Chapter 1 Sorry, I'm late

Capital City.

A fine drizzle was falling from the sky.

Wanbao Mountain, cemetery.

A few men in black suits, emanating an air of authority, were making their way up the mountain. They surrounded a man dressed in a dark suit carrying a black umbrella, slowly progressing on the stone path.

The man in the suit had striking good looks, and every move he made conveyed a sense of dignity. He exuded an aura of noble elegance.

The soft patter of the drizzle on the umbrella filled the air.

They came to a stop in front of two tombstones, one large and one small.

The man they were escorting, refined and imposing, slightly lifted the black umbrella he was holding, revealing a handsome and aloof face.

This was the third young master of the Huo Family, rumored to be decisive and unpredictable in Capital City.

"Third young master——"

A bodyguard behind him was respectively handing a lily and sunflower bouquet, untouched by the rain, to Huo Yunjiao.

A slender, as white as jade, hand reached slowly to accept the bouquet offered by the bodyguard.

He took two steps forward and he crouched slightly, placing the sunflower bouquet in front of the smaller tombstone. The tombstone had Huo Yao's name carved on it.

Yao, so far away, unattainable. This was his child whom he had never had the chance to meet.

Huo Yunjiao stood there, a faint look of sorrow appearing in his deep, dark eyes.

After a while, he stood up and moved to the other tombstone - the one bearing Qin Ruan's name.

The lily in his hand exuded a delicate fragrance - a symbol of purity, beauty, and elegance - which he slowly laid in front of the tomb.

"I'm sorry, I came late."

Huo Yunjiao's deep and husky voice echoed.

His hand caressed the name of Qin Ruan on the tombstone; "The ones who plotted against you have been found. They will spend the rest of their lives in regret and pain.

Death would be a release for them. I will let them live, and when the time comes, they will kneel and beg for your forgiveness, is that okay?"

His voice softened towards the end of his words, almost like he was talking to a child.

When they first met, it was a fleeting romance.

Back then, wasn't Qin Ruan but a little girl?

Recalling those distant memories, a coldness like frost and snow appeared in Huo Yunjiao's eyes, which flashed with complexity and heaviness.

He stood there deep in thought, an expressionless look on his handsome and cold face. His beautiful eyebrows were slightly furrowed, his thin lips pressed into a rigid line.

Anyone could tell that the third young master Huo's mood was not good.

The sky was densely overcast; the rain was getting heavier.

The bodyguard approached, holding a black coat in his hands, and draped it over the man standing in front of the tombstone. "Third young master, it's raining heavily."

Huo Yunjiao hummed in acknowledgment, adjusted the coat on his body, and looked for a long moment at the names of Qin Ruan and Huo Yao on the tombstone.

His voice was barely audible: "I'll come to visit you and your child often."

This was his first visit to the mother and son, but it would not be his last.

After making this promise, Huo Yunjiao turned and left.

His figure looked lonely and desolate, tugging at the heartstrings.

"Cough, cough..."

Huo Yunjiao's muffled cough was lost amidst the sound of the falling rain.

The group moved away from the cemetery, fading into the distance until they were completely out of sight.

No one would ever have imagined that the third young master of the Huo Family, the current head of the family, would actually come to Wanbao Mountain to pay tribute to a notorious and disgraceful woman.

As the movements of the Huo Family were closely monitored by various forces, some people started to connect the dots upon considering the recent downfall of the Qin Family. It seemed they had understood something.

From then on, every year on Qingming Festival and Hungry Ghost Festival, Huo Yunjiao would come to leave a bouquet of flowers for Qin Ruan and Huo Yao.

Until the day Huo Yunjiao left this world and was no longer able to visit them at Wanbao Mountain.

The ethereal figure that had been lingering by the tombstone was no longer able to wait for him. It had to be carried away by the wind, forever disappearing from the world.

...

Capital City.

It was already midsummer in June.

The sky was grey, and a hint of light was starting to show in the east, awaiting the arrival of dawn.

Suddenly, thunder rumbled through the air and a violent wind howled. It was a fearsome display of nature's power.

In East City, the Imperial Court Hotel.

A bolt of lightning struck the hotel. Instantly, the color of the sky changed.

As quickly as it had started, the thunder ceased to roll, and the gale wind stopped.

Dawn had broken, and the sun rose, illuminating the entire city.

What had just taken place seemed illusory, almost unreal.

The people of this city were awakened in their dreams. They were about to investigate, only to find that everything outside was now calm.

In a room at the Imperial Court Hotel,

The young girl lying on the large, soft bed slowly opened her eyes.

The familiar yet strange surroundings were clearly mirrored in Qin Ruan's eyes.

For a moment, her mind went blank. Her eyes were vacant, lifeless, like those of a person nearing the end of their life. Her body felt strangely painful, as if she had fallen apart - an endless dull pain.

This was not a sharp pain, but a nagging discomfort that was hard to bear.

The room had a expensive red carpet on the floor, strewn with clothes in a mess. Long-forgotten memories started to return to her mind.

The emotions in Qin Ruan's eyes began to change drastically. Her pupils trembled slightly, and the lifeless, defeated look in her eyes gradually faded.

Reading Guidelines: New books lean towards the supernatural, might be a bit scary.

All the content in the book is fictional (false), don't take it seriously, we must believe in science.

This Huo Third Master, who is so affectionate and serious, has been brought out for us to see from the start of the chapter. Are you sure you are not moved?

The male lead's name: Huo Yunjiao (jiao) read in the first tone.

If you like this book, if you like the "delicate couple", don't forget to add it to your favorites!