After the Secrets of the Passerby Were Leaked, He Was Cherished by the Entire Family of Antagonists-Chapter 118

Huo Yan raised an eyebrow.

Who was Ye Leyao talking about?

He quickly stepped into the room and glanced around. There was his father, mother, Ye Leyao, Qin Yao, his older brother… and Assistant Feng.

No strangers.

Huo Yan was a little puzzled and asked, “Who are you talking about?”

Ye Leyao shot him a quick look, blinking rapidly and subtly gesturing toward Feng Jialan, who was sitting beside Huo Jing, trying to bury his head in the sofa.

Huo Yan was even more confused. “Feng... Assistant Feng?” he asked, turning to look at his older brother. “With my brother?”

At that moment, his mother cleared her throat heavily, “Watch your tone, young man. You should refer to him as your...”

But she trailed off. It seemed even she was struggling with what to call Feng Jialan. Calling him "sister-in-law" didn’t feel quite right.

Feng Jialan, blushing to his neck, quickly interjected, “Second Young Master, just call me Assistant Feng.”

At this, Huo Jing, who was sitting beside him, reached over and grasped Feng Jialan’s hand, his expression showing a rare trace of displeasure. “What’s this about ‘Second Young Master?’”

Finally coming to his senses, Huo Yan quickly said, “Exactly, Sister-in-law, just call me Huo Yan from now on!”

The single word “sister-in-law” made Feng Jialan blush even deeper, his entire neck turning red.

Ye Leyao, of course, couldn’t resist and joined in, calling him “sister-in-law” as well, making Feng Jialan squirm even more in his seat.

Both brothers received icy glares from Huo Jing for their trouble.

Ye Leyao, amused, leaned over to whisper to Qin Yao, “I never expected it, but our big brother sure knows how to take care of people.”

Qin Yao, with a smile in his eyes, squeezed Ye Leyao’s hand and gestured toward himself, clearly asking if Ye Leyao thought he wasn’t good at taking care of people, too.

Before Ye Leyao could respond, Huo Yan, who was watching them, rolled his eyes.

These two—did they have to flaunt their affection every waking moment?

But this was only the beginning.

Soon after, the third couple in the family arrived—Huo Ze and Ning Xu.

The large Huo family living room fell silent as Ning Xu sat nervously beside Huo Ze, clearly tense.

To ease his nerves, Huo Yan’s mother and Ye Leyao both tried to chat with him.

But as they talked, Ye Leyao suddenly burst into laughter, immediately drawing everyone's attention.

Once he was sure Huo Yan was looking his way, Ye Leyao casually said, “Wow, now it seems like our family’s only single person left is Second Brother, huh?”

The room fell silent.

Huo Yan shot to his feet, ready to give Ye Leyao a piece of his mind, but before he could take a step, Qin Yao stopped him.

As if that wasn’t enough, Huo Yan’s parents chimed in, “Well, it’s true.”

“Why get so angry? It’s not like he said anything wrong.”

Even Huo Ze added, “If you don’t want us teasing you, why not just find someone already?”

Huo Jing followed up, “You’re not getting any younger.”

Then, to add the final blow, Ye Leyao remarked, “Second Brother, if you don’t hurry up and find a partner, I won’t be surprised if you show up with a kid next time!”

Huo Yan was speechless.

At times like these, he really wondered—was he just destined to be ridiculed by his entire family?

That evening’s family dinner ended with everyone enjoying themselves—except Huo Yan, who was left fuming.

After that day, Huo Yan began to notice that more and more of his friends were in relationships.

Six months after Ye Leyao returned, Qin Yao was preparing a special episode of their travel show, *Let’s Go on a Journey*.

The special episode was to feature all the couples who had previously appeared on the show without any major mishaps. Naturally, Huo Yan was on the invite list.

At first, he was ready to accept the invitation—after all, a relaxing trip with old friends sounded like fun.

But then, Ye Leyao sent him a message.

**Ye Leyao:** “Second Brother, this time, we’re only inviting couples!”

**Huo Yan:** “???”

**Ye Leyao:** “You don’t have a partner, are you sure you want to come with us?”

Huo Yan immediately blocked him and then told Qin Yao that he wasn’t worthy of joining their show.

Qin Yao was confused at first but then caught on, “It’s okay, you don’t need a partner to join...”

Before he could finish, Huo Yan interrupted, “Who said I’m not going because I don’t have a partner?! I just don’t want to go!”

And with that, Huo Yan hung up the phone.

Meanwhile, in Qin Yao’s office, Ye Leyao lay on the sofa, clutching his stomach in laughter.

