Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love

Chapter 404 - 354 Who Took the Initiative? (Five updates)

Tong Aino turned her head and snorted, "I’ll grab a few clothes and leave.""Haha..." Yi Luowa laughed and glanced at Connie, "Quickly go check on him. If your man really runs away for three to five years, you’ll be crying your eyes out."

"I wish he’d leave! All he does at home is annoy me." Connie said, looking at Tong Yao, "Mom, is there anything going on at home these days?"

Tong Yao shook her head, "Nothing much, do you have something going on?"

"I’m thinking of going to Raman after Joyina’s birthday."

Tong Yao smiled lovingly, "Then go. My illness has disrupted both your and Luowa’s plans. After Joyina’s birthday, you can head to Raman, and Luowa can take a little trip too to relax."

Yi Luowa laughed, "Mom, I’m not in a hurry. Let Connie go to Raman first. They’ve been planning it for ages but haven’t managed to go. Connie hasn’t even collected her graduation certificate yet."

"You could use a little trip yourself. Don’t worry about me. The family still has your third brother and Joyina here, and Kaikai and Shanshan will visit often when they’re not busy."

Tong Yao smiled at the two daughters-in-law. She counted herself lucky—she hadn’t had to lift a finger, and her sons had found such wonderful wives for her.

Before dinner, Huo Li finally arrived. Spotting Just, Huo Li gave him a big hug and said, "Senior, long time no see. You seem to have gotten even more handsome!"

"And you’ve gotten prettier!" Just replied with a smile.

"Ahem..." Yi Luowa cleared her throat lightly. "Huo Li, sit down first. I have something to tell you."

Huo Li released Just and turned her head toward Yi Luowa, "What’s the matter?"

Yi Luowa pointed to the couch, "Sit down first. I’m worried you might collapse later."

Joyina had just come down the stairs, spotted Huo Li, and turned around to sneak back upstairs.

Yi Luowa grabbed her, "Joyina, where do you think you’re running off to?"

Joyina giggled, "I wasn’t trying to run away. I was going upstairs to call everyone down to welcome Sister Huo Li."

"Still lying!" Yi Luowa squinted slightly at her.

Joyina looked pitifully at Yi Luowa, "Sister Luowa, have mercy on me! Huo Li is way scarier than you—I’m afraid she’ll hit me later."

Huo Li skeptically walked over and grabbed Joyina’s other arm, "What kind of trouble did you cause?"

Tong Airui crossed his arms, ready to watch the show.

"Nothing~" Joyina pouted.

Yi Luowa asked, "Are you going to confess yourself, or should I do it for you?"

"If I’m doomed either way, I’d better say it myself." Joyina looked pitifully at Huo Li. "Sister Huo Li, Just is my brother."

Huo Li froze, her head turning to look at Just, who had a full grin on his face, "She’s not talking nonsense?"

Just shook his head.

"You little rascal!" Huo Li raised her hand and gave Joyina a light tap. "Your brother tricked us, and now you’re in on it too! I rushed over just to see you two con artists—I’m cutting ties with the both of you!"

Yi Luowa gently poked Joyina’s puffed-up cheek. "Your sister Huo Li is going to cut ties with you. Let’s see if you dare fool us again in the future!"

"It’s all your fault!" Joyina angrily glared at Just.

Just walked over and, seeing Huo Li still upset, spoke with a smile, "I told Joyina not to tell you all. I had my reasons. I’ve explained it to Luowa, and now I’ll explain it to you again..."

Just pulled Huo Li to sit down and repeated everything he had said earlier in the afternoon.

When Huo Li listened, she pouted but said nothing.

Just smiled and patted her shoulder, "When you get married, I’ll give you a huge gift as an apology. How about that?"

Huo Li rolled her eyes, "You’re only saying that because you know I won’t get married."

Just paused slightly, "But aren’t you getting along well with my second uncle?"

"Who told you we’re doing well? Hmm? How do you know I’m with Yi Weiyang? Luowa, was it you?" Huo Li turned to Yi Luowa.

"I didn’t get a chance to tell him yet." Yi Luowa shrugged. "I haven’t even settled accounts with you. What did you do to my second uncle?"

"What could I possibly do to him? At home, he acts like an old patriarch. If this keeps up, I’ll practically need a shrine to worship him with..."

Yi Luowa frowned and lightly smacked her, "Talk properly! I’ve only been away for a few days, and you’re already fighting with my second uncle!"

"I..." Huo Li quickly stopped talking upon seeing Tong Yao walking down the stairs. Smiling, she stood up, "Auntie, I’m disturbing you again. You don’t mind, do you?"

