She Became The Black Lotus’s Pure, Untouchable Love - Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Huo Xingyu hadn’t originally intended to come.

She had planned to give Ning Xiangxiang a small punishment. After all, Ning Xiangxiang had managed to provoke her three times in a very short span of time. Not picking her up didn’t exactly qualify as some monumental act of vengeance, right?

This thought persisted until she accidentally glanced up at Minister Chen’s PPT.

“…Regarding the cooperation between the Huo Charitable Foundation and the Women’s Association, as the head of Cultural Tourism, I propose that starting next quarter, projects under President Huo’s management—such as resorts and scenic spots—begin supporting charitable initiatives. For example, printing information about missing or abducted women and children on the back of entrance tickets…”

Looking at the photos on the screen, Huo Xingyu fell silent.

Ning Xiangxiang still had a broken leg. She was so poor she likely had no one to look after her. If she tried to make her way from a remote suburb like the Film City to find her alone, it would be incredibly inconvenient, wouldn’t it?

On a small scale, she might be mobbed by fans. Though Huo Xingyu estimated that Ning Xiangxiang didn’t have many genuine, die-hard fans, she was still a minor celebrity. If she ran into passersby with the “I’m not a fan, but a celebrity autograph is better than nothing” mentality, she’d be trapped, she’d be late, and then Huo Xingyu would be the one left waiting for her like an idiot.

Huo Xingyu frowned. Was this punishing her or punishing myself?

On a larger scale… she was in a cast. If she went out alone and encountered someone with ill intentions who kidnapped her and took her into the mountains, what then?

Watching Minister Chen describe the future link-ups between Huo’s industries and charity, Huo Xingyu nodded and spoke: “This is approved. Submit the budget.”

The words had barely left her lips when she felt a gaze of utter grief and indignation projected from Yang Pei sitting beside her.

Huo Xingyu turned her head to glance at Yang Pei’s greased, shiny forehead. “Minister Yang, you’ve been talking for an hour. Does your throat hurt?”

Faced with this sudden concern, Yang Pei was momentarily overwhelmed with flattery and confusion. In his heart, a faint sense of joy and expectation began to bloom. As Huo Xingyu’s second uncle—a senior who had watched her grow up—Yang Pei understood her well.

Huo Xingyu was the type of person who normally couldn’t be bothered to say hello, let alone care for others or consider their well-being. In their long twenty-four years as relatives, Huo Xingyu’s only other instance of “concern” was still fresh in his memory.

It was New Year’s Eve fourteen years ago. A beautiful family reunion; they had just finished the firework display and sat down at the table. A butler in a tuxedo played soothing piano in the corner. Young Huo Xingyu, sitting next to Old Mr. Huo, had a small, sharp face with a hint of baby fat. Although her expression was as cold and arrogant as ever, the two floral pigtails and the red polka-dot dress softened her disdainful attitude.

As long as she didn’t speak, she looked like an exquisite New Year’s doll. Yang Pei felt everything was perfect.

But Huo Xingyu happened to have a mouth.

His miniature niece stared at him with cold, scrutinizing eyes, and her childish voice drifted through the large living room: Second Uncle, your zipper is down.

Yang Pei admitted it was his own oversight. BUT! Huo Xingyu was definitely at fault too! Her loud “reminder” had caused his social death! Her booming “concern” had made him so ashamed he almost burst into tears on the spot. His niece had been an evil she-devil since childhood!

Recalling this, Yang Pei felt he should have bolted the moment her gaze turned toward him today. Until now, Huo Xingyu had never had any non-work contact with him at the office. She was strictly business.

But this time… she was actually asking if his throat hurt. Yang Pei was moved. His earlier resentment over her approving Chen’s plan while ignoring his own vanished instantly. Perhaps the devil has finally laid down her sword to become a Buddha. Perhaps the familial love I never saw in her truly exists!

Tears welled in Yang Pei’s eyes. “Thank you for your concern, President Huo. My throat does hurt a bit, and I feel slightly unwell, but this is all for the future of the Huo Group. My personal sacrifice is nothing to speak of—”

Having received a satisfactory answer, Huo Xingyu cut him off immediately.

She announced loudly: “Since Minister Yang has proactively mentioned he is unwell, today’s meeting ends here.”

