Huo Yuhao took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. No matter how angry he was, he couldn't blame Huo Yun'er.
This was his fault. It was his failure to protect those closest to him.
As the realization struck, his eyes reddened.
Am I truly worthless?
Tang San had gone so far as to resurrect Huo Yun'er, gifting him a chance to rise stronger and reclaim his dignity. And yet, not long after, here he was—failing again.
Stay calm, Yuhao. First, figure out who dares to do this. Don't they know my reputation? he thought grimly, determination flickering in his heart.
"Yuhao, your uncle and I are truly in love," Huo Yun'er said softly, trying to salvage the situation. She knew it was her carelessness that had tipped him off.
Her words hit Huo Yuhao like a hammer.
For a long moment, he stood frozen.
Deep down, he had always feared that Huo Yun'er might want to return to the White Tiger Duke's mansion. Even though she seemed to have moved on from that place, the thought still haunted him. Back then, the people in the mansion had treated them with nothing but contempt. Yet, despite everything, Huo Yun'er had remained devoted to Dai Hao.
"Don't you want a father's love, Yuhao?" Huo Yun'er added, her voice tinged with vulnerability.
Huo Yuhao exhaled sharply, struggling to keep his emotions in check.
"If he's good to you, I won't object," he said finally, his voice heavy with resignation.
Huo Yuhao longed for a father's love. Otherwise, he wouldn't have forgiven Dai Hao later in the original timeline, despite everything that had happened.
A normal person would have killed Dai Hao and Dai Huabin without hesitation. But Huo Yuhao, deprived of love, ultimately let them go and even ensured their comfort in the end.
Huo Yun'er's plea had softened his heart.
As long as the man she chose was decent, he wouldn't interfere. Her happiness was what mattered most to him.
"Who is he?" Huo Yuhao asked after a pause.
"How about I invite him for dinner tomorrow? You can meet him then," Huo Yun'er suggested.
"Fine."
If the man turned out to be unsuitable, he could always use his connections with the Clear Sky Sect to deal with him discreetly. It wasn't worth letting an outsider jeopardize his relationship with his mother.
Even if Huo Yun'er sought someone for her physical needs, Huo Yuhao wouldn't mind. He now had the means to ensure they lived comfortably. If she could find happiness, wasn't that something to celebrate?
The next day, Huo Yun'er nervously brought up the matter to Qian Ran.
She feared he might be angry. After experiencing his affection so recently, the thought of losing it terrified her.
"Didn't think Huo Yuhao was so perceptive. It's not your fault," Qian Ran said, gently patting her back. "With how cautious he's been, it was bound to happen eventually."
Huo Yuhao had been on edge ever since his repeated humiliations. Unlike Yan Shaozhe or Qian Duoduo—who had lived lives of relative comfort—Huo Yuhao was constantly vigilant, expecting trouble.
"Well, no use hiding it now."
When Huo Yun'er returned home, holding Qian Ran's hand, Huo Yuhao opened the door—and froze.
He stared at them, his eyes darting from Huo Yun'er to Qian Ran and back. When he saw their interlocked hands, he realized his worst fear had come true.
"You damn bastard, Qian Ran!"
"You… you… you've gone too far! I'll kill you!"
Seeing Qian Ran holding Huo Yun'er's hand, Huo Yuhao was so furious he nearly fainted.
Losing Wang Dong'er to Qian Ran had been painful enough. But now, Qian Ran had set his sights on the one person Huo Yuhao trusted and cherished most.
Qian Ran, standing calmly beside Huo Yun'er, showed no emotion in response to Huo Yuhao's outburst.
It was the same cycle every time: angry words, idle threats, and nothing to back them up. Qian Ran was almost bored by it now.
"Idiot," Qian Ran muttered under his breath. Though spoken softly, the insult stoked Huo Yuhao's fury to a fever pitch.
"Yuhao, stop it! Don't you dare bully your Uncle Qian!"
Huo Yun'er stepped between them, preventing Huo Yuhao from taking further action.
Qian Ran had been considering teaching Huo Yuhao a lesson, but with Huo Yun'er standing protectively in front of him, he decided to let it slide for now.
Huo Yuhao's frustration boiled over as Qian Ran, smirking, pulled Huo Yun'er closer, resting a hand on her waist. His fingers slid lower, boldly resting on her hips—right in front of Huo Yuhao.
Uncle Qian?!
Huo Yuhao's eyes turned bloodshot.
"Qian Ran is no good! I don't agree with this!" he stammered, his voice trembling with rage. "This is too much! Is there no justice left in the world?"
"Yuhao, I don't understand why you're so hostile toward Qian Ran," Huo Yun'er said sternly. "He's told me how much you've bullied him at school. Even your teacher Zhou Yi has mentioned it, and so has Dean Xian Lin'er. Now, in front of me, you're trying to bully him again? I'm deeply disappointed in you."
Huo Yuhao felt as if he'd been struck by lightning.
Zhou Yi? Xian Lin'er?
They were Qian Ran's women! Could anything they said be trusted?
"Zhou Yi and Xian Lin'er are in bed with him—literally! Who knows how many shady things they've done together? They're slandering me! I swear—"
"Enough!"
Huo Yun'er slapped him across the face, cutting him off.
"You dare slander your teachers? Such vulgar words! Is this what I raised you to be?"
Huo Yuhao's eyes filled with tears as he crumpled to the floor.
He had endured all kinds of humiliation from Zhou Yi and Xian Lin'er, but this… this was the most devastating blow yet.
(End of Chapter)