Chapter 143

Huo Tianci patted his chest with lingering fear as the little fellow opened his tiny arms and sprinted toward his Mommy, who was about to board the plane. Rong Qing looked helplessly at the little rascal—who had been fast asleep in the bedroom just moments ago—now rushing toward her like a large, clumsy teddy bear. With a resigned sigh, she finally scooped the charging imp into her arms.

Huo Tianci squinted and waved his little paw at the housekeeper uncle who had accompanied them to see them off, entirely devoid of the shameless, throwing-a-tantrum demeanor of moments before, where he had wailed that he would rather die than be left behind. One had to admit that the future young master of the family was already quite adept at judging and leveraging people. While most people bullied the soft and yielded to the hard, our little Huo Tianci had gone straight for the most authoritative figure in the Huo residence, the head butler, and struck bullseye on the very first try.

Old Guo’s stern and deeply wrinkled face cracked entirely, forcing a smile that was awkward yet tinged with warmth. Watching the normally strict and rule-abiding veteran butler being tamed by this little rascal, Rong Qing felt a mixture of melancholy and amusement. *Ah~ I wonder if the child’s father will fly all the way to the United States in a fit of rage to spank this little rascal’s bottom once he finds out that Huo Tianci acted first and reported later!*

Having shamelessly tagged along with his Mommy, little Huo Tianci was ultimately packed straight onto the plane, officially kicking off his American tour!

For the past five years, Huo Tianci had been comfortably raised in the sprawling Huo estate, never lacking for food or clothing, living in extravagant luxury and showered with everyone's affection. Grandpa Huo doted on his precious great-grandson so deeply that he could never bear to let the little rascal out of his sight, let alone send him off to some barren foreign country. Compared to the other little ones who had traveled the world with their parents, Huo Tianci was a complete bumpkin; even Fatty, whom he looked down upon the most, had already flown on an airplane! Huo Tianci felt deeply depressed and indignant, but all his tiny protests had been thoroughly suppressed by his Daddy’s cold and handsome face.

Sitting on the plush sofa seat in first class, Huo Tianci tried his best to conceal his inner curiosity and excitement. His little face was pulled tight, but his round, sparkling eyes darted incessantly around the cabin. A soft bed, a private washroom and toilet—why was it completely different from what the other kids had described?!

True to being the offspring of the most brilliant bloodline in the Huo family, little Huo Tianci sorted out the reality within moments. With a look of absolute disdain, he concluded that airplanes and first-class cabins were nothing special after all! Having figured out the interior structure of the flying machine, little Huo Tianci resumed his proud and aloof expression.

While handling documents on the side, Rong Qing observed her baby’s expressions and actions. After all, this was his first time traveling far from home; shouldn't a child be excited or even frightened? Watching her baby transition from initial euphoria to calmness, and finally to playing with an iPad out of sheer boredom, she concluded—well, she always tended to underestimate the formidable adaptability of the Huo family bloodline.

After playing with the iPad for half an hour, taking a nap, eating countless snacks, and doing at least five laps around the cabin, the bored little fellow finally went crazy. Pressing his pitiful little face against the airplane window, Huo Tianci gazed out at the sea of clouds stretching across the sky. His eyes were wide open, and he hung against the glass like a puppet drained of its life force, completely wilted.

*Huo Tianci:* "I really don't understand those kids who go on and on about how great it is to ride an airplane. I truly feel sorry for their boring lives and easily satisfied intellects! Riding an airplane is the absolute worst!"

Finally, after eight hours of having his energy completely drained and wilting into a little white rabbit, the plane landed smoothly at New York Airport. Huo Tianci opened his eyes in astonishment. Even though it was well past bedtime, why was the sun still blazing brightly in a clear morning sky? Old Man Sun, why aren't you getting off work yet? Tianci wants to sleep!

The little fellow, who should have been fast asleep by this hour, was dressed in a matching parent-child outfit by his Mommy and led off the plane in a daze. Local time was at the height of a glorious morning. The streets of New York were bustling with activity, with blonde-haired, blue-eyed beauties in shorts and sunglasses leisurely enjoying their shopping time. Stepping deep into this capital of fashion, youth, and vitality, one could immediately feel its distinctive national charm and customs.

Rong Qing wore aquamarine shorts and a white halter top, forming a matching parent-child look with Huo Tianci’s blue T-shirt and shorts. Her long, black wavy hair cascaded down her back, and her slender figure and exquisite beauty heightened her youthful and fashionable aura. Huo Tianci wore a cute cartoon T-shirt featuring a violent rabbit, and his delicate yet profound facial features, standing side by side with his Mommy, instantly drew the gaze of countless passersby.

In this fashionable and open city, sexy women were never in short supply, yet such classically striking Oriental looks with regional charm became a breathtaking scenery on the streets of New York.

Rong Qing parted ways with the company’s design team right at the airport. Originally, she had planned to check into a pre-booked hotel, but with Huo Tianci, this little burden in tow, she altered her itinerary and headed toward a seaside villa in America. It had to be said that the Huo family’s properties spanned the globe; no matter which bustling city one visited, a perfect home always awaited the arrival of its master.

