Chapter 781: Extremely Disgusting
She wanted to make their relationship public, but her father had to agree too.
If they announced that he was her uncle at this moment, what would happen in the future? If their real relationship was discovered, it would still be troublesome.
Shi Lingyu felt tired for her. “But this is not a good solution right now either. Look at how many scandals you’ve had with my Ci since you debuted. One moment you were in love, the next you were married. Now, the two of you even have a child.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it. Our company’s public relations are not to be trifled with either. It’s New Year’s Eve, so everyone probably wants to celebrate and watch the commotion.”
“You’re really magnanimous. My father called for me so I won’t talk to you anymore. Be careful and get your company to settle this quickly. It’s New Year’s Eve, yet you still have to be vexed by such matters.”
“Got it.”
Ling Sheng hung up and looked at the notifications on her phone. The title already showed #Ling Sheng, Huo Ci’s secret marriage and child#.
Now, this kind of scandal was already nothing exciting to her. She admired herself a lot too. As long as her father and Sister Mei did not bother her, the paparazzi, fans, and onlookers could go ahead and cause trouble. She only cared about watching the show.
However, Sister Yu was right. Ever since she had entered the entertainment circle, there had been no end to the rumors about her and her father. The media had said that the two of them were in love and living together. After clarifying this, marketing accounts would still come out from time to time to dig up the issue and gain fleeting attention.
What the h*ll kind of secret marriage was this? These disgusting flies just would not let others enjoy a good New Year’s Eve. Weren’t they going home or celebrating the New Year? They were simply disgusting.
Even if they had filmed something juicy and wanted to expose it, couldn’t they have waited for at least two days? They weren’t letting people enjoy a delicious New Year’s Eve dinner, and just wanted to disgust others on purpose. The company’s employees would have to work overtime again; Sister Mei could scold her to death.
However, to her surprise, Sister Mei did not call to scold her. She turned her head around and looked at her father in an obedient manner. “Father, do I need to make a statement?”
“The company will take care of it.” Huo Ci had been standing behind her for quite some time. When he heard her talking on the phone about breaking up, his eyes flickered. This brat was quite good at pretending. Could she have really listened to him and broken up?
No, that was impossible. If she was obedient, the sun could even rise from the west. This brat must have known that he was coming and said that on purpose for him to hear.
“Oh!” Ling Sheng nodded and drawled before smiling sweetly. “Thank you, Father!”
Upon seeing her fawning look, Huo Ci felt a little angry. For a moment, he even thought of using the DNA report to ‘slap’ the person who had spread the rumors, lest they spouted nonsense every day. However, he controlled himself after a while.
Xiaoqi had already woken up and called for his mommy.
Ling Sheng hurriedly put down the kitchen knife in her hand, wiped her hands, and walked out. She smiled at her son. “Do you want to pee? You need to pee first. Mommy will brush your teeth and wash your face for you. Then, we should start eating.”
She bent down to carry Xiaoqi, but Huo Ci grabbed her arm and pulled her away. He frowned in utmost disdain as he looked at her. “If you take him to pee before touching the food again, how can I eat?”
While Ling Sheng was stunned, she saw her father carry Xiaoqi into the washroom.
As he walked, Huo Ci said in disdain, “Go and cook. I’ll wait on him. What sin did I commit in my previous life?”
Xiaoqi wrapped his arms around his neck and rested his chin on his shoulder. He looked at Ling Sheng and blinked his big eyes. “Mommy, Xiaoqi is a man. I know how to pee on my own.”
Upon seeing the scene in front of her, Ling Sheng felt a little emotional for a while. Her eyes teared up.
Chapter 782: Did You See Her Eat?
When they had first come, her father had not even known how to carry a child. Now, he was already extremely adept with his actions. She hurriedly chased after him and took out Xiaoqi’s toothbrush and toothpaste. “Father, use this lemon-flavored toothpaste today.”
When Huo Ci brushed Xiaoqi’s teeth, he took a sniff of the child’s toothpaste. It was quite fragrant, and even he wanted to eat it. He patted Xiaoqi’s small head. “Spit it out. Don’t swallow it.”
Xiaoqi could not speak clearly. “Grandpa, I’m not stupid.”
Huo Ci let out a low laugh. “Your mother is that stupid. How are you not stupid when you take after her? Look at yourself in the mirror. You look silly.”
Xiaoqi looked at the mirror. “Xiaoqi is very smart.”
Huo Ci could not be bothered to waste his breath on him. He wiped the toothpaste bubbles off his face cleanly and realized that this brat’s skin was really tender. The more he looked at him, the more arrogant he became.
From his looks, he would definitely become a scourge who charmed tens of thousands of girls in the future.
