Max Level Return—I'll Protect That Fragile One

What?

That brat Xu Xingguang actually has an affair with the Huo Family Leader?

But isn’t her boyfriend that impoverished, destitute single guy who has been to jail?

Hong Ruhai’s situation seems even worse than Xu Zeqing’s.

Once upon a time, Hong Ruhai was high-spirited, with an extraordinary demeanor; wearing glasses gave him a full elite look, and every move he made carried an air of strategizing. Influenced by him, Xu Zeqing had always secretly imitated Hong Ruhai.

Now, both Phoenix and wild chickens have fallen into the coop, reeking of a foul smell, looking equally embarrassed, indistinguishable from high or low status.

The two of them hadn’t seen the sunlight for a long time. Standing in the setting sun now, breathing the free air, they felt somewhat dazed and incredulous.

Xu Zeqing and Hong Ruhai walked side by side toward the Pilot Mansion. As they passed the lawn, Xu Zeqing couldn’t help glancing at Huo Wuyi’s pig villa.

Seeing the big spotted pig had grown even fatter, still playing with a ball, Xu Zeqing couldn’t help but curse, ”Darn fat pig!”

Hong Ruhai wasn’t in the mood to look at the pig.

He looked up at the eerie, ancient, gray-black building ahead, his eyes showing undisguisable fear. Previously, he had stood countless times on the roof of the staff dormitory, gazing at the Pilot Mansion on the northern mountains of Divine Concealment Island.

Entering the Pilot Mansion to work is the ultimate goal for every employee on the island.

Hong Ruhai had only been to the Pilot Mansion once, which was winter last year.

During those days, the Huo family was hosting a family banquet, and he was temporarily transferred to trim the garden bonsai. That night, however, the Young Helmsman suddenly vomited blood and fainted, and he accidentally overheard Mrs. Huo discussing a marriage arrangement with her butler.

He thought that by sending Xu Xingguang for the marriage arrangement and gaining Mrs. Huo’s appreciation, he would secure a job at Huo’s consortium. Little did he know, the key he held wasn’t the one to getting a job at Huo’s consortium, but a bomb that sent him into the hell of Divine Concealment Island!

Xu Zeqing brushed aside his disheveled, decadent hair and asked the silent Hong Ruhai beside him, ”Uncle, why do you think the Young Helmsman invited us for dinner?”

Xu Zeqing, knowing little about the secrets of Divine Concealment Island, naively wondered, ”Could it be that the Young Helmsman has seen through Xu Xingguang’s hypocrisy, realized we were wronged, and is planning to apologize to us?”

Upon hearing this, Hong Ruhai gave Xu Zeqing a look that was hard to describe and sneered, ”Idiot!”

”Why so arrogant!” Hong Ruhai and Xu Zeqing had both received punishment; living together day and night, they had seen each other’s most disgraceful sides clearly.

Xu Zeqing had lost the previous filter he had for Hong Ruhai.

When he realized that Hong Ruhai was just another unimportant underling on Divine Concealment Island, Xu Zeqing’s attitude towards him was no longer respectful and admiring as before.

”Hong Ruhai!” Xu Zeqing sneered, ”My uncle and grandma raised you as their own son, my mom treated you well, and you’ve actually screwed me over.”

”You’ve been unkind and unjust to me, don’t think I’ll respect and care for you!”

Before they even entered the Pilot Mansion, the two started quarreling.

Whew!

A military knife flew out between their faces that were about to clash and landed on the ground.

Hong Ruhai and Xu Zeqing simultaneously fell silent, a cold sweat breaking out on their backs.

Cheng Yue looked at them coldly, reprimanding, ”You two are so noisy; do you find your tongues too agile? Do you need me to cut them off for you?”

Upon hearing this, Hong Ruhai and Xu Zeqing paled and shook their heads simultaneously.

”Go inside, don’t keep our Lord Captain waiting.”

Cheng Yue led the two into the Pilot Mansion. As soon as they entered the eerie and strange palace, Xu Zeqing felt a chill over his entire body. What kind of person dares to live day and night in such a dark and ghostly palace?

The last time Xu Zeqing saw such a large and stylized house was in a horror movie.

”We’re here.”

Upon hearing Cheng Yue say so, Xu Zeqing and Hong Ruhai raised their heads, looking in the direction Cheng Yue was staring.

Their vision suddenly brightened.

It was a private dining room surrounded by roses, a long white dining table draped with a bright red tablecloth. The table was filled with a sumptuous feast, and a well-dressed man and woman sat beside it.

The man sitting in the main seat of the table was slender, wearing a silk black robe. With cold white skin, crimson lips, and slightly bent, enchanting peach blossom eyes, he appeared neither human nor devil.

The woman, sitting with her back to them, had her appearance obscured; only the two arms exposed from the short-sleeved dress were glaringly white.

Xu Zeqing dared not look at the Lord Captain much, finding it unnerving.

Nor did he dare to look at the Lord Captain’s lover, fearing his eyes would be gouged out.

He lowered his head timidly, but in his mind, he was thinking: This Lord Captain looks somewhat familiar.

Where have I seen him?

Could it be that I saw the Lord Captain when I was building the swimming pool for that darn fat pig?

Huo Wen’an noticed the cautiousness and confusion in Xu Zeqing’s eyes, and, realizing he hadn’t been recognized yet, smiled playfully.

”Greet the Lord Captain,” Hong Ruhai fearfully greeted Huo Wen’an, keeping his head down, not daring to look directly at Huo Wen’an’s face.

Seeing this, Xu Zeqing hurriedly imitated Hong Ruhai and said to Huo Wen’an, ”Xu Zeqing, greets the Lord Captain.”

”Heh.” Huo Wen’an chuckled softly.

The magnetic, pleasant laughter echoed through the vacant garden dining room, making Xu Zeqing even more nervous.

”Mr. Xu.” Huo Wen’an examined the trembling Xu Zeqing with interest and said, ”It’s only been a few months, Mr. Xu; don’t you recognize your son-in-law anymore?”

Son-in-law?

Xu Zeqing didn’t dare to interpret the Lord Captain’s self-reference of ’son-in-law’ as the ’son-in-law’ for daughter-in-law.

Seeing Xu Zeqing standing like a wooden statue, unmoving, Huo Wen’an, in a good mood, said, ”Since you don’t recognize me, Mr. Xu, you can lift your head, come closer, and look carefully.”

Upon hearing this, Xu Zeqing still had no reaction.

Huo Wen’an gave Zheng Lie a glance.

Zheng Lie propped up Xu Zeqing’s chin, helping him raise his head.

Xu Zeqing, timid as a mouse, sneakily scrutinized Huo Wen’an’s face, and the more he looked, the more alarmed he became.

This, this, this.

Xu Zeqing blurted out, ”You’re that murderer!”