Chapter 20: 20

When Huo Xiang arrived at Bai Zhen Zhen’s house, only Father Bai and Yang Su Ping were left in the living room.

The moment he saw Huo Xiang, Father Bai became very agitated, interrogating: “Lil’ Huo, I overheard Zhen Zhen on the phone. That rich man’s grandson’s name is… the same as yours, Huo Xiang?”

Huo Xiang nodded.

Father Bai continued questioning: “She went back to her room after hanging up. She refused to tell us what happened no matter how we asked. Tell us honestly, the person mentioned on the TV… Isn’t really you, is it?!”

“It’s me.” Huo Xiang didn’t hide it.

In fact, he came here today just to confess this matter.

In the evening, his grandfather also wanted to invite the Bai family for dinner, to formally meet them.

Hearing Huo Xiang’s confession, Father Bai’s face instantly turned black.

Yang Ping Su, on the other hand, was extremely excited.

“Really, it’s really you?!” She was almost babbling incoherently, “Lil’ Huo, ah no, Young Master Huo, please have a seat. Oh, what kind of fate is this, it’s such a coincidence!”

Yang Ping Su gestured for Huo Xiang to have a seat. She even enthusiastically poured him a cup of tea.

But as soon as Huo Xiang sat down, Father Bai pointed to the door, saying coldly: “Leave. You’re not welcome here.”

Huo Xiang smiled awkwardly: “Uncle Bai, are you angry because you think I deceived you? Actually, I only met my grandfather yesterday. Before that, I only knew myself to be an orphan.”

He still didn’t have the nerve change his address from “Uncle” to “Dad”.

Besides, looking at the rage on Father Bai’s face, he couldn’t comprehend Father Bai’s thoughts at all. Even if he felt that he was “deceived”, his attitude wouldn’t have such a drastic flip, as if he had a grudge against him.

“I’m not angry,” Father Bai replied, his tone still slightly hostile, “It’s just that our shabby place can’t accommodate an honorable being like yourself.”

“Old Bai, what nonsense are you spouting!” Yang Ping Su glared at Father Bai, “Zhen Zhen has already married Young Master Huo! They are legally married in the eyes of the law, how could you drive your son-in-law out…”

She smiled gleefully at Huo Xiang: “Young Master Huo, please don’t be alarmed. Uncle Bai is just too elated, so he became confused!”

Father Bai scolded: “You’re the confused one! Always thinking of selling our daughter to climb up the social ladder! Have you ever thought of our identities? If our daughter marries into such a household, can she be happy?!”

“Uncle Bai, your words are too harsh… Zhen Zhen and I are truly in love with each other. This has nothing to do with my identity…”

“That’s exactly it!” Yang Ping Su agreed, “Young Master Huo is someone that you have personally approved. For him to have regained his family is good news! We are all a family, you should be happy for him!”

“Aunty Yang, is Zhen Zhen still in her room?” Huo Xiang wanted to ease the atmosphere, thus he changed the subject.

Yang Ping Su nodded rapidly: “Yes! Look at me, being happy for you. I almost forgot that you came here looking for Zhen Zhen! Go find her, she’s in her room!”

Huo Xiang subconsciously peeked at Father Bai. Though Father Bai still sported an expression as if he was glaring at his most hated archenemy, he didn’t move to stop him.

Thus, Huo Xiang walked over silently to Bai Zhen Zhen’s room door and knocked twice.

****

Since hanging up the phone, Bai Zhen Zhen shut herself in her room without saying a word, ignoring everything around her.

She wanted to be alone to sort out her thoughts.

But after much deliberation, she still couldn’t understand what went wrong.

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “System, you owe me an explanation for what’s happening! I asked you twice whether he was a key character, and you said he wasn’t!”

— System: “Host, after reviewing the world’s data again, I can responsibly tell you that Huo Xiang is indeed not a key character in the novel.”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “But what about the world’s richest man? How did he suddenly change from a poor boy to the heir of the world’s richest man?! Can a random passerby have such a halo?!”

— System: “Host, the world’s richest man… also isn’t a key character in the novel.”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “He’s the world’s richest man, yet he isn’t a key character?! Isn’t that too much?!”

Just as Bai Zhen Zhen finished exclaiming, she herself paused.

Indeed, she had previously read finish the novel. The title of “the world’s richest man” had indeed never appeared! In the novel, the male lead Ling Hao Chen was the leader of the business world.

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “So this “world’s richest man” appeared out of nowhere?!”

— System: “Host, I am also unable to explain this phenomenon. I suspect that it is a bug.”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “… And coincidentally this bug happened to me?!”

