《The Baby I Lost Is Actually with My Ex-Husband!》


 Chapter 1: The Comatose Husband Suddenly Awakens

    Chapter 1: Chapter 1: The Comatose Husband Suddenly Awakens


    "Miss Lin, congratulations, you are pregnant, twelve weeks."


    The doctor''s words still echoed in her ears.


    Lin Qi, distraught, returned home from the hospital, looking at the pregnancy test report, absentmindedly put the report away.


    In the living room, on the table, there was a divorce agreement, only missing her signature.


    She had been married to Huo Tingdong for two years, this husband in name, she had never met.


    Marrying him was merely in accordance with the family''s wishes.


    He was the eldest son of the Huo Family, a powerful figure who summoned the wind and rain in social circles, due to a car accident, he lay in a coma, becoming nothing short of a living dead.


    The doctor asserted, the young master of the Huo Family, most likely had a slim chance of recovery.


    The Huo Family needed an obedient daughter-in-law; Old Madam Huo wholeheartedly hoped that Huo Tingdong could have an heir to inherit the Huo Family''s vast enterprise.


    But, regardless of the Huo Family''s noble status, which family''s daughter would want to marry a living dead and become a widow?


    Two years ago, the Lin Family faced some business issues, to secure funding from the Huo Family, Lin Qi agreed to this marriage.


    But after two years of marriage, trying various methods, Lin Qi''s belly long remained empty.


    The Huo Family was gradually losing hope in her.


    Until two months ago, Huo Tingdong miraculously woke up.


    Afterwards, Lin Qi received a notice from Huo Tingdong''s subordinates¡ªhe wanted a divorce.


    Unexpectedly at this critical moment, Lin Qi found out she was pregnant.


    What should she do about this child?


    Huo Tingdong wanted to divorce her, and if the child was born, it would surely be separated from her.


    While she hesitated, her cellphone rang.


    "Hello, is this Miss Lin? Mr. Huo wants to see you."


    It was late at night.


    The car stopped in front of the Huo Mansion.


    A prime piece of feng shui treasure land, the Huo Family''s main residence occupied five thousand square meters, astounding onlookers.


    This was Lin Qi''s first time stepping foot here.


    The butler led her into the main hall.


    Lin Qi nervously clutched the divorce agreement, looking around.


    Suddenly, the butler beside her said, "Miss Lin, please wait here."


    Lin Qi looked at him, "Where is Huo Tingdong?"


    "I will go fetch Mr. Huo, please wait here," the butler said and then went upstairs.


    The staircase on the second floor.


    The man wore a dark suit, draped with a long overcoat, his entire presence exuded a cold and sharp aura, his inherent haughtiness undeniable.


    Lin Qi also faintly felt a piercing gaze stabbing into her.


    She looked up and was startled by the man standing at the stair railing.


    The man leaned on a gold-trimmed cane, one hand in his trouser pocket, his handsome face almost expressionless.


    Those deep, chilly eyes burst forth with a cold fierceness, like a knife soaked in the chill of the night, piercing through her frail body, reaching deep into her marrow.


    Lin Qi shivered involuntarily, stepping back in caution.


    She could guess that this man, the Huo Family heir who had awakened from a vegetative state two months ago, was her husband¡ªHuo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong descended the stairs slowly and elegantly, his eyes cold, "You agreed to marry me, what terms did the Huo Family offer you?"


    As he finished speaking, he had already approached her, looking down on her from above.


    His overwhelming presence made her scalp tingle.


    Lin Qi panicked, "Old Madam wants me to bear an heir for the Huo Family..."


    Huo Tingdong''s gaze fell on her flat belly, "Is there a result?"


    Lin Qi, with countless thoughts turning in her mind, blurted out a lie, "I couldn''t get pregnant."


    The man suddenly stepped closer to her, "Really?"


    Lin Qi, frightened, stepped back and collapsed onto the sofa.


    The man leaned forward, arms bracing on either side of her, his cool breath on her face with a threatening tone, "You better not be lying to me. If I find out you dared to lie, I will make you wish you were dead."


    Lin Qi gasped, "I dare not lie to you." She immediately changed the subject, "Aren''t you asking me to sign the divorce agreement?"


    She handed him the signed agreement.


    Huo Tingdong took the agreement, while confirming her signature, spoke coldly, "I will grant you one condition, whatever you ask."


    Lin Qi said, "Mr. Huo, I have no demands, I only ask for a peaceful parting."


    Having said that, she got up and left, her figure disappearing into the night.


    Five months later.


    Inside a humble small clinic, in the maternity room, an unexpected premature birth, after a day and night of torment, Lin Qi was exhausted both physically and emotionally.


    She lay on the bed, her face devoid of color, as the nurse carried away two little babies, her heart clenched.


    The two babies were born without a cry, could it be...


    Two hours later¡ª


    "Miss Lin! I''m sorry, we did our best, but due to premature birth, both babies were too weak, we could only save one," the nurse gently placed a baby wrapped in swaddles beside her, apologetically saying, "This is the little brother."


    A sorrow washed over Lin Qi.


    With effort, she turned her face to look at the frail male infant in the swaddles, his wrinkled little face opened its mouth, breathing faintly, even his cries were feeble.


    "Where''s the elder brother?"


    The nurse said, "Miss Lin, it''s a pity, the child was blue all over, already not breathing... To avoid upsetting you further, it''s better not to look..."


    "Let me see..." Lin Qi suddenly cried out, "Let me see! I want to see my baby..."


    "Miss Lin! Calm down, if you''re emotionally unstable, it will affect your milk, mourn but move on!"


    Lin Qi, heart torn asunder, painfully sat up, cradling the only surviving little brother in her arms, silently shedding tears.


    Enduring as a mother.


    With her elder son passed away, for the sake of her younger son, she also had to pull herself together!

 Chapter 2: Son of a Tycoon Worth 10 Billion

    Chapter 2: Chapter 2: Son of a Tycoon Worth 10 Billion


    Seven years later¡ª


    Time flutters by, swift as a white steed flashing past a crack. In the blink of an eye.


    Half-past seven in the evening.


    A painful howl shatters the tranquil night.


    In the skyscraper, the CEO''s office.


    A man writhes in agony on the floor, rolling about as he is whipped, screaming continuously.


    A dozen bodyguards stand by indifferently, while on the sofa sits a child, carved and polished like a gem.


    Little Baby, about seven years old, with black silky hair and skin white and clear, has a delicate and beautiful face, adorable chubby cheeks, and beautiful eyes, distinct in black and white, with long, curled eyelashes.


    Such a clean and handsome little dumpling, dressed in a snow-white shirt and black suit pants, even wearing a pretty bow tie on his collar.


    However, such an innocent appearance is starkly out of place with the gruesome scene before him.


    He holds a four-panel comic book emotionlessly, occasionally glancing coldly at the man being whipped.


    "Ah!! Ah..." The man''s screams are hideous, continuously begging for mercy, disgracefully crying as he pleads, "I was wrong, I know it now..."


    Little Baby slightly furrows his brow, then lowers his head again, turning another page with his pale small hands, seemingly deaf to the man''s screams of agony, as if they were completely unrelated to him.


    He is engrossed in reading the comic book, absorbed when suddenly, the mobile phone on the table starts vibrating.


    One bodyguard walks over to check, his expression changes, respectfully brings the phone to the child.


    Little Baby glances, and on the screen, the contact reads "Mommy," his expression tightening slightly.


    He takes the phone with his small hand, lifts his head, and puts a finger to his lips, "Shush."


    The man wielding the whip immediately ceases his actions, and at the same time, covers the crying man''s mouth tightly with his hand.


    Little Baby then answers the call, his indifferent gaze softening as he speaks with a milky voice emerging from his tender lips:


    "Mommy?"


    "Momo, Mommy is home, where did you go?" A worried female voice comes from the other end.


    Momo replies, "I went out to buy some candy."


    "Are you at the supermarket?"


    "Yes."


    "In that case, pick up some things for Mommy on your way back, I''m cooking something delicious for Momo today!"


    With a glance from Momo, a bodyguard promptly approaches and kneels beside him, notebook and pen in hand.


    Momo, smiling, responds, "Sure, what does Mommy need?"


    The woman on the phone meticulously dictates, and he earnestly repeats, "Salt, vinegar, ham... noodles, anything else?"


    As he speaks, the bodyguard tensely jot down with his pen.


    "That''s all, good boy, Mommy will meet you downstairs."


    "Ok."


    Momo hangs up the phone, gently places it on the table, and slowly stands up from the sofa, walking to the man covered in injuries.


    His gaze turns cold, lifting his leg, his shiny leather shoe heavily grinding down on the man''s face.


    Momo coldly questions, "Admitting your mistake?"


    Though a voice so young, barely seven years old, it carries a terrifying lethality, starkly different from the lamb-like demeanor he had on the phone.


    "I was wrong, I know I was wrong..." The man cries painfully.


    As if, the one looking down upon him now is not a child, but the Son of the Devil.


    Momo coldly counters, "Wrong about what?"


    "I shouldn''t have... I shouldn''t have harbored those intents towards your mother..."


    Momo presses, "What kind of intent..."


    The man was too ashamed to speak, his face flushing red.


    Momo''s foot pressed down harder, "Speak."


    "I was wrong, I know I was wrong! I shouldn''t have lusted after your mother''s beauty, harassed her sexually. Please forgive me! Forgive me..."


    Momo glanced at him indifferently, seeing that he had been beaten black and blue, kneeling in a prone position, trembling all over, not even daring to breathe loudly.


    Two weeks ago, Mommy suddenly came home injured, hiding in her room to treat the bruises.


    He secretly investigated and found out that Mommy was forced by her beastly boss to comply with hidden rules, she refused to death, and as a result, she was beaten up. Afraid of the scandal being exposed, the scum fired Mommy and even took her severance pay.


    He is the scum of scum!


    Little Baby narrowed his eyes, "What right do you have to touch even a hair on my mommy? You think you are worthy!?"


    The man screamed in fright, "I won''t dare anymore! I will never dare again..."


    Seeing his face just filled Momo with disgust, he ordered emotionlessly, "Take him away."


    "Yes."


    The bodyguard dragged the man away.


    Momo looked down at his leather shoes, noticing some blood stains that had accidentally got on them, he immediately frowned in disgust.


    Beside him, a bodyguard approached, knelt down beside him, and took out a handkerchief, carefully wiping it off.


    Momo asked, "Has someone been sent to buy the things?"


    The bodyguard replied, "Someone has already bought them."


    Momo said, "Take me to the entrance of the district."


    The bodyguard nodded, "Yes."


    ...


    Ankang District.


    A six-story residential building.


    The kitchen light was on.


    Lin Qi stared worriedly at the burnt braised pork in the pot when suddenly she heard the fingerprint lock beep.


    Momo was back!


    She went to the entrance and saw Momo standing at the door, changing shoes, holding a shopping bag from the supermarket.


    "Momo!" Lin Qi lunged towards the little guy as if seeing a savior.


    "Smack."


    Momo put down the shopping bag and kissed her on the cheek, suddenly smelling something burnt, he sniffed and disdainfully glanced at her, "What got burnt?"


    Lin Qi sheepishly looked at Momo who gracefully floated into the kitchen, seeing him staring blankly at the charred braised pork, she chuckled nervously and said, "Momo, do you think Mommy''s cooking could still improve..."


    Momo sighed softly, revealing a doting yet helpless look, gently touched Lin Qi''s hair, "Mommy, didn''t I tell you to stay out of the kitchen?"


    Saying so, he put on a small bear apron and dumped all of Lin Qi''s disastrous cooking into the trash.


    Lin Qi watched in shame.


    Momo, only seven years old, had taken over all the household chores, including cooking.


    She stood at the kitchen door watching Xiao Mo skillfully ignite the stove and heat the pan, she guiltily poked her fingers, "Xiao Mo, Mommy seems to have no talent for cooking at all."


    Momo responded, "Mommy being able to give birth to such a smart son as me is the most powerful talent."


    Lin Qi was amused.


    "Mommy just needs to stay beautiful," Momo said, "Otherwise, what''s the use of birthing a son as cute and smart as me?"


    Lin Qi nodded in agreement with a laugh, "Yeah, whatever Momo says is right."


    The more she watched Momo, the more she adored him. Momo was simply growing up as handsome as her face could imagine, completely the kind of beautiful young man who would charm everyone effortlessly in the future!

 Chapter 3: Born but Not Nurtured, You Deserve to Die

    Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Born but Not Nurtured, You Deserve to Die


    Momo said disdainfully while pouring oil, "But Mommy, please don''t cook anymore, I''m afraid Mommy will blow up the kitchen one day, and we will be kicked out by the landlord."


    Lin Qi''s lips twitched harshly as she awkwardly changed the subject, "Mommy sent out a few resumes today, and I''m going to a company for an interview tomorrow."


    Her insane former boss subjected her to workplace violence and spread rumors about her everywhere, leading many companies to fear hiring her. If she doesn''t succeed in the interviews tomorrow, she and Momo would really be left in the cold wind.


    Momo tilted his head innocently and looked at Lin Qi tenderly, then suddenly came up to her and pulled out a handful of brand new RMB notes from his pocket.


    Lin Qi''s eyes widened, "Where did this money come from?"


    Momo said lightly, "The prize from the stationery store."


    Lin Qi hugged him joyfully and rubbed against his chubby little face, "Xiao Mo, are you the god of wealth? How come you win prizes every day?"


    Momo pursed his lips, helplessly silent.


    Only his foolish Mommy would believe such an obviously flawed lie.


    Lin Qi said, "Momo, Mommy will definitely work hard to make money to support you."


    Momo asked, "Mommy, how much money do you need to make to afford Momo?"


    Lin Qi said, "Mommy has set a small goal, to earn a hundred million RMB first."


    Momo suggested, "Mommy, maybe you don''t have to try so hard, Momo can support you."


    Lin Qi looked at the adorable Little Baby in front of her, with his large, clear eyes, naively unaware; although she knew these were words spoken without understanding, she was still deeply moved by Momo.


    Lin Qi kissed his chubby little face, asking playfully, "You are so small, how can you support Mommy?"


    Momo pondered seriously for a moment, his eyes lighting up, "I can buy a lottery ticket every day, what if I win five million one day?"


    Lin Qi gently scraped his nose, "Wishful thinking!"


    The night deepened.


    After putting Momo to sleep, Lin Qi carried a load of trash and headed downstairs.


    For seven years.


    She and Momo had relied solely on each other.


    Momo was very sensible and well-behaved, the most precious treasure bestowed on her by the heavens.


    Eight months into her pregnancy, she gave birth prematurely due to malnutrition. Momo had a twin brother, but that poor little guy was breathless at birth, swiftly taken away by the nurse for cremation.


    In the end, all that was handed to her was a small box of ashes, which she buried with a heavy heart.


    Momo was the younger brother and was frail from the start, with a problematic heart valve. To treat Momo''s illness, Lin Qi racked up a mountain of debt, which took two years to pay off.


    Only when he turned three, did Momo''s health finally come up to par with children of his age.


    To support Momo, she juggled multiple jobs. Forced by her father to drop out of school and marry into the Huo Family, which interrupted her education, she had no chance to seek a better job, nor provide Momo with the most comfortable life.


    Momo was often pointed at and called a bastard, yet he seldom inquired about his biological father. Lin Qi vaguely remembered him asking where his Daddy was.


    Caught off guard, Lin Qi didn''t know how to respond, yet Momo seemed to understand by watching her expression, and since then, he hadn''t asked again.


    Heavy-hearted, Lin Qi had just stepped out of the building when two dark figures rushed towards her; before she had a chance to get a clear look at the people by her side, her mouth and nose were covered, and she was dragged into a car.


    Suddenly, a strong wind started to blow outside.


    Causing windows and doors to rattle loudly.


    Momo suddenly woke up.


    "Mommy?"


    The pitch-black room was empty.


    Momo climbed out of bed and walked around the room but did not see Lin Qi anywhere. He went downstairs along the corridor, and under the moonlight, at the entrance of the building, he found Lin Qi''s fallen hair clip, picked it up, and a sense of foreboding rose in his chest.


    Something bad happened, Mommy was kidnapped!


    Huo Mansion, the study.


    The rain outside the window drizzled incessantly.


    Huo Tingdong stood by the window; even though the wind was tousling his ink-colored short hair, it still couldn''t diminish his handsomeness by half.


    An adorable Little Baby held his teddy bear and wore a cute little suit, gazing blankly at the man''s silhouette.


    Little Baby shares a striking resemblance with Huo Tingdong, as if carved from the same mold, innocent and adorable.


    Huo Tingdong walked towards Little Baby, gently tugged at his little hand, "Han, what are you thinking about?"


    Han tilted his head, blinking, his eyes vacant and ethereal.


    At seven years old, Han still hadn''t spoken a word.


    There were rumors outside that Huo Tingdong, the favored son of heaven, had fathered an imbecile.


    Three years ago, his men brought Han back from the orphanage, and after a paternity test, confirmed this child was his flesh and blood.


    His men said the child might have been born with an intellectual disability, frail and sickly, abandoned at birth, later sent to the orphanage.


    According to the timeline, Huo Tingdong was sure that this child was born to that woman.


    Lin Qi!


    She had deceived him, secretly getting pregnant and giving birth to a child, but she abandoned him because of his intellectual disability, responsible for giving birth but not raising him!


    When Han was brought back to the Huo Family from the orphanage, he was as thin as a rail, having suffered untold hardships.


    Now, he had the urge to grind that woman to ashes.


    Footsteps approached from outside.


    "Mr. Huo, the person has been brought here."


    Huo Tingdong turned and strode forward.


    The man crossed the broad corridor until he stopped in front of a door.


    From within, a woman''s angry voice could be heard.


    "Who are you people?! Where is this place?"


    "Miss Lin, please calm down..."


    "Don''t touch me!!"


    "Crash"¡ª¡ª


    The sound of porcelain shattering.


    Huo Tingdong forcefully pushed the door wide open.


    In the room, Lin Qi stood guard against the wall, her gaze turned sharply towards the man upon hearing the commotion, but after a mere glance, she froze.


    ¡ª¡ªHuo Tingdong!?


    The man stood at the door, clad in a dark suit, his figure tall and impeccable.


    His chiseled, handsome features hadn''t changed in seven years, and within his cold eyes, there lay a hint of ancient severity.


    Such a divinely handsome man emanated an aura of long-held authority.


    "How is it you!?" Lin Qi looked around, "Where is this place?"


    Huo Tingdong had no wish to waste time with her and got straight to the point, "You secretly carried and bore my child but failed to raise him, you deserve to die!"


    Lin Qi''s heartbeat skipped several beats, but she instinctively feigned ignorance, "Child, what child?" She was instantly flustered.


    When Huo Tingdong mentioned the child, could it be... he had discovered about Momo?


    After all, the Huo Family''s influence in Beijing reached everywhere, and hiding Momo these past few years had been an arduous task.


    Huo Tingdong turned to instruct his assistant: "Give her the document."


    The assistant stepped forward and handed a medical report to Lin Qi for review.


    Lin Qi glanced at it, and there on the report, a line was highlighted and circled in red: "A history of pregnancy."


    She had not expected the medical report attached to her job application to contain such a result...


    Huo Tingdong said, "Lin Qi, do you still want to argue?"


    Lin Qi bit her lip.


    Huo Tingdong furious, "I''ll give you one minute, give me an explanation!"

 Chapter 4: The Young Master of the Huo Family is Actually Intellectually Disabled

    Chapter 4: Chapter 4: The Young Master of the Huo Family is Actually Intellectually Disabled


    Lin Qi nervously denied, "I''ve never given birth to a child."


    The man''s cold eyes narrowed, "Are you still trying to play dumb with me?"


    Lin Qi said, "Huo Tingdong, if I say I haven''t given birth, then I haven''t. You tied me up here to ask for a child, there are plenty of women who would line up to have your child! Why come after me?"


    Huo Tingdong had little patience for this back-and-forth.


    He coldly ordered, "Everyone, leave."


    Everyone exited together.


    The door closed behind him.


    Huo Tingdong''s gaze once again fell on her, the daunting aura exuding from him was suffocating even from several meters away.


    Lin Qi, even more vigilant, took a half step back, pressing herself against the wall.


    Huo Tingdong questioned while scanning her body, "Did you have a natural birth, or a cesarean section?"


    Lin Qi nervously gasped, "I don''t understand what you''re talking about..."


    Suddenly, Huo Tingdong walked towards her, "Whether you''ve given birth or not, a check will reveal the truth."


    The man''s intimidating presence at a height of 1.92 meters.


    As he glanced at her, inching closer step by step, her spine stiffened.


    Each step forward made her retreat towards the bedside, but with nowhere else to go, she fell onto the bed.


    In no time, the man had reached the bedside, grabbed her chin, and demanded coldly, "This is your last chance, clarify the matter about the child, and I will let you go."


    He was too close to her.


    So close that, with a faint inhale, she could smell his distinctive light fragrance.


    Lin Qi suddenly felt a pressing threat.


    Huo Tingdong must have looked into her background, discovered she hadn''t remarried, and perhaps, even found out about Momo, but she wasn''t sure, dare not mention Momo, lest she inadvertently confess?


    She couldn''t explain Momo''s origin at all and clung to a sliver of hope, saying, "I''ve said I haven''t given birth, so I haven''t!"


    "Not talking, huh?" The man''s tall frame had already closed in, suddenly grabbing her hands and pinning them behind her back.


    "Ouch... Huo Tingdong, let go!" As the man stared at her abdomen in a daze, Lin Qi bit his neck fiercely out of desperation.


    Huo Tingdong staggered back in pain.


    Lin Qi struggled to turn around, intending to jump off the bed, but the man reacted more swiftly, grabbing her slender legs and pulling her back under him.


    He pinned her down on the bed and coldly warned, "You think you can escape?"


    Lin Qi forcefully struggled, her little hands beat against his immovable body, but it was as ineffective as tickling.


    He didn''t budge an inch.


    Lin Qi screamed in fear, "What are you doing!?"


    "Whether you''ve given birth or not, a check will reveal the truth."


    Huo Tingdong''s large hand tore her clothes, revealing her flat and smooth lower abdomen.


    Lin Qi cried out in shame, "Huo Tingdong, you''re insane!" She felt a humiliating violation.


    However, Huo Tingdong ignored her struggles, his gaze meticulously scanning her stomach until it paused on a seam that looked like a cesarean section scar.


    His fingertip gently brushed over the scar.


    Even though the scar was almost fading away, his sharp observation instincts immediately made him suspicious, his eyes filled with inquiry, "What is this?"


    Lin Qi hurriedly said, "...This is a surgical scar from an operation."


    Huo Tingdong squinted, "Cesarean section?"


    Lin Qi explained, "It''s a scar from an appendicitis surgery."


    Clearly, this explanation did not alleviate his doubts.


    Huo Tingdong insisted on further tests, she frantically grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him viciously, cursing fiercely: "Bastard!! Huo Tingdong, you big bastard!"


    The pillow flew towards him.


    Huo Tingdong easily dodged it.


    The pillow knocked over a crystal vase worth 800,000 behind him, shattering it to pieces.


    Lin Qi gritted her teeth and said, "Are you sick in the head?! What exactly do you want to do?"


    Huo Tingdong''s expression froze: "You dare to curse me?"


    Lin Qi saw the torn clothes, which were the parent-child outfits for her and Momo. She was extremely heartbroken and furious. She slapped him across the face with a loud "smack": "What about it if I curse you? Psychopath! Bastard!"


    Meanwhile, just as the doctor, butler, and bodyguard rushed in from outside upon hearing the commotion, they heard Lin Qi continuously cursing Huo Tingdong and all took a sharp intake of breath, covering their mouths in shock!


    This woman, she actually dared to slap Mr. Huo?!


    The man''s eyebrows slightly furrowed, his big hand caressing the area she had slapped, a touch of anger quietly brewing in his phoenix eyes.


    He turned around, saw the starstruck crowd, and his gaze grew even colder.


    The people immediately lowered their heads, no longer daring to meet his eyes.


    Huo Tingdong said: "Bring the child over!"


    Five minutes later, Han was brought over by the nanny.


    Upon seeing Han, Lin Qi was stunned.


    The little guy and Huo Tingdong were like they were cut from the same mold.


    This was Huo Tingdong''s child?


    Had he fathered this child with another woman?


    Seeing Lin Qi dazed with a confused expression, Huo Tingdong demanded: "The child that you gave birth to, don''t you recognize him?"


    Lin Qi exclaimed in shock, "My child?"


    Huo Tingdong pressed: "Are you saying you don''t recognize him, or because Han was born with an intellectual disability, you don''t want to acknowledge him? You just give birth and refuse to take responsibility, is that it?"


    Lin Qi said: "I am not that kind of vile woman! If this were my child, I wouldn''t refuse to acknowledge him just because of his intellectual disability!"


    She had only ever given birth to two children, the eldest boy died young, the younger was named Lin Jinmo. They had relied on each other for so many years.


    But she had to strictly guard the secret of Momo''s parentage.


    Holding Han, Huo Tingdong demanded: "Then how do you explain this point about the pregnancy history?"


    Lin Qi hurriedly said, "I really haven''t had any children!" At least, this child was definitely not born to her.


    Huo Tingdong didn''t want to waste any more words on her and ordered his subordinate, "Take her blood, do a paternity test!"


    After speaking, he turned holding Han and left.


    "Huo Tingdong!" Lin Qi chased to the door, but was restrained by the bodyguard. She struggled for a moment and gritted her teeth, "This is illegal detention! I can sue you!"


    Beside her, the bodyguard sneered, "Miss Lin, save it, do you want to sue until you bankrupt yourself?"


    Suing Huo Tingdong would really end up bankrupting her!


    Lin Qi felt a bit desolate!


    Outside the door, two doctors walked in.


    Lin Qi was quickly pinned down on the bed, the doctors came over, tied a rubber band around her arm, and prepared to draw blood.


    Lin Qi watched the sterilized needle slowly pierce into her skin, her blood continuously drawn into the collection tube, she watched helplessly as her blood was taken away, unable to resist.


    In the cozy children''s room.


    The nanny gently lifted Han onto the bed and covered him with a blanket.


    Huo Tingdong stood at the door, behind him, a bodyguard came over and told the man, "Mr. Huo, the doctors have drawn the blood, it''s now been sent for analysis, the results should be out in about three days."

 Chapter 5: Blood Draw for Paternity Testing

    Chapter 5: Chapter 5: Blood Draw for Paternity Testing


    It takes three days to get the result.


    Huo Tingdong clearly doesn''t have that much patience, "I can give you at most one day."


    "Yes, we will do it as quickly as possible."


    Huo Tingdong said, "You may leave now."


    "Yes."


    Han lies on the bed, his innocent eyes blinking gently, suddenly stretching out his hand towards Huo Tingdong, asking Daddy to hold him.


    Huo Tingdong walks to the bedside, bends down, and holds Han in his arms.


    The nanny teased, "Han loves Daddy the most, he''s closest to Daddy." Han never likes anyone else holding him, except for Huo Tingdong.


    "Han, give Daddy a kiss." Huo Tingdong lowers his head, bringing his face close to Han''s mouth.


    "Muah" came the sound.


    Han kissed his face.


    Huo Tingdong gently kissed his forehead, a tenderness passing through his eyes that he never showed in front of others.


    Everyone in the Huo Family felt that Han had a deficiency in intelligence; after all, he was seven and still couldn''t speak. There must be a problem with his IQ.


    But Huo Tingdong believed that since the child was born, being his flesh and blood, he must take responsibility.


    "Han, how about you sleep good?" Huo Tingdong coaxed.


    Han nodded his head.


    After Huo Tingdong coaxed him to sleep, he walked to the door, saw Han close his eyes, turned off the light, and left the room.


    ...


    Dawn.


    The light of dawn was faintly visible in the sky.


    Inside the room, Lin Qi weakly pounded on the door.


    "Open the door! Someone open the door!!"


    The room''s door was locked from the outside.


    Lin Qi tried to break the lock, yet the lock was very strong. She kicked the door, but the door panel was even sturdier than the lock.


    She persistently went to the window, pushed it open, and saw the room was on the fourth floor. The height of over a dozen meters was daunting.


    A voice from outside the door came from the servants, "Miss Lin, save your energy. Unless you explain the matter of the child, Mr. Huo won''t let you go!"


    Lin Qi was somewhat exasperated.


    What did they want her to explain? Explain what?


    She remembered the Han that Huo Tingdong held in his arms.


    Back then, when Huo Tingdong was bedridden in a vegetative state, the Huo Family arranged for her to have three IVF surgeries to ensure their lineage. Seeing that her stomach showed no signs of pregnancy, Old Madam Huo certainly wouldn''t give up and wouldn''t waste all her efforts on her.


    Perhaps Han was the child of another woman Old Madam Huo found for Huo Tingdong. After all, Old Madam Huo would not resign to the Huo Family lineage ending on her watch.


    But now they pinned it on her.


    If he were her son, even if he were mentally weak, he would still be her precious child, and she would never abandon him!


    Now, with Huo Tingdong confining her here, unable to leave, what about Momo who was alone at home?


    Lin Qi was frantic with worry, exhausted, and drained both physically and mentally.


    Unknowingly, she had endured a whole night until dawn.


    Footsteps came from outside.


    Lin Qi rushed to the door, knocking on it urgently, "Is someone there?"


    The door opened.


    Lin Qi looked closely at the person at the door and was startled, "Old Madam Huo?"


    The nanny supported Old Madam Huo, who slowly walked in.


    Two bodyguards blocked the door and coldly glared at Lin Qi, as if silently warning her not to attempt to escape.


    Lin Qi felt like a prisoner under strict supervision.


    "Lin Qi, it''s been seven years, and you haven''t changed a bit!" Old Madam Huo sat down by the bed.


    Lin Qi said, "Old Madam..."


    Old Madam Huo asked, "The Huo Family has treated you well. Tell me the truth, the in-vitro fertilization surgery I arranged for you years ago, did you actually get pregnant?"


    Lin Qi gritted her teeth, shaking her head, "No... really no..." She couldn''t admit it, otherwise, how could she ever win the custody battle for Momo against the Huo Family?


    Old Madam Huo said, "Three years ago, one of Tingdong''s men brought Han back from the orphanage. This child looks exactly like Tingdong, it''s a pity that Han seems to be intellectually deficient. The doctors suspect it''s due to malnutrition during pregnancy which led to an underdeveloped cerebellum."


    Suddenly, she narrowed her eyes, piercing Lin Qi with her gaze, "Don''t think I don''t know what you''re plotting. Seven years ago, did you think Tingdong would never wake up again, planning to use his son to inherit his wealth? And when the child was born with intellectual deficiencies, you abandoned him, didn''t you?"


    Lin Qi said, "There''s no need for Old Madam to speculate, I don''t have such vicious thoughts. If it''s my child, I will certainly acknowledge him."


    "That would be for the best! I heard that Tingdong drew your blood for a paternity test. Let''s see how you''ll argue when the results come out! If Tingdong finds out you abandoned your child, he won''t let you off lightly!"


    The Old Madam stood up to leave, and Lin Qi queried, "When can I go?"


    "We''ll talk once the facts are clear!"


    Old Madam Huo left the room.


    Lin Qi was anxious, watching the door close, and collapsed onto the bed.


    ...


    "Wikipedia¡ªHuo Tingdong, CEO of Huace Group."


    Information about Huo Tingdong on Wikipedia was scant¡ªa brief one-liner, exceedingly concise.


    The Huo Family, the dynasty that monopolized the lifelines of China''s economy, has always been the country''s most mysterious wealthy family.


    There was very little information about Huo Tingdong online, not even a photo.


    Momo tilted his head, rhythmically tapping his fingertips on the desk, a hint of doubt flashing across his eyes.


    He had set up surveillance around the neighborhood and saw through the footage that Mommy was dragged into a car and taken away.


    Through the license plate number, he found out that the car belonged to the Huace Group.


    Huace...


    Huo Tingdong.


    He was certain now that it was Huo Tingdong''s people who had kidnapped Mommy.


    But what were his intentions?


    Mommy had no money; could it be that this Huo Tingdong was another dirty old man coveting her beauty?


    Momo suddenly became nervous.


    The doorbell rang suddenly.


    Momo walked to the door and cautiously asked, "Who is it?"


    "Momo, it''s me," a woman''s gentle voice came from outside.


    Momo recognized the voice¡ªit was Mommy''s close friend, Bai Yan.


    He opened the door, and Bai Yan walked in, puzzled, "Momo, hasn''t your mommy woken up yet? She had arranged to go with me for a job interview today..."


    Momo suddenly grabbed Bai Yan''s hand, "Auntie Bai Yan, take me to Huace Group!"


    Bai Yan was startled, "What happened?"


    Momo said, "Mommy has been kidnapped by Huace!"


    ...


    Huace Group.


    Bai Yan held Momo''s hand, standing at the front desk, her mind full of doubts.


    She couldn''t believe she was taking the word of a seven-year-old child seriously.


    Bai Yan couldn''t figure out how Lin Qi could be involved with the CEO of Huace. Though little was known about Huo Tingdong, the CEO of Huace, with his billions in assets, surely couldn''t be a kidnapper?


    But in Bai Yan''s heart, Momo was a genius.


    It was because of Momo that Lin Qi and Bai Yan had become acquainted.


    Bai Yan used to be the nanny at the kindergarten Momo attended. Over time, she became acquainted with Lin Qi and they became close friends.


    Even though Momo always acted cute and dumb in front of Lin Qi, just like any other six or seven-year-old child, never showing off, Bai Yan inadvertently discovered the extraordinary talent of this Little Baby.


    Bai Yan knew of Momo''s other identity: not even seven years old, yet he was already the youngest member of Mensa International, code name MIO!

 Chapter 6: She Dares to Cheat on Him?

    Chapter 6: Chapter 6: She Dares to Cheat on Him?


    This club is known as the world''s top high IQ club, and a high IQ is the only membership criterion.


    Among the club members, Momo has the highest IQ but is the youngest.


    Momo sits on the sofa, holding a handheld computer in one hand and typing on the keyboard with the other, fingers flying as he inputs commands. Using the Quella virus he developed, he swiftly breaches Huace''s system to retrieve Huo Tingdong''s itinerary.


    At the reception, Bai Yan is still arguing with the front desk staff.


    With a deathly pale face, the front desk manager says, "Mr. Huo isn''t someone you can just meet because you want to! If you don''t leave now, I''ll call security!"


    Several security guards approach, ready to escort Bai Yan away, when a childish voice calls out.


    "Don''t touch her!"


    Everyone looks toward the source of the voice.


    Momo stands with hands clasped behind his back, like an elegant little gentleman. His glassy eyes are indifferent but filled with an intense threat: "Bring Huo Tingdong to see me within ten minutes."


    The manager sneers, "Who''s this brat? Daring to call the president by name¡ªso ill-mannered!"


    Momo''s eyes narrow slightly, "Shut up, it''s not your place to judge me."


    The manager points at Momo, "Throw this brat out too!"


    The bodyguards move toward Momo.


    But Momo shows no signs of panic, just a faint smile and raises three fingers.


    "Three..."


    Momo starts counting down unexpectedly.


    The crowd watches him skeptically.


    "Two..."


    Momo suddenly snaps his fingers, raises an eyebrow lightly and says, "One!"


    BOOM!


    A row of computers at the front desk emits a harsh discordant sound.


    "Ah!"


    A scream comes from the front desk.


    Turning around, the manager sees several secretaries frantically trying to control the system, their faces deathly pale.


    "What''s happened?"


    "Our system has crashed!"


    The secretaries stare at the dialogue boxes that keep popping up on their screens¡ªthe entire system has completely collapsed.


    "A virus! It''s a virus!"


    "A hacker has attacked the company''s network!"


    Following that¡ª


    The screen''s homepage displays an animated page with a little pig wagging its round butt at the screen.


    ...


    Huo Tingdong has just left the meeting room when he receives a notification from his subordinates.


    Huace''s local protection network has been breached by a seven-year-old, now all of Huace''s mainframes are occupied by a twerking little pig, leaving the work network paralyzed.


    His assistant approaches and says to Huo Tingdong, "The child who breached the company''s system is named Lin Xiaomo. He''s been brought to the reception room, Mr. Huo, do you want to meet him?"


    Huo Tingdong snorts, his face turns ashen with indignation, and his icy eyes seem as though they could kill.


    The entire security network of Huace was built by top-level programmers and cost tens of millions.


    Now that it has been breached and merely rebuilding the system will amount to a loss of tens of millions.


    The culprit, a seven-year-old child?


    Just as Huo Tingdong pushes open the door.


    Little Baby is sitting on the couch, with a snow-white and charming side profile, delicate and good-looking.


    Momo turns his face, his gaze steadily falls on Huo Tingdong, he smiles coyly, a refined curve around his lips, showing a slight disdain.


    For a moment, Huo Tingdong almost sees a mini version of Lin Qi.


    Little Baby, looking no more than six or seven, is dressed very plainly, but every move he makes exudes the demeanor of a noble young gentleman.


    His features are very much like Lin Qi''s, but his expressions and micro-expressions are incredibly similar to Huo Tingdong''s.


    Bai Yan is sitting aside, becoming rather restrained upon seeing Huo Tingdong.


    Momo lifts his flawless little face, and upon seeing Huo Tingdong, freezes for a few seconds.


    He''d thought Huo Tingdong would be an old and portly lecher, but he turned out to be incredibly young and handsome.


    But no matter what, the priority is to snatch Mommy back.


    Momo says coldly, "Huo Tingdong, hand over my mommy right now!"


    Little Baby''s lips clearly curl into a smile, his face seems to be laughing, but there''s a disdainful coldness in his eyes.


    Huo Tingdong''s eyebrows furrow, "Who is your mommy?"


    "Lin Qi," Momo demands. "Is she with you?"


    Hearing the name Lin Qi, Huo Tingdong''s lips curve in an ambiguous smile.


    Lin Qi actually had a son?


    She insisted she never had a son, but isn''t this Little Baby the living proof?


    She dared to deceive him.


    Huo Tingdong sits down opposite Momo, his long legs elegantly crossed, his slender fingers brushing his lips, testing the waters, "So you''re certain she''s with me?"


    Bai Yan feels somewhat guilty, tugging at Momo''s sleeve gently, "Momo, could you be mistaken?"


    This is Huo Tingdong, after all!


    China''s most honorable man, how could he possibly be a kidnapper?


    Momo says, "Huo Tingdong, if I dare to ask you for her, I''m sure she''s with you. So, either hand over my mommy to me or..."


    "Or what?" Huo Tingdong interrupts him.


    Momo responds, "Don''t force me to act, or you''re going to lose very badly!"


    Huo Tingdong laughs lightly, "Are you threatening me?"


    He''s actually being threatened by a seven-year-old brat.


    Assistant Mo Ke walks over and whispers to Huo Tingdong, "Mr. Huo, we''ve found out."


    He hands a file to Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong unfolds the document, and as his capable assistant, it took just one day to find out everything there is to know about Lin Qi.


    All information on mother and son has been compiled and is clear at a glance.


    Huo Tingdong flips through it, from Lin Qi''s family background to her pregnancy records, to Lin Xiaomo''s birth records, it''s all there.


    According to the files, Lin Qi was pregnant with twins, but obscured the father''s identity at the prenatal checkup, listing a stranger''s name.


    The same man signed for her surgery when she gave birth.


    Lu Li.


    Could this man be the child''s biological father?


    This key piece of information quickly catches Huo Tingdong''s attention.


    He scrutinizes every keyword of this woman''s life.


    Twins, private clinic, premature birth, one child died young...


    Two children, but only one survived?


    Could it be...


    This damned woman cuckolded him? When he was still unconscious with serious injuries, did she have the audacity, under the guise of "Mrs. Huo," to commit adultery with another man?


    Huo Tingdong''s inquisitive gaze settles on Momo, searching the little boy''s features for clues.


    They say boys often resemble their mothers, and this has always been evident in Momo¡ªwhile he has yet to grow up, one can tell at a glance that Little Baby is an exact replica of Lin Qi, besides this, no other clues can be found.


    This child is the undeniable evidence of Lin Qi''s infidelity.


    Regardless of his unrecognized marriage to Lin Qi, she was once his wife in name, and just the thought of her cheating as the daughter-in-law of the Huo Family incenses Huo Tingdong.


    She''s got some nerve to cuckold him.

 Chapter 7 - 7 The Conclusive Evidence That She Had Given Birth

    Chapter 7: Chapter 7 The Conclusive Evidence That She Had Given Birth


    Momo saw Huo Tingdong holding a stack of documents, his expression growing increasingly grim, and he urged, "Can you give me back my Mommy first?"


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, "Don''t you want to see your Mommy?"


    Momo nodded, "Yeah."


    "Alright." Huo Tingdong''s lips curled into a bleak arc, "I''ll take you to see her right now!"


    Huo Tingdong stood up, scooping Momo into his arms with one hand.


    Bai Yan saw the man''s unstoppable aura and began to worry about Momo''s safety. She immediately stood in front of Huo Tingdong with her arms outstretched, "What are you doing? Where are you taking Momo?"


    Huo Tingdong glanced at her coldly and said in a chilly voice, "Please have this lady leave Huace."


    Immediately, two bodyguards rushed in from outside, one on each side, lifting Bai Yan up.


    Bai Yan was somewhat panic-stricken, "What... what do you want to do?"


    Momo said coldly, "Be gentle with Aunt Bai Yan! Otherwise, I will hack Huace''s security system every time you repair it!"


    The bodyguards hesitated, looking towards Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong looked down at Little Baby, who was clearly adorable and tender, still finding it hard to believe that the collapse of Huace''s defense network was his doing, "Did you really hack Huace''s security network?"


    Momo said, "The virus code Quella that attacked the Huace network was written by me. Even if you spend a fortune to repair and maintain it, the virus will still linger in the deep web of the system, and I can activate it at any time!"


    After pausing, Momo smiled elegantly, "However, as long as you give me back my Mommy, I can permanently seal the virus."


    Quella!


    Those in the internet industry surely had heard of the Quella virus.


    A few months ago, Quella swept through Wall Street, infecting hundreds of thousands of computers in just three days and causing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses.


    Quella destroyed host systems, executing malicious code, and within three days, countless customer data was wiped out. Wall Street suffered unprecedented losses in one week, yet the virus miraculously disappeared without a trace.


    Hackers all over the world were guessing who could be the brilliant hacker behind such a powerful virus.


    Huo Tingdong simply couldn''t believe that the creator of this virus code was a seven-year-old child.


    Beside him, Mo Ke spoke in a low voice, "We''ve had engineers working on it, indeed it''s the Quella virus. They are all at a loss, and the entire Huace is paralyzed..."


    "Believe it or not, anyway, I do what I say! As long as you return my Mommy safe and sound, or else, hmph!" Momo snorted provocatively.


    Huo Tingdong smirked, "Don''t you just want to see your Mommy? Alright, I agree."


    Huo Family.


    Lin Qi lay on the bed, drowsy.


    Suddenly, heavy footsteps came from outside.


    "Mr. Huo, you''re back!"


    "Mr. Huo, the child you''re holding is..."


    The door was suddenly pushed open with force.


    Lin Qi jolted awake, sitting up from the bed in shock, looking towards the door. However, seeing Momo in Huo Tingdong''s arms, her face instantly turned pale.


    "Momo..."


    "Mommy!" Momo''s eyes reddened the moment he saw her, but seeing that she was safe and unharmed, he was somewhat relieved.


    Lin Qi was terrified, thinking Huo Tingdong was going to do something to Momo, "Huo Tingdong! What are you doing!" She excitedly rolled out of bed, too rushed to wear shoes, and ran barefoot towards him, trying to snatch Momo away.


    Huo Tingdong slightly turned his body aside, and she lunged into the void.


    "Lin Qi, you haven''t explained clearly about the child," he looked down at her from a superior position, his eyes slightly narrowed, "Didn''t you say you never had a child?"


    After speaking, his gaze fell on Momo''s face. He raised his hand, and his slender fingers gently brushed Little Baby''s cheek, "Whose child is he?"


    Lin Qi''s lips trembled violently as she nervously watched Momo.


    She thought that Huo Tingdong had figured everything out and didn''t know how to make an excuse.


    What would he do if he knew the truth?


    Would he hate her for conceiving his flesh and blood but hiding it from the Huo Family?


    She failed to save the other child who died prematurely; she always felt guilty in her heart. So, she gave all her love to Momo.


    If Huo Tingdong took Momo''s custody away, she wouldn''t even have the ability to fight for it in court.


    Just as Lin Qi''s face turned red and she was speechless, Huo Tingdong coldly said, "What? Can''t come up with a lie?"


    Lin Qi said, "I..."


    "The father''s column on the birth certificate is filled with Lu Li''s name. What is your relationship with this man?" Huo Tingdong pressed on further.


    Lin Qi''s mind buzzed.


    At that time, she had to create a record when she was pregnant, which involved strict scrutiny. Therefore, she had her senior, Lu Li, sign on her behalf.


    Immediately after, Huo Tingdong questioned, "Is this child the spawn of you and that bastard?"


    Lin Qi was stunned on the spot.


    Momo looked at Huo Tingdong, then at Lin Qi.


    He was more astute than children his age, even more than adults, and immediately realized something, saying to Huo Tingdong: "You''re not my biological father anyway, you have no right to inquire about my origins!"


    Lin Qi covered her mouth instinctively, wanting to explain, but then thought, if she explained Momo''s origins, the custody would surely be taken away by the Huo Family!


    She would rather bear the stigma of "infidelity" than to watch Momo be taken away from her.


    Lin Qi bit her lip and said, "Anyway, he''s not your son!"


    The man''s icy voice hovered above her head: "So, you actually dared to betray me?"


    Lin Qi looked up with a pale face, instinctively trying to grab Momo.


    Momo lunged into her arms, and Lin Qi hugged him tightly, trembling as she looked at Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong spoke angrily, "Back then, when I was seriously injured and in a coma, you were willing to marry a vegetable. Was it because you coveted the Huo family''s wealth? Are you trying to use this child to pretend to be my flesh and blood and inherit my fortune?!"


    Lin Qi said, "I''ve never had such intentions! Don''t project your pettiness onto others! Huo Tingdong, we are divorced. Whichever man I have a child with is none of your business!"


    She looked at Momo and said, "This child was an accident, it was me and Lu Li... a beautiful accident!" She was someone who never lied; her face would turn red whenever she did.


    However, to Huo Tingdong, it seemed like she was just feeling guilty and trembling!


    "A beautiful accident?" Huo Tingdong sneered, "You speak of infidelity as if it''s something honorable!"


    Lin Qi said, "Huo Tingdong, our marriage was in name only. Since we''re divorced, let''s not disturb each other, okay? I have nothing to say to you."


    Huo Tingdong''s expression grew frosty as he coldly asked, "So, what about Han? Is that child really yours?"


    Lin Qi said, "I only have one child, Momo. I''ve never given birth to any other child."


    Huo Tingdong said, "Lin Qi, how many truths are in your words? You keep saying you didn''t deceive me, yet your mouth is full of lies!" He naturally wouldn''t easily believe Lin Qi''s words, "I have already ordered a paternity test. The results will come out by tomorrow at the latest. If I find out that Han is your child and you abandoned him, you deserve to die."

 Chapter 8 - 8 Han, Can I Hug You?

    Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Han, Can I Hug You?


    Tingdong was angry.


    He was convinced that Han was Lin Qi''s child. Seeing her being so protective of Momo but abandoning Han without a care, he increasingly found this woman despicable.


    The man turned to leave.


    Lin Qi stood up, chasing to the door, "Tingdong, when will you let me go?"


    "Until the truth about Han''s origins is clear, you are not allowed to leave this place!" Tingdong said, and then the door slammed shut.


    Lin Qi held Momo and slumped onto the bed, exhaling the stifled air in her chest, her shoulders trembling.


    Momo could see her panic earlier.


    "Mommy, what''s wrong?" His little hand gently rubbed her pale face, "Mommy, don''t be scared, Momo will protect Mommy!"


    Lin Qi said, "Momo, did that uncle scare you?"


    Momo shook his head, "Momo is not scared of that uncle."


    Lin Qi asked, "Momo, you''re not scared?"


    Momo smiled, his eyes curving like crescents, "Why should Mommy be afraid of that uncle? Did that uncle bully Mommy?"


    Lin Qi guiltily said, "Because Mommy has a very important treasure, and I''m afraid that uncle would snatch it away."


    Momo, listening to this, rubbed Lin Qi''s hair gently, saying tenderly, "Don''t be scared, Mommy. Momo is here!"


    For some reason, Momo''s smile gave a great sense of security.


    Lin Qi, heart aching, cuddled Momo''s cheeks, her suspended heart finally falling.


    She had stayed up all night, worried about Momo, but now seeing Momo all well, she finally felt relieved and lay down with Momo in bed, falling asleep.


    The sleep lasted long into the night until it was dark.


    Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.


    "Miss Lin, Miss Lin are you awake?"


    Lin Qi startled awake, sitting up from the bed.


    She looked around and saw Momo sitting at the foot of the bed, seemingly watching over her.


    Lin Qi felt a bit reassured and immediately replied: "I''m awake."


    "Are you hungry? Dinner is ready in the kitchen, let''s go downstairs and eat something."


    Lin Qi touched her flat stomach, asked Momo, "Momo, are you hungry?"


    Momo nodded his head.


    Lin Qi smiled, "Then shall Mommy take you to eat something good?"


    Momo nodded again.


    Lin Qi took Momo''s hand and walked to the door; the door opened.


    The Huo family has four dining rooms.


    One is a banquet hall, one is a large dining room, one is a small western dining room, and one more is a little dining room for the servants.


    Lin Qi and Momo had a filling meal in the small dining room.


    Momo sullenly said, "Who made these dishes? They are not as delicious as the ones I make." He was obviously disdainful.


    Lin Qi said, "The master chef of the Huo Family made these, they should be nice, but the meals we got are what the servants eat, so the taste might not meet expectations. Momo, be good, tomorrow Mommy will be able to take you home."


    Why would Tingdong treat her as a guest now? In his eyes, she is probably a criminal, a "suspect" who gave birth to his baby and then abandoned it!


    Momo nodded obediently.


    After dinner, Lin Qi picked up Momo, preparing to go upstairs, a servant came by, mockingly said: "Oh, thinking you are a guest, huh? Wash your own dishes!"


    Lin Qi was stunned.


    The Huo family has servants responsible for washing dishes, and there is also a dishwasher.


    The servant was clearly making things difficult for her on purpose.


    The servant said, "Are you some pampered young lady who can''t bear to lift a finger? Must people wait on you? Hurry up and wash the dirty dishes you''ve used."


    Momo frowned, angered by the commanding attitude of the servant.


    But Lin Qi, adhering to the principle of doing her own work, took the dishes she and Momo had used to the kitchen.


    Is it just a few broken dishes?


    As soon as she arrived in the kitchen, the servant followed closely behind and pointed to a pile of dirty dishes, "While you''re at it, wash these too."


    Upon hearing this, even Lin Qi, who was usually patient, could no longer bear it, "Why should I?"


    The servant replied impatiently, "Where are all these ''whys'' coming from?"


    Lin Qi fiercely threw the dishes into the sink, "I won''t wash them!"


    Even if it were Tingdong himself who ordered her, she would not tolerate it.


    "You¡ª!" The servant lunged over, and seeing that the dishes were smashed, became furiously angry, "How dare you break the dishes! Do you have any idea how expensive they are?"


    "So what if they''re expensive? If you''ve got the guts, let Tingdong claim compensation from me," Lin Qi said angrily.


    The servant said, "No wonder the Huo Family kicked you out from the beginning! Could Mr. Huo ever fancy a woman like you?"


    Lin Qi ignored her, picked up Momo, and went upstairs, thinking about getting the paternity test done quickly, to reveal the truth, so she could leave the Huo Mansion and not have to suffer this sort of humiliation!


    At the stairwell, a nanny was passing by with Han.


    The two little ones, as if by some telepathic connection, turned their heads at the same time and looked at each other.


    Momo frowned slightly, not knowing why, but this child stirred some emotions in him.


    Han also stared blankly at him and suddenly pointed with his finger, seemingly asking, who is this child.


    Lin Qi, holding Momo, approached Han and smiled, "Hello Han! This is Momo." Han and Momo were the same age, setting aside the elders'' tangled grievances, she hoped that Han and Momo could become good friends.


    Han looked towards Momo.


    Yet Momo bluntly said, "Why are you staring at me?" That''s very rude!


    Han unexpectedly pouted, feeling aggrieved.


    The nanny, annoyed and humiliated, said, "This is the young master of the Huo Family, how dare you speak so insolently! Miss Lin, how do you usually teach your son, to be so ill-mannered!"


    Lin Qi responded, "What''s ill-mannered about my son? He just wants to make friends with Han!"


    The nanny retorted, "Hmph! I think your son is just bullying my young master because he can''t speak at seven, assuming he is mentally challenged, isn''t that so!?"


    Lin Qi also got angry, "Such a lovely child, how could he be mentally challenged? He might not like to talk, but he is definitely not mentally challenged!" Han is, after all, Tingdong''s son.


    Tingdong is a favored man of heaven, and surely his son would inherit his talents and intelligence.


    Han looked towards Lin Qi.


    She said, he just doesn''t like to talk, but he is definitely not mentally challenged.


    This beautiful woman is so gentle!


    Han suddenly remembered a dream he once had.


    In the dream, he saw a gentle woman sitting by his bed, he couldn''t see her face clearly, but he somehow believed that this woman must be his Mommy.


    In a trance, Han looked at Lin Qi and felt that this woman resembled the gentle woman in his dream.


    Seeing Han staring at her, Lin Qi gently smiled, put Momo down, walked up to the nanny, and said to Han, "You are called ''Han,'' right?"


    Han opened his eyes, didn''t speak, nor did he nod, resembling a delicate porcelain doll.


    Lin Qi tentatively asked, "Han, may I give you a hug?"


    Instinctively, Han shrank back, his eyes displaying wariness and rejection; in his gaze was the unease of a lonely child, but Lin Qi could see that there was also a faint longing.


    Lin Qi said, "Han, don''t be afraid, this aunty isn''t a bad person."


    The nanny disdainfully slapped away her hand and snapped, "Don''t touch the young master with your dirty hands! The young master has never liked strangers touching even a finger!"

 Chapter 9 - 9 Who Dares to Call Mommy a Losing Deal

    Chapter 9: Chapter 9 Who Dares to Call Mommy a Losing Deal


    "The nanny had barely finished speaking when Han, under Lin Qi''s tender onslaught, carefully stretched out a little hand.


    Lin Qi remained still, not moving an inch.


    Until that pudgy, soft, adorable little hand gently touched her face.


    Such a young child, perceiving the world around with touch, sensing unfamiliar things.


    Touch, is a way to convey love and tenderness.


    Gradually, Han began to let down his guard around Lin Qi and even reached out his little hands towards her.


    My goodness! He''s willing to let her hold him!


    Lin Qi felt moved, while the nanny looked as if she''d seen a ghost!


    Usually, Han only wanted to be held by Huo Tingdong and disliked anyone else''s touch. She managed to become Han''s nanny because of her vast experience, which allowed her to hold Han.


    As Lin Qi was about to pick Han up, the nanny immediately interjected, "You are not allowed to touch the young master!"


    She reached out to push Lin Qi.


    Little did she know, Lin Qi, holding Han, lost her balance and began to fall backward!


    "Mommy!" Momo cried out in panic.


    Lin Qi tumbled down the stairs.


    Instinctively, she held Han tightly in her arms.


    With a "bang", she hit the wall and came to a stop.


    A group of people rushed to her side. Seeing Lin Qi with a bloody head, yet having kept Han safe and sound, the nanny immediately scooped Han up.


    Momo rushed over and picked Lin Qi up, "Mommy!"


    He looked at Lin Qi, blood streaming down her forehead, and his heart ached unbearably, "Are you alright, Mommy?"


    Lin Qi waved her hand, too dizzy to speak, but still insisted, "I''m fine..."


    Han''s eyes also turned red with distress, his small mouth opened, and a trembling word slipped out: "Pain..."


    The nanny was in a panic, "Han, where does it hurt?"


    She checked Han''s whole body and found no bumps or injuries.


    Just as she was puzzled, Han suddenly pointed towards Lin Qi''s bloody forehead, his delicate eyebrows furrowed, "Pain..." He saw Lin Qi injured, and it pained him as if it pierced his heart.


    The nanny looked at Lin Qi but thought little of it, as long as Han was unharmed, it was fine by her.


    However, belatedly realizing what had happened, the nanny suddenly exclaimed, "Han spoke!"


    "The young master spoke!"


    "Quick, go get the Old Madam! Tell her the young master has finally started to speak! Hurry!"


    The servant hastily went upstairs to inform the Old Madam.


    The nanny turned to the butler, "Quick, call Mr. Huo! Tell him Han can speak now!"


    Her excitement stemmed from the promise made by the Huo Family, that should she take good care of Han, and if Han started to speak, she would receive a generous reward!


    The nanny trembled with excitement.


    ...


    "Mr. Huo, Old Madam Huo has called to say that the young master has finally spoken!" said Mo Ke, holding the phone, his voice filled with excitement.


    After so many years, the young master finally spoke!


    The car stopped in the garage.


    Huo Tingdong strode through the door and headed straight upstairs.


    Han''s bedroom.


    He opened the door and walked in. Old Madam Huo, servants, and the nanny were seated around Han''s bed.


    Han was leaning against the headboard, holding a teddy bear, silent.


    Old Madam Huo was looking worried. Seeing Huo Tingdong return, she immediately stood up to complain: "That Lin Qi, she has really caused a disaster for Han!"


    Huo Tingdong asked, "What happened?"


    Old Madam Huo said, "The nanny claimed that Han was starting to talk, but that woman forcefully tried to hold Han. She lost her balance and fell down the stairs. No one knows where Han bumped or if perhaps he was scared, because he stopped speaking again!"


    Huo Tingdong turned to the nanny, "Han started to talk?"


    The nanny''s eyes darted around as she hastily nodded, "Yes! I teach the young master to speak every day. Just now, the young master really did start talking!" She eagerly took credit.


    Huo Tingdong then asked, "What did he say?"


    The nanny found herself at a loss for words. She bit her lip and fabricated, "The young master said he misses Daddy. He likes Daddy the most..."


    Han looked up at the woman, his dark eyes growing even darker.


    This woman, in eagerness to earn rewards, concocted all kinds of nonsense.


    Huo Tingdong walked to the bed, sat beside it, and took Han into his arms, "Han?"


    Han hung his head low, pressing his lips together, looking sullen.


    "What''s wrong with Han?" Seeing Han''s somewhat angry look, Huo Tingdong gently asked, "Does Han not want Daddy''s hug?"


    Suddenly, Han pointed toward the door.


    Huo Tingdong frowned and holding Han, walked towards the door.


    Old Madam Huo followed closely behind.


    A crowd of people formed around them like stars surrounding the moon.


    At the doorway, Han pointed in another direction.


    The man immediately understood, and holding Han, he went in that direction.


    Until they reached another door.


    Han pointed at it.


    Huo Tingdong instructed the servant, "Open the door."


    The door opened.


    Inside the room.


    Lin Qi lay on the bed, her forehead wound already bandaged.


    Momo stood by the bed. Hearing noise, he turned to look.


    The nanny immediately stepped forward to accuse, "It''s her! She''s the one who caused the young master to fall down the stairs!"


    Lin Qi was stunned.


    "The young master had just started to talk, and we don''t know if he hurt himself falling down the stairs this time..." The nanny pushed all the blame onto Lin Qi, "If because of you, the young master''s head is damaged, how will you bear the responsibility?"


    Lin Qi replied somewhat gloomily, "What do you mean by that?"


    Momo said, "Don''t spew nonsense! If my Mommy hadn''t protected him, she wouldn''t have been hurt so badly!"


    It was Old Madam Huo''s first time seeing Momo, and she was somewhat surprised, "Where did this kid come from?! He''s calling Lin Qi Mommy. Is he Lin Qi''s son?!"


    She scowled, her eyes expressing indignation, "Lin Qi! Explain to me how this child came about!"


    Lin Qi was momentarily speechless.


    Old Madam Huo was so angry she felt choked and pointing at Lin Qi, she became angry from embarrassment, "Lin Qi, don''t tell me this child is some bastard you had with another man! When the Huo Family married you, we paid a hefty price. If you dare cuckold Tingdong, the Huo Family will not let you off lightly!"


    "Grandma." Huo Tingdong interrupted her, "We are already divorced."


    Old Madam Huo said, "Tingdong, you don''t understand! At that time, this woman was your wife! If she cuckolded you, the Huo Family spent so much money marrying this kind of liability, it would be terribly unlucky!"


    Liability...


    Lin Qi''s eyelids twitched.


    In the mouth of Old Madam Huo, she seemed like a mere transaction, without any dignity to speak of.


    Originally, the Lin Family had made an agreement with the Huo Family and received a sum of money from the Huo Family, which then helped them through a business crisis.


    And she... those two years living with the Huo Family were like living neither as human nor ghost...


    Lin Qi felt a sudden pang of sorrow.


    Suddenly, Momo coldly said, "Who dares to say my Mommy is a liability!?"


    He stood protectively in front of Lin Qi, like a little lion in anger, glaring fiercely at Old Madam Huo, "Try bullying my Mommy if you dare!"

 Chapter 10 - 10 Do you want to know who your father is?

    Chapter 10: Chapter 10 Do you want to know who your father is?


    Momo didn''t care for respecting the old and loving the young, anyone who bullied his Mommy was no good in his eyes.


    "Momo..." Lin Qi hugged him with relief, "Don''t stoop to their level."


    Luckily she still had Momo.


    Momo had always been very affectionate towards her, protecting her, like a little angel.


    Old Madam Huo was about to glare again, but Huo Tingdong said coldly, "Get out."


    Old Madam Huo was stunned, "Tingdong?"


    "Everyone out!"


    In the Huo Family, Huo Tingdong''s authority was beyond question.


    Even Old Madam didn''t dare to provoke him lightly.


    She left the room reluctantly.


    The door closed.


    Huo Tingdong carried Han to the bedside.


    Han pointed at Lin Qi.


    Huo Tingdong felt that Han was acting a bit unusually and put him down.


    The moment Little Baby''s feet touched the ground, he walked to the bedside, climbed onto the bed, and tenderly cradled Lin Qi''s face, gently blowing on her bandaged wound, his eyes seemingly asking without words: Does it still hurt?


    Lin Qi seemed to understand his look and immediately broke into a smile, "Han is good, Auntie doesn''t hurt anymore."


    Momo said, "Mommy still acting tough? You lost so much blood, and you say it doesn''t hurt?" then he looked at Han, "Mommy got hurt protecting you."


    When the accident happened, the entire Huo Family was concerned about Han, with not a single person caring for her.


    It was Momo who found the medical kit and bandaged her wound, fortunately not too deep to leave a scar.


    Had it been a fraction off, hitting a vital area... Momo couldn''t even bear to think about it.


    He had personally witnessed Han''s nanny pushing Lin Qi, which made him somewhat angry on behalf of Lin Qi.


    Han twisted his brows with a guilty look as if blaming himself.


    Lin Qi saw this and felt warmth in her heart.


    Who says Han is a mentally challenged child?


    He seems to understand everything.


    "Han, it''s okay, don''t worry."


    Han reached out and hugged Lin Qi, rubbing his little face against her chest before looking up again with his big, clear eyes filled with tenderness.


    Lin Qi felt her heart melting and couldn''t help but reach out to gently pinch his little cheek, "Han is such a good boy, Auntie really doesn''t hurt anymore."


    Huo Tingdong''s gaze became peculiar.


    Han''s show of intimacy with Lin Qi proved that he really liked her.


    Han never got close to anyone.


    The nannies who took care of him were carefully chosen; ordinary people couldn''t get close to him at all.


    Yet, he voluntarily showed intimacy towards Lin Qi.


    Huo Tingdong said, "What did you do to him?"


    Lin Qi frowned, not understanding at first, "What do you mean by that?"


    "How has Han suddenly become so close to you?" Huo Tingdong narrowed his eyes with suspicion, "What sorcery did you use on him?"


    Before his words ended, Momo and Han turned around as if they had a telepathic connection and glared at him in unison, even their glaring eyes were identical as if warning him not to speak rudely to Lin Qi.


    The corners of Huo Tingdong''s mouth stiffened, his tone softened, but it was for Han''s sake, "Han, do you like this Auntie?"


    Han shyly pursed his lips and nodded without hiding his feelings.


    Huo Tingdong had always cherished him deep in his bones.


    Little Baby likes it, he would spare no method to give it to Little Baby.


    "Then is it okay if I leave her by your side?" Huo Tingdong asked tenderly again.


    Suddenly, Momo got nervous and said to Han, "No! Mommy is mine, you can''t steal my mommy."


    "Momo!" Lin Qi touched Momo''s little head, "Mommy won''t leave Momo, but you and Han have to get along well, okay? What did Mommy teach you? You are a little gentleman, you must be polite and also love and help your friends."


    But Momo was reluctant, "But Mommy belongs to me and no one can take her away!" Momo had a very strong possessiveness towards Lin Qi.


    Anyone who dares to steal his mommy, he would treat that person as an enemy!


    Han quickly showed a look of loss.


    Huo Tingdong picked up Han and said to Lin Qi, "You rest well, the paternity test results will come out tomorrow."


    Lin Qi said, "If it proves that he''s not my child, can you let me go then?"


    Huo Tingdong came back to his senses, his deep eyes lingered on her face, and abruptly, he asked coldly, "Do you really hope he''s not your child?"


    Han also looked at her, his eyes flickering, as if he understood, and his expression was somewhat fragile and desolate.


    Lin Qi was at a loss for words: "I..."


    "Enough! How can I expect a woman like you to have any sense of responsibility?" After saying that, Huo Tingdong left with Han.


    Han lay on the man''s shoulder, showing only half of his chubby little face, gazing at Lin Qi, wanting to say more but stopping.


    Until Huo Tingdong walked away holding him, and the door gently closed¡ª


    Momo said, "Mommy, do you like Han but not Momo anymore?"


    Lin Qi laughed, "How could that be? Mommy always loves Momo the most."


    Momo mumbled, "That man said Han is a child born by Mommy, and they need to do a paternity test, is that true?"


    Lin Qi said, "He''s not born by me."


    She struggled for a long time, yet still decided to tell Momo about his own origins.


    "Momo, actually Mommy has never told you, you have a brother."


    Momo''s eyes widened in disbelief, looking at her, "A brother?"


    Lin Qi said, "The doctor said you are twins, it''s just that your brother was born prematurely and did not breathe... he passed away in Mommy''s body..."


    Saying this, Lin Qi''s eyes reddened with pain, "Mommy could only save you."


    "Why did the brother pass away?" Momo didn''t understand.


    Lin Qi said, "The doctor said that Mommy had malnutrition during pregnancy, so... it was a premature birth. You were luckier, Mommy saved you, but you remember, don''t you, that you were not well since you were little."


    Momo nodded, half understanding.


    Lin Qi looked around.


    The Huo Family''s mansion was very big.


    If it weren''t for her selfishness in keeping Momo by her side, Momo could have lived in the best house in China like Han does, leading the most affluent life.


    As a father, Huo Tingdong was not negligent.


    He could be so good to Han, and if he knew Momo was also his flesh and blood, he would definitely love him the same.


    But because of her, Momo was also suffering.


    Lin Qi said, "At dinner, I heard a servant saying that Han goes to the best school in Beijing, Windsor High School."


    Windsor High School is a fifteen-year system of aristocratic school.


    Children enter at the age of three, from kindergarten to high school, they don''t need to take domestic college entrance exams and will directly be admitted to universities abroad.


    Fifteen years of quality education, just the tuition alone is $500,000 a year, and one set of the school uniform costs $50,000.


    Countless talents are cultivated at Windsor High School every year.


    But she could not afford to send Momo to such a good school.


    Lin Qi said with some reluctance, "Momo, there''s something Mommy hasn''t told you. Haven''t you always wanted to know who your real father is?"

 Chapter 11 - 11 Exchange Samples

    Chapter 11: Chapter 11 Exchange Samples


    Momo was taken aback and slightly sensitively said, "That was when I was young and ignorant. Now, I don''t care who my dad is."


    Lin Qi was somewhat surprised, "Why?"


    "Huo Tingdong." Momo suddenly uttered this name, "He is my biological father, right?"


    Lin Qi was astonished, unable to utter a word.


    How could Momo know all this?


    Seeing through her doubts, Momo said, "I guessed by intuition. Mommy, if you acknowledge him and say that I am his son, does that mean I can''t acknowledge you anymore?"


    Lin Qi, holding back the bitterness in her heart, said, "Don''t you want to be recognized by the Huo Family? The Huo Family can give you everything best."


    "I don''t want it!"


    Momo said grievously as he hugged Lin Qi, "If acknowledging daddy means I can''t acknowledge mommy, then Momo would rather not acknowledge that daddy! Momo just wants to be with mommy forever, never to be apart!"


    He just wanted to be forever with mommy.


    Momo asked, "Mommy, did you and Daddy get divorced?"


    Lin Qi nodded.


    "Then you don''t have feelings for Daddy anymore?"


    Lin Qi chuckled, "No." When she got pregnant with Momo, she hadn''t even seen Huo Tingdong''s face, how could there be any feelings?


    It''s strange to say, before she knew she was pregnant, she believed a child was the fruit of two people''s love. However, she had not anticipated that when she became pregnant with the flesh and blood of Huo Tingdong, her maternal instincts suddenly sprouted.


    Maybe it was because she had received too little love from her own parents when she was young; therefore, she wanted to make up for the love she lacked by giving it to her baby.


    Lin Qi hugged Momo tightly; she absolutely could not lose him. Even if it meant fighting with her life, she would not let Huo Tingdong take Momo away.


    ...


    Hospital.


    As soon as Song Shuyan entered the laboratory, she saw a man just placing a stack of thick files on the counter. As he saw her, he greeted with a smile, "Miss Song, hello, are you on duty today?"


    "Yes, I am."


    Song Shuyan recognized the man, Huo Tingdong''s assistant, Mo Ke.


    Her gaze fell on the stack of files and the two blood samples. She walked over, picked them up, and gestured to him, "What is this?"


    Mo Ke said, "These are the files Mr. Huo ordered me to investigate."


    Song Shuyan pursed her lips, suspicion growing in her heart, yet she remained composed, "Understood."


    Mo Ke fell silent, hesitating for a moment, but did not reply.


    Song Shuyan was no ordinary person; she was the cinnabar in Huo Tingdong''s heart, the pure moonlight.


    Initially, when Huo Tingdong was grievously injured in a car accident and became vegetative, it was to protect her. At the time of the incident, had he not held her tightly, he would not have been injured so severely.


    Originally, the Huo and Song Families had set a wedding date, but while Huo Tingdong lay in a coma, Song Shuyan went abroad to study. Two years later, when Huo Tingdong woke up, she returned from studying abroad.


    Old Madam Huo had always disliked her. She ignored Huo Tingdong''s condition until he woke up, and then she returned to his side, wanting to reinforce the marriage proposal. Such a woman, heartless and unprincipled, Old Madam stubbornly disagreed with this marriage.


    But no matter what, she was someone very special in Mr. Huo''s heart.


    Mo Ke turned around and left.


    Song Shuyan went to retrieve the files and skimmed them rapidly, but broke out in cold sweat.


    Lin Qi, how could it be her?


    She had heard of this woman.


    The wife that the Huo Family married off to Huo Tingdong while he was in a coma, was for the sake of leaving a descendant for Huo Tingdong.


    Seven years ago, she vanished without a trace, and now...


    She turned out to be the suspected biological mother of Han.


    With a master''s degree, Song Shuyan held a significant position in the hospital.


    In the early days, she had heard that Old Madam Huo was always arranging surgery for Lin Qi, which she consistently opposed. She did not want any other woman bearing the Huo Family''s seed


    Lin Qi therefore did not conceive at that time.


    Three years ago, one of Huo Tingdong''s men suddenly brought back a child from the orphanage. After several rounds of paternity tests, Han was confirmed to be Huo Tingdong''s own flesh and blood, but the identity of the mother remained unknown. However, Song Shuyan keenly sensed that the child must be Lin Qi''s, just not understanding why the child had ended up in the orphanage.


    Huo Tingdong also believed that the child was Lin Qi''s. Consequently, because the child was born weak, he was neglected and abandoned. Therefore, Lin Qi hated him to the bone.


    But Song Shuyan knew that, regardless of whether Han had any intellectual disabilities or not, if it was indeed proven with clear evidence that Han was Lin Qi''s son, it would be an unfavorable situation for her.


    Now was a good opportunity to turn the tables.


    Song Shuyan furrowed her brow slightly, suddenly picked up a sterilized syringe from the side, collected her own blood sample, substituted Lin Qi''s blood sample, and discarded Lin Qi''s blood sample as medical waste in the shredder, before turning around and leaving.


    The next day.


    The paternity test results provided by the institution circulated to the hands of Huo Tingdong.


    [Confirmation of Non-Paternity]


    The report declared in black and white, sealed with a bright red stamp.


    "Mr. Huo." Mo Ke cautiously inquired, "According to the report, the young master is not Miss Lin''s biological child. Do we still need to investigate Miss Lin and the child''s origins..."


    Huo Tingdong let out a cold sneer, "Why should I waste my time on a woman who has been unfaithful to me?"


    Mo Ke asked, "Then does Mr. Huo mean to let her go?"


    Huo Tingdong said, "Let her leave." He casually crumpled the report into a ball, turned his office chair around, and his brow and eyes were dark and foreboding.


    Could it be that Lin Qi truly isn''t Han''s birth mother?


    Then who could Han''s birth mother be?


    What kind of woman would bear his child on her own and heartlessly abandon it?


    The reason he went through so much trouble to clarify Han''s origin was because the psychologist said that Han might not be mentally challenged, but rather suffering psychological issues.


    A mother plays a very important role in a child''s life; a child''s healthy growth requires a complete family.


    The love of a father and a mother is inseparable.


    Han''s reluctance to speak might be due to the lack of a mother''s presence and sense of security since childhood.


    Suddenly, Huo Tingdong thought of Momo.


    That child was different from Han; he could feel it, an exceptionally talented child, intelligent beyond measure, and perhaps, as the psychologist said, it is the gentle and delicate maternal love that can inspire the child to bravely explore the world.


    At the Huo Mansion.


    The door to Lin Qi''s room opened.


    Several bodyguards stood at the doorway and said coldly, "Miss Lin, you are now free to leave."


    Lin Qi stood up abruptly, "Has the paternity test result come out?"


    The bodyguard replied indifferently, "That is not for you to inquire."


    Lin Qi''s face stiffened for a moment; out of concern, she had asked, belatedly realizing that perhaps she had no right to be concerned.


    Momo came over, took her hand, and said gently, "Mommy, let''s go home!"


    On the way home.


    Lin Qi and Momo sat in a taxi, the window rolled down, a gentle breeze caressing them.


    As the car passed by a luxurious school gate, Lin Qi saw the gilded letters¡ªWindsor High School.


    It was said that Windsor High School had the best educational resources.


    Lin Qi glanced at Momo; she also wished for Momo to attend Windsor High School like Han.


    Just as they arrived at the front door of their home, Lin Qi saw Bai Yan waiting there.


    "Lin Qi!"


    Upon seeing her, Bai Yan rushed over excitedly, "I was scared to death! I thought you really had been kidnapped."


    Lin Qi responded with a laugh and a cry, "How is that possible? I''m as poor as a church mouse, who would kidnap me?"


    Bai Yan said, "Momo said that you were kidnapped by Huo Tingdong! That''s the Huo Family heir, what is your relationship with him?"

 Chapter 12 - 12 Your Son Is Not Worthy

    Chapter 12: Chapter 12 Your Son Is Not Worthy


    Lin Qi looked at Momo in amazement.


    Momo took out the keys guiltily and opened the door.


    Following close behind, Lin Qi asked, "Momo? How do you know it was Huo Tingdong who took you?"


    She thought that it was Huo Tingdong who had found out about Momo and brought him over to the Huo Family''s house.


    Momo said, "Mommy, you and Auntie Bai Yan chat for a bit, I''ll make dinner."


    With that, he plunged into the kitchen.


    Lin Qi grew suspicious in her heart, feeling that Momo had too many secrets hidden.


    She didn''t say much to Bai Yan. Bai Yan had always been understanding, knowing that everyone had things they preferred not to talk about, so she didn''t press further.


    Bai Yan suddenly asked, "Is Momo about to move up to the next level in school?"


    Lin Qi nodded.


    This was also a concern of hers.


    She didn''t own any property so Momo could only attend school on a temporary basis, and the local elementary school he was assigned to had somewhat backward education. A few months ago, there was an incident involving a teacher physically punishing a student.


    Lin Qi said, "If I had the means, I''d want to send Momo to Windsor High School."


    Bai Yan remarked, "Windsor High School, ah... I remember now, Windsor High School has a scholarship every year that covers tuition, but the interview requirements are very stringent. Only one in a thousand students are selected. However, Momo is so smart, he might just get that scholarship slot?"


    Lin Qi was surprised, "A scholarship slot?"


    Bai Yan said, "Yes! The special scholarship admission can waive the high tuition fees of Windsor High School. Lin Qi, why not give it a try?"


    Night fell.


    Lin Qi organized Momo''s documents, opened Windsor High School''s official website, and submitted an application for enrollment.


    The website featured many pictures of the campus.


    A beautiful library, grand teaching buildings, Lin Qi''s gaze flickered with excitement.


    She was born into the Lin Family and was the eldest daughter, but she was very young when her mother passed away, her father remarried, and her stepmother quickly gave birth to a son and a daughter.


    From then on, she moved to the attic. From a delicate lady who had never done any manual work, she became a housemaid doing all the cleaning and laundry.


    Originally, her father had also enrolled her in Windsor High School, but under the objection of her stepmother, her father sent her to an ordinary boarding school instead.


    Meanwhile, her step-siblings were sent to Windsor High School and are now being sponsored to study abroad.


    She couldn''t let Momo repeat her life.


    Early Monday morning.


    Lin Qi arrived on time at the gates of Windsor High School with Momo.


    Bentleys, Rolls-Royces¡ªthe grand school gates seemed like a luxury car exhibition.


    Among the students dressed in exquisite uniforms, she and Momo stood out as different.


    The special scholarship admission required a unified exam to test the intelligence of the applying children.


    The exam was conducted on computers and results came out immediately; the top five scorers were required to have an interview with the principal along with their parents.


    Outside the primary school test room.


    Lin Qi waited patiently as parents around her discussed:


    "Windsor High School''s tuition is expensive for a reason; only ten students per class with two teachers, a foreign instructor, and a nanny. With such high-quality staffing, how could the children not succeed?"


    "Every parent hopes their child will succeed. Moreover, children who attend elite schools make friends with the sons and daughters of well-known families from an early age, which broadens their horizons."


    "You can''t just enter Windsor High School with money alone. It''s said that rich people''s children also go through strict selection. Some parents sponsor the school with hundreds of thousands on top of the half million tuition fee every year just to get their child admitted."


    Lin Qi became increasingly worried as she listened.


    The cost of attending Windsor High School was so high!


    "Mommy!"


    Momo was the first to exit the examination room, walking towards her with something clutched in his hand.


    Lin Qi went over, asking gently, "Momo, are you finished with the exam already?"


    A group of parents also gathered around, "Just a dozen or so minutes and he''s done?"


    "Was the test difficult?"


    Ignoring the other parents, Momo looked at Lin Qi and suddenly handed her the interview notice: "I passed the test. In twenty minutes, we''ll go to the principal''s office for the interview."


    "Oh my!"


    "Was the test that easy?!"


    The surrounding parents let out a chorus of astonished exclamations.


    Lin Qi excitedly hugged Momo and kissed his chubby little face repeatedly, "Momo is amazing! Momo is Mommy''s pride!"


    Twenty minutes later.


    In the principal''s office.


    An assistant walked in, saying, "Principal, only one child got through the examination this time."


    The exam was tough, and only one place was screened, while the rest failed.


    The assistant handed over the list.


    The principal glanced at the profile.


    "Lin Jinmo, age seven;..."


    The principal said, "Bring them in for the interview."


    The assistant could sense the principal''s impatience and indifference. After all, most students participating in the scholarship selection came from average families, and to Windsor High School, which valued family backgrounds, this slot was like a charity offering and wasn''t taken seriously.


    Not every year did children pass the selection exam; it was because the principal intentionally set very tough questions to weed out those parents who hoped against hope that attending Windsor High School could get them into high society.


    The door opened.


    Lin Qi walked in with Momo.


    "Good day, Principal."


    The principal looked up and glanced over, his eyes lingering on Momo, and he was slightly taken aback.


    This child seemed out of the ordinary.


    Dressed in plain attire, a simple white shirt, cute suit pants, a pair of shiny leather shoes, a black tie around his collar, Momo stood up straight with his hands behind his back, an elegant little gentleman with skin fair as jade.


    The principal asked, "So you are Lin Jinmo?"


    Momo replied, "Yes. My name is Lin Jinmo, and this is my Mommy."


    The little boy''s answers flowed without any hint of nervousness.


    The principal inquired, "What about your father? Why is it just your mother here?"


    Momo said, "I don''t have a father."


    The principal looked at Lin Qi, "Ms. Lin, are you a single-parent family?"


    Lin Qi replied, "Yes...I''m divorced, raising my child on my own."


    The principal frowned, "Ms. Lin, I think you may not be familiar with Windsor High School. We place great emphasis on a child''s family background. A complete family relationship, with both father and mother, is a strict requirement for a child''s admission to Windsor High School."


    Lin Qi was stunned; she wasn''t aware of this strict requirement at Windsor High School.


    "Children from single-parent families should not suffer prejudice." Lin Qi said, "My son is excellent, so I wish for him to attend a great school and receive quality education."


    "This isn''t prejudice." The principal smiled, "Ms. Lin, pardon my asking, but if you can''t manage your own marriage well, how can you ensure that you''ll play such an important role in your child''s growth process?"


    Lin Qi tensed, feeling offended by the principal''s words, "As far as I know, Mr. Huo Tingdong''s son also attends Windsor High School. Mr. Huo doesn''t have a spouse; he has a single-parent background too. Why... can Little Master Huo be an exception to attend?"

 Chapter 13 - 13 She is Just Like Mommy

    Chapter 13: Chapter 13 She is Just Like Mommy


    The principal became serious in an instant.


    His tone carried a hint of mockery: "I don''t know through what channels you''ve obtained this information, but do you think you can compare yourself with Mr. Huo? Mr. Huo has sponsored Windsor High School with fifty million."


    The implication was, doesn''t the son of Huo Tingdong deserve some privilege?


    Lin Qi had a change of heart about Windsor.


    Windsor High''s ethos: learned, dedicated, humble, virtuous, but as the principal of Windsor, it was all about business.


    Momo suddenly let out a cold laugh.


    The principal asked in surprise, "Young friend, what are you laughing at?"


    Momo suddenly smiled gently, a graceful curve rising to his lips, looking very much like a polite little gentleman: "My Mommy is very kind, very gentle, very perfect. She gave me the warmest love in the world, her love is the most precious wealth in my life. She doesn''t need to be compared with anyone, she''s a priceless treasure!"


    Lin Qi was deeply touched, "Momo..."


    "I don''t have a father, so, many people bully my Mommy, and they''re prejudiced against her. But in my heart, my Mommy isn''t ''unwanted,'' it''s that no one is worthy of her!" After saying this, he stood up, took Lin Qi''s hand, "Mommy, let''s go!"


    Momo and Lin Qi left the principal''s office.


    The principal''s eyelid twitched.


    Such profound and critically meaningful words, coming from the mouth of a seven-year-old child!


    The assistant came over and said, "Principal, that child is really smart, a rare genius. The test was very difficult, all the children failed, but he, spending just over ten minutes, handed in a perfect score! Are you really willing to miss out on such a talented child?"


    The principal stood up and rushed out of the door, but the mother and son were nowhere to be seen.


    ...


    At the school gate.


    Lin Qi and Momo, hand in hand, walked towards the bus station.


    "Mommy, will you be sad if I didn''t get admitted?" Momo was worried about Lin Qi being disappointed.


    Lin Qi said, "How could I be? It''s just that Mommy is not capable enough, looked down upon by others."


    Momo retorted, "Mommy is not incapable! Aunt Bai Yan said that Mommy gave up her career to take care of the sick Momo!"


    Lin Qi pinched the chubby cheeks of Momo and said, "Momo, Mommy is so lucky to have such a wonderful son like you!"


    Momo''s face lifted into a smile, as if it could melt the coldest snow of winter.


    Actually, he didn''t care about attending any aristocratic school.


    A year ago, he already had a net worth of ten billion.


    To support Momo, Lin Qi juggled multiple jobs and dabbled in the stock market on the side, opening a trading account.


    Momo unwittingly logged into Lin Qi''s stock market account and started researching.


    Within a year, he had made Lin Qi''s stock account soar, with investments in Bitcoin and the Metaverse, among other assets, his net worth skyrocketed.


    Moreover, he controlled several multinational companies, among them holding the third largest stake in the Huace Group.


    These secrets, Lin Qi did not know.


    In Mommy''s eyes, he was always an innocent little baby, and only in front of Lin Qi did Momo show his carefree, cute side.


    He decided, when the time was right, he would reveal all these secrets to Lin Qi.


    Momo and Lin Qi walked ahead, while Han, carrying a backpack, quietly tracked them unnoticed.


    "Little Master Huo is missing!"


    The principal made a phone call to the Huace Group CEO''s office.


    Huo Tingdong had just left a meeting, when he received a call from Windsor High School.


    The principal stuttered over the phone: "Mr. Huo... Little Master Huo suddenly disappeared! We''ve searched the entire academic building, can''t find him anywhere... We''ve already called the police!"


    Windsor High School was in an uproar.


    In the eyes of the principal and teachers, Han was regarded as a "mentally challenged child," never speaking and with intellectual deficiencies. Usually, he would sit quietly alone in a corner of the classroom, never running around. Now that he was missing, they naturally feared the worst!


    Huo Tingdong blew up in fury: "How were you taking care of my son?! Such a young child, and he just disappears without reason?"


    The principal broke out in a cold sweat, his voice trembling, "We have no idea how the Little Master disappeared! At that time, all the children were in the nap room, but Little Master Huo was in a room arranged just for him. The nanny had gone to the bathroom briefly; who could have imagined the child would vanish..."


    "Could it be a kidnapping..." Mo Ke was terrified.


    With Huo Tingdong''s status, it wasn''t unthinkable for someone to kidnap Han and extort the Huo Family.


    Huo Tingdong glared at Mo Ke, "With all the security I''ve installed in Windsor High School, how could a kidnapper have gotten into the school?"


    The principal said, "Mr. Huo, the police have already arrived and are retrieving surveillance. We will cooperate with them to locate the young master as soon as possible."


    The call was disconnected.


    Huo Tingdong rose from his seat, his face darkening.


    Inside the CEO''s office, a group of secretaries and assistants bowed their heads in fear, too frightened to breathe a word upon seeing his dark expression.


    Huo Tingdong declared, "Cancel all meetings for the afternoon. Send out the notice, use whatever means necessary, and find Han within a day!"


    "Yes!"


    ...


    Leaving the subway station.


    Lin Qi and Momo went to the supermarket together to buy some groceries.


    Momo truly enjoyed this warm atmosphere, sticking closely to Lin Qi like a little tail, following her as she browsed through the aisles.


    "Momo, do you want this?" Lin Qi picked up a bag of chips.


    Momo excitedly raised both hands, "Yes!"


    Lin Qi then picked up a combo pack, comparing the prices. Watching Mommy seriously calculating discounts and markdowns to buy his favorite snacks, this was the human touch he cherished most.


    Not far away, Han stood in the corner, secretly watching. He had no idea that sneaking out of Windsor High School had caused such chaos. Now, the Huo Family was scouring the city for him, but his eyes only saw this gentle woman who captivated his heart.


    Lin Qi hadn''t noticed the other little tail following her all the way.


    Pushing the shopping cart, Han quietly trailed behind her. Every time he saw Lin Qi smile at Momo, a faint yet sour feeling lingered in his heart.


    Envious, and somewhat longing.


    This warm scene, however, pierced his heart.


    He was born a Little Master Huo, silver spoon in mouth, and Huo Tingdong was never stingy with his love.


    Yet, he too imagined what a mother might be like.


    He yearned for a mother, a warm, gentle mother like Lin Qi...


    Han quietly followed all the way until Lin Qi paid at the counter. With one hand holding the shopping bags and the other leading Momo, they walked towards home.


    At the front door.


    As Lin Qi and Momo just entered, Momo obediently carried the groceries into the kitchen.


    Outside, Han saw them enter, lingering by the somewhat worn iron door, his bright eyes blinking gently, and suddenly, he reached out a hand and gently pressed the doorbell.


    "Ding-dong¡ª"


    Lin Qi, surprised by the doorbell, asked herself,


    Who could it be?


    She walked to the door and just as she opened it, she saw Han''s beautiful, sprite-like face.


    Lin Qi''s expression suddenly changed, "Han!?"

 Chapter 14 - 14 Treated as a Kidnapper

    Chapter 14: Chapter 14 Treated as a Kidnapper


    Han raised his head, his eyes wide with innocent curiosity, blinked gently as if asking, "May I come in?"


    Lin Qi glanced behind him and saw no one else.


    Was Han alone?


    How could such a small child suddenly appear at her doorstep?


    Lin Qi asked, "Han, are you here to see your aunt?"


    Han gently nodded his head.


    Lin Qi felt a touch of surprise.


    He understood her and could think for himself¡ªthis proved he was not the mentally challenged child the Huo Family made him out to be.


    "Come on in!" Lin Qi invited Han into the house.


    Momo had just tied on an apron and, hearing the commotion, poked his little head out. Seeing it was Han, his face immediately sunk.


    Why is he here?


    He didn''t have a good impression of this guy at all!


    He made Mommy fall down the stairs and was pointed out by the people of the Huo Family.


    Momo crossed his arms defensively and asked warily, "Why have you come?"


    Yet, Han''s attention wasn''t on Momo; instead, he began to self-absorbedly look around Lin Qi and Momo''s home.


    It was a small residence, resembling low-rent housing.


    Still, even a place like this would cost three to four thousand a month in rent in Beijing.


    For the young master accustomed to living in the Huo Mansion, it was practically a shabby room.


    After all, the fish tank built into the Huo Mansion''s bathtub was much bigger than this.


    Lin Qi wasn''t fussy about housing; so long as it sheltered from wind and rain it was fine. Aside from the occasional leak when it rained or the stuffiness in the summer, there were no other issues here.


    The tidy two-bedroom living room, in comparison to the luxurious but cold Huo Mansion, surprisingly appealed more to Han, who preferred the cozy warmth of a small dwelling.


    He stood at the door of Momo''s room, his eyes lit with curiosity.


    Momo had followed Han closely since he entered, watching his every move like guarding against a thief: "What do you want?"


    Han pointed to his room, and glanced at Momo, seemingly asking for permission.


    Lin Qi understood Han''s gaze, "Han wants to take a look at Momo''s room."


    Momo frowned slightly, reluctant, but to save face for Lin Qi, he said, "Then I''ll deign to show you around!"


    He led Han into his room.


    The room was clean and tidy.


    Han stopped at the desk, where a photo album lay. Momo bragged, "This is my favorite album!"


    Han opened his small mouth, pointed at the album, and unexpectedly uttered in a childish voice, "Look, look."


    Lin Qi was surprised for a moment; it turned out that Han really could speak¡ªhis sudden speech that night wasn''t a fluke.


    "No!" Momo said selfishly, "It''s my treasure."


    Han blinked and looked at Momo, pouting his mouth, "Stingy."


    Momo raised an eyebrow, hugged the album to his chest and said, "These are all the wonderful memories of me and Mommy. I won''t let you just see them!"


    A hint of disappointment flickered in Han''s eyes, his plump lips puffing up, delicate brows also slightly furrowed.


    Lin Qi hurriedly said, "Momo, didn''t you say you were making cream mushroom pasta for Mommy tonight?"


    Momo nodded, "Oh! My noodles are still in the pot!"


    He put down the album and hurried back to the kitchen.


    Lin Qi sent Momo away, sat Han on the bed, casually picked up the album, and coaxed him, "Don''t be upset, Han. Momo always treasures this album and never lets anyone look at it. Let''s sneak a peek."


    With that, she opened the album.


    The album carried the memories of Lin Qi and Momo over the past seven years.


    Momo''s full moon celebration, the time Momo learned to sit and crawl, Momo''s first wobbly steps...


    On Momo''s first day at the kindergarten, Lin Qi held him in her arms for a keepsake photo at the school gate;


    During Momo''s first parent-child outing, Lin Qi and he fed alpacas together;


    Momo''s kindergarten graduation, holding up his diploma with pride, nestled beside Lin Qi, his face blooming with a gentle and charming smile...


    Han watched intently, his lips slightly pursed with a touch of envy.


    So, having a Mommy who adores you is such a wonderful thing!


    In each photo, Momo''s genuinely happy smile was something he had never experienced.


    Han tilted his little face up to look at Lin Qi, "Momo has a Mommy, but what about Han?" Where was his Mommy?


    Lin Qi said, "Han also has a Mommy, and your Mommy must love you very much."


    Han said, "Mommy doesn''t want me." This is what Huo Tingdong told him, that Mommy abandoned him right after giving birth.


    The Huo Family''s servants clandestinely gossiped that the woman, upon finding out he had intellectual disabilities, had abandoned him.


    But he knew that wasn''t true.


    He knew he wasn''t mentally challenged; he could speak, he could think. That woman abandoned him simply because she didn''t love him and didn''t want him.


    Lin Qi said, "How could she not want you? If she doesn''t want you, I''ll take you."


    Han''s eyes suddenly sparkled with a hint of brilliance, and he began to flicker with hope.


    He turned to Lin Qi, revealing a sweet, sticky smile. When he smiled, two adorable dimples appeared, making one itch to hold him in their arms and rub his cheeks.


    At this moment¡ª


    There came an urgent knocking at the door.


    "Excuse me, is this Ms. Lin Qi''s home?"


    Lin Qi tensed for a moment, then walked to the door. However, she cautiously did not open it, asking through the door, "Who is it?"


    "I''m the captain from Yanling Police Station. Ms. Lin Qi, we have evidence suggesting you are suspected of kidnapping and child trafficking. Please open the door and cooperate with our investigation."


    Lin Qi was at a loss for words, "Child trafficking? Whom did I kidnap? Whom did I traffick?"


    The captain shouted angrily: "Enough of your nonsense! Hand over the Huo Family''s little master!"


    Lin Qi was choked with fear.


    This was a huge misjudgment; she was actually being accused of kidnapping and trafficking!


    "Open the door!"


    "Open it immediately!"


    "Bang bang bang!"


    Momo rushed out of the kitchen and said to Lin Qi, "Mommy, I saw a lot of police cars parked downstairs. What''s going on?"


    Lin Qi looked towards Han.


    Han had a face full of guilt for what he did wrong, his little hands clutching her clothes uneasily. He had never thought that his private escape from school would bring her such trouble.


    The school must have reported his disappearance. This alerted Huo Tingdong, prompting a city-wide carpet search that had quite quickly locked onto his location.


    Momo was very smart and instantly understood what had happened. He said to Han, "It must be the Huo Family who called the cops! You need to explain quickly, my Mommy didn''t kidnap you." He really feared that his Mommy would be mistakenly taken by the Huo Family as a trafficker.


    Han obediently nodded.


    He walked towards the door, about to open it.


    The next second, the door was violently breached by a patrol officer!


    Han was nearly knocked into the wall.


    Lin Qi immediately rushed over and held him in her arms, but this action, in the eyes of the patrol officers, was undoubtedly a bigger suspicion, akin to taking a hostage!


    "Let go of him!"


    Instantly, the patrol officers drew their guns and aimed at Lin Qi.


    Numerous dark gun barrels targeted her forehead.

 Chapter 15 - 15 That Woman, Mr. Huo, You Know Her Too

    Chapter 15: Chapter 15 That Woman, Mr. Huo, You Know Her Too


    Lin Qi has never had a real gun pointed at her before. While trembling with fear, she worried that they might accidentally injure Han, so she loudly objected, ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood! I haven¡¯t kidnapped or deceived anyone...¡±


    Momo, eager to protect Lin Qi, stood in front of her with arms wide open. ¡°Put down the guns! Don¡¯t hurt my mommy!¡±


    ¡°Take the child away!¡±


    The police, suspecting that Lin Qi was a habitual offender and Momo was another child she had trafficked, rushed forward and scooped Momo into their arms.


    Momo struggled fiercely, ¡°Let go! Let me go!¡±


    ¡°Little kid, you¡¯re safe now!¡±


    ...


    Momo became desperate, ¡°She is my mommy! She¡¯s not a trafficker!¡±


    ¡°Momo!¡± Lin Qi, helpless and panicked, wanted to step forward but was forced back by the gun pointed at her.


    The police officer interrupted her explanation, ¡°Hand over the child you¡¯re holding!¡±


    Lin Qi unwillingly let go of Han.


    The police immediately rushed forward, took Han away, and subdued Lin Qi.


    ...


    Huo Mansion.


    Huo Tingdong parked the car at the entrance and casually tossed the keys to the butler.


    Mo Ke approached, ¡°Mr. Huo, the person has been found, the young master is unharmed.¡±


    Huo Tingdong scrutinized him, ¡°What exactly happened?¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°The police say the trafficker has been detained.¡±


    ¡°A trafficker?¡± Huo Tingdong said. ¡°Who dares to kidnap my son?¡±


    Mo Ke replied with restraint, ¡°That woman, Mr. Huo, you know her too.¡±


    ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Lin Qi... Miss Lin.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face turned icy.


    Was it her?


    What does she want?


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Where is the young master?¡±


    Mo Ke replied, ¡°Upstairs, quiet and calm. The other child has also been brought back.¡±


    Huo Tingdong walked up the stairs, reaching the door where several servants and bodyguards stood guard. As soon as they saw him, they immediately pulled out keys to open the door.


    Just as the door opened and he was about to step in, he saw a figure standing by the doorway.


    Huo Tingdong paused.


    Momo stood at the doorway, exuding a cold aura. He lifted his head, his icy gaze scrutinizing Huo Tingdong, his eyes slightly narrowed, his usually childlike voice now chillingly thin and cold, as if looking at an enemy.


    Seeing his tense expression, Huo Tingdong reached out to touch his face, but Momo grabbed his hand and bit hard into his wrist.


    ¡°Hisss.¡±


    Huo Tingdong wanted to pull his hand back in pain.


    But Momo held onto his hand and wouldn¡¯t let go.


    The man quickly adapted to the pain, enduring it, ¡°Lin Jinmo, have you had enough?¡±


    It was evident he was angry, venting all his anger on him.


    Huo Tingdong commanded, ¡°Let go.¡±


    Momo bit even harder, seemingly using this childish method to fiercely retaliate against the man who had turned his mommy into a trafficker and sent her to the police station.


    The man had no choice but to press on his jaw, forcing him to release the bite. Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze fell on the deep teeth marks on his wrist, his jaw tensing.


    He looked around.


    The room¡¯s contents were smashed on the floor, among them, expensive vases shattered by Momo.


    ¡°When will you release my mommy?¡± Momo threatened, ¡°If you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll make Huo Family go bankrupt!¡±


    He was furious and anxious, hating the man responsible for his mommy¡¯s ordeal at the police station to the bone.


    He knew, the man before him was his biological father, but even if it was his biological father, so what?


    As long as he hurt Mommy, he would not acknowledge this biological father!


    If he bullied Mommy, he would definitely confront him to the end.


    Huo Tingdong, however, laughed, ¡°Do you want me to go bankrupt?¡±


    A seven-year-old child, where does he get the confidence, to want his Huo Empire to go bankrupt?


    ¡°Don¡¯t believe me?¡± Momo smirked slyly, ¡°Don¡¯t believe it? Why don¡¯t you give it a try?¡±


    Huo Tingdong was somewhat choked up.


    Seeing the determined look in Momo¡¯s eyes, it seemed as if the bold statements he made, he could absolutely accomplish!


    Han had originally been sitting on the bed, but upon seeing Huo Tingdong, he also charged towards him, clutching his tiny fists, striking forcefully onto his body.


    Huo Tingdong had never seen Han this out of control before; Han had always been well-behaved, never speaking, nor showing emotional fluctuations.


    It was also the first time he saw Han so angry.


    Huo Tingdong grabbed his fists and asked, ¡°Han, what¡¯s wrong?¡±


    He had just asked when he chuckled again, realizing that Han simply would not answer his question, as he couldn¡¯t speak.


    However, the next second, Han spoke very distinctly, his articulation unbelievably clear, ¡°I want her!¡±


    Huo Tingdong couldn¡¯t help but hold his breath.


    For so many years, it was the first time he heard Han speak; his thoughts clear, his articulation sharp, with a serious expression and in an authoritative tone, just like a mini-version of Huo Tingdong.


    Outside, a rush of hurried footsteps suddenly came, followed by Old Madam Huo¡¯s loud exclamations.


    ¡°Han, my dear great-grandson! Hurry! Hurry! Let me see where my precious great-grandson might be hurt?¡±


    As soon as Old Madam Huo entered, she walked towards Han, ¡°Han! You¡¯ve scared great-grandmother so much!¡±


    She tenderly pulled Han into her embrace, having just heard that something happened to Han right after being brought back to the Huo Family, she was solely focused on seeing Han safe and sound.


    But Han reluctance pushed Old Madam Huo away.


    Old Madam Huo showed a weird expression, ¡°Han, what¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t want great-grandmother anymore?¡±


    Han looked towards Huo Tingdong and stubbornly repeated, word by word, ¡°I want her!¡±


    Although Han did not specify, a parent knows their child best, Huo Tingdong knew who that ¡°she¡± was.


    Lin Qi.


    What did she do exactly, to effortlessly capture Han¡¯s heart, not only making Han able to speak but also wanting no one but her.


    Immersed in thought, Old Lady grew extremely excited.


    This articulate sentence from Han stunned Old Madam Huo, ¡°Han... my Han can really speak now!¡±


    Han, seen as a ¡°mentally challenged child¡± by outsiders, had finally begun to speak!


    After a long period of shock, Old Madam Huo joyfully babbled at Huo Tingdong, ¡°Han has finally started speaking!¡±


    ¡°Grandma, calm down a bit.¡± Huo Tingdong was much more composed, he had never believed that his son was intellectually deficient, thus he firmly believed Han could speak and think, just reluctant to do so.


    If his son asked for someone, how could he not comply?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Mo Ke.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Mo Ke entered, ¡°Mr. Huo, what are your orders?¡±


    ¡°Bring that woman to see me.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Mo Ke immediately followed the order.


    Night fell.


    Huo Family Dining Room.


    Momo and Han sat face to face with Huo Tingdong, each face colder than the other, especially Han, nearly a carbon copy.


    Beside them, Old Madam Huo, feeling immense sorrow, gently coaxed Han, ¡°Han, darling, wouldn¡¯t it be nice for Han to have some food?¡±


    The little guy had no appetite, almost as if he was fasting.

 Chapter 16 - 16 Mr. Huo鈥檚 Apology, I Do Not Accept

    Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Mr. Huo¡¯s Apology, I Do Not Accept


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, time to eat.¡±


    With a commanding tone, Han remained indifferent, like an ancient well undisturbed by the wind.


    Momo suddenly said coldly, ¡°Liar.¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to pick up your mommy.¡±


    Momo turned his face away, refusing to look at him. He wouldn¡¯t believe a word from this man until he saw his mommy.


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t bother to coax him.


    ...


    This kid wasn¡¯t his son; why should he bother comforting him?


    Han continued to sit quietly, meditating like an old monk, ignoring Old Madam Huo¡¯s coaxing, ¡°Han, you haven¡¯t eaten all day. Aren¡¯t you hungry?¡±


    Han glanced at the beef and chicken breast that Old Madam Huo kept putting into his bowl but treated it as if invisible.


    ¡°What should we do?¡± Old Madam Huo was truly worried, ¡°Han, what do you want? If you eat nicely, grandma will buy it for you, alright?¡±


    Han said, ¡°I want Aunt Qiqi.¡±


    Old Madam Huo looked bewilderedly towards Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong frowned, ¡°Don¡¯t be capricious.¡±


    Han said, ¡°I want Aunt Qiqi.¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Father and son stared silently at each other, as if in a mute standoff.


    At that moment¡ª


    Engine noise came from outside.


    A car stopped at the entrance of Huo Mansion.


    Mo Ke got out of the car, entered, and reported to Huo Tingdong, ¡°Mr. Huo, she¡¯s here.¡± Mo Ke paused, as if hesitant.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Mo Ke whispered in his ear, ¡°Miss Lin is slightly injured.¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned and walked outside.


    Han twitched his ears and followed, but the old lady grabbed him and carried him back to his seat like holding a kitten, ¡°Han, be good, don¡¯t run around.¡±


    Anxious, Momo followed Huo Tingdong outside, only to see the car¡¯s back door open and Lin Qi slumped in the back seat, motionless as if unconscious.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Momo, terrified and frantic, climbed into the back seat and cradled Lin Qi¡¯s face.


    Her body and face were covered in injuries.


    There were slap marks and bruises from punches...


    ¡°Mommy!!¡± Momo yelled angrily like a little tiger, ¡°Who hurt my mommy?¡±


    Inside the house, upon hearing Momo¡¯s voice, Han walked out eagerly. Seeing Lin Qi held tightly in Momo¡¯s arms, gravely unconscious, he clenched his small hands to his chest, approaching with worry.


    Huo Tingdong glanced over, his expression changing drastically, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Could it be some form of vigilante justice?


