Settling Old Scores

Huo Beiting froze, his mind blank as if it had short-circuited.

Calmly, Huo Xingzhou handed the invitation to Qiao Xi by his side. "Read it."

Qiao Xi stepped forward and took the invitation.

Her lips pressed tightly together, her pretty face icy and unreadable. Her gaze locked onto the microphone in Huo Beiting's hand, and with a sharp, unapologetic motion, she snatched it away.

"Testing."

She tapped the microphone, her soft voice resonating through the grand banquet hall. Yet no one found it soothing.

Fixing her eyes on the invitation, where Huo Beiting's handwritten flattery stood glaringly obvious, she began to read aloud.

"To the esteemed founder of Tianyuan Group, I humbly invite you to celebrate my grandfather's 70th birthday."

"Stop! Don't read another word!" Huo Beiting's face turned pale as a sheet.

He lunged forward to grab the microphone, but Old Chen, the chauffeur, blocked him with a well-placed kick.

Qiao Xi's tone grew steadier, clearer, slicing through the air like a blade:

"I have long admired you and eagerly await your presence. I hope we can have a pleasant and meaningful exchange at the event."

She raised her head to look directly at Huo Beiting, whose expression had turned twisted with rage. In an icy, deliberate tone, she finished the last line:

"Yours sincerely, your loyal admirer, Huo Beiting."

Her enunciation was crisp, her voice carrying to every corner of the hall, ensuring no one missed a single word.

The hall erupted into chaos, as though her words had dropped into hot oil. Some were dumbfounded; others quickly pieced the situation together.

Huo Beiting felt a sharp, wrenching pain in his chest, his mind spiraling out of control. "Impossible! This is impossible! Where did you steal that invitation from?"

He refused to believe it.

"Where are the security guards? Have they all died? Throw them out now!" Wang Fengxian shrieked.

"No! Absolutely not!" Jin Kai's voice rang out urgently.

Straightening his tie and smoothing his jacket, Jin Kai scurried over to Huo Xingzhou with a fawning smile. Under the watchful gaze of the crowd, he announced loudly, "Let me introduce you all—this is Mr. Huo, the founder of Tianyuan Group and my direct superior. Young Master Huo, weren't you always full of admiration for our president?"

The crowd buzzed like a disturbed hive.

Huo Xingzhou—the founder of Tianyuan Group?

Shock, disbelief, and regret swept through the guests. Members of the Su and He families turned ashen, fear etched into their faces. Only Sun Shao, seated nearby, was overjoyed, slapping his thigh in gleeful disbelief.

Huo Beiting stood frozen, his body stiff as if struck by lightning.

Wang Fengxian and Huo Jiancheng looked utterly lost, their faces pale as ghosts.

How could Huo Xingzhou, that cripple, possibly be the president of Tianyuan Group?

The Huo family patriarch stared at Huo Xingzhou, his throat filling with the metallic taste of blood.

"Good! Wonderful!"

Leaning heavily on his cane, Huo Weiguo's fury burned so hot it turned to icy calm.

"Huo Xingzhou," he rasped, his voice trembling with suppressed rage, "so this is why you left the Huo family?"

He wheezed for air, his frail frame trembling.

Huo Xingzhou's expression remained detached. "You taught me from a young age: if kindness is repaid with malice, how should kindness be repaid? Must I air the first branch's deeds here for all to see?"

"You… you…"

Stumbling down the steps, Huo Weiguo nearly fell.

"Grandfather!"

"Father!"

He waved them off. "Don't touch me."

Slowly, he made his way to Huo Xingzhou, his gaze dark and heavy. "Was this your plan all along?"

A mocking smile tugged at Huo Xingzhou's lips. "I never had a plan. I was merely forced into a corner step by step."

Huo Weiguo studied him intently, then sighed deeply. "Fine. You've won. I know what you want. You'll have it."

He turned to Huo Jianjun, his voice sharp as a blade. "Bring me the Share Transfer Agreement."

"But, Father!"

"Do it now!"

Reluctantly, Huo Jianjun retrieved the unsigned document, placing it in his father's trembling hands.

Taking it, Huo Weiguo held it out to Huo Xingzhou. "Believe me or not, everything I've done has been for the Huo family. The car accident—I never expected it to happen."

Switching to a softer tone, he tried appealing to emotion. "I can give you 30% of the shares and reinstate you in the family registry. Xingzhou, as long as you promise to prioritize the Huo family's interests…"

His regret was palpable, but his pride kept him from admitting it outright.

Huo Xingzhou's gaze swept over the document without interest.

Huo Beiting, however, snapped.

"I won't allow it!"

Snatching the agreement, he tore it into shreds, the pieces fluttering to the floor.

His eyes burned red with fury. "You said the Huo Corporation was mine! No matter how capable Huo Xingzhou is, he was only ever meant to work for me! I'm your favorite grandson!"

His hysterical outburst ripped the family's mask of harmony to shreds.

The crowd's murmurs grew louder. Why had the Huo patriarch favored the mediocre Huo Beiting over a true genius like Huo Xingzhou?

"Shut up!" Huo Weiguo roared, his face contorted with rage.

Huo Xingzhou lowered his eyes slightly, his tone tinged with mockery. "So, in your eyes, I was only ever a tool for Huo Beiting."

He raised his gaze to the first branch of the family. "Very well. I'm not here to celebrate a birthday. I'm here to announce that, as the second-largest shareholder of Huo Corporation, I will be convening a shareholders' meeting. I trust you'll attend."

Finally, he turned to the patriarch, his voice calm yet final. "Grandfather, this is the last time I'll call you that. What I want, I'll take myself. I don't need charity."

With those words, Huo Weiguo spat a mouthful of blood and collapsed.

"Call an ambulance!"

"Father! Wake up!"

Panic ensued as the first branch hurriedly carried the old man out of the banquet hall, desperate to avoid further humiliation.

The remaining guests turned to Huo Xingzhou, awe and fear mingling in their expressions.

This crippled, discarded son of the Huo family had transformed into a towering figure.

One by one, they rushed forward, business cards in hand.

"Mr. Huo, this is my card. I'm from Huaxin Construction…"

"Mr. Huo, can we discuss a potential collaboration? I'm…"

"Xingzhou, I'm your mother's distant cousin! Don't forget your relatives!"

Qiao Xi, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of sycophants, blushed furiously at their shameless flattery.

Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted familiar faces at the entrance—Huo Sijiao and the Dujuan couple.

Poking Huo Xingzhou's shoulder, she whispered, "Mr. Huo, they're here. Shall we go home?"

Huo Xingzhou glanced over, his voice low. "Qiao Xi, there's still some unfinished business. Jin Kai, clear the room."

"On it!"

Jin Kai pulled out a prepared list from his pocket.

Smiling, he addressed the crowd, "Ladies and gentlemen, we kindly ask you to make way for Mr. Huo. We have private matters to attend to. Thank you for your understanding."