— System: “Maybe it’s the effect of the female lead halo!”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “Thanks for that.”

After that, Bai Zhen Zhen pulled out her handphone and scoured the internet for information on the world’s richest man.

Only then did she find out that the ancestral home of the world’s richest man actually belongs to this city.

The Huo family had been in business for generations. During Elder Huo’s generation, the business managed to gain an edge in the marine industry, which was the trend back then. The Huo family’s business had only reached its peak within the past 10 years, with its wealth ranking first in the world.

However, in order to avoid the place where his son and daughter-in-law passed away, and where he lost his grandson 22 years ago, Elder Huo moved overseas and had never returned all these years.

“He searched for over 20 years to no avail. Yet all of a sudden, he was found just like that?!” Bai Zhen Zhen spat out.

The information even indicated that the car accident had occurred in this very same city. If so, no matter how lost the child was, he would still be within this city. The Huo family could offer such generous rewards and combed the entire world to search for the lost child, yet how could they not have found a single trace of the child within this city?!

Inconceivable!

Bai Zhen Zhen was really befuddled when she suddenly heard the front door open, and the voices of Huo Xiang and her father drifted over.

Due to the poor condition of the house, the sound insulation was not very good. The voices outside was clearly heard by Bai Zhen Zhen.

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “System, why is my father acting so strangely?”

— System: “Host, do you want to complain?”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “Never mind, I better not complain. I need to remember that I’m a filial daughter.”

— System: “…”

Soon, there was a knock on her door. Bai Zhen Zhen knew it was Huo Xiang, thus she stood up and opened the door.

After Huo Xiang entered, she shut the door again.

****

“Speak. Leniency to those who confess, severity to those who resist.”*

Bai Zhen Zhen sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, examining Huo Xiang.

Huo Xiang sat on a small wooden stool, without any place to spread his long legs, sporting an expression of bitterness.

:Zhen Zhen, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. I swear, I only met my grandfather yesterday afternoon!”

Huo Xiang’s words were a repetition of what he told Father Bai outside. Bai Zhen Zhen had also heard them in the room.

Bai Zhen Zhen continued: “But didn’t you say that you had an interview?”

“Yes, I originally wanted to look for a job. In the end, I was stopped by two men in black.” Huo Xiang paused, “Initially, I thought it was that hateful bastard, Ling Hao Chen. I didn’t expect that after I boarded the car, it would be a kind-hearted old man…”

“After that, he said I was potentially his long-lost grandson, and wanted me to take a paternity test…”

“Everything was moving so fast, I was also very confused and at a loss at the time. I only managed to sort out my thoughts after a full night. However, until now, I still don’t know how to explain it to you…”

Bai Zhen Zhen looked at Huo Xiang’s aggrieved yet innocent behavior, and suddenly didn’t know where to vent her emotions.

It seemed like — he really couldn’t be faulted?!

He had spent more than 20 years in loneliness. Suddenly reuniting with his lost family members, it should be a joyous occasion. Coming over today, he probably couldn’t wait to share his joy with her. If she blindly poured cold water all over his enthusiasm… it would be a bit unkind.

“So is Elder Huo really your grandfather?” Bai Zhen Zhen asked, “You’ve conducted the DNA testing?”

“Yes!” Huo Xiang nodded, “Because the results only come out today, grandfather instructed me not to say anything first, thus I kept it from you for a night.”

Huo Xiang gingerly stretched out his hand, pulling at the corner of Bai Zhen Zhen’s clothes: “Zhen Zhen, you’re not really angry with me, are you…”

Bai Zhen Zhen was amused by his little gesture.

“My Brother Xiang, you’re already 25 years old, why are you still acting like a child!”

Seeing the tone Bai Zhen Zhen used, Huo Xiang knew that she didn’t blame him anymore, and cheered up.

“Hehe, I just knew that my Zhen Zhen couldn’t bear to stay angry at me!”

“Cheeky!” Bai Zhen Zhen rolled her eyes, then swallowed and said, “I overheard you and my dad talking just now… That’s just the way he speaks, don’t take it to heart.”

Huo Xiang didn’t mind, waving his hand: “I’m alright. I guess Uncle Bai just needs some time to come to terms with it.”

“However, your current status is indeed different, we…” Bai Zhen Zhen stopped talking.

Huo Xiang was clear what Bai Zhen Zhen meant.

But he could only pretend not to understand now, so that he could continue to pretend to be “oblivious”.

“We are still good friends!” Huo Xiang said cheerfully, “Didn’t we just sign the agreement yesterday, to continue being friends and not interfere with each other’s love lives? This terms won’t change just because my identity changed.”

Bai Zhen Zhen breathed a sigh of relief: “That’s good.”

