Chapter 143: New Flame, Old Flame

When everything finally concluded, the elders of both families left the three young people to their own devices. Alice made a swift exit, disappearing somewhere to God knows where to run wild, while Huo Ye and Shangguan Yudie headed to Shangguan Yudie’s villa.

Sitting on the sofa, the two of them maintained a certain distance from each other. Huo Ye had once told Alice that if he ever truly ended up with Shangguan Yudie, their overwhelming familiarity might leave them clueless about how to interact. And now, that exact scenario was playing out in reality.

To Huo Ye, Shangguan Yudie had always been like a second younger sister. Now that things had reached this point, they were practically engaged. No doubt an engagement banquet attended by numerous high-society elites would follow, given that he was the young master of the military's most prominent family and she was the eldest daughter of the business world's wealthiest dynasty.

Huo Ye glanced sideways at Shangguan Yudie, only to find her secretly peeking at him as well. Both of them were at a bit of a loss. What had just transpired was influenced to some degree by the atmosphere—a confession born of high emotion. Now that things had calmed down, they both found it agonizingly awkward.

Shangguan Yudie, in particular, currently wished she could just grab a throw pillow and smother herself to death. What on earth had she just said? And right in front of all five elders, no less! Furthermore, if that big-mouthed Alice were to go around spreading today's events, she might as well just commit social suicide right then and there.

Huo Ye thought to himself that as the guy, he ought to break the ice first. He cleared his throat and said, "Xiaoyu..."

"Ding-dong." At that exact moment, their neuro-links chimed simultaneously. It was the default message notification sound for Feixun; someone was messaging them both at once, which most likely meant it was in their group chat.

Both of them let out simultaneous sighs of relief. Chatting wasn't a bad idea; at the very least, it diverted their attention elsewhere. They both tapped open the source of the notification—their Constellation Feixun group chat.

Inside was a message from Jiang Feng: "@Boss @Vice-Prez @Alice, where did you all go? You've been missing the entire day."

The two of them exchanged a look. Huo Ye asked, "How should we reply?"

Shangguan Yudie didn't hesitate. "Strike first to gain the upper hand. Don't let Xiao Ai beat us to it."

Huo Ye caught her drift instantly. The news was bound to leak anyway; letting Alice tell the version first would put them on the defensive, so seizing the initiative was crucial.

Without a second thought, Huo Ye reached out, pulled Shangguan Yudie into the crook of his arm until their faces were nearly touching, and raised his arm diagonally upward. The neuro-link screen sensed the physical command, the panel flipping up to transform into a camera lens that captured a close-up photo of the two of them from the most flattering angle, automatically applying a natural beauty filter for good measure.

Once Shangguan Yudie snapped back to her senses, her eyes went wide. This... physical contact... me... Big Brother Xiao Ye... Ahhh!!!

Huo Ye sent the photo out, and then...

"Holy crap!" (Jiang)
"What is going on?" (Lei)
"I am floored!" (Liu)
"Ah, so that's how it is." (Feng)
"Ahhh! The Young Master and the Vice-President are together! Even though I want to bless them, my heart can't accept it!!" (Jia)

Almost everyone in the group understood what had happened in an instant and expressed their shock—everyone except Kazama Ryuji, who remained remarkably calm, as if he had anticipated this day all along.

Shortly after, Huo Ye sent another message: "It's not just together. We're engaged."

"?!?"
"?!?"
"?!?"
......

The five of them maintained a synchronized chain of reactions; even Kazama Ryuji lost his composure this time.

Meanwhile, Alice chimed in at that moment, sending a sly, grinning emoji accompanied by the message: "Let me tell you guys, today's drama is ridiculously juicy!"

"Don't you dare say a word!"
"Shut your mouth if you still want to eat!"

Both of them intercepted Alice in the nick of time. Are you kidding me? While the events of today were touching, having someone else bring them up would turn them into absolute, cringe-worthy dark history—the kind of memory that, if recalled right before falling asleep, would keep them awake all night from sheer embarrassment. What era were they living in anyway, blurting out words like love, romance, and happiness? Were those things meant to be spoken aloud in front of other people? They had acted as pure and naive as absolute idiots!

Consequently, these two yet-to-be-formally-wed fiancés reached their very first consensus decision as a couple: they had to find a way to seal Alice's lips.