    Mo Ke explained, ¡°Miss Lin was taken to the detention center. When the suspects heard she was involved in child trafficking, they collectively attacked her. But luckily, the injuries are minor, mainly superficial, nothing life-threatening.¡±


    Upon hearing Mo Ke¡¯s words, Momo was furious, teeth clenched, ¡°Minor injuries!?¡±


    These extensive injuries, how are they considered ¡®minor¡¯?


    This bad uncle is blatantly lying.


    Realizing his mistake, Mo Ke shut his mouth.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡± Momo glared hatefully at Huo Tingdong, ¡°It¡¯s all because you accused my mommy of child trafficking and had her arrested. It¡¯s you who caused her to be so severely injured! If my mommy suffers any complications, if she¡¯s been permanently harmed, will you take responsibility?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I will take responsibility.¡±


    He blurted it out without any hesitation.


    Mo Ke was dumbstruck.


    Momo coldly said, ¡°What will you take responsibility with?¡±


    Huo Tingdong walked over and said to Momo, ¡°If she has any sequelae, I¡¯ll take responsibility. I¡¯ll take care of her for life.¡±


    Han looked at Lin Qi with heartache, then at Huo Tingdong, and suddenly, self-blame, and guilt surged up, leaving him with mixed feelings.


    Had he not left school without authorization, the Huo Family wouldn¡¯t have made such a big fuss, resulting in Aunt Qiqi being suspected of being a human trafficker and getting so severely injured.


    Huo Tingdong walked up, intending to carry Lin Qi out of the car, but Momo was very protective, guarding her tightly, staring at him warily while holding Lin Qi in his arms, his eyes red, having no trust in the man before him.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Give her to me.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°You only bully Mommy, I don¡¯t want to give Mommy to you!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I will have her stay at the Huo Mansion to recover until she is healed. I will hire the best doctors for her, leaving no scars and no sequelae.¡±


    Hearing this, Momo wavered slightly, he pursed his lips, seeing that Huo Tingdong seemed really sincere in taking full responsibility, his little hands gradually loosened...


    ...


    Lin Qi opened her eyes, her consciousness groggy, and her temples throbbing painfully.


    She looked at the empty, luxurious ceiling, unable to discern where she was.


    Suddenly...


    A small, exquisitely beautiful face appeared above her field of vision.


    Han stared at her with his sparkling black eyes, and suddenly reached out to gently touch her forehead.


    ¡°Han...¡± Lin Qi recognized him.


    Lin Qi slowly sat up, and Han immediately considerately brought a pillow for her to lean on her back.


    The bed was two meters wide.


    Momo obediently lay on the edge of the bed, his delicate brows and eyes showing signs of tiredness.


    She looked out the window; it was already dawn.


    Next to the bed, there was a single armchair where Huo Tingdong leaned, supporting his chin with one hand, the dawn light cast a gentle coating on him.


    His black hair shadowed his eyelids, the man¡¯s normally sharp and exquisitely handsome features softened in the shadows with his eyes closed, losing some of the aggressiveness and imposing aura.


    Han walked up to him and tugged at his clothes corner, patting his cheek.


    Huo Tingdong, a light sleeper, suddenly opened his eyes, his brows playful, his gaze locked onto the bedside, seeing that Lin Qi was awake, his Adam¡¯s apple moved slightly, ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡±


    Lin Qi then recalled.


    She had been mistaken for a human trafficker and taken to the police station, detained for twenty-four hours with other suspects.


    Those suspects, upon learning she was arrested for ¡°kidnapping children¡±, became righteously indignant, cornered her against the wall with both slaps and kicks.


    Fortunately, she instinctively protected her head, otherwise, she would probably be lying in the ICU.


    So...


    She was cleared of suspicion, and Huo Tingdong had brought her to the Huo Mansion, had he stayed with her all night?


    Lin Qi saw some fatigue between Huo Tingdong¡¯s brows, but on second thought, if this man hadn¡¯t unreasonably sent her to the police station, she wouldn¡¯t have suffered such humiliation.


    The atmosphere became subtly awkward.


    Huo Tingdong parted his thin lips, not knowing what to say, ¡°You...¡±


    ¡°Mr. Huo wants to apologize,¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°I must declare in advance, I do not accept your apology.¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Apologize?


    How could she get such an impression?


    Seeing the cold look in Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes, Lin Qi scoffed, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me I¡¯m being overly sensitive? How could a man like Mr. Huo, long used to high positions and maneuvering power amidst harsh realities, apologize for a misunderstanding?¡±

 Chapter 17: How Dare They Hit Him

    Chapter 17: Chapter 17: How Dare They Hit Him


    No matter how much she had to say, it was all stifled in her throat by his ambiguous and cold words.


    This woman was more articulate than he had imagined.


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°You...¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°It¡¯s great to have power and influence, isn¡¯t it? You make a mistake, you hurt someone, and you don¡¯t need any kind of gesture to show for it.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°So, what do you want?¡±


    Seeing his attitude so horrible, Han put his hands on his hips and glared at him coolly.


    ...


    Huo Tingdong reined in his anger, suppressed his temperament, and kept silent.


    Arrogance was ingrained in his bones.


    Lin Qi¡¯s assessment was pretty accurate; he was extremely harsh on himself. Since he was young, he seldom made mistakes, and even when he did, ¡°apology¡± was not a truth that he believed in.


    He thought apologies were useless and superfluous, thus, he simply could not bring himself to bow his head and apologize to others.


    Seeing him not making a stance, Han prodded him in the chest, her brows furrowed tightly, silently urging him to speak.


    Huo Tingdong grew a bit irritable, he stood up, playing with the diamond cufflinks on his sleeve out of habit, and reluctantly said to Lin Qi, ¡°Miss Lin, for this misunderstanding, for causing you injury, I offer my profound apologies.¡±


    His tone was particularly perfunctory, an arrogant man used to looking elsewhere even as he spoke such words.


    Lin Qi bit her lip, suddenly flipped out of bed, walked over to him, and glared up at him.


    He was too tall.


    She only reached his chest, her body wounded, yet possessing an unyielding defiance that could not be desecrated.


    Huo Tingdong looked down at her; she wore pajamas, her bare feet not adorned with socks, pale and tender, small and cute, standing on the floor, especially eye-catching.


    ¡°Huo Tingdong.¡± Lin Qi suddenly called his name.


    Following that¡ª


    ¡°Slap,¡± a sound echoed.


    Lin Qi slapped him across the face.


    She had just woken up, her hand weak with little strength, but the man was caught off guard and was slapped so hard that his head turned to the side, his thin cheek quickly showing the distinct mark of five fingers.


    The slap was loud and clear.


    Momo suddenly woke up, raised his head, but saw such a bizarre scene.


    Huo Tingdong stood backlit, slowly turning his head, his sinister and cold eyes seemed to be brewing with a fury ready to burst forth.


    Lin Qi, however, smiled, ¡°Mr. Huo, I offer my profound apologies for my earlier rudeness.¡±


    From his childhood to now, no one had ever struck him, especially his face.


    Nowadays, his face was even more a symbol of the Huo Family¡¯s power.


    Han was also stunned, forgetting to even blink.


    Huo Tingdong reacted, this woman actually dared to slap his face; enraged, he grabbed her hand and pulled her in front of him, ¡°Are you provoking me?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m merely imitating your attitude in apologizing!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I only lowered my head out of consideration for Han, do you really think I¡¯m the one at fault?¡±


    Lin Qi, unbelieving, stared wide-eyed, thinking this man was completely unreasonable, ¡°Are you saying I¡¯m the one to blame?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°My son is only seven years old, he doesn¡¯t distinguish good from evil, right from wrong, I have every reason to suspect you of abducting my son, trying to extort me.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re crazy!¡± Lin Qi felt this man was probably delusional, ¡°You are Huo Tingdong, who would dare to extort you? Moreover, you claim that I abducted your son, do you have any evidence?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Do you think you can pin baseless accusations on me?¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°I will sue you for defamation!¡±


    ¡°Sue me?¡± Huo Tingdong scoffed as if hearing a lame joke, ¡°You want to sue me? Lin Qi, I advise you to save your effort, don¡¯t bother suing me, I fear you won¡¯t be able to afford the attorney¡¯s fees.¡±


    Han suddenly pulled Huo Tingdong, shielding Lin Qi in front of her, staring at him fiercely.


    Momo also walked over and pushed Huo Tingdong, ¡°Let go of my Mommy!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo, let¡¯s go.¡±


    She struggled free from Huo Tingdong¡¯s grip, and holding Momo¡¯s hand, turned to leave.


    Upon seeing her about to leave, Han rushed over and tightly hugged her legs.


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t move, she lowered her head to look at Han.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Lin Qi, let¡¯s set aside the grievances between us for now. Han has been watching over you all night without eating anything.¡±


    He could see that Han really liked Lin Qi and also wanted to keep Lin Qi here.


    Despite having no feelings whatsoever for his ex-wife, if Lin Qi left and Han started one of his hunger strikes again, it would be difficult for him to handle.


    Upon hearing that Han had watched over her all night, Lin Qi¡¯s heart softened, and she felt warmth, but then she thought of the man¡¯s terrible attitude, glanced back at Huo Tingdong and still felt a strong aversion.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I promised your son that I would take responsibility for this matter until you are fully healed. I will hire the best doctors for you and also offer you compensation...¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t want compensation,¡± Lin Qi said. ¡°I want a sincere apology from you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Lin Qi turned around, ¡°Mr. Huo, can you apologize? Bow ninety degrees as a sincere apology.¡±


    It was the first time Huo Tingdong heard someone dare to make such a demand to him.


    To bow, ninety degrees.


    ¡°And ¡®I¡¯m sorry,¡¯¡± Lin Qi added.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face grew even darker.


    Han turned his head and gazed eagerly at him, finally, he spoke, ¡°Apologize.¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Is it so hard to just apologize?¡± Lin Qi said. ¡°Or, is it that the distinguished president of Huace Group can¡¯t lower his prideful face?¡±


    Huo Tingdong suppressed the seething heat in his chest and slowly bent over, but those three words were stuck in his throat.


    Finally...


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± These two words were his limit.


    Lin Qi knew this proud man had lowered himself as much as he could.


    But she knew he did it for Han¡¯s sake, who liked her very much.


    He truly cared for Han.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Go back and lie down on the bed; I will have a doctor re-examine you.¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°It¡¯s not necessary.¡±


    Who knows what else this man might want to check while using the doctor¡¯s examination as a pretense.


    She only had her guard up against him now.


    But Han held her hand and gently pulled her to the bedside.


    Unable to resist him, Lin Qi could only lie back down on the bed.


    Huo Mansion was equipped with over a dozen family doctors on 24-hour shifts.


    Soon enough, several female doctors entered the room.


    Lin Qi saw Huo Tingdong still standing by the bed and said, ¡°Can you go out?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face slightly changed, and he turned and walked out, saying to Momo and Han by the door, ¡°You two, come out as well.¡±


    Momo showed confusion, ¡°Why?¡±


    The doctor gently said, ¡°Two little friends, could you go out and wait? You can come back in after the examination is done, okay?¡±


    Han obediently walked out of the room, and Momo followed.


    The door closed.


    Han looked at Huo Tingdong, father and son staring at each other.


    Han looked at the bright red handprint on Huo Tingdong¡¯s face and pursed his lips, showing a sympathetic gaze.


    Logically, he should be his own father, and as a son, he should be outraged and feel sympathy when his father was slapped by another woman. Yet, he felt no such emotion, instead he seriously considered that Aunt Qiqi¡¯s slap had turned Daddy¡¯s face red, her hand must have been very sore.


    Little did Huo Tingdong know that his own son¡¯s loyalty had shifted miles away.

 Chapter 18: The Consequences of Abandoning His Son

    Chapter 18: Chapter 18: The Consequences of Abandoning His Son


    ¡°Han?¡± Huo Tingdong squatted down, gently tugging at his soft little hand, ¡°Are you willing to eat something now?¡±


    Han just stared eagerly at the door, as if waiting for Miss Lin to eat with him.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Why do you like her so much?¡±


    Beside him, Momo nonchalantly said, ¡°My Mommy is gentle and kind, the most perfect woman in the world. It makes sense to like her.¡±


    ¡°Gentle?¡± Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t think so at all. Miss Lin had nothing to do with the word ¡°gentle¡±; ¡°She¡¯s clearly violent.¡±


    Momo looked at his face, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with a grown man yielding to a woman? Why are you being so petty? I¡¯m more worried that Mommy might have fractured her hand with a slap!¡±


    ...


    Han nodded seriously, worry evident in his eyes.


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    ¡°Han!¡±


    At the end of the corridor, Old Madam Huo came with the support of a servant. She was in her pajamas, as if she had slept for a while and woke up in the middle of the night, her first thought being a concern whether Han had eaten or not.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Grandma, why are you up?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried that Han is still not eating!¡± Old Madam Huo looked deeply concerned, ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep soundly, worried that Han might be hungry.¡±


    Saying that, she walked towards Han, ¡°Han, are you hungry? I¡¯ll ask the kitchen to prepare some snacks for you.¡±


    Han shook his head, but his little stomach honestly growled a few times.


    Old Madam Huo playfully flicked his nose, chiding, ¡°Still saying you¡¯re not hungry? I heard your stomach growl!¡±


    Suddenly, the door opened.


    Several female doctors walked out of the room.


    ¡°Mr. Huo.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at them, ¡°How is she?¡±


    The doctors reported respectfully, ¡°Luckily, there are no damaged muscles or bones, mostly superficial injuries. Miss Lin mentioned feeling a bit dizzy, probably a mild concussion, and needs rest.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Have the wounds been dressed?¡±


    The doctor replied, ¡°All dressed.¡±


    Momo rushed into the room heartbrokenly, with Han also stepping in cautiously after her.


    ¡°Han...¡± Old Madam Huo felt a bit stifled, ¡°Why is he so concerned about this woman?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Not sure.¡±


    Old Madam Huo thought for a moment, sighed softly, and said with a pained heart, ¡°Perhaps because he grew up without a mother, Han must have found a motherly feeling in this woman.¡± Saying this, she quickly instructed the servant, ¡°Go prepare the meal.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Old Madam.¡±


    Old Madam Huo: ¡°Tingdong, would you like to eat something?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°No, thanks.¡±


    Old Madam Huo walked towards the room, ¡°I want to make sure Han eats something before I sleep.¡±


    In the Huo Family, Old Madam Huo doted on Han the most. Huo Tingdong could be strict with Han at times, but the old lady treated him as if he were too precious to even touch, fearing he might crumble, or dissolve once in her mouth.


    Huo Tingdong stood at the doorway, looking at Miss Lin lying on the bed.


    Fairly speaking.


    Miss Lin was not the most stunning woman he had ever seen; a beauty of seven or eight points, yet she had soft, enchanting eyes and lustrous pupils, hair like clouds, and slender limbs. The longer he looked, the more her beauty charmed him.


    Looking at Momo, this little one had inherited her excellent physique, his appearance clean and striking.


    He was seven years old.


    That is to say, while he was still unconscious, during the collapse, she was already secretly pregnant with another man¡¯s child.


    But the thought that Lin Jinmo was the son borne out of her infidelity, a cloud of gloom would again appear on Huo Tingdong¡¯s face.


    No one has ever betrayed him.


    Never.


    Therefore, for this woman, his heart is filled with disgust.


    The servants quickly brought in a rich meal.


    Old Madam Huo habitually wanted to feed Han, but saw him standing by the bed, holding a bowl and a spoon, clumsily feeding Lin Qi her favorite sugar heart egg and soft braised pork.


    Old Lady¡¯s eyes nearly popped out!


    What is Han doing?


    He wants to feed Lin Qi himself?


    Lin Qi was also a bit surprised, ¡°Han, you want to feed me?¡±


    Han gently nodded, his eyes sparkling.


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t bear to refuse, so after taking a bite of the food he fed, she noticed a change in Han¡¯s expression, as if he was waiting for her response.


    Lin Qi smiled, ¡°The food Han feeds is especially delicious.¡±


    Her smile was tender and beautiful, Han stared at her smiling face for a long time, his cheeks flushed red, clearly a bit shy.


    Meanwhile, Momo, seeing this scene, felt a bit sour in his heart and a little jealous, ¡°Are you trying to compete with me for Mommy?¡±


    Han looked at him, blinking blankly.


    Momo emphasized again, ¡°Mommy is mine, mine alone.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han quickly showed a look of loss.


    ¡°Momo...¡± Lin Qi knew Momo had been dependent on her since he was young and had a strong possessiveness, but still softly said, ¡°Han won¡¯t compete with you.¡±


    Hearing this, Han put down his bowl, clung to her side, and hugged her hand, rubbing his little face against her shoulder.


    Momo, feeling a sense of alarm in his heart, also hugged Lin Qi¡¯s hand from the other side, telling Han, ¡°She¡¯s my mommy, not yours.¡±


    Han didn¡¯t argue with Momo, just burying his little face in Lin Qi¡¯s arm, exposing only a pair of innocent eyes.


    Lin Qi gently stroked his little head, smiling, ¡°Han is not unhappy!¡±


    Han affectionately rubbed against her palm, seemingly enjoying such caresses.


    Momo felt somewhat aggrieved, feeling that Lin Qi was somewhat siding with Han.


    Beside them, Old Madam had never seen Han like this; in her memory, Han had always been indifferent and distant from everyone, meticulously cared for by nannies and servants. Now, he was not eating himself but actively feeding Lin Qi and being so intimate with her. This was not the Han she knew.


    ¡°Han, you must be hungry too, let granny feed you.¡±


    Old Madam Huo sat next to Han, wanting to feed him herself.


    Momo said, ¡°I¡¯ve been eating by myself since I was four.¡±


    Hearing this, Han gently pushed away Old Lady¡¯s bowl, also wanting to eat by himself.


    Old Lady, surprised to see him eating by himself, felt relieved and walked up to the door.


    ¡°A child still can¡¯t be away from their mother,¡± Old Lady remarked sentimentally. ¡°Tingdong, have you found Han¡¯s biological mother yet?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You should ask yourself that.¡±


    Old Madam looked puzzled, ¡°Ask me?¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid that I wouldn¡¯t wake up, causing the Huo Family to have no heir?¡± Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Is Han possibly born from a woman you found?¡±


    Old Lady knitted her brows, ¡°No! How could I allow those women with unknown backgrounds to bear a Huo Family child?¡± However, she also suspected someone might have stolen Huo Tingdong¡¯s seed to secretly birth Han.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I will clarify Han¡¯s origins as soon as possible, but no matter who his birth mother is, he is my son.¡±


    Old Lady asked, ¡°If you find Han¡¯s birth mother, what then?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I will pursue her responsibility for abandonment. I want her to know what consequences there are for abandoning my son.¡±

 Chapter 19 - 19 Huo Tingdong Falls Ill

    Chapter 19: Chapter 19 Huo Tingdong Falls Ill


    The next day.


    Huace Group¡¯s conference room.


    All the senior executives were in place, waiting for Huo Tingdong to hold the morning meeting as usual.


    ¡°Mr. Huo has arrived.¡±


    The meeting secretary announced.


    As soon as Huo Tingdong entered, the vast conference room suddenly quieted down.


    ...


    ¡°Thud.¡±


    The sound of a file report falling to the ground.


    Huo Tingdong took his seat with an unruffled demeanor, dressed in a crisp suit, his hair neatly styled. However, the handprint on his face was still visible and overly conspicuous.


    The subordinates silently observed the sudden finger marks on his face and began to speculate wildly.


    Huo Tingdong was known for his ascetic personal life; aside from Song Shuyan, no woman could get close to him.


    Could it be that Mr. Huo and Miss Song had an argument?


    Huo Tingdong swept his gaze across the room, looking at the expressions of his subordinates who seemed eager to gossip, and said coldly, ¡°Had enough looks?¡±


    The conference room became even more silent.


    Everyone guiltily lowered their heads, yet occasionally someone would steal a glance.


    Huo Tingdong tugged at his thin lips and said chillingly, ¡°If anyone hasn¡¯t had enough, step forward. I¡¯ll let him have a good look.¡±


    After speaking, he opened the documents in front of him and lightly rapped his knuckles on the marble tabletop, ¡°Let¡¯s begin the meeting.¡±


    The conference room seemingly experienced a chill, and everyone shivered unanimously.


    The meeting ended.


    Mo Ke quickly followed Huo Tingdong to the office.


    He hesitated for a long time but decided to ask, ¡°Mr. Huo, about the injury on your face...¡±


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his brows, ¡°If you keep quiet, no one will mistake you for being mute.¡±


    Mo Ke wished he could sew his own mouth shut.


    ¡°Have you completed the investigation you were assigned?¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°It¡¯s clear now. Mr. Huo, you indeed misjudged Miss Lin. Yesterday, she was at Windsor High School because she was accompanying Lin Jinmo to the entrance examination. Windsor High School offers one scholarship spot each year, the exam is extremely difficult, and all the students failed except for Lin Jinmo.¡±


    ¡°And the result?¡±


    ¡°The principal rejected Lin Jinmo¡¯s application citing that he is from a single-parent family.¡±


    Huo Tingdong pondered briefly, ¡°Did you find out who hit me?¡±


    Mo Ke replied, ¡°I did investigate. It was some suspects in custody who, upon hearing about the human traffickers, became agitated and acted out.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Issue a heavy sentence.¡±


    Mo Ke nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Tingdong!¡±


    At the office door, Song Shuyan had been waiting for a while.


    Huo Tingdong paused, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Song Shuyan, dressed in a white business suit, walked towards him, ¡°I¡¯m off today and wanted to ask if you¡¯re free for lunch...¡±


    She approached and suddenly noticed the red mark on Huo Tingdong¡¯s face, stunned, ¡°Tingdong, your face...¡±


    The fingerprint was so clear, anyone could tell at a glance that someone had slapped him.


    But who would dare to hit Huo Tingdong¡¯s face?


    Huo Tingdong slightly furrowed his brows, ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡±


    Song Shuyan expressed concern, ¡°Who did it? Your grandmother?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Song Shuyan was skeptical, ¡°Your grandma has always adored you, how could she bear to hit you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong changed the subject abruptly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you invite me for a meal? I¡¯ll be free this afternoon.¡±


    Song Shuyan, a shrewd person herself, noticed Huo Tingdong was clearly avoiding the topic, and didn¡¯t press him further.


    ...


    Late into the night.


    Huo Tingdong returned to the Huo Family mansion, deep into the night.


    As he entered, a servant took his coat and reported on Han¡¯s condition: ¡°Today, Han was very happy. He spent the whole day with Miss Lin, who read many fairy tales to him from the storybook you bought for him. He has already fallen asleep.¡±


    Huo Tingdong uttered a hum and headed upstairs.


    The servant immediately added, ¡°Tonight, Han is sleeping in Miss Lin¡¯s room.¡±


    Huo Tingdong paused, then turned towards Lin Qi¡¯s room.


    He gently pushed the door open.


    A warm wall lamp was left on by the bed.


    Lin Qi lay in the middle, with Momo and Han on her left and right, sleeping by her sides.


    Due to her injuries, she had to lie flat; each Little Baby, one hugging her neck, the other her waist, both sleeping soundly.


    Huo Tingdong walked to the bedside, looking at Han¡¯s adorable sleeping face, and slowly bent down to kiss his forehead.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s words echoed in his ear: ¡°Tingdong... A woman¡¯s youth is very precious. I¡¯ve waited for you so many years, not for a status, but because you are the man I decided to love and wait for my entire life. I¡¯ve made all the necessary mental preparations, swearing to give Han a warm home, to become your best wife and the best mom for Han. When... when will you marry me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s fingers gently stroked Han¡¯s face.


    Beside them, Momo quietly opened his eyes, under the light, the handsome and gentle side profile of Huo Tingdong kissing Han was charming and tender.


    He had never seen such a gentle Huo Tingdong.


    Perhaps only in front of Han would he shed the arrogance and sharpness of ¡°Huo Tingdong¡± to reveal this valuable tenderness.


    He is Han¡¯s dad, and also his dad.


    But he can¡¯t acknowledge him.


    If he does, he would have to be separated from Mommy.


    He used to not mind, but now, seeing the tender and affectionate scene of Huo Tingdong kissing Han, there was a moment in his heart, a longing for the fatherly love so close yet untouchable.


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t notice Momo had awoken. When he stood up, Momo quickly closed his eyes pretending to be asleep.


    He glanced at Momo and then at Lin Qi, turned, and quietly left the room, gently closing the door behind him.


    Momo buried his little face in Lin Qi¡¯s neck, stopped speculating wildly, and closed his eyes to sleep.


    A tender hand gently stroked his forehead.


    Lin Qi hadn¡¯t fallen asleep, always a light sleeper; she woke up when Huo Tingdong entered the room, just pretending with her eyes slightly open and saw Momo secretly watching Huo Tingdong and Han, with a touch of envy in his eyes.


    Was his heart also yearning for paternal love?


    Lin Qi got out of bed, tucked in the two little ones, and walked out of the room.


    The empty corridor was large and unfamiliar in the Huo mansion.


    It was so late that even the servants had retired; only one room on the third floor was lit.


    Lin Qi walked over, the door slightly ajar, through the crack, she saw Huo Tingdong holding a pen, signing some documents.


    Still working so late?


    Lin Qi turned to leave, hadn¡¯t walked far when suddenly she heard the sound of hurried breaths from the study.


    ¡°Huff... Hah huff...¡±


    The urgent breathing, coupled with a man¡¯s hoarse gasp, and a ¡°thump,¡± it sounded as if something heavy had fallen to the ground.


    Such familiar breaths, they were not new to her.


    Lin Qi anxiously rushed back to the door, pushed it wide open, and saw Huo Tingdong collapsed on the carpet, face up, his breathing more urgent, his handsome face red and contorted in severe pain, his hands tightly clutching the carpet.


    Hyperventilation!

 Chapter 20 - 20 Do Not Flatter Yourself

    Chapter 20: Chapter 20 Do Not Flatter Yourself


    Lin Qi knew this illness.


    Momo had the same symptoms when she was younger, seemingly due to genetics.


    The onset mechanism of this disease is very dangerous.


    Rapid breathing, leading to a failure to exchange air, could result in loss of consciousness or even shock.


    Lin Qi moved closer to Huo Tingdong, ¡°Huo Tingdong?¡±


    Huo Tingdong was completely oblivious to who was next to him; his heart felt as if it was tightly blocked, his breaths became more and more rapid, his body stiffened, curling into a ball.


    ...


    He was quickly losing the ability to breathe.


    The man, in agony, tore at his tie, ripping it apart, and the buttons on his shirt placket came off.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t have time to think too much, she grabbed his shoulders, placed her hands on his chest, and performed several rounds of resuscitation.


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his brows, and in his blurry vision, he could see Lin Qi¡¯s indistinct face and her urgent yet fading voice, ¡°Huo Tingdong... Huo Tingdong!¡±


    Huo Tingdong closed his eyes weakly, as his breathing momentarily stopped.


    Lin Qi panicked, held his jaw with one hand lifting it, embraced the back of his neck with the other, leaned down, and pressed her lips against his cold thin ones, delivering a steady stream of oxygen to him.


    ¡°Huff... Huff...¡±


    Lin Qi alternated between artificial respiration and CPR.


    Gradually, the color returned to Huo Tingdong¡¯s face, and he slowly regained consciousness.


    As the man opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Lin Qi¡¯s delicate face close at hand, her lips sealed over his, her lips soft and warm, and he instinctively pushed her away.


    Lin Qi, caught off guard, fell sitting to the ground.


    Seeing that he had awakened, she finally relaxed the tension in her body.


    Huo Tingdong slowly sat up from the ground, adjusted his breathing, ran his fingers over his lips, which seemed to still retain the warmth of her lips, and he furrowed his brows, gazing deeply at her.


    Lin Qi felt her scalp tingle as he glared at her, ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Who gave you permission to touch my lips?¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned, and a mix of laughter and tears flashed across her face, ¡°I saw you having an attack.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You¡¯re taking advantage of my attack to throw yourself into my arms?¡±


    Lin Qi found him unreasonable, ¡°Huo Tingdong, I was administering emergency measures to save your life, or else, you would have died unknowingly in the study tonight.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Are you cursing me?¡±


    Lin Qi scoffed, ¡°Huo Tingdong, are you still a virgin? Don¡¯t you understand the difference between artificial respiration and a kiss?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face grew a few shades paler.


    ¡°Then let me teach you today what artificial respiration is and what a kiss is.¡± Lin Qi suddenly moved close to him, wrapped her arm around his neck, and kissed him again.


    Huo Tingdong was surprised, he didn¡¯t even close his eyes, staring in astonishment at the woman before him.


    Up close, Lin Qi¡¯s smooth face without a single visible pore, her fair and tender skin, dewy eyes, proud nose bridge, and eyelashes lightly brushed across his face, tickling, as if fluttering across his heart.


    His heart, unexpectedly, missed a few beats.


    He thought he was not a man to be easily tempted by physical attraction; not every beautiful woman could move his heart.


    However, at this moment, his heart was thumping uncontrollably.


    After a while.


    Lin Qi finally moved her lips away, and upon realizing what she had done, she too was somewhat dazed and annoyed.


    What was she doing?


    How could she... do such a thing to him?


    Lin Qi¡¯s face flushed red instantly; she lifted her gaze, only to meet the man¡¯s mocking scrutiny; she bit her lip and fiercely wiped her face with the back of her hand, then glared back at him, ¡°I was just... trying to teach you the difference between artificial respiration and a kiss!¡±


    Huo Tingdong mocked with a smile, ¡°Should I then be grateful for your instruction?¡±


    Lin Qi was bewildered for a few seconds, and the next second, the man suddenly stood up and forcefully pressed her down to the ground.


    His slender fingers traced her shoulder, and then, Huo Tingdong grasped her jaw, forcing her to look at him.


    ¡°Lin Qi, you¡¯re tempting me to commit a sin,¡± Huo Tingdong¡¯s deep eyes fixated on her face, slowly descending until they rested on her collarbone.


    She was an extremely sensitive person, once her face turned red, her entire skin would also blush, even her ear roots, collarbone, all turning red like a juicy peach.


    Huo Tingdong squinted his eyes, ¡°Do you think that I¡¯m not a normal man, and therefore, you believe I wouldn¡¯t lose control and do something to you?¡±


    Lin Qi pushed him, but the man¡¯s body was so heavy, no matter how she pushed, he remained unmovable, ¡°What are you trying to do?¡±


    Huo Tingdong leaned in, his stunningly handsome face drawing closer.


    Between their faces, only a narrow distance remained.


    She could even feel that the limited air she could breathe was filled with the warmth of his breath.


    Only then did Lin Qi notice, the man¡¯s lips, sharp and angular, carved out like with a knife, it¡¯s often said that such thin-lipped men are extremely cold-hearted, but... unreasonably sexy.


    The man exuded an irresistible pheromone scent, wrapping her up entirely.


    Such a man would make it difficult for any woman not to be moved.


    Lin Qi¡¯s heartbeat sped up even more, her hands nervously clenching into fists.


    Yet Huo Tingdong chuckled, ¡°Why the self-indulgence? You think I¡¯m interested in a woman that¡¯s been touched by other men?¡±


    Lin Qi froze instantly.


    Huo Tingdong continued, ¡°I have a thing about cleanliness, I have no interest in you, don¡¯t think I¡¯m the kind of man who can¡¯t control his lower half, so stop playing these catch-and-release games with me.¡±


    After speaking, he let her go.


    Lin Qi sat up from the ground with a pale face, the man¡¯s piercing words still echoing in her ears.


    A woman touched by other men...


    What did he take her for?


    Turns out, he truly believed she was the kind of woman who, even after being married, would still have affairs with other men.


    He didn¡¯t have the slightest doubt that Momo was his son, not a trace of suspicion.


    Lin Qi knew that his lack of suspicion was good for her, was advantageous, but her heart didn¡¯t feel right.


    She didn¡¯t want to be seen as so cheap by him, yet she couldn¡¯t really tell him Momo¡¯s origins.


    It seemed he was particularly heartless, and it wasn¡¯t certain that he would accept her for the sake of Momo.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t say anything, and got up to leave the study.


    Huo Tingdong rubbed his forehead, feeling somewhat of a headache.


    He knew that what she did earlier was artificial respiration, he was clear in his mind that this was one of the emergency treatments for hyperventilation, yet he wasn¡¯t accustomed to such intimacy with a woman, instinctively resistant.


    She... how did she know the first aid for hyperventilation?


    Huo Tingdong frowned with suspicion.


    In the bedroom.


    Huo Tingdong took a shower, changed into pajamas, and lay down on the bed.


    Wearing an oxygen mask, he breathed in the pure oxygen slowly, and outside it was already daylight.


    Huo Tingdong sent Mo Ke a message: Cancel tomorrow¡¯s regular meeting.


    ...


    Lin Qi stayed at the Huo Family home for a week to recover from her injuries.


    It was evident that Han was very happy, he seemed to very much enjoy the time spent with her.


    Momo, however, was very eager to return home.


    After a week, her injuries had slightly healed.


    When Huo Tingdong returned from the company, a servant said, ¡°Mr. Huo, Miss Lin is leaving.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Arrange a car to take her home.¡±


    The servant¡¯s face showed conflicted emotions, hesitating to speak.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    The servant cautiously said, ¡°Miss Lin is leaving, and the young master is very unhappy.¡±

 Chapter 21 - 21 Han wants to leave with her

    Chapter 21: Chapter 21 Han wants to leave with her


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his eyebrows.


    Inside the room, Lin Qi had packed her things and she and Momo had changed clothes, then they went downstairs.


    Lin Qi saw Huo Tingdong had returned and turned her face away, treating him like air.


    Han was suddenly nowhere to be seen.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Where is Han?¡± Before she left, she wanted to properly say ¡°goodbye¡± to Han.


    Old Madam Huo said with bewilderment, ¡°Just now Han was still in the living room...¡±


    ...


    Before she could finish, a ¡°heave-ho¡± sound suddenly came from the second-floor staircase.


    Lin Qi followed the sound and saw Han wearing a beautiful little suit and a cute sailor¡¯s hat, carrying a heavy suitcase downstairs step by step.


    The suitcase was almost as tall as he was. It was large, heavy, and cumbersome, so Han struggled with it, needing to stop and stick his little backside out after each step to check his footing. His lotus-like white little legs felt out the marble step before placing the other foot down.


    His clothes seemed self-put-on, one sock longer than the other, the hat on his head askew, but his clothes were neat, and his bangs were combed orderly, suggesting he dressed up with care.


    Lin Qi was amused by his comical appearance, but for a moment she didn¡¯t know what he was up to.


    Where did this suitcase come from?


    Old Madam Huo was utterly taken aback, ¡°Han, what are you doing?¡±


    She immediately walked over, while the servants rushed to support her, ¡°Old Madam, be careful!¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Han, what are you doing?¡±


    Han put down the suitcase, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and stood beside the suitcase that was packed full. It was a 38-inch suitcase he had taken from Huo Tingdong¡¯s room, which Huo used for business trips and was big enough to stuff two Hans inside.


    Huo Tingdong approached and opened up the suitcase; it was filled with Han¡¯s clothes and some of his favorite toys, and even his preferred snacks.


    Han walked over, closed the suitcase lid, zipped it up, and pushed it next to Lin Qi. Then, without looking back, he ran upstairs again.


    While everyone was confused, they heard a series of cheerful footsteps, ¡°pitter-patter,¡± and Han came downstairs again, happily wearing a Pikachu backpack.


    He looked at Lin Qi, suddenly walked towards her, grabbed the corner of her clothes with his small hand, and showed puppy-dog eyes.


    Momo understood the eagerness in his eyes and said defensively, ¡°You don¡¯t really want to go with us, do you?¡±


    Han nodded seriously.


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡±


    Momo: ¡°...¡±


    Old Madam Huo became anxious, ¡°My little ancestor, where are you going? Don¡¯t you want your great-grandma anymore?¡±


    Han glanced at Old Madam Huo, then abruptly turned his body away, staring at Lin Qi intently.


    It seemed he had really made up his mind to run away with Lin Qi.


    Quite heartlessly at that.


    His resolute expression said it all.


    Old Madam Huo¡¯s heart felt shattered, unable to believe that Han really didn¡¯t want her anymore.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, stop this nonsense.¡±


    He carried such a big suitcase; was he preparing to run away from home?


    Huo Tingdong cast a suspicious look at Lin Qi, ¡°What did you say to him?¡±


    Lin Qi was perplexed, ¡°I didn¡¯t say anything.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You still claim you didn¡¯t abduct my son. Without any reason, why would he want to leave with you?¡±


    Han glanced at Huo Tingdong, then Lin Qi, and shuffled towards Lin Qi¡¯s side, completely ignoring Huo Tingdong.


    The situation became somewhat stalemate.


    As Lin Qi walked towards the door, Han followed her like a tail, seemingly afraid of being left behind by Lin Qi, wanting to go home with her.


    Momo was a bit annoyed now, ¡°You can¡¯t go home with us.¡±


    Han looked up at Momo with a puzzled ¡°why¡± expression on his face.


    Momo felt that this guy was clearly getting clingy with Mommy.


    Lin Qi squatted down, gently held Han¡¯s shoulders, and cooed, ¡°Han, you can¡¯t go with Auntie, be a good boy, okay?¡±


    Han pouted with a look of sadness, his gaze flickering as if asking her, ¡°Why don¡¯t you want me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, are you not listening to Daddy anymore?¡±


    Reluctantly, Han twisted his body, clearly not taking a single word from Huo Tingdong¡¯s somewhat stern remark to heart.


    ¡°Han?¡± Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice grew colder.


    Han turned his back to him, his ears moved, but he remained indifferent.


    Huo Tingdong called out his full name, ¡°Huo Tinghan!¡±


    Startled, Han trembled and quickly hid behind Lin Qi. It was obvious he didn¡¯t want to spend even a day away from Lin Qi.


    Huo Tinghan...


    That¡¯s Han¡¯s full name?!


    It¡¯s hard to imagine that such an adorable Han would have such a domineering name.


    Momo said, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go!¡±


    He took Lin Qi¡¯s hand and attempted to leave.


    Now Han panicked, hurried over, spread his arms, and blocked their way.


    Momo asked with disapproval, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Han came over, grabbed his hand, and held on tight.


    Momo¡¯s face turned red, feeling somewhat shy. He tried to pull away his small hand, but Han hugged him tightly again, the pleasing expression on his face as if saying: We¡¯re good friends, so don¡¯t leave me behind.


    Momo: ¡°...¡± He wasn¡¯t a heartless child, and seeing Han being so attentive, he found himself unable to push him away.


    Seeing he had perhaps won over Momo¡¯s heart, Han tugged at his hand, fished around in his pocket for a long time, finally taking something out, and spread his palm open to reveal two beautifully wrapped candies.


    Momo stared at Han, then saw the undisguised hope in his eyes.


    His heart softened, and he turned to Lin Qi, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s take Han with us!¡±


    ¡°No way!¡± Old Madam Huo felt it was unreasonable, ¡°Where do you plan to take my precious great-grandson?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°He insists on going with us!¡±


    ¡°Tingdong!¡± Old Madam Huo looked anxiously at Huo Tingdong, ¡°If all else fails, just keep her here!¡± She couldn¡¯t bear to be parted from Han.


    Huo Tingdong frowned but saw Momo awkwardly say, ¡°I don¡¯t want to stay here.¡±


    Old Madam Huo felt he was being unreasonable, ¡°Where has the Huo Family ever mistreated you? For so long, the Huo Family has hosted you and your mother, provided for you well, and taken good care of you. What are you unsatisfied with?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°This isn¡¯t my home.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said to Lin Qi, ¡°Let¡¯s have a proper talk.¡±


    Lin Qi retorted, ¡°What do we have to talk about?¡±


    But Huo Tingdong had already started walking towards the upstairs.


    After hesitating for a moment, Lin Qi also followed him upstairs.


    In the study.


    As soon as Lin Qi entered the room, Huo Tingdong turned around to face her and said, ¡°I don¡¯t care what you¡¯ve promised Han, but now that he can¡¯t be without you, you will stay in the Huo Family and you¡¯re not allowed to go anywhere.¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°Are you trying to illegally detain me again?¡±


    ¡°Detain?¡± Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯m asking you to take care of Han. You can state your terms as an exchange.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You want me to be Han¡¯s nanny?¡±

 Chapter 22 - 22 He is My Ex-Husband

    Chapter 22: Chapter 22 He is My Ex-Husband


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°If you¡¯re willing, I¡¯ll pay you at the highest hourly wage.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m not willing.¡± It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t want to take care of Han, but she had to work, earn money to support Momo, and her ambition was not in this.


    Moreover, Han was too precious. If she became Han¡¯s nanny and made any mistakes, the Huo Family would never let her off the hook.


    She couldn¡¯t bear such a heavy responsibility.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I heard that you want to send Momo to Windsor High School.¡±


    Lin Qi was startled, and then visibly shocked, ¡°You investigated me?¡±


    ...


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Why would I let a woman of unknown background stay in the Huo Mansion? I just did a routine background check on you. When you married me, it was following your father¡¯s wishes. After our divorce, the Lin Family cast you out, and for seven years, you¡¯ve raised Momo alone. I heard Momo has been sick since he was young, and you spent millions on his treatment, only just clearing the debts this year. Now you¡¯re unemployed; at this rate, you can¡¯t afford to send your son to Windsor High School.¡±


    Lin Qi slightly furrowed her brow.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Lin Qi, you owe me a favor, and it won¡¯t be a loss for you.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I don¡¯t want your money, but I have three conditions.¡± She thought for a moment, then said, ¡°Three conditions.¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°Let¡¯s hear them.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°First, I want Momo to attend Windsor High School, and you certainly have the ability to arrange for Momo¡¯s enrollment.¡±


    Huo Tingdong held up a finger, ¡°What¡¯s next?¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°Second, I can treat Han as my own child. As well as I treat Han, you have to treat Momo the same.¡± Since Momo and Huo Tingdong cannot acknowledge their father-son relationship, perhaps this compensation could somehow make up for it.


    Huo Tingdong held up a second finger, ¡°And?¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°Third, I don¡¯t want to live in the Huo Mansion. I don¡¯t like living in such a big house, you must arrange another place for me to live.¡±


    Huo Tingdong held up a third finger.


    ¡°And one more thing...¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°You can¡¯t interfere with my personal life.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Four conditions.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°That¡¯s all. If you agree, I will agree to take care of Han.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Fine, I accept.¡±


    He sat down on the sofa and said, ¡°First, give me a week, I will arrange for Momo¡¯s admission; second, I will treat Momo as well as I do Han, equally strict; third, also within a week, I will arrange a different place to live; fourth, I have no interest in your personal life, not to mention interfering.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°That¡¯s good.¡±


    Living room.


    Lin Qi slowly descended the stairs.


    She walked up to Han and said to him, ¡°Han, Auntie will stay to play with you and take care of you, okay?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han¡¯s eyes instantly lit up with joy, nodding emphatically.


    Momo looked surprised, he doubted and said, ¡°Mommy, why did you suddenly agree to stay?¡±


    Had she reached some agreement with Huo Tingdong?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo, get along well with Han in the future, okay?¡±


    Momo and Han exchanged glances, then said, ¡°It¡¯s not impossible, but will Mommy share her love for me with Han?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Mommy loves you, but she will also share half of her love with Han.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Momo¡¯s eyes showed a hint of loss.


    He could share everything with Han, but the love of Lin Qi was something he had a strong desire to possess, and he wasn¡¯t too willing to share.


    ...


    It must be said that Huo Tingdong¡¯s efficiency was very high. In just three days, Lin Qi received the admission notice from Windsor High School.


    Along with the admission notice came a Windsor High School custom backpack, and two school officials.


    They were here to collect Momo¡¯s personal information and to measure Momo¡¯s height and weight, in order to tailor two sets of school uniforms for him.


    However, in stark contrast, Lin Qi¡¯s resume faced repeated rejections.


    Her educational background was a real hindrance. Even though she had self-studied and obtained many certifications over the past seven years, many companies, especially the foreign ones she interviewed with, valued formal education credentials.


    Just after Momo had been measured and returned to his room, he saw Lin Qi just finishing a phone call, looking somewhat dejected.


    ¡°Mommy?¡±


    He approached her and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mommy? Why aren¡¯t you happy?¡±


    Lin Qi touched his little head and said, ¡°Mommy wants to give Momo the best life, wants to work hard to support Momo, but... all the resumes Mommy has sent out have been rejected.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°They¡¯re fools not to see how capable Mommy is.¡±


    There was a knock at the door.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Come in.¡±


    The servant opened the door and walked in, saying to Lin Qi, ¡°Miss Lin, Mr. Huo asks you to come downstairs.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°What for?¡±


    The servant shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t know. Mr. Huo only asked me to notify you to come downstairs.¡±


    Just as Lin Qi and Momo went downstairs, they saw Mo Ke in the living room, waiting for a while. Seeing Lin Qi descend, he immediately approached her.


    Lin Qi recognized Mo Ke, Huo Tingdong¡¯s assistant.


    ¡°Miss Lin!¡± Mo Ke approached and said to her, ¡°Mr. Huo and the young master are already in the car waiting for you.¡±


    ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯ll know once you get in the car.¡±


    Lin Qi, holding Momo¡¯s hand, walked to the door, where an Alphard was parked, its door wide open.


    Huo Tingdong was sitting in the back, with a laptop on his lap, his fingers lightly gliding over the touchpad, while Han, dressed in a beautiful outfit, was sitting beside him, sharing the same serious expression as Huo Tingdong.


    But upon seeing Lin Qi, Han¡¯s eyes sparkled.


    Lin Qi, holding Momo, got in the car and asked, ¡°Where are we going?¡±


    Huo Tingdong turned the laptop screen to show her.


    Lin Qi looked closely for a moment, and it turned out to be the official website of a real estate sales office.


    Yuhua Mansion.


    Luxury houses priced at four hundred thousand per square meter, top-notch residences.


    At the Yuhua Mansion sales office.


    The salesperson laid out several floor plan options in front of Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi.


    ¡°These are our current best-selling models, 400 square meters, 360 square meters, and 280 square meters, all large flats with excellent locations and wide views,¡± she explained while sizing up Huo Tingdong.


    She didn¡¯t know the identity of the man before her, but his natural nobility made her realize that this man must be extremely wealthy or of high status.


    Lin Qi was somewhat taken aback.


    A 400 square meter flat...


    How huge was that?


    Noticing the confusion and amazement in her eyes, the salesperson immediately said, ¡°The 400 square meter model has a living and dining room area of a hundred square meters, with a five-bedroom and three-living room design, and moreover, each room is a suite with an independent bathroom and walk-in closet.¡±


    A luxury house priced at four hundred thousand per square meter for 400 square meters, in total, would cost 1.6 billion.


    So expensive...


    Her cell phone rang.


    Huo Tingdong stood up to take the call, saying to Lin Qi, ¡°You have a look first.¡±


    Lin Qi was speechless.


    What was he bringing her here for?


    She couldn¡¯t afford it.


    Seeing Huo Tingdong walk away, the salesperson tentatively asked, ¡°Ma¡¯am, is he your husband?¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    The salesperson was startled, ¡°Then what is your relationship?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°He¡¯s my ex-husband.¡±

 Chapter 23: Enemies on a Narrow Road

    Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Enemies on a Narrow Road


    Ex-husband?


    Divorced?


    The salesperson was even more dumbfounded.


    She really couldn¡¯t understand.


    If it were her, with such a handsome and wealthy husband, even if he kept many lovers outside, she would never be willing to divorce him.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this apartment type too big?¡±


    ...


    The salesperson said, ¡°If you think this apartment type is big, you might want to check out the 280 square meter ones.¡±


    Saying so, she pushed the 280 square meter apartment floor plan in front of her.


    Lin Qi was looking when the manager suddenly came over and said, ¡°Xiao Xu, stop promoting the 280 square meter ones, they¡¯re all sold out.¡±


    ¡°Sold out?¡±


    The manager said, ¡°The eldest young master of the Su Family and his fiance?e came to view properties and just finalized this set as their wedding house.¡±


    The salesperson nodded, a look of envy appearing in her eyes, she looked at Lin Qi and said, ¡°Miss Lin, I¡¯m sorry, as you heard, the 280 square meter apartment type is sold out.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Is it that popular?¡± There really are a lot of wealthy people in Beijing.


    Just as she was thinking this to herself, she suddenly heard a surprised voice: ¡°Lin Qi?¡±


    Lin Qi heard the familiar voice, her body stiffened, and she turned around.


    Three meters away.


    Lin Qianqian, holding a man¡¯s arm, stared at her surprisingly, ¡°What are you doing here?¡±


    Lin Qianqian...


    Why would I run into her here?


    Speaking of this half-sister from the same father but different mother, Lin Qi frowned, turned her face, pretending not to recognize her.


    After their father married their stepmother, he had Lin Zhehan and Lin Qianqian, while her life was worse than that of an illegitimate daughter.


    Back when the Lin Family business faced problems, her father forced her to marry Huo Tingdong, claiming it was a blessing to marry into the well-known Huo Family in Beijing.


    If it were something good, how could it have fallen to her lot?


    Marrying Huo Tingdong was merely the Old Madam¡¯s way of ensuring the Huo Family had an heir. Before the marriage, she signed an agreement, stripping her of any claim to property; moreover, marrying Huo Tingdong essentially meant that she was leading a widow¡¯s life.


    After the Lin Family business got better, Lin Zhehan and Lin Qianqian still lived the life of rich young masters.


    Three years ago, Lin Qianqian got engaged to the eldest son of the Su Family.


    The Su Family is a renowned wealthy family in Beijing; Lin Qianqian¡¯s marriage was considered reaching the branches of high status and naturally she was very pleased with herself.


    It¡¯s said that it¡¯s better to marry well than to be born well, this marriage naturally became a talking point for the Lin Family. With the support of the Su Family, the Lin Family business soared even higher, and Lin Zhehan took over the Lin Family business, prospering greatly.


    When Momo was born in poor health and moved to the neonatal unit, the costs were tens of thousands every day.


    At her wit¡¯s end, Lin Qi had sought help from the Lin Family only to be chased out like a stray dog, and since then, she cut off ties with the Lin Family completely.


    The manager looked at Lin Qianqian and asked, ¡°Miss Lin, do you know each other?¡±


    Lin Qianqian paused, her tone cold, ¡°Not familiar.¡±


    She was wondering why Lin Qi would suddenly appear here, her eyes shifted, and she said with a purpose, ¡°Lin Qi, are you here for a job interview?¡±


    The salesperson laughed, ¡°Miss Lin, this lady is our client.¡±


    ¡°Client?¡± Lin Qianqian scoffed, ¡°As far as I know, she can¡¯t afford Yuhua Mansion. Yuhua Mansion is well-known in Beijing for being luxurious, don¡¯t you verify financial status when receiving clients? Don¡¯t waste time on such people.¡±


    The smile on the face of the salesperson froze.


    Lin Qi knew Lin Qianqian was intentionally making things difficult, said, ¡°Lin Qianqian, mind your own business, like you said, we aren¡¯t close.¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°I just feel sorry for the salesperson wasting time on you, can you even afford a place here? Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know, you can hardly pay a monthly rent of four thousand!¡±


    The salesperson looked at Lin Qi, also feeling worried, after all, for those in sales, not closing a deal is a waste of time.


    Could this woman really not qualify to buy a house?


    The salesperson said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, can you provide a financial verification report?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I don¡¯t have a financial verification report.¡±


    The manager and the salesperson exchanged a look, becoming even more cautious, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but all clients who view properties at our Yuhua Mansion are required to present a financial verification report of fifty million. Without a net asset of fifty million, it¡¯s impossible to view the properties.¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Don¡¯t waste your time, she can¡¯t produce it. Go outside and see, even the beggars have more money than she does.¡±


    This remark from Lin Qianqian was a satire that Lin Qi is even worse than a beggar.


    Beside them, Momo and Han ¡°swished¡± their gaze toward Lin Qianqian.


    They could tell this woman was bullying Lin Qi.


    Momo coldly said, ¡°What fly buzzed in here? Buzzing nonstop.¡±


    Han also glared at Lin Qianqian, arms crossed, and snorted.


    Lin Qianqian disdainfully said, ¡°Who are you to act up in front of me?¡±


    Momo pretended to be surprised, ¡°Ah, isn¡¯t that Lin Qianqian, Aunt Lin? I didn¡¯t recognize you, since Aunt Lin I saw as a child didn¡¯t look like this!¡±


    As he spoke, he scrutinized Lin Qianqian, rubbing his chin, ¡°Plastic surgery? Did you get a new face! Before you were so ugly even a pig would crash into a tree if it glanced at you!¡±


    ¡°Pfft.¡±


    Lin Qi was amused by Momo¡¯s sharp tongue.


    He managed to insult Lin Qianqian thoroughly without a single swear word.


    Lin Qianqian got agitated indeed.


    She glanced at her fiance? beside her, her face turning green with anxiety, ¡°Lin Qi, is this the little bastard you gave birth to?¡±


    She haughtily pointed at Momo, mocking, ¡°This bastard is still alive? When he was born, he was barely alive, the doctors said he wouldn¡¯t survive a year, born defective, I didn¡¯t expect him to grow this big, really lucky.¡±


    Lin Qi heard this, struggling to contain her anger.


    She was about to stand up, but Momo held her back, giving her a slight smile.


    ¡°Mommy, be classy, don¡¯t lose your composure because of such people.¡± After saying that, Momo turned around, casting a cold glance at Lin Qianqian, ¡°I¡¯ve seen people bound feet in feudal society, but I didn¡¯t expect to see someone with a bound brain like yours in today¡¯s world. You call me defective, have you weighed yourself? Not only have you injected Botox into your face, but your brain too, right? Oh no, wait, I think what¡¯s sitting on your neck isn¡¯t a brain, but a malignant tumor, you better get to a hospital and have it removed.¡±


    Lin Qianqian turned pale with rage, ¡°You...¡±


    Momo elegantly yet sarcastically said, ¡°You¡¯re just a ditch eel splashed with seawater, seriously thinking of yourself as seafood! A toad trying to act like a frog, ugly but trying to play delicate.¡±


    ¡°You little brat, why is your mouth so venomous?¡± Beside them, Lin Qianqian¡¯s fiance? couldn¡¯t bear it any longer, raising his voice.


    Momo replied, ¡°What brand of trash bag are you, carrying so much?¡±


    Han stood by, his eyes wide with astonishment.


    Though Momo wasn¡¯t speaking fast, his retaliations were fierce and absolute.

 Chapter 24 - 24 The House is Registered in Her Name

    Chapter 24: Chapter 24 The House is Registered in Her Name


    Lin Qianqian gritted her teeth in anger and thought, this little bastard! Why didn¡¯t he die of illness when he was younger?


    ¡°What are you all standing around for?¡± Lin Qianqian pointed at Lin Qi and the two Little Babys and said, ¡°Kick them all out for me! I am your customer, the owner of a place at Yuhua Mansion. Are you just going to stand here and watch your customers get bullied?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes.¡±


    The manager and the sales staff called security, ready to expel them.


    Yet Mo Ke walked over, saw Lin Qi being surrounded by people, and spoke with displeasure, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    The manager said, ¡°This lady has not provided proof of funds and does not qualify to purchase a home.¡±


    ...


    Mo Ke furrowed his brows. Before he had a chance to say anything, Huo Tingdong finished his phone call and came back, glancing over, ¡°What¡¯s happened?¡±


    ¡°They¡¯re about to kick Miss Lin out.¡±


    The manager hurriedly explained, ¡°Sir, we at Yuhua Mansion have strict selection criteria for our customers. One needs to provide a financial proof report before they can make a purchase...¡±


    Huo Tingdong interrupted, ¡°I don¡¯t need that kind of thing.¡±


    The manager said, ¡°Unless you are making an outright cash purchase...¡± Saying that, he looked at Lin Qi doubtfully. He didn¡¯t believe that Lin Qi looked like someone who could fork out hundreds of millions in cash all at once.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Do you need a loan for a house that costs four hundred thousand per square meter?¡±


    Hearing this, Lin Qianqian¡¯s face turned green with envy.


    This man is really showing off his wealth!


    He looked refined and noble, but how much wealth must one possess to pay for a house at Yuhua Mansion in full?


    She glanced at Su Yuan.


    The Su Family in Beijing was also a distinguished family. They had purchased their wedding home at Yuhua Mansion too, but had done so with a fifty percent down payment. Being able to shell out a down payment of more than sixty million was already a display of formidable financial strength that many people could only dream of.


    Lin Qianqian couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances at Huo Tingdong, quickly recognizing the suit he was wearing ¨C an Armani custom-made piece costing a hundred and twenty thousand.


    Who was he, and what was his relationship with Lin Qi?


    Huo Tingdong asked Lin Qi, ¡°Which set did you have your eye on?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Why are you asking me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong responded, ¡°Isn¡¯t this one of the demands you made to me?¡±


    Lin Qi was speechless.


    All she demanded was a separate place to stay, not specifically to buy a house.


    Besides, would this house purchase be under her name?


    Was it up to her to decide?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°The 280 square meter one is sold out.¡± She didn¡¯t expect Huo Tingdong to spend hundreds of millions just because of her request to buy a 400 square meter flat.


    Lin Qianqian couldn¡¯t stand to watch any longer and mocked, ¡°What kind of play are you two putting on? The last set of 280 square meters has been booked by me for my wedding home! If you can¡¯t afford it, then get out of here!¡±


    It was said that the large-sized units of 360 and 400 square meters at Yuhua Mansion were intended for the creme de la creme of society, and most wealthy families couldn¡¯t afford them, hence only three had been sold so far.


    Because they were too expensive.


    Even more so, 160 million could buy many decently located villas in Beijing.


    Huo Tingdong swept a cold glance at Lin Qianqian.


    With just one look, Lin Qianqian felt as though her heels were frozen and her heart skipped a beat.


    The man¡¯s gaze was too intimidating!


    Even with a detached demeanor, his natural authority exuded a terrifying sense of pressure.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Are you talking to me?¡±


    Lin Qianqian faltered for a moment, ¡°I... I meant her!¡± She pointed at Lin Qi, ¡°She can¡¯t afford a house here. What¡¯s she doing puffing herself up to look bigger than she is?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Did I say I was going to buy it?¡±


    Huo Tingdong declared, ¡°If the 280 square meter layout isn¡¯t available, let¡¯s buy the 400 square meter one.¡±


    His words had just landed, and everyone was still processing them. A few seconds later, all present were stunned.


    Huo Tingdong added, ¡°Pay in full.¡± He then instructed Mo Ke, ¡°Use my personal account.¡±


    Pay in full?!


    The manager tentatively asked, ¡°Sir, are you serious?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have time to joke with you.¡±


    The manager said, ¡°The unit price for this design varies between four hundred and four hundred and thirty thousand... Sir, may I ask your esteemed surname?¡±


    Huo Tingdong answered, ¡°I go by ¡®Huo¡¯.¡±


    Seeing that he didn¡¯t seem to be joking, the manager immediately perked up like on adrenaline, ¡°Will you be paying in full today or... signing a subscription agreement today?¡±


    ¡°Today.¡± Huo Tingdong suddenly lifted his hand, pointing at Lin Qi, ¡°Register it under her name.¡±


    At this moment, Lin Qi herself was taken aback.


    She furrowed her brows, looking at Huo Tingdong with some disbelief, not quite grasping it, ¡°Under my name?¡±


    Is he buying this suite to gift it to her?


    No wonder Mo Ke specifically asked her to bring her ID before leaving, so this was why.


    Lin Qi also remembered Huo Tingdong¡¯s words ¨C the favor she owed him wouldn¡¯t be a loss.


    Was the favor he offered too extravagant?


    Perhaps, to Huo Tingdong, a 160 million yuan house was nothing.


    As the president of Huace Group and future heir of the Huo Family, Huo Tingdong could turn Beijing upside down with a flick of his wrist.


    Momo heard and was somewhat skeptical; although it sounded like the man was quite generous, a 160 million yuan house wasn¡¯t cheap. In the future, would he impose many harsh conditions on Mommy in return for this favor?


    But another thought crossed her mind...


    Anyway, Mommy wouldn¡¯t be at a loss.


    Mo Ke approached the manager and asked, ¡°Just go through the official procedure, please.¡±


    ¡°And you are...?¡±


    ¡°I am this gentleman¡¯s assistant.¡± Mo Ke said, taking out his briefcase, ¡°Our Mr.¡¯s time is precious, he has other plans next, this house shall be registered under this lady¡¯s name, and I¡¯ll handle the payment.¡±


    Huo Tingdong told Lin Qi, ¡°You stay and handle the paperwork, I have other things to tend to.¡±


    With that, he picked up Han and was about to leave.


    Han, however, looked toward Lin Qi, seemingly reluctant to part.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You¡¯ll see her tonight.¡± This little guy really can¡¯t be apart from this woman for a moment.


    Hearing he could see Lin Qi in the evening, Han obediently clung to Huo Tingdong¡¯s shoulder, not fidgeting anymore.


    Until Huo Tingdong left with Han in his arms, Lin Qianqian still hadn¡¯t snapped back to reality, only feeling her face as if slapped by an invisible fiery hand.


    Beside her, Su Yuan asked, ¡°Qianqian, who is she, really?¡±


    Lin Qianqian bit her teeth with a greenish complexion and demanded, ¡°Lin Qi, who is that man, and what is your relationship with him?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m under no obligation to answer your question.¡±


    Suddenly, Lin Qianqian shouted loudly, ¡°Are you being kept by someone?! So shameless at such a young age.¡±


    Her voice was too loud.


    For a moment, everyone in the showroom turned their gaze toward Lin Qi, with curious, disdainful, contemptuous, and inquisitive looks all falling upon her.


    Lin Qi sneered, turned her back, yet ironically said, ¡°Kept? Even if I were, I am still more expensive than you.¡±


    Lin Qianqian¡¯s face turned even greener.

 Chapter 25: What Is Given Cannot Be Taken Back

    Chapter 25: Chapter 25: What Is Given Cannot Be Taken Back


    Lin Qianqian could not misinterpret Lin Qi¡¯s sarcasm. As a ¡°kept¡± mistress, receiving real estate worth 170 million from her sugar daddy, while she, the legitimate fiance?e-to-be of the Su Family, took out a loan to buy a 280 square-meter house, only to be outdone by this ¡°mistress¡±!


    ¡°My Mommy is not being kept!¡± Momo said, ¡°You¡¯re just jealous that my Mommy¡¯s house is bigger and more expensive than yours! Sour grapes! If you¡¯re capable, ask your husband to buy you a 400 square-meter house! If you can¡¯t afford it, then stop being sour about my Mommy.¡±


    Lin Qianqian spoke indignantly, ¡°Lin Qi, is this the little bastard you gave birth to? So ill-mannered!¡±


    Lin Qi responded, ¡°Bastard? Your daughter, born from an affair with a married man, what right do you have to call my son a bastard. You say my son is ill-mannered; what manners does he need for someone like you? Do we need to write a check to dismiss a beggar?¡±


    ¡°You¡ª!¡± Lin Qianqian said angrily, ¡°You slut with a sharp tongue!¡±


    Momo retorted, ¡°Bad auntie, you are spreading rumors, that¡¯s slander, and you are committing a crime! Do you know how many years you can be sentenced for defamation?¡±


    ...


    Lin Qianqian was stunned.


    Momo continued, ¡°You¡¯re committing a crime, and your children won¡¯t be able to become civil servants because of it!¡±


    ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡±


    The people in the sales hall all started laughing, finding Momo incredibly adorable. Not only was he good-looking and clever, but he was also protective of his mother, with the fearless innocence of a young calf, endearing to everyone.


    Other children of his age would have just hidden behind their mothers in fear.


    But he stood protectively in front of Lin Qi, his youthful face filled with determination to defend his Mommy.


    Lin Qianqian felt the snickering around her and a sense of injustice, but she knew the public opinion was against her. These strangers had been charmed by Momo¡¯s clever and lovable demeanour. Grinding her teeth, Lin Qianqian said to Lin Qi, ¡°Lin Qi, don¡¯t get too cocky! Sooner or later, I¡¯ll find evidence that you were kept!¡±


    After saying this, she maintained her dignity, taking Su Yuan¡¯s arm and left.


    The crowd murmured in amazement.


    ¡°Your son is so cute!¡±


    ¡°Smart too, and wholeheartedly protective of you. You¡¯re a real winner in life for having such a child.¡±


    ¡°If I had such an understanding and affectionate son, I must have saved the galaxy in my past life!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lin Qi felt an immense sense of satisfaction in her heart.


    She didn¡¯t care about those rumors, but in crucial moments, Momo was always her strongest support.


    He loved and cared for her more than anyone else.


    Indeed, she was a winner in life. In her past life, she must have done many good deeds to have been blessed with a son like Momo in this one.


    Lin Qi squatted down and said to Momo, ¡°Momo, you truly are Mommy¡¯s thoughtful and good treasure.¡± At the same time, she also felt a bit guilty because it was due to her son that Momo was being called a bastard.


    Momo raised an eyebrow, ¡°Why should I stoop to the level of those people? I¡¯m not a bastard. My dad is Huo Tingdong, it¡¯s just that I don¡¯t acknowledge him.¡± He knew very well that he was not a bastard, so he didn¡¯t take those words to heart at all.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Yes, if you acknowledged your dad, you wouldn¡¯t have to suffer these indignities.¡±


    Suddenly curious, Momo asked, ¡°Mommy, do you love Dad?¡±


    Lin Qi hesitated for a moment.


    It seemed no one had ever asked her this question.


    She shook her head, ¡°I have no feelings for him!¡± But she didn¡¯t hate him. No matter how arrogant and cold Huo Tingdong was towards her, Momo was his flesh and blood. Seeing Momo, half of her aversion to Huo Tingdong would fade, but there was still fear in her heart towards him.


    It was the fear of power.


    Momo declared, ¡°If Mommy doesn¡¯t love Dad, then I won¡¯t acknowledge him as my dad. Mommy, I will only acknowledge one dad, and that man must be the one you truly love, the one you decide to spend your life with. He must spoil you and love you more than me; otherwise, I won¡¯t recognize him!¡±


    Lin Qi was profoundly touched in her heart.


    ¡°However!¡± Momo puffed out his chest, ¡°I must be number one in Mommy¡¯s heart!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Okay, okay, Mommy will always love you the most.¡±


    ¡°What about Han?¡± Momo cocked his little head, ¡°Will you ever love Han more one day?¡±


    ¡°If I divide my love into five equal parts, I¡¯ll give Momo three parts and give Han two parts.¡±


    Hearing this, Momo finally smiled contentedly.


    ¡°Miss Lin!¡± Mo Ke approached carrying a thick stack of documents and said to Lin Qi, ¡°Please come over to sign.¡±


    Lin Qi stood up and asked, ¡°Is Huo Tingdong really going to put the house under my name?¡±


    Mo Ke paused for a moment, then quickly said, ¡°Miss Lin, please don¡¯t overthink it. Mr. Huo simply doesn¡¯t have time to sign the paperwork. Besides, this amount of money is nothing to him.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s scalp tingled upon hearing this.


    She suddenly realized that she knew too little about Huo Tingdong and the Huo Family.


    Not just her.


    The outsider¡¯s understanding of the Huo Family was limited.


    This ever-mysterious super-wealthy family, or perhaps even more financially powerful than the Lin Family had initially estimated, otherwise, marrying someone as ¡°suitable¡± as Huo Tingdong would never have been her lot.


    A house worth 160 million, would Huo Tingdong ask for it back from her in the future?


    As if seeing through her thoughts, Mo Ke said, ¡°Miss Lin, once Mr. Huo gives something away, he will never take it back.¡±


    Only then did Lin Qi follow Mo Ke to the finance department to sign.


    Refusing a gift would be foolish.


    ...


    Yuhua Mansion was a build-first, sell-later property, with fully outfitted luxury homes, but to move in, one would still need to buy furniture and appliances.


    However, acquiring furniture and appliances naturally did not require Lin Qi to worry, as this was a task entrusted to Mo Ke by Huo Tingdong.


    It was already evening.


    Mo Ke took Lin Qi and Momo back to Huo Mansion.


    As soon as Lin Qi stepped through the door, Han opened his arms and hurled himself toward her.


    ¡°Han!¡± Lin Qi scooped Han up, ¡°Did you miss me?¡±


    Han nodded vigorously, his little hands cupping her face, kissing her cheek.


    His lips were soft and warm.


    Different from Huo Tingdong.


    In that instant, Lin Qi saw Han¡¯s face, which was like a mini-version of Huo Tingdong¡¯s, and she suddenly remembered that night in the study, Huo Tingdong¡¯s thin, cold lips...


    Her face flushed red immediately.


    Seeing this, Momo felt a sourness in his heart, thinking it was Han¡¯s kiss that made Lin Qi blush. When he kisses Mommy, Mommy never blushes.


    ¡°Mommy, I want a kiss too!¡± Momo stood on tiptoe.


    Lin Qi knew Momo was jealous and freed one hand to stroke Momo¡¯s head, ¡°Momo is a good boy, can Mommy give you a kiss in a bit?¡±


    Old Madam Huo came over and asked somewhat sheepishly, ¡°How did you manage to make Han like you so much?¡± She was Han¡¯s great-grandmother and always cherished him immensely, yet Han never took the initiative to kiss her. Only with coaxing and tricking would Han reluctantly bestow a kiss.


    Lin Qi was caught off guard by the question.


    Not to mention the Old Madam, even she didn¡¯t know why Han was so affectionate toward her.


    The Old Madam suspected, ¡°Did you feed him some love potion?¡±

 Chapter 26: You Question My Ability to Take Care of the Child?

    Chapter 26: Chapter 26: You Question My Ability to Take Care of the Child?


    Lin Qi looked at Han and gently pinched his little face, ¡°Han, why do you like me so much?¡±


    Han blinked innocently and suddenly blurted out two words, ¡°Pretty!¡±


    ¡°Pfft,¡± Lin Qi laughed at Han¡¯s straightforwardness.


    Old Madam Huo almost popped her eyes out, ¡°Just because she¡¯s pretty?¡±


    Han nodded his head.


    In his eyes, Aunt Qiqi is the most beautiful person in the world!


    ...


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Han, if you say that, your aunt will feel embarrassed.¡±


    Old Madam Huo frowned slightly, her mood complex as she looked at Lin Qi.


    Deep down, she didn¡¯t think highly of Lin Qi, but after all, Han started to speak because of her, so she was worried about being too harsh on Lin Qi and upsetting Han.


    ¡°Have you eaten?¡± asked Old Madam, ¡°If you haven¡¯t, shall I have the servants prepare something for you?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°No need, Momo and I have already eaten outside.¡±


    Little Han in her arms suddenly yawned.


    Yawning as if it was contagious, Momo, who was sticking close to Lin Qi, couldn¡¯t help but yawn as well.


    ¡°Feeling sleepy?¡± asked Lin Qi.


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Both Little Babies almost said it in unison.


    Old Madam instructed the nanny, ¡°Take the young master to take a bath and rest.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Old Madam, let me do it.¡±


    In the bathroom.


    A bathtub two meters wide, two meters long.


    Lin Qi filled the tub with water and dropped in a bath bomb, which dragged a rainbow-like tail behind it, quickly filling the tub with fragrant bubbles.


    Momo stripped off his clothes in no time, naked as the day he was born, and stepped into the bathtub, whereas Han stood shyly at the door, hesitating, his little face blushing, clearly bashful like a young maiden yet to be wed.


    He was seven years old.


    Huo Tingdong had always taught him the difference between men and women, and although he was usually bathed by a nanny, standing in front of Lin Qi made him feel nervous and shy.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Han, aren¡¯t you going to undress?¡±


    Han wiggled his little bottom, covering his face with his hands, and through the gaps in his fingers, his round eyes looked towards Momo sitting in the bathtub covered in bubbles. He couldn¡¯t decide whether to move or to stay still.


    ¡°Can¡¯t Han undress himself?¡± Lin Qi walked towards him, and just as she squatted down, Han became even shyer, dodging slightly.


    Suddenly, the respectful voice of a servant sounded from outside the door.


    ¡°Mr. Huo, Miss Lin is in the bathroom.¡±


    ¡°Is she taking a bath?¡±


    ¡°She is bathing the young master.¡±


    The door to the bathroom suddenly knocked.


    Lin Qi asked alertly, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    Since she was about to bathe the two Little Babies, she had only taken off her clothes down to a tank top to avoid getting wet.


    Huo Tingdong pushed the door and came in directly.


    Lin Qi stood up in surprise, ¡°What... what are you doing in here?¡±


    Huo Tingdong gave her a glance and said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯re so nervous, I thought you were undressed.¡±


    Saying that, he saw Han standing aside, nervously fiddling with the hem of his clothes, and knew he was shy.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Han doesn¡¯t know how to undress.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°It¡¯s not that he doesn¡¯t know how, he¡¯s just shy.¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned, ¡°Shy? Shy about what?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ve taught him since he was young that men and women are different. He¡¯s a boy and you¡¯re a woman. He¡¯s shy.¡±


    Momo leaned against the bathtub and, upon hearing Huo Tingdong say this, confidently replied, ¡°Mommy has always bathed me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Little Baby is not like you; you¡¯re not embarrassed.¡±


    Momo: ¡°...¡±


    Huo Tingdong told Lin Qi, ¡°You go out, I¡¯ll wash them.¡±


    Lin Qi eyed him skeptically, ¡°Do you know how?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Are you doubting my ability to take care of children?¡±


    Lin Qi glanced at Momo and said, ¡°What about Momo?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll wash him along with the other.¡±


    Momo: ¡°...¡±


    Lin Qi told Momo, ¡°Momo, Mommy is going out first.¡± Huo Tingdong was right; Momo and Little Baby, both being seven years old, had reached the age of understanding, and she couldn¡¯t be so unrestrained anymore.


    After Lin Qi closed the door and walked out, Little Baby finally relaxed with a sigh of relief. However, this time it was Momo who got nervous.


    Sitting in the bathtub, he suddenly didn¡¯t know whether to sit or stand, instinctively guarding himself with both little hands, staring eagerly as Huo Tingdong removed his suit and hung it on the coat hanger, the sleeves of the shirt being rolled up neatly, and one by one, he began undressing Little Baby.


    So weird!


    Huo Tingdong was a man, and he was a boy, but why did he feel nervous?


    Momo¡¯s upper body sunk in the bathtub, exposing just his little head above the water; feeling awkward, he blew at the bubbles on the surface. A bubble landed on his nose, and as he went to gently wipe it away, he accidentally rubbed it into his eye.


    ¡°Ouch!¡±


    Huo Tingdong tensed up and looked towards Momo, only to see him desperately rubbing his eyes, which had become red around the sockets.


    Huo Tingdong walked over, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Bubbles... in my eyes...¡± Momo felt a grittiness in his eyes.


    Huo Tingdong frowned slightly, bent down, and was just about to pry his eye open.


    Behind him, Little Baby, curious, tiptoed for a look and walked toward the bathtub. With bare feet, he slipped on the marble floor and fell down on his bottom with a thud.


    ¡°Ouch!¡± Little Baby fell squarely on his rear end.


    Hearing the noise, Huo Tingdong turned his head to see Little Baby had fallen down.


    ¡°Little Baby?¡±


    Fortunately, he didn¡¯t hit his head.


    Little Baby turned over, got up from the ground, and with a look of aggrievance, rubbed his bottom, opened his mouth and whimpered, clearly hurt from the fall.


    Huo Tingdong immediately walked over to him, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, Daddy will hold you.¡±


    As soon as he let go, Momo also whimpered, blinking his eyes, and instinctively grabbed the hem of Huo Tingdong¡¯s clothes because he couldn¡¯t see.


    ¡°Splash¡± went the sound.


    Outside the door.


    Lin Qi hadn¡¯t gone far when she heard the noise from the bathroom and quickly returned to the door front. Before she could ask, she heard the ¡°splash.¡±


    She immediately pushed the door open but was stunned at the sight.


    Huo Tingdong had fallen into the bathtub. His legs were too long and hung outside the tub, his hands supporting himself in the water, his neat suit vest and shirt completely wet.


    Little Baby had half his clothes off, his small bottom naked, with only one sleeve of his shirt removed and facing the door.


    Upon seeing Lin Qi at the door, Little Baby covered his body with both little hands, suddenly shy, then hastily covered his bottom.


    Momo, in disarray, leaned against the edge of the bathtub, with a tuft of frothy bubbles atop his head, barely opening one eye, and looked bewilderedly towards the door.


    Lin Qi, witnessing the scene, couldn¡¯t hold back and burst into laughter, ¡°Haha, hahaha.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face was ashen as he said, ¡°What are you laughing at?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°Who was it that was full of confidence, saying he was so good at taking care of children?¡±

 Chapter 27 - 27 Huo Tingdong鈥檚 Goodnight Kiss to Momo

    Chapter 27: Chapter 27 Huo Tingdong¡¯s Goodnight Kiss to Momo


    Huo Tingdong said coldly, ¡°Get out!¡±


    ¡°Do you need help?¡± Lin Qi kindly asked.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°No need, get out!¡±


    Lin Qi frowned and muttered a few words to herself before turning around and walking out.


    After two hours of struggle, Huo Tingdong finally finished bathing the two children and carried them into the room.


    Just as Lin Qi had finished making the bed, Huo Tingdong came in carrying the two fragrant Little Babies and placed them on the bed.


    ...


    He also took a shower and changed into pajamas, but it looked like the two little ones had caused quite a bit of trouble, considering how long he took.


    Momo crawled to the head of the bed, lifted the covers, and snuggled in, his little face red as he looked towards Lin Qi and muttered, ¡°He spanked my bottom...¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lin Qi didn¡¯t hear clearly at first.


    Huo Tingdong heard it, though, and he glared at Momo, frowning.


    Momo was unafraid of him hearing and complained to Lin Qi, ¡°He spanked my bottom!¡±


    As he spoke, he pointed his little finger towards Huo Tingdong, his eyes filled with anger.


    Lin Qi looked bewilderedly at Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong explained, ¡°He wasn¡¯t behaving, squirming around, splashing water all over me.¡±


    Momo retorted, ¡°That¡¯s because, he ¡®harassed¡¯ me!¡±


    Harassed?


    If it wasn¡¯t for Momo using such an outrageous word, Lin Qi wouldn¡¯t have had such a hard time holding back her laughter. Beside her, Han bit his lips, also struggling to suppress his laughter like an ascetic monk, probably recalling all the saddest things in the world to keep from bursting out laughing right there.


    Lin Qi puzzled, ¡°Uncle, how did he harass you?¡±


    ¡°He...¡± Momo hesitated, ¡°He touched me...¡±


    Lin Qi immediately glared at Huo Tingdong with a look of scrutinizing a pervert.


    Huo Tingdong felt annoyed by how troublesome this little guy¡¯s mouth could be, turning something white into black, ¡°I did not.¡±


    ¡°Momo said you touched him...¡±


    Han panicked, seeing his Daddy about to be accused by Momo of being a big pervert. He stood on the bed, clasped his hands together as if to clarify for Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I scrubbed his whole body. Does that count as harassment?¡±


    Han nodded vigorously.


    Momo said, ¡°I can scrub myself!¡± Usually, when bathing, it¡¯s Lin Qi who takes off his clothes and lifts him into the bathtub, then starts busy here and there, scrubbing the bath ball to create bubbles, and Momo would scrub himself.


    ¡°Alright, uncle was just bathing you,¡± Lin Qi comforted Momo, ¡°Momo, it¡¯s late, lie down nicely.¡±


    Momo always listened to Lin Qi and immediately lay down obediently.


    Han also crawled next to Lin Qi and lay down on her other side.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m going to read a bedtime story to Momo and Han, to put them to sleep, you can go back to your own room now.¡±


    Huo Tingdong grunted in acknowledgment.


    Before, Han used to sleep with him, but later, he sometimes worked until very late, always waking Han up in the middle of the night, so he arranged for a nanny to put her to sleep.


    But, a goodnight kiss before sleep was essential.


    Huo Tingdong walked to the bed, bent down, and gently kissed Han¡¯s forehead.


    Huo Tingdong tenderly said, ¡°Han, goodnight.¡±


    Han nodded and hugged Lin Qi¡¯s waist.


    Huo Tingdong got up, suddenly thought of something, and looked towards Momo.


    Lin Qi had once set a condition for him, that however he treated Han, he must treat Momo the same way.


    Huo Tingdong looked at Momo, his brow slightly furrowed.


    According to common sense, he shouldn¡¯t have any fondness for this child, who is not his biological offspring but a child Lin Qi had through betrayal and an affair with another man.


    Such a ¡°blemish,¡± he should despise, yet looking at Momo¡¯s little face, an exact replica of Lin Qi, he looks too delicate, too adorable.


    Moreover, he keeps his word; he promised Lin Qi that he would treat Momo as well as he treats Han.


    Therefore, Huo Tingdong walked towards Momo¡¯s bedside.


    Momo didn¡¯t know what he was going to do, his whole body retreated under the blanket, only half of his little face showing.


    Suddenly, Huo Tingdong kissed him gently on the forehead.


    Momo was stunned.


    Apart from Mommy, no one has ever kissed him.


    Instinctively, he should feel resistant and averse, yet he lay there stiff, not moving at all.


    Momo didn¡¯t expect that Huo Tingdong would give him a ¡°goodnight kiss¡± like the one he gives to Han.


    Something inside his heart seemed to have moved fiercely...


    Back in the study.


    Huo Tingdong received a reporting call from Mo Ke.


    ¡°Mr. Huo... I¡¯m sorry, regarding Lin Jinmo, according to my investigation, there has been no progress.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at the virus sample on his computer, a virus that had recently breached Huace¡¯s entire security network. Programmers had dismantled the virus structure and found its design particularly complex and seamless, so complex that even the company¡¯s top security staff couldn¡¯t eradicate it from its root.


    In the end, the virus was confined.


    That child said that he had developed the virus.


    Due to the virus¡¯s invasion, Huace suffered heavy losses and needed to rebuild its protective network, luckily, important business secrets and client data were not lost.


    It all seemed like a child¡¯s prank.


    He¡¯s only seven years old, how did he develop such a terrifying virus program?


    More importantly, he had Mo Ke thoroughly investigate the child¡¯s background, to no avail.


    He seemed just like an ordinary child, as simple as any other child his age.


    But Huo Tingdong knew this child¡¯s background must be extraordinary.


    ...


    Lin Family.


    Late at night, lights blazing.


    Lin Qianqian, feeling aggrieved, nestled next to Zhou Qin complaining, ¡°Mom, you didn¡¯t see today¡¯s scene, how Lin Qi was flaunting in front of me, making me lose all my dignity!¡±


    Zhou Qin, Lin Qi¡¯s stepmother, when Mrs. Lin was gravely ill, Mr. Lin ignored his dutiful wife and indulged in Zhou Qin¡¯s tenderness.


    At that time, Mrs. Lin¡¯s illness was not incurable; she could have gotten better with surgery.


    Zhou Qin, however, clasped Mr. Lin¡¯s arm and entered his household, saying only, ¡°When you die, I¡¯ll marry Lin Cheng and take his surname, to be called Zhou Lin Qin.¡±


    Lin Cheng was greatly moved by this and proclaimed his intention to divorce Mrs. Lin.


    Mrs. Lin couldn¡¯t bear this shock, became utterly despondent, and jumped to her death.


    Only that year, Lin Qi was still young and only knew that her mother died of illness, but in fact, it was Zhou Qin who had infuriated her mother to commit suicide.


    Lin Cheng, a man extremely superstitious, afraid that Mrs. Lin¡¯s wrongful death would bring disaster to the Lin Family, delayed her burial. He hired a Feng Shui Master to perform rituals in a deserted well in the suburbs, sinking Mrs. Lin¡¯s coffin into it, never to transcend.


    Not only that, but Mrs. Lin¡¯s wandering spirit must also protect the Lin Family generation after generation to prosper; the graveyard was just an empty tomb.


    From then on, Lin Qi was also neglected and faced cold eyes.


    And Zhou Qin, after giving birth to a son and daughter for Lin Cheng, enjoyed all his affection.


    Lin Qi had been unheard from for many years, Zhou Qin only knew of her miserable life, yet little did she expect, as fate would have it, she would cling to higher branches.

 Chapter 28 - 28 Acting as His Own Dad

    Chapter 28: Chapter 28 Acting as His Own Dad


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°The renowned figures in Beijing, those whose names are known, are just a few, and those who can come up with hundreds of millions in cash on the spot are even fewer. Qianqian, are you sure she¡¯s not bluffing you? With her status, how could those prominent and wealthy families even consider her? No one would want her even as a mistress.¡±


    Lin Qi was married to Huo Tingdong as a bridesmaid for luck, although she was a wife in name only, but after Huo Tingdong regained consciousness, he divorced her.


    She is a discarded wife, the circle of elites knows about her reputation as a discarded wife, right?


    Moreover, the richer and more prominent families believe in feng shui, and it is highly taboo to marry a wife for the sake of auspiciousness for a sick son.


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Then... what about that apartment? A total price of 1.7 billion, all in cash, registered in her name! With that apartment, she doesn¡¯t have to worry about food and clothing for life!¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°Silly girl, how can you compare with her? You married the eldest young master of the Su Family, and in the future, you are to inherit the Su Family! What are you envious of her for, being a legitimate Mrs. Su, while she is a discarded wife kicked out by the Huo Family? Your marriage to the Su Family is worth more than 1.7 billion, right?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Why doesn¡¯t Su Yuan buy me a 400 square meter luxury mansion?¡± Lin Qianqian felt inferior and somewhat reluctant, ¡°Mom, what if she really clung to some high branch? Tell me, that Momo, whose son is he really? Could it be some mysterious big shot? The man who appeared with her at the sales office today, not only looks spectacular but also wealthy!¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°What you said, I want to meet her. It won¡¯t be long before your father¡¯s birthday, right? Invite her over, I want to see what she has gotten herself into!¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Do I have to humble myself to invite her?¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°I¡¯ll invite her.¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°She won¡¯t come. She has completely cut ties with the Lin Family!¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°She has to come even if she doesn¡¯t want to! She still needs to pay respects to her mother¡¯s grave every year, if she doesn¡¯t come, I¡¯m going to move her mother¡¯s grave to a desolate mountain.¡±


    ...


    The next day.


    Lin Qi received a phone call from Zhou Qin, saying it was Lin Cheng¡¯s 50th birthday.


    She was somewhat surprised.


    She had long severed ties with the Lin Family completely, and Zhou Qin suddenly inviting her to attend her father¡¯s birthday surely was not out of goodwill.


    Lin Qi naturally did not want to go.


    But Zhou Qin said, ¡°Lin Qi, I know you hold grudges against me, your father, but he is turning fifty, and he is inviting you to celebrate his birthday, you can¡¯t really snub him, right?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°He has long stopped acknowledging me as his daughter, why should I bother?¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°If he didn¡¯t acknowledge you as his daughter, would he invite you to celebrate his birthday?¡±


    Lin Qi was silent.


    Zhou Qin added, ¡°By the way, bring Momo with you, and Momo¡¯s father too! Momo has grown so much, yet we have never met his father!¡±


    Lin Qi quickly realized.


    It seemed to be a trap.


    The day at the sales office, Huo Tingdong buying such an expensive apartment for her must have caught the Lin Family¡¯s attention, and they definitely had suspicions about Momo¡¯s background and must have made numerous guesses about Huo Tingdong¡¯s identity.


    Although the circle of elites isn¡¯t large, Huo Tingdong¡¯s actions have always been mysterious and low-profile, rarely anyone has seen his true face.


    It was reasonable that Lin Qianqian did not recognize Huo Tingdong.


    The Lin Family must have misunderstood that Momo was that man¡¯s son; what high branch did they guess she had clung to?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯ll go when I have time.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Lin Qi saw Momo standing at the doorway, holding a school uniform from Windsor High School that had just been tailored.


    ¡°Momo?¡± Lin Qi was surprised, ¡°Is the uniform ready?¡±


    Momo came in holding the uniform, ¡°Yes, I¡¯ll go to school to report next Monday.¡± He raised an eyebrow, ¡°Just now I heard you on the phone with that woman, what does she want?¡±


    That woman was how Lin Qi and Momo referred to Zhou Qin.


    That man referred to Lin Cheng.


    Since Lin Qi did not acknowledge this father, naturally Momo also did not recognize these grandparents, thus they referred to them simply as ¡°that man¡± and ¡°that woman.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°She called me to invite you... and your dad to attend that man¡¯s birthday banquet.¡±


    Momo suddenly said, ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡±


    Lin Qi exclaimed, ¡°Why should we go?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°They have always seen me as a little bastard, but now I have a dad, I want my dad to go with us, to see who dares to call me a little bastard again!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You want your dad to go with you?¡±


    Momo nodded, ¡°Yes!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°How would he agree?¡±


    He didn¡¯t even know about Momo¡¯s identity; It was only because she had agreed to take care of Han as per her promise, and he kept his word.


    Momo was also unwilling to acknowledge Huo Tingdong, Huo Tingdong would not agree.


    Momo said, ¡°I will have him pretend to be my dad, he will agree.¡±


    Lin Qi was at a loss for words, Huo Tingdong was clearly Momo¡¯s biological father, yet had to pretend to be his ¡°biological father,¡± it was a difficult dilemma.


    Momo said, ¡°I¡¯ll go find him now!¡±


    He turned and ran to the study. Just now he heard from the servant that Huo Tingdong had come back and entered the study holding Han.


    Outside the study room.


    Momo knocked gently on the door.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice came from inside, ¡°Who?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡±


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    Momo pushed the door and went in, only to see Han deeply troubled lying on the main desk, staring at a pile of homework with a frown.


    Huo Tingdong was watching him do his homework; who would have thought, the billionaire Huo Tingdong, usually aloof, was also a dad worried about his son¡¯s homework in private.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What¡¯s one-fifth of 12?¡±


    Han spilled all the pencils from his pencil case onto the table, totaling only nine, then he opened the drawer and added some of Huo Tingdong¡¯s expensive fountain pens to it, making twelve in total and began to divide them seriously into five parts.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s lips tightened, clearly already a bit angry.


    He looked at Momo, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Having glanced at Han distressing over the twelve pens, Momo said, ¡°I can teach Han his homework.¡±


    Huo Tingdong was taken aback.


    He suddenly remembered, Mo Ke said, the scholarship exam at Windsor High School, because of the difficult questions, even involved topics from the middle school level, and many candidates failed, only Momo passed with full marks.


    He said he wanted to teach Han his homework; he was capable of it.


    But...


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°What¡¯s the condition?¡±


    He knew Momo wouldn¡¯t teach Han his homework without a reason, there must be a condition for the exchange.


    Momo said, ¡°¡®That man¡¯ invited my mom to attend his birthday banquet, can you come with us? I want you to play my dad.¡±

 Chapter 29: How is Lin Qi at the Huo Family?

    Chapter 29: Chapter 29: How is Lin Qi at the Huo Family?


    Huo Tingdong grew suspicious.


    ¡°That man?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°My mom¡¯s dad. Mom said she¡¯s cut off her relationship with that man, so she doesn¡¯t let me call him ¡®grandpa¡¯.¡±


    Huo Tingdong walked over to Momo, squatted down, and asked, ¡°You want me to play your dad, how should I play it?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°It¡¯s simple, just treat me as your own son and go to the birthday banquet with me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I am not obligated to do this.¡±


    ...


    ¡°That¡¯s why it¡¯s a conditional exchange!¡± Momo said, ¡°The Lin Family thinks I¡¯m a little bastard without a dad. I just want them to know that I do have a dad!¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you find your biological dad to go with you?¡±


    Momo suddenly fell silent.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Your mommy didn¡¯t tell you who your real dad is?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°I know! But I can¡¯t say.¡±


    Huo Tingdong sneered, ¡°Is he someone with a disreputable identity?¡±


    Momo gave him a silent look, as if to say: Who would say such things about their own dad?


    Han, however, found it amusing. He raised his hand as if to say ¡°I want to go too.¡±


    Momo asked, ¡°Does Han want to go too?¡±


    Han nodded.


    ¡°Alright! So, you¡¯ll play my dad, Han will play my half-brother from my dad, and you and mommy will play a remarried couple!¡± Momo had already come up with the script and even assigned the roles.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I haven¡¯t agreed yet.¡± How did this little guy make plans without consent?


    Suddenly, a servant knocked on the door.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What is it?¡±


    The servant said, ¡°Mr. Huo, Miss Song is here.¡±


    Song Shuyan...


    ¡°It¡¯s said that Miss Song has come to bring fresh lychees for the Old Madam, knowing she loves them. Besides, she also bought Lego, which Han loves the most.¡±


    Hearing that Song Shuyan was here, the smile on Han¡¯s face immediately vanished, and he buried his head in his homework.


    He didn¡¯t like Song Shuyan, not one bit.


    Even though Song Shuyan treated him well, doted on him in every possible way, he felt that her affection was not genuine, but just to please Daddy.


    Huo Tingdong stood up, but Momo suddenly grabbed him, ¡°You haven¡¯t agreed yet?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I agree.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Momo held out his pinky, ¡°Then, pinky swear!¡±


    Huo Tingdong retorted, ¡°Do I seem so untrustworthy in your eyes?¡±


    Despite his words, he stretched out his large hand and lightly hooked Momo¡¯s little pinky.


    ¡°Pinky swear, hang me up for a hundred years if you change your mind!¡± Momo pressed his thumb against Huo Tingdong¡¯s and then cheerfully joined Han to accompany him with his homework.


    Huo Tingdong suddenly considered that with Momo¡¯s clever brain, perhaps having him as a study companion could help Han¡¯s lessons improve quickly.


    In the living room.


    As soon as Huo Tingdong descended the stairs, he saw Song Shuyan sitting on the couch with the Old Madam, who obviously disliked her and thus had a cold expression.


    Song Shuyan had already grown accustomed to it and still maintained a smile.


    She knew why the Old Madam disliked her.


    Back then, in the car accident, if it weren¡¯t for her, Huo Tingdong wouldn¡¯t have been so severely injured.


    Afterwards, the Old Madam sent her abroad, ostensibly for graduate studies, but actually to keep her away from her grandson, to stop harming him.


    But Song Shuyan had leverage in her heart.


    Huo Tingdong treated her so well because he was deeply aware that he owed her.


    Therefore, she was fearless.


    However, seven years had passed. Although Huo Tingdong was divorced from Lin Qi, and Han was already seven years old, Huo Tingdong had not shown any intention of welcoming her into marriage, which naturally made her anxious.


    She knew Huo Tingdong cared about Han¡¯s feelings. Han did not like her, so Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t express anything yet!


    ¡°Tingdong!¡±


    Song Shuyan saw Huo Tingdong stand up and said with a smile, ¡°I brought fresh lychees for the Old Madam and Lego for Han, his favorite toy.¡±


    The Old Madam muttered: ¡°So eager to claim credit and seek reward!¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s smile stiffened slightly.


    The Old Madam continued, ¡°Song Shuyan, don¡¯t be offended by my frank words, but you are not young anymore, almost thirty, right? Aren¡¯t you considering your own life¡¯s big event, wanting to marry, or do you intend to pester our Tingdong forever?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Granny, I¡¯ve said that I will marry no one but Tingdong!¡±


    The Old Madam said, ¡°I disagree. Can he bring you into the family as his bride? You and Tingdong are not suitable. Must I speak unpleasantly? I think you feel you haven¡¯t harmed Tingdong enough and still want to...¡±


    ¡°Granny.¡± Huo Tingdong promptly interrupted her.


    The Old Madam turned her face away in frustration, ¡°I just don¡¯t like this woman. She looks so annoying!¡±


    Song Shuyan twisted her brows, looking a bit embarrassed.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°So many years have passed, let¡¯s not bring that up again.¡±


    The Old Madam insisted, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for her, would you have been hurt like that, lying in bed for so long? I nearly lost you, my grandson, all because of her!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I chose to protect her.¡±


    ¡°Why do you have to protect her!?¡± The Old Madam could not understand, ¡°The Huo Family does not owe her anything. Whatever compensation was due has been provided!¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Granny, I am truly sincere towards Tingdong.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me Granny!¡± The Old Madam stood up, her face sour, ¡°I did not acknowledge you. You¡¯re not part of the family yet, don¡¯t call me Granny!¡±


    With that, she walked upstairs, coldly saying, ¡°Take the lychees back, I can¡¯t enjoy such a treat. If you don¡¯t take them, I¡¯ll have them thrown away.¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s eyes reddened, overwhelmed with grievance.


    Huo Tingdong took a seat opposite her.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong... when will Granny forgive me? I know that incident is a shadow for her, but I¡¯ve always regarded your life as more important than my own...¡±


    ¡°Huo Tingdong!¡±


    Suddenly, Lin Qi¡¯s voice came from the second floor.


    Song Shuyan was stunned.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Have you seen Momo?¡±


    She had just reached the staircase, but upon seeing Song Shuyan, she stopped short.


    Song Shuyan stared at Lin Qi in astonishment, wondering how she could appear at the Huo Family¡¯s home.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°In my study, he¡¯s doing homework with Han.¡±


    ¡°Oh... carry on then,¡± Lin Qi turned around and headed for the study.


    As soon as she left, Song Shuyan urgently asked, ¡°Why is she at the Huo Family¡¯s?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han likes her, and he¡¯s even willing to speak now. He can¡¯t do without her, so I asked her to stay.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong, you can know someone¡¯s face, but not their heart. Han is so young, how can he tell if someone is good or bad? What if she abuses Han when you are not at home...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She¡¯s my ex-wife.¡±


    Song Shuyan: ¡°Are you confident that you know her well enough?¡±

 Chapter 30 - 30 Momo Protects Han

    Chapter 30: Chapter 30 Momo Protects Han


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°My understanding of her is limited, but I know that she¡¯s not that wicked.¡±


    Song Shuyan: ¡°The heart is inscrutable... Moreover, what she did... Behind your back, she casually slept with other men, had an affair, and bore an illegitimate child. How can you let such an immodest, shameless woman be close to Han?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han is seven years old and has never spoken a word. The psychiatrist said he¡¯s been lacking maternal love and a sense of security since he was young, but in front of Lin Qi, at least he is willing to speak. I still haven¡¯t located Han¡¯s biological mother, so until then, I hope she can play this role well.¡±


    Song Shuyan urged, ¡°I can do it too! For Han, I have studied child psychology, and I believe I can take good care of him...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°But Han has never accepted you.¡±


    ¡°You?¡± Song Shuyan asked, ¡°Did you ever like me? Back then, you risked your life to protect me, was it because you felt you owed me, or... because you cared about me, liked me...¡±


    ...


    Huo Tingdong replied coldly, ¡°Don¡¯t ask me such questions.¡±


    Song Shuyan was stunned.


    Huo Tingdong continued: ¡°In my life, aside from Han, there is no one else I particularly care about.¡±


    Before Han came into his life, he felt nothing for children. Seeing other people¡¯s children would only annoy him, and naturally, he did not think he would be a competent or responsible father.


    But after having Han, paternal love also began to sprout.


    Han was too endearing, adorable and beautiful, and more importantly, he was his son, his own flesh and blood.


    Song Shuyan felt bitter listening to this.


    Just then¡ª


    A servant hurried down the stairs with a troubled look, ¡°Mr. Huo, the young master is crying!¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    The servant replied, ¡°It seems he had a quarrel with Momo.¡±


    Song Shuyan suggested, ¡°Tingdong, let¡¯s go have a look!¡± She appeared to be very concerned.


    At the study room door.


    As Huo Tingdong approached, he heard Han¡¯s aggrieved crying, and beyond that, Momo¡¯s slightly angry voice: ¡°Are you an idiot or what?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo, you mustn¡¯t be harsh on Han.¡±


    Han lowered his head in distress, fiddling with his soft fingertips, facing the angry Momo, he felt guilty and aggrieved, with tears hanging from his eyes.


    Momo exclaimed in exasperation, ¡°There are 25 people in the first-grade class A, and class B has 17 more people than class A, how many people are there in total? Is this question really that hard?¡±


    Han burst into crying with sobs, his eyes red and his eyelashes wet with tears.


    Huo Tingdong cradled his forehead.


    He actually understood why Momo was so angry; when he taught Han to do homework, his blood pressure would rise, yet he couldn¡¯t bear to scold Han.


    Song Shuyan defended Han, walking over to Momo and saying, ¡°Why are you bullying Han?¡±


    Momo asked in confusion, ¡°How am I bullying him?¡±


    Song Shuyan accused, ¡°Why are you so mean to him? This is the Huo Family; you can¡¯t behave like this here!¡±


    Momo was taken aback.


    Song Shuyan continued, ¡°Besides, Han has an intellectual disability, he¡¯s mentally handicapped. You¡¯re making him solve such difficult math problems and then getting angry at him when he can¡¯t do it? You¡¯ll scare Han!¡±


    Lin Qi suddenly exclaimed in unison with Momo, ¡°He¡¯s not mentally handicapped!¡±


    Both mother and son were almost enraged by those words.


    Lin Qi looked at Momo in surprise.


    Momo glared coldly at Song Shuyan, ¡°Han is my best friend; he¡¯s not intellectually challenged, nor is he stupid! He¡¯s just not been serious! I¡¯m angry because he¡¯s not putting effort into his studies, not because he¡¯s stupid! You¡¯re not allowed to talk about Han like that, or I will get angry!¡±


    Han was somewhat surprised, his crying ceased, he looked at Momo with a touch of emotion.


    His resolute manner wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to slander him as mentally handicapped.


    Momo turned around and said to Han, ¡°You¡¯re not stupid, right Han? You¡¯ve just not been paying attention.¡±


    Han hiccuped, sniffed, looked at his homework book dampened by a few teardrops, suddenly picked up the pen, knitted his brows earnestly as if trying hard to do the math.


    Momo said, ¡°Think about it again, using the formula I just taught you, I don¡¯t believe you can¡¯t do this.¡±


    Han wrote the formula on his homework book ¡°scratch-scratch-scratch¡±.


    Huo Tingdong was somewhat surprised.


    Song Shuyan believed Han was mentally challenged because Han couldn¡¯t even do basic arithmetic, let alone formulas. He couldn¡¯t even do addition and subtraction within ten.


    Han was admitted to Windsor High School by exception.


    To get Han into Windsor High School, Huo Tingdong donated tens of millions. He had only one requirement for Windsor: to help Han speak up, and if his academic performance could match that of normal children, that would be enough.


    He was the future heir of the Huo Family, so the entire Huo Family pinned high hopes on this young master, yet also felt disappointed.


    In this short period of time, Momo had actually taught him formulas?


    Even though they were the most basic kind of formulas... he actually knew how to use ¡°XY¡± equations for applied problems.


    Soon, Han solved the problem with the equation Momo taught him.


    Han showed the homework book to Momo.


    Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi tacitly gathered around.


    ¡°Answer: The two classes together have 67 people.¡±


    Lin Qi said in surprise, ¡°Has the first-grade material become this difficult?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°Windsor¡¯s curriculum progresses quickly.¡±


    Lin Qi remarked, ¡°But this is a formula taught in third or fourth grade, right? No matter how fast, a first-grade child shouldn¡¯t be taught equations yet?¡±


    Momo stated, ¡°For such an easy question, solving it with equations is the fastest way.¡±


    Lin Qi felt a cold sweat.


    No wonder Han found it difficult; this was problem-solving at a third or fourth-grade level!


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Why do you know about equations?¡±


    Momo declared, ¡°It¡¯s simple, I¡¯ve known it for a long time!¡± He had always loved mathematics, enjoyed reading extracurricular math books, and the elementary school question bank could no longer satisfy him. As a little school champ, Momo had already moved on to studying sequences and functions.


    Huo Tingdong remarked, ¡°If you solve problems with this kind of equation, the teacher will definitely think I did your homework for you.¡±


    Han revealed a puzzled look.


    Huo Tingdong stated, ¡°You haven¡¯t learned the XY equation yet.¡±


    Momo: ¡°...¡±


    He quickly flipped through Han¡¯s textbook.


    Indeed, the XY equation hadn¡¯t been taught yet; he had indeed jumped ahead of the curriculum in teaching Han how to solve the problem.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°However, the fact that Han has learned the XY equation is great! Han really is a smart child!¡±


    Momo claimed credit, ¡°What about me? I was the one who taught him!¡±


    Lin Qi kissed him on the face, ¡°Momo, you¡¯re amazing too!¡±


    ¡°What do you mean ¡®too¡¯?¡± Momo stood with hands on hips, cockily said, ¡°I am the best!¡±


    Then, he looked at Huo Tingdong, waiting for Huo Tingdong¡¯s praise, blinking his eyes as if expecting it.


    Huo Tingdong understood his look and obliged: ¡°Yeah, you¡¯re the best.¡±

 Chapter 31 - 31 Isn鈥檛 it Just a Son?

    Chapter 31: Chapter 31 Isn¡¯t it Just a Son?


    Miss Song suddenly felt out of place in such a harmonious atmosphere, almost delusional; they seemed like a family of four.


    But in fact, she knew very well that they were indeed a family of four.


    Miss Song didn¡¯t understand why Lin Qi refused to tell Huo Tingdong Momo¡¯s background. Was she afraid that once Huo Tingdong learned of Momo¡¯s heritage, he would fight her for custody?


    Other than this concern, Miss Song could think of no other reason. Any other woman would have used her child to gain status long ago.


    Even if the custody of Momo was relinquished, the Huo Family would undoubtedly compensate her handsomely.


    But obviously, Lin Qi was an oddity; she didn¡¯t care for money.


    ...


    Perhaps this was the bond between mother and child.


    Then... what about Han?


    She probably doesn¡¯t yet know that Han is her biological child, right?


    If she ever finds out, this Lin Qi and these two kids could be like ticking time bombs.


    If only...


    If only she had the chance to bear Huo Tingdong¡¯s son!


    Miss Song felt so jealous that her heart soured. Lin Qi was indeed lucky, bearing two sons for the Huo Family in one birth, fraternal twins.


