The old patriarch halted his steps, standing there as he sharply inhaled a breath of cold air. It took a while before he cald down and turned back to look at Huo Jinnan, "You... say that again?"
Huo Jinnan looked at the old man, his voice cold and proud, "I’m unilaterally severing ties with you. Tomorrow, I will have Qin Shaojin prepare a disassociation agreent and send it over."
"..."
There the old patriarch stood, and if Uncle Guan hadn’t supported him, he might have collapsed right there.
Huo Jinnan looked at the old patriarch, "Regarding the property, I don’t think there’s anything to agree upon, right? I should have no obligation to provide for my grandfather’s support, but if you insist, fine, na your price, and I will pay the support fee in full, down to the last cent."
The old patriarch stood there without speaking, his breathing erratic and hasty. It took a long while before he gradually cald down, his face as cold as frost, "Fine, I’ll grant you that."
He looked toward Huo Jinxue, "Axue, do you also wish to sever ties with your grandfather?"
Huo Jinxue looked at the old patriarch, feeling nothing but horror, her hands nearly stained with blood because of her grandfather’s manipulations, "I’ll follow my mother."
"Very well, very well, very well!"
The old patriarch repeated three tis, pounding his cane on the ground with too much force, causing him to kneel down heavily.
Uncle Guan helped the old patriarch up.
Without looking back, the old patriarch left through the doorway.
Returning to the Huo Mansion, back to his room, the old patriarch rolled up his trousers to look at the bruises on his knees, sitting there as tears stread down his face.
Throughout his life, he had never cried through wars and battles—this was the first ti!
Alone, he opened the dicine chest and clumsily treated his wounds, lying down and staring at the ceiling, thoughts of Qiming, Ayun, Jizhou, Adong, Anan, and Qichang flashing before him.
His entire life replayed before his eyes like a shadow play!
All his past pride, and in the end—
Was he truly going to die alone and forsaken?
Thinking of Jinnan’s words, and the way the little one looked at him, his heart ached afresh.
After lying there for a while, he got up, looking out into the night, thinking of Qichang—Qichang had always been filial and the most obedient to him.
Picking up his phone, he dialed Huo Qichang.
"Sorry, the number you are calling is currently busy."
The sa ssage repeated with each redial, and recalling how it had been the sa a few days earlier, he wondered if Qichang was also leaving him?
He felt breathless in waves!
An hour later, he left his room and said to Uncle Guan, "Go to Dongling."
Uncle Guan looked at the old patriarch, "It’s already very late at night."
The old patriarch took a deep breath, looking at Uncle Guan, "Just drive when I tell you to!"
Uncle Guan and Auntie Shen exchanged glances.
A few seconds later, Uncle Guan went to prepare the car.
Hand on his cane, the old patriarch stumbled out the door and into the back seat, sitting there heavily, silent once more.
Upon arriving at Dongling, Uncle Guan stopped the car, "Old Master, the road up ahead is paved with stone slabs; we can’t drive up."
"I can still walk!"
The old patriarch got out of the car, walking in front with forced strength.
Uncle Guan followed behind.
Reaching Huo Jindong’s tombstone, he indeed saw Ayun kneeling there.
"A... Ayun, Grandfather’s here."
He looked at Jinyun, grasping at her like she was a lifeline. Now that no one needed him, the ones who needed him most were Ayun and Jizhou.
When Jinyun heard the old patriarch’s voice, she turned her head and couldn’t help but cry out, "Grandfather!"
The old patriarch looked at Jinyun, then suddenly delivered a slap across her face, "Why are you so disappointing!"
Jinyun was stunned where she stood.
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