Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

Yujiang City, Xu Family.

On a late autumn evening, the wind had become quite cold, and ordinary people were wearing sweaters and thick coats to keep warm.

Xu Zeqing had spent some time in a coffin on Divine Concealment Island, and all his joints had deteriorated. During rainy days and winter, his joints would ache sharply, like being pricked by needles—not fatal, but certainly uncomfortable.

He wore a thick long down jacket and came out of the vegetable market, carrying a roast duck, a bag of cold marinated pig ears, and some other small side dishes on his electric scooter.

Upon returning home, Xu Zeqing took off his down jacket and hung it on the handle at the entrance. He placed the pig ears and roast duck on the dining table and carried the small side dishes to the kitchen to cook.

Just as the food was ready, Hong Ruhai came home, carrying a briefcase and car keys.

Recently, Hong Ruhai found a job at a venture capital company. He was a high achiever and had worked on Divine Concealment Island, making it relatively easy to find work.

Xu Zeqing had two failed entrepreneurial ventures and was tormented for a time on Divine Concealment Island, leaving him completely demoralized and lacking the courage to return to the workforce.

He now essentially served as the family’s housekeeper.

The two of them currently lived together; Xu Zeqing provided free rent, and Hong Ruhai covered the living expenses. Cooking, buying groceries, doing laundry, and taking care of Xu Qingnian had become Xu Zeqing’s responsibilities.

Xu Zeqing had lived a privileged life since childhood. His mother cooked for him as a child, and after marriage, they had a housekeeper. Now, past fifty, he had just begun learning to cook.

Initially, his cooking resulted in dishes that were nearly inedible.

After some practice, they had become barely palatable.

Hong Ruhai put his briefcase in the room and returned to the living room. Seeing that the food was all set on the table but Xu Zeqing was nowhere in sight, he guessed Xu Zeqing was feeding Xu Qingnian and went to Xu Qingnian’s room.

Without Xu Xingguang’s medication and acupuncture, Xu Qingnian’s paralysis symptoms had returned. Currently, he could speak but not move. He had to call Xu Zeqing daily to take him to the bathroom for his needs.

Xu Zeqing wanted to hire a caregiver, but he had no income and relied on Hong Ruhai’s salary to support himself, so he had no confidence to hire one.

Thankfully, Xu Qingnian received a monthly retirement pension, which was enough to support himself.

Hong Ruhai leaned on the door frame smoking a cigarette, which wasn’t cheap, and wore a costly wristwatch on his wrist. "Hurry up, I’m hungry, waiting to eat together."

Hong Ruhai had good manners; he wouldn’t start eating before the hardworking cook sits at the table.

Xu Zeqing fed Xu Qingnian a bite, frowned, and asked Hong Ruhai, "The car that just sent you home isn’t cheap. Uncle, are you cozying up to some rich woman?"

Hong Ruhai was handsome and elegant. Even on Divine Concealment Island, he was admired by many. In Yujiang City, he was even more popular.

Since joining the venture capital company, the company’s performance had been on the rise. Now, the company leadership liked him, as did those affluent women clients.

Hong Ruhai: "Just a client."

"Client? It’s the first time I’ve seen a client drive an employee home," Xu Zeqing sneered. "You’re using yourself as bait. Uncle, how is this any different from those celebrities selling their looks?"

Since childhood, Xu Zeqing had idolized Hong Ruhai.

He couldn’t accept that his idol had turned into someone selling his appearance.

"If you had my looks, wouldn’t you sell too?" Hong Ruhai laughed at him, "You’re just sour grapes."

Xu Zeqing was infuriated.

Having spent his life teaching and nurturing minds, Xu Qingnian could hardly bear listening to their conversation, wishing he could deaf ear himself.

It was downright disgraceful!

"An old colleague of mine called me," Hong Ruhai said, his expression complex, "Xu Xingguang and the Lord Captain’s wedding was today."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zeqing seemed frozen, without any reaction.

Xu Qingnian paused, and upon understanding what Hong Ruhai meant, he looked up at Hong Ruhai.

"Xingguang is married?" Xu Qingnian still wasn’t clear why Hong Ruhai had been driven off Divine Concealment Island, nor did he know Huo Wen’an’s true identity.

Hearing ’Lord Captain,’ Xu Qingnian was surprised. He knew the Lord Captain Hong Ruhai referred to was the Huo Family Leader. Xu Qingnian said, "Wasn’t Xingguang’s partner the photographer next door, Huo Zui?"

"How could Xingguang marry the Huo Family Leader?" Xu Qingnian couldn’t fathom it.

To him, the news was absurd and unbelievable, like an old wives’ tale.

The Xu Family was just a small household.

Once Xingguang left the Xu Family, she became an orphan. How could she be with someone as significant as the Huo Family Leader?

Hong Ruhai worked on Divine Concealment Island for twenty years and never qualified to get close to the Huo Family Leader. How did Xingguang have the capability to marry him?

Upon hearing these questions from Xu Qingnian, Hong Ruhai found it amusing and asked Xu Zeqing, "You still haven’t told the old man about Xingguang?"

