before. I just got back tonight after a two-day trip to Guangcheng. I brought some local specialties, you should like them." Fu Jing handed the food box in his hand to Fu Yan.substantial and weighty."...Fu Yan was led to Old Master Huo's study by the butler.

"Grandpa, Miss Fu has arrived," the butler said respectfully from the doorway.

It's almost nine o'clock, but the old grandpa hasn't gone to sleep. He's practicing calligraphy in his study.

"Mm." He took the brush and dipped it in ink, scribbling on the rice paper without looking back. "Come in," he said.

This was Fu Yan's first time in the old master's study. The most striking thing was a row of towering bookshelves that reached to the ceiling, numbering so many it was astonishing. Fu Yan's first reaction was like entering a library.

It is said that the old master's original wife, who passed away many years ago, came from a scholarly family and had all kinds of books.

The

black, heavy bookshelf cast a dark shadow, as if an invisible pressure was squeezing her.

She withdrew her gaze. The old man didn't speak, and she wasn't in a hurry to ask. She behaved meekly and obediently.

He only greeted, "Grandpa."

Old Master Huo took off his reading glasses, glanced at her, and put the writing brush back in its holder. "Come here and have a look, how's the calligraphy"

Fu Yan walked over and stood beside Elder Fu.

His handwriting is quite good.

A single word can be worth a thousand gold, attracting many people to vie for it.

Besides flattering him, his calligraphy is truly elegant and refined. Buying it to collect would enhance one's prestige.

On white rice paper, the strokes are bold and powerful, dragons and phoenixes dance gracefully, with a magnificent and imposing presence.

To know others is intelligence; to know oneself is true wisdom.

She lowered her eyes.

"How are you" Old Master Huo asked her again.

Fu Yan nodded and smiled, saying: "Grandpa's handwriting is good, and the meaning is also good."

A glimmer of surprise flashed in Old Master Huo's eyes.

He hadn't paid much attention to Fu Yan before. She wasn't his biological granddaughter, and when she came to the Huo family, she was eight years old. He didn't have much of a relationship with her and knew very little about her.

Unexpectedly, her mind was quite astute and she understood his hint.

"You understand. The Huo family has a hundred years of reputation, something like this shouldn't happen." Elder Master Huo reminded her again, his tone better than before.

Fu Yan knew he was referring to the matter of her receiving things from Chen Rang, but she did not deny taking gifts and did not betray her mother.

The old master dislikes her and her daughter, especially Song Qing霜. If he knew that Song Qing霜 received the package, it would definitely be more than just a reprimand.

To abandon someone like that, even possibly driving her out of the Huo family.

That would have taken Song Qing霜's life.

"What do you think of Azi's approach" The old master picked up his brush again, as if it were just a casual remark.

But it made Fu Yan's heart beat faster and her nerves tighten. She tried her best to stay calm and said, "Second brother, you've protected the Huo family's reputation and helped me get out of trouble. I'm very grateful."

The old man smiled and handed her the brush. "I seem to remember you writing with a brush before, haven't you practiced in a long time Give it a try."

The pen was shoved directly into her hand; she couldn't refuse even if she wanted to.

Fu Yan really hasn't written in a long time, but the effort she put in before wasn't wasted. Although her handwriting isn't as good as the old grandpa's, it's still quite decent.

She writes with a flourish, each stroke as genuine as it gets.

"Your handwriting..." Old Master Huo hesitated for a moment, his finger tapping on the edge of Fu Yan's writing. He said with certainty, "It's very similar to Zheng's."

He turned his head to look at Fu Yan.

Those eyes, forged in the fires of countless battles, held a wisdom that seemed to pierce through the very soul.

Fu Yan was stunned by his gaze, thinking to herself, "Oh no."

She began to copy Huo Mingzheng's calligraphy since junior high school. After so many years without writing, the memories etched in her bones were like pre-written code. As soon as she touched it, the program ran naturally.

The old man's finger lightly tapped, and Fu Yan broke out in a cold sweat.

At this time, the door of the study was knocked on.

