There’re Always Paranoid Thoughts to Monopolize Me - Extra 21
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- Extra 21 - Small Bean Sprout
(1)
“Chairman Qiu, it’s no use looking for me, our Director Huo really isn’t in the company.”
“No, Assistant Sun, please don’t make it difficult for me. I’ve been coming here for a week, how could your Director Huo possibly be away for a whole week?”
“He really isn’t here.”
“Assistant Sun, I really need to talk to Director Huo in person about this matter. That acting president…”
“Chairman Qiu, it’s useless to talk to me, I’m not blocking you. To tell you the truth, Director Huo has taken leave.”
“Taken leave?”
“That’s right.”
“Then when will he be back at the company?”
“Hmm, probably in seven or eight months.”
“Oh, seven or eight– seven or eight what??”
“Months.”
“…What kind of leave is he taking that lasts a year!?”
“Maternity leave.”
“????????”
Assistant Sun ignored the petrified Chairman Qiu and turned to walk back. After just two steps, he picked up his phone and immediately put on a smile. “Ah, Director Huo. I’ve already inquired about the diaper brands you asked me to look into yesterday. I’ve had the 72 sample inspection reports sent to the Huo residence… though isn’t it a bit early to prepare…”
The voice faded away.
The person standing in place was dumbfounded.
It didn’t take many days before everyone in the circle heard that the young madman of the Huo family had set a new record: when Madam Huo was two months pregnant, he had formally drafted a leave request at the head office — requesting 8 months of maternity leave for himself.
The most outrageous part was that he approved the leave request himself.
(2)
Qin Ke’s early pregnancy symptoms were very severe during the initial stages.
At first, she still insisted on working normally, but by the seventh week, the obvious fatigue and nausea had basically eliminated the possibility of her attending classes normally. Under Huo Jun’s strong insistence, Qin Ke had to ask the school for leave and temporarily return home to nurture the fetus.
And a certain privileged person at Huo Corporation, after boldly requesting “maternity leave” and approving it for himself, now had even more justification to stay in the Huo residence, not budging from Qin Ke’s side for 24 hours.
The butler had already arranged the most experienced team of nutritionists, nurses, and prenatal education specialists for pregnant women. Yan An, who was abroad, had also recommended the full-time nurse she had hired during her own pregnancy. However, these people were still kept at a distance by Huo Jun.
He took on multiple roles, insisting on personally handling everything related to Qin Ke. The professional nurses and nutritionists ended up becoming teachers in the Huo residence, giving hands-on lessons to this very intelligent but clearly untalented-in-caregiving head of the Huo family.
After he became somewhat proficient, he even wouldn’t let go of the prenatal education matters.
—
On the spacious open terrace of the Huo family’s main building, Qin Ke was lazily sunbathing in a lounge chair. In her ears was the soft voice of the prenatal education teacher telling a story. It was unclear if it had any effect on the two-month-old baby in her belly — but at least she was about to fall asleep listening to it.
Just as her consciousness was floating to the soft clouds in the sky, about to sink in, Qin Ke heard a few sounds by her ear.
The storybook was turned to a new page, but this time when the voice began again, it was a low, hoarse male voice.
“…”
Qin Ke lightly opened her eyes, squinting slightly against the light, looking towards the figure beside the lounge chair that was blurred by the halo of light.
“…Huo Jun?”
She asked softly.
The man leaning on the lounge chair brightened his eyes and leaned in closer.
“Qin Qin, I’m here–”
Before he could finish, Qin Ke on the lounge chair lifted her foot slightly and gently kicked his leg.
The small woman nestled in the soft blankets closed her eyes and mumbled softly. “Go away, your voice is so deep, it’s like telling a ghost story.”
Huo Jun: “……”
Huo Jun smiled wryly and retreated a bit helplessly, but still stayed by the lounge chair.
He closed the book and stopped telling the story, only raising his palm to cast a small shadow over Qin Ke’s fair face.
Even though she had been grumbling a bit earlier, Qin Ke, who hadn’t fallen asleep despite being coaxed for so long, soon began breathing evenly.
Huo Jun stared at the sleeping person without blinking.
The nurse beside them, seeing that Qin Ke had fallen asleep, picked up a thin blanket and tried to approach quietly.
After just two steps, she saw the man sitting by the lounge chair looking at the girl’s face, which had become so thin that her jawline was a bit sharp, and said in a low voice.
