CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63: REALIZATION

When most of the guests had already left, and the mansion became quieter, Yue Ning slipped into Huo Feng’s room.

The faint smell of smoke lingered in the air. He stood by the window with a cigarette between his fingers, the fire glowing in the dim light.

As if sensing her presence, he immediately extinguished the cigarette

"Have a seat," he gestured to the sofa, and she immediately took her seat.

Huo Feng didn’t join her. Instead, he remained standing, his tall figure outlined by the faint moonlight radiating through the window. The silence stretched, heavy and unspoken..

"Yue Chen said something," Yue Ning broke the silence. Her voice was low, but steady.

Huo Feng’s eyes flickered over to her. "What did she say?" His expression was unreadable as he waited for her answer.

Yue Ning hesitated for a while. Yue Chen’s earlier words echoed in her mind, the smugness behind her voice replayed.

’Host, you need not waste time. Tell him about it.’ The system pressed.

"She said she knew about my... real identity." Yue Ning admitted, her fingers curling while she had her head lowered.

His jaw tightened, the muscles working as if he were holding something back. Slowly, he walked over and lowered himself onto the sofa beside her.

"Go on." His voice was calm, but there was a cold edge beneath it.

Yue Ning lowered her voice further, almost a whisper. "I think the Yue couple knows more than they’ve ever admitted. I want you to investigate them. There is more to this than it meets the eye."

Huo Feng studied her face for a long moment, his dark eyes probing, as though weighing the storm behind her words. Finally, he reached out and took her hand. His grip was firm and reassuring.

"I’ll look into it," he said, his tone quiet but resolute.

"We will find out the truth, and that’s a promise."

Her lips curled faintly. "I am glad to have you by my side."

Patting her hands, he said. "Everything will be fine. You have had a long day, it would be good for you to rest."

Yue Ning nodded, and walked into the bathroom.

Huo Feng, however, stepped out of the room. The hall was still filled with traces of festivities, though the guests had already left.

He bumped into one of the maids who was actually looking for him.

"Young Master, the Matriarch has requested you see her. She says she has something important to talk to you about," the maid informed him.

Huo Feng nodded, acknowledging her words. He changed his path, and walked to his grandmother’s room.

When he arrived at the door, he knocked. He only walked into the room when he heard a curt, ’come in.’

He met the older woman sitting upright on her bed. Her presence commanded respect, despite her old age.

He pursed his lips before he walked further in. "Grandmother, you know you are meant to be resting."

Her expression remained cool, but her eyes had softened. She patted the space beside her, gesturing for him to take his seat.

"Grandmother, what did you want to talk about?" Huo Feng asked after he had taken his seat.

"Why didn’t you do anything when Yue Chen was provoking Yue Ning?" She asked with a stern expression, without wasting words. Her tone was sharp, almost scolding him.

Huo Feng was speechless. Was this what she called him for?

Old Madam Huo hit his head. "Why are you quiet? You let your wife fight alone. Some husband you are." Sarcasm dripped from her voice.

Huo Feng rubbed the spot that he had been hit. His grandmother might already be old, but she possessed a lot of strength.

"Grandmother, Yue Ning is an independent lady. Unless necessary, she would never want someone to fight her battles for her. Today was one of those cases." Huo Feng patiently explained.

He had to do this. If he didn’t, she might consider him a horrible husband.

"Hmph!" Old Madam Huo scoffed in response. "She is cleaning up your mess. Who asked you to be involved with Yue Chen?"

Huo Feng chuckled softly, before pulling her into a gentle hug. "Grandmother, I was previously blind, but now I can see. Don’t worry, I won’t be entangled with her anymore."

Her stern gaze wavered, but she still snorted. "It had better be so."

"So tell me, what do you think about Yue Ning?" She asked curiously, her tone shifting.

Huo Feng didn’t respond immediately. Instead, his mind went to Yue Ning without hesitation. He recalled every expression of hers—from anger, frustration, calmness, happiness, sadness... he had witnessed it all.

He didn’t realise that while thinking of Yue Ning, there was a faint smile tugging at his lips.

Old Madam watched the sincere smile on his face, and her eyes glinted with satisfaction.

"You are falling in love with her, aren’t you?" She asked directly.

Huo Feng froze, startled by her bluntness. He didn’t answer. Before, he would have denied it instantly. But tonight... he hesitated.

Could it be? As this thought flashed through his mind, his heart skipped several beats.

Suppressing the turmoil in his heart, he said, "Grandmother, you need to rest early."

After he said this, he disentangled himself from her, laid her properly on the bed—despite her protests. He only smiled softly, and covered her with the blanket.

"Good night, Grandma." He greeted, and walked out of her room.

"He is still running away from his feelings. I hope when he realizes it, it won’t be too late," Old Madam Huo mumbled under her breath while her gaze lingered on the door.

Meanwhile, Huo Feng walked back into his room. When he arrived, he saw that Yue Ning had already gone to bed, with a novel by her side. It was obvious she fell asleep while reading this.

His eyes trailed from her closed eyes down to her lips. Finally, his gaze rested on her lips, and he thought about the question his grandmother asked him.

"Am I really falling for her?" He whispered to himself, his gaze still fixated on the girl who was sleeping peacefully.