She paused a moment, before continuing: “Huo Xiang, I might be going on a business trip tomorrow. Just nice, you also have a new identity, so I’m going to tell my dad that you have things to take care of at home. This way, he won’t pressure us on our marriage ceremony.”

“Business trip?!” Huo Xiang was surprised.

In fact, he never knew what Bai Zhen Zhen’s so-called “work” was.

At least, he had never seen her going to work these few days, and never heard her mention her company before.

“Yes. The trip will last a year and a half. I don’t think we will be able to meet then either.” Bai Zhen Zhen said seriously, “But don’t worry, I will take care of things on my family’s side; it won’t trouble you. In any case, like how it’s written on the agreement, there’s no difference in how we behave before and after the marriage.”

“Alright, I understand.” Huo Xiang also didn’t say much, only smiling heartily, “Then I wish you all the best!”

“En!” Bai Zhen Zhen visibly relaxed.

“However…” Huo Xiang added on.

“What is it?”

“My grandfather saw me going to the Civil Affairs Bureau yesterday. I didn’t give it much thought, and told him about my marriage. He was so happy that he even cried tears of joy…”

Bai Zhen Zhen understood Huo Xiang’s meaning, tentatively asking: “So you didn’t tell him that the marriage was fake?”

“I couldn’t bear to burst his bubble when he was so happy,” Huo Xiang rested his chin on his hands, frowning, “And didn’t we discuss it? The truth behind our wedding can only be known by the two of us.”

Bai Zhen Zhen raised her eyebrows silently.

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “System, I want to ask a question.”

— System: “Go ahead, host.”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “After my experience ends one year later, and I return to reality, what happens to the ‘me’ in this world?”

— System: “To ensure the balance and harmony of the world, according to the rules, your character will continue to live on in the world after your departure. Your experience will also be retained in ‘her’ memory and consciousness. In the future, if there are new people who similarly come here for the experience, a new parallel world will be started.”

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— Bai Zhen Zhen: “I understand.”

Bai Zhen Zhen was slightly relieved.

This way, even if she left, the people around her could continue their lives as usual without being affected.

“What’s wrong, Zhen Zhen?” Huo Xiang asked.

Bai Zhen Zhen recovered and shook her head.

She didn’t know why, but she suddenly became worried about what would happen after Huo Xiang “lost her”, thus she asked the system that question. It could be that she had been with him for so long. She wasn’t unfeeling. After this period together, she had also developed some form of attachment.

“Since you’ve already told your grandfather, let’s just follow my plan. Tell your grandfather that I’m going on a business trip, and won’t be back for around a year and a half.” Bai Zhen Zhen said.

“Ok.” Huo Xiang replied straightforwardly, “However, my grandfather was anxious to meet his granddaughter-in-law. Before I came over today, he specially instructed me to invite your family to have dinner tonight…”

Huo Xiang was afraid that Bai Zhen Zhen would turn him down, immediately adding on: “It’s just a dinner! I promise you, it won’t delay your business trip!”

Bai Zhen Zhen pondered for a moment, before replying: “Alright. I should also meet your grandfather, and I can also take the opportunity to inform him personally of my business trip.”

“Ok!” Huo Xiang could finally relax.

****

Finishing their discussion, Bai Zhen Zhen and Huo Xiang walked out into the living room.

The TV in the living room was still blaring, but Father Bai didn’t seem to be in the mood to continue watching. He sat silently on the sofa with his head down, deep in thoughts.

Yang Ping Su sat on a chair by the side, nagging.

“Dad, what’s wrong with you? Are you uncomfortable?” Bai Zhen Zhen asked curiously.

Father Bai lifted his head to look at Bai Zhen Zhen and Huo Xiang, asking them: “What do you plan to do in the end? Have you talked it out?”

Bai Zhen Zhen didn’t understand: “What plans? I believe Huo Xiang had explained his matters to you just now. I also just found out about it then.”

“Zhen Zhen, his identity is different now. He’s a young master of the world’s richest family. We are of completely different social statuses!” Father Bai stood up, walked over to Bai Zhen Zhen and held her hands, “It’s better to forget about your marriage with him while it’s still early!”

Not only Huo Xiang, even Bai Zhen Zhen looked incredulous.

She exclaimed in surprise: “Dad, I don’t understand what you mean. Huo Xiang found his family, we should be happy for him. Why are you suddenly opposed to my marriage with him?”

“Zhen Zhen! I’m doing this for your own good! Why don’t you understand?!” Father Bai was exasperated at how his daughter didn’t live up to his expectations.

Bai Zhen Zhen was dumbfounded.

