Liu Zhenqing never went to the brothel again after the incident there, because when Huo Fenglie was asked why he was there, he answered directly: “Because Qinge-ge was there.”

Huo Fenglie was quiet and reticent, but he followed Liu Zhenqing in everything. Liu Zhenqing felt he had set a bad example, so he could only instruct him earnestly: “It’s not that you can’t go to that sort of place to watch the performances and have fun, but remember to be chaste and not go into a room alone with a girl like this time. Don’t emulate me in this regard, learn from your brother. Before your brother married your sister-in-law, he had never even touched the hand of another woman. This is a good Huo family tradition, and you must maintain it.”

Huo Fenglie regarded Liu Zhenqing with calm, dark eyes. Seeing this, Liu Zhenqing felt he was unable to lead by example, and felt guilty for lecturing him, so he simply stopped going to that place.

Even without going to brothels, there were many other places in the city where Liu Zhenqing could play, such as various poetry meetups, qin clubs, and other gatherings. Liu Zhenqing was relaxed and carefree, able to have fun anywhere, so there were naturally countless rumors. And it was difficult for people like Huo Fenglie, who had to study at the Imperial Academy, to attend such occasions.

So every time he returned from the Imperial Academy during holidays, Huo Fenglie would almost always go to see Liu Zhenqing first, on guard against all situations.

Perhaps it had become a habit – Liu Zhenqing would go to the General’s Manor on these days and wait for Huo Fenglie to arrive, then the four of them would go out to eat together.

Therefore, Huo Fenglie never took a carriage, but rode on horseback and rushed back to the General’s Manor at full speed.

But this time, he was nowhere to be seen. Only his brother and sister-in-law were home.

“Where’s Qing-ge?” Was the first thing Huo Fenglie said upon his return.

Huo Feihan and Li Xingruo had become accustomed to this. Over the years, they had become completely convinced of Huo Fenglie’s feelings toward Liu Zhenqing. It was a pity that Liu Zhenqing might not be able to wait long enough.

Huo Feihan didn’t dare to speak, and could only glance at Li Xingruo.

Unafraid of making trouble, Li Xingruo said straightforwardly: “A noble family that returned to the capital some time ago took a fancy to Shixiong. The two families seem to be interested in matchmaking, so today Shixiong took the girl to eat dinner at Heavenly Cuisine. He said he’ll meet us here at the General’s Manor in the evening.”

The expression on Huo Fenglie’s face turned ugly at once.

Li Xingruo continued: “Ai, among the children of the wealthy and powerful in the capital, only Shixiong has not yet married. Even though Old Father Liu has always turned a blind eye to my shixiong, he’s finally become anxious, and my shixiong can’t wait any longer…..”

As soon as Li Xingruo finished speaking, Huo Fenglie was gone.

At Heavenly Cuisine.

Liu Zhenqing didn’t move his chopsticks once, but spoke gently to the girl across from him.

The girl was beautiful, with a soft personality, and felt a lot of admiration and affection for Liu Zhenqing. Liu Zhenqing also seemed pretty good, and she thought they could try to get along with each other.

In terms of age, Liu Zhenqing still found it difficult to adapt. This person was eight years younger than him!

However, he had a lot of fun chatting with the girl. Liu Zhenqing’s personality was naturally attractive to girls, and at this time, she was already laughing and calling him Xiting-ge.

“Qing-ge!”

Suddenly, a shout came from under the windowsill Liu Zhenqing was leaning against. Liu Zhenqing was stunned. He knew who that was without looking down. After all, there was only one person who called him that.

Liu Zhenqing looked in bewilderment at Huo Fenglie, who had appeared below. The other party seemed to be somewhat out of breath. “Fenglie?”

He was about to say something, but Huo Fenglie ran straight into the building, likely to find him.

This was awkward. After all, he had invited someone out for dinner alone. Er-gou could be a very well-behaved kid at times, but he inexplicably lacked emotional intelligence at other times. 

“Uh…..” Liu Zhenqing was about to speak, when Lu-guniang across from him said sympathetically:

“Isn’t that the second young master of the Huo family? I’ve heard that the two of you have a very good relationship. Since we’ve met him by chance, how about we sit together?”

Liu Zhenqing thought, this girl has a really good temperament. Just as he was thinking, there was a knock on the door of the private room.

Liu Zhenqing called out, then saw Huo Fenglie push the door open and walk in boldly and majestically.

Liu Zhenqing and Lu-guniang were both amazed.

It was Lu-guniang’s first time meeting Huo Fenglie.

Liu Zhenqing had only seen the person before him a month ago, but he…..he seemed to have changed a little. Had he grown taller again? He was taller than Liu Zhenqing. Had he gotten stronger? When he walked toward the light, it indeed cast different shadows across his face, illuminating the contours of it.