In the past, Huo Ci had not helped the brat wash up before. This was the first time he had discovered that a child’s products, from toothpaste to facial cream, all had a sweet, fruit-like fragrance. It was the kind of smell that one wanted to eat.
“Grandpa, when you get sick in the future, Xiaoqi will also wash your face and brush your teeth,” Xiaoqi said seriously while cream was being roughly wiped on his face.
Huo Ci said, “Kid, are you cursing me? Do you want me to get sick?”
Xiaoqi smiled until his eyes curved and he said crisply, “Grandpa is healthy and will live a long life.”
Ling Sheng carried the porridge out. Xiaoqi and her father did not like eating white porridge so she had cooked spinach and lean meat porridge that was fragrant. It was paired with cold radish salad and she had even bought mantou and buns.
When Huo Ci carried Xiaoqi over, he looked at her. “See if she has eaten breakfast.”
Ling Sheng understood immediately, but she pretended not to. She frowned in confusion. “Who is it?”
“Stop playing dumb. Who do you think it is?” Huo Ci knew that she had done it on purpose. This stinky brat was deliberately embarrassing him.
Ling Sheng’s performance was very realistic. She nodded in sudden enlightenment. “Father, so you’re talking about Auntie Yu. I’ll go over immediately to take a look.”
Given her father’s awkward personality, there was no help for him. If he cared, so be it. He could have just said it directly. Why would he beat around the bush?
Upon seeing her sly look, Huo Ci really wanted to go up and kick her. When he saw her scoop porridge and put it in a thermos box—which was newly bought, he knew that she must have thought of it long ago.
When Ling Sheng went over, she happened to bump into Xu Xi bringing breakfast over. She greeted him before entering.
Nangong Lengyu had already woken up and was currently leaning against the bedhead. She looked quite energetic, but her face was pale. Upon seeing her enter, she hurriedly asked, “Sheng Sheng, how’s Xiaoqi?”
Ling Sheng smiled helplessly. “Auntie Yu, you should worry about yourself first. He’s a very sturdy boy. He recovered a long time ago. How do you feel now?”
Nangong Lengyu was relieved. Her voice was still very weak and hoarse. “What could be wrong with me? The anesthesia has just worn off so my body hurts a little.”
Ling Sheng’s heart ached a little. This was the first time she had seen her look so pale and fragile. It was much worse than the last time she fainted from stomach cramps. She scooped a bowl of porridge for her and sat by the bed to feed her. “Will the Third Master come today?”
Xu Xi left right after delivering the food. He had also brought a nurse with him. He had initially planned to get the nurse to take care of her. However, since Ling Sheng had arrived, the nurse auntie waited outside without entering.
Chapter 783: Started Quarreling
On New Year’s Eve, Jun Shiyan was very busy and kept watch over her the whole night. He returned just as the sun rose, as there were still a lot of things to deal with in the Gu Family.
“It’s New Year’s Eve. Why would I ask him to come?” Although that was what Nangong Lengyu said, she felt a little gloomy when she thought that she would be all alone during the first Spring Festival she was spending in China.
“Isn’t Director Chen coming back to celebrate the new year with you?” Ling Sheng knew that Director Chen was a workaholic, but was he not coming back for the Lunar New Year? Even Senior Fang Hua and the others had gone home to celebrate the New Year, and they had said that they would start work on the fifth day of the lunar year.
“He was called back by my father.” Nangong Lengyu smiled and asked, “Since Xiaoqi is fine now, you should be going home for the Lunar New Year too, right!”
Ling Sheng nodded. They had to go home to celebrate the new year for sure. If they did not go home, her grandpa would not let them off. Their trip home had already been delayed again and again, which had made her grandpa unhappy. If they did not go back for the New Year’s Eve reunion dinner, Grandpa would likely skin them alive!
Xu Xi had brought over a lot for breakfast. There were food like porridge, milk, soy milk, buns, and steamed dumplings. They had been packed from the Fragrant Cauldron Restaurant and looked delicious. However, Nangong Lengyu’s stomach was weak, and she had just woken up so her body was weak. Hence, she only ate a bowl of porridge brought over by Ling Sheng.
“Sheng Sheng, who did you learn this cooking skill from?” Nangong Lengyu ate with great satisfaction. Both her stomach and heart felt warm, as though the food she made was different from any others outside. It was obviously the same type of porridge, but it looked especially delicious.
Ling Sheng sent Huo Ci a message and ate right there, helping Nangong Lengyu finish the breakfast that she couldn’t eat. Upon hearing her question, she said half-truthfully, “I learned it from my father.”
Nangong Lengyu was stunned. “Your foster father?”
Ling Sheng just remembered that Nangong Lengyu did not know that Huo Ci was her father. She nodded in agreement. He was not her foster father, but her biological father. He was her biological father in another world. She nodded vaguely and said, “Actually, I learned this on my own.”
