Chapter 472 - 471: IF-Line: Did the Bigshot Vie for Favor Today? 40

Chapter 472: Chapter 471: IF-Line: Did the Bigshot Vie for Favor Today? 40

Yan Huoshui asked Zhang Chen to come over and watch the cat. Benefactor wasn’t acting right, but he figured he had probably just been pushing him too hard. He was sure Benefactor would be back to normal by the time he returned from the family home.

But for some reason, his right eyelid twitched, and he couldn’t shake a sense of unease.

Twenty minutes later, Zhang Chen rushed over.

Yan Huoshui stared at the sofa, his tone still gentle and patient. "Benefactor, I’m heading to the family home now. You be good and stay here, don’t run off, okay?"

Zhang Chen looked at the empty sofa in confusion. "Brother Yan, are you talking to thin air? Where’s Benefactor?"

"If he’s not on the sofa, can’t you use your brain and think to look under it?"

Yan Huoshui was in a bad mood, and his temper flared up just like it used to. It had been so long since Zhang Chen had been yelled at by him that hearing it again felt surprisingly strange.

’It’s true what they say, once you’ve tasted luxury, it’s hard to go back.’

Still, he was puzzled. "Isn’t Benefactor a neat freak? Why would he hide under the sofa?"

Even though a cleaning lady came to Brother Yan’s house often, corners like the space under the sofa still collected dust easily.

Benefactor was a white cat and got dirty easily. Back when they were on set, he was always careful to walk only on clean spots, or he would just stay on a chair without running around.

Right. Yan Huoshui also felt something was very wrong. The usually pristine Benefactor was covered in smudges today. He had just given him a bath last night; logically, he should be even more worried about getting dirty.

Yan Huoshui frowned. ’I probably just stressed him out by insisting on taking him to the family home,’ he thought. After all, it was the first time the cat had ever scratched him.

Thinking of the scratch on his hand, he ignored Zhang Chen, quickly rinsed and disinfected it, and slapped on a bandage.

Zhang Chen recognized it as a cat scratch, and his jaw dropped in shock again. When did Benefactor get so vicious?

He actually lashed out. No wonder Brother Yan had been scowling the whole time.

Zhang Chen didn’t dare bring up Benefactor again and add fuel to the fire. He just replied cautiously, "I’ll keep a good eye on the cat."

"Mm."

Yan Huoshui, fully disguised, left the house, switched to a more low-key car, and headed to the family home.

Mrs. Yan had been eagerly awaiting her son’s return. Knowing he was about to arrive, she stood at the front door, craning her neck in anticipation.

Mr. Yan sat on the sofa reading the newspaper, but he kept glancing toward the door. He even said to his wife, "If that brat isn’t coming, then fine. I’m starving. Let’s just eat without him."

Mrs. Yan couldn’t be bothered to respond. He’d muttered the same thing dozens of times, yet the newspaper in his hands hadn’t moved an inch.

Mr. Yan shut his mouth sheepishly. Just then, the butler ran over excitedly. "Ma’am, Ma’am, a car is approaching!"

"Good, good, good."

Mrs. Yan immediately ran happily toward the front of the courtyard. Yan Huoshui drove into the villa grounds, rolled down his window, and smiled at his mother. "Mom, I’m back."

"Ah, it’s good that you’re back."

"Butler, go hurry the chefs and have them serve the food."

"Yes, Ma’am."

The butler hurried away. Yan Huoshui parked the car, got out, and shared a hug with his mother. Mr. Yan remained on the sofa, feigning indifference, but his ears secretly perked up. He hadn’t taken in a single word of the newspaper in his hands.

When he had initially opposed his son’s decision to enter the entertainment industry, the father and son had fought fiercely. Because of that, Mr. Yan was having a hard time swallowing his pride.

Yan Huoshui walked in, saw his father, and teased him cheekily, "Old man, your son is home. You’re not even going to come greet me?"

Mr. Yan shot him a glance. "So you’re back. What, was I supposed to carry you in on a grand sedan chair?"

"That wouldn’t do. It’s not like you’re welcoming a new bride."

"You brat. Always so improper. No wonder you still haven’t found a wife after all this time."

Mr. Yan really wondered how his son had managed to become famous in the entertainment industry. In the end, just like his wife, he chalked it up to his face—that was his only redeeming quality.

Yan Huoshui couldn’t be bothered to get into it over the ’wife’ issue. Subconsciously, he felt that the person he was waiting for hadn’t appeared yet, and he wasn’t willing to settle when it came to his feelings.

Just then, the household staff began serving the meal, and Mrs. Yan immediately told her son to go wash his hands and get ready to eat.

At the dinner table, Mrs. Yan looked at him, her heart aching. "How did you get so thin? Eat more. I had them make all your favorites today."

"Thanks, Mom."

Yan Huoshui smiled. Since he’d chosen to be a celebrity, he maintained a certain level of professional integrity. To look better on screen, he’d been reining in his diet and keeping up with his fitness routine on his days off, so it was hard not to lose weight.

’But I’m planning to take a month off. I might as well indulge myself a little during this time.’

After dinner, Yan Huoshui was anxious to get back and check on the cat. He said with some regret, "I was actually planning to introduce a new family member to you all, but he’s a bit shy around strangers and didn’t want to come. I’ll bring him for you to see next time I have a chance."

Mrs. Yan’s eyes lit up. "A girlfriend?"

Mr. Yan’s ears twitched.

Yan Huoshui smiled, his gaze softening. "No, it’s my cat. His name is Benefactor. He’s a very good-tempered cat—a bit aloof, but very smart."

Her son had always been a picky person. The fact that he had so many good things to say proved that the cat must be truly special.

Although it was a bit of a shame it wasn’t a girlfriend, it was rare to see their son so fond of anything, so they were still happy for him.

"Is it that white cat from your magazine shoot? He really is a beautiful cat."

The corners of Yan Huoshui’s lips curved up as he nodded in delight.

Just then, Mrs. Yan remembered something. "Oh, right. Last time, that boy Han Shi said he had something to discuss with you. His leg is injured right now, and you two were classmates. Why don’t you take this opportunity to go see him?"

"Sigh, that poor child. The car accident left both his legs disabled, but thankfully, it seems there’s hope they’ll recover."

Hearing his mother mention this, Yan Huoshui finally remembered. He had indeed said he would visit He Hanshi. He’d been so preoccupied with his cat that he had almost forgotten.

At this thought, he nodded. Mrs. Yan brought him a gift. "That boy sent over so many things last time. You can’t go to his home empty-handed."

"I know."

Even if Mrs. Yan hadn’t prepared anything, Yan Huoshui wasn’t that thoughtless. But since his mother had already taken care of it, it saved him the trouble. He took the gift and drove to the He Family’s home.

Aside from that one chance encounter in Z City, Yan Huoshui and He Hanshi hadn’t seen each other in several years. After graduating from university, He Hanshi had returned to his family’s company while Yan Huoshui went abroad for a few years. It wasn’t until after he entered the entertainment industry that he heard about what had happened to him.

In his memory, He Hanshi was an outstanding person. He was always winning academic excellence awards and scholarships in school, and the two of them were often pitted against each other in ’campus beau’ competitions. Now that his legs were injured, Yan Huoshui couldn’t help but feel a little wistful.

When he arrived at the He Family’s home, Mrs. He greeted him with great enthusiasm. Mr. He was at the company, and He Hanshi was upstairs in the study for a meeting.

Mrs. He sat on the sofa, looked at the gift he had brought, and couldn’t help but say, "You, child. Have you become so formal with us now?"