Chapter 132 - 131: Household God

Chapter 132: Chapter 131: Household God

With a gentle smile on his face, Huo Xinghai walked over from a distance dressed in a white tuxedo. He looked exactly like a Prince from a fairy tale.

Gu Qingyin couldn’t help but smile. ’No wonder the little girl likes him.’

The surrounding Huo Family members were also looking at Huo Xinghai, buzzing with discussion. In the past, Huo Xinghai had never attended the Huo Family’s annual gala. This time...

Everyone exchanged glances. Who would dare to bully his mother? It wasn’t that they were underestimating themselves, but thinking they could pose a threat was giving them far too much credit.

"Maybe he’s just being a filial son. You all are overthinking things."

Huo Xinghai walked to Gu Qingyin’s side and said with a smile, "Mom."

Gu Qingyin smiled and nodded. "Sit down. Are you tired from rushing back?"

Huo Xinghai took a seat and shook his head. "It’s fine. I’m used to it." He looked up at the woman across from them, smiling and nodding in greeting. "Sister Yue Jin."

Qi Yuejin was pleasantly surprised. "Second Young Master, you still remember me."

When she was little, Huo Yunli had taken her to visit Huo Yunjing. She had been young at the time and only vaguely remembered that the man was very tall and intimidating.

That was also when she had met the Huo Family’s triplets. They had only met that one time, so she was surprised that after all these years, Huo Xinghai still remembered her.

"Of course," Huo Xinghai said with a small laugh. "You’re my cousin. How could I not recognize you?"

Even though they didn’t interact often with these Huo Family members, they knew every one of them by sight and were even aware of their recent life situations. This was to prevent people from approaching them with ulterior motives, like Lin Xiaoyun and Huo Zhao Hua had last time.

Qi Yuejin grew a little emotional. She knew this was a rare opportunity, but for a moment, she didn’t know what to say.

"Xinghai," Gu Qingyin said with a smile. "Come meet your little fan."

Huo Xinghai turned his head to look at Gugu, smiling and nodding. "Hello."

The little girl made a small sound in her throat, her face flushing bright red. Her eyes, shimmering with the excitement of seeing her idol, looked especially adorable.

A glint flashed in Huo Xinghai’s eyes. He opened his arms to Gugu and asked in a gentle voice, "Want Uncle to hold you?"

’Although most members of the Huo Family’s branch families are insatiably greedy, weak, and incompetent, children are still cute,’ he thought. ’Especially a pretty child who adores him.’

Gugu let out a happy cry and shot into Huo Xinghai’s arms like a cannonball.

’Yes, I’m so happy!! Uncle Xinghai is hugging me!’

Huo Xinghai was well aware of Gugu’s situation. Due to his past exposure to metaphysics, he’d had some theories, but since there was no need and he had never met her, he hadn’t brought it up. Now that he had met her, there was no harm in taking a look.

"Mom, can you check on Gugu for me?"

Of course, Gu Qingyin wouldn’t refuse. She leaned in with a wide smile and whispered to Gugu, "I’ll tell you a secret. Grandma is a very skilled doctor. Open your mouth and let Grandma take a look at your throat. Maybe Grandma has a way to help you speak."

Gugu stared at her blankly. She subconsciously touched her throat, her eyes shining brightly, but the next second, as if something occurred to her, she lowered her gaze and shook her head.

Gu Qingyin assumed she was resisting another diagnosis because she had seen too many doctors with no results, and her heart ached with pity.

"Be a good girl, let Grandma have a look," Gu Qingyin said, patting her head. "Trust Grandma."

Gugu knew this grandmother she had just met truly cared for her. Besides, Grandma had even let her meet Uncle Xinghai!

So, even though she knew it was useless, Gugu chose to cooperate. ’Let Grandma look if she wants. After all... the result is already set in stone.’

Gugu opened her mouth and made an "Ahhh" sound.

A faint golden light appeared in Gu Qingyin’s eyes as she looked at Gugu’s throat. With just one glance, she froze.

Coiled in Gugu’s throat was a ball of energy. It wasn’t ghost energy or Yin Qi, but a rare demonic energy. Yet, within this demonic energy was a trace of divinity.

Gu Qingyin sat up straight, staring at Gugu in confusion.

This type of demonic energy, which contained a trace of divinity, typically only appeared in household gods.

There are five types of household gods: the Fox Immortal, the Yellow Immortal, the White Immortal, the Willow Immortal, and the Gray Immortal.

The Fox Immortal is a fox, the Yellow Immortal is a weasel, the White Immortal is a hedgehog, the Willow Immortal is a snake, and the Gray Immortal is a mouse.

In ancient times, many people worshiped household gods, but it is much rarer in the modern era. Gugu’s situation looked very much like her voice had been exchanged for something when praying to a household god.

"You said before that Gugu suddenly lost her ability to speak after she turned three?" Gu Qingyin asked.

Qi Yuejin nodded. "Yes, it was very sudden. She didn’t have a fever or get sick. She just went to sleep one night and couldn’t speak when she woke up." She sighed regretfully. "Gugu’s voice used to be beautiful, as melodious as a songbird."

Gu Qingyin’s brows furrowed. A three-year-old wouldn’t know how to conduct worship, let alone make a wish to trade something of her own accord.

If she wasn’t mistaken, Gugu’s voice must have been used by someone else to trade for something.

"Around the time Gugu lost her voice, did anything unusual happen?"

Qi Yuejin thought for a moment and said, "Actually, yes."

"Around that time, Old Madam Huo’s health wasn’t very good. She was in and out of the hospital frequently. It was nothing major, just the effects of aging, and her immune system was weakening."

"Old Madam Huo was fond of Gugu, so Gugu was staying with her during that period. Later, it seems they found a renowned doctor to help her recuperate, and Old Madam Huo’s health gradually improved."

"And then..." At this point, even Qi Yuejin found it to be a strange coincidence. "And then, Gugu’s voice was gone."

’Just as I thought,’ Gu Qingyin said to herself.

’This Old Madam Huo of the Huo Family is a real piece of work, trading her great-granddaughter’s voice for her own health. I guess since she’s not blood-related, she doesn’t feel a shred of pity, huh?’

Huo Yunyang was the child of the first wife, so his granddaughter naturally shared no blood relation with Old Madam Huo.

Gu Qingyin asked again, "Are Gugu’s parents here?"

"They are."

Gu Qingyin smiled. "Please bring them to me."

Qi Yuejin nodded in agreement. As she got up to find them, she couldn’t help but think to herself that while the couple was incompetent, they had given birth to a good child. They had really hit the jackpot.

A short while later, the gala officially began. Amidst the host’s opening remarks, Qi Yuejin returned with a young man and woman.

The two of them looked genuinely young and didn’t seem like parents at all.

As they approached, they didn’t even glance at Gugu. Their eyes were fixed carefully on Gu Qingyin and Huo Xinghai, their faces plastered with sycophantic smiles.

Seeing this, the light in Gugu’s eyes dimmed, and she turned to bury her face in Huo Xinghai’s chest.

Huo Xinghai sighed inwardly and patted her head.

"Matriarch, Second Young Master." The couple bowed slightly, greeting them with broad smiles.

Gu Qingyin felt an instinctive dislike for the pair, but for Gugu’s sake, she could only frown and lift her chin. "Sit."

The couple waved their hands nervously. "No, no, we’re fine standing."

Gu Qingyin didn’t bother with pleasantries and said bluntly, "I can cure Gugu’s throat, but I will need your cooperation."

Hearing this, the couple’s expressions changed abruptly.