Nangong Lengyu smiled lovingly. She had a strong appetite when she saw Ling Sheng eat, so she asked her for half a bun.
Knowing that she might have to step into the new year alone in the hospital, Ling Sheng felt quite terrible and wanted to stay and keep her company. However, she could not drag their return out with Grandpa. If Grandpa found out that she spent the New Year with Sister Yu but did not return home, he would definitely be very sad if she did not go home.
She felt like she was in a tough dilemma.
“You don’t have to worry. I don’t celebrate the Lunar New Year overseas,” Nangong Lengyu comforted her. “Go back quickly. We hired an auntie. She’ll take care of me.”
“Auntie Yu, I’ll come and see you first thing tomorrow.” After saying that, Ling Sheng changed her mind. “If I can go home quickly after the show ends tonight, I’ll come and find you first.”
“Sure,” Nangong Lengyu hugged her. “Good luck. I’ll wait in front of the television to watch you.”
Even though Ling Sheng had left, Nangong Lengyu was still looking at the door in a daze. When she regained her senses, she looked toward the sofa. Sheng Sheng had been sitting there just a short while ago. Her eyes felt a little sore. She did not know why she was so sad.
Although the Nangong Family had gone overseas long ago and their assets were all overseas too, their father insisted that they celebrate the Spring Festival every year. The whole family had to go back and celebrate the Lunar New Year together.
This was one of the few times she had spent Lunar New Year outside. This was also the first time she felt so sad and miserable, especially when she thought of Sheng Sheng and Xiaoqi returning to the Huo Family to celebrate the New Year’s with Huo Ci. She felt even worse.
When Ling Sheng returned with her son’s favorite prawn dumplings, boneless chicken feet, and walnut pastry, she heard her father and grandpa quarreling again.
Chapter 784: Turned into a Fool from a Fever
“Not going home? The doctor had said that Xiaoqi’s condition is very stable now. He can go home!” Huo Xiao’s old face flushed with anger.
He had come personally to call them home on New Year’s Eve but this scumbag had even said that he would not go back. Did he want to die outside?
“Father, don’t be so agitated. There are always what-ifs. Xiaoqi was fine last night, but he suddenly fell ill in the middle of the night. What if he falls ill again today?” Huo Ci tried to argue for his point of view calmly. “You didn’t see him yesterday. He suddenly fainted. That brat and I were scared to death.”
“That won’t do either. It’s New Year’s Eve! What is it like to spend it in the hospital? You scumbag! You kept dragging this out for days on end. You have to come back today no matter what,” Huo Xiao pointed at him angrily. “Pack your things. Pack your things for your old man immediately. Go home!”
“Mother, hurry up and persuade my father. Treatment for children can’t be delayed when they get sick, especially at Xiaoqi’s age. If he’s delayed for the slightest bit, it might become a big problem,” Huo Ci sighed and added, “What if Ling Xiaoqi becomes a fool? Especially if he has a high fever that can cause pneumonia, and cerebral meningitis. If he’s late in being treated for meningitis, he’ll become a retard.”
“Fool? Xiaoqi will become a retard?” Huo Xiao raised his walking stick and lashed it at him, fuming. “I’ll just beat you until you become a fool first! You unfilial son! What else do you know how to do besides angering me?”
As Huo Ci ran, he said, “Mother, hurry up and control my father. I’m telling the truth. If he really becomes a fool, I won’t be responsible!”
Xiaoqi was already sick to begin with. He sat on the bed like a silly dog and watched them in a daze, especially when Grandpa had said that he had had his brain burned into becoming a fool, a retard. His eyeballs only spun around.
In the end, Huo Ci hid behind Xiaoqi and hugged him. “Look, look. He’s all stupid now. If his head burns up again, he’ll be finished.”
Ling Sheng was fuming. Look at him! Was he talking like a human? He kept saying that Xiaoqi had been burned to a point where he became a fool, retard and suffered from cerebral meningitis. Why didn’t he become the retard instead!
Su Xiyin also got angry. She pointed at Huo Ci and bellowed, “Stop spouting nonsense! Who are you cursing? Xiaoqi is all fine and well. How could he end up like what you said?”
“I’m just raising an example. Why are you people getting angry? Even I can become a fool from a fever.” Upon seeing the burning eyes of the family of three staring at him with rage and murderous intent, Huo Ci’s scalp went numb and he chickened out. “Anyway, what I mean is that we should go home tomorrow, and let Xiaoqi stay in the hospital for a day of observation.”
Huo Xiao’s attitude was very firm. “That won’t do. Don’t we just need a doctor? I’ll hire 10 or 20 doctors to watch over Xiaoqi at home 24 hours a day and see what other problem can crop up.”
