Volume One, Chapter Nineteen: You Must Address Him as Ninth Grandfather

“How is it? Did you get through on the phone?” Chairman Huo looked at the old butler, his expression solemn as he sat in the rosewood armchair.

The old butler set down the landline phone, shaking his head.

“I doubt it. Years ago, the Ninth Master said even if he returned to the capital, he wouldn’t stay at the old manor. As for whether he’ll come back at all, it depends on his mood. He didn’t contact us in advance this time, so I suspect he’s not coming.”

The old butler added, “Why don’t we stop waiting and let everyone disperse?”

Chairman Huo kept his face taut and said nothing.

Three generations of the Huo family were gathered in the main hall, all summoned back home. In truth, everyone was eager to meet the legendary Ninth Master—the youngest son of Old Master Huo, born late in his life.

When Old Master Huo passed away after his ninetieth birthday five years ago, the Ninth Master was only thirty. Chairman Huo, Old Master Huo’s own grandson, was already over fifty.

Back then, Old Master Huo fathered a son in his sixties with the international supermodel Bonnie, shocking not only the Huo family but the entire world. For this son, Old Master Huo held a second wedding in his sixties, formally marrying Bonnie.

Even now, that cross-national romance between an elderly man and a young woman is still talked about with amazement and fascination.

“Dad, it’s getting late. Why don’t we eat first? We can’t let everyone just wait around,” Huo Shuting suggested. “Has Ninth Granduncle ever really come back? He doesn’t care for us. Why should we insist on courting his indifference? Isn’t that humiliating?”

“Silence!”

Before Chairman Huo could speak, Madam Huo rebuked her daughter sharply, “My life was saved by Ninth Uncle back then. We owe him this respect and should wait. You’re just a child—who gave you the right to speak here?”

Huo Shuting, scolded in front of everyone, felt aggrieved but dared not protest further. She turned to pick up Huo Cong, “Cong, are you hungry? Auntie will take you to get something to eat.”

Seated on the sofa, Huo Cong asked curiously, “Auntie, who is Ninth Granduncle?”

“He’s the ancestor of our Huo family,” Huo Shuting replied with a faint smile, then corrected him, “But you can’t call him Ninth Granduncle. That’s for your father and me. You should address him as Great-Granduncle, understand?”

“Great-Granduncle?” Huo Cong’s eyes widened. “Isn’t that older than Grandpa?”

Huo Shuting laughed, “He’s not old at all—barely older than your father. His generation is just higher.”

Huo Cong nodded thoughtfully, “Oh.”

Mealtime had passed, and the kitchen staff came to ask if they should reheat the dishes. Everyone had been sitting for nearly two hours and were already hungry, but no one dared speak up. Huo Mingting said, “Dad, maybe everyone should eat first.”

Chairman Huo ignored the group and addressed Huo Mingting, “Call your Ninth Granduncle.”

Huo Mingting paused, his lips curling in a faint, mocking smile. “The old butler tried and he wouldn’t answer. Why would he take my call?”

There was little warmth in his expression, tinged with irony.

Chairman Huo’s face darkened. “Just do as I said. Whether he answers or not is beside the point!”

Unable to defy his father, Huo Mingting took out his phone, scrolled through his contacts, found “Ninth Granduncle,” and dialed.

After a moment, the call connected.

Everyone turned their eyes toward him.

Huo Mingting was caught off guard. A low, deep “Hello” came through the receiver. Instinctively, Huo Mingting stood up, switched to speaker mode under the gaze of the family.

“Ninth Granduncle, hello, it’s Mingting.”

“Mm,” came the man’s indifferent reply. “Is there something you need?”

“Oh, nothing in particular… We heard you’re back in the capital. The family is waiting for you at the old manor. Shall I send someone to fetch you?”

Huo Mingting glanced at his father, who was frantically gesturing to him, and corrected himself, “I’ll come pick you up myself.”

“No need,” said the Ninth Master, Huo Rindong. “I have a dinner engagement tonight. Won’t be coming. Enjoy your meal.”

Hearing his refusal, the family felt disappointed, yet collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

Chairman Huo snatched the phone, “Ninth Uncle, it’s me, Chaoxian—”

The Huo family watched as the usually domineering Chairman and his wife became suddenly deferential on the phone, their manner almost sycophantic, prompting private amusement.

Huo Mingting understood why his parents treated Ninth Granduncle with such reverence: his mother’s life-threatening illness had been discovered and treated thanks to Ninth Granduncle’s timely intervention, essentially saving her life. Moreover, Ninth Granduncle’s reputation in the medical world was so eminent that he never relied on the Huo Group for support; in fact, Huo Pharmaceuticals now depended on the “Huo Rindong” brand.

But Huo Rindong spent most of his time abroad and rarely interacted with the family. Huo Mingting himself had only met him twice—at great-grandfather and grandfather’s funerals.

He was, indeed, the kind of man whose presence lingered in memory.

Huo Rindong hung up.

His amber eyes were cool and distant; the family on the other end of the line stirred no emotion in him.

“Daddy!”

Huo Rindong looked up as Ye Sheng walked over, holding Huo Xiaobei’s hand. Huo Xiaobei was restless, bouncing and skipping along, while Ye Sheng smiled and let him spin around her hand.

The scene was playful and warm, and a hint of warmth appeared at the corner of Huo Rindong’s eyes, his expression softening.