Chapter Forty-Seven: Entering the Door

“All right, all right, enough with the tears. Find a good hospital and get checked out. You’re wasting your days away with nothing to show for it.” Huo Zhan waved his hand impatiently. His daughter was simply too stubborn for her own good—always insisting on holding her ground, only to end up exhausting herself for nothing.

Huo Lingtian cast a cold glance at his aunt, a sharpness flickering in his eyes. “Aunt, if the Huo family lacks proper discipline, then as one of its members, it’s my duty to set things right. Otherwise, we’ll invite disaster upon ourselves.” There was not the slightest trace of guilt in his demeanor, and his words carried an implicit reproach toward Huo Zhen as well.

Huo Zhen never dared to truly stand up to this boy from the Huo family. No one could say whose temperament he’d inherited; Huo Lingtian was nothing like his late elder brother, who had been gentle and courteous, nor like his sister-in-law, virtuous and kind. This young wolf cub had been domineering and headstrong from childhood, the little tyrant of the household, ruthless in his actions and never leaving room for negotiation. Yet, when it came to running the company, his skills were extraordinary—his mind teeming with clever ideas, and he enjoyed the old master’s particular favor.

“That’s enough, let’s eat. Lingtian has just returned; let him rest a while.” Huo Zhen, ever considerate of his busy and capable grandson, spoke up. If not for the sudden loss of his eldest son, the old man would have collapsed long ago under the weight of his worries. Outside the family, wolves and tigers circled, all waiting to see him step down, and the Huo family was in danger of decline. The second son was upright but could not shoulder great responsibilities; the third was cunning, full of schemes; and though his daughter had some ability, she was, after all, still family. Only the young and untested Huo Lingtian could bear the weight of this household!

Huo Lingtian and Huo Zhen sat at the head of the table, with the others taking their places in order. For a time, glasses clinked and cups were exchanged, and the atmosphere in the dining hall grew much warmer. The old master wore a broad smile throughout the evening.

“Lingtian, have you met the young lady from the Wu family?” The old man asked the question as if by chance, though his hand paused noticeably as he reached for a dish.

“I ran into her at a banquet. She’s recently returned,” Huo Lingtian replied coolly, as if it were of little importance.

“What do you think of her? I find her gentle and attractive, from a good family. Old Wu and I have weathered many storms together—she’s more than suitable to be the future matron of the Huo family.” Satisfaction colored Huo Zhen’s words. His grandson was of an age to settle down and start a family; children of his peers were already running in packs.

With a sharp sound, Huo Lingtian set down his chopsticks and elegantly dabbed his mouth with a napkin. The noise was not loud, yet it sent a jolt through everyone present, a clear reminder of the authority he commanded.

“This is not something you need to worry about, Grandfather. I have my own plans.”

“Plans? What plans? Don’t tell me you’re actually entangled with that little actress!” Huo Zhen’s temper had always been notorious, though in recent years, for the sake of family harmony, no one dared provoke the old man or give him reason to flare up. But his grandson had always been his match—if Huo Lingtian was stubborn, the old man was even more so, making him impossible to manage. So, no matter how many times this scene played out, no one dared make decisions for Huo Lingtian.

“Old man.” See? He didn’t even call him grandfather anymore, just “old man.” The old master was fuming. This child resembled him most, and was also the greatest source of his worries—but there was simply nothing he could do.

“She’s an actress. If you insist on seeing your future granddaughter-in-law as nothing more than a performer, there’s nothing I can say.” Look at that—he was still set on bringing that actress into the family, enough to drive the old man mad.

“As long as I live, don’t even think of letting her cross the threshold of the Huo family!” Huo Zhen retorted without missing a beat, his authoritative presence filling the room.

“Well then, let’s wait and see. You’re already past seventy, old man—we can afford to wait a little longer. And grandfather, don’t go sulking in secret; if you work yourself into a rage, it’ll only benefit us.” Huo Lingtian had always been this way, defying the old man since childhood, refusing to observe the usual deference. “Besides, grandfather, don’t make yourself unwell with anger; that would simply hand us the advantage.”

The old master nearly choked in a fit of exasperation. Was there ever a grandson who spoke to his grandfather like this? Utterly rebellious! The little scoundrel!

Everyone lowered their heads and focused on their food. Though it seemed Huo Zhen was at his wits’ end with Huo Lingtian, glaring fiercely at him, if anyone else dared to criticize his grandson, Huo Zhen would have them scolded within an inch of their life. The two of them bickered endlessly, but that was the heart of their bond. Their world was one into which outsiders could never intrude.

“Dad, calm down. Don’t forget your birthday is next week. Let’s not talk about these unpleasant things.” The second son, ever the peacemaker, intervened, afraid the old master would get too worked up and haul the head of the household up for a round of discipline.

“Hmph! Make sure you’re all back next week. And don’t think you can fob me off with a few worthless paintings as birthday gifts,” the old master grumbled. Every year, his grandsons’ gifts were enough to make him beam with joy. Those so-called ‘worthless paintings’ were actually museum treasures, priceless works that money couldn’t buy. The old man was only being willfully difficult, determined to give his grandson a hard time.

After dinner, the old master cheerfully played with his grandchildren, having already forgotten his earlier anger. The entire family was wrapped in joy, laughter echoing through the halls of the century-old clan. With Huo Lingtian at the helm of this generation, the Huo family would continue to stride confidently toward even greater horizons.