Chapter 3: The Male Lead with X-Ray Vision VS Five Female Leads (3)
[Host, do you know that everything you’re doing is completely deviating from the plot?] As Huo Xian and the calmer Huo En began to inventory the Huo family’s assets, the system finally couldn’t hold back and appeared.
Huo Xian casually asked: [Does this world even have a plot anymore?]
The system fell silent.
After a while, Huo Xian heard the system say: [Side Quest: Revitalize Ting En Real Estate.]
Huo Xian paused his mouse movements, thoughtfully asking: [There’s no need to do side quests, right?]
The system replied coldly: [Side quests can earn the host extra points. 1000 points can unlock the exchange store.]
[What’s in the store?] Huo Xian seemed interested.
The system didn’t answer directly, only saying: [The host can unlock the store browsing function by completing any main quest.]
Huo Xian nonchalantly hummed, saying nothing more.
Perhaps due to the “son of destiny” halo, after Huo Xian suggested filing for bankruptcy, Huo En, though hesitant, quickly accepted. Together, they inventoried the Huo family’s movable and immovable assets. To their surprise, when they opened a safe in the basement of the villa, they found a vault—a literal vault filled with gold.
The original Huo Xian remembered his father’s fondness for gold, and Huo En knew this as well, but neither knew about the existence of this vault, nor its value of over 100 million.
The discovery of the vault was accidental, happening while Huo Xian practiced controlling his X-ray vision ability. He not only found the vault but also discovered several hidden safes behind decorative paintings on the walls of the villa, filled with jewelry or cash. He even found a smaller basement below the main basement filled with antiques and paintings. The more he saw, the more shocked he became. He suspected that his father was a hamster spirit; the house appeared outwardly magnificent and complete, but inside it was riddled with hidden compartments.
He also felt lucky that he discovered his father’s hidden treasures before the house was sold. Otherwise, if his father woke up to find that the house was sold without anyone finding his collection, he might have died of anger on the spot.
Huo Xian didn’t tell Huo En about the other hidden treasures besides the gold. Although Huo En was his sister and had always been kind to him, Huo Xian, inhabiting the original’s body, couldn’t explain how he knew about his father’s hidden treasures. Given that their parents favored the original Huo Xian, telling her would only make her feel worse. Plus, since Huo En was suspicious of him, he chose to keep a low profile.
After discussing it, they decided to use some of the gold from the vault. In exchange, they would keep the villa, which their father had bought after he made his fortune, continuously expanding and renovating it, and where the family had lived for over twenty years.
=v=
[Host, Ting En Real Estate has gone bankrupt.] One day, while watering the flowers in the garden, the silent system appeared, its mechanical voice as cold as ever.
Huo Xian hummed in response.
A whole month had passed since he fell from the building and returned home. During that month, Huo En had handled the company’s bankruptcy, the sale of assets, the repayment of bank loans, the payment of outstanding wages, and all other matters. Huo Xian had only suggested filing for bankruptcy and found his father’s vault; he had barely gone out, spending his days cooking, reading, and watering flowers—living a life lazier than a couch potato.
[Host, you should be doing your tasks.] The system reminded him sternly.
With no one around, Huo Xian didn’t need to respond mentally: “No hurry, I haven’t fully mastered my ability yet. If I rashly contact people and use my ability intentionally or unintentionally, it will be very rude.”
Then practice! If the system had emotions, it would have already roared.
[Please actively complete the tasks; otherwise, it will affect the points settlement.] Having “known” Huo Xian for a while, the system had probably figured out his personality: rebellious. The more it told him to do something, the less he would do it. So, the system had become smarter, simply giving a concise prompt and leaving it at that.
The system’s silence surprised Huo Xian. He thought: It seems the system’s bottom line is deeper than he thought. And, he was even more certain that the system’s threats weren’t as great as he had imagined.
The electronic doorbell rang. Huo Xian glanced outside—a true glance. The villa was very private, a standalone house, but for Huo Xian with X-ray vision, the garden and the gate were still within his sight.
It was Liu Chengpei, the original Huo Xian’s brother-in-law’s car.
Huo Xian curled his lips, thinking: He’s finally here.
Liu Chengpei was forty years old, but “a man at forty is like a flower in full bloom” perfectly described him. He was pampered since childhood, his appearance was impeccable; tall and slender, without the beer belly common in men his age; with thick, dark hair. When he wasn’t speaking, he seemed gentle and refined, but once he opened his mouth…
“…Axian, tell me, is your sister crazy? I already promised to connect her with the Qiao family, and the Qiao family has already agreed, but she suddenly filed for bankruptcy. What was she thinking?”
Huo Xian tilted his head and remained silent.
Liu Chengpei continued: “I’m not saying this to be mean, Axian, ‘Ting En’ isn’t just your sister’s. Now she’s bankrupting the company and selling off all the assets. Did she get Dad’s permission? Did she care about your feelings? Aren’t you entitled to some of those assets? We were so close to reviving ‘Ting En,’ but she’s deliberately sulking. She was caught cheating, yet she has the nerve to throw a tantrum, ignoring my calls and not coming home. It seems I’ve spoiled her too much. Look what she’s become.” His tone was now filled with sarcasm.
“If you don’t want to spoil her, get a divorce. Why are you telling me this? It’s annoying!” Huo Xian looked impatient, completely different from the leisurely person he was just minutes ago.
