Chapter 13: 13

That afternoon, Bai Zhen Zhen brought her father home.

After Bai Zhen Zhen and her family left, Huo Xiang immediately went to his doctor to discuss discharge. That brain of his, which up till now could not be diagnosed, had suddenly recovered. Even his doctor found it incredulous.

The next morning, Yang Ping Su had just prepared breakfast when she heard a knock on the door.

“It’s so early, who is it…” Yang Ping Su complained under her breath.

Bai Zhen Zhen guessed it should be Huo Xiang.

She had agreed with him that he would find her in the morning before heading out together to attend the birthday party in the afternoon.

When the door was opened, it was as she expected.

“Why did you come so early?!” Bai Zhen Zhen had just finished speaking, when her gaze travelled down from Huo Xiang’s face, sizing him up, stunned.

Father Bai was sitting at the table in the dining room, stirring his bowl of noodles while asking: “Zhen Zhen, who is it?”

Bai Zhen Zhen swallowed her drool: “Huo… Huo Xiang.”

“So it’s Lil’ Huo! Quick, invite him in!” Father Bai was clearly elated.

However, Bai Zhen Zhen remained standing at the doorway, staring at Huo Xiang in a daze.

The Huo Xiang of today had thrown off the patient’s garb and changed into a forest green formal shirt, coupled with a carefully ironed pair of formal pants and a pair of polished black leather shoes.

It’s said that clothes make the man people rely on clothes to look good. Having dressed up for the occasion, he really looked the part of a wealthy young master, though his inner personality left a lot to be desired.

“Where did you get the money to buy this suit?” Bai Zhen Zhen asked suspiciously.

The shirt had a tailored fit and premium texture. At a glance, she could tell that the one Huo Xiang was wearing was not cheap.

“Rented, two hundred dollars a day.” Huo Xiang lifted a clothing rental bag in his right hand, waving it in Bai Zhen Zhen’s face, “I even rented one for you.”

Bai Zhen Zhen: “…”

No wonder he had called last night, asking about her clothing measurements. He had probably planned it all out already.

Bai Zhen Zhen took a second look at the various bags in Huo Xiang’s left hand. Looks like he had also bought a lot of fruits and tonics.

The moment he stepped in, Huo Xiang placed these items on the table and cheerfully said to Father Bai: “Uncle Bai, Aunty Yang, this is my first time visiting your house. I wasn’t sure what to buy, so I bought some fruits and tonics, hope you don’t mind.”

Father Bai was beyond himself, praising continuously: “Feel free to come, there’s no need to buy anything…”

Even Yang Ping Su, who usually had a black look on her face all the time, started to smile welcomingly when she saw that Huo Xiang had brought so many things.

Bai Zhen Zhen poured a cup of tea for Huo Xiang. As she was handing it to him, she lowered her voice and asked: “Other than renting the clothes, you used the rest of the money to please my dad?!”

Huo Xiang quietly responded: “This is called ‘playing the long game’. If I establish a good relationship with your dad now, you will continue to lend me money in the future.”

Bai Zhen Zhen: “… In your dreams.”

“Oh, Uncle Bai, it turns out you were eating!” Huo Xiang suddenly raised his voice, pretending to just notice the bowls of noodles on the table.

Father Bai immediately reacted, replying: “Yes! Lil’ Huo, you came at just the right time. You probably haven’t eaten yet, right? Come, let’s eat together!”

“Then I won’t stand on courtesy!” Huo Xiang smiled.

“No need for courtesy! Just treat this place like your own home!” Father Bai pushed Bai Zhen Zhen’s bowl over to Huo Xiang.

Bai Zhen Zhen: “Dad, that is mine…”

Bai Zhen Zhen hadn’t finish her words when Huo Xiang had already picked up a noodle and eaten it.

While eating, he innocently looked at Bai Zhen Zhen.

“Ping Su, go prepare another bowl for Zhen Zhen!” Father Bai instructed Yang Ping Su.

Yang Ping Su was currently someone living off of Bai Zhen Zhen’s “salary”. Though she was reluctant, she still followed Father Bai’s instructions.

Bai Zhen Zhen kept up a cold front as she sat on a wooden chair by the side, silently watching her father and Huo Xiang sit on the two-person sofa, chatting and laughing while eating.

