CHAPTER 43: CHAPTER 43: HUO FENG TENDS TO HER INJURY

The sharpness in Huo Feng’s voice froze the room. But the damage was already done. The scalding tea had already soaked through the bandages on Yue Ning’s leg.

A sharp hiss escaped her lips before she bit it back, her nails digging into the armrest as a wave of pain coursed through her.

"Enough." Huo Feng’s grip tightened around Yue Chen’s wrist, his gaze turning frigid. "Look at what you’ve done."

Yue Chen paled. "I... I didn’t mean—" She stammered.

Her excuse was cut off by Yue Wan’s laughter. "Didn’t mean it? Cousin, even the servants saw your hand. No one here believes it was a mistake."

The room stayed silent, the weight of her words pressing harder than the scalding tea.

Huo Feng crouched by Yue Ning’s side, carefully peeling back the soaked bandages. His jaw tightened at the sight of reddened, blistering skin beneath. She hadn’t recovered, and now she was scalded by hot tea.

Gasps rippled through the hall when they saw her skin. Not only that, they were also surprised by his actions.

"Bring cold water. Now!" His command cracked like thunder, and the servants scrambled to obey.

Through the pain, Yue Ning’s eyes lowered, a faint smile ghosting her lips. Yes, it hurt—but it hurt Yue Chen more.

In front of the entire family, Huo Feng wasn’t sparing her a glance. Every ounce of his attention was on Yue Ning, tending to her as if no one else existed. The change was drastic.

She hadn’t come here for reconciliation. She had come for this—for the look of fury trembling in Yue Chen’s eyes, the humiliation that burned hotter than the tea ever could.

And as Huo Feng’s steady hands brushed against her skin, Yue Ning thought coldly. ’So what if I’m injured? If it unsettles her this much, then it’s worth it.’

Huo Feng personally tended to her injuries, and changed the bandages for her. While he was doing all these, Yue Chen had a look of discomfort on her face.

Her eyes met with Yue Ning, and she saw the mocking look in her eyes. At once, Yue Chen understood that she had been used, and she willingly let herself be used.

Her hands clenched by her side as she glared harshly at Yue Ning who wasn’t bothered.

When Huo Feng was done binding the fresh bandages, his gaze swept coldly across the family. "Yue Ning is my wife. I will not let her be bullied—not even by her own family."

The words were sharp, and they cut like a blade.

Father Yue’s smile stiffened. "Young Master Huo, you misunderstand. Ning’er is stubborn at times, but she is still—"

"Stubborn?" Huo Feng cut him off, his voice was like ice. "She came here despite her injury, because she still wanted to be filial. And this is how you treat her? Tell me, is this how you treat your biological daughter?"

His last words rang through the room, sharp as a slap.

Mother Yue’s face drained of color. Father Yue’s lips parted, but no words came. Their gazes flickered toward each other in panic, silently conversing with themselves.

Yue Ning caught it. Her heart stilled, but her eyes betrayed nothing. Strange. Why would they look like that at the mention of ’daughter’?

Yue Chen’s fists trembled at her side, her face ashen. Finally, her voice cracked. "Why do you care for her so much? She’s not even—"

"Chen’er!" Mother Yue snapped, her voice sharp with warning.

The hall went quiet again.

Yue Ning lifted her gaze, watching them with calm eyes, though inside her pulse had quickened. Something was off—extremely off.

Huo Feng rose to his feet, the weight of his presence crushing. "I’ll say this once: if anyone dares to touch Yue Ning again, don’t blame me for what follows."

The Yue family held their breath.

Only then did he turn back to Yue Ning, his voice softening. "Come. You should rest."

He helped her to her feet, his arm steady at her waist, leading her out under the suffocating silence of the Yue family.

No one in the hall dared to speak. Even Yue Chen, her face pale with fury, kept her lips pressed tight.

At the door, Huo Feng paused, his gaze sweeping across the room one last time. "I won’t repeat myself. Yue Ning is my wife. If anyone here dares to touch her again, don’t blame me for being merciless."

Silence. Deafening silence.

With that, he led Yue Ning out. The servants bowed low as they passed, none daring to breathe too loudly. The car door closed, and in moments, the sound of the engine faded beyond the gates.

Only then did the room breathe again. The extended family shifted, whispers rising like the rustling of leaves.

"Did you see how protective he was?" one murmured.

"If Yue Ning holds his favor, then the Yue family’s balance will change," another whispered in return. "That girl might be our greatest threat."

"Or opportunity," someone else added, lips curling in calculation.

Father Yue’s cold gaze swept over them, silencing the chatter. The smiles dropped instantly.

Yue Chen’s fists trembled. "All because of her..." she spat, before storming off.

The room sank into heavy silence again.

Mother Yue turned to her husband, eyes sharp. "This is getting dangerous."

His jaw tightened. "If he finds out the truth—"

"Enough." She cut him off, her voice low. "You want the whole family to hear?"

The extended relatives pretended not to listen, but their eyes lingered with curiosity and unease.

Father Yue clenched his fists, forcing his expression into calm. But beneath the surface, a storm was already brewing.

Meanwhile, Yue Ning and Huo Feng were in the car, and only silence reigned between them.

Huo Feng’s face was stormy. Yue Ning looked at his dark face, and she could sense his anger.

"Mr. Huo." She cautiously called out.

And he turned to look at her.

"Do you feel pain?" He asked her, and she shook her head.

"Thank you." She smiled gratefully. He had helped her today in letting out her anger.

"I wasn’t kidding with my words earlier. If anyone tries to hurt you, then they shouldn’t blame me for being merciless." Huo Feng repeated with a deep look.

He didn’t know when it started, but he found out that he couldn’t stand it when she was hurt.

Yue Ning, on the other hand, was taken aback by his words, clearly not expecting such a confession from him. She had no idea how she could reply.

Clearing her throat, she changed the topic. "Did you see how my parents reacted when you mentioned ’biological daughter?’ Do you think..."

She didn’t complete her words, but Huo Feng was clear on what she wanted to ask.

He creased his brows. He had sensed their unease, but he didn’t expect that she would also sense it.

"I asked someone to investigate this matter, we should get a response soon." Huo Feng replied.

Yue Ning nodded, and then lowered her head. Huo Feng’s heartstrings tugged seeing her vulnerable state.

"How about I take you somewhere?" Huo Feng offered.

"Where?" She raised her head, staring at him with bright eyes.

"It is a secret." Huo Feng replied mysteriously, and Yue Ning looked forward to where they were going.