“Really a little troublemaker, causing so much fuss…”
“Don’t be a girl, be a boy instead. When you come out, I’ll settle accounts with you properly.”
The nurse found it amusing and couldn’t help but ask in the softest voice.
“Mr. Huo, why do you want it to be a boy now?”
Huo Jun didn’t turn around, staring at Qin Ke’s abdomen with a look of deep resentment for two seconds.
Then he gritted his teeth.
“Boys can take a beating better.”
The nurse choked, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
(3)
After getting through the early pregnancy symptoms, Qin Ke’s belly was growing day by day. Huo Jun protected her even more tightly, afraid of anything going wrong, refusing to leave her side even for a moment.
But staying at home all the time, even the most beautiful scenery becomes tiresome. Qin Ke finally couldn’t stand it and suggested going for a walk in the nearby park.
Huo Jun naturally wanted to accompany her.
Originally, they were going to bring the house security, but Qin Ke thought their formal suits were too intimidating, so she didn’t let them follow, only having them stand by at the park entrance.
Huo Jun accompanied Qin Ke alone, slowly walking along the gravel path.
It was early spring, and the park was quite busy, with even more children. Seeing those children’s heads running past, Huo Jun’s expression became serious, as if facing a great enemy, afraid that one might bump into Qin Ke and hurt her.
Qin Ke found it both amusing and funny.
After walking just a few steps, she got tired. Huo Jun helped Qin Ke to a nearby bench shaped like a tree stump to rest. The two had been sitting for just a moment when a few boys appeared on the grass behind them. They were clearly friends out together, and quite mischievous, throwing around a rubber ball about the size of two adult fists.
If it hit Qin Ke — Huo Jun naturally couldn’t tolerate that.
Before Qin Ke could stop him, Huo Jun stood up and walked around to the back of the bench. The boys didn’t notice, and one of them caught the ball laughing loudly, then “bang” bumped right into Huo Jun.
The boy was stunned and looked up.
He found a very handsome but fierce-looking uncle looking down at him expressionlessly.
The boy shrank back in fright.
Huo Jun was slightly satisfied and randomly pointed to the side, saying, “Didn’t you see there’s a pregnant woman here? Go play over there.”
“……”
The boy pouted, looking like he was about to cry.
But was Huo Jun someone who would be moved by tears?
His expression remained unchanged, but his gaze became even fiercer.
The boys looked at each other, and one of the taller boys rolled his eyes several times, apparently realizing there were only Huo Jun and Qin Ke. He made a face at Huo Jun.
“This is a park, not your home. Who are you to tell us where to play?”
Huo Jun snorted a laugh.
“Really not leaving?”
“Not leaving!”
“Fine.”
Huo Jun casually made a phone call, “Come to my location.”
In less than two minutes, a group of six or seven burly security guards came running quickly from the direction Qin Ke and Huo Jun had come from.
Qin Ke, who had been leaning on the back of the chair watching the commotion, was startled and pulled on Huo Jun’s sleeve.
“It’s just a few kids, why did you call so many people?”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
When Huo Jun turned back, his gaze immediately softened. He paused, narrowed his eyes slightly, and looked towards the security guards.
“Come here.”
“Glare at them.”
Qin Ke: “……”
Security guards: “??”
Despite their bewilderment, the security guards had to follow the boss’s orders.
So, behind the bench where Qin Ke was sitting, six or seven tall and burly men stood in a row, completely blocking the view behind Qin Ke.
They all wore expressionless faces, and their muscle mass was clearly visible even through their suits, forming a menacing “skyline”.
After a few seconds, there was a “wah” sound, followed by one after another, five or six boys crying in unison.
“……”
Qin Ke had a headache.
“Huo… Jun.”
The man immediately crouched beside Qin Ke, his tone still a bit smug, “Qin Qin, aren’t I very clever?”
Qin Ke looked at him for two seconds, at a loss for words.
“In the future, you stay away from children.”
(4)
Qin Ke had a natural delivery at the most famous private hospital in the capital.
On the day of delivery, the entire corridor outside the operating room was lined with Huo family security personnel, arranged by Huo Jingyan who had returned to the country. They blocked the entrance to the operating room tightly — to prevent Huo Jun from trying to rush in during the procedure.