    She walked up to Han and said gently, ¡°Han, Auntie didn¡¯t mean to call you retarded! Don¡¯t misunderstand Auntie, okay? Auntie loves you the most.¡±


    Han was very aware that Miss Song was flattering him only to curry favor with his father, so he paid no attention to her ingratiating behavior.


    Miss Song¡¯s face could not hide her embarrassment.


    She tried to please him again, ¡°Han, do you want Auntie to take you out for something yummy?¡±


    Han shook his head, clearly uninterested.


    Miss Song said, ¡°Don¡¯t you like eating pizza? Auntie will take you to a western restaurant to eat pizza.¡±


    Han pouted and still shook his head.


    Momo was somewhat surprised and asked, ¡°You like eating pizza?¡±


    Han nodded.


    Indeed, he liked pizza, but having tasted all sorts of delicious foods from a young age, he was not so easily deceived.


    Miss Song then asked Huo Tingdong, ¡°Tingdong, are you free tonight?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°No, I am rarely at leisure, and I want to spend time at home with Han.¡±


    Miss Song grew increasingly disgusted with Han; this child occupied too much of Huo Tingdong¡¯s time.


    If it weren¡¯t for his dislike of her, perhaps Huo Tingdong would have married her long ago.


    It¡¯s just a son, isn¡¯t it?


    She could have one too; why treat a retarded son like a treasure?


    Huo Tingdong told Miss Song, ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver take you home.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± Miss Song, looking somewhat unhappy, said, ¡°I drove here myself. Tingdong, I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    And with that, she turned and walked away.


    A servant entered the study and said somewhat bewilderedly, ¡°Mr. Huo, I saw Miss Song leave like a gust of wind, she seemed very unhappy. Did you upset her?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°That¡¯s none of your concern.¡±


    Hearing this, the servant dared not say another word.


    Miss Song walked all the way to the door, half-expecting Huo Tingdong to follow her since she was upset. She slowed her pace, but still didn¡¯t see any sign of him.


    ¡°Miss Song, do you need a ride?¡± The driver asked respectfully at the door.


    ¡°Do you mean to send me away?¡± Miss Song asked.


    The driver shook his head in fright, ¡°No! No, Miss Song is a honored guest here.¡±


    Miss Song frowned, grinding her teeth as she left.


    An honored guest... honored guest!


    She didn¡¯t want to be a guest; she wanted to be the young Mistress of the Huo Family, wife to Huo Tingdong!


    ...


    ¡°Miss Lin, here are Momo¡¯s textbooks,¡± the servant said, bringing books from Windsor High School into the room.


    Lin Qi put all the textbooks into the backpack.


    She stared at the backpack for a while, caught in thought.


    This backpack appeared to be finely crafted; reportedly, it cost in the five digits.


    Indeed, for an aristocratic school, even the backpacks exuded an upper-class aura.


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Momo, wearing the uniform of Windsor High School, entered followed by Han, ¡°The school uniform looks so cool!¡±


    Windsor High School had two sets of uniforms.


    One was the formal suit uniform for attending official events.


    The other was a sailor uniform for everyday class attire, designed in black, white, and gold; the look was quite luxurious.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Does the uniform fit well?¡±


    Momo nodded and said, ¡°It¡¯s not too big or too small, fits perfectly.¡±


    Lin Qi inquired, ¡°What did you say when you went to see Uncle Huo today?¡±


    Momo tilted his little head, looking innocent, ¡°I asked him to pretend to be my dad and accompany us to that man¡¯s birthday banquet.¡±


    Lin Qi wondered, ¡°He agreed?¡±


    Momo nodded.


    Lin Qi was surprised, ¡°Why would he agree to something so childish?¡±


    Momo explained, ¡°I promised him I¡¯d help Han with his homework from now on; it¡¯s a trade!¡± Thinking it over, he suddenly said, ¡°Mommy, I actually think Han is not dumb.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Do you like Han?¡±


    Momo happily replied, ¡°Yes! Han and I are good friends now! We agreed to go to class together and get out of school together. Uncle Huo said, he would arrange for me and Han to be in the same class, maybe we can even be desk mates!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°That¡¯s good, you must take care of Han in the future.¡±


    Momo suggested, ¡°Mommy, shall we go buy clothes tomorrow?¡±


    Lin Qi smiled, ¡°Sure! I haven¡¯t bought you new clothes in a long time. Going to a new school, you¡¯ll need nice clothes.¡±


    Han raised his hand, wanting to go along.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Alright, Han can come with us, and I will buy some clothes for Han as well!¡±


    Han nodded vigorously, looking very happy.


    Suddenly, Lin Qi became a bit worried.


    Han had always lived in luxury; any piece of clothing on him was a well-known brand, often costing tens of thousands. Although she was very willing to buy nice things for Momo, she herself made do with less.


    But even the best she had were discounted items from department stores.


    Lin Qi sneakily checked her bank account balance and found an unexpected additional two million yuan.


    Tracing the source of the deposit, it turned out to be from her perverted former boss who had sexually harassed her.


    She had previously reported her former boss for sexual harassment at work, but the boss apparently had some clout, and the police did not file a case, nor was there any compensation.


    Although there was no physical harm done, she valued that job and had put a lot of effort into it, working on a project proposal, only to have her career derailed by the incident.


    Could this be compensation?


    Lin Qi skeptically verified the amount a few more times, precisely three million yuan, and thought she would use this money to buy new clothes for Momo and Han the next day.


    The following day.


    As Lin Qi was about to leave with Momo and Han, the nanny stopped her.


    ¡°Where are you taking the young master?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I¡¯m taking the two kids to shop at the mall for some new clothes.¡±


    The nanny looked dubious, ¡°Our young master dresses in brand names, he does not wear shabby street vendor clothes.¡±

 Chapter 32: Let Your Dad Swipe the Card

    Chapter 32: Chapter 32: Let Your Dad Swipe the Card


    While speaking, the nanny glanced at Momo¡¯s clothes with a disdainful look.


    Yet, Momo somehow wore these cheap clothes with an air of nobility.


    It goes to show that a child who is naturally beautiful and elegant looks like a noble, no matter what they wear.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Where does Han usually go to buy clothes?¡±


    The nanny replied, ¡°Huaihai North Road.¡±


    Huaihai North Road, that¡¯s where the socialites love to shop, composed of Yuanzhou Square, Xinde Mall, and Yueyang Square¡ªthree massive shopping centers that together house over a thousand global brands.


    ...


    Reportedly, the children¡¯s clothing there starts at tens of thousands when the season changes.


    Lin Qi bit her lip. If Han could wear such nice clothes, Momo must too.


    She didn¡¯t want Momo to be looked down upon at Windsor High School because of cheap clothes.


    She had three million in her card; surely it wouldn¡¯t all be spent?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll take them to Huaihai North Road to buy clothes.¡±


    The nanny skeptically said, ¡°Can you afford it? Even the clothes you wear are cheap.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t want to wear nice clothes for herself, but she will definitely buy them for me! She likes Han so much, she¡¯ll definitely buy pretty clothes for him too!¡±


    Han nodded his head.


    The nanny said, ¡°That won¡¯t do, I have to go with you.¡±


    Lin Qi said exasperatedly, ¡°Don¡¯t you trust me? Are you afraid I¡¯ll kidnap Han?¡±


    The nanny¡¯s eyelids twitched fiercely, and she defensively said, ¡°It¡¯s the Old Lady who told me to!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Fine, you can follow. You might as well help me carry the shopping bags.¡±


    ...


    Huaihai North Road.


    Lin Qi held one hand of Han and the other of Momo, while the nanny followed behind, proudly saying, ¡°This Yuanzhou Square is one of the Huo Family¡¯s investments!¡±


    Lin Qi said nothing.


    The nanny boasted again, ¡°I heard Mr. Huo invested more than a billion in it, he is a major shareholder of Yuanzhou Square! I accompanied him once, all the general managers were so reverent when they saw him!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    ¡°The Huo Family has investments all over the world, this mall is just a small part of the Huo investments. Our young master, born with billions in assets!¡±


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t bear it anymore, ¡°That¡¯s the Huo Family¡¯s property, not yours.¡± Listening to her boasting gave Lin Qi the feeling her ears might develop calluses.


    Han also glanced impatiently at the nanny.


    This quieted the nanny down.


    Lin Qi took Han and Momo to the Gucci counter and bought several sets of children¡¯s clothing.


    Perhaps it was the money in the bank card giving her confidence, Lin Qi took Han and Momo to a few more counters, bought several outfits plus a few pairs of leather and sports shoes; in just an hour, she spent over a hundred thousand.


    But spending money on Momo and Han didn¡¯t pain her at all, especially seeing how happy Momo was with the new clothes, she too was happy.


    As long as one doesn¡¯t look at the bill, spending money is indeed joyful!


    Passing by the Hermes counter, Lin Qi couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances inside.


    So this was the legendary Hermes?


    It¡¯s said that the sales associates at Hermes are particularly aloof, that the luxury world is divided into Hermes and other brands, that Hermes bags represent many women¡¯s ultimate dream, but securing the desired bag comes at no small price.


    Lin Qi recalled seeing Qianqian at the sales center that day, carrying a Hermes bag with a retail price of one hundred and twenty thousand, but to qualify to buy that model one needed to spend two hundred thousand at Hermes.


    Seeing Lin Qi staring at the Hermes counter, Momo tugged her hand, ¡°Mommy, buy yourself a Hermes bag!¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head and said, ¡°It¡¯s too expensive!¡± Although she still had money in her bank card, she needed to be thrifty for the future.


    Momo said, ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of!¡± If his mom didn¡¯t have enough money, he had some, he¡¯d swipe his card to buy a bag for Mommy.


    Saying so, he pulled Lin Qi into the counter.


    Han also followed suit step by step.


    However, the nanny hesitated at the door, not daring to enter.


    Knowing Lin Qi as she did, the nanny knew she definitely couldn¡¯t afford an Hermes bag. Going in with her would only be a loss of face, and they would inevitably be driven out by the store staff ¨C that was an embarrassment she could not afford.


    At this moment, there weren¡¯t many people in the Hermes counter. The luxurious decor was divided into several areas, among which the area for selling bags was cordoned off. The display cabinets showcased classic Hermes items like the Dior bag, Birkin Bag, and even a Himalaya.


    ¡°Hey? Isn¡¯t that Lin Qi?¡±


    A clerk walked in.


    Lin Qi looked towards the voice and was momentarily stunned.


    The clerk was none other than her university classmate, Li Qian.


    She had a deep impression of Li Qian, for she wasn¡¯t an easy person to get along with.


    Lin Qi¡¯s time at university was brief. Before the start of her sophomore year, her father forcibly processed her withdrawal and arranged for her to marry into the Huo Family.


    Rumors spread all over the campus that she had dropped out to get married. Some gossip even claimed she had been kept by someone off-campus, discovered by the university, and forcibly expelled ¨C such chaotic rumors ran wild.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t expect to encounter Li Qian here. Was she working as an Hermes sales associate?


    It was said that selecting an Hermes associate was a one in ten thousand chance, and they were very well-paid and popular in social circles. After all, many socialites and daughters of the elite wanted to get their hands on the bags they coveted and had to please the sales associates.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Li Qian, what a coincidence, huh?¡±


    Li Qian replied, ¡°You still remember my name? Back then you were quite the celebrity at school. We were classmates, yet you never joined any reunions! We¡¯ve all been curious about why you dropped out of university?¡±


    Lin Qi smiled but did not respond.


    She felt there was nothing worth mentioning.


    Li Qian¡¯s suspicions in her mind were further solidified ¨C what was so shameful that she didn¡¯t dare speak of it, looks like she really got caught by the school for being kept as a mistress.


    The store manager came over and asked, ¡°Li Qian, is this your classmate?¡±


    Li Qian said, ¡°Manager, this is the campus belle from my university I mentioned to you before, Lin Qi.¡±


    Hearing this, Lin Qi knew Li Qian must have spoken about her behind her back quite a bit, surely nothing flattering.


    Li Qian glanced at Momo and Han and asked, ¡°Are these your sons?¡±


    Lin Qi replied without hesitation, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han¡¯s eyes flickered ¨C Aunt Qiqi really treated him like her own son, making him feel touched.


    Li Qian said, ¡°Did you really get married?¡± Judging by the age of the two children, they were around seven.


    She didn¡¯t buy Lin Qi¡¯s story of marriage. These two kids, weren¡¯t they likely illegitimate children?


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Momo suddenly pointed to a Himalaya Bag and said, ¡°This bag looks nice.¡±


    When Lin Qi saw it, her eyelids twitched fiercely.


    She had to admit that Momo, at his young age, had quite the discerning eye. The bag he had picked was indeed very rare, with a public price of several hundred thousand. However, one would need to spend over a million at Hermes to be eligible for purchasing it.


    The money it cost to buy that bag was enough to buy a house outright in a second-tier city.


    She dared not even think about it.


    The manager said, ¡°We currently don¡¯t have that bag available.¡±


    Li Qian, however, squatted down in front of Momo and said in a mocking tone, ¡°Little friend, this bag is very expensive, you know. If your mommy likes it, why don¡¯t you have your daddy come and swipe his card to buy it for your mommy, okay?¡±

 Chapter 33 - 33 Intentional Humiliation

    Chapter 33: Chapter 33 Intentional Humiliation


    Momo asked, ¡°How expensive?¡±


    Li Qian replied, ¡°Very, very expensive.¡±


    Should Daddy come to swipe the card?


    Upon hearing this, Han immediately walked aside, took out his phone, and made a call to Huo Tingdong.


    As soon as the call was connected, the gentle voice of Huo Tingdong came through: ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Han?¡±


    Han said, ¡°Han misses Daddy! Daddy come!¡±


    ...


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Where are you?¡±


    Han reported his location to Huo Tingdong, then hung up the phone and returned to Lin Qi¡¯s side.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Han, who did you call?¡±


    Han said, ¡°Daddy!¡±


    Li Qian sneered inwardly.


    This naive child actually invited his father over, but this is Hermes, would an ordinary man dare to step in here?


    Only someone like Lin Qi who overestimates himself would dare to step in.


    Li Qian, who had been a luxury counter saleswoman for many years, could tell at a glance that Lin Qi was dressed in cheap clothes, pretending to be elite?


    She could already imagine, when Lin Qi¡¯s husband arrived, seeing the price tag of several hundred thousand for a bag, his face would turn green.


    Seeing Li Qian¡¯s expression, Lin Qi knew she was harboring ill intentions, apparently waiting to laugh at her.


    Lin Qi was about to leave, but Han and Momo held her hands from both sides.


    Momo said, ¡°Mommy, buy the bag!¡±


    Han echoed, ¡°Buy!¡±


    Momo could also see that Li Qian was not a good person, looking down on Mommy, and today he wanted to swipe the card and spend for Mommy!


    Li Qian said, ¡°Lin Qi, we have new spring scarves, you must try one! I think this scarf suits you perfectly!¡±


    She appeared enthusiastic as she pulled Lin Qi aside, carefully took a scarf, hung it around her neck, casually tied a knot, and pushed her in front of a mirror.


    Lin Qi wanted to take off the scarf, ¡°I don¡¯t like it.¡± She suspected Li Qian wanted to force her to buy and also knew this seemingly ordinary scarf must be expensive.


    ¡°Don¡¯t take it off!¡± Li Qian stopped her, holding her shoulders towards the mirror, ¡°Look, doesn¡¯t this scarf look great on you?¡±


    Lin Qi felt it didn¡¯t match at all.


    This Li Qian, clearly intending to embarrass her.


    At that moment,


    Other saleswomen at the counter couldn¡¯t help but burst out laughing, ¡°Pfft.¡±


    ¡°It looks so strange like this!¡±


    ¡°Li Qian, what are you matching for this customer? It doesn¡¯t match her clothes at all!¡±


    ¡°Hey? Look at her clothes, isn¡¯t that a three-for-fifty clearance item from Taobao? I¡¯ve seen our cleaning lady wear it, she said the clothing fades after washing.¡±


    ¡°Really? A person wearing a fifty-yuan piece of clothing can step into Hermes? Our customers wear Chanel or Givenchy.¡±


    ¡°Li Qian, what are you looking at? She¡¯s not our customer, nor can she afford Hermes, what nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    Li Qian said, ¡°How could that be possible? Our Lin Qi is the goddess of our class; she must have married a rich husband, and her husband will come to pay for her.¡±


    ¡°How could she dress like this if her husband is rich?¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s thrift, many women who marry into wealthy families dress simply.¡± Li Qian said, ¡°Lin Qi, listen to me, it¡¯s not wasteful to spend your husband¡¯s money. Women should pamper themselves more, don¡¯t hesitate to spend your husband¡¯s money, otherwise, your husband might start spending on other women.¡±


    Saying this, she put another scarf around Lin Qi¡¯s neck and looked in the mirror, ¡°Does this look better?¡±


    The manager¡¯s face was blank, wanting to stop.


    The other saleswomen already laughed out loud.


    ¡°Li Qian, that¡¯s a collar meant for dogs, for customers to use when walking their dogs.¡±


    ¡°Ha ha ha ha! That¡¯s ridiculously funny!¡±


    Anyone with eyes can see that Li Qian is deliberately messing with Lin Qi.


    Normally, Li Qian often gossips with her colleagues.


    During college, the person Li Qian could least stand was Lin Qi.


    Sporting a naturally beautiful face and excellent grades, she became the famous figure of the entire school, while her entire class was merely her backdrop.


    Speaking of their class, everyone referred to it as ¡°Lin Qi¡¯s class.¡±


    Therefore, to smear Lin Qi became the political correctness among the female students in class. Li Qian heard that Lin Qi had dropped out of school, got married, and then divorced, leading a miserable life, which was evident from her cheap clothes.


    Usually, at the counters, she didn¡¯t miss a chance to gossip about Lin Qi; a former school belle turned into a divorced outcast became a topic for Li Qian.


    Thus, the salesgirls all knew that this Lin Qi was the ¡°school belle Lin Qi¡± mentioned by Li Qian.


    The school belle turned into a real joke.


    Li Qian, a bit embarrassed, said, ¡°Oh, sorry, my bad, I mistakenly put a dog¡¯s collar on you. It just matches you so well!¡±


    The obvious ridicule and belittlement, Han suddenly rushed toward Li Qian, shoving her aside fiercely.


    Li Qian, caught off guard, fell to the ground.


    ¡°What are you doing!?¡±


    ¡°This child...¡±


    Lin Qi exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Han!¡±


    She took off the collar and grabbed Han.


    But Han still tried to lunge at Li Qian.


    Momo, also furious with a pale face, grabbed the collar Lin Qi took off and harshly threw it at Li Qian, ¡°Wear this dog collar yourself!¡±


    The collar broke as it hit Li Qian.


    Li Qian got up from the ground and pointed at Han, ¡°Lin Qi, how do you discipline your son, why is he pushing people?!¡±


    ¡°Such a brat! No manners, how did his parents teach him, not knowing any etiquette at all!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯ll definitely become a scum of society when he grows up!¡±


    ¡°Oh no... the collar is broken!¡± A colleague of Li Qian¡¯s picked up the collar, feeling sorry, ¡°This collar costs over five thousand!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s this kid who broke it!¡± Li Qian pointed at Han, ¡°Lin Qi, your son broke it, you will have to pay for it!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I can pay, but you need to apologize.¡±


    Li Qian felt it was absurd, ¡°Apologize? What for?¡±


    Lin Qi, her face flushed and ears red, ¡°You gave me a dog¡¯s collar? Aren¡¯t you deliberately mocking me?¡±


    Li Qian said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t on purpose! Besides, don¡¯t underestimate that it¡¯s a dog¡¯s collar, most people can¡¯t even afford it!¡±


    Li Qian was lacking some performance this month and couldn¡¯t believe her luck to bump into Lin Qi, naturally taking it out on her, not only humiliating her but also boosting her own sales.


    ¡°And this scarf!¡± Li Qian pointed to the scarf around her neck, ¡°Since you tried it on, just buy it too!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You put it on me, why should I buy it?¡±


    Li Qian said, ¡°You dirtied this scarf, how would I know you¡¯re so dirty, even dirtier than a cleaning lady.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You¡ª!¡±


    She felt tears welling up in a disappointing way.


    She didn¡¯t know what she had done wrong to be humiliated like this.


    At the door, the nanny heard the commotion inside and hesitated whether to enter or not, then suddenly saw Huo Tingdong approaching like a gathering of stars and was stunned.


    Why is Mr. Huo here?

 Chapter 34: Unless you can obtain forgiveness from this lady

    Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Unless you can obtain forgiveness from this lady


    The nanny immediately approached with a fawning greeting, ¡°Mr. Huo?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Where is Han?¡±


    The nanny replied, ¡°Miss Lin and the young master are inside.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°And her son, they¡¯re all inside.¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned and, at the same time, heard a dispute coming from inside the boutique.


    ¡°My clothes are not dirty!¡± It was Lin Qi¡¯s voice.


    As he walked in, he saw that Lin Qi was surrounded by a group of saleswomen.


    ...


    The scarf in her hand was twisted awkwardly, and her clothes were ruffled from being pulled.


    Han was protectively covering Lin Qi, and upon seeing Huo Tingdong, suddenly burst into tears with a ¡°waah.¡±


    ¡°Daddy!¡±


    He ran towards Huo Tingdong and clung to his thighs, sobbing, ¡°Wuwuwu, they... bullied... Aunt Qiqi...¡±


    The little guy was clearly very upset, speaking in broken sentences and choking up.


    Han was angrier about Lin Qi being bullied than if he had been bullied himself.


    Huo Tingdong tenderly picked up Han and comforted him, ¡°Don¡¯t cry, baby.¡± Whoever made Han cry was a terrible sinner.


    Han pointed at Li Qian and pouted, ¡°I hate her!¡±


    Li Qian did not recognize Huo Tingdong, but seeing him dressed sharply in an expensive suit, she was unable to discern his identity and only asked warily, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Han said, ¡°My Daddy!¡±


    This man, he¡¯s the father of these two kids?


    Which means...


    He is Lin Qi¡¯s husband?


    How is that possible?


    Lin Qi was dressed in clothes not worth more than three hundred yuan, while his suit alone cost tens of thousands, clearly not of the same class.


    Huo Tingdong looked at Lin Qi and saw her clothes were almost torn from being pulled; Li Qian was holding a pet collar in her hand, and Momo angrily said, ¡°They bullied Mommy! She put the dog collar meant for wearing around a neck on Mommy¡¯s neck.¡±


    Li Qian said, ¡°I...¡±


    Lin Qi clenched her teeth, feeling humiliated.


    At that moment, she suddenly realized how important money and status were for a woman¡¯s dignity.


    Without money, without status, one is bullied and looked down upon, one simply has no dignity.


    She did not want to rely on a man for money and status, so she would have to work hard to win respect from others.


    The store manager came over and asked, ¡°Sir, may I ask what is your relationship with this lady?¡±


    Out of caution, she was polite, naturally guessing his identity from Huo Tingdong¡¯s expensive appearance.


    Huo Tingdong glanced at Lin Qi, originally intending to stick to the facts, but... as the words reached his lips, he suddenly took a turn.


    ¡°She¡¯s my wife.¡± His wife from days past, and still his wife.


    Everyone was stunned.


    Huo Tingdong seemed to understand the situation; Lin Qi was looked down on and bullied at the Hermes boutique.


    Hermes¡¯ clientele were all of the noble class, so the saleswomen, accustomed to serving the wealthy and powerful, naturally did not take Lin Qi seriously.


    But he had to protect Lin Qi.


    Otherwise, Han would be angry and heartbroken.


    Lin Qi was somewhat taken aback; she didn¡¯t expect Huo Tingdong to say such a thing.


    Huo Tingdong approached Lin Qi and asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me when you came to Hermes to buy a bag?¡±


    His tone was casual but with a hint of tenderness that was hard to notice, making Lin Qi feel somewhat dazed, as if... he and she were a loving couple.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to buy a bag.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°It was me who wanted to buy it for Mommy!¡± The money in Lin Qi¡¯s bank account was transferred in the name of Lin Qi¡¯s former boss.


    Momo had punished that sleazy old man, who had promised to compensate Lin Qi, but he was just an ordinary mid-level manager in a company and couldn¡¯t come up with three million.


    Momo only transferred the money to Lin Qi¡¯s account in his name, but unexpectedly, Lin Qi was reluctant to buy nice clothes for herself and instead bought several sets for him and Han.


    When they passed by the Hermes counter, Momo felt that his Mommy should also carry such a beautiful bag, who would have thought she would be bullied like this?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°So, can someone give me an explanation?¡± His eyebrows furrowed, exuding an aura of authority without anger.


    Everyone couldn¡¯t help but shiver.


    Seeing the room fall silent, Huo Tingdong asked coldly, ¡°Who is the manager?¡±


    The manager stepped forward tremblingly, and said with a firm tone, ¡°I am.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°My wife has been bullied in your store. As a manager, you are responsible for your position. How will you deal with these employees?¡±


    The manager glared hatefully at Li Qian and singled her out to come forward, ¡°Li Qian! Explain this to this gentleman!¡±


    Li Qian said nervously, ¡°I...¡± She looked at Huo Tingdong doubtfully, ¡°Sir... are you really her husband?¡±


    Huo Tingdong countered, ¡°What right do you have to question me?¡±


    Li Qian explained hurriedly, ¡°I was her university classmate! I heard that after she dropped out of university, she got divorced. She can¡¯t afford Hermes at all! I think... she just wants to show she has money and humiliate me because I¡¯m a sales associate...¡±


    Huo Tingdong was momentarily taken aback but didn¡¯t respond; instead, he said coolly, ¡°Using baseless rumors to speculate about a customer, is that Hermes¡¯ policy for treating customers?¡±


    Li Qian said, ¡°I...¡±


    Before she could say anything more in her defense, the manager, fearing she would say something wrong again, scolded her, ¡°Li Qian! Shut your mouth!¡±


    ¡°Manager!¡± Li Qian said, ¡°I was her classmate, how could I not know? She¡¯s not a good person at all!¡±


    With a ¡°smack,¡± the manager, out of patience, slapped her across the face, then immediately turned to Huo Tingdong and said, ¡°Sir! I¡¯m very sorry. As a manager, I failed to discipline my staff properly, they gossiped about your wife and provided poor service. The employee¡¯s personal actions don¡¯t reflect the brand.¡±


    Han suddenly pointed to the collar and said to Li Qian, ¡°Put it on.¡±


    Li Qian was stunned.


    Huo Tingdong commanded, ¡°Put it on.¡±


    Li Qian said, ¡°This collar... it¡¯s for dogs. I grabbed it by mistake; it wasn¡¯t intentional...¡±


    Momo narrowed his eyes and said, ¡°You did it on purpose! You just wanted to humiliate my Mommy.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Do I need to repeat myself?¡±


    Li Qian looked towards the manager, but the manager glared at her, ¡°Put it on!¡± If Li Qian offended the customer again, even the manager would be implicated.


    With tears in her eyes and full of grievances, Li Qian placed the collar around her neck.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I see this employee has no remorse. In my opinion, she should be fired.¡±


    The manager said, ¡°Okay, we will report to the manager and ask for instructions.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Zhang Zhenxin? Bring him here now.¡±


    The manager was stupefied.


    This man seemed to have significant connections, even knowing the manager¡¯s full name.


    But for such a matter, she dared not disturb the manager, so she hastily said, ¡°Manager Zhang is out on a business trip these couple of days. Sir, how about this... we will provide meticulous service to this lady afterward, and we will process the dismissal of the involved employee.¡±


    ¡°Manager...¡± Li Qian¡¯s eyes widened.


    A job at the Hermes counter was a golden rice bowl.


    She couldn¡¯t afford to lose this job!


    The manager said, ¡°Unless, you can get this lady¡¯s forgiveness!¡±

 Chapter 35: Make a Fortune!

    Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Make a Fortune!


    Li Qian¡¯s face turned pale.


    Is she expected to humbly beg for Lin Qi¡¯s forgiveness?


    Li Qian hesitated, but the store manager¡¯s firm stance left her no room to retreat.


    Thus, she approached Lin Qi, ¡°Lin Qi... It was my fault just now, I didn¡¯t mean to humiliate you...¡±


    Lin Qi turned her face away.


    ¡°Lin Qi, can you forgive me? Please clarify, it was all a misunderstanding! We are classmates after all. I didn¡¯t mean to target you, I just believed in slander, so...¡±


    ...


    Lin Qi suddenly interrupted her, pointing to a showcase, ¡°Those shoes look nice, can you help me try them on?¡±


    Li Qian followed her pointing finger.


    A pair of mules heavily styled by Hermes, priced at twenty thousand.


    Li Qian¡¯s face instantly turned green.


    Hermes is known for its kneeling service.


    Especially when serving customers by trying on shoes or checking bags, it always involves kneeling beside the customer.


    But to kneel and serve Lin Qi was a completely different matter, especially under these circumstances.


    She was clearly returning the favor.


    The store manager said, ¡°Li Qian, please help this lady try on the shoes.¡±


    Lin Qi took a seat on the couch.


    To save her job, Li Qian, gritting her teeth, brought the shoes to Lin Qi, bending over, unsure whether to stand or kneel.


    The store manager said, ¡°Li Qian, what are you doing? Have you forgotten how to serve customers?¡±


    Reluctantly, Li Qian bit her lip, knelt beside Lin Qi, took off her sneakers, and carefully tried the new shoes on her.


    Lin Qi gracefully placed the heel on Li Qian¡¯s knee and asked with a raised eyebrow, ¡°Do you think these shoes look good on me?¡±


    Li Qian¡¯s face was pale, barely maintaining a smile, ¡°Yes, beautiful.¡±


    Lin Qi suddenly bent down and said to Li Qian, ¡°I want that Himalaya bag.¡±


    Li Qian responded, ¡°That bag...¡±


    ¡°I want the one in the showcase.¡±


    Normally, Hermes has a supply mechanism, and that limited edition Himalaya requires over a million in purchases to qualify, but now the store manager, not wanting to offend the customer and tarnish Hermes¡¯ reputation, reluctantly said, ¡°Li Qian, fetch that Himalaya bag for this lady.¡±


    ¡°Store manager...¡± Li Qian said, ¡°That¡¯s Mrs. Fang¡¯s reserved bag.¡±


    The store manager glared at Li Qian.


    ...


    Eventually, Lin Qi paid $850,000 with her card, purchasing one Himalaya bag, one Kelly bag, two outfits, and a pair of mules, then left the boutique.


    Originally, Huo Tingdong was going to settle the bill, but Lin Qi took out her card and swiped for $850,000.


    How did this woman suddenly have so much money?


    At the boutique¡¯s entrance, the store manager led the staff in smilingly seeing off the customers.


    This incident was barely resolved.


    Just as Lin Qi and others left, the store manager turned and fiercely scolded Li Qian: ¡°Li Qian, you disaster, don¡¯t bother coming to work tomorrow!¡±


    Li Qian said, ¡°Store manager! I managed to soothe the customer, why are you firing me?¡±


    The store manager said, ¡°If it wasn¡¯t for your mess, would I need to play up smiles and clean up after you? I¡¯ve warned you all, no gossiping about customers¡¯ private matters behind their backs. Are you the only one who can¡¯t keep her mouth shut?¡±


    Feeling aggrieved, Li Qian said, ¡°Store manager, she¡¯s just pretending to be rich...¡±


    The store manager said, ¡°It was her card I swiped, her bank card, her name, that paid the $850,000! You say she¡¯s pretending to be rich? Her husband¡¯s suit alone is worth tens of thousands; they are genuinely wealthy! In today¡¯s society, you can offend anyone but not the wealthy! Don¡¯t ruin it for the rest of the staff or me! Get out!¡±


    After saying that, the store manager turned away fiercely.


    Tears in her eyes, Li Qian ran after him, ¡°Store manager!¡±


    Her colleagues pushed her.


    ¡°It¡¯s all your fault!¡±


    ¡°We all believed your slander. I think, you¡¯re just jealous because she is beautiful and married well!¡±


    ¡°Li Qian, we thought you were a good colleague, but you almost made us all lose our jobs! If it weren¡¯t for the store manager¡¯s crisis management, we would¡¯ve been ruined by you!¡±


    ¡°Yeah, just go away! Our Hermes has no room for a big ¡®Buddha¡¯ like you!¡±


    Li Qian was pushed out the door like a dog.


    Colleagues from a few other counters also came out to watch, pointing and whispering at Li Qian.


    For a moment, Li Qian¡¯s face burned furiously; she fiercely wiped the tears from her face and hurried away.


    ...


    On the ride back home.


    Lin Qi looked down at the exquisitely wrapped bag, spending a million today, but it was worth it.


    If not for Huo Tingdong¡¯s influence, that savvy store manager wouldn¡¯t have sold her the limited Himalaya.


    Ordinary customers would need to spend close to two million to qualify for a Himalaya.


    It¡¯s a limited edition, only a few produced each year.


    They didn¡¯t even know who Huo Tingdong really was; just because the suit he wore was handmade couture, costing tens of thousands, they were convinced of his wealth and prestige.


    Lin Qi thought back to when she had interviewed with the company; several newcomers dressed in Dior, carrying Chanel, indeed commanded respect in the workplace.


    ¡°People rely on clothes like Buddha relies on gold; the ancients truly did not deceive me,¡± she thought.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Did you drop out of college?¡±


    Lin Qi responded, ¡°Yes, my dad forced me to.¡±


    ¡°Why did you drop out?¡±


    Lin Qi glanced at him.


    Huo Tingdong immediately understood, ¡°You could¡¯ve refused.¡±


    ¡°I had no choice. In the Lin family, I¡¯ve always lived a dependent life,¡± said Lin Qi, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about the past.¡±


    When she got home, Lin Qi logged onto an auction website and immediately put up the Himalaya bag for auction.


    The starting bid was $600,000.


    The auction was to start an hour later.


    Soon, the bids soared, shooting up to two million.


    Lin Qi was astonished.


    Hermes indeed serves as a financial product in the luxury goods market, stirring up such fervor.


    Mainly, the limited stock at the boutiques made the bag hard to come by; many affluent women, despite their wealth, couldn¡¯t get their hands on one and were willing to pay a high price.


    Lin Qi put up the listing and didn¡¯t bother with it further.


    By evening, right before bed, she checked again; the bid had risen to $2.5 million.


    This was astonishing!


    If the bag was sold at this price, she would have made a hefty profit.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s influence was indeed valuable!


    Suddenly, Lin Qi felt that the frustration she experienced at the Hermes counter had completely dissipated.


    She looked at the unopened Himalaya bag; she didn¡¯t consider herself tasteless, but she really couldn¡¯t see what made the bag so precious.


    It probably boiled down to the rarity!


    Limited to a few pieces each year, it lured the vanity of the wealthy women.


    Hunger marketing, truly played clear and crisp by Hermes.


    Watching the bids rise significantly, with eight hours left till the auction¡¯s end, who knows, it might even break a record!

 Chapter 36: The Final Auction Price of 5.6 Million

    :i>Dsipgex )01<[hapter 36: The Final Auction Price of 5.6 Million


    Lin Qi closed her computer, planning to watch the final auction result after she wakes up tomorrow.


    ¡°Mommy?¡±


    Momo stood at the door, peeking in. After dinner, he had seen Lin Qi rush upstairs, thinking she was still upset about the humiliation at the counter. Just as he poked his little head in, he heard Lin Qi¡¯s giggling.


    ¡°Mommy...¡± It was the first time Momo heard Lin Qi laugh like this.


    ¡°Momo?¡± Lin Qi grabbed him in her arms. ¡°Have you bathed yet?¡±


    ¡°Washed already!¡±


    ...


    ¡°Oh?¡± Lin Qi was surprised. ¡°Who bathed you?¡±


    Momo proudly said, ¡°I washed myself.¡± Tingdong was right, he was seven now, he shouldn¡¯t let Mommy help him bathe anymore. Shy face.


    Lin Qi still couldn¡¯t believe it and smelled him. Indeed, it was the sweet-smelling Momo!


    She asked, ¡°Where is Han?¡±


    Momo shook his head, ¡°Haven¡¯t seen him.¡±


    In the study.


    Han knocked on the door and walked in.


    Huo Tingdong had just closed his laptop. Upon seeing Han holding something in his hands, he got curious, ¡°What¡¯s in your hands?¡±


    Han walked up to him, opened his palms, and held a handmade little red flower he had made himself.


    Huo Tingdong was somewhat amused, ¡°What is this?¡±


    Han lifted the corners of his mouth and gently placed the little red flower on Huo Tingdong¡¯s chest, then with his soft little hand, gently touched his head, ¡°Protect Aunt Qiqi, get a reward.¡±


    Huo Tingdong understood.


    He had helped Lin Qi at the Hermes counter today, and in Han¡¯s eyes, he had earned a commendation. As a reward, Han made him this little red flower.


    ¡°Thank you.¡± Huo Tingdong touched the little red flower; it was the first time he received a ¡°gift¡± from Han.


    Unexpectedly, it was because of Lin Qi.


    For some reason, with Lin Qi¡¯s company, Han seemed happier than before and started talking more.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Do you really like Aunt Qiqi that much?¡±


    Han nodded.


    ¡°Just because she¡¯s beautiful?¡±


    ¡°Mhm!¡±


    ¡°But there are so many people more beautiful than her?¡±


    Han stressed without doubt, ¡°She¡¯s the most beautiful!¡±


    ¡°Okay, she¡¯s the most beautiful.¡± Huo Tingdong pulled him gently into his arms and appeasingly asked, ¡°So, Daddy or Aunt Qiqi, who do you like more?¡±


    This stumped Han.


    He actually hesitated.


    In front of Daddy, saying he liked Aunt Qiqi more seemed a bit heart-wrenching?


    Since he could remember, Han had stayed in the orphanage until he was four. Due to his autism, the orphanage teachers looked down on him, and other kids bullied him. In the orphanage, only an old Chinese medicine practitioner was kind to him.


    He had always felt insecure.


    But since he had been brought back to the Huo Family by Huo Tingdong, Huo Tingdong had showered him with immense affection and pampered him dearly.


    He thought for a moment and seriously gave his answer: ¡°Daddy!¡±


    Saying this, he made a heart gesture at Huo Tingdong.


    Although Huo Tingdong knew it wasn¡¯t Han¡¯s most genuine answer, he was content that he could give this answer.


    He kissed Han¡¯s cheek, ¡°Daddy loves Han the most too.¡±


    Han also hugged his neck and kissed him back.


    ¡°Sleep with Daddy tonight?¡± Huo Tingdong had specifically ended his work early so he could go to bed early.


    Han hesitated for a moment but still obediently nodded.


    The next day.


    As soon as Lin Qi woke up, she logged onto the auction site.


    With eight hours left before the auction closed, the bid had already reached 2.8 million!


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t see the customer¡¯s information who placed the bid, but she vaguely felt that the nature of the bid had changed; to obtain the Himalaya, the bidding had already gone up over three hundred times.


    She almost dropped her jaw, feeling utterly dazed. She had no idea how much the final bid could be.


    If it could break three million... deducting taxes, she¡¯d net over two million.


    At 1 PM, Lin Qi suddenly received a call. It was from the person in charge of the auction.


    ¡°May I ask, are you Miss Lin Qi?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°At the moment, the item you listed for auction, a Hermes Himalaya Bag, has reached a final bid. One bidder purchased your bag for a price of 5.6 million. Next, we need to arrange the transaction process with you...¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned for a long time.


    5.6 million...


    Forgive her naivety, but in this world, is there really someone willing to spend 5.6 million just to buy a bag?


    Seeing that Lin Qi did not respond for a while, the caller on the other end became somewhat nervous, ¡°Miss Lin? Miss Lin, do you have any questions? Rest assured! Our company is a standard channel, and all transactions are secured with a deposit.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I have no problem.¡±


    The other party provided some details about proofs needed for the settled item and agreed on the afternoon¡¯s procedures. Initially, they planned to offer a home service, but Lin Qi asked for the address of the exchange office, intending to deliver the bag personally.


    After hanging up the phone, Lin Qi quickly logged onto the official website to check.


    The transaction was finally settled at 5.6 million!


    The final price was reached three times.


    Oh my!


    Lin Qi held her face, feeling ecstatic.


    5.6 million!


    This bag actually sold for 5.6 million!


    This is practically overnight riches.


    Though she didn¡¯t know who would lavish 5.6 million on a bag, it might just hit the trending news tomorrow.


    ¡°A 5.6 million Hermes bag,¡± Lin Qi could already picture the trending words.


    Li Qian must be regretting it deeply, having burdened the Hermes store with this bag and incurring a heavy loss.


    The appointment was at half past two in the afternoon.


    Lin Qi prepared all necessary documents, took a taxi to the exchange, submitted all related proofs, and completed the transaction.


    The exchange paid a deposit of one million, with the remaining 3.5 million to be transferred to her account within ten days.


    Reportedly, the mysterious buyer was eager to get the bag and had already paid in full, expected to arrive within three business days.


    As the sun was setting, Lin Qi looked at the scorching balance in her account and contentedly headed home!


    ...


    Three days later.


    At Lin Family¡¯s home.


    Lin Qianqian finally received the Hermes Himalaya Bag she had been longing for.


    She happily carried the bag home and couldn¡¯t wait to open it.


    As Zhou Qin came downstairs, she saw the beaming Lin Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, bought a new bag?¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Su Yuan bought this and gave it to me.¡±


    The bag was picked up from the store unopened; all original invoices were intact.


    This was the Himalaya Bag that Lin Qianqian wanted the most, yet it was the hardest to acquire!


    Zhou Qin casually asked, ¡°How much?¡±


    As soon as the words left her mouth, Lin Qianqian unboxed the bag, and upon seeing it was a Himalaya, Zhou Qin exclaimed with surprise, ¡°Isn¡¯t this a Himalaya? This bag is very hard to get.¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Yes, I saw it on the auction website and pestered Su Yuan to buy it for me.¡±


    Zhou Qin was astonished, ¡°How could he afford to buy you such an expensive bag?¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°He said it¡¯s a wedding gift for me.¡±


    Since returning from the real estate office that day, Lin Qianqian had felt greatly aggrieved and had a temper with Su Yuan. To appease her, Su Yuan gritted his teeth and agreed to buy her a bag.


    Lin Qianqian heard from her friend that there was a Himalaya up for auction on the website, so she pestered Su Yuan about it.


    Unexpectedly, it eventually cost 5.6 million to finally win the bid!

 Chapter 37 - 37 He is a Child with a Father

    :i>Dsipgex )11<[hapter 37 He is a Child with a Father


    ¡°It is said that this quarter in Beijing, there is only one quota for the Himalaya bag.


    That means, she is the only one who owns a Himalaya bag!


    Lin Qianqian felt extremely prestigious, ¡°Tomorrow is daddy¡¯s birthday banquet, I will carry this bag.¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°Good, by then, all those rich ladies and young misses will be green with envy.¡±


    Lin Qianqian, taking advantage and still playing cute, ¡°Envious of what? Envious that Su Yuan was only willing to buy me a 280 square meter marital home?¡± The moment she thought about the humiliation she suffered at the sales office, she felt sour.


    Zhou Qin disagreed, ¡°So what? This bag costs 5.6 million, you¡¯re not even officially married yet, just boyfriend and girlfriend with Su Yuan, which rich young master would give such an expensive bag to a girlfriend? Doesn¡¯t this already show how much Su Yuan values you?¡±


    ...


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°But Lin Qi has a 170 million mansion!¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°So what? The Su Family has plenty of money. This is just a transitional marital home. Later, when you give birth to a big chubby boy for the Su Family, a 170 million mansion will be easily within reach! Moreover, has Lin Qi even seen this 5.6 million bag? Let her have an eye-opener tomorrow, let her witness what real nobility is like.¡±


    Lin Qianqian huffed, feeling the exact same way in her heart!


    A 170 million mansion so what?


    She has a 5.6 million Himalaya bag!


    Lin Qianqian put on the Hermes bag, walked to the mirror, struck several poses, and admired herself again and again, a face full of pride.


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°Tomorrow, you will definitely be the most glorious one! I want to see Lin Qi, with her shabby clothes, what face does she have to compete with you? God knows what tricks she is playing, I don¡¯t believe she has a husband who would buy her a mansion worth 170 million!¡±


    Lin Qianqian turned around and said, ¡°Mom, just watch the drama tomorrow! I will make sure her face is swept with humiliation.¡±


    The next day.


    Lin Qi received a call from Zhou Qin, ¡°6:30 in the evening, Dynasty Hotel, don¡¯t be late.¡±


    Zhou Qin hung up the call and then sent her the address via text.


    Lin Qi hesitated, it seemed, the Lin Family was determined not to let her off.


    But Momo had already changed his clothes.


    He urged Lin Qi, ¡°Mommy, hurry and change clothes!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡±


    Momo asked, ¡°Is Mommy afraid that those people will bully you?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°I am afraid they will bully you.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I am not afraid, what is Mommy afraid of, besides, today Uncle Huo is taking Han and us together, with him around, who can bully Mommy?


    Lin Qi reluctantly changed into the new dress and mules recently bought by Hermes and walked out of the room.


    Momo glanced at her and gave a very fair and yet flattering comment: ¡°Mommy looks quietly luxurious yet opulent in this outfit.¡±


    Lin Qi was amused by his serious expression, and her mood also brightened.


    ¡°Alright, you have the sweetest mouth!¡±


    As soon as Lin Qi walked downstairs holding his hand, in the living room, she saw Han had already changed into a handsome little gentleman¡¯s outfit waiting for her.


    Momo and Han were wearing clothes that Lin Qi had bought for them the day before.


    Huo Tingdong had also changed into a simple casual outfit, looking more relaxed and handsome than when in a suit, his usual aloof and noble demeanor softened, giving off a gentle feeling.


    Lin Qi¡¯s gaze slowly moved up until it paused on his cold face...


    Gentle?!


    What kind of misperception had she made, attributing such a word to Huo Tingdong?


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Did you buy the clothes Han is wearing?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Huo Tingdong was a bit surprised.


    He thought this woman had no money, unexpectedly, she bought such expensive clothes for Han, couldn¡¯t she have maxed out her credit card?


    ¡°How much, I¡¯ll pay you.¡± Huo Tingdong did not want to owe her any favors.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°No need, Han looks great in this, I just bought it.¡±


    Momo glanced at Huo Tingdong, but was somewhat dissatisfied, and said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°Can you change your clothes?¡±


    Huo Tingdong had especially cleared his schedule today since he had promised Momo to accompany them to the Lin Family¡¯s birthday banquet. Therefore, it was rare for him not to wear a suit, but Momo still felt that this man looked the most handsome in a suit!


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What clothes should I change into?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°A suit, the one you wore before, the one that costs several hundreds of thousands per piece.¡±


    After all, it was a hand-tailored suit, especially noble.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with the clothes I¡¯m wearing?¡±


    Momo asserted, ¡°It¡¯s not suitable! My Mommy is dressed so beautifully, you also have to dress up handsomely to match my Mommy, otherwise, how can you be worthy of my Mommy!¡± Since he¡¯s playing the role of my Daddy, then he wants a very handsome, explosively handsome Daddy.


    The nanny of Han inappropriately interjected at this moment, ¡°Acting as if your Mommy is some treasure! Our Mr. Huo, how is he not worthy of your Mommy?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Dressed like this, he doesn¡¯t match my Mommy at all.¡± He shot back mercilessly at the nanny, ¡°Is my Mommy not beautiful? Not pretty? There aren¡¯t many superstars on television prettier than my Mommy! Hmm, no taste!¡±


    Han nodded, seemingly quite in agreement with Momo¡¯s words.


    Huo Tingdong gave a warning glare to the nanny, ¡°Why do you have something to say?¡±


    He said to Han, ¡°Han, wait for Daddy for a bit.¡±


    Saying so, he headed upstairs.


    Twenty minutes later.


    Momo was getting a bit impatient, ¡°Why isn¡¯t he ready yet?¡±


    Was he upstairs dressing up?


    Suddenly, footsteps were heard from the second floor.


    It was the sound of soft leather shoes on the marble floor, elegant and pleasing to the ear.


    Lin Qi looked up following the sound, but was somewhat stunned.


    Momo, seeing Huo Tingdong slowly descending the stairs, also widened his eyes in surprise.


    Huo Tingdong had changed into a Naples suit from Italy, with dark gray fabric and stripes outlined in silver threads, paired with a dark coffee-colored tie, accentuating his tall figure.


    So handsome.


    Momo couldn¡¯t help but sigh inwardly.


    Huo Tingdong in a suit possessed an indescribable nobility, no wonder, the day before when he stood by the Hermes counter, even the manager felt intimidated, just because, he didn¡¯t need many words, his every gesture carried an aura of old money.


    Huo Tingdong walked up to Lin Qi, and upon seeing Momo looking at him in awe, asked, ¡°Can we go now?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°We... we can.¡±


    Momo suddenly grabbed Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand.


    The man frowned, ¡°What now?¡±


    ¡°Did you remember your task for today?¡± Momo said solemnly, ¡°You must not give it away when we get there.¡±


    ¡°Task?¡± Huo Tingdong seemed to tease him, ¡°What task?¡±


    Momo pointed at him and then at himself, ¡°You have to play the role of my dad, act as my mommy¡¯s husband, you have to be gentle to my mommy, let others feel that my mommy has a good husband, and I have a good daddy, and we are very happy.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°What¡¯s the purpose of doing this?¡±


    Momo suddenly fell silent, only muttering, ¡°You promised me, did the pinky promise with me, you can¡¯t go back on your word.¡±


    Purpose?


    What purpose could he have?


    He just didn¡¯t want those bad people to bully his mommy without anyone to support her, to stop calling him a bastard, to no longer bully them being a mother and son alone.


    He is a child with a ¡°daddy¡±!

 Chapter 38 - 38 Playing the Loving Couple

    :i>Dsipgex )>1<[hapter 38 Playing the Loving Couple


    Dynasty Hotel.


    The Maybach stopped at the entrance.


    The Protocol staff approached to open the car door.


    Huo Tingdong carried Han out of the car, and Lin Qi, holding Momo¡¯s hand, walked to the entrance but was immediately stopped by the Protocol staff.


    ¡°May I ask...¡±


    Upon seeing Huo Tingdong, the Protocol staff was instantly overwhelmed by his imposing presence.


    ...


    Huo Tingdong looked toward Lin Qi, and she quickly explained, ¡°Lin Cheng is hosting a banquet here, we¡¯re here for his birthday celebration.¡±


    ¡°Relatives and friends of Mr. Lin, I see!¡± said the Protocol staff. ¡°Mr. Lin has reserved ten tables at the Purple Fortune Restaurant, please follow me this way.¡±


    The Protocol staff respectfully ushered them inside.


    Momo suddenly tugged at Lin Qi¡¯s hand carefully, ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Hmm?¡±


    ¡°Do you want to...¡± Momo asked seriously, ¡°hold onto ¡®Daddy¡¯s¡¯ arm?¡±


    Han also paused and looked toward Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi was taken aback for a moment.


    She glanced at the taciturn man beside her and shook her head.


    ¡°But, you need to act like you¡¯re very affectionate with ¡®Daddy¡¯!¡± Momo stressed again.


    Huo Tingdong thought to himself, this little one switched terms quite nimbly.


    But... him being called ¡°Daddy,¡± he didn¡¯t find it so repulsive.


    Who could resist when the little one looked so adorable and elegant?


    Momo cooed, ¡°Hold on! Hold on!¡±


    Otherwise, how would they look like a loving couple?


    Lin Qi felt somewhat awkward at the moment; to her, holding a man¡¯s arm was an especially intimate gesture, and she had never been so close with a man before.


    Huo Tingdong had one hand holding Han and the other in his trouser pocket, yet the arm near her subtly made space for her.


    He seemed to have no reaction to Momo¡¯s words, still maintaining an expressionless face, but it seemed that his posture was a silent affirmation.


    Lin Qi mustered her courage, moved closer, and awkwardly took hold of his arm.


    Only upon holding did she realize what a shock it was.


    Underneath the suit was an astonishingly lean and muscular physique, with firm and toned arms.


    There was a particularly subtle fragrance from him, which she recognized as Armani¡¯s Imperial Longjing fragrance.


    Purple Fortune Restaurant.


    Zhou Qin was greeting the guests when she saw, from a distance, Lin Qi walking arm-in-arm with a man.


    Upon closer inspection, she couldn¡¯t help but be startled.


    The man beside Lin Qi was tall and handsome, with a face that was infuriatingly attractive, dressed in high-quality fashion.


    There¡¯s a price to elegance.


    The suit on Huo Tingdong was a custom-made piece from Bottega Veneta, outrageously expensive, and on him, it exuded a luxurious demeanor.


    Zhou Qin shifted her gaze toward Lin Qi, who was dressed in Hermes from head to toe, wearing Hermes mules worth over ten thousand yuan, and carrying the Hermes Kelly bag, summing up to a value of over two hundred thousand yuan.


    Momo and Han were also dressed in Gucci, with the whole family¡¯s attire altogether costing more than a million yuan.


    Zhou Qin¡¯s eyelids twitched fiercely until Lin Qi approached her, which is when she reacted.


    ¡°Qiqi, you look... truly beautiful today,¡± Zhou Qin complimented halfheartedly, immediately turning her attention to Huo Tingdong, ¡°And this is...¡±


    Lin Qi looked a bit uncomfortable, but quickly adjusted her expression and introduced, ¡°This is my husband.¡± She introduced Zhou Qin to Huo Tingdong, ¡°This is my step-mother.¡±


    Step-mother...


    This word made Zhou Qin very uncomfortable inside, but she couldn¡¯t show it in front of Huo Tingdong. The smile on her face was somewhat stiff.


    Huo Tingdong nodded elegantly, ¡°Hello, Aunty.¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°I still don¡¯t know your distinguished surname?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°No need for ¡®distinguished¡¯, my surname is Huo.¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°You¡¯re also a ¡®Huo¡¯? Oh my! Isn¡¯t that a coincidence? Qiqi¡¯s ex-husband is also surnamed ¡®Huo¡¯. Qiqi, you really are something. When did you remarry without even letting us know?¡± She casually brought up Lin Qi¡¯s ex-husband.


    Immediately after, she covered her mouth, looking somewhat annoyed, and turned to Lin Qi, ¡°Qiqi, should I have said that? Does Mr. Huo know about your marriage before?¡±


    Judging Huo Tingdong¡¯s dignified and wealthy appearance, she guessed Lin Qi couldn¡¯t possibly cling to such a man.


    This must be a lover, right?


    Otherwise, how could a rich and classy man fancy a divorcee like Lin Qi who comes with baggage?


    Lin Qi knew Zhou Qin was deliberately trying to disgust her.


    But Zhou Qin had no idea that the man beside her was her ex-husband, Huo Tingdong.


    Very few people had seen Huo Tingdong¡¯s true face.


    He clearly didn¡¯t want to reveal his identity to avoid unnecessary trouble, so in Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes, Zhou Qin looked like a clown jumping on a beam.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°He knew I was divorced when we registered our marriage.¡±


    Zhou Qin¡¯s eyes flashed a sharp disappointment, but she forced herself to say, ¡°Is that so? That¡¯s wonderful, Qiqi. It¡¯s not easy for you. With Momo, finding a good man who is willing to accept your past and to entrust his life to is no small feat!¡±


    Her underlying message was that for Lin Qi, a woman cast out of the household, finding any man was not easy.


    Zhou Qin then looked at Han, ¡°This child is...¡± Definitely not Lin Qi¡¯s child, as he doesn¡¯t resemble Lin Qi at all.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°This is my son, Xiao Bao.¡± He was very wary of telling strangers about Han¡¯s name, and had always protected Han very well.


    ¡°How old is he, seems about seven years old, right? About the same age as Momo.¡± Zhou Qin said, ¡°Qiqi, this child is your...¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression grew somewhat dark.


    He didn¡¯t like others prying too much into his private life.


    ¡°Mom!¡± Lin Qianqian approached, interrupting the somewhat discordant atmosphere inappropriately, and when she saw Lin Qi arriving, entwined with that man from the real estate sales office, she was also taken aback, ¡°Lin Qi?¡±


    She really brought that man over!


    Lin Qi glanced at Lin Qianqian but suddenly noticed the Himalaya Bag intentionally hanging in front of her and was startled.


    Isn¡¯t that... the Himalaya that she put up for auction on the website?


    There¡¯s only one of this model.


    The one Lin Qianqian was carrying was either a fake, or it was the one that sold for 5.6 million.


    Could it be?


    Was Lin Qianqian the one who spent 5.6 million buying that Himalaya Bag?


    Could she afford it?


    Lin Qianqian couldn¡¯t be the foolish spender who bought her Himalaya Bag for 5.6 million, could she?


    Seeing Lin Qi finally noticed the Hermes she was carrying, Lin Qianqian smiled and said, ¡°Qiqi, do you like this bag? Su Yuan bought it for me.¡±


    Lin Qi pursed her lips, barely holding back a laugh about to reveal itself.


    Lin Qianqian¡¯s face turned a bit green.


    Why is she laughing?


    She looked again at the bag Lin Qi was carrying, just a mere Kelly bag. Could it compare to the Himalaya that Su Yuan bought for her for 5.6 million?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Nothing much, I think your bag is quite pretty. However, I¡¯ve heard that there¡¯s only one of this bag available. Where did you get this one?¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Su Yuan bought it for me for 5.6 million!¡±

 Chapter 39: 39 Momos Furious Retaliation

    Chapter 39: Chapter 39 Momo¡¯s Furious Retaliation


    Lin Qi was now sure that Lin Qianqian wasn¡¯t the dupe, it was Su Yuan.


    Han and Momo were stunned as well.


    By their side, Huo Tingdong also frowned and turned to look at Lin Qi.


    ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± He suddenly bent down, asking in her ear with obvious displeasure.


    Lin Qi lowered her voice and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll explain later.¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°Xiao Yuan really cares about our Qianqian! He bought a Hermes bag worth 5.6 million just like that, saying as long as Qianqian likes it, no matter how expensive, he¡¯d be willing to buy it.¡±


    ...


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a good thing?¡±


    Zhou Qin felt like her punch had hit cotton, then seeing Lin Qi dressed head-to-toe in Hermes, she sarcastically inserted, ¡°Qiqi, you married well too. Look at you now, living a respectable life, dressed in Hermes, carrying Hermes, looking every bit the elite.¡±


    Lin Qianqian muttered softly, ¡°Who knows if it¡¯s even real Hermes...¡±


    Lin Qi frowned slightly, speechless.


    This mother-daughter pair was simply too obnoxious, with a woman who destroyed others¡¯ families to climb up using dirty tricks, what right did she have to be sarcastic here?


    Momo said from the side, ¡°My mommy is so beautiful, whether she wears Hermes or ¡®Shi Ai Ma¡¯, she looks gorgeous! Some people, even if clad in gold, wouldn¡¯t look half as good as my mommy!¡±


    Then, he looked up at Huo Tingdong and asked, ¡°Daddy, am I right?¡±


    Huo Tingdong laughed, amused by his words, and simply hummed, ¡°Mommy is the most beautiful in the world.¡±


    Out of the mouths of babes indeed.


    Momo¡¯s statement not only hit Zhou Qin hard but also defended Lin Qi.


    Zhou Qin and Lin Qianqian both scowled, with Lin Qianqian glaring at Momo, who, fearless, leaned against Huo Tingdong and glared back fiercely, sticking out his tongue.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Qianqian, my son is only seven, children say the darndest things, you won¡¯t take it to heart, right?¡±


    Zhou Qin quickly glossed over, ¡°Our Qianqian is generous. Su Family values our Qianqian because she is cultured, knows etiquette, and understands the bigger picture. For a woman, marrying a good man is the true destination!¡±


    Saying this, she purposefully asked in front of Lin Qi, ¡°Qianqian, when is Xiao Yuan coming?¡±


    Lin Qianqian replied, ¡°Su Yuan has invited his parents along this time, I plan to greet them personally at the entrance.¡±


    Zhou Qin sighed sentimentally, ¡°That shows how much the Su Family values you!¡± Turning to Lin Qi, she said, ¡°Qiqi, our Qianqian is going to be engaged. Have you met her fiance?? The eldest son from the prestigious Su Family.¡±


    Lin Qi noncommittally replied, ¡°I don¡¯t remember.¡±


    Just as Zhou Qin wanted to boast, Lin Qi interrupted her, leaving Zhou Qin with a subtle expression, but still she warmly invited, ¡°When Qianqian gets married, you must come to the wedding! I heard Su Family is preparing a lavish wedding for Qianqian!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯ll come if I¡¯m free.¡± Saying that, she clung tighter to Huo Tingdong¡¯s arm and asked, ¡°Where are we going to sit?¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°Just sit here.¡± She casually pointed to a spot near the entrance, ¡°You and your dad haven¡¯t seen each other in a long time. He doesn¡¯t even know you¡¯ve remarried, he¡¯s sitting at the main seat.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯ll go over in a moment.¡± She glanced at the spot Zhou Qin pointed them to, which was coincidentally closest to the restroom.


    ¡°I don¡¯t want to sit here.¡± Momo covered his nose, ¡°It smells bad.¡±


    Lin Qi agreed, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s close to the restroom.¡±


    ¡°Why pick such a spot?¡± Momo innocently asked, ¡°Is it because it¡¯s cheaper to pick a spot near the restroom?¡±


    Zhou Qin rolled her eyes internally but not wanting to lose face, pointed to another empty table, ¡°How about sitting there then?¡±


    Lin Qi walked with Huo Tingdong to the table, and as soon as they sat down, Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Are you going to give me an explanation?¡±


    Lin Qi raised her eyebrow, ¡°What?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°That handbag, how did it end up in Lin Qianqian¡¯s hands.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I put the bag up for auction online. Unexpectedly, it sold for 5.6 million. The money hasn¡¯t been transferred yet, but once it is, I¡¯ll treat you to a meal.¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡± She actually auctioned off such a rare bag?


    Hermes is every woman¡¯s ultimate dream.


    However... Selling it for 5.6 million is indeed a windfall profit.


    Momo exclaimed from the side, ¡°5.6 million!¡± Mommy only spent a few hundred thousand to buy this bag.


    Isn¡¯t that pure profit?


    ¡°Mommy really has a good head for business!¡± Momo generously praised, giving a thumbs up, ¡°So that woman, she spent 5.6 million to buy the bag that Mommy got for a few hundred thousand?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded.


    Han also clapped his hands happily.


    Momo then asked, ¡°Mommy, do you want to meet that man?¡±


    Lin Qi said with a grim face, ¡°No.¡± It¡¯s already good enough that she¡¯s giving face by showing up.


    If it weren¡¯t for Zhou Qin blocking the door, she wouldn¡¯t want to meet this mother and daughter, finding them revolting.


    However, Huo Tingdong¡¯s attention was on the tablecloth.


    He has quite a severe obsession with cleanliness; some not so obvious stains on the tablecloth made him frown repeatedly.


    Although Dynasty Hotel is a five-star hotel, it is not the top tier of five-star, having been rated five-star ten years ago. Nowadays, the decor and facilities are outdated. Although a meal costs over ten thousand, the hidden stains constantly remind him of how terrible the hotel¡¯s cleanliness is.


    ¡°Why is she here?¡±


    Nearby, Lin Cheng¡¯s disgruntled voice could be heard, ¡°Who invited this unfilial daughter here? And who is that man with her?¡±


    Lin Qi turned around and saw Lin Cheng pointing at her and questioning Zhou Qin, ¡°Why did you invite this person here? I¡¯ve already disowned her as my daughter!¡±


    Zhou Qin smiled placatingly to the side, ¡°Husband, don¡¯t be like this, she is your daughter after all!¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t have such a daughter! Let her leave immediately, I don¡¯t want to see her!¡±


    Lin Qi immediately understood, Lin Cheng hadn¡¯t invited her; it was Zhou Qin¡¯s intentional plot to embarrass her here.


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°I just want to ease the father-daughter relationship between you. It¡¯s been so many years, I figured we could break the ice on your fiftieth birthday, so you wouldn¡¯t die without reconciling.¡±


    Lin Cheng declared righteously, ¡°I, Lin Cheng, only have Qianqian as my daughter.¡±


    Lin Qi hearing this, did not feel sad; perhaps because she no longer had any expectations for this family, without expectations there can be no disappointment.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Your father-daughter relationship is so strained.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯ve already cut ties with him.¡±


    Huo Tingdong then said, ¡°If the relationship is severed, why did you come here today?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I wanted Mommy to come.¡±


    Lin Cheng was already approaching Lin Qi, with Zhou Qin feigning to hold him back, ¡°Husband, the Su Family¡¯s people will be here soon, let¡¯s avoid making it awkward for both families!¡± She had Lin Qi come, exactly to let Lin Qi see what kind of good family Lin Qianqian was marrying into, to make her envious.

 Chapter 40: 40: A Dispute Caused by a Bag

    Chapter 40: Chapter 40: A Dispute Caused by a Bag


    Zhou Qin has borne the reputation of being the other woman for many years, but she finally, through shrewd thinking, managed to win the favor of the Lin Family. Now, outside the Lin Family, no one remembers Lin Cheng¡¯s original wife, and even how Zhou Qin supplanted her has been completely forgotten.


    Upon hearing this, Lin Cheng also feared the embarrassment it could cause, so he hinted to Zhou Qin, ¡°Send her away quickly to avoid losing my face.¡±


    At that moment.


    Lin Qianqian, arm in arm with Su Yuan, made her official entrance.


    Su Yuan¡¯s parents were also present.


    They were all dressed formally, clearly indicating the Su Family¡¯s dissatisfaction with their future daughter-in-law, Lin Qianqian.


    ...


    ¡°Uncle, Aunt!¡± Su Yuan politely greeted, presenting the gifts with both hands.


    Mr. Su also cheerfully responded, ¡°Father-in-law, Mother-in-law!¡±


    Zhou Qin beamed with joy and hurried to seat them.


    Just then, a shrill voice exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s my bag!¡±


    Everyone was startled by the voice and looked in its direction, only to see a regally dressed woman marching toward Lin Qianqian, glaring intently at the bag in her hands and gritting her teeth, ¡°That¡¯s the Himalaya I ordered! The store manager said it was reserved for me, and I haven¡¯t had time to pick it up yet. Just a few days ago, they called me to say it had been picked up by someone else. It turns out it was you!¡±


    Who is this woman?


    The people present began to murmur.


    This doesn¡¯t seem like a guest invited by the Lin Family, and with her imperious demeanor, her background doesn¡¯t appear simple.


    Huo Tingdong recognized this woman; she seemed to be the wife of a school director from Windsor High School, Mrs. Fang, who was known to be very high-profile in her social dealings.


    Lin Qianqian didn¡¯t recognize her, frowned, and asked, ¡°Who are you? What nonsense are you talking about? This bag is mine, given to me by my fiance?!¡±


    Mrs. Fang retorted, ¡°This is the bag I ordered, I¡¯ve already paid for it, so either your bag is a fake, or you intercepted the bag meant for me!¡±


    Lin Qianqian was shocked, ¡°How could this bag be a fake? My fiance? spent 5.6 million on it, and we have the receipt and proof from the official boutique!¡±


    She was the first to own the new Himalaya model; this woman suddenly claimed it was hers, on what basis?


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°5.6 million? Do you know how much I spent at Hermes to be eligible to get this bag? The money I spent was far more than 5.6 million!¡±


    Lin Qi felt her heart skip a beat.


    Since customer data on the auction site was confidential, she had no idea until now that Su Yuan was the one who bought the bag, and Lin Qianqian even less suspected that she was the bidder.


    No wonder the store manager looked so displeased when he handed over the bag.


    It was this woman¡¯s after all.


    To get this bag, she must have spent a lot, and it¡¯s no surprise she was furious that someone else walked away with it.


    However, Hermes being what it is, Mrs. Fang naturally did not dare to trouble them too much. But seeing Lin Qianqian flaunting the bag, she could hardly contain her resentment!


    Lin Cheng asked, ¡°And who are you?¡± Naturally protecting his daughter, he grew displeased with the woman¡¯s arrogant attitude.


    Mrs. Fang snapped, ¡°Who am I to you?¡± She wasn¡¯t a guest in this hall, and had mistakenly entered the wrong one, not expecting to run into Lin Qianqian and spot the bag she carried.


    Lin Qianqian expressed her grievance, ¡°Today is my dad¡¯s birthday, a rare joyful occasion. Are you here to cause trouble?¡±


    Mrs. Fang glared, ¡°Cause trouble? You think you¡¯re worthy of my causing trouble?¡±


    ¡°Oh!¡± Zhou Qin sarcastically remarked, ¡°Such a high and mighty attitude! Which family¡¯s wife are you to act so imperious?¡±


    Mrs. Fang responded, ¡°And who might you be, a vulgar troublemaker? Just because you wear a few branded items doesn¡¯t mean you amount to anything!¡±


    Huo Tingdong watched coldly.


    He suddenly realized that Lin Qi selling the bag for 5.6 million was indeed a wise move.


    Mrs. Fang was notoriously aggressive in high society circles; she not only had a powerful family background, but her husband was also a director of several prestigious private schools, a prominent figure who spent money freely and dominantly.


    Although Mrs. Fang wouldn¡¯t dare provoke him directly, gauging whom to confront, he preferred not to get entangled with the high society¡¯s ¡°Iron Lady.¡±


    Mrs. Fang proclaimed, ¡°This quarter, Hermes only delivered five of these bags worldwide. This bag is the one I ordered; I don¡¯t care by what means you acquired it, just hand it over to me!¡±


    Lin Qianqian retorted, ¡°I bought it with money, why should I give it to you?¡±


    ¡°How much?¡± Mrs. Fang asked, ¡°Name your price, and I¡¯ll pay!¡±


    Lin Qianqian was taken aback.


    She had met her match.


    She thought that marrying into the Su Family would secure her a place among high society, little knowing there were always more influential figures above her; she thought carrying a Himalaya bag would grant her entry into high society circles, little knowing the domineering individuals that overshadowed her.


    Lin Qi truly opened her eyes.


    Poverty limited her imagination.


    She had no clue just how wealthy the upper echelons of high society were, to go to any lengths to secure a single bag.


    She had just been happy about making a clear profit of four million, but to others, it wasn¡¯t even enough to buy a bag!


    Lin Qianqian asked, ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±


    ¡°6 million!¡± Mrs. Fang seemed tired of the argument, ¡°I advise you to be sensible.¡±


    Lin Qianqian clung to Su Yuan¡¯s arm, ¡°Su Yuan! Say something!¡±


    Su Yuan¡¯s face turned pale, and he said to Lin Qianqian, ¡°Stop talking.¡±


    Su Yuan¡¯s parents were also holding back their anger.


    It turned out that the 5.6 million was money Su Yuan had embezzled from the company¡¯s accounts. Mrs. Su usually kept tight control over their finances; how could she allow her son to spend 5.6 million on a bag?


    ¡°Su Yuan, did you buy this bag for Qianqian?¡± Mrs. Su asked incredulously.


    Su Yuan remained silent.


    Lin Qianqian also realized something terrible, immediately guessing where Su Yuan had gotten the money, and fell silent.


    Mrs. Su incredulously said, ¡°You actually embezzled company funds to buy her a bag?¡±


    Mr. Su nervously pulled her, ¡°Keep your voice down, can¡¯t we discuss this at home?¡±


    Mrs. Fang sneered disdainfully, ¡°So it was company money you stole to buy it! Truly outrageous. Just a leech living off his parents, trying to please his girlfriend by misusing company funds! What would you do once you¡¯re married, risk the company for this disaster?¡±


    Mrs. Su¡¯s face turned even greener.


    Su Yuan said to Lin Qianqian, ¡°Qianqian, maybe we should return the bag?¡±


    Lin Qianqian¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears, and she was speechless with anger, ¡°Su Yuan?! What are you saying...¡±


    Su Yuan fell silent again.


    The atmosphere became extremely awkward.


    Lin Qianqian looked around, especially noticing Lin Qi sitting in the corner enjoying the drama, and her frustration flared without an outlet.


    Su Yuan had once again made her lose face in front of Lin Qi.


    Today, she had clearly intended to regain some respect in front of Lin Qi, but it had turned into a huge embarrassment!

 Chapter 41: 41: Exactly Who is This Man

    Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Exactly Who is This Man


    Lin Qi watched with keen interest, clenching her fists, ¡°Fight! Fight!¡±


    Beside her, Momo was also excited, stars shining in his eyes, ¡°Go on, hit them! Hit them!¡±


    Mother and son were typical rubberneckers, the kind who enjoy a spectacle without worrying about it escalating.


    Huo Tingdong glanced at Lin Qi; she was originally wearing light makeup, her elegant eyes brimming with moisture, her small face flushed with excitement, looking somewhat cute.


    Cute...


    Why would he think of this word?


    ...


    Snapping back to reality, he saw Little Baby clenching his fists, eyes twinkling, joining the crowd of onlookers.


    Lin Qianqian tightly hugged the bag as if afraid it would be snatched away, tears in her eyes, ¡°This is my bag, I won¡¯t sell it for anything!¡±


    Mrs. Su expressed some disappointment, ¡°Qianqian, I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a materialistic girl.¡±


    Zhou Qin kept on smiling apologetically, while Lin Cheng muttered somewhat discontentedly, ¡°Qianqian has been pampered since she was little in the Lin Family. This bag was bought for Qianqian by Su Yuan, where¡¯s the sense in returning it?¡±


    Mrs. Fang said with disdain, ¡°The Su Family? Never heard of them, which small-time family is this? Buying a bag requires parental consent?¡±


    She looked at Lin Qianqian, ¡°Young lady, this bag is not something you should carry, you¡¯re not qualified!¡±


    Raised spoiled since childhood, Lin Qianqian let the words fly without a second thought, ¡°What do you mean by ¡®someone like me¡¯? And what about you? Are you qualified? Have you seen your age? I¡¯m younger than you; how come I¡¯m not qualified? Old woman!¡±


    Mrs. Fang was particularly sensitive to the term ¡°old woman¡±; she took great care in skincare in order to look younger, continuously getting cosmetic treatments for a fresher face.


    Seeing Lin Qianqian daring to call her ¡°old woman¡±, Mrs. Fang didn¡¯t say a word and slapped her.


    ¡°Rubbish! Do you know who I am?¡±


    Lin Qianqian was slapped into Su Yuan¡¯s arms, covering her burning cheek, almost bursting into tears.


    Mrs. Fang glared fiercely, ¡°My husband is Fang Zhixing! My maiden name is Ji, Ji Ya is my name. Haven¡¯t you gone and found out? What status do you have to act up in front of me?¡±


    Upon her declaration, everyone was stunned.


    This was Mrs. Fang!


    The Fang Family was very well-known, especially Mrs. Fang. Hearing her name, not one person in the room dared to provoke her.


    Both of Su Yuan¡¯s parents were dumbfounded.


    Lin Cheng was also shocked.


    Just as Mrs. Fang was about to rage, her gaze suddenly drifted elsewhere.


    Everyone else was standing, only Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi, along with the two Little Babies, were sitting.


    Mrs. Fang recognized Huo Tingdong in an instant, her pupils contracting sharply, ¡°Huo...¡±


    She quickly tidied up her appearance and gracefully approached Huo Tingdong, ¡°Isn¡¯t this...¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised his hand, his fingertip to his lips, signaling her to keep quiet.


    Mrs. Fang immediately understood.


    Huo Tingdong always kept a low profile; hence, she didn¡¯t make a fuss, but her change in demeanor was obvious for all to see.


    The crowd was even more surprised.


    Mrs. Fang¡¯s reputation was enough to crush anyone.


    What kind of background did the man who made her bow and smile have?


    Mrs. Fang didn¡¯t notice Lin Qi beside her, thinking she was a nanny, so she politely said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°Mr. Huo, what brings you here?¡±


    Whispers circulated the room.


    ¡°Mrs. Fang is showing such respect to this man!¡±


    ¡°Eh!? Isn¡¯t that woman next to him Lin Qi?¡±


    ¡°Lin Qi? Isn¡¯t that the daughter born to Lin Cheng and his first wife? She¡¯s grown so much?¡±


    ¡°She broke off contact with the Lin Family years ago, disappeared without a trace... It¡¯s said that this man is her husband!¡±


    ¡°Good heavens! What¡¯s the background of the man she married? I know Mrs. Fang, the most domineering lady in social circles. Who could make her humble herself like this?¡±


    In an instant, everyone had too many questions about Huo Tingdong¡¯s identity.


    Little Baby was not used to such scenes and saw everyone crowding around, instinctively shrinking into Huo Tingdong¡¯s embrace.


    Mrs. Fang complimented, ¡°Such a cute little master!¡±


    Huo Tingdong smiled, stood up with Little Baby in his arms, ¡°Mrs. Fang, my son wants to go home, I must leave now.¡±


    Lin Qi also stood up, holding Momo.


    She knew Little Baby didn¡¯t like such scenes; Huo Tingdong would take him home.


    Mrs. Fang personally saw them out, and only after Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi disappeared with the two Little Babies, did someone in the crowd timidly ask, ¡°Mrs. Fang, who is that man?¡±


    Mrs. Fang rolled her eyes, contemptuously said, ¡°Are you even worthy of inquiring about his identity?¡±


    ...


    The meticulously prepared birthday banquet ended in an awkward finish.


    The guests lost interest in celebrating Lin Cheng¡¯s birthday, dispersing cleanly.


    Lin Qianqian sat by the table, gloomy and clutching the prized Himalaya Bag; Zhou Qin protected her, and opposite were the preoccupied Su Yuan and his parents, Mr. Su and Mrs. Su, both not looking very pleased.


    Lin Cheng said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect things to turn out like this! It should¡¯ve been a happy occasion, a rare gathering of our two families, I didn¡¯t expect...¡±


    Mrs. Su interjected, ¡°Mr. Lin, are you implying that we brought displeasure to you?¡± She no longer addressed him as ¡°Father-in-law¡±, clearly dissatisfied with Lin Qianqian.


    Su Yuan intervened, ¡°Mom, please stop.¡±


    Mrs. Su inquired, ¡°Did Qianqian pester you to buy her that bag?¡±


    Su Yuan was unable to squeak a word.


    Defensively, Lin Cheng said, ¡°Isn¡¯t it just a bag?¡±


    Mrs. Su replied, ¡°Easy for you to say, 5.6 million yuan. If you care so much for your daughter, why don¡¯t you pay up?¡±


    Mr. Su interjected, ¡°Enough! Huizhen, hold back your words.¡±


    Mrs. Su continued, ¡°This has been an eye-opener, a bag worth 5.6 million? Qianqian is the girl my son has chosen; we¡¯ve both been satisfied. From booking the venue to buying a wedding house and car, everything has been done as the Lin Family required! Has the Lin Family paid a single cent? We bought a 280-square-meter marital house for the kids in Yuhua Mansion, and now we need to spend another 5.6 million on a bag? Do you think the Su Family prints money?¡±


    The resentful Lin Qianqian retorted, ¡°Lin Qi¡¯s husband bought her a 400-square-meter mansion! Is 280 square meters anything special?¡±


    Mrs. Su shot back, ¡°Who¡¯s Lin Qi? If her husband is so capable, why don¡¯t you marry him? Why marry my son?¡±


    Lin Qianqian was left speechless.


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°Mother-in-law, your words are hurting feelings!¡±


    Mrs. Su slammed her hand on the table, standing up abruptly, ¡°Who¡¯s your mother-in-law? Hurting feelings? Your daughter has lived a life of luxury without facing hardship; how dare she offend anyone? Even Mrs. Fang dared to provoke? Does the Lin Family have any sense of who Mrs. Fang is? Really!¡±

 Chapter 42: 42: Moved

    Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Moved


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°Qianqian, you should say less, don¡¯t let other people hear it! The Su Family hasn¡¯t left yet.¡±


    However, Lin Qianqian angrily stood up and deliberately walked towards the door, ¡°So what if they hear it? When has my dad ever let me suffer such humiliation? It¡¯s just a bag worth 5.6 million, haven¡¯t seen anyone so stingy! And what did they say, ¡®if someone is rich why not marry them¡¯? If I could marry, why would I marry Su Yuan, this coward!¡±


    She turned around and said to Zhou Qin, ¡°Mom, look at Su Yuan¡¯s mother! I¡¯m not even married into their family yet, and she¡¯s already bullying me! How will this wicked mother-in-law target me after I get married!¡±


    Just as Zhou Qin was about to say something, she suddenly stared wide-eyed at something behind Lin Qianqian.


    Lin Qianqian frowned, turned around, and saw Mrs. Su, her face dark with anger standing behind her.


    Just now, she hurriedly left and forgot her bag, and when she came back, she heard Lin Qianqian calling her son ¡°coward¡± and herself a ¡°wicked mother-in-law!¡±


    ...


    ¡°This is too much!¡± Unable to hold back her anger, Mrs. Su said to Lin Qianqian, ¡°Such a daughter-in-law, I dare not even let my son marry you! We have to reevaluate you and the Lin Family! The engagement, it¡¯s canceled! The bag


    in your hand, return it to me!¡±


    Saying so, she walked over, took her own bag, and went to snatch the bag that Lin Qianqian tightly held.


    Lin Qianqian screamed, ¡°Auntie, what are you doing? This is the bag Su Yuan gave me!¡±


    ¡°This is money from the Su Family! Let go!¡±


    Mrs. Su forcefully snatched the bag away and strode off.


    Lin Qianqian had never been so humiliated, she threw herself into Lin Cheng¡¯s arms, crying hysterically, ¡°Dad! The Su Family is bullying me!¡±


    Lin Cheng looked at the departing car of the Su Family through the window, gently patted Lin Qianqian on the back, his face full of worries, and for the moment, he didn¡¯t know how to console her.


    A well-prepared birthday celebration ended up unhappy because of a bag.


    This commotion also scrapped the marriage between Lin Qianqian and Su Yuan.


    The Su Family even demanded the bride price back, which consisted of gold bars and cash worth over ten million.


    Lin Qianqian couldn¡¯t believe that just over a bag, the Su Family would rip their faces off. That night, she repeatedly called Su Yuan, yet no one answered.


    She was extremely unwilling.


    In Zhou Qin¡¯s words, finding Su Yuan, a golden bachelor and second-generation rich, Lin Qianqian¡¯s fate would have been a life of glory and wealth.


    After all, the Su Family was a class above the Lin Family.


    Yet, the marriage was called off, the Su Family had people take back all the bride price, and even found a way to refund the house at Yuhua Mansion.


    Though nothing was clearly discussed, the actions of the Su Family undoubtedly indicated that they really canceled the engagement.


    Lin Qianqian locked herself in her room and cried all night, and kept crying while trying to call Su Yuan.


    Finally, when the call got through, Su Yuan¡¯s tone was not good: ¡°Lin Qianqian, did your whole family conspire to cheat me of my money?¡±


    Su Yuan had always been gentle with her, his sudden attitude change frightened Lin Qianqian, fearing that even Su Yuan insisted on calling off the marriage.


    The engagement news had been released, calling it off at this juncture, wouldn¡¯t it embarrass her?


    Lin Qianqian intended to lose her temper but softened her tone instead: ¡°Su Yuan, what do you mean by that?¡±


    Su Yuan said, ¡°My mom had someone check! The person who consigned that Himalaya Bag, it¡¯s none other than your sister, Lin Qi!¡±


    Lin Qianqian was too shocked to speak, ¡°How is that possible?¡±


    Su Yuan confidently said, ¡°How is it not possible? My mom had the customer information checked! You also saw the original invoice, she spent less than 700,000 to buy that bag, you pestered me to auction it, and it went for 5.6 million! The bag is yours, the money also went into your family¡¯s pocket! You sisters are really money-grubbing!¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°She has long cut ties with the Lin Family! Moreover, how could she afford a Himalaya Bag?¡±


    Su Yuan responded, ¡°Facts speak louder than words! Lin Qianqian, I was wholeheartedly devoted to you, but I didn¡¯t expect you to be this kind of woman! My mom is right, you were eyeing my family background and my money!¡±


    Saying that, Su Yuan hung up the phone disappointedly.


    Lin Qianqian tried to call again, but no one answered.


    Did he block her?


    Lin Qianqian hurriedly opened WeChat, and there, Su Yuan had sent a picture, showing the customer information pulled from the auction site¡¯s backend, the various proofs for that Himalaya Bag and the signatures, all belonging to Lin Qi!


    Was that bag really Lin Qi¡¯s?


    Lin Qianqian recalled how she flaunted the Himalaya Bag in front of Lin Qi, the way she held back her laughter and looked at her like she was a clown.


    How could this be?


    Could it be...


    Lin Qianqian suddenly remembered the overbearing Mrs. Fang, who was utterly respectful in front of Huo Tingdong, and wondered about the identity of the man with Lin Qi.


    ¡°Mom! Mom!¡±


    Lin Qianqian rushed out of her room and went to the living room to tell Zhou Qin everything Su Yuan had said.


    Zhou Qin couldn¡¯t believe it either, ¡°You mean, that Himalaya Bag belongs to Lin Qi?¡±


    ¡°The owner of that bag is Lin Qi, she put it up on the website and auctioned it for 5.6 million! Su Yuan has figured it all out,¡± Lin Qianqian said, ¡°She stole Mrs. Fang¡¯s bag! As a result, she made me a laughing stock! That b*tch! What gives her the right...¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°I¡¯ve been suspicious for a while! That man beside her seemed to have a significant background!¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Mom, do you still have Lin Qi¡¯s rental address? Tomorrow, I want to confront her!¡±


    Zhou Qin said, ¡°Calm down! I¡¯ll check out that man¡¯s background first.¡±


    But Lin Qianqian couldn¡¯t wait any longer, ¡°Why not go directly to ask her for clarification?¡±


    ...


    The next day.


    Ankang District.


    The moving company parked two large trucks downstairs.


    The landlord stood at the door, settled the water and electricity bills with Lin Qi, and asked, ¡°Are you moving today?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Mo Ke was in the room supervising the moving company as they packed and cleaned.


    The landlord looked at the handsome Mo Ke and smiled, ¡°Is he your new boyfriend? Very handsome.¡±


    Lin Qi smiled, ¡°Landlady Auntie, don¡¯t talk nonsense, he¡¯s just a... friend.¡±


    Momo ran out and said to Lin Qi, ¡°Mommy, my room is packed!¡±


    ¡°Good, then wait for Mommy in the car.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    Today, following Huo Tingdong¡¯s instructions, Mo Ke came to help Lin Qi move.


    The new home was already set up, with furniture and appliances all in place, waiting for them to move in.


    The new house was equipped with a 24-hour live-in nanny, and three servants responsible for laundry and cleaning.


    Lin Qi and Momo first moved into Yuhua Mansion; later, Huo Tingdong would bring Han to move in together.


    Old Madam Huo didn¡¯t want Han to move out, but Huo Tingdong promised her that he would bring Han home every Saturday and weekend, and only then did she relent.

 Chapter 43: 43: Arent you afraid shell cheat on you?

    Chapter 43: Chapter 43: Aren¡¯t you afraid she¡¯ll cheat on you?


    One hour later.


    Mo Ke walked up to Lin Qi and said, ¡°Miss Lin, everything is packed. Please get in the car.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded.


    Lin Qi got into the Mercedes and drove out of the community, followed closely by two vans.


    The barrier at the community entrance slowly lifted, and as the Mercedes left, a Maserati drove in.


    The car entered the community, drawing sidelong glances from the residents.


    ...


    Ankang District is a resettlement area. The original local residents had long since moved to new homes, and now, the area was a mix of all sorts and famously known as a ¡®village within the city¡¯.


    The Maserati, being a luxury car, attracted many envious gazes.


    The car stopped in front of the building.


    Lin Qianqian got out of the car, her dazzling attire starkly contrasting with the shirtless old men and young men in tank tops at the entrance.


    She took off her sunglasses, about to go upstairs, following the apartment numbers up to the sixth floor. By the time Lin Qianqian reached, her face was flushed with exhaustion.


    ¡°What a terrible community, not even an elevator!¡± Compared to Ankang District, Yuhua Mansion was simply heaven.


    But the thought of Su Yuan having returned the house in Yuhua Mansion aggravated her anew.


    It was all because of Lin Qi. What skills did she use? Did she really remarry? Did that man really put the 400 square meter Yuhua Mansion under her name?


    Lin Qianqian was eager to confront Lin Qi for clarity.


    Just as she reached the door, she saw a plump woman standing there, a worker had just changed the lock.


    Lin Qianqian walked over, looked at the empty apartment, and asked the woman, ¡°Were the tenants living here?¡±


    The landlord asked, ¡°Whom are you looking for?¡±


    Lin Qianqian replied, ¡°I¡¯m looking for Lin Qi, wasn¡¯t she renting here?¡±


    The landlord was momentarily stunned and then chuckled, ¡°Oh, her! It¡¯s rather unfortunate timing, she just hired a moving company and took her luggage away! There was also a handsome young man helping her with the move!¡±


    Lin Qianqian was shocked, ¡°Moved away?!¡±


    The landlord nodded, ¡°Yes! I heard she is moving to something called ¡®Yuhua¡¯... It¡¯s said that she remarried a wealthy man and is about to move into a luxury residence!¡±


    Lin Qianqian in disbelief, ¡°Did she really remarry?¡±


    The landlord replied, ¡°I just heard it.¡±


    The locksmith had finished changing the lock and said to the landlord, ¡°The lock is changed, I¡¯m heading off now!¡±


    The landlord nodded, ¡°Alright, take care!¡±


    As she was about to lock the door and leave, Lin Qianqian grabbed her, ¡°What else do you know? Tell me!¡±


    The landlord grew wary, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    Lin Qianqian, realizing her overeagerness, gave a slight smile, ¡°I¡¯m her younger sister! She got pregnant before marriage and eloped. After all these years, she hardly had any contact with our family! I¡¯m looking for her because our father said if she doesn¡¯t come home, he will disown her!¡±


    She bluffed to appease the landlord, embellishing her story.


    The landlord exclaimed, ¡°Oh dear, I didn¡¯t realize she was such a woman! She¡¯s had quite some gossip here! Some say she had an affair with her former boss and was fired because of it. However... she never brought men home, so I never pry into her private life.¡±


    Pausing, the landlord added, ¡°It¡¯s tough for her, a woman raising a son alone. I¡¯m also divorced, so I felt pity for her and didn¡¯t raise the rent. Never thought... she turned out to be such an indecent woman...¡±


    Lin Qianqian asked, ¡°Did she move to Yuhua Mansion?¡±


    ...


    Yuhua Mansion.


    Lin Qianqian parked her car in front of the door.


    Security at Yuhua Mansion was particularly strict, with external vehicles strictly prohibited from entering.


    Just as she was about to enter, she was stopped by the security guard; as a non-resident, she could not enter.


    Lin Qianqian made a phone call.


    She had a socialite friend living in Yuhua Second Phase, and through her connection, she gained entry to the community.


    Lin Qianqian had difficulty obtaining Lin Qi¡¯s residence information from the sales office.


    A 400 square meter apartment, Building 9, Unit 1, Floor 19.


    Today, she was determined to get answers from Lin Qi.


    Using her friend¡¯s residential authorization, Lin Qianqian successfully entered the community.


    In the underground parking garage, just as she parked her car in front of Building 9, Unit 1, a strong beam of light pierced the darkness.


    An Aston Martin parked next to her car.


    As Lin Qianqian got out, she noticed the luxury car and couldn¡¯t help but stare.


    A pair of long legs stepped out from the car door.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s tall figure came into view.


    It was him!


    The man.


    Seeing him about to enter the elevator lobby, Lin Qianqian didn¡¯t hesitate and followed right after.


    The sensor door sprung open.


    Huo Tingdong heard footsteps behind him and turned his head sharply, instantly recognizing Lin Qianqian.


    ¡°Is it you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow.


    Wary of this uninvited guest, Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°How did you get in here.¡±


    She was not a resident, how could she access Building 9?


    The stringent property management had surprisingly made this oversight.


    ¡°So you¡¯re Mr. Huo!¡± Lin Qianqian approached him, ¡°I have something to discuss with you!¡±


    ¡°What is it?¡±


    ¡°Did you really marry Lin Qi?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Am I obligated to report to you about our private matters?¡±


    Lin Qianqian asked, ¡°She is your wife, don¡¯t you want to know her past clearly?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m not interested.¡±


    He turned to leave.


    Lin Qianqian grabbed his arm, but instinctively felt alarmed as she could not tell from his attire that this seemingly lean man had such firm arms.


    Huo Tingdong turned, slightly annoyed brushed off her hand, ¡°Miss, please show some respect.¡± He suddenly raised his hand and pressed a call bell next to the elevator.


    The bell blared loudly.


    Lin Qianqian didn¡¯t know what the bell was for, but she seized the moment to reveal all of Lin Qi¡¯s disreputable past to this man!


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Mr. Huo! Let¡¯s lay it all out! You must know, Lin Qi was divorced. Do you know why she was divorced?¡±


    Huo Tingdong coldly sized her up, his indifferent expression saying it all.


    Lin Qianqian clenched her teeth and said, ¡°Because she was a bride used to bring joy! The man she married before had more power and influence than you! What happened? As a bride for joy, she cheated with another man during her marriage, got pregnant with a bastard! She was expelled by that family, reduced to a divorced woman! How can you dare marry such a woman, who doesn¡¯t know how to behave as a wife? Aren¡¯t you afraid she might cheat on you in the future?¡±


    Huo Tingdong slowly turned around, finally giving her a serious look, ¡°Cheat on me? Who dares to cheat on me?¡±

 Chapter 44: 44 Get out!

    Chapter 44: Chapter 44 Get out!


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°Do you know who her ex-husband is? It¡¯s Huo Tingdong! The Huo Family of Beijing, the number one elite family. Though we both have the surname ¡®Huo¡¯, can you really compare with Huo Tingdong? She even dared to cheat on Huo Tingdong, let alone you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong grew increasingly annoyed and even somewhat irritable, ¡°If you dare to spread such rumors, I will have the Lin Family¡¯s business shut down and out of operation by tomorrow!¡±


    Lin Qianqian shrank her shoulders in fright. What kind of person was this man, who could make the Lin Family shut down with just one sentence?


    She didn¡¯t believe it!


    Seeing Lin Qianqian¡¯s face turn ashen, yet still hesitant to speak, Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t want to hear another word from this woman. He raised his hand and glanced at the time.


    Lin Qianqian noticed the watch on his wrist, the Patek Philippe Sky Moon Turbillon, worth tens of millions. Her eyes went wide with astonishment.


    ...


    Huo Tingdong said coldly, ¡°I¡¯m giving you five minutes to get out of here, or I¡¯ll have security throw you out.¡±


    Very soon.


    The property security arrived.


    Huo Tingdong was furious and scolded them, ¡°You let outsiders in so casually, is this the standard of Yuhua Mansion¡¯s security? If this happens again, I¡¯ll have the security company disbanded directly!¡±


    The owners of Yuhua Mansion were either rich or noble.


    Hence, the security staff revered Huo Tingdong and immediately approached Lin Qianqian, telling her, ¡°Miss, please leave immediately!¡±


    Lin Qianqian protested aggrievedly, ¡°I¡¯m an owner of Yuhua Mansion too!¡±


    ¡°An owner?¡± Huo Tingdong said indifferently, ¡°I heard the Su Family withdrew their down payment. You are not an owner of Yuhua Mansion. Get out of here.¡±


    Perhaps the air in the basement was a bit stuffy, Huo Tingdong tugged at his tie and stepped into the elevator.


    He turned around, and the moment the elevator doors closed, Lin Qianqian was already being held up by security, one on each side, and forcibly removed.


    Lin Qianqian said unwillingly, ¡°Mr. Huo! You will regret marrying such a promiscuous woman!¡±


    The elevator doors closed with a ¡°ding,¡± completely isolating all the noise.


    In the tranquil elevator, piano background music like trickling spring water played.


    The elevator ascended, and soon a gentle female voice announced, ¡°19th floor, arrived.¡±


    Huo Tingdong stepped out of the elevator and walked to the door, where he pressed his fingerprint.


    Only then did the door open.


    He was greeted by the aroma of pizza.


    This was his first time stepping into this apartment. Mo Ke had all the furniture and appliances installed, put away his luggage, and also brought over Han.


    Lin Qi was still tidying up the room, putting away luggage and items neatly.


    In the kitchen.


    Momo watched the pizza taking shape in the oven, with Han staring intently at it, his mouth watering.


    Momo said he wanted to make a pizza for Han.


    Han was delighted to hear it.


    Hearing the door open, Lin Qi immediately went to the entrance, and when she saw Huo Tingdong, she hesitated for a moment.


    ¡°You¡¯re back,¡± she said as the words left her mouth, feeling the phrase a bit odd.


    It was as if... they were a newlywed couple.


    Huo Tingdong was not in a good mood.


    That sentence from Lin Qianqian, ¡°She even dared to cheat on Huo Tingdong, let alone you?¡± still echoed in his ears.


    Momo and Han came out and upon seeing Huo Tingdong, Momo said, ¡°I made a lot of delicious food for Mommy and Han today. You just happen to benefit from Han¡¯s favor, and get to taste it too!¡±


    Momo had a proud attitude, and actually, he wanted Huo Tingdong to taste his cooking too.


    He never cooked easily, not willing to make soup or meals for anyone other than Mommy. However, having gained his approval, Huo Tingdong and Han had convinced him to showcase his cooking expertise today.


    Only...


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression didn¡¯t improve.


    He looked at Momo and furrowed his brows.


    Which man could have fathered this child with Lin Qi?


    This woman had never given him an answer. He didn¡¯t originally want to delve into it, but... family scandals should never be aired in public.


    How did this matter start spreading outside?


    Huo Tingdong was well aware that he should not hold any expectations for this woman.


    What ¡°good intentions¡± or ¡°feelings¡± could she have had when she married him?


    He was a stranger to her. She said it was her father¡¯s arrangement, that she had no other choice, that she had no way out.


    But if she didn¡¯t want to, who could force her to marry a man diagnosed as a vegetative person who would never wake up, to be a living widow all her life?


    Yet having married him, was she so restless and lonely that she dared to have an affair with another man?


    Huo Tingdong silently walked into the living room.


    Momo and Han exchanged glances.


    ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him?¡± Momo asked, ¡°He looks so grumpy.¡±


    Han shook his head.


    He wasn¡¯t a gut worm in Daddy¡¯s stomach, how could he know what Daddy was thinking at this moment?


    Lin Qi was also somewhat taken aback.


    Usually, Huo Tingdong would pick up Han and kiss his face right away, but now, he seemed to be preoccupied with heavy thoughts.


    ¡°Huo Tingdong...¡± Lin Qi approached and asked, ¡°Have you had dinner?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not eating. You go ahead.¡±


    Huo Tingdong stood up and went into the room.


    He and Lin Qi slept in separate rooms. Mo Ke was still tidying up his room. Seeing Huo Tingdong walk in, he stood up and said, ¡°Mr. Huo, you...¡±


    ¡°Get out,¡± Huo Tingdong said with a bad tone.


    Mo Ke was startled, ¡°I haven¡¯t finished tidying up...¡±


    ¡°Get out.¡±


    Mo Ke didn¡¯t dare to disobey and hurried out.


    The door slammed shut.


    Huo Tingdong lay down on the bed. The wardrobe doors were open, and Mo Ke had hung up and folded all the clothes, but not everything had been put away yet.


    Outside the door, Mo Ke stared blankly at the closed door, speechless.


    Not far away, Lin Qi stood in the corridor, with Momo and Han staring at each other with wide eyes, equally clueless.


    ¡°Mo Ke?¡± Lin Qi asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with him? Did someone at the company upset him?¡±


    Mo Ke whispered, ¡°Who would dare to upset Mr. Huo?¡± He walked over, anxiously asking, ¡°Miss Lin, did you make Mr. Huo angry again?¡±


    ¡°Again?¡± Momo said, ¡°When has my Mommy ever upset him? It would be nice if he didn¡¯t upset my Mommy.¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°Momo, you don¡¯t understand. He has been as gentle as a spring breeze towards you and your mommy. I¡¯ve been serving him for so many years, always on tenterhooks. Mr. Huo is capricious. When he encounters something unsatisfactory, he could flare up at any moment. To him, I¡¯m like an attendant next to the ancient Emperor, working with my head hanging by my waist.¡±


    Just like just now, while he was tidying up Huo Tingdong¡¯s room, he was suddenly kicked out.


    If he protested even a little, Huo Tingdong would definitely lose his temper. Mo Ke, with his seasoned experience, didn¡¯t dare to fart and quickly tucked his tail between his legs to leave the room.


    Momo concluded, ¡°So, you¡¯re like the eunuch next to the Emperor?¡±


    Mo Ke said: ¡°Good child, don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°If I had such a boss, I would have resigned long ago.¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°But Mr. Huo pays a lot.¡±


    Momo fell silent for a long while, crossed his arms over his chest, and uttered sternly, ¡°People die for wealth, birds die for food.¡±

 Chapter 45: 45 I Have Never Betrayed You

    Chapter 45: Chapter 45 I Have Never Betrayed You


    Lin Qi said, ¡°It must be something at work that upset him.¡±


    Mo Ke analyzed, ¡°If there¡¯s anything that could upset Mr. Huo, it¡¯s probably something about Han.¡±


    He followed closely and knew best about Huo Tingdong¡¯s situations at the company.


    In the world of fame and fortune, this man had always been strategic and ruthlessly decisive in his actions, never hesitant or dragging things out.


    But with Han, he was utterly helpless.


    Han gestured with his hands.


    ...


    It certainly had nothing to do with him if Daddy was angry.


    He had been behaving very well lately.


    Mo Ke muttered softly, ¡°If only Mr. Huo had a wife, he would definitely be under her thumb, a real henpecked husband.¡±


    Lin Qi burst out laughing, ¡°How could a man like him be henpecked?¡±


    Mo Ke mysteriously said, ¡°Mr. Huo is ticklish, men who are ticklish are afraid of their wives.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± He actually believed in such a notion?


    ¡°Just kidding!¡± Mo Ke suddenly smelled something delicious, ¡°That smells good!¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I made the pizza!¡±


    Mo Ke exclaimed, ¡°You know how to cook?¡±


    Momo nodded, looking very proud.


    Mo Ke shamelessly asked, ¡°Can I try some?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°No!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo, Uncle Mo Ke helped us move all afternoon, let¡¯s invite him to stay for dinner!¡±


    Having heard Lin Qi say that, Momo then relented, ¡°Alright!¡± He hesitated and glanced around the room, seeing Huo Tingdong shut himself in and feeling a bit disappointed.


    He had also wanted Huo Tingdong to taste his cooking.


    The four of them sat down at the dining table.


    Lin Qi could see the disappointment in Momo¡¯s eyes, so she stood up, cut two slices of pizza, and went to Huo Tingdong.


    Mo Ke stopped her, ¡°Miss Lin, don¡¯t go.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t he hungry?¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°Mr. Huo seems to be in a bad mood.¡± He was good at reading Huo Tingdong¡¯s expressions, ¡°Moreover, he never has the habit of eating in his bedroom, that¡¯s the rule.¡±


    Lin Qi then went back to her seat.


    Han had already bitten into the pizza, it was so delicious that his eyes lit up!


    So tasty!


    This was even better than any pizza he had ever had!


    The Huo family¡¯s kitchen was staffed by five-star chefs, and Huo Tingdong occasionally took him out to feast lavishly at restaurants, but he had never had pizza better than what Momo made!


    Han blissfully held the pizza, unable to swallow what was in his mouth before he took another bite, the stretched cheese with a rich milky taste, the crisp crust combined with the soft filling, Han demolished a piece in the blink of an eye.


    Lin Qi was also surprised, ¡°When did you learn to make pizza?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Just learned!¡± The last time he heard that Han liked pizza the most, he specially learned to make it.


    However, he would not let Han know that he learned it especially for him.


    Han looked at Momo, his eyes full of admiration.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo, you start school tomorrow, get up early, and go to bed early after you finish eating.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Qi glanced at Huo Tingdong¡¯s tightly closed bedroom door, he seemed a bit strange today, usually, he wouldn¡¯t ignore Han like this.


    After coaxing Han and Momo to sleep, Lin Qi took a bath and still decided to give Huo Tingdong a heads-up.


    She walked to the door of Huo Tingdong¡¯s room and gently knocked, ¡°Han and Momo are asleep, I¡¯ll take them to school tomorrow.¡±


    No response came from inside the room.


    Lin Qi tentatively called out, ¡°Huo Tingdong?¡±


    She pushed open the door, only to find the room dimly lit.


    Huo Tingdong lay on the bed with his clothes on, actually asleep.


    It was really abnormal for him.


    For someone with a cleanliness obsession, it was too strange to lie on the bed without taking a bath or changing into pajamas.


    Could it be that he was too tired from work?


    Lin Qi walked to the bedside.


    The moonlight outside the window cast a faint light into the room.


    She tiptoed to the bedside and saw the Demon King with his eyes closed, making barely audible breathing sounds.


    He looked very peaceful while sleeping, seemingly with no hint of danger.


    Lin Qi took a thin blanket from the cupboard, turned around, and was about to cover him with it when the man on the bed suddenly opened his cold eyes under the moonlight.


    Her brain froze for several seconds, and with a ¡°buzz,¡± she was so startled that the blanket nearly dropped to the floor.


    Huo Tingdong coldly stared at her, his features sharp and rigid, his eyes filled with intense displeasure from being disturbed.


    She dared to enter his room without his permission?


    It seemed she didn¡¯t understand what boundaries were.


    Lin Qi explained, ¡°I was afraid you would catch a cold...¡±


    Huo Tingdong continued to look at her coldly, his expression chilling to the bone.


    Did he have a bad temper upon waking up?


    Lin Qi braced herself, put down the blanket, and turned to leave.


    Huo Tingdong slowly sat up from the bed.


    ¡°Stop.¡±


    He called out to her.


    Lin Qi paused, turned around, and asked, ¡°Is there something wrong?¡±


    Huo Tingdong retorted, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be the one asking you that? What business do you have entering my room without permission?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I saw you hadn¡¯t had dinner and thought you might be feeling unwell...¡±


    ¡°Oh?¡± Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you concerned about me?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s temples throbbed continuously.