Huo Ci said, “Father, you’re being unreasonable now. You want to celebrate the new year and eat New Year’s Eve dinner, but are the doctors not human? Don’t they need to eat? Don’t they need to reunite with their families? You’re too tyrannical and domineering.”
Huo Xiao’s eyes blazed as he gritted his teeth and pointed at him. He bellowed, “Get out here! Don’t hide behind Xiaoqi if you have the guts. This won’t do, that won’t do. It’ll be fine as long as your old man will beat you to death.”
How mature! He knew how to hide behind Xiaoqi and use him as a shield. Once he came out, see if he would not beat that scumbag to death. He would not stop until he angered him to death!
“Father, how about this?” Huo Ci tried to negotiate in a soft voice. He smiled and said, “Let’s vote. The minority will obey the majority. Those who are willing to let Xiaoqi stay in the hospital for observation will raise their hands.”
Chapter 785: Leading the Revolt
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand first and also raised Xiaoqi’s hand. His eyes gestured at Ling Sheng. Raise your hand!
To be honest, Ling Sheng did not want to go back to the Huo Family too. On the way back just now, she was feeling bad, thinking about leaving Auntie Yu alone on New Year’s Eve. Now that her father had taken the lead in the revolt, she raised her hand without any objection.
Agreed! She agreed with both hands and feet!
Huo Xiao let it go when saw his son raise his hand. He had not treated that scumbag as a human to begin with, but his dear grandchild had raised her hand too. He instantly felt sad. “Sheng Sheng, are you that against going home with grandpa?”
Ling Sheng shook her head. “Grandpa, I think my father’s right. Xiaoqi has been running a fever these past few days. It’s safer and we feel more at ease to be at the hospital. My father and I will be home tomorrow. As long as our family is together, it will always be the Spring Festival.”
Su Xiyin let out a low sigh. In order to get their family to go home, her husband had been so worried that his hair had fallen out. In the end, they still could not go back on New Year’s Eve. She could only chime in, “Hubby, Ci Er and Sheng Sheng are going to the television station to do a live broadcast. If it’s too early, they won’t make it in time for the New Year’s Eve dinner. If it’s too late, everyone will have objections again.”
It was like this every year when Ci Er had come home. As long as others waited a while for him, everyone would start nitpicking and complaining sarcastically.
There were many people at home, and everyone had their own thoughts. It was not easy to manage them. She also wanted to have a good Lunar New Year in peace. She simply wanted to spend the new year with Ci Er, Sheng Sheng, and Xiaoqi.
“Xiaoqi, what about you?” Huo Xiao was heart-broken. He looked at Xiaoqi, his last glimmer of hope. “Your grandpa was the one forcing you to raise your hand, right? Xiaoqi wants to go home with Great-grandpa for the New Year, right?”
Xiaoqi took a look at Grandpa and then at Mommy before shaking his head. “Xiaoqi raised his hand himself.”
Huo Xiao refused to admit defeat. “No. Can Xiaoqi be considered a person?”
Huo Ci said, “Even if he is only one-third of a person, we still won. Father, go home quickly, lest my older brothers and the others badmouth me again.”
Huo Xiao came over to call for them to go home, but did not receive a positive outcome. Instead, he was full of anger. Before he left, he even pointed at them angrily. “If you three don’t go home tomorrow, you will never have to go home.”
Ling Sheng nodded obediently and promised that they would return home. She sent her grandparents off downstairs and watched the car leave before returning.
In the afternoon, Ling Sheng and Huo Ci went to the television station to prepare for the Spring Festival Gala.
Ling Sheng was still a little nervous. She had been there in the past. That year happened to be the year her career had exploded. She had won the Best Actress Award and gotten on the Spring Festival Gala. Now that she thought about it, it really felt like a lifetime had passed.
Anyhow, she was worried about Xiaoqi being alone in the hospital, so she suggested finding a nurse auntie to watch Xiaoqi for a few hours. They should be back after the show ended anyway.
Huo Ci, who was playing a game, frowned when he heard her words. “You aren’t worried about finding a nurse? What if she’s a human trafficker and abducts Xiaoqi?”
Ling Sheng said, “That won’t happen. I’ll look for a proper nurse. The kind who has a record at the police station, all right? It’ll only be for a few hours. The nurses and doctors are also present. I’ll ask them to help keep an eye out. There are real-time surveillance cameras in the ward too. He won’t get lost.”
Huo Ci said, “How can you be a mother? Don’t you know that there are always uncertainties? What if the surveillance cameras break? What if the doctors and nurses leave due to an emergency?”
Ling Sheng frowned. In the past, she had not thought that her father was so contrary. Why was he so picky about everything she said? “Then, what do you think we should do?”