Chapter 358: 358
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Grandfather Huo returned home and locked himself in the bedroom . Thankfully, with Huo Guanchen's presence, Grandfather Huo hadn't been forced to move out but he
still couldn't bear to see his old friends again . Huo Jialan had paid special attention to the care for Grandfather Huo in the last few days—staying with him the for hours at a time and sitting in silence with him while she read or did work on her phone . After all, Grandfather Huo was a senior who feared being alone the most . He could sense how much Huo Jialan cared for him .
Huo Jialan urged, "Grandfather, do you want to go see Grandmother this year?"
Before Xie Ziyan had passed away, she had wanted to visit her own family . She'd left a will stating she would be buried in Europe . The Xie's had been buried there for several generations; it was also where had Xie Ziyan grown up . She had met Huo Xyuenong while studying abroad in the Huaxia Empire . Due to Huo Xuenon's status in the military, and the fact that the Xie's hadn't approved of Xie Ziyan's marriage to him, she had rarely visited home . But, just before she passed away, she had suddenly requested to be buried with her family . Grandfather Huo had been unhappy about it at the time, but Xie Ziyan has remained persistent and had even called the family she'd rarely had contact with . Afterwards, Xie Ziyan's youngest brother had flown in to the Huaxia Empire to bring her body to Europe for burial . Grandfather Huo had been upset by this for a long time afterwards, but had eventually understood why Xie Ziyan had made such a peculiar request prior to her death . He also remembered Zhang Feng saying that Xie Ziyan had never seen herself as a Huo, staying true to her blood even after their marriage . Facing what had happened all these years later, Grandfather Huo felt that his heart was now being shred apart most viciously . He couldn't sit still when Huo Jialan mentioned her Grandmother .
Sending for Huo Guanchen, he said to the younger man, "I want to go to Europe to see your mother; help me arrange the trip for going abroad . " He hadn't visited in the last few years; it was about time he made amends .
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Huo Guanchen also wanted his father to have some time away . Although this type of incident wasn't rare in their social circle, Grandfather Huo had been the only one to get into such a huge mess, even losing his rank . He couldn't bear losing face . Huo Guanchen agreed immediately and Grandfather Huo asked him to prepare a visa for Huo Jialan as well so that she could accompany him . Huo Guanchen thought it was a good idea, since his father was elderly and needed someone to care for him . They used to have Zhang Feng but now it was Huo Jialan . Even though she wasn't his real granddaughter, he could trust her because he had raised her .
By the time Huo Shaoheng got wind of the trip, Grandfather Huo and Huo Jialan had already boarded their flight . Since Huo Jialan was away, the civil litigation could only be delayed . Huo Shaoheng wasn't in a rush—she couldn't escape forever . The rightful punishment would be served no matter if she hid herself away in another corner of the world .
. . .
It was already the eighth day of the lunar calendar, and the first day of university in the Imperial Capital . Gu Nianzhi had finished packing two days before— her bedding, mattresses and daily necessities were all set to go . She wore the Hermès bucket bag Huo Shaoheng had gifted her for Lunar New Year and wheeled out the cherry blossom pink suitcase she had used during her days in C University as she walked out of the official residence . Fan Jian was waiting with a seven seater black SUV . Several orderlies made multiple trips to move all Gu of Nianzhi's things into the car .
Fan Jian turned around and chuckled then said, "You sure have a lot of stuff; are you moving?"
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"I'm living in the dorm, so technically that counts as moving . " Gu Nianzhi clapped her palms as she scanned her eyes around .
Fan Jian smiled and pat the steering wheel as he whispered, "The Chief seems to have a few meetings today so he won't be coming . "
Gu Nianzhi flushed before she opened the rear passenger door and slid into the seat . She gave a small cough and tried playing it cool . "I know, I wasn't hoping that he'd come," she said .
As soon as she finished her sentence, the car door opened again and Huo Shaoheng's tall figure appeared . He cocked his head at Gu NianzhI . "You weren't hoping who would come?"
Fan Jian watched the exchange with interest .
"Huo Shao! Didn't you have a meeting?!" Gu Nianzhi was blinking her eyes hard to make sure she was seeing clearly .
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"Yes, but it had been delayed . " Huo Shaoheng stepper inside and stretched his legs . "This car is too small; try to change to a bigger model next time . "
The front passenger door opened and Yin Shixiong moved in to the seat . He said to Fan Jian, "Let's go . "
Fan Jian stepped on the accelerator and drove onto the street . Gu Nianzhi was attending B University, located west of the Fourth Ring Road . This was in the opposite direction of the Special Operations Forces headquarters . The car eased onto the highway ramp and merged with the traffic . After the holiday celebration, the roads of the Imperial Capital were busy once again .
Gu Nianzhi leaned back against her seat and smiled happily . The car was very warm and she hid her giggles while she watched Huo Shaoheng, who wore a casual wool outfit that was apparently too warm, as he kept yanking at his collar to cool down . From Gu Nianzhi's position, she could glimpse Huo Shaoheng's beautiful collarbone . She had never realized that a man's collarbone could be so alluring . Swallowing hard, she glanced again and her compulsiveness got the best of her . Spurred by her irritation, she leaned over and reached out her arms and straighten his collar .
He reflexively took her hands and asked, "What are you doing?"
Gu Nianzhi froze, "Helping you fix your collar . . . is that not ok?"
Huo Shaoheng gently let go of her hands . He arched his neck over to Gu Nianzhi and said, "Then, please straighten it . "
Fan Jian and Yin Shixiong were stunned as they watched from the front of the car .
Gu Nianzhi was ecstatic; she reached over to flatten Huo Shaoheng's crooked shirt collar and flipped it out against his jacket . He looked so seductive in uniform that she just wanted to launch herself at him . Gu Nianzhi pat his shoulder with satisfaction and said, "There, it's all set now . "
Huo Shaoheng, however, felt even hotter than he had before and said to Fan Jian, "Turn down the heat . "
Fan Jian obeyed and adjusted the car's temperature . Gu Nianzhi shivered now because it was too cold . She had removed her long down jacket when she'd gotten into the car; she wore a loose fit sweetheart neckline cashmere sweater, a knee-length line wool skirt, and over-the- knee boots . Although it was a comfortable outfit, she wasn't warm at all . She could see sweat beading on Huo Shaoheng's forehead so she didn't complain about the cold . Instead, she huddled closer to Huo Shaoheng because he was like a big furnace . She would be warmed by just sitting next to him .
Huo Shaoheng checked the emails on his phone to try and solve some issues that had arisen from the delayed meeting . A small smile appeared on his lips when Gu Nianzhi moved closer to him . However, she sneezed quietly soon after, which caused him to worry .