    It wasn¡¯t exactly concern...


    She just wanted to inform him about taking the two little ones to school tomorrow.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Lin Qi, who is Momo¡¯s real father?¡±


    His sudden question caught Lin Qi off guard, putting her in an awkward position.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I think I have the right to know Momo¡¯s background.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Does it matter who his father is?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°There are rumors outside about you having an affair during our marriage, do you think that¡¯s important?¡±


    He paused, then suddenly let out a cold laugh, ¡°Rumors? Ha, I think the truth is not far from it.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Huo Tingdong, I have never betrayed you! Even though our marriage is in name only, even though I have no feelings for you, I have never betrayed you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You speak very nobly! Do you mean to say that Jinmo is my son, magically born solely from you and me?¡±


    Lin Qi was choked up again.


    Huo Tingdong pressed on, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you speaking? Or do you also know the consequences of betraying me and dare not admit it frankly?¡±


    ¡°What about Han?¡± Lin Qi retorted, ¡°He isn¡¯t my biological child either, he is the same age as Momo, he is your child with another woman! I treat him as my own just the same.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°He...¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Is it only permissible for officials to set fires and forbidden for the common people to light lamps? I can overlook Han¡¯s past, why must you dig into Momo¡¯s background? Neither of us is morally superior. You entrusted Han to me, you asked me to take care of Han, if you can¡¯t stand Momo, then Momo and I will move out!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I agreed to all your conditions, are you now starting to go back on them?¡±

 Chapter 46: 46 Listening Device

    Chapter 46: Chapter 46 Listening Device


    Miss Lin said, ¡°Do you really think of me as that evil? I have never betrayed you! My kindness to Han has never been out of profit! I just feel he¡¯s like Momo, Momo grew up without a father, he grew up without a mother, I thought, I can share my love with Han, and you can share your love with Momo...¡±


    Huo Tingdong interrupted her, ¡°What makes you think that I would genuinely share my love for a child born of another man?¡±


    Miss Lin retorted, ¡°Think whatever you want! I have no need to waste words with someone like you!¡±


    With that, she slammed the door and left.


    Huo Tingdong was slightly taken aback.


    She does have quite the temper, and she thinks she¡¯s in the right.


    ...


    Huo Tingdong became angry from embarrassment, however, he suddenly found the scene of them arguing rather ridiculous.


    He never quarreled with anyone, and no one dared to argue with him.


    She was the only one who dared to talk back to him.


    Why should he stoop to argue with a petty woman?


    She¡¯s nothing but a mercenary woman after all!


    If it weren¡¯t for Han really liking her...


    Huo Tingdong got up in annoyance and opened the door to leave, he walked over to Han¡¯s room and gently pushed the door open.


    Han and Momo shared a room, with bunk beds; the top was a bed and the bottom a combination of a desk and a bookshelf.


    Both little guys had already fallen asleep, with even breathing.


    Huo Tingdong immediately recognized Han, sprawled out, perhaps bloated from dinner, his belly distended, with yet undigested food inside, thus his breathing was heavy ¨C ¡°huff huff¡±, unexpectedly adorable.


    Momo, on the other hand, was lying on his side, holding a doll in both hands, and under the moonlight, his long eyelashes cast a soft shadow over his eyelids.


    A sense of serenity suddenly filled Huo Tingdong¡¯s heart, and all the hostility dissipated like smoke.


    ...


    The next day.


    Miss Lin got up early, checking homework with Momo and Han, and packing their school bags.


    The nanny said that Huo Tingdong had gone to the company early that morning for an urgent meeting.


    ¡°The master said he¡¯d be back late today and told you not to wait for him for dinner.¡±


    ¡°Understood.¡±


    Miss Lin took Han and Momo to Windsor High School.


    Along the way, Momo was in high spirits, perhaps it was the new school, new environment, plus being able to study with Han, it was apparent their relationship was slowly improving.


    He really liked Han, and Han liked him too.


    Miss Lin felt relieved.


    Arriving at the school, as a new student, Miss Lin escorted Momo to the classroom door.


    Momo was assigned to the same class as Han ¨C the first-grade Lion Class.


    Windsor High School had a very ceremonial school culture.


    As a new student, the homeroom teacher held an unconventional welcoming ceremony for Momo.


    In the classroom, adorned with beautiful anthuriums, the representative plant of Lion Class, their floral language signifies ambitious plans, passion, and ardor.


    Momo, with his backpack on, walked into the classroom, where the homeroom teacher Ms. Mia took Momo¡¯s hand and smilingly said to the kids, ¡°Classmates, let¡¯s welcome our new little friend Lin Jinmo, is that alright?¡±


    The kids cheered enthusiastically.


    Momo wrote his name on the blackboard with chalk: Lin Jinmo.


    Ms. Mia exclaimed, ¡°Momo writes so beautifully!¡±


    A little girl in the front row suddenly said, ¡°I don¡¯t recognize the middle character!¡±


    Momo diligently annotated the pinyin above the character ¡°Jin¡±.


    Voices of a few classmates trying to repeat it followed, ¡°ji?n!¡±


    ¡°That character is hard to write!¡±


    ¡°Can we just call you Momo from now on?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°Just call me Momo from now on.¡±


    Miss Lin, looking at the high-end decor of the classroom, the HD projection on both sides of the blackboard, each classroom equipped with air conditioning and computers, and the well-structured classroom discipline, suddenly realized Windsor¡¯s teaching facilities were truly excellent.


    No wonder the tuition was hundreds of thousands a year.


    You get what you pay for.


    She hoped Momo would get along well with his classmates.


    Seeing Momo blending in quickly with the group, Miss Lin smiled and nodded to the teacher, then turned and left.


    Just as she got out of the school gate and into the car, her phone suddenly rang.


    It was from Yuanzhou Group.


    She had recently interviewed with a new company and submitted her resume; she didn¡¯t expect to get a call from the interviewer so quickly.


    ¡°Miss Lin, are you free for an interview this morning?¡±


    Miss Lin said, ¡°I am, what time?¡±


    ¡°Ten in the morning.¡±


    Miss Lin checked the time; it was eight-thirty. She still had time to go back and dress up.


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there on time.¡±


    After confirming with the interviewer, Miss Lin hung up the phone and said to the driver, ¡°Uncle Qian, I¡¯m going back home to change clothes. Can you take me to the Yuanzhou Group interview?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Miss Lin got home, opened the door, and hurried toward her room. Passing the living room, she saw someone sitting on the sofa, which startled her.


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Huo Tingdong turned around and, seeing her shocked expression, asked, ¡°What are you screaming about?¡±


    Miss Lin said blankly, ¡°Why are you at home?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Why can¡¯t I be at home?¡±


    Miss Lin said, ¡°The nanny told me you left early and wouldn¡¯t be back until late.¡±


    ¡°So?¡±


    Miss Lin said, ¡°I was startled to see you sitting in the living room.¡±


    This morning, Huo Tingdong had an argument with shareholders due to differing opinions at the meeting and left the company early.


    Seeing her in a hurry as if she was about to go out, Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Miss Lin replied, ¡°To a company interview.¡±


    ¡°Interview?¡± Huo Tingdong was skeptical, ¡°You¡¯ve found a job?¡±


    Miss Lin nodded.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Why look for a job?¡±


    This little woman just made a big sum of money, why the rush for a job?


    Miss Lin laughed at his question, ¡°Can¡¯t I have my own job? If I don¡¯t work, how can I raise Momo?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t rely on those millions she had made and just idle around.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The house I bought for you is worth 170 million.¡± He thought this apartment would let her live in ease, taking care of Han from now on.


    Miss Lin replied, ¡°That house is yours; you just haven¡¯t had time to sort out the property rights. I know where I stand.¡± What if Huo Tingdong asks for it back later?


    She didn¡¯t believe the house was a gift to her.


    Huo Tingdong fell silent for a moment.


    Did she really think he registered the house under her name because he didn¡¯t have time to handle the property rights?


    And even if so, what of it?


    That house is now under her name, does she need to be so guarded against him?


    He suspected that her going out for an interview was just an excuse, what exactly she was up to, he could not tell.


    Huo Tingdong fiddled with a listening device in his hand.


    He had hesitated for a long time.


    But the Old Lady¡¯s words made him feel he had to be cautious of this woman ¨C ¡°I only have this one great-grandson for Han! I can¡¯t trust this woman to easily care for Han! Don¡¯t forget, this woman has betrayed you. How do you know how she treats Han privately? When you¡¯re not by Han¡¯s side, what if she really abuses him?¡±

 Chapter 47: 47 Huo Tingdongs Suspicion

    Chapter 47: Chapter 47 Huo Tingdong¡¯s Suspicion


    This listening device was made to look as innocuous as a button.


    Huo Tingdong gently caressed it with his fingertips, somewhat hesitant.


    It seemed inappropriate to do this.


    Yet when it came to Lin Qi, he truly could not bring himself to trust completely.


    Han had a blind fondness for Lin Qi, and if Lin Qi were to mistreat Han in his absence, the consequences would be unimaginable if not discovered in time.


    Lin Qi returned to her room to change clothes and, as she came out, Huo Tingdong was still sitting on the sofa. She said, ¡°I¡¯m going out now.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Hold on.¡±


    Huo Tingdong abruptly stood up and approached her.


    Lin Qi asked in confusion, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    He suddenly drew closer to her and gently straightened her collar, while surreptitiously placing the listening device into the folds of the scarf around her neck, securing it firmly.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t detect anything amiss, only feeling caught off guard by Huo Tingdong¡¯s sudden ¡°kindness.¡±


    She took a half step back, cautioning, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Your scarf was a bit crooked.¡±


    Lin Qi adjusted it with her hand while looking in the mirror.


    It was indeed a bit off.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m heading out.¡±


    She went down to the underground garage, got in the car, and felt something was odd but couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. She felt her scarf was a little peculiar, as if there was something prickling her.


    Lin Qi fiddled with her scarf and soon touched a small, hard object.


    After some effort with the folds, she removed the sticky foreign object from the scarf and discovered it was a tiny button¡ªor so it seemed.


    Upon closer inspection, it wasn¡¯t a button.


    Lin Qi quickly identified it as a listening device.


    Who had stuck this on her?


    Could it be... Huo Tingdong?


    Was it he who attached it when he was arranging her scarf just now?


    A chill ran through Lin Qi¡¯s heart.


    This listening device, disguised as an inconspicuous button, would hardly be noticed by the average person. If it weren¡¯t for her delicate and overly sensitive skin, she wouldn¡¯t have detected it at all.


    Why would he do such a thing?


    Could it be he didn¡¯t trust her, or was he worried that she would secretly abuse Han?


    Apart from these reasons, Lin Qi could think of no others.


    Throughout history, the hearts of emperors have always been the most suspicious, and Huo Tingdong was no exception. He kept her to accompany and care for Han because Han depended on her, but he did not trust her entirely.


    Lin Qi felt somewhat disheartened.


    This taste of distrust was not pleasant.


    She was not afraid of Huo Tingdong¡¯s verification, as she had nothing to hide. Treating Han as she would her own, with absolute devotion, even if he placed a listening device on her, she had nothing to feel guilty about.


    If he wished to listen in, then let him have his fill!


    Lin Qi casually put the listening device into her pocket and leaned back nonchalantly against the chair.


    The car left the residential area, only to be suddenly blocked by a Maserati that stopped in front of them.


    The car was parked in the middle of the road, blocking her path.


    The driver hit the brakes, and Lin Qi almost crashed into the back of the seat.


    She was surprised by the driver¡¯s sudden braking and looked ahead to see a Maserati parked horizontally in front of her, with Lin Qianqian getting out of the car.


    Lin Qi was infuriated.


    What on earth did Lin Qianqian want? Had she lost her mind?


    Lin Qi got out of the car, walking towards Lin Qianqian, ¡°Lin Qianqian, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Lin Qi, you b*tch!¡± Lin Qianqian lunged at Lin Qi, about to slap her.


    Lin Qi pushed her away, ¡°Are you insane? Lin Qianqian, why are you acting like a mad dog!¡±


    Lin Qianqian shouted at her angrily, ¡°Lin Qi, you¡¯re so malicious, you can¡¯t stand to see me happy, can you? Are you scheming against me?¡±


    Lin Qi felt it was all very absurd, ¡°I don¡¯t understand the nonsense you¡¯re spouting!¡±


    Lin Qianqian interrogated, ¡°That Hermes bag, is it the one you put on the auction site? The one that you snatched from Mrs. Fang, was that you?¡±


    Lin Qi was taken aback.


    How exactly did Lin Qianqian find out?


    Could it be that the auction site leaked her information?


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t want to deny it, ¡°So what if that bag is mine?¡±


    Lin Qianqian said, ¡°It was you indeed! You spent hundreds of thousands on that bag, so what gives you the right to bid 5.6 million?¡±


    Lin Qi laughed, ¡°Lin Qianqian, that¡¯s an auction site. I didn¡¯t set that high a starting price. The final bid was by mutual consent. If you hadn¡¯t insisted on that bag, who would have thought Su Yuan would embezzle 5.6 million from the company to win it for you? Man proposes, God disposes, I could never have predicted he would bid 5.6 million.¡±


    Pausing for a moment, she continued, ¡°That money has already been transferred to my account. You¡¯re not here to ask for a refund on the bag, are you? What¡¯s wrong? I heard that Su Yuan¡¯s mother called off the engagement with the Lin Family because of that bag. Could it be true? Lin Qianqian, you think so highly of yourself, you weren¡¯t dumped by your fiance? over a 5.6 million bag, were you?¡±


    Lin Qianqian¡¯s face blushed a mix of crimson and purple.


    She couldn¡¯t stand such humiliation and said stubbornly, ¡°Who told you the Su Family called off the engagement? Su Yuan and I are fine. Even if we were to call it off, it¡¯s because I look down on him, feeling he¡¯s not good enough for me! A man who begrudges buying me a 5.6 million bag, marrying him would only mean suffering!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Then shouldn¡¯t you be thanking me? If it weren¡¯t for this bag, you wouldn¡¯t even be able to calculate your worth in Su Yuan¡¯s heart. Lin Qianqian, you¡¯re worth 5.6 million!¡±


    Lin Qianqian felt disgusted as if she had swallowed a hundred flies.


    She was just putting on a tough front. The truth was, the Su Family was willing to call off the engagement over 5.6 million, and in their eyes, she was less valued than a Himalaya bag!


    But she was too proud to admit being dumped, and she said through gritted teeth, ¡°That man you married, who is he really?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Why do you need to investigate his identity? You¡¯re the future daughter-in-law of the Su Family; how could my husband compare to the Su Family?¡±


    Lin Qianqian was grinding her teeth.


    Lin Qi¡¯s words were better ignored; the status of the Su Family was less than a Mrs. Fang¡¯s, but everyone had seen that day how Mrs. Fang was so humble before Huo Tingdong. This man must have a significant background!


    Lin Qi was tight-lipped and unwilling to speak, and Lin Qianqian became furiously embarrassed: ¡°Lin Qi, you¡¯re really clever, using despicable means to climb high! A man of such stature actually willing to marry someone like you, a divorce?e with baggage!¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°Yeah, why would he want to marry someone with a past and a child instead of a noble lady like you? I¡¯m also curious.¡±


    Lin Qianqian was deeply stung.


    She could not hide her emotions, and her facial muscles distorted: ¡°Don¡¯t you smirk at me! I¡¯ve found out; Lin Jinmo is the son you had with Lu Li, right? Does that man know about Lin Jinmo¡¯s background? Does he know that you¡¯ve cuckolded Huo Tingdong? With a woman like you, sooner or later he¡¯ll see your true colors and fiercely kick you to the curb!¡±

 Chapter 50: 50 Were Divorced, Ex-Husband Mister

    Chapter 50: Chapter 50 We¡¯re Divorced, Ex-Husband Mister


    Momo asked Lin Qi, ¡°Mommy, why don¡¯t you ride with Uncle Huo?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°Momo, how about we take the subway together?¡±


    Momo was smart and noticed that Lin Qi¡¯s expression was somewhat unnatural, which meant she was not getting along with Huo Tingdong again.


    He smiled brightly, ¡°Sure!¡± as he took Lin Qi¡¯s hand.


    When their classmates heard that Momo was going back by subway, they were astonished, ¡°Momo¡¯s family doesn¡¯t have a driver or a nanny?¡±


    ¡°My mom said, people who take the subway are from poor families, is Momo¡¯s family very poor?¡±


    ...


    ¡°Taking the subway sounds so poverty-stricken!¡±


    Momo turned around and smiled elegantly, ¡°Have you ever taken the subway?¡±


    The other kids looked at him blankly.


    Momo continued, ¡°The subway I take costs tens of millions for just one train! You haven¡¯t even experienced it, taking the subway is fun!¡± Saying so, he took Lin Qi¡¯s hand, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go!¡±


    He possessed a resilience, an elegance that didn¡¯t care for anyone¡¯s gaze, nor feared any contempt.


    Momo actually knew that at Windsor High School, where the average person owns a million-dollar car, taking the subway was indeed looked down upon.


    But he never cared about others¡¯ peculiar gazes.


    All he knew was that as long as he was with Mommy, taking the subway was a joyful thing.


    Lin Qi smiled, patted his little head, and led him towards the subway station.


    The children wore expressions of surprise.


    A subway costs tens of millions?


    Momo is so impressive.


    Since they had never taken a subway, it was hard for them to imagine what it was like, and they were full of curiosity; suddenly, some even began to feel their own million-dollar luxury cars seemed poverty-stricken.


    ¡°Mommy, I want to take the subway!¡±


    ¡°Daddy, I want to take the subway too!¡±


    Seated in the car, Han saw Lin Qi and Momo heading towards the subway station, and his eyes widened with a sense of grievance.


    He thought Lin Qi was waiting for him in the car, but instead, she had left with Momo.


    Han suddenly looked at Huo Tingdong with sadness and resentment in his eyes.


    It must be because Daddy upset Aunt Qiqi again, which is why she didn¡¯t come home with them.


    The driver told Mr. Huo, ¡°Mr. Huo, Miss Lin has left.¡±


    Huo Tingdong was seething with anger.


    He had thought that Lin Qi, for the sake of Momo, would get in the car, yet she proved to be very stubborn.


    Huo Tingdong said coldly, ¡°Drive!¡±


    Upon hearing they were about to leave, Han tried to scramble out of the car, but Huo Tingdong held him back as if scooping up a little cat into his embrace, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Han pushed against him.


    Huo Tingdong commanded, ¡°No way!¡± He knew the little guy was going to chase after Lin Qi, ¡°Isn¡¯t Han happy that Daddy came to pick him up from school?¡±


    Han crossed his arms and gave Huo Tingdong a defiant stare.


    Huo Tingdong helplessly said, ¡°Aunt Lin Qi and Momo are taking the subway home.¡±


    But Han wouldn¡¯t listen, his eyes seemed to say he wanted to go home with Aunt Qiqi by subway.


    Huo Tingdong warned, ¡°Han, be good, don¡¯t make Daddy angry!¡± He settled Han onto his lap and told the driver, ¡°Drive!¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    On the subway.


    Lin Qi bought subway tickets and stood at the station waiting for the train.


    Momo asked, ¡°Mommy, did you have another argument with him?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Not at all.¡± She didn¡¯t want to tell Momo about Huo Tingdong installing a listening device on her, ¡°Momo, Mommy is in a great mood today. I passed the interview, and the new company is offering Mommy an annual salary of 500,000.¡±


    ¡°Wow!¡± Momo¡¯s eyes widened with surprise, as if little stars twinkled in them, ¡°Mommy is so awesome! A salary of 500,000! Momo wants to go eat something delicious!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Silly boy, even if Mommy didn¡¯t pass the interview, whatever Momo wants to eat, Mommy will take Momo to eat.¡±


    Momo said excitedly, ¡°Momo wants to go to the snack street!¡±


    Wanxiang Street is the secret base for Lin Qi and Momo, where global delicacies are gathered, and Momo particularly likes going there.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Alright, then we¡¯ll get off at Wanxiang Station.¡±


    ¡°Yay!¡±


    Momo¡¯s favorite at the food street was the Turkish kebab skewers and lemon soda. Even though he could make the same things tastier, he particularly enjoyed holding Mommy¡¯s hand and enjoying the earthy delicacies amidst the night market crowds.


    After mother and son strolled around the Street, the ringtone of a cell phone suddenly sounded.


    Lin Qi took out her phone and saw that it was Huo Tingdong calling. She hung up without a second thought.


    The ringtone persisted and rang again.


    Lin Qi, unable to bear it any longer, answered the call, ¡°Hello?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Lin Qi, how dare you hang up my call?¡±


    The voice on the other end was furious, brimming with anger.


    Lin Qi, with a cry-laugh, said, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Huo Tingdong questioned: ¡°When are you coming back?¡± His tone was like that of a husband questioning a wife who hasn¡¯t come home.


    Lin Qi found it funny and urgent, ¡°What for? Why is Mr. Huo so angry? Am I obliged to come home on time?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You made a promise to take good care of Han. Not coming back this late, Han thinks you¡¯ve had an accident, or that you¡¯ve run away from home, and he¡¯s fussing about not eating.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°He¡¯s your son, can¡¯t you soothe him?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°You...¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Mr. Huo, aren¡¯t you worried about me, afraid that I¡¯ll mistreat Han, and didn¡¯t you install a listening device on me?¡±


    A certain man was choked by her words, ¡°Are you still holding a grudge over this?¡±


    ¡°Just?¡±


    Lin Qi mocked, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t I be angry? Today you installed a listening device, what if tomorrow you hire a private detective to follow me? I¡¯m not your wife, and even if I were, you have no right to monitor my private life! Besides, we are already divorced, ex-husband!¡±


    After saying that, Lin Qi hung up the call.


    Momo heard the argument Lin Qi had over the phone with Huo Tingdong, and acted as if he hadn¡¯t heard a thing.


    It didn¡¯t seem like Mommy was being treated unfairly.


    He bit into a large meat skewer, chewing slowly with elegance.


    Lin Qi gently asked, ¡°Momo, did you have a good time with your classmates at school today?¡±


    Momo nodded, ¡°They all like me.¡±


    Lin Qi said proudly, ¡°That¡¯s my son!¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Mommy, I want to get a Turkish kebab skewer for Han.¡± Han¡¯s appetite isn¡¯t big, one skewer is enough.


    This delicious skewer, Momo wanted to share with Han.


    ¡°Of course.¡± Lin Qi went over to line up.


    Momo looked thoughtfully at Lin Qi¡¯s retreating figure, biting into another skewer, feeling that after that phone call, Mommy was somewhat unhappy, forcing a smile.


    He had to teach that man a good lesson!


    Momo took out his cell phone, logged into the hacker domain, retrieved the latest virus he had developed, and sent it to Huo Tingdong¡¯s IP terminal.


    In the restaurant.


    Huo Tingdong was trying hard to coax Han to eat, when the nanny suddenly hurried over, ¡°Mr. Huo, I was tidying up your study just now, and it seems your computer has malfunctioned...¡±

 Chapter 51: 51: My Daddy Is Definitely No Ordinary Man

    Chapter 51: Chapter 51: My Daddy Is Definitely No Ordinary Man


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°What fault?¡±


    The nanny replied, ¡°I don¡¯t understand computers, all I know is that there¡¯s a bunch of gibberish on the screen!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You take care of Han first.¡±


    He got up, walked into the study, and saw that the entire computer screen had gone black, lines of gibberish scrolling across, and in the center of the screen, there was a GIF of a man kneeling on a washboard, violently kowtowing.


    ¡°I was wrong, I was wrong...¡± the man in the animation was crying torrents, kneeling and admitting his mistake on the washboard.


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    ...


    It doesn¡¯t take a genius to figure out who created this virus.


    Lin Jinmo...


    Is this his way of retaliating?


    Retaliation for making his Mommy feel wronged, so he sent a computer virus to his machine, forcing him to apologize?


    The entire computer program was no longer functioning properly.


    Next, he had an important video conference to attend, and now, this little guy was messing with him like this?


    Huo Tingdong sat down in front of the computer, attempting to crack the virus program.


    In the field of computing, he also had some authority; after all, he had been involved in establishing Huace¡¯s security network.


    For years, no hacker had been able to breach the network, yet now it was manipulated by a seven-year-old child.


    Huo Tingdong was racing against time to crack it.


    Outside the door, the nanny knocked softly, ¡°Mr. Huo, Miss Lin has returned.¡±


    Huo Tingdong temporarily left the virus-infected computer and walked outside.


    Upon seeing Lin Qi return, Han¡¯s face immediately lit up with joy, and he flung himself at her.


    Lin Qi, worried about Han, came back early and saw Han sitting glumly at the dining table, gazing resentfully at the sumptuous dinner, neither eating nor drinking, his eyes like dusty glass beads. However, upon seeing Lin Qi, his eyes lit up with a stellar brilliance.


    ¡°Han, I didn¡¯t run away from home, and I didn¡¯t abandon you!¡± Lin Qi handed him Turkish kebab, ¡°This is a treat Momo brought for you.¡±


    The nanny interjected, ¡°The young master can¡¯t eat these street foods; they¡¯ll upset his stomach!¡±


    Saying so, she attempted to throw the Turkish kebab into the trash.


    But Han protected it, pushing her hand away, cradling the large skewer of meat like a treasure and took a delightful bite.


    Hearing that Momo brought it for him, Han was especially happy. His little mouth was greasy and shining, his cheeks puffed up like little hamster¡¯s, and he ate with relish.


    Seeing Han¡¯s tearful face transforming into joy and willingness to eat, Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression finally eased a bit.


    He suddenly glanced at Momo with narrowed eyes, ¡°Did you do this?¡±


    Momo cocked his little head innocently, feigning ignorance, ¡°Uncle Huo, I don¡¯t understand what you¡¯re talking about.¡± The little fellow¡¯s act of playing dumb was top-notch, just like Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Why are you being mean to my son?¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned.


    Mean?


    Which eye of hers saw him with a ferocious expression?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The computer has been attacked by an unknown virus.¡±


    Saying so, he gave Momo a meaningful glare.


    Lin Qi retorted, ¡°Then why are you glaring at my son? Are you taking out your frustration on him because you can¡¯t fix the computer yourself?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡± This foolish woman, could she really think her son was just an innocent seven-year-old?


    Lin Jinmo was the typical wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing, acting cute and compliant in front of Lin Qi, but he was in fact a little hacker mastering cutting-edge black technology!


    The viruses he developed had countless programmers pulling their hair out.


    Huo Tingdong had once secretly investigated Momo¡¯s background, wanting to clear up what other unknown aspects this child might have. The investigation results showed that he seemed to be an ordinary seven-year-old boy.


    But deep down he knew that Momo was no ordinary child.


    Momo covered his mouth and snickered, ¡°Uncle Huo¡¯s computer broke and he can¡¯t fix it, so embarrassing.¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Momo walked into the study, glanced at the computer, and saw Huo Tingdong attempting to crack a virus program. He shook his head and sighed.


    The virus program he had developed was as yet unbreakable by anyone.


    Huo Tingdong stood at the doorway and said coldly, ¡°The trouble you caused, when will you remove the virus?¡±


    Momo asked, ¡°Did you make my Mommy angry?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°So, this is your retaliation?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Anyone who makes my Mommy angry is a terrible sinner! But, if my Mommi forgives you, I¡¯m magnanimous enough to retract the Trojan horse, otherwise...¡± He crossed his arms and huffed, ¡°I won¡¯t let you off!¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Do you want me to apologize to her?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°A man should be flexible, a gentleman can¡¯t afford to upset women!¡± He narrowed his eyes and said coolly, ¡°I heard you installed a listening device on my Mommy?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I warn you, my Mommy is not a bad person, she¡¯s good to Han, she said she would share half of her love for me with Han! She¡¯s such a gentle and kind Mommy, I won¡¯t allow you to think of her that way! She¡¯s the best Mommy in the world, I won¡¯t let you hurt her, otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off!¡±


    This was his prejudice against Mommy!


    Naturally, Momo was somewhat angry.


    Huo Tingdong suddenly fell silent.


    He also felt that perhaps this was his prejudice against Lin Qi.


    She probably wasn¡¯t the kind of bad-hearted woman he imagined, and this was also the reason for his overprotectiveness towards Han.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Indeed, I shouldn¡¯t have placed a listening device.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Then are you going to apologize to my Mommy?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I will.¡±


    Momo widened his eyes in surprise, not expecting that Huo Tingdong would actually agree to apologize to Mommy.


    His opinion of Huo Tingdong slightly improved.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I will try to trust her.¡± It was very rare for him to trust anyone, especially a woman.


    Except for Song Shuyan.


    He also rarely allowed women to get close to him.


    Suddenly, Momo walked over to the computer, his hands flying over the keyboard, entering a string of code. Quickly, the screen turned blue with lines of scrolling code.


    He expertly navigated the system, and five minutes later, the computer restarted, displaying a clean system page.


    Huo Tingdong asked with curiosity, ¡°Who did you learn this from?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I learned it myself.¡±


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t believe it, ¡°Your skills are very advanced, surpassing many international hackers, it¡¯s impossible that you¡¯re self-taught!¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I can only say I have good genes, talent, natural intelligence. My dad must be a very excellent and mighty person to pass such high IQ to me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°So, do you know who your dad is?¡±


    Momo replied mysteriously, ¡°I know, but it¡¯s a secret. Anyway, my Daddy is taller than you, more handsome than you, and richer than you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong scoffed, ¡°Such a man doesn¡¯t exist.¡± He was the richest man in China and considered Momo¡¯s words to be mere boasting.


    Momo adopted an unbothered attitude, ¡°Don¡¯t believe it, it¡¯s your loss. Anyway, my Daddy is extraordinary, otherwise, he couldn¡¯t have such a smart son. If you don¡¯t believe it, try having one yourself?¡±


    After speaking, he pulled a face at Huo Tingdong, then strolled out of the study with an air of pride.

 Chapter 52: 52: Who Are You Dressing Up For?

    Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Who Are You Dressing Up For?


    In the restaurant, Lin Qi had just coaxed Han into finishing dinner when Momo walked out of the room. She asked, ¡°Momo, are you still hungry?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°Not hungry anymore!¡± Suddenly, he took out a notice from his backpack and handed it to Lin Qi, ¡°Mommy, there¡¯s a garden party this week.¡±


    Lin Qi took the invitation and glanced at it.


    Windsor High School ¡¤ Garden Party.


    This Friday marks the 30th anniversary of Windsor High School. For this occasion, Windsor High School has suspended classes for a day and invited all parents of the students to visit the campus. The school has prepared cultural performances and parent-child activities. Parents can immerse themselves in the educational atmosphere of Windsor High School and foster parent-child relationships.


    But... her work schedule had not been confirmed, and she was unsure if she could make time on Friday.


    ...


    As a newly employed staff member, asking for leave could easily make her disliked by her superiors.


    Looking anxious, Momo said, ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t want to go?¡± He had seen a notice on Huo Tingdong¡¯s desk as well, given to him by Han.


    He had already signed it, which meant that Huo Tingdong would be attending the garden party with Han.


    He also wanted Mommy to attend the garden party.


    Lin Qi explained, ¡°Mommy does want to go, but Mommy has to work on Friday.¡± She felt frustrated in her heart, questioning why the garden party couldn¡¯t have been on Saturday or Sunday, instead of a weekday.


    Perhaps it was because the parents of Windsor High¡¯s students were all big bosses, who don¡¯t need to punch in for work.


    Visible disappointment appeared on Momo¡¯s face.


    This little guy had always been sensible and well-behaved, always able to control his emotions, but he truly longed for Mommy to accompany him to the garden party.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo, Mommy promises you, as long as Mommy can get leave, I will definitely go with you.¡±


    Momo nodded but still seemed somewhat disheartened.


    Attendance at the Windsor High School¡¯s garden party is a must for parents.


    Even though he understood that it was not easy for Mommy to find a good job, he didn¡¯t want to attend the garden party all alone, without Mommy¡¯s company.


    The next day.


    As it was her first day on the job, Lin Qi transferred business with her colleagues.


    She had joined the Marketing Development Department as a business representative, which usually meant a laid-back routine managing client data and conducting seminars, but during busy times, traveling around the world for business was inevitable.


    Yuanzhou Group¡¯s main business was in real estate. With the booming elder care industry, Yuanzhou was also aiming to develop in this direction.


    The retirement homes built by Yuanzhou were high-end senior communities. The word ¡°high-end¡± also meant that their clientele was comprised of high-ranking elderly individuals, which also denoted a high initial investment in capital costs.


    The retirement home currently under construction by Yuanzhou was of five-star hotel caliber, boasting abundant medical resources and 24-hour medical rescue services, even going so far as to purchase three helicopters for emergency evacuations.


    However, Yuanzhou was currently negotiating financing issues, with a capital shortfall of five hundred million yuan.


    After familiarizing herself with the company¡¯s equity structure, Lin Qi was surprised to find that one of the shareholders of Yuanzhou Group was none other than Mrs. Fang, and recently, Yuanzhou Group was in talks with the Huo Family, hoping to secure investment from them.


    No wonder Mrs. Fang was so ingratiating to Huo Tingdong; she was indeed looking for a favor.


    Lin Qi had organized the client data and was just stepping out of the elevator when she unexpectedly bumped into Mrs. Fang, who had come to visit the company for inspection.


    As a major shareholder, she occasionally visited Yuanzhou to research business progress.


    Mrs. Fang was wearing an Hermes dress and a shawl, her hair done up in a beautiful chignon, radiating a sense of unfathomable grace and elegance. The handbag she carried was the Himalaya that Su Yuan had auctioned off for 5.6 million yuan.


    It seemed that Mrs. Fang had managed to buy the bag from Su Yuan and could not wait to show it off.


    The company¡¯s executives followed her like stars surrounding the moon, accompanying her on her tour.


    Lin Qi found herself in an awkward situation simply because she immediately noticed that Mrs. Fang was wearing the same Hermes dress as her.


    They were wearing identical outfits!


    The colleagues in the office were also taken aback.


    ¡°Look! This newcomer actually showed up in the same dress as Mrs. Fang!¡±


    It was some colleague who couldn¡¯t help but make a comment, which Mrs. Fang heard. She turned around and saw Lin Qi, who had just stepped out of the elevator dressed exactly like her. Mrs. Fang¡¯s delicate eyebrows furrowed, her complexion turning a little green with anger.


    It¡¯s said that a wardrobe clash isn¡¯t scary; it¡¯s only embarrassing for the one who looks worse.


    Even Mrs. Fang had to admit that, after all, she was aging and her beauty was fading, while Lin Qi was young and beautiful, with a slim figure, tight skin, and a face full of collagen, radiantly attractive.


    Mrs. Fang felt completely outshone by Lin Qi!


    Mrs. Fang was not pleased at all!


    Pointing at Lin Qi, she asked, ¡°Who is this person?¡±


    One of Mrs. Fang¡¯s followers glanced over Lin Qi and replied at once, ¡°She¡¯s a newly hired sales representative, surnamed ¡®Lin¡¯.¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°A mere sales representative dressed so flamboyantly to come to work? Is Hermes something anyone can just wear? Dressed like that, is she here to work, or is she here to compete in a beauty contest?¡±


    ¡°This...¡±


    ¡°Call her over.¡±


    The follower turned around and beckoned to Lin Qi, ¡°New girl, come here.¡±


    ¡°Lin Qi, that person is Chairman Li, a director of Yuanzhou like Mrs. Fang, he¡¯s asking for you to come over,¡± whispered a colleague beside her.


    Lin Qi walked over to Mrs. Fang calmly and composed.


    Mrs. Fang scrutinized her from head to toe and asked coldly, ¡°Your dress, it¡¯s a knockoff, right? The design looks exactly the same as the original.¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that a mere sales representative could afford such an expensive dress, especially when it wasn¡¯t readily available.


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°Hello Mrs. Fang, to answer you, my dress is genuine, purchased from an Hermes boutique.¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, her colleagues all showed looks of disbelief.


    Ever since Lin Qi joined the company, she had sensed the distance from her colleagues, because they all thought that as a newcomer, in order to stand out, she had actually come to work wearing a counterfeit Hermes dress.


    Unfortunately, she had also clashed wardrobes with Mrs. Fang.


    Mrs. Fang was an avid fan of Hermes, dressed in Hermes from head to toe, including her bags.


    Little did they know, Lin Qi was declaring it was the real deal.


    ¡°Is she joking? If she has the money to buy Hermes, why would she still come to work?¡±


    ¡°Perhaps she married well!¡±


    ¡°If she married well, why be a corporate drone? Work is so hard, if I had a husband to support me, I wouldn¡¯t come to the office and suffer like this.¡±


    The surrounding chatter was fervent, with one colleague muttering softly, ¡°No wonder Mrs. Fang is a bit upset... whether it¡¯s Hermes or not, being young and pretty is definitely an advantage. Mrs. Fang has been outclassed, how could she stand that?¡±


    When these words reached Mrs. Fang¡¯s ears, she was mortified and flew into a rage.


    She looked around sharply and demanded, ¡°Who is whispering over there!¡±


    The large office fell dead silent.


    Mrs. Fang then turned to Lin Qi, pointing to her dress, ¡°Go change out of that outfit! Who do you think you are, dressing up like that in the office? Know your place, who are you trying to impress dressing this way?¡±

 Chapter 53: 53 Huo Tingdongs Apology

    Chapter 53: Chapter 53 Huo Tingdong¡¯s Apology


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Mrs. Fang, you want me to change my clothes. What should I change into?¡± As a business representative, there isn¡¯t a uniform dress code; everyone wears their own clothes to work.


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°Wear what everyone else is wearing! Why must you be so different? Who do you think you are? Dressing up like someone to be worshipped?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I don¡¯t have any other clothes with me.¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°Then go home and change!¡±


    Lin Qi was somewhat speechless, ¡°Mrs. Fang, I¡¯m currently on the clock; I can¡¯t leave the company.¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°Who is your supervisor? Call her over to see me!¡± This woman, daring to defy her time and time again.


    ...


    ¡°Mrs. Fang!¡± Lin Qi¡¯s boss rushed over, ¡°Mrs. Fang, she¡¯s a newbie. How has she made you so upset?¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°Look at what she¡¯s wearing. Make her go and change! Don¡¯t come to work this afternoon; consider it as absenteeism!¡±


    Having said that, Mrs. Fang left in a huff.


    Giggles could be heard throughout the office.


    ¡°This newbie managed to offend Mrs. Fang on her first day!¡±


    ¡°Who told her to stand out and show off? Could this have happened if she¡¯d dressed down a bit?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s not here to work; she¡¯s here to fish for men! I saw a lot of male colleagues staring at her during the morning meeting!¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s got high standards, only fishing for men who can afford to buy her Hermes!¡±


    Her boss said to Lin Qi with an ashen face, ¡°Lin Qi, you should go back home. Don¡¯t come in this afternoon.¡±


    Lin Qi frowned slightly but didn¡¯t say a word. She went back to her office to pack up her things and headed downstairs.


    The elevator bell rang.


    It was a call from Huo Tingdong.


    Lin Qi answered the phone, ¡°Hello?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯m downstairs at your company.¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°What are you doing at my company?¡±


    Before she could ask for clarification, the man had already hung up the phone.


    This man, always so arrogant, not even deigning to answer someone else¡¯s question clearly.


    Lin Qi reached the entrance and saw an Aston Martin parked at the door.


    Several security guards were staring straight at the shiny sports car, quietly discussing its value and rarity.


    Lin Qi walked around to the passenger side door but didn¡¯t get inside.


    The window rolled down, and Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Get in.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Huo Tingdong, what do you want?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face was as cold as ice. He pressed his thin lips together and remained silent.


    Lin Qi opened the door, only to discover a beautifully wrapped Hermes gift box on the passenger seat.


    Hermes again...


    Lin Qi felt a headache coming on at the sight of Hermes.


    She asked, ¡°What is this?¡±


    Huo Tingdong was succinct, cherishing words like gold, ¡°An apology.¡±


    An apology...?


    Lin Qi suddenly realized, could this man be offering an apology for placing a listening device on her?


    Lin Qi laughed in disbelief; she had not expected the usually haughty man to offer her an apology.


    But, she didn¡¯t want his things.


    To be indebted to someone¡¯s favor, and compromised by accepting a gift; this she understood profoundly. Thus, she said, ¡°I don¡¯t want it.¡±


    Huo Tingdong arrogantly interrupted her, ¡°You will take it.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...?¡±


    Huo Tingdong repeated, ¡°You will take it.¡± He had an attitude that insisted she must accept his apology, leaving no room for discussion.


    Lin Qi got into the car, closed the door, picked up the gift box, and looked at it. It seemed to be a bag.


    He gave her a bag?


    He thought she was one of those women to whom ¡°bags cure all ills,¡± that she could be pacified with a bag as an apology after getting angry?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Open it and see.¡±


    Lin Qi sighed softly, unwrapped the package, and a delicate Himalaya Bag appeared before her eyes. She was somewhat surprised and unable to close her mouth.


    But isn¡¯t this bag a limited edition?


    One was in Mrs. Fang¡¯s hands, and this one...


    Lin Qi focused her eyes and immediately noticed the differences in this bag.


    This bag, though similar to the Himalaya in Mrs. Fang¡¯s possession in style, had unique details. It was an even more rare diamond buckle design, made of white crocodile skin, flawlessly crafted with a diamond clasp, and only one was distributed globally.


    ¡°This bag...¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°you bought it?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Otherwise?¡±


    ¡°It must be very expensive!¡± This bag, rumored to have a public price of 2.6 million, could possibly break auction records if it entered the market.


    Huo Tingdong seemed to have seen through her thoughts, ¡°You¡¯re not thinking of reselling this bag, are you?¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Why did you give me this bag?¡± She cared more about his attitude than the expensive Hermes bag.


    Huo Tingdong answered, ¡°I told you, it¡¯s to apologize.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°It seems you still owe me an ¡®I¡¯m sorry.''¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze turned cold as he spoke in a chilling voice, ¡°You¡¯re pushing it.¡±


    Lin Qi put the bag back into the gift box, sealing it again, ¡°I cannot accept this ¡®apology¡¯.¡± She placed the bag in its original spot and was about to get out of the car.


    Huo Tingdong raised his hand and gripped her arm tightly, pulling her back, ¡°You¡¯re not leaving.¡±


    His authoritarian and condescending tone made Lin Qi somewhat amused yet frustrated.


    His hand was icy, as if devoid of human warmth, and his body temperature seemed always a few degrees colder than a normal person¡¯s, like a cold-blooded animal.


    The blood flowing through the veins of such a man must be cold too, right?


    Just as Lin Qi was preparing to confront him on what he intended to do, Huo Tingdong suddenly said, ¡°Sorry, is that enough?¡±


    ¡°...¡± The expression on this man¡¯s face seemed to indicate that if she didn¡¯t accept his ¡®sorry¡¯, he was going to have an outburst.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Huo Tingdong, no one is forcing you to apologize. I just don¡¯t enjoy being misunderstood. My affection for Han is never less than Momo¡¯s; you don¡¯t have to suspect me unjustly.¡±


    Suspect unjustly?


    Was this woman insinuating that he harbored petty suspicions?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have placed a listening device on you. That was my mistake. So...¡± He looked at her face and said indifferently, ¡°It won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Her fair and clear face, with naturally flushed cheeks and full lips unadorned with lipstick, brought back to him the soft sensation when they kissed.


    Huo Tingdong frowned slightly, feeling his body tense up.


    In the confined space of the car, he could distinctly smell her natural scent.


    Huo Tingdong suddenly felt a bit stiflingly hot and unnaturally released her hand, turning to look forward, casually adjusting his tie and switching on the air conditioning.


    The cold air blowing from the vent seemed to dispel some of the inexplicable restlessness in his heart.


    Seeing him looking quite tense, with his sexy Adam¡¯s apple sliding up and down, loosening his tie, and the barely visible elegant collarbone, it was indeed getting a bit hot with the sunlight streaming in.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I won¡¯t be going to work this afternoon. Could you take me home?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Fasten your seatbelt.¡±


    Lin Qi buckled up, and with a press of the gas pedal by Huo Tingdong, the car sped away.


    Upon reaching home.


    Lin Qi casually placed the bag on the sofa and headed for the bathroom.


    It was a bit warm, and she had broken into a sweat; she figured a shower would do.


    Huo Tingdong had just parked the car and walked upstairs. As he entered, he heard the sound of running water from the bedroom¡¯s bathroom.


    ¡°Mr. Huo?¡± the nanny said, ¡°Miss Lin has gone to take a shower in her room.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes darkened, feeling somewhat agitated and annoyed, he sat in the living room, inexplicably finding his throat dry.

 Chapter 54: 54 An Irreversible Blunder

    Chapter 54: Chapter 54 An Irreversible Blunder


    On the sofa, there lay an evening dress sent by the Givenchy boutique.


    Han had requested this vehemently.


    There would be a banquet in the evening of the day of the garden party, and as usual, a dance segment during the event.


    He wanted to see Aunt Qiqi wearing a beautiful dress and dancing with Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong had no idea how such a strange thought had popped into the little guy¡¯s head.


    Was this little bun trying to find a stepmother for himself?


    ...


    In Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes, Han was like a little Cupid with wings.


    However, since Han had made a request, Huo Tingdong was always ready to oblige; he had Givenchy send over a white strap evening gown.


    The nanny approached and said, ¡°Lunch is ready, should I go and call Miss Lin?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Go and invite her.¡±


    The nanny walked towards Lin Qi¡¯s room.


    A few minutes later, she returned and said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°Miss Lin hasn¡¯t come back, and I didn¡¯t dare to enter the room.¡±


    Huo Tingdong stood up, walked to the door of Lin Qi¡¯s room, and gently knocked, not hearing any movement.


    ¡°Lin Qi?¡±


    No response.


    The man pushed open the door, and in an instant, the soft fragrance of the room enveloped him.


    Her room had a natural body scent mixed with the aroma of a shower gel.


    Huo Tingdong walked to the bedroom and saw Lin Qi lying on the bed, having changed into a silk slip nightgown, lying on her side facing away from the door, with her soft black hair sprawling across the pillow, her small face as clear and fair as washed jade, with a slight rosy hue.


    He approached the bed and saw her eyes closed, seemingly asleep.


    Having not slept well the previous night and just out of the bath, Lin Qi had changed into her pajamas and lay on the bed for a while, unwittingly falling asleep.


    Her appearance while asleep was tranquil and enchanting, her full red lips glistening with moisture, pure yet desirous, and this image once again disrupted Huo Tingdong¡¯s breathing.


    He prided himself on not being an animal driven by his lower half, but such a sultry scene was truly a visual shock.


    Huo Tingdong slowly sat down beside the bed, his slender fingers trailing through her smooth hair ends, the fragrance from the fluffy and soft ends carrying an inexplicably bewitching quality.


    For a moment, he seemed to lose control, becoming unstoppable.


    When he came back to his senses, he had already leaned over, his thin lips covering hers.


    Her lips were as soft as he had imagined, the touch that entangled his heart was like a spark igniting a prairie fire, and he, like a beast adept at capturing its prey, elegantly and enjoyably savored his feed.


    Even with his extraordinary self-control, he found it hard to hold back the ambition to conquer the fortress.


    He must restrain himself.


    If he didn¡¯t, something would happen.


    Huo Tingdong stood up, his fingertips wiping away the residual warmth on the lips, his gaze falling on her peaceful sleeping face.


    Lin Qi had her eyes closed, her small hand hidden under the blanket, clenched tightly into a fist.


    She was a light sleeper; just now, she was awakened by his kiss, which felt like being devoured alive, but she dared not open her eyes and could only feign sleep with her eyes tightly shut.


    She heard the footsteps recede, and only when the door closed did Lin Qi finally open her eyes, her back breaking out in a fine layer of cold sweat from anxiety.


    What was he doing?


    She was only wearing a nightgown; with a simple bend, he could easily see everything inside her nightgown.


    This man!


    He actually... did that to her?


    Lin Qi still felt the lingering fear, tossing and turning in her thoughts.


    It seemed that from now on, she would need to cultivate the habit of locking the door, to prevent leading a wolf into the house!


    Afternoon.


    Lin Qi changed her clothes and left the room.


    The nanny came over and said, ¡°Miss Lin, are you awake from your nap?¡±


    ¡°Yep.¡± Lin Qi asked uneasily, ¡°Where¡¯s Huo Tingdong?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Huo is in the study.¡± The nanny asked again, ¡°Are you hungry? Should I prepare something for you to eat?¡±


    ¡°Yes, please.¡± Lin Qi checked the time. After eating, she could get ready to go pick up Han and Momo.


    ...


    Kindergarten.


    The last self-study session in the afternoon.


    The class teacher assigned the study tasks, set up group leaders responsible for supervising the children¡¯s homework, and then left the classroom.


    No sooner had the teacher left than some started gossiping.


    ¡°Did you see that yesterday Lin Jinmo came home by subway?¡±


    ¡°His family doesn¡¯t have a driver or a nanny, his mommy picks him up from school and they take the subway home!¡±


    Momo looked up and saw a burly little boy loudly spreading the word with a taunting tone.


    Han listened and glared at him angrily.


    This burly boy was used to throwing his weight around in the class; his mother was the lady director of the school, Mrs. Fang¡¯s youngest son. So, within the Fang Family, he was spoiled like an Emperor and usually had quite a few lackeys following him and bossing others around in class.


    The girl in the row in front of Momo, wearing a pretty hair clip, said angrily, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with taking the subway? I¡¯ve never been on the subway! Momo said the subway is fun.¡±


    The little boy dismissed their comments, ¡°Don¡¯t be fooled by him! Only poor people take the subway! People who don¡¯t have money and can¡¯t afford to hire a driver and a nanny have to take the subway, which costs just a few bucks per ticket. My mommy said she could buy me a whole subway line if I wanted, hmph!¡±


    He stood with his hands on his hips and his nostrils flaring as if looking down from the sky.


    The little girl couldn¡¯t stand his smug attitude and smiled at Momo, ¡°Momo, don¡¯t mind him, he¡¯s just jealous of you! My family has a castle, Momo, you can come play at my castle sometime.¡±


    The girl¡¯s background was also impressive; her father indulged her and built a fairytale-like castle on the hillside for her, fulfilling her princess dream.


    Her words certainly stung the little boy.


    Hit the nail on the head!


    From the first day Momo joined this class, his cute and handsome appearance won many children¡¯s hearts, and the girls in the class liked to play with him. Naturally, he was not happy and started targeting Momo!


    The little boy walked up to Momo¡¯s desk, pointed at Momo and Han, and said, ¡°Jealous of him? Born by a mother but not recognized by a father, am I jealous of that?¡±


    The children all looked in Momo¡¯s direction.


    The little boy, pointing at Momo and Han, said, ¡°One without a father! One idiot! Hahaha!¡±


    Suddenly, Han stood up and pushed him.


    The little boy was knocked to the ground.


    Momo stood up, immediately comforted Han, and pulled him back to his seat, ¡°Han, be good.¡±


    He knew Han was angry.


    Momo said, ¡°Han is not an idiot, he¡¯s smarter than you.¡±


    The little boy wasn¡¯t hurt badly and got up from the ground quickly, wanting to push back, but Momo protected Han and grabbed the boy¡¯s collar, ¡°Dare to touch him and see what happens?¡±


    Han was his good friend; no one could bully Han.


    Han looked at Momo, his eyes flickered for a moment.


    He could tell that Momo was defending him.


    The little boy in desperation said, ¡°My mommy said no man wants your mommy, and no one wants you!¡±


    ¡°My mommy is a great beauty, my mommy is younger and prettier than your mommy, not old and ugly like yours!¡± Momo retorted.


    Other children echoed, ¡°We saw Momo¡¯s mommy yesterday! She¡¯s a great beauty!¡±


    ¡°Momo¡¯s mommy is the prettiest woman in the world I¡¯ve ever seen!¡± The children, with their innocence, didn¡¯t lie, they simply expressed that Momo¡¯s mommy they saw was indeed a young and beautiful lady.


    ¡°You!¡± The little boy looked around, ¡°You¡¯re actually siding with this little bastard?¡±

 Chapter 55: 55 Han in Trouble

    Chapter 55: Chapter 55 Han in Trouble


    ¡°Boom!¡±


    A punch from Momo landed on the face of the little boy.


    The rest of the classmates were stunned.


    No one expected Momo to suddenly erupt.


    He ferociously returned a punch, instantly dumbfounding the little boy.


    ¡°Watch your mouth!¡± Momo demanded, ¡°Who did you call a bastard?¡±


    ...


    He fiercely glared at the little boy.


    Standing beside Momo, Han witnessed the sharpness in his eyes, carrying an inviolable determination; for a moment, in Momo, he seemed to see the shadow of Huo Tingdong.


    The little boy clutched his reddened cheekbone, feeling extremely humiliated. Grinding his teeth, tears welled up in his eyes yet he refused to let them fall due to pride.


    ¡°The homeroom teacher is coming.¡±


    Someone signaled the news quietly.


    Momo and Han returned to their seats.


    The little boy also returned to his place, using a book to cover his face. At the same time, he sinisterly stared at Momo.


    This guy dared to hit him?


    He would show Momo just how tough he could be!


    After class.


    The classroom cleaning was organized weekly by the students on duty; other children left school on time.


    Momo finished dragging the classroom and, carrying the mop, headed towards the storage room.


    Just as he arrived at the door of the storage room and opened it, he vaguely sensed someone following him.


    As he was about to turn around, a pair of hands suddenly pushed him from behind, ¡°Go to hell!¡±


    Momo was shoved into the storage room, knocking over brooms and mops standing upright. Subsequently, the door was forcefully closed and locked from the outside.


    ¡°Enjoy your time inside, you little bastard!¡± The little boy¡¯s voice came through.


    Momo instantly recognized the voice; it was Fang Heng, the son of the school director¡¯s wife.


    He had humiliated Momo and Han during a self-study period, and Momo had punched him¡ªwas this his way of seeking revenge?


    Momo got up and pounded on the door, ¡°Let me out!¡±


    However, the empty classroom brought no response to his calls.


    ...


    Momo and Han had disappeared!


    The homeroom teacher, Ms. Mia, returned to the classroom and searched everywhere but couldn¡¯t find them.


    ¡°Momo?¡±


    ¡°Han?¡±


    She called out again and again with worry.


    Lin Qi and Huo Tingdong came to pick up Momo and Han together, and when they couldn¡¯t find them at the school gate, they entered the school and approached the classroom door, bumping into a flustered Ms. Mia. Lin Qi¡¯s heart ¡°lurched,¡± sensing that something bad had happened.


    ¡°Where are Momo and Han? Aren¡¯t they in the classroom?¡± Lin Qi asked anxiously.


    Ms. Mia nodded, ¡°Today, Momo and Han¡¯s group were on duty. I took the other children to the school gate, and when I came back to pick them up, they were not in the classroom.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Where could they have run off to?¡±


    Windsor High School was too big.


    Just one teaching building had seven floors.


    Lin Qi looked out the window with some concern, even worried that the two little guys, in their playfulness, had climbed out of the window and fallen.


    But starting from the second floor, including the corridors, safety nets were installed to prevent the risk of children falling from high places.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°There are surveillance cameras in the teaching building; I¡¯ll go check the footage.¡±


    Ms. Mia nodded and said, ¡°Mr. Huo, I¡¯ll go with you!¡±


    Huo Tingdong turned to Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You go, I¡¯ll stay here and keep looking.¡±


    She watched Huo Tingdong and Ms. Mia head towards the monitoring room and turned around to search the area centered around the classroom carefully again.


    As she passed by the storeroom, she suddenly heard a ¡°bang, bang, bang¡± of something hitting a surface.


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t help but look towards the storeroom with suspicion, ¡°What¡¯s that sound?¡±


    The noise from inside the storeroom suddenly ceased, followed by Momo¡¯s somewhat weak voice, ¡°Mommy?!¡±


    ¡°Momo?¡±


    Lin Qi was shocked.


    She could never have imagined that Momo would be locked inside this storeroom.


    She thought Momo had been pranked by other children in the class, so she hurried over, only to find that the door was locked from the outside.


    Lin Qi quickly unlocked the door and upon opening it, she was met with the dark, airless storeroom filled with dust.


    Momo¡¯s uniform was covered with all sorts of dust, and his face was dirty as well; his elbows and knees were bruised from hitting the door.


    ¡°Momo...¡± Lin Qi said, heartbroken and wanting to embrace him.


    But Momo anxiously said, ¡°Han¡¯s in trouble!¡±


    This statement made Lin Qi¡¯s heart leap to her throat, ¡°Where¡¯s Han?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I don¡¯t... I don¡¯t know...¡± As if there was some telepathic connection, he had the sensation that something had happened to Han, anxiety filling his eyes to the brink of tears.


    ¡°Uncle Huo has gone to check the surveillance. We¡¯ll find Han soon!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s too late now!¡±


    Momo suddenly dashed out.


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t afford to think too much and chased after him.


    Gymnasium, second floor.


    Momo ran all the way to the entrance of the swimming hall, and pointing at the locked door, he said in panic, ¡°Han is inside!¡±


    Lin Qi was surprised by how certain Momo was that Han was inside.


    But she didn¡¯t question Momo¡¯s words, and, without finding the key, she suddenly rammed into the door.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°BANG!!¡±


    Perhaps it¡¯s true that people can surpass their limits in emergencies, as Lin Qi never expected that she could exert such strength to break open the door lock. With the door burst open, she stumbled inside, twisting her ankle slightly because of her high heels.


    ¡°Mommy...¡± Momo looked at her twisted ankle with distress.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°We need to find Han first.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Momo rushed into the swimming hall, shouting loudly, ¡°Han! Han?¡±


    He didn¡¯t know why, but he had a strong sixth sense that Han was here.


    The swimming area was expansive. Throughout Windsor High School, which catered to students from kindergarten to high school, spanning fifteen grades, there were sections divided according to the students¡¯ developmental and training needs: a children¡¯s area, a shallow zone, and a deep zone.


    By the time Momo got to the deep zone, he was out of breath. As he looked into the pool, he could vaguely see a dark figure submerged in the water.


    ¡°Han?¡± Momo instantly recognized the child drowning in the water, wearing the school uniform and appearing to be very much like Han.


    ¡°Mommy! Mommy, Han is here...¡± Momo, thinking Han had drowned, was so scared that his face turned red and he started to cry.


    Without hesitation, Lin Qi rushed over, following the direction Momo was pointing, and at once saw the figure in the water: the child was motionless, floating without struggle, clearly drowning.


    ¡°Han...¡±


    Lin Qi took off her high heels and jumped into the water, swimming towards Han.


    Underwater, she could see clearly that the figure was Han, helplessly enveloped by the water, with his hands weakly spread open, his eyes tightly shut...


    Lin Qi swam forcefully to his side, held him, and lifted him out of the water, one hand on his shoulder as she swam to the edge of the pool.

 Chapter 56: 56: More Bad Luck than Good

    Chapter 56: Chapter 56: More Bad Luck than Good


    Momo waited anxiously on the shore. Seeing Lin Qi swimming back to the shore with Han, he immediately crouched down, extended his hand, and helped Lin Qi drag Han up onto the poolside.


    ¡°Mommy...¡± Momo said nervously, ¡°Mommy, come up quickly.¡±


    ¡°Okay...¡± Lin Qi adjusted her breathing, and said to Momo, ¡°Mommy has taught you how to do CPR and artificial respiration, do you remember how to do it, Momo?¡±


    ¡°I do!¡± Momo laid Han flat on the ground, and began to press down on his abdomen to expel the water inside.


    The pool was too deep; clinging to the pool wall, it was impossible to climb out.


    Lin Qi swam toward the handrail, but suddenly her already sprained ankle cramped.


    ...


    Her face muscles twitched fiercely in pain, as she knew what it meant to have a leg cramp in the deep waters, and cold sweat started breaking out on her forehead.


    It¡¯s over...


    At this moment, those two words consumed her mind.


    Lin Qi felt as though an invisible hand was pulling her down. She tried to swim with one hand, but her strength was clearly depleted.


    Momo also sensed that something was wrong, and alarmed, he called out, ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Seeing Lin Qi¡¯s swimming motions weakening and slowly sinking into the water, Momo got up and walked anxiously over, only to hear some strong footsteps approaching from not too far away.


    Momo looked in the direction of the sound and saw Huo Tingdong had arrived. He ran over, pushing Momo to the side, ¡°Step back.¡±


    Huo Tingdong dived into the water, swimming agilely towards the direction where Lin Qi was falling, like an arrow piercing through to a shark.


    Three meters deep in the swimming pool.


    Lin Qi¡¯s pink dress floated down with the water, she struggled unconsciously, sinking deeper towards the bottom of the pool.


    Huo Tingdong reached her side, grabbed her slender arm, and pulled her back.


    Lin Qi opened her blurred eyes, feeling extremely deprived of oxygen and instinctually resisting in her fight for survival.


    The man arrogantly pinned down her waist with one hand, the other hand holding her chin, and pressed his lips heavily against hers.


    ¡°Mm.¡±


    Lin Qi felt a continuous stream of oxygen flowing from Huo Tingdong¡¯s mouth into hers.


    She regained oxygen and finally retrieved some consciousness.


    The water¡¯s gravity was too great.


    Huo Tingdong fiercely tore a piece off her skirt, and holding her in his arms, headed for the poolside.


    Five minutes later¡ª


    Lin Qi lay weakly on the shore, continually choking on water, coughing violently as the disinfectant-tasting pool water came pouring out from her nose and mouth.


    Momo covered her with a thin blanket.


    Soon, Ms. Mia and the school doctor arrived hurriedly.


    Earlier, Huo Tingdong saw in the surveillance that Lin Qi and Momo had rushed into the swimming hall; he arrived first, and Ms. Mia, worried about an accident, urgently contacted the school doctor.


    When the school doctor arrived, Huo Tingdong was performing artificial respiration on Han.


    The water accumulated in his abdominal cavity had already been pressed out by Momo, but he had not yet regained consciousness.


    When Lin Qi arrived, he had already lost consciousness, and it was unclear how long he had been drowning.


    Drowning has a golden window.


    If rescued within five minutes, the chances of survival are high.


    If it¡¯s more than five minutes, or even ten minutes or longer, it really is left to fate.


    Huo Tingdong anxiously performed CPR on Han, whose little face, bloated from the water, was tinged with cyanosis.


    He hadn¡¯t been breathing for too long; if this continued, his life would be at risk!


    Wrapped in a thin blanket, Lin Qi knelt next to Han, her breath intense with anxiety.


    She was worried something really had happened to Han, how he ended up alone in the swimming hall, and in the water...


    Huo Tingdong said Han was always good and would never run around recklessly.


    How could he drown?


    Lin Qi looked at Momo with some suspicion, ¡°Momo, how did you know Han was here?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Intuition...¡± He could only say it was intuition.


    An intangible intuition, he couldn¡¯t explain it either.


    Huo Tingdong had no time to care about how Han had ended up here, and soon, the school doctor took over the rescue. Ms. Mia, seeing the situation was worse than she had imagined, hurriedly called an ambulance.


    The ambulance arrived within five minutes, and to everyone¡¯s relief, Han had already resumed breathing but was still unconscious.


    The medical team lifted him onto the ambulance, Huo Tingdong got in, Lin Qi held Momo and also wanted to get in.


    The doctor said anxiously, ¡°There¡¯s no room!¡±


    Huo Tingdong took Momo and told Lin Qi, ¡°You go home and wait for me.¡±


    As he spoke, the ambulance door closed, and the vehicle sped away with its siren blaring.


    How could Lin Qi go home and wait at ease? Assisted by Ms. Mia, she got into the car and directed the driver straight to the hospital.


    ...


    Hospital.


    Outside the emergency room.


    When Lin Qi arrived, she found out that Han had finally escaped life-threatening danger and had awakened.


    Momo, locked in the janitor¡¯s closet, was in his dirty school uniform. He had been trying to break the door open, his joints bruising blue. The doctor had given him a simple treatment, and there were no other problems.


    At that time, Momo had a vague bad feeling, suspecting something had happened to Han, but he hadn¡¯t expected...


    Han had nearly died!


    It was impossible for Han to inexplicably go to the swimming pool on his own and jump into it.


    However, no one could explain how he ended up there and had a drowning accident.


    Ms. Mia had already contacted the school to access the surveillance footage of the time of the incident and would notify them immediately once there was any news.


    Windsor High School was more afraid than anyone else of anything happening to Han.


    After all, they were very aware that Han was the precious young master of the Huo Family, the apple of their eye. If he had encountered any mishap, the cost was something no one could afford.


    When Huo Tingdong saw that Han had woken up, his heart was filled with relief, especially when the doctor said, ¡°It was fortunate that the rescue was timely, otherwise... it would have been in vain to bring him to the hospital!¡±


    By the time he arrived, Momo had already drained the water from Han¡¯s abdominal cavity and was performing CPR. If not for Momo, Han¡¯s chances would have been slim.


    Huo Tingdong stepped out of the emergency room and saw Momo bandaged in several places, with Lin Qi sitting beside him, also soaking wet. He said to Momo, ¡°Thank you for today.¡±


    Momo asked, ¡°Is Han awake?¡±


    ¡°He is, but his consciousness is weak.¡±


    Momo¡¯s anxiety finally settled down, and he said, ¡°No need to thank me, Mommy saved Han.¡±


    Huo Tingdong turned to look at Lin Qi.


    Her foot was sprained and somewhat swollen.


    He squatted down, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, which was already wet, wrung it out, and gently covered her swollen ankle, his hand lightly massaging it.


    ¡°Hiss.¡±


    Lin Qi winced in pain, attempting to retract her leg.


    ¡°Don¡¯t move,¡± Huo Tingdong warned.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Muscle and bone injuries take a hundred days to heal; is this massage of yours any use?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand increased the pressure a bit.


    Lin Qi almost screamed in pain.


    Momo became anxious and said pitifully, ¡°Can you be a bit gentler?¡±

 Chapter 57: 57: The Confusing Drowning Incident

    Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Confusing Drowning Incident


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Just bear with it a bit.¡±


    In his youth, he had served in the special forces for a while, where bruises and injuries were inevitable. The army doctor had taught him a technique to promote blood circulation and disperse blood stasis which had long been lost, but was very effective.


    Lin Qi cried out in pain, biting her lips, enduring for a while. As Huo Tingdong¡¯s technique gradually became gentler, the swollen area miraculously reduced.


    Lin Qi asked in surprise, ¡°Is your technique really that effective?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Is it better now?¡±


    ¡°Umm...¡±


    ...


    Nearby, a few passing women couldn¡¯t help but say enviously, ¡°Look at that couple, they have such a great relationship. The husband is even massaging his wife¡¯s feet!¡±


    ¡°That husband is so handsome! Tall and dignified, and also so considerate and gentle...¡±


    Lin Qi raised her head and looked at Huo Tingdong.


    He was looking down, still gently massaging around her joints, but as her gaze moved to his thin lips, her face stiffened for a moment and she quickly looked away, her cheeks involuntarily reddening.


    Huo Tingdong released his hand, ¡°Alright, go back and apply heat on it, rest for a couple of days and it should be fine.¡±


    ¡°Umm...¡±


    The doctor came out and said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°The young master has woken up, we¡¯ll transfer him to a ward shortly and observe him overnight. If there¡¯s nothing serious, he can be discharged tomorrow.¡±


    Huo Tingdong nodded.


    Mo Ke arrived quickly; Han had already been transferred to a ward. Standing at the doorway, Mo Ke expressed his concern, ¡°How is the young master doing?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious.¡±


    Mo Ke asked, ¡°Should we notify the Old Madam?¡±


    Huo Tingdong responded, ¡°Let¡¯s not disturb her unnecessarily and make her worry. Just say that Han stayed out too late after school today and won¡¯t be coming home.¡±


    ¡°Understood,¡± Mo Ke nodded, ¡°I¡¯ll report back to the Old Madam.¡±


    Huo Tingdong suddenly stopped him, ¡°Also, investigate the incident with Han properly to find out exactly what happened.¡±


    Han wouldn¡¯t have gone to the school¡¯s swimming pool for no reason, nor would he have accidentally fallen into the water and drowned.


    Huo Tingdong was determined to clarify the sequence of events leading to the incident.


    Mo Ke replied, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the school to check the surveillance right away.¡±


    ¡°Umm.¡±


    Following Huo Tingdong¡¯s order, Mo Ke immediately went to the school to investigate.


    During the night.


    Lin Qi and Momo stayed in the hospital to watch over Han. Huo Tingdong originally intended to send them home, but Lin Qi was too anxious to leave.


    In the ward, Han drifted back to sleep in a daze. At 7:30, he woke up again, mumbling unclearly for ¡°Aunt Qiqi.¡±


    Lin Qi immediately went to the bedside, gently holding his hand, ¡°Han, Auntie is here, I¡¯m here with you, I¡¯m not going anywhere.¡±


    With sleepy eyes, Han looked at Lin Qi, hooking his small hand around hers, reluctant to let go.


    Lin Qi tightly grasped his hand back, and Han then comfortably fell asleep again.


    Huo Tingdong had some things he wanted to ask Lin Qi, but as Han was holding Lin Qi¡¯s hand without letting go, he did not want to disturb Han, so he held back his questions.


    Once Han¡¯s condition stabilized, he then turned his attention to Momo.


    In the ward, Momo had been quietly staying in the corner, still in his dirty clothes, which he hadn¡¯t had time to change, and there were some bruises on his body.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What happened to you?¡±


    Momo frowned and simply said, ¡°Bumped into something.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°How did you end up bumping into something like that?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I was locked in the storeroom by a classmate, and I wanted to break the door to get out.¡± He looked toward Huo Tingdong and said, ¡°I was worried something might happen to Han.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Who found Han at the swimming pool?¡±


    This question, he couldn¡¯t comprehend, and it was also something he had always wanted to ask Lin Qi about.


    Ms. Mia said that for safety reasons, the door to the swimming pool was locked from the outside, and without a key, it was impossible to open it. If Lin Qi had not forcibly broken in, entry would have been impossible.


    The entire swimming pool seemed to have formed a sealed space.


    How Han got in there and how he nearly drowned in the pool was unknown.


    A flicker of hesitation crossed Momo¡¯s eyes.


    He was unsure whether to explain to Huo Tingdong, fearing he might not believe him.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Momo, tell me, how did you know something happened to Han in the swimming pool?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Intuition.¡±


    Huo Tingdong felt somewhat astonished by this answer, ¡°Intuition?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Specifically, I can¡¯t describe it to you, it¡¯s just an intuition, a feeling that he might be there and in trouble. That¡¯s why I rushed over with Mommy.¡±


    Such mysterious matters were indeed like fairy tales, baffling to comprehend.


    Huo Tingdong felt that merely ¡°intuition¡± was hardly an explanation.


    Momo said, ¡°Whether you believe it or not, that was my intuition.¡± He still hadn¡¯t fully recovered from the shock, thinking that if he hadn¡¯t trusted his intuition, perhaps... Han couldn¡¯t have been rescued.


    He followed his intuition, and unexpectedly, Han really did have an accident.


    At that moment, Momo¡¯s brain had totally shut down, not until afterward did he realize and broke out in cold sweat.


    Huo Tingdong murmured, ¡°This is simply unbelievable.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I don¡¯t know who took Han there, maybe when Han wakes up, we can find out.¡±


    Huo Tingdong uttered a sound of agreement, looked at Momo, and said, ¡°Momo, thank you.¡±


    Momo¡¯s face flushed slightly, ¡°No need to thank me.¡± He didn¡¯t want anything bad to happen to Han; at that moment, he hadn¡¯t thought much. If Lin Qi hadn¡¯t jumped into the water first, he would have also dived in without hesitation to save Han.


    Even though he was not good at swimming.


    Perhaps, it was all driven by instinct.


    Actually, Momo had a suspect in mind.


    Fang Heng, Mrs. Fang¡¯s son. Momo suspected that after he punched Fang Heng during a self-study class, the guy held a grudge, might have tricked Han to the swimming pool and pushed him into the water.


    But Fang Heng was only seven years old, how could a child so young dare to do such a heinous act?


    This was a matter of life and death.


    Moreover, he had no evidence.


    Momo was waiting for Han to wake up.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you home for a bath.¡±


    Momo looked at his dirty clothes and then at Han, who was lying on the bed.


    Lin Qi was lying by the bedside, guarding Han, perhaps exhausted and had fallen asleep.


    Huo Tingdong and the nurse took a thin blanket, covered Lin Qi with it, instructed the nurse to take good care of Lin Qi and Han, then took Momo home for a bath.


    After Momo had his bath, it was already 2 am.


    The little guy was so sleepy he could hardly stand straight, but he insisted on going to the hospital.


    Huo Tingdong had no choice but to carry him to the car. Just after fastening Momo¡¯s seatbelt, he suddenly received a call from Lin Qi.


    ¡°Huo Tingdong, Han has woken up...¡± Lin Qi¡¯s voice came through, slightly tired and hoarse, ¡°The doctor has examined Han and said there¡¯s nothing seriously wrong now.¡±

 Chapter 58: 58 Investigation Yielded Nothing

    Chapter 58: Chapter 58 Investigation Yielded Nothing


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Wait for me, I¡¯ll be there soon.¡±


    Huo Tingdong drove to the hospital and returned to the ward with Momo. The doctor had just stepped out of the ward. As soon as he saw Huo Tingdong, he immediately reported the little guy¡¯s condition.


    Knowing that Han was alright and had fully regained consciousness, he immediately entered the ward, came to the bedside, and asked, ¡°Han, how are you feeling? Is there anything uncomfortable?¡±


    In the hospital bed, Han sat leaning against the headboard, his eyes blank and innocent, and he shook his head vaguely.


    He didn¡¯t have any discomfort anymore, just some minor coughing.


    Huo Tingdong sat down beside the bed and asked, ¡°Han, how did you end up in the water?¡±


    ...


    Han widened his eyes, blinking in some surprise.


    It seemed like he couldn¡¯t remember anything, completely clueless.


    Huo Tingdong slightly frowned and asked, ¡°Han, do you remember what happened at school?¡±


    Han thought seriously for a moment, frowned slightly, but then shook his head.


    Huo Tingdong asked again, ¡°Do you remember the drowning incident?¡±


    Han shook his head.


    Huo Tingdong, persistent, asked, ¡°Do you remember anything from before you left school?¡±


    Han still shook his head.


    Huo Tingdong looked suspiciously at the doctor nearby.


    The doctor said, ¡°Maybe it¡¯s post-traumatic stress disorder, temporary amnesia, but he should recover after some time.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Did he have any head injuries?¡±


    The doctor responded, ¡°Mr. Huo, rest assured, we have done a comprehensive and meticulous examination for the young master, there¡¯s nothing serious anymore, he can be discharged at any time.¡±


    Han stared blankly at Huo Tingdong; clearly, he remembered nothing at all, not even how he ended up in the hospital, his gaze seemed to silently ask: Why is he here? Was he sick?


    ¡°Go home...¡± Han gently tugged at Huo Tingdong¡¯s sleeve.


    He didn¡¯t like the hospital; he wanted to go home.


    Seeing that he really couldn¡¯t remember, Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t press further and decided to take the kid home first, and wait for Mo Ke¡¯s investigation results.


    Huo Tingdong stood up and said to the doctor, ¡°Please process the discharge procedures, we¡¯ll leave tonight.¡±


    The doctor hesitated for a moment, then nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll handle it right away.¡±


    ...


    Meanwhile.


    Windsor High School surveillance room.


    The lights were on all night.


    Mo Ke, with eyes red and strained, was retrieving the surveillance footage from around Windsor High School frame by frame.


    Windsor High School had comprehensive surveillance, but there were still some blind spots missing some footage.


    However, those missing parts were crucial.


    The surveillance showed that at the time of dismissal, Han was packing his bag in the classroom; a Nanny came in once, sorted his bag, and then took his hand to leave.


    But he insisted on staying, seemingly waiting for someone, probably waiting for Momo.


    Then suddenly, he heard something, ran out of the classroom, and towards the end of the corridor.


    The footage from a camera facing the corridor showed that a few minutes later, Han hurriedly ran in one direction and then completely disappeared from the surveillance area.


    Switching to the swimming pool¡¯s surveillance, until the incident, no one had entered or left through the main door of the surveillance room.


    But Mo Ke knew that the swimming pool had another entrance, not just the main door, and it was generally only open to the cleaning staff and hardly known by students.


    This was strange.


    Exactly how Han got to the swimming pool and how he drowned ¡ª the truth was like a stone sinking into the sea.


    Mo Ke repeatedly inquired, ¡°Is all the video footage here?¡± He was concerned that Windsor High School, to absolve themselves of responsibility, might have edited the surveillance footage.


    The person in the control center assured, ¡°Everything is here.¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°Understood.¡±


    He stood up and returned a call to Huo Tingdong.


    ¡°Mr. Huo, I had Windsor High School¡¯s staff retrieve all surveillance footage around the time of the incident, and found nothing suspicious.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Did you find out how Han ended up at the swimming pool?¡±


    Mo Ke answered, ¡°No.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Understood.¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°Mr. Huo, I will continue to investigate this matter until the truth is unearthed.¡± Even if Han went to the swimming pool on his own, Mo Ke would find evidence to support it.


    Otherwise, considering the gravity of the incident that occurred at Windsor High School involving Han, whether it was an accident or deliberate, Windsor High School could not shirk responsibility.


    Ending the call, Huo Tingdong walked to the room door.


    Tonight, Han, Lin Qi, and Momo were sleeping together. Lin Qi took a bath and then put Han to bed, especially since he had drowned, and in the middle of the night, Han coughed severely, Lin Qi soothed his chest, somewhat worried Han might have a lung infection.


    But since the doctor said Han was alright, there should be no issue.


    To take care of Han, Lin Qi stayed up all night.


    However, she wasn¡¯t the only one who had a sleepless night.


    Mo Ke had just left the school when the surveillance room staff immediately made a call to the Fang Family.


    Mrs. Fang picked up the phone, nervously asking, ¡°How did it go? Is the Huo Family pursuing it?¡±


    The person from the surveillance room answered, ¡°Mr. Huo¡¯s assistant came to investigate, but fortunately, we had already trimmed the key video footage before they arrived, and they couldn¡¯t identify anything.¡±


    After the incident, given Han¡¯s particularly precious and special identity, Windsor High School began investigating immediately, retrieving surveillance records.


    But unexpectedly, the investigation revealed startling information.


    The surveillance showed, it was Fang Heng who led Han to the swimming pool.


    And Fang Heng was Mrs. Fang¡¯s beloved younger son.


    Although the two children didn¡¯t appear together in any single surveillance frame, if the frames were pieced together through the timeline, it could be seen that Fang Heng apparently said something to Han in the corridor that made Han nervously run towards Fang Heng¡¯s direction.


    Fang Heng ran ahead, and Han followed him, both children running one after the other toward the swimming pool, not seeming like they were playing or joking around.


    Fang Heng ran into a passage that the cleaning staff had forgotten to lock, and Han followed him in, running all the way into the swimming pool.


    The surveillance inside the swimming pool also had blind spots, thus it couldn¡¯t fully capture what happened inside.


    Later, only Fang Heng walked out of the swimming pool, and afterward, Han was discovered drowning in the pool; what exactly happened in between remains unknown, with no footage capturing the event, but...


    This incident must be related to Fang Heng.


    How could this be?!


    Upon hearing this firsthand information, Mrs. Fang, worried the Huo Family would trace it back to them, immediately urgently instructed her staff to edit the surveillance to cut out the crucial parts.


    If the Huo Family found out that Han¡¯s mishap was related to her son, implicating the entire Fang Family, it would be a disaster they couldn¡¯t escape.


    After handling it, Mrs. Fang returned home, trying to act as usual, but was restless.


    Fang Heng also seemed guilty, immediately going back to his study upon returning home and uncharacteristically began to seriously do his homework. Mrs. Fang repeatedly questioned what exactly happened in the swimming pool at the time, but Fang Heng stubbornly refused to speak.

 Chapter 59: 59 Crucial Evidence

    Chapter 59: Chapter 59 Crucial Evidence


    He won¡¯t say, and without the detailed incident, its truth remains unknown.


    Mrs. Fang doesn¡¯t believe her son did it intentionally, as he¡¯s only seven years old, not even eight yet.


    Perhaps, the two little kids were roughhousing in the swimming pool, and accidentally pushed Han down...


    Or maybe the children wanted to play in the water, and seeing Han stumble and fall into the pool, Fang Heng was so scared that he ran back, and nobody made a sound.


    In any case, she firmly believes her seven-year-old son wouldn¡¯t harbor evil intentions and commit such an atrocious act as purposely pushing someone into the water.


    Thus, Mrs. Fang naturally helped cover it up.


    ...


    Throughout the night, staying up till dawn, Mrs. Fang finally drifted off into a troubled sleep.


    ...


    The next day, Lin Qi felt out of sorts, but seeing that Han was stable and had a nanny looking after him, she went to work as usual.


    Being a newcomer at work, taking a leave after just a few days might endanger her job.


    When Huo Tingdong saw her leaving for work, he asked, ¡°You didn¡¯t rest well last night; do you still want to go to work today?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I have no choice, maybe this is what being a corporate slave is about.¡± She wanted to stay with Han, but when she got up, Han, in a hazy sleep, clutched her tightly, refusing to let go. She replaced herself with a large stuffed toy in his embrace. He mistook the toy for her, loosened his grip on her, and tightly hugged the toy, allowing her to ¡°escape.¡±


    ¡°When Han wakes up and misses me, he can call me,¡± Lin Qi informed the nanny.


    Seeing her heading out, Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you.¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll take the subway.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for yesterday,¡± Tingdong said, noticing her peculiar walking due to her ankle injury.


    Tingdong knew that Han¡¯s life was saved by her; what is his debt to her if not more than just a ¡®thank you¡¯?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°No need to thank me. If it were any child, I would have jumped into the water to save them, let alone Han.¡±


    After speaking, she said to Tingdong, ¡°I¡¯m running late today; could you drop Momo off?¡±


    ¡°Sure.¡±


    Lin Qi went to work.


    Momo went to school as usual.


    However, what he found odd was that Fang Heng was also absent from school, having taken leave to stay at home.


    Why did he take leave?


    Momo was suspicious.


    After all, Fang Heng had pushed him into a storeroom and locked him up before Han¡¯s incident. He naturally suspected Fang Heng¡¯s involvement in Han¡¯s case. Could it be that he felt guilty and dared not attend school?


    The classroom atmosphere was a bit strange.


    The news of Han¡¯s drowning had spread among the parents, and students in the class had come to know of the incident, becoming very cautious.


    The swimming pool was also locked, and all swimming classes were suspended.


    Nonetheless, with Fang Heng absent, no one bothered Momo.


    The day went smoothly, but naturally, Momo needed to find an opportunity to clear everything up.


    After lunch, students took naps in the classroom.


    However, Momo wasn¡¯t in the mood to sleep. Using the excuse of going to the restroom, he left the classroom.


    He didn¡¯t go to the restroom, but instead, he went to the school¡¯s computer lab.


    The door to the computer lab was locked, but a window was not. Climbing through it, Momo entered the lab, turned on the power, started the computer, connected to the internet, and expertly typed commands to hack into Windsor High School¡¯s surveillance system.


    Through accessing the surveillance system, Momo swiftly noticed several signs of erased footage.


    He realized with alarm that someone had deleted parts of the surveillance video.


    ¡°Just as I suspected,¡± Momo muttered to himself, then used his skills to restore the deleted footage.


    In any case, evidence is crucial.


    After restoration, he accessed several surveillance clips. After watching them, Momo realized the incident was indeed complex, and thus, he edited the footage into an email and sent it to Huo Tingdong¡¯s IP terminal.


    In the afternoon.


    Tingdong had just turned on his computer and saw an email from an unknown IP sending several GBs of video.


    Initially, he thought it was some kind of Trojan virus, as since being hacked by Momo several times, he felt all security systems were pointless before this genius little hacker.


    However, the title caught his attention.


    ¡ª¡±The Truth Behind Han¡¯s Drowning.¡±


    Tingdong immediately tensed up.


    He clicked to view the email.


    The videos were crucial.


    One clip showed Fang Heng running down the janitor¡¯s corridor into the swim hall, and twenty seconds later, Han also ran in.


    Another clip from inside the swimming pool showed an empty scene, but the screen was marked with a red circle. Tingdong noted, in a blind spot of surveillance, the half figure of Fang Heng was visible, evidently pushing something. Immediately after, there seemed to be a splash from a heavy object falling into the water. He retreated from the splash, watched the pool for a few seconds, then turned and ran out of the swim hall.


    But Han never appeared on the video again.


    The next three minutes showed Lin Qi and Momo arriving at the main entrance of the swimming hall. He saw her breaking through the door and rushing in.


    What followed was the chaotic scene where Han was found.


    Fang Heng...


    Tingdong remembered he was Mrs. Fang¡¯s youngest son.


    After Mrs. Fang married into the Fang Family, she bore them two daughters. Then, due to health reasons, she rested for ten years and, despite the hardships of advanced age pregnancy and two miscarriages, she managed to have this son while restricted to bed for pregnancy care. She finally had a middle-aged child.


    Therefore, the entire Fang Family practically revered him like a precious ancestor, spoiling him from a young age.


    Could it have been Fang Heng who pushed Han into the water?


    Why hadn¡¯t Mo Ke noticed this video?


    And who had sent this video?


    He had too many questions.


    As Tingdong finished watching the video, there was a knock on the study¡¯s door. The nanny announced, ¡°Mr. Huo, Han has woken up and is asking for Miss Lin.¡±


    Tingdong stood up and went into the room. Seeing Han awake, leaning against the headboard, his eyes reddened clearly from crying, he sat beside the bed, ¡°Han, why are you crying?¡±


    Han asked, ¡°Where is Aunt Qiqi?¡±


    Tingdong replied, ¡°Aunt Qiqi was with you all last night; do you remember?¡±


    Han nodded blankly.


    Tingdong continued, ¡°She went to work. When she finishes work, you¡¯ll see her, okay?¡±


    But Han seemed a bit down, perhaps because he woke up and didn¡¯t see Lin Qi, feeling a void in his heart.


    Tingdong said, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want Aunt Qiqi to join the garden party? I bought her a pretty dress; do you want to see it?¡±


    Han¡¯s eyes suddenly lit up.


    A pretty dress?


    He wanted to see Aunt Qiqi wearing a pretty dress!


    Han was already imagining how beautiful Lin Qi would look in the dress.

 Chapter 60: 60: Must Not Recklessly Accuse Others of Crimes

    Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Must Not Recklessly Accuse Others of Crimes


    Huo Tingdong saw the sparkle return to Han¡¯s eyes and seized the chance to coax him: ¡°You need to rest well and be good, then on Friday, go to the school with Aunt Qiqi.¡±


    Han nodded happily, then suddenly thought of something and asked, ¡°Daddy, will you and Aunt Qiqi...dance together?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Do you want to see Daddy and Aunt Qiqi dance?¡±


    Han nodded again.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Daddy promises you.¡±


    Han¡¯s mood immediately lifted, his small hand rubbed his eyes, wiping away the tear that lingered on his eyelid, his smile gradually coming to light.


    ...


    Huo Tingdong asked another question, ¡°Han, Daddy wants to ask you, do you really not remember how you fell into the water yesterday?¡±


    Han blinked blankly.


    Huo Tingdong continued to inquire, ¡°Do you really not remember, or are you afraid to say?¡± He was worried Han might have been bullied and felt too scared to speak up.


    Han lowered his head, thinking hard for a long time, but still shook his head.


    Huo Tingdong felt a wave of disappointment, ¡°You don¡¯t remember?¡±


    It seemed Han truly couldn¡¯t recall, thus he was unable to provide any answers.


    Huo Tingdong gave up.


    Maybe it was indeed acute stress disorder, Han must have received a shock, causing his thoughts to become muddled. When Han was rushed to the hospital, some medication was administered, which might have also had an effect.


    In front of Han, Huo Tingdong managed to control his emotions, but as soon as he stepped out of the room, the moment he recalled the images from the surveillance footage, the thought that Han might have been pushed by Fang Heng, a surge of extreme rage kindled within him!


    ...


    Windsor High School.


    Lion Class was dismissed.


    Momo stood at the school gate, where the driver sent by Huo Tingdong had been waiting for some time.


    As he approached the car about to get in, he casually asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Uncle Huo?¡±


    He had sent the video to Huo Tingdong; surely Huo Tingdong would follow the lead in the video and investigate the matter thoroughly.


    The driver said, ¡°Mr. Huo is in the principal¡¯s office for something important.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Momo tensed and immediately jumped out of the car, sprinting toward the principal¡¯s office.


    ¡°Mr. Mo...¡± The driver followed him for a few steps but couldn¡¯t catch up to the youngster at all.


    In the principal¡¯s office, a repressive atmosphere prevailed.


    The principal stood respectfully by the sofa, offering tea and water, coupled with flattering smiles, in short, being as obsequious as possible.


    Mo Ke stood aside, his brow slightly furrowed, and he said coldly, ¡°Principal Dong, where is Chairman Fang? Has he not arrived yet?¡±


    In the afternoon, when Huo Tingdong suddenly came, without any prior notice or notification, the principal was somewhat caught off guard. However, he was aware in advance of the drowning incident of the young Huo Family master at the swimming pool, and he was mentally prepared.


    He didn¡¯t understand the details of the incident or know about Mrs. Fang obtaining surveillance video records, only aware that the incident involving the young master occurred at Windsor High School, which must have enraged the Huo Family.


    Despite Windsor High School having the best crisis PR, this approach did not work against Huo Tingdong.


    Everyone knew that Han was the apple of Huo Tingdong¡¯s eye.


    Huo Tingdong donated a sum of money to Windsor High School and was also one of its board members, but it was not publicized on any documents. He did this merely for Han¡¯s sake, so that he could receive a good education and proper care at Windsor.


    Now, with Han having nearly drowned at school, it was a matter of life and death. The principal wiped the cold sweat from his brow and trembled with fear.


    ¡°I¡¯ve already called Chairman Fang, he should be on his way to the school now.¡± The principal said with a forced smile, ¡°Mr. Huo, do you want to see Chairman Fang to give any important instructions?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Is there any progress in the school¡¯s investigation into my son¡¯s sudden fall into the water?¡±


    The principal said, ¡°We are looking into it, looking into it...¡±


    Huo Tingdong was getting angry, ¡°I have already given Windsor enough time! Today, if nothing is found out, bear the consequences yourselves!¡±


    The principal¡¯s legs went weak with fear.


    It was understandable for Huo Tingdong to be so angry, but how could the true nature of the incident be clarified in one day?


    The principal said, ¡°This accident has had a major impact, and as Windsor High¡¯s Principal, I feel deeply uneasy and fully aware that Windsor cannot shirk the blame! But... fortunately, the young master was unharmed...¡±


    ¡°Unharmed?¡± Huo Tingdong narrowed his eyes, ¡°You think that because my son ¡®was unharmed,¡¯ I should not pursue this matter to the end?¡±


    The principal¡¯s eyes bulged, and he was at a loss for words.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Is this accident incidental or man-made? The school has not even made a specific investigation public and wants to conclude this as an accident. An accident? Who told you this was an accident!¡±


    The principal trembled all over and hurriedly explained, ¡°It must have been an accident! With the young master¡¯s noble status, who would dare harm him? In this school, from the head teachers to the class teachers, everyone takes meticulous care of the young master, daring not to be negligent in the slightest.¡±


    ¡°Daring not to be negligent?¡± Huo Tingdong scoffed, ¡°After such an incident, you have the nerve to say that to me.¡±


    The principal¡¯s body tingled under Huo Tingdong¡¯s piercing stare.


    Just then¡ª


    Footsteps were heard outside the door.


    Fang Zhixing hurried over, and upon seeing Huo Tingdong, his face immediately brightened with a smile: ¡°Mr. Huo! What brings you here? My absence from the school has been discourteous, and you didn¡¯t inform us in advance!¡±


    As he approached with a smile, it was met with a stern rebuttal from Huo Tingdong, ¡°Fang Zhixing, your son pushed my son into the water to drown. Don¡¯t you owe me a clear explanation?¡±


    The smile on Fang Zhixing¡¯s face froze in an instant.


    ¡°What?¡± He doubted his own ears, ¡°How could that be?¡± He was completely unaware of the incident.


    Mrs. Fang had not mentioned this incident to him, nor dared to.


    Although the news of Han¡¯s near-drowning was mentioned in the school directors¡¯ group, Fang Zhixing had not checked his board emails, for he had been indulging in pleasures these past few days, neglecting the events at the school, and had not expected that Han was pushed into the water by his own son!


    But how could he believe that his son could do such a thing?


    Fang Zhixing immediately said, ¡°Mr. Huo, such a serious accusation cannot be made without evidence!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Mo Ke, show him the evidence.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Mo Ke took out a tablet from his briefcase, pulled up several segments of restored surveillance footage, and placed the tablet in front of Principal Dong and Chairman Fang, ¡°Please watch carefully, Principal Dong and Chairman Fang, this is the evidence!¡±


    Huo Tingdong spoke with a sinister look in his eyes, ¡°After watching, give me a resolution.¡±


    Principal Dong and Chairman Fang watched the screen intently, especially when Fang Heng was seen running into the swimming pool with Han, which alarmed them greatly.


    ¡°This...¡± Fang Zhixing¡¯s footing became unsteady, ¡°My son and your son might have gone to the swimming pool to play, it doesn¡¯t necessarily mean it was anything more than an accident...¡±


    The chill in Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes was now piercing and cold, ¡°You¡¯re still emphasizing it was an accident? Are you trying to gloss it over with me?¡±


    Fang Zhixing flailed in panic, waving his hands, ¡°How would I dare to gloss over anything with Mr. Huo? If this isn¡¯t an accident then what is it? Are you implying that my son pushed your son into the water?¡±

 Chapter 61: 61: There is Another Huo Family Beyond the Heavens

    Chapter 61: Chapter 61: There is Another Huo Family Beyond the Heavens


    ¡°He was the one who pushed!¡±


    A nai?ve yet firm voice came from outside the door.


    Everyone looked towards the source of the voice.


    Momo stood at the door and coldly stated, ¡°It was Fang Heng who pushed Han! He did it on purpose!¡±


    Fang Zhixing loudly interrogated, ¡°Where did this child come from? Which class is he from?¡±


    The principal had a vivid impression of Momo and quickly whispered to Fang Zhixing, ¡°This is the child I mentioned to you before, a scholarship special admission, from a single-parent family, his parents divorced, and he lives with his mother...¡± In just a few words, the principal had clearly laid out Momo¡¯s family background.


    ...


    Fang Zhixing squinted his eyes, ¡°How does this kind of child qualify to enter Windsor High School?¡±


    The principal said, ¡°It¡¯s said to be Mr. Huo¡¯s idea, this child¡¯s mother, has a profound relationship with Mr. Huo...¡±


    Fang Zhixing immediately understood.


    This child was also connected through relationships.


    He restrained his attitude a bit, ¡°Young student, don¡¯t make reckless claims without evidence.¡±


    ¡°It was Fang Heng who pushed me into the storage room,¡± Momo paused and then added, ¡°He has always been bullying Han in class.¡±


    Fang Zhixing panicked, ¡°You must not talk nonsense!¡± he said while gauging Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression, ¡°How could my son dare to bully Young Master Han!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said to Momo, ¡°Momo, come here.¡±


    Momo walked towards Huo Tingdong, who then lifted Little Baby and sat him on his lap, asking softly, ¡°How are you so sure that it was Fang Heng who pushed?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°During the study class, Fang Heng bullied me and bullied Han. He said I don¡¯t have a father, called Han a dummy, I pushed him a little, therefore he bore a grudge.¡±


    Fang Zhixing nervously said, ¡°All of these are your speculations! It¡¯s a matter of life and death, my son is so young, he wouldn¡¯t even dare to step on an insect.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Yet, he and Han went to the swimming pool together, it¡¯s a fact. Han¡¯s drowning must be related to him. Fang Zhixing, I don¡¯t want to waste my time on you. Within today, properly find out from your son what he said and did, I must have an explanation! Otherwise, you immediately resign from the Windsor board of directors.¡±


    With that, he stood up and left with Momo.


    Mo Ke put the tablet into his briefcase, glanced at Fang Zhixing and the principal, and ominously said, ¡°Chairman Fang, you also know, Young Master Han is the apple of Mr. Huo¡¯s eye, this matter will definitely be investigated thoroughly.¡±


    Having said that, he strode away.


    Fang Zhixing¡¯s breathing hastened, just the thought of his son being involved in Han¡¯s drowning made his scalp tingle.


    ...


    On the return journey.


    Momo held his schoolbag, sitting quietly in his seat, staring straight ahead.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze, however, constantly lingered on him.


    Momo glanced at him and asked, ¡°Why are you staring at me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Was that section of surveillance video sent by you?¡±


    Momo was a bit surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡± He initially didn¡¯t want to say it.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Because you are capable of it.¡± He had sent Mo Ke to investigate the matter. Mo Ke said that he hadn¡¯t been shown those surveillance footage at the time, Huo Tingdong then guessed that those segments must have been erased by someone.


    He suspected Momo had hacked into Windsor¡¯s surveillance network, restored the footage, and sent the video to him.


    This matter was too peculiar, firstly, exactly how did Han drown?


    Secondly, how did Momo discover it so promptly?


    He said it was ¡°intuition,¡± which was the part Huo Tingdong understood the least.


    He didn¡¯t believe that a seven-year-old child could have such strong ¡°intuition!¡±


    Back home.


    Lin Qi hasn¡¯t finished work and come back yet.


    Huo Tingdong was about to call Lin Qi when he received a phone call from Mrs. Fang.


    ¡°Mr. Huo... It¡¯s Ji Ya,¡± Mrs. Fang said on the phone, in a sly yet polite tone. ¡°Where do you live, Mr. Huo? I will bring my son to your door to offer apologies.¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°There¡¯s no need to visit.¡±


    Mrs. Fang nervously said, ¡°Mr. Huo, it should never have happened, it was my fault for not disciplining my son properly! But things may not be as you imagine, we should at least hear what the child has to say, please give my son a chance to explain!¡±


    Huo Tingdong slightly furrowed his brows and said, ¡°I don¡¯t have much time, be brief.¡±


    ¡°Okay! Okay!¡±


    Soon, Fang Zhixing arrived with his wife and child.


    They entered.


    Fang Zhixing and Mrs. Fang stood at the entrance, their son hiding behind them, simply because Huo Tingdong¡¯s presence was overwhelmingly intense.


    As the saying goes, there¡¯s always someone better, and above those people, there¡¯s the Huo Family.


    In the face of absolute authority, even Mrs. Fang¡¯s previously arrogant demeanor had to humble, ¡°How is the young master doing?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°He has been discharged, resting at home.¡±


    Mrs. Fang tentatively asked, ¡°The young master is not in any serious danger, right?¡±


    Huo Tingdong responded, ¡°My son is not in life-threatening condition, are you disappointed?¡±


    Mrs. Fang, appearing frightened, quickly waved her hands, ¡°Mr. Huo, don¡¯t say such things! It¡¯s too much for me to accept! I questioned my son today.¡±


    Mrs. Fang stammered, recounting the causes and effects of the incident she was aware of.


    It truly was because of that incident during self-study that Fang Heng harbored resentment and thus locked Momo in the storage room. Han saw and tried to grab the keys from him. Fang Heng ran into the swimming pool with the keys clenched, and Han, in an attempt to retrieve the keys and rescue Momo, scuffled with him there. As a result, Han accidentally fell into the water.


    Terrified, Fang Heng ran back to the classroom and went home, not daring to mention the incident to anyone.


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°The child was too scared, terrified after the accident involving Young Master Han; he didn¡¯t speak because he was afraid. It took a whole day of questioning before I finally got the facts clear. Mr. Huo, children will inevitably fight and act without thinking due to their young age; it was an unintended mistake. Could you possibly not blow this out of proportion..¡±


    As she spoke, she quickly piled a stack of gifts on the floor.


    There were gold ingots and expensive supplements, items worth millions in total, heaped up in the entryway.


    Seeing the stern face of Huo Tingdong and his silence, she hastily pushed her son forward, ¡°Fang Heng, apologize quickly!¡±


    Fang Heng burst into loud sobbing, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu! I¡¯m sorry! I didn¡¯t mean to...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said to the nanny, ¡°Bring Han out.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The nanny brought Han out.


    Han rubbed his eyes and looked at Fang Heng, his eyebrows furrowed with slight anger.


    Mrs. Fang grew more nervous, her face turning pale with beads of cold sweat.


    Fang Heng also looked somewhat guilty.


    However, Han really had lost the memory of the incident and couldn¡¯t recall any reason, he turned around, hugged Huo Tingdong¡¯s neck, buried his little face in his shoulder, and rubbed his eyes, clearly just awakened.


    Fang Heng continued to cry and apologize, ¡°Wuu wuu wuu, I understand my mistake! I understand my mistake...¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°Mr. Huo, do we really have to kneel and kowtow for your forgiveness?¡± then she pushed Fang Heng a bit, ¡°Mr. Huo, I will make my son kowtow in apology right now.¡±


    Fang Heng ¡°plopped¡± onto the ground and started knocking his head on the floor while crying.

 Chapter 62: 62: Too Beautiful to Behold

    Chapter 62: Chapter 62: Too Beautiful to Behold


    Mrs. Fang¡¯s heart bled with pain, but she could clearly prioritize¡ªoffending Huo Tingdong meant the Fang Family would be ruined.


    Offending this man would definitely force Fang Zhixing to resign from the Windsor board; she couldn¡¯t bear such a heavy cost!


    She had never been willing to lay a hand on her son, but today, she forced him to kowtow and kneel, because Huo Tingdong surely wouldn¡¯t hold a grudge against a seven-year-old child.


    This was an obvious moral blackmail.


    Huo Tingdong was annoyed by the child¡¯s crying; it gave him a headache. He impatiently said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave this matter be for now. My son has lost part of his memory due to this incident. Once he regains it, I will ask for details.¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°My son would never lie! He might be a bit overbearing at times, but he would definitely not lie to me. This is just a little scuffle between kids...¡±


    ...


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You may leave!¡±


    Mrs. Fang cautiously asked, ¡°Then... has Mr. Huo forgiven my son?¡±


    Fang Heng was still crying loudly.


    Feeling his blood pressure rising, Huo Tingdong worried that Han would be disturbed, so he coldly commanded, ¡°Get out!¡±


    ¡°Alright, alright.¡±


    ¡°Take this trash with you too,¡± Huo Tingdong said, pointing to the supplements and gold bricks Mrs. Fang had brought.


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°These are just a small token of our apology.¡±


    ¡°Take it away; I don¡¯t want it,¡± Huo Tingdong mocked. ¡°Do you think I would need these?¡±


    Mrs. Fang dared not say another word, took the items, held her son¡¯s hand, and left with Fang Zhixing without looking back.


    The family of three hadn¡¯t gone far when Lin Qi came back.


    She was visibly tired, and after changing her shoes, she saw Huo Tingdong sitting on the couch with Han in his arms.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I thought I saw Mrs. Fang just now.¡± She thought she might have been mistaken.


    Momo came out of the study room, and said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°They are lying. It didn¡¯t happen the way Fang Heng said. Fang Heng pushed Han into the water on purpose.¡±


    He had overheard Mrs. Fang¡¯s defense in the living room and didn¡¯t believe a word of it.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°We¡¯ll talk about it when Han recovers his memory.¡±


    Upon seeing Lin Qi return, Han excitedly stretched out his arms for a hug.


    Lin Qi walked over to take Han from Huo Tingdong¡¯s arms. However, possibly due to a lack of sleep last night and not eating all day, she felt a little hypoglycemic, dizziness hit her, and she collapsed into Huo Tingdong¡¯s arms, halfway through taking Han.


    Huo Tingdong caught her steadily.


    Her body was soft and boneless. Even through her thin clothing, the warmth of her skin transmitted through his fingertips¡ªa soft touch that made his heart skip a beat.


    ¡°You...¡± Huo Tingdong awkwardly asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡± Momo rushed over anxiously, seeing her extremely pale face, ¡°Are you alright?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I probably didn¡¯t sleep well last night and didn¡¯t eat much today.¡± The handover work was too tedious; she had been busy all day.


    The nanny suggested, ¡°Give Miss Lin some sugar. She¡¯s having a hypoglycemic episode.¡±


    Han wriggled free of Lin Qi and scampered into the room.


    Lin Qi leaned weakly on Huo Tingdong¡¯s shoulder.


    At this point, she couldn¡¯t care less about proper distances; she truly had no strength to sit up.


    Her face rested against his neck.


    Huo Tingdong could even feel the soft touch of her breath on his neck, warm and ticklish, his gaze darkening by the moment.


    He found himself reluctant to let her go.


    Soon after, Han ran out of the room to her side, his hands wrapped around two soft candies.


    Huo Tingdong unwrapped the candy and fed the white sugar paste to her lips, ¡°Eat some sugar.¡± When hypoglycemic, replenishing sugar is the best way to regain strength.


    Lin Qi opened her mouth, took a piece of candy, closed her eyes, rested a moment, and only when both pieces of candy had melted in her mouth did the dizziness gradually fade.


    She propped herself up, slowly sat up, and somewhat awkwardly avoided Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand.


    Huo Tingdong slightly furrowed his brows, turned to the nanny and said, ¡°Is dinner ready?¡±


    ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯m bringing it out now, time for dinner.¡±


    The nanny immediately went to the kitchen to get busy.


    After dinner.


    Han unexpectedly ran into Huo Tingdong¡¯s room, and came out holding a gift box.


    He held the gift box up high for Lin Qi to see.