As it turned out, Huo Jingyan’s arrangement was very foresighted.
Almost as soon as Qin Ke let out her first cry of pain inside, the veins on Huo Jun’s temples began to bulge slightly.
“Move aside.”
“Mr. Huo, you really can’t go in.”
“I won’t go in, I just want to look from outside the door.”
“……”
The head of security gave Huo Jun a “do you think I’d believe that” look.
Huo Jun clenched his fist.
“Fine, I won’t go in.”
The head of security breathed a sigh of relief.
But after another cry of pain from inside, he saw the man’s eye twitch slightly.
Huo Jun smiled, his handsome face showing a hint of ferocity, his dark eyes cold.
“Then why don’t you all fight me, otherwise I’ll go mad.”
“?!”
……
After the natural delivery was over, the doctor came out of the operating room. He anticipated what would happen next — excitement, anxiety, nervousness, all kinds of reactions from family members he had seen too many times.
But when he opened the outer door and saw the corridor outside the operating room, the doctor was stunned.
It was unlike any scene he had imagined.
On both sides of the corridor, men in black suits were lying, sitting, and leaning in disarray. The only one standing was wearing casual sportswear, with a gaunt face, a bruise on his pale cheek, and a trace of blood at the corner of his thin lips.
Seeing the doctor come out, the man’s figure stiffened.
A few seconds later, he walked over.
The doctor was so scared he wanted to hide back in the operating room.
“This… this… Mr. Huo??”
When the man came closer, the doctor dared to recognize him and said with a trembling voice, “You… what happened to you…”
Huo Jun said nothing, just looked behind him.
The doctor suddenly came to his senses, “Don’t worry, both mother and child are safe.”
Huo Jun’s gaze froze, and after a moment, he suddenly relaxed.
He seemed unable to hold on any longer and staggered back two steps, leaning against the wall. After taking a few deep breaths, Huo Jun weakly raised his hand. His knuckles and joints were either bruised or bloody. He lightly wiped the blood from the corner of his lip.
Then the man lowered his head, looking at the crimson blood on his thumb, and laughed hoarsely.
“Sorry, I must look ridiculous.”
Seeing Huo Jun smile, the doctor finally relaxed and cautiously asked, “These people are…?”
“Our family’s security, just playing around.”
Doctor: “……”
Playing around until everyone’s beaten black and blue outside the operating room?
After inwardly criticizing, the doctor put on an awkward but polite smile.
—
After delivering so many babies, this time he had truly seen something extraordinary.
(5)
One year later.
The little young master of the Huo family, Qin Song, turned 1 year old.
A few months before, people had already been trying to find out when the little young master’s first birthday banquet would be held.
However, Huo Jun had already stated that it would not be open to outsiders, only held at home, combined with the ceremony of grabbing objects to predict the child’s future. The only guests invited to observe were the Huo family’s elder patriarch Huo Shengfeng, and Huo Jingyan’s family of three who had returned to the country over a year ago.
Huo Jingyan’s child was a little girl named Huo You, three years older than Qin Song. She had a round white face and big black eyes like grapes, taking after Yan An’s looks, already showing signs of growing into a beautiful young woman.
The little girl was clearly very interested in her little brother, who was crawling all over the table like a little monkey.
“Mommy, what are these?” the little girl asked in her childish voice, pointing at the objects on the nearby table.
Yan An patiently explained to her. “These are for the object-grabbing ceremony. This set was brought by your father, it’s called the Four Treasures of the Study – brush, ink, paper and inkstone. If Aunt Qin’s little brother grabs it, he might become a writer in the future.”
“Oh… I recognize that one, it’s a violin.”
“Yes, if he grabs that, he might become a musician in the future.”
A long table stretched out, filled with all sorts of objects – an abacus, a seal, a racket, an easel… everything imaginable.
Huo You became more and more curious as she looked. She saw the little child who could only crawl on the table touching this and that, but not staying on any one thing for more than 3 seconds.
“He’s really picky,” Huo You quietly tattled to Yan An.
“…”
Yan An smiled, watching Qin Song crawling chaotically on the table with anticipation, without correcting her daughter’s words.
Huo You was extremely bored. After standing for a while and seeing that the little brat still hadn’t chosen, she couldn’t help but puff out her cheeks and lean on the edge of the long table.
The girl squeezed her chubby face and mumbled.
“Hurry up already.”