"Dad." Xu Zeqing lowered his head and said sullenly, "That Huo Zui is the leader of the Huo Family."

"What?" Xu Qingnian was shocked.

Xu Qingnian lost his appetite, pursed his lips, and thought for a moment before saying, "This is really unbelievable."

Then, changing the subject, Xu Qingnian continued, "The Huo Family is really impolite. No matter what, you’re Xingguang’s father. They’re marrying a girl from our Xu Family; how could they not come to the Xu Family to ask for her hand?"

"In marriage arrangements between two families, both sets of parents should sit down and talk. Bride price and dowry, these should be negotiated."

Upon hearing, Hong Ruhai chuckled sarcastically, "Old man, what kind of dream are you having?"

He glanced at Xu Zeqing, who seemed like a dazed chicken, and said amusingly, "Xu Xingguang already severed her father-daughter relationship with your son; she is no longer the daughter of the Xu Family. I thought you were aware of this."

This was something Xu Qingnian indeed knew.

He couldn’t help but say, "She was raised by our Xu Family; what effect can a severance letter have? We are family, flesh and blood connected despite broken bones."

Hong Ruhai laughed out loud, "Connected bones and flesh? Xu Zeqing cheated with You Jingqiu, secretly fathered two children behind Xu Xingguang’s mother and daughter, and your ’good son’ even unplugged her oxygen mask in the hospital."

"But what your Xu Family did to her is far more than just breaking bones; you were trying to kill her."

Xu Qingnian already knew about Xu Zeqing unplugging Xu Xingguang’s oxygen mask, and he stared at Hong Ruhai with a somewhat reproachful look. "Unplugging Xingguang’s oxygen mask, wasn’t it your idea?"

Hong Ruhai was candid, "It was my idea, but your son still obediently did it. I made a stupid decision, and I admit it. I’m not delusional, unlike you who act hypocritically, doing foolish things and yet hoping Xu Xingguang would treat you kindly."

Xu Qingnian was reprimanded harshly by Hong Ruhai, his old face reddened with anger.

Hong Ruhai said with a smirk, "Old man, you wouldn’t still be hoping to demand a hefty bride price from the Huo Family to help your son make a comeback and secure a good future for your grandson, would you?"

Xu Qingnian’s lips quivered, and after a while, he said weakly, "No matter what, we raised Xingguang, and the Huo Family should give us some bride price. Regardless of the amount, traditions must not be broken."

Hong Ruhai was stunned by Xu Qingnian’s shamelessness. "No wonder Xu Xingguang sent you back. The family assets go to your son, the savings to your grandson; seems like Xu Xingguang was just helping you accumulate wealth."

Hong Ruhai shrugged, "If it were me, I wouldn’t care about your life or death either."

Xu Zeqing, who had been hanging his head like a quail, finally whispered to Xu Qingnian, "Dad, don’t say these things anymore." It was already magnanimous of Xu Xingguang not to kill him and allow him to escape from Divine Concealment Island with his life.

Xu Zeqing dared not even dream of the Huo Family’s bride price.

How could Xu Qingnian not know that Xu Xingguang was completely unwilling to acknowledge the Xu Family?

In Xu Qingnian’s view, as a woman, she could pursue love freely, but marriage, especially a big event, should be carefully discussed with the family. Although Xu Xingguang had signed the severance letter with Xu Zeqing, family ties and blood relations couldn’t be severed by a mere piece of paper.

He didn’t understand.

In his view, Xu Xingguang was being foolish, and the Huo Family lacked manners.

Seeing Xu Qingnian still seeming dissatisfied, Hong Ruhai added another jab, saying, "Forgot to mention, Xu Xingguang’s wedding invited You Jiaoyang and all the townspeople of Cangshan Town. Only we weren’t invited."

Xu Qingnian’s eyes widened upon hearing this.

"She invited Jiaoyang? Why didn’t Jiaoyang tell us?" In fact, ever since You Mingyue went to prison, You Jingqiu divorced Xu Zeqing, You Jiaoyang hadn’t met them again.

"Old man, take your time thinking; you’ll figure out the reason." Hong Ruhai shook his head and headed to the kitchen to serve rice.

Xu Zeqing stayed in Xu Qingnian’s room for a while longer before taking a bowl and stepping out.

Xu Qingnian hadn’t finished his meal, and now he had no mood to eat.

"Eat."

Hong Ruhai had a good appetite; everything tasted delicious.

Xu Zeqing sat silently by the table and suddenly said, "I always thought I would be the one holding her hand at her wedding and giving her away to the groom." Xu Zeqing felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

After all, it was his own daughter’s wedding.

Hong Ruhai said expressionlessly, "She always thought you were a loyal husband and a loving father. But what was the outcome?"

Xu Zeqing: "..."

He secretly opened his phone and discovered You Jiaoyang had posted a photo three hours ago.

The photo showed Xu Xingguang and Huo Wen’an exchanging wedding rings.

He thought for a moment and silently saved the photo.

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