    Upon seeing the Givenchy packaging, Lin Qi was a bit surprised, ¡°What is this?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°A gown.¡±


    ¡°A gown?¡±


    ¡°Friday, Windsor Parent-Child Garden Party, there will be a dance banquet in the evening.¡± Huo Tingdong added, ¡°Han picked it, he wants to see you wear it.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han¡¯s ears twitched, and he gave Huo Tingdong a meaningful look.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Is this gown in my size?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°I provided the measurements, it should fit without issues.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face flushed, the heat spreading to the nape of her neck, ¡°How do you know my size?¡± Didn¡¯t this man rummage through her wardrobe?


    Momo also eyed Huo Tingdong warily.


    Huo Tingdong did not directly answer, simply saying: ¡°Try it on.¡± What she didn¡¯t know was that he had embraced her, held her, wasn¡¯t every inch of her body known to him by heart through his touches?


    Lin Qi, face still red, stood up and took the gown to the room.


    She took the dress out from the gift box, unfolded it, and saw the brand-new gown, which was custom-made and clearly expensive.


    Did Han really pick this out?


    Lin Qi was somewhat surprised.


    She changed into the dress and stood in front of the mirror to look. The ivory strapless evening gown, with a hip-hugging fishtail design that cinched at the waist, decorated with organza from the waist to the hem, exuded elegance and nobility to the fullest.


    However, Lin Qi turned around and noticed that the neckline of the gown was cut way too low and it even had a deep V with an open back design.


    She was somewhat bemused.


    Did Han really pick out this dress?


    It was too... revealing.


    Lin Qi pushed open the door, feeling a bit uneasy, one hand covering her back and the other guarding her chest.


    She walked to the living room, looked at Han and asked, ¡°Han, did you really pick this gown?¡±


    Han was suddenly stunned.


    Momo was clearly stunned as well.


    Both kids gaped at Lin Qi as if they had seen a ghost.


    Especially Han, after he came back to his senses, his face blushed, tugged gently at Huo Tingdong¡¯s sleeve, looked up, but saw the man¡¯s gaze fixed intensely on her. His adam¡¯s apple bobbing, he clearly hadn¡¯t drunk any alcohol, yet he felt his body heating up.


    He couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit wicked.


    He prided himself on having always been a man with good self-control, but now, as Lin Qi stood before him in a sexy gown, he almost lost his composure, and his breathing became somewhat disordered.


    ¡°Mommy...¡± Momo came back to his senses, his face flush with color, ¡°Mommy, can you not wear this gown?¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Does it not look good?¡±


    Momo shook his head, ¡°It looks good.¡±


    It was too good-looking indeed, too ravishing, making it hard for anyone to avert their eyes.


    If Mommy wore this gown to the banquet, would anyone still care to dance?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Han picked this out, we should ask if Han likes it.¡± She looked earnestly at Han and asked, ¡°Han, do you like auntie wearing this dress?¡±

 Chapter 63: 63 I Want to Develop a Relationship with Han

    Chapter 63: Chapter 63 I Want to Develop a Relationship with Han


    Han seemed somewhat transfixed.


    Momo couldn¡¯t help but tease him, ¡°You keep staring at my mommy, you little perv.¡±


    He meant it as a joke, however, Han took it seriously and quickly blushed, waving his hands, vehemently denying his identity as a ¡°little perv.¡±


    Lin Qi was amused by him!


    Momo asked, ¡°Mommy, are you going to the school fair on Friday?¡±


    ¡°Of course, Mommy took the day off today.¡± Lin Qi stroked Han¡¯s little head, ¡°Mommy promised Han, after all!¡±


    ...


    Both Han and Momo really wanted her to go, so to get time off, she arranged Friday¡¯s work for today, hence why she got off work particularly late.


    Momo crossed his arms and sulkily said, ¡°But, Mommy, you¡¯re going as my parental representative.¡±


    It seemed like he was getting a bit jealous of Han!


    She was going for Han¡¯s sake, what about him?


    Humph.


    Han raised his hand, looking as if he¡¯d be content just having the chance to see Aunt Qiqi.


    In the evening,


    Lin Qi tucked Momo and Han into bed, and just as Huo Tingdong was about to enter the study, he suddenly received a call from Song Shuyan.


    ¡°Tingdong, I heard that this Friday, there¡¯s a school anniversary and a parents¡¯ garden party at Han¡¯s school. I happen to be free, why don¡¯t I join you and Han?¡± Song Shuyan offered.


    Huo Tingdong was somewhat surprised, ¡°One parental representative is enough.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I know a dean¡¯s son who also attends Windsor High School, and she told me that usually for such an important event as a garden party, parental representatives from both sides attend.¡± She paused and then added, ¡°Han has grown up without a mother, so he must really wish for his mom and dad to accompany him to the garden party, right? I could be his mommy for a day, he¡¯d be happy about that!¡±


    Huo Tingdong was silent for a while, ¡°He...¡±


    ¡°Tingdong, can you give me a chance to bond with Han?¡± Song Shuyan earnestly said, ¡°I also want to develop a relationship with Han, but I¡¯ve never had the chance. With such an event coming up, please let me join you and Han.¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Understood, do I need to send a car to pick you up?¡±


    Song Shuyan responded, ¡°No need, I¡¯ll drive myself, we can meet at the school gates.¡±


    Huo Tingdong gave a noncommittal ¡°hm.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Huo Tingdong sat down at his desk, feeling an unusual sensation in his heart.


    He could feel that Song Shuyan really longed to be close to Han.


    She wanted Han to like her, and she tried to get as close as possible to Han, to win his affection.


    All of it was for him.


    Song Shuyan liked him.


    He liked Song Shuyan, too.


    Once upon a time.


    Once, he thought Song Shuyan was a beam of light that saved him.


    In his youth, due to the early death of his mother and his father remarrying, he was naturally introverted, silent, and thus, during his long childhood, he had home tutors. Song Shuhao, Shuyan¡¯s brother, was his reading companion.


    Until one day, Song Shuyan burst into his world.


    Shuhao and Shuyan were the only two people who could get close to him.


    The three of them grew up together, and he and Song Shuhao served in a special combat unit.


    However, during an outdoor training exercise, he was the target of an assassination by an unknown force, and Song Shuhao was shot in the back while covering for him, with a bullet piercing his lung, collapsing in Tingdong¡¯s arms.


    Struggling to breathe, each word was immensely difficult for Song Shuhao, but he gripped Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand and said only one sentence: ¡°Take good care of my sister...¡±


    Song Shuyan was the most important person to Song Shuhao.


    Huo Tingdong had always kept that promise in his heart.


    Song Shuyan liked him, so he forced himself to like Song Shuyan a bit more, and then a bit more still.


    So, ten years ago, in that car accident, he used his life to protect Song Shuyan.


    That was why Old Madam Huo came to hate Song Shuyan to the bone and, under the pretext of studying abroad, sent Song Shuyan out of the country.


    He originally thought Song Shuyan would be an important part of his future, until Han came along.


    Three years ago, Han was brought back to his side from the orphanage by Mo Ke, and his state of mind began to change gradually.


    He never thought he could love someone so much; he loved Han, loved him so much that he could stop disliking Lin Qi, knowing Han liked her.


    One night, he even crazily thought that if Han really liked Lin Qi, he could remarry Lin Qi, let her be Han¡¯s mommy, and grow up with Han.


    Thinking back on it later, he felt like he had gone mad.


    It was early on a Friday.


    Lin Qi had a good night¡¯s sleep and was full of energy, getting up early in the morning.


    After washing up and brushing her teeth, she changed into the Givenchy dress ¡°chosen¡± by Han.


    The nanny brought in the Himalaya diamond clasp handbag, ¡°Mr. Huo said, for the garden party you¡¯re attending today, use this bag; it matches the dress you¡¯re wearing.¡±


    Lin Qi examined the bag for a while, frowned slightly, wasn¡¯t this the bag that Huo Tingdong previously gave her as an apology?


    Momo giggled, ¡°The bag indeed matches the dress Mommy is wearing very well.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°But this bag is too expensive; taking it would make me feel obliged.¡±


    Momo covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°This was given by him, not asked for by Mommy. Not taking something given for free is foolish!¡±


    Lin Qi nodded seriously, ¡°That makes sense!¡±


    Lin Qi walked out holding Momo¡¯s hand, only to see Huo Tingdong and Han had also changed their clothes, especially Han, who had recovered for two days, looked spirited, wearing Windsor High School¡¯s blazer uniform, looking delicate and handsome.


    She couldn¡¯t help but go up to him and pinch Han¡¯s cheeks, ¡°Han is so cute!¡±


    Momo tiptoed and asked, ¡°And what about me, what about me?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re cute too, Momo!¡± Lin Qi bent down and ¡°smack¡± kissed Momo on the face.


    Seeing that, Han¡¯s eyes rounded slightly, and he eagerly walked towards Lin Qi, poking his own cheek with a small hand, looking expectantly at Lin Qi.


    ¡°Alright, Han wants a kiss too.¡± Lin Qi also gave Han a kiss.


    Then Han poked his right cheek, the little guy seemed to have OCD, demanding symmetry on both sides.


    Lin Qi, holding back laughter, gave him another kiss on his right cheek.


    Only then was Han content.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Momo raised his hand, apparently very happy to be going to the garden party with Mommy.


    The car arrived at Windsor High School and stopped at the school entrance.


    Just as Lin Qi got out of the car holding Momo, she saw a familiar figure¡ªSong Shuyan.


    She arrived early, waiting at the school gate, and upon recognizing Huo Tingdong¡¯s car, she walked towards Huo Tingdong.


    It was only when Song Shuyan came closer that she realized Lin Qi and Huo Tingdong got out of the same car, and she froze for a moment, especially seeing the dress Lin Qi was wearing and the Himalaya diamond clasp bag she was carrying.


    That was the bag Huo Tingdong had given her, right?


    A bag worth several million.


    Song Shuyan remembered that she liked that bag as well but had never mentioned it to Huo Tingdong; she thought Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t understand the kind of romance women wanted.


    It turned out he was not clueless.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s heart sunk with a fierce feeling of loss and bitterness.


    Lin Qi was also a bit startled, surprised by the appearance of Song Shuyan.


    However, Song Shuyan treated her like a stranger, as if Lin Qi was invisible, walked past her and Momo, and approached Huo Tingdong and Han, saying to Han, ¡°Han, would you like a hug from Auntie?¡±

 Chapter 64: 64: Show-off Mom Mania

    Chapter 64: Chapter 64: Show-off Mom Mania


    When Han saw Song Shuyan, his brows frowned, and he hugged Huo Tingdong¡¯s neck, not even sparing her a glance.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s smile froze on her face.


    She looked at Huo Tingdong and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go inside.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡± Huo Tingdong glanced at Lin Qi and entered the school with Han.


    Song Shuyan followed closely beside him, as if she, Huo Tingdong, and Han were a family of three.


    Han lay on Huo Tingdong¡¯s shoulder, staring eagerly at Lin Qi, appearing reluctant to part.


    ...


    Momo tugged Lin Qi¡¯s hand, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go inside too.¡±


    Lin Qi snapped back to reality and nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    The school fair was divided into morning and afternoon sessions. The morning session was a celebration ceremony with performances organized by students, followed by a tour of the school¡¯s teaching buildings led by class teachers where student art and artwork were exhibited.


    In the afternoon, unique competitions were held at the sports field, namely fencing and archery. After the competitions, a grand banquet was hosted in the auditorium.


    Auditorium.


    Lin Qi and Momo took their seats one after the other.


    Coincidentally,


    the seat next to Lin Qi was already occupied by Mrs. Fang and her family of three.


    Upon seeing Fang Heng, Momo¡¯s expression turned displeased.


    Initially, Mrs. Fang did not notice Momo, but when she saw Momo holding Lin Qi¡¯s hand, her eyes landed on Lin Qi and she was slightly startled.


    Is it her?


    Mrs. Fang had a profound impression of Lin Qi; this woman was her subordinate, and on the day she inspected the company, they unfortunately wore the same outfit.


    Her son was in the same class as her son?


    Mrs. Fang showed an incredulous expression.


    Accustomed to feeling superior and high above others, the dynamic between her and Lin Qi was that of a superior and a subordinate. Unexpectedly, today they were both here as parent representatives!


    What is the background of this woman?


    Mrs. Fang had inquired about this newcomer in the company¡ªa yearly salary of 500,000, could she afford to send her son to Windsor High School?


    Mrs. Fang looked behind Lin Qi¡ªno one else was accompanying her; where was her husband?


    ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Fang Zhixing noticed his wife¡¯s sidelong glances.


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°This woman is my subordinate, and I didn¡¯t expect her son to be in the same class as our son!¡±


    Fang Zhixing looked at Momo and recognized him immediately, ¡°Lin Jinmo, she is Lin Jinmo¡¯s mother.¡±


    Upon hearing that name, Mrs. Fang immediately remembered¡ªthe child who had hit her son in class that day.


    Well.


    Isn¡¯t this a case of enemies on a narrow road?


    The son of her subordinate, daring to bully her son?


    Isn¡¯t this insolence?


    Mrs. Fang discontentedly said to Fang Zhixing, ¡°Her son bullied our son, and you don¡¯t have any stance on this?¡±


    Fang Zhixing lowered his voice, ¡°Handling that incident with Mr. Huo¡¯s little son has already been headache enough these past few days. Do you think that matter is resolved? Huo Tingdong cherishes his foolish son so much, once his son randomly recalls that it was our son who pushed him into the water, the Fang Family can¡¯t just walk away from it, let me have some peace for a few days!¡±


    To make amends for his son, Fang Zhixing was already at his wits¡¯ end.


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°If such people can trample over me, won¡¯t they rebel in the future? Moreover, the Huo family¡¯s matter is their own issue, that¡¯s a different matter! Even if the sky falls, we cannot let that bastard bully my son!¡±


    Fang Zhixing said, ¡°Her son attends Windsor because of Huo Tingdong¡¯s influence. This woman has a deep relationship with Huo Tingdong, you better not mess with her.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Mrs. Fang was stunned and looked towards Lin Qi again but then narrowed her eyes, recognizing the Givenchy dress on her and... the Himalaya Bag she was carrying.


    Himalaya?


    Mrs. Fang glanced at her own Himalaya Bag, then back at the one in Lin Qi¡¯s hands, finally noticing the difference!


    The Himalaya Bag in Lin Qi¡¯s hands was made of superior white crocodile skin and used a diamond clasp.


    Mrs. Fang¡¯s facial muscles twitched fiercely, feeling utterly overshadowed and her previous arrogance rapidly deflating.


    The bag in Lin Qi¡¯s hands, obviously not a counterfeit. If that was genuine, then it was nicer and more expensive than hers.


    Mrs. Fang suddenly felt inferior, and she could not figure out Lin Qi¡¯s identity.


    Carrying such an expensive bag, she must either be rich or noble.


    But if truly rich or noble, why would this Lin Qi be working under her?


    After Lin Qi and Momo sat down, Lin Qi glanced at Mrs. Fang, pretending not to recognize her, assuming Mrs. Fang hadn¡¯t recognized her either.


    Little did she know, Mrs. Fang not only recognized her but also grew jealous.


    Onstage, three principals went up and began delivering a speech for the school celebration.


    Among the three principals, one was a blond, blue-eyed Frenchman, also the founder of Windsor High School, Guy de Maupassant.


    He delivered his speech in pure French: ¡°Honored guests, ladies and gentlemen, good morning! First, allow me to thank God for giving us life and health, and for allowing us to gather here today. I also invite you on behalf of Windsor High School to join us in celebrating the 60th anniversary of our school...¡±


    Fang Zhixing just couldn¡¯t focus on the speech; his eyes scanned the seated crowd until he turned pale and said, ¡°Mr. Huo is here too...¡±


    Mrs. Fang followed his gaze.


    There sat Huo Tingdong and Han in the second row.


    She nervously said, ¡°Is his son truly simple-minded or just pretending? What if he one day remembers that it was our son who pushed him...¡±


    Fang Zhixing glared at her and said, ¡°If we admit to that, it would be the end of the Fang Family.¡±


    Mrs. Fang nodded and anxiously warned Fang Heng repeatedly, ¡°You must never admit to pushing Young Master Han into the water, understand?¡±


    Fang Heng nodded nervously.


    He was frightened too, especially after Mrs. Fang had repeatedly stressed the severity of the situation.


    After the ceremony ended.


    Parents began to exit and headed towards the classrooms.


    ¡°Parents from the Lion Class, please gather here.¡± Ms. Mia raised the flag of the Lion Class.


    Lin Qi took Momo by the hand and walked over.


    In the crowd, Lin Qi, dressed in a stark white dress and eye-catching Hermes bag, attracted countless gazes.


    Some jealously commented, ¡°Is this her biological mother or stepmother? She doesn¡¯t look like she has had a child.¡±


    ¡°Dressed so provocatively sexy, she must be the stepmother, right?¡±


    ¡°Why not expose her breasts and buttocks as well?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s outfit was undoubtedly red-carpet worthy, even more dazzling than TV stars.


    However, being too dazzling, it hurt some people¡¯s eyes.


    Other parents were also in formal wear, but none dared to show off their figures too much, either having a muffin top or thick arms and legs, hence Lin Qi was too conspicuous in the crowd.


    Momo suddenly looked towards a chubby woman among the crowd who was saying snide remarks about Lin Qi and proudly said, ¡°My Mommy has a nice figure and is beautiful, only she can make this dress look good. Don¡¯t you think so aunty?¡±


    The little guy was showing off, his Mommy was the most beautiful woman in the world!

 Chapter 65: 65: The Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars

    Chapter 65: Chapter 65: The Twenty-Four Filial Exemplars


    The overweight woman had an expression as if she had swallowed a hundred flies. ¡°Going to the funfair, was there a need to dress up like this?¡±


    Momo replied righteously, ¡°Dress as beautifully as possible! Isn¡¯t it only natural for a woman to love beauty! Besides, this dress, ordinary people simply can¡¯t pull it off, only my Mommy with a supermodel-like figure can wear this dress and look so good!¡±


    The overweight woman was rendered speechless by Momo¡¯s retort.


    Her daughter stood to the side and pointed at Lin Qi, ¡°Momo, where¡¯s your dad? Do you not have a dad, just a mom?¡±


    Her remark stirred up waves in the crowd.


    A burst of discussion erupted among the people.


    ...


    ¡°I heard that this child is from a single-parent family, with average household conditions, and is a special enrollment student at Windsor High School.¡±


    ¡°The family is so poor, the Givenchy she¡¯s wearing and the Hermes she¡¯s carrying, could they be fakes just to save face?¡±


    ¡°Heh! No matter how good she dresses up, she¡¯s still a woman that no man wants. A woman that looks like this is only fit to be a lover, not a suitable wife to be brought home!¡±


    Song Shuyan stood aside, covered her mouth and snickered, waiting to see the mockery unfold.


    Huo Tingdong looked at Lin Qi, who was furrowing her brows, feeling somewhat targeted and hadn¡¯t said a word yet, only to hear Momo snort disdainfully and said aloud, ¡°My Mommy is so beautiful, there are men queueing from here to France who want to chase after my Mommy and be my stepdad. There aren¡¯t any men who don¡¯t want my Mommy, only men whom my Mommy doesn¡¯t look up to.¡±


    Saying that, he glanced at the overweight woman, ¡°Auntie, I¡¯m a boy, I understand better than you.¡±


    The overweight woman¡¯s face instantly turned an iron shade of blue.


    ¡°Ha ha ha ha!¡±


    Children¡¯s words bear no malice.


    Many parents present laughed, Momo¡¯s words smoothly defused the awkwardness.


    Lin Qi knew, Momo was backing her up.


    Momo never felt inferior because he didn¡¯t have a father, nor did he ever beg Lin Qi for a complete and sound family.


    He had nothing but unconditional, fervent love for Lin Qi and couldn¡¯t stand anyone speaking ill of her, whether to her face or behind her back!


    Lin Qi felt that having such a considerate and exemplary filial son was truly her good fortune.


    ¡°Miss Lin, having such a good son is indeed the fortune of your lifetime.¡±


    ¡°Yes! He¡¯s adorable and handsome, and he speaks cleverly too.¡±


    Many girls in the class clamored over one another, ¡°Momo is very smart, we all like Momo a lot!¡±


    ¡°When I grow up, I want to marry Momo!¡±


    ¡°No way! I like Momo too.¡±


    Lin Qi gently pinched Momo¡¯s little cheek, ¡°Momo, you¡¯re really a heartthrob, huh? You already have so many young girls jealous over you?¡±


    Momo replied elegantly, ¡°Mommy, you know nothing of my charm.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Then do you have a girl you like?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°No, with a mom as beautiful as you, what kind of girl could make my heart flutter?¡±


    Ms. Mia led the parents to visit the teaching building and art building, then joined the parents to attend an exhibition of students¡¯ paintings and art works.


    Parents of students from fifteen grades gathered together.


    The luxurious school building, the art building filled with a strong artistic atmosphere, seeing the meticulously painted artworks on display and the exquisite art pieces, Lin Qi deeply realized that in the circle of the wealthy, education is such a cutthroat matter.


    She had never had the chance to properly nurture Momo¡¯s talents, she suddenly felt somewhat guilty.


    Suddenly, Momo mysteriously said, ¡°Mommy, I have a painting that¡¯s on display too.¡±


    Lin Qi exclaimed in surprise, ¡°You can paint?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°But Mommy never enrolled you in painting classes.¡±


    Momo winked at her, ¡°Do you want to guess which painting is mine?¡±


    Each painting in the exhibition was framed in glass, and on each frame was marked which class and which student the exhibited artwork came from.


    As Lin Qi looked over each painting, she suddenly saw many parents gathered around one particular painting, buzzing with discussion.


    ¡°This painting is really beautiful! The colors and the overall picture have a Monet style.¡±


    ¡°It must be the work of a high-grade art student!¡±


    ¡°First grade, Lion Class!¡±


    ¡°Eh? A first-grade student¡¯s painting? How is it possible?¡±


    ¡°Who is it?¡±


    ¡°Who is it...¡±


    More and more parents gathered.


    Holding Han in his arms, Huo Tingdong approached the painting. His tall stature allowed him to have a clear view of the painting from behind the crowd.


    The painting depicted the white European-style teaching building of Windsor High School, the blue sky, the green grass, the clear lake water, the white clouds, the color choice carried a touch of impressionistic high-class style, and although the brushstrokes were still somewhat juvenile, the use of light and shadow was superb.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes went to the bottom right corner of the glass frame¡ªfirst grade, Lion Class, Lin Jinmo.


    Was this Momo¡¯s painting?


    Even Song Shuyan was a bit surprised.


    She truly did not expect this to be the work of a seven-year-old child.


    ¡°Lin Jinmo, this little friend is really talented!¡±


    ¡°This artwork is really shocking!¡±


    ¡°Being in the same class as such an outstanding young artist, I hope my daughter can also be influenced by this kind of artistic atmosphere.¡±


    Ms. Mia came over with a smile and said, ¡°Today, all the artworks on display will be auctioned. If any of you like a piece, you can purchase it. The auctioned amounts will be donated to the United Nations charity fund in the name of the student artists and might have a chance to be invited by the United Nations to become a UN student representative.¡±


    Parents exchanged glances, surprised.


    Being invited as a UN student representative was a great honor indeed!


    But how to price these artworks?


    All the parents present were well-known figures in high society, bidding too low would be embarrassing, but if the bid was too high, it would not be worthwhile.


    After all, the works on display were painted by students, not masterpieces with commercial value.


    ¡°One million.¡±


    Suddenly, a resolute voice came from the crowd.


    Everyone looked in shock toward the source.


    Huo Tingdong raised his hand, pointing at Momo¡¯s artwork, said, ¡°I want this painting.¡±


    Upon hearing such a high bid, everyone turned to look, some parents didn¡¯t recognize Huo Tingdong at all, only thinking this man was incredibly extravagant, speculating about his identity.


    Song Shuyan was also stunned.


    She looked at Huo Tingdong dubiously, ¡°Tingdong, is it worth bidding so high for a student¡¯s painting?¡± Many master-level artworks don¡¯t sell at that price.


    Huo Tingdong said decisively, ¡°It¡¯s worth it.¡±


    Song Shuyan didn¡¯t say anything more.


    Ms. Mia approached with some surprise, ¡°Mr. Huo, do you really want to buy this painting for one million? This painting is the work of Lion Class¡¯s Lin Jinmo.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I really like this painting.¡±

 Chapter 66: 66 Dragons Beget Dragons, Phoenixes Beget Phoenixes

    Chapter 66: Chapter 66 Dragons Beget Dragons, Phoenixes Beget Phoenixes


    Mia said with a smile, ¡°Congratulations to little Lin Jinmo from the Lion Class, his artwork has been auctioned for one million yuan, and this charity money will be donated to the United Nations Children¡¯s Charity Organization in the name of little Lin Jinmo!¡±


    Thunderous applause erupted.


    Mrs. Fang looked at her son¡¯s artwork, which was being shunned to one side, feeling quite indignant.


    She had always been strict with her son, demanding excellence not only in academic achievement but also in arts, sports, and music, nurturing him with all her heart. His art teacher said that her son had artistic talent, and his oil paintings could absolutely win first prize at an exhibition!


    Yet, her son¡¯s work received no attention, while Lin Jinmo¡¯s painting fetched one million yuan!


    Another reason Mrs. Fang couldn¡¯t accept this was that if she could get invited by the United Nations to be a Children¡¯s Charity Ambassador and give a speech at the United Nations, it would be a highlight of one¡¯s life achievements.


    ...


    Why is that?


    ¡°Mrs. Fang!¡± An assistant approached her and whispered, ¡°I¡¯ve looked into it, and this Lin Jinmo¡¯s family background is average. Rumor has it that Lin Jinmo¡¯s mother, Lin Qi, is the young lady of the Lin Family, but she has long severed ties with them. She divorced at the age of twenty-two and has been living alone with her child, currently employed by your company. As for her ex-husband, there¡¯s no trace of him, probably some insignificant figure.¡±


    He speculated, ¡°I guess she probably had an affair during marriage, got kicked out by her in-laws, and left with nothing.¡±


    ¡°It turns out he¡¯s just a little bastard.¡± Mrs. Fang asked again, ¡°What¡¯s her relationship with the Huo Family?¡±


    The assistant replied, ¡°As far as I know, there¡¯s no connection between her and the Huo Family.¡±


    Mrs. Fang didn¡¯t buy it, ¡°No connection, out of the blue, her son got admitted to Windsor by using Huo Tingdong¡¯s status?¡±


    The assistant said, ¡°Lin Jinmo is a scholarship special recruit at Windsor High School, admitted with full marks.¡±


    Mrs. Fang remarked, ¡°Windsor High School shouldn¡¯t allow scholarship special recruits, admitting commoners like this into Windsor, making it the bane of Windsor¡¯s existence!¡±


    She told Fang Heng, ¡°Fang Heng, listen well, you can lose to anyone, but if you lose to this kind of bastard, people will look down on you!¡±


    Fang Heng said confidently, ¡°I won¡¯t lose to him!¡±


    ...


    Lunchtime.


    The restaurant was packed.


    The luxuriously decorated restaurant provided a waiter for each table.


    Huo Tingdong and Han sat at their table, while Song Shuyan was browsing through the menu. To please Han, she ordered several of his favorite dishes.


    After ordering, Song Shuyan put down the menu and looked at Han with the gentlest tone, coaxing, ¡°Han, would you like Auntie to hold you for a bit? Daddy has been holding you all this time, his arms must be sore.¡±


    Han glanced at Huo Tingdong as if silently asking: Are Daddy¡¯s arms sore?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Daddy¡¯s arms aren¡¯t sore, but see, all the other kids are sitting in their seats by themselves.¡±


    Han looked around and suddenly brightened up, pointing in one direction.


    Huo Tingdong and Song Shuyan followed his gaze and saw Lin Qi holding Momo¡¯s hand, entering the dining hall.


    Upon seeing Lin Qi, Han¡¯s expression instantly became lively, and he waved to Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi immediately noticed Han and walked towards him, leading Momo.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s face stiffened.


    This little guy, he wouldn¡¯t insist on Lin Qi and her son joining their table, would he?


    She didn¡¯t want that!


    ¡°Han?¡± Lin Qi approached with Momo and said with a beaming smile, ¡°Has Han been a good boy?¡±


    Han nodded earnestly and tugged at Huo Tingdong¡¯s sleeve nervously, seemingly asking him to vouch for him.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han behaved very well this morning, very obedient.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han pursed his lips and looked at Lin Qi, waiting expectantly for her praise.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Han is really awesome!¡±


    After hearing this, Han blushed shyly and gently patted the seat next to him, inviting Lin Qi and Momo to sit beside him.


    The curvature of Lin Qi¡¯s lips froze slightly.


    She looked towards Song Shuyan, and it was clear to anyone with eyes that Song Shuyan¡¯s gaze and expression were full of rejection; she did not welcome Lin Qi and Momo sharing a table with them.


    Song Shuyan said to Han, ¡°This table is too small to fit so many people.¡±


    But Han wasn¡¯t listening to her at all; he stubbornly pushed the chair next to Lin Qi, pulling her hand to have her sit.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t dare to struggle too hard and was pulled by Han to the chair. Before she could sit down, Han suddenly thought of something else and pulled Lin Qi to the seat next to Huo Tingdong, urging her to sit.


    After sitting down helplessly, Han then took Momo¡¯s hand and sat him down next to Lin Qi.


    Song Shuyan frowned slightly, beginning to suspect that Han might be trying to play matchmaker for Lin Qi and Huo Tingdong.


    What is he trying to do?


    ¡°Tingdong,¡± Song Shuyan suddenly spoke to Huo Tingdong, ¡°I want to sit closer to Han, let¡¯s swap seats.¡±


    Huo Tingdong glanced at Lin Qi beside him, then abruptly stood up and switched seats with Song Shuyan.


    Han puffed his mouth angrily, clearly dissatisfied with Huo Tingdong¡¯s action.


    He didn¡¯t want to sit next to this woman at all!


    So, he patted Momo¡¯s behind, signaling to switch seats with Momo.


    And so¡ª


    Momo found himself awkwardly sandwiched between Song Shuyan and Lin Qi, while Han sat tightly next to Huo Tingdong.


    For a moment, the atmosphere became somewhat eerie and awkward, even at a standstill, with no one speaking.


    The waiter came over, preparing cutlery and hot towels for Lin Qi and Momo.


    Lin Qi wiped Momo¡¯s hands, and seeing this, Song Shuyan, not to be outdone, picked up the hot towel, intending to wipe Han¡¯s hands.


    But Han was one step ahead, taking the hot towel and cleaning his hands thoroughly by himself.


    Song Shuyan ground her teeth in hatred.


    She thought that this Huo Tinghan was not at all mentally challenged or slow; he was very smart and gave her no opportunity at all.


    He just didn¡¯t like her, so he was always causing problems between her and Huo Tingdong!


    No, she couldn¡¯t stoop to the level of this child.


    Song Shuyan adjusted her attitude and looked towards Lin Qi, surprisingly breaking the silence first: ¡°Lin Qi, can your son adapt to being at this school?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo is adapting very well.¡±


    Song Shuyan showed a look of surprise, ¡°This school has very strict rules, and the demands on children are high, even higher for parents, after all, those who study at Windsor are nobility offspring, average families¡¯ children simply can¡¯t afford it.¡±


    Lin Qi heard the sarcasm in her words, but dismissed it with a smile, ¡°Every father and mother wants their son to become a dragon, their daughter a phoenix. I hope that while Momo receives Windsor¡¯s good education, he can also have a happy childhood.¡±


    Song Shuyan said with a smile, ¡°Hoping sons become dragons and daughters become phoenixes is one thing, but there¡¯s also a saying that fits well, ¡®Dragons breed dragons and phoenixes give birth to phoenixes; a pheasant¡¯s offspring will never become a phoenix.¡¯ Only excellent parents can raise excellent children.¡±

 Chapter 67: 67 He Takes Care of Mommy for a Lifetime

    Chapter 67: Chapter 67 He Takes Care of Mommy for a Lifetime


    Lin Qi listened and knew that Song Shuyan was mocking her.


    Yet, she was not angry.


    She patted Momo¡¯s little head and said with a smile, ¡°Yes, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes; that¡¯s why our Momo is so outstanding!¡± She wasn¡¯t boasting about being an extraordinary phoenix herself, but since Momo was Huo Tingdong¡¯s son, and Huo Tingdong was so exceptional, how could his son be any lesser?


    Song Shuyan¡¯s face stiffened even more.


    She gritted her teeth, turned to look at Momo, and felt even more irritated, seeing him as a thorn in her side.


    Old Madam Huo favored boys over girls; even though Han was ¡°stupid,¡± like an idiot child, the Old Lady still loved him dearly, doting on him with all her heart.


    ...


    If she knew she had such an excellent and adorable great-grandson like Lin Jinmo, wouldn¡¯t she elevate Momo to the skies?


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Our Han is also very good. I¡¯ve watched him grow up since he was little; he¡¯s very well-behaved and sensible. Tingdong says that Han can¡¯t speak now just because he didn¡¯t have a mother when he was young and lacks a sense of security. After Tingdong and I get married, I will strive to be a good mother and give Han the warmth of maternal love. With that, Han will become even more outstanding.¡± As she praised Han, she couldn¡¯t wait to assert her position.


    Lin Qi¡¯s gaze paused, turning to look at Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong lowered his gaze and meticulously wiped the tableware with a towel, his face showing no emotion.


    He and Song Shuyan were going to get married?


    Why hadn¡¯t she ever heard him mention this?


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Didn¡¯t Tingdong tell you about this?¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    Song Shuyan nodded, ¡°That¡¯s to be expected. Your relationship with Tingdong isn¡¯t anything special; such matters need not be mentioned to you.¡± She suddenly raised her head, her voice gently saying, ¡°Miss Lin, you¡¯re a very kind person. Raising Momo alone must not have been easy. Haven¡¯t you considered remarrying?¡±


    Huo Tingdong heard this and looked towards Lin Qi with a complex expression.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I haven¡¯t considered it for now.¡±


    Song Shuyan asked, ¡°Why not? With your qualifications, finding a decent man shouldn¡¯t be difficult, right? I think, while considering the child is important, a woman should also think about her own happiness. You¡¯re almost thirty; it becomes harder for women to marry as they get older, not to mention, you¡¯re a divorcee with a child?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m very happy with Momo.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°You feel that way now, but what about later? The child will grow up. After growing up, you can¡¯t just spend your life with your son! In the future, you¡¯ll still need to find a man to spend the rest of your life with.¡± She thought for a moment, then asked, ¡°Do you need introductions? We know many single men of suitable age; some are in their thirties and haven¡¯t married yet!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Miss Song is too concerned; I¡¯ve already been married once. A marriage without a foundation of love is just loose sand, not at all stable.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Affection can be cultivated! Over time, you can develop feelings. Miss Lin, at your age, you surely don¡¯t believe in fairy tale-like love at first sight, do you?¡±


    Momo couldn¡¯t listen any longer.


    He always felt that Song Shuyan was targeting Mommy everywhere.


    He elegantly rested his chin on his hand and seriously retorted, ¡°Auntie, why aren¡¯t you married yet?¡±


    Song Shuyan was momentarily stunned, her hand underneath the table gradually clenching.


    Momo said, ¡°Auntie is older than my Mommy, right? You¡¯re not planning to be Han¡¯s stepmom, are you?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°You...¡±


    Momo looked at Han and asked, ¡°Han, do you like this auntie?¡±


    Han shook his head, his face clearly writing the words ¡°I don¡¯t like her.¡±


    Momo asked again, ¡°Then, do you want this auntie to be your stepmom?¡±


    Han shook his head again.


    Momo said, ¡°What a pity, Han doesn¡¯t like auntie; auntie can¡¯t be Han¡¯s stepmom then.¡±


    Song Shuyan clenched her teeth, ¡°You¡¯re worried about me; better worry about what to do if your mommy can¡¯t find anyone.¡± Her words were half-joking, half-serious, yet hurtful.


    Momo just smiled, a hint of indulgence in his eyes, ¡°There are so many people who want to be my stepdad; Mommy doesn¡¯t fancy any of them. Besides, if Mommy really has nobody, I¡¯ll take care of her for life.¡±


    Han raised his hand, ¡°I do.¡±


    Lin Qi felt a warmth in her heart.


    Miss Song¡¯s face twisted even more.


    She suddenly glanced at the juice in the center of the table, then at the snow-white dress on Lin Qi.


    She lifted her hand, intending to pretend to accidentally knock over the juice. However, a small hand reached out faster than hers toward the juice.


    ¡°Splash!¡±


    ¡°Oh no!¡±


    Miss Song stood up in a panic.


    It was Momo¡¯s small hand that ¡°accidentally¡± knocked the juice over onto her.


    ¡°My Chanel dress...!¡± In a fluster, Miss Song picked up a wet napkin from the table and desperately wiped the juice stains off her with a livid complexion.


    Everyone around turned to look.


    Embarrassment was plain on Miss Song¡¯s face as she glared furiously at Momo.


    With an innocent look, Momo¡¯s eyes widened, as he hid in Lin Qi¡¯s embrace, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to...¡± he muttered aggrievedly, his watery eyes full of guilt.


    Miss Song fumed secretly.


    Not intentional?


    She saw right through the little guy¡¯s deliberate act!


    Momo could clearly see Miss Song¡¯s sneaky attempt; she wanted to spill the juice on Mommy¡¯s dress so that Mommy couldn¡¯t attend the evening ball.


    How could he let such a malicious woman succeed?


    Huo Tingdong stood up, righted the overturned bottle of juice, and looked at the stained dress on Miss Song.


    Miss Song complained pitifully, ¡°Tingdong, I bought this dress especially to accompany Han to the garden party... What should I do now that it¡¯s dirty?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send you back.¡±


    Go back?! What about the evening ball?


    Miss Song was somewhat reluctant, but she hadn¡¯t brought a change of clothes, ¡°I rarely get a chance to spend the day with Han, I don¡¯t want to miss out... I want Han to like me a little more.¡± She looked at Momo and gritted her teeth, ¡°He didn¡¯t do it on purpose, did he?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s dirty already,¡± Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll compensate you with a new outfit.¡±


    Miss Song said, ¡°But I want to attend the evening ball...¡±


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t understand why she was so obsessed with the ball, but since she wanted to participate, naturally, he wouldn¡¯t force her to go home.


    ¡°I¡¯ll have someone buy you a new set, change, and then come back, okay?¡±


    The gentle tone eased the irritation in Miss Song¡¯s heart.


    She said, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Miss Song hurried away.


    Once she was gone, Han¡¯s face relaxed a bit.


    It was clear that he didn¡¯t like Miss Song, and her presence always made him feel restrained.


    Lin Qi asked Momo in a low voice, ¡°Did you do it on purpose?¡±


    Momo nodded.


    Lin Qi gently pinched his cheek, ¡°I knew it.¡±


    Momo whispered in her ear, ¡°Silly mommy, can¡¯t you see how much she dislikes you?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I know.¡± Miss Song loved Huo Tingdong so much, and she was Huo Tingdong¡¯s ex-wife.


    Naturally, Miss Song loathed seeing her, enemies meeting with particularly envious eyes.

 Chapter 68: 68: What Makes You Think You Can Beat Me?

    Chapter 68: Chapter 68: What Makes You Think You Can Beat Me?


    Afternoon.


    The sports field is packed with people.


    Windsor High School has a large sports field, even boasting an equestrian course and a golf course.


    The first year is holding an archery and fencing competition.


    Archery field.


    Momo has changed into professional protective gear, ready for action.


    ...


    Windsor High School offers a wide range of sports, not just basic ones, but also includes noble pursuits like fencing and horse riding, and archery is one of them.


    And this is Momo¡¯s strong suit.


    Momo really likes archery, so Lin Qi enrolled him for archery lessons, which he attends twice a week. Momo practiced diligently on his own and achieved remarkable results.


    On the field, parents sit in the stands while the children participating in the competition enter the arena.


    Unexpectedly, Fang Heng is in the same arena.


    Momo is adjusting his bow when Fang Heng suddenly walks up to him, with a look of disdain, and mockingly says, ¡°You, a poor commoner, can do archery?¡±


    Momo looks up, returning a cold and mocking gaze, ¡°I can, got a problem with that?¡±


    Fang Heng retorts, ¡°Hmph! What will you do if you lose to me?¡±


    Momo shakes his head and clicks his tongue, ¡°Why would you harbor such unrealistic fantasies? Lose to you? How about going home, hugging a pillow, and dreaming? It would be faster that way.¡±


    ¡°You!¡± Fang Heng is instantly provoked, ¡°Don¡¯t act so arrogant with me! I will not lose to a commoner like you! My mother says, a kid from the slums like you being able to study at Windsor is charity from the school. Losing to you would be a disgrace to me!¡±


    Momo replies leisurely, ¡°Then make sure not to lose to me, or you might end up too upset to sleep at night.¡±


    Fang Heng¡¯s face turns green with anger.


    The referee walks over and tells Fang Heng, ¡°Little friend, please return to your place.¡±


    Fang Heng turns on his heel and walks away.


    Momo smirks, his tender lips slightly puckered, then looks off into the distance at the target seventy meters away, counting his arrows.


    The competition is divided into a first and a second half, with 12 arrows each round. Scores are based on the number of rings hit, and the one with the highest score becomes the champion. If the scores are tied, additional rounds will be arranged to determine the top three winners.


    Momo, wearing an arm guard and chest protector, is tall and slender, standing upright with poise.


    At the sound of the referee¡¯s signal.


    Momo elegantly draws his recurve bow, nocking the arrow, and shoots the first arrow.


    ¡°Whoosh!¡±


    A nine-ring shot right out.


    The crowd buzzes in amazement.


    Other young contestants look toward Momo¡¯s target, scoring nine rings on the first arrow¡ªan auspicious start!


    ¡°What a talented kid!¡±


    ¡°Nine rings on the first arrow!¡±


    ¡°Maybe it¡¯s just good luck!¡±


    To Momo, such a dazzling first shot was undoubtedly a grave mistake.


    Fang Heng looks at Momo¡¯s target with disdain.


    Just luck!


    He draws his bow and hits an eight-ring shot.


    ¡°Whoosh.¡±


    Momo shoots another steady arrow.


    ¡°Ten rings!¡±


    The first ten-ring score is born on the field.


    Huo Tingdong is somewhat surprised.


    This child has such a high talent in archery.


    Huo Tingdong is also skilled in archery, even having met the national team¡¯s standards once. However, Han did not inherit this talent and showed no interest in archery; thus, he did not sign up for the event.


    At merely seven years old, his performance is as stable as a professional¡¯s.


    This 10-point shot put a lot of psychological pressure on Fang Heng; his second arrow only scored 7 points.


    The two shots opened up a 4-point gap.


    If one falls too far behind in points, it becomes very difficult to catch up and win the later matches.


    The first half of the competition ended.


    Momo led the field by a wide margin with a score of 105 points, without any suspense.


    Fang Heng, with a score of 84 points, was left far behind by Momo.


    As soon as Fang Heng returned to the resting area, he was met with a torrent of scolding from Mrs. Fang.


    ¡°How could you lose to that little bastard! You have disappointed me so much!¡± Mrs. Fang¡¯s eyes reddened with anger, ¡°You¡¯ve always been the champion in archery, always the first place, how could you perform like this today?¡±


    Fang Heng¡¯s eyes turned red, and large tears rolled down as he clenched his teeth, ¡°I will not lose to him!¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°There¡¯s still the second half, if you lose to him, I¡¯ll disown you as my son!¡±


    Fang Heng hugged her in fear, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t be angry! I will definitely perform well and win the first place from him!¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°Make sure you do as you say, and never disappoint mom!¡±


    The second half began.


    Fang Heng returned to the field, and Momo was already checking his equipment; he glared at Momo fiercely.


    As if sensing his intense gaze, Momo turned his head, looked at him with a provocative slant, and casually gave a thumbs down over his chest.


    Momo showed no signs of fatigue or exertion, appearing relaxed; if he could maintain his stable performance from the first half, the championship was surely his.


    How could Fang Heng be content with this!


    The competition started.


    As the judge gave the signal, Momo once again shot three steady arrows, scoring 9, 10, and 10 points respectively.


    His near-perfect score made Fang Heng feel like he couldn¡¯t catch up.


    The score gap widened continuously.


    Momo¡¯s lead in points was so great that his victory seemed almost certain.


    The whole audience cheered for Momo.


    Fang Heng felt a surge of imbalance in his heart; those cheers should have been for him.


    Momo had stolen his limelight and the glory that should have been his!


    As his mindset became unbalanced, Fang Heng¡¯s performance became increasingly unstable, and on his last draw of the bow, realizing the situation was hopeless, he shot his arrow with a sense of resignation, which, to everyone¡¯s surprise, went straight towards the spectator stands!


    ¡°Ah!¡±


    Accompanied by a scream, the arrow seemed poised to hit a little girl in the crowd.


    Her mother, terrified, shielded her daughter, shivering.


    Just then, with a ¡°whoosh,¡± another arrow swiftly flew towards the stray arrow, knocking it down and firmly embedding it in the ground.


    Momo furrowed his brows slightly and put down his bow.


    He had noticed Fang Heng¡¯s misdirected arrow flying towards the spectators and had one last arrow in his hand; after intercepting Fang Heng¡¯s arrow, he casually put away his bow.


    After the initial shock passed, the crowd realized that the life-saving arrow was shot by Momo, erupting into cheers and applause.


    ¡°It¡¯s Lin Jinmo from the Lion Class!¡±


    ¡°He saved my daughter! If not for him, she might have been hurt by the arrow!¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s amazing! To knock down the stray arrow with such precision!¡±


    ¡°This sport is too dangerous! If that arrow had hit someone, the consequences would have been unimaginable!¡±


    The judge announced the scores.


    Momo won first place with a score of 204 points.


    Fang Heng, in a fit of rage, threw down his bow and strode toward Momo.


    Just as Momo was about to leave the field, he was suddenly grabbed by the collar by Fang Heng and shoved hard against the wall.


    Momo¡¯s back slammed against the wall, causing a sharp pain and sweating cold sweat.


    Fang Heng gripped his collar tightly, gritting his teeth, ¡°You little bastard, what right do you have to win against me? By what right!¡±

 Chapter 69: 69 Momos Elegant Counterattack

    Chapter 69: Chapter 69 Momo¡¯s Elegant Counterattack


    The referees and parents immediately rushed over.


    The audience erupted into a flurry of discussion: ¡°Whose child is so ill-mannered?¡±


    ¡°Can¡¯t accept loss? The competition is fair, should he bully the child who won?¡±


    ¡°That seems to be Mrs. Fang¡¯s youngest son, I heard he¡¯s always domineering in class.¡±


    ¡°Mrs. Fang¡¯s youngest son... The Fang Family is not easy to mess with.¡±


    Lin Qi immediately got up and ran towards Momo, ¡°Momo!¡±


    ...


    Fang Heng and Momo had been separated by the referee.


    Fang Heng was still furiously cursing in humiliation, ¡°You don¡¯t deserve to study at this school, you¡¯re poor, go back where poor people belong! My mommy says, no dad wanted you when you were born, you¡¯re a bastard! A bastard doesn¡¯t deserve to win a championship!¡±


    Fang Heng had always been hot-tempered and reckless with his words after losing the match.


    Since Mrs. Fang called Momo a bastard, Fang Heng naturally treated him as one, copying her words.


    Momo, supporting his shoulder, got up, looked up at Fang Heng with lips swollen from biting in pain, yet without a sound, coldly said, ¡°I¡¯m a bastard, what are you then? A loser?¡±


    Fang Heng glared furiously, ¡°Who did you call a loser?¡±


    ¡°I said you¡¯re a loser,¡± Momo said expressionlessly, ¡°Fang Heng, are you infuriated because you can¡¯t accept that I won against you?¡±


    ¡°Who did you call a loser?¡± Mrs. Fang rushed over, pointing at Momo¡¯s nose and cursing loudly, ¡°Who are you calling a loser?¡±


    She was about to slap Momo in the face, but a hand firmly blocked her.


    Mrs. Fang glanced over and saw Lin Qi holding back her hand, pushing her hand away, ¡°Don¡¯t touch my son!¡±


    She shielded Momo behind her, ¡°Your son loses and then attacks and bullies others, how do you teach your son?¡±


    Mrs. Fang angrily retorted, ¡°How I teach my son is none of your business! And how do you teach yours?¡±


    Lin Qi countered, ¡°My son is excellent, he is polite and has manners, he knows that winning a competition requires strength. This competition, he performed steadily, and everyone could see his performance. He won the championship based on ability!¡±


    Mrs. Fang was at a loss for words.


    ¡°What about your son!?¡± Lin Qi challenged. ¡°Your son loses a match and then pushes and hits people, calls my son a bastard, are we supposed to just accept bullying and not fight back or talk back?¡±


    She gently rubbed the spot where Momo was hurt, ¡°Momo, does it hurt?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m fine.¡±


    He looked at Fang Heng and coldly questioned, ¡°Fang Heng, I won, do you accept your defeat?¡±


    Fang Heng, neck thick with anger, replied, ¡°I don¡¯t accept it! If you are capable, dare you compete with me in fencing? If you lose to me, you¡¯re a dog, kneel on the ground and crawl like a dog, bark like a dog!¡±


    The audience went silent.


    Fang Heng was clearly humiliating and provoking.


    Fencing is a noble sport.


    Since entering the school, Momo had only attended three classes, just learning the rules of fencing, and yet Fang Heng issued a challenge, clearly bullying Momo for not having formal training.


    ¡°Fencing is the most important sport at Windsor High School, you don¡¯t know it, do you?¡± Fang Heng scornfully said, ¡°It makes sense, this is a noble sport, children from a poor background like you, can¡¯t understand it!¡±


    Han saw Momo being bullied, pulled on Huo Tingdong¡¯s sleeve.


    But Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t move.


    He saw a certain tenacity in Momo.


    Other children, if bullied and pushed around like this, would definitely cry out of grievance.


    But not Momo.


    He brushed it off with a light smile, elegantly and nonchalantly enduring the pain, looking up and said, ¡°Alright, I accept your challenge, but what if you lose to me?¡±


    Fang Heng said, ¡°How could I possibly lose to someone like you?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°If you lose to me, you also have to crawl like a dog, bark like a dog.¡±


    Mrs. Fang snapped, ¡°What gives you the right to make my son crawl like a dog?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°What gives your son the right to make me bark like a dog?¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°Because you and your Mommy are both worthless as pigs and dogs! You deserve to have no father.¡±


    Lin Qi was boiling with rage, barely able to contain herself, but Momo grabbed her hand.


    Momo looked at Mrs. Fang, slowly and deliberately said, ¡°Ma¡¯am, how noble are you? No wonder your son is so ill-mannered, instead of dividing everyone into social classes, you should take the time to discipline your own son. Even when walking a dog, you need to leash it, otherwise, if it bites someone when let loose, you are responsible.¡±


    Momo¡¯s elegant retort was truly applause-worthy.


    Despite being only seven, he faced Mrs. Fang¡¯s insults without using a single swear word, yet he satirized Mrs. Fang to the fullest.


    Mrs. Fang, clearly recognizing the mockery in Momo¡¯s words, said, ¡°Are you well-mannered? A seven-year-old child who can¡¯t even talk properly! Is this the kind of upbringing poor families provide?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°If your upbringing was good, you wouldn¡¯t have raised your son to be like a mad dog, randomly biting people.¡±


    ¡°You¡ª!¡± Mrs. Fang was rendered speechless.


    Han understood and covered his mouth, somewhat amazed.


    Momo had a sharp tongue, but seeing him retort was too satisfying.


    Fang Heng said, ¡°I¡¯ve said it, I won¡¯t lose to you! We¡¯ll see!¡±


    He walked away, holding Mrs. Fang¡¯s hand.


    Lin Qi hugged Momo sympathetically.


    Seeing her sympathetic eyes, Momo comforted her, ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    ¡°Momo, stop competing,¡± Lin Qi said. ¡°Mommy will take you to the infirmary to see where you are hurt.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Why stop?¡± He squinted his eyes, ¡°I want to compete, I want him to lose convincingly.¡±


    Lin Qi knew Momo had always been competitive.


    Although he seldom showed it, she knew Momo was infuriated by the phrase ¡°your dad doesn¡¯t want you.¡±


    In the infirmary.


    The doctor checked the wound.


    It wasn¡¯t serious, just some bruising.


    The doctor applied some ointment to Momo, and he then put on his clothes, ready to go to the changing room to change into his fencing gear.


    Lin Qi followed anxiously.


    Momo said, ¡°Mommy, I know you¡¯re worried about me, but today I have to prove something to everyone.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°What do you want to prove?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I¡¯ve grown up without a dad, but I am still excellent.¡± Saying this, he picked up his fencing gear without looking back and walked towards the changing room.


    Lin Qi was momentarily stunned.


    Perhaps, in a corner of Momo¡¯s heart unknown to others, he also carefully hides the sensitivity and fragility of a child from a single-parent family, as well as his pride and self-esteem.


    He was not willing to be looked down upon simply because he didn¡¯t have a father.


    Soon.


    Momo changed into his fencing outfit and appeared in the Sword Hall.


    Fang Heng, too, changed his clothes and declared to the referee, ¡°I want to compete against him!¡±


    He pointed to Momo, challenging him directly.


    The referee checked the competition roster and said, ¡°He didn¡¯t register for the fencing competition.¡±


    Fang Heng said, ¡°I want to compete against him, and if I lose, I¡¯ll quit the tournament!¡± Saying this, he put on the mask and stepped onto the field.

 Chapter 70: 70: Hes the one who pushed me into the water!

    Chapter 70: Chapter 70: He¡¯s the one who pushed me into the water!


    Fencing is a required course at Windsor High School, consisting of Heavy Sword, Saber, and Foil.


    This competition involves the Saber.


    Different from Heavy Sword and Foil, a point in Saber can be scored not only by thrusting but also by slashing, with any part of the sword. Striking the opponent¡¯s valid target area earns one point. The most points win.


    Momo had only attended two classes, but he took a keen interest in fencing, so he was very serious during those lessons.


    Fencing is known as the ballet of swordplay, an elegant sport that emphasizes skill and grace.


    Momo donned his mask, held the steel sword, and walked to the opposite side of Fang Heng, as the referee connected the mainline to his body.


    ...


    Momo gently stroked his steel sword, adopting his stance, raising the weapon in his hand.


    Before the start of the match, there is a ritual where both competitors gently clash swords as a sign of sportsmanship.


    However, Momo and Fang Heng made no such gesture. This match was not about friendship but about dignity.


    Fang Heng, arrogant and impatient with his sword, couldn¡¯t wait to settle the score.


    But Momo was devising a scoring strategy.


    In Saber, the valid scoring areas are the upper body, helmet, and arms; moreover, the Saber emphasizes the right of way, the first to strike scores. If the opponent attacks, they must parry the blow before landing a hit to score. If both attack and land a hit simultaneously, no points are awarded.


    He had to score; he was determined to win.


    Huo Tingdong, carrying Han in his arms, entered the arena; Han, seeing Momo in his fencing gear, widened her eyes in surprise, ¡°Momo looks so cool.¡±


    Just like Daddy.


    Daddy is also very skilled at fencing.


    Huo Tingdong looked at Momo, who, helmet on, focused intently ahead.


    The match began.


    Fang Heng predictably initiated the attack.


    Momo, having anticipated this, parried the attack and thrust at Fang Heng¡¯s helmet.


    Fang Heng swiftly retreated to dodge.


    But he had clearly underestimated Momo, not taking such an opponent seriously. Unexpectedly, Momo¡¯s blade was swift, following the parry with a quick strike.


    Fang Heng failed to dodge, getting hit on the shoulder.


    Momo scored 1 point.


    Mrs. Fang stood up nervously and excitedly.


    She couldn¡¯t believe it, Momo scored the first point!?


    He had only taken two classes; how could his reactions be so quick, as if he had expected Fang Heng to attack a particular area!


    Fang Heng, having lost a point, could not believe it and widened his eyes.


    Momo turned back to the starting line, faced him again, and adopted his stance, graceful and dashing.


    For a moment, Lin Qi seemed to see Huo Tingdong¡¯s bearing in Momo: noble and inviolable.


    ¡°Again!¡±


    Fang Heng returned to the starting line, waiting for the referee¡¯s command.


    At the command, he barely moved to strike when Momo attacked like lightning, ¡°crack,¡± striking his shoulder area, while Fang Heng, belatedly realizing, counterattacked at Momo¡¯s shoulder area, but already a moment too late.


    ¡°1 point.¡± Momo scored again.


    Fang Heng protested, ¡°He jumped the gun!¡±


    The referee recalibrated the timing, announcing, ¡°The point is valid!¡± Momo hadn¡¯t jumped the gun; he was just too fast and Fang Heng a beat slow.


    Momo taunted with a smile, ¡°I can already imagine you rolling on the ground like a little dog circling me.¡±


    Fang Heng was enraged further, leaping with anger, ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky! Just you wait, I won¡¯t let you score again.¡±


    ¡°Really?¡± Momo resumed his stance, ¡°Your strikes are too slow, are you really the Fencing Class¡¯s seed player? Hard to believe.¡±


    Fang Heng was about to lose his cool, suppressing his rage, clutching the steel sword tightly.


    Another command echoed.


    Fang Heng immediately struck at Momo, but Momo parried with a ¡°crack,¡± Fang Heng thrust again, maliciously aiming for Momo¡¯s neck.


    Danger!


    That was a forbidden area.


    Of all places, the neck was the most vulnerable to injury.


    Knowing it was against the rules, Fang Heng nevertheless aimed to injure Momo.


    Momo was caught off guard, stabbed in the neck, and stepped back, clutching it.


    Lin Qi stood up angrily and exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s against the rules!¡±


    She walked towards Momo but was blocked by the referee, ¡°No entering the field during a match.¡±


    Lin Qi pointed at Fang Heng and said, ¡°He is breaking the rules!¡±


    Yet the referee turned a blind eye.


    Mrs. Fang stood aside and let out a cold snort. Just now, she had exchanged a few words with the referee. After all, she¡¯s the wife of a Windsor High School director; shouldn¡¯t her status warrant some respect?


    Momo clutched his neck, feeling a bit of pain where he had been stabbed.


    But the referee didn¡¯t call a penalty?


    Just then¡ª


    From within the venue came the icy voice of Huo Tingdong, ¡°He broke the rules.¡±


    Mrs. Fang looked towards the voice, surprised to see Huo Tingdong was also present. She chuckled awkwardly, ¡°Mr. Huo, do you know anything about fencing? Is this what you call a violation?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°I started fencing at the age of five. Do you think you know the rules of fencing better than I do?¡± He directed at the referee, ¡°For this level of violation, penalize one point.¡±


    The referee unaware of his identity, responded rudely, ¡°Who are you and what is your surname?¡±


    Huo Tingdong curtly stated, ¡°My surname is ¡®Huo.''¡±


    The referee was stunned.


    ¡°My name is Huo Tingdong.¡± Huo Tingdong slightly narrowed his eyes. ¡°And then?¡±


    Huo Tingdong...


    Even the most uninformed person, who had never seen Huo Tingdong in person, would certainly have heard this thunderous name.


    The Huo Family of Beijing.


    A power that crushes everything beneath it.


    Mrs. Fang¡¯s influence could not be overlooked, but when compared to Huo Tingdong¡¯s status, even she paled in significance.


    The referee, not daring to offend Huo Tingdong and feeling somewhat guilty, lowered his head and adjusted the scoreboard, penalizing Fang Heng one point.


    0-3.


    Momo was leading by three points.


    Momo taunted, ¡°Fang Heng, you¡¯re not going to lose to me, are you? I haven¡¯t heard anyone imitate a dog¡¯s bark in my life!¡±


    Fang Heng completely lost control of his emotions and suddenly rushed forward, raising his sword and slashing towards Momo.


    ¡°Bang!¡±


    ¡°Bang! Bang!¡±


    He frenziedly stabbed at Momo with one sword after another.


    Where would Momo have anticipated such rule-ignoring assault? In this moment, the match had evidently turned into Fang Heng¡¯s unbridled retaliation!


    ¡°Die! Die! You¡¯re the mongrel! You bastard, how dare you make me imitate a dog¡¯s bark!¡±


    Momo kept blocking Fang Heng¡¯s incoming strikes, utterly without a moment¡¯s breath, being pushed back step by step, when suddenly¡ª


    His helmet was knocked to the ground by Fang Heng¡¯s strike.


    Lin Qi¡¯s heart immediately clenched in her throat.


    ¡°Danger!¡±


    Momo fell to the ground while dodging, instinctively guarding his head with his hands, and at that moment, a tall figure stood in front of him, catching the steel sword aimed at Momo¡¯s head with a steady grip.


    Surprised, Fang Heng looked up, only to see Huo Tingdong¡¯s towering figure standing in front of Momo, holding the steel sword, his cold gaze fixed on him.


    Fang Heng, frightened by Huo Tingdong¡¯s menacing eyes, let go of the sword and collapsed to the ground, shivering.


    Momo came to his senses, his breathing somewhat rapid. He looked up to see Huo Tingdong shielding him; at that moment, he felt enveloped by a warm sense of security.


    Han stared fixedly at Fang Heng, his headache splitting, as if memories were flooding back.


    He suddenly extended his hand, pointing at Fang Heng and said, ¡°It¡¯s... him...¡±


    In the silence of the venue, Han¡¯s abrupt accusation captured everyone¡¯s attention.


    Huo Tingdong looked towards Han.


    The scene of Fang Heng going red-eyed and hacking at Momo had triggered Han, suddenly bringing back the memory of that day in the swimming pool¡ªhow Fang Heng had pushed him into the water in the same manner!


    Han pointed at Fang Heng, his words resonating firmly, ¡°He¡¯s the one who... pushed me... into the water!¡±

 Chapter 71: 71: Dont Let Any Escape!

    Chapter 71: Chapter 71: Don¡¯t Let Any Escape!


    Momo, despite being injured, walked towards Han and grabbed his shoulders, saying, ¡°Han, do you remember now?¡±


    Han nodded his head.


    He remembered that afternoon, when he couldn¡¯t find Momo, he walked out of the classroom to see Fang Heng standing at the other end of the corridor, speaking with a tone of gloating and disdain, ¡°I pushed Lin Jinmo into the water. He¡¯s drowning. Do you want to see how he drowns?¡±


    Stricken with the cruel and naive tone, Han broke out in a cold sweat.


    Then, filled with fear and anxiety, he ran towards Fang Heng, yelling, ¡°Give Momo back to me!¡±


    Fang Heng taunted, ¡°Silly boy, come catch me!¡± After saying this, he ran off far ahead.


    ...


    Han desperately chased after him.


    The two of them ran into the swimming pool one after the other.


    Believing that Fang Heng had pushed Momo into the pool, Han leaned over the pool edge, searching for a long while. Meanwhile, Fang Heng stood by, clutching his stomach and laughing loudly, ¡°Fool, such a fool!¡±


    It was then that Han realized he had been deceived. Trembling with anger, he demanded to know where Momo was.


    But Fang Heng wouldn¡¯t say, instead he splashed water on him, mocking him.


    For the first time, Han cursed at someone: ¡°Bastard!¡±


    Fang Heng, not expecting him to swear, was provoked and furiously pushed him into the water, only then realizing that the place where he pushed Han was the deep section.


    He dared not jump in to rescue him or make a noise, fearing the blame if others discovered that he was the one who had pushed Han. So, he turned and fled.


    In that moment, a childish yet cruel thought nearly crossed his mind: as long as Han drowned, no one would find out it was he who pushed Han into the water!


    Han pointed at Fang Heng and said, ¡°He pushed me!¡± He seldom spoke, so his words were not very coherent.


    Mrs. Fang looked towards Huo Tingdong and, seeing the man¡¯s face visibly turn grim and icy, she hurriedly began to explain, ¡°Mr. Huo, Young Master Han is so young, and besides, he has an intellectual disability, his words can¡¯t be taken seriously!¡±


    Lin Qi coldly said, ¡°Are you suggesting that Han is mentally deficient?¡±


    Mrs. Fang retorted, ¡°Is there room for you to interfere here?¡±


    Huo Tingdong scoffed, ¡°I should believe my son¡¯s words. Am I supposed to believe your son¡¯s unilateral account?¡±


    After saying this, he turned his gaze to Fang Heng, ¡°Did you push Han into the water?¡±


    Fang Heng, intimidated by his gaze, was so frightened that he fell to the ground, shaking.


    Mrs. Fang immediately rushed up, protecting her son, ¡°Mr. Huo, are you trying to coerce a confession? You are scaring him by questioning him like this! He will surely speak out of fear!¡±


    Huo Tingdong grabbed her by the arm, coldly saying, ¡°He knows fear? What about you? Do you know fear? Do you know Han is my life? Do you dare to harm my life? Do you think I wouldn¡¯t dare to touch the Fang Family?¡±


    Mrs. Fang turned deathly pale, ¡°Mr. Huo, please let me explain...¡±


    Han walked over, pointing at Fang Heng, ¡°He is the one who pushed.¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°You¡¯re lying. My son would never push you.¡±


    ¡°Han would not lie,¡± Han said earnestly, ¡°It was him.¡±


    Lin Qi declared, ¡°This is attempted murder....¡± If kids push each other and it accidentally leads to falling into water, that¡¯s one thing, but Fang Heng¡¯s case is different. He did it intentionally, intending to kill Han.


    So young, yet so malicious.


    Momo looked at Fang Heng, who was cowering behind Mrs. Fang, trembling, and thought back to when Fang Heng had raised a steel sword toward him. If it weren¡¯t for Huo Tingdong intervening in time to protect him, he might have been struck on the head and bleeding profusely.


    It hadn¡¯t dawned on him until this moment.


    He suddenly felt a sting on his neck and gently wiped it with his hand, finding a trace of blood on his palm.


    Seeing the blood, Lin Qi was terrified, ¡°Momo, are you alright?¡±


    She pulled open Momo¡¯s collar to check, fortunately, Momo had dodged in time, and it was just a scratch, not a deep wound.


    Momo reassured, ¡°Mommy, don¡¯t worry, this injury won¡¯t leave a scar.¡±


    Lin Qi laughed in relief, ¡°Who cares about scars? Mommy is worried about whether it hurts.¡±


    ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt,¡± Momo smiled, ¡°Mommy, I won.¡±


    Lin Qi embraced him with heartfelt concern.


    In the Sword Hall, suddenly resounded Huo Tingdong¡¯s deep voice, yet filled with an air of suppressed rage: ¡°The Huo Family won¡¯t let this go easily!¡±


    He picked up Han and walked over to Lin Qi, noticing the blood on Momo¡¯s neck, his expression darkened again, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    ...


    Song Shuyan changed into a Chanel gown and when she rushed to Windsor High School, the school celebration had already ended prematurely.


    The entrance was packed with luxury cars.


    Parents were leaving with their children one after another.


    Trying to reach Huo Tingdong, Song Shuyan found her calls unanswered.


    What happened?


    She randomly stopped a parent and asked, ¡°Is the garden party over?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°What happened?¡± Song Shuyan asked worriedly, ¡°Isn¡¯t there a banquet tonight?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that a major incident occurred, the Fang Family is done for this time!¡±


    Another parent passing by also paused to add, mockingly, ¡°The Fang Family has always acted superior and arrogant among the elite, but now that they have provoked the Huo Family, the Huo Family will not let them off easily!¡±


    Song Shuyan furrowed her eyebrows, ¡°How did the Fang Family provoke the Huo Family?¡±


    ¡°Some time ago, the young master of the Huo Family nearly drowned in the swimming pool, it wasn¡¯t an accident, he was pushed into the water by Mrs. Fang¡¯s son!¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that attempted murder?¡±


    ¡°Who doesn¡¯t know, Young Master Han is Mr. Huo¡¯s darling?¡±


    Hearing this, Song Shuyan¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    She had never heard Huo Tingdong mention this.


    At Yuhua Mansion.


    Momo was sitting on the sofa, his wounds meticulously tended by the nanny who applied medicine and bandaged him, saying with sympathy, ¡°Fortunately, the wound isn¡¯t deep, and not much blood was lost, do you need a tetanus shot?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°No need, it¡¯s just a superficial wound, disinfection is enough.¡±


    She was still somewhat fearful.


    The neck area, where the helmet and protective gear meet, wasn¡¯t fully protected. It was apparent that Momo reacted quickly. Had his response been a bit slower, and the sword thrust a bit deeper, it could have been a gruesome hole.


    Han clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth, ¡°I won¡¯t let him off!¡±


    He turned, grabbed Huo Tingdong¡¯s big hand, looking at him with a furious expression.


    Huo Tingdong pinched his cheek, coaxing him with a smile, ¡°Okay, Daddy won¡¯t let him off.¡±


    Han nodded seriously.


    After all, it was the people from the Fang Family who bullied him, bullied Momo, and bullied Aunt Qiqi.


    Not one will be spared!


    Momo told Han, ¡°Han, I¡¯m alright.¡±


    Han walked over and tenderly blew on his neck.


    Yet Momo could only giggle as he covered his neck, ¡°Hahaha! Stop blowing, it¡¯s so ticklish!¡±


    Seeing Momo laugh, Han also started to laugh, showing his bright white teeth.


    Laughter indeed is contagious.


    Han looked at Lin Qi, then at her beautiful dress, and suddenly his expression turned sad, his lashes downturned into an almost crying expression.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Seemingly understanding Han¡¯s disappointment, Momo said, ¡°He¡¯s disappointed he didn¡¯t get to see Mommy and Uncle Huo dance.¡±

 Chapter 72: 72: Is He Going to Kiss Her Now?

    Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Is He Going to Kiss Her Now?


    Lin Qi was somewhat at a loss whether to laugh or cry, ¡°All this fuss over that? Really, Han?¡±


    Han nodded, and it seemed like there might be a shimmer of tears in his eyes, as if he had missed something very important.


    Huo Tingdong was momentarily speechless, especially when he saw the tears that Han was trying to hold back at the corners of his eyes, ready to fall, crystal clear. Surely he couldn¡¯t actually be taking this to heart, could he?


    Momo muttered to himself: Could this little guy actually be a fan of Mommy and Uncle Huo¡¯s pairing?


    Huo Tingdong couldn¡¯t bear to see this and was about to go over and pick him up, to wipe away his tears.


    Han¡¯s eyes lit up as he suddenly thought of something. He pushed him away, ran to the dining room, grabbed a clunky stool, and ran towards the record player.


    ...


    The nanny was scared to death, and hurried over, ¡°Oh my, my little ancestor, what are you doing?¡±


    But Han didn¡¯t pay her any mind, he brought the stool over to the record player, climbed onto it, turned on the machine, searched through the cabinets to find a vinyl record, set it on the player, and adjusted the needle. Soon, the melodious strains of classical music flowed sweetly through the air.


    Han looked at Huo Tingdong, clutching his little fists, his eyes sparkling like little stars.


    The father knows his son best.


    Huo Tingdong seemed to understand his intent, raising an eyebrow, ¡°No.¡±


    Han puffed out his chest, crossing his arms, a bit angry.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Stop it.¡±


    Seeing the man¡¯s uncompromising tone, Han pouted. He suddenly turned around and walked towards the bedroom.


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t know what he was up to, but followed him.


    As soon as Han entered Huo Tingdong¡¯s bedroom, he opened the wardrobe, dragged out Huo Tingdong¡¯s suitcase that was used for business trips, pulled up the handle, and sulkily pushed the suitcase as if he was ready to leave.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s tall figure stood blocking the doorway, questioning, ¡°Are you throwing a fit and running away from home just because I don¡¯t agree with you?¡±


    Han tried to push him.


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t budge an inch; the little guy wasn¡¯t even as tall as his waist, how could he push him.


    Seeing the man blocking the door, Han got angry, he pushed the suitcase to the floor, unlocked it, opened it, and laid down inside.


    He was too skinny, and lying in the suitcase, he fit just right, not too big, not too small.


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡± He really didn¡¯t know what kind of temper this little one was throwing.


    Then he saw him lie in the suitcase, close it up over himself, leaving in the large room only the man standing there with a cool expression, and a suitcase containing the wronged Han.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Come out.¡±


    The suitcase: ¡°...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, don¡¯t make me angry.¡±


    From inside the suitcase, there came a ¡°hmph.¡±


    Huo Tingdong was running out of patience, ¡°Huo Tinghan!¡±


    The suitcase remained still.


    Huo Tingdong slowly squatted down, his suit forming elegant creases from the movement, ¡°Come out, and I¡¯ll agree with you.¡±


    After five seconds of silence.


    The suitcase opened a crack, revealing Han¡¯s glittering eyes, the glassy texture like perfectly pure, charming beads.


    Ten minutes later.


    Huo Tingdong carried Han out of the room.


    He set Han down on the sofa, straightened his tie a bit, and the cufflinks on his suit, then said to the nanny, ¡°Go back to your room.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    The nanny asked again, ¡°Should I turn off the record player?¡±


    ¡°No need.¡±


    The nanny went back to her room.


    Lin Qi looked at Han, puzzled, but then out of the corner of her eye, she saw Huo Tingdong walking towards her.


    She raised her head and saw the man walking up to her, a gentleman placing one hand on her lower back while slightly bowing, his right hand elegantly extended towards her, ¡°Miss, may I have the honor of asking you for a dance?¡±


    Lin Qi was surprised for a moment, ¡°I...¡±


    Her gaze lingered on his hand, Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand, fair and slender with clearly defined joints, wearing a beautiful pinky ring ¨C a hand more attractive than those of women, a sight too beautiful for words.


    In high society, dancing is also one of the essential skills.


    Huo Tingdong, impeccably dressed in a refined suit, was the epitome of gentlemanly charm and grace.


    She was in a daze for a few seconds, perhaps it was the captivating curve of his smile, or perhaps it was seeing Han with an excited and expectant look that she couldn¡¯t refuse; she involuntarily extended her hand gently towards him.


    Huo Tingdong took her hand and wrapped his arm around her waist.


    Lin Qi felt somewhat at a loss and whispered, ¡°I can¡¯t... dance...¡±


    Huo Tingdong led her hand to rest on his shoulder.


    She looked up only to find the man also peering down at her.


    The handsome face up close was haughty and unapproachable.


    She lost her concentration and accidentally stepped on his foot.


    Lin Qi frowned, the sense of awkwardness almost spilling out of her eyes.


    His hand remained firmly placed on her waist, his dance steps graceful.


    Under his guidance, she gradually began to follow his rhythm.


    Her waist was flexible, and her hands were gentle.


    Holding her waist, each rise and fall of her breath was transmitted through the palm of his hand.


    The spacious living room seemed to turn into a dance floor at a banquet, with Huo Tingdong leading Lin Qi by the hand, their dance steps and the melody perfectly harmonious.


    Yet, compared to his elegance and nonchalance, she seemed a bit out of sync, her figure still somewhat stiff.


    Huo Tingdong leaned in and whispered teasingly in her ear, ¡°You really have no talent for dancing.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face turned red in an instant, and she glared at him.


    But that glance carried an indescribable petulance.


    After glaring at him, she bowed her head again, avoiding his gaze.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes fell on her embarrassed and downtrodden little face, a playful smile emerging in his eyes.


    ¡°Why don¡¯t you dare look at me?¡±


    Lin Qi looked up, Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze was too enthralling, falling on her face with a seductive allure she couldn¡¯t articulate.


    She tried to remain calm, her face reddening all the way to her ears, yet seemingly oblivious as her eyes shifted, daring not to look directly into his.


    Huo Tingdong leaned closer, his nose lightly touching the bridge of hers, the man slightly turning his head, his handsome face drawing near to hers, and even with just a soft blink, his eyelashes brushed across her forehead, tickling her heart.


    Lin Qi could even feel the warmth of the man¡¯s breath on her face.


    Han watched the scene with the satisfied and content expression of an ¡°old father.¡±


    Momo, however, felt somewhat inexplicably irritated, clenching his fists and standing up.


    Han, worried that Momo would disrupt such a harmonious moment, immediately hugged him.


    ¡°Was it your idea?¡± Momo couldn¡¯t contain his anger.


    Han nodded.


    Momo gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Look at him, is he going to kiss her? Is he going to kiss her?¡±


    Han quickly covered his mouth.


    The two Little Babys, one was a couple¡¯s fan of Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi, while the other was a solo fan of Lin Qi.


    Momo pushed Han and seeing Han clinging onto him desperately, worried he might rush over and separate the two, Momo, frustrated, angrily stomped on Han¡¯s foot.


    Han nearly cried out in pain, covering his mouth while still desperately clinging to Momo, fearful that he would inappropriately ruin the mood.

 Chapter 73: 73: Want to Kidnap Mommy

    Chapter 73: Chapter 73: Want to Kidnap Mommy


    ¡°Alright!¡± Momo finally realized, ¡°Are you trying to set up my Mommy with your Daddy? Are you trying to abduct my Mommy to become your stepmother?¡±


    Han stood with his arms akimbo, not feeling guilty at all.


    Momo narrowed his eyes, ¡°I think you¡¯ve been plotting this for a long time, conspiring together to abduct my Mommy.¡±


    Han chuckled, poking his cute finger.


    ¡°No way!¡± Momo declared, ¡°I can¡¯t let you have my Mommy!¡±


    He got up and was about to pounce towards Huo Tingdong.


    ...


    But Han grabbed him in a swift motion.


    The two Little Babys tumbled onto the couch, grappling with each other.


    Somehow, Han found the strength to flip over and pin Momo firmly underneath him.


    Momo said angrily, ¡°Han, let go.¡±


    Han lay on top of him like a clingy bear, shamelessly sprawled out, looking like he was asking for a beating.


    ¡°Get off me now.¡±


    Han shook his head.


    He wouldn¡¯t allow Momo to interrupt Daddy and Aunt Qiqi¡¯s dance!


    Momo squinted, ¡°Are you going or not?¡±


    Again, Han shook his head.


    Annoyed, Momo grabbed his arm and bit down on it.


    But even though he was angry and put on a tough front, he was soft-hearted and didn¡¯t really want to bite hard, Han saw that it wasn¡¯t strong, hugged his neck, and planted a kiss on his face with a ¡°smack.¡±


    Immediately, Momo¡¯s face flushed red, and he pinched Han¡¯s cheeks, pulling them aside.


    ¡°Ow ow ow...¡± Han¡¯s mouth was stretched wide, but he didn¡¯t show weakness and reached out to pull at Momo¡¯s cheeks.


    ¡°Ah. Ah...¡±


    Finally, Lin Qi heard the commotion of the two little guys, turned her head, and saw their entangled silhouettes on the couch. Thinking they were fighting, she immediately came over, ¡°Han, Momo?¡±


    Huo Tingdong also came over and asked, ¡°What are you two doing?¡±


    Momo pushed Han away, sat up from the couch, jumped off, grabbed Lin Qi¡¯s hand, and said to her, ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s go back to the room!¡±


    Lin Qi was confused as she was dragged into the room by Momo.


    Momo closed the door behind them and said to Lin Qi, ¡°Hmph, I see through Han¡¯s thieving heart now.¡±


    Lin Qi was dumbfounded, ¡°What thieving heart?¡±


    Momo stated indignantly, ¡°He wants to abduct you to become his stepmom!¡±


    Lin Qi laughed, ¡°Kids will be kids.¡±


    Momo insisted, ¡°He¡¯s serious!¡±


    Lin Qi thought for a moment and said, ¡°Maybe, since he never had a Mommy from a young age, he wants one.¡±


    Momo declared, ¡°He can want a Mommy, but he can¡¯t abduct you; you are my Mommy.¡±


    Lin Qi chuckled, ¡°Momo is jealous!¡±


    Momo¡¯s face turned red, but he maintained confidently, ¡°Mommy is mine alone!¡±


    In the living room.


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his brows, looking at Han still rolling on the couch.


    The man stared at him for half a minute. Han struggled to flip over, sat upright, and lifted his face to see that only Huo Tingdong was standing in the living room. He looked around, searching for Lin Qi.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She went back to her room.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han crossed his arms and huffed with realization, ¡°Hmph!¡± It must have been Momo who dragged her back to the room!


    He was sabotaging Daddy¡¯s good plans.


    Han glared at Huo Tingdong reluctantly, his eyes filled with disdain as if blaming him for his lack of prowess.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Han, what exactly are you thinking?¡±


    He always felt that the little guy had ulterior motives.


    He squatted down and asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Han gave it a serious thought and said, ¡°I want Aunt Qiqi...¡±


    ¡°Huh?¡± Huo Tingdong was momentarily puzzled.


    ¡°...to be my Mommy!¡± Han panted, adding, ¡°I want Daddy... to commit to her.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face turned as dark as the bottom of a pot: ¡°...¡± Is that how you use this idiom?


    He, to commit to her?


    Han blinked rapidly, ¡°I want... her... to be my Mommy!¡± Han has never been a talkative child; rare for him to speak, his words were not coherent, but his meaning was crystal clear.


    He wanted Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi to be together.


    Huo Tingdong stated, ¡°Don¡¯t make unreasonable demands.¡±


    Han pursed his lips, his smile fading to reveal a look of loss.


    But Huo Tingdong was unyielding.


    He always spoiled Han, willing to go to any lengths to get the stars from the sky for him if asked.


    But certain things were non-negotiable.


    After a moment of thought, Han suddenly said earnestly, ¡°Then when I grow up, I¡¯ll... marry Aunt Qiqi...¡±


    Without a second thought, Huo Tingdong immediately vetoed the idea, ¡°No way!¡±


    ¡°Whimper...¡± Han lowered his head in grievance, ¡°Then you marry...¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned, ¡°No.¡±


    Han fiddled with his fingers, ¡°Then I¡¯ll marry...¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s patience was fraying, ¡°I told you, no!¡±


    Suddenly, the nanny came over with a phone, telling Mr. Huo, ¡°Mr. Huo, you have several missed calls on your phone.¡±


    She saw the phone vibrating when she was tidying up the study.


    Taking his phone, Huo Tingdong saw that some calls were from Song Shuyan, others from Mo Ke.


    He called back Mo Ke, who quickly said, ¡°Mr. Huo, the Fang Family brought a dozen people to the company, all waiting there.¡±


    ¡°What are they doing at my company?¡± asked Huo Tingdong.


    Mo Ke replied, ¡°I asked, but they refused to say; they insist on seeing you.¡±


    ¡°Let them wait,¡± said Huo Tingdong.


    ¡°Got it.¡±


    Hanging up, Huo Tingdong then dialed Song Shuyan¡¯s number.


    The call connected quickly.


    Her voice came from the other end, ¡°Tingdong?¡±


    At the sound of Song Shuyan¡¯s voice, Han immediately got up and returned to his room with a gloomy face.


    Huo Tingdong sat down on the couch and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    ¡°I heard Han had an incident, why didn¡¯t you mention it to me?¡± said Song Shuyan, ¡°I care about Han too, you should have told me.¡±


    ¡°The youngest son of the Fang Family pushed Han into the water, but Han is fine. I didn¡¯t even bring it up to Grandma,¡± said Huo Tingdong.


    Song Shuyan was concerned, ¡°Tingdong, does Han dislike me, hate me?¡± she asked worriedly, ¡°Is there something I¡¯m not doing right?¡±


    ¡°No, you¡¯re doing nothing wrong,¡± Huo Tingdong assured her.


    Tentatively, Song Shuyan asked, ¡°Are Lin Qi and that child living with you?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± confirmed Huo Tingdong, not evading the question.


    Song Shuyan suddenly fell silent for a long time, her breath uneven.


    Nervously, she said, ¡°Tingdong, you shouldn¡¯t keep that woman around Han. Her intentions towards you are blatantly obvious. Initially, her willingness to marry you was for your inheritance; she was certain you wouldn¡¯t wake up, and if something happened to you, she could inherit your estate. I¡¯ve found out about the child¡¯s father, a man surnamed Lu, with some family background.¡±

 Chapter 74: 74: Are You Trying to Completely Wipe Out the Fang Family?

    Chapter 74: Chapter 74: Are You Trying to Completely Wipe Out the Fang Family?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Who?¡± He had always cared about Momo¡¯s origin but had not yet initiated any investigation.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Lu Li.¡±


    Lu Li...


    He had seen this name in the medical records of Lin Qi¡¯s pregnancy, registered as the biological father of the child, but he had not delved into it.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Lu Li, from the Lu Family in Beijing. Huo Tingdong, that man, you should have met him.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Let¡¯s set this matter aside for now, I have other more important matters to handle.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Tingdong...¡±


    Huo Tingdong had no mind to listen to Song Shuyan any further and hung up the phone, standing up in agitation.


    He paced back and forth in front of the window, his long fingers pressing against his lips, turning them utterly colorless.


    With his face cupped in his hands, his sharp gaze stared out the window, utterly unfocused.


    Suddenly, he turned and walked to the entrance.


    The housekeeper came over and asked, ¡°Mr. Huo, are you going out?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Huo Tingdong drove to Huace Tower.


    After parking the car downstairs, he entered the elevator and arrived at the floor. Mo Ke was already waiting in the elevator hall, and he approached immediately upon seeing him.


    ¡°Several notable people from the Fang Family have come, and they all want to see you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What about Fang Zhixing?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s also here, along with Mrs. Fang and her son.¡±


    ¡°Let them come see me; send the others away!¡± Huo Tingdong proceeded straight into his office and sat down at his desk.


    Soon, Fang Zhixing hurried in with his wife and child.


    In the vast CEO¡¯s office, no lights were turned on.


    Huo Tingdong sat with his back to the window, moonlight streaming in, half of his deep facial contours buried in shadows, his sharply chiseled jaw imposing.


    Mrs. Fang raised her head and looked toward the desk in front of Huo Tingdong.


    The long four-meter desk, backed by floor-to-ceiling windows, overlooked the entire bustling CBD core. In such an elevated, desolate position, only someone as cold-blooded and hardened as Huo Tingdong could sit steadily.


    ¡°Mr. Huo...¡±


    Mrs. Fang anxiously said, ¡°Mr. Huo, we¡¯ve come here to offer our apologies. About Young Master Han falling into the water... my son is so young, only seven years old, he really didn¡¯t know any better...¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t know any better?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s cold eyes glanced at her, his thin lips slightly curving, ¡°Who are you trying to appease with that excuse? Me?¡±


    Mrs. Fang choked up, tears glistening in her eyes.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Do you think just because you show utmost sincerity in apologizing to me, I¡¯m bound to forgive you? Where did you get that confidence?¡±


    Fang Zhixing said, ¡°Luckily, Young Master Han wasn¡¯t hurt. It was just a scare, and the kids¡¯ fight didn¡¯t lead to any real harm...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You should feel lucky he is fine. If anything serious had happened to him, a hundred Fang Families wouldn¡¯t be enough compensation! Even if all the Fang Family members kneel in front of me, I would still crush you into hell where you could never rise again!¡±


    Fang Zhixing¡¯s heart raced with fear from these words.


    Mrs. Fang tentatively asked, ¡°Mr. Huo, does this mean...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°My son almost drowned because of your son; do you think I could easily let the Fang Family off the hook? Tonight, I will draft an acquisition plan. Fang Zhixing, I will remove you from the Windsor board of directors, meanwhile, best of luck to you! The Fang Family is done for!¡±


    Fang Zhixing fell to the ground tremblingly, his voice quivering, ¡°Mr. Huo, are you determined to completely obliterate the Fang Family...¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze was as cold as a knife, sweeping across Fang Heng¡¯s face as if flaying his skin, ¡°The fault lies with the father if his son is not taught properly. If you can¡¯t discipline your son, then pay the price.¡±


    Mrs. Fang¡¯s body swayed.


    Suddenly¡ª


    ¡°Smack¡±!


    Fang Zhixing suddenly grabbed Fang Heng¡¯s collar and fiercely slapped him across the face.


    Fang Heng immediately burst into tears, covering his face and attempting to throw himself into his mother¡¯s arms.


    ¡°You rebellious child, how dare you dodge?!¡± Fang Zhixing, with trembling hands, started hitting and kicking his son. ¡°How do I usually discipline you? You can bully anyone but you dared to bully the Huo Family? I¡¯ll beat you to death, you rebellious child!¡±


    Fang Heng wailed miserably, rolling around on the ground.


    Mrs. Fang screamed, ¡°Fang Zhixing, are you insane?¡± Driven by her protective instincts for her son, she rushed to hug him and screamed hysterically, ¡°Why are you hitting my son? You¡¯re going to kill him!¡±


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not have this son! I¡¯d consider myself to have never had this son! Get out of the way, if you don¡¯t, I¡¯ll hit you too!¡± Fang Zhixing threatened with fiery eyes.


    And he truly did hit.


    After a few slaps, Fang Heng¡¯s face had swollen badly; his collar was ripped apart, and his pants were pulled down, revealing his bare buttocks. Fang Zhixing brutally kicked him several times, leaving several shoeprints on his body.


    Mrs. Fang screamed, ¡°Stop hitting! If you keep hitting him, you¡¯ll really kill him! He¡¯s our only son, if you want to kill him, then kill me too!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s all because you spoil him!¡± Fang Zhixing pointed at Mrs. Fang¡¯s nose, ¡°It¡¯s all because you spoiled him rotten! And even now, you¡¯re still protecting him?¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°He¡¯s the only son I had, the only son the Fang Family has! Is it wrong for me to dote on him?!¡± Normally proud and haughty, she was now terrified by Fang Zhixing, huddled in the corner holding her son, sobbing tearfully.


    Fang Zhixing said, ¡°Still talking back, huh? You keep protecting him, then take him and get out! I will consider it as I never married you as my wife, never had this son!¡±


    Mrs. Fang widened her eyes, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°I want a divorce!¡± Fang Zhixing declared, ¡°The Fang Family cannot be destroyed by you and your son, nor by my hands! I¡¯ll divorce you tomorrow, take your son and get out!¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°You don¡¯t even want your son? Fang Zhixing, you coward, how can you say such heartless words?¡±


    Fang Zhixing assertively replied, ¡°It¡¯s not only you who can bear me a son! There are plenty of women out there who can bear children. What do I need this rebellious child for?¡±


    Huo Tingdong impatiently said, ¡°This is Huace Tower, my office, not the Fang Family¡¯s home, nor a place for your tantrums. If you want to discipline your son, go back and do it; don¡¯t dirty my place.¡±


    Saying that, Huo Tingdong called out, ¡°Mo Ke.¡±


    Mo Ke pushed open the door and entered, ¡°Mr. Huo, I¡¯m here.¡±


    Huo Tingdong coldly said, ¡°Show them out.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Mo Ke turned around and said to Fang Zhixing and Mrs. Fang, ¡°Mr. Fang, Mrs. Fang, please.¡±


    Fang Zhixing still tried to alleviate the situation, ¡°Mr. Huo, I...¡±


    Huo Tingdong coldly lifted his eyes, his brows sharp and his gaze chillingly fierce, ¡°Do I need to personally escort you out?¡±


    Fang Zhixing felt a tingling on his scalp and walked out without turning back.


    Mrs. Fang, looking embarrassed, stood up, picked up Fang Heng, and left in disarray.


    Mo Ke closed the door.


    The office returned to tranquility.


    ¡°Mr. Huo, they¡¯ve left.¡±


    Huo Tingdong, somewhat weary, massaged his brow and said, ¡°Check someone for me.¡±


    Mo Ke asked, ¡°Who?¡±


    Huo Tingdong enunciated each syllable: ¡°Lu, Li.¡±

 Chapter 75: 75: Perish Together with Her

    Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Perish Together with Her


    The next day.


    Lin Qi, as usual, went to the company to clock in for work.


    Right upon arriving at the company, she keenly sensed that something was off with the atmosphere.


    ¡°Have you heard? Mrs. Fang was beaten up last night.¡±


    ¡°Who? Who dared to beat up Mrs. Fang?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Fang! He beat Mrs. Fang so hard that her face and body were covered in bruises. She came to the office today wearing sunglasses, but they couldn¡¯t hide anything.¡±


    ...


    ¡°Isn¡¯t that domestic violence?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that Mrs. Fang¡¯s son...¡±


    Before the speaker could finish, the office suddenly fell silent.


    Lin Qi lifted her head and saw Mrs. Fang enter the office and walk straight towards her.


    She was still dressed appropriately, however, she was wearing thick, oversized sunglasses indoors. And even so, it was not difficult to see the purplish bruises on her cheekbones, her broken mouth, and her peculiar way of walking.


    ¡°Lin Qi, come to my office,¡± said Mrs. Fang as she nodded towards her before turning and heading back to her office.


    ¡°Swish swish swish¡ª¡±


    Everyone looked at Lin Qi with strange gazes.


    Lin Qi, not understanding why, walked to the office door and knocked.


    ¡°Come in.¡±


    As soon as she entered, she saw Mrs. Fang take off her sunglasses, revealing her left eye swollen like a fish bladder, and her right eyelid also torn; the implant at the bridge of her nose, which had been inserted not too long ago, had also been knocked askew.


    Lin Qi was truly startled by her ghastly appearance.


    ¡°As you can see... because of Young Master Huo¡¯s incident, I was beaten like this,¡± Mrs. Fang¡¯s lips quivered.


    Last night, when she returned home, she was beaten and suffered domestic violence by Fang Zhixing for protecting Fang Heng, resulting in injuries all over her body.


    Lin Qi slightly furrowed her brows.


    ¡°Now, my husband wants to divorce me! It¡¯s all because Mr. Huo is pursuing the Fang Family for responsibility over his son¡¯s drowning incident! Now, the Fang Family can¡¯t wait to sever ties with me...¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Why are you telling me all this, Mrs. Fang?¡±


    It was Huo Tingdong who was targeting the Fang Family, not her.


    Mrs. Fang walked up to her, grasped her shoulders, and dropped her previous haughty demeanor and arrogance, taking on a pleading tone, ¡°What is your relationship with Mr. Huo? I see that you and he are unusually close, are you his kept lover?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m not!¡±


    Why would she think that?


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°Then what exactly is your relationship with him? I can tell, your status is not that simple! You must carry a lot of weight when you speak to him! Lin Qi, can you please plead for me, ask Mr. Huo to spare the Fang Family, to spare me! To spare my son! We never wanted to provoke the Huo Family, this was all my son¡¯s fault, a grave error, I didn¡¯t raise him well! But the punishment doesn¡¯t fit the crime...¡±


    ¡°Punishment doesn¡¯t fit the crime?¡± Lin Qi coldly replied, ¡°Huo Tingdong adored his son the most, he cherishes Han like his life. You went after his life, how can you say the punishment doesn¡¯t fit the crime?¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°I know I was wrong, I truly know I was wrong!¡± With a ¡°thump,¡± she suddenly knelt down in front of Lin Qi, ¡°Please beg Mr. Huo to spare me! Otherwise... the Fang Family will be ruined, and so will I...¡±


    Lin Qi felt her scalp go numb, her whole body tensed up, with a feeling of after-fright.


    Mrs. Fang used to be such a distinguished and glorious person, who seemingly never took anyone seriously.


    Just what exactly had Huo Tingdong done, to drive her to this extent? Lin Qi could hardly imagine that the woman kneeling before her, so low and abject, was the same Mrs. Fang who used to be so high-profile and domineering.


    What means did he use...


    Lin Qi suddenly felt that Huo Tingdong was far more terrifying than she had ever imagined.


    He certainly had the power to command the sun and the moon, to cover the sky with a single gesture.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°He¡¯s not from my social class. What kind of influential words could I possibly say? All I can say is, Mrs. Fang, take care of yourself. He¡¯s way out of my league ¡ª a high-and-mighty elite who I can¡¯t afford to provoke.¡±


    Mrs. Fang¡¯s mouth hung open, tears streaming from her eyes. ¡°Lin Qi, your son was admitted to Windsor not because he¡¯s that outstanding, but simply because of a word from Huo Tingdong. There must be more to your relationship with him! Aren¡¯t you willing to help me? I can give you money, however much you want! Even if you just whisper in his ear while you¡¯re by his pillow...¡± She had thoroughly convinced herself that Lin Qi was Huo Tingdong¡¯s kept lover.


    Lin Qi finally ran out of patience, ¡°I¡¯ll say it again, I have nothing to do with him! I can¡¯t help you with this.¡±


    Mrs. Fang shakily got up from the ground.


    She suddenly pulled out something from behind her, and with a ¡°click,¡± it snapped around Lin Qi¡¯s wrist.


    Lin Qi looked down, and to her shock, saw it was a pair of handcuffs.


    Where did these handcuffs come from?


    Lin Qi looked at Mrs. Fang skeptically, only to see that she had attached the other end of the handcuffs firmly to her own hand.


    Their hands were tightly cuffed together.


    Lin Qi asked warily, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Mrs. Fang suddenly burst into hysterics, ¡°I don¡¯t believe there is nothing between you two! You just don¡¯t want to help me! Fine, then let¡¯s die together!¡±


    She locked the door and dragged Lin Qi towards the window.


    ¡°What are you doing?¡± Lin Qi struggled, but Mrs. Fang was especially forceful, pushing her against the window and shoving half of her body outward.


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    Lin Qi tilted out the window, her upper body dangling in mid-air.


    High up in the air, the wind was bitter and fierce.


    Her hair fluttered in the chaos.


    Mrs. Fang yelled frantically to the people below, ¡°I want to see Huo Tingdong! Get him to come see me! Otherwise, I¡¯ll die along with his woman!¡±


    The security guard was so scared that he immediately called the police.


    As the police cars arrived, so did the fire trucks and ambulances.


    Employees gathered below, shouting up to Mrs. Fang, ¡°Mrs. Fang, calm down!¡± Everyone thought that Mrs. Fang had been domestically abused or suffered some kind of shock and, in that moment, was contemplating suicide by jumping off the building.


    However, on closer inspection, they realized Mrs. Fang had another person handcuffed to her, dragging Lin Qi to the windowsill.


    The narrow windowsill could only accommodate the width of one foot, with no railing, and the wind was strong enough to blow people away.


    Lin Qi held onto the windowsill with one hand, not daring to struggle.


    She and Mrs. Fang were bound by a single pair of handcuffs; their fates were linked ¡ª if Mrs. Fang fell from the windowsill, Lin Qi would be pulled down as well.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Mrs. Fang, calm down! Dragging me to die with you serves no purpose!¡±


    Mrs. Fang said, ¡°You call Huo Tingdong! Tell him to come see you! Now!¡±


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t understand why Mrs. Fang was in such a dire rush.


    ¡°Hurry up!¡± Mrs. Fang screamed impatiently.


    Lin Qi picked up the phone and dialed Huo Tingdong¡¯s number.


    The call was quickly connected.


    ¡°Hello,¡± came Huo Tingdong¡¯s usual indifferent voice from the other end.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Huo Tingdong... can you come to Yuanzhou Building now?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I...¡± She didn¡¯t know how to explain the current situation, her voice trembling with acrophobia, ¡°I... I don¡¯t want to die...¡±

 Chapter 76: 76: A Fine Line Between Life and Death

    Chapter 76: Chapter 76: A Fine Line Between Life and Death


    Huace Tower.


    Inside the meeting room.


    Huo Tingdong raised his hand, signaling for the meeting to pause.


    He held his cell phone, and all he could hear from the other end was the howling wind; Lin Qi¡¯s voice was intermittent, unclear about the substantial content.


    ¡°What are you saying?¡± Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I can¡¯t hear clearly.¡±


    ¡°Huo Tingdong... you... save...¡± Lin Qi¡¯s intermittent voice came again.


    ...


    Then, only the sound of the wind tearing through air could be heard, followed by a loud ¡°bang¡±, and the line went dead with a ¡°beep beep beep¡± busy tone.


    Huo Tingdong stared at the dark phone screen, a look of confusion in his eyes.


    ¡°Mr. Huo, shall we continue the meeting?¡± the meeting assistant stood by, timidly asked.


    Huo Tingdong casually picked up the planning proposal, looked up and glared at his face, coldly retorting, ¡°Are you wasting my time with this kind of proposal?¡±


    With a ¡°whoosh¡±.


    He fiercely threw the planning proposal away.


    The binder immediately fell apart, and the white A4 papers fluttered like snowflakes, scattering across every corner of the meeting room.


    Huo Tingdong stood up and said, ¡°Use your brains for everything. Such a planning proposal should go directly into the bin, not waste my time in front of me! I¡¯ll say it again, I don¡¯t breed incompetence under my command. Those who can¡¯t handle it, leave!¡±


    After speaking, he walked out of the meeting room.


    The vast meeting room was filled with a succession of gasps.


    Everyone sat stunned in place, not daring to move.


    Mo Ke cleared his throat and announced, ¡°Meeting adjourned.¡±


    He rushed out of the meeting room, following after.


    Huo Tingdong slowed his pace, he redialed Lin Qi¡¯s number, but it was indicated as unreachable.


    Mo Ke asked, ¡°Mr. Huo, was that call from Miss Lin just now?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Unreachable. Her phone is off.¡±


    Mo Ke furrowed his brows.


    He said, ¡°During the meeting just now, I received a call, saying there was an incident at Yuanzhou Building, someone is standing at a high spot, threatening to jump. Someone uploaded a live video, reportedly, one of the jumpers is Mrs. Fang...¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze sharpened, thinking of something, he immediately said to Mo Ke, ¡°Prepare the car, prepare the car!¡±


    Mo Ke hadn¡¯t yet reacted, simply following his instinct, took out his phone to contact the driver.


    ¡°It¡¯s too late.¡± Huo Tingdong spread his hand, ¡°Keys.¡±


    ¡°Huo...¡±


    ¡°The car keys!¡± Huo Tingdong demanded loudly.


    Mo Ke immediately took out a set of car keys and handed them to him.


    Huo Tingdong took the keys and hurried towards the elevator.


    ¡°Mr. Huo...¡±


    Mo Ke snapped back to reality and chased after him, rushing to the elevator entrance, but Huo Tingdong had already entered the elevator, the doors closed, heading downward.


    ...


    The Aston Martin darted across the road, running through over a dozen red lights, without stopping.


    Huo Tingdong drove the sports car at high speed, staring fixedly ahead, radiating a chilling aura.


    The excessive speed and the roar of the engine seemed to tear through one¡¯s eardrums.


    The car had just entered Yuanzhou Building when Huo Tingdong parked it, not even bothering to turn off the engine before opening the door and stepping out.


    Below the building, a yellow rescue air cushion was being inflated.


    The fire department set up a cordon and evacuated the crowd, but still many people gathered below, looking up toward a spot on the high building.


    Huo Tingdong just looked up and saw two people standing on a narrow ledge of the twentieth-something floor.


    The crowd was abuzz.


    ¡°What has upset Mrs. Fang so much that she¡¯s trying to jump off the building with an employee!¡±


    ¡°Early this morning, I saw Mrs. Fang beaten all over, even her prosthetic face was knocked askew. She hurried around, looking for someone, apparently named Lin Qi...¡±


    ¡°Domestic violence? Mr. and Mrs. Fang have always been affectionate, how could there be domestic violence?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that Mr. Fang had an affair and wants to divorce her, and doesn¡¯t even want their son! Mrs. Fang used to be glamorous, but now she¡¯s been kicked out and become an abandoned wife. She couldn¡¯t bear it...¡±


    Suddenly, a gasp erupted from the crowd.


    A person fell from a window twenty-something floors high, seemingly caught by something, dangling dangerously.


    ¡°They are about to fall!¡±


    ¡°Twenty-three floors high, a fall would be fatal or severely injurious, right?!¡±


    ¡°Oh my! That¡¯s a half-open window, the rescue is extremely difficult. Two people standing on the window ledge, the fire brigade can hardly carry out a rescue...¡±


    Huo Tingdong clenched his fists and was about to rush up.


    As he turned, another deafening gasp erupted from the crowd.


    ¡°Someone fell down!¡±


    ¡°Ah¡ª!!¡±


    Amid the intermittent screams from the crowd, a heavy weight thudded onto the airbag, deeply indenting it.


    Lin Qi...


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s pupils constricted, and he immediately broke through the police cordon toward the airbag.


    ¡°Sir, please don¡¯t go over there...¡±


    A firefighter immediately stopped him.


    Huo Tingdong, in his agitation, shoved the firefighter aside and rushed to the airbag, finding a person lying at the center, their arms and legs twisted out of shape.


    From behind, a trembling voice discussed amongst the crowd: ¡°Even with the airbag, falling from such a height could be deadly...¡±


    ¡°The protection of the airbag is limited... I¡¯ve seen someone jump from a dozen floors high, hit the airbag, and due to insufficient air, ended up severely mangled...¡±


    Some, who were faint-hearted, had already covered their eyes, unable to watch any further.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s breathing began to falter.


    He climbed onto the airbag, grabbed the woman¡¯s shoulders, and turned her over. The woman had already passed out.


    Huo Tingdong saw her face and his breath hitched.


    Mrs. Fang...


    Huo Tingdong loosened his grip and, nearby, the fire brigade shouted.


    ¡°There¡¯s another person upstairs! Hurry and rescue them!¡±


    Twenty-third floor.


    Lin Qi watched in horror as Mrs. Fang fell.


    Just minutes ago, her hand had been tightly handcuffed to Mrs. Fang¡¯s.


    With her persuasion, Mrs. Fang had gone from an emotional collapse to gradually regaining calm and no longer impulsively wanting to jump. Perhaps, people instinctively fear death, and facing it, Mrs. Fang regretted her impulse.


    But just as they were trying to climb back, Mrs. Fang misstepped and fell accidentally.


    Lin Qi almost got dragged down¡ªif not for her tightly gripping the window ledge.


    But she couldn¡¯t support Mrs. Fang¡¯s full weight.


    For a moment, Lin Qi felt she could no longer hold on, and just as she was struck by fear, unexpectedly, the handcuffs slipped off her wrist.


    She was too thin, such that the handcuffs had scraped a layer of skin off her bone.


    Mrs. Fang lost her balance and plunged downward!


    ¡°Give me your hand!¡±


    A hand reached out from inside the window.


    Firefighters leaned out halfway and pulled her back to safety.


    Lin Qi¡¯s arm was dislocated, causing her to break into a cold sweat from the pain.


    ¡°Lin Qi...¡± Amid the noisy crowd, a distinctly recognizable voice came from above.


