about their divorce in America and had the butler find out the full story.

It turned out, Jiayi had been involved in Xiaolei’s murder case.

Zhenyang, for the sake of his mayoral position and the corporation’s reputation, had his lawyer send her a divorce settlement.

Although Huo Tianpei did not believe Jiayi would commit murder, he still felt a bit displeased.

The Huo Family’s daughter-in-law didn’t have to be from a grand lineage, but at the very least, she should come from a clean and good family.

She had never been in detention before, let alone being rumored as a murderer’s daughter-in-law.

So, regarding the divorce, Tianpei Huo has always been indifferent and hasn’t asked his son too much about it.

In addition, at that time, Tianpei Huo hadn’t recovered physically; he couldn’t even take care of himself, let alone have the energy to manage others.

These past few days in the hotel, Tianpei Huo only heard from Su Yan that Jiayi had moved back to Disheng with Zaizai.

At that time, Su Yan mentioned nonchalantly, since they are already divorced, moving back to her ex-husband’s house with her child looks inappropriate. Not to mention what outsiders would think of her lack of family manners, even Zhenyang Huo might be gossiped about, tangled with his ex-wife post-divorce, making the Huo Family seem like an open yard, easy to come and go as one pleases.

Tianpei Huo did not refute Su Yan at that time because he shared the same view.

Zaizai is a grandson of the Huo Family, naturally he should come back.

But Jiayi is already an ex; her moving back in this way seems inappropriate.

Tianpei Huo, with his old generation’s narrow-mindedness and stubborn conservativeness, always felt that it wasn’t quite right.

So, just now when Jiayi came in, his feelings towards this former daughter-in-law were mixed, and he did not initiate conversation with her.

A simple phrase from Zhenyang Huo trying to establish a relation for Jiayi made Tianpei Huo’s attitude towards Jiayi somewhat better; he tried to soften his tone: "About your situation a few months back, I heard from Eu, the butler, it’s all in the past now, no worries, don’t be anxious."

Jiayi sensed the old master’s tone had more distance in it.

The attitude looks almost the same as before, but purely for the sake of his son.

That makes sense.

Perhaps, in Tianpei Huo’s mind, she is still connected to the murder case.

Even ordinary family parents can’t tolerate a daughter-in-law linked to a murder case.

Let alone a family like the Huo Family, where any slight movement could make the media write about it for days and weeks.

Being detained for so long, with the reputation of a murderer spreading far and wide, it must have upset Tianpei Huo.

However, what would Tianpei Huo’s reaction be if he one day found out that the real murderer was actually the person sleeping by his side?

She felt Zhenyang Huo tightened his grip on her hand a bit.

As if a surge of strength flowed into her, she quickly adapted to the interaction mode with Tianpei Huo, smiling: "Thank you, old master, for your concern. I’m not worried, the real murderer should be the one worrying."

Just then, Su Yan had just come in carrying tea, hearing this sentence, her hand inadvertently tilted, spilling a few drops of tea from the tray.

Tianpei Huo looked over.

Immediately calming her emotions, Su Yan handed over the tea, saying with a smile: "Have some tea. ... Tianpei, don’t get too excited just because Zhenyang is here. You don’t listen to me, nor the doctor? You need to be careful to regulate your emotions..."

Her words were gentle and soft, just like a virtuous wife and good mother.

Seeing Tianpei Huo reaching for the tea in the tray, Su Yan quickly stopped him and handed him a cup of water, being very attentive: "You just took medicine; tea can neutralize the effect of the medicine, so you can’t drink it. Drink plain water instead."

Tianpei Huo seemed to have enjoyed Su Yan’s care and, like a child, obediently took the plain water.

Jiayi could tell that Tianpei Huo was becoming increasingly dependent on Su Yan.

The incident at the shareholder’s meeting, she heard from Zhenyang Huo.

Su Yan hiding the fact that Zhenyang Huo resigned from Tianpei Huo and nominating Huo Zhenxuan into the company without authorization would be unforgivable sins if it were anyone else.

At the time, Tianpei Huo was angry with Su Yan, but just a few days later, the anger was gone, with absolutely no blame at all.

Seeing Tianpei Huo finished drinking, noticing that Zhenyang Huo and Jiayi neither moved nor showed much interest in the tea, Su Yan did not say anything and took the tray out.

The two stayed with Tianpei Huo for a while, and it was getting late.

Seeing Tianpei Huo looking tired, Zhenyang Huo spoke up: "Dad, you should rest first, Jiayi and I will be leaving now."

Tianpei Huo hesitated for a moment and said, "I want to talk to you alone for a bit."