Perhaps it was because Hu Xiaoyu had finally come to terms with the truth of Yu Tan's feelings for him. Looking back on his time living in the Yu household, he now realized how self-deceived he had been.
Now, maybe, he was overthinking it again.
Without waiting for Yu Tan to reply, he cautiously asked, "When you said 'pack up,' do you mean packing your things or mine?"
If it was about packing Yu Tan's things, in light of him searching for him all night, it wouldn't be a problem for Hu Xiaoyu to wash and return the dirty clothes Yu Tan had changed out of after his shower.
But going back to the Yu family... Hu Xiaoyu instinctively rejected that possibility.
The uncertainty in his fox-like eyes made Yu Tan feel something unpleasant.
If it were before, this little fool would have definitely curled up on the couch, ordering him to do this and that, and if he got busy, he'd follow him like a tail.
Yu Tan was direct: "You don't need to pack anything. Everything is ready at my place. If you want something, tell Hong Bo... or tell me directly, I'll have it delivered. Or if you want to go shopping, I'll go with you."
Hu Xiaoyu stood up: "It's getting cold. You eat, and when you're done, go back. I'm not going back. This place is fine."
He didn't want to hear what Yu Tan had to say, so he headed toward the rest area to wait for Yu Tan to leave before coming out.
He hadn't taken more than a few steps when his wrist was suddenly gripped, held tightly.
Hu Xiaoyu turned back and looked at Yu Tan: "What exactly do you want?"
Yu Tan's face remained cold, and there was a stubbornness in his eyes, as if he wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted: "Come back with me. I'm not asking for your opinion."
Hu Xiaoyu wasn't afraid of him. He glared back: "You leave! This is my domain now, and I don't want you here!"
Yu Tan sneered: "Your domain? Come back with me, and it will still be yours. I can give you ten or eight more places if you want, but if you don't come back... I'll take everything back. Think about it."
Hu Xiaoyu: "..."
He lowered his gaze, considering it for a moment, then spoke in a manner similar to how Chu Yin would negotiate with business partners: "Then I'll buy it from you. Sell it to me, and I'll offer you a higher price."
Yu Tan stared at him, his hopes fading as he looked at the person in front of him, who no longer showed any trace of the warmth they once shared.
Business talk? Fine.
Anger rolled in his mind, but his face softened slightly: "Is that so? I'll sell it to you, one million... One week. I want the full payment by then. If you can't do it, just come back obediently."
One million wasn't much for Yu Tan, but he had arranged for Xin Shihui to manage the studio's finances and was familiar with the books. He had once taken care of the studio on the side, originally intending to make sure this little fool had nothing to worry about. But now, when the time came to use it, it had to be under these circumstances.
That amount of money? Hu Xiaoyu couldn't possibly come up with it.
Yu Tan even thought, as long as this little fool would just submit, even if he made up an excuse and said he couldn't pay, he wouldn't hold it against him.
But the next moment, he heard Hu Xiaoyu's firm response: "One million, then. I'll pay you one million."
Hu Xiaoyu didn't have much concept of money and wasn't particularly attached to it.
But without a studio to take on work, his ability to absorb spiritual energy would definitely be affected. In the future, whether it was helping Yu Tan ward off disasters or returning to the fox clan, he would burn through a lot of energy and wouldn't be able to handle it.
With that, they had reached a temporary agreement.
Hu Xiaoyu couldn't say that Yu Tan's health had improved because of him, and the studio was something he deserved. After all, when he left this world, the studio would still remain with Yu Tan.
He locked himself in the rest area, hugging the blanket, thinking about where to get the one million.
Yu Tan, though still upset, at least now had a deadline.
One week—he could wait.
He ate his breakfast slowly, waited for the clothes A-Jiu had brought, and by the time he left, he had returned to the cold, proud demeanor of the head of the Yu family.
Hu Xiaoyu didn't waste much time coming up with a way to make money.