“Xiao You, don’t do that.”
Yan An was helpless. Just as she was about to pull Huo You upright, she saw the child on the table suddenly lift his head, his black eyes staring intently for two seconds, then his chubby hands and feet moved quickly, and he crawled over—
Qin Song grabbed Huo You’s hand in one swift motion.
Then he grinned, showing his baby teeth, and started giggling.
Everyone was stunned.
Qin Ke and Yan An were both dumbfounded, not knowing what to say. Huo Jun was the first to react.
He narrowed his eyes slightly, looking disapprovingly at his son who was sticking his butt up on the table, yet persistently holding onto Huo You’s hand.
“I told you, he’s definitely going to be trouble.”
Just as Qin Ke was about to retort, they suddenly heard Huo You cry out with a “Wah!”—
“Mommy! He bit me!”
(6)
In the blink of an eye, a few more years passed. The Huo family members finally realized that Huo Jun’s words back then were actually “modest”.
This little young master Qin Song of the Huo family wasn’t just a little troublemaker — he was a complete little devil.
Though young in age, he had countless mischievous ideas.
Fearless and daring, he could single-handedly cause chaos throughout the entire Huo household. There were few in the family who hadn’t fallen victim to his pranks and troubles. This little rascal was also extremely clever, basically no one could escape his devilish clutches.
There was only one exception.
Huo You.
Huo You would come to the Huo family’s estate every summer to escape the heat, for six or seven years in a row, never missing once.
So on the first day of summer vacation when Huo You was due to arrive, the little devil Qin Song would tidy himself up properly, put on a little white shirt and dress pants, his hair combed neatly, looking like a little gentleman.
His favorite thing to do was to act all well-behaved and follow behind Huo You calling her “sister”. His voice was sweet as honey.
This year was no exception.
As soon as Huo You arrived at the Huo family home, Qin Song pulled her to run towards the back courtyard.
The family’s hired tutor stopped them with a headache. “Qin Song, you haven’t finished reciting your classical Chinese text today.”
Qin Song’s eyes darted around, and he quickly replied. “I’ve already recited it.”
“Then I’ll test you.”
“…”
Qin Song’s face fell.
Huo You laughed beside him, saying softly, “You must have been playing around again.”
The tutor had already started asking.
“‘Continuous peaks reach to the sky not even a foot high,’ what’s the next line?”
Qin Song remained silent, his little neck turning red from holding it in.
Huo You smiled smugly. “I know this one, ‘Withered pines hang upside down clinging to sheer cliffs!'”
“Little Miss is so well-behaved, but you can’t help Qin Song answer the next one, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Qin Song, then what’s the line after ‘Flying rapids and waterfalls compete in their clamor’?”
“……”
Qin Song lowered his head, looking dejected.
Huo You was proud, her delicate little eyebrows raised, “Dad and Mom always say you’re smarter than me, but I don’t think so at all.”
“I-I know it!”
Huo You lifted her little chin, “You definitely don’t.”
“…I do!”
“Then say it.”
“I really do know it — I-I’ll bet you!”
“Fine, let’s bet! What do you want to bet?”
“Whoever loses has to agree to do one thing for the other!”
“It’s a deal!”
Just as little Miss Huo You smugly clapped her hands, she suddenly saw Qin Song, who had been looking both embarrassed and obedient, brighten his jet-black eyes.
“Flying rapids and waterfalls compete in their clamor, Cliff faces and tumbling rocks — thunder in ten thousand ravines. As such are its dangers, Alas, you travelers from afar, why have you come here?”
Fluent and quick.
Where was there any sign of unfamiliarity?
Huo You was stunned.
“You…”
Qin Song’s eyes flashed, then returned to that innocent and obedient look.
“Sister, you lost. You won’t go back on your word, right?”
Huo You’s slender white neck turned red.
“Of course not!”
She pouted pitifully, her voice growing smaller, “Tell me, what do you want me to agree to?”
Qin Song hooked the corner of his mouth, then quickly hid his smile, “No rush.”
“Hm?”
“Later, I’ll tell you later.”
“Oh…”
(7)
Little Miss Huo You naively believed him.
It wasn’t until many years later that she saw through this little devil’s true face.
Unfortunately by then, she had already been tricked by little devil Qin Song into the Huo family’s little red book — it was too late for regrets.
~The End~
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