Surrounded By Wolves
That warm, deep voice slipped through her ear and into the crevices of her bones, drawing out fine tremors.
Jiang Wu’s body stiffened.
Behind her, Huo Lingyi also walked toward her and asked about something else with an unreadable meaning. “So Eldest Brother has a key.”
The other man’s voice made Jiang Wu’s taut nerves tremble.
Jiang Wu could feel her back being eroded by a scorching gaze.
Accompanied by Huo Lingyi’s leisurely follow-up, “What about me?”
The two of them were both a little too close.
Caught between them from both sides, Jiang Wu could not speak for a moment.
On one hand, she was afraid that Huo Lingyi would hear the marriage matter Huo Qingzhi had mentioned. On the other hand, she was afraid that her third brother, whose jealousy was the strongest, would flare up. “I still have to change the lock later, so…”
“All right, then I’ll wait a little longer.” Huo Lingyi dragged out his tone and laughed, his two canine teeth sharp. “After all, in your room at home, I’m the only one without access. Surely this place won’t also be guarding only against me.”
Jiang Wu hurriedly explained, flustered, “At home, that was…”
“That was because I added you to the access blacklist.” Huo Qingzhi took over her words. “I thought you should know why you don’t have it.”
Huo Lingyi met Eldest Brother’s gaze. “Aren’t you controlling a little too much, Eldest Brother?”
Huo Qingzhi asked Jiang Wu, “Ah Wu, do you think I control too much?”
Jiang Wu’s scalp tingled. She couldn’t even think about answering either of them. Grabbing the dinner, she slipped between the two men. “I think we should eat.”
For the moment, only the two of them remained in the living room.
Huo Lingyi stared steadily at Huo Qingzhi. “See? Ah Wu doesn’t want to answer you.”
“She’s not exactly running to you either.” Huo Qingzhi knew exactly what Huo Lingyi cared about, and every few words struck directly at the sorest spot. In other words, you aren’t anything special to her either.
Huo Lingyi understood what he meant. His jaw tightened, and then he suddenly smiled. “Eldest Brother, don’t tell me you’ve pretended for so long that you’ve even fooled yourself.”
He stepped closer to Huo Qingzhi, lowering his voice. “Don’t think I don’t know. You care about it too. She’s no different with us than she is with you.”
Leaving those words behind, Huo Lingyi walked straight out the door. The sound of the door closing startled Jiang Wu and left Huo Qingzhi deep in thought.
He remained where he was, watching Jiang Wu emerge from the dining room in surprise. “Third Brother left? He’s not staying for dinner?”
The light in Huo Qingzhi’s eyes disappeared behind his gold-rimmed glasses, which softened his features, adding a scholarly, gentle air. They concealed his chaotic thoughts almost perfectly. Huo Lingyi was right.
Huo Qingzhi asked, “You wanted him to stay that badly?”
“He was already here.” Jiang Wu said, not hiding her regret. “He should at least eat before leaving.”
She looked at Huo Qingzhi. “Did you two fight again? Or is Third Brother upset because I didn’t give him a key?”
Huo Qingzhi walked toward the dining room. “No, he had something else to take care of. And even if he’s upset, it’s with me, not you.”
Jiang Wu gave a doubtful “Oh.”
Still, she had always known that her three older brothers didn’t get along well. It was rare for them to meet without some sort of conflict.
The roots of it could be traced all the way back to when Daddy and Mommy divorced years ago. Each of them took one child away, planting the seeds for everything that followed. Back then, Huo Qingzhi stayed with their father on Hong Kong Island, while Huo Yingli went abroad with their mother.
They had both been young. Naturally, each became closer to the parent they lived with, and their personalities grew more like that parent as well.
Huo Yingli thought his older brother was rigid and preachy. And Huo Qingzhi thought his younger brother was too playful.
After Jiang Yaping divorced and moved abroad, she was once invited back to Hong Kong Island for a banquet and became pregnant with their third child. She had wanted an abortion, but Huo Tingshan refused to allow it. Huo Lingyi had been born when their relationship was at its worst. Huo Tingshan believed that having another child would keep his wife tied to him. But Jiang Yaping was not that kind of woman. She thought Huo Tingshan had deceived her again, and the two of them had another massive fight.
As a child, Huo Lingyi was mostly raised by Huo Qingzhi, seeing neither parent. Perhaps that was why, as he grew older, he stopped listening to anyone.
Huo Qingzhi was always trying to discipline him. And Huo Lingyi always pushed back.
As for how Huo Tingshan and Jiang Yaping eventually reconciled, Jiang Wu had no idea. All she knew was that after the two of them made up, they had her. Or perhaps they had made up because they had her.
But even after reconciling, the way they interacted with their children never really changed. The eldest was close to their father, the second to their mother, and the third reminded them of their worst years. He was the most neglected.
