Chapter 19 I Don't Mind You Calling Me Second Brother (1)

"I'll have you over to Jinggang City soon, and we'll never be apart again," Yucen assured him, pulling him onto her shoulder and they cuddled closely together.

Being able to sit with his sister like in their childhood, Yuxuan felt extremely content.

Looking up, he saw a white shadow in the pitch-black night, emitting a soft glow in the inky darkness, moving towards the shore.

"Sis, I want to go see what that is," Yuxuan said curiously, pulling Yucen towards the shore.

Yuxuan's eyes sparkled like a child seeing a favored toy, "Sis, what's that? Is it a boat?"

"That's a yacht," Yucen said, ruffling her brother's soft black hair.

"It's beautiful," Yuxuan admired.

"That's a plaything for the rich," Yucen sighed softly.

Just then, a man dressed in black surfaced on the yacht's deck, his sharp gaze fixed on the sibling pair. Yuxuan, meeting the man's gaze, tugged at Yucen somewhat fearfully, "Sis... there's someone."

Yucen lifted her eyes and saw clearly that the man on the yacht was Huo Jingtang. Wasn't he supposed to be on a business trip? How could he appear here on a yacht!

The eyes of Huo Jingtang and Yucen locked on each other, filled with shock and a hint of surprise. Neither had expected to meet here, truly beyond both of their expectations.

"Mr. Huo, hello," Yucen still greeted politely.

"Why are you here?" Huo Jingtang raised his eyebrows slightly, asking what was on his mind.

"Sis, you know him?" Seeing that they knew each other, Yuxuan relaxed his guard and responded, "This is my home, of course my sister is here."

"Your home?" Huo Jingtang was even more surprised, his eyes showing astonishment, not expecting the lovely and radiant Yucen to come from a fishing village.

"Yes, my ancestral home is here," Yucen admitted with a nod, seeing no need to hide it.

Yuxuan, curious as a baby, asked, "Are you my sister's friend? Your boat is really beautiful."

"Do you like it? If you do, come aboard for a while," Huo Jingtang invited him.

"Really?" Yuxuan, seeing his sister not speaking, turned to look at her, as if seeking her opinion, while Yucen hesitated slightly, not wanting to impose on Huo Jingtang, yet also not wishing to disappoint her brother.

"Sis, let's go home to sleep."

Yucen looked at her considerate and sensible brother, his bright eyes dimming unhappily, making her heart ache. He had never ventured out of the fishing village, so he was curious about everything.

Not wanting to see her brother's disappointed look, she took his hand, "Let's go, we'll take a look."

Yuxuan's eyes, dim just moments before, brightened like a child's as he and Yucen went aboard the yacht.

"Hello, I am Huo Jingtang," Huo Jingtang introduced himself to Yuxuan.

Dressed entirely in black, the epitome of cool, even his thick coat could not obscure his natural nobility and distinction.

"Hello, I'm Qin Yuxuan," Yuxuan replied with a genuine smile, pure and unblemished like a blank sheet of paper.

Huo Jingtang's eyes, darker than the night sky, held a light, playful smile that made Yucen's face involuntarily heat up.

"Are you fishing?" Yuxuan asked, seeing the small chair and fishing rod on the deck.

"Yes, whenever I'm free on weekends, I take my yacht out to fish," Huo Jingtang's gaze shifted from Yucen, "Yuxuan, do you know how to fish?"

"I do! I can't guarantee other things, but I am definitely better than you at fishing," Yuxuan said with boyish pride, his boast not entirely without merit since he had grown up with fish.

"Really? How about we see who can catch more? What do you think?" Huo Jingtang was intrigued, proposing a challenge to Yuxuan.

"Sure," Yuxuan clapped his hands excitedly.

Yucen hadn't seen Yuxuan so happy in a long time, especially being so relaxed and at ease in front of a stranger, and it made her feel waves of joy.

"Since it's a competition, there should be a clear reward and punishment. If I lose, I'll cook the fish for you," Huo Jingtang looked towards Yucen, "If you lose, let your sister cook for us."

"No problem," Yuxuan, brimming with confidence, declared, "because I won't lose."

Huo Jingtang and Yuxuan each took a rod and began their contest.

Yucen watched them from the side.

Yuxuan quickly caught a fish, removed it from the hook, holding it in his hand with a grin, "Sis, look, I caught a fish first."

"Yuxuan is the best," Yucen cheered happily, clapping her hands.

"I caught one too," Huo Jingtang pulled at the rod, and a fish landed on the deck. He encouraged Yuxuan, "Yuxuan, you have to step it up."

"I will," Yuxuan made a cheering gesture.

The two bantered and laughed while Yucen's youthful face glowed with life. Seeing her brother so confident and happy was what Yucen wished for, as deep down, he actually felt quite inferior due to others' disdainful looks. Huo Jingtang treated him with the respect a normal person deserved, did not look down on him, and even played along with him, a gesture Yucen deeply appreciated.

This man... was genuinely a real man.

Huo Jingtang and Yuxuan eagerly caught fish, and Yucen helped them by catching and putting them in a bucket.

The distinguished man and the childlike Yuxuan playing together seemed perfectly harmonious. Rather, it made for a heartwarming scene, enhanced by his presence.

Yucen observed Huo Jingtang's softer features, shaped by a slight smile, and thought how handsome he appeared when he smiled, absolutely captivating.

"Sis... you're gazing at Mr. Huo and daydreaming. Pick up the fish we caught and put them in the bucket," Yuxuan called to his sister several times as she propped her chin, watching Huo Jingtang.

Hearing Yuxuan address Yucen, Huo Jingtang frowned slightly and corrected, "If you don't mind, call me Second Brother, I'm the second oldest at home."

"Alright, Second Brother sounds so much more affectionate," Yuxuan nodded in agreement, visibly delighted, then he called to Yucen twice more.