The head of security: “…”
Recently, comforting hugs had become strangely popular in the villa. The tough, stoic head of security hesitated for a long time, then closed his eyes tightly and opened his arms towards the butler.
The butler, who would need to get a new set of keys made, sighed and moved his arms away: “It must be Longtao’s doing.”
Having assisted with office work for a long time, the butler was familiar with these tactics: “They cause trouble today, and tomorrow it’ll be trending. Family feud, the Huo family oppressing their relatives, forcing subsidiaries to protest for survival.”
In the real business world, someone like Huo Lan who strictly uses only business methods, only open strategies without underhanded tactics, never harming innocents or involving family, is actually quite rare.
Longtao was declining day by day, unable to gain any advantage in fair competition, so naturally, they resorted to these shady methods.
“Longtao instigated our branch family to cause trouble?”
The head of security opened his eyes in disbelief: “And these people actually came?”
The head of security couldn’t understand: “They’re all family, they rise and fall together—”
“I asked about what conditions could lead to special mutations in alphas.”
The butler was silent for a moment: “The hospital said it’s mostly due to extremely dangerous situations during adolescent differentiation, life-threatening situations.”
The head of security had never considered this aspect before and was shocked: “Then their family—”
“When President Huo was fostered with the branch family years ago, he was still young and didn’t understand what was happening.”
The butler continued: “Their family had President Huo’s medical reports, didn’t they know?”
A cold sweat broke out on the back of the head of security.
The butler said softly: “The madam’s health at that time wasn’t suitable for having more children.”
For the branch family at that time, with the master and mistress intending to retire and no heir in the main family, the assets of the main family would eventually be dispersed and transferred to the lower branches.
The only obstacle was that quiet, aloof, but exceptionally talented young master of the main family.
The head of security’s voice was a bit hoarse: “But they wouldn’t go so far as to—”
“They wouldn’t take action themselves,” the butler said, “but if anything happened to President Huo, they wouldn’t intervene.”
The butler added: “They might even… try to cover it up.”
Young Huo Lan had health issues that he might not have been aware of, but a hospital checkup would certainly have shown something.
Given the patient’s young age, the hospital would have chosen to notify only the guardian family members at the time.
“They didn’t tell President Huo, nor did they tell the master and mistress, keeping this matter hidden.”
The head of security felt a chill in his heart: “So, if anything had happened to President Huo in Jiangnan back then…”
If anything had happened, these assets would have smoothly passed to the branch family for inheritance.
Longtao, who often engaged in such shady dealings themselves, might well have uncovered the truth about those years.
Even if it hadn’t been discovered, after Huo Lan safely returned to the capital and took over the Huo family, this incident became a sword perpetually hanging over the branch family’s heads.
The head of security suddenly came to his senses: “Does President Huo know?”
The butler didn’t answer: “Drive them away.”
The head of security was a bit anxious: “President Huo—”
The butler said no more and quickly went upstairs.
Huo Lan was still standing by the window.
It was too dark outside to see clearly, but in the dim light, his shoulders and back still appeared sharp and cold.
The butler approached him and said softly: “President Huo.”
Huo Lan looked out the window, his expression indifferent.
The butler fell silent as well.
Huo Lan… probably knew.
Perhaps the young Huo Lan didn’t know back then, but after returning to the Huo family and taking control with his thunderous methods, to ensure everything was foolproof, he must have first clarified everything.
He must have realized that not only were his parents cold towards him, but even the branch family that took care of him wanted him dead.
Not a single bit of warmth or kindness was real.
The butler checked the time and reminded him softly: “President Huo, Mr. Liang will be back soon.”
Huo Lan looked up.
“We’ll drive those people away as quickly as possible,” the butler quickly added, seeing his reaction. “Mr. Liang won’t see them.”
Huo Lan nodded slightly: “Go pick up Mr. Liang.”
“Now?” The butler was taken aback and hesitated, “Then you—”
Huo Lan turned, walked to the end of the stairs, entered an inconspicuous room, and closed the door.
The butler stood there for a long time, sighed softly, then quickly went downstairs.
The head of security was known for his ruthlessness.
By the time Liang Xiao arrived at the villa, the entrance had been cleaned spotless, with no trace of any disturbance.
