Afterlife Department

Chapter 166 – Relationships

Yi Bing took a deep breath to suppress the burning irritation inside his chest. His sharp blue eyes narrowed as he watched Hao Baiyun went inside the restaurant while he listened to Huo Ling who was speaking beside him.

"Young master Hao is my cousin. His grandfather and my grandfather, my mother's father, are cousins." Huo Ling explained.

"He's your cousin, but you're calling him 'young master'?" Yi Bing said as he removed his gaze from Hao Baiyun's figure and turned to face Huo Ling.

Hearing his question, Huo Ling smiled. "Not only me, but he's also calling me that way." He said and paused as he pondered. "This was because of Kale. When he visited me, I was studying with young master Hao… well, it's more like he was teaching me with my homework." He scratched his cheek in embarrassment.. "Anyway, young master Hao is also aware of Kale's status as a prince. He called him 'His Highness the Prince'. But, Kale is a humble guy and he gets easily embarrassed when someone familiar calls him that. Thus, he said since young master Hao is my cousin, he will also be Kale's cousin – albeit they're not blood-related." He laughed. "Kale suggested that since in China, young men were called 'young masters', thus he told young master Hao to call him that." He explained.

"Then, what did he call you, as well as you called him, before that?" Yi Bing asked.

"Young master Hao calls me 'xiao Ling'. I call him 'Bai-gege'." Huo Ling answered.

It was like a clap of thunder in Yi Bing's ears and his face darkened. 'gege'? 'Ge'. 'Ge'?! Huo Ling has never called me that! Even when I gave him gifts in the third world, and I disguised as Liu Lingling in the previous world, but he called me 'uncle'! 'UN'. 'CLE'!!! That's one generation from 'gege'!

He frowned as he glanced at Huo Ling smiling. Seeing him smile so innocently, he sighed. When was the last time he saw Huo Ling smiled like a child? "Let's go." he said.

"Hm? Where?" Huo Ling asked as he turned to Yi Bing. Is he finally going to take me to the Underworld?

However, Yi Bing didn't answer. He just took Huo Ling away from there. A few minutes after they disappeared, something happened in the restaurant.

Gu Xingfeng, Lei Shan and the others inside the private room heard a knock on the door.

Gu Xingfeng, who had just received a message from Xue Liping, spoke. "Come in." he said.

Lei Shan who was in a bad mood ignored Gu Xingfeng's action. His mother was looking after Huo Meiying thus they didn't ask who is the person outside.

The waiter, who was waiting outside the door, was about to speak when Hao Baiyun ignored him and directly knocked on the door. He was about to speak again when he was interrupted because Gu Xingfeng's voice was heard from inside. He was about to speak again when Hao Baiyun, for the second time, ignored him and pushed the door open.

"Gu Xingfeng." He called as he went inside. He frowned when he saw the man's face. Then, he turned to see Huo Meiying. "Aunt Marie." He called, his voice softened when he saw Huo Meiying's bad complexion.

Huo Meiying, who has been in a daze since earlier, heard Hao Baiyun's voice. She raised her gaze and saw the young man in white as if he is an angel that descended. "Xiao Bai." She called.

Hao Baiyun smiled before he turned to Lei Shan and his mother. She gave them a nod and walked towards Huo Meiying, ignoring Gu Xingfeng on the side. However, the only chair empty is in between Huo Meiying and Gu Xingfeng. That means, he has to sit beside Gu Xingfeng.

He is disgusted, but for Huo Meiying, he held back his disgust. "Aunt Marie." He called.

As if his words were the key, Huo Meiying's tears were unlocked and streamed down her cheeks. "Xiao Bai!" she called as she hugged Hao Baiyun tight and sobbed on his shoulder. "Xiao Ling… xiao Ling… my xiao Ling!" she cried.

Hao Baiyun's chest tightened and his eyes reddened. However, he held back his tears since he doesn't want to sadden Huo Meiying more. He opened his mouth to speak, but it's as if something was blocking his throat. No words came out of his mouth, thus he can only purse his lips. The corner of his lips pulled into a frown and he lowered his gaze. His face is filled with grievance.