Perhaps it was the influence of the Huo family blood that gave his face a sense of majesty. When he stepped inside, it was like he was walking on wind, swift and fierce. The atmosphere in the room was instantly suppressed. This was a manner of bearing honed on the battlefield.

After coming in, Huo Fenglie only spared Lu-guniang a glance before focusing his gaze entirely on Liu Zhenqing. His yearning was about to boil over, but this person in front of him was having dinner with someone else. If it weren’t for his clenched fists as a constant reminder, he felt he would be unable to bear it.

“Qing-ge.”

“Why are you here? Are you looking for me?” Liu Zhenqing asked curiously.

Huo Fenglie hesitated: “Didn’t you say we would get together tonight?”

Liu Zhenqing looked at Huo Fenglie with even more bewilderment.

Huo Fenglie said bluntly: “I came here ahead of time to order the dishes Qing-ge likes to eat.”

Liu Zhenqing really didn’t know how to react. This explanation seemed reasonable, but also not.

“Have…..you eaten yet?” Liu Zhenqing asked automatically.

Huo Fenglie shook his head.

So he came here to order food when he was hungry? Was this necessary?

Liu Zhenqing was confused, but didn’t overthink it. Er-gou was still hungry, so they would eat together.

After inviting Huo Fenglie to sit down, he turned to the dazed Lu-guniang across from him. Thinking that Huo Fenglie’s aura had frightened her, he quickly introduced them to one another.

Huo Fenglie regarded her with an unwelcoming expression and gave a simple greeting.

Liu Zhenqing saw that Huo Fenglie had a coffin-like face again. Since he was a child, it seemed he was not adept at interacting with women. If it continued on like this, how would he get married in the future?

Just as he was lost in thought, he saw Lu-guniang in front of him look at Huo Fenglie. Her face turned red by increments and she lowered her eyes, saying in a soft and nervous tone: “Second Young Master Huo, do you like the dishes on the table? Would you like to order more?”

Liu Zhenqing: “……”

Liu Zhenqing naturally noticed the difference between how Lu-guniang treated him and how she treated Huo Fenglie. Her blush in front of Liu Zhenqing was that of a girl looking at a handsome man, but her blush in front of Huo Fenglie was more of a ‘face is hot, heart is palpitating’ look. 

The corners of his mouth twitched when he realized the difference. It couldn’t be! Liu Zhenqing’s blind date liked his little brother?

Thunder and lightning filled Liu Zhenqing’s head. He didn’t have any designs on Lu-guniang, he just found it a little amusing. Suddenly, he came to the realization that Lu-guniang only seemed to be two years older than Huo Fenglie. The two of them liking each other would be reasonable, wouldn’t it?

Ai? Er-gou was old enough to get engaged?

Er-gou had grown up? And could compete with him in the same field of love?

At this realization, Liu Zhenqing strangely felt like his own son had grown up.

Just as he was lost in thought, he heard Lu-guniang on the other side take the initiative to actively talk to Huo Fenglie. She was a girl with personality and fought for what she liked. Liu Zhenqing was able to coax her into ladylike laughter and got along with her well, but when she met someone she liked, this gentleness transformed into passion.

It was a pity that she met this blockhead Er-gou.

Out of three sentences, Huo Fenglie only replied to one at most, and his attention was distracted.

What was Huo Fenglie doing?

When Liu Zhenqing looked down, he found that Huo Fenglie had already picked the bones out of a plate of fish for him.

There was fish on the table. Fish from Heavenly Cuisine, which Liu Zhenqing liked very much. This time, he didn’t move his chopsticks. Before, nobody picked out fish bones for him – and he didn’t know how he developed the habit, but if no one picked the bones out of the best fish for him now, he would lose his appetite.

And Er-gou seemed to have also developed a habit. When he saw fish on the table, he would disregard everything else and pick bones out of the fish meat first.

Lu-guniang was amazed at Huo Fenglie’s thoughtfulness as she watched him using the serving chopsticks to pick bones out of the fish meat and place it on a communal dish. Then she saw Huo Fenglie push the prepared dish directly to Liu Zhenqing’s right side: “Qing-ge, eat.”

Lu-guniang: …..He prepared it specifically for one person?

Liu Zhenqing didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. After all, this had become a habit ingrained in his bones. He was more interested in if Huo Fenglie would respond to Lu-guniang’s advances.

But unfortunately, Huo Fenglie was extremely indifferent. Even though Lu-guniang wasn’t hurt by this indifference, Liu Zhenqing could no longer bear it, and couldn’t help but chime in several times. Not because he wanted them to get together – he just wanted the atmosphere to be less awkward. But Huo Fenglie looked over several times with a heavy gaze, which made Liu Zhenqing feel like he was meddling in the business of others and causing trouble.