“Lil’ Huo, your Aunty Yang’s cooking skills are quite good right?” Father Bai looked at Huo Xiang benevolently.

“En, it’s delicious!” Huo Xiang replied while taking another sip of the soup.

Bai Zhen Zhen gritted her teeth: Shameless!!

“Lil’ Huo, looking at how you’re all dressed up today, you’ve also been discharged from the hospital?”

Huo Xiang nodded: “Yes, I went for a review yesterday afternoon. The results showed that there was no issue, so I was discharged.”

“Then where do you stay now? Have you found a job?”

“I’ve rented a room. Actually, I came her today to find Bai Zhen Zhen, because I heard that her company was hiring, so I wanted her to introduce me…”

Bai Zhen Zhen took over the conversation, saying: “Yes, I will bring him to the company later. Just nice, the company is looking for a professional like him.”

Father Bai believed them: “With a friend helping you find a job, it is indeed more convenient…”

He turned to Huo Xiang and continued: “Then, Uncle wishes you all the best!”

Father Bai raised his cup and toasted Huo Xiang.

Bai Zhen Zhen raised her eyebrows.

A warm atmosphere surrounded the two men as they chatted enthusiastically. It even gave her the illusion that Huo Xiang was more like her father’s child than she was.

****

After breakfast, Huo Xiang passed the rented clothes to Bai Zhen Zhen.

Bai Zhen Zhen took a look at it. It was a red silk gown.

She eyed Huo Xiang’s forest green shirt, asking: “Red with green?”

Huo Xiang explained righteously: “You are a red flower, and I am your green leaves. Isn’t this a good combination?”

Bai Zhen Zhen remarked skeptically: “I don’t have any specific preferences for colors. I just didn’t expect that you actually like the color green.”

“Lil’ Huo looks good in green!” Father Bai cheerfully said, “You youngsters often have this saying — to live well, one should always wear a little green*. Green is the color of life, symbolising vitality!”

Huo Xiang: “…”

Bai Zhen Zhen bowled over in laughter: “Dad, that saying isn’t talking about life; it’s used to curse…”

“Ah?” Father’s Bai face was bewildered.

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Bai Zhen Zhen returned the clothes to Huo Xiang: “Take the gown back. I’m only visiting briefly as a courtesy; I don’t need new clothes.”

All of the original host’s clothing were very simple in design. Just nice, she wanted to remain inconspicuous. The simpler her clothing, the better.

“No matter what, it is a big event! You’re not planning on wearing this out, are you?!” Huo Xiang didn’t take it back, his scrutinising gaze holding contempt as he sized up Bai Zhen Zhen.

Bai Zhen Zhen was wearing a over-sized T-shirt dress, with a large cartoon image printed on the front.

It was a little like … pyjamas.

Father Bai added on: “Lil’ Huo, Zhen Zhen is right. You are the highlight of today, it’s fine as long as you look good.”

“No! The money has already been spent, don’t waste it!” Huo Xiang frowned.

Leaning in closer to Bai Zhen Zhen, he whispered: “Zhen Zhen, think about it. We are going to a five-star hotel today. If you dress too shabbily and get turned away by the security, how humiliating would it be…”

Bai Zhen Zhen seriously considered, feeling that what Huo Xiang said made sense too.

Thus, she held on to the gown and headed towards her room with a skip in her step.

Ten minutes later, Bai Zhen Zhen returned to the living room.

The moment she stepped out of her room, Father Bai and Yang Ping Su’s eyes widened, staring at her as if they had seen something extraordinary.

Bai Zhen Zhen: “What’s wrong?”

She subconsciously looked down and evaluated herself.

This dress fit her well, and wasn’t too revealing. She couldn’t find anything wrong with it.

Father Bai sighed emotionally: “Heavens, I didn’t think my daughter was so beautiful! Zhen Zhen, you look like a princess wearing this dress!”

Yang Ping Su remained silent, but her eyes glowed with amazement and jealousy.

Bai Zhen Zhen: “…”

Luckily, there was still Huo Xiang, the only “normal” person in the room. Huo “normal” Xiang weakly asked: “Is there even… any difference?!”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “The random passerby has asked a very good question. I didn’t put on any make-up, and I haven’t styled my hair. I merely changed into a dress, is it really that amazing?!”