Ever since Rong Qing retired from the entertainment industry five years ago, Yan Lin had resigned as her manager to become her full-time dedicated assistant. As soon as Rong Qing decided on her destination, the seaside villa was cleaned to sparkling perfection upon notification, and the domestic help within the villa had also been meticulously handpicked locals.

The weary mother and son had rushed over through dust and fatigue. After catching up on sleep, they finally recovered from jet lag. Only after Rong Qing had eaten lunch did the mother-child duo feel like they had truly revived. Feeling the distinct atmosphere on the streets of America, the little fellow experienced his first trip abroad without a shred of timidity, brimming entirely with excitement.

That afternoon, Huo Tianci tugged his mother along as they stepped onto the streets of New York. He no longer felt unfamiliar with that beautiful and fashionable capital; every arrival still left one deeply astonished and enamored. Summer in New York was sweltering, yet the bustling atmosphere added a layer of fierce, burning heat.

Rong Qing and Huo Tianci stepped into a fashion emporium, where garments and luxury goods of every brand dazzled the eyes. No clothes had been prepared for little Tianci on this American trip, so he puckered up his cold little face, holding a garment as he hesitatingly stepped into the fitting room.

Dressed in a western-style denim jacket paired with light-colored jeans and a baseball cap, Huo Tianci possessed a unique kind of cuteness. The little fellow frowned as he tugged at his tight trousers, looking thoroughly dissatisfied after trying on numerous outfits. Rong Qing was an absolute sucker for children. For a mother and son who had previously lacked opportunities for shopping together, she finally had the chance to dress her baby in various styles of clothing, filling her with immense pride and satisfaction as she dressed him up to look gorgeous.

Beaming, Rong Qing looked at her baby’s handsome ensemble, picked up a pink T-shirt, and said with a smile, "Baby, try this one on too." To satisfy her own indulgence, Rong Qing planted a huge kiss right on Huo Tianci’s forehead. A flush of red spread across the little rascal’s stiff face as he obediently retreated into the fitting room.

Even the most patient sales clerk began to grow impatient after watching him try on over a dozen outfits. Huo Tianci emerged in a pink short-sleeved shirt and blue shorts, the vibrant colors making his fair skin look even more porcelain-white. His refined features resembled those of a young aristocratic lord, radiating a bright, sharp, and dashing aura!

One had to admit that Huo Tianci, who usually favored aristocratic young master styling, pulled off neutral looks with a flair that showcased an entirely different style and beauty. Such a delicate, pink-and-white little boy was bound to be adored by anyone who laid eyes on him.

"Are you done trying, or which one do you want?" the sales clerk asked in fluent English, though her attitude lacked its previous warmth. She was far too accustomed to penniless people of Asian descent; they didn't even bother to check the price tags of this brand, which cost more than what they earned in a month of wages.

Rong Qing paused, her hand hovering over the jacket she had intended to match, and stopped moving. Faced with the blatant snobbery of the American clerk, she offered no superfluous argument. Instead, she reached straight into her bag and pulled out a gold card—an internationally issued, gold-plated unlimited-limit credit card—and handed it directly to the clerk.

Pointing at the outfit Huo Tianci currently wore, Rong Qing completely ignored the clothes they had tried on and previously liked: "Just this set. We don't want the rest." Rong Qing enunciated each word clearly. This gold card was issued in limited quantities globally, let alone these few garments.

Filled with instant regret, the sales clerk stared at Rong Qing’s expression and the card’s unlimited balance, finding it burning hot to the touch. How deeply she regretted offending someone like this! With a heavy heart, she watched the card swipe through a staggering number of zeros before it was retrieved by its owner.

Huo Tianci kept his small face stern and grim. Although he could only understand a small amount of the language, he could still sense the hostile attitude of the woman of a different hair and skin color. Frowning deeply, the little fellow decided he hated foreigners!

Little did they know that this entire scene had been witnessed by a father and daughter out shopping nearby. A pretty little American girl wearing a princess dress and clutching a doll with blue eyes stared dazedly at Huo Tianci. His cool styling and adorable features captivated the foreign little girl completely.

Tugging at the corner of her Daddy’s shirt, the little girl whispered, "Daddy, he's so handsome."

The tall man, who had likewise been observing Rong Qing and her son, bent down to pick up his little princess. Pinching the tip of his daughter’s nose, he said, "They're leaving now, but staring at people like that is very impolite."

The little girl panted her lips in a pout, casting one last lingering look at Huo Tianci’s handsome retreating figure, her heart filled with reluctance...

At a children's clothing store run by compatriots, Rong Qing purchased a substantial amount of clothing. The mother and son loaded themselves down with shopping bags and walked triumphantly down the streets of New York. The afternoon hours were steeped in romantic charm. As the sun set, golden slanting rays spilled across both sides of the street where numerous couples sat sipping coffee and listening to a violin playing softly at the corner.

Feeling a tug at the hem of her clothes, Rong Qing looked down to see Huo Tianci staring fixedly at a fast-food restaurant, refusing to budge. Rong Qing sighed slightly—at least this made him look a little bit like a normal child! Don't all kids love this kind of junk food anyway? Dutifully, Rong Qing took the little fellow's hand and led him inside.