Abandoned White Moonlight Chapter 66

It took a moment for Huo Youqing to recall the name of the new leader from memory. He had seen this person around Dai Yixin before and remembered him as quite competent.

Since he knew the person, Huo Youqing didn’t think much of it. These personnel shifts could be just for appearances, and Dai Yixin, as the primary shareholder, likely still had control.

In any case, Huo Youqing didn’t believe Dai Yixin would easily hand over something he had worked so hard to obtain. But a week later, a lawyer showed up at his door with two assistants.

After a polite self-introduction, the lawyer placed a thick stack of documents on the coffee table. “Mr. Huo, this is the deed of property transfer.”

The lawyer began calmly listing the assets in the document, going on for a full three minutes. Growing impatient, Huo Youqing placed his hand on the papers and interrupted, “Lawyer Yan, I’m sorry to cut you off, but what exactly is this about?”

Lawyer Yan showed no irritation at being interrupted. “This is a detailed list of the assets Mr. Dai is gifting you.”

He’s not showing up himself, just throwing money at me now.

Letting go of the documents, Huo Youqing felt a sudden lack of interest. When the lawyer finally finished his long list, he simply said, “I’m not signing.”

Lawyer Yan nodded as if he had anticipated this reaction. “I’ll return in a week then. I hope you won’t find me too bothersome.”

True to his word, Lawyer Yan returned a week later. This time, he skipped the asset list and instead complimented the coffee Huo Youqing had made, saying with a smile, “Mr. Huo, you make excellent coffee.”

Huo Youqing glanced at him, said nothing, and let him finish his cup before seeing him out. The third week, Lawyer Yan came again. If Huo Youqing didn’t open the door, the lawyer and his assistants would simply wait outside.

By the third visit, Lawyer Yan was familiar with the place. This time, instead of complimenting the coffee, he praised the piano in the living room and mentioned how he used to play but hadn’t practiced in years and had forgotten most of it.

By now, Huo Youqing understood that Lawyer Yan was in it for the long haul. His growing annoyance with Dai Yixin only deepened. He neither wanted nor cared about Dai Yixin’s wealth. Dai Yixin knew he wouldn’t accept it, so he was sending someone else in his place while staying hidden.

They say third time’s the charm, so this time, Huo Youqing asked, “Where is he?”

Lawyer Yan replied, “Are you referring to Mr. Dai? He’s been quite busy lately.”

Meaning, Dai Yixin wasn’t going to meet with him personally.

This was the first time Huo Youqing actually wanted to see Dai Yixin but couldn’t. “Then please tell him for me: I won’t accept his money. He can stay busy for as long as he wants, and preferably never appear in front of me again.”

Lawyer Yan’s expression briefly turned subtle, but he nodded. “I’ll pass on the message, but I can only guarantee the delivery, not the outcome.”

Huo Youqing paused, then apologized.

He had expected that after the third visit, Lawyer Yan wouldn’t come again. But to his surprise, the lawyer showed up for a fourth time. This time, they had a friendly chat. Lawyer Yan was a good conversationalist, and his stories about studying abroad were amusing.

The lawyer was married, with two children. When he mentioned his family, there was an unmistakable joy in his eyes.

At first, Huo Youqing had only been humoring him to pass the time, but he found himself genuinely interested. He realized that Lawyer Yan had a very happy family and credited much of his happiness to his wife.

Lawyer Yan truly loved his wife.

As the sky darkened, Lawyer Yan placed his cup down and apologized, “I’m sorry, I’ve been talking far too much today. You must be tired of listening, Mr. Huo.”

“No, I found it quite interesting,” Huo Youqing responded sincerely.

As he saw the lawyer out, Huo Youqing said, “Lawyer Yan, please don’t come back. I really won’t sign. I understand this puts you in a difficult position, but I won’t back down on this.”

Lawyer Yan was silent for a moment. “Thank you for speaking with me, Mr. Huo. But my salary is still being paid by Mr. Dai, so I need to keep doing my job.”

Still being paid?

“Are you planning to change jobs?”

“No.” Lawyer Yan didn’t elaborate, and Huo Youqing didn’t press the matter. Still, something felt off. With Dai Yixin’s continued absence, that feeling of strangeness only grew stronger.

In the blink of an eye, Dai Yixin had been gone for three months. Throughout that time, Lawyer Yan came unfailingly each week. During his most recent visit, he even brought along his young daughter.

Though Huo Youqing rarely interacted with children, unexpectedly, they took a liking to him. Lawyer Yan could only watch helplessly as his daughter clung to the young man. Huo Youqing remained calm, reading fairy tales with the little girl, answering her questions softly and patiently, never once showing a hint of annoyance.

Lawyer Yan watched all of this unfold with a bit of amazement at how multi-faceted people could be. The first time he met Huo Youqing, the moment Huo Youqing learned he was Dai Yixin’s lawyer, he bristled, hostile in both words and actions, with his face showing undisguised impatience and anger.

Yet now, in front of his daughter, this young man seemed more patient than even the high-paid nanny he had hired. The gentleness in his eyes didn’t seem like a performance.