Qin Yao sighed and rubbed his forehead. “You’re sure he won’t stay mad?”

Wiping tears of laughter from his eyes, Ye Leyao responded, “Don’t worry... I’ll apologize later... But can you believe he actually blocked me!”

Seeing how much joy this brought Ye Leyao, Qin Yao decided to let it go.

In the end, Huo Yan didn’t participate in the show.

Fans of *Let’s Go on a Journey* asked about Huo Yan’s absence during the live-stream Q&A session, and Ye Leyao gave a diplomatic answer: “Of course, my Second Brother is just too busy with work!”

Whether that was true or not, only Huo Yan himself knew.

Some fans did try asking him on social media, but Huo Yan blocked anyone who asked.

Eventually, people got the message—Huo Yan had definitely been triggered.

That small internet incident even led to the phrase “Huo Yan has been triggered” trending.

Even though Huo Yan usually remained composed, seeing that topic on the trending list actually made him feel a little... triggered.

But despite the teasing and internet buzz, Huo Yan stayed resolute—he had long since stopped hoping for love to come his way.

Although there were people who showed interest in him over the past two years, Huo Yan had always gently but firmly turned them down.

After being rejected by him enough times, people gradually stopped trying.

The online buzz didn’t last long either. Once the special episode aired, interest in Huo Yan’s love life died down, and his life returned to its usual calm.

So the years passed, and before Huo Yan knew it, he was twenty-eight.

In recent years, Huo Yan had been constantly filming, with three movies set to be released this year alone.

Finally, he decided to take a break.

But a break didn’t mean no work. Early in the year, Huo Yan invested in a TV drama.

One evening, after dinner with the director, Huo Yan stopped by the set to check in, and it was there he ran into someone he hadn’t seen in a long time—Wen Huai.

Wen Huai seemed surprised to see him but quickly recovered, “This show’s your investment?”

Huo Yan nodded. “I didn’t know you were acting in it.”

Wen Huai smiled and pointed to a female actress getting her makeup done, “I’m here with my girlfriend for her audition.”

Understanding dawned on Huo Yan, who chuckled, “Well, don’t expect any special treatment from me.”

Wen Huai laughed. “Don’t worry. She’s got the talent.”

After a few more questions, Huo Yan found out that Wen Huai’s girlfriend had graduated top of her class from their alma mater.

“I guess I’m lucky to have her audition for my show then,” Huo Yan remarked, impressed.

Wen Huai nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly.

Their conversation eventually turned to mutual acquaintances, like Zhou Zijian

and Wen Xiangyue, who had been together for five years and were rumored to be planning their wedding soon.

Casually, Huo Yan asked if it was true.

But Wen Huai, who had been calm and friendly up to that point, suddenly turned cold. “I wouldn’t know,” he said frostily.

Huo Yan was taken aback before bursting into laughter. “You mean after five years, you still don’t approve of them being together?”

Wen Huai shot him a glare. “It’s not that I don’t approve of their relationship. I just don’t approve of Zhou Zijian becoming my stepfather. Got it?”

Huo Yan laughed even harder at that.

“Their relationship is so stable—what’s the problem with them getting married?”

“And really, what’s so bad about having a stepfather? He’s a great cook and can take care of your mom—and maybe even look after you...”

This chapter is updated by freēwēbnovel.com.

Before he could finish, Wen Huai shot him an icy look.

Huo Yan quickly cleared his throat, realizing he might have gone too far.

But before he could apologize, Wen Huai spoke again, “You seem awfully interested in my family. Does that mean you’ve found someone, too?”

Huo Yan fell silent.

Wen Huai, sensing a weakness, pressed on, “I heard your brothers both have partners. Don’t tell me you’re still single?”

Huo Yan remained speechless.

“Can’t find anyone?” Wen Huai asked, his tone growing more serious.

Huo Yan turned and walked away.

Why was he wasting his time meddling in other people’s business when his own life was so chaotic?

After that, Huo Yan became much more careful, avoiding any discussions about relationships, even within his own family, for fear of being dragged into unwanted situations.

But fate seemed determined to test him.

One day, while visiting a set, Huo Yan ran into someone else he hadn’t seen in a long time—Duan Haoyan.

Strictly speaking, Huo Yan and Duan Haoyan had never had the best relationship, mainly because of the friction caused by Su Rui in the past.

Though they’d made peace after Su Rui’s true colors were revealed, their bond was still far from close.

At best, they could now greet each other without hostility.

This time, Huo Yan intended to do just that—exchange a polite greeting and move on.

But Duan Haoyan stopped him, “Wait a minute, I want to introduce you to someone.”

