OFTLHFRO C118

Chapter 118: I Heard It’s a Secret

“Sit.”

At those words, Huo Yuhui secretly lifted his gaze at Huo Yan’s expressionless face.

After hesitating for a moment, he sat down nearby and summoned the courage to ask:

“Daddy, is something the matter?”

Huo Yan said:

“I heard from your Little Daddy that you dropped your necklace. Let me see it.”

“…All right.”

Huo Yuhui took the necklace from the pouch at his waist and handed it over.

“Daddy, here it is.”

Taking the necklace, Huo Yan examined the broken cord. Without a word, he drew a bundle of red string from his robes.

It was something he had earlier requested from Baixue.

Dividing the cord into three strands, Huo Yan tied one end and handed it to Huo Yuhui.

“Hold this.”

“Mm.”

Confused, Huo Yuhui held the string, watching as his father, at first clumsy, began to braid it.

But after a short while, Huo Yan’s movements grew skilled and his speed quickened.

Huo Yuhui was astonished.

Then again, his father even knew how to mend clothing—he had sewn clothes for them before. Knowing how to braid string wasn’t so surprising.

“Was it cold in the lake?”

Startled by the question, Huo Yuhui’s hand trembled. Lowering his eyes, he murmured:

“It wasn’t too bad.”

“Oh.”

Silence stretched again.

When he finished one cord, Huo Yan began a second—for Huo Xiang.

Holding the string, Huo Yuhui’s heart raced.

Once the cords were braided, Huo Yan set them aside and looked at him.

“Still not planning to tell the truth?”

Huo Yuhui dropped to his knees.

“Daddy, I’m sorry.”

“The one who suffered was you. The one who pulled you out was your Little Daddy. Why apologize to me?”

At that, Huo Yuhui lowered his head even further, fists clenched tight inside his sleeves.

He would be cast aside, wouldn’t he?

A hand settled lightly on his head.

Shadows fell over him. Expecting a blow, he shut his eyes. But what he felt was warmth, not pain.

“You’ve seen too much ugliness since you were small. That your methods are clumsy, even foolish, isn’t your fault.”

Huo Yan knew well: those trapped in the inner residence rarely had refined means. All their efforts were spent on pleasing the master of the house.

Usually, that meant wives vying for a husband’s favor. Such crude schemes were not unnoticed by men—it was simply that they didn’t care, or even enjoyed watching women tear each other apart for their attention.

As a child raised in the inner quarters, the very first things Huo Yuhui learned were those petty tactics.

Huo Yan himself had lived through what it was like after his own mother lost favor. So when he had taken Huo Yuhui away, he already knew this child had been twisted by such an environment, even if it had not yet shown.

What he had not expected was that the boy’s first attempt at such a scheme would be aimed at Huo Xu.

Hearing this, Huo Yuhui’s eyes reddened. He wanted to speak, but no words would come.

It felt as though he had disappointed both his fathers.

“Your Little Daddy said you’d never do such a thing.”

Withdrawing his hand, Huo Yan said:

“Stand. Tomorrow morning, the first day of the New Year, you will explain yourself to him.”

When Huo Yuhui didn’t move, Huo Yan pulled him up.

“Daddy…”

“Do not ever do something this foolish again. Those matters are not yours to worry over—just watch. If we cannot resolve them, then no matter how much you suffer, it’s useless. To harm yourself in order to sully another’s name or force their guilt—that is the lowest of strategies.”

In Huo Yuhui’s eyes, Huo Yan had always been stern, taciturn, and a little frightening. Rarely did he speak at such length.

But this Huo Yan felt far more approachable, which only deepened his guilt.

He said earnestly:

“I understand. I won’t ever do something so foolish again. Tomorrow morning, I’ll go and beg Little Daddy’s forgiveness.”

“Mm.”

Threading the pendant back onto the new cord, Huo Yan placed it around his son’s neck.

“This one, tomorrow, you’ll give to Xiao Xiang.”

“All right.”

Before leaving, Huo Yan glanced at the calligraphy practice on the desk.

“Rest early.”

Huo Yuhui smiled.

“I will. Good night, Daddy.”

Huo Yan touched his head before stepping out and heading toward the opposite room.

At the doorway, he saw Luo Mingchen, hair loose, wearing casual robes, just about to go out.

Seeing him return, Luo Mingchen spared himself the trip and asked in puzzlement:

“What were you two talking about?”