That was why Jiang Wu could act spoiled in front of Eldest Brother and lose her temper with Second Brother, but she always said the nicest things to Third Brother. Unfortunately, not one of those three men ever gave her any peace of mind. For as long as Jiang Wu could remember, her brothers had always argued.
The most common pattern was Third Brother causing trouble, Eldest Brother reprimanding him, and Second Brother watching the spectacle while fanning the flames. And yet all three of them treated her exceptionally well.
They were all family. She couldn’t favor one over another, so Jiang Wu could only run around trying to mediate between them. Third Brother just needed a little coaxing. With Eldest Brother, she only had to pretend to listen to him. As for Second Brother, she just had to tell him to shut up.
Jiang Wu was extremely experienced at this. Men, after all, were easy to coax.
As she bit into a char siu bao, Jiang Wu unlocked her phone, wanting to see whether Huo Lingyi had sent her any messages. Instead, she unexpectedly saw the half-written message she had previously been composing to Huo Qingzhi. The unsent message sat there framed in red as a draft, making her heart tighten.
Only then did Jiang Wu remember… Huo Qingzhi had come here today to discuss marriage. Feeling guilty, she quickly turned off her phone screen.
Agreeing was one thing. But being forced to face the reality of it while completely clearheaded still made her uneasy.
Huo Qingzhi noticed every one of her small movements. He directly handed a file across to her. “All the materials we’ll need have already been prepared. Take a look.”
“So fast?” It hadn’t even been a full day.
“It’s only a few documents.” Huo Qingzhi cut off what she might have said next. “Surely Ah Wu isn’t scared and planning to back out?”
Huo Qingzhi knew exactly what buttons to push.
As expected, Jiang Wu choked on her words. “Why would I be scared of them?”
She casually took the documents and began flipping through them. The quiet dining room was filled with the soft rustling of paper.
“You’re right. I am unwilling to let this go,” Jiang Wu said thoughtfully, choosing to be honest with him. “But I’m angry, that’s all. I only want revenge on them. If you do this, you’re the one paying the price for my emotions.”
Huo Qingzhi replied calmly, “Why do you think these are only your emotions and not mine? I believe I am more than capable of bearing the consequences of our losses and our anger.”
Jiang Wu knew that Huo Qingzhi rarely let himself be outmaneuvered. This incident was probably the harshest blow anyone had managed to deal him and their father since they entered the Group.
“But can we really do this?”
“Why can’t we?”
Jiang Wu looked at him and deliberately called out, “Brother…”
That form of address was the greatest taboo between them. A reminder of what they once were.
Huo Qingzhi’s eyes darkened. His answer seemed to address her concern, yet not quite. “You’ll get used to it. After all, I’m not your biological brother.”
The words sounded slightly heartless. As though he were drawing a clean line through their shared past.
“Just think of us as strangers with mutual interests.”
Jiang Wu’s heart felt unsettled. For some reason, hearing him say that made her unhappy.
She continued looking down at the documents and adopted a somewhat businesslike tone. “I’m only worried about causing trouble for you. But since you’re putting it that way, tell me… what do you gain from me?”
In truth, the documents Huo Qingzhi had handed her detailed all of his assets. Once she reviewed them, they would all be registered as marital property. Even if this was a partnership, it was an extremely unfavorable one for him.
“I need someone to protect me too.”
Jiang Wu asked, “Protect you how?”
“Once Dad steps down from the board, they’ll come after me. There are three ways they can deal with me. First, they can join forces and manipulate the shareholders, causing trouble inside the company and gradually isolating me until I’m stripped of power. Second, they can force me into making a major decision on my part that results in losses for the Group. Third, if something happens to me and I temporarily lose control of my shares and assets, they can take advantage of the situation and seize them.”
Jiang Wu understood; such things were hardly uncommon.
Huo Qingzhi continued, “For the first possibility, I nominated Yingli to the board so he can keep an eye on things for me. For the second, I can be more careful. But for the third, I need someone who can safeguard my shares and personal assets and, if necessary, intervene on my behalf so no one can take advantage of the situation. I don’t think anyone is more suitable than you.”
Jiang Wu vaguely understood what he meant, but before she could ask anything, Huo Qingzhi pushed several documents toward her.
《Agreement on Joint Spousal Ownership of Equity and Property》
《Shareholder Authorization and Power of Attorney》
《Property Gift Agreement》
Along with several other related authorization documents.
Jiang Wu looked through them for a while. She knew exactly how important these papers were. “You’re trusting me with all of this?”
Huo Qingzhi looked at her. “Or perhaps Ah Wu can help me think of someone else I could entrust them to?”
