Chapter 216 - 215: Caught Off Guard

Chapter 216: Chapter 215: Caught Off Guard

The family gathered for a meal the next day. Everyone was there except for Huo Xingchen.

Of course, Gu Qingyin wouldn’t leave her youngest son out. She made a point to video call him and give him a live tour of the sumptuous feast at home.

Unable to smell or taste any of it, the poor kid was driven mad with cravings. He immediately summoned that chef from the Northeast, determined to have a spread of the same caliber prepared.

For the next few days, Gu Qingyin rarely left the old family home. Even if she had to go out, Huo Yunjing had to stay behind to watch the house.

While she was at it, Gu Qingyin also upgraded the old family home’s Defensive Array.

’So Xian Yu Fei wants to stir up trouble? Let’s see him try when he can’t even get through the door!’

A week passed in the blink of an eye. Not just the old family home, but all of Yun City was calm and quiet, feeling very much like the calm before the storm.

Gu Qingyin was sprawled on the sofa, listlessly flipping through channels. "I’m so bored..."

Huo Yunjing, who was sitting right beside her, heard this and asked, "Want a snack? How about some milk tea?"

Gu Qingyin smacked her lips. "Fruit tea would be nice. Not too sweet—I don’t want to get fat. And bring a plate of strawberries."

Huo Yunjing got up and went to the kitchen to prepare everything. Unable to find anything she wanted to watch, Gu Qingyin followed him, wandering into the kitchen and perching on a stool by the island counter to watch him work.

Huo Yunjing’s fingers were long and pale, his knuckles distinct, his nails neatly rounded. The sight of them holding the fruit was pleasing to the eye, but when they were glistening with water, they became strangely sensual...

As she stared, Gu Qingyin couldn’t help but swallow.

Huo Yunjing, who was in the middle of slicing the tops off the strawberries, paused. His gaze drifted over to her. ℴ

A blush rose on Gu Qingyin’s face, but she didn’t look away. Instead, she raised an eyebrow at him. "Is the fruit tea ready? I’m a little thirsty."

Huo Yunjing stared at her for two seconds before lowering his gaze back to the strawberries. His voice, however, had dropped an octave. "Almost ready."

Gu Qingyin gave an obedient hum of acknowledgment, not daring to tease him any further.

A moment later, Huo Yunjing placed the fruit tea and strawberries in front of Gu Qingyin. Beside them, he also set down a slice of chocolate mousse.

"I made it this morning. It just finished chilling. Have a taste."

Gu Qingyin picked up a spoon, scooped up a bite, and gave him a thumbs-up. "Delicious! It’s sweet but not too rich, and so fragrant!"

Huo Yunjing smiled. "Have some fruit tea."

Gu Qingyin nodded, alternating between bites of mousse and sips of tea. The small slice of cake was gone in no time.

Huo Yunjing pushed the plate of fruit toward her. "Have some fruit."

Gu Qingyin felt an odd sense of accomplishment, as if she’d completed a mission. She had eaten too quickly, and after only a few strawberries, she felt full. She pulled out a tissue and wiped her mouth.

"Done eating?" Huo Yunjing asked, his tone unreadable.

Gu Qingyin nodded, a little disappointed. "The strawberries are delicious, but I can’t eat another bite. Do you want to try one?"

"Alright." With that, Huo Yunjing reached out, cupped the back of her head, and gently pulled her forward, his lips descending onto hers.

Gu Qingyin lowered her gaze slightly, parting her lips in invitation.

A few seconds later, Huo Yunjing pulled back just enough to murmur against her lips, his voice low and husky, "Very sweet."

Gu Qingyin’s eyelashes fluttered. Her warning lacked any real conviction. "We’re in a common area. Have some restraint."

Huo Yunjing chuckled. "Alright. Shall we move to a more private location, then?"

Gu Qingyin bit her lip, her expression deadpan. "I suppose that’s not out of the question."

Huo Yunjing’s gaze darkened. He rounded the island, scooped her into his arms, and carried her upstairs.

...

Gu Qingyin slept until evening. Waking to the dim light of her room, she couldn’t help but admonish herself. ’This is depraved! Utterly depraved! Ugh, when is Xian Yu Fei going to show up already?’

