If Song Ning had not seen the asset transfer agreement in her daughter’s room, she would never have learned of her daughter’s involvement with the Huo family.

  Song Ning was unafraid of the Song family but was more concerned about Huo Yao and Huo Changfeng’s interaction.

  Huo Yao thought her mother would ask about the Song family. Instead, her mother brought up the Huo family. Huo Yao answered candidly. “He didn’t tell me about the Huo family.”


  He simply gave her a document detailing all the Huo family’s assets without an explanation.

  “In that case, how do you explain this asset transfer agreement?” asked Song Ning.

  If her daughter knew nothing about the Huo family, Huo Changfeng would not have helped Huo Yao squeeze this asset transfer agreement from the Song family.

  That liar!

  “They are just paying back what they owe,” said Huo Yao before leaning into the couch backrest. She did not attempt to explain further.

  Song Ning wanted to make her daughter answer a few more questions. At that moment, Huo Jinyan was sitting beside her and he stopped her. He looked at his wife and sighed.

  Song Ning had done her best to keep it from her, but there was no keeping the family secrets from Huo Yao.

  It was no wonder Huo Yao kept going out while her parents were in town.

  After dinner, Huo Yao went back to her room to do some Physics questions.

  Before long, someone knocked on her door. Huo Yao put down her pen, walked up to the door slowly, and opened a tiny gap in the door.

  Before she could reach her head out, she could hear her third older brother talking. “Mom and Dad have gone back to their room.”


  Huo Yao cleared her throat. She straightened her back and opened the door immediately. “Brother Yulin, are you still up?”


  “Uh huh.” Huo Yulin handed her a bowl of ginger soup.

  Huo Yao quietly took the soup from him. Just when she was about to take a sip of the soup, her third older brother spoke again.

  “Are you going to take over the local family business?” Huo Yulin looked at Huo Yao.

  She might have gotten away with fooling their parents, but not him.

  Huo Yao almost choked on the ginger soup.

  “You don’t have to be shocked. I know you are an independent young woman. The family is a huge operation. Things can get complicated. If you are careless…” Huo Yulin paused before he continued. “I would rather you did not get involved.”


  Although he did not know exactly what Huo Changfeng had told his little sister, he did not want his only little sister to get involved with the family business.

  Huo Yao could tell that her third older brother was serious. She held her cup as she replied. “I know.”


  Huo Yulin did not know what his little sister was thinking. He simply touched her head and did not continue with the subject. “Have an early night then.”


  Huo Yao nodded and said sweetly, “You too.”


  Before long, Huo Yulin went back to his room. Huo Yao stood at the door for some time, contemplating before she finally closed it.

  **

  Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

  Meanwhile, at the Apothecaries’ Association.

  Chairman Wang had just hung up the phone. He was talking to a representative from an overseas medical association. He was busy taking care of the aftermath of the fire at the warehouse, and looked a little tired and sallow.

  The assistant handed the chairman a cup of warm water. “Chairman Wang, what did they say about the extension?”


  Chairman Wang put down his cup. “They refuse to give us more time.”


  The assistant frowned quizzically. “Chairman Wang, I don’t know why but something seems off to me. The association is a major Chinese herb supplier. We have worked with them several times, and enjoy a good relationship with them. I don’t understand why they refuse to give us more time.”


  Chairman Wang narrowed his eyes. “I feel the same way. Oh yes. How are things going for Deputy Chairman Qin? Did he manage to learn anything from his investigations?”