Jiang Wu flipped through the documents one page at a time, sensing the Huo family’s current passivity within the Group after everything that had happened. Huo Qingzhi had become Acting Chairman, and the matters he handled and the forces he faced were tangled and complicated.
If one day something truly happened to him and no one was authorized to exercise his rights on his behalf, someone else would inevitably seize control of the situation. And suddenly, Jiang Wu realized she couldn’t think of anyone more suitable either. Something this important had to be entrusted to an absolutely trusted family member.
Within the family, apart from their parents, there were only the siblings. But the relationship between the three brothers was poor. It had never reached the point where they would entrust one another with everything they owned.
Their father had just withdrawn from the board and was still under disciplinary restrictions. Their mother, meanwhile, had openly confronted the Group during her divorce years ago and established herself independently outside the family.
There was one other identity that could reasonably give someone control over Huo Qingzhi’s assets.
A spouse.
Huo Qingzhi repeated the same thing he had said before. “I don’t want to be at anyone’s mercy. I know you don’t either. So, I made my choice in advance. I told you before, even if you’re only taking advantage of me, I don’t mind. That’s why I’ll always give you more. And I hope… You’ll choose me, too”
Jiang Wu put down the documents and picked up the pen beside her. After a long silence, she finally spoke. “Of course I’ll choose you, Brother. But I hope you’ll never have to use me. Other than that…” Jiang Wu had her own judgment. “No matter how seriously you describe the situation, I still think you’re the one losing more in this arrangement.”
Huo Qingzhi lowered his gaze. A moment later, he looked up again, locking her firmly within his line of sight. “Not necessarily.”
After all, what he truly wanted was her.
Huo Qingzhi said, “Shall we give it a try?”
~~
The next day, Jiang Wu received a call from Jiang Yaping. She wanted Jiang Wu to accompany her shopping. It wasn’t until Jiang Wu arrived that she realized Jiang Yaping had brought her out to choose furniture.
As she browsed, Jiang Yaping complained, “You heartless little thing. You really moved out just like that.”
“When did you even go look at houses? I didn’t know anything about it.” Jiang Yaping flipped to another page of the design catalog. “These sofas are no good. Too stiff. Just like your father.”
She picked out several styles of beanbag sofas, oversized “human dog beds,” and tatami seating for Jiang Wu to choose from. “But moving out does make things quieter.”
Jiang Yaping knew that, with matters having escalated this far, no one could blame Jiang Wu for moving out. If it had been her, she would have done more than move. Before leaving, she would have flipped the Huo family’s table over too. Wenni was still civilized and well-mannered.
Truthfully, Jiang Yaping had wanted to overturn the table during the family gathering that day. But Ciying had been there, so she had to preserve the image of a gentle Mommy in front of her first.
Jiang Wu leaned against Jiang Yaping. “If you miss me, you can come live with me.”
Jiang Yaping knew her far too well. “How many people have you said that to? Don’t let me go over there only to find your place packed with people and realize you don’t need me at all.”
“Of course not.” Jiang Wu felt that Mommy’s tastes matched hers perfectly, so she kept the relaxed furniture Jiang Yaping had chosen.
Then Jiang Yaping suddenly mentioned, “I don’t know what’s gotten into your Eldest Brother either. He’s been furnishing a new place recently too.”
Jiang Wu’s hand paused midway through turning the catalog page.
“Maybe he was upset too. But that child never says anything. Even your father can’t tell what he’s thinking.” Jiang Yaping looked at Jiang Wu, asking. “You’re close to him. Did you know about this?”
Feeling guilty, Jiang Wu picked up the black tea beside her. “How would I know everything about Eldest Brother?”
“I heard he’s been preparing that Coral Palace he bought a couple of years ago, but it was only completed this year.” Once Jiang Yaping started, there was no stopping her. “I’ve always thought he bought that place as a future marital home.” She looked at Jiang Wu. “Don’t tell me you’re about to get a sister-in-law?”
Jiang Wu choked on her tea.
“Easy.” Jiang Yaping patted and smoothed her back. “Still, I’ve never seen him pay much attention to any girl. And he doesn’t know how to dote on a girl either, just like your father. What poor girl would be so foolish as to marry him? If I were her mother, I definitely wouldn’t allow it.”
As Jiang Yaping spoke, she sighed again. “But your Eldest Brother can’t stay single forever. If there really is someone, I suppose I’ll have to feel sorry for my future daughter-in-law.”
Then she warned Jiang Wu, “Don’t you dare bring home someone like your Eldest Brother. If you’re going to find someone, your Second Brother’s type would at least be acceptable. He has a good temper and knows how to make people happy.”
Jiang Wu smiled brightly and agreed with everything, successfully muddling her way through the subject.
Then Jiang Yaping started muttering in confusion again. “But why doesn’t your Second Brother have a girlfriend either?”
