You have two years to chase me

"Pfft—!"

Huo Guoqiang spat out the tea he'd just sipped, showering Huo Guozhong's face and hair with perfect accuracy. Realizing the magnitude of his blunder, he jolted upright. "You guys chat—I'll go brew more tea." With that, he bolted.

Huo Guozhong wiped the tea leaves off his face with a scowl. "A town mayor oversees tens of thousands of people. Doesn't that count as a 'great figure'?"

Huo Xuan and Lu Jianjun nodded furiously in agreement.

—

That night, when silence blanketed the house and everyone slept, Huo Xuan slipped onto the balcony to practice Hunyuan Stance. Since beginning his training, he'd never missed a session—whether on trains, in Heyuan, or Dongling—and now grasped its subtleties more deeply.

The moment his feet rooted into position, his body steadied like Mount Tai, his qi and blood surging like tides. He turned his focus inward, fine-tuning his physical state. Having recently mastered whole-body force, he now pondered the mysteries of qi-blood circulation.

"How to control my qi and blood? Shifu said even talented martial artists need three to five years to touch this realm. Sounds tough," he mused. "When will I get there?"

Memories of peril in Jiangzhou and the train station resurfaced, weighing on him. He acutely felt his current weakness—and that his X-ray vision would inevitably drag him into greater dangers than most faced.

"No matter what, I must grow stronger. At least strong enough to survive crises. I wonder what techniques Shifu will teach me in a month—will they be powerful?"

As he stood in stance and meditated inwardly, his left eye gradually emitted a haze of golden light. It warmed into a current that first circled his brain, then flowed down his spine, branching out to nourish his organs, muscles, and marrow.

After passing his tailbone, the warmth sank through his legs to his soles. For the first time, Huo Xuan could channel his left eye's radiance through his entire body, fortifying every tissue.

"Shifu said martial arts primarily strengthen the body, granting power and explosiveness beyond ordinary limits—only then comes combat skill. Does my golden light count as training? How much will it aid my future practice?"

Huo Xuan returned to bed at 5 AM but woke at dawn, energy undimmed. After breakfast, Third Uncle and Aunt departed, while Huo Xuan pulled Huo Guoqiang along to fulfill his original plan: buying his parents a commercial property.

The uncle-nephew duo spent three days scouring the county, inspecting shops large and small, before settling on one near County No. 1 High School. The two-story property spanned 220 square meters and had previously operated as a supermarket.

The owner demanded a firm price of three million yuan. After careful consideration, Huo Xuan and Huo Guoqiang decided to proceed. The next day, Huo Guozhong and Lu Hongmei came to inspect it and approved wholeheartedly.

Over the following two days, they handled paperwork, then hired cleaners to scrub the place spotless. By the time Huo Guozhong and his wife moved in to prepare for opening, two weeks had passed.

The shop mainly sold student supplies and daily necessities. Its prime location near the high school ensured brisk business. Huo Xuan and Huo Guoqiang pitched in, observing operational gaps and offering suggestions.

Unnoticed, over twenty days slipped by. With Huo Guoqiang due to report for duty in Jiangzhou, the pair departed together.

With family affairs settled, their moods were light, filled with laughter throughout the journey. They took a bus from Nangang County to Dongling City, then a direct flight to Jiangzhou—drastically cutting travel time.

Upon arrival, Huo Guoqiang headed straight to the Personnel Bureau, while Huo Xuan immediately contacted Lin Yue. The call revealed she was currently in Yundong Province for an important family meeting.

When Huo Xuan pressed for details, she hurriedly ended the call, promising to talk later. Something felt off—her tone carried urgency. Was she in trouble?

In Yundong Province, within a sprawling complex of luxurious buildings, stood one modest structure. Inside, key members of the Lin family had gathered, including Lin Yue's father, Lin Hui; her uncle, Lin Chi; and other decision-makers.

Lin Yue sat among them, head slightly bowed, face pale but lips tightly pressed in resolve.

Lin Hui, appearing in his late forties with piercing eyes and upright posture, radiated silent displeasure. Beside him, the younger Lin Chi—more energetic, gaze sharp as a blade—occasionally smirked, as if relishing the drama.

Finally, Lin Hui spoke coldly, staring at his daughter: "Lin Yue, explain to your elders: What have you done in Jiangzhou? Does it honor the Lin family's investment in you?"

