ond among the younger generation of the Huo family, with an older cousin who is truly the heir apparent of the Huo family. He holds immense power and influence, making him a figure to be approached wi...The footsteps outside the tea room came and went, tonight was a family dinner at the Huo family, many people had returned.

The man’s face, with its sharp angles and features, was reflected in the glass. A playful glint in his eyes watched her panic unfold across her features.

Ho Mingzheng was adorned in fine attire, his appearance scholarly and handsome.

He ranks second among the younger generation of the Huo family, with an older cousin who is truly the heir apparent of the Huo family. He holds immense power and influence, making him a figure to be approached with extreme caution.

His gaze fell upon the finger marks on Fu Yan's body. He dropped the handkerchief, lit a cigarette, and slowly exhaled a plume of smoke.

The jade ring on his left thumb glowed faintly, giving off a cold and icy aura. It was an extremely rare dragon stone variety of jade from northern Myanmar.

"Heard you've been looking at cars lately, want me to buy you one"

"No, I'll buy it myself." Fu Yan put on her clothes, clenched her fingers tightly, and didn't look at the man's face in the mirror.

She knew the man was angry, having just tormented her in various ways, and this remark only poured fuel on the fire.

"Are you really trying to draw a line between us"

Fu Yan lowered her head, pressing on the buttons of her shirt without speaking. Her fingers were white with tension.

"Fu Yan, you've really made something of yourself." Huo Mingzheng sneered.

His gaze shifted from her, he took a few puffs then stubbed out the cigarette.

Fu Yan lowered her head and got up from the ground, running into the bathroom to tidy herself up.

The door of the tea room opened and closed again, she knew Huo Mingzheng had gone out.

After a while, when the redness on her face had completely subsided and she was sure there were no marks on her body, she came out of the bathroom.

By the time she arrived at the restaurant, most of the people were already there.

At the Huo family's banquet, the returning guests filled three large round tables, bustling with activity. However, no one took the initiative to approach and talk to Fu Yan.

Fu Yan didn't want to deal with the Huo family either, so she lowered her head and found her own seat.

"Where have you been I've been looking for you for ages, and your phone wouldn't answer." Mother Song Qing霜 came over and pulled her hand, glaring at her disapprovingly.

Fu Yan withdrew her hand without a trace, and whispered softly, "I didn't hear anything."

Actually, she heard it, but Huo Mingzheng didn't let her answer. He disliked being disturbed about that kind of thing and would get angry, making things even more complicated.

As Fu Yan Gang sat down, he heard someone at the main table say, "Second Brother, why are your sleeves wet"

Fu Yan heard Huo Mingzheng chuckle softly: "It's nothing."

Huo Mingzheng took off his suit jacket and draped it over the back of a chair. When others spoke to him, he responded casually with a few words, and no one dared to say otherwise.

He has always been the center of attention at the Huo family.

Unlike paying rouge.

She married into the Huo family with her mother, who married Huo Mingzheng's fifth uncle.

From eldest grandson to youngest, the Huo family had a clear hierarchy: Eldest Master, Second Master, down to Fifth Miss. Hearing their titles instantly identified them as part of the Huo family. Only she was addressed differently: "Miss Fu" by the servants.

He is an outsider.

Song Qing霜 whispered in her ear.

"The old man was already displeased with us, and you're being so disrespectful. Don't you know this is a family banquet Luckily the old man didn't come down on us."

The mother remarried, and she was viewed through colored glasses from the beginning, especially after the death of Huo Mingzheng's fifth uncle, they were treated even less favorably.

Behind the scenes, the servants said that Song Qingshuang was a widow-bringing curse and that Fu Yan was a jinx.

Therefore, Song Qing霜 was particularly careful to abide by the rules of the Huo family.

Fu Yan had already grown accustomed to it and didn't pay much attention to her complaints. Her mind was filled with Huo Mingzheng's last profound words.

At times, the remaining light would glance toward the main table.

The inextricable bond between her and Huo Mingzheng pulled her thoughts back to two years ago.

On the night of her college graduation, she got drunk with her classmates.

Actually, she used to be a teetotaler. That day was because the Huo family was preparing to arrange a marriage for Huo Ming.

Huo Mingzheng, the man she had secretly liked for many years.

Unexpectedly, Huo Mingzheng was also at the bar that night. After drinking some alcohol, she became bolder and leaned against Huo Mingzheng, asking him — Huo Mingzheng, what do you think of me

Ho Mingzheng opened her hand that was clinging to his shoulder, and asked with a half-smile, "What's wrong"

Fu Yan had never imagined that she, a model of obedience, would ever do something so outrageous. Huo Mingzheng was her nominal cousin after all.

She tiptoed to Huo Mingzheng's ear and whispered, "Be my woman."

He Mingzheng leaned against the wall, lit a cigarette, and in the swirling smoke, asked her, "Dare you"

Fu Yan lightly pecked his chin, then fearlessly hooked his neck again, provocatively saying, "What about you Do you dare"

He Mingzheng stubbed out his cigarette, didn't answer, just smiled.

Those eyes, in the flickering lamplight, seemed like an unfathomable abyss, yet also like flames that would burn you to ashes.

That night, she became Huo Mingzheng's woman.

At the moment of life and death, Huo Mingzheng bit her earlobe, "Fu Yan, remember what you said tonight."

That night, Fu Yan said a lot of things, so many that she couldn't even remember which one Huo Mingzheng had said.

After that, Fu Yan was a little afraid. Getting involved with a man like Huo Mingzheng was dangerous.

Their relationship was a secret, which meant Huo Mingzheng would never acknowledge her.

She is the one who has loved Huo Mingzheng silently for so many years, she can't bear to let go just like that.

He may as well get married and have children, I hear the old man has already found a bride for him.

He didn't mention it, tacitly assuming she couldn't bear the exposure of her clandestine identity – a mistress, a second woman. Fu Yan dared not dwell on it.

If this relationship is destined to be unequal, then she is unwilling to be humble anymore.

So last weekend she texted Ho Ming, wanting to end their relationship.

Until today, Huo Mingzheng has not responded at all.

As dusk fell, she returned to the Huo manor and encountered him. In a deserted corridor, she lowered her head intending to pass him by, but he seized her wrist and pulled her into the tea room...

He looks annoyed.

One dish after another was served, pulling Fu Yan's thoughts back from afar.

The maid brought up a fish. Tonight's seafood was all flown in from overseas. Steamed fish, hot oil poured over it, the fish flesh flipped, the aroma filled the air.

Fu Yan endured the discomfort, just about to dodge the smell, but couldn't hold it back and let out a: "Ugh..."you about him.""Guess what," Fu Yan impatiently interrupted her, "I've been busy with work lately and don't have time."Song Qing霜 didn't care about these excuses and said to herself: "Although the oth...