Fighting through the soreness in her back and the weakness in her legs, Gu Qingyin got up. She meditated for a while to recover, then took a shower and changed before lazily making her way downstairs.

Downstairs, the men of the family were gathered in the living room, deep in conversation. When they saw her coming down the stairs, they all looked up.

Huo Yunjing smiled, getting up to retrieve her dinner from the insulated container in the kitchen.

Gu Qingyin took her seat and started with a bowl of soup. "What were you all talking about?"

Huo Xingye and Huo Xinghai exchanged a glance. Huo Xinghai spoke up, "Big Brother was attacked today."

Gu Qingyin paused mid-bite, her gaze lifting to study him from head to toe.

Huo Xingye offered a reassuring smile. "I’m not hurt."

Gu Qingyin grunted in acknowledgment. "A Fierce Ghost?"

"Mhm," Huo Xingye said. "Miao Yan didn’t even have to do anything. The Soul-devouring Flower ate it."

"It bloomed?" The tension in Gu Qingyin’s face eased. "Perfect timing."

"Mhm." Huo Xingye bent down and picked up a potted flower from the floor. "It bloomed just as the Fierce Ghost charged."

The Fierce Ghost charged right into the Soul-devouring Flower’s mouth. It struggled for a few moments before being chewed up and devoured.

Gu Qingyin went back to her meal. "Just the one Fierce Ghost? Miao Yan couldn’t find who sent it?"

Huo Xingye shook his head. "Couldn’t find them."

It wasn’t that no one was there, just that they weren’t found.

Gu Qingyin snorted. "It was most likely Xian Yu Fei and Yin Bo." She then warned her two sons, "You both need to be careful for the next few days. There will probably be more attacks and ’accidents’ like this."

The brothers nodded in acknowledgment.

"What about Xingchen? Can he handle things on his end?" Huo Xingye asked, concerned.

"Mhm." Gu Qingyin was about to reply when Huo Yunjing tapped her on the forehead. "Just eat. I’ll explain."

Gu Qingyin’s eyes crinkled in a smile, and she obediently returned to her meal.

Huo Yunjing explained, "Chad secured the inheritance. Xingchen is very safe with the Rote Family, so there’s no need to worry."

Huo Xingye nodded, not asking any further questions.

The living room fell silent, the only sound being the soft clinking of Gu Qingyin’s chopsticks against her bowl.

After a few more bites, Gu Qingyin looked up in confusion at the three men. ’That’s it? The conversation’s over already? That was way too brief!’

Huo Yunjing seemed to read her mind and explained, "We’d already discussed most of it before you came down."

’Oh well.’ Gu Qingyin shrugged and went back to her meal.

Huo Yunjing stayed by her side, his gaze tender and focused.

Huo Xingye didn’t leave either; he took out his tablet and started going through emails. Huo Xinghai was also on his phone, furiously tapping away as he confirmed concert details with Jian Xilin.

Perhaps from eating too much, Gu Qingyin put down her chopsticks and yawned. "I’m sleepy..."

"Want to go back and get some more sleep?" Huo Yunjing asked, already standing up.

Gu Qingyin shot him a sideways glance. "It’s not healthy to sleep right after eating. Let’s find a variety show to watch." She turned to her son. "Xinghai, has that music show you recorded started airing yet?"

"It premieres tonight." Huo Xinghai glanced at the time. "We can catch it right from the start."

Gu Qingyin perked up a little. "Great, let’s all watch it together." She got up and went to sit beside Huo Xinghai.

Huo Yunjing followed right after, taking the seat next to her.

Huo Xingye, a step too slow, simply stayed put and put away his tablet.

As Huo Xinghai searched for the show, Gu Qingyin couldn’t help but yawn again, a small tear forming in the corner of her eye.

"That tired?"

Huo Yunjing’s teasing voice sounded beside her ear. Gu Qingyin whipped her head around to glare at him, about to tell him to behave himself since the kids were there.

But then, her head spun, her vision went black, and she suddenly lost consciousness.

The last thing she saw was the look of alarm on Huo Yunjing’s face.