Chapter 92: The Interview
Huo Chen’s figure was too recognizable.
Before participating in the dating show, he was the low-profile head of the Huo family who rarely appeared in public. After participating, he was the “white-eyed wolf” who defied his parents and fell out with his family for the sake of Lin Huaizhi.
As soon as Huo Chen walked out of the apartment building, the disguised paparazzi moved like the wind. Within two steps, cameras and microphones were gathered in front of him.
“President Huo, we heard you broke off ties with your family for a man, leading to your parents kicking you out of the Huo Group. Is this true?”
“You just walked out of this building, which happens to be Lin Huaizhi’s residence. So, did you and Lin Huaizhi fall in love for real during the show? And is the man you defied your family for indeed Lin Huaizhi?”
“It is common knowledge that the Huo Group is a top-ten global enterprise. By giving it up for Lin Huaizhi, do you really intend to choose the beauty over the kingdom?”
“There are rumors online that Lin Huaizhi only chose to chase you because he knew your identity. What do you think about that?”
“Filial piety is a traditional virtue in our country. Do you feel ashamed of your ‘white-eyed wolf’ behavior for abandoning the parents who raised you for decades for the sake of a man?”
The paparazzi each had their own questions.
However, it must be said that the last one’s question was incredibly arrogant and bold. For a moment, everyone looked at that reporter, and Huo Chen also lifted his gaze, looking over indifferently.
A man who had spent years in the business world possessed an intimidating aura, especially when his cold, sharp-edged face was set in a chilling expression. It easily gave people the illusion of being stared down by a shark.
The reporter was so frightened by Huo Chen’s glance that his legs began to tremble, but since the arrow was already on the string, he could only brace himself and continue. “Please answer!”
Huo Chen hadn’t intended to remain silent. The reason he walked out so openly was to give these paparazzi a chance to act, so he could respond to these matters once and for all.
“First, Lin Huaizhi and I are in a relationship with marriage as the goal. As for my identity, Lin Huaizhi was not aware of it before the show. There is no such thing as him ‘offering himself’ for money.”
“Second, the claims online that I abandoned my parents for a man are slanders and rumors. I will hold the relevant individuals legally responsible.”
“Third, the reason I went on that show was because of a promise made at home. They said if I agreed to it, they would stop interfering in every aspect of my decisions and life. Clearly, they did not keep their word and still attempted to control my thoughts and life, turning me into a puppet.”
“Finally, regarding the Huo Group—it is not that I need it, but that it needs me. Since the members of the Huo Group believe I am insignificant, let us go our separate ways. I will not return to the Huo Group in the future.”
Huo Chen’s words were logically clear, but the content was far more explosive than the paparazzi’s questions.
When he said he would never return to the Huo Group, there was a literal uproar. The paparazzi stopped harping on Lin Huaizhi and began frantically asking if he really intended to leave the group and what his next steps were.
“Are you truly leaving the Huo Group?”
“The Huo Group reached its current heights largely because of you. Now that it is a top-ten global company with massive prospects, do you really plan to give it up?”
“From what you’ve said, it seems you don’t get along with your family. Is it because your parents have an extreme desire for control?”
“If you truly aren’t returning, what are your plans? Do you intend to start a new business or enter the entertainment industry? As the Chairman of Huaimeng Entertainment, Lin Huaizhi would surely use all his resources to promote you, right?”
The questions kept coming, but Huo Chen had no intention of answering further.
“I have said all I have to say. Please do not continue to stake out this place or bother Lin Huaizhi or me. Otherwise, I will take legal action to protect our rights.”
Zheng Xiu’ang was already waiting outside the complex. Huo Chen strode forward.
Perhaps because the man’s aura was too strong or his expression was stern enough to inspire fear, the paparazzi continued to chase him with questions but didn’t dare block his path again.
Zheng Xiu’ang opened the car door. Once Huo Chen was inside, the black Bentley quickly sped away, leaving only a cloud of exhaust behind.
