Huo Yun'er's words left Huo Yuhao utterly heartbroken, his chest aching as if it had been torn apart.
Slumping his shoulders in despair, he glanced up—and was met with Qian Ran's smug, mocking expression. Their eyes locked, and in Qian Ran's gaze, Huo Yuhao saw nothing but disdain and ridicule.
When his eyes shifted downward and he noticed Qian Ran's hand slipping beneath Huo Yun'er's short dress, Huo Yuhao could no longer hold back.
"Qian Ran!"
"Get your hands off my mom!"
At that moment, Huo Yuhao's fury consumed him entirely, obliterating any semblance of rational thought. With a furious roar, he lunged at Qian Ran, fists swinging wildly, as Huo Yun'er cried out in alarm.
Qian Ran, still seated, smirked as he leaned slightly to the side, letting Huo Yuhao's punches land harmlessly on his body.
To Qian Ran, Huo Yuhao's attacks felt like nothing more than a gentle breeze. The power gap between them was insurmountable.
"Is that all you've got? You punch like a girl," Qian Ran taunted, his disdainful tone cutting deeper than any physical blow.
Huo Yuhao's face flushed with anger.
"You bastard! I'll kill you! Why are you doing this?!" he bellowed, tears streaming down his face as he continued to swing his fists, each strike deflected by the golden barrier surrounding Qian Ran.
After a while, Qian Ran's patience wore thin.
With a casual kick, he sent Huo Yuhao flying backward. As Huo Yuhao staggered, Qian Ran unleashed a powerful wave of spiritual energy directly into his mind. The sheer force made Huo Yuhao's vision blur, his head spin, and pain explode in his skull before he finally blacked out.
When Huo Yuhao regained consciousness, it was already afternoon.
Lying in his bed, he stared blankly at the ceiling, his mind swirling with memories of everything that had happened. He sank into a pit of self-loathing, his heart filled with regret and despair.
What's wrong with me? Am I just destined to be unloved?
Everything that should have been his had been taken by Qian Ran. Even his mother had been ensnared by him.
Qian Ran had stolen Wang Dong'er, and he hadn't fought back. Qian Ran had taken his Ice Emperor, Skydream, and Snow Empress, and he endured it. Qian Ran had emptied the Icefire Yin Yang Well, and Huo Yuhao held his tongue.
But this? This was too much.
Huo Yun'er was supposed to be his miracle, a gift from Tang San to restore his hope. Yet, before he could truly enjoy this rare connection, it was cruelly snatched away.
Huo Yuhao recalled Huo Yun'er's words from earlier that morning—that she wanted to find him a father, to fill the void of paternal love in his life.
Damn it!
She's not talking about letting Qian Ran be my father, is she?!
Huo Yuhao's eyes turned red, tears once again streaming uncontrollably.
Qian Ran is inhuman!
No… he doesn't even want to be human. He wants to be a father?!
Clenching his fists, Huo Yuhao gritted his teeth.
"I can't die yet. Qian Ran is only in control now because of Zhou Yi and Xian Lin'er backing him up. They're the ones feeding my mom these lies. If I keep working at it, I can restore our family bond and drive that lunatic out of our lives!"
Though part of him wanted to give up, his survival instinct kicked in. Better to live and fight another day.
If he could just find a way to take Qian Ran down, everything Qian Ran had—his power, his women, even Wang Dong'er—would belong to Huo Yuhao. He could envision it now: a perfect, happy family, with everything he had ever dreamed of finally within his grasp.
With renewed determination, Huo Yuhao stepped out of his bedroom, only to freeze in place.
In the living room, Qian Ran was lounging comfortably on the sofa, legs crossed in an infuriatingly relaxed posture.
And Huo Yun'er?
She was dressed in a pale short-sleeved top and a pink mini-skirt, kneeling beside Qian Ran with a teapot in hand, pouring tea like a dutiful maid serving her master.
Huo Yuhao was stunned speechless. His anger, for the moment, gave way to sheer disbelief.
Qian Ran wasn't inherently malicious. Outside of his occasional role-playing whims, he rarely indulged in overly dramatic displays.
But Huo Yun'er seemed to thrive in this dynamic, eagerly embracing the role of a devoted maid. If indulging her brought her joy, who was he to stop her?
Huo Yuhao stood frozen, unable to comprehend what he was seeing.
When Qian Ran and Huo Yun'er finally noticed him, they both looked momentarily surprised.
"Yuhao! Qian Ran came to check on your injuries, but he accidentally spilled tea on his pants, so I was helping him clean up," Huo Yun'er said quickly, rising to her feet to offer an explanation.
Qian Ran's lips curled into an amused smile. "Yuhao, I didn't mean to upset you earlier. I just thought you were a bit too emotional and needed some time to calm down. Tell me—what kind of compensation would make you feel better?"
Compensation?
Huo Yuhao's face darkened like a storm cloud.
Is this how you make up for it?
His mind raced with questions about what might have happened while he was unconscious. Did Qian Ran take advantage of the situation even further? The sheer audacity left Huo Yuhao teetering between rage and helplessness.
For now, Huo Yuhao swallowed his anger. He noticed how close Huo Yun'er seemed to be with Qian Ran. If he acted rashly, it would only make things worse.
Damn it. Damn it all!
Huo Yuhao clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms.
"Qian Ran, come with me. I have some questions," Huo Yuhao said through gritted teeth, his icy tone laced with menace.
"Yuhao, what's with your attitude? Can't you be a little nicer to your Uncle Qian?" Huo Yun'er interjected, frowning.
"Yun'er, why don't you start preparing dinner? Yuhao and I will have a little chat," Qian Ran said casually, giving her a playful pat on the rear.
Blushing, Huo Yun'er nodded obediently and retreated to the kitchen, her mind already racing with ideas for a hearty meal to replenish her "Master's" energy.
Watching this, Huo Yuhao felt as though he were being stabbed repeatedly in the chest.
In front of me, he dares to touch her like that?!
The worst part wasn't Qian Ran's audacity—it was Huo Yun'er's complete lack of resistance.
Does Qian Ran mean more to her than I do?
Huo Yuhao's despair deepened.
Has Qian Ran's hold over women reached the point where no one can escape him?
(End of Chapter)