Chapter 306: Chapter 0306: The Will Unveiled (1) Chapter 306: Chapter 0306: The Will Unveiled (1) At the funeral, Huo Qidong performed the rites as the eldest son.

Throughout the ceremony, Huo Tingxiao did not utter a single word. During the farewell, his aunts wept bitterly, which was moving, yet he, the eldest grandson, seemed unfazed.

Mu Lan nervously clenched her fists, fearing he wouldn’t be able to cope. The calmer one appeared, the deeper their grief was likely to be.

The Huo Family faced internal and external troubles. Whether Huo Qidong, as a father, could become a pillar of support remained to be seen, but one thing she was almost certain of was that the old master would never hand over the Huo Family to Huo Tingyang.

Mu Lan didn’t have a deep understanding of the Huo Family’s inner workings, but she knew that in a family business, if one pillar falls, the others are bound to get restless.

At today’s funeral, most of the Huo relatives were present, even more than at the previous birthday banquet, and the company’s directors were there too. After the recent events, who knows…

Although she believed in Huo Tingxiao’s abilities, Mu Lan couldn’t help but worry about him.

Mu Huaifeng watched Mu Lan closely, fully aware that being with a man like Huo Tingxiao meant weathering great storms, but he couldn’t dissuade her, so as her brother, he could only do his best to protect her.

During the cremation, the guests went to the hotel owned by the Huo Family. Huo Qidong went to take care of the funeral banquet, while Huo Tingxiao stayed to wait for his grandfather’s ashes.

“Tingxiao, what are you planning? I just saw your uncle talking with Feng Lin.”

Shen Zichu knew it was stressful to talk about these things at this time, but…

“Don’t talk about this now. It’s annoying to listen to, just let him be in peace.”

Yunzhan was as carefree as ever, not seeing it as a big deal. Although he didn’t have much power in Sea City, the complex network in Shen City meant it was not impossible to make some impact.

In any case, he just needed one word from Huo Tingxiao, ready to go through thick and thin for his brother.

Shen Zichu didn’t argue with Yunzhan and calmed down.

“You guys go to the hotel. I’ll stay with him.”

Mu Lan saw that Huo Tingxiao was limited in energy and didn’t want to engage in more conversation with the two men. The two men exchanged glances and then looked at Mu Lan, their trusting gazes clearly conveying their intentions. Mu Lan nodded in understanding, signaling that she would take care of everything.

The waiting time for the ashes from the cremation was about an hour–a grueling experience she had been through before.

The two sat in the hall’s chairs, silent. Huo Tingxiao’s eyes lost focus, staring at a point on the floor, when he suddenly asked.

“Did you really hate me back then?”

Mu Lan was initially stunned, but quickly realized what he was referring to.

“Yes, I did hate you a little, wondering how you could treat me that way, how you could be so cold. My heart grew cold too.”

Her tone was flat, merely narrative, without too much emotion, but each word felt like hot oil spilling onto his heart, burning him fiercely, tearing him apart.

“I was quite a bastard.”

“Indeed, a bastard.”

Mu Lan certainly hated him, but was able to speak the truth at such a time, and Huo Tingxiao was somewhat relieved that she was willing to be honest with him.

“I won’t be such a bastard in the future.”

“Okay, I believe you.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the way Mu Lan spoke was utterly different from before. The intense, hidden emotions made Huo Tingxiao’s eyes sting.

Another span of silence followed until the LED screen displayed a notice for the family to claim the ashes.

“Let’s go.”

Huo Tingxiao did not attend the funeral banquet but went straight back to the Huo’s mansion.

Huo Tingyang and Xian Yaping, upon seeing him return alone, immediately felt alarm bells ringing in their hearts.

Especially Xian Yaping, she was terrified that something bad might happen to her precious son, and was the first to rise to his defense.

“If you have any grievances, direct them at me, don’t make it difficult for my son.”

“Mom, what are you doing? We shouldn’t be groveling.”

Huo Tingxiao looked on coldly as the mother and son duo played out their deep filial affection, his eyes brimming with disdain.

“As for the old man’s inheritance, you shouldn’t even think of getting a dime.”

He began with such a decisive statement that Xian Yaping immediately stood up and cursed furiously,
“Huo Tingxiao, how dare you do this? Huo Tingyang is also a seed of the Huo Family, why shouldn’t he get a share of the old man’s inheritance?”

Huo Tingxiao looked at the middle-aged woman who was frantic with anger, his tone growing even colder.

“What couldn’t I dare do? If you push me too hard, I can make your son’s life worse than death. Don’t believe me? Try and see.”

His tone was light, but the oppressive feeling was very real and crushing.

Xian Yaping nervously swallowed and forced out defiantly,
“You wouldn’t dare. If you do anything to Tingyang, your… your father won’t turn a blind eye. Now is the age of the rule of law, you…”
“The rule of law can’t even punish a mistress like you, I naturally have my ways.”

With the conversation getting to this point, Huo Tingxiao’s attitude was very clear: he intended to leave Huo Tingyang with nothing.

“Are you threatening us? Huo Tingxiao, aren’t you afraid of your father…”
It would have been fine not to mention Huo Qidong, but as soon as Huo Qidong was brought up, Huo Tingxiao’s demeanor became even colder, and his words became even more blunt.

“Afraid? Why should I be afraid? You are the one who should be afraid.”

Xian Yaping always felt there was more to Huo Tingxiao’s words.

“What do you mean? What do I have to be afraid of?”

Mu Lan didn’t know what incriminating evidence Huo Tingxiao held in his hand, but she knew he never fought unprepared; the confidence he exhibited at this moment must mean he had something on Xian Yaping.

The confrontation in front of the memorial hall today, Huo Qidong seemingly scolded Huo Tingyang on the surface, but his hidden intentions were quite clear: he was protecting him.

There is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, and after all, Huo Tingyang is an illegitimate child; making a scene in public would only bring embarrassment upon himself.

Huo Tingxiao must have also genuinely grown cold-hearted, as he was no longer willing to even maintain the appearance of peace.

“If you have nothing to fear, why did you take Huo Tingyang away? Huh?”

Huo Tingxiao rarely had patience, but the more he talked, the more Xian Yaping felt guilty.

“Your father didn’t want you to make a fool of yourself in front of everyone. I did it for the sake of everyone’s dignity, Huo Tingxiao. Don’t push us too far. Haven’t we mother and son suffered enough over the years? I may have done something immoral, but it was also out of true love with your father. Our only mistake was meeting too late. I never asked for any status; what more do you want from me?”

Mu Lan looked at Xian Yaping, her age advanced yet her face thick-skinned, wondering how she had the audacity to say such things.

In this day and age, still playing out the true love card, it’s just nauseating to hear.

“If it’s true love, why fight over inheritance? Isn’t it enough to be content with just love?”

Xian Yaping was left speechless by Mu Lan’s retort and paused before trying to argue,
“I can give up everything, but Tingyang is the son of the Huo Family, it’s his rightful due! Did you two come back earlier just to shame us into giving up? Hmph, dream on!”