    Lin Qi looked up, and Huo Tingdong stood before her, his face ashen.

 Chapter 77: 77 How Dare to Trouble Mr. Huo to Lower Himself

    Chapter 77: Chapter 77 How Dare to Trouble Mr. Huo to Lower Himself


    ¡°Huo Tingdong...¡± Lin Qi was somewhat surprised.


    She didn¡¯t expect Huo Tingdong to be here.


    Huo Tingdong walked up to her, his gaze fixed on her dislocated arm, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head.


    She was quite shocked, her mind in turmoil, devoid of the capability to even organize her words.


    Huo Tingdong slowly bent down, lifting her by the waist with one arm.


    ...


    She was so thin that carrying her in his arms was effortlessly easy.


    Instinctively, Lin Qi clutched his collar, letting him hold her without the strength to struggle, although, surrounded by so many people, being held like a rag doll in his embrace was unavoidably embarrassing.


    ¡°Sir, please let go.¡±


    ¡°We need to get this injured person to the hospital immediately.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She is my person, I will take her myself.¡±


    Everyone was startled.


    Huo Tingdong, in his impeccably tailored suit, handmade and perfectly fitted, showed no crease even with his vigorous movements.


    The nobility in the man¡¯s every gesture made everyone else step back.


    ¡°Anyway... please take her to the hospital soon! This lady¡¯s hand... looks like it¡¯s dislocated.¡±


    Huo Tingdong carried Lin Qi and walked out of the office.


    Outside the office, the crowd was jam-packed.


    With a hostile look on his face, Huo Tingdong commanded, ¡°Move aside!¡±


    His harsh reprimand sent a shiver through the crowd, immediately clearing a pathway.


    Huo Tingdong, holding Lin Qi, entered the elevator.


    Inside the elevator, the space was close and quiet.


    Lin Qi, drained of strength, slumped weakly in his arms. The man suddenly noticed her dislocated hand, thin and bony, its joints and wrist scraped raw, oozing dense beads of blood.


    Huo Tingdong lifted her hand, and the person in his arms sharply inhaled in pain.


    He asked softly, ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, her eyes swiftly moistening, tears swirling within.


    Perhaps it was her fragile appearance that truly elicited pity.


    He was used to seeing her fierce like a little cat, and compared to that, her current state aroused a sense of tenderness from deep within him; his voice and movements instinctively softened, ¡°Don¡¯t move around, we¡¯ll be at the hospital soon.¡±


    Lin Qi hoarsely asked, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Huo Tingdong responded, ¡°I got your call.¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned.


    Was he worried about her?


    Impossible.


    Does this man care about anyone other than Han?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°What about Mrs. Fang? I saw her falling... I don¡¯t know how she is now...¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Unconcerned whether alive or dead.¡± His cold tone emitted a chilling aloofness.


    He simply did not care whether Mrs. Fang was alive or dead, even if she were dead or crippled, it would not concern him.


    Lin Qi was startled by his indifferent words for a few seconds, but then felt that this was typical of Huo Tingdong; such a reaction from him was to be expected.


    She looked up at Huo Tingdong¡¯s cold profile, his jawline sharp as if chiseled, arrogant and lofty everywhere.


    Mrs. Fang¡¯s hysterical words echoed in her ears: ¡°The Huo Family controls a massive business empire, its core members are leading figures in both commerce and politics. Beyond the skies, there¡¯s the Huo Family, and Huo Tingdong is the pinnacle of the Huo Family, dominating half of the economic veins of this nation, his wealth controlling half the capital market. If the Huo Family withdraws its investment, the global economy could swiftly regress by twenty years.¡±


    ¡°No one knows how rich or powerful he really is, but those who he cannot tolerate will end up dying horribly, with no tomorrow! Offending anyone is better than offending Huo Tingdong! Huo Tingdong is a man utterly ruthless at heart!¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s heartbeat suddenly quickened.


    Huo Tingdong looked down, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    She lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze, merely saying, ¡°Don¡¯t let Momo and Han know about my injury.¡±


    Huo Tingdong responded, ¡°Understood.¡±


    The elevator doors opened with a ¡°ding.¡±


    Huo Tingdong carried her out just in time to see Mrs. Fang being loaded into the ambulance, the doors closed, and the ambulance sped away.


    The crowd hadn¡¯t dispersed yet, and murmurs could be heard.


    ¡°From such a height, the chances of survival are slim.¡±


    ¡°I took a close look just now, both her hands and feet are deformed from the fall! And who knows if she damaged her brain...¡±


    ¡°The fact that the doctors didn¡¯t declare her dead on the spot means there¡¯s still hope!¡±


    ¡°...¡±


    Lin Qi was petrified by what she heard.


    She didn¡¯t know what means Huo Tingdong had used to drive Mrs. Fang to attempt suicide.


    From this, her fear of this man deepened even more.


    ...


    Hospital.


    Lin Qi¡¯s hand was set in place, and she was then moved to a hospital room for observation.


    Perhaps due to an extreme depletion of energy, she fell into a stupor while hooked up to an IV for swelling.


    When she woke up again, it was dusk outside.


    Lin Qi sat up groggily in bed and muttered confusedly, ¡°Momo... Han...¡±


    At this time, Momo and Han should be out of school.


    From the side, Huo Tingdong¡¯s icy voice came through, ¡°I¡¯ve already sent someone to pick them up.¡±


    Lin Qi looked towards the voice.


    Huo Tingdong was sitting in the corner, his legs elegantly crossed.


    He had been watching over her the entire afternoon.


    Lin Qi stared wide-eyed, not knowing when the IV had been removed, and she was sweating all over.


    ¡°Are you feeling more alert now?¡± Huo Tingdong asked.


    Lin Qi nodded.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The doctor said there¡¯s nothing serious with you, aside from being a bit frightened and your hand being scraped. Your arm is dislocated, but no other issues were found.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Is Mrs. Fang still alive?¡±


    Huo Tingdong countered, ¡°Whether she is dead or alive, do you really care?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°After all, it¡¯s a human life...¡±


    ¡°Huh,¡± Huo Tingdong scoffed, ¡°She almost killed you, even if she¡¯s dead, she deserved it.¡± His gaze lowered, and he coldly added, ¡°If she¡¯s still alive, I¡¯ll make her wish she wasn¡¯t.¡±


    This woman, daring to use Lin Qi to threaten him.


    Those who dare threaten him never end well.


    Seeing Lin Qi remaining silent, Huo Tingdong suddenly said, ¡°Currently, I haven¡¯t received any special notice, which means she¡¯s still hanging on, but falling from such a height means¡ªdead or crippled. You should feel lucky that it was her who stepped into thin air, not you.¡±


    Lin Qi was still somewhat shaken, ¡°I guess I¡¯m lucky.¡± She was wearing high heels and had almost stepped into thin air herself.


    She almost didn¡¯t get to see Momo and Han again.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Can I be discharged now?¡±


    ¡°Anytime.¡±


    Lin Qi lifted the blanket, intending to get out of bed but couldn¡¯t find her shoes.


    ¡°My... Where are my shoes?¡±


    ¡°They fell,¡± Huo Tingdong replied.


    The man suddenly stood up, walked to the bed, and bent down to carry her.


    Lin Qi dodged a little.


    Huo Tingdong lowered his eyes, looked at her somewhat stubborn face and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I dare not trouble Mr. Huo to demean himself.¡±


    Huo Tingdong smirked ambiguously, ¡°You can trouble me.¡± After saying that, his strong arms slipped under her knees and one hand wrapped around her back, securely carrying her in his arms.

 Chapter 78: 78 Let Her Move Out

    Chapter 78: Chapter 78 Let Her Move Out


    Lin Qi exclaimed in shock.


    This was the first time she had been held in Huo Tingdong¡¯s embrace. The man was so tall that the centrifugal force made her instinctively grab his tie.


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you trying to strangle me?¡±


    Lin Qi then let go of him.


    Seeing her nervous appearance, stiff all over, he was somewhat puzzled. ¡°What are you nervous about?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I... I have never been held like this by anyone.¡±


    ...


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s mouth curved slightly, ¡°Oh, is that so.¡±


    His hand on her back exerted a slight force, pulling her closer.


    Lin Qi was almost completely pressed against his chest, and by her ear, she could hear his strong and forceful heartbeat, like drumbeats, ¡°Thump, thump, thump¡±, giving her a tremendous sense of security.


    Holding her, Huo Tingdong just walked out of the ward and took the elevator to the first floor.


    The lobby on the first floor was crowded with people.


    Lin Qi looked around in a daze and saw Fang Zhixing.


    He was surrounded by a crowd, his face ashen.


    ¡°Fang Zhixing! You owe my daughter, you owe my daughter!!¡± In the crowd, an old woman in her sixties was hysterically shouting as she clutched his collar, ¡°I entrusted my daughter to your care, is this how you treat her? It¡¯s said that even a night as husband and wife brings a hundred days of grace; she¡¯s been married into the Fang Family for so many years, managing business and even taking the risk of bearing you a son at her age. If not for merit, then at least for her hard work, right? How could you treat her like this? Now you want a divorce and even abandon the son, discarding wife and child, what does this mean!¡±


    Behind the Old Lady, it was obvious that these were people from the Ji Family, each one of them indignant.


    ¡°Fang Zhixing, you explain to me! Why did my sister jump from a building?¡±


    ¡°Our daughter is still in the emergency room. If something happens to her, we won¡¯t let the Fang Family off the hook!¡±


    Fang Zhixing was visibly annoyed, ¡°You¡¯re asking me? I should be asking her! Even though she went through so much to bear me a son, so what? How did she teach our son? Do you know who she has offended? She has offended the Huo Family! The Ji family doesn¡¯t lack prominent figures, why don¡¯t you tell me, having offended the Huo Family, how am I supposed to deal with this? I can¡¯t afford to provoke the Huo Family! My divorce from her was forced! Otherwise, should I drag the entire Fang Family down with her?¡±


    Suddenly the crowd fell silent.


    The Old Lady said, ¡°How could she provoke the Huo Family?¡±


    Fang Zhixing said, ¡°That ¡®wonderful¡¯ son she raised, go ask her!¡±


    The Old Lady exclaimed, ¡°That¡¯s your son too!¡±


    Fang Zhixing said, ¡°From yesterday onward, he isn¡¯t! The son she raised, I cannot afford to acknowledge, nor do I dare to, as if she is the only one who can bear me a son!¡±


    These words undoubtedly added fuel to the fire.


    To disavow any connection, Fang Zhixing was divorcing Mrs. Fang and even disowning this son, which was akin to a lizard shedding its tail.


    A husband and wife are birds of the same forest, and when disaster strikes, they fly separately.


    He understood these words clearly and thoroughly.


    Mrs. Fang was sent to the same hospital as her.


    It seems she is still in the emergency room, not yet out of life-threatening danger.


    From such a high place, even with an air cushion, the chances are dire, luckily there was an air cushion, otherwise, it would have been a bloody mess.


    ¡°But you can¡¯t just ignore her! I heard from the doctor that her limbs are deformed from the fall! Why did you have to drive her to this!¡±


    Fang Zhixing said, ¡°How should I care for her? I can barely save myself now, how can I care for her? I...¡± As he spoke, he suddenly saw Huo Tingdong outside the crowd.


    ¡°Mr. Huo...¡±


    Fang Zhixing pushed through the crowd, trying to approach Huo Tingdong, ¡°Mr. Huo! Please wait.¡±


    Huo Tingdong did not stop walking, embracing Lin Qi as he walked towards the door.


    Fang Zhixing hurried over, ¡°Mr. Huo!!¡± He was desperate to plead, desperate to have Huo Tingdong spare the Fang Family.


    Suddenly, two rows of bodyguards rushed in at the door, immediately barring Fang Zhixing outside the circle.


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t even glance at him, holding Lin Qi and leaving directly.


    At the hospital entrance, the car was parked.


    The driver opened the rear door, waiting respectfully.


    Huo Tingdong carried Lin Qi towards the backseat.


    ¡°Tingdong...¡±


    Behind him, came the surprised voice of Song Shuyan.


    Huo Tingdong turned around and saw Song Shuyan in a neat white coat, holding a stack of papers, as if she had just finished a meeting.


    She attended a meeting at this hospital and didn¡¯t expect to bump into him.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s eyes fell on Lin Qi, who was being held by the man, and her expression subtly changed, her face darkening, feeling a sting in her eyes.


    Huo Tingdong put Lin Qi into the backseat and casually closed the door, then turned around, ¡°Ah Yan?¡±


    Song Shuyan walked over and looked towards the backseat.


    The car¡¯s rear window was fully tinted, making it impossible to see inside from the outside.


    But thinking about how he was holding Lin Qi just now, Song Shuyan felt a sour and bitter feeling in her heart.


    Huo Tingdong had never held her like that.


    Why was he with Lin Qi?


    Song Shuyan controlled the emotions swirling inside her, tucked her hair behind her ears, and forced a smile, ¡°Why are you with her? Can¡¯t she walk by herself, needing you to carry her?¡± She tried her best to control her emotions, but her voice was thick with acidity.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She lost her shoe, and the ground is dirty.¡±


    Song Shuyan was stunned, ¡°Is that all?¡± Because she didn¡¯t have shoes, so he carried her, just because he didn¡¯t want her feet to get dirty?


    She admitted that she was jealous, extremely jealous.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°She isn¡¯t that precious, is she? Without shoes, she can¡¯t even walk?¡±


    Huo Tingdong could not detect the dissatisfaction in her words, but could see that something was off with her expression, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Tingdong...¡± Song Shuyan walked over and gently grabbed his sleeve.


    For a moment, she felt a pressing fear that something dear to her was about to be forcefully taken away.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°You and her... are you going to remarry?¡±


    Huo Tingdong was taken aback.


    He slightly raised his eyebrows and asked, ¡°What have I done to make you speculate like this?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Isn¡¯t she living with you? Are you planning to remarry?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She¡¯s living with me because she can take care of Han.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I can take care of Han too! I can take care of Han much better than she can! Tingdong, can you ask her to move out? What if others find out you are living together, what will they think of you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Who dares to speculate about me?¡±


    ¡°And what about me?¡± Song Shuyan said, ¡°I care. I don¡¯t want her living with you. Please ask her to move out, right away.¡±


    She rarely made demands to Huo Tingdong.


    This demand, she believed, was not excessive.


    Familiarity breeds fondness.


    She was afraid that one day, she would no longer be able to hold on to Huo Tingdong¡¯s heart.


    ¡°Ah Yan, stop making trouble,¡± Huo Tingdong said. ¡°She can¡¯t move out, Han can¡¯t be without her.¡±


    ¡°Tingdong... I rarely ask anything of you, is my request really too much?¡± Song Shuyan said, ¡°I¡¯ve waited for you for seven years, how many sets of seven years does a woman have? I don¡¯t care about the status, but... do you know how afraid I am of losing you? And you, didn¡¯t you promise my brother that you would take good care of me? Is this how you take care of me?¡±

 Chapter 79: 79: I Will Treat Han as My Own

    Chapter 79: Chapter 79: I Will Treat Han as My Own


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes dimmed.


    Song Shuyan brought up Song Shuhao.


    She knew that the person Huo Tingdong felt the most guilt towards in this world was Song Shuhao.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong... I can quit my job for Han, I can take care of Han 24 hours a day. I have been studying child psychology for Han¡¯s sake. I am confident that I can take good care of Han...¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned slightly, ¡°Are you jealous?¡±


    Song Shuyan had an incredulous look on her face, ¡°You just realized I¡¯m jealous? I¡¯ve been jealous for a long time. Tingdong, I feel like you¡¯ve changed, you¡¯ve become indifferent to me, you¡¯ve started to care about her. Remember when I sprained my ankle? You never carried me as tenderly as you carried her! How can I not be upset seeing you hold another woman so gently?¡±


    ...


    She clutched his sleeve tightly, her gaze fixed intently on his face, ¡°Unless, you tell me that you like her, that you will remarry her? Don¡¯t worry, I won¡¯t bother you. I¡¯ll quietly leave, disappear completely from your life...¡±


    As Song Shuyan spoke, tears fell incessantly, crying pitifully.


    Huo Tingdong was somewhat at a loss.


    Song Shuyan seldom cried in front of him. He had always been cold-hearted and hard, but apart from Han, Song Shuyan was the person he cared about the most.


    Seeing her in tears, Huo Tingdong helplessly stretched out his hand and took her into his arms, ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡±


    Song Shuyan held him tight, sobbing, ¡°Let her go... I don¡¯t want to see you with her... I don¡¯t want her to be with you!¡±


    Inside the car.


    Lin Qi knitted her brows.


    Especially seeing Song Shuyan¡¯s pitiful crying and Huo Tingdong¡¯s pained expression, Lin Qi knew that Huo Tingdong carrying her into the car had hurt Song Shuyan¡¯s eyes.


    Lin Qi was aware of the place Song Shuyan held in Huo Tingdong¡¯s heart.


    Ten years ago, in that car accident, he had nearly risked his life to protect her. In such a severe and gruesome crash, he was bedridden for two years, unconscious, while she was unharmed.


    Lin Qi suddenly raised her head and said to the driver, ¡°Open the door, I want to get out.¡±


    The driver was startled, ¡°Miss Lin, what are you doing?¡±


    ¡°Open the door.¡± Lin Qi¡¯s dislocated arm had just been reset and was still weak.


    The driver opened the door, and Lin Qi got out of the car.


    Huo Tingdong looked at her, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ll take a taxi back on my own,¡± Lin Qi said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°You better accompany Miss Song.¡±


    She turned to leave.


    Song Shuyan suddenly called out to her, ¡°Miss Lin!¡±


    Lin Qi turned around to look at her.


    Song Shuyan walked over and said, ¡°Miss Lin, I may be somewhat presumptuous with my words, but I know you and Tingdong are living together now. However, since you are already divorced, living together now seems inappropriate, doesn¡¯t it? Could I ask you to move out?¡±


    Lin Qi raised an eyebrow, counter-questioning, ¡°Firstly, if you know it¡¯s presumptuous and rude, then don¡¯t say it. Secondly, if I may ask, from what standing are you asking me to move out?¡±


    Song Shuyan was stunned by the question, her hands clenched into fists.


    ¡°Fiance?e?¡± Lin Qi glanced at Huo Tingdong, ¡°As I know, there¡¯s no engagement between you and him. So what standing do you have to ask me to move out? Oh, has Huo Tingdong not told you? That apartment is registered under my name. Although I haven¡¯t received the household registration certificate yet, that apartment... he gave it to me. That¡¯s my home, mine and Momo¡¯s home.¡±


    Lin Qi, saying so, clenched her fist tightly, ¡°On what grounds are you asking me to move out of my own home?¡± She could move out on her own, but she wouldn¡¯t be driven out by someone!


    Song Shuyan was shocked.


    She looked at Huo Tingdong, her brows twisting.


    As far as she knew, the Yuhua Mansion apartment was worth over a hundred million.


    Such an expensive property, and he had simply registered it under Lin Qi¡¯s name.


    Why?


    He... really hated this woman, didn¡¯t he?


    When he woke up, finding that Old Madam Huo had arranged this marriage for him, he divorced her at the first opportunity.


    Why would he give her such an expensive apartment?


    Lin Qi curled her lips into a smirk, ¡°Mr. Huo wished for me to look after Han, moving in with me at my home for convenience in caring for Han. Now, Miss Song wants to drive me out; doesn¡¯t she understand the situation?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I have no intention of forcing you to leave.¡±


    ¡°Isn¡¯t asking me to move out the same as kicking me out? Isn¡¯t this throwing me out on the streets?¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°Miss Song, it¡¯s not that I¡¯m clinging desperately to Mr. Huo. Regardless of your standpoint, considering your status, you aren¡¯t qualified to boss me around, are you?¡±


    With that, Lin Qi turned and strode away.


    Song Shuyan was stunned, her eyes reddening with grievance.


    This was her first confrontation with Lin Qi, and she had lost!


    She turned around, looked at Huo Tingdong, and suddenly said, ¡°Tingdong, otherwise, how about I take Han to my place and look after him? You¡¯re always busy with the company and really can¡¯t do everything. I can cancel some work to focus on Han.¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Han wouldn¡¯t agree.¡±


    Song Shuyan continued, ¡°How do you know if you don¡¯t try? Otherwise, tomorrow, you can bring Han over, and I¡¯ll take care of him for a day. What if Han and I get along very well?¡± She grabbed his hand, reiterating her point, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be very patient and kind to Han, as if he were my own!¡±


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t refuse again.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s eyes were so resolute; she needed more space to bond with Han.


    ¡°Alright,¡± Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Understood.¡±


    ...


    Lin Qi took a taxi home, and upon arriving and pushing open the door, Huo Tingdong was not yet home.


    He was probably accompanying Song Shuyan, right?


    After all, she had suffered such a grievance; naturally, he had to spend some effort to comfort her properly.


    If he was so concerned about her, why didn¡¯t he give her a legitimate status?


    Could it be just because Han didn¡¯t like Song Shuyan?


    Lin Qi always found it strange that Han, cold and distant to everyone else, was so attached to her, refusing anyone but her.


    This was something she had never understood.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Momo popped his little head out of the kitchen, ¡°Mommy is back!¡±


    Han also peeked out from behind Momo. With sharp eyes, Lin Qi immediately noticed the traces of saliva being wiped from Han¡¯s mouth.


    Lin Qi smelled a fragrance, ¡°Braised chicken wings?¡±


    Momo nodded, ¡°Today, Han wanted to eat the food I made. Mommy, you like braised chicken wings, right? For your sake, let him have a taste!¡±


    Lin Qi walked into the kitchen and saw that the chicken wings in the pot were at the stage of reducing the sauce.


    Han stood by eagerly, eyes glued to the pot, and couldn¡¯t be pushed away.


    Momo said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to stay in the kitchen?¡±


    Han looked at Momo, then back at the fragrant chicken wings in the pot, his mouth opening slightly, with clear saliva about to drip down again.


    Momo¡¯s eye twitched fiercely, ¡°Are you really that greedy?¡±

 Chapter 80: 80: Tingdong, do you want me to be well?

    Chapter 80: Chapter 80: Tingdong, do you want me to be well?


    Han suddenly reached out his hand as if bewitched, grabbing towards the chicken wings in the pot.


    Momo immediately slapped his hand away, ¡°Dummy! It¡¯s hot!¡±


    Only then did Han come to his senses, retracting his hand. He knew it was hot, but the aroma had simply led him astray, as if possessed by a demon.


    Lin Qi wanted to laugh, but couldn¡¯t. She just slightly strained to curl her lips, ¡°Han, don¡¯t rush. When they¡¯re ready, I¡¯ll serve you the first chicken wing, okay?¡±


    All children are greedy for tasty food, it¡¯s instinctive.


    Momo, extremely sensitive, noticed Lin Qi¡¯s low spirits, ¡°Mommy, are you feeling upset?¡±


    ...


    Lin Qi froze, then immediately smiled, attempting to hide the loneliness in her eyes, ¡°No, Mommy is not feeling upset.¡±


    Momo looked at the stiffness in her facial muscles, but said no more.


    Half an hour later.


    The chicken wings were done.


    This was the last dish.


    Han sat eagerly by the dining table, constantly watching the entrance, as if waiting for Huo Tingdong.


    The nanny came over and asked, ¡°Miss Lin, Mr. Huo called to say he won¡¯t be coming back for dinner tonight, you should eat and not wait for him.¡±


    ¡°Oh.¡± Lin Qi seemed to have anticipated this and wasn¡¯t surprised, merely telling Han and Momo, ¡°Han, Momo, let¡¯s eat.¡±


    Han looked down somewhat disappointingly.


    In front of him was a plate of delicious chicken wings. He had wanted Daddy to try them too.


    Unexpectedly, Huo Tingdong wasn¡¯t coming back.


    Momo was also a bit disappointed, ¡°Is he that busy?¡±


    Lin Qi placed a chicken wing in Han¡¯s bowl and smiled, ¡°Let¡¯s eat, don¡¯t worry about him.¡±


    Upon seeing the fragrant chicken wings in his bowl, Han¡¯s eyes glazed over, impatiently lifting his fork, forgetting whether Huo Tingdong was coming back for dinner or not, quickly pushing it to the back of his mind.


    He still wasn¡¯t adept at using chopsticks, so with a fork, he picked up a chicken wing, pursed his lips and blew on it for a long while until it felt less hot before taking a bite.


    The chicken wing was perfectly marinated, the skin crispy and the meat tender. One bite from Han, and the juicy deliciousness of the wing seemed to melt in his mouth; the delicious broth had already infiltrated the meat, perfect control of the cooking time, the aroma rich and enthralling.


    After one bite, Han joyfully nodded his head and wobbled it around!


    Momo asked, ¡°Does it taste good?¡±


    Han nodded vigorously!


    Momo said, ¡°If it¡¯s good, eat more!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo, you make so many delicious foods every day, are you trying to turn Han into a chubby little pig?¡± She noticed that these past few days, Han seemed to have gained a bit of weight, or perhaps the baby fat on his face hadn¡¯t faded yet, making his face appear even more adorably plump.


    Momo joked, ¡°Let¡¯s fatten him up a bit more, and then we can butcher him at the end of the year.¡±


    His gaze toward Han carried an imperceptible tenderness and indulgence.


    Lin Qi was nearly amused by Han¡¯s way of eating.


    Han ate with his little mouth glossy and shiny, and his eyes shone brightly because he was eating delicious food.


    Lin Qi also tasted it, ¡°Your cooking has improved even more.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Mommy hasn¡¯t had my chicken wings for a long time. This time, I first roasted the wings in the oven; the skin is crispy, but the meat is tender.¡±


    These chicken wings are so perfect with rice!


    Lin Qi and Han buried their heads and dug in.


    A sense of achievement filled Momo¡¯s heart!


    Perhaps, this is the joy of cooking!


    Watching his beloved family eat the meal he cooked, seeing their happy smiles because of the food, he felt warmth in his heart.


    Family...


    Without realizing it, he had come to see Han as one of his most important family members.


    ...


    Mingchen First-class.


    A Rolls-Royce Phantom stopped downstairs.


    The driver opened the rear door.


    Song Shuyan got out of the car, turned towards the door, hesitating to speak, ¡°Tingdong...aren¡¯t you coming up with me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned slightly, then suddenly got out of the car. The evening breeze messed up his hair, covering his eyes and brows, but it did not diminish his handsomeness; instead, it made him even more irresistibly attractive.


    ¡°I¡¯ll walk you upstairs.¡±


    He accompanied Song Shuyan to the door, she opened it, stepped into the entryway, and said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°It¡¯s still early, would you like to come in and sit for a while?¡±


    Today, Huo Tingdong had unusually dined with her.


    Since he was willing to walk her upstairs, Song Shuyan naturally wanted to seize the opportunity to be alone with him.


    ¡°It¡¯s already very late,¡± Huo Tingdong said. ¡°I need to get back early, to spend time with Han.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Beyond work, you spend almost all your energy on Han, I sometimes also wish you¡¯d spend more time with me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong hesitated for a moment, then entered.


    He walked into the living room, and Song Shuyan followed closely behind, pressing a button to draw the curtains.


    The living room was lit by a floor lamp.


    In the dim light, she suddenly reached out to help him take off his suit jacket.


    Huo Tingdong sensitively grabbed her hand, looking at her with confusion.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s hand trembled.


    She could sense the man intentionally distancing himself; she knew this was not something she should initiate.


    He was a man, a perfectly normal man, a man in the prime of life. No matter how gentlemanly or ascetic, all men have an inherent nature.


    Could it be that, all these years, he has had no physical needs?


    If using her body could tie down his heart, she wouldn¡¯t hesitate to abandon her reputation.


    If the man is not proactive enough, as a woman, she should also let go of her pride...


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong, all these years, I¡¯ve preserved my chastity for you, but for you, I have long been ready to give my all to you.¡±


    She looked up at his flawlessly handsome face, weighed her words again, and finally mustered the courage, ¡°You seem to have become colder towards me recently.¡±


    ¡°Have I?¡±


    His avoidance and indifference only highlighted her embarrassment and presumptuous feelings.


    But she had no retreat.


    Song Shuyan pressed forward, ¡°Tingdong, why have you never touched me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong slightly turned aside, shifting his gaze from her face.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s embarrassment visibly intensified, ¡°Is it that I don¡¯t attract you? Or is it that I¡¯m not proactive enough...¡±


    If he was passive, she was willing to be more proactive.


    Suddenly, Song Shuyan began to undress.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s pupils constricted, his handsome eyes betraying a hint of doubt, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s face was shy as her hands gently unbuttoned her dress, slowly approaching him, ¡°Tingdong, do you want me, please?¡±


    She gently slid off her light outer garment, her straps sliding off her shoulders, revealing her smooth, white body, half-concealed by her clothes.


    Song Shuyan walked up to him, cupped his handsome face, slowly stood on her tiptoes, and her soft red lips moved towards his thin lips.


    ¡°Tonight, I want to become your real woman...¡±


    Song Shuyan used the softest tone, trying to thaw his heart, as cold as ice.


    She didn¡¯t believe, with her doing so much, that he could remain unmoved towards her.


    Unless, he is not a normal man!

 Chapter 81: 81: Should We Wait for Him to Explain Himself?

    Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Should We Wait for Him to Explain Himself?


    Song Shuyan felt nervous yet summoned up her courage.


    Just as her lips were about to touch his.


    Huo Tingdong suddenly turned his face away.


    Caught off-guard, Song Shuyan¡¯s lips landed on his collar.


    She froze for a moment, looking at him in disbelief.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyebrows slightly raised, he abruptly bent down, picked up a thin shirt that had fallen to the ground, and draped it over her shoulders.


    ...


    ¡°Put it on.¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s body immediately stiffened like stone, motionless, deeply shocked.


    Seeing her statue-like, head down, tears swirling in her eyes, Huo Tingdong suddenly felt somewhat agitated, ¡°You don¡¯t have to be like this.¡±


    As he spoke, he buttoned up her shirt, one by one.


    Song Shuyan bit her lip hard, puzzled, ¡°Tingdong, what do you want me to do? Are you not interested in me at all? Not even a little? You¡¯re a man, don¡¯t you have any physical desires? You...¡± She couldn¡¯t believe he wasn¡¯t a normal man.


    She had thrown herself into his arms, had done everything she could, believing in her own beauty which she rated nine out of ten, any other man would have lost control like a hungry wolf by now.


    Yet, when it came to him, he acted like an immovable rock!


    His lips seemed like a forbidden zone, unattainable no matter what.


    Humiliation, shame, awkwardness, under extreme suppression, her eyes reddening, she asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you like someone like me? What kind of person do you like? Innocent? Someone who pretends to be seductive like Lin Qi?¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    ¡°Have you been with her? Have you been intimate?¡± Song Shuyan asked urgently, ¡°How far have you gone with her?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Why do you ask these kinds of questions?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°It shouldn¡¯t be like this!¡± She was somewhat at a loss, ¡°You¡¯re a man! Doesn¡¯t my presence stir anything in you? Or, do you have reservations about me? Tingdong, it¡¯s fine! I¡¯m mentally prepared, I can give you everything! You don¡¯t need to have so many considerations.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to.¡± His typically indifferent tone now carried a hint of impatience.


    Song Shuyan was completely stunned, ¡°What?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s lips curled slightly, ¡°In your eyes, am I such a superficial man?¡± In theory, if a body alone could bind his heart, any woman would suffice.


    He spoke again, ¡°Put on your clothes properly, don¡¯t make me repeat it a third time.¡±


    Seeing him losing patience, Song Shuyan stopped dallying, merely lowering her head, gripping the clothes and wrapping her body tightly.


    From above, Huo Tingdong¡¯s indifferent voice came, ¡°Let¡¯s pretend today never happened, but, I don¡¯t want there to be a next time.¡±


    Song Shuyan suddenly collapsed onto the sofa, speechless.


    She heard footsteps receding, then the door opened and closed.


    He had left.


    Tears swirling, Song Shuyan could no longer hold back, and cried silently.


    ...


    ¡°Mr. Huo!¡±


    The driver leaned against the car door, seeing Huo Tingdong coming downstairs, somewhat surprised.


    That was quick?


    He thought, given Huo Tingdong¡¯s visit upstairs, there would have been a fierce encounter.


    Could it be that Mr. Huo was not up to the task?


    Huo Tingdong approached him, sizing him up, seeming to read his thoughts, and coldly said, ¡°What are you thinking?¡±


    The driver was terrified, ¡°I...¡±


    Huo Tingdong squinted his eyes, ¡°Get rid of those sleazy thoughts.¡±


    Intimidated by his warning glare, the driver immediately said, ¡°Mr. Huo, I wouldn¡¯t dare.¡±


    Huo Tingdong, tired of further expounding, got into the car.


    The driver closed the door, immediately entered the driver¡¯s seat, buckled up, and started the car.


    Half an hour later.


    The car drove into Yuhua Mansion, stopping at the underground level one elevator hall.


    Huo Tingdong had just gone upstairs, opened the door, the living room was pitch-dark.


    Yet, his naturally sensitive nature quickly sensed a slight presence of someone.


    He looked towards the sofa, Lin Qi leaning against the couch, hugging a pillow, had apparently fallen asleep.


    Perhaps disturbed by his footsteps, Lin Qi suddenly woke up, opened her eyes, realizing she had fallen asleep, immediately got up. In the darkness, she struggled to find her bearings, trying to switch on the light, her hand accidentally touching a cold suit.


    She was quite startled, exclaimed, then looked up, a tall dark shadow standing in front of her.


    ¡°Huo Tingdong!?¡± She stared wide-mouthed, ¡°When did you get back?¡±


    When did he stand before her without her noticing?


    She had slight night blindness; in the darkness, she couldn¡¯t see anything clearly.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Tired, why didn¡¯t you go to your room to sleep?¡±


    ¡°I was reading on the couch and fell asleep unknowingly.¡± Perhaps the maid had seen her sleeping, covered her with a thin blanket, turned off the light, ¡°Han told me to wait for you, I feared you would_return_late, and put him to sleep first.¡±


    Huo Tingdong casually pressed the light switch.


    The light clicked on.


    Lin Qi instinctively raised her hand to shield her eyes, finding it slightly glaring.


    As she became more alert, her sense of smell also revived, soon picking up an unfamiliar perfume scent on him.


    Lin Qi, now used to the light, looked up at Huo Tingdong, but saw lipstick marks on his collar.


    Her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her expression complicated.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°What are you looking at?¡±


    Lin Qi turned her face away, asked, ¡°Did you drive Song Shuyan home?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s heart felt as if it had been pricked by something, somewhat uncomfortable.


    He had driven her home, so... the two of them must have had some intimate moments, hence his collar bore her lipstick and the scent of her perfume?


    Lin Qi belatedly realized and found it funny.


    Why should she feel uncomfortable?


    To Huo Tingdong, how special was Song Shuyan, even if they had intimate relations, what right did she have to question?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m going to sleep, you should rest early too...¡±


    She was about to pass him, but he firmly grasped her hand.


    Huo Tingdong pulled her back in front of him, his Adam¡¯s apple moved, but he didn¡¯t know what to say.


    He could see, this woman, seemed to have misunderstood something.


    But did he need to explain to her?


    Huo Tingdong observed her apparently all-knowing look, wanted to speak but halted, countless words stuck in his throat, unspoken, unclear.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Nothing!¡± He suddenly felt, there was no need to explain too much to her.


    The grip on her hand abruptly loosened.


    Lin Qi¡¯s hand was freed, she rubbed her wrist, about to return to her room.


    Huo Tingdong couldn¡¯t resist anymore, ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to ask me?¡±


    He saw in her eyes, evidently guessing, she believed something had happened between him and Song Shuyan!


    But she didn¡¯t ask a thing, was she waiting for him to explain voluntarily?


    Lin Qi was confused by his question, ¡°Ask what?¡±

 Chapter 82: 82: If Its Not Mine, Could It Be Yours?

    Chapter 82: Chapter 82: If It¡¯s Not Mine, Could It Be Yours?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You...¡± Is she really missing a screw in her head?


    Or is it that she doesn¡¯t care at all, even if there is something between him and Song Shuyan.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Has your brain gotten waterlogged?¡± She always felt his behavior was strange, somewhat abnormal.


    Huo Tingdong looked at her, his eyes carrying a weird look, and suddenly spoke in an irritated tone, ¡°Nothing!¡±


    He frowned, tugged at his collar, and went into the room.


    Lin Qi muttered, ¡°His brain really has gotten waterlogged!¡±


    ...


    She also went into the room.


    The next day.


    Lin Qi woke up, and the company¡¯s Dingtalk group informed her to take a few days off.


    It was said that Mrs. Fang was still in the emergency room, and her life was still in danger.


    With Mrs. Fang¡¯s fate uncertain, the company was in disarray, the executives were all in a panic, as they had all heard more or less about Mrs. Fang¡¯s trouble with the Huo Family and were trembling with fear.


    Lin Qi got out of bed, freshened up, left the room, and since it was a rest day, the two children didn¡¯t have to go to school and were still sleeping in.


    The nanny said, ¡°Miss Lin, breakfast is ready.¡±


    Lin Qi casually asked, ¡°Where is Huo Tingdong?¡±


    The nanny replied, ¡°Mr. Huo went to the office early this morning. He said that Miss Song will come to pick up Han today.¡±


    Lin Qi was startled, ¡°Why is she coming to pick up Han?¡±


    The nanny shook her head, ¡°Mr. Huo didn¡¯t say, so I didn¡¯t ask.¡±


    ¡°Got it,¡± Lin Qi said. ¡°I¡¯ll call the two little guys to get up for breakfast.¡±


    It was a rare rest day, and she happened to be on leave too; she wanted to spend some quality time with Momo and Han.


    Lin Qi woke Han and Momo up, urging them to get dressed. Momo woke up, stretched, and saw Lin Qi calling Han to get up.


    ¡°Han, it¡¯s time to get up!¡±


    Han sat up lazily from the bed, yawned as if not fully awake, and rubbed his eyes.


    Lin Qi helped him get dressed.


    Seeing this, Momo frowned slightly, feeling a bit jealous, and said in a sour tone, ¡°You¡¯re so big already, can¡¯t you dress yourself?¡±


    Momo was a little grumpy upon waking, not fully rested, and seeing Lin Qi fussing over Han made him feel sour.


    Upon hearing this, Han also felt uncomfortable.


    He pouted and looked at Momo as if sulking, ¡°Hmph!¡±


    Hmph?


    Momo got out of bed, walked up to Han, and stood with hands on hips, ¡°Dress yourself, wash your face and brush your teeth by yourself!¡±


    Han felt wronged and hugged Lin Qi. He was frightened by Momo¡¯s sternness and wanted Lin Qi to pamper him.


    ¡°Momo!¡± Lin Qi scolded, ¡°Don¡¯t bully Han.¡±


    Now it was Momo¡¯s turn to feel wronged.


    Mommy was being too protective of this guy.


    Momo muttered, ¡°Mommy, I always dress myself!¡±


    The two Little Babys glared at each other, crossed their arms in unison, and turned back to back, ignoring each other, sulking.


    Lin Qi knew that kids¡¯ quarrels come and go quickly, so she raised an eyebrow and said with a gentle smile, ¡°Mommy is off today, so I can stay home with you. You have to be good and not fight.¡±


    Hearing that Lin Qi was off, Momo and Han¡¯s eyes lit up, no longer caring about their anger.


    Lin Qi went with the flow and said, ¡°Shake hands, okay? No fighting between you two, alright?¡±


    The two Little Babys were naturally willing to save face for Lin Qi, and they made peace with a handshake.


    Since Lin Qi was pregnant, her movements were limited, so she coaxed Han, ¡°Han, would you be good and dress yourself?¡±


    Han nodded and started to dress himself.


    The nanny stood at the door, a bit surprised, ¡°Oh, Han can dress himself now, what a good boy!¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Our Little Baby Han is very smart!¡±


    When Han heard this, his ears twitched, his little face blushed, and he even seemed a bit shy, feeling sweet inside.


    Aunt Qiqi praised his intelligence, he had to perform even better!


    After the two little ones washed up, Lin Qi herded them out of the room, one after the other, like ducklings, and the three of them sat down in the living room, ready for breakfast.


    Suddenly, the doorbell rang.


    Lin Qi was startled, ¡°Who is it?¡±


    The caregiver said, ¡°I¡¯ll go and open the door.¡±


    She walked to the entrance, just opened the door, and saw Song Shuyan, dressed in a casual yet graceful manner, standing outside, smiling, ¡°Hello.¡±


    ¡°Are you Miss Song?¡± The caregiver also smiled politely.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Mhm, I¡¯m here to pick up Han.¡±


    Hearing Song Shuyan¡¯s voice, Lin Qi¡¯s spine stiffened.


    Momo and Han lifted their heads and sensitively glanced at Lin Qi¡¯s expression; they could tell she seemed to have become a bit uncomfortable.


    The conversation between the caregiver and Song Shuyan came from the entrance.


    ¡°Little Han hasn¡¯t finished his breakfast yet! Miss Song, would you like to come in and wait?¡±


    Song Shuyan nodded her head, ¡°Okay.¡±


    As soon as she entered, she saw Lin Qi and the two children sitting in the dining room, indeed having breakfast, and she paused, feeling for a split second as if the three of them were like a family.


    Song Shuyan suddenly realized.


    Aren¡¯t they a family of three?


    Huo Tingdong had gone to the company, and these past few days he had a lot of company affairs, hence Song Shuyan took the initiative and came over to pick up Han.


    When Lin Qi saw her, she lowered her head, treating her as if she were thin air.


    Song Shuyan also did not greet her, the two were like strangers.


    She entered the house and looked around.


    This house was the property Huo Tingdong bought in Lin Qi¡¯s name.


    He really is generous.


    But when she thought about it, it was just a house after all. When she marries Huo Tingdong in the future, anything she wants, she shall have.


    She will have Huo Tingdong buy her bigger houses, mansions and villas. Once she becomes Mrs. Huo, luxury cars and mansions will be hers for the asking, and Huo Tingdong would buy them for her.


    She¡¯s just sensible, and thus never mentions it; otherwise, Huo Tingdong would buy her even better!


    Even so, Song Shuyan was still stunned by the size of the house.


    So big.


    Even just the living and dining room area was over a hundred square meters, with clear north and south passages.


    Song Shuyan was somewhat curious, do Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi, the two of them, share a bedroom?


    Seeing Song Shuyan looking around, the caregiver said with a smile, ¡°Miss Song, you¡¯re waiting anyway, why don¡¯t I give you a tour?¡±


    Song Shuyan smiled with pleasure, ¡°Sure.¡±


    The caregiver led her towards the guest room area.


    The layout separated the private from the common spaces; the living and dining room were to the west, the master bedroom and guest rooms to the east, and aside from one room facing north, all other rooms faced south.


    Lin Qi suddenly stood up, and coldly said to the caregiver, ¡°This is my home, I am the lady of the house, why are you taking the liberty of showing her around my home?¡±


    She was usually very satisfied with this caregiver, but she was dissatisfied with her taking it upon herself to show Song Shuyan around the house.


    The caregiver said awkwardly, ¡°I...¡±


    Song Shuyan turned around, looked at Lin Qi, and said, ¡°Isn¡¯t this house bought by Tingdong?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°You don¡¯t really think that just because he bought the house in your name, it actually belongs to you, do you?¡±


    Lin Qi retorted with an amused question, ¡°If not mine, then is it yours, perhaps?¡±

 Chapter 83: 83: Never Give Her an Opportunity to Take Advantage

    Chapter 83: Chapter 83: Never Give Her an Opportunity to Take Advantage


    Song Shuyan was at a loss for words, stupefied for a moment before she said with a sneer, ¡°I just never mentioned it; as long as I want it, Tingdong would buy it for me.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Then have him buy it for you. He¡¯s filthy rich, it¡¯s just a house. Why are you nosing around in my house with such eagerness? You¡¯re a guest, without the host¡¯s permission, don¡¯t just wander around!¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Who do you think you are? You think I give a damn about this house? You¡¯re so petty, scared I¡¯m going to steal it from you?¡± She just wanted to see if the two were sleeping in the same room, that¡¯s all.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Song Shuyan, I gave you face by letting you through the door, otherwise, I would have had you stay outside.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°What right do you have to talk to me like that?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°This is my home, you tell me if I have the right.¡±


    ...


    Song Shuyan glared at her hatefully, ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself thinking I care about entering this shoddy house of yours!¡±


    Lin Qi suddenly laughed, ¡°Shoddy house? Song Shuyan, if you¡¯re so noble, then don¡¯t step foot into my shoddy house.¡± This house cost over a hundred million, and Song Shuyan refers to it as a shoddy house? How utterly ridiculous.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I really don¡¯t get you, woman. Don¡¯t think I¡¯m oblivious to the little schemes you¡¯re playing in your head! You and Huo Tingdong are already divorced, once divorced, you should act like it! Who has heard of a divorced couple still living together? Aren¡¯t you afraid of it sounding disgraceful? Get it straight, the Huo Family has already kicked you out! With such a shady status like yours, spare me the embarrassment here.¡±


    The maid retreated to one side, terrified.


    She had never seen such a scene and dared not make a peep.


    Lin Qi retorted, ¡°If I¡¯m the one who should be kept in the dark, then what are you?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Huo Tingdong and I are childhood sweethearts, grew up together, you ask what am I? I¡¯m the most important person to him! In his heart, I¡¯m the one he loves most.¡±


    Lin Qi smiled, ¡°If he loves you so much, why hasn¡¯t he married you, hasn¡¯t made you his wife?¡±


    Song Shuyan was suddenly lost for words and became infuriated with embarrassment.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Song Shuyan, you¡¯re older than me, right? If he really liked you, he would have married you long ago, so why hasn¡¯t he made a move until now? You¡¯ve wasted so much of your youth on him, and he can¡¯t even give you a proper status, yet you still think you¡¯re the one he loves most? Do you even recognize what you amount to?¡±


    She didn¡¯t mean to target Song Shuyan specifically.


    Last night, in front of her, Song Shuyan asked Huo Tingdong to make her move out, Lin Qi just couldn¡¯t swallow her pride.


    Why be soft-hearted toward someone you dislike?


    Song Shuyan gritted her teeth and said, ¡°You really have a sharp tongue! Lin Qi, I won¡¯t stoop to your level. I came here to pick up Han. And what do you know about Tingdong¡¯s and my relationship? It¡¯s none of your business.¡±


    She walked over to Han, her voice turning tender, ¡°Han, Auntie is off today, I¡¯ve come to take you out to have fun. Would you like to go with Auntie now? I¡¯ll take you to eat something yummy.¡±


    As she spoke, she reached out to take Han¡¯s hand.


    But Han hid his little hand under the table, refusing to let her touch it.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s face stiffened, ¡°Han? Don¡¯t you want to eat something yummy?¡±


    Han shook his head.


    He wanted to stay with Aunt Qiqi and Momo.


    Momo said coolly, ¡°Han doesn¡¯t want to go with you, you can leave now.¡±


    Song Shuyan got angry, ¡°You have no place to speak here!¡±


    Seeing Song Shuyan scold Momo, Han also glared at her angrily.


    Song Shuyan immediately softened her tone, trying to coax him, ¡°Han, won¡¯t you go with Auntie?¡±


    Seeing that gentleness wasn¡¯t working, she decided to use force and grabbed Han¡¯s hand, preparing to drag him away.


    Han struggled and resisted, his little face flushed red and his legs kicking wildly.


    Lin Qi saw that Han was unwilling to leave with Song Shuyan and immediately went over, blocking her, ¡°Can¡¯t you see he doesn¡¯t want to go with you?¡±


    Song Shuyan pushed her away forcefully, ¡°What¡¯s it to you? Get lost!¡±


    Lin Qi was pushed toward the table and nearly knocked the bowls and chopsticks onto the floor.


    She began to get angry, ¡°Song Shuyan, Han doesn¡¯t want to leave with you!¡±


    With a pale face, Song Shuyan retorted, ¡°Don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know what game you¡¯re playing! You know very well how important Han is to Tingdong, you want to please Han, and take the opportunity to please Tingdong, right? You want to remarry him, so, you are using Han, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    Lin Qi found her completely unreasonable, ¡°What are you talking about?¡±


    Song Shuyan shot back, ¡°Am I not speaking the truth? Han isn¡¯t even your own child. You¡¯re so good to him, simply because you want to use Han to please Tingdong!¡± And with that, she gauged Lin Qi¡¯s reaction.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Even if Han isn¡¯t my own flesh and blood, I treat him as if he were!¡±


    Song Shuyan felt a surge of joy in her heart.


    It seemed that Lin Qi still didn¡¯t know that Han was her biological son. She had to seize the opportunity and not let Lin Qi get the upper hand.


    Song Shuyan bent over to pick up Han and made for the door.


    Suddenly, Han began crying loudly, ¡°Wah...¡± Clenching his fists tightly, he started punching Song Shuyan¡¯s shoulder and back.


    Even though Huo Tingdong had taught him from a young age to be a little gentleman, to respect girls and ladies, he didn¡¯t like Song Shuyan, even less did he like being touched by her.


    Seeing Song Shuyan trying to forcibly take Han away, Lin Qi sternly blocked the doorway, ¡°You are not taking him away!¡±


    ¡°Get out of my way!¡± Song Shuyan¡¯s voice was cold with anger, ¡°He¡¯s not your son, you have no right to interfere!¡±


    Lin Qi declared, ¡°Neither is he your son! He doesn¡¯t like you, he doesn¡¯t want you, you can¡¯t take him away by force!¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°It is Tingdong who asked me to take Han to bond with him! Lin Qi, I am not like you, using every trick to deceive a child, sooner or later, Han will know that I love him even more than his real mother!¡±


    Enraged, Han grabbed Song Shuyan¡¯s hair tightly.


    Song Shuyan was momentarily startled.


    In order to fetch Han, she had dressed up carefully, her hair styled beautifully, but now, it was all pulled apart by his grabbing!


    ¡°Han, be good, obey!¡± Taking advantage of the fact that Han was ¡°mute,¡± Song Shuyan twisted his buttocks harshly.


    Such a small action went unnoticed by anyone.


    Han¡¯s face wrinkled in pain and he cried even louder, ¡°Wah...¡± It hurts so much!


    Seeing Han cry harder, Lin Qi felt extreme heartache, rushed over, snatched Han from Song Shuyan, and held him tightly in her arms.


    Song Shuyan lunged at her, claws out, ¡°Give Han back to me!¡±


    Lin Qi, trying to dodge, stumbled over a stool and was about to fall to the ground.


    The nanny immediately stepped forward to catch her.


    Momo pushed his chair aside and walked up to Song Shuyan, giving her a hard shove, ¡°Don¡¯t you dare bully my Mommy!¡±


    Song Shuyan became even more furious and raised her hand, slapping Momo on the head, ¡°You little bastard, get lost!¡±

 Chapter 84: 84 Does He Seek Her Out to Accuse Her?

    Chapter 84: Chapter 84 Does He Seek Her Out to Accuse Her?


    Lin Qi clenched her teeth upon hearing the words.


    She could never bear to hear anyone insult her son; Song Shuyan¡¯s words had undoubtedly enraged her completely.


    ¡°Song Shuyan!¡± Lin Qi handed Han over to the nanny, walked towards Song Shuyan, grabbed her collar, and slapped her fiercely across the face.


    With a ¡°smack¡± sound.


    Song Shuyan hit the wall, her hair disheveled.


    She covered her burning face, her eyes reddened and tears were about to fall.


    ...


    Lin Qi coldly warned, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, don¡¯t ever say my son is a bastard! Otherwise, no matter who you are, I won¡¯t let you off!¡±


    Song Shuyan had never been so humiliated.


    She and Huo Tingdong grew up together, always well-protected, and no one had ever dared to bully her.


    Before Han was born, she was the one most doted on by Huo Tingdong.


    Until this woman appeared and gave birth to Han for Huo Tingdong.


    Song Shuyan clenched her teeth and glared at Lin Qi, then at Han and Momo.


    These two little pests!


    Song Shuyan was so angry that her chest hurt and her eyes almost bloodshot, nearly losing all her sanity.


    The nanny asked, ¡°Miss Song, are you alright?¡± She was worried that the situation might escalate and become uncontrollable.


    Song Shuyan staggered to her feet and suddenly said, ¡°Good, very good... Lin Qi, this slap you gave me, I will make sure you pay back a hundred times!¡±


    With that, she turned around and left without looking back.


    Lin Qi picked up Momo, still shaken.


    ¡°Momo, does it hurt?¡± she rubbed Momo¡¯s head.


    Han also came over, tenderly touching Momo¡¯s head.


    Momo said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt.¡± Even if it did, he wouldn¡¯t tell Lin Qi to make her worry.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°If it hurts, tell Mommy.¡±


    Momo smiled, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m not hurt. With me here, I won¡¯t let anyone bully you!¡±


    Lin Qi was moved beyond measure and hugged him tightly.


    ...


    Huace Tower.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s car stopped downstairs, she picked up a makeup mirror and looked at her face.


    The slap from Lin Qi was heavy, but superficial, the mark soon faded.


    She bit her lip and suddenly started slapping her own face left and right, fiercely adding several more slaps.


    ¡°Smack¡±!


    ¡°Smack, smack¡±!


    Song Shuyan harshly slapped herself until her hand became swollen and painful, then she picked up the mirror again. She saw in the mirror that her face was swollen, the marks of rough fingers striking and alarming, only then did she shakily dial Huo Tingdong¡¯s number.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Just as the call connected, Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice came, ¡°Did you pick up Han?¡±


    Song Shuyan covered her mouth and didn¡¯t speak, giving off intermittent sobs as if she had suffered a great injustice.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice tensed slightly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong, I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice was slightly husky, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°...I¡¯m downstairs at your building.¡± After saying that, she hung up the phone, pulling at her hair while brewing her emotions.


    Soon, Huo Tingdong appeared at the doorway.


    He walked to Song Shuyan¡¯s car, opened the door, and saw Song Shuyan¡¯s disheveled hair, strands falling onto her shoulders, her face swollen red with striking palm marks, darkening the man¡¯s expression.


    Huo Tingdong sat in the passenger seat and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Just as he closed the car door, Song Shuyan suddenly threw herself into his arms, sobbing, ¡°Tingdong, ever since I was little, no one has ever hit me... never...¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s hands stiffened slightly.


    He lowered his head and looked at the trembling person in his arms, frowning coldly, ¡°Who hit you?¡±


    Song Shuyan bit her lips, tears flowing silently, but she refused to say a word.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯m asking you, who hit you?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I dressed up today to pick up Han, wanting to take him out for fun, to eat something nice... But as soon as I entered, that woman, without distinction, came over and pulled my hair, slapped my face...¡±


    The more she spoke, the more her voice trembled, ¡°What did I do wrong... Why did she have to treat me like this? She is afraid that Han and I get along too well...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Lin Qi? Did she hit your face?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong, I don¡¯t care that she hits me, she doesn¡¯t let me pick up Han, she can¡¯t stand to see me being good to Han... Han is not even her biological child, what right does she have to keep Han?¡±


    Huo Tingdong suddenly fell silent.


    He looked at Song Shuyan¡¯s swollen face, feelings of guilt and pain arising in his heart, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, this won¡¯t happen again.¡±


    Song Shuyan tightly clung to his shoulders, crying out loud in grievance...


    ...


    As night fell.


    After Lin Qi soothed Han and Momo to sleep, she returned to her room and lay on the bed, her mind elsewhere.


    Suddenly, the sound of the fingerprint lock being unlocked came from the entrance.


    Follwing that, she heard familiar footsteps entering the living room.


    ¡°Mr. Huo...¡±


    Huo Tingdong lowered his voice and asked, ¡°Have the two kids gone to sleep?¡±


    The nanny replied, ¡°They are asleep, Miss Lin is in her room.¡±


    Lin Qi turned over, staying still.


    Through the door, she could tell that Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice was particularly deep, seeming slightly angry.


    Step by step, his footsteps approached her room.


    Lin Qi¡¯s breathing suddenly became difficult.


    Could it be that Song Shuyan went to complain to him?


    So, he was now coming to accuse her?


    While Lin Qi was lost in her thoughts, the door was suddenly pushed open.


    A cold breeze filled the room, making her shrug her shoulders and close her eyes, only keeping a slit open.


    In the darkness, the man walked to the side of her bed, looking down at her from a high position.


    The man¡¯s aura was too intense, and after a silent moment, he said coldly, ¡°How long are you going to pretend?¡±


    He instantly realized she was feigning sleep.


    Lin Qi¡¯s face turned deathly pale, but she still kept her eyes closed, only seeing his face under the moonlight, casting deep shadows, somewhat making it hard to see his expression, yet still feeling his sharp, piercing gaze that bore no warmth.


    Her heart pounded, inexplicably feeling guilty.


    This man, he really came to accuse her!


    Huo Tingdong impatiently said, ¡°Open your eyes, I have something to ask you.¡±


    Lin Qi suddenly opened her eyes.


    She silently stared at him, pursing her lips, stubbornly silent.


    Huo Tingdong shifted slightly, coldly lowering his gaze, his stern eyes exuding a suffocating low pressure, ¡°What did you do today?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s tone was very stiff, ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡±


    The next second.


    The man¡¯s tall frame pressed closer, his broad shoulders blocking all the light.


    Lin Qi instinctively stretched out her hand to push him, however, the disparity in strength was too great, his body remained immovable.


    As she struggled to get up, Huo Tingdong violently pushed her back down onto the bed, pinning her down tightly, his large hand firmly grasping her small face, ¡°Who allowed you to hit her?¡±

 Chapter 85: 85 Thank You for Reminding Me

    Chapter 85: Chapter 85 Thank You for Reminding Me


    Lin Qi shuddered on her shoulders.


    For some reason, she could feel that the man before her was somewhat different from before.


    She asked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Huo Tingdong tightly gripped her jaw, forcing her to look at him, ¡°Do you like to resort to violence that much?¡±


    His presence carried an emperor-like aura, inherent and innate, spreading a chilling low pressure around him, thinning and solidifying the air.


    Looking at his face, she found it hard to breathe, her sharpness subdued by his aura, her clear eyes flickering: ¡°I...¡±


    ...


    It was her who hit, she was daring enough to admit her actions, she wouldn¡¯t deny it.


    But it was Song Shuyan who started it, trying to take Han away by force and calling Momo a ¡°little bastard,¡± she was merely retaliating!


    Besides, was it really crippling, this single slap of hers?


    Did he need to protect her like this?


    ¡°Remember, from now on, don¡¯t touch a single hair on her, otherwise, I won¡¯t let you off!¡±


    Lin Qi clenched her fists and defiantly asked, ¡°On what grounds?¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°What?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I hit her, what can you do about it?¡±


    She felt both wronged and angry, her small hands tightly clutching the bedsheet, refusing to admit defeat.


    ¡°It was clearly her fault!¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°I did nothing wrong!¡±


    ¡°Say ¡®okay¡¯.¡± Huo Tingdong interrupted her, ¡°I¡¯m not discussing this with you, I¡¯m warning you, from now on, don¡¯t touch a single hair on her, say ¡®okay¡¯.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face turned red with fury, the bedsheet in her hands crumpled into wrinkles, she complained angrily, ¡°Why are you commanding me in that tone? It was clearly her...¡±


    ¡°Say ¡®okay¡¯.¡± Huo Tingdong narrowed his eyes dangerously, his long fingers clenching her jaw, exerting a faint force, causing her to sharply inhale from the pain.


    In their silent standoff, the cold glint in the man¡¯s eyes grew more perilous.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice was colder, his gaze dark and stern, ¡°How many times do you want me to repeat? Lin Qi, I have no patience with you.¡±


    Lin Qi gritted her teeth, her lips suddenly trembling, tears started sliding down the corners of her eyes, yet she made no sound of crying, just kept holding her breath, breathing...


    Her stubborn expression slightly startled him.


    ¡°Why are you bullying me?¡± Lin Qi clenched her fists, pounding hard on his shoulder, ¡°Why are you bullying me? Am I easy to bully? So everyone including you and Song Shuyan can bully me?¡±


    Her voice grew more choked and shaky as she spoke.


    Huo Tingdong felt even more that she was being unreasonable, ¡°I¡¯m bullying you?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you bullying me? You¡¯re threatening me...¡± The more she tried to hold back, the tears kept rolling down her cheeks incessantly.


    Perhaps it was too much of a grievance, uncontrollable.


    ¡°Is she so precious? Is she a porcelain doll that shatters on touch?¡± Just a slap, did she become handicapped because of it?


    Momo was also slapped by her, yet he insisted he was fine.


    Is this Song Shuyan that delicate?


    What about her?


    In the Lin Family, she lived a life lower than others, enduring brutal beatings, which were never less and only more severe, humiliation, abuse, no one ever defended her.


    Except for Momo and Han.


    That¡¯s why she risked her life to protect these two little ones, the only two children who genuinely cared for her in her life.


    Was she wrong?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You feel sorry for her, you feel the injustice for her, then go ahead and hit me!¡±


    She trembled and closed her eyes.


    Huo Tingdong gritted his teeth, ¡°You¡¯re completely unreasonable!¡±


    Lin Qi opened her eyes again, her eyes filled with more grievance and sorrow, ¡°Huo Tingdong! I hate you...¡±


    She clenched her fists, beating them on his shoulders.


    Huo Tingdong grabbed her hands, pinning them down on the bed, but neglected the fact that her hand had just been dislocated, and it was still painful.


    He suddenly caused her pain, and Lin Qi soon began to sob softly.


    Huo Tingdong was completely stunned.


    He hates it when women cry in front of him, shedding tears, but for some reason, seeing her reddened eyes and the undried tear streaks on her face, his heart softened.


    ¡°Why are you crying?¡±


    Is she trying to appear pitiful and wronged to earn his sympathy?


    Huo Tingdong couldn¡¯t help but stretch out his hand, wanting to wipe away the tears at the corner of her eyes.


    But Lin Qi suddenly grabbed his wrist and fiercely bit down on his finger.


    With such strength that she actually broke the skin on his finger, causing blood to seep out densely.


    Huo Tingdong slightly furrowed his brows, but remained expressionless and did not pull back his hand, as if he felt neither pain nor itch, simply lowering his head to look at her, seeing her continue to bite his finger firmly, as if venting something.


    ¡°Do you feel wronged?¡±


    His deep voice was very calm, so calm it almost didn¡¯t stir a ripple.


    She gradually loosened her grip, feeling incredibly stifled in her heart, with tears still continuously dropping.


    Huo Tingdong watched her, but couldn¡¯t speak harshly anymore.


    Perhaps her tears had moved him.


    So much so that by the time he realized it, he had leaned down and gently kissed away her teardrops.


    By the time he snapped back to reality, Lin Qi was staring at him in astonishment as well.


    What was he doing?


    Huo Tingdong looked at her face, and for a moment, he felt like he was about to lose control, especially when his gaze rested on her slightly reddened eye corners, her nose tip tinted pink from crying, cheeks flushed as if rouged, and her slightly dazed, intoxicating eyes...


    Her body temperature was slightly warmer than his.


    Suddenly, he returned from his cold, self-centered world to the cold reality of human interaction.


    This kiss became uncontrollable.


    Driven by the most primal instincts, he greedily longed for more.


    Huo Tingdong wrapped his arm around her neck, leaned down and began a trail of conquest, one kiss at a time, from her tear-stained eye corners to the tip of her nose, her chin...


    Lin Qi finally realized what was happening and began to resist.


    ¡°Let me go...¡±


    She struggled relentlessly, ¡°Let go... Huo Tingdong...¡±


    Under the indignation, Lin Qi raised her hand and fiercely slapped his face.


    However, Huo Tingdong quickly caught her hand and looked down coldly, his eyes mocking.


    His face had been struck by her only once before.


    That time was due to his carelessness.


    But one time should not lead to another.


    Although...


    He too felt that he had lost some control and was muddled, but there was no need for her to remind him in this way.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯m going to marry Song Shuyan.¡±


    Lin Qi stared at him in astonishment.


    ¡°So, it was me who let her take Han away and to foster a relationship with Han,¡± Huo Tingdong said, ¡°This should not happen again.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You marrying her is your affair, there¡¯s no need to specifically tell me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I don¡¯t want Han to depend on you too much. You are not his biological mother; you don¡¯t have the right to interfere too much.¡±


    Lin Qi opened her mouth but was left speechless.


    That¡¯s right...


    She wasn¡¯t Han¡¯s biological mother, indeed she had no right to intervene in many matters.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°All this time, I have treated Han as my own, forgetting he is not my biological son. I should thank you for reminding me.¡±

 Chapter 86: 86 Provoking Mommy Leads to Kneeling on a Washboard

    Chapter 86: Chapter 86 Provoking Mommy Leads to Kneeling on a Washboard


    Huo Tingdong stood up, walked to the door, then suddenly seemed to think of something, slightly sidestepped, and spoke indifferently: ¡°I can let this matter go without holding you responsible, as long as you apologize. I can pretend nothing happened.¡±


    Lin Qi, upon hearing this, froze, ¡°Apologize?¡±


    She was stunned for a moment, then immediately flipped off the bed, glaring at his back, furrowed her brows and asked, ¡°Apologize to whom? To Song Shuyan?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You hit her, shouldn¡¯t you apologize? That¡¯s basic human decency.¡±


    Lin Qi retorted angrily, ¡°I don¡¯t need you to teach me how to conduct myself! I will not apologize. To apologize to someone like her, that¡¯s impossible!¡±


    ¡°That kind of person?¡± Huo Tingdong challenged, ¡°¡®That kind of person¡¯¡ªwhat do you mean by that?¡±


    ...


    It was clear; he seemed to be getting angry.


    Lin Qi knew that Song Shuyan held a special place in his heart and that he wouldn¡¯t tolerate any slander against her.


    But she wasn¡¯t someone who could be insulted and trampled upon at will.


    Why should she apologize to Song Shuyan?


    ¡°Here¡¯s the deal, Huo Tingdong. I¡¯ll only apologize to Song Shuyan if you break my legs and force me to kneel before her; otherwise, keep dreaming about getting an apology from me!¡± After Lin Qi finished speaking, she didn¡¯t give Huo Tingdong a chance to burst out. She walked up to him and forcefully pushed him out of the room, ¡°Get out of my room!¡±


    With a ¡°bang,¡± Huo Tingdong was shoved out the door.


    He turned around, facing the cold, unyielding door, and when he tried to open it, he found it had been locked from the inside.


    Lin Qi...


    This woman!


    She actually dared to lock him out?


    Just as Huo Tingdong was about to explode, he heard the sound of a door opening behind him.


    He turned around and saw Momo and Han standing at the doorway, confusion and bewilderment written across their tired little faces.


    Huo Tingdong suppressed his anger, pushing down his rage, and asked, ¡°Why are you two up?¡±


    Han blinked his heavy eyelids and looked at the door behind him.


    Momo asked, ¡°Did you have a fight with Mommy?¡± He had vaguely heard noises of an argument and thought Huo Tingdong had started a fight with Lin Qi, so he dragged Han to the door, opened it, only to see Huo Tingdong isolated outside the door.


    Han also looked at him with wide eyes.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°No fight.¡± Even if he and Lin Qi had a huge argument, he didn¡¯t want the little ones to know about it.


    ¡°That¡¯s good then,¡± Momo sighed with relief, looking around suspiciously, ¡°I thought you had made Mommy angry! Hmph, if you make Mommy angry, you¡¯ll have to kneel on a washboard!¡±


    His tone, half-joking and half-serious, made Han take it to heart.


    Han moved his ears, surprised, and secretly vowed to himself that he would never make Aunt Qiqi angry in the future. If he ever did make Aunt Qiqi angry... then he would have to kneel on a washboard!


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Go to sleep early!¡±


    He went over and pushed the two kids back into the room, ¡°Get back to your own beds.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Momo and Han entered the door.


    Huo Tingdong closed the room door, turned around, and looked at Lin Qi¡¯s room, still feeling annoyed.


    His hand instinctively brushed his lips.


    The warmth of her red lips still lingered on his mouth.


    Thinking of his own uncontrollable actions just now, Huo Tingdong felt momentarily dazed.


    Had he gone out of his mind?


    ...


    The next day.


    Lin Qi suddenly received a message from the work group chat: Mrs. Fang had woken up, but her condition was not good, still in a deep coma, and the doctors said there was a large possibility she could become a vegetable.


    The entire company was in uproar.


    Some said that Fang Zhixing wanted to divorce Mrs. Fang, and she vehemently refused, ending up being beaten to a pulp, her implants shattered.


    Others said Mrs. Fang had offended the Huo Family, and Fang Zhixing was cutting ties with her to avoid implication¡ªlike a gecko shedding its tail.


    There were also rumors that Mrs. Fang¡¯s son had bullied the young master of the Huo Family at school, and the Huo Family had declared that the Fang Family must pay the price. Overnight, Fang Zhixing was ousted from the board of Windsor High School, the Fang Family was in turmoil, and, in addition, several companies under Mrs. Fang¡¯s control were in jeopardy as shareholders deserted, risking bankruptcy and liquidation.


    Mrs. Fang failed in her threat to jump from a building against the Huo Family, missing her step and suffering severe injuries, lingering on the brink of death...


    Even though the company immediately came forward to deny these rumors, saying it was not possible for the company to go bankrupt or abandon ship, these explanations did not stabilize the frightened staff.


    Various versions of rumors spread far and wide.


    The upper echelons of Windsor High School also underwent a reshuffle.


    Several shareholders were liquidated, some executives who needed to be withdrawn were withdrawn, and those who needed to be dismissed were dismissed.


    The teachers of the Lion Class were all replaced; even Ms. Mia was transferred to another city¡¯s branch school, with no news to be found.


    In short, Young Master Han¡¯s falling into the water, like dominoes, triggered a chain reaction, causing a silent storm in Windsor.


    When class began on Monday, Lin Qi, as usual, took Han and Momo to the school gate, only to be greeted by a special reception.


    ¡°Good morning, Young Master Han!¡±


    Several uniformed executives lined up, warmly welcoming Han.


    Lin Qi was startled by this grand reception.


    ¡°Who is this...¡± The executives looked towards Lin Qi, guessing her identity.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I am Lin Jinmo¡¯s mother.¡±


    ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s Lin Jinmo¡¯s mother,¡± their demeanor cooled somewhat.


    Lin Qi smiled and said to Momo, ¡°Mommy will just see you to the gate.¡±


    Han glanced at Lin Qi, feeling something odd.


    It seemed Lin Qi wasn¡¯t as enthusiastic towards him anymore. While not cold, her attitude showed a concern, which, while unchanged, now had an added touch of distance.


    Momo asked, ¡°Mommy, why has your attitude towards Han changed?¡± He was quite sensitive, so he cautiously asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you like Han anymore?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°No.¡± She squatted down to adjust Momo¡¯s tie and said, ¡°Han¡¯s daddy said that I¡¯m not Han¡¯s biological mom and that I should know my place. He plans to marry Aunt Song in the future, so he wants Han to develop feelings for Aunt Song. Since it¡¯s a remarriage, he surely hopes Han will get closer to her rather than just me.¡±


    Momo, upon hearing this, suddenly felt a sense of loss, ¡°He¡¯s going to marry Song Shuyan?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°I see.¡±


    Momo turned around with a gloomy face.


    For some reason, because of this matter, his mood plummeted.


    He had always known that Huo Tingdong was his biological father, and even though he had no intention of recognizing Huo Tingdong, the thought of him marrying Song Shuyan annoyed him.


    He even started to dislike Huo Tingdong a bit more.


    Lin Qi watched as Han and Momo held hands and went through the school gate, then suddenly received a call from Huo Tingdong.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    ¡°You don¡¯t need to pick up Han after school today.¡±


    Lin Qi frowned, ¡°Are you letting Song Shuyan pick up Han after school?¡±

 Chapter 87: 87 Han Refuses to Go Home

    Chapter 87: Chapter 87 Han Refuses to Go Home


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±


    After that, he hung up the phone.


    Lin Qi frowned, feeling discontent. This man truly lacks any respect!


    Could he really believe what Song Shuyan said, thinking that she was being nice to Han only to get back together with him, using it to curry favor with her?


    Forget it.


    Since he hopes for Han to build a good relationship with Song Shuyan, she would not interfere.


    ...


    On the way to the classroom, Momo was somewhat distracted until they reached the classroom door. Momo looked at Han and said, ¡°Do you know that your Daddy is going to marry that woman?¡±


    Han tilted his little head, not quite understanding at first.


    Momo said, ¡°It¡¯s that ¡®Song Shuyan¡¯ lady, don¡¯t you dislike her too? Your Daddy is going to marry her, and she¡¯ll be your stepmom!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han shook his head vehemently, his eyes filled with resistance.


    Momo continued, ¡°Haven¡¯t you noticed that my Mommy has been much colder to you? Because your Daddy won¡¯t let her be nice to you anymore, he hopes you develop feelings for that woman, maybe thinking my Mommy is in the way!¡±


    On hearing this, Han¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    He too had noticed Lin Qi was more distant towards him. He thought he had done something wrong or wondered if Huo Tingdong had upset Aunt Qiqi, and he was caught in the middle. He didn¡¯t expect it to be for this reason!


    Han puffed his cheeks angrily, clenching his small fists tight, ¡°I don¡¯t want her!¡± He really didn¡¯t want Song Shuyan as a stepmom!


    If Daddy was really going to ¡°marry¡± him a stepmom, he hoped it would be Aunt Qiqi.


    If Song Shuyan were to be his stepmom, he would rather run away from home!


    Momo asked, ¡°Do you like that woman?¡±


    Han shook his head, immediately making clear his position.


    Momo asked again, ¡°Then do you like my Mommy?¡±


    Han nodded his head firmly, standing by his stance.


    Momo smiled, ¡°If you like my Mommy, then we are friends!¡±


    Han thought to himself that Aunt Qiqi was so beautiful and so gentle. In this world, could someone actually be so blind as to not like Aunt Qiqi and prefer another woman?


    That blind person couldn¡¯t be his dad, could it?


    Humph.


    If his Daddy really went blind, he¡¯d take his Daddy to an ophthalmologist, to get his poor Daddy¡¯s eyes properly treated!


    Han imagined naively: If only Daddy could marry Aunt Qiqi.


    That way, he and Aunt Qiqi would truly be family!


    Momo asked, ¡°Han, do you know who your Mommy is?¡±


    Han shook his head.


    His great-grandmother always told him that his Mommy didn¡¯t love him, and that¡¯s why she abandoned him.


    But Han never believed it. He was so cute; how could his Mommy possibly not want him?


    Momo asked, ¡°Then do you miss your Mommy?¡±


    Han shook his head.


    He had no concept of his birth mother and had never even met her. How could he miss her?


    Momo said, ¡°If I were you, I¡¯d definitely want to find my real Mommy!¡±


    Han pouted.


    If only Aunt Qiqi were his real Mommy, that would make life perfectly complete.


    All day, Han and Momo were both distracted, preoccupied with their own thoughts.


    By the time school was out, Lin Qi arrived on time to pick up Momo.


    Han longingly wanted to follow, but Lin Qi suddenly squatted down and said, ¡°Han, your Daddy will come to pick you up. Can you be a good boy and wait for him?¡±


    Han shook his head desperately, clutching Lin Qi¡¯s sleeve, insisting to leave with her.


    Lin Qi steeled her heart, carefully brushed off his hand, and gently said, ¡°Han, be good, I can¡¯t take you with me.¡± Otherwise, it would only give Huo Tingdong another reason to suspect that she wanted to kidnap Han!


    Suddenly, Han¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. Lin Qi saw the distress in his eyes, felt the ache in her heart, but there was nothing she could do except to harden her stance and say, ¡°Han, be good, Daddy will be here soon.¡±


    With that, she took Momo¡¯s hand and left without looking back.


    Momo turned to look at Han with a heavy heart, only to see Han suddenly sit down on the ground and burst into tears.


    ¡°Mommy...¡± Momo tugged at Lin Qi¡¯s sleeve, ¡°Han is crying...¡±


    Lin Qi, with a pang in her heart, looked back to see Han with his backpack on, his eyes red, rubbing his eyes and crying pitifully.


    The teachers surrounded him, trying to console him in a fluster, offering beautiful candies and cute dolls to Han, but he wouldn¡¯t glance at them, continuing to cry his heart out.


    Lin Qi told herself firmly, ¡°Mommy can¡¯t take him with her.¡± She felt guilty, afraid that Han would think that she didn¡¯t want him anymore, that she hated him.


    But there was nothing she could do.


    Han thought that if he cried, Aunt Qiqi would turn back to take him along, but snapping back to reality, Lin Qi had already left with Momo, leaving him with widened eyes of utter despair and ceasing his crying.


    By the time Huo Tingdong and Song Shuyan arrived, most of the children had left, and only Han stood alone with his little backpack at the school entrance.


    From a distance, Han was hanging his head, his small hands fidgeting with the hem of his clothes, traces of crying still evident in his eyes.


    Song Shuyan asked with concern, ¡°Why is Han crying?¡±


    Worried, she quickly approached, squatted in front of Han, ¡°Han, why are you sniffling? Did we come too late? Han, I¡¯m sorry!¡±


    She reached out her hand to touch Han¡¯s head, but Han pushed her hand away.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s eyes widened in shock, falling backward onto the ground and looking at Han with equal hurt.


    Huo Tingdong walked over, saw Han push Song Shuyan to the ground, and questioned, ¡°Han, why did you push someone?¡±


    Han lifted his little face, glaring at Song Shuyan with utter disdain, then turned away from Huo Tingdong, defiantly turning his body.


    Huo Tingdong looked around and saw the teachers standing in a row behind Han, equally at a loss. He asked, ¡°What happened to him?¡±


    The teachers shook their heads, not understanding the real situation.


    Huo Tingdong extended his hand to Han, saying, ¡°Han, let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Han glanced at Huo Tingdong¡¯s offered hand, but pretended not to see it and turned his body away even more.


    ¡°Han?¡± Seeing the refusal on Han¡¯s face, Huo Tingdong then looked towards Song Shuyan.


    Song Shuyan brushed off the dust from her clothes, stood up, and glanced uneasily at Huo Tingdong, ¡°What¡¯s wrong with Han? Did he have a rough time at school?¡±


    The teachers immediately defended themselves: ¡°No! Young Master Han has been very happy at school; nobody has upset him!¡± They feared Huo Tingdong would blame them.


    Huo Tingdong reached out, forcibly pulled Han, but Han struggled and pushed him away again, sitting down on a nearby stool, clearly unwilling to go home with him.


    ¡°Young Master Han, let¡¯s go home with Daddy!¡± The new homeroom teacher comforted patiently from the side.


    Han turned his face away, not wanting to listen.


    Seeing Song Shuyan, he suddenly realized why Aunt Qiqi hadn¡¯t taken him home.


    It must be this woman; she must be the one who didn¡¯t allow Aunt Qiqi to take him home!


    The disgust in Han¡¯s eyes deepened. He sat stubbornly on the small stool, refusing to leave.


    Song Shuyan knew this little guy was defying her, not willing to go home!

 Chapter 88: 88: Silent Confrontation Between Father and Son

    Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Silent Confrontation Between Father and Son


    Song Shuyan walked up to Han and smiled, ¡°Han, if you don¡¯t listen to Daddy, Daddy won¡¯t love you anymore. Come on, let¡¯s go home with us.¡±


    She reached out to hold him.


    But Han pushed her away, and when Song Shuyan tried to force a hug, he lowered his head and bit her on the wrist.


    ¡°Ah...¡±


    Song Shuyan retracted her hand in pain, teeth itching with hate, but still had to pretend to be tolerant and gentle, ¡°Han, don¡¯t be afraid, auntie is taking you home, how could you bite your auntie?¡±


    Han paid her no attention.


    ...


    He didn¡¯t want to go home with her at all!


    Huo Tingdong watched Han, staying silent, as if father and son were in a soundless standoff.


    Song Shuyan tentatively asked from the side, ¡°Tingdong, if we keep this stalemate, it¡¯s going to get dark soon.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You go back first.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I...¡± How could she bear to leave?


    She was now eager to take the initiative, seeing Han growing closer to Lin Qi was an imminent threat to her.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°He won¡¯t go if you are here.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Children don¡¯t understand, how can you drag this out with him, just carry him to the car.¡±


    No matter how stubborn Han was, he was just a child; Huo Tingdong could subdue him with one hand.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°If I forcibly carry him to the car, he will resist me in other ways.¡± Han was a child with a quirky temper, very well-behaved at times, and very rebellious at others; even if he¡¯s forcibly put in the car, once home, he would protest by refusing to eat.


    Since Han wanted to drag this out, then Huo Tingdong might as well keep him company to the end.


    Huo Tingdong sat down on the chair opposite Han.


    With him sitting down, the others felt even more uneasy, not knowing whether to stay or leave.


    Huo Tingdong and Han, this father and son duo, when angry, are both of the same stubborn demeanor, looking as though they were cast from the same mold.


    ...


    Lin Qi returned home with Momo, and the nanny had already prepared dinner.


    Momo put his schoolbag back in his room, looking somewhat gloomy.


    Lin Qi stood at the door, looking at Momo sitting at his desk in a daze, and asked, ¡°Have you finished your homework?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Yes.¡± He always did his homework during class, never leaving it until after school.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Then let¡¯s wait until Han comes home to have dinner together.¡±


    Momo frowned slightly, ¡°He won¡¯t come back.¡±


    Lin Qi was startled, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Based on my understanding of Han, he won¡¯t be willing to go home with Uncle Huo.¡±


    Lin Qi was surprised and felt a sense of amazement, realizing that Little Baby¡¯s bond was indeed strong, they had developed such an understanding and knowledge of each other.


    She smiled and said, ¡°You and Han get along very well.¡±


    Momo looked thoughtful, ¡°Mommy, I hate that woman, Han hates her too, and he also doesn¡¯t want Uncle Huo to marry that woman.¡±


    Lin Qi remained silent, not saying a word.


    It was Huo Tingdong¡¯s wish to marry whomever he wanted, how could she interfere?


    Time passed, minute by minute.


    Before they knew it, it was already half-past eight in the evening.


    Huo Tingdong and Han had not come home yet.


    Just as Lin Qi was wondering what could be the situation, the phone rang; it was Huo Tingdong calling.


    Lin Qi answered the phone, ¡°Hello?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han wants you to come pick him up, otherwise he¡¯s unwilling to go home.¡±


    Lin Qi suddenly got up, ¡°Are you still at the school?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± Judging by his tone, he obviously sounded worn out; it seemed like he had fought a ¡°protracted battle.¡±


    It appears that after squabbling with Han for so long, even this man, who was always cold and iron-blooded, finally admitted defeat and had to pin his hopes on Lin Qi.


    Only Lin Qi could convince Han to go home with her.


    Lin Qi grabbed her bag and headed to the entryway, when she suddenly remembered Huo Tingdong¡¯s previous cold attitude towards her, and snorted, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say before that you didn¡¯t want me to take Han home? Didn¡¯t Song Shuyan come to pick him up?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han doesn¡¯t want to go home with her.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°So, you¡¯re asking me for help now?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Yeah.¡±


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t resist teasing, ¡°Are you begging me?¡±


    Silence came from the other end.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°If you don¡¯t plead with me, I¡¯m not going to go, lest you accuse me of having ulterior motives when approaching Han.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice stiffened, ¡°You...¡± This woman, really pushing her luck.


    He clenched the phone, looking at Han sitting on the stool, face drooping, hugging his backpack, his stomach growling with hunger, yet stubbornly glued to the seat as if with superglue, utterly immovable.


    ¡°Please,¡± the man who was always looking down on others actually begged her on the phone, ¡°Is that enough?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You¡¯re impossible!¡± She hung up the phone and said to Momo, ¡°I¡¯m going to pick up Han.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Momo nodded, ¡°Mm, I¡¯ll wait for Mommy to come home and we¡¯ll have dinner together.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    When Lin Qi arrived at the school gate, it was already nine o¡¯clock in the evening.


    Huo Tingdong and Han were in a deadlock, and Song Shuyan stood aside, not leaving. From a distance, she could see Lin Qi walking towards the school entrance, and her heart sank.


    Just now, she had seen Huo Tingdong stand up and walk aside to make a call. She didn¡¯t expect him to be calling Lin Qi for help.


    Song Shuyan felt uncomfortable.


    All this time, no matter how much she cajoled or deceived, Han refused to go home with her. She inevitably felt frustrated and annoyed. Now, seeing Lin Qi arrive, Song Shuyan turned back to find Han suddenly standing up from the stool, eyes shimmering with a bright, shiny light, and her feelings of heartache and jealousy intensified.


    How could this little guy be so close to Lin Qi?


    Could this be the so-called blood-is-thicker-than-water telepathy?


    Song Shuyan wanted to walk over to hug Han, but he deliberately avoided her, glaring at her with a particularly wary look.


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Han, do you really dislike Auntie that much?¡±


    Her softly put question was met with Han¡¯s unambiguous and firm nod.


    Song Shuyan was even more stung, ¡°Why do you dislike Auntie? Did Auntie do something wrong?¡±


    Han kept a stiff face, still not speaking, but his eyes were silently declaring: Dislike is dislike, even if she had the face of an angel, he still wouldn¡¯t like her!


    Lin Qi walked up to Han and smiled, ¡°Han, why are you sulking and refusing to go home? Auntie and Momo are waiting at home to have dinner with you!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han immediately stretched out his arms towards Lin Qi, asking for a hug.


    Lin Qi squatted down, enveloped Han in her arms, and lifted him up.


    Han¡¯s face burst into a smile, his eyes curving into adorable and charming crescents.


    Huo Tingdong watched, a tinge of astonishment in his eyes.


    He hadn¡¯t expected that the previously lifeless little guy would spring to life and become lively upon seeing Lin Qi.

 Chapter 89: 89: Two Small Nail Households

    Chapter 89: Chapter 89: Two Small Nail Households


    Han really depended on Lin Qi, he couldn¡¯t be separated from her.


    The little guy was smarter than he imagined, Han seemed to understand that he intended to cultivate a relationship between him and Song Shuyan, so he protested in his own way.


    Indeed, this woman held a significant place in Han¡¯s heart.


    Huo Tingdong stood up and said to Song Shuyan, ¡°It¡¯s getting late, I¡¯ll take you home.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han immediately reached out and grabbed Huo Tingdong¡¯s sleeve.


    He definitely didn¡¯t want Daddy to take this woman home!


    ...


    Song Shuyan was absolutely furious with this little brat, who was thwarting her in every way.


    But Han¡¯s move was effective.


    Huo Tingdong hesitated for a moment, then said to Song Shuyan, ¡°I¡¯ll have the driver take you home.¡±


    Song Shuyan immediately said, ¡°No need!¡± Her embarrassed demeanor slightly lost composure, and if it weren¡¯t for pinching her palm fiercely, she almost couldn¡¯t control the frustration on her face, forcing a smile, ¡°I can go home by myself.¡±


    Huo Tingdong seemed not to notice anything unusual and gave a grunt of acknowledgment.


    Seeing this, Song Shuyan felt even more aggrieved.


    She resentfully glared at Lin Qi for a moment, then suddenly said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°Isn¡¯t the school holding a camping trip this week? I¡¯ll go back and prepare.¡±


    After saying that, Song Shuyan slung her bag over her shoulder and turned to leave.


    ¡°Camping trip?¡± Lin Qi was somewhat surprised, ¡°Is it organized by the school?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Didn¡¯t Momo tell you?¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned, ¡°No.¡± Momo had been sullen and stayed in his room since he came home, not talking to her.


    Han rummaged through his backpack and handed her a note for parents.


    Lin Qi took it and glanced over it.


    This week, the Lion Class would have a camping trip, an annual event held at the botanical garden. Since the parents of Lion Class were usually busy and rarely had a full day to spend with their children, the camping was a good opportunity for parents and children to relax.


    Lin Qi was surprised that Momo hadn¡¯t mentioned such an important activity.


    ¡°Let¡¯s go home!¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°Han must be very hungry.¡±


    She was holding Han, already hearing the rumbling of his stomach.


    Huo Tingdong nodded.


    Lin Qi held Han and got into the car, intentionally sitting in the back row of the minivan to avoid direct contact with Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong sat in the second row, looked back at her, and Lin Qi immediately turned her face towards the window.


    He originally wanted to ask if she wanted to join them for the camping trip.


    But considering...


    Song Shuyan, trying to win an opportunity to bond with Han, also volunteered for the camping trip, Huo Tingdong decided to give Song Shuyan and Han one more chance.


    If Han really didn¡¯t like Song Shuyan, he wouldn¡¯t force it.


    If he had to make a choice between Song Shuyan and Han, he would prioritize Han¡¯s feelings.


    After all, Han was the most important to him.


    They returned home.


    The four of them had dinner together.


    No one spoke during the meal.


    Han and Momo buried their heads in eating, the two little guys were growing and couldn¡¯t stand being hungry, not to mention Han¡¯s long confrontation with Huo Tingdong at the school gate, and Momo waiting hungry for so long for Han.


    The two little fellows were famished.


    Lin Qi suddenly thought of something and asked, ¡°Momo, your class is organizing a camping trip, why didn¡¯t you tell Mommy?¡±


    Momo looked up, with a few grains of rice still sticking to the corners of his mouth, and after thinking for a moment, he said, ¡°I forgot.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡±


    Momo said, ¡°The activity is optional, does Mommy have free time?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°If not free, we need to make time. It¡¯s rare to have such a nice parent-child activity, Mommy doesn¡¯t want to miss it.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Um, then Mommy can sign it later, I¡¯ll hand it in tomorrow.¡± He paused suddenly and asked, ¡°But, do we need to buy a tent for the camping activity?¡±


    Tent?


    Han curiously lifted his little head, his lips also covered with a few grains of rice, his round eyes wide open, curiously looking at Momo, as if asking, what¡¯s a tent?


    Typically for camping, Daddy would just have a driver take the RV.


    The other kids¡¯ families also have RVs, so normally, the parents would drive RVs to the botanical garden and set up camp.


    For meals, Huo Tingdong would hire several chefs to prepare a buffet in the botanical garden in advance, all crafted by five-star chefs.


    Han has no concept of tents.


    Lin Qi, amused by Han¡¯s cute expression, struggled to describe the tent, gesturing with her hands, ¡°A tent is like, something that looks like a little house, um...¡± she felt truly at a loss for words.


    Momo said, ¡°You¡¯ll see when the time comes!¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han happily clapped his hands.


    The next day.


    After sending the two little ones to school, Lin Qi went to a large mart to pick a tent.


    Before this, she had always wanted to take Momo camping, but tents were too expensive; a good one could often cost thousands, and she was really strapped for cash at the time.


    Lin Qi spotted a tent with a starry sky top, one side solid and the other transparent, allowing them to lie inside at night and watch the stars and moon; they just needed to draw the inner curtain when sleeping.


    The drawbacks were that it was expensive and required some manual skills.


    This tent was large, so setting it up would definitely be time-consuming and labor-intensive.


    After persistent persuasion from the salesperson, Lin Qi finally checked out and it was delivered by professionals.


    In the afternoon, Lin Qi also went to the used car market and bought a Volkswagen wagon.


    After thinking it over, always commuting by subway and picking up Momo had its inconveniences, and now that she had some spare funds, she thought of buying a car for commuting and taking Momo to and from school.


    The new car had a strong smell, so she bought a nearly new second-hand car. The Volkswagen brand was economical and practical.


    The paperwork was done that afternoon, and although it was quick, she still missed picking up the two Little Babys from school.


    Lin Qi called Huo Tingdong to pick them up; she had just sorted out the new car, and an hour later, Huo Tingdong called.


    His tone was somewhat stiff on the phone, ¡°They refuse to go with me, insisting you come to pick them up.¡±


    When he arrived at the school, the two Little Babys sat at the school gate, looking at him like he was a child trafficker, wary and sensitive, unwilling to go with him.


    Unknowingly, all the other kids had been picked up, leaving only these two little difficult ones.


    Huo Tingdong couldn¡¯t do anything but ask Lin Qi to step in.


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± Really?


    Momo refused to go with him and even Han too?


    Such touching father-son affection.


    Lin Qi drove up to the school entrance; the two little ones didn¡¯t recognize her car and were still staring blank-eyed with Huo Tingdong until Lin Qi got out. Only then did the two Little Babys react.


    Momo exclaimed in surprise, ¡°Mommy bought a new car!¡±


    Han flatteringly said, ¡°Aunt Qiqi¡¯s car looks better than Daddy¡¯s!¡±

 Chapter 90 90: 90: Coming in This Kind of Car Isnt Embarrassing

    Chapter 90: Chapter 90: Coming in This Kind of Car Isn¡¯t Embarrassing


    Thump thump thump...


    The two Little Babys excitedly ran to Lin Qi¡¯s side, circling around the new car.


    Momo touched the shiny car door and said, ¡°It¡¯s so pretty!¡± The previous owner had modified and applied a film to the car. Originally black, it now sported a pinkish-blue film with Hello Kitty cartoons on the door, which made it particularly appealing to children.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Momo and Han almost simultaneously exclaimed, ¡°We like it!¡±


    Upon seeing Lin Qi, the two little ones seemed happier than ever.


    ...


    Especially Han, who joyfully opened his arms, his face bright with a smile, playfully jumping and acting coy in front of her.


    ¡°I want a hug... I want a hug...¡± As soon as he spoke, his voice was childish and tender, both innocent and adorably soft.


    Lin Qi bent down and just as she opened her arms, the little guy plunged into them, cuddling like a cotton ball in her embrace, his small face rubbing against her shoulder.


    Han still had a milky scent on him.


    The nanny mentioned that when Han was first brought back from the orphanage, he was malnourished and had a weak immune system. Therefore, Huo Tingdong prepared formula milk for him to supplement his nutrition until six months ago when Han¡¯s growth and development caught up with his peers, and he was ¡°weaned.¡±


    Han was soft and sweet, just like a cotton candy with a milky fragrance!


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t help but kiss his cheek.


    At this, Momo became jealous. He pouted and muttered, ¡°Mommy doesn¡¯t hug me, kiss me...¡±


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t help but laugh, yet she found Momo¡¯s jealous look too adorable. She said to Momo, ¡°When we get home, Mommy will give you all the hugs and kisses you want!¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I want kisses and hugs and to be held up high now!¡±


    Kisses and hugs and held up high?


    Upon hearing this, Han¡¯s eyes lit up. He pleasingly wrapped his arms around Lin Qi¡¯s neck, kissed her cheek, and blinked, and Lin Qi instantly understood his look.


    Han also wanted her kisses and hugs and to be held up high.


    She laughed inwardly, but generously obliged the two little darlings. She lifted Han up, but due to her limited arm strength, she could only manage lifting him halfway, yet Han was already blushing with a huge grin of satisfaction on his face!


    Lin Qi did not neglect Momo either; she lifted him up high and kissed his cheek, which finally contented Momo.


    ¡°Can we go home now?¡±


    Momo and Han nodded.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°So, Han, are you going to ride in Auntie¡¯s car or Daddy¡¯s car?¡±


    Han pointed at Lin Qi¡¯s car door, seemingly asking if he could sit in the passenger seat.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°No! Han and Momo must sit in the back.¡± Saying this, she opened the back car door and made an ¡°inviting¡± gesture, ¡°Two little princes, please get in the car!¡±


    Momo and Han immediately behaved elegantly, climbing into the car obediently.


    Momo¡¯s mannerisms were particularly graceful, resembling a little noble gentleman; however, Han seemed a bit clumsy due to unfamiliarity with the car. He held the car door, stepped up with one foot, and had to use his hands and feet to climb onto the seat, wriggling his round little bottom before finally sitting down.


    Huo Tingdong saw the two little guys scrambling into Lin Qi¡¯s car, his lips twitched fiercely.


    These two little ones were truly like little tails grown from Lin Qi, impossible to shake off.


    The driver carefully reported from behind, ¡°Han also got into Miss Lin¡¯s car.¡±


    Huo Tingdong also got into the car and instructed the driver, ¡°Follow her car.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lin Qi meticulously prepared many camping equipments, and by Friday morning, she got up early to pack everything into the car.


    Originally, Han also wanted to ride in Lin Qi¡¯s car, but Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, you ride in my car.¡±


    Han was somewhat reluctant.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, be good, listen to Daddy.¡±


    Lin Qi also said, ¡°Han, once we get to the botanical garden and Auntie sets up the tent, we can play together.¡±


    Hearing this, Han obediently held Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand and they left.


    Lin Qi also took Momo with her, holding him as they got into the car and headed towards the botanical garden!


    She had just parked the car at the campsite when she was suddenly stunned.


    The entire campsite was filled with RVs.


    Lin Qi was truly dumbfounded by the sight.


    Even though she knew that most parents of Windsor High School were wealthy, how could an entire class bring RVs for camping?


    The whole campsite had turned into an RV show.


    The staff on site were also shocked and speechless.


    ¡°So many RVs!¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s said that these are the kids from Windsor High School¡¯s Lion Class camping here.¡±


    ¡°No wonder... It¡¯s said that Windsor High School is a prestigious school only affordable by the wealthy, each of these kids¡¯ family worth billions.¡±


    ¡°These kids are really winning right from the start, no wonder they say studying well is nothing compared to being born into the right family! Being born well is a skill indeed.¡±


    Among the dozen RVs, Lin Qi¡¯s travel car looked like a tiny sparrow.


    Other parents, sitting in their RVs, looked at Lin Qi¡¯s car as if watching a joke.


    ¡°Is this Lin Jinmo¡¯s mom? Why would she bring such a car to go camping?¡±


    ¡°A Volkswagen worth a couple hundred thousand, I haven¡¯t seen such a car in ages.¡±


    ¡°This is too shabby, isn¡¯t it? I saw her with an Hermes Himalaya Bag at the last school anniversary, someone who can carry Hermes, how come she can¡¯t afford even one RV?¡±


    ¡°Hahaha! It¡¯s absolutely hilarious, bringing such a car to go camping, isn¡¯t she embarrassed?¡±


    Today the weather is great, the sunshine is just right, warming the body


    A gentle breeze makes it very comfortable.


    The wealthy ladies sit in their vehicles, refusing to get out.


    Lin Qi gets out of the car, sweeping her gaze, unsure which RV belongs to Huo Tingdong.


    Momo says, ¡°Mommy, shall we set up the tent now?¡± He was eager to start.


    Lin Qi replies, ¡°Sure!¡±


    She took the equipment from the car and started to set up.


    However, setting up the Starry Sky tent was harder than she imagined, Lin Qi looked at the thick stack of instructions, puzzled, not knowing where to begin.


    Momo took the instructions from her, flipped through a few pages, and smiled lightly, ¡°It¡¯s quite simple!¡±


    Lin Qi asks, ¡°You understand it?¡±


    Momo nods, ¡°Yes, I understood.¡± He took charge of directing, and Lin Qi took charge of building, they divided the work clearly.


    Lin Qi fixed the sorted tent poles to the ground at the campsite, quickly, the basic structure of the tent was set up, what¡¯s left was to install the tent cloth.


    Children and parents from the RVs gradually started coming out.


    Parents clearly disdained Lin Qi¡¯s tent, but the kids were extremely curious and came around to watch.


    Just as the tent was half-setup, a luxurious RV slowly drove into the campsite.


    Lin Qi looked up, seeing this RV and immediately guessed, it must be Huo Tingdong¡¯s RV.


    Because this RV was too eye-catching.


    An Austrian-imported Palazzo RV, globally limited, celebrated as the ¡°Palace on Wheels¡± cost up to 2.4 million pounds, with facilities comparable to a five-star hotel.


    It even had a master bedroom suite, fireplace on the inner wall, satellite TV, and even a bar.


    However, inside the RV, the atmosphere was a bit tense.


    Han tightly crossed his arms, turning his face toward the window, clearly a bit sullen.


    Song Shuyan sat opposite him, no matter how she tried to please him, Han remained indifferent, which made her extremely uncomfortable.

 Chapter 91 91: 91: If You Dont Obey, Ill Throw You Down!

    Chapter 91: Chapter 91: If You Don¡¯t Obey, I¡¯ll Throw You Down!


    ¡°Han, auntie bought you the juice you like the most.¡± Song Shuyan handed a bottle of juice to Han.


    ¡°Snap.¡±


    Han knocked the juice bottle to the ground with one hand.


    He was getting a little angry.


    He had wanted to ride in the same car as Lin Qi, but Huo Tingdong coaxed him onto the motorhome, and as soon as he got on, he saw Song Shuyan also in the same vehicle, instantly guessing Huo Tingdong¡¯s intentions!


    Along the way, the more Han thought about it, the angrier and more wronged he felt, his little face clouded over, as if it had frozen.


    ...


    Seeing her attempt to ingratiate herself was unsuccessful, and even facing a cold shoulder, Song Shuyan felt even more uncomfortable.


    She thought this kid was not dumb at all; rather, he was very smart.


    Otherwise, if he was really feeble-minded, she wouldn¡¯t have to try so hard to please him.


    Song Shuyan picked up the juice from the ground, feeling somewhat wronged, and looked towards Huo Tingdong with unspoken words in her eyes.


    Huo Tingdong said to Han, ¡°Be good, Han. Don¡¯t throw a tantrum.¡±


    Han was nonchalant to his words, in one ear and out the other. Suddenly, he saw Lin Qi and Momo setting up a tent and his eyes lit up; he pressed his face against the window, gazing eagerly.


    The driver said, ¡°Mr. Huo, we¡¯ve arrived at the camping ground. Shall we get off the vehicle?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Just park the car first.¡±


    Song Shuyan said with a smile, ¡°Tingdong, you go ahead and play with Han. I¡¯ll prepare the picnic for camping.¡±


    As soon as the car door opened, Han didn¡¯t wait for Huo Tingdong and jumped out, running towards Lin Qi and Momo.


    ¡°Momo!¡±


    Han called out Momo¡¯s name excitedly.


    Momo turned around and was surprised to see Han getting off such a luxurious motorhome.


    The starry sky bubble tent was almost fully set up.


    It was the first time Han had seen a tent, especially one so beautiful; he was full of longing.


    In his eyes, this starry bubble house was much prettier than daddy¡¯s motorhome!


    The other kids also gathered around, curiously staring at the bubble house, all wanting to explore.


    Lin Qi, busy and sweating profusely, had set up a hanging furnace and a smokeless grill in front of the tent, with the grill featuring a built-in small hot pot for dual use, suitable for both barbecuing and hot pot.


    She had laid out a picnic blanket on the side and arrayed all the prepared barbecue and hot pot ingredients.


    Han was already drooling.


    ¡°What a little glutton!¡± Momo teased him on the side, ¡°Don¡¯t rush, it¡¯s not ready to eat yet! You¡¯ll have to wait until Mommy has finished grilling.¡±


    Han nodded his head joyfully.


    The other parents also set up their motorhomes¡¯ tents, erected small tables, and began preparing for the picnic.


    The posh ladies gathered together, and compared to Lin Qi¡¯s plain attire, they were dressed in big brands worth thousands to tens of thousands, each carrying Chanel, Prada, and Hermes bags. While they appeared to chat, they were actually competing in showing off their own motorhomes and bags.


    Their attention suddenly fell on Song Shuyan.


    ¡°Who is this woman?¡±


    ¡°She came with Mr. Huo, could it be...¡±


    Having prepared the picnic, Song Shuyan noticed the posh ladies surrounding her, discussing her, overtly and covertly. Suddenly, she approached them with a tray of exquisite desserts, smiling and saying, ¡°Would you like to try the desserts I brought?¡±


    Everyone looked and saw on the tray that Song Shuyan was holding there were FENDI custom desserts, looking both high-class and stylish.


    They looked at Song Shuyan, dressed in Chanel with Gucci on her feet, carrying a bag on her back, her wrist adorned with a Tiffany diamond bracelet, a Van Cleef peacock stone necklace, and even her earrings were from Bvlgari, twenty thousand a pair.


    ¡°Thank you.¡±


    Soon, Song Shuyan was embraced by the circle of wealthy ladies.


    Someone casually inquired, ¡°We still don¡¯t know how to address you. What is your relationship with Mr. Huo?¡±


    Hearing this, Song Shuyan slightly curved the corners of her lips and said, ¡°I work at Huake University Affiliated Hospital, my surname is Song, I¡¯m a doctor, and currently pursuing a doctoral degree. Also...¡± she looked tenderly towards Huo Tingdong not far away, ¡°I am also Tingdong¡¯s fiance?e.¡±


    With these words,


    everyone¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment.


    This woman was Huo Tingdong¡¯s fiance?e!


    Suddenly, the way everyone looked at Song Shuyan changed, becoming incredibly enthusiastic and respectful.


    ¡°So you¡¯re Mr. Huo¡¯s fiance?e!¡±


    ¡°Is the wedding date set?¡±


    Song Shuyan replied, ¡°Not yet! Tingdong has always been very busy, and right now, his main focus is on Han. The wedding is not urgent. We will take our time to plan it. He says he wants to give me a grand and luxurious wedding, though I am not after all that. We grew up together as childhood sweethearts.¡±


    ¡°Miss Song, you and Mr. Huo are both talented and good-looking, truly a match made in heaven.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m so envious of you, being able to marry such a great man like Mr. Huo. He is the sun and moon in the sky, the dragon and phoenix among people, and only an outstanding woman like you is worthy of him.¡±


    Song Shuyan politely expressed her gratitude.


    She put down the tray and called out to Han, ¡°Han, come here.¡±


    Han was playing and roughhousing with Momo in front of the tent.


    His ears twitched, hearing Song Shuyan¡¯s call, yet he ignored it.


    Song Shuyan gritted her teeth, walked over, grabbed Han, and without any discussion, picked him up in her arms.


    Han instinctively began to struggle, his little face flushing red with anger.


    Song Shuyan suddenly said coldly into his ear, ¡°Try moving around again, see what happens?¡± Her face was smiling, but her tone carried a bone-chilling poison.


    Han stared at her in surprise.


    Song Shuyan threatened, ¡°Do you see that high platform over there?¡± She spoke while pointing towards a high platform.


