"If the Boss doesn’t listen, he will consider reallocating the group’s management rights. However, rest assured, Miss Jiayi, the Boss has already turned down the old master."

Jiayi’s heart skipped a beat, she remained silent for a long while: "Hmm, got it, let’s drive."

*

In the evening, when he returned to Disheng from the company, it was almost eleven o’clock.

Huo Zhenyang took off his coat and handed it to the servant, walked in, and saw Jiayi hadn’t gone upstairs to sleep. She was leaning on the sofa in the living room on the first floor, resting her chin on her hands, with a popular celebrity cooking reality show playing on the TV in front of her.

Walking over, just about to call her, he realized that this little woman had already fallen asleep.

When she was asleep, there was always a sense of peace in the world, as if time stood still.

The curled lashes drooping, her straight and delicate nose, slightly upturned rosy lips, her skin blushed and slightly sweaty in sleep – unlike usual, today her eyebrows were tightly knitted even in sleep, as if she was worried.

Since leaving Huo Tianpei’s hotel today, he had noticed a slight change in her mood, rather downcast.

Perhaps the matter of the old master asking to speak with him alone had made her overthink.

Currently, she is not yet the young mistress of the Huo family, living in Disheng without any ground to counter what others might say.

His eyes moved, he bent down, and stretched his arms intending to pick her up.

She woke up startled, rubbed her sleepy eyes, recognized it was him, sat up, her voice still drowsy and muffled: "You’re back. Have you eaten? I tried cooking a few dishes from the program tonight, they’re in the fridge, you can ask Auntie Li to heat them up for you..." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"No need, I had a business meal during the meeting at the company." Seeing her awake, he sat next to her and turned off the TV.

The living room suddenly became quiet.

Seeing him staring at her face thoughtfully, she touched her cheek: "What’s wrong?"

He lifted his long and slightly rough index finger, touching her cheek where a faint red mark had formed, his tone mild yet with a solid convincing power: "We will remarry tomorrow."

Perhaps, this would give her some peace of mind.

Jiayi was stunned. She remained silent for a long time.

He half-laughed, half-annoyed: "Do you really need to think about it for so long?"

Jiayi stuttered with her lips and finally spoke: "Let’s talk about it later."

His gaze grew sharper, intense and fiery, as if sparks were hitting her skin: "You’ve been saying that for a while now, I’ve heard it several times already."

"Then... let’s talk about it sometime later." She fidgeted with the corner of her clothes, made up her mind, and looked up: "I’m not ready yet, let’s wait and talk about the remarriage later."

He looked at her skeptically, not understanding the need to wait: "Is it really because you’re not ready, or is there another reason?"

A man’s sharp and bright eyes, like a leopard’s, make it impossible to hide one’s true thoughts.

She could only avoid meeting his gaze to prevent being seen through by him, nodded, her eyelashes fluttering with the nod of her head like butterfly wings: "Mm. Just not remarrying for now, I’m not going anywhere."

She knew what this man liked to hear.

Indeed, this statement had a huge impact on Huo Zhenyang.

His expression softened, no longer pressing her, but instead turned her downcast face towards his own, his voice deep and resonant like a stringed instrument: "But living here in Disheng without a formal status, your parents won’t be happy, your father has been calling me every few days wanting to take you back, and most importantly, you might be subject to people’s gossip."

"I’ll talk to mommy and daddy about it; as for the gossips, I’m not afraid." She forced a smile.

When she was detained, all the newspapers in Yunling were full of her gossip; she had survived through that tough time.

What was a bit of gossip? At most they would say she was shameless, clinging to her ex-husband, right?

Just treat it as wind past the ears!

If she agrees to remarry him now, he might have his power within the corporation diluted by Huo Tianpei, and even if not, it would affect the relationship between father and son, which would just benefit Su Yan.

Therefore, she cannot remarry now.

At least, not until the real culprit is caught, and she is truly vindicated, and this matter blows over.

In comparison, enduring some gossip doesn’t seem so serious.

She also knows that she can’t openly discuss these thoughts with him.

Given his personality, if he knew she was suffering in such a way for him, he definitely would not agree, and he might even insist on remarrying, just to spite his father.

Huo Zhenyang saw her determination and ultimately said nothing, just sternly flicking her sharp little chin upwards as a warning: "Fine, I’ll give you a bit more time to see how long you can wait. But don’t expect to delay me when the time comes!"

"Mmm."

He picked up her slippers from the carpet, slipped them onto her feet, and then carried her upstairs.

"...What are you doing, my feet are already fine." She protested softly but clung tighter around his neck.

He suppressed the urge to devour this marshmallow, leaned in closely, and spoke in a low breath: "Not ready to remarry, nor ready for anything else?"

She clearly knew what he meant, and her grip loosened unconsciously, almost sliding out from his arms.

Luckily, he held her tightly, preventing her from falling, yet he was very dissatisfied: "Is there a need to be so scared?"

In the midst of talking, he had already carried her upstairs.

Just as he walked along the corridor, Huo Zhenyang halted his steps, only to see a little bundle in pajamas squatting at the door of their bedroom.

Upon seeing this, Jiayi quickly pushed Huo Zhenyang aside, jumped down, walked over, and lifted Little Baozi: "Why aren’t you asleep and running over here?"

"I want to sleep with you and daddy." Zaizai rubbed his eyes, his face full of grievance.

Huo Zhenyang clenched his teeth; this little rascal had been behaving for more than a week and now began to show his skill in clinging to mommy again.

Little Baozi had already been accustomed to sleeping alone, but since these past few months when mother and son moved back to Green Island Garden without his supervision, it’s likely Little Baozi had fallen back into old habits and started clinging to Jiayi again for sleep.

Such a headache!

"Zaizai, how old are you?" His eyes filled with a mix of threats and allure.

Zaizai knew that clinging to mommy for sleep would make it hard for a little brother to come.

But it has been many days since he last slept next to mommy, he couldn’t care less about a little brother.

Seeing daddy glaring fiercely at him, he mournfully pouted his chubby cheeks: "I don’t want a little brother anymore! I want mommy! Waaah—"

Jiayi felt a heartache, quickly scooping up Zaizai: "Alright, alright, sleep with mommy tonight."

"What about me?" someone from behind spoke ominously.

Jiayi helplessly said: "You’re such a grown-up."

The implication being: Go wash up and sleep by yourself...

Zaizai lay on Jiayi’s shoulder, tears dangling on his eyelashes, then wickedly smiled at Huo Zhenyang, making a victorious sign with his hand.

Huo Zhenyang clenched his teeth, what kind of little monster had he fathered!