In the game room of the Shangguan estate, Alice was happily amusing herself when she suddenly felt a chill down her spine. Had she just been targeted by something? She looked down at the neuro-link in her hand. You two win, she thought. I won't say anything. I'll shut up.

Huo Ye leaned back against the sofa, then, as if remembering something, reached behind his neck and unclasped the pure silver crucifix he had worn close to his heart for years, pressing it into Shangguan Yudie's hand.

Shangguan Yudie stared at it in utter shock, asking, "This is... isn't this..."

"Yeah, the crucifix Qingxue gave me. The only thing I have left that could be considered her keepsake." Huo Ye kicked off his shoes, stretched out diagonally across the sofa, and revealed a rare trace of fatigue.

He had always been so spirited, seemingly possessed of boundless vitality—gentle yet formidable, never looking down on the weak despite his own strength, nor overly sentimental about harsh events. He was so exceptional. Yet exceptional people often walked through life with cautious trepidation. Tonight, however, he was extraordinarily relaxed. He felt like a lost traveler adrift on the sea who had finally found a safe harbor to lean on, casting off his constant vigilance. A wave of exhaustion washed over him, yet it brought an exceptional sense of comfort.

"She used to say that kissing the crucifix represents a prayer for blessings. Over the past few years, whenever I faced a critical battle, I would do just that. If blessings are real, then this must already be the most blessed ornament in the world. I want you to wear it, carrying my blessing with you. Besides, it's my most treasured possession. Consider it... a token of our love..."

With those words, Huo Ye drifted into a deep sleep upon the soft, comfortable sofa.

Shangguan Yudie gazed at Huo Ye's sleeping face, tilted her head with a smile, and fastened the crucifix around her neck.

"I'll cherish it dearly. Big Brother Xiao Ye, thank you." Gently, Shangguan Yudie hoisted Huo Ye onto her back and carried him up to the guest bedroom on the second floor.

Huo Ye had been truly exhausted over the past two years, and this slumber was profoundly deep; he didn't even wake up as Shangguan Yudie moved his body. Under normal circumstances, the moment anyone dared touch him while he slept, they would find their joints locked and subdued within two seconds. But this time he didn't react defensively, because deep down, he knew it was Shangguan Yudie—the person who allowed him to feel entirely at ease.

Shangguan Yudie tucked Huo Ye into bed, pulled the blanket over him, whispered a soft goodnight, turned off the light, and left the room.

In his dream, Huo Ye seemed to see someone—a young girl.

"Qingxue?" Huo Ye instantly recognized the girl who had passed away two years ago, the girl who had always lingered as a knot in his heart.

Qingxue's eyes were brimming with tears. She kept her head bowed, her hands continuously wiping away falling drops.

Huo Ye stepped forward, grasped her shoulders, and asked anxiously, "What's wrong? Did someone bully you? Tell me; with me here, I'll definitely help you."

Yet, as he drew closer, Huo Ye noticed that Qingxue was crying and smiling at the same time. Her sobbing sounds never ceased, but the corners of her lips curled upward uncontrollably as she murmured, "It's wonderful... truly wonderful. I've been so worried about you all this time!"

Sweat beaded on Huo Ye's forehead as he hurriedly blurted out, "What is there to worry about with me? Look at me, aren't I doing just fine? My body's as tough as nails, I can eat anything with gusto, I'm doing great!"

Qingxue wept as she complained, "I was afraid you wouldn't be able to let me go! I was afraid you felt guilty toward me, afraid you'd have nightmares. Didn't we agree? Stop caring about me! Why won't you just listen? Do you have any idea how guilty I've felt these past few years, terrified that I'd ruined your whole life?"

Huo Ye smiled. He gently pulled Qingxue into his embrace and whispered softly, "How could I not care? You're giving me too little credit; do you really think I'm that cold-hearted and fickle? But don't worry, I really have let go now. Thank you, Xue. I will never forget your companionship for the rest of my life. Every single moment of my life that you were a part of is a treasure to me. I'll store them away in a box, and when I grow old, I'll take them out to savor. Without a doubt, those will be... the sweetest memories in the world."

Huo Ye was still smiling, but tears fell uncontrollably from his eyes.