Huo Yan was puzzled but didn’t have time to refuse before Duan Haoyan was leading him toward the dressing room.

Inside was a young man with delicate features, who was in the middle of getting his makeup done. He looked up as they entered and flashed Duan Haoyan a bright smile. “Brother Duan!”

Huo Yan had no recollection of the boy.

Before he could ask, Duan Haoyan grinned and introduced him, “This is my boyfriend, Zhang Han.”

Zhang Han, noticing Huo Yan, beamed, “Teacher Huo! I’m a big fan of yours! Could I take a photo with you?”

Huo Yan was momentarily stunned. “Of course.”

After taking the picture and signing an autograph, Huo Yan turned to Duan Haoyan. “So you called me over because your boyfriend wanted a signature?”

Duan Haoyan nodded at first, then quickly shook his head. “Not entirely.”

They locked eyes for a second before Huo Yan realized this man had something else in mind. He turned to leave immediately.

But Duan Haoyan quickly called after him, laughing, “I heard you’re still single, so I thought I’d show off my boyfriend!”

Huo Yan: ...

He was going to report Duan Haoyan to the authorities!

Without another word, Huo Yan stormed off, with Duan Haoyan’s laughter echoing behind him.

After these two incidents, Huo Yan seriously considered finding a partner.

But before he could entertain the thought, he brushed it aside.

Sure, it sounded simple in theory, but where was he supposed to find someone he liked, who also liked him back?

There were plenty of people interested in him, but finding someone he liked? Now, that was the real challenge.

With a wry smile, Huo Yan pushed the thought away.

Time flew, and soon it was the end of the year, and the drama Huo Yan had invested in wrapped up filming.

To celebrate, the crew held a wrap party. Initially, Huo Yan didn’t want to attend, but the director's persistent invitations convinced him to go.

That night, the city of Jin was covered in its first snow of the winter.

Everything outside was blanketed in white, and after a few drinks, Huo Yan felt the room was too stuffy, so he threw on his coat and headed to the hotel terrace to enjoy the snow.

The terrace had already been cleared of snow, with paths shoveled and decorations set up, including a snowman under a brightly adorned tree.

Huo Yan glanced at the snowman, then shifted his gaze and headed to a small pavilion that had been cleaned.

Since the crew had reserved the entire floor of the hotel, Huo Yan wasn’t worried about being disturbed. He sat quietly, watching the snow.

After some time, footsteps approached from behind.

Assuming it was the director coming to drag him back to the party, Huo Yan sighed, “Can’t you let me hide for a bit longer?”

There was no response, only the sound of the footsteps stopping.

Surprised, Huo Yan turned around—and found himself staring into a pair of innocent eyes.

The first word that came to his mind was "pure."

The young man standing before him wore a long white down coat and a cream-colored hat. His soft hair fell over his forehead, revealing only his eyes, which were wide with surprise.

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then the young man’s expression softened, and he apologized, “Sorry, I didn’t know...”

Realizing he had misunderstood, Huo Yan quickly said, “No, it’s my fault. I thought you were someone looking for me.”

The young man smiled faintly, shaking his head, “No worries, I hope I didn’t disturb you?”

Huo Yan shook his head.

The young man slowly approached, stopping just outside the pavilion, and hesitantly asked, “Can I... sit here with you for a bit?”

Seeing the time, Huo Yan figured he should head back, so he stood up. “Go ahead, I was just leaving.”

As he stepped down from the pavilion, just as they were about to pass each other, a pale hand suddenly reached out and tugged on Huo Yan’s sleeve.

Huo Yan frowned slightly, his eyes falling on the hand.

The wind howled, and as the snowflakes that had stopped earlier started to fall again, they landed on the young man’s fair fingers, melting instantly.

Huo Yan looked up and met the boy’s eyes.

The young man gazed at him, his clean eyes now clouded with a hint of mist. His voice was tinged with a touch of grievance as he softly asked, “Huo Yan-ge, do you really not recognize me?”

Huo Yan blinked in surprise. The boy’s familiar tone and the way he boldly grabbed his sleeve suggested that he wasn’t someone from the entertainment industry. He must be someone Huo Yan had known before.

But no matter how hard Huo Yan searched his memory, he couldn’t place the boy.

After a long silence, the young man sighed and said, “I’m Feng Rui. My brother is Feng Sheng.”

At the mention of Feng Sheng, Huo Yan finally remembered.

Feng Sheng was someone Huo Yan had known since childhood, but when Feng Sheng was in high school, his family had moved overseas for business expansion, taking Feng Sheng and his younger brother with them.