— System: “Host, that scene was fully restored to the original settings in the book. As long as the female lead changed clothes, it will definitely attract the amazement of the onlookers.”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “How stupid…”

— System: “Oh, host, if you didn’t mention it, this system wouldn’t have realised. Surprisingly, this random passerby wasn’t attracted by your charms?”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “You already mentioned that he is just a passerby.”

— System: “But even a passerby should…”

“Zhen Zhen, let’s go!” Huo Xiang said.

Bai Zhen Zhen’s conversation with the system was interrupted.

She nodded and turned to her father: “Dad, I’m going out. I might come home quite late today, so you don’t have to wait for me to eat.”

“Ok, be careful on the way out…” Father Bai replied, throwing a look to Huo Xiang, “Lil’ Huo, protect Zhen Zhen well…”

“Rest assured, Uncle Bai!” Huo Xiang replied straightforwardly.

****

The morning sunlight shone right into Bai Zhen Zhen’s eyes when she walked out, dazzling her.

“It’s still early, why don’t we part ways first? After lunch, we can meet at 3pm at the Diamond Hotel entrance.” Bai Zhen Zhen suggested.

Huo Xiang froze: “Huh?!”

“What ‘huh’, the party only starts in the afternoon and the food will only be served in the evening. Heading down so early, do you want to help them set up the venue?!” Bai Zhen Zhen retorted.

If it wasn’t for the fact that she didn’t want to stay at “home”, she wouldn’t have immediately followed Huo Xiang out.

Huo Xiang shook his head: “Actually, the reason why I came to find you so early is because there’s something important we need to do in the morning.”

“What is it?” Bai Zhen Zhen squinted.

Huo Xiang whispered something in Bai Zhen Zhen’s ears.

After hearing what he had to say, Bai Zhen Zhen was astonished: “I didn’t expect that you were so powerful, to even be able to get news about this! Then let’s go, Xiang Xiang!”

“Xiang Xiang?!” Huo Xiang choked.

Bai Zhen Zhen gave him an innocent look: “Yes, as lovers, shouldn’t we have endearments for each other?!”

“… There are so many other endearments, can’t we change it?!”

Bai Zhen Zhen shook her head resolutely: “We can’t, Xiang Xiang.”

Huo Xiang: “….”

Bai Zhen Zhen dragged him forward, teasing him: “Everything about you is a gift from your parents, and so is your name! Your parents gave you such a pleasant sounding name, how can I not use it?”

Huo Xiang put up a final struggle: “But you can also call me ‘Huo Huo’!”

“Huo Huo?”

Huo Xiang nodded seriously.

Bai Zhen Zhen tilted her head down, silently walking forward while ignoring him.

Soon after, she started singing loudly with enthusiasm: “Huo huo huo huo, huo huo huo huo! Huo family’s martial art fist forms are agile~~~**”

Huo Xiang: “…”

——————–

Author’s Note:

— Huo Xiang: “System, you’re certain this is the female lead and not a retard?!”

— System: “…”

——————–

*What Father Bai said: “要想生活过得去，身上总得带点绿” (To live well, one should always wear a little green)
How the actual saying goes: “要想生活过得去，就得头上带点绿” (To live well, one should be prepared to wear a green hat i.e. be prepared to be cheated on)

It is an internet slang, with multiple interpretations.
Towards the positive side, it generally means that to get along harmoniously in life, one will need to learn to close one eye to certain things; learning to accommodate and negotiate and not be too calculative.
Towards the negative side, some people say it means “ignorance is bliss”, where even if your partner is cheating on you, you can still live well if you are ignorant about it. It is used to ridicule people for being ignorant or for getting cheated on.

Bai Zhen Zhen is taking the literal meaning of the saying when she says it is used to curse. In her case, the saying is used to curse the other person that they will be cheated on by their partners.

**I cannot translate this, really! So cringe to write so many ‘huo’, but really, it’s part of a song’s lyrics by Jay Chou – Fearless. It’s a really famous classic song known by almost all, if not all Chinese people. Give it a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr-6wwt8RXk

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