However, Liu Chengpei, instead of being upset by his attitude, coaxed him kindly: “Axian, don’t be angry. Let your brother-in-law take you to ‘Moonlit Night,’ and I guarantee your mood will improve immediately.”
“Moonlit Night” was an entertainment club, the usual haunt for the original Huo Xian and Liu Chengpei.
“I’m not in the mood, I’m not going!” Huo Xian impatiently waved him away, throwing himself onto the sofa without any grace. “She sold all the family’s shares, securities, and real estate. She even transferred all the money from my cards without my knowledge. Now I have nothing. If I knew where she was, I’d kill her!” His face was filled with rage, as if Huo En was right in front of him, and he could grab a fruit knife from the coffee table and stab her.
Liu Chengpei didn’t suspect anything. The original Huo Xian’s personality was just like that. Huo Xian was imitating the original’s personality, although there was still a gap, it was more than enough to fool Liu Chengpei.
Liu Chengpei’s eyes rolled, and he subtly said, “I remember Dad valued this villa the most. He spent a lot of effort on this villa over the years. Huo En wouldn’t have sold this one, would she?”
Huo Xian seemed not to understand the implication, grumbling angrily: “This is the only one left. I’m staying here, and if she dares to take the title deed, I’ll kill her!”
“Right, don’t let her!” Liu Chengpei agreed. “This is Dad’s hard work, and Dad is only temporarily in a vegetative state. Maybe one day he’ll recover, and we can’t let him come home to find that his home is gone.”
Huo Xian hummed, his anger subsiding slightly: “Brother-in-law, are you here to see Huo En? She’s been out and hasn’t come back… By the way, do you have any money? Give me some; I don’t have any money to use.”
“I came to see you. I’ve been so busy dealing with your sister’s mess that I haven’t had time to come. I finally had some time today, and seeing you’re okay, I’m relieved.” Liu Chengpei spoke with “genuine emotion,” and without hesitation, he took out his wallet and gave him two cards. “The password is six zeros. If it’s not enough, ask me for more.”
Seeing the cards, Huo Xian’s eyes lit up immediately. He eagerly took them, smiling happily: “Thank you, brother-in-law. You’re the best to me!”
A flicker of contempt quickly crossed Liu Chengpei’s eyes. He reached out to pat his head. Huo Xian, comfortable on the sofa, expertly avoided his hand. Liu Chengpei thought it was a coincidence and didn’t mind, saying: “Of course, you’re my younger brother.” After a pause, he casually asked: “Speaking of selling off assets, Axian, about that small community Dad bought before the accident, ‘Happy Garden,’ Huo En doesn’t seem to have sold it either.”
“Huh? Mm… probably. That run-down community isn’t going to be demolished; nobody wants it even if it’s free.” Huo Xian casually brushed him off while ordering takeout. “Brother-in-law, stay for lunch. I ordered food and drinks; let’s have a few drinks.”
Upon hearing this, Liu Chengpei felt displeased, cursing “useless idiot” in his heart, but he didn’t show it on his face. He said apologetically: “I can’t today; my niece is returning home today, and I have to pick her up at the airport. We’re having a welcome party for her tomorrow. I’ll come pick you up then.”
The slight happiness on Huo Xian’s face disappeared. He lazily said, “Okay.” He lowered his head and started playing with his phone again. After playing for a while, he seemed to remember something. “Brother-in-law, Huo En sold all my cars. Buy me a new one.”
Liu Chengpei’s face twitched. He was very displeased with this spoiled brat’s commanding attitude, but now was not the time for this spoiled brat to climb up. He nodded and said dotingly: “Okay, I’ll get you one in two days.”
“Remember to put it under my name. I don’t want anyone to sell my car without my knowledge again.” Huo Xian mumbled.
After Liu Chengpei left, Huo Xian put away his arrogant second-generation rich kid attitude, his expression calming down. He looked at the two anonymous cards on the coffee table, thoughtful.
…
The An family, in their European-style palace-like villa, the harsh electronic ringtone broke the morning’s quiet, followed by the maid’s cry: “Oh no, the eldest master is vomiting blood and has fainted! Someone, help—”
Next to the eldest master’s room was a dedicated medical team. At the maid’s cry, the doctors quickly prepared, wearing their gear in less than half a minute and quickly examining the eldest master. Medical equipment that hadn’t been used for a long time was also brought out. The attending physician was puzzled: The eldest master’s illness hadn’t recurred in more than half a year, why did he suddenly vomit blood? However, he didn’t have much time to ponder; the eldest master’s bodily functions were failing, and he had to be treated immediately.
After an hour of rescue, the eldest master’s vital signs finally stabilized, and he opened his eyes, still extremely weak. His lips moved, seeming to repeat two words. The noblewoman weeping beside the bed couldn’t hear what he was saying. A young woman with an elegant and cold demeanor bent down close to him, “Big Brother, what do you want to say? Speak slowly, I’m listening.”
The eldest master’s lips moved, and after much effort, he barely managed to utter a word: “Huo…”
“Huo?” The young woman repeated.
The eldest master used almost all his remaining strength to utter the last word: “Xian…”
Huo Xian?
Author’s Note: Thank you to the little fairies “Yu Lian” for watering the nutrient solution +5, and “Lingxi” for watering the nutrient solution +1, muah =3=