Tong Yao was briefly stunned by the address but quickly realized Huo Li hadn’t married Yi Weiyang yet. She could only let it slide for now.

"You’ve hardly been here lately, so I’ve missed you. Why would I mind?"

Huo Li smiled sweetly, "The company’s been a bit busy lately, so I haven’t had the time to visit you. I heard from Luowa that you weren’t feeling well recently. How are you doing now?"

"Much better." Tong Yao smiled and pulled Huo Li to sit down. "Where’s Weiyang? Why didn’t he come?"

Huo Li’s lips started to pout, but Yi Luowa discreetly pinched her.

Huo Li held back, reaching out toward Yi Luowa’s waist. Hm! What’s this? Looking down, Huo Li saw—ugh—Tong Airui’s hand! He seemed to have been prepared for her attempt at targeting his wife, setting up defenses beforehand.

Huo Li swallowed her anger and smiled warmly at Tong Yao, "Yi Weiyang went to T country today. He won’t be back until tomorrow."

"My second uncle went abroad, and you didn’t go with him?" Yi Luowa frowned and asked.

"He wouldn’t take me..." Huo Li pouted.

Yi Luowa shrugged, clearly not believing her. It seemed she intended to interrogate her later when no one was around!

"When will my second uncle be back?"

"Early tomorrow morning. He brought Uncle Li along this time. He was so secretive when he left—I even got in the car, but he still drove me off."

Hmm! From the looks of it, maybe Huo Li wasn’t lying.

Tong Airui frowned slightly, "Huo Li, is there some important business in T country?"

Huo Li shook her head, "There’s nothing urgent. But he didn’t even give a reason. He just told me to cancel all his plans for today and left with Uncle Li."

Tong Airui nodded and didn’t speak further. After sitting for a while, he got up and went to the study.

Family members gradually came downstairs. Yi Luowa and Huo Li dropped the topic.

After dinner, Just bid farewell and returned to his hotel. Huo Li stayed behind.

Yi Luowa took her to an upstairs guest room. As soon as she closed the door, she asked, "Huo Li, have you been quarreling with my second uncle these past few days?"

Huo Li sniffled, "Piggy, why is your second uncle so stubborn!"

Yi Luowa’s lips twitched slightly, "That’s just his personality. You’ve known him long enough."

"All you ever do is defend him," Huo Li complained, pursing her lips. "If he keeps acting like this, I’m starting to suspect he doesn’t love me at all."

"Tell me, I’ll help you analyze it," Yi Luowa said, pulling her to sit down.

"How can I talk about this..." Huo Li hesitated before continuing, "Piggy, in F country, people are pretty open about relationships, but I seem to be an exception. I’ve always thought of giving myself completely to the one I love."

Yi Luowa pursed her lips. She could roughly guess what Huo Li was about to say next.

"I love Yi Weiyang—I really do! I wanted to give myself to him, but he... Piggy, I’ve been hurt before. It was hard enough for me to overcome the shadows of the past and make the decision to open my heart to him. And yet, he just yelled at me and threw me out.

The books I’ve read say men would never react like that when they see the woman they love. When he agreed to accept me before, it must have been grudgingly. Now it seems that he might say he accepts me, but deep down inside, he’s still rejecting me."

Yi Luowa rubbed her chin with a mischievous smile, "Did you walk in completely naked?"

Huo Li punched her lightly, "Can you be serious for a second!"

"I *am* serious! I’m trying to help you analyze the situation. Answer my questions honestly, so I can come to a conclusion."

Huo Li looked at her warily, "Since when did you know anything about this?"

"When you’ve eaten enough pork, you tend to understand everything," Yi Luowa said, sitting cross-legged on the sofa and grabbing Huo Li’s hand. She asked solemnly, "Have you ever kissed my second uncle?"

Huo Li nodded.

Yi Luowa secretly smirked before continuing, "Who initiated it?"

Huo Li pursed her lips, "Of course I did! Do you think that blockhead would ever kiss me first?"

"After you kissed him, what was his reaction? Was he enjoying it, resisting it, or indifferent?"

Huo Li thought back, "At first, he froze up, but after that, he tried to push me away. I wrapped my arms around his neck and refused to let go. Then he suddenly became more proactive."

Yi Luowa blinked, "See? My second uncle does have feelings for you. Here’s what we’ll do—you show me how you were seducing my second uncle that day. I’ll see if there’s something off about your approach that made him uncomfortable."

Tong Airui, standing outside the door, nearly let out a laugh.