OFTLHFRO C15

Chapter 15: Planning to Kiss Back

On the way back, Luo Mingchen awkwardly poked Huo Yan and said, “About last night… sorry.”

Huo Yan replied calmly, “It’s fine. I’ve been keeping track. You kicked me thirty-four times and hit me fifteen times.”

Hearing those first two words, Luo Mingchen felt a bit guilty; after hearing the full count, he was utterly shocked.

“You actually remember all that? That’s too petty!”

Huo Yan turned and smiled faintly, “I am quite petty.”

Luo Mingchen wordlessly kicked him again in the lower back, with little force.

“Thirty-five kicks.”

Luo Mingchen’s mouth twitched, suddenly recalling, “Did you remember that thing this morning too?”

Huo Yan paused, “Thanks for the reminder—thirty-six kicks in total.”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen ground his teeth, really wanting to kick him off the cart.

After a while, Luo Mingchen calmed down and asked, “Are you planning to kick back tonight?”

“I plan to kiss back tonight.”

Because Huo Yan said this so matter-of-factly, Luo Mingchen doubted if he had heard right.

Driving the cart, Huo Yan couldn’t see Luo Mingchen’s reaction and said leisurely, “If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as your consent.”

Such blunt words made Luo Mingchen’s face flush; he pressed his lips and said, “Whatever you want.”

Should be… just joking, right?

Having received that answer, Huo Yan curved his lips slightly and looked ahead.

Wearing a straw hat, Huo Xinyue tilted her head curiously at her little daddy. Seeing his flushed face, she thought he was hot and took off the hat, clumsily putting it on his head, “Dudu…”

Luo Mingchen laughed and rubbed her little head, “Daddy’s not hot, you wear it.”

After trying so hard, the hat ended up back on her own head, and Huo Xinyue sighed, “Ah.”

This little display made Luo Mingchen laugh. He patiently taught her to say words; after many repetitions—from “Duoduo,” “Dudu” to “Daddy”—she finally got it right.

When they reached the village entrance, Luo Mingchen saw from afar a crowd gathered around his house.

“What are they doing?”

Luo Mingchen felt something was off.

Huo Yan, who was driving, said, “It can’t be that we’ve been robbed.”

“Huh?”

Luo Mingchen instinctively thought of Huo Yan’s large pile of silver notes.

Seeing his strong reaction, Huo Yan said, “I was just joking.”

Luo Mingchen: “…”

Couldn’t hear any joke in that!

Muttering inside, Luo Mingchen urged Huo Yan to hurry.

“Last time I just woke up, your cousin brother wanted to sell the kids; maybe this time it’s to sell the house.”

Huo Yan heard Luo Mingchen’s urgency and didn’t say such a thing was impossible.

If Lin Tianlei’s family really did that, by the time a lawsuit was filed at the government office, his brother Lin Qingfeng’s official career would be over.

Therefore, even if Lin Tianlei was that foolish, Lin Qingfeng wouldn’t let him do it.

Approaching the crowd, Luo Mingchen got off the cart and asked, “Is there something going on that you are all gathered at my doorstep?”

Hearing his words, the crowd turned around.

Passersby stepped aside, and Luo Mingchen spotted a man about his age in the crowd.

Seeing the man’s face clearly, even after experiencing the apocalypse, Luo Mingchen was stunned.

Their features were very similar; Luo Mingchen had never seen anyone who looked so much like him.

No wonder when Wang Chen’s parents came, they were surprised upon seeing him.

Luo Mingchen didn’t understand why a runaway groom would appear voluntarily, so he asked, “You… what do you want?”

Wang Chen pursed his lips and said quietly, “I’m looking for Huo Yan.”

Luo Mingchen frowned seeing the obedient attitude but said nothing. With the Wang family’s parents and two older brothers present, and Wang Chen as Huo Yan’s former fiancé, Luo Mingchen had no standing to intervene.

Holding the child, Luo Mingchen turned and said to Huo Yan, “They’re looking for you.”

Huo Yan got off the ox cart, looked at Luo Mingchen, then at the Wang family, and asked, “Are you here to return the betrothal gift?”

Wang Chen shrank his neck in fright upon seeing Huo Yan, hunched his back as if seeing a terrifying omen.

Wang Chen’s mother showed a troubled expression, “Huo Dalang, my son Chen was deceived before.”

“That has nothing to do with me.”

Huo Yan said, “I don’t like forcing anyone. Return the betrothal gift, and the engagement will be annulled.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Chen cautiously said, “I’m willing…”

“Willing to run away?”

Huo Yan calmly looked at the top of Wang Chen’s head, “For a betrothal gift?”

Wang Chen recoiled slightly, silent.

By his side, Yang Cuifen said, “Xiao Yan, look, before you chose Wang Chen, now he’s back. That fake can be discarded, don’t harm the peace between the two families.”

Huo Yan showed no mercy, “What has my cousin sister-in-law to do with my affairs? If she’s so free, she should focus on managing the two children at home, and not have them sent back by the academy.”

After hearing this, Yang Cuifen’s expression grew ugly, revealing her true character. She raised her voice, “The Wang family sent me to plead for you. Do you think I came willingly?”

Huo Yan replied coldly, “Does it matter if you plead here? Wang family doesn’t know, and neither do you?”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen wanted to laugh.

Though he didn’t see Huo Yan as a man of few words, he did not look like a smooth talker either, yet he could silence others with just a word.

Just… very endearing.

Yang Cuifen was angry, wanting to strike, but Huo Yan was tall and sturdy. She couldn’t win, only able to glare daggers at him.

Huo Yan was unfazed and said to Wang Chen’s mother, “I know your family’s difficulties, and that Wang Chen was deceived. The betrothal gift can be written off as a loan, to be repaid within two years.”

Wang Chen’s mother opened her mouth, knowing their family had no right, but still asked hopefully, “Is it really not possible to take him back?”

Huo Yan lowered his eyes and met hers, “Aunt, regardless of whether Mingchen is here, Wang Chen ran away from the marriage. You say he was deceived, but such a grown man, if not willing, who could be taken away silently? I’m holding back the real reasons just to save face for your family. If you don’t want that face, then I have no choice.”

Without Huo Yan’s words, bystanders already knew Wang Chen had run away.

This matter caused quite a stir in the neighboring Wang family village. It was said that Wang Chen was dragged back by his parents last night.

Listening to their murmurs, Luo Mingchen felt some admiration for Wang Chen.

But as a victim resisting his parents, Luo Mingchen could not agree with his actions.

If Wang Chen had the guts to run away from the marriage, he should have had the guts not to be sent as a substitute bride.

If Huo Yan were some bad old man, or missing limbs, or prone to abuse, what then?

Precisely because Huo Yan was not what Luo Mingchen thought, and the family was wealthy, the substitution marriage was viewed favorably.

However, in reality, Luo Mingchen was the victim.