He set his sights on wealthy people he knew, then carefully considered who could come up with one million. Eventually, he called his father.
Hu Xiaoyu's father answered: "What? You've decided to come home? I'll send a driver to pick you up."
His tone wasn't very warm. Hu Xiaoyu hadn't answered his calls before, and when he did, it was always cold, like talking to a stranger. Now, there was an air of authority, as though he had taken charge.
The father and son had reached this point, and Hu's father was helpless, but more than that, he was frustrated.
Why? Hu's family had never mistreated Hu Xiaoyu. If it weren't for his inability to have another child, with someone as rebellious, ungrateful, and uneducated as Hu Xiaoyu, they would just have another useless child around. Even looking at him made him sick.
And he had already told him not to get too close to Young Master Yu.
Now, the fact that their young master had been abandoned had become a joke in their circle, and Hu's family had been dragged down with it, their faces thoroughly humiliated.
Since Hu Xiaoyu had ignored his father's commands and approached him with a business-like tone, his father reluctantly agreed to meet him.
Hu Xiaoyu had long seen that his father's sonship was uncertain.
The original heir he had brought back had died soon after, which was a shame, but as a demon, he could always find another one.
He could cure his father's illness, but the price would be one million.
However, it was inconvenient to say it over the phone, so Hu Xiaoyu didn't specify what the meeting was about.
Knowing that his father was stubborn and self-centered, Hu Xiaoyu figured he would need someone persuasive to help him.
The person Hu Xiaoyu chose was Liu Luanzhou.
He had previously given Liu Luanzhou a talisman, which had come in handy recently.
Liu Luanzhou had called to thank him, saying if it hadn't been for the talisman, he might have had a serious accident on a construction site.
He had wanted to meet Hu Xiaoyu to thank him in person.
At first, Hu Xiaoyu had refused, but now, feeling embarrassed, he prepared a new talisman as a token of gratitude.
Luckily, Liu Luanzhou readily agreed to meet and talk.
Hu Xiaoyu's meeting with Liu Luanzhou took place the day before his meeting with his father.
Liu Luanzhou arrived early, and when Hu Xiaoyu came in, he immediately went forward and pulled out a chair for him.
Hu Xiaoyu thanked him, then sat down and explained his reason for the meeting.
Liu Luanzhou smiled and nodded, reassuring him: "No problem."
He recalled the day he had inspected the construction site and how a falling steel bar had narrowly missed him. The fear he felt still lingered.
It was a fear beyond words, knowing that the steel bar should have hit him, but miraculously missed by just a few inches. He realized how lucky he had been.
Liu Luanzhou had thought it was just luck, until he heard the workers say that his suit pocket had been smoking, and when he pulled out a talisman that was almost burned to ash, he knew for sure that Hu Xiaoyu had saved him.
His admiration for him had turned into something clearer, and Liu Luanzhou couldn't wait to call Hu Xiaoyu, hoping to meet him in person.
As expected, he had been turned down.
Maybe Hu Xiaoyu still hadn't let go of Yu Tan, Liu Luanzhou thought sadly, until he received today's call.
After discussing the business, Liu Luanzhou said to Hu Xiaoyu: "Xiaoyu, can you stay and talk a little longer?"
He held the new talisman that Hu Xiaoyu had given him in his palm, tightening and loosening his grip, feeling more nervous and eager than he had ever been.
Hu Xiaoyu nodded: "Brother Liu, are you in trouble? If you tell me, I'll help if I can."
Liu Luanzhou smiled and nodded: "Okay."
After a pause, he mustered up the courage to ask: "Xiaoyu, you and Yu Tan... do you still like him?"
Hu Xiaoyu lowered his head for a moment. Hearing Yu Tan's name now made him feel uncomfortable, embarrassed, and sad about the foolish things he had done.
He shook his head: "I don't like him anymore. He doesn't like me either."
Maybe it wasn't just dislike, it was more like hatred.