Now that Huo Yan remembered Feng Sheng, he could also recall a vague image of his younger brother, Feng Rui, who used to trail behind them like a little sidekick.

However, seeing the grown-up Feng Rui now, Huo Yan realized he didn’t recognize him at all.

But upon closer inspection, the young man in front of him did resemble Feng Sheng.

Huo Yan chuckled in surprise, “It’s been so many years. You’ve grown up so much!”

Feng Rui smiled, “I’m in college now.”

“Studying abroad?” Huo Yan asked.

Feng Rui nodded, smiling. “Yes.”

“So, what brings you back?” Huo Yan inquired. “Is your brother here too? Are you all moving back to China?”

Feng Rui nodded, explaining that the family had decided to refocus on the domestic market now that their overseas expansion was stable.

As they chatted, Feng Rui’s phone suddenly rang.

He gave Huo Yan an apologetic smile. “It’s my brother. Just a moment.”

Feng Rui stepped aside to take the call.

Whatever was being said on the other end must have been loud, because Feng Rui suddenly pulled the phone away from his ear and covered it with his hand.

Seeing this, Huo Yan couldn’t help but laugh and stepped closer. “Feng Sheng?”

The yelling on the other end of the line paused for a moment before Feng Sheng’s voice returned, louder than ever. “Fine, fine! You found him already! You little brat, just wait until I get there!”

And with that, the call ended with a sharp click.

Feng Rui looked embarrassed.

Huo Yan, amused, met his gaze and asked, “Did your brother eat dynamite?”

Feng Rui, still holding the phone, nodded solemnly and added, “I think it’s because he’s almost thirty. Maybe he’s going

through a midlife crisis.”

Huo Yan winced at the mention of thirty. It felt like a knife to the chest.

After a moment, Feng Rui seemed to realize his mistake and quickly added, “But I didn’t mean you, Huo Yan-ge...”

Huo Yan sighed, “I think it would’ve been better if you hadn’t said anything.”

Feng Rui blinked at him with wide, innocent eyes.

Huo Yan chuckled and brushed it off. “Are you staying at this hotel?”

Feng Rui nodded.

“Have you had dinner yet?” Huo Yan asked.

Feng Rui hesitated, then grinned. “Huo Yan-ge, are you inviting me? But I don’t think I can join you—my brother will...”

Before he could finish, Feng Rui sighed again.

Huo Yan laughed. “Well, since your brother’s back, and I haven’t seen him in so many years, let’s have dinner together.”

Seeing that Huo Yan had already made up his mind, Feng Rui couldn’t refuse. He quickly messaged Feng Sheng and accepted the invitation.

Huo Yan reserved a restaurant, said his goodbyes to the director, and then took Feng Rui with him.

The roads were slippery from the snow, so the driver drove slowly. On the way, Huo Yan asked about the Feng family’s recent affairs.

He learned that Feng Sheng was about to get engaged, which filled him with a sense of nostalgia.

With the conversation naturally steering toward relationships, Feng Rui suddenly asked, “Huo Yan-ge... You don’t still not have a partner, do you?”

Huo Yan felt as if another dagger had stabbed his heart.

Taking a deep breath, he exhaled slowly, turning to face Feng Rui with a resigned expression.

He didn’t need to say anything—his expression said it all.

Feng Rui looked at him, clearly trying to come up with something comforting to say, but instead, a laugh slipped out.

His smile widened, and before long, he was laughing uncontrollably.

Huo Yan massaged his temples and waited patiently for the laughter to subside. “Haven’t you had enough?”

Feng Rui tried to suppress his laughter, his smile faltering for a moment before breaking out again.

Huo Yan had mellowed over the years and wasn’t as easily provoked.

But faced with a younger man, nearly a decade his junior, laughing at him for so long, even his improved temper was reaching its limit.

Feeling a bit irritated, Huo Yan’s smile faded, and he stared at Feng Rui with dark, piercing eyes.

Sensing the change, Feng Rui’s laughter died down, and he looked at Huo Yan with a hint of fear. “Huo Yan-ge... you...”

“Not laughing anymore?” Huo Yan asked calmly.

Feng Rui scooted away cautiously and said seriously, “No... not laughing anymore.”

Huo Yan wasn’t really trying to scare him, so he dropped the serious act and threw the question back at him. “So, you’ve been laughing for this long—does that mean you’ve found a partner?”

Feng Rui blinked, then lowered his head, looking somewhat embarrassed. “I... almost have.”

The figurative boomerang that Huo Yan had just thrown circled right back and stabbed him in the heart again.

Huo Yan: ...

Maybe this conversation should just end now.