Chapter 73: Does This Count as Passing the Probation?
It wasn’t until Lin Huaizhi sat in the empty seat next to Huo Chen that he still seemed completely bewildered.
Everyone present looked wealthy or noble. Directly opposite him was the head of the Asia-Pacific region for a foreign luxury brand. Most of the others were unfamiliar to Lin Huaizhi, but their statuses were likely no less impressive.
“This gentleman looks unfamiliar.”
“I don’t think we’ve seen him much. Why not do a self-introduction so everyone can get to know you?”
Lin Huaizhi wore a smile on his face, but his heart was cold.
Those sitting high naturally looked down.
These people likely held high positions and wielded capital, feeling that he wasn’t on the same level as them. Thus, their words were laced with disdain and probing, assuming Huo Chen wouldn’t fall out with them over him.
Lin Huaizhi didn’t want to make things difficult for Huo Chen.
“Everyone…”
He raised a glass of white liquor (baijiu), intending to toast the crowd, but Huo Chen took the glass away, replaced it with a cup of hot water, and stuffed it into his hand.
“Why drink alcohol on an empty stomach? I asked Zheng Xiuang to order some food for you. Drink some hot tea to warm up first.” As Huo Chen spoke, he turned to look at Zheng Xiuang behind him. “Tell them to serve some good dishes, and make a soup.”
“Yes, BOSS.”
Zheng Xiuang nodded and went out.
Soon, the dishes began to be served. The leftovers on the table were cleared away at the same time, leaving only the freshly served hot dishes.
Huo Chen ladled a bowl of soup for Lin Huaizhi.
“Don’t just stare. I’ve already introduced him for you. Introduce yourselves.”
Everyone present was shrewd.
Since Huo Chen was protecting this young man so blatantly, the relationship definitely couldn’t be summarized by the simple word “boyfriend.”
Glances were exchanged around the table, and then everyone smiled and began to introduce themselves.
The meal lasted for two hours.
It was Lin Huaizhi eating for two hours. During this time, he rarely spoke; it was mostly those people talking, with Huo Chen occasionally responding with a sentence or two.
Until the party dispersed—
“President Huo is busy every day, feet never touching the ground. This time, he’s finally solved the major life event!”
“Indeed, the boyfriend is also a handsome talent. He looks so compatible with President Huo!”
“The boss of Huameng Entertainment, right? There will be plenty of opportunities for cooperation in the future!”
Wait until everyone had scattered completely, Lin Huaizhi turned to look at the man. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Huo Chen was tearing the meat off a chicken leg for him, not even lifting his head.
“What do you mean, ‘what’s the meaning’?”
Lin Huaizhi cupped the man’s face and lifted his head. “I’m asking you, what is the meaning of all this?”
Lin Huaizhi naturally knew what it meant.
He knew that the status of everyone present combined couldn’t reach a single Huo Chen, and he knew that Huo Chen setting up such a gathering was definitely paving the way for him.
But knowing was one thing.
Romance was another.
Some words had no meaning unless they came from Huo Chen’s mouth.
The man suddenly smiled. “Aren’t you distressed about the resources Chu Xiaoran lost? I’m giving you better ones.”
Lin Huaizhi was silent for a moment, then laughed too. “Not playing the Cinderella script with me anymore?”
Huo Chen finished tearing the meat off the chicken leg, placed the bone on the table, took a tissue to wipe his hands clean, and placed the torn meat in front of Lin Huaizhi.
“Not playing.”
“When did you find out?”
Lin Huaizhi picked up his chopsticks and ate the meat while saying, “Find out what? I guessed your identity was unusual, but I never overthought it. Since you’ve started setting up gatherings and finding resources for me, why don’t you just tell me directly and let me be shocked?”
Lin Huaizhi initially thought Huo Chen would be vague, but he hadn’t expected Huo Chen to have no intention of hiding it.
In that case, it was better to be straightforward to avoid any other conflicts arising later due to identity issues.
“It’s nothing amazing.”
Since the conversation had reached this point, there was indeed nothing left to hide. Huo Chen explained his identity in a few words, but seeing Lin Huaizhi’s calm face, he inexplicably gritted his teeth slightly.
“Did you guess it a long time ago?”
Lin Huaizhi shook his head. “I didn’t guess the specifics, I just felt that since it’s you, having such an identity seems very normal.”
Saying that, Lin Huaizhi suddenly laughed.
“Because of Chu Xiaoran, netizens say I am ‘Capital.’ They should come and see who, sitting at this table tonight, is the real biggest Capital.”
Huo Chen threw the tissue he used to wipe his hands into the ashtray, answering somewhat irrelevantly, “Let’s go.”
Zheng Xiuang had already gone to get the car.
Both had drunk alcohol, so driving wasn’t suitable. Huo Chen hadn’t taken two steps when Lin Huaizhi naturally followed. Huo Chen paused, looking down at the hand that was being held.
Lin Huaizhi followed his gaze downwards.
The youth lifted the hand that was interlocking fingers with the man. “It’s not like we haven’t held hands before. Is it worth stopping just to take a look?”
Huo Chen didn’t speak.
Lin Huaizhi didn’t mind either, but remembering something, he laughed and asked, “When you introduced me to them earlier, saying I was your boyfriend, were you serious?”
Huo Chen withdrew his gaze. “I don’t lie.”
Lin Huaizhi leaned closer to him. “Then does this count as me passing the probation and becoming official?”
The man’s voice was neither loud nor quiet.
“It counts.”
Lin Huaizhi stopped abruptly. He tugged at Huo Chen, his face full of shock and surprise. “What did you say?”
Lin Huaizhi had prepared himself mentally.
Before deciding to pursue Huo Chen, he had made ample preparations, both physically and psychologically.
Although he felt Huo Chen was the type who could be won over by shameless persistence, ever since he said he would pursue Huo Chen, the various difficulties he imagined hadn’t appeared.
It was just that Huo Chen kept emphasizing, emphasizing that he should properly demonstrate the love he spoke of.
Lin Huaizhi didn’t mind this at all.
Only those who had never received love would emphasize and care about it so much. Besides, this was something he should give.
He was very willing to give.
So, Lin Huaizhi actually hadn’t thought he would get a very precise answer right here.
But Huo Chen gave it.
To say he wasn’t shocked or surprised would be a lie. After all, during this time, he asked himself, he hadn’t done anything significant enough to make Huo Chen relent.
“Didn’t you say you wanted to date me? Now that I agreed, why this expression?”
Huo Chen might have drunk a bit too much; his cheeks were slightly flushed, and he lacked his usual coldness that kept people a thousand miles away. Instead, he had an air of inviting one to pluck the fruit.
Lin Huaizhi watched, his Adam’s apple bobbing.
“I…” Lin Huaizhi’s voice was husky. “I just didn’t expect you would agree to me so suddenly.”
It wasn’t exactly sudden.
Truth be told, it was actually a bit sudden.
Humans have a sense of urgency, especially when something that definitely belongs to them has another coveter.
The person who broke the ambiguous relationship between Huo Chen and Lin Huaizhi was precisely a coveter like Fan Fangfang.
Huo Chen could disregard Chu Xiaoran because Lin Huaizhi had clearly expressed his disgust, but Fan Fangfang was a new face with no grievances against Lin Huaizhi.
Regardless of Lin Huaizhi’s attitude towards her, Huo Chen felt the urgency.
“Nothing unexpected about it.”
Huo Chen pulled the person and walked out. Zheng Xiuang had already parked the car outside. He opened the door and pushed Lin Huaizhi in.
“We are in a romantic relationship now.”
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