Lin Huaizhi stood by the window and witnessed everything. He couldn’t hear what Huo Chen was saying, but he knew the details and videos of the interview would appear online very soon.
He just wanted to see Huo Chen off. Besides, this man was like a living clothes hanger; not only did he look good in anything, but even just his silhouette standing there was unfairly handsome.
The paparazzi soon dispersed.
Lin Huaizhi got ready, and two hours after Huo Chen left, he got into the car Zhou Ning sent for him and headed to Huaimeng.
That evening, Lin Huaizhi received a dinner invitation from the boss of Yunling.
During school, there is always a “God of Study” who sits at the top of the grade every year, leaving everyone else in the dust. Sometimes even the second-place student is behind by dozens of points.
And this second-place student is very likely to be a “perennial runner-up.” Despite being excellent, they can never surpass the first-place student and remain forever in their shadow.
Huaimeng was that top student. Yunling was the perennial runner-up.
The two companies were rivals and had collaborated before, but they were mostly in competition. Lin Huaizhi and the boss of Yunling, Yun Ziling, were considered acquaintances.
However, Yun Ziling looked down on him. He was also always secretly trying to overtake Huaimeng.
So, when Yun Ziling invited him for dinner, Lin Huaizhi was quite surprised. But businessmen value profit; in the business world, there are no permanent enemies, only permanent interests.
Since Yun Ziling was willing to invite him for dinner, he definitely wanted to talk business. And business usually meant money was to be made. Thus, when Huo Chen wanted to pick him up for dinner that evening, Lin Huaizhi declined.
Of course, when declining a boyfriend, one had to say some sweet things, coax him a bit, make a compromise, and promise some benefits.
Lin Huaizhi wasn’t shy about it. On the phone, he was both kissing and flirting with Huo Chen, soon getting him to let go. Huo Chen said he had brought Lin’s favorite flowers and milk tea and would wait for him to get home.
Lin Huaizhi loved milk tea.
It wasn’t that he was greedy; it was because back when he first started out, he was running errands for people on set. Because there was a big star involved, they had bought a lot, and he was given one.
That was the sweetest thing the Lin Huaizhi of that age had ever tasted. Sweeter than candy.
Back then, he thought how wonderful it would be if he could drink something this delicious every day. Now that he had money, an occasional cup of milk tea was a way of fulfilling his own wish.
“Okay.” Lin Huaizhi smiled as he responded, his voice sounding soft. “Have you eaten? I’ll bring some food back for you, and we can eat together, okay?”
The man on the other end of the line paused. “Aren’t you having dinner with someone else?”
“It’s not me having dinner with someone else; someone else invited me,” Lin Huaizhi corrected his wording. “Besides, eating with anyone else isn’t as happy as eating with you.”
“I only enjoy eating with you.”
After a smooth series of verbal “combos,” Huo Chen was coaxed to the point of almost losing his bearings. His expression unconsciously softened, and his voice became a few degrees gentler.
“Then I’ll wait for you.”
Lin Huaizhi blew a kiss through the air. “Okay, baby. I’ll be back after I finish my business. Love you.”
Huo Chen’s face felt hot and his ears were red from those blunt words. He opened his mouth, but before he could say the same back, the call was disconnected.
They happened to be at a red light. The sudden silence caused Zheng Xiu’ang to look in the rearview mirror.
It would have been better if he hadn’t looked; the sight almost scared him to death.
Wait! Hadn’t the Boss been doing fine on the phone with Lin Huaizhi just now! Why did he suddenly look like someone owed him eighty billion!
He hadn’t said a word from start to finish, so it definitely wasn’t his fault—it must be Lin Huaizhi’s!
They were just having a sweet, tender phone call! For the Boss to suddenly change his face… only Lin Huaizhi had that kind of power.
But seriously, don’t do this! In the past, when the Boss looked like this, nothing good ever followed!
Sure enough, in less than half a minute, the man’s voice came from the back.
“Find a place to stop up ahead.”
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