Just as he was lost in thought, he saw Huo Fenglie change out the tea in his hand and begin pouring wine. It seemed he was in a bad mood.

Huo Fenglie didn’t drink much alcohol, because he had a low tolerance and got drunk easily. He rarely drank while outside, or when in the presence of someone he didn’t know well.

So Liu Zhenqing tried to gently stop him, but Huo Fenglie avoided his hand.

Liu Zhenqing froze. Huo Fenglie seemed to be truly angry.

This situation was very rare, and it flustered Liu Zhenqing a little. So he didn’t listen carefully to what Lu-guniang was saying, and only heard Huo Fenglie say suddenly: “Didn’t Lu-guniang come here to meet Qing-ge today?”

There were instant black lines across Liu Zhenqing’s face. Why was he talking like that? Was he drunk? So soon?

Lu-guniang was also embarrassed by his words, and ultimately said in a shy tone: “It’s because of my family…..Xiting-ge is very good. I admire him very much, but I…..I prefer men who are a little more valiant. I’m sorry, Xiting-ge. This is what I wanted to tell you today.”

Liu Zhenqing: “Um…..it’s okay.”

When she was finished speaking, Lu-guniang sent Huo Fenglie a shy look and mustered the courage to say: “Then…..is Second Young Master Huo…..engaged?”

Liu Zhenqing truly thought that this girl was an admirable person, ah. She was quite interesting. If she could become friends with Huo Fenglie…..

“I have a sweetheart!” Huo Fenglie said abruptly.

Startled, Liu Zhenqing turned to look at Huo Fenglie: “What?”

Huo Fenglie turned his head toward him and said word for word: “I have a sweetheart.”

Liu Zhenqing cried out in his heart – the child he had watched grow up had a sweetheart and he didn’t even know?! He’d actually missed out on such a huge piece of gossip?!

Just as he was alarmed, he saw Huo Fenglie sway and suddenly fall toward him.

Liu Zhenqing hurriedly supported him. Lu-guniang, who had been stunned by Huo Fenglie’s words just now, saw this and said in fright: “What’s wrong with Second Young Master Huo?”

“Oh, he’s fine, he just can’t drink much and got drunk. I’ll send him back, otherwise he’ll start acting crazy. Apologies, Lu-guniang. I’ll send a carriage to take you back home.”

“Don’t worry about me, just take care of the Second Young Master,” Lu-guniang said with a wave of her hand.

“Qing-ge…..Qing-ge……” Huo Fenglie murmured repeatedly, as if truly drunk. He was clinging to Liu Zhenqing, and when he could no longer hold the other up, Liu Zhenqing transferred him to his back. Huo Fenglie was like an octopus, clinging tightly to Liu Zhenqing no matter how he moved.

Liu Zhenqing was accustomed to this, but to Lu-guniang, this scene was a bit stimulating.

This was what happened when a man got drunk?

Lu-guniang looked in astonishment at Liu Zhenqing, who was just barely able to carry the person on his back. Just as she was about to help, her eyes widened – because on Liu Zhenqing’s back, Huo Fenglie suddenly raised his eyes and gave her a frigid glare, as if warning her not to come over.

Lu-guniang was struck dumb, completely uncomprehending.

But in the next second, Huo Fenglie hugged Liu Zhenqing even tighter. He tilted his head so that his lips were almost pressed against Liu Zhenqing’s fair, slender neck, making Lu-guniang blush.

Those cold eyes and his serious expression seemed to be declaring something to the person in front of him.

Even if Lu-guniang wasn’t clever, she would have still been able to see it.

So his sweetheart was…..was…..

Xiting-ge also seemed to allow his behavior…..

Had she discovered a forbidden secret? So was this the reason Xiting-ge had never married?

Oblivious, Liu Zhenqing took this person out of the restaurant and called for a carriage, personally taking him back to the General’s Manor. But the drunken Huo Fenglie loved to cling to Liu Zhenqing, and once again pressed him down in the carriage. This time, however, there was no awkward situation. Liu Zhenqing didn’t struggle, and just let Huo Fenglie hold him, feeling a little dazed. Huo Fenglie had truly grown up. The weight on top of him was heavier.

Indeed…..he had grown up. He had a lover, and was still hiding it from him.

Liu Zhenqing suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if something had been stolen from him.

Did he have a brother complex?

Liu Zhenqing was lost in thought for some time, then couldn’t help but tease Huo Fenglie: “Er-gou, tell Qing-ge who your sweetheart is, ah?”

“Qing-ge.”

“That’s me. I’m asking you a question, tell me who your sweetheart is…..”

“Qing-ge.”

“People are usually honest when drunk, but you only know how to call my name, ah. Little fool.” Liu Zhenqing laughed.

“Qing-ge……”

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(Alt Universe) Extra 11 << Table of Contents >> (Alt Universe) Extra 13