Seeing the atmosphere was too awkward, Fu Xiaoqing, having interacted with Huo Qijun for these past few days, found her attitude towards him was not as resistant as before. She decided to break the silence and curiously asked, “Aren’t you going to the auction that Lin Weige mentioned?”
“There’s no need for me to go. I’ll just make a donation afterwards.” Huo Qijun was surprised that just a few days later, he and Fu Xiaoqing could sit and chat so calmly. It seemed they weren’t as astounded as he had imagined.
Fu Xiaoqing nodded in understanding. “I thought this auction was quite important since Lin Weige, who usually prefers leisure, is going.”
“The Lin family is the organizer; he’s going back to help out,” Huo Qijun patiently explained.
“…Ah?” But this left Fu Xiaoqing in confusion, her actions of picking food pausing as she hesitated to speak, looking at him as if wanting to say something.
Huo Qijun was puzzled by her gaze. “What’s wrong?”
Fu Xiaoqing shook her head and quietly said, “It’s probably because I don’t understand the rules of your circle very well.”
“……” Huo Qijun was at a loss.
The two lapsed back into a state of relative silence. After a long moment, Huo Qijun finally grasped what Fu Xiaoqing was hinting at and cautiously asked, “Do you think that even if just for Lin Wei’s sake, I should go at least once?”
“Not exactly…” Fu Xiaoqing struggled to say. “Perhaps Lin Weige doesn’t need that kind of regard from you? I’m not really well-versed in these matters; maybe it isn’t important at all?”
Of course, there was also the possibility that she had misunderstood the friendship between Huo Qijun and Lin Wei all along.
While Fu Xiaoqing didn’t vocalize this thought explicitly, Huo Qijun miraculously sensed it from her stiff smile.
“I didn’t think about it that way,” he explained awkwardly.
Fu Xiaoqing forced a smile, already regretting asking about the topic. “I’m just overthinking things; don’t take it to heart.”
It was too late; the uncomfortable feelings clung to him.
Huo Qijun was extremely frustrated. He didn’t expect that taking a break could be seen by Fu Xiaoqing as evidence that the relationship between him and Lin Wei was just like this. If Fu Xiaoqing instinctively thought so, then what about the others attending the auction?
This couldn’t be just his problem; he had mentioned that if Lin Wei invited him, he’d go. Yet, Lin Wei had brushed off his words…
He might not have cared about this issue before, but now he truly considered Lin Wei his best brother, and he was unhappy with outsiders misinterpreting their relationship.
After much internal conflict, he hurriedly left, and by the time he arrived at the venue, nearly nine o’clock had passed. Timing the event, it should be nearing its conclusion. Huo Qijun decided not to enter and simply waited outside for Lin Wei.
After waiting patiently for nearly half an hour, people finally began to come out, and the young master deliberately opened the door to step out of his car.
People attending the auction knew who Mr. Huo was, especially since he was leaning against the car, tall and easy to spot. Whether familiar with him or not, they approached to greet him.
Huo Qijun maintained a serious expression, nodding slightly in response.
When Lin Wei emerged with the auction items, he was taken aback by the sight of Huo Qijun blocking the way like a peacock displaying its feathers.
The two locked eyes across the crowd, and Huo Qijun finally displayed a hint of a smug smile, while Lin Wei had no idea what he was feeling so proud about.
With many glances directed their way, Lin Wei could only fall silent and get in Huo Qijun’s car, where he finally asked, “What are you doing here at this hour?”
“I didn’t want people to think our relationship is bad by not showing up, so I rushed over to give them a demonstration,” Huo Qijun replied straightforwardly, his tone hinting at seeking praise.
Lin Wei felt he had no words to convey.
Silently, he handed a beautifully packaged box to Huo Qijun, saying, “I forgot to tell you, although Mr. Huo couldn’t attend, her goodwill is present. This is her donation, and I got it for you!”
Huo Qijun halted, intrigued by the gift. He received the box with confusion, unsure why it was being given back.
When directed by Lin Wei, he opened the box and was stunned to see a pair of rings inside, nearly forgetting to breathe as he stammered, “What do you mean by giving me this?”
“….” Lin Wei didn’t expect he wouldn’t recognize it. Reflecting back on the original work, it seemed that it wasn’t Huo Qijun himself who identified the rings—rather, during the auction, they usually introduced the origins and significance of such jewels.
He had assumed too much; with Huo Qijun’s personality, how could he have known his parents’ engagement rings from their youth?
Holding the ring box felt like holding something hot in his hands, and in half a minute, his mind raced to conceive a gentle refusal that wouldn’t hurt feelings, but ultimately…
“Stop overthinking!” Lin Wei noticed Huo Qijun’s evasive eyes and increasingly colourful expression, realizing what he was thinking. He felt both angry and amused as he explained the background of the rings, emphasizing, “I just guessed you might want it based on the introduction and bought it for you!”
“……” Upon hearing this, Huo Qijun’s originally tense expression froze, and indeed, a fleeting moment of displeasure flickered in his eyes but was quickly drowned by a flood of embarrassment.
Being overly sentimental wasn’t frightening, but to be clearly denied and still misunderstood repeatedly left him at a loss for how to argue.
So…
“Thank you.” It was better to treat it as if nothing had happened.
Huo Qijun tucked the rings away, fastening his seatbelt with indifference, before driving home.
Thankfully, Lin Wei didn’t continue to poke fun at him while driving. Once they reached the garage, Huo Qijun immediately picked up the ring box, opened the car door, and dashed away.
[Ha ha ha! This is hilarious!] The system had never witnessed a domineering CEO character fleeing in such a manner.
[..It’s quite cute.] Lin Wei was speechless for a moment before he suddenly burst into laughter.
Compared to the male protagonists from those previous worlds he had been in, Huo Qijun truly stood out as a breath of fresh air.