Huo Yi stood outside the imposing gates of his family home, anxiety swirling in his stomach. It had been a few weeks since he had left, and despite the warmth of the sun, a chill crept over him as he recalled the reason for his return. With no other options left, he had reluctantly agreed to come home. His mother's frantic phone call still echoed in his mind, the urgency in her voice slicing through his resolve.
As he stepped inside, the familiar scent of polished wood and lingering incense filled his nostrils, bringing back a flood of memories—some comforting, others painful. He took a deep breath, preparing himself for the confrontation that awaited him.
The atmosphere was tense as he entered the living room. His mother sat on the couch, her expression a mixture of relief and worry.
"Huo Yi," his father began, his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused?"
Huo Yi clenched his fists, resisting the urge to lash out. "I didn't do anything wrong," he replied, his voice steadier than he felt. "Liang Chen and I—"
"Enough!" His father's voice boomed, silencing him. "You think this is just about you and Liang Chen? You've ruined your brother's reputation with your reckless actions."
Huo Yi felt his heart sink. "What are you talking about? I didn't ruin anything. Liang Chen doesn't care about my feelings!"
"Yet, it seems you've done your best to sabotage his relationship with Huo Fei," his mother interjected, her tone sharp. "You've lied, and you've disrespected your family. Do you have any idea what this means for us?"
The accusations struck him like blows, each word digging deeper into his chest. "I didn't lie about anything! It was never my intention to hurt anyone!" Huo Yi's voice trembled with frustration. "Liang Chen and I—"
"Stop it!" His Father interjected, stepping forward. His voice was a mixture of anger and hurt. "You know how much your brother care for him, and yet you've done this. What did you expect would happen?"
Huo Yi's world began to spin. The weight of his family's expectations pressed down on him like a lead blanket. "You're all acting as if I did this on purpose. You don't know anything about my feelings or what I've gone through!"
His father stood, towering over him, rage radiating from his figure. "You're nothing but a selfish brat! Do you think you can just walk into this house after what you've done and act innocent? You're a disgrace to this family!"
Without thinking, Huo Yi shot back, "A disgrace? You think you know what disgrace is? You don't understand me at all!"
The room fell silent. Huo Yi could feel the tension hanging thick in the air. Suddenly, his father's hand shot out, striking him hard across the face. Huo Yi stumbled back, shock coursing through him as he touched his cheek, feeling the heat of the blow.
"Know your place, Huo Yi," his father hissed, fury in his eyes. "You're lucky I don't throw you out of this house."
Huo Yi felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes, a mix of pain and humiliation flooding his senses. "I hate you," he whispered, the words barely escaping his lips.
"I'm not here to be liked, boy," his father snapped. "I'm here to make sure you understand the consequences of your actions. You will apologize to Liang Chen and do everything in your power to fix this mess. Do you understand?"
Huo Yi stared at his father, a storm of emotions swirling within him. "I won't. I won't apologize for saying the truth," he declared, his voice rising with defiance.
"Then you can consider yourself no longer a part of this family," his father retorted coldly. Huo Yi's heart raced as the words sank in, feeling as if the ground had been ripped from beneath him.
With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, the reality of his situation crashing down around him. He felt lost, trapped in a world that seemed to offer him no escape. As he made his way back to his old room, he realized the choice he had made: he would no longer be the person everyone expected him to be.
Huo Yi couldn't believe how tense the atmosphere had become. As he sat in the quiet confines of his childhood bedroom, the walls seemed to close in on him. It was a strange and suffocating feeling, like being watched and judged by the memories these walls contained. This home, which was supposed to bring comfort, only added to the weight in his chest.
His father's handprint still burned on his cheek, a reminder of the blow that had landed just moments before. Huo Yi could hardly believe it had happened. His father had never hit him before, even in the worst of their disagreements. But this time, things had gone too far.
The room felt oppressive with the weight of the silence following the confrontation. The door was shut, but he could hear his mother's hushed voice outside in the hallway. She was talking to his father, trying to calm him down, but the muffled sound of their argument only increased Huo Yi's growing sense of isolation. It was as if the walls of the house were closing in on him, forcing him to face everything he had been trying to avoid.
His phone buzzed on the bedside table, pulling him from his thoughts. Huo Yi grabbed it, seeing the screen light up with Jing Wei's name. For a moment, he thought about ignoring it. He didn't feel like talking to anyone, but he knew Jing Wei would worry if he didn't answer.
He swiped to answer the call. "Hey," he said, his voice low and hollow.
"Where are you?" Jing Wei's voice was filled with concern. "You were supposed to come back to the dorm last night."
Hearing the voice of someone who still cared about him, Huo Yi clenched his fist and vowed.
IHuo Yi vowed to take control of his own life, no matter the cost. He would no longer allow himself to be a pawn in the games his family played. His love for Liang Chen was his own, and he would fight for it—no matter what it took.