    The camping site was on high ground, where a platform was set up as a climbing cliff, enclosed by guardrails, nearly five or six meters tall.


    She spoke word by word into Han¡¯s ear, ¡°If you don¡¯t behave, I¡¯ll throw you off there, and you¡¯ll die!¡±


    After all, she wasn¡¯t the one who carried him for ten months; she didn¡¯t feel any distress. In Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes, Han was precious, but in hers, he was just cheap as dirt.


    Han was somewhat intimidated.


    He never expected that Song Shuyan would actually threaten him.


    She would throw him off the high platform if he didn¡¯t behave?


    This woman was worse than he had imagined!


    Song Shuyan forcibly brought Han to the front of the RV, where a small table was set up, laden with an abundant picnic.


    She pressed Han onto a seat and told him, ¡°Sit here, be good, and don¡¯t move around. I¡¯m going to call your Daddy over, and the three of us will have lunch together.¡±


    Having said that, Song Shuyan stood up to leave.


    Han¡¯s expression suddenly darkened.


    He swiftly raised his hand and overturned the picnic cloth on the small table.


    ¡°Crash!¡±


    Song Shuyan, hearing the commotion, turned around in shock, only to see Han had already knocked over the carefully prepared picnic.


    Angry, Han grabbed bread and jam, forcefully throwing them onto the ground, and at the same time, juice, desserts, sandwiches, he swept them all off the table!

 Chapter 92 92: 92: Something is Fishy

    Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Something is Fishy


    Song Shuyan cried out in shock, ¡°What are you doing?¡± Her carefully prepared picnic was completely overturned on the ground.


    All of a sudden, everyone gathered around.


    Lin Qi and Momo, hearing the commotion, also looked toward Han¡¯s direction and were taken aback.


    Huo Tingdong, who had been on the phone, hung up quickly upon hearing the noise and walked to the front of the RV, only to see the mess all over the ground.


    What happened?


    He looked at Song Shuyan, only to see her standing there blankly, fists clenched, body trembling uncontrollably.


    ...


    Han suddenly bent down, picked up a rock from the ground, and threw it hard at Song Shuyan.


    Cries of shock rose from the crowd.


    Luckily, the rock missed its target.


    Several parents protectively surrounded their children, ¡°Why is Young Master Han so violent?¡±


    ¡°He¡¯s only seven years old, but his expression is so fierce.¡±


    ¡°Looking at his eyes, it¡¯s like he wants to kill someone...¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s terrifying... They say he¡¯s mentally challenged, so if he¡¯s in class with other kids and hurts one, he wouldn¡¯t be legally accountable, right?¡±


    ¡°Shush! Don¡¯t talk anymore, Mr. Huo is coming!¡±


    Huo Tingdong walked up to Han and grabbed his hand, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    His grip was pretty strong.


    In pain, Han clenched his teeth, his hand loosened, and the stone he had just picked up fell onto the lawn.


    ¡°Did you do this?¡± Huo Tingdong glared at the mess on the ground and sternly asked, ¡°Did you throw everything onto the ground?¡±


    Han pursed his lips tightly, not speaking.


    ¡°Answer!¡± Huo Tingdong said coldly, ¡°Huo Tinghan! Look at me!¡±


    Han lowered his head, avoiding his gaze.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Why would you throw a stone at someone? Since when did you become so rough?¡±


    Han bit his lips with anger, feeling wronged, and tried to break free from his grip.


    Huo Tingdong raised his hand as if to slap him, but Han stubbornly looked up, stared at him, the trembling body standing straight, defiantly staring at Huo Tingdong¡¯s raised hand, seemingly fearless!


    The hand stayed frozen mid-air.


    Lin Qi came over, gently pushed Huo Tingdong away, and took Han into her arms, ¡°Don¡¯t hit Han.¡±


    She believed that Han was always well-behaved and would not hurt others without reason.


    It must have been Song Shuyan who had said something she shouldn¡¯t have to Han.


    Lin Qi looked suspiciously at Song Shuyan, who at the moment was curled up in a corner like a victim, her complexion dull and lifeless.


    Huo Tingdong turned around, looked at Song Shuyan, and said to her, ¡°Ah Yan, get in the car first.¡±


    Song Shuyan lifted her head, glanced at Huo Tingdong, then at Han, and smiled helplessly, saying, ¡°Tingdong, don¡¯t blame Han, he¡¯s still young, he doesn¡¯t understand...¡±


    Huo Tingdong interrupted her, ¡°Get in the car first.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± Song Shuyan said nothing more and headed straight into the car.


    Han glared at her defensively, like a little lion closely watching a large prey, eyes filled with menace.


    Suddenly, a small hand landed on his head, gently rubbing his hair in a soothing manner.


    Han turned his face and saw Momo standing beside him, rubbing his hair while gently saying, ¡°Be good.¡±


    Han calmed down in an instant, taking Momo¡¯s hand as visibly he settled down.


    Momo said, ¡°Shall we go have some barbecue?¡± Saying that, he took Han¡¯s hand and walked towards the tent Lin Qi had set up.


    Lin Qi looked at Huo Tingdong and glanced around before saying indifferently, ¡°Don¡¯t be too quick to blame Han. He wouldn¡¯t hurt someone for no reason. He¡¯s always been stable emotionally; there must have been some provocation.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°He¡¯s never been this violent before. What could have provoked him?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know, I wasn¡¯t with him just now. Suddenly, Song Shuyan took him away... Maybe you should ask what Song Shuyan said to him?¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at the mess from the fallen picnic and instructed the driver, ¡°Clean this up.¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± the driver immediately came over to tidy up.


    Huo Tingdong said to Lin Qi, ¡°You go take care of the two kids first.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded and said, ¡°Got it.¡±


    Huo Tingdong then turned and got into the car.


    Inside the RV.


    Song Shuyan was wiping away her tears, appearing aggrieved. Upon seeing Huo Tingdong get into the car, she quickly clenched her handkerchief in her palm and raised her head to look at him, ¡°Tingdong, I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Why are you apologizing to me?¡±


    Song Shuyan lowered her head and said, ¡°I did my best... I never expected Han to have a latent tendency towards violence. Is it possible that growing up in the orphanage, he was led astray by the other kids there?¡±


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°What?¡±


    Song Shuyan continued, ¡°You know what the orphanage environment is like. Those kids are without parents; some are even the children of murderers, born with violent genes. Perhaps, Han was corrupted there and it just never showed.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han has always been well-behaved and has never shown a tendency towards violence.¡±


    Song Shuyan commented, ¡°As parents, we may not truly understand our own children. In my view, why not have Han see a psychologist? The earlier such violent tendencies are identified, the earlier they can be dealt with, which is better.¡±


    Huo Tingdong remained silent for a long while.


    He then asked, ¡°Did he hurt you?¡±


    Song Shuyan shook her head, ¡°He¡¯s only seven, how strong can he be.¡±


    Huo Tingdong inquired, ¡°What exactly did you both say?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I just asked him to eat something, not to be hungry. He seemed not to like the picnic I prepared, overturned it all, and suddenly, like out of control, wanted to throw a rock at me. I¡¯ve studied a lot of child psychology; this kind of illogical violent tendency is probably ingrained from childhood.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You need to calm down.¡± He casually closed the car door and looked out the window.


    The other parents had scattered but were still visibly shaken.


    They all feared Han¡¯s violent tendencies, not letting their children play with him.


    They were surely worried that Han being intellectually challenged meant no responsibility for any harm, and they certainly feared, as Huo Tingdong¡¯s son and the little prince of the Huo Family, even a serious incident would be suppressed by Huo Tingdong, so they dared not let their children near Han.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone prepare some food for you.¡±


    Song Shuyan replied, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. You better check on Han first, don¡¯t let him hurt anyone again.¡±


    On the campsite.


    The water in the suspended pot was already boiling.


    Lin Qi made a cup of oatmeal, added a bit of sugar, and handed it to Han, ¡°Han, have some oatmeal.¡±


    Han held the cup, staring blankly at the steaming suspended pot, still unable to snap out of it, his shoulders occasionally trembling, as if he had been scared by something.


    Momo placed slices of Wagyu beef on the griddle; under the sizzle of butter, a ¡°sizzle¡± sound emitted, followed by an enticing aroma.


    Momo had a feeling that there was something odd about the situation.


    Han had been fine just moments ago; how did things come to this shortly after Song Shuyan took him away?

 Chapter 93 93: 93 Lin Qi, Lets Remarry

    Chapter 93: Chapter 93 Lin Qi, Let¡¯s Remarry


    Unfortunately, Han didn¡¯t like to talk, and there was no way to get an explanation out of him.


    ¡°Wow, it smells great!¡±


    A few children ran over to Lin Qi¡¯s tent. Lin Qi was decorating the tent with string lights when the children curiously walked around the tent and exclaimed in amazement, ¡°What a beautiful little castle.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°This is not a castle, it¡¯s a tent.¡±


    ¡°Momo...¡± a little girl stammered shyly, ¡°May I sit next to you?¡±


    Lin Qi looked up and saw the girl blushing, her eyes barely concealing her admiration for Momo. Surprisingly, Momo, still so young, already had a little admirer in his class.


    ...


    Before she could feel proud for more than a few seconds, Momo coldly replied, ¡°No, you can¡¯t.¡±


    The little girl awkwardly froze in place.


    Lin Qi was resigned. It was hard for her to believe that her adorable son, who looked so cute, was such an ironclad straight man, so coldly rejecting the little girl who had been kind to him.


    ¡°Grumble grumble...¡± Han seemed to quickly calm down. He quietly finished the cereal in his cup and then took a keen interest in the grilled meat Momo had cooked.


    He had a devout faith in Momo¡¯s cooking skills, believing that anything Momo cooked would become exceptionally delicious.


    Seeing Han eyeing the grilled meat like a little glutton, Momo handed him the plate along with a pair of children¡¯s training chopsticks, saying, ¡°Go ahead and eat, you little greedy guts.¡±


    Han cheered inwardly, took the plate, picked up a piece of meat, opened his mouth wide, and swallowed the meat.


    Lin Qi anxiously warned, ¡°Han, be careful, it¡¯s hot.¡±


    What she didn¡¯t realize was that Momo was much more attentive than she was, and had waited until the grilled meat had cooled down a bit before giving it to Han so it wouldn¡¯t be too hot.


    The meat, dipped in barbecue sauce, was both fragrant and tender.


    Enjoying the tasty food, Han started shaking his head and swaying, and Lin Qi, watching the endearingly simple and lovely little guy, couldn¡¯t believe that he was a child with violent tendencies.


    It must have been something Song Shuyan said that she shouldn¡¯t have.


    Han really disliked Song Shuyan, and his visible repulsion to her deliberate approach was evident.


    However... Han was resistant and averse to almost everyone, except her; only with her was he very affectionate.


    Why is that?


    Lin Qi pondered thoughtfully as she bit into a sandwich Momo had prepared earlier in the evening, chewing while deep in thought.


    ¡°Mommy, let¡¯s fly kites later!¡± Momo suggested as he handed her the plate of cooked meat, ¡°I brought kites.¡±


    ¡°Okay,¡± Lin Qi happily accepted the suggestion.


    In the RV.


    Song Shuyan watched as Lin Qi and the two Little Babys had a harmonious time together, and felt an increasing sense of irritation.


    Especially when she saw Han, who had been fierce like a little tiger in front of her, became as tame as a docile kitten in front of Lin Qi, her state of mind became further unbalanced.


    This little bastard even dared to throw a stone at her earlier!


    Could it be that he understood her threat, and that¡¯s why...


    Turns out, he is not a fool.


    Contrary to her earlier speculation, this child wasn¡¯t dumb or mentally challenged; on the contrary, he was very smart. Not only did he understand her threat, but he also resisted her a lot.


    He was a thorn in her side, a real pain.


    Song Shuyan squinted her eyes.


    Unfortunately...


    She couldn¡¯t lay a hand on him.


    Han was Huo Tingdong¡¯s most precious treasure. If something happened to him, Huo Tingdong would surely investigate and find her culpable.


    He was the most vital of Huo Tingdong¡¯s protective scales.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s gaze suddenly fell upon Lin Qi and Momo.


    Afternoon.


    After lunch.


    Parents took their kids out for free activities.


    Lin Qi packed up the kites and planned to take Han and Momo to an open area to fly them.


    Huo Tingdong approached and asked, ¡°Where are you going?¡±


    Holding the kite, Lin Qi replied, ¡°We¡¯re going to fly kites.¡±


    After saying that, the atmosphere became awkwardly stagnant.


    Upon seeing Huo Tingdong, Han hid behind her. He seemed to have a bone to pick with Huo Tingdong, holding a grudge, hence treated Huo Tingdong with an indifferent attitude.


    But Huo Tingdong stood boldly in front of her without uttering a word, his gaze seemingly piercing through her slender figure and landing on Han behind her.


    Han ¡°hmphed¡± and turned his face to the side.


    Father and son were once again in a silent standoff, the scene frozen.


    Lin Qi awkwardly said, ¡°Do you want to fly kites with us?¡±


    She thought that for someone like him, kite flying, such a dull activity, he would probably not be interested.


    Unexpectedly¡ª


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°Together.¡±


    A row of dark lines formed on Lin Qi¡¯s forehead!


    What¡¯s going on?


    He acted as if he was waiting for her to invite him!


    It was just a casual question from her.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Then... let¡¯s do it together!¡±


    She took Han with one hand and Momo with the other and walked towards the open hillside.


    Huo Tingdong followed closely behind without missing a step.


    He wanted to understand why Han suddenly lost control before and hurled a stone at Song Shuyan.


    But Han was not talkative, perhaps due to the long-term silence, and even now, being with Lin Qi and becoming a bit more cheerful, willing to speak, his speech was still incoherent.


    Before long, the four of them had arrived at the open lawn.


    Momo handed the kite to Han and asked, ¡°Have you ever flown a kite?¡±


    Han shook his head.


    He had never flown one, only seen others do it.


    Momo said, ¡°I¡¯ll teach you once.¡± He picked up the reel and walked against the wind to about ten meters away, then loudly told Han, ¡°Let go!¡±


    Han immediately loosened his grip, and Momo started running against the wind, pulling on the kite string.


    The wind was strong that afternoon.


    The kite wobbled and soared upwards rapidly, soon taken high into the sky by the wind.


    Momo stood still, judging the wind direction while controlling the reel, and the kite flew higher and higher.


    Looking at the kite in the sky, Han¡¯s eyes began to sparkle, and quickly, the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.


    He ran towards Momo, and the two little ones ran up and down the hill, one after the other.


    Lin Qi stood still, glancing at ¡°Demon King¡± next to her, Huo Tingdong stood motionless by her side, the chill emanating from him incessantly.


    He had never seen Han so happy before, only when he was with Lin Qi and Momo did his face hold the innocence and joy that a seven-year-old child should have.


    He, too, wished that Han could be carefree like other children his age, having a beautiful and happy childhood.


    At least, it shouldn¡¯t be like his own lonely and broken childhood.


    Watching Han play and laugh heartily with Momo on the lawn, sometimes releasing giggles like silver bells, Huo Tingdong suddenly said, ¡°Lin Qi, let¡¯s remarry.¡±

 Chapter 94 94: 94 I Want You to Give Me Your Heart

    Chapter 94: Chapter 94 I Want You to Give Me Your Heart


    Lin Qi initially did not react, and when he did, his scalp tingled with Tingdong¡¯s sudden words, ¡°What...¡±


    Tingdong said, ¡°You heard me clearly, I don¡¯t need to repeat myself.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Remarry? How could you...¡± Is he serious? Can she refuse?


    Tingdong turned around, as if seeing through the resistance in her eyes, and said indifferently, ¡°What, you don¡¯t want to?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I don¡¯t want to. I have no reason to accept your proposal.¡±


    Tingdong lifted his eyelids, his tone imperious and brooking no disagreement: ¡°Do you think I¡¯m discussing this with you.¡±


    ...


    He suddenly stepped towards Lin Qi, his tall figure almost blocking all the light.


    She was enveloped in his shadow, looking up, she could only see the man¡¯s stern jawline.


    Tingdong said, ¡°You can state any condition, as long as it¡¯s within my power, just mention it.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°We¡¯re already divorced, Tingdong, even if we hadn¡¯t been married, I would treat Han as my own and take good care of him, so if you want to remarry me for Han¡¯s sake, there¡¯s truly no need.¡±


    Tingdong scrutinized her, looking at her tender face, tight skin, and fair complexion, she didn¡¯t look at all like a woman who had a child.


    He suddenly said, ¡°I know it¡¯s hard for you to accept this right now, I can give you time to consider.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to be such a great father, marrying a woman you don¡¯t love for Han¡¯s sake. Weren¡¯t you going to marry Song Shuyan? Why do you want to remarry me now?¡±


    Tingdong¡¯s expression darkened.


    He had already abandoned the idea of marrying Song Shuyan.


    He knew very well, his guilt towards Song Shuyan outweighed any other emotion.


    He thought marrying her was the best compensation he could offer.


    But compared to Song Shuyan, he cared more about Han¡¯s feelings.


    Lin Qi seemed to see through his thoughts and asked, ¡°Are you remarrying me because you want to give Han a complete family?¡±


    Tingdong glanced at her, ¡°You can think that.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°We are different. I won¡¯t marry you just to provide Momo with a complete family, even if you are Momo¡¯s...¡±


    She stopped midway, almost letting something slip.


    Tingdong, sharp as ever, caught the abnormality in her expression, raised an eyebrow and demanded, ¡°Continue.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s heart suddenly beat wildly.


    She immediately countered, ¡°You are not Momo¡¯s biological father, he is the child of another man, can you accept his background?¡±


    Tingdong was silent for a long time, then spoke deliberately, ¡°I will treat him as my own.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Then do you love me?¡±


    Tingdong scoffed, ¡°Lin Qi, are you joking with me? I want to remarry you, not to talk about love.¡±


    Lin Qi stated, ¡°I do not accept a marriage without any love.¡±


    Tingdong ridiculed, ¡°You are not a naive eighteen-year-old girl anymore, at this age, do you still believe in love?¡± Marriage has nothing to do with love, and detached romantic notions are only idle talk that always ends in haste.


    For ordinary people, this is the case, and so it is even more so in wealthy marriages.


    For him, a marriage partner is only about suitability.


    Song Shuyan is not suitable; she is, that is all.


    Love is a laughable matter.


    His father deserted his family for love; he did not see love as anything noble.


    Lin Qi suddenly countered, ¡°Tingdong, have you ever loved someone?¡±


    Tingdong replied, ¡°Besides Han, I love no one else.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Affection is affection, love is love. You have never loved someone, what right do you have to question love? Even if I remarried you, what if one day in the future you fell in love with another woman, would you divorce me again? I¡¯m indeed not the naive eighteen-year-old girl, but I once gave you all my youth!¡±


    Tingdong was momentarily stunned.


    Lin Qi scoffed, ¡°You don¡¯t think that there are no men who want me, right? Men chasing after me have always been lining up, but I won¡¯t marry a man I don¡¯t love. You want to remarry me, take a number, line up! If you can, chase me down and make me willingly marry you.¡±


    She turned to leave.


    Tingdong grabbed her hand tightly and pulled her into his arms.


    Lin Qi, frightened, tried to struggle, but the man firmly gripped her shoulders, his questioning tone pressing down like Mount Tai: ¡°You said many men are chasing you, how many?¡±


    His tone was unusually severe, like interrogating a criminal.


    Lin Qi felt inexplicably, ¡°Why are you asking this?¡±


    Tingdong demanded, ¡°Answer me.¡± He coldly continued, ¡°Who is chasing you? Names? Status?¡± If he learned of any man daring to pursue her, he would cripple that man.


    Lin Qi¡¯s shoulders shrank from his intimidating gaze.


    His gaze was too frightening; if she didn¡¯t know him to be a heartless man, she would have thought he was getting jealous!


    ¡°Let go!¡±


    Tingdong continued to interrogate, ¡°You said you wouldn¡¯t marry a man you don¡¯t love, why did you marry me nine years ago?¡±


    Lin Qi momentarily lost the ability to speak intelligibly, ¡°I...¡± She was cornered into answering, ¡°At that time, I agreed to some conditions from my dad.¡±


    ¡°Oh? A quid pro quo.¡± Tingdong said, ¡°Since it was conditions that led you to marry me, why paint yourself so high and mighty. You just want to negotiate terms with me, state your terms.¡±


    Lin Qi looked at Tingdong for a long time, suddenly declared, ¡°I only have one condition, I want your heart. Nothing else.¡±


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Momo ran over, seeing the two tangled up, and paused.


    Lin Qi pushed Tingdong away, looked at Momo, and smiled, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    ¡°Mommy, why are you and Uncle Huo so close together, what are you doing?¡± Momo eyed Tingdong suspiciously.


    From his angle, he thought Mommy was kissing this man.


    Lin Qi not knowing how to explain, Tingdong casually said, ¡°Your mommy got sand in her eye, I was helping her blow it away.¡±


    Momo thought nothing of it and gestured Lin Qi, ¡°Mommy, come fly a kite with me.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± Lin Qi walked toward Momo.


    Behind a tree.


    Song Shuyan stared at Tingdong¡¯s tall silhouette, her pupils shaking, hands trembling uncontrollably.


    He wants to remarry Lin Qi?


    This Lin Qi, merely using Han to climb up, capturing Han¡¯s heart, wanting to tie down Tingdong.


    She gritted her teeth with hatred, her gaze murdering the silhouette of Lin Qi, a sinister thought brewing.


    She won¡¯t let this despicable woman succeed!


    Tingdong belongs to her, and no one can take him away.

 Chapter 95 95: 95: Someone Fell and Died!

    Chapter 95: Chapter 95: Someone Fell and Died!


    Night falls.


    Lin Qi starts a bonfire.


    Han refuses to go back to the RV with Huo Tingdong and lies down with Momo in the tent, watching the stars and the moon in the sky.


    The clouds in the sky drift away, making the stars and the moon particularly beautiful.


    ¡°Look.¡± Momo points at a star and says, ¡°Is that star shining brightly?¡±


    Han nods.


    ...


    Momo points at another very bright star, ¡°That¡¯s Altair, and that¡¯s Vega.¡±


    Han blinks curiously.


    Momo says, ¡°Legend has it that the Heavenly Emperor¡¯s granddaughter was skilled in weaving and wove colorful clouds for the sky every day. Tired of her life in the Heavenly Palace, she descended to the mortal world to marry a cowherd. Angered, the Heavenly Emperor took the Weaver Girl back to the Heavenly Palace, and the two lovers were forced apart. Since then, on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, they can only meet on the Magpie Bridge in the sky.¡±


    Han nods, seemingly understanding.


    Lin Qi enters the tent, lies down beside Han, and ruffles his hair, asking, ¡°Han, do you understand the story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl?¡±


    Han naively says, ¡°Daddy is the Cowherd, and Aunt Qiqi is the Weaver Girl.¡±


    Lin Qi bursts into hearty laughter.


    Han¡¯s comprehension is simply perfect.


    Momo also laughs in exasperation, ¡°Silly, that¡¯s not true at all!¡±


    Han asks confusedly, ¡°Can Aunt Qiqi and Daddy be together?¡±


    Momo says, ¡°No.¡±


    Han tilts his head as if asking: Why not?


    Momo solemnly says, ¡°Only people who are in love can be together.¡±


    Suddenly, Han gives Momo a big hug. He holds Momo tightly, rubbing his small face against his shoulder.


    Momo¡¯s face turns red as he pushes him away in disgust, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Han says, ¡°We have to be together.¡± He wants to love and be with Momo forever.


    Momo doesn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, ¡°Silly, we are both boys; we can¡¯t be together forever.¡±


    Han huffs. He doesn¡¯t care; he likes Aunt Qiqi and he likes Momo, and he wants to be with them forever.


    The night grows darker.


    The two little ones cling tightly to each other and fall asleep.


    The bonfire slowly goes out.


    The evening breeze whisks in.


    Lin Qi enters the tent and pulls the curtain, lies down beside them, and without realizing it, closes her eyes and falls asleep too.


    In the middle of the night, she is suddenly awakened by some disturbance.


    Lin Qi opens her eyes and instinctively reaches out her hand, groping beside her.


    But there¡¯s nothing there.


    Han and Momo are gone!


    She is instantly so scared that all sleepiness vanishes, she sits up in alarm, looking around, Momo and Han have disappeared without a trace.


    ¡°Momo?¡±


    She calls out nervously several times, ¡°Momo? Han?¡±


    Lin Qi lifts the curtain and walks out of the tent. In front of the extinguished bonfire, Song Shuyan stands with an expressionless face.


    The surrounding night is as dark as thick ink.


    All the RV doors are tightly closed, with no lights on.


    The entire campsite is pitch black, save for the scattered bonfires, without a hint of light.


    She asks, ¡°Have you seen Momo and Han?¡±


    Song Shuyan turned around, casting a cold glance and hooked her lips in disdain, ¡°Lin Qi, since you¡¯ve divorced Huo Tingdong, why are you still showing up? Are you approaching Han to use him to remarry Huo Tingdong?¡±


    Lin Qi had no patience for her nonsense and demanded, ¡°Where are they, exactly?¡±


    ¡°Those two little beasts are already dead,¡± Song Shuyan declared.


    ¡°What do you mean?¡± Lin Qi was utterly confused.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s face twisted hideously. ¡°That little bastard, I don¡¯t know what tricks you played to make him so close to you, yet keep me at arm¡¯s length. I¡¯ve been scheming to get along with him, but since he despises me so much, I might as well kill him. Rest assured, I killed Lin Jinmo as well. The two little beasts, they can keep each other company down in the netherworld!¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s heart seized with ferocity, and she lunged at Song Shuyan like a madwoman, ¡°You crazy woman!¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that Song Shuyan would dare to do this, that her heart could be so malicious as to harm two children.


    ¡°Do you think I wouldn¡¯t dare? Huo Tingdong is mine; anyone who dares to stand in my way, I¡¯ll send them to death!¡± Song Shuyan declared.


    Lin Qi¡¯s voice was hoarse with disbelief, ¡°You! What did you do to them?¡±


    Song Shuyan smirked with malice, proudly saying, ¡°Those two little beasts, just now, I threw them off the high platform.¡± She raised her hand, pointing at a platform some distance away: ¡°Thrown down from such a height, they must have died on impact.¡±


    Without a second thought, Lin Qi ran toward the platform.


    Momo...


    Han...


    The scene of the two children being thrown off the platform by Song Shuyan suddenly formed in her mind ¡ª the despair and pain of falling from such a height!


    Arriving at the edge of the platform, Lin Qi looked down.


    Below the platform, all was pitch black, nothing was visible.


    Lin Qi called out, ¡°Momo! Han!¡±


    Her night vision was poor, she could see nothing, and with Song Shuyan¡¯s venomous words still ringing in her ears, she worried that Han and Momo might indeed have been thrown down and killed. Panicked, she stood up, utterly overwhelmed.


    Song Shuyan appeared behind her like a ghostly apparition and suddenly gave her a fierce push in the back, ¡°Go die!¡±


    Lin Qi lost her balance and fell from the platform; with the terrifying centrifugal force, she dropped like a kite with a broken string in the dark night.


    There was a loud ¡°thud.¡±


    Coldly, Song Shuyan glanced down. From such a height, Lin Qi didn¡¯t even have time to let out a scream before impact.


    If she had landed headfirst, her head would probably have been smashed to pieces.


    This is what happens to anyone who covets her man.


    With this thought, Song Shuyan turned around and left without looking back.


    Below the platform, there was a parked RV.


    Inside the RV, someone heard the sudden thud, stepped out of the vehicle, and peering toward the sound, they saw a silhouette fallen on the ground.


    ¡°Wake up, wake up, honey...¡± the woman rushed back to the RV, pushing the man who was deep in sleep, ¡°I just heard a loud thud, as if something fell.¡±


    The man got out of the RV and came under the platform, upon seeing Lin Qi lying in a pool of blood, he collapsed on the spot in shock, ¡°Blood... all blood... someone fell from above...¡±


    Back in the RV.


    Momo was waiting for Han to come out of the bathroom. In the middle of the night, Han suddenly sat up, stating he needed to pee, and Momo had accompanied him to the bathroom in the RV.


    Suddenly¡ª


    He heard a terrified cry for help not far away: ¡°Help! Someone¡¯s fallen and died!¡±


    The scream ripped through the night¡¯s peace at the campsite.


    All the RVs turned their lights on.


    Hearing the commotion outside, Huo Tingdong put on a coat and left the RV, bumping into Han and Momo.


    Looking around, he saw everyone heading toward the platform, buzzing with speculation.


    ¡°Oh my God! Someone fell down...¡±


    ¡°I can¡¯t see clearly; it seems to be a woman...¡±


    ¡°So much blood...¡±


    Han felt afraid and insisted on returning to look for Lin Qi, while Momo reassured him, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid, it¡¯s okay.¡±


    Yet a sense of ominous premonition rose within Han, and he suddenly sprinted towards the tent. Momo, startled, immediately chased after him, ¡°Han!¡±

 Chapter 96: 96: With Me Here, She Wont Die

    Chapter 96: Chapter 96: With Me Here, She Won¡¯t Die


    Momo was chasing behind, but Han couldn¡¯t care about him; it wasn¡¯t until reaching the tent entrance that he dashed in, only to find no sign of Lin Qi.


    The feeling of anxiety in his heart surged out more fiercely.


    Blood constantly rushing backward.


    Han¡¯s face turned red, feeling somewhat breathless.


    His heartbeat so rapid.


    He always felt that something had happened to Aunt Qiqi.


    Han felt a throbbing pain in his temples, and as Momo caught up, he grabbed him, ¡°What are you running for?¡±


    Momo¡¯s peripheral vision caught the empty tent, which also startled him, ¡°Where¡¯s Mommy?¡±


    Without turning his head, Han ran out of the tent.


    Momo¡¯s heart skipped a beat too and immediately chased after him.


    The two Little Babys ran to the edge of the stage, where, by now, people filled the space around it. Han squeezed into the crowd, following their gaze, looking down from the edge of the platform.


    Lin Qi was lying unconscious in a pool of blood.


    Han let out a shriek: ¡°Ah!!¡±


    His heart-wrenching cry alarmed Momo, who, more frantic than before, broke through the crowd, leaning over the platform to look down, and seeing this scene, he was so frightened that his heartbeat stopped.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í?¦Ï.??


    He screamed with all his might and quickly started down the stairs toward the base of the platform.


    Han followed closely behind.


    The two Little Babys wished they could fly to Lin Qi¡¯s side. At the base of the platform, surrounded by people, Momo was about to throw himself towards Lin Qi but was stopped.


    ¡°Kid, don¡¯t go over there! Someone¡¯s dead,¡± a parent kindly advised, worried that Momo, so young, might be psychologically affected by such a bloody scene.


    But Momo struggled to break free, ¡°That¡¯s my Mommy!!¡±


    He rushed into the crowd, arriving at Lin Qi¡¯s side. She lay on the ground, the blood pooling beneath her body trailing to his feet.


    Momo, feeling helpless, knelt beside Lin Qi, reaching his hand out wanting to touch her, yet afraid to disturb her.


    ¡°Mommy? Mommy...¡± Little Baby felt as if his heart was being torn apart, looking at Lin Qi¡¯s blood-stained face, her eyes barely open, void of light, shaking in fear.


    It wasn¡¯t the gruesome sight that he feared, but the thought of losing his dearly loved Mommy at any moment.


    The crowd was murmuring.


    ¡°She must have accidentally fallen from up there... with such a fall, surely she¡¯s not breathing...¡±


    ¡°It looks like she¡¯s not even breathing anymore... Could she really be dead...¡±


    ¡°How could she be so careless, maybe it¡¯s too dark, didn¡¯t see where she was stepping...¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a doctor here!¡±


    Someone in the crowd shouted, and people quickly made way.


    Huo Tingdong and Song Shuyan came over; while Song Shuyan was dispersing the crowd, she instructed, ¡°Everybody, don¡¯t touch her! The victim fell from a high place, moving her carelessly might aggravate the injuries.¡±


    Song Shuyan crouched beside Lin Qi to check on her.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face suddenly tensed upon seeing Lin Qi lying in the pool of blood.


    How could it be her...


    He stepped forward but was stopped by Song Shuyan, ¡°Don¡¯t touch her, she¡¯s still breathing...¡±


    Song Shuyan looked at Lin Qi¡¯s face, checking her breath. Although still breathing, it was extremely weak now, probably not much time left for her.


    She inspected Lin Qi¡¯s hand, which was fractured. It seemed like instinctively she used her hands to shield herself upon landing. Had it been her head, she¡¯d be dead on the spot.


    Damn it, from such a height, one should be dead upon impact. How is she still breathing?


    Song Shuyan furrowed her brows, forcing herself to remain calm. Even if Lin Qi still had breath, by the time the ambulance arrived and she received emergency care, it would be too late.


    She said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°Tingdong, I¡¯m going to get the emergency kit. You watch over her and don¡¯t let anyone touch her indiscriminately.¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Okay, hurry up.¡±


    Once Song Shuyan left, Huo Tingdong walked over to Lin Qi, noticing her chest faintly rising and falling¡ªshe was indeed still breathing.


    How could this happen...


    How could she have fallen from such a high place?


    Beside them, Momo¡¯s little hands wouldn¡¯t stop trembling; he tried hard to calm himself. However, an inexplicable fear made it impossible for him to stay cool immediately, and he hovered on the verge of collapse several times.


    Tears trickled down the corners of his eyes unconsciously.


    Momo never cried easily, but under these circumstances, he couldn¡¯t suppress the shock and sorrow in his heart.


    Noise arose nearby.


    ¡°Don¡¯t touch her recklessly...¡±


    ¡°Whose child is this? Their parents need to take care of this.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked up and saw Han, who had somehow crouched beside Lin Qi. He reached out his little hand, tightly gripping Lin Qi¡¯s wrist, and said, ¡°Han, don¡¯t touch randomly.¡±


    But Han seemed not to hear him. His two fingers located Lin Qi¡¯s acupoints precisely, closed his eyes, and quietly felt for the pulse.


    Huo Tingdong was momentarily stunned.


    Han was focused and serious, his gesture resembling that of taking a pulse.


    ¡°Han?¡± Huo Tingdong asked doubtfully, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Han gazed at Lin Qi¡¯s face, recalling the verses taught by the old TCM doctor at the orphanage: When rapid pulse arises, it¡¯s intense and rushed, with seven or eight beats in a single breath. Excessive yang uncontrolled, true yin depleted, shortness of breath with hoarse voice signals imminent danger.


    Song Shuyan rushed over with the emergency medical kit on her back. As soon as she approached, she saw Han pinching Lin Qi¡¯s philtrum.


    She was shocked.


    What is he doing?


    Does he understand that the philtrum is a critical acupoint for emergency rescue, or did he learn this from martial arts shows on TV?


    Everyone present was stunned, so much so that no one thought to stop Han; they all just watched him in disbelief.


    ¡°Cough...¡± Lin Qi suddenly coughed out a mouthful of blood foam, her eyelids twitching lightly for a moment before slowly opening. As she opened her mouth, another line of congealed blood at her throat spilled out, and then her eyes closed weakly again.


    Song Shuyan said anxiously, ¡°Don¡¯t touch her anymore... Pressing like that can kill her!¡±


    The surrounding crowd also came to their senses, ¡°Kid, don¡¯t mess around! This is a matter of life and death!¡±


    ¡°Whose child is this? Take care of them quickly, don¡¯t let this turn into a fatal incident!¡±


    Yet Huo Tingdong did not stop him, only because he saw an uncommon determination in Han¡¯s eyes.


    Suddenly, Han stood up and walked over to Song Shuyan, opening her medical kit.


    Song Shuyan protected it, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Han, without hesitation, found an acupuncture kit from the emergency kit.


    This was what Song Shuyan carried with her at all times. After sitting in clinics for long periods, suffering from a sore back and physical exhaustion, she would administer a few needles to herself. She wasn¡¯t skilled at acupuncture but knew the basics.


    Song Shuyan tensed up, ¡°Don¡¯t touch it! Those are needles; they¡¯re very sharp.¡±


    Han pushed her hand away, took the acupuncture kit back to Lin Qi, opened the kit, and disinfected the needle with alcohol cotton. Then, he looked around: ¡°Fire...¡±


    He needed fire.


    Momo was momentarily puzzled, then suddenly remembered the lighter in his pocket for lighting campfires and handed it over right away.


    Although he did not know what Han was planning to do, he trusted him.


    Song Shuyan still wanted to intervene, ¡°Han, don¡¯t mess around! This is a life-and-death matter; if you¡¯re not careful, your Aunt Qiqi could die!¡±


    ¡°She won¡¯t die,¡± Han finally spoke.


    He looked up at Song Shuyan, his eyes filled with an unparalleled determination, ¡°With me here, she won¡¯t die.¡±

 Chapter 97: 97: Its Simply a Miracle of Life

    Chapter 97: Chapter 97: It¡¯s Simply a Miracle of Life


    Han gently turned Lin Qi over to lie flat, lifted her clothes gently to reveal her lower abdomen, and his small hand wandered over her body.


    Lung Channel¡¯s Eleven Acupoints, Zhongfu Yunmen Tiefu Chant.


    The noble path endures, crossing through the boundless expanse.


    He precisely located the acupuncture points and inserted the needles swiftly into four points on the Du Meridian: Mingmen, Xuanshu, Jizhong, Zhongshu.


    The Du Meridian is the sea of the Yang meridians, running within the spine and ascending into the brain.


    Han immediately followed by inserting needles into three points of the Chong Meridian: Qi Chong, Henggu, Da He, and Qixue, but this time the insertion was incredibly slow, gently rubbing the needle with his fingertips as he inserted it shallowly.


    Gradually, Lin Qi¡¯s ears and nostrils stopped bleeding.


    Momo was utterly dumbfounded.


    He could tell that Han was performing acupuncture. Does he actually know... how to perform this?


    The most unbelievable thing was that his technique looked quite skilled.


    Huo Tingdong was also somewhat taken aback; he had never heard that Han could perform acupuncture, where had he learned it?


    Song Shuyan, nervous, tugged on Huo Tingdong¡¯s sleeve and anxiously asked, ¡°Are you going to let him mess around like this? What if...¡± She feigned concern and said, ¡°It looks to me like he¡¯s just randomly inserting needles. I know a bit about acupuncture, and I¡¯ve never seen this technique before.¡±


    She did not step forward to stop him, assuming that Han was just imitating needle insertion he saw on TV, naively believing it could save Lin Qi¡¯s life, not knowing that acupuncture is extremely sophisticated. Her own knowledge was superficial at best, far from being proficient, only having grasped the basic points.


    What could a seven-year-old child understand?


    Random needling could be fatal.


    Source: , updated on ??¦Í?¦Ï.§ã¦Ï


    Ignoring the unusual looks from the people around, Han lit a lighter and heated a fine needle until it glowed red-hot, then fiercely inserted it into the Kongzui point on his arm.


    For his final needle, Han inserted it deep into the Renzhong point on Lin Qi.


    A gasp of shock ran through the crowd, all watching with alarm.


    ¡°The ambulance is here!¡±


    Someone heard the siren and shouted loudly, ¡°Here! Over here!¡±


    Shortly afterward, the ambulance arrived.


    Song Shuyan went over and told the doctors and nurses, ¡°Someone has fallen from a high place, hurry and administer first aid.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡±


    The doctors and nurses approached, and upon seeing the needles inserted in Lin Qi, one doctor was startled, ¡°Who did this? How chaotic? Such serious injuries, what use is acupuncture! This is just reckless.¡±


    Song Shuyan guiltily said, ¡°Sorry, the child is ignorant, trying to do what¡¯s seen on martial arts TV shows, it¡¯s all meant well, hopefully, it hasn¡¯t delayed the treatment?¡± She asked while glancing toward Huo Tingdong.


    She said it purposefully¡ªif something really happened to Lin Qi, it would indirectly be Han¡¯s fault.


    Some recognized Huo Tingdong, muttering, ¡°That¡¯s Mr. Huo...¡±


    ¡°Mr. Huo from Huace Group? Is that child his son?¡±


    ¡°Yes... I just recognized him, so I didn¡¯t dare to intervene. He¡¯s letting the child mess around; isn¡¯t this taking lives lightly?¡±


    ¡°Shh.¡±


    Song Shuyan secretly gloated.


    She deliberately didn¡¯t intervene, eager for Han to end Lin Qi¡¯s life.


    What could a dying person do to compete with her for a man?


    The nurse was about to check on Lin Qi when suddenly there was a cough, and Lin Qi¡¯s hand twitched, her eyelids slowly opening.


    The doctor frantically removed the needles from her face, arms, abdomen, and thighs, and carried out a series of emergency procedures; soon, Lin Qi¡¯s consciousness slightly revived.


    The nurse exclaimed in amazement, ¡°She actually woke up?¡±


    ¡°Check her blood pressure.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡± The nurse measured Lin Qi¡¯s blood pressure, ¡°69...72...76... The patient¡¯s blood pressure is slowly rising!¡±


    The doctor was also taken aback.


    Song Shuyan was also somewhat stunned.


    Excessive blood loss can lead to low blood pressure, shock, and poses a life-threatening danger.


    Lin Qi¡¯s blood pressure was gradually rising, and the bleeding was slowly coming to a stop.


    How is this possible?


    ¡°It hurts...¡± Lin Qi moaned in pain, ¡°It¡¯s so painful...¡±


    ¡°Mommy...¡± Momo hurried to her side, ecstatic, ¡°Mommy, how are you?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s consciousness had not fully recovered, she was disoriented and couldn¡¯t hear Momo¡¯s voice.


    The doctor said, ¡°Make way, the injured has lost too much blood, we need to rush her to the hospital immediately.¡±


    The nurses lifted Lin Qi onto the stretcher and carried her into the ambulance.


    Huo Tingdong stepped forward and told them, ¡°Let me get on the vehicle.¡±


    The doctor, confused, asked, ¡°And you are...?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯m her family.¡±


    ¡°Family? What is your relationship with her?¡±


    Huo Tingdong, annoyed by the doctor¡¯s skeptical gaze, said emphatically, ¡°She is my wife.¡±


    As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked.


    They looked towards Song Shuyan; hadn¡¯t the rumors said that Song Shuyan was Huo Tingdong¡¯s fiance?e?


    Why was Lin Qi now his wife?


    Song Shuyan felt a chill run through her limbs; she knew that Huo Tingdong might be concerned about Lin Qi¡¯s survival and wanted to go to the hospital with her, but... she didn¡¯t expect him to actually call Lin Qi his wife.


    She was greatly agitated, ¡°Tingdong, don¡¯t go. If you go, what will Han and Momo do?¡±


    Momo and Han said in unison, ¡°We want to go too!¡±


    The doctor was conflicted, ¡°The ambulance can¡¯t fit so many people.¡±


    Huo Tingdong handed him a business card, ¡°Let me know which hospital you¡¯re heading to; tell me the address as soon as you arrive, and I¡¯ll come right away.¡±


    The doctor took the card, glanced at it, his hand trembling slightly, his attitude immediately becoming very respectful, ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Huo? From Huace Group...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Don¡¯t ask so many questions, saving her is what matters.¡±


    The doctor¡¯s demeanor became exceedingly polite as he hurriedly said, ¡°Alright, as soon as we arrive at the hospital, we¡¯ll get in touch with you right away!¡±


    The doctor and the nurse returned to the vehicle, closed the door, and the ambulance sped off with sirens wailing.


    Song Shuyan felt the scrutiny and speculation from all around, her scalp tingling, she clenched her fists tightly, holding back from lashing out.


    Huo Tingdong, however, picked up Han with one arm and took Momo¡¯s hand, heading towards his car.


    Song Shuyan immediately followed, ¡°Tingdong...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Wait here for me, or I can have my driver take you back first; once everything is settled, I¡¯ll contact you.¡±


    After saying that, he walked towards Lin Qi¡¯s vehicle without looking back.


    Song Shuyan stood still, her hands and feet ice-cold.


    In the ambulance.


    Lin Qi coughed a few more times, and with oxygen being administered and a series of emergency measures, her vital signs gradually began to recover.


    ¡°Miss Lin, Miss Lin, can you hear me?¡± the nurse asked gently, ¡°Miss Lin, stay strong, we¡¯re almost at the hospital.¡±


    Next to her, the doctor marveled, ¡°It¡¯s nothing short of a miracle...¡± To fall from such a height, to lose so much blood, any normal person would have expired by now, but she¡¯s still holding on.


    The bleeding had stopped, as long as she can hold on until we reach the hospital, just a little longer...

 Chapter 98: 98 A Step Away from Death

    Chapter 98: Chapter 98 A Step Away from Death


    ¡°Miss Lin, you must stay strong, close your eyes, and don¡¯t rush to speak, everything will be okay.¡± The nurse tidied her messy hair.


    Lin Qi¡¯s hair was covered in blood and had been soaked by it.


    She weakly closed her eyes, her mind hazy, unable to discern where she was or what had happened.


    Soon, she fell into a faint again.


    Huo Tingdong arrived at the hospital with Han and Momo, the lights in the emergency room still on.


    Nurses constantly went in and out, occasionally bringing out blood-stained medical gauze, which was a harrowing sight.


    Momo sat for a bit, then stood, pacing back and forth uneasily.


    His gaze was calm, unnervingly so. Peers might be clueless, might be scared, but he stayed silent and tearless in his calm, his hands clenched into fists behind his back, trembling violently. His face no longer bore its usual elegance and tenderness.


    Compared to him, Han was much calmer, his eyes, so similar to Huo Tingdong¡¯s, hid a wisdom that tucked away any sharpness.


    Aunt Qiqi would be fine.


    He had taken her pulse, and those few needles had practically pulled her back from the brink of death.


    In the orphanage, he had followed an old doctor versed in traditional medicine, soaking up knowledge and often perusing his medical books.


    That grandpa was very kind to him, seeing his deep interest in ancient medicine and thus imparted all his knowledge to him generously.


    Han had a profound affection for the grandpa.


    Even after being taken into the Huo Family by Huo Tingdong, he would visit the grandpa every summer.


    Source: , updated on ?¦Ï¦Í¨À?.§ã¦Ï


    The grandpa said he had a gift, but what he was taught were lost medical arts, once the heritage of a hundred-year medical lineage, now considered dross, nearly extinct.


    The grandpa had no descendants, so he treated Han as his own, teaching him everything unreservedly.


    Huo Tingdong looked at the light of the operating room, then back at Han, feeling that something was amiss.


    Song Shuyan had said that Han had stuck needles into Lin Qi haphazardly, imitating martial arts shows on TV.


    But Huo Tingdong knew Han well; Aunt Qiqi was his favorite person. He wouldn¡¯t jumble things on purpose when it came to her.


    But if it wasn¡¯t a mess, how had he learned those methods?


    As time ticked by, Lin Qi was still not out from the operating room, her fate hanging in the balance.


    Momo was gradually calming down.


    At this moment, no news was the best news.


    Han suddenly pulled on his hand, patted the stool beside him, asking him to sit down.


    Momo said, ¡°You sit, I won¡¯t.¡±


    Han replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay.¡±


    Momo countered, ¡°How can you be so sure that my Mommy will be all right?¡±


    Han smiled, his eyes as pure and cute as the moon. He didn¡¯t speak, but his tender gaze somewhat soothed Momo¡¯s emotions.


    Momo sat down beside him.


    Han gently touched the back of his head, but Momo awkwardly dodged, ¡°What are you doing?¡± He wasn¡¯t his brother, so why was he touching his head like a brother would?


    Han suddenly hugged Momo.


    Held him tightly...


    Momo couldn¡¯t struggle free for a moment.


    Han¡¯s hands were soft; he gently enclosed Momo¡¯s small head in his arms, his little face brushed against Momo¡¯s cheek, and Momo¡¯s heart quieted down.


    Time flew by.


    Unknowingly, it was dawn outside.


    The sky was breaking, the glow of the morning light.


    Suddenly, the light in the emergency room flickered, then went out.


    The door was pushed open from the inside.


    Huo Tingdong sprang up and walked to the doorway, grabbing the doctor¡¯s arm, and asked, ¡°How is the patient?¡±


    The doctor recognized him and immediately said, ¡°Mr. Huo, please don¡¯t worry, the patient has initially been brought out of life-threatening danger.¡±


    Huo Tingdong immediately seized on the key point and narrowed his eyes, ¡°Initially?¡± This meant that it was only a temporary absence of life-threatening danger.


    The doctor said, ¡°We plan to transfer Miss Lin to the intensive care unit and observe her for twenty-four hours. If she can wake up during that time, there will basically be no further concerns for her life.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at the busy resuscitation room behind the doctor and asked uneasily, ¡°Are her injuries severe?¡±


    The doctor was candid, ¡°Very critical. She was just a step away from death¡¯s door. Her cranial injuries are severe, with extensive bleeding. That she has survived is already a miracle. I¡¯m afraid...¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned disapprovingly, ¡°Afraid of what?¡±


    The doctor, seeing the sharp, cold look in his eyes, dared not take a deep breath and finished in one go, ¡°I¡¯m afraid she might fall into a deep coma and become vegetative, which would be rather troublesome.¡±


    Vegetative state...


    Momo faintly heard this term and his heart skipped a beat.


    He knew what a vegetative state was; aside from keeping basic vital signs, it was no different from being a living dead.


    Huo Tingdong was even more familiar with the term.


    But, even if she really had become vegetative, it was still better than losing her life.


    The doctor said, ¡°Mr. Huo, rest assured, we are doing our utmost to treat her.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Thank you for your efforts.¡±


    The doctor hurried away, and shortly after, the nurses pushed out the operating bed.


    Momo shot up from his seat and ran over, followed closely by Han.


    The two Little Babies were eager to see Lin Qi, but were stopped by a nurse to the side, ¡°Children, please step aside.¡±


    Huo Tingdong watched helplessly as the operating bed was pushed past him; a few nurses worked together to push it, some holding up IV bags high, others steadying the bed. Amidst the bustling crowd, he only caught a glimpse.


    Lin Qi was lying on the bed unconscious, her head wrapped in gauze, with blood, not yet wiped clean, dried and mottled on her face and neck.


    Her hands and body were wrapped in all kinds of tubes; an oxygen mask covered most of her face. Her entire face looked so weak it was devoid of color.


    For a moment, he felt as if his heart had been viciously stabbed.


    He thought he was hard-hearted enough that even if something bad truly happened to her, he wouldn¡¯t be moved. But as he watched Lin Qi being pushed past and towards the distance, he still couldn¡¯t help but clench his fists involuntarily.


    A strange emotion nearly filled his entire chest.


    Was it heartache?


    Or was it the suffocating fear of loss?


    An illusion.


    It could only be... pity, perhaps!


    With eyes reddened, Momo stood in place, tears swirling in his eyes but he stubbornly held them back.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The doctor said your Mommy was rescued in time, and for now, her life isn¡¯t in danger.¡±


    After hearing this, Momo¡¯s clenched fist gradually relaxed a bit.


    He looked towards Han.


    Could it really be Han who saved Mommy?


    How could that be? Was this silly kid¡¯s few injections really more effective than the hospital doctors?


    Han sensed Momo¡¯s gaze fixed on the back of his head, turned around, and met Momo¡¯s eyes, blinking in confusion.


    Momo asked, ¡°Was it you?¡±


    Han tilted his little head as if he didn¡¯t understand what Momo was asking.


    Momo immediately shook his head, ¡°It¡¯s nothing...¡± Had he gone silly too, to actually believe this silly kid saved Mommy?

 Chapter 99: 99 Lin Qi Must Die

    Chapter 99: Chapter 99 Lin Qi Must Die


    Outside the intensive care unit.


    Momo was leaning on the glass window, looking into the room where five nurses were around the bed, adjusting the electrocardiogram and ventilator. Lin Qi lay on the bed, eyes quietly closed, her chest rising gently and falling.


    It¡¯s good.


    Mommy is still alive...


    Despite the doctor saying that Mommy had multiple fractures and cranial injuries, and there was no telling if there might be any sequelae.


    But no matter what the sequelae are, even if Mommy can¡¯t take care of herself for the rest of her life, he would take care of Mommy for a lifetime.


    Huo Tingdong crouched down and asked Momo and Han, ¡°Are you tired? I can take you back to rest.¡±


    Han¡¯s ears twitched, but he refused to leave, insisting on staying and watching over Lin Qi.


    Momo also shook his head, saying, ¡°I want to stay here with Mommy until she wakes up.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°This is the intensive care unit. She¡¯s not awake now, and you can¡¯t go in.¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°As long as I can see Mommy, that¡¯s enough.¡± No matter how tired, he would grit his teeth and endure. The doctor said that once Mommy wakes up, she will be alright. He wanted to wait until Mommy woke up.


    Hearing this, Huo Tingdong did not insist.


    He could see that Momo was swaying with fatigue, but he also knew that Momo and Lin Qi depended on each other deeply, so only when Lin Qi woke up would the little guy be at peace.


    Huo Tingdong sat on the bench, picked up Han, and hugged the little guy to his chest.


    The day gradually became brighter.


    Unconsciously, Han couldn¡¯t resist the drowsiness, his little head nodding off, falling asleep despite seemingly trying hard to keep his eyelids open.


    Seeing this, Huo Tingdong felt a pang of pity. To Han, he said, ¡°Han, if you¡¯re tired, sleep in Daddy¡¯s arms for a while. As soon as Aunt Qiqi wakes up, Daddy will wake you up immediately.¡±


    Hearing this, Han finally lay down comfortably in his arms and gently closed his eyes.


    Momo was also extremely tired. Seeing Huo Tingdong holding Han so tenderly, he felt a bit envious.


    He too was exhausted, perhaps it was because the tense nerves were finally relaxing at that moment, and sleepiness hit him like a silent tsunami.


    He leaned against Huo Tingdong, his little head resting on the man¡¯s arm, his eyes half-open, and he too fell into a blurred sleep.


    Huo Tingdong saw this and gently embraced him, touching his forehead.


    The quiet corridor, the entire floor with only three intensive care units, each room having a single bed and three nurses.


    The other two rooms were empty.


    The large corridor was silent.


    The doctor came over, seeing Huo Tingdong holding one child, and another child asleep on his arm, said softly, ¡°The two children are asleep, Mr. Huo, do you want to take them back first? If there¡¯s any situation here, we will notify you immediately.¡±


    ¡°No need.¡± He promised Han to stay by his side, naturally, he couldn¡¯t go back on his words.


    The doctor said, ¡°Then... how about we arrange a companion room for you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°No need, you may leave.¡±


    The doctor explained, ¡°It¡¯s not that I¡¯m worried about you getting tired, but these two little guys seem exhausted. Seeing Miss Lin, it doesn¡¯t seem she¡¯ll wake up soon, how about I take you to the companion room next door to rest.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at Han in his arms and Momo asleep on his shoulder, slightly frowned, and said, ¡°Alright.¡±


    ...


    Song Shuyan found out the hospital where Lin Qi was sent and called the hospital¡¯s emergency room.


    ¡°Hello, is this Mingde Hospital?¡±


    ¡°Yes, how can I assist you?¡±


    Song Shuyan tentatively asked, ¡°I have a good friend who was seriously injured and brought to your hospital for emergency treatment, I wonder how she is doing now?¡±


    ¡°May I have the name of your friend?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Her name is Lin Qi.¡±


    ¡°Please hold.¡±


    The phone was silent for half a minute, the nurse checked the records, and immediately replied, ¡°In the early hours of the morning, indeed, a patient named ¡®Lin Qi¡¯ was brought in for emergency treatment. She is now out of danger and no longer in a life-threatening condition, but is still under observation.¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    How is that possible?


    She didn¡¯t die?


    Song Shuyan couldn¡¯t believe it, expressing with some shock, ¡°Really? Did she really make it?¡±


    The nurse replied, ¡°Fortunately, the rescue was timely, so she has now been transferred to the intensive care unit.¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s lips twitched violently, and she said, ¡°Thank you.¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡±


    After hanging up the phone, Song Shuyan immediately stood up, walked over to the window, and anxiously bit her finger, unintentionally biting it until it bled.


    Outside the campervan, the driver knocked on the door, ¡°Miss Song, do you need me to take you home? It¡¯s dawn, you haven¡¯t slept all night. You must be exhausted.¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s smile stiffened on her face, ¡°Can you take me to Mingde Hospital?¡±


    The driver was stunned, ¡°But Mr. Huo instructed me to take you home...¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I want to visit the hospital, after all, with such a big incident, I don¡¯t feel like resting.¡± She was deeply unsettled.


    Lin Qi survived¡ªsomething she had never expected and could not fathom.


    Falling from such a height was certain death. She had even delayed the medical treatment, thinking that Lin Qi wouldn¡¯t survive, and without a witness to her death, she could rest easy, waiting for the news of her demise.


    But now, the hospital¡¯s update was: she was saved.


    Alive...


    What should she do?


    If Lin Qi wakes up and regains consciousness, the first thing she would do is identify her, pointing her out as the one who pushed her.


    Song Shuyan felt extremely uneasy; she had always considered Lin Qi as a thorn in her side, but now that thorn wasn¡¯t cleanly removed¡ªit had become a ticking time bomb.


    What should she do now?


    The person is in the hospital, and even if she wanted to eradicate Lin Qi completely, she simply couldn¡¯t find the opportunity.


    Song Shuyan wanted to rush to the hospital quickly to see for herself. If Huo Tingdong wasn¡¯t guarding the hospital, she might still have a final chance to act.


    The driver took her to the hospital.


    Song Shuyan found out Lin Qi¡¯s ward at the reception desk and entered the elevator, pressing the floor button.


    ¡°Ding.¡±


    The elevator arrived at the floor.


    Song Shuyan hurried out of the elevator and headed towards the intensive care ward.


    She carried a small medical box, from which she took out a brand new syringe, pulled back the plunger to draw in some air, and simultaneously put on disposable sterilized gloves.


    Song Shuyan reached the doorway of the ward; inside the intensive care ward, Lin Qi lay on the bed, and there was no one else.


    There was no one guarding outside the room either.


    This was a golden opportunity!


    She just needed to slip into the ward unnoticed, inject air into the IV line, and she would die instantly.


    Thinking this, Song Shuyan¡¯s hand trembled slightly.


    This was murder...


    Song Shuyan admitted that the second she saw Lin Qi fall and land in a pool of blood, she regretted it and even felt a bit guilty.


    It was her first time committing murder; she hadn¡¯t been mentally prepared, acting impulsively, without considering the consequences.


    But now that she had taken this step, there was no turning back.


    She couldn¡¯t let Lin Qi wake up, she wouldn¡¯t give Lin Qi the chance to identify her.


    Song Shuyan struggled to control her trembling left hand, forcing herself to calm down, grasped the door handle of the ward, took a sharp breath, and gently pushed the door open...

 Chapter 100: 100 He Said He Didnt Care About Her

    Chapter 100: Chapter 100 He Said He Didn¡¯t Care About Her


    In the hospital room.


    Shuyan approached step by step until she reached the bedside. She looked up to see Lin Qi was on an IV drip.


    She stretched out her hand, and simultaneously her sleeve-covered hand was making small movements, quietly removing the cap from the syringe...


    ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    At the door, Huo Tingdong¡¯s icy questioning suddenly came.


    Shuyan was startled, turned around, and looked over with a pale face.


    Huo Tingdong stood at the door, staring at her expressionlessly.


    Shuyan was chilled by his gaze, her heart in panic, but quickly, she suppressed the shock on her face and asked, ¡°Tingdong, why are you here?¡±


    Huo Tingdong entered the hospital room and came to the bedside, glancing at Lin Qi.


    Shuyan immediately hid the syringe and asked at the same time, ¡°Have you been here watching over her this whole time?¡±


    Huo Tingdong nodded.


    Shuyan laughed dismissively, ¡°Isn¡¯t that unnecessary? Isn¡¯t she already out of life-threatening danger? You don¡¯t need to stay with her all the time, do you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong countered, ¡°Didn¡¯t I have the driver take you home? Didn¡¯t you go back?¡±


    Shuyan said, ¡°I was worried about her, so I came to see how she was doing.¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled, ¡°Why would you be worried about her?¡±


    Shuyan momentarily lost for words, ¡°After all, it¡¯s a matter of life and death... I wanted to see how she was.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She doesn¡¯t need your concern.¡±


    Shuyan felt a pang in her heart, and for some reason, that statement stung.


    She asked, ¡°What about you? Why do you care so much about her?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She is the person Han values most.¡±


    ¡°Really just because of Han?¡± Shuyan said, somewhat not reassured, ¡°If the doctor has already said that she¡¯s out of life-threatening danger, then stop concerning yourself with her.¡±


    Looking at Lin Qi¡¯s pallid face, Huo Tingdong said indifferently, ¡°She¡¯s not yet awake. The doctor only said she has preliminarily passed the life-threatening stage but hasn¡¯t yet cleared the critical period.¡±


    Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong, let me stay and take care of her, you go back.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at Shuyan, his detached gaze carrying an unfathomable fluctuation, ¡°No need.¡±


    Shuyan walked over, gently grasped his arm, and said tenderly, ¡°Tingdong, you never take care of people, from childhood to adulthood, it has always been others serving you, I¡¯ve never seen you take care of anyone.¡±


    Huo Tingdong interrupted her, ¡°Don¡¯t bother.¡±


    Shuyan was completely stunned.


    Don¡¯t bother...


    These words, Huo Tingdong had never said to her.


    Too cold, too disheartening.


    Huo Tingdong gently released her hand and said to her, ¡°This is a special care ward, there will be a dedicated nurse to look after her, please leave.¡±


    After speaking, he took her hand, led her out of the hospital room, and closed the door.


    Through the small window in the door, Shuyan unwillingly took one more glance at Lin Qi on the bed and asked, ¡°Has she woken up?¡±


    Huo Tingdong sat down on the bench, ¡°No.¡± Lin Qi still hadn¡¯t regained consciousness until now, remaining in a comatose state.


    Han and Momo were asleep in the next room¡¯s attendant ward. He had watched over her for a while, hearing footsteps, he thought it was Lin Qi waking up, a nurse coming to check, only to find it was her who came.


    Huo Tingdong wasn¡¯t leaving, neither did Shuyan dare to leave. She was worried that the moment she left, Lin Qi would wake up and identify Shuyan as the one who had pushed her down the stage, and she wouldn¡¯t even get a chance to explain.


    Shuyan sat down beside him, speaking with some dejection, ¡°Tingdong, why are you so good to her? I¡¯ve never seen you take such meticulous care of someone. Why bother? She fell off the stage on her own, ending up like this; it¡¯s not your fault, you have no obligation to stick around 24/7... You doing this, it makes me feel, like your heart isn¡¯t with me anymore.¡±


    She raised her head, her gaze flickering: ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly... have feelings for her, could you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his brow and asked, ¡°What kind of feelings?¡±


    Song Shuyan explained, ¡°The romantic kind between a man and a woman, do you have them?¡±


    Huo Tingdong cut in coldly, ¡°No.¡± How could he possibly have feelings for Lin Qi?


    Although... when he saw her lying in a pool of blood, his heart truly felt as if it had been stabbed by a sharp object.


    Song Shuyan muttered to herself, ¡°Why would she fall down for no reason? It was so sudden.¡±


    Huo Tingdong thought for a moment and then said, ¡°She has night blindness.¡±


    Although Lin Qi had never mentioned it, Huo Tingdong had astutely picked up on this detail. At night, especially in dark places, she seemed unable to see clearly. Perhaps she had carelessly walked to that spot without minding her step and fell.


    Song Shuyan said distractedly, ¡°It¡¯s good that she¡¯s not in serious trouble.¡± She clenched her teeth.


    Huo Tingdong did not leave, standing guard unwaveringly, depriving her of any opportunity to act. Once Lin Qi woke up, she would have no chance.


    She could see that Huo Tingdong¡¯s face showed signs of fatigue, so she tried to persuade him once more, ¡°You should go back.¡±


    Huo Tingdong closed his eyes, ¡°I won¡¯t leave until she wakes up.¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s eyes widened.


    Huo Tingdong enunciated each word, ¡°I will stay with her until she wakes up.¡±


    Song Shuyan grew even more restless.


    Suddenly, Lin Qi¡¯s voice came from the hospital room.


    ¡°It hurts so much...¡±


    Huo Tingdong reacted instantly, leaping up and pushing open the hospital room door. He came to the bedside, only to see Lin Qi drenched in a cold sweat, seemingly regaining some consciousness, but still delirious with pain, ¡°It hurts so much...¡±


    The man bent down and asked softly, ¡°Where does it hurt?¡±


    Lin Qi seemed not to hear him speaking, her eyes tightly shut, without even the strength to bite her lip, only mumbling unclearly, ¡°Pain... Pain...¡± It really hurts so much...


    Huo Tingdong felt a tightness in his chest and raised his hand to press the emergency bell.


    Without delay, the nurse hurried over.


    ¡°Mr. Huo, is she awake?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Come here, she says it hurts.¡±


    The nurse approached the bed, checked the monitors, and performed an examination, then shook her head and said, ¡°She hasn¡¯t fully regained consciousness, but has recovered some awareness. She is probably in pain because the anesthesia has worn off.¡±


    After all, with multiple fractures and cranial injuries, once the anesthesia wore off, the pain was enough to awaken her.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She¡¯s in severe pain, is there any way to ease it?¡±


    As he spoke, Lin Qi¡¯s hand reached out and clutched his sleeve.


    Huo Tingdong looked down to see her hand gripping his sleeve tightly, and he clasped her hand in return.


    Her hand was so small; his one hand could completely envelop hers in his palm.


    Huo Tingdong sat down by the bed, ¡°Lin Qi?¡± he called her name gently.


    Still, she made no response.


    The nurse said, ¡°I¡¯ll give her a painkiller injection to try.¡±


    Huo Tingdong nodded, ¡°Hmm.¡± His gaze remained fixed on Lin Qi¡¯s face, as if every subtle expression that crossed her face could not escape his eyes.


    Outside the door, Song Shuyan watched the scene with a sour feeling in her heart.


    He still said he didn¡¯t care about her.

 Chapter 101: 101 Huo Tingdong, Save Me...

    Chapter 101: Chapter 101 Huo Tingdong, Save Me...


    For a moment, she suddenly felt that something that had always belonged only to her was gradually slipping out of control, slipping out of her grasp...


    Even Song Shuyan felt, if she had been the one to fall from that height, unconscious, would he stay by her side forever, just like he did for Lin Qi?


    Would he?


    She had no answer in her heart.


    While Song Shuyan was feeling upset, behind her, Han walked out of the room, rubbing his eyes. As soon as he saw her, for some reason, alarms were blaring in his head.


    ¡°If you¡¯re not obedient, I¡¯ll throw you down from there and kill you!¡±


    That threat from Song Shuyan still echoed in his ears.


    Han glared at Song Shuyan fiercely and suddenly lunged at her, forcefully pushing her away.


    Song Shuyan, caught off guard, nearly fell to the ground.


    She turned around and saw Han blocking the doorway, spreading his arms out, staring at her defensively. Song Shuyan slowly stood up and ventured to ask, ¡°Han? Why did you push me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong turned to look at Han and was surprised to see him awake. ¡°Han?¡±


    Without turning his head, Han just kept his gaze fixed on Song Shuyan, evidently very afraid she would come a step closer to Lin Qi.


    Song Shuyan said awkwardly, ¡°Han, why are you staring at me so fiercely? It¡¯s scary.¡±


    Han remained silent, just narrowing his eyes, keeping her at a distance.


    Song Shuyan tried to take a few steps closer, but Han extended his hand to push her away again.


    Song Shuyan was annoyed inside, but her voice conveyed a sense of grievance, ¡°Tingdong, what has gotten into Han? Why does he keep pushing me...¡±


    She paused, then suddenly voiced her feigned fear, ¡°It couldn¡¯t be that Lin Qi was pushed by him, right?¡± She tried to sling mud at Han.


    After all, this little guy was both silly and dumb, unable to speak, let alone explain.


    Huo Tingdong tried to get up, but Lin Qi¡¯s hand was still tightly clutching his fingers.


    He couldn¡¯t pull his hand away and lifted his head to say to Han, ¡°Han, stop pushing people.¡± He thought Han simply disliked Song Shuyan and didn¡¯t want her to come any closer.


    Little did he know, Han was suspicious of Song Shuyan.


    He suspected that Aunt Qiqi was pushed by Song Shuyan!


    But he wasn¡¯t good with words and didn¡¯t know how exactly to say it to Huo Tingdong, so he could only use his childish but clumsy way to protect Lin Qi.


    Momo heard the commotion and was also startled awake.


    Because he was worried about Lin Qi, he had not been sleeping deeply.


    Previously, with Huo Tingdong watching over him and Han, he could sleep peacefully, but without Huo Tingdong, the slightest noise would jolt him awake.


    Momo walked out of the hospital room, and upon seeing the confrontational scene between Han and Song Shuyan, he too was startled.


    Momo looked at Song Shuyan, then at Han, walked over to Han¡¯s side, and gently touched his hair to soothe him, ¡°Han, what¡¯s the matter?¡±


    Han pointed at Song Shuyan, and suddenly, two words burst out: ¡°Leave, now!¡±


    Song Shuyan pleaded innocently, ¡°Han, please don¡¯t dislike Auntie. What did Auntie do wrong to make you hate her like this?¡±


    Han didn¡¯t want to hear her voice, didn¡¯t want to see her face, grinding his teeth like a little lion defending its territory, ¡°Leave! Now!¡±


    Although Momo didn¡¯t understand why Han was so wary of Song Shuyan, Han had always been adorable and gentle. If he disliked Song Shuyan that much, it must be a problem with Song Shuyan.


    Perhaps there was an unspoken understanding between the two little guys; naturally, Momo unconditionally defended Han, ¡°Han doesn¡¯t want to see you, you go away!¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°I was just trying to be kind...¡±


    Momo interrupted her: ¡°We don¡¯t need your kindness.¡±


    Suddenly, Han turned around, walked over to Huo Tingdong, and grabbed his sleeve, tugging gently, ¡°You won¡¯t... marry her, right?¡±


    It was rare for him to speak such a coherent sentence.


    Han anxiously said, ¡°I hate her... You mustn¡¯t... be with this woman...¡± He struggled to express himself.


    Huo Tingdong looked at him with some surprise.


    Song Shuyan, upon hearing this, clenched her fists in anger, grinding her teeth.


    What is this little brat saying?


    Is he forcing Huo Tingdong not to marry her?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, why do you hate her?¡±


    ¡°Promise me...¡± Han insisted on Huo Tingdong taking a stand in front of Song Shuyan, to make this woman give up hope and stop bothering Daddy.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze was intense.


    It was rare for Han to make demands, so naturally, he would not refuse.


    ¡°Mm.¡± Huo Tingdong stroked his little head and promised, ¡°Daddy promises you.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han turned around, looked at Song Shuyan with his round and clear eyes, as if declaring something: His Daddy would not marry her, she should give up hope sooner rather than later.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s face suddenly fell, ¡°Tingdong...¡±


    Huo Tingdong interrupted her, ¡°Shuyan, I¡¯m sorry. I will make up for what I owe you in another way.¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Han is only seven, what does he know? If I had the chance to accompany him as he grew up, he wouldn¡¯t be so repulsed by me. Tingdong, can you give me a bit more time, please?¡±


    Han shook his head vigorously.


    When you dislike someone, no matter how much they try to maintain the relationship, dislike is still dislike, and it will never turn into liking.


    He liked Lin Qi from the first moment he saw her, and he liked her just as much the second time.


    His dislike for Song Shuyan was the same, no matter how hard she tried, dislike is still dislike.


    If one day Daddy really married this woman, he would run away from home, it would be better not to have such a Daddy.


    But Daddy wouldn¡¯t choose this woman over him.


    Han knew this for sure, so he was fearless, relying on Huo Tingdong¡¯s affection for him to push away Song Shuyan.


    Song Shuyan was not giving up, but she knew, in this moment, she couldn¡¯t continue to confront this child, or things would only get worse.


    She would leave first.


    Then, she would come up with another plan.


    Song Shuyan said sadly, ¡°Tingdong, you once promised to take good care of me. I don¡¯t ask for status, I never expected anything from you, do I not even have the right to stay by your side?¡± After saying that, she gently wiped the tears from the corner of her eyes and turned to leave.


    Momo squinted his eyes.


    Don¡¯t think he couldn¡¯t see through her act of playing the victim!


    Not until Song Shuyan had left did Han finally relax his defensive stance. Momo walked over and said to him, ¡°She¡¯s gone, don¡¯t be afraid now.¡±


    He thought Han was afraid of Song Shuyan.


    Han¡¯s tense body finally began to loosen.


    Right after Song Shuyan left, the nurse came in with a cart, saying, ¡°I¡¯m going to give Miss Lin a shot of painkiller to see how it works.¡±


    After saying that, she gave Lin Qi a shot for pain relief.


    Han felt incredibly distressed, as he was very afraid of injections, so seeing that sharp needle pierce Lin Qi¡¯s skin made him even more sympathetic.


    He walked over, gently touched Lin Qi¡¯s forehead, saw that she was sweating profusely, and immediately took out a clean handkerchief from his pocket to carefully wipe away her sweat.


    Momo watched this and was moved: He didn¡¯t expect this kid to be so capable of taking care of someone.


    After the injection was done, Lin Qi¡¯s body shuddered inexplicably, and she instinctively called out, ¡°Huo... Tingdong...¡±


    Her breathing became slightly rapid as if she had a nightmare, ¡°Save... save Han... save Momo...¡±

 Chapter 102: 102 Amputation Surgery

    Chapter 102: Chapter 102 Amputation Surgery


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t catch what was said at first, lowering his head, ear close to her mouth, ¡°What?¡±


    Lin Qi began to mumble unclearly, and after a while, it seemed the anesthetic took effect, and she fell asleep again.


    But Momo heard it clearly.


    He carefully approached Lin Qi, nervously holding her hand, ¡°Mommy...¡± This foolish Mommy, even when unconscious, kept repeating that she had to save him, to save Han.


    But now, both he and Han were just fine.


    Momo wiped away tears, looking heartbrokenly at Lin Qi¡¯s bandaged hands and legs.


    She had multiple fractures all over her body, so she was completely immobilized, unable to move at all. He didn¡¯t know how long it would even take for her to get out of bed once she did wake up.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Why did you wake up?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°Worried about Mommy, I couldn¡¯t sleep well.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I have been here watching over her.¡±


    Momo lifted his head to look at the man before him, in his memory, Huo Tingdong was like a ruthless monster, rarely exhibiting the warmth common people possess. Yet now, he felt this man wasn¡¯t as cold-blooded as he had imagined.


    Han tugged on Momo¡¯s hand, pulling him out of the room.


    A doctor came in, conducted another examination on Lin Qi.


    From outside the ward, Momo suddenly heard the doctor speaking in an especially grave tone to Huo Tingdong, ¡°... The broken arm is infected, I suggest we perform an amputation soon to prevent necrosis and irreversible damage which could endanger her life, that would be terrible.¡±


    Amputation?


    Momo stood up, eyes wide, looking towards the ward.


    What did the doctor say, an amputation for Mommy?


    Huo Tingdong upon hearing this, also frowned, ¡°Are you serious? Is amputation necessary? Didn¡¯t you do a proper cleaning initially?¡±


    The doctor replied, ¡°We did the best we could. Mr. Huo, I won¡¯t hide it from you, it¡¯s a miracle that Miss Lin was pulled back from the brink of death. I suspect she instinctively used her hand for support to protect her head during the fall, which resulted in a fractured elbow joint, shattered humerus, and infected wound. Please make a prompt decision about whether to proceed with the amputation surgery.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She¡¯s still so young, wouldn¡¯t amputation be too cruel?¡± The thought of her waking up to find herself missing an arm, and how painful that would be, made him feel that the amputation surgery was too harsh.


    The doctor explained, ¡°We also don¡¯t want to do this, but we suggest this surgery to save Miss Lin¡¯s life.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Does it have to be now?¡±


    The doctor replied, ¡°The surgery requires a family member¡¯s signature. If you agree, you can sign first, and we will arrange the surgery, to be done tomorrow morning.¡±


    Momo suddenly stood up.


    He watched as the doctor handed Huo Tingdong an informed consent form, fearing he might really sign it.


    Han suddenly grasped his arm firmly, saying word by word, ¡°It¡¯s that woman.¡±


    His abrupt statement left Momo somewhat perplexed.


    Momo looked at Han, furrowing his brows, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Han said, ¡°It¡¯s her, that woman, she must have pushed Aunt Qiqi off.¡±


    As if by telepathy, Momo voiced his suspicion, ¡°You mean, Song Shuyan? She¡¯s the one who pushed Mommy?¡±


    Han nodded.


    Momo suddenly grabbed his collar, demanding, ¡°Why are you so sure? Is this your speculation, or did you witness it?¡± He remembered that Han had been with him the whole time, during the period Lin Qi fell.


    But after the incident, Han¡¯s reaction was abnormal.


    It was as if he knew something had happened to Lin Qi; he hurried to the tent, agitated as though he knew or sensed something.


    Han said, ¡°Intuition.¡± He always trusted his own intuition.


    Especially after Song Shuyan had threatened him that way; when he saw Lin Qi lying in a pool of blood, he reflexively remembered Song Shuyan¡¯s words and felt a shiver down his spine.


    Han said, ¡°I¡¯m sure... it¡¯s her... but... I don¡¯t have... evidence.¡±


    Momo had nearly unconditional trust in Han. Seeing Han so convinced, a sudden icy aura enveloped Momo.


    If it was indeed Song Shuyan who harmed his Mommy like this, he wanted her to pay with blood for blood.


    Seeing the fleeting change on Momo¡¯s face ¨Ccold, merciless, fierce¨C Han thought of Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression when he was angry.


    When Daddy is angry, it¡¯s like this too.


    Han reached for his hand.


    But Momo immediately shook him off.


    Momo in front of him suddenly seemed a bit strange, a bit terrifying.


    Yet, Han wasn¡¯t afraid.


    He believed Momo wouldn¡¯t hurt him.


    Han gently said, ¡°Together.¡± He wanted to be with Momo.


    Momo said, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me, go back.¡±


    Han shook his head, his expression determined.


    After a moment, an Alphard stopped at the hospital entrance.


    The car door opened, two men in neat suits stepped out, bowing to Momo, ¡°Mr. Mo, please get in the car.¡±


    Momo coldly inquired, ¡°Where is she?¡±


    The man replied, ¡°We have deployed a citywide control, we will have her brought in within an hour.¡±


    Momo got to his feet.


    He watched the doctor hand a consent form to Huo Tingdong, anxious that he might actually sign it.


    Han suddenly grabbed his arm, enunciating each word, ¡°It¡¯s that woman.¡±


    His abrupt comment left Momo a bit confused.


    Momo turned to Han, his brows furrowed, ¡°What do you mean by that?¡±


    Han declared, ¡°It¡¯s her, that woman, she must be the one who pushed Aunt Qiqi down.¡±


    It was as if there was a telepathic connection, Momo in doubt, ¡°You mean, Song Shuyan? She¡¯s the one who pushed mommy off?¡±


    Han nodded.


    Momo quickly seized his collar, interrogating, ¡°Why are you so sure? Is this just your conjecture, or did you witness it?¡± He remembered that Han had been with him the entire time Lin Qi had fallen.


    But after the incident, Han¡¯s behavior was oddly abnormal.


    It was as though he knew something had happened to Lin Qi; he frantically made for the tent as if he was aware of something, or had sensed something.


    Han said, ¡°Intuition.¡± He had always trusted his intuition.


    Especially since Song Shuyan had threatened him before. When he saw Lin Qi lying in a pool of blood, he instinctively recalled what Song Shuyan had said, and felt a chill.


    Han admitted, ¡°I am certain... it¡¯s her... but... I have no... evidence.¡±


    Momo nearly had unconditional trust in Han. Seeing him so sure, a chilling air abruptly swept over Momo.


    If it were indeed Song Shuyan who did this to his mommy, he wanted blood for blood.


    Witnessing the instant transformation of Momo¡¯s face, shadowed with a chilling, ruthless ferocity, Han was struck by how Momo¡¯s delicate features, so similar to Lin Qi¡¯s, suddenly assumed a terrifying solemnity in his gaze.


    Momo quickly turned and left.


    Taken aback, Han rushed after him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t follow me!¡± Momo rejected him sharply.


    Han froze in place, watching Momo head toward the elevator bank, unsure of his destination. Coming to his senses, he hurried after him again.


    By the time he reached the elevator, Momo had already gone inside, and with a ding, the doors closed.


    Without time to think, Han caught sight of the emergency exit and immediately dashed down the stairs to the first floor.


    Inside the elevator.


    Momo pulled out his phone, dialing a number.


    A respectful voice answered from the other end: ¡°Mr. Mo, how may I assist you?¡±


    ¡°I am at Mingde Hospital. I need you to come and get me in ten minutes.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    ¡°And another thing...¡± Momo¡¯s voice, cold and commanding, ¡°bring me Song Shuyan.¡±


    ¡°Yes!¡±


    After hanging up the phone, the elevator doors opened, and Momo walked toward the hospital entrance.


    Emerging from the emergency exit, Han, out of breath, ran to the entrance, searching around, and saw Momo already outside. He immediately ran toward him.


    What was he up to?


    For some reason, Momo¡¯s presence felt menacing, creating a sense of dread.


    Momo heard footsteps behind him and turned around, seeing Han, he raised an eyebrow, ¡°Didn¡¯t I tell you not to follow me?¡±


    His tone was mature and merciless, out of place for his age, his gaze decisively lethal, not something a seven-year-old child would possess. This demeanor made Han instantly think of Huo Tingdong when he was angry.


    Daddy looked the same when he was upset.


    Han tried to take his hand.


    But Momo shook him off right away.


    Momo before him seemed somehow unfamiliar now, somehow scary.


    But Han wasn¡¯t afraid.


    He trusted Momo wouldn¡¯t hurt him.


    Han spoke softly, ¡°Together.¡± He wanted to be with Momo.


    Momo said, ¡°Don¡¯t follow me, go back.¡±


    Han shook his head, his face set with resolve.


    Soon, an Alphard stopped at the hospital¡¯s front door.


    As the car door opened, two men in sharp suits stepped out and bowed to Momo, ¡°Mr. Mo, please get in.¡±


    Momo asked coldly, ¡°Where is she?¡±


    The man replied, ¡°We have already placed a citywide alert. Within one hour, we will bring her to you.¡±

 Chapter 103: 103: Blood Debt Paid in Blood

    Chapter 103: Chapter 103: Blood Debt Paid in Blood


    Momo glanced at Han, who clung tightly to his hand. Casting aside any hesitations, Momo boarded the vehicle, and Han wanted to get in too.


    But the car was too high.


    He used his hands and feet, attempting to climb up.


    The man asked, ¡°Mr. Mo, who is this...¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Let him get on too.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡± The man picked Han up into the car.


    The ICU.


    Huo Tingdong and a doctor walked out of the ward only to find no trace of Momo and Han. His eyebrows furrowed slightly.


    He grabbed a nurse and asked, ¡°Have you seen two children?¡±


    The nurse shook her head, then suddenly remembered something, ¡°I saw a kid entering the elevator earlier, not sure if I was mistaken...¡±


    Huo Tingdong alertly said, ¡°Find them.¡±


    Thirty minutes later.


    The hospital mobilized all available staff to search every floor, yet the figures of Han and Momo were nowhere to be found.


    The two Little Babys seemed to have vanished into thin air.


    The doctor said, ¡°Mr. Huo, don¡¯t worry, maybe the kids just went out to play...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Impossible.¡± Lin Qi was still unconscious in bed, and both Momo and Han were too anxious, they wouldn¡¯t just run off to play.


    Worried something might have happened, he said to the doctor, ¡°Check the surveillance.¡±


    ¡°Yes, we¡¯ll get someone on it right away.¡±


    ...


    24-hour convenience store.


    Song Shuyan had just bought some ready-made meals and was leaving the convenience store when a black sedan suddenly stopped in front of her, blocking her way.


    Four burly men got out of the car, looking strong and muscular, as if they could twist a person¡¯s head off with one hand.


    Song Shuyan got a huge scare.


    Instinctively, she tried to walk around them, but the four men headed straight towards her.


    ¡°You...¡± Song Shuyan exclaimed in shock, ¡°Who are you?¡±


    The group didn¡¯t give her a chance to struggle or resist. One of them grabbed her hand while another struck her neck¡¯s pain point with the edge of his hand.


    Oh no...


    Song Shuyan felt as if her neck had been struck by lightning as her world turned dark, and she fainted to the ground.


    The night shrouded the entire city.


    An abandoned factory in the suburbs, suddenly a heavy rain poured down.


    Raindrops pattered against the skylight.


    Song Shuyan was jolted awake, suffering from a splitting headache. She opened her eyes, only to find her hands and feet were tightly bound to a pillar, so tight and forceful that her wrists and ankles felt as if they were being cut by the rope. The whole scenario had her kneeling on the ground, her mouth packed tightly with a foul-smelling cloth.


    It was a pitch-black night with high winds ¨C a perfect night for committing murder.


    Her first thought was, had she been kidnapped?


    How could that be?


    Who would kidnap her?


    Song Shuyan raised her head and was startled by the sight of men in combat attire lined up in two rows in front of her.


    More than ten men, each dressed in crisp black suits, resembling mobsters yet lacking the loose demeanor of street thugs. Their faces serious, devoid of smiles, their strong and disciplined demeanor radiated a menacing aura.


    These suit-clad thugs appeared to have a formidable background, the murderous aura they emitted could only have been developed from years of living on the blade¡¯s edge, licking blood.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s eyes revealed fear!


    Who are they and what kind of people are they?!


    Why is she here?


    Numerous mysteries surfaced one by one in her mind, and although she was already terrified out of her wits, she still put on a calm demeanor and said, ¡°Who are you and why have you brought me here?¡±


    The leader¡¯s voice was especially deep, with a rough and gravelly texture: ¡°Miss Song, our Mr. Mo has some questions for you.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Mo?¡± Song Shuyan gave a bitter smile, ¡°Are you mistaken? I have never heard of any Mr. Mo, nor do I know him.¡±


    ¡°You will know him when you see our young master.¡±


    Not far away, with a ¡°creak¡±, a rusty iron door was pushed open.


    In the darkness, someone walked in.


    Two rows of men stood straight, dignified and solemn, and one of them brought a chair.


    In the dim light, Momo¡¯s silhouette entered Song Shuyan¡¯s sight.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s pupils momentarily lost focus: Why is it this kid?


    ¡°Mr. Mo, please sit.¡±


    Momo sat down on the chair, his body slender and delicate beneath the clothes, still resembling the Momo in Song Shuyan¡¯s memory, but now, he was completely different from the seven-year-old child she remembered.


    His body exuded a murderous aura that was impossible to ignore, chilling to the bone, especially between his brows where there was a piercing, sharp aura. Even though it was restrained, it could not hide the cold edge, like the Son of the Devil born from darkness.


    The continuously emanating cold aura from his body spread to every corner of the abandoned factory, oppressive and menacing, causing one¡¯s scalp to tingle.


    Momo looked up, his lashes slightly lowered, his beautiful yet indifferent eyes glanced at Song Shuyan, like a dead water pool devouring people, with only cold ripples: ¡°Surprised?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Why is it you?¡±


    What exactly is this kid¡¯s identity?


    Momo, unwilling to engage in lengthy pleasantries or talk, asked bluntly and piercingly, ¡°I need you to tell me how Mommy fell from such a height. You better answer truthfully.¡±


    Song Shuyan paused, unshakably replied, ¡°You should wait and ask your Mommy when she wakes up, how would I know?¡±


    Momo raised an eyebrow, ¡°Still playing dumb?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°You¡¯re not suspecting that she was pushed down by me, right?¡± She looked around and took control of the conversation, asking, ¡°Who are all these people? What are they doing?¡±


    Momo impatiently said, ¡°Before I answer your questions, answer mine first. Was Mommy pushed down by you?¡±


    Song Shuyan snorted coldly, ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood to play ¡®playing house¡¯ with you, hurry up and release me.¡±


    ¡°Playing house?¡± Momo sneered coldly and gave a glance to one of his subordinates.


    The man immediately walked up to Song Shuyan, squatted in front of her, and pulled out a short dagger from his waistband, pressing it hard against her face.


    The sharp blade immediately cut a blood trail on her face!


    Song Shuyan screamed!


    This is a real knife!


    Song Shuyan screamed in shock, ¡°Are you crazy?! Take the knife away! Take it away!¡±


    Momo said, ¡°How is it, is ¡®playing house¡¯ fun? Exciting?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Who are these people! Do you even know what you are doing?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe a seven-year-old kid would play such a life-threatening ¡°game.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I don¡¯t like repeating myself, I need you to answer my previous question now.¡±


    Song Shuyan became panicked, ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re asking, I don¡¯t know...¡±


    Momo spoke coldly, ¡°Not speaking? Then we¡¯ll beat you until you do.¡±


    A group of men in black immediately approached Song Shuyan, surrounding her tightly.


    Song Shuyan was terrified and exclaimed in fear, ¡°What are you doing? You...¡±


    ¡°Wait.¡± Momo suddenly thought of something and spoke deliberately, ¡°Mommy said, boys should be gentlemen to girls and must not hit them. Otherwise, let¡¯s ruin her face.¡±

 Chapter 104: 104: Do You Have Evidence?

    Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Do You Have Evidence?


    Song Shuyan was shocked.


    ¡°You are so vicious!¡±


    ¡°Vicious?¡± Momo said sarcastically, ¡°How dare I compare with you in viciousness? My cruelty doesn¡¯t even equate to one ten-thousandth of yours.¡±


    Song Shuyan argued, ¡°You say that I pushed your Mommy; do you have any evidence?¡±


    Momo answered, ¡°I don¡¯t have evidence, otherwise I would have called the police.¡± It was because he had no evidence that he had to use his own means to make Song Shuyan pay, an eye for an eye.


    Now his Mommy is facing amputation, or even a life-threatening condition.


    Mommy is the person he loves the most, and thanks to this woman, she has not yet regained consciousness.


    Should he swallow this grievance?


    Though young, he was not as naive and kind as other seven-year-old children. He didn¡¯t care how others saw him, even if they viewed him as the ¡°Son of the Devil.¡± He would never tolerate the person who harmed his Mommy!


    Momo said, ¡°Do it!¡±


    It doesn¡¯t matter if Song Shuyan denies it.


    He doesn¡¯t need her acknowledgment!


    ¡°Stop! Stop...¡± Seeing the gleaming knife close to her face, the next second poised to slice her skin, Song Shuyan¡¯s tone suddenly softened, ¡°Hit me, or kill me!¡± She did not believe this child would dare to kill.


    Moreover¡ª


    She loved her beauty so much, and for her, disfiguring her face was more painful than killing her.


    Momo raised his hand, ¡°Stop.¡±


    The men in black all stopped.


    Momo stood up, walked over to Song Shuyan, looked at her pitiful kneeling posture, and glanced at her hands bound behind her back, then coldly said, ¡°Whether you pushed Mommy or not, if you don¡¯t tell me, I will not only ruin your face, I will cripple your hands.¡±


    Song Shuyan shook her head desperately, she would never admit to such a thing even if beaten to death, ¡°I didn¡¯t... I really didn¡¯t...¡± She desperately argued, hoping the seven-year-old child in front of her would naively believe her.


    ¡°Momo, good child, who told you this, how can you suspect me? I¡¯m a doctor, I only save people, how could I dare to kill someone?¡±


    Song Shuyan gritted her teeth and said, ¡°You¡¯re only seven years old, how can you do such violent things? Who taught you this, was it your Mommy? How could she be so dark, teaching you to do such things?¡±


    Momo narrowed his eyes, his gaze chilling.


    For a moment, Song Shuyan suddenly found Momo¡¯s expression familiar, which made her think of Huo Tingdong.


    Indeed, being Huo Tingdong¡¯s son, like father, like son, the ruthlessness of Huo Tingdong was inherited by Momo, and even surpassed.


    Momo coldly said, ¡°I see you won¡¯t shed tears until you see the coffin, fine, do you really think I won¡¯t act?¡± He snatched the dagger from the man¡¯s hand, pressed it against Song Shuyan¡¯s face, and slashed.


    A bloodstain immediately appeared on Song Shuyan¡¯s face, blood gushing out.


    ¡°Ah! Ah...¡± Song Shuyan cried in agony, ¡°Murder! Help!¡±


    Outside, Han heard the screams of Song Shuyan, and his heart panicked.


    Momo had ordered him to stay outside, but hearing Song Shuyan¡¯s screams, Han couldn¡¯t hold back anymore and rushed in.


    As he stepped into the light, he saw Momo holding the knife tightly, his small hand pinching Song Shuyan¡¯s neck, about to slash her face again.


    ¡°Don¡¯t!¡±


    Han cried out in shock.


    Momo was startled, coming to his senses upon seeing Han suddenly pounce towards him.


    ¡°Don¡¯t...¡± Han tightly hugged his hand and shook his head.


    ¡°Let go!¡± Momo got a bit annoyed, ¡°Who are you really helping?¡±


    Could this kid be wanting to help this vicious woman?


    This vicious woman almost killed Mommy.


    Doesn¡¯t he care about Mommy too?


    Han held his hand tightly, not letting go.


    ¡°Don¡¯t... dirty your hands...¡± Han was afraid Momo might really take a life and dirty his hands.


    He¡¯s only seven years old, he¡¯s still a child, how could his hands be stained with such filthy blood?


    He also hates Song Shuyan, but there¡¯s no need to dirty his hands over such a woman; she doesn¡¯t deserve that much.


    Momo looked into Han¡¯s flickering eyes. His grip loosened, and the dagger clattered to the ground, the crisp sound snapping Momo back to reality.


    He pushed Han away, ¡°Let go.¡±


    Han shook his head, afraid that Momo, out of control, might truly do something outrageous.


    He was protecting Momo.


    Han said, ¡°I have a way to save... save Aunt Qiqi.¡±


    Momo was taken aback, grasping Han¡¯s shoulders nervously, and asked, ¡°What did you say?¡±


    Han assertively said, ¡°I have a way!¡± He had a method to save Aunt Qiqi from amputation.


    Momo was skeptical, ¡°Really?¡±


    Han nodded seriously.


    Only then did Momo gradually loosen his grip, his facial muscles also relaxed a bit.


    He glanced at Song Shuyan, even though Han said he could save Mommy, he didn¡¯t want to let this woman off easily.


    Han, seeing through his thoughts, suddenly pulled out an acupuncture kit from his arms, took out a silver needle, and turned towards Song Shuyan.


    Song Shuyan, seeing the thin silver needle in his hand, trembled violently in fright.


    Under the light, the needle looked sharp and emitted a cold light.


    Song Shuyan didn¡¯t know what Han was planning with the needle, terrified out of her wits, ¡°What... what are you going to do?¡±


    Han furrowed his brows, stepped closer, grabbed Song Shuyan¡¯s face with one small hand, and suddenly, holding that long needle, fiercely stabbed it into the acupoint on the top of her head.


    Song Shuyan screamed hoarsely, convulsing a few times, her eyes rolled back, and she fainted again.


    Momo asked suspiciously, ¡°What did you do to her?¡±


    Han shook his head, ¡°She¡¯s not dead.¡± His needle stimulated the acupoint on top of her head which would make her lose a portion of her memory temporarily.


    Then, Han took out two slightly thicker needles and inserted them into two acupoints on Song Shuyan¡¯s jaw.


    Momo did not know the significance of these three needles that Han administered.


    Han had no intention of explaining, took out a handkerchief from his pocket, wiped the blood off Momo¡¯s hand, and took his hand, ¡°Let¡¯s go back.¡±


    Momo asked, ¡°Do you really have a way to save Mommy from being amputated?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Han nodded again, ¡°Trust me!¡±


    ...


    Half an hour later.


    Momo and Han were sent back to the hospital by their subordinates.


    At the hospital entrance, Momo turned to them and said, ¡°You can leave.¡±


    ¡°Does Mr. Mo have any other orders?¡±


    ¡°Not for now.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Mo, inform us anytime you have orders.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Momo and Han entered the hospital.


    At that moment, the hospital was in a state of panic, even the police were called.


    However, the sudden return of Momo and Han to the hospital relieved everyone of their worries, deeming it a false alarm.


    Huo Tingdong looked particularly upset.


    He grabbed Han, demanding, ¡°Where have you two been?¡±

 Chapter 105: 105: The Unique Prescription Format

    Chapter 105: Chapter 105: The Unique Prescription Format


    Han shivered, looking helplessly towards Momo.


    Momo said, ¡°Han is hungry. I¡¯ll take him to grab something to eat.¡±


    Han showed a surprised expression, this guy, really could lie without even blinking an eye.


    Just at that moment¡ª


    Han¡¯s stomach inappropriately let out a ¡°gurgle.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at him with a teasing glare, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were hungry, that you were going to eat?¡± He quickly realized, Momo was lying.


    Momo said, ¡°He didn¡¯t eat enough.¡±


    Han also rubbed his stomach, looking at Huo Tingdong with a pitiful gaze.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have made me so worried about you.¡± He had always protected Han well, and Han had also been well-behaved. Now, unexpectedly, Han had wandered off by himself.


    This was not a good sign.


    But...


    Seeing that Han¡¯s stomach was actually grumbling with hunger, he still couldn¡¯t bring himself to blame him too much and sternly warned, ¡°Don¡¯t let there be a next time!¡± After saying that, he instructed Mo Ke, who had hurried over, to pack some takeout.


    Just as Huo Tingdong turned around, Momo suddenly grabbed Han¡¯s hand and asked, ¡°What do you plan to do to save Mommy?¡±


    Han said he had a way to prevent Lin Qi from having her leg amputated. How would he do it?


    Momo suddenly looked nervously towards Huo Tingdong, asking, ¡°Did you sign it?¡±


    Huo Tingdong countered, ¡°Sign what?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°The doctor asked you to sign for the surgery. Did you sign?¡±


    Huo Tingdong realized what Momo was asking about and replied, ¡°Not yet.¡±


    Momo urgently said, ¡°Don¡¯t sign!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I also don¡¯t want to sign, but, the doctor said, without amputation, your mommy¡¯s life is in danger.¡±


    Momo blurted out, ¡°Han said, he has a way.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at Han skeptically.


    Han puffed out his chest, patting it firmly.


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t believe it, for even the doctor was at a loss with the situation. How could Han handle it well?


    Amputating was to avoid further infection, a matter of life and death, naturally requiring careful consideration.


    Han grew anxious, ¡°Daddy, trust me...¡± He rarely spoke out, and seeing that Huo Tingdong still had a skeptical attitude, he tightly grasped Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand, his brow slightly furrowed, ¡°Trust me...¡±


    His eyes were filled with pleading, eagerly seeking Huo Tingdong¡¯s trust.


    Momo clenched his teeth hard, his fists tightened, gritting his teeth saying, ¡°I believe in Han, if anything life-threatening happens to mommy because of this, I will take the consequences.¡±


    Somehow, he instinctively trusted Han, thus he was willing to bet everything.


    Momo said, ¡°Give Han a little time. If he could save Mommy once, he can save her a second time!¡±


    Huo Tingdong squatted down, pulled Han in front of him, and asked, ¡°Was it you who saved Aunt Qiqi?¡±


    Han nodded.


    Huo Tingdong recalled the needles Han had given Lin Qi, and also thought about what the doctor had said, that Lin Qi surviving a fall from such a high place was simply a miracle.


    Perhaps, this miracle was created by Han.


    Huo Tingdong also decided to take a gamble, ¡°Han, I trust you, so, what do you need to do?¡±


    Han suddenly ran to the nurse¡¯s station, asked the nurse for paper and pen, and then, gripping the pen, he drew a series of symbols on the paper.


    Huo Tingdong took a look and his handsome face darkened.


    Han had drawn many strange symbols, which he couldn¡¯t quite understand: ¡°¡ù¡±, ¡°¡Ñ¡±, ¡°¡É¡±, ¡°¡Ô¡±.


    What did all these mean?


    Momo also took a look, equally confused, and asked Han, ¡°What is this?¡±


    Han then wrote four characters on the paper: ¡°Compendium of Materia Medica.¡±


    Huo Tingdong suddenly remembered.


    In the home study, there was a row of bookshelves designated for Han. Han often brought back books after visiting the old Chinese medicine doctor at the orphanage, among them the Compendium of Materia Medica and Shennong¡¯s Classic of the Materia Medica. During his free time, Han would immerse himself reading those books, occasionally marking them with symbols.


    Sometimes Huo Tingdong was amazed; Han was only seven years old, barely literate, not to mention the archaic words in these medical texts that even adults could not recognize.


    But he suddenly realized that these books had illustrations of herbs which Han, not recognizing the words, would mark for identification.


    Mo Ke, just back with the packed takeout, was handed a key by Huo Tingdong, ¡°Go back to Huo Mansion, and bring the books Han usually reads.¡±


    Mo Ke was taken aback, ¡°I don¡¯t know what books the young master usually reads.¡± He had been to Huo Mansion¡¯s study room once, absurdly large at over a hundred square meters, akin to a library, with the highest point being over ten meters, hence the need for a staircase for retrieving books.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han¡¯s books are displayed separately, with labels. Bring all those medical texts.¡±


    Mo Ke nodded, ¡°Yes!¡±


    Unconsciously, an hour had passed.


    Finally, Mo Ke came back, his hands carrying a suitcase. The books Han read filled an entire large suitcase.


    ¡°Mr. Huo, I...I¡¯ve brought all the books, and some children¡¯s picture books, which I didn¡¯t take, only the medical texts as you mentioned.¡±


    Han squatted down, flipped through them, and picked out the Compendium of Materia Medica and Shennong¡¯s Classic of the Materia Medica. Then, with a pencil, he circled several illustrations of herbs.


    Huo Tingdong was surprised.


    Not because Han could recognize these herbs at a glance, but every herb was marked with special symbols by Han.


    Correspondingly, ¡ù was Chonglou, ? was snow lotus, ¡É was Gastrodia, ¡Ô was Saffron.


    The symbols corresponded to the illustrations of the herbs, truly vivid.


    Huo Tingdong felt somewhat relieved.


    Han really wasn¡¯t lacking intelligence; he thought Han¡¯s flipping through the texts was purely out of curiosity without understanding them. However, it turned out he not only understood them but also knew the effects of these Chinese herbs.


    Could it be that he learned all this from the old Chinese medicine doctor at the orphanage?


    Han wrote down a prescription on the paper, ¡°¡ù50 qian, ¡Ñ40 qian, ¡É65 qian, ¡Ô20 qian...¡±


    Huo Tingdong was truly amused by his prescription, cute handwriting, coupled with Han¡¯s unique writing format. He touched Han¡¯s little head, ¡°Is this enough?¡±


    Han then drew two more special symbols: ¡°¹²¡Ö...¡±, ¡°ºÌ¡Õ...¡±.


    He scratched his head, not knowing how to describe to Huo Tingdong. These two symbols represented rice wine and sesame oil.


    Momo, however, suddenly said from the side, ¡°Does this mean rice wine and sesame oil?¡±


    Han¡¯s eyes brightened, and he nodded.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°How did you recognize that?¡±


    Momo couldn¡¯t help but smile.


    ¡°¹²¡± is the upper part of ¡°»Æ¡±(yellow), and ºÌ is the upper part of ¡°Ï㡱(fragrant).


    Moreover... he seemed to always understand, what Han wanted to express, as if there was some kind of telepathy between them.

 Chapter 106: 106: The Jade Rabbit Spirit Making Medicine

    Chapter 106: Chapter 106: The Jade Rabbit Spirit Making Medicine


    Huo Tingdong, after annotating the prescription based on the illustrations in the guide, handed it to Mo Ke and said, ¡°Prepare the medicine according to the prescription.¡±


    Mo Ke looked at the prescription, amused but also exasperated, yet he immediately accepted it, nodding and saying, ¡°I¡¯ll take care of it right away.¡±


    Mo Ke¡¯s efficiency was astounding.


    Soon, he had gathered all the herbs, along with the medicine mortar and pestle, scales, and powder machine, gathering everything needed.


    Huo Tingdong had someone stay behind to care for Lin Qi, and sent Momo and Han back home.


    As soon as he opened the door, Huo Tingdong was greeted by the bitter and pungent smell of medicinal herbs, instinctively covering his nose.


    But Han seemed already accustomed to the smell of the herbs; he ran into the living room, brought all the herbs and tools back to the study, and Momo, out of curiosity, followed him.


    Inside the study.


    Han laid out all the tools and herbs, counted the herbs, measured their weight precisely with the scale, and then took out a notebook and started drawing and writing in it.


    Momo asked, ¡°Does this medicine need to be cooked?¡±


    Han shook his head.


    Seeing his focused and serious demeanor, Momo did not disturb him further.


    Before coming back from the hospital, Han had seen Lin Qi¡¯s injuries.


    Lin Qi¡¯s elbow joint was particularly badly injured; the fractured bone had pierced through the skin, causing an open wound, which led to an infection that was risking amputation.


    Chinese medicine is different from Western medicine, and ancient Chinese medicine is different from modern Chinese medicine.


    Especially the ancient Chinese medicine Han had learned from Grandpa, which had been lost for a long time. Grandpa was the last inheritor of a century-old family of traditional Chinese doctors. In his generation, only Han was the direct disciple.


    Han placed the herbs into the medicine mortar, holding the copper pestle, and started to grind the medicine with a ¡°clang clang clang¡± sound.


    Momo leaned on the chair, feeling a bit tired and drowsy.


    He looked at Han grinding the medicine intently and asked in a fuzzy state, ¡°Can you really cure Mommy?¡±


    Han nodded.


    Momo asked again, ¡°Mommy¡¯s injury is so severe, will it leave scars?¡±


    Han shook his head.


    Momo instantly felt a great sense of relief, closed his eyes, and fell into a heavy sleep.