“I’ll tell you tomorrow morning.”

At this, Luo Mingchen grew more curious. He grabbed Huo Yan’s sleeve.

“Why? Tell me now.”

“I promised Xiao Hui I’d let him say it to you himself.”

Luo Mingchen was full of question marks.

“That mysterious?”

Huo Yan nodded.

“Mm.”

“Then you tell me first. I won’t tell him. Tomorrow I’ll just act surprised, problem solved. Don’t worry—I’ve got excellent acting skills.”

Sidling closer, eyes gleaming with mischief, Luo Mingchen arched a brow.

“Well?”

They stared at one another. Huo Yan said:

“When we met the very first day, you revealed every one of your secrets to me without reservation.”

Luo Mingchen, struck where it hurt:

“…That’s because I thought you were a good man. I did it on purpose.”

“Oh? Is that so?”

Clearly unconvinced.

Luo Mingchen’s eyes darted.

“Of course it is. You don’t believe my words?”

After a pause, Huo Yan asked:

“Do you truly want to know?”

Luo Mingchen nodded instantly.

“Scrub my back.”

Then he added:

“With your hands.”

Luo Mingchen felt his heart sink.

“…Can’t you pick something else?”

Huo Yan’s reply was crisp.

“No.”

“I just bathed!”

“Oh.”

That utterly unconcerned look made Luo Mingchen’s molars itch.

And before going inside, Huo Yan even said lazily:

“Miss this chance, and it won’t come again.”

Head aching, Luo Mingchen stormed in after him.

“Fine then, take your clothes off!”

Already waiting, Huo Yan handed him a cloth with a smile.

“Much obliged, husband(fulang).”

“…Heh. Please call me ‘husband(fujun)’ properly.”

Obediently, Huo Yan corrected himself.

“Much obliged, husband(fujun).”(check in the end for explanation)

Feeling secretly pleased, Luo Mingchen rolled up his sleeves and prepared the water.

“Well? Hurry and undress.”

“All right.”

Moments later—

“Hey! Why are you undressing me?”

“If your clothes get wet, you’ll only have to change again. Better not to wear them at all.”

That logic…

Luo Mingchen couldn’t argue.

Though something about it felt off.

What began as a back-scrubbing turned into them bathing together.

Seated on Huo Yan’s lap, Luo Mingchen faced those predatory eyes and instinctively reached out to cover them.

The splash of water mixed with other sounds, lingering late into the night…

When he awoke, Luo Mingchen lazily rolled over, feeling utterly drained.

He marveled at Huo Yan’s ability to still rise and practice spear drills—such determination.

As for himself, he only wanted to stay bundled in the warm blankets.

The door opened, letting in a gust of wind and snow.

Closing out the cold, Huo Yan looked at the drowsy man still in bed, and went over to touch his face.

Finding it warm, he tried to pull his cold hand away, but Luo Mingchen caught it and drew him into the blankets.

“So chilly? Why aren’t you wearing more?”

He even pressed the hand to his belly, so it would warm faster.

Huo Yan tried to pull free, but couldn’t. With resignation, he said:

“I’m not cold.”

Luo Mingchen touched his face again.

“Cold hands, cold face—but you’re not cold? Right?”

“…Mm.”

Too lazy to argue, Luo Mingchen warmed him a while longer before remembering something.

“Weren’t you supposed to tell me something?”

Huo Yan blinked.

“Happy New Year?”

“…Not that.”

Though he hadn’t said it either, what Luo Mingchen really wanted to know was the secret between him and the eldest boy.

Note =

 

• Huo Yan thanks Luo Mingchen for agreeing to scrub his back, calling him 夫郎 (fūláng). 
  • 夫郎 is like saying “spouse” or “mate”, usually used for a husband, but in BL/ancient setting, it carries a slightly cutesy, teasing undertone. 
• Luo Mingchen isn’t satisfied with that — he wants to be addressed more formally and properly as 夫君 (fūjūn), which means “husband” in a very dignified, rightful-spouse way. It emphasizes status and respect, not just a casual “mate.” 

So basically:

1. Huo Yan: “Much obliged, fūláng (mate/spouse).” → kind of playful. 
2. Luo Mingchen: “…Heh. Don’t call me that. Call me fūjūn (husband).” → he wants the official title. 
3. Huo Yan obediently changes it: “Much obliged, husband.”