How did her old father, who was still kind and benevolent two days ago, suddenly change so radically?!

— System: “Host, I must remind you. When the female lead in the novel wanted to be together with the male lead, her father was also against it.”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “Your timing is truly impeccable! If you didn’t mention it, I would have forgotten that the female lead’s father was indeed strongly opposed to the female lead marrying Ling Hao Chen. Because Ling Hao Chen’s family was too rich, the female lead’s father felt that the female lead would be bullied after marriage.”

— System: “Yes, it’s all in accordance to character settings. The novel characters will behave in a manner consistent with their character settings.”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “I understand.”

It turned out that Father Bai’s character setting was a wayward youth that hated the rich… No, a wayward old man?!

“Uncle Bai, are you misunderstanding something?” Huo Xiang explained, “I’ve already told my grandfather about my marriage with Zhen Zhen. My grandfather is elated about it, and even wanted to invite you and your family for dinner tonight. The restaurant has already been booked!”

Father Bai refused, unceremoniously saying: “Help me to thank you grandfather for his kind intentions, but please tell him that our family is poor; we don’t have the qualifications to go to the high-end restaurant that you’ve booked. Also, without going through the marriage ceremony, your marriage with Zhen Zhen doesn’t count. The two of you will get a divorce tomorrow.”

“Dad!” Bai Zhen Zhen was breathless with anger, “What are you talking about?! We’ve already gotten our marriage certificate, how can it not count? Also, how did Huo Xiang and his grandfather trigger you, for you to become so cold!”

“Zhen Zhen, you’re still young; you don’t understand!” Father tried to persuade Bai Zhen Zhen, “There’s not a single good bone in those rich people! With their inflated egos, you will only be bullied if you get married, left without a single shred of dignity! They look down on poor people like us from the bottom of their hearts. I’d rather you marry an ordinary man and live a poor life, instead of sending you straight into the jaws of death!”

Hearing Father Bai’s words, Bai Zhen Zhen was speechless.

She finally understood. At the start, her father agreed to her marriage with Huo Xiang, not because she fancied Huo Xiang, but because he, himself, felt that Huo Xiang was a good person.

Now, he was opposing their marriage, not because his daughter was bullied, but because he, himself, felt that rich people weren’t decent people, thus he hated Huo Xiang.

Under the guise of being a good father to his daughter, this father made life-changing decisions just based on his own biased opinion. It was simply too selfish.

“Dad,” Bai Zhen Zhen pursed her lips and said faintly, “Dignity starts from loving oneself and having self-confidence. If a person looks down on himself, how could others ever look up to him?!”

Father Bai heard the sarcasm in Bai Zhen Zhen’s words, and trembled angrily: “You, what did you say? Are you critising your father?!”

— System: “Warning, warning!”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “What warning, haven’t you ever seen a family quarrel before?”

— System: “Host, I must remind you. According to your character settings, even if you disagree with your father, you will still follow his words…”

— Bai Zhen Zhen: “I’m not that person! I’m someone who has my own thoughts! What’s wrong with speaking the truth!”

— System: “Second warning…”

Bai Zhen Zhen was resigned.

This was the first time she wanted to get rid of the so-called “character setting”. But to continue the experience, she had to suppress the anger burning within her.

Walking over to Huo Xiang, she told him: “Help me to continue my words and reason with him. I can’t continue any longer!”

Huo Xiang was bewildered: “What?! Asking him to criticise his father-in-law?! Isn’t that too much?!

— System: “Ding~ Female lead happiness points -5.”

Huo Xiang trembled.

The happiness index wasn’t even very high, yet it decreased by 5 points in the blink of an eye! It was just a family quarrel, did it really have to affect the happiness index?!

“Uncle Bai, calm down…” Huo Xiang hurriedly started to mediate, “Zhen Zhen, you calm down too.”

Racking his brains, he began to grope his way blindly in the dark: “Uncle Bai, in fact I grew up on the streets, often not having enough to eat and sleeping cold at night. I’m more afraid that you would look down on me, how could I look down on you and Zhen Zhen! Besides, my grandfather lives overseas. Though I have reunited with him, but I will continue to live here. Rest assured, our interactions will not have any change!”

Seeing Father Bai remaining silent, Huo Xiang mustered up his confidence to walk to him, saying: “Uncle Bai, why don’t you just meet my grandfather tonight. If anything happens, the elders of the two family still have to meet to discuss it…”

“Yes, Old Bai, how could we not be clear what type of person Young Master Huo is! He won’t put us in a spot! Just agree to it!” Yang Ping Su also urged.

“Alright, then let’s have dinner. During dinner, I will clearly speak my mind to your grandfather.” Though Father Bai relented, but his attitude did not change at all.