Jiang Yaping dragged Jiang Wu back to Cloud Peak Bay for dinner and, since it was the weekend, insisted that she stay at home.
The whole family was there, minus the troublesome relatives. The atmosphere at dinner was relatively harmonious, mostly because everyone was asking about Jiang Wu’s new place. The only person stubbornly refusing to say anything was Huo Tingshan.
Wen Ciying sat beside Jiang Wu. As everyone continued chatting, she suddenly lifted her glass and lightly tapped it against Jiang Wu’s.
In a low voice, she asked, “Are you living alone?”
Jiang Wu held her glass. “Yeah.”
Wen Ciying nodded, then added cryptically, “You should be careful with those three.”
Wen Ciying knew there was a risk in saying something like this. If Jiang Wu didn’t believe her, she would end up offending both sides. She waited for Jiang Wu to question her or argue back.
Instead, Jiang Wu leaned closer. “What happened? Have they been bullying you at home?”
Hearing that, Wen Ciying tilted her head slightly and looked at her.
Jiang Wu nudged her with an elbow. “Why are you staring at me? Tell me.”
Wen Ciying looked away. “No, nothing like that.”
Jiang Wu sat back. “Don’t be afraid. If they make things difficult for you, tell me.”
Wen Ciying tightened her grip around her chopsticks and stared at the food on her plate, momentarily distracted.
Damn. She was starting to understand why those three men would develop those kinds of feelings for Jiang Wu. There was simply something about Jiang Wu, a kind of attraction that made people want to do something to her.
Across the table, the three brothers finished eating and left one after another.
Huo Qingzhi was busy sorting out his belongings. Huo Qingzhi was heading to his room when he saw the two of them sitting on the sofa beside the central atrium of the wraparound corridor.
Huo Qingzhi acted as though he hadn’t seen them and headed straight toward his room. But the two men stood and walked toward him at the same time. One of them called out, “Eldest Brother, you’re back?”
Huo Qingzhi didn’t answer. Just as he pushed open his door, the other man reached out and pressed down on the handle.
Huo Yingli shut the door again. “Let’s talk. What have you been so busy with lately? First, you’re organizing your assets, and now you’re furnishing a new house?”
“Just a routine inventory of my assets.”
Huo Lingyi toyed with the Swiss Army knife in his hand. “Eldest Brother doesn’t need to keep making excuses. We all know each other too well.”
Huo Qingzhi stopped and looked at them. “So?”
Huo Lingyi stared straight at him. “So, when you helped Ah Wu change her locks, you shouldn’t have kept it from us. And you shouldn’t use your position as Eldest Brother to pressure her and stop her from having anything to do with us. If she wants to see us, you don’t get to interfere.”
Huo Qingzhi listened calmly. “If she truly wants to, then my interference wouldn’t make any difference. So apparently, the two of you aren’t that important to her either.”
He had just turned to enter his room when Huo Yingli called him by his full name from behind. “Huo Qingzhi. With things the way they are now, you must admit we all have a chance. If you really thought we were no threat, why rush? You’re the one most afraid of losing”
Huo Qingzhi stood with his back to them, facing the dark shadows ahead.
Downstairs, dinner was coming to an end. Jiang Yaping stopped Jiang Wu as she was about to return to her room. “Stay home for the next few days. Your new place still needs more work anyway.”
Jiang Wu hesitated before coming up with an excuse. “I already made plans with a friend next Monday, so I won’t be staying here.”
Jiang Yaping looked disappointed. “All right.”
In the elevator, just the two of them, Wen Ciying casually asked, “What are you doing next Monday?”
Jiang Wu blinked. “Going out to have fun.”
Wen Ciying didn’t press further. She merely watched the metallic sheen on the elevator wall and suddenly asked, “What kind of person do you think I am?”
Jiang Wu had no idea why Wen Ciying was asking this out of nowhere. “You’re pretty good.”
“Actually, I’m not a very good person, baby,” Wen Ciying replied slowly. “And Huo Qingzhi isn’t nearly as much of an upright gentleman as he looks either.”
Jiang Wu’s heart skipped at the sudden mention of Huo Qingzhi.
“Wh…” She was about to ask more when Wen Ciying reminded her, “The elevator’s here.”
Jiang Wu came back to herself. She had no choice but to pretend everything was normal as she stepped out of the elevator and said goodbye.
Distracted, Jiang Wu pushed open the door to her room… only to find Huo Qingzhi already inside, waiting for her.
She jumped. “How did you…”
“Who walked you back?”
“Ciying.” Jiang Wu looked at him. “When did you come in? No one saw you, right?”
“Why?” Huo Qingzhi walked toward her. His shadow fell over her along with him. “Afraid they’ll find out we’re registering our marriage on Monday?”