The clouds and mists have dispersed, and everyone knows that I love you.

"Xiao Rong! No matter what you become, you will always be the little princess that Third Brother cherishes and dotes on. This is what Third Brother promised you. Have you forgotten?"

"Don't be afraid, Third Brother will protect you, just like every time you got into trouble at home and were afraid of making Grandpa angry, Third Brother would take it for you."

It had been so long since Shi Rong's accident, and this was the first time he heard the care and comfort from the Huo family.

Thinking back to the past, when he had been with Huo Qiye, a long-lost warmth welled up in Shi Ying's heart.

"Third brother, I remember everything you said. Thank you. But I really can't set foot in the Huo family again. I can't offend Mr. Huo either. I made the mistake first, and I should atone for it."

"You are not guilty!"

Huo Qiye got anxious and immediately raised his voice, which not only scared Shi Rong, but also made the people who were walking back and forth in front of the utility room door, intentionally or unintentionally, keep looking over there.

The man stretched out his arm and simply closed the door, blocking the unreasonable gaze of the group, and everyone calmed down.

Holding Shi Rong's thin shoulders with both hands, Huo Qiye tried to keep his tone as soft as possible to avoid scaring her again.

"Xiao Rong, listen to Third Brother. We don't believe you could have done what happened back then, and neither does Big Brother. But Big Sister-in-law has already married into the Huo family's main house, and this is a fact that cannot be changed. But Xiao Rong, you have to believe Third Brother. Big Brother loves you."

Love?

Now when Shi Rong heard people talking about Huo Jiuzhou's love for her, she found it extremely ironic.

"Does Third Brother really think that at this point, love or not still matters?"

"The Shi family perished because of the Huo family. Shi Rong died because of the Huo family. I am able to reach where I am today thanks to the Huo family."

"Because I've offended the Huo family, I might even have to pay the price with my life at any time. Is it really appropriate for Third Brother to talk about love with me at this time?"

Shi Rong's sincere words of enlightenment made Huo Qiye feel like he was struck by lightning. He stood still and couldn't recover for a long time.

"Love is too much of a luxury for me. A bowl of noodles or a sip of soup is more real than this."

"Even without Zheng Yuyan, I wouldn't dare love again. If you call this cowardice, then please tell me, how can I face the deceased souls of the Shi family? I don't want to end up in hell and not be able to rest in peace."

"So, Third Brother, from the moment we were exiled to Jishan, there was no going back."

"You should also understand one thing. Since I was 18 years old, the Huo family has been gone forever."

Shi Rong is still the same eloquent and articulate Shi Rong as before. Her thoughts and consciousness are higher than those so-called daughters of wealthy families.

In fact, this has never changed, but she has a lot of grievances to express and doesn't often speak in front of others.

"Xiao Rong...I'm sorry."

There was silence for a while. Apart from this belated apology, Huo Qiye could not think of any other words to refute what she said.

"In the end, the Huo family still harmed you..."

He was depressed and took the frail little woman in his arms, gently patting her back, his heart full of self-blame and regret.

If he had known that this would be the outcome, he should have stood up for his elder brother and risked his life. As long as he could protect her, that would be enough.

"It doesn't matter. I know this has nothing to do with Third Brother."

So what if they are related?

If Huo Qiye had not protected her from the wind and rain time and time again, Shi Rong’s life in the Huo family would not have been so smooth.

Huo Jiuzhou always considers the overall situation. No matter what happens, big or small, he will choose to let go of her hand first. Only Huo Qiye always stands firm.

If everything she experienced in the Huo family was in black and white, it must be because of Huo Qiye that her world was filled with brilliant colors.

One thing at a time, Shi Cheng will never forget this kindness.

"Have you had enough hugs?"

The door of the utility room was opened from the outside at some point, and a tall and dazzling figure appeared in front of the door.

Huo Qiye was startled and quickly let go of his arms that were holding Shi Rong.

Turning his head, he met Huo Jiuzhou who suddenly appeared and smiled gently.

"Brother, don't get me wrong. I just haven't seen Xiao Rong in a long time, so... this is just a hug between brother and sister. It doesn't cross the line."

As if afraid that Huo Jiuzhou would be embarrassed because of this, Huo Qiye hurriedly pulled the woman behind him to protect her.

Shi Rong was terrified. She didn't understand why Huo Jiuzhou was still here at 12 o'clock in the morning. Wouldn't he have gone to rest and sleep at this time usually?

"Really? Then why don't I go hug Shen Mingxing some other time?"

Huo Jiuzhou's facial expression was gloomy and his brown pupils flickered. To outsiders, it seemed like just a joke made on the spur of the moment, but only Shi Rong could see clearly that he was trying his best to tolerate the anger in his heart.

In other words, if the man in front of him was not his biological brother, Shi Rong believed that he would die a miserable death.

"Pfft~hahaha!"

Huo Qiye's hearty and cheerful laughter was unexpected and a little abrupt. He knew that his elder brother was obviously jealous of his hug.

"Brother, why are you so stingy? Xiao Rong doesn't belong to you alone..."

He muttered the last sentence in a low voice, not daring to let Huo Jiuzhou hear it, but how could it escape the man's sharp eyes.

"Could it be yours?"

“Ah no no no…”

Huo Qiye waved his hands repeatedly and shook his head like a rattle.

"Yours, yours, all yours, okay? Seriously."

A conversation between two brothers, one is angry and the other is smiling and playful.

Shi Rong had no intention of listening. She had already been here for too long and wanted to leave and go out to work.

But this small storage room was only this big, and there were two tall and strong men blocking the way in front. Shi Rong couldn't even turn around, let alone walk.

"Okay, big brother, let's go out and talk."

Huo Qi has always been careful at night. Realizing that it was too crowded here, he immediately took Huo Jiuzhou's arm and pushed him out the door.

She is not a woman, otherwise she would have been slapped away by this man.

Having gained enough free space, Shi Rong picked up the washed cleaning tools and walked out of the utility room smoothly. He didn't want to stay even for a moment and turned around to run away.

"My two distinguished guests, please take your time chatting."

Unfortunately, before she could take a step forward, she was grabbed by the man behind her.

Shi Rong turned his head, his inquiring eyes falling on Huo Jiuzhou's irresistible big hand.

Didn't he ask her to come here to work? Now he was dragging her away and wouldn't let her leave. This man was really unpredictable.

"Go home quickly! It's already late, and your family will be worried about you."