The butler stood at the door to greet him: “Mr. Liang.”
“…” Liang Xiao, carrying the keys, was startled by the reception: “This really isn’t necessary…”
He knew the way, after all.
Even if he had rented the entire villa, there was no need for the elderly butler to personally greet him every time he came home.
The butler’s lips twitched: “Just pretend President Huo was impatient to see you.”
Liang Xiao was stunned and frowned slightly.
“You must be tired,” the butler said, taking the keys from him. “Did the discussion go well? I heard the director for this drama is quite strict, with many demands…”
Liang Xiao’s voice was a bit hoarse: “What happened to President Huo?”
The butler sighed in relief: “…Something came up.”
Liang Xiao had kept the necessary keys with him, but couldn’t carry the rest. He let the butler give them to a bodyguard to take to the room where his luggage was kept.
Liang Xiao asked Duan Ming to help and followed the butler back: “What happened?”
The butler didn’t know how to explain: “It’s… family matters.”
The butler could make up stories about young Huo Lan picking up letters alone in the rain, but faced with such naked, cruel malice, he found it hard to speak.
Huo Lan appeared cold and stern, but was actually very tolerant of those around him. However, even with his tolerance, he wouldn’t allow them to expose those shameful past events to others.
The butler hesitated, not knowing what kind of story to make up to reassure Mr. Liang.
Liang Xiao looked at him for a while: “Where is President Huo?”
“He’s in…” the butler hesitated, not clarifying, “a room.”
Liang Xiao: “…”
The butler was troubled: “Mr. Liang.”
“That sentence of yours,” Liang Xiao said, “has 327 possible options.”
The butler was shocked: “You actually counted?!”
Liang Xiao opened his mouth, then coughed.
The road back had been a bit congested, causing a delay.
He had finished reading the script and was missing President Huo again.
The butler really couldn’t tell him, being extremely tight-lipped. After a long silence, he cautiously revealed: “President Huo is not in a good state.”
Liang Xiao couldn’t understand: “So I should go to him now, right?”
The butler: “…”
The butler thought carefully and didn’t know how to refute: “Yes, but—”
Huo Lan had gone into the small study.
Huo Lan had always been strict with himself and rarely entered that room. When he did, he wouldn’t allow anyone to follow or enter.
The last bodyguard who rashly entered had been demoted to leg duty.
The butler stammered: “President Huo… is not available.”
The butler: “Can you wait for President Huo in the bedroom?”
Liang Xiao had no objection to this and nodded.
The butler sighed in relief: “Don’t worry, it won’t take long.”
“President Huo is in a bad mood today,” the butler explained softly, afraid Liang Xiao might overthink. “He only does this when he really can’t hold it in anymore.”
“I really can’t tell you where President Huo is,” the butler said softly. “Please don’t go looking for him.”
Liang Xiao frowned as he listened: “Does President Huo throw things?”
“He does,” the butler steeled himself. “He even throws people out of windows.”
Liang Xiao: “…”
The butler was truly afraid Liang Xiao might unknowingly push the door open and get frozen by President Huo, so he tried to emphasize the severity: “He also—”
Liang Xiao coughed: “Does he… pin people to the sofa and spank them?”
The butler had forgotten when he had made up this part: “Huh?”
Liang Xiao’s face was a bit hot, and he suppressed his thoughts: “It’s nothing.”
The butler: “Anyway… please wait in the bedroom.”
The butler assured: “It won’t take long.”
Liang Xiao nodded and didn’t ask any more questions, letting the butler escort him back to the bedroom.
The villa was exceptionally quiet today. The usually efficient staff seemed to want to be invisible, keeping their heads down and doing their own work, even greeting him in unusually soft voices.
In the end, Liang Xiao hadn’t found out which room President Huo was in. He cleaned himself up, dried his hair, changed into pajamas, and came out of the bathroom.
The last ray of sunlight had completely disappeared from the corner of the window.
The weather wasn’t great tonight, with no moon or stars. Even the street lights seemed weak and lifeless, their light barely reaching the windowsill.
Liang Xiao stood by the window for a while, watching the butler lead some people out of the villa.
Liang Xiao took the script, hugged President Huo’s set of pajamas, went out, circled to the luggage room, and quietly carried out those three hundred or so keys.
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