"On the Day of Reunion, The Heir to the Wealthy Family Became My Brother" - Chapter 25

“Is Grandpa Huo very strict? ”

Huo Jinyan didn’t expect Ning Xin’er to ask him this question.

He paused for a moment and asked in confusion, “Why?”

Ning Xin’er immediately followed up, “Just answer first, okay?”

Huo Jinyan stayed silent for a while before replying uncertainly, “Maybe strict, but sometimes not too much.”

What did that even mean—maybe strict? Sometimes not too much?

Ning Xin’er felt speechless and asked again, “So, is he strict or not strict?”

“He’s not strict with me, but with others… It depends,” Huo Jinyan replied, raising an eyebrow and showing a faint smile.

The way Ning Xin’er looked nervous was a bit amusing—it made Huo Jinyan want to laugh.

“Oh.” Ning Xin’er looked down, nodding as if she understood, but not entirely.

She then stood up, seemingly lost in thought, and walked back to her bedroom.

After drinking a glass of milk, sleepiness finally came to her.

She entered her room, fell onto the bed, and quickly drifted off.

The clock on the wall showed the hands pointing exactly to eleven—no more, no less, perfectly on time.

Huo Jinyan sat in the living room, smiling and shaking his head.

Seeing Ning Xin’er’s dazed expression, he guessed that her sleepiness had finally hit her—just like before. She hadn’t changed.

He got up, glanced in the direction of the guest bedroom, and then walked into the master bedroom himself.

*****

The next day, Huo Jinyan took Ning Xin’er to check out an apartment.

Coincidentally—or not—the unit was on the floor right above Huo Jinyan’s!

Could such coincidences exist in this world?

Perhaps they could—at least for her!

However, as they toured the apartment, the landlord didn’t show up to negotiate directly. Instead, everything was relayed through Huo Jinyan.

According to him, the landlord was someone he knew—a business partner.

Ning Xin’er was puzzled. A business partner?

She stopped walking and asked curiously, “Brother Jinyan, are you a philanthropist too? ”

If his business partner was a philanthropist, it seemed they might have multiple roles in life.

And as a big boss like Huo Jinyan, could he also have multiple identities?

Huo Jinyan paused, coughed lightly, and said, “No, but I do venture capital.”

A venture capitalist?

Ning Xin’er said nothing—so he wasn’t a philanthropist.

She toured the apartment and noticed that its layout was identical to Huo Jinyan’s—two bedrooms and two households per floor.

On this floor, one unit was the apartment she was renting, while the other remained unknown.

“Do you need me to send someone to help you move your things?  ” Huo Jinyan asked as he closed the door.

Ning Xin’er looked up and shook her head. “No need. I can’t move yet anyway. I need to apply for approval from the school first.”

“Let’s go back and cook,” she added, stepping forward.

After today, she wouldn’t need to fulfill her “maid” duties anymore.

Finally, it would be over.

Though her cooking skills were good, Ning Xin’er didn’t enjoy cooking.

School cafeterias were much more convenient—eat when hungry, leave when done.

Her delicate hands had grown rough over the past few days.

Ning Xin’er stepped into the elevator.

Just as she was about to press the floor button, Huo Jinyan grabbed her hand and pressed the parking level instead.

“We’re eating out today,” Huo Jinyan explained casually.

Ning Xin’er suddenly looked up. Eating out?

Great! She didn’t want to cook anyway.

Eating out sounded perfect.

“Brother Jinyan, you’re so considerate! ” Ning Xin’er gave him a thumbs-up.

Huo Jinyan smiled faintly. He knew she didn’t enjoy cooking—every time she cooked, she seemed gloomy.

They headed to the parking lot. Today, there was no driver, so Huo Jinyan drove himself.

Ning Xin’er tugged at the car door but couldn’t open it.

“Brother Jinyan, open the door already! ” she said, annoyed, looking at the man inside the car.

The window slowly rolled down, and Huo Jinyan said irritably, “What, do you want me to be your chauffeur? ”

“Sit in the front passenger seat,” he ordered firmly.

Knowing she had no argument, Ning Xin’er reluctantly climbed into the passenger seat.

“What do you want to eat?”

“Anything is fine.”

As long as she didn’t have to cook, everything else was negotiable.

“How about private, home-style dishes?”

He remembered that Ning Xin’er used to enjoy simple meals.

“I want Sichuan-style dishes,” Ning Xin’er said enthusiastically, immediately suggesting a specialty.

She wasn’t from Sichuan, but she loved the cuisine—it was quite… unique.

Her mother often teased her, saying that one trip to Sichuan must have turned her into a Sichuan native.

Huo Jinyan’s gaze paused. “When did your taste change?”

Three years wasn’t too long, but it wasn’t short either.

Huo Jinyan was surprised—when did she start loving Sichuan cuisine?

“It changed a while ago. It’s been so long, after all,” Ning Xin’er said casually, then turned to ask him, “Can’t you eat it? It’s really delicious.”

During her breakup, when her emotions were unstable, she traveled to Sichuan for a few months.

At first, she ate a lot of Sichuan food to… Turn her sadness into strength.

Unexpectedly, she fell in love with it.

It was flavorful and delicious!

Spicy yet refreshing—her heart soared!

“Do you really like it? ” Huo Jinyan asked uncertainly.

“Yes,” Ning Xin’er nodded firmly. “But if you can’t eat it, we can go somewhere else.”

Huo Jinyan didn’t respond, letting his silence speak for itself.

Soon, they arrived at an authentic restaurant and booked a private room.

The restaurant was crowded, with most tables outside occupied. Only a few private rooms were left.

Ning Xin’er ordered a few dishes she remembered fondly, then asked Huo Jinyan what he wanted.

Huo Jinyan let her decide. Ning Xin’er thought for a moment and added a few lighter dishes to the order.

While waiting for the food, Ning Xin’er stood by the window, looking at the road outside.

This was the first time Huo Jinyan brought her to this restaurant. She memorized the landmarks nearby so she could return if the food was good.

“Ajing, what are you looking at? ” Qiao Shan asked Huo Jingtian, puzzled.

Huo Jingtian didn’t reply, staring intently in one direction.

Following his gaze, Qiao Shan looked up and saw a figure by a window—a girl.

Looking closer, Qiao Shan froze. It was Ning Xin’er!

What was she doing there?

Qiao Shan and Huo Jingtian were at a Western restaurant on the ground floor across the street.

Meanwhile, Ning Xin’er was at a private, home-style restaurant on the fourth floor.

Qiao Shan is furious. How did Ning Xin’er know they were here?

Was she deliberately waiting for them?

Could it be that Ning Xin’er had feelings for Huo Jingtian?

Why else would she go out of her way to appear in front of them?

Moreover, this commercial area had high prices—several times higher than other districts.

With Ning Xin’er’s financial situation, how could she afford to dine here?

There was only one possibility: Ning Xin’er had spent a lot just to see Huo Jingtian!

Qiao Shan withdrew her gaze and quickly grabbed Huo Jingtian’s arm. “Ajing, try this new dish—it tastes pretty good.”

Huo Jingtian finally turned back to her.

Looking at Qiao Shan’s delicate face, he squeezed her hand and said firmly,

“Be good. You eat first. I’ll be back in a while.”