She lifted her head, her breathtaking beauty momentarily stunning the room. Calmly, she replied: "Father, I refuse to be sacrificed for family interests. And I despise Xu Bo."

"Childish!" Lin Hui roared. "Everything you eat, wear, and use—things ordinary people can only dream of—are bestowed upon you by the Lin family. Do you think you'd have this life if you weren't my daughter? After enjoying it for over twenty years, you should know the meaning of gratitude!"

"Moreover, Xu Bo has both looks and status. Your union would benefit both families. Such a perfect arrangement, and you want to dismiss it with just 'I don't like him'?"

Lin Chi chuckled. "Elder Brother, Xiaoyue is still young. What girl doesn't dream of a prince charming? Give her time—she'll come around. No need to be so harsh."

At that moment, a young man in his early twenties smirked with amusement. "Father, you might not know this, but in Jiangzhou, she was inseparable from some penniless nobody named Huo Xuan—even sharing a room with him."

Lin Chi feigned shock. "Oh? So Xiaoyue already has a boyfriend? No wonder she's resisting."

Lin Hui's fury erupted. "Lin Yue, is Lin Jian telling the truth?"

Lin Yue's gaze wavered. She liked Huo Xuan well enough, but "love" was far too strong a word—they'd known each other only briefly. Yet if forced to choose between Xu Bo and Huo Xuan, she'd pick the latter without hesitation.

After a pause, she said coolly, "Huo Xuan isn't my boyfriend. But he's a more valuable partner for the Lin family than the Jade Syndicate."

The room fell silent. Could this Huo Xian actually have powerful connections? Lin Hui demanded, "Explain yourself, Lin Yue."

She couldn't reveal Huo Xuan's "secret," so she simply stated, "He can supply the Lin family with higher-quality jade at better prices than the Syndicate."

Lin Jian sneered. "Are you delirious, Lin Yue? Xu Bo already investigated that Huo Xuan. He's a Jiangzhou University grad from some backwater county—no money, no connections. How could someone that ordinary possibly source jade for us?"

Lin Yue had no rebuttal. "I believe he'll find a way."

Smirks spread across the room. How could the brilliant Lin Yue be so naive today? Does love truly make women fools?

Lin Hui slammed the table and stood. "Lin Yue, if you're defying us for that boy's sake, the Lin family will erase him—permanently."

A flicker of fear crossed Lin Yue's face. "Father, Huo Xuan is no nobody," she said loudly. "His master is Hua Buyi, and the mayor of Jiangzhou is his friend. If you move against him, the Lin family may not withstand the consequences."

Lin Jian burst into mocking laughter. "Lin Yue, your storytelling skills are improving. Who's this 'Hua Buyi'? And since when would the mayor of Jiangzhou associate with some penniless brat?"

Lin Yue's heart sank. If I don't give them a convincing reason today, the family will almost certainly target Huo Xuan—and that's the last thing I want.

"I can't drag him into this," she thought. Huo Xuan, I'll give you two years. Two years to grow strong. And give me two years—to learn to love you.

Steeling herself, she spoke firmly: "Father, I'll marry Xu Bo. But you must grant me two years of unrestricted freedom. No one interferes during that time."

Lin Jian immediately objected. "Uncle, don't believe her! This is a stalling tactic—she'll elope with that pauper tomorrow!"

Lin Yue shot him a glacial glare. "Lin Jian, you have no say here. Shut your mouth."

Furious, Lin Jian tried to retort, but Lin Chi silenced him with a look.

Lin Hui fell silent. With Lin Yue's two-year contract with the Jade Syndicate still active, the delay was manageable. Yet the risk of unforeseen complications gave him pause.

"Father," Lin Yue pressed, "you know me. If I refuse something, no force on earth can change my mind."

Lin Hui snorted. "Fine. Two years. But rein in your impulses—limit contact with that Huo Xuan."

"Understood," Lin Yue conceded, exhaling in relief.

Though the storm had passed, her heart churned with bitterness—the family's ruthlessness left her cold, and the uncertain future loomed like a fog.

That night, she called Huo Xuan. The moment he answered, she asked:

"Huo Xuan, do you think I'm pretty?"

He blinked, then grinned. "Of course! Sis Yue is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen—bar none."

Her voice hovered between jest and sincerity: "Since you think so… why not chase me? You've got two years. Fail, and your chance vanishes."