Volume One, Chapter 36: A “Twin Older Brother” Appears Out of Nowhere

Old Master Huo blurted out, "But you are not superfluous now..."

Realizing the implication of his words, he stopped abruptly.

Gu Yu acted as if he had heard nothing. "I have grown accustomed to this name over the years. If I change it too much, I fear I won't be able to remember it."

Old Master Huo studied him for a moment and finally sighed. "Very well. It is your name, after all; whatever pleases you."

As long as he carried the surname Huo, he was a child of the Huo family. As for the given name, it was of no consequence.

"Thank you, Grandfather."

Old Master Huo smiled. "Good child."

"Xiao Yu, in three days, I will have Li Feng escort you back to Nancheng. I shall host a welcome banquet then to formally introduce you to everyone."

"Very well," Gu Yu nodded obediently.

"Li Feng, give the card to the eldest young master."

Li Song, standing nearby, placed a black card in front of Gu Yu.

"What is this?" Gu Yu asked, puzzled.

Old Master Huo’s gaze softened. "Ten million is deposited into this card every month. It is your allowance; you may spend it as you please."

Gu Yu accepted the card and slipped it into his suit pocket. "Thank you, Grandfather."

Old Master Huo nodded with satisfaction, offered a few more words of advice, and hung up.

The screen of the phone went completely dark. Gu Yu took the black card out of his pocket and, without even glancing at it, tossed it into the bottom drawer.

"Brother, there’s ten million in there every month!" Li Song exclaimed.

For TG, ten million was nothing, but for Zhui Huo, it was nearly half a year’s revenue. Old Master Huo’s attempt at ingratiation was certainly sincere.

Gu Yu curled his lips in a joyless smile, his voice as cold as tempered ice. "Closing the stable door after the horse has bolted."

Li Song: "..."

Well, the phrasing was blunt, but the sentiment was spot on.

When he was sent to Country Y, Gu Yu was nearly eighteen. He had been able to work and earn money, so his living situation had improved significantly. But before that, describing Gu Yu as destitute would be an understatement.

He had heard that during the worst times, Gu Yu had even fought with the dogs behind the alley for scraps. Fortunately, the owner of the dogs was kind-hearted; not only did they not drive him away, but they also prepared an extra portion of food every day and left it on the table by the door. It was on that food that Gu Yu had survived and grown up.

Just as he was about to close the drawer, Gu Yu suddenly thought of something. He stopped, retrieved the card, and picked it up again.

Li Song straightened up. "What? Changed your mind?"

After all, ten million a month—even a small fly is still meat.

"No," Gu Yu handed the card over. "Find some welfare organizations in Nancheng and donate the money."

Li Song immediately grasped the intent and accepted it with a chuckle. "It has to be you, Gu Yu. By donating to welfare organizations, not only do you avoid using the Huo family's money, but you’ll also build up quite a good reputation for the future."

It was a strategy that killed two birds with one stone!

Gu Yu said nothing. He opened a document and reminded him in a flat tone, "Don't call me Gu Yu from now on."

"…Alright, Huo Yu, Young Master Huo."

"And you, you can't be called Li Song anymore either."

At the mention of this, Li Song’s expression clouded for a fleeting moment. He clenched his fists. "Fine. From now on, I am Li Feng."

Until his great vengeance was fulfilled, he would only be Li Feng.

"Yes, Li Feng."

—

"Ruanruan, breaking news! Breaking news!" Lin Jie rushed into Tang Ruan’s office, clutching her phone.

Tang Ruan looked up from a mountain of documents, her voice tinged with fatigue. "What is it?"

"The Huo family has announced that Huo Yanchuan has a twin brother, the eldest young master of the Huo family, who will be returning from his studies abroad soon!"

"A twin?" Tang Ruan’s delicate brows furrowed. "Isn’t Huo Yanchuan an only child?"

For so many years, the Huo family had maintained that Huo Yanchuan was the only eldest grandson. Where could a twin brother have popped up from?

"I also remember Huo Yanchuan being an only child. How could he suddenly have an older brother?"

Lin Jie guessed boldly, "Do you think the Huo family realizes Huo Yanchuan is finished, so they found a capable illegitimate child from somewhere and are claiming it's a twin?"

Tang Ruan: "...That is not entirely impossible."

Lin Jie gloated, "I really want to see the look on Huo Yanchuan’s face when he hears this."

It would be so satisfying!

All these years, Huo Yanchuan had been arrogant, all because he was the Huo family’s only eldest grandson and the undisputed future head of the house. Now, a 'twin brother' had appeared out of nowhere, clearly here to seize his position.

The certainty had become precarious. She really wanted to know if Huo Yanchuan could continue to be so rampant!

"Jiejie, which country is this eldest young master returning from?"

Lin Jie: "Country Y."

It was written right there in the report.

Country Y...

Tang Ruan’s heart stirred, and she couldn't help but ask, "Do you have a photo of him?"

"Let me look."

Lin Jie searched for a while, then shook her head in frustration. "Not online. The Huo family hasn't released one."

This eldest young master was truly mysterious.

Suddenly, Lin Jie’s frustration vanished, and she said happily, "It’s fine, Ruanruan. The Huo family is holding a welcome banquet for him in three days. We’ll see what he looks like then."

Beyond announcing the existence of the eldest young master, the Huo family had also stated that a welcome banquet would be held in three days to introduce him to everyone. The Lin family might not be invited, but the Tang family certainly would be.

At the banquet, she would see his true face.

Lin Jie rubbed her hands together, already filled with anticipation. "Ruanruan, what do you think he looks like? Is he tall? Is he handsome? Is he fit?"

"We'll know in three days."

Lin Jie touched her chin. "True."

She clasped her hands together and muttered, "I wish time would pass faster. I wish I could just open my eyes and it would be three days from now..."

Tang Ruan shook her head with a smile.

"Ding—"

Her phone rang. Tang Ruan picked it up and saw it was a new MMS.

She clicked on it. The moment she saw the content, her hand trembled violently, and the phone fell onto the desk.

The sound startled Lin Jie, who immediately looked over. "What’s wrong, Ruanruan?"

Tang Ruan’s face turned pale. She pressed her lips together, forcing herself to remain calm. She wanted to speak to comfort Lin Jie, but she couldn't even manage a sound.

Lin Jie’s gaze shifted to the phone on the desk. She grabbed it, and upon seeing the content on the screen, she couldn't help but curse, "F*ck!"

"Are they sick? Sending something like this to someone!"

The photo was of a back.

A back with raw, mangled flesh and blood. It appeared to have been treated with ointment, looking yellowish, gory, and disgusting.

Lin Jie had loved suspense dramas since she was a child and had a high tolerance for such imagery.

But Tang Ruan... ever since that incident years ago, she had been terrified of bloody scenes. Everyone usually tried their best to avoid letting her see such things.

Once, while watching TV together, a bloody scene flashed by, and Tang Ruan had immediately felt nauseated and vomited. She had nightmares that night and ran a fever for several days, only recovering after being put on an IV.

Thinking of how pale Tang Ruan’s face had been as she vomited, how she had suffered from nightmares and a high fever for days, anger surged in Lin Jie. She dialed the number back.

She was going to curse out whoever this brain-dead person was for sending such a photo!

The call was answered almost immediately.

"Ruanruan, I knew you would be heartbroken when you saw the photo—"