He and Huo Ling were distant cousins. Being born in a wealthy family, normally they wouldn't have much interaction. This is how it is living in the upper circle. But, when he first met him, he doesn't know why he felt his heart throbbed. It wasn't love, but a familiarity. It's as if they have met many times before this, despite that was their first meeting. Thus, he couldn't help but become closer to Huo Ling, searching for the answer.

Yet, before he could, Huo Ling died. He felt his heart was torn into pieces. Huo Ling was just a distant relative, yet he felt like a part of him disappeared. The moment he heard the news of Huo Ling's death, he immediately went to the police station and looked for Gu Xingfeng. Then, after learning his whereabouts from his subordinates, he went to the restaurant to meet Gu Xingfeng, together with Huo Meiying who's with him, Lei Shan and Lei Shan's mother.

"Film emperor Lei." Hao Baiyun formally addressed Lei Shan who was sitting silently on the side while Lei Shan's mother was silently crying.

"Mr. Hao." Lei Shan nodded at him.

Hao Baiyun and Lei Shan, even though both heirs of businessmen, but one – Lei Shan, chose to be an artist, their worlds would never converge if not for Huo Ling. Yet now that Huo Ling's gone, they have nothing in common to talk about so they treat each other formally – albeit how close they are to the deceased, Huo Ling.

Hao Baiyun already noticed the closeness between Lei Shan and Huo Ling. He knew, Huo Ling treated Lei Shan as someone special. Once, he had thought Huo Ling is in love with Lei Shan like Lei Shan to him, seeing Lei Shan's affection to Huo Ling is not lesser than Huo Ling's affection to him. However, Huo Ling denied it. Yet, when he asked him why, Huo Ling couldn't answer, either.

Hao Baiyun, normally, would think Huo Ling was just shy, or that he still hasn't enlightened with his feelings yet, thus he denied his claims. But, having grown up together with Huo Ling, Hao Baiyun knew Huo Ling wasn't lying. Huo Ling isn't in love with Lei Shan, that is a fact. Yet, his feelings towards Lei Shan is more than a friend. This is the same case with Lei Shan.

He looked at Lei Shan before he, even though he doesn't want to, turned to Gu Xingfeng. Seeing Gu Xingfeng smirking, his disgust to the man increased tenfold. But, that confirmed his thought of Gu Xingfeng already knowing Huo Ling and Lei Shan's 'relationship' after meeting Gu Xingfeng's meaningful gaze.

He retracted his gaze and turned to Huo Meiying. Seeing Huo Meiying's eyes closed, he knew she fainted from crying. "Madame." He called Lei Shan's mother. "May I trouble you to look after aunt Marie?" he asked as he sent Fei Xuli a message. "My subordinates will help you settle aunt Marie to my villa." He told her.

"Yes…" Lei Shan's mother answer as she sniffed. She looked at Huo Meiying, her eyes filled with pain and pity.

Not a minute later and there was a knock on the door before the door opened. The waiter speechlessly looked at Fei Xuli as Fei Xuli spoke by the door. "Young master. Jing Yu already brought the car." He told Hao Baiyun without throwing Gu Xingfeng nor Lei Shan a gaze.

"Good." Hao Baiyun said as he carried Huo Meiying in his arms. "Settle aunt Marie in the guest room. Follow madame Lei's orders." He told Fei Xuli as Fei Xuli carefully took Huo Meiying from him.

"Yes, young master." Fei Xuli answered in a quiet voice in case Huo Meiying would be awakened.

"Then, I'm sorry to trouble you, madame." Hao Baiyun told Lei Shan's mother as she followed Fei Xuli.

"No problem. Meiying, she…" she said before she shook her head. She bade her son goodbye and then left with Fei Xuli who's carrying Huo Meiying.

The room immediately fell in silence as three gentlemen were left inside. The waiter standing by the door couldn't help but shiver when he felt the low pressure the three men emitting.

Hao Baiyun closed the door, ignoring the waiter who's coldly wiping his sweat. He turned to Lei Shan before he turned to Gu Xingfeng. His eyes narrowed, filled with hostility. "Police officer Gu – "

Gu Xingfeng interrupted him. "It's 'chief', you disrespectful young master." He said as the smile on his face disappeared and was replaced with a frown while he turned to Hao Baiyun.

His eyes reflected the animosity in Hao Baiyun's eyes.