Huo Xiang gauged Bai Zhen Zhen’s expression.

He had already tried his best. Father Bai was ultimately his father-in-law; he couldn’t speak too harshly to him.

“Let’s go out. I need to get some fresh air.” Bai Zhen Zhen said placidly.

Huo Xiang quickly nodded. Before leaving, he said to Father Bai and Yang Ping Su: “Tonight at 5pm, there will be a car to pick you up!”

****

Bai Zhen Zhen was not in a good mood. She went to a nearby arcade and exchanged a whole basket of tokens without a moment’s hesitation.

Huo Xiang didn’t comment on it, obediently accompanying her and carrying the basket of tokens.

From catching dolls, to racing, to shooting games, the two of them forgot all their worries and had a good time.

At 5pm, Bai Zhen Zhen and Huo Xiang arrived at the restaurant. The driver who was tasked to pick up Bai Zhen Zhen’s parents was also on the way. Thus, they sat at the sofa in the lobby, waiting for everyone to gather before going in together.

They hadn’t sat for long before the crisp sound of high heels sounded out.

Bai Zhen Zhen glanced casually, only to find that it was Song Ling. And if it wasn’t Ling Hao Chen beside her, then who else could it be?

Ling Hao Chen also noticed Huo Xiang and her. No, he should have long known that they would be here. He walked straight towards them.

“Young Master Huo, nice to meet you again.” Ling Hao Chen didn’t greet Bai Zhen Zhen, instead opting to exchange greeting with Huo Xiang first, “It’s said that ‘A scholar that has been away for three days must be looked at with new eyes’. Young Master Huo truly lives up to this saying.”

Huo Xiang stood up with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes: “It seems that CEO Ling is very well-informed.”

“Indeed. And thanks to this, I finally have an answer for the question that has been confounding me for ages.”

Ling Hao Chen paused, his eyes slowly falling onto Bai Zhen Zhen.

“Ms Bai, I didn’t expect you to be such a woman!”

Bai Zhen Zhen was taken aback — What does that mean?!

Looking at the disappointment in Ling Hao Chen’s eyes, she suddenly understood.

Ling Hao Chen thought that she had long known of Huo Xiang’s true identity, thus she could heartlessly abandon him, choosing to marry a “poor boy” instead. In Ling Hao Chen’s current eyes, she, Bai Zhen Zhen, was a gold digger, a two-faced bitch!

Bai Zhen Zhen became excited: “Wow, you found out! I’m precisely this kind of woman~!”

She wrapped herself around Huo Xiang’s arm, looking triumphantly at Ling Hao Chen.

Be furious, then die from anger!

Ling Hao Chen: “…”

— System: “Ding~ Female lead happiness points +5.”

— Huo Xiang: “???”

Being misunderstood and ridiculed by others can also increase the happiness index?!

Bai Zhen Zhen continued to grin, coquettishly saying to Huo Xiang: “Brother Xiang, even if you were poor, I will still like you!”

Huo Xiang replied sincerely: “Yes, I believe you love me for who I am, and not for my family’s wealth!”

The two of them flirted as if no one was around.

Ling Hao Chen couldn’t stand it anymore, glancing at Bai Zhen Zhen before sneering at Huo Xiang: “Young Master Huo can continue to live in deception then!”

AFter speaking, he walked in without turning back.

Song Ling didn’t rush to follow him. She looked at Bai Zhen Zhen apologetically and said: “Zhen Zhen, I’m sorry, he misunderstood you.”

Bai Zhen Zhen smiled: “CEO Ling didn’t misunderstand me. There was money involved in our marriage. But even if he’s rich, it won’t stop me from liking him.”

Song Ling didn’t comment. She lowered her head for a moment, faintly smiling, before looking up with an “En”.

She continued: “Zhen Zhen, can I have your number? If you’re free one day, I want to have a cup of coffee with you.”

Bai Zhen Zhen was about to refuse, when Huo Xiang spoke ahead of her: “Sorry, my wife doesn’t like to drink coffee, because our lives only contain sweetness.”

Bai Zhen Zhen: “…”

Song Ling’s face became awkward. She saw that Bai Zhen Zhen had no intentions of giving her phone number, thus she nodded slightly and left.

After they had left, Bai Zhen Zhen fiercely rubbed the goosebumps on her arm, and gave Huo Xiang a thumbs up: “Brother Xiang, you’re still the amazing one!”

———————-

*China’s first criminal policy

**Can’t think of an english equivalent for this.
“士别三日，当刮目相看” meaning that people are capable of great change (in a small amount of time), or that one cannot keep looking at the past.

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