"Sir?" Li Caiyi answered, her heart filled with apprehension.
"I heard Huo Tingyun isn't doing well?"
The man's usually deep voice carried a hint of pleasure.
"Yes, sir, have you heard?" Li Caiyi asked, surprised that the man had received the news so quickly.
"Of course, I'm paying attention at all times… From now on, you should see less of Su Qi. You are simple and kind-hearted, easily sympathetic towards Su Qi. Remember not to do anything out of line. Leave the rest to me. You just need to stay by Huo Tingyun's side."
"Sir, I..."
Before Li Caiyi could say anything, the man on the other end hung up.
Looking at her phone screen, Li Caiyi felt an inexplicable chill in her heart, and her limbs grew cold.
She hugged herself and shivered, a sense of foreboding washing over her.
Indeed, the next day, after Huo Tingyun's surgery, she and Assistant Lin were informed by the doctor that "Mr. Huo's body is damaged, and his old illness has relapsed. He is temporarily blind. The cause is still unknown, and it's not an issue with the retina or cornea. We will be able to treat him once we identify the pathology. Until then, it is recommended that Mr. Huo rest."
Lin Te stumbled, and the eight-foot-tall man, usually so robust, collapsed onto the ground, his face ashen.
"It's my fault, it's my fault. I didn't take good care of Mr. Huo. It's all my fault."
Lin Te clutched his head and curled up on the ground, like a helpless little boy.
"Assistant Lin, it's not your fault. Tingyun's health was already poor, and he's been neglecting himself lately. It's not your fault..."
Li Caiyi stepped forward and took Lin Te's arm, trying to help him up. However, Lin Te remained slumped on the ground, motionless.
The doctor sighed, "He can be discharged in a few days. It's recommended he be sent home to recuperate."
There was no better option at the moment.
A few days later, Li Caiyi handled the discharge procedures for the man, keeping his eyes bandaged throughout the process, stating that the bandages could not be removed yet after the surgery.
Upon returning to the Huo residence, Li Caiyi cleared out a large room on the first floor for easier care of the man.
The large room on the first floor of the Huo residence was originally the old master's residence before his passing. It opened directly onto the backyard. The room was vast, spanning several hundred square meters. Ordinary families might not even afford such a large house for their multiple members. The room was like a small world, fully equipped with a kitchen and medical care facilities, perfectly suited for Huo Tingyun's current condition.
Huo Tingyun had been very sleepy during this period. As he slowly woke from his nap, Li Caiyi sensed his awakening and offered him a glass of water. "You're awake. Would you like something to eat? I'll feed you."
The man raised his hand, not to take the glass, but to grasp Li Caiyi's wrist with a sudden, forceful movement that nearly caused the water in her cup to spill.
"Why are my bandages still on? What about my eyes?! Tell me!"
The man's voice was a suppressed growl, like the despairing cry of a dying beast.
Li Caiyi couldn't bear to see him distressed and stammered, "It's just that your eyes haven't recovered yet. They'll be fine after some time..."
He didn't believe her.
He had surgery on his eyes, so why wasn't there any pain, nor any sign of light?
Huo Tingyun raised his hand and tore off the bandages from his face.
Li Caiyi tried to stop him, but it was too late.
The moment the bandages were removed, the man's eyes widened. He confirmed that his eyes were open, but his vision was completely obscured. It wasn't darkness, but an extreme blurriness, devoid of any light. He couldn't see clearly; his vision was a chaotic, distorted world.
"I can't see, I can't see?!"
After a prolonged silence, the man's enraged roar echoed.
"Tingyun, don't be like this. Please, don't be like this. I'll stay by your side. Don't be like this..."
Li Caiyi hugged him from behind, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"The doctor said your old illness has relapsed, and your vision cannot be restored for the time being. We don't know if it will be a year or two, but no matter what, I will stay by your side..."
"Get out!"
The man struggled free, pushing Li Caiyi forcefully to the ground. She stumbled, her elbow scraping and breaking the skin, a dull ache radiating from the bone.
The room door opened, and Lin Te, witnessing the scene, strode in and helped Li Caiyi up from the ground.
Li Caiyi wanted to speak, looking at Huo Tingyun, wanting to say something more. But Lin Te supported her, shaking his head and signaling her not to continue. Li Caiyi swallowed her words and, helped by Lin Te, left the room.
"Mr. Huo has always been proud. How could he allow anyone to see him in this state? It's best not to disturb him for now. I'll arrange for a caregiver to look after him. Don't worry, everything will get better."
Li Caiyi's tears fell like a broken string of pearls. She couldn't help but lean on Lin Te's shoulder, her body shaking. Lin Te sighed and placed a hand on her back, patting her. "Stop crying. Everything will be alright. Since you are the young master's little rose, and you stayed by his side when he was blind as a child, you can help him heal this time too."
"Assistant Lin, actually, I, actually I..."
Li Caiyi opened her mouth, hesitating to speak.
In reality, she wasn't the so-called little rose at all!
If it weren't for her appearance, Tingyun wouldn't have ended up like this.
Li Caiyi was so upset she wanted to cry, and she didn't know how to tell Lin Te. She had to repay the man's kindness to her and couldn't reveal the truth.
"Actually, you what?"
"Nothing..."
As they were talking, they heard the sound of a car engine turning off outside. Li Caiyi pulled away from Lin Te's embrace and turned to look. Huo Qingrang, who had been absent for a long time, appeared at the doorway.
Behind him followed a man.
Li Caiyi's eyes widened, her heart pounding rapidly in her chest.
Him?
How could it be him?
Why was he at the Huo residence?!
Lin Te was also stunned. It wasn't just Lin Te; all the servants around, upon seeing the young man behind Huo Qingrang, froze in unison.
This was the first time Huo Qingrang had brought such a young man home. Moreover, this man looked to be around Huo Tingyun's age, and even bore such a striking resemblance to Huo Tingyun. To be precise, he resembled Huo Qingrang so much that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he could be Huo Qingrang's brother.
But Huo Qingrang had no such brother.
If not a brother, then who was he?
The dozen or so servants in the Huo residence all fixed their gaze on the man beside Huo Qingrang.
Huo Qingrang stood calmly in the hall, a faint smile on his lips, and introduced the man to the servants. "Lin Te, you're here too. From now on, this gentleman is the second young master of the Huo family, Yu Chen. You will all address him as Second Young Master."
Second Young Master?!