Volume 1, Chapter 102: He Lacks the Ability to Bully Me

Ye Sheng was, after all, no longer a child.

She had long since outgrown the age where she would bury her face in her brother’s chest to cry when wronged; she had stopped doing that after the sixth grade. It was because even if she had tried to seek comfort in his arms, Ye Zhun would only have pushed her away. When she was in elementary school, Ye Zhun was merely a high school student, and his approach to raising her had always been to teach her not to hide.

"If someone speaks ill of you behind your back, pretend you didn't hear it. If they dare to say it to your face, curse them back, or hit them back! I can protect you for a lifetime, but I cannot protect you every single moment. You must learn to stand up for yourself."

That was the longest sentence Ye Zhun had ever said to her throughout her childhood, and it had left a deep impression on Ye Sheng.

Thus, any feelings of grievance that arose would only last for a fleeting moment. She digested them quickly, and in the blink of an eye, she was a mature adult once again.

"Brother Lin," Ye Sheng called out softly, offering a smile. "What brings you here?"

Huo Lindong walked toward her. He had come alone, without the children or his bodyguards. He seemed to have arrived in a hurry, not even wearing an overcoat, dressed only in a thin shirt.

"Did he bully you?"

Just as Ye Sheng was about to ask why he wasn't wearing a jacket, she heard Huo Lindong’s gentle yet deep voice. He stood beside her, his gaze lifting slightly to sweep across Huo Mingting.

Huo Mingting felt somewhat aggrieved by his Great-Uncle’s words, thinking to himself, *Who exactly is bullying whom here?*

"No," Ye Sheng shook her head. "He can't bully me. He doesn't have the ability."

Huo Mingting lowered his eyes to look at her. Ever since Huo Lindong arrived, she had retracted all her quills like a hedgehog; she no longer pricked at anyone, returning to a state of calm and gentleness. This shift in her demeanor made Huo Mingting narrow his eyes in the shadows.

There was no rush to settle the matter of custody right this moment. Given Huo Mingting’s attitude, a lawsuit was inevitable, and Ye Sheng knew she would need to consult a lawyer first. She stopped arguing with him, finding it tedious to trade barbs, and asked Huo Lindong, "Are the children asleep?"

"They weren't when I left." Huo Lindong replied, "I left people to look after them, so don't worry."

Ye Sheng nodded. Brother Lin was always meticulous in his arrangements; she had no reason to worry. "I have to stay here tonight, I can't leave. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have to trouble you to take Cong’er to school."

Huo Mingting: "?"

He was standing right there. Had she forgotten that he was Cong’er’s biological father?

"It's fine," Huo Lindong said, telling her not to fret over such details. "Is Chu Yue injured? I’ll go take a look."

Ye Sheng was startled. "Brother Lin, you know Chu Yue?"

"I know his father," Huo Lindong said. "As for Chu Yue, he was the leader of the team that rashly broke into the Meishan Research Institute a while back."

"..." Ye Sheng was stunned. "Why on earth would he do that?"

The two walked toward the ward as they spoke, completely disregarding the person left behind. Huo Mingting, who had become "invisible" ever since Huo Lindong appeared, nearly ground his teeth to dust. He clenched his fists and suddenly whipped his head toward the space behind him. "You’ve been eavesdropping for long enough, haven't you?"

The command to "come out" made Meng Juan tremble from head to toe. She steadied her numb legs and emerged, trembling. Once Ye Sheng and Huo Lindong left, Huo Mingting’s aura expanded, the crushing pressure so intense that Meng Juan didn't even dare to meet his gaze.

"Which tabloid are you with?" Huo Mingting asked coldly.

His bodyguards were already in position, waiting to seize any cameras or photos of the unauthorized recording. Meng Juan glanced at them, terrified, and stammered, "I—I'm not a reporter. I’m a classmate of Ye Sheng’s. I wasn't eavesdropping, I just... I overheard by accident."

"A classmate?" Huo Mingting narrowed his eyes.

Meng Juan nodded frantically. "Yes! Not just Ye Sheng, but Qin Minshu too! We were roommates in college. We were even at a class reunion tonight..."

She explained at length, even hoping to mention her relationship with Qin Minshu, but Huo Mingting had already lost interest. He waved his hand to cut her off, saying only, "Watch your mouth," before turning to leave.

Meng Juan took a deep breath, feeling as though she had escaped a disaster. Yet, watching Huo Mingting’s retreating back, she couldn't fathom why Ye Sheng would ever divorce such a handsome and wealthy man. Perhaps it was because she had found someone even more handsome and wealthy?

When the man called "Brother Lin" had appeared, it felt as though the entire world had cleared a path for him; his presence was truly overwhelming. Ye Sheng was truly enviable—beautiful and brilliant enough to have so many men vying for her attention, circling her constantly.

The only thing Meng Juan couldn't figure out was why Qin Minshu would donate bone marrow for Ye Sheng’s child. That woman had always known only how to take, never to give... and she was most skilled at claiming credit for others' deeds. Could it be that she had stolen credit for someone else’s contribution?

—

In the emergency ward, Chu Yue, who had been whining to a young nurse like a spineless coward, sat bolt upright the moment he saw Ye Sheng walk in with Huo Lindong. "Oh, crap!"

"Hmm?" Huo Lindong raised an eyebrow. "Where are you planning to go?"

Chu Yue’s panic was visible; he hadn't even been this nervous when facing his superiors. "No, nowhere." He pressed his palms together in a gesture of supplication, his expression filled with childish pleading. To Ye Sheng, this sight was entirely new. Was Brother Lin really that terrifying? Enough to scare a captain like Chu Yue into this state?

"Why exactly did you break into the Meishan Research Institute?" Ye Sheng asked curiously. "That place is incredibly secretive. How did you even find out about it?"

Chu Yue pressed his lips into a thin line.

To betray his brothers or not to betray them—that was the philosophical question.