“Minister Yang, please go back and exercise more to improve your physical condition. Don’t let a bit of project work break you; it will drag down the company’s progress.”

Yang Pei watched in a daze as she stood up gracefully. Her black dress swayed as she disappeared behind the heavy soundproof doors, leaving only the crisp click-clack of her heels on the marble floor.

Secretary Song bowed at the door, a smile on her face as she announced the meeting adjourned.

Feeling the sharp glares of all the other ministers and directors behind him, Yang Pei felt he shouldn’t be here. He felt he should be playing Chopin in the rain while weeping. He lamented his own naivety. The devil is still the devil. All the sadness in his successful life stemmed from this demonic niece. He secretly swore he would seek justice.

…

Watching the sleek, beautiful lines of the Rapide driving toward her from a distance, Ning Xiangxiang squinted but couldn’t make out the license plate. She figured there were many rich people, and Huo Xingyu wasn’t the only one driving an Aston Martin. Besides, she knew Huo Xingyu had little interest in cars; she just drove the standard wealthy models. It was normal to see a similar car.

When the familiar plate finally came into focus, Ning Xiangxiang felt a surge of adrenaline that made her want to stand up and bolt on her broken leg. She realized that whenever Huo Xingyu appeared, strange bad things happened—broken legs, production shutdowns.

She tried to rationalize the sudden appearance. Huo Xingyu had halted the shoot so Deng Yanxin could have space to walk. It was perfectly logical that she was here to see the Movie Queen. It’s definitely not for me, she thought firmly.

But then, the car pulled up and stopped steadily right in front of her.

—Ning Xiangxiang fell silent—

Sister Luo beside her stopped talking, too. She stared at the Aston Martin, then looked at her own left hand that had just been waving for a taxi. When did I develop the superpower to hail a luxury car with a wave?

The window slid down slowly, revealing Huo Xingyu’s sharp, beautiful profile. Her cold gaze swept over them like an autumn wind.

A few days ago, Liu Si had told Sister Luo that because Ning Ruomeng was in a coma, Ning Xiangxiang had to be the backup—they had to forge a connection with the Huo family at any cost.

At the time, Sister Luo had sneered internally. The gap between the Ning family and the prestigious Huo clan was a chasm. Even if Huo Xingyu had eyes on the bottom of her feet, Ning Xiangxiang would never be the one she noticed.

But now… she looked at Huo Xingyu in the car, then at Ning Xiangxiang. An expert… Sister Luo marveled. She had never realized Ning Xiangxiang was such a calculating, skillful woman! That “top-tier innocent flower” persona was so deceptive. They’d only met a few times, and Fourth Miss Huo had already acted as her driver twice.

Last time could be argued as “being on the way.” But this time? This time she was coming to the door to take her to see Aunt Chen. Masterful. Truly a masterful move!

Sister Luo felt a surge of admiration. She patted Ning Xiangxiang’s shoulder encouragingly and smiled at Huo Xingyu. “Is President Huo here to pick up Xiangxiang?”

Ning Xiangxiang’s internal alarms blared. She couldn’t imagine why Huo Xingyu would want her. Even if it were for the foundation ambassador role, that was a “pie in the sky” for Ning Xiangxiang but a peripheral task for Huo Xingyu—hardly something requiring the boss’s personal presence.

But from ten years of knowing her, Huo Xingyu never looked for people for idle chat. She was all about business. If she had no business, she wouldn’t even give you a glance. What if Huo Xingyu just thought this was a good spot to park? Sister Luo’s words were so embarrassing!

Seeing the cold gaze and the downward curve of Huo Xingyu’s lips—filled with dissatisfaction and irritation—Ning Xiangxiang suddenly had an epiphany.

She quickly interjected: “How could President Huo be here for me? She must be here for Miss Deng, right?”

Yesterday Huo Xingyu said she halted work because Deng Yanxin was injured. Her being here now was surely to see the Movie Queen. The “stairs” were built—all Miss Huo had to do was lift her foot and walk down them!

Under her burning, expectant gaze, Huo Xingyu’s icy eyes landed on her. Those exquisite red lips moved, stiffly spitting out two words:

“Get in.”