Huh? Are villainous bosses this easy to flirt with?

Chapter 168 Thinking of You

The azure sky was cloudless, and the sunlight poured down without reservation, like shimmering gold dust covering the earth and draping everything in a soft golden robe.

As the gears turned slightly, the tall, heavy iron gate slowly opened to both sides, emitting a dull and long sound.

A black Bentley slowly drove into the Huo family's private cemetery. The neatly trimmed green plants on both sides of the road swayed gently in the wind, like a line of servants welcoming them.

A moment later, the black Bentley smoothly slowed down and came to a stop.

The young cemetery caretaker, who had been waiting for a long time, jogged forward and opened the car door. The moment his eyes fell on the person inside, he froze, standing there dumbfounded, his face filled with astonishment and confusion.

My mind was completely bewildered: Holy crap, who is this guy?!

Did I open the wrong car door?

Xie Qing raised her eyes and looked at the young man standing like a wooden stake at the car door, momentarily unsure where to put her foot.

The elderly cemetery caretaker stood not far away, his back hunched, his withered hands gripping his cane tightly.

He saw his son standing blankly in front of the car door, staring straight into the owner's car, completely lacking any sense of respect or etiquette. At that moment, the wrinkles on his face deepened.

The old man took a deep breath and roared, "Ah Xun!" His voice, filled with anger, echoed in the empty cemetery.

That shout snapped He Xun back to reality. He lowered his head as if waking from a dream, and like a child who had made a mistake, he hurriedly stepped aside.

Xie Qing got out of the car, and the old man, leaning on his cane and shuffling towards her, couldn't help but feel a pang of doubt the moment he saw her clearly: Who is this person...?

Huo Yunting also got out of the car at this moment, standing straight and holding a bunch of jasmine flowers. He walked a few steps to Xie Qing's side and naturally took his hand.

Upon seeing this, the old man immediately understood Xie Qing's identity, bowed his head, and respectfully greeted, "Master, Madam."

He Xun, who had already come up behind his father, also lowered his head. Suddenly, a cold, icy gaze was fixed on him, as if it could penetrate his flesh and reach his bone marrow.

He Xun felt a chill run down his spine, and the coldness instantly spread throughout his body, causing him to bury his head even lower.

Huo Yunting narrowed his eyes slightly, his cold gaze sweeping over He Xun as if even a second glance was too dirty.

"Keep an eye on your son."

The sound seemed to carry the shards of ice from the dead of winter.

The old man nodded hurriedly, his sparse white hair appearing even more disheveled with the movement. When he looked up again, all he could see were two figures walking further and further away, gradually blurring in the dappled shadows of the trees in the cemetery.

……

In the cemetery, neat rows of white marble tombstones stood side by side. Along the winding stone path, Huo Yun Shen held Xie Qing's hand tightly as they walked side by side.

A gentle breeze rustled through the trees, like a pair of tender hands gently caressing the pine and cypress trees along the roadside.

Finally, they stopped in front of a tombstone, on which was a photograph of a young woman in the prime of her life.

She was around twenty years old, radiating youthful energy, and wore a bright and soft pink floral dress.

The floral pattern resembles blooming flowers in spring, and her jet-black, glossy hair is tied into a braid that falls naturally over her shoulders.

She tilted her head playfully and smiled, her eyes curving gently like crescent moons.

That smile, pure and ardent, easily pierced through the heavy dust of time, striking straight to the heart.

"lightly."

Huo Yunting's voice suddenly rang out, "The woman in the photo is my mother."

Xie Qing felt like an "ugly daughter-in-law meeting her mother-in-law," her palms sweating, her heart pounding with nervousness, and her words becoming incoherent.

"Um... well, do you need me to kowtow to Auntie?"

The perfectly sentimental scene was abruptly altered by Xie Qing's single sentence, veerging into a humorous and comedic tone.

Huo Yunting froze, his lips slightly parted, and he subconsciously repeated, "Give me a kowtow?"

Seeing her lover like this, Xie Qing was no longer nervous and explained with a smile, "What I mean is, I'll kowtow a few times to show my determination, so that Auntie in heaven can entrust you to me with peace of mind."

Huo Yunting let out a low laugh, his chest vibrated slightly, and his originally dim eyes lit up, the smile spreading in his eyes and dispelling the gloom that had been lingering in his heart.

"Need not."

A slight smile played on her lips as she said, "Qingqing, you don't need to do anything, just stay with me."

Wow, that's so easy!

Xie Qing feigned surprise, smiled, and lifted Huo Yunting's hand, as if a prince were inviting a princess to the center of the dance floor. She leaned down slightly and placed a gentle kiss on the back of his hand.

She raised her head, met Huo Yunting's gaze firmly, and solemnly promised, "I think I can do it."

Huo Yunting's heart melted. The sunlight, which had seemed too harsh before, now felt warm and bright.

He couldn't help but chuckle quietly, his laughter filled with the joy of being touched by love.

Then, he looked at the tombstone again and gently placed his mother's favorite flower in front of it.

After taking a deep look at the photo on the tombstone, Huo Yunting straightened up, took Xie Qing's hand, and said, "Qingqing, let's go back."

Xie Qing was taken aback. "Aren't you going to stay a little longer?"

Huo Yunting shook his head, "No."

He had said what he needed to say a thousand times, but this time, he finally felt truly at peace.

Over the years, Huo Yunting had asked the tombstone countless times why he had been left alone.

Why would you rather die with someone who treats you badly than live with them?

Resentment, confusion, longing... a variety of complex emotions grew like vines that had been growing for years, growing thicker and thicker, almost overwhelming him completely.

It wasn't until Xie Qing bent down to kiss the back of his hand and smiled as she said, "I think I can do it," that the vine was cut open, and all the questions were answered.

Because I have been truly loved, cherished like a treasure, and promised all sorts of sweet words... I cannot accept my lover's change of heart.

The deeper the sweetness of the past, the more intense the pain of betrayal. Every loss of love felt like a piece of flesh being ripped from the heart, leaving it bleeding and in unbearable pain. That's why the mother chose a path of mutual destruction.

Huo Yunting couldn't even imagine that Xie Qing would ever stop loving him. Since he had made a promise, he should keep it.

If that day ever comes, he doesn’t know what he will do—maybe he will do everything he can to keep Xie Qing, or perhaps, the madness in his heart will drive him to do something even more extreme than what his mother did back then.

"What are you thinking about?"

Xie Qing asked, smiling as she stretched out her hand and waved it in front of Huo Yunting's eyes.

Huo Yunting smiled, gently took Xie Qing's hand, and kissed it, saying, "I was thinking of you."