Lawyer Yan’s daughter grew tired after a while, nestling into her father’s arms to fall asleep. Before she dozed off, she murmured that she wanted to come back and play again next time. Lawyer Yan’s purpose for this visit was still the same—hoping Huo Youqing would sign the documents. But he had little expectation that it would happen.

However, Huo Youqing called out to him, “Lawyer Yan, I appreciate your efforts. Give me the documents.”

Dai Yixin was adamant about having him sign, so he might as well. After all, he wasn’t going to use any of these things, so there was no point in dragging this out with Lawyer Yan.

Huo Youqing didn’t even look at the contract; he flipped to the last page and signed his name. Three copies, signed and stamped with his fingerprint.

After Lawyer Yan carefully reviewed the documents, he took out a small gift box from his briefcase. It was small, like a ring box.

“This is a gift from Mr. Dai, instructed to be given to you after you signed.”

Huo Youqing looked at the box. “Is it a ring?”

“I don’t know,” Lawyer Yan replied. “I wasn’t allowed to open it.”

Huo Youqing fell silent for a moment and pulled out his phone to call Dai Yixin. He couldn’t resist asking what Dai Yixin meant by this—gifting him property, then a ring. Was this a proposal?

If it was, it would be the first time he’d seen someone propose without showing up in person.

On the other end, the phone was off.

Huo Youqing was momentarily stunned, and by this time, Lawyer Yan had already stood up to leave. He mentioned he needed to take his daughter home and quickly get the contracts notarized, so he wouldn’t bother him further.

After sending Lawyer Yan off, Huo Youqing realized a bit late that the gift box hadn’t been taken. He hadn’t opened it either, letting it sit in the living room, until his cousin visited and opened it.

Inside, there was indeed a ring, but its design was unique—nothing like a typical wedding ring. His cousin held the ring up, inspecting it from different angles. “That Dai guy’s so rich, I thought he’d give you some huge, flashy diamond.”

Huo Youqing had no interest in the ring at first, but his cousin’s comment amused him, so he took the ring. The moment he held it, though, he froze.

It was a Hercules knot ring.

Hercules, the great hero of ancient Greece, was known for his unmatched strength. The knot that bore his name was also called the “True Love Knot,” because no one could untie the knot Hercules made.

The metal was entwined, resembling two intertwined serpents.

An inextricable bond, symbolizing true love.

The ring wasn’t as plain as his cousin had scoffed. In fact, it was strikingly beautiful, and at least, Huo Youqing found himself instantly captivated by it. But he didn’t wear it. Instead, he quickly put it back into the gift box and snapped it shut.

Seeing Huo Youqing’s reaction, his cousin smoothly changed the subject. “What’s for dinner?”

And the ring was forgotten.

After dinner, Huo Youqing watched a movie with his cousin, who was texting his girlfriend throughout. Huo Youqing noticed and casually asked, “Cousin, when are you planning to get married?”

The question made his cousin’s face flush red, but he couldn’t hide his grin—just like when Lawyer Yan spoke of his wife. He put down his phone and tried to cover it up. “This movie’s pretty good.”

But it didn’t take long for him to say, “I haven’t really decided yet. I’m trying to create the perfect moment to propose.”

“Do you think she’ll say yes?” Huo Youqing knew his cousin’s girlfriend was someone Dai Yixin had sent, so he couldn’t help but ask.

His cousin laughed awkwardly. “I don’t know.”

It seemed he was really in love.

Huo Youqing patted his cousin’s shoulder. “Good luck. I hope you can propose soon.”

They chatted about other things, but eventually, his cousin couldn’t hold back anymore. “That Dai Yixin… has he been quiet lately? I can’t shake the feeling something’s off.”

Huo Youqing felt the same. Everything had been too peaceful for the past few months, and he still hadn’t returned to the 18-year-old timeline. If not for Lawyer Yan, his world would’ve become eerily silent.

This silence didn’t bring him peace, though—it made him anxious, like there was a huge conspiracy brewing beneath the surface.

It all came down to one thing: he didn’t trust Dai Yixin.

But in this timeline, Dai Yixin seemed to have truly disappeared.

A month passed. After dialing Dai’s number again and getting the same “phone off” message, Huo Youqing accepted an invitation to have dinner at Lawyer Yan’s house. During the meal, Huo Youqing couldn’t help but ask, “Is he done with his work yet? If he is, tell him to give me a call. I have something to return to him.”

The property and the ring.

Lawyer Yan didn’t immediately respond. After a brief pause, he said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Mr. Huo. I can’t help you.”

“No problem. It was my mistake for asking.” Huo Youqing turned to leave but was stopped.

“It’s not that I don’t want to help. It’s just that I haven’t been able to contact Mr. Dai either. Actually, it’s his assistant who’s been in touch with me. Mr. Dai hasn’t shown his face in a long time—neither in public nor in private.”

Huo Youqing glanced sideways, and a wild, absurd thought began to form in his mind. He instinctively rejected it, but the thought became more tangible by the second.

The Dai family were all madmen.

He knew that.

“Where is he?” Huo Youqing heard himself asking the lawyer.

He shouldn’t have asked.

The moment the words left his mouth, he regretted them.

When he followed Lawyer Yan to the hospital, he regretted it even more.

He listened to the people around him talk, catching a few words—”lobotomy.”

“Oh,” Huo Youqing said.