Huo Mingzheng walked in, his eyes casually sweeping over Fu Yan before landing on the old patriarch. "Grandpa, so you're in your study."

Old Master Huo took off his glasses, "What's the matter"

"It's so late, why aren't you resting yet" Huo Mingzheng unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and strode over.

Fu Yan's fingers, which had been clenched tightly, slowly relaxed, but her heartbeat quickened again.

"Second brother," she whispered.

Old Master Huo, holding his spectacles, pointed at her. “I just happened to see Xiao Fu and chatted with her for a bit. You, I thought you weren't staying at the old house tonight.”

"My brother's phone has been out of reach. I need to contact him for something."

Ho Mingzheng walked to the desk and casually glanced over the characters on the Xuan paper.

"Ah Shi's surgery wasn't successful, he's in a bad mood, and he probably won't be coming back." Old Master Huo frowned, his mood also becoming heavy.

Fu Yan suddenly looked at the old grandfather, how could this be

Ho Yuanshi was the eldest grandson of the Huo family. He had always been a role model for his peers since he was young and was raised by the Huo family as their heir apparent.

Unfortunately, he got into a car accident when he was eighteen. To protect his grandfather, he became paralyzed from the waist down and can only rely on a wheelchair.

From the glory and grandeur to a state of utter despair, Huo Yuan had long since lost his former pride.

Two years ago, I just made up my mind to go abroad to recuperate and have surgery.

Fu Yan and he have a very good relationship. He treats her like his beloved little sister, spoiling her endlessly.

Hearing that his surgery was unsuccessful, Fu Yan's heart ached. No wonder he hadn't replied to her message.

Huo Mingzheng's brow furrowed slightly, "How is Big Brother now"

"It's natural to feel down sometimes, so you shouldn't bother him right now." The old man sat down, leaning on his chair's armrest.

Fu Yan's remaining gaze fell on Huo Mingzheng's left hand resting on the table.

His fingers were beautiful, long and slender with distinct knuckles. It was these hands that had measured her body with such tenderness, but now they belonged to someone else.

She remembered that Shen Wei had a diamond ring on his right ring finger, an engagement ring.

Forcing herself to look away, she said to the old man, "Grandpa, I have nothing else to do, so I'll go first."

The old man waved his hand. "Go."

Putting down his glasses, he glanced at Fu Yan again, who was deep in thought. He said to Huo Mingzheng, "Since you're here, I don't need to call you specially. The day after tomorrow, Xiaowei is trying on wedding dresses, you can make time to accompany her."

Fu Yan's pace slowed slightly, then she continued walking out.

As the door was about to close, Huo Mingzheng responded with a good.

"Click"

The door closed gently.

Fu Yan stood at the door, stepping on her own shadow until the butler came up from the staircase, then she left.

The car at the 4S store hasn't arrived yet, so she doesn't have a car to drive for now.

Ji Lin was off today, and she wanted to call him to come to the old house. As a result, she saw Cao Fang at the corner when she got to the door.

"Miss Fu, Mr. Huo asked you to wait for him in the car."

Huo Mingzheng's car was parked under the shade of a tree. The tree at the entrance of the old house, which Fu Yan said she couldn't name, remained lush even in autumn, eventually becoming Huo Mingzheng's exclusive parking spot.

Fu Yan didn't even think about it, "No, someone has come to pick me up."

"Are you talking about Ji'er Shao"

Before he could even speak, he smiled faintly and said, “Young Master Ji was given last-minute notice to attend additional training and might not have time.”

Fu Yan choked and reacted quickly, "I called a Didi."

Cao Fang seemed to see through her, "Miss Fu knows Mr. Huo's temper, your excuses won't work anymore."

Fu Yan didn't want to pay attention to him. She took a step to leave, and Cao Fang naturally didn't dare to touch her. Just as she had taken two steps, her wrist was suddenly grasped.

The touch feels familiar.

She suddenly turned her head and gazed into Huo Mingzheng's cold eyes.the case. There must be other things going on.Her guess was quickly verified."The cooperation on Sheng Tian's side wasn't that they refused, but that we refused. We won't cooperate with companies that...