    In a hazy state of consciousness, he had a magical dream where he floated towards the moon and reached Guanghan Palace. In the palace, he saw a cute Jade Rabbit Spirit.


    Curious, he walked over and gently tapped the Jade Rabbit Spirit on the shoulder; the Jade Rabbit Spirit turned around, and it was Han¡¯s face.


    Han¡¯s head had two long ears just like a rabbit, hanging innocently. He was holding a copper cup and clenching the copper pestle, seriously grinding the medicine.


    ¡°Han!¡±


    Momo shouted as he woke from his dream.


    He opened his eyes to see Han¡¯s handsome and adorable face close to his, staring at him with round eyes, and his long eyelashes fluttered gently, as if curious about what dream he had.


    ¡°Awake?¡± Han pinched his cheek, ¡°You were dreaming.¡±


    Saying this, he picked up the drawing board in his hands and brought it close to his face.


    Momo looked attentively and saw it was a portrait Han had secretly drawn while he was asleep. In the portrait, Momo was lying on the chair, head tilted, with his mouth slightly open¡ªboth funny and cute, a stark contrast to the ¡°little tyrant¡± persona he usually showed.


    Momo¡¯s eyes reddened, and he reached out to snatch it, ¡°Give it to me!¡±


    Han hid the drawing behind his back, not giving it to him.


    Momo was embarrassed and flushed with annoyance, and suddenly Han said, ¡°The medicine is ready.¡±


    Momo looked towards the table behind him in surprise; the medicine was already packaged.


    He was amazed by Han¡¯s efficiency: ¡°So fast?¡±


    Han pointed towards the outside window.


    The sky had already darkened.


    This pounding lasted the entire afternoon.


    Momo asked, ¡°Are you tired?¡±


    Han rubbed his eyes, clearly showing some signs of fatigue, but he still needed to hold out until they reached the hospital, to apply medicine on Aunt Qiqi.


    Han carried the medicine bag, and he and Momo walked to the door. In the living room, Mo Ke was also dozing off, but there was no sign of Huo Tingdong.


    Momo walked over and gently tugged at Mo Ke¡¯s mouth.


    Mo Ke woke up abruptly, opened his eyes, and saw Momo¡¯s enlarged handsome face, ¡°You dare to fall asleep?¡±


    Mo Ke immediately raised both hands in surrender, ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy?¡± Han shook his head, looking around, searching for Huo Tingdong¡¯s figure.


    Mo Ke awkwardly stood up, explaining to Han, ¡°Mr. Huo has gone to the hospital.¡±


    Momo tensed up and asked, ¡°Did something happen to Mommy again?¡±


    Mo Ke shook his head, ¡°The one in trouble is Miss Song.¡±


    Miss Song... Song Shuyan?


    What happened to her?


    Momo only remembered that Han had fiercely jabbed a few needles into Song Shuyan, then left her in the factory.


    But Han had no interest in paying attention to Song Shuyan; in any case, this woman reaped what she sowed. The needles he jabbed were enough for Song Shuyan to endure!


    ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± He took Momo¡¯s hand, ¡°We¡¯re going to the hospital.¡± He needed to apply medicine on Aunt Qiqi.


    Momo nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    Hospital.


    Huo Tingdong entered the ward, just as the nurse had finished covering Song Shuyan with a blanket.


    As soon as he entered, he saw Song Shuyan incessantly scratching her face and neck. The skin exposed to the air had scratch marks all over, and beyond a laceration that seemed like a slash on Song Shuyan¡¯s face, there were also some startling red rashes, each swollen, and breaking them would result in blisters.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What happened to her?¡±


    The nurse shook her head, explaining, ¡°Someone found Miss Song on the way here. She was delirious, seemingly injured, and all the way here she frantically scratched at her face and neck as if very itchy. Besides that, Miss Song¡¯s face is paralyzed.¡±


    ¡°Face paralysis?¡±


    Huo Tingdong glanced at Song Shuyan¡¯s face; half of her face had slack muscles, hanging loosely and paralyzed, completely asymmetrical on both sides.


    The nurse said, ¡°The doctor has treated her and said it¡¯s nothing serious, but... her symptoms are really rare, even the doctors are at a loss.¡±


    Mingde Hospital is a private hospital, but it is highly qualified, possessing many authoritative experts and professors.


    What kind of symptoms made the experts and professors feel helpless?


    Huo Tingdong had no idea, Han had hit Song Shuyan with those three needles, each at a miraculous acupoint.


    Not lethal, but extremely painful.


    A needle in Baihui Acupoint would cause Song Shuyan to lose part of her memory, unclear consciousness, and even after waking, she would lose impression of that day¡¯s memory.


    A needle in Sanyinjiao, with a trace amount of toxin in the needle tip, would cause blister rash.


    A needle in Dicang acupoint damaged the neurons and would cause massive facial paralysis, and if unresolved, facial muscles would collapse, tantamount to disfigurement, and in the long term, leave lifelong disability.


    This technique had long been lost; it was taught to Han by his Grandpa, and no one else could solve it.


    ¡°Ah... ah... so itchy... so itchy...¡± Song Shuyan miserably tossed and turned on the bed, continuously scratching her face and neck, screaming hoarsely while scratching.

 Chapter 107: 107 Ill Take Charge

    Chapter 107: Chapter 107 I¡¯ll Take Charge


    The nurse was terrified by the scene and watched helplessly as Song Shuyan left blood-like scratch marks on her neck and face with her sharp fingernails, while herpes zoster lesions kept popping up, as if she had been bitten by venomous insects.


    She looked at Huo Tingdong and asked, ¡°Mr. Huo, what should we do? The doctors have gone to arrange a transfer to another hospital, as Mingde currently lacks the facilities to treat her.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Has the transfer request been approved yet?¡± Transferring wasn¡¯t easy; it required uploading the patient¡¯s medical reports and coordinating with other hospitals, and if a hospital lacked the facilities, the transfer request wouldn¡¯t go through.


    The nurse said, ¡°We haven¡¯t received a response on the transfer request yet... We¡¯re looking for a hospital that can provide the facilities we need.¡±


    Huo Tingdong ordered, ¡°First, restrain her hands so she can¡¯t scratch herself.¡± Especially on the face¡ªthe area dense with nerves and blood vessels¡ªit could lead to a fatal infection if not handled properly.


    Mo Ke knocked on the door and came in. ¡°Mr. Huo, I¡¯ve brought Momo and Han to the hospital. Han wants to apply medicine to Miss Lin, but the doctors are stopping him.¡±


    Huo Tingdong told the nurse, ¡°You take care of her for now.¡±


    The nurse nodded, ¡°Yes,¡± and immediately went to fetch the restraints.


    Huo Tingdong followed Mo Ke to the hospital room and saw Han being stopped by the doctor at the door.


    ¡°Young man, you can¡¯t mess around! What is that in your hand?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°It¡¯s medicine, it can treat infections when applied to the wound.¡±


    The doctor chuckled upon hearing this. ¡°Young man, you really shouldn¡¯t be fooling around! The patient¡¯s condition is very serious; we recommend amputation surgery to save her life. There¡¯s a constant risk of the infection spreading; this is a hospital, not a place for playing house!¡±


    Momo replied angrily, ¡°Do you have any better solutions for treating my Mommy¡¯s wounds? Is amputation the only option you have?¡±


    The doctor explained, ¡°Amputation is the safest procedure.¡± He didn¡¯t believe that a seven-year-old child could apply an unknown concoction to a wound and improve the infection.


    Seven-year-old!


    His own daughter was eight and still couldn¡¯t figure out Lego.


    Huo Tingdong walked up with a menacing look and demanded, ¡°Step aside!¡±


    The doctor, upon seeing Huo Tingdong, hastily explained, ¡°Mr. Huo, you can¡¯t let your son mess around! This is a matter of life and death¡ªa seven-year-old child, if something goes wrong and it becomes a matter of life... ¡±


    Huo Tingdong, growing impatient, interrupted, ¡°I will take responsibility for any consequences!¡±


    Momo paused for a few seconds, then looked at Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong raised his arrogant chin, looking down at the doctor¡¯s face and declared firmly, ¡°He¡¯s my son. As his father, I¡¯ll bear all the consequences he causes. I am responsible.¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t accept the doctor¡¯s suggestion of amputation surgery. He wanted Lin Qi to wake up unharmed, without missing an arm or a leg.


    His imposing manner and extraordinary resolve silenced the doctor instantly.


    He too was making a gamble.


    A gamble that Han could truly cure Lin Qi.


    The doctor had no choice but to concede, stressing once again, ¡°Mr. Huo, should Miss Lin face any life-threatening danger, the hospital will not be held accountable...¡± The hospital dared not take responsibility, nor could it bear it.


    What could be more critical than a life-or-death matter?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You¡¯re dismissed.¡±


    ¡°Yes...¡± The doctor left the room, dejectedly.


    Han immediately pushed the door open and entered the hospital room.


    He pointed to the bed; it was raised too high for him to work comfortably due to his short height.


    After Huo Tingdong lowered the bed, Han carefully began to unravel the gauze. Nearby, Momo, unable to bear looking at the bloody wound, turned away abruptly, clenching his fists and trembling.


    Such a deep, mangled wound¡ªit hurt him just to look at it!


    He couldn¡¯t bear to look any longer.


    Han put on a mask, looked at the bone-deep wound, and took out the medicine pack beside him, slowly opening it.


    The wound was too deep; therefore, the blowing method was needed.


    He carefully poured the finely ground medicinal powder into a paper tube and blew it gently onto the affected area. Immediately after, he meticulously applied the medicated ointment he had prepared to the outer edge of the wound before wrapping it with gauze.


    It was only after the wound was wrapped that Han finally let out a long sigh of relief. His body swayed, and he nearly collapsed.


    Huo Tingdong, with his quick reflexes, steadied him and became anxious, ¡°Han, what¡¯s wrong with you?¡±


    Rubbing his eyes, Han could barely keep them open. ¡°Daddy... I¡¯m so sleepy...¡± He had barely slept over the past two nights, his strength nearly exhausted.


    As soon as he finished speaking, with a ¡°thud,¡± Han¡¯s small head leaned powerlessly against his shoulder, and he fell asleep in an instant.


    Momo looked at Han¡¯s exhausted sleeping face, feeling a pang of heartache, ¡°Let him rest well; I¡¯ll watch over Mommy.¡±


    Huo Tingdong took Han to the adjoining caregivers¡¯ room and returned to find Momo already had moved a stool to sit by the bed.


    He gazed deeply at Lin Qi, unwilling to shift his gaze even an inch.


    Huo Tingdong sat down beside him.


    Time ticked by, second by second.


    Huo Tingdong himself hadn¡¯t closed his eyes for two days and nights either. Mo Ke brought over a sofa, and he wanted to carry Momo to the sofa, but Momo gently pushed back, ¡°You go rest; I¡¯ll keep watch.¡±


    ¡°Aren¡¯t you tired?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m not tired; I¡¯ve rested already.¡± Momo acted like a composed adult.


    In a moment of vagueness¡ª


    Huo Tingdong thought he saw in Momo¡¯s eyes and brows a shadow of his younger self.


    Mature, steady, calm, wise.


    A doubt fleetingly crossed his mind, only to be quickly dismissed.


    Huo Tingdong sat down on the couch, resting his chin in his hand, and closed his eyes to rest.


    Without realizing it, dawn was breaking again.


    Momo was holding Lin Qi¡¯s hand when suddenly he felt a slight twitch in her fingertips.


    ¡°Mommy...¡± he said hoarsely, looking at Lin Qi¡¯s face with surprise and joy.


    Lin Qi weakly opened her eyes, and the oxygen mask misted over. Her breathing grew stronger.


    Almost instinctively, her parched lips parted, calling out Momo¡¯s name, ¡°Momo...¡±


    Momo was overwhelmed with joy, immediately standing up and moving closer to her, gently saying, ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m here...¡± He hadn¡¯t closed his eyes all night just to ensure that when Lin Qi opened her eyes, she would see him first.


    Lin Qi¡¯s blurry vision gradually became clear, and upon opening her eyes, she saw Momo¡¯s gentle little face.


    ¡°Momo...¡± She weakly raised her hand.


    Momo immediately grasped her hand tightly, seeing Lin Qi finally lucid, he suddenly felt a sourness in his eyes and they reddened; his voice became hoarse, ¡°Mommy, you¡¯ve finally woken up...¡±


    Lin Qi struggled to ask, ¡°Momo... you¡¯re alright... aren¡¯t you?¡± Wasn¡¯t she dreaming?


    Momo was still alive.


    Momo was alright...


    What about Han?


    Lin Qi did not see Han and asked hesitantly, ¡°Where¡¯s Han...?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°Han is tired and resting. Mommy, Han and I are both fine, nothing is wrong...¡± He was eager to find out what exactly had happened to Lin Qi but couldn¡¯t bear to ask.


    Mommy had just regained consciousness, he didn¡¯t dare ask too much.


    Lin Qi furrowed her brows, feeling her thoughts stuck in a rigid haze. She tried to recall exactly what had happened, but the more she tried, the more her head ached...

 Chapter 108: 108: Unconditionally Trust Mommy

    Chapter 108: Chapter 108: Unconditionally Trust Mommy


    Momo tentatively said, ¡°Mommy, you fell from a very high place and nearly died; Han saved you.¡±


    From a very high place...


    Lin Qi¡¯s pupils shrank abruptly, and she forcefully recalled fragments of memories.


    In her dazed thoughts, she remembered the last image before losing consciousness was of that woman fiercely pushing her down.


    Momo frowned and saw that Lin Qi seemed to finally remember something. He was both nervous and excited as he asked, ¡°Mommy, do you remember anything?¡±


    Lin Qi said blankly, ¡°I was pushed down... by that woman... that woman... her name is...¡±


    Her breathing started to quicken, and layers of condensation formed on her oxygen mask.


    She just couldn¡¯t recall the name of that woman.


    But Momo was clever; he took her words and asked, ¡°Was it Song Shuyan?¡±


    This name, like a key, unlocked the tightly sealed door.


    Lin Qi looked at Momo and nodded heavily, ¡°It was her... She told me that she had thrown you and Han down... I was tricked by her to the edge of the platform, and she pushed me...¡±


    After saying this, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength and closed her eyes, her breathing gradually calming down.


    Momo thought she had fallen asleep again; suddenly, Lin Qi¡¯s lips parted slightly: ¡°Momo, you and Han, are you both alright?¡± A touch of solace couldn¡¯t help but rise from the bottom of her heart; seeing that Han and Momo were fine gave her immense relief.


    At these words, Momo¡¯s nose suddenly felt sour.


    Mommy had suffered such a serious injury, had a brush with death, and now lay motionless in bed, and her first concern after waking was to confirm his and Han¡¯s safety.


    ¡°Silly Mommy...¡± Momo murmured with a heartache, ¡°Han and I are fine; it¡¯s you who almost died.¡±


    He hugged Lin Qi with heartache, ¡°I almost lost Mommy...¡±


    He felt an inexplicable fear of having nearly lost his mommy, but he had to control his emotions, fearing that hugging her any tighter might hurt Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi chuckled, ¡°Isn¡¯t Mommy alright now?¡±


    Momo said angrily, ¡°Mommy almost had to have an amputation!¡± If not for Han...


    Damn it!


    He suddenly regretted it; that Song Shuyan deserved to die a million times and it still wouldn¡¯t be enough!


    He should have thrown Song Shuyan from a high place, letting her experience the despair and helplessness of falling, and the fear of death.


    How could Huo Tingdong be involved with such a woman?


    Were his eyes grown on the back of his head? Couldn¡¯t he see this woman¡¯s true colors?


    He even thought about marrying this woman, making her Han¡¯s stepmother. If he really did marry her, Han would surely be tortured to death by this stepmother.


    Thinking this, Momo suddenly turned around to look at Huo Tingdong, thinking he was still asleep, not knowing that Huo Tingdong had been awakened the moment Lin Qi spoke her first words.


    The man stood beside the bed, tall and straight, his complexion cold and icy, perhaps because Lin Qi¡¯s identification of Song Shuyan was something he still couldn¡¯t wrap his head around.


    Momo said, ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± He was a little startled by Huo Tingdong¡¯s complexion.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I wasn¡¯t sleeping deeply.¡±


    Momo accused, ¡°So you heard it too? My Mommy was pushed down by that woman!¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyebrows knitted slightly.


    This accusation somewhat shattered his perception.


    He couldn¡¯t believe it, nor dared to believe, that the girl he had doted on since childhood could do such a thing.


    Huo Tingdong looked at Lin Qi and asked, ¡°Are you sure?¡±


    Momo widened his eyes in disbelief, ¡°You don¡¯t believe what my Mommy said? You¡¯re questioning what my Mommy said?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Unilateral statements are not enough to be evidence. Once Song Shuyan wakes up, we will confront her face to face. I need conclusive evidence to make a judgment.¡±


    Momo felt a wave of disappointment inside.


    It was a matter concerning his Mommy¡¯s life; this was his principle.


    That Huo Tingdong actually did not believe his Mommy¡¯s words; all the good impressions he had accumulated earlier were completely dispelled.


    Indeed, he knew that Huo Tingdong was rational and calm, but he did not like this kind of rationality, even felt somewhat repulsed by it.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Your mommy is not fully conscious yet, her awareness is not clear, perhaps it is memory confusion.¡± Before, when he was bedridden for more than two years in the hospital, he also experienced memory confusion upon waking up.


    He couldn¡¯t remember the date or why he was injured, not until a long time later did his memory gradually recover, remembering many things.


    He wanted to wait until Lin Qi was fully awake, then let her recall everything again to confirm.


    Momo said, ¡°Are you implying that my mommy is lying to you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean that.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°That¡¯s exactly what you mean!¡± He turned around, glaring at Huo Tingdong like a wounded little lion, ¡°You¡¯re just biased towards that woman, not believing she pushed my mommy down, trying to kill my mommy! You¡¯re protecting her!¡±


    Huo Tingdong was somewhat surprised; Momo has always been calm and elegant, he had never seen such an out-of-control side on this kid.


    He walked over to Lin Qi¡¯s side, wanting to check her forehead temperature to see if she had a high fever, but Momo stepped forward and swatted his hand away fiercely, ¡°Don¡¯t touch her!¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand froze in mid-air, and he also sensed the enormous hostility Momo had towards him.


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect you to believe my mommy, but that woman almost killed my mommy. If you dare protect her, I, Lin Jinmo, and you will be irreconcilable.¡±


    Momo raised his hand, pointing towards the door and ordered Huo Tingdong, ¡°Get out, I don¡¯t want to see you.¡±


    Lin Qi grabbed Momo¡¯s hand, ¡°Momo...¡± She didn¡¯t have much strength in her hand, but seeing Momo so angry, she was heartbroken and helpless.


    Watching the father and son turned against each other, the look of hatred in Momo¡¯s eyes¡ªsuch an expression should not appear in Momo¡¯s eyes.


    But Momo paid no heed to Lin Qi¡¯s attempts to stop him, pointing at the door, he commanded Huo Tingdong, ¡°Get out!¡±


    Huo Tingdong knew that Momo was angry, beyond furious, and he also knew that staying one more second would only further infuriate Momo.


    ¡°I will investigate this matter thoroughly. If it is indeed her who pushed your mommy down, I will get justice for your mommy.¡±


    After saying this, Huo Tingdong glanced at Lin Qi, looking at her pale and haggard face devoid of color, then turned around and left the ward.


    Momo went and closed the door of the ward.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo, don¡¯t be...so angry... It¡¯s only natural for him to protect that woman.¡±


    From Huo Tingdong¡¯s point of view, he is not Momo, he is not her closest person, why would he believe her side of the story without question?


    This man has always been cautious and rational; seeking to objectively understand the facts is understandable.


    Even though... she felt a sourness in her heart, but she also understood.


    Perhaps, because he has no feelings for her, without any sentiment, why would he trust her unconditionally?


    He approached her only because Han liked her, he cared for Han, that¡¯s why he showed her affection.


    Momo bit his lip tightly, stubbornly forcing back the sour tears.


    Why should he also feel wronged?

 Chapter 109: 109: Driven to Death

    Chapter 109: Chapter 109: Driven to Death


    It might be that he doesn¡¯t like the feeling of being questioned.


    He likes even less the feeling of his Mommy being questioned.


    Momo said to Lin Qi, ¡°Mommy, no matter what he thinks, just know that I will always believe in you unconditionally.¡±


    Lin Qi woke up, and Song Shuyan did too.


    Huo Tingdong entered the ward, and the woman in the bed was already awake.


    The doctor said, ¡°Mr. Huo, Miss Song has woken up.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You may leave, I have something to ask her.¡±


    He dragged a stool over and sat down beside the bed.


    The stool was very low, so there was nowhere to put his legs; he could only cross them and leaned against the wall, his gaze falling on Song Shuyan¡¯s face.


    Song Shuyan opened her eyes, staring fixedly at the ceiling, she instinctively raised her hand to touch her face, half of her face drooped severely, her muscles sagging, unable to form any expression.


    Meanwhile, she felt an unbearable itching all over her body, she controlled her hands from scratching, but she couldn¡¯t help but toss and turn restlessly.


    ¡°Now that you¡¯re awake, answer a few questions for me.¡±


    Beside her, Huo Tingdong¡¯s cold voice came.


    Song Shuyan looked in the direction of his voice, furrowing her brows, her memory was somewhat fragmented, Han had fiercely stabbed her Baihui Acupoint with a needle, causing issues with her memory chain, the last memory she had was of pushing Lin Qi down.


    What happened after that, she couldn¡¯t remember clearly.


    What happened to her face?


    Why were there so many poison vesicles on her face and body?


    These poison vesicles were unbearably itchy, itching to the point of agony, yet she dared not scratch them as she studied medicine and knew that if she broke them, they would leave pockmarked scars on her face and body.


    Her face was ruined!


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong, why am I here, what happened to me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong suspected, ¡°The doctor said you were brought to the hospital by a taxi driver, only you know exactly what happened.¡±


    Song Shuyan was startled and tried hard to recall, but could not figure it out.


    Huo Tingdong questioned, ¡°Does Lin Qi¡¯s fall injury have anything to do with you?¡±


    Song Shuyan was severely shocked.


    She didn¡¯t remember other things, but this incident, she remembered most clearly.


    How did Huo Tingdong suspect her?


    She believed she had managed this matter flawlessly.


    What about Lin Qi?


    Is she dead?


    She watched as Lin Qi fell, landing in a pool of blood, from such a high place, she should be dead.


    No surveillance, no evidence, no witnesses, why would he suspect her?


    Song Shuyan flatly denied, ¡°I didn¡¯t! Tingdong, do you suspect that I pushed her down? Why would I do that?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I don¡¯t care about the reason, I just want one answer from you now, ¡®yes¡¯ or ¡®no¡¯. Song Shuyan, don¡¯t lie to me, you know I hate being lied to, even if the person lying is you.¡±


    Song Shuyan unwillingly asked, ¡°So what if it¡¯s true, so what if it¡¯s not?¡± She was eager to know an answer.


    What if he knew it was her who did it?


    What would he do?


    Huo Tingdong suddenly stood up and fiercely grabbed her throat.


    Song Shuyan was startled, unable to retreat in time, she widened her eyes in shock and instinctively clenched his hand, struggling desperately.


    The power disparity between men and women is fully displayed in this moment.


    He became angry, furiously enraged!


    Was he really going to strangle her?


    For that woman?


    No matter how much she struggled, she felt she could only breathe limited air, a strong sense of suffocation came over her, and her brain went blank due to lack of oxygen.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s entire face instantly turned the color of a pig¡¯s liver.


    ¡°Cough... cough cough... Huo Tingdong...¡± she weakly called out his name.


    Huo Tingdong seemed to be really going for the kill, and she was terrified.


    Huo Tingdong clenched his teeth tightly, his burning gaze strangling her face, ¡°If it were you, I would kill you.¡±


    Song Shuyan¡¯s chest trembled, and instinctively cried out, ¡°Bro... brother...¡±


    Brother...


    That moan brought back his sanity.


    Huo Tingdong suddenly let go of his hands.


    Song Shuyan held her throat, coughing violently, both resentful and aggrieved she painfully said, ¡°Tingdong... cough cough... are you going to wrong me to death? I¡¯m a doctor, I only save people, how could I possibly harm anyone... cough cough, who told you, who slandered me...¡±


    Huo Tingdong coldly said, ¡°Lin Qi has awakened, when she regains consciousness, I will clarify the entire situation. Since you say it wasn¡¯t you, I¡¯ll believe you this time, but if I find out it was you, you will bear the consequences!¡±


    Song Shuyan shivered violently when she heard Lin Qi had awakened.


    She saw Huo Tingdong turning to leave and instinctively tried to make him stay, ¡°Tingdong! Tingdong, you believe her, you don¡¯t believe me, do you? You¡¯ve changed, you were never this rough with me before!¡± She always thought she was special in Huo Tingdong¡¯s heart.


    He promised her brother; he would protect her with his life and take care of her forever.


    But now?


    He almost took her life for that Lin Qi.


    Huo Tingdong coldly stated, ¡°She is Han¡¯s life, and Han is my life.¡±


    Leaving those words, he turned and strode away.


    Song Shuyan gnashed her teeth in anger, scratched her face, but still felt an unbearable itch.


    ¡°Ah!!¡± Song Shuyan suddenly collapsed, sweeping away the respirator and ECG on the side, and yanking out the IV needle in her hand.


    Song Shuyan walked out of the hospital room barefoot, still holding the eyebrow razor in her hand, pressing it hard against her wrist, ¡°Since you protect her so much, since you suspect it was me who pushed her, then I¡¯ll give my life to her then!¡±


    Huo Tingdong turned around, and saw Song Shuyan fiercely cutting her wrist, ¡°I give my life back to her!¡±


    The man was shocked, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong, if I can¡¯t have you, if I can¡¯t have your heart, what meaning is there in my life?¡± While speaking, she forcefully cut her wrist with the eyebrow razor.


    The alarm bell rang.


    Doctors and nurses rushed over, startled by the scene.


    ¡°Miss Song, don¡¯t be impulsive!¡±


    ¡°Miss Song, calm down a bit, don¡¯t do something foolish...¡±


    The doctors and nurses tried to approach, but Song Shuyan waved the eyebrow razor, her eyes red, she shouted hoarsely, ¡°Don¡¯t come closer!¡±


    She pressed the razor against her wrist again, despairingly said, ¡°Tingdong, I¡¯m disillusioned with you. I¡¯ve done so much for you, sacrificed so much, and just that one sentence from you is enough to negate my whole life. What¡¯s the point of me living? I¡¯d rather die, end it all, to be with my brother...¡±


    Huo Tingdong stood there, his fists clenched tightly, cracking sounds, ¡°Am I to understand that, you¡¯re threatening me?¡±


    He could see, Song Shuyan was pushing him with her life.


    Being a shrewd, cunning man, he naturally realized, Song Shuyan wanted a mutually assured destruction.


    This action of hers was enough to indirectly prove, Lin Qi, it was really her who pushed her...

 Chapter 110: 110 This is an accident; you fell by mistake

    Chapter 110: Chapter 110 This is an accident; you fell by mistake


    Song Shuyan¡¯s heart was in turmoil, but she managed to maintain composure on her face. She said to Huo Tingdong, ¡°Tingdong, it wasn¡¯t me, it really wasn¡¯t me... I admit, I was at the scene. She slipped and fell by herself, I didn¡¯t push her. I reached out to grab her...¡±


    As she spoke, she inched closer to him, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be murder? I¡¯m a doctor, how could I possibly do such a thing? I just wanted to grab her, but I failed to hold on...¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Why did you go there?¡±


    Song Shuyan replied, ¡°I went to find her because I wanted her to leave you alone and stop pestering you. You had already divorced, why should she linger around like a ghost... Haven¡¯t you noticed that she¡¯s using Han? Who knows what methods she used to confuse Han completely... She was using Han to control you...¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s large hand dropped to his side.


    He already had an idea in his mind.


    ¡°I understand,¡± said Huo Tingdong. ¡°You didn¡¯t push her. You wanted to reach out to grab her. It¡¯s her memory that is confused.¡±


    Upon hearing his words, Song Shuyan was overjoyed, ¡°Tingdong, you believe me...¡±


    ¡°Put down what you¡¯re holding and get back into bed,¡± Huo Tingdong instructed.


    Song Shuyan responded, ¡°Then you have to promise me that you won¡¯t just listen to her side of the story. I can confront her face to face.¡±


    Huo Tingdong, unable to tolerate her further, interrupted, ¡°Go back to bed.¡±


    Song Shuyan immediately threw away the eyebrow razor in her hand and returned to the bed.


    Huo Tingdong turned around, feeling a scorching fire pressing against his chest.


    Disappointment filled his eyes.


    Disappointed that even at this moment, Song Shuyan was still lying to him.


    She clearly didn¡¯t understand him, or perhaps she really thought he was a fool, that a few words would be enough to deceive him.


    He was now sure that Song Shuyan was the culprit behind Lin Qi¡¯s fall from height.


    In his memory, the little girl who always had a sweet smile and was innocent and pure, why had she become someone who would stop at nothing today?


    In the caretaker¡¯s room.


    Han opened his eyes and suddenly saw the intimidating silhouette of Gao Shuo standing by the bed. Startled, he instinctively curled his hands defensively to his chest.


    Not until the man spoke up: ¡°Han, it¡¯s time to go home.¡±


    Han recognized the voice as that of Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong covered his eyes and turned on the light.


    The dazzling light shone.


    It wasn¡¯t until Han gradually got used to the light that Huo Tingdong moved his hand away.


    Aunt Qiqi!


    The first thing Han wanted to do upon waking up was to check if Lin Qi had regained consciousness.


    Just as he was about to get out of bed, Huo Tingdong¡¯s large hand scooped him up and held him in his arms.


    Anxious to see Lin Qi, Han pushed against him.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Momo is with Aunt Qiqi, you don¡¯t need to go.¡±


    Han blinked his innocent large eyes, wondering if Aunt Qiqi had awakened and didn¡¯t want to see him.


    He stammered, ¡°I want to see Aunt Qiqi.¡±


    Huo Tingdong gently rubbed his forehead and said, ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯ll bring you to see Aunt Qiqi tomorrow.¡±


    After hearing this, Han crossed his arms over his chest, looking somewhat angry.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Aunt Qiqi has just woken up and is still very weak. Let¡¯s visit her tomorrow, okay?¡± His tone was soothing, and gradually, the angry expression on Han¡¯s face dissipated.


    ¡°Alright then!¡± Han said, ¡°Early!¡± He meant for Huo Tingdong to get up early and take him to the hospital before heading to the company.


    Ever since the incident with Lin Qi, Huo Tingdong had been staying in the hospital room. He had to go to the company tomorrow.


    ¡°Okay,¡± Huo Tingdong agreed.


    He carried Han out of the hospital.


    The next morning.


    Huo Tingdong awoke early as promised. After instructing the nanny to help Han get up and have breakfast, he took Han to the hospital.


    Han did not forget to bring along his medicine bag and medical kit.


    At that time, it was just seven in the morning.


    The nurse had just finished making rounds, drawing blood, and checking blood pressure and vital signs but was at a loss when it came to Lin Qi¡¯s wounds.


    Her several wounds had all been treated by Han.


    Outside the door, Huo Tingdong, holding Han, pushed open the door.


    As the father and son entered the ward, Momo sat up abruptly from the accompany bed on the side. Catching sight of Huo Tingdong, his eyes narrowed with some hostility.


    However, Han was unaware of the rift and past issues between Momo and Huo Tingdong, and greeted Momo as usual.


    ¡°Momo!¡±


    Seeing that Lin Qi was awake, Han immediately walked to the bedside, smilingly called out, ¡°Aunt Qiqi!¡±


    The sound of Han¡¯s voice, youthful without losing its sweetness, was adorably bubbly.


    Lin Qi weakly lifted her hand to touch Han¡¯s round head, ¡°Good morning, Han.¡±


    Han nodded and his gaze fell on her wounds, ¡°I will... treat your wounds...¡±


    Lin Qi had heard some things about Han from Momo yesterday, learning that it was Han who saved her life, which was quite unexpected.


    Especially when Momo said that after Han administered a few injections, she was forcefully pulled back from the brink of death, it seemed all the more like a fantasy.


    Is Han really that incredible?


    Han placed the medical kit on a small cart, lifted the blanket, and prioritized changing the dressing for Lin Qi¡¯s most infected wound.


    Previously it was a hasty job because he used the blow-dry method, but this time, he decided to use a wet dressing. He had already pounded the herbal medicine into a paste, wrapped it in gauze to make small medicine packets, and gently applied them to Lin Qi¡¯s wounded areas.


    Lin Qi was quite nervous throughout the process, thinking that applying the medicine would be very painful, but unexpectedly, when Han placed the herbal packs on her wound, there was no pain at all. Instead, there was a cooling sensation and it even had an analgesic effect.


    After wrapping the wound with gauze to secure it, Han pointed to it and instructed Lin Qi, ¡°It will be a bit itchy, don¡¯t touch.¡±


    Lin Qi obediently nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± She definitely wouldn¡¯t touch it.


    Compared to the harmonious atmosphere between Lin Qi and Han, Momo was glaring icily at Huo Tingdong the entire time.


    Huo Tingdong also noticed the cold gaze and looked towards Momo.


    Momo¡¯s gaze did not waver at all and instead glared at him even more fiercely.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to glare at me with such eyes.¡± From beginning to end, he had not approached the bedside.


    Momo said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong fell silent.


    Then Momo pointed to the door and said, ¡°Get out.¡±


    Han pricked up his ears, hearing Momo¡¯s voice that was as fierce as a little lion defending its territory, turned his head back, and saw Momo still glaring at Huo Tingdong, somewhat surprised, and tilted his head.


    Momo complained to Han, ¡°He doesn¡¯t believe me and Mommy.¡±


    Han¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment, and with a ¡°whoosh,¡± a surprised and scrutinizing gaze immediately fell on Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong lowered his head, gently adjusting the cuffs of his suit, and said indifferently, ¡°Regarding that matter yesterday, I have already asked Song Shuyan.¡±


    Han pricked up his ears.


    Momo was also staring at him eagerly.


    Huo Tingdong continued, ¡°She said she didn¡¯t mean to push anyone. The misunderstanding was caused because...¡± he looked at Lin Qi, ¡°when you lost your footing and fell, she tried to catch your hand but failed.¡±


    Lin Qi was frozen in shock.


    She asked, ¡°Is this her explanation to you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She could not possibly push you. It was an accident, you lost your footing and fell.¡±

 Chapter 111: 111: Crying that Shook the Earth and Moved the Mountains

    Chapter 111: Chapter 111: Crying that Shook the Earth and Moved the Mountains


    Lin Qi¡¯s gaze instantly became vacant.


    She stared at Huo Tingdong with shock, momentarily unable to utter a sound, not even a question.


    Momo was somewhat angry, saying, ¡°You believe what she said, why don¡¯t you believe what Mommy said?¡±


    Huo Tingdong spoke in a cold tone, ¡°I only believe in facts.¡±


    He looked at Lin Qi, slightly clenched his fist, then released it, and said indifferently, ¡°Lin Qi, this matter, it was just an accident.¡± He reiterated that it was an accident.


    But Lin Qi knew that Huo Tingdong did not trust Song Shuyan more than her.


    On the contrary, he must have known the truth, found the answer, he knew that it was Song Shuyan who pushed her down, that it was Song Shuyan who wanted her dead.


    But he chose to protect Song Shuyan.


    After all, when it comes to human life, if he also admitted that it was Song Shuyan who pushed her down, that would be attempted murder, a serious crime.


    Naturally, he could not admit it.


    At the scene of the incident, there were no surveillance cameras, no witnesses, and other than her and Song Shuyan, there was no one else present; trying to investigate and gather evidence was as hard as reaching heaven.


    Now each side sticking to their version of the story, it was quite like the Rashomon; neither had ironclad evidence.


    However, Lin Qi knew that Huo Tingdong would protect Song Shuyan to the end.


    After all, Song Shuyan was his doted-on beloved, of course, he would be biased in favor of her.


    But what about...


    Her?


    She had just survived a close experience with death, nearly died, weren¡¯t her feelings important?


    Wasn¡¯t the truth and justice she wanted important?


    Lin Qi felt this was somewhat unfair. Even though she had encountered too much unfairness in her life to count, never had any injustice compared to this one, making her feel so heartbroken and sad.


    Lin Qi hesitantly said, ¡°Huo Tingdong, if Song Shuyan and I were to switch places, if it was her lying in the hospital in mortal danger, if she said it was me who pushed her down... what would you do to me?¡±


    She raised her eyes, with urgent need for confirmation, staring at Huo Tingdong¡¯s face, ¡°Would I be unavoidably condemned to death?¡±


    ¡°There are no ifs.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s voice, always devoid of any emotion, stated flatly without a hint of fluctuation, ¡°You are you, Shuyan is Shuyan. The two of you are different people; how can they be confused with one another.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°So it¡¯s a hypothesis...¡±


    Huo Tingdong cut her off, ¡°There¡¯s no such hypothesis.¡±


    Finally, Lin Qi could no longer hold back, her face flushed a bloody color, her lips trembled fiercely, and tears began to swirl in her eyes.


    She turned her face away, stubbornly closing her eyes, attempting to force the tears back, however, tears still fell like beads off a string, unceasingly rolling down.


    ¡°How envious.¡± Lin Qi muttered absentmindedly, ¡°Song Shuyan can have such favoritism, even after doing such a thing, she still doesn¡¯t have to pay the price.¡±


    Momo was really angry now.


    Was this man here to upset Mommy?


    Momo declared, ¡°You¡¯re a bad person!¡±


    Han sided with Momo in enmity, ¡°You¡¯re a bad person!¡±


    Momo said, ¡°You¡¯re in cahoots with that bad woman! I hate you.¡±


    Han also nodded vehemently, ¡°I hate you!¡±


    ¡°And you!¡± Momo suddenly turned around, glaring at Han, ¡°I hate you too, you¡¯re one of them.¡±


    Han¡¯s eyes widened with grievance, Momo¡¯s scolding directly reddening his eyes.


    Han clasped his hands together helplessly, took a step back, and shook his head, trying to disassociate himself from Huo Tingdong.


    Momo said, ¡°He¡¯s your Daddy, and that woman will be your future stepmother. You folks are a real family.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han violently shook his head.


    He didn¡¯t want that woman to be his stepmother at all!


    Seeing Han innocently shaking his head, Momo clenched his fist, stepped forward, and gave him a push, ¡°Just go away!¡±


    Han fell on his butt, the sudden cold rejection from Momo catching him off guard. He sat there solidly, looking up at Momo with a pitiful quiver of his lips, his tears blurring his vision and wetting his eyelashes, but he held back from crying, only emitting suppressed sobs from his throat.


    Momo said, ¡°Go on, just leave!¡±


    Was Momo trying to drive him away?


    He didn¡¯t want to leave Aunt Qiqi, to leave Momo.


    Han shook his head desperately, showing both innocence and grievance, curled his small hand by the corner of his eyes, and began to cry sorrowfully, ¡°Wuwuwu...¡±


    Huo Tingdong was taken aback; he had seldom seen Han cry like this, looking so pitiful, as if abandoned by the whole world.


    He walked over and hugged Han, whose crying grew even louder.


    ¡°Wuwuwu...¡±


    Hearing Han cry heart-wrenchingly, Huo Tingdong was at a loss as to how to comfort him.


    Momo looked at Han¡¯s wretched state, and for a moment, seemed to regret his actions, feeling a pang of pity. Annoyed, he turned away and irritatedly tousled his unkempt hair.


    He didn¡¯t mean to make Han cry.


    Love for a house extends even to the crows perching on its roof ¨C similarly, his hatred for Huo Tingdong had spilled onto Han, which led to his uncontrollable impulse to drive Han away.


    Han cautiously reached out his hand, grabbing the hem of Momo¡¯s clothes, and sobbed, ¡°Don¡¯t... don¡¯t drive me away...¡±


    Momo turned his back as if indifferent.


    Lin Qi snapped out of her daze; seeing Han crying, she wasn¡¯t sure what exactly Momo had said.


    ¡°Han, don¡¯t cry...¡± Unfortunately, with her fracture, she couldn¡¯t even hug and comfort Han.


    Han couldn¡¯t take in Lin Qi¡¯s words, only staring at Momo¡¯s decisive back, crying and asking, ¡°Aren¡¯t we... good friends...¡±


    While sobbing, he tugged at Momo¡¯s clothing, ¡°We... are the best... of friends...¡±


    ¡°We were,¡± Momo said coldly, ¡°not anymore.¡±


    Upon hearing that, Han¡¯s crying choked up, and he was deeply hurt. After a few seconds of silence, his mouth opened wide, revealing his small tongue inside his throat, and then¡ª


    ¡°Waaaa!!!¡± Han let out an earth-shattering cry from his tiny body.


    Momo was stunned by his crying, turning around abruptly, looking at Han in disbelief.


    Who would have thought that Han¡¯s frail frame could produce such immense power.


    ¡°Momo doesn¡¯t want me anymore... wuwuwuwu...¡± Han cried with both grievance and exhaustion, his little face red as if he was gasping for air, ¡°Wuwuwu... Momo can¡¯t not want me... wuwuwu...¡±


    Unlike other children who would kick and scream while crying, he just sat down limp on the ground, continuously rubbing his eyes, his cute little ears also drooping without spirit, evoking sympathy.


    Momo¡¯s face became stiff.


    Outside the door, a crowd had unknowingly gathered.


    There were patients¡¯ relatives, doctors, and nurses.


    Passing by, they heard such loud crying from the hospital room and thought some naughty child must have been punished by their parents. When they drew closer, they saw Huo Tingdong cradling Han like a little ancestor.


    Momo stood awkwardly aside, not knowing whether to comfort him or not, and regretted being so hard-hearted and harsh to the kid.


    He put his hands on his hips and said to Han, ¡°No more crying!¡±

 Chapter 112: 112: One Hundred Million, I Wont Pursue Further

    Chapter 112: Chapter 112: One Hundred Million, I Won¡¯t Pursue Further


    Han looked pitifully at the other, batting his eyes. Momo told him not to cry, and he managed to stop crying for a moment, but the tears still kept rolling down non-stop with a ¡°plop plop¡±.


    People outside the door looked in with sympathy, occasionally pointing and discussing amongst themselves.


    ¡°What¡¯s happening?¡±


    ¡°Are his parents getting a divorce?¡±


    ¡°He must have been scolded! How could anyone bear to scold such a cute child?¡±


    With a ¡°bang¡±, Tingdong firmly closed the door, shutting out the idle gossip.


    Startled by the noise, Han stopped crying and looked up at Tingdong and then at Momo, and obediently ceased his tears.


    Momo also understood that her hate towards Tingdong shouldn¡¯t be taken out on Han. She walked over and compassionately touched his hair. ¡°I won¡¯t make you leave, don¡¯t cry anymore.¡±


    Han immediately nodded vigorously like pounding garlic.


    As long as Momo didn¡¯t make him leave, he would be good and not cry.


    Han hugged Momo¡¯s thigh and turned his head to give Tingdong a resentful glare, sharing a common enemy with Momo and flaring his nostrils in anger.


    The hospital room fell into a prolonged silence.


    Tingdong said to Momo, ¡°Take Han outside, I need to talk to your Mommy.¡±


    Momo shook her head, ¡°No! You bad man, you only bully Mommy.¡±


    Tingdong said, ¡°I don¡¯t bully her.¡±


    Momo got even more upset, ¡°You still say you didn¡¯t bully Mommy, helping that bad woman...¡±


    ¡°Momo,¡± Lin Qi suddenly interrupted him.


    Momo looked at Lin Qi, surprised.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You take Han out. Mommy also wants to talk with Uncle Huo.¡±


    Seeing Lin Qi¡¯s words, Momo, though still uneasy, took Han by the hand and left the hospital room.


    The door to the room closed again.


    Tingdong sat down on the couch beside the bed, head bent low, his sharp black hair obscuring his eyes, making his facial expression unclear.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Actually, you know the truth. Song Shuyan didn¡¯t mean to pull me, it wasn¡¯t an accident, she did it on purpose, trying to kill me. You¡¯re just defending her and making excuses for her.¡±


    Tingdong closed his eyes briefly, numbly reiterated, ¡°She didn¡¯t intend to kill you. This has all been a misunderstanding.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I won¡¯t pursue any responsibilities from her. However...¡± she had no expectations of this man, and without expectations, how could one be disappointed?


    But she wouldn¡¯t let herself be wronged for nothing.


    Lin Qi looked at Tingdong, smiled faintly, ¡°What will you compensate me with?¡±


    Tingdong looked stunned.


    ¡°Give me a billion yuan,¡± she suddenly made a demand.


    Tingdong hadn¡¯t expected her to ask for money.


    For him, money was the simplest and most direct way to handle things.


    Lin Qi looked at him coldly, ¡°Is that a lot? That billion should be trivial to you, right?¡±


    Tingdong said, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect you to set such a condition.¡±


    Lin Qi seriously retorted, ¡°Is this condition harsh? Just a billion yuan. Isn¡¯t my life worth that much? Is Song Shuyan being spared from death penalty worth a billion? Tingdong, I¡¯m not asking for much. Give me a billion yuan, and I¡¯ll consider this matter closed, as if it never happened.¡±


    Tingdong surprisingly looked up, not expecting that Lin Qi would actually propose a settlement.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m very tired of talking now, even breathing is difficult, I don¡¯t have the energy to haggle with you. Either agree to my terms, or no deal.¡±


    After speaking, she closed her eyes, waiting for Tingdong¡¯s response.


    Tingdong chuckled, ¡°Deal.¡± He didn¡¯t hesitate at all.


    Lin Qi¡¯s heart felt even more sour.


    She knew that a billion yuan wasn¡¯t a significant amount to Tingdong; what was an astronomical figure to ordinary people was nothing more than pocket change to him.


    His eager agreement made her taste the bitterness. It seemed her life could be valued and measured in money and numbers in his eyes.


    Lin Qi¡¯s tone suddenly turned cold, ¡°Then let¡¯s not waste words, hurry up and give me the money, writes a cheque or makes a bank transfer, anything works.¡± Having said that, she closed her eyes again, not speaking.


    Tingdong said, ¡°I will transfer the billion to your account today.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You can leave, I don¡¯t want to see you for now. Han can stay, but you go.¡± She expressed her intention to send him away succinctly.


    Tingdong silently stood up and walked to the door.


    Momo and Han were sitting on a bench outside the door. As soon as they saw Tingdong coming out, for some reason, they looked a bit inexplicably dejected.


    Han asked, ¡°Daddy?¡±


    Tingdong turned around, looked at Han, and said, ¡°Han, do you want to stay here with Aunt Qiqi?¡±


    Han sincerely nodded.


    Tingdong said, ¡°Then you stay here well, tonight, Daddy will send a driver to pick you up.¡±


    With that, Tingdong left.


    Momo immediately pushed open the door and rushed into the hospital room, with Han following.


    Lin Qi was lying in bed with her eyes closed, but tears were still flowing down, trickling into her ear canals.


    Momo, sensitive and perceptive, immediately noticed her tears, rushed over, pulled out a handkerchief, and carefully wiped her face, ¡°Mommy, did that bad man bully you again?¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head, summoning a bit of energy, ¡°No, it hurts.¡±


    Han tensed up and walked over.


    Momo was also skeptical, ¡°Where does it hurt?¡±


    Lin Qi managed a bitter smile, ¡°Silly boy, Mommy has broken so many bones, of course it hurts. It hurts everywhere.¡± She used the pain as an excuse to cover up her heartache.


    Han believed her, touching Lin Qi¡¯s head in sympathy, but Momo saw through it, yet didn¡¯t expose her.


    ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s okay, I will always be with you.¡±


    Han also nodded solemnly, showing his firm resolve to protect Lin Qi.


    From the small schoolbag, the sound of a text message arriving on a mobile phone echoed.


    During the days when Lin Qi was unconscious, Momo had been keeping her phone, thinking it was some important message, he took out the phone, only to see the fund transfer information from Tingdong.


    Two billion yuan.


    Momo was stunned, ¡°Why did he transfer money to you?¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°How much did he transfer?¡±


    Momo hesitated, ¡°Two billion.¡±


    Lin Qi was surprised at Tingdong¡¯s efficiency; he had said within a day, yet in less than an hour, he had transferred the money to her account, and it was double the amount.


    Was he afraid she would regret it; is that why he acted so quickly?


    Momo was somewhat doubtful, ¡°Did Mommy and that bad man reach some agreement?¡± Did that bad man agree to give Mommy two billion yuan to let Song Shuyan off the hook without chasing her responsibility?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°No, this is his compensation to me.¡± Two billion yuan could do a lot.


    Indeed...


    In this cruel world, only by becoming strong can one avoid being bullied.


    Lin Qi reassured, ¡°Momo, Mommy won¡¯t be bullied by anyone in the future.¡±

 Chapter 113: 113: Dont Harbor Undue Thoughts About Me

    Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Don¡¯t Harbor Undue Thoughts About Me


    Injuries to muscles and bones take a hundred days to heal.


    Lin Qi lay in bed for over a month before she could barely sit up, her limbs stiffened from lying down too long. According to the doctor, her broken bones were gradually mending, but it would be a long road to rehabilitation before she could walk again.


    Not long after Lin Qi awoke, Han and Momo returned to school.


    Every day after classes, Huo Tingdong sent a driver to take Han and Momo to the hospital.


    Initially, Momo was resentful and didn¡¯t want to see Huo Tingdong, let alone ride in his car, but Han emphasized repeatedly that aside from the driver¡¯s daily pick-up and drop-off, Tingdong would not appear.


    It was only then that Momo grudgingly agreed to go to school with him.


    Lin Qi was also actively recuperating.


    Huo Tingdong had assigned several five-star caregivers to attend to her every need with great care.


    Gaining some weight while healing was a welcome change for Lin Qi.


    After all, she was too thin before, not even weighing 100 pounds at a height of 5 feet 6 inches.


    Over this one month, Tingdong did indeed vanish just as she had wished, completely out of sight.


    Apart from sending Han over every day and picking him up in the evening, Lin Qi almost forgot the existence of such a person.


    The same month proved even more difficult for Song Shuyan.


    Her face collapsed more severely in just a short time.


    Although her herpes zoster had improved a lot after treatment and no longer itched or hurt, her face was visibly shrinking at an alarming rate.


    Her facial muscles slackened, causing one side of her face to droop helplessly like lava.


    Song Shuyan sought out famous doctors from both traditional Chinese and Western medicine, but no one had any good insight.


    An old Chinese doctor said it was facial paralysis caused by nerve damage. She tried acupuncture and took steroid medication without visible effects, worsening her condition instead.


    In the end, she contacted an authoritative hospital abroad. A professor there said that through surgical intervention, her facial paralysis could be repaired, but there was no guarantee that her appearance would be restored to its original state.


    Moreover, the surgery was costly. Besides the operation cost of over half a million US dollars, a series of plastic surgeries would be necessary afterward; otherwise, even if the treatment were successful, her looks would be ruined.


    Song Shuyan tried hard to recall the events of that day, but no matter how she tried, she couldn¡¯t remember what exactly had happened to her.


    It was as if someone had wiped a segment of her memory; the more she tried to remember, the more her head ached.


    In addition, the facial paralysis came with some complications. Drooling and facial distortion were the lighter symptoms; she sometimes suffered from terrible headaches, and even painkillers did not help.


    Song Shuyan was left with no choice but to schedule the surgery abroad and booked her flight.


    She had always cherished her beauty and was willing to go to any lengths, even undergo plastic surgery, to restore her face.


    ¡°Tingdong...¡± Song Shuyan made a phone call to Huo Tingdong, ¡°I have a flight next week to go abroad for surgery. Have you... still not forgiven me?¡±


    Ever since then, Huo Tingdong had been very cold towards her, basically ignoring her.


    Even though he was still covering her surgery and hospital fees, he rarely visited her in the hospital.


    Still, Song Shuyan couldn¡¯t help but harbor some hope.


    Lin Qi had not identified her, which clearly showed that Tingdong had used some means to suppress the matter.


    He was protecting her.


    This meant... he still had her in his heart. To protect her, he and Lin Qi had reached a breaking point, not seeing each other.


    At least, she had achieved this goal!


    Song Shuyan said, ¡°The doctor said, this surgery is very risky, and whether I can safely leave the operating table is uncertain. I¡¯m leaving for abroad next week, can you see me off?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°I don¡¯t have time.¡±


    Song Shuyan sounded disappointed: ¡°Have you been very busy recently?¡±


    Huo Tingdong hummed, ¡°Very busy.¡±


    Song Shuyan said resentfully, ¡°Too busy even to meet me once...¡±


    Huo Tingdong suddenly fell silent.


    Song Shuyan bit her lip and said, ¡°Tingdong... I¡¯m sorry... If you hate me, it must be because I did something wrong, so, I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°There¡¯s no need to mention that matter again.¡± It was him who had spoiled Song Shuyan rotten, making her capable of such deranged actions.


    Ever since Song Shuhao¡¯s death, he had regarded Shuyan as a sister, and as her half-guardian, the onus of the dire consequences was on him.


    Shuyan timidly said, ¡°I want to see you, just once.¡±


    The silence lingered again for a long while.


    Just as Song Shuyan was unsure how to continue, Huo Tingdong suddenly said, ¡°2 PM, Platinum Coffee House.¡±


    ¡°Okay!¡± Shuyan was overjoyed.


    2 PM.


    Platinum Coffee House.


    Song Shuyan arrived as agreed.


    Pushing open the door of the private room, she didn¡¯t expect Huo Tingdong to arrive earlier than her.


    The man was seated on the sofa, flipping through a financial magazine, his handsome profile accentuated by the warm afternoon light, appearing cold yet charming.


    Song Shuyan approached and asked gently, ¡°Tingdong, have you been waiting long?¡±


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t even look up, ¡°Sit.¡±


    Song Shuyan sat down somewhat awkwardly opposite him. In front of her was a cup of hot latte, which he had ordered in advance for her.


    He still remembered that it was her favorite.


    Shuyan felt a surge of warmth in her heart.


    She held the coffee cup, her fingertips caressing the rim, yet she dared not remove the face mask.


    Her face had been disfigured, and before it was restored, she couldn¡¯t let him see her face.


    A bit sulkily Shuyan said, ¡°Tingdong... I...¡±


    Because of her collapsed facial muscles, she spoke somewhat unclearly.


    Huo Tingdong put down the magazine and finally looked up at her, his gaze cold, ¡°There are some things that are better said in person.¡±


    He has never liked to drag things out; some things naturally had to be made clear to her.


    Shuyan looked at him somewhat dazedly, ¡°What things?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said in an almost cruel tone, ¡°Shuyan, it¡¯s best not to harbor any undue notions about me.¡±


    His harsh words left Shuyan unable to recover for a long time.


    ¡°What do you mean...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said bluntly, ¡°You are the sister Shuhao entrusted to my care, and I promised to take care of you for life, but that doesn¡¯t mean that I will necessarily marry you.¡±


    Sensitive Shuyan said, ¡°Is it because of Han? Does Han not like me, that¡¯s why... you¡¯re rejecting me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°I have no designs on you, it¡¯s just a matter of responsibility. Even if I marry you as you wish, I won¡¯t touch you.¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s alright!¡± Shuyan hurriedly said, ¡°Tingdong, marriage itself doesn¡¯t mix with so much love and emotion, it¡¯s solely based on responsibility.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°But I don¡¯t want to right now.¡±


    Shuyan was completely petrified.


    Unable to accept Tingdong¡¯s blunt and piercing words all at once, she shook her head, ¡°Tingdong, I thought... I thought I was special to you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°You are special, but only in the literal sense.¡±

 Chapter 114: 114 This Man is Hers

    Chapter 114: Chapter 114 This Man is Hers


    Song Shuyan was stunned, ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I once considered that marrying you would be the best way to take care of you, but now, I am unwilling.¡±


    After speaking, he sipped his coffee lightly, his brows slightly knitted, ¡°I admit, I feel guilty about Shuhao, but so many years have passed, it¡¯s time for me to move on.¡±


    He felt he had done all he could for Song Shuhao.


    Song Shuyan¡¯s frown deepened, her eyes reddening, yet she dared not cry.


    Her face still had unhealed scratches that were infected and not yet healed, knowing that crying would likely lead to further infection.


    But hearing Huo Tingdong¡¯s resolute words, she couldn¡¯t control her emotions, ¡°Tingdong... I...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The hospital you contacted, I¡¯ve already arranged everything. You will have someone to meet you when you go abroad, I will cover all expenses, you just need to focus on recovering. After going abroad, do not come back.¡±


    After saying this, he stood up to leave.


    Song Shuyan stood up excitedly, tears in her eyes, she asked, ¡°Are you driving me away?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s back was to her, he did not turn around.


    Song Shuyan urged anxiously, ¡°Say something, are you really driving me abroad...¡±


    Suddenly, she rushed towards Huo Tingdong and hugged his waist tightly from behind, ¡°Tingdong, please don¡¯t drive me away, okay? I was wrong, I know I was wrong... I was spoiled by you, I became too complacent... it¡¯s because I care about you too much, the more I care, the more I¡¯m afraid of losing you...¡±


    Song Shuyan looked up, tears streaming down her face, ¡°The more I care, the more uneasy I become. I¡¯ve lost my brother, you are the person who loves me the most, so I desperately need a sense of stability, Tingdong, don¡¯t drive me away.¡±


    Huo Tingdong gently broke free from her hands, slowly turned around, and looked down at her, ¡°Shuyan, you need to grow up.¡±


    Having said that, he gently let go of her hands and walked out of the private room.


    Song Shuyan collapsed to the floor, staring blankly at the open door, listening to the fading footsteps of Huo Tingdong, she pulled down her mask and bit her finger joint.


    She couldn¡¯t cry.


    She hadn¡¯t lost yet.


    Since she couldn¡¯t control her heart, she would emulate Lin Qi.


    Huo Tingdong loved Han so much, giving all his attention and affection to Han.


    What if she also bore him a son, could he change his heart back to her?


    While Huo Tingdong was unconscious in bed, Song Shuyan had secretly taken his frozen sperm.


    Although she really didn¡¯t want to use a child to bind this man¡¯s heart, she had no other options left at this juncture.


    Abroad, they have the most advanced technology.


    She must use this opportunity to turn her fate around beautifully.


    If Lin Qi could bear a son, she could also gain stature by mothering a son.


    Thinking this, Song Shuyan slowly stood up, her fists clenched tightly until her sharp nails cut into her palms unnoticed.


    She was prepared mentally.


    This man was hers!


    Huo Tingdong was hers...


    ...


    Hospital.


    Lin Qi was now gradually able to get out of bed and walk.


    Han and Momo were at school.


    With the help of a caregiver and holding a walker, she moved step by step with great difficulty.


    Just walking from the bed to the door, she was already dripping with sweat.


    Rehabilitation is indeed a painful and arduous process.


    Her limbs were all stiff, and every step felt as if treading on the edge of a knife. Her arms were bent at an eerie angle, unable to straighten or exert force, entirely reliant on the support of the caregiver.


    ¡°Miss Lin, be careful, walk slowly, there¡¯s no rush,¡± the caregiver guided patiently, ¡°Considering the severity of your injuries, being able to get out of bed and walk is already quite impressive.¡±


    Lin Qi responded, ¡°I¡¯ve only walked a few steps.¡±


    The caregiver said, ¡°You¡¯ve been lying in bed for so long, immobile, these joints are bound to be stiff! How can you expect to walk briskly right after getting out of bed? Take it slow.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Qi continued walking for a while.


    Just as she rounded a corner, Lin Qi suddenly saw a group of medical staff in white coats approaching, seemingly ready to inspect the wards.


    ¡°Good day, Young Director, and madam.¡±


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t help but take a few more glances, but recognized a particularly striking man among the crowd.


    ¡ªLu Li.


    Why is he here?


    Lin Qi suddenly remembered, this is Mingde Hospital, a private hospital wholly owned by the Lu Family.


    The core of the Lu Family¡¯s business is the medical industry, including several privately-owned hospitals. As the sole heir of the Lu Group, Lu Li graduated from Hopkins University majoring in critical care medicine, holding a doctoral degree, and is now the Young Director of Mingde Hospital.


    Lu Li was dressed in a white suit paired with a black shirt and trousers, his sleeves meticulously rolled up, his dark hair neatly combed, sharp and neat. He had a handsome face, gentle as jade, exceptionally beautiful.


    His gaze suddenly fixed on something, halting his steps.


    Those beside him also stopped.


    ¡°Young Director?¡±


    Everyone was puzzled by his pause and followed his gaze, their eyes simultaneously landing on Lin Qi.


    At that moment, Lin Qi looked somewhat disheveled.


    She was wearing a hospital gown inside out. Despite having improved her nutrition recently, she was still very thin, which made the gown look somewhat loose, her complexion pallid, and an IV drip connected to her hand.


    She hadn¡¯t expected to encounter Lu Li under such circumstances.


    Everything about Lu Li seemed like a distant memory.


    Suddenly, Lu Li shifted his gaze away, walking in the opposite direction; everyone immediately followed, gradually disappearing at the end of the hallway.


    Lin Qi sighed in relief, probably because she looked so different from before that Lu Li didn¡¯t recognize her.


    It¡¯s better he didn¡¯t recognize her, to avoid awkwardness.


    Then, the caregiver expressed in surprise, ¡°I thought you knew the Young Director.¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head, ¡°I don¡¯t.¡±


    The caregiver nodded and couldn¡¯t help exclaiming, ¡°The Young Director is truly a young talent, only thirty years old and already holds a doctoral degree from Hopkins, not only dignified and graceful but also an outstanding future successor of the Lu Family.¡±


    ¡°Is that so,¡± Lin Qi smiled, ¡°A PhD from Hopkins, that is indeed outstanding.¡±


    Lu Li must have been here to inspect the wards, Lin Qi had heard that a critically ill patient had been transferred here recently.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I would like to walk in the backyard.¡±


    She intended to avoid Lu Li.


    The caregiver said, ¡°Miss Lin, you have already walked quite a distance today, don¡¯t rush.¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I just want some fresh air, after all, I¡¯ve been lying in bed for over a month, and it¡¯s been a long time since I¡¯ve breathed fresh air.¡±


    The caregiver nodded, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll accompany you to the backyard.¡±


    She accompanied Lin Qi, took the elevator downstairs, and walked step by step to the backyard with her.


    Lin Qi was somewhat distracted, spacing out frequently, nearly falling several times.


    Perhaps meeting Lu Li unexpectedly was too sudden.

 Chapter 115: 115: Mr. Lu, Long Time No See

    Chapter 115: Chapter 115: Mr. Lu, Long Time No See


    Lu Li was the person she was passionately moved by at first sight.


    The first time she met him was in the crowded cafeteria.


    She heated her homemade lunch box and occupied a small corner, just about to lift the lid.


    It was mealtime, and the cafeteria was packed.


    A young man came over and asked, ¡°Is this seat taken?¡±


    Lin Qi looked up, and there stood Lu Li with his tray of food, towering over her with his tall figure, handsome features, and a maturity beyond his peers that made her remember him instantly.


    She shook her head.


    Lu Li then sat down opposite her and quietly ate his meal.


    People around them kept looking over at her spot.


    At that time, she was still a freshman and had no clue that this young man in front of her was a sophomore celebrity.


    Lu Li had excellent grades, excelled in all subjects, was handsome, and a top student. More importantly, he came from a prestigious family.


    He ate quietly, chewing carefully, not playing with his phone, nor did he have any interaction with her, even during the meal, he exuded an indescribable air of nobility.


    After he finished eating, he got up and left.


    The second encounter was at the library entrance.


    She was organizing books and was holding a stack of heavy books, not yet had time to push the door, when it suddenly opened from the inside.


    She was knocked to the ground.


    The books in her arms scattered all over the floor.


    Lin Qi anxiously got up, intending to pick them up one by one and check for any damage, but a hand beat her to it, picking up the books one by one.


    The young man¡¯s fingers were long, fair and clean, with neatly trimmed nails, flawless like white jade.


    It was the first time Lin Qi saw a boy with such beautiful hands, almost as if carved from jade.


    Following the hand, she recognized him.


    Lu Li had delicate features, yet very clean, with an elegant demeanor, very fair skin, and phoenix eyes that seemed misty.


    He would visit the library every afternoon and always liked to sit by the window; she occasionally passed by and couldn¡¯t help but take another look.


    At the age when first love blooms, he was like a breeze, lightly passing through her world.


    But what she didn¡¯t know was that every chance encounter with Lu Li had been long planned by him.


    At the end of their freshman year, a junior wrote an anonymous love letter wanting to pass it to Lu Li through her.


    At the end of the class, the love letter in the desk mysteriously disappeared.


    The next morning, during class break, this love letter was surprisingly posted on the school¡¯s bulletin board, watched by all the students and teachers.


    Lin Qi saw it, immediately tore down the letter, not expecting that this act would make her the target of everyone.


    Everyone attacked her, mocked her, and questioned her, thinking the love letter was from her to Lu Li.


    Not until Lu Li showed up in the crowd, parted the people, and walked up to her.


    He smiled lightly and said, ¡°I¡¯ve liked her for a long time.¡±


    ...


    Lin Qi snapped out of her thoughts, and before she knew it, she had reached the back garden.


    She was somewhat tired from walking, and the caregiver even more so.


    Along the way, she had almost all her weight on the caregiver, barely able to exert any strength with her legs.


    Passing a bench, the caregiver wiped his sweat and said, ¡°Let¡¯s sit and rest for a while.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Qi sat down on the bench.


    At the same time.


    On the third-floor rooftop of the hospital ward.


    Lu Li leaned against the railing, looking down at Lin Qi sitting on the bench below, with the caregiver fanning her, and a gentle breeze lifting her dark hair.


    Young Director, what are you looking at?¡± the accompanying vice director asked.


    Lu Li said, ¡°I saw an old acquaintance.¡±


    ¡°Young Director, it¡¯s time to go, your wife has been waiting for a long time.¡±


    The vice director gently reminded.


    Lu Li came back to his senses and slowly turned around.


    Downstairs, Lin Qi sat stiffly on a bench, feeling real pain in her buttocks, and muttered, ¡°This bench is too hard.¡±


    The nurse chuckled, ¡°It¡¯s not the bench that¡¯s hard, it¡¯s that you don¡¯t have much flesh on your buttocks, so it hurts if you sit too long.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face flushed, and she quickly said, ¡°I¡¯ve rested enough, let¡¯s go back to the hospital room.¡± She assumed that Lu Li had already left.


    Just as she stood up, from not far away, two Little Babies ran towards Lin Qi.


    ¡°Mommy!¡±


    ¡°Aunt Qiqi!¡±


    Lin Qi turned around and saw Momo and Han running towards her, one after the other.


    ¡°Momo, Han?¡± Lin Qi was somewhat surprised and looked at the sky, ¡°Did school get out early today?¡±


    Momo nodded, ¡°We got out early today.¡±


    Han stood aside panting, Momo ran too fast and he couldn¡¯t keep up.


    Momo complained, ¡°Han, can¡¯t you exercise properly?¡±


    Han pursed his lips with a wronged expression. It wasn¡¯t that he usually didn¡¯t exercise enough; it¡¯s that Momo¡¯s stamina was astonishing.


    Momo not only had good stamina but also frightening explosive power. Whether it was sprinting, middle distance, or long-distance running, he almost always came in first.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Have you eaten?¡±


    Momo and Han shook their heads.


    Momo said, ¡°I¡¯m not hungry, are you hungry, Mommy?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°Mommy isn¡¯t hungry either.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Mommy, it¡¯s windy, let¡¯s go back to the hospital room.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    The two little ones stuck behind Lin Qi like little tails, following her back to the hospital room.


    As they reached the door of the hospital room, the door was wide open.


    Without thinking much, Lin Qi struggled to push the walker and entered, just stepping in, she suddenly saw someone sitting on the bed.


    A man.


    As Lu Li heard footsteps, he turned his head, saw Lin Qi, and slowly stood up.


    Lin Qi was stunned.


    She did not expect Lu Li to actually enter her hospital room...


    Lin Qi was caught off guard and stunned.


    Lu Li looked at her faintly and was momentarily speechless.


    Momo looked at Lu Li and then at Lin Qi.


    Han cautiously tugged at his sleeve, his curious eyes seemingly asking who this man was.


    Momo shook his head, ¡°Don¡¯t know...¡±


    Lin Qi furrowed her brows, her red lips slightly parted, ¡°Mr. Lu, long time no see...¡±


    Lu Li twitched the corner of his lips, clearly not indifferent to her distant address.


    After so many years, she had disappeared, avoided him for so long, and now upon meeting, she used such a distant title.


    Lu Li raised his eyebrows, ¡°Mr. Lu?¡±


    He slowly walked towards Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi was a bit at a loss.


    Until, Lu Li stood in front of her, lowered his head to look at her pale and frail face, his Adam¡¯s apple moved, and his voice was slightly hoarse, ¡°You¡¯ve been hiding from me for so many years, how much longer do you plan to?¡±


    Lin Qi felt her scalp tingle, ¡°I... I haven¡¯t...¡±


    Suddenly, Lu Li enveloped her in an embrace, pulling her into his arms.


    Before this, he had checked her medical records and knew that she had fractures all over her body, hence, he dared not use force, but couldn¡¯t help himself; his arms were trembling slightly as he held her.


    Beside them, Momo¡¯s mouth was wide open, staring with astonishment.


    Han, standing nearby, also held his face, forming an ¡°O¡± with his mouth.


    This man, unexpectedly...


    Unexpectedly...


    Unexpectedly held Aunt Qiqi in such an intimate embrace!

 Chapter 116: 116: Mommy is Going to be Taken Away

    Chapter 116: Chapter 116: Mommy is Going to be Taken Away


    Momo was jealous.


    Han was jealous too.


    Both little buns had their cheeks puffed out, one more than the other; as both still had their baby fat, their chubby cheeks became even puffier when they pouted, making them look like grumpy little pufferfish.


    All of a sudden, Momo bent his legs and forcefully bumped into Han¡¯s behind. Han, caught off balance, unconsciously crashed into Lu Li.


    With quick reflexes, Lu Li caught him steadily, but was consequently forced to separate from Lin Qi.


    The scowl on Momo¡¯s forehead finally eased, seeing that the man finally let go of Mommy¡¯s hand, he felt much better.


    Han was completely unaware that he had been cunningly used by the scheming Momo, nearly losing his balance and falling to the ground.


    If Lu Li hadn¡¯t caught him...


    Han looked up, gazing at Lu Li with eager eyes, seizing the chance to curiously size up the man before him.


    Not as handsome as Daddy.


    Seems not as tall as Daddy either.


    His demeanor is somewhat gloomy and sullen.


    But observing how Aunt Qiqi reacts to him... It appears that the two of them are close friends.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Han, why weren¡¯t you more careful?¡± She hadn¡¯t been paying attention and thought Han tripped over something.


    With his arms crossed, Momo chimed in with Lin Qi, scolding, ¡°Silly Han, can¡¯t even walk without falling.¡±


    Han shot a look of grievance at Momo, clearly remembering that Momo had nudged his little behind with a leg. Was he betrayed by Momo?


    Lu Li sized up Han, and after steadying him, he asked, ¡°This child is...?¡±


    Lin Qi smiled, ¡°His name is Han, a good friend of Momo.¡±


    Momo...


    He is Momo.


    Originally, when Momo¡¯s file was being created, it was Lu Li who filled in the details. The father¡¯s column still had his name to this day.


    Naturally, the name made a deep impression on him.


    Initially, Lin Qi was pregnant with twins, but one of them did not survive, leaving only Momo.


    After Momo was born, he faced a tough fate, frail and often ill, none of which Lu Li was aware.


    Lin Qi was seven months pregnant when she went abroad to study, and he lost contact with her for a long time. After returning to the country, Lin Qi had suddenly disappeared, and despite his efforts to find her whereabouts, he came up with nothing.


    ¡°Momo is quite adorable,¡± Lu Li genuinely complimented, ¡°He resembles you a lot.¡± He gazed at Momo¡¯s face, occasionally drifting into a reverie.


    If only this child were his and Lin Qi¡¯s... that would be wonderful.


    Lin Qi¡¯s cheeks reddened as she replied with a smile, ¡°Sons usually resemble their mothers.¡±


    Lu Li gently released his hand and looked at Lin Qi, inquiring, ¡°How have you been all these years?¡± He hadn¡¯t heard from her at all.


    Lin Qi responded, ¡°Everything is fine.¡± She narrated calmly, as if talking about someone else¡¯s life.


    Indeed, whether these years had been good or not, only she knew, like one who drinks water knows whether it is cold or warm.


    She didn¡¯t wish to share too many hardships with outsiders; a simple ¡°Everything is fine¡± sums it all up.


    Momo squinted his eyebrows, looked at Lu Li, then at Lin Qi, and finally spoke up, ¡°Mommy, who is he?¡±


    Lin Qi turned to Momo, introducing with a hint of embarrassment, ¡°Momo, I haven¡¯t introduced him yet, this is Uncle Lu.¡±


    Momo blinked sensitively, ¡°Lu-Li?¡±


    Lu Li, somewhat surprised, said, ¡°How do you know my name?¡±


    Momo pursed his lips, not answering him; after all, he didn¡¯t like this man much, especially considering how affectionately he had been hugging his Mommy, he couldn¡¯t help but feel that this man was trying to take his Mommy away, a suspicion and wariness towards him!


    Lu Li read the distance and caution in Momo¡¯s eyes and commented to Lin Qi, ¡°This child is very smart.¡±


    He could instantly feel that Momo¡¯s eyes held a wisdom and maturity far beyond his peers.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t know how to respond.


    Suddenly, she felt somewhat awkward; although she and Lu Li never ran out of things to say, there was never such an awkward silence before. Maybe because it had been too long, she had almost forgotten...


    Forgotten how much she once admired him.


    Han returned to Momo¡¯s side and whispered, ¡°Like friends.¡± He felt that this man must be an old friend of Mommy¡¯s that she hadn¡¯t seen for a long time.


    Momo slapped him on the back of his head, ¡°What do you know?¡±


    Friends?


    Momo squinted his eyes and muttered, ¡°Can friends hug each other so closely and stick together?¡±


    Feeling aggrieved, Han rubbed his head and said, ¡°But... we... also hug...¡± He liked hugging Momo very much.


    He and Momo are good friends.


    Momo glared at him with a ¡®why-don¡¯t-you-get-it¡¯ look, realizing that aside from friends and family, Han was completely clueless about male-female relationships.


    Whatever.


    The kid was only seven, what did he expect him to know about love.


    Han didn¡¯t understand, but Momo did.


    He didn¡¯t watch prime-time soap operas for nothing, he could tell Lu Li had feelings for Mommy.


    He clearly saw in Lu Li¡¯s eyes the tenderness and indulgence that one only shows when they like a woman.


    While Han was confused, he heard Momo sigh, ¡°What to do if Mommy is stolen away.¡±


    Han¡¯s ears twitched, and his eyes widened again like copper bells.


    Aunt Qiqi is going to be stolen away?


    By whom?


    By this man?


    Han suddenly looked sharply at Lu Li, and in his eyes, there was a mysterious yet childish hostility.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t notice the shifting expressions of the two little guys; she looked around the hospital room and said to Lu Li, ¡°Do you... want to come inside the room and sit for a bit?¡± It feels strange always standing in the doorway.


    Lu Li replied, ¡°No need, I have work to attend to later.¡± He looked at his watch and said to Lin Qi, ¡°I¡¯ll come see you tomorrow.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded.


    Lu Li looked down at her and suddenly said softly, ¡°Lin Qi, stop avoiding me.¡± As he spoke, he lifted his hand as if to touch her soft hair like he used to, but midway he felt a piercing gaze.


    Lu Li caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye and noticed Momo¡¯s cold stare filled with intense scrutiny; he chuckled wryly, withdrew his hand, ¡°I¡¯ll be leaving now.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Qi politely said, ¡°Goodbye, Mr. Lu.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Lu¡±...


    Lu Li¡¯s complexion paused, but he didn¡¯t dwell on it, nodded in acknowledgment, and left.


    Momo immediately stepped forward to help Lin Qi towards the hospital room, but Han remained on guard, crouching by the door like a little sentinel, until he watched Lu Li walk away before entering the room.


    The caretaker said to the side, ¡°Miss Lin, it turns out you and the Young Director knew each other before.¡±


    ¡°Yes, he was my senior.¡±


    The caretaker added, trying to probe for more information, ¡°The Young Director is really handsome.¡±


    Lin Qi kept her tone unenthusiastic, ¡°Yes, he was quite popular during our university days.¡± She didn¡¯t elaborate on anything else.


    And so, the caretaker did not press further.


    While Momo was peeling an apple, he pricked up his ears to listen; seeing Lin Qi deliberately avoiding the topic, his suspicion grew stronger.

 Chapter 117: 117: The Equally Ruthless Father and Son Duo

    Chapter 117: Chapter 117: The Equally Ruthless Father and Son Duo


    Evening.


    The driver came to pick up Han as usual, but Han refused to go home after getting into the car, asking, ¡°Where¡¯s Daddy?¡±


    The driver said, ¡°Mr. Huo is at the office, he hasn¡¯t come home yet.¡±


    ¡°I want to see Daddy.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t make trouble, young master, please go home.¡±


    However, Han persistently repeated like a broken record player, ¡°I want to see Daddy, I want to see Daddy...¡±


    The driver, at his wit¡¯s end, turned the steering wheel towards Huace Headquarters.


    Project Department.


    Huo Tingdong was inspecting the project team when Mo Ke reported, ¡°The driver has brought the young master here.¡±


    Huo Tingdong, holding a stack of project documents and without looking up, asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you take the young master home?¡±


    ¡°The young master urgently wants to see you, it seems like something is wrong.¡±


    Huo Tingdong then looked up at Mo Ke.


    CEO¡¯s Office.


    The moment Huo Tingdong stepped in, Han immediately jumped off the sofa and rushed towards him.


    Huo Tingdong instinctively reached out, but Han avoided his hand, circled him twice, mumbling anxiously, ¡°It¡¯s bad, it¡¯s really bad...¡±


    His face full of panic, as if the sky had fallen, Han looked desperately worried, sweat covering his forehead.


    He racked his brain trying to articulate his thoughts, but didn¡¯t know how to tell Huo Tingdong the news that Lin Qi was about to be taken away by another man.


    Huo Tingdong stood up straight, watching Han circling him a few times, then suddenly standing still, his little hands nervously fidgeting at his chest, deep in thought.


    He finally could not bear it anymore and asked, ¡°What happened?¡±


    Han turned around and started to gesture animatedly with his hands towards him.


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his brows, beginning to translate step by step, ¡°A man?¡±


    Han nodded his head, like playing a guessing game with Huo Tingdong, put his little hands over his head, and made a tall gesture.


    Huo Tingdong translated, ¡°A tall man.¡±


    Han nodded emphatically again, touched his cheek, and gave a thumbs up.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°A handsome man.¡±


    Han clenched his right fist and pounded it into the palm of his left hand, then pointed at Huo Tingdong, and pinched his fingers.


    Huo Tingdong put it together, ¡°A tall, handsome man.¡±


    Han nodded, then started thinking hard again.


    Huo Tingdong, following his gesturing, continued to guess, ¡°A tall, handsome man going out with Aunt Qiqi.¡±


    Han immediately showed a more solemn expression, abruptly stretched out his hand, made cuddling gestures with the air, closed his eyes tenderly, puckered his lips kissing the air, and even wiggled his bottom.


    Huo Tingdong watched for a long time and organized Han¡¯s intended message, ¡°A tall, handsome man cuddling with Aunt Qiqi, being all lovey-dovey.¡±


    Huo Tingdong translated the whole meaning completely.


    Han, as if bearing an enormous grievance, walked to the wall, and with a helpless and pitiful ¡°thud¡±, leaned his little head against it. His eyes reddened, tears swirling in his eyes before falling heavily.


    Aunt Qiqi was about to be taken away!


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyebrows raised, ¡°So, what do you want?¡±


    Han turned back, glaring at Huo Tingdong with his fists clenched, ¡°Get her back.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°Bring Aunt Qiqi... get her back...¡± Han threw himself into Huo Tingdong¡¯s arms, grabbing a corner of his suit, tugging again and again, ¡°I don¡¯t want... Aunt Qiqi to be taken away...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You will have to accept this reality eventually.¡±


    He lifted Han up and sat down on the sofa, looking down, Han lay on his chest, staring tearfully at him, shaking his head like a bobblehead.


    He won¡¯t accept it!


    He won¡¯t accept it!!


    His eyes blurred with tears, his little mouth pouting enough to hang a kettle from, he looked at Huo Tingdong, feeling wronged and at a loss for words.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, stop it.¡±


    He took a handkerchief out of his pocket to wipe away his tears.


    Han pushed his hand away, insistently repeating, ¡°I want it.¡±


    Huo Tingdong helplessly asked, ¡°What do you want?¡±


    Han emphatically said, ¡°I want Aunt Qiqi!¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Han earnestly said, ¡°If you won¡¯t marry her, I will.¡±


    Huo Tingdong could no longer endure, ¡°Are you messing around again?!¡±


    He then realized he had actually yelled at Han.


    He was always gentle and soft-spoken with Han, never willing to raise his voice.


    Han hadn¡¯t expected that Huo Tingdong would yell at him, feeling even more wronged, his little head drooping down listlessly.


    Huo Tingdong rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache, and his tone softened immediately, ¡°Han, be good, don¡¯t make such unreasonable demands.¡±


    Han pushed him away petulantly, slid off him, and walked alone to the corner of the room, crouching down while hugging his knees.


    Huo Tingdong stood up, ¡°Get up.¡±


    Han¡¯s ears twitched, but he let the command go in one ear and out the other, acting as if he hadn¡¯t heard.


    Huo Tingdong knew Han was being temperamental again.


    But he always believed that while children should be pampered, they shouldn¡¯t be spoiled.


    Especially when making such unreasonable demands, they should be firmly rejected, not indulged to the end.


    Huo Tingdong stood up and said, ¡°You stay here and calm down by yourself!¡±


    After speaking, he walked out of the CEO¡¯s office and closed the door.


    Huo Tingdong hadn¡¯t gone far when he heard a ¡°clack¡± behind him, the sound of the door locking.


    He hastily turned back, pushed against the door, and found it was indeed locked from the inside.


    His son had locked him out of the office.


    Mo Ke came over, also pushed the door, and asked, ¡°Is the young master inside?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression had turned extremely cold, ¡°He locked me out.¡±


    Mo Ke was shocked and became anxious, ¡°What should we do? Why did the young master lock you out? Mr. Huo, did you scold him?¡±


    Huo Tingdong glanced at him, ¡°I did scold him, so what?¡±


    Mo Ke: ¡°...¡± No wonder the young master was so angry, it turns out he felt aggrieved because Huo Tingdong scolded him.


    He scratched his head and muttered, ¡°The young master is such a good boy, why scold him.¡±


    Huo Tingdong glanced at his watch, ¡°I have another meeting coming up. I¡¯ll give you twenty minutes to coax my son.¡±


    After saying that, he turned away coldly.


    Mo Ke reached out his hand, wanting to retain him, ¡°Mr. Huo, this task is a bit harsh...¡± His own son whom he could not coax well was left for him to handle.


    That¡¯s really asking too much!


    Huo Tingdong had already walked into the elevator lobby.


    Mo Ke reluctantly turned back, knocked on the door, and said gently, ¡°Young master, please, can you open the door?¡±


    The little guy inside was equally cold, showing no intention of unlocking.


    From a certain perspective...


    Father and son were highly alike, both extremely cold-hearted.


    No matter how much Mo Ke pleaded, Han would not unlock or open the door, not making a single sound.


    Fortunately, the CEO¡¯s office was equipped with safety nets to prevent Han from accidentally falling out of the office window.


    But, it really wasn¡¯t a solution to keep himself locked inside the office forever!


    Mo Ke became so anxious that he pulled his hair, ¡°What should I do now!¡±

 Chapter 118: 118 What if She Doesnt Want to Marry Me?

    Chapter 118: Chapter 118 What if She Doesn¡¯t Want to Marry Me?


    Fifteen minutes, twenty minutes...


    Time passed by every minute and second.


    Mo Ke racked his brains, using every method he could think of, from singing nursery rhymes, speaking nicely, just short of kneeling down and treating Han as an ancestor to kowtow to, yet the door did not budge.


    ¡°Little ancestor!¡±


    Mo Ke lay on the door, completely disregarding his image, as he patted the door and desperately begged, ¡°Young master, please open the door! I beg you to open it. Shall uncle take you to buy some delicious food, ok?¡±


    Huo Tingdong concluded the review meeting and returned to the entrance of the office, only to see Mo Ke dressed in a suit, kneeling on the ground, looking somewhat embarrassed, having pleaded for twenty minutes without even a glimpse of Han.


    Mo Ke heard footsteps, stiffened his scalp, and turned around to see Huo Tingdong approaching, his face gloomy, appearing rather impatient.


    ¡°Mr. Huo...¡± He stood up, his face mournful, ¡°The young master just refuses to open the door.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said coldly from behind the door, ¡°Han, open the door, I¡¯m only going to say this one last time.¡±


    ¡°...¡± No one responded.


    ¡°3...¡±


    ¡°2...¡±


    Mo Ke said worriedly, ¡°If Han is alone inside, what if something happens...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said coldly, ¡°Move aside.¡±


    Mo Ke blankly widened his eyes, instinctively stepping back a few steps and asked, ¡°Mr. Huo, what are you going to do...¡±


    His coherent question had not yet been asked when Huo Tingdong suddenly lifted his long leg and fiercely kicked the door.


    With a loud ¡°bang¡± sound.


    The thick and sturdy Black Hardwood door panel was forcibly kicked through by him.


    The noise was so loud that pages from the documents at the reception desk were shaken off.


    In the office, Han was lying on the sofa, unexpectedly startled by the loud noise, his head jerked up as he looked towards the door, unsettled.


    Huo Tingdong stood at the door, his long leg lightly kicking the broken lock aside, while Mo Ke, already terrified by his imposing aura, leaned weakly against the wall, his heart still skipping beats.


    Such a hard door panel, yet kicked open by him!


    If this kick had landed on a person, they would probably have been ready to be reincarnated several times.


    Huo Tingdong glanced at Mo Ke, ¡°What are you standing around for? Get someone to change the lock.¡±


    Mo Ke snapped back to reality, covering his ¡°pounding¡± heart, shakily went to the engineering department.


    Huo Tingdong stepped through the door, and upon seeing his stern face, Han began to cry.


    ¡°Wah...¡±


    He had never seen Huo Tingdong with such a cold expression, those stiff eyes were too frightening.


    Plus, the noise from the door breaking earlier had scared him so much that he had yet to recover, and he began to sob intermittently.


    Huo Tingdong felt a bit of pity, but he was also annoyed; he had spoiled Han too much, so much so that he would dare to lock him out.


    He walked over to Han, crouched down, grabbed his shoulders, and demanded, ¡°Will you dare to do this again next time?¡±


    Han, rubbing his eyes, looked at him pitifully.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You always lock yourself in alone, don¡¯t you know, Daddy is very worried?¡±


    Han had done this more than once.


    He was upset, he would lock himself up, avoiding people.


    Once or twice, it was alright.


    But if it happened too often, Huo Tingdong naturally could not bear it.


    Moreover, he was so young, being locked alone in the office, it was natural he was worried.


    Breaking in was his last resort.


    Han, unable to comprehend Huo Tingdong¡¯s words at that moment, was so frightened by the door-kicking noise that his heart stopped for a few seconds; he poked at his chest, his eyes teary as he glared at Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong knew that the noise of breaking the door was too loud and probably scared him badly, ¡°Did it scare you?¡±


    Han pouted his lips and nodded.


    Huo Tingdong rubbed his hair, pulling him into his embrace, ¡°Daddy apologizes to you, Daddy was too anxious.¡±


    Caring too much often leads to mistakes.


    ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡±


    Huo Tingdong rubbed Han¡¯s hair, over and over.


    Han¡¯s emotions gradually stabilized, and his crying gradually ceased.


    Huo Tingdong held him in his arms, stood up, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    He had just reached the door when he saw Mo Ke leading the locksmith from the engineering department, who, upon reaching the door, was taken aback, ¡°My goodness... how was this door broken?¡±


    Mo Ke embarrassedly touched his nose, ¡°It was kicked open.¡±


    The locksmith showed an extremely exaggerated expression, extremely shocked, ¡°Who has such strong legs to kick open this door...¡± This was the world¡¯s most sturdy wood and lock.


    Huo Tingdong approached him and asked, ¡°Can you fix the door today?¡±


    The locksmith looked up, trembling, ¡°Yes, Mr. Huo, don¡¯t worry...¡±


    Seeing Han unharmed, although frightened and crying, Mo Ke also felt a bit distressed, ¡°Young master, don¡¯t lock yourself alone in the door next time, everyone is very worried about you...¡±


    Han stubbornly buried his little face in Huo Tingdong¡¯s chest, not wanting to deal with Mo Ke.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Help me tidy up the documents on the desk.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Mo Ke bent down, watching Huo Tingdong carry Han away.


    The car drove into the residential area.


    Upon arriving home, it was empty.


    Since Lin Qi had been hospitalized, Momo had also brought his change of clothes and schoolwork to the hospital. Originally, he and Han shared a room, but now, only Han was left alone.


    Han was used to being alone, but it was different now. Previously, he had always gone to class, come out of school, done homework, played, and slept together with Momo...


    Now, suddenly alone again, he became somewhat unaccustomed.


    It was getting dark.


    The nanny made dinner.


    In the dining room, cold and empty, father and son sat at the dinner table, Han having little appetite, only managing a few bites, feeling completely tasteless.


    Previously, Momo often made him delicious food, his appetite always hearty, devouring meals so vigorously that he even gained a bit of weight. Now that Momo was not around, eating the nanny¡¯s food obviously didn¡¯t whet his appetite, and for children whose growth and development are quite apparent, Han visibly thinned considerably since Lin Qi was hospitalized.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, eat more, you need to grow taller.¡±


    Han reluctantly scooped a few more bites of rice, chewing it in his mouth felt like wax.


    Seeing him distracted, Huo Tingdong suddenly asked, ¡°Do you want me to pursue Aunt Qiqi?¡±


    Han¡¯s eyes lit up at that, nodding his head.


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°Reason?¡±


    Han said, ¡°I want to be with... Aunt Qiqi...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Han thought for a moment, then added, ¡°And Momo.¡±


    Huo Tingdong put down his chopsticks and asked lightly, ¡°What if Aunt Qiqi doesn¡¯t want to marry me?¡±

 Chapter 119: 119: The Divorced Second-Marriage Old Man with a Child

    Chapter 119: Chapter 119: The Divorced Second-Marriage Old Man with a Child


    The marriage partner, who it is, he does not care.


    He once had a marriage with Lin Qi, and remarrying her was not out of the question.


    Although high society emphasizes matching social status, this rule did not apply to Huo Tingdong.


    Because in high society, there¡¯s no one whose status matches his.


    He didn¡¯t need to rely on marriage, on a woman, to expand his business empire.


    The question is, what does Lin Qi think?


    Because of the affair with Song Shuyan, she must hate him, not even wanting to see him.


    Let alone Momo.


    That little fellow is a typical ¡°mama¡¯s boy,¡± especially protective of Lin Qi, and now, in Momo¡¯s eyes, he was like a thorn in the flesh.


    Furthermore...


    How to bring this matter up?


    A direct marriage proposal?


    What if he just opened his mouth and encountered Lin Qi¡¯s rejection...


    Huo Tingdong suddenly froze.


    He mockingly curled his lips.


    He has always been such an arrogant man, yet now he actually fears that his proposal to a woman might be rejected.


    Looking across Beijing, who would dare to reject his marriage proposal?


    Only Lin Qi.


    She, indeed, is an exception, she might.


    Late at night.


    After lulling Han to sleep, Huo Tingdong drove to the hospital.


    Since the last fallout with Lin Qi, he rarely set foot here, and even if he did, he wouldn¡¯t go inside.


    Standing downstairs, the inpatient department had a curfew, and after half-past ten at night, the main gate was sealed.


    Huo Tingdong stood at the entrance and pressed the night emergency buzzer.


    The duty nurse hurried over, ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°To visit a patient.¡±


    The nurse rubbed her sleepy eyes and mumbled, ¡°But, visiting hours are over...¡± Her voice trailed off quieter and quieter, even though separated by a glass door, she could still feel the overpowering aura emanating from Huo Tingdong.


    So intimidating.


    Although this man before her was stunningly handsome, there still existed in him an indescribable presence, born from a long tenure in a high position.


    She felt inexplicably guilty.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Open the door.¡±


    Under the pressure of the man¡¯s presence, the nurse reluctantly opened the door for him, ¡°You¡¯d better not stay long, or my supervisor will scold me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong entered the elevator without looking back.


    The elevator reached the floor.


    He came out and walked towards the ward.


    The ward door was shut.


    He stood at the door, glanced through the small window, and saw Lin Qi lying in bed, with the caregiver sleeping in the reclining chair.


    Huo Tingdong pushed the door and went in.


    Lin Qi was a light sleeper; she woke up instantly, opening her eyes only to see a tall shadow looming by her bed, which made her as scared as if she¡¯d seen a ghost, and she immediately awoke entirely.


    Upon focusing her gaze, she exclaimed in disbelief, ¡°Huo Tingdong?¡±


    What was he doing here so late?


    Perhaps because it had been so long, her anger towards him seemed to have dissipated, making her tone particularly calm.


    Huo Tingdong sat down in the chair beside her.


    Inside the ward, there was a moment of silence, apart from the caregiver¡¯s snoring, which came in waves.


    Lin Qi muttered, ¡°What are you doing here in the middle of the night?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Do you still hate me?¡±


    He blurted out seemingly out of context, confusing Lin Qi, ¡°Why should I hate you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong speculated, ¡°Because of Song Shuyan, didn¡¯t you say you didn¡¯t want to see me?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you, so why did you come?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Her attitude was particularly indifferent, so indifferent he felt like an irrelevant stranger.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Wasn¡¯t that matter settled? You gave me two billion to keep quiet, and I agreed to act as if it never happened.¡± She was quite aware, having taken the money, she kept her word.


    The doctor said she was recovering well. Initially, Han changed her dressings every day, and she recovered unusually quickly and well.


    Momo worried she might have aftereffects, but the doctor said the hematoma in her brain would gradually dissipate, and the fractured bones were also healing nicely, with wounds closing faster than expected.


    Aftereffects would always exist, but they wouldn¡¯t affect her life.


    More importantly, the two billion Huo Tingdong gave her were enough for financial freedom. Raising Momo to adulthood, studying abroad, marrying, and having children, she would have no burden.


    She took this money without guilt, after all, it was her life on the line for it.


    Huo Tingdong suddenly fell silent.


    Unable to help herself, Lin Qi asked, ¡°So, why did you come?¡± Did he suddenly show up in her hospital room at the dead of night just to sit by her bed and brood?


    This man was truly inexplicable.


    Lin Qi lay back down, staring at the ceiling, fiddling with her fingers. He didn¡¯t leave and she couldn¡¯t continue to sleep. But she also couldn¡¯t well ask him to leave since even getting out of bed was difficult.


    An air of awkwardness inevitably hung between them.


    Huo Tingdong looked at his hands, clenching and unclenching his fists, the words fermenting in his throat, but he found them hard to voice.


    Seeing him as if wanting to say something, Lin Qi became a bit wary, ¡°A gentleman¡¯s promise is unbreakable. You¡¯re not going back on your word, are you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡± What did she mean by that?


    Lin Qi continued, ¡°You¡¯re not reversing the two-billion issue because I¡¯ve recovered, are you?¡± Or was it that she had originally said one billion and he had transferred two billion to her, and now he wanted the extra billion back?


    Were Huo Family¡¯s funds in trouble?


    Having liquidity issues?


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    He couldn¡¯t help but laugh, his thin lips curving slightly as he said plainly, ¡°First, I thought you knew my capabilities, I don¡¯t need those two billion; second, I thought you knew my character, once that money is in your account, I won¡¯t take it back; third...¡±


    He saw through Lin Qi¡¯s concerns as he coldly stated, ¡°Furthermore, if Huo Family ever had a day where financial turnover was an issue and needed those two billion to save the world, then the sky of the capital markets would be falling.¡±


    To prosper or to decline together.


    Should the Huo Family encounter any problem, it could involve countless firms and potentially trigger a global financial crisis, leaving no one safe in the eye of that storm.


    Lin Qi found herself even more baffled, ¡°Then what on earth do you want to say?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said gravely, ¡°Can you remarry me?¡±


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t hear clearly the first time, ¡°What... what?¡±


    The man looked up purposefully, deliberately enunciating each word, ¡°Can you remarry me?¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned.


    She speechlessly asked, ¡°Why me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Why can¡¯t it be you?¡±


    Lin Qi mimicked his tone, ¡°First, there are so many eligible young ladies in high society, you¡¯re so wealthy, no one would mind that you¡¯re a divorced man with a child seeking a second marriage; second, why should I agree to marry you? Marriage is a grave, I¡¯ve finally freed myself from that grave, I would be foolish to step back into it.¡±


    Divorced... with a child... second marriage old man?


    Marriage... a grave in her eyes...?

 Chapter 120: 120: Ten Thousand and One Black Roses

    Chapter 120: Chapter 120: Ten Thousand and One Black Roses


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Also, why should I marry? I have a son now, and 200 million, what do I need a husband for?¡± Having said that, she smiled and asked, ¡°Does Mr. Huo think what I said makes sense?¡±


    Huo Tingdong found himself speechless for a moment.


    ¡°Besides...¡± Lin Qi said with a smile, ¡°it was you who wanted to divorce me, and you were the one who asked me to sign the agreement. There¡¯s a saying ¡®a good horse doesn¡¯t eat the grass behind it.¡¯ Now that you¡¯ve come to ask me to remarry you, I have every right to refuse.¡±


    After being reminded...


    Huo Tingdong suddenly remembered.


    It was indeed he who had forced her to sign the divorce agreement.


    He had actually forgotten.


    Seeing the man¡¯s ashen face and speechless, Lin Qi asked, ¡°Does Mr. Huo have anything else to say? If not, I¡¯m going to sleep, and you can go. No need to see you out.¡±


    After speaking, she lay down, wrapped herself in the quilt, with only half of her small face showing.


    Huo Tingdong looked at her and slowly stood up, ¡°I won¡¯t disturb your rest then.¡± After saying that, he turned around and left the room.


    Once he left, Lin Qi finally let out a sigh of relief.


    She was sleeping well, and the sudden visit from Huo Tingdong had completely disrupted her sleep.


    These days she was undergoing intensive physical rehabilitation, and her whole body ached everywhere.


    The more it hurt, the more she recalled many things.


    How cruelly Song Shuyan had pushed her from such a height.


    Despite knowing Song Shuyan was the culprit, Huo Tingdong insisted on protecting her.


    There were many unfair things in this world.


    Huo Tingdong walked downstairs, to the car, where Han was eagerly peering out from the car window, looking at him walking towards the car.


    The car door opened, and Little Baby immediately showed hopeful eyes, seemingly asking without words: Was the proposal successful?


    Huo Tingdong said coldly, ¡°She¡¯s not willing.¡±


    Han¡¯s eyes widened, his tender little mouth moving slightly.


    Huo Tingdong seriously repeated, ¡°She doesn¡¯t want to marry me.¡±


    Han was deeply disappointed.


    He abruptly grabbed a throw pillow beside him and threw it at Huo Tingdong forcefully.


    The man effortlessly caught it, got in the car, and stuffed the pillow back into Han¡¯s arms, ¡°Don¡¯t force someone to do what they can¡¯t.¡±


    Suddenly, Han picked up a phone, typed some text on the screen, and soon, several images popped up.


    He held the phone up to Huo Tingdong; the man glanced at it¡ªit was a web page filled with images, a full screen of roses.


    There were 999 roses, a huge bunch.


    There were 9999 roses, a big handful, with white roses arranged on top spelling out ¡°I LOVE YOU¡± as a declaration of love.


    There were 99999 roses, covering the ground, both romantic and vibrant.


    Huo Tingdong gave a fair comment, ¡°Garish.¡±


    The driver started the car, chuckling, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect the young master to be so romantic. They say no woman can refuse roses, especially not 9999 of them; for women, it¡¯s the ultimate romantic declaration.¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked at the driver, his eyes slightly narrowing.


    Intimidated by his gaze, the driver immediately fell silent, but couldn¡¯t help muttering, ¡°I gave my wife roses on Valentine¡¯s Day, and she was very happy.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°If you don¡¯t speak, no one will think you¡¯re mute.¡±


    The driver reluctantly nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    The next day.


    After Lin Qi had breakfast and digested it a bit, she got out of bed, pushed her walker, and started another tough rehab session.


    The doctor said that once she could gradually walk, the next rehab program would be scheduled.


    It was so difficult.


    What used to be an ordinary task, walking, had now become terribly painful.


    Lin Qi wasn¡¯t one to endure pain easily; she had long forgotten the agony of childbirth, and now walking had become the most painful thing for her.


    After a few steps, she was already sweating profusely.


    ¡°Young Director, hello...¡±


    ¡°Young Director, good.¡±


    Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the nurse station.


    Lin Qi looked up, and Lu Li had already approached her.


    Today he was not in a white lab coat, but in a white shirt with gray trousers, looking even more gentle and refined.


    ¡°Mr. Lu...¡±


    Beside her, the attendant respectfully greeted, ¡°Young Director, good.¡± She had been working in the hospital for years, so she had seen Lu Li and knew he was the Young Director, the future heir of the Lu Group.


    Lu Li said to the attendant, ¡°You go back to the ward, I¡¯ll take care of her.¡±


    The attendant hesitated, looking at both Lu Li and Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi hesitated, ¡°No need...¡±


    Lu Li approached her and corrected some of her grip and gait issues, ¡°You will hurt your knees and wrist joints if you hold the walker like that, you¡¯re not holding it the right way.¡±


    He adjusted the height of her walker and corrected her grip.


    Lin Qi suddenly realized, ¡°No wonder my wrist hurts, it¡¯s because my grip was wrong...¡±


    Seeing this, the attendant couldn¡¯t help but admire, ¡°As expected of the Young Director, so professional. I feel reassured leaving Miss Lin in your care.¡± She then returned to the ward.


    Lu Li walked beside Lin Qi, his sudden closeness, the scent of his cologne enveloping her silently.


    She shyly avoided him.


    Lu Li looked down, noticing her evasion, and asked, ¡°Are you allergic to perfume?¡±


    Lin Qi hurriedly replied, ¡°No... not at all.¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°I¡¯ll accompany you for a round first.¡±


    Lin Qi absent-mindedly nodded.


    She walked step by step with the walker, and Lu Li followed closely behind her, watching her unwaveringly. When she almost fell due to weak legs, his instinct was to reach out to help, but he hesitated, not daring to have too intimate physical contact, fearing her resistance.


    She walked cautiously.


    He followed cautiously.


    After half a lap, Lin Qi was already panting, stopping to catch her breath.


    Lu Li pulled out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the sweat from her forehead, ¡°Does it hurt?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°It hurts...¡± It was excruciating.


    She might understand now the agony of the little mermaid in the fairy tale, whose tail turned into legs, dancing ballet on the edge of a blade.


    Lin Qi looked up and met Lu Li¡¯s tender gaze, quickly looking away to change the subject, ¡°Aren¡¯t you working today?¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°I¡¯m off.¡± He paused, then asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to see me?¡±


    Lin Qi quickly denied, ¡°No.¡±


    Lu Li¡¯s smile turned into a grin, ¡°I thought you didn¡¯t want to see me.¡±


    Suddenly exclamations rose one after another from the nurse station.


    ¡°Oh my gosh! Such a big bunch of roses!¡±


    ¡°It looks like there are 9999 of them!¡±


    ¡°Who sent it? So many roses, they won¡¯t fit in the ward!¡±


    Amid the noisy crowd, a polite man¡¯s voice came, ¡°Excuse me, which ward is ¡®Lin Qi¡¯ Miss Lin in?¡±


    The nurse asked, ¡°Is this for Miss Lin Qi?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    ¡°Who sent it?¡±


    The man courteously replied, ¡°That¡¯s customer privacy, we can¡¯t disclose it.¡±

 Chapter 121: 121 Can It Be Refused?

    Chapter 121: Chapter 121 Can It Be Refused?


    Miss Lin was surprised to hear her own name.


    She walked with her walker to the nurse station and saw a man in a suit standing there. Behind him, two other men in suits were pushing a white wrought iron flower cart filled with roses arranged in a heart shape, but they were the rare Black Roses.


    Miss Lin¡¯s lips twitched fiercely; she had never seen Black Roses before, so she was quite surprised.


    The young nurse at the station was astonished, ¡°Did you see? That man is wearing a badge from Lodin Mountain, he¡¯s from Lodin Mountain Flower House!¡±


    ¡°Lodin Mountain Flower House? I¡¯ve heard of it, a renowned rare flower breeding studio. Many celebrity weddings feature their flowers.¡±


    ¡°Many people from high society order their flowers from Lodin Mountain Flower House. The flowers they breed are of the highest quality and most beautiful; a single red rose costs 99 yuan.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Black Roses before. I heard they are the rarest.¡±


    Black Rose is a rare species, seldom seen on the market.


    Belonging to the rose family, the Black Rose is definitely unique.


    The Black Roses cultivated by Lodin Mountain are famously distinguished, with thick petals, a mix of velvet red within the black, luxurious and mysterious, finely crafted, and the petal edges glisten like velvet.


    Cultivating Black Roses is notoriously difficult; if the black flowers absorb all the ultraviolet rays from the sunlight, the petal tissue is easily damaged, making them hard to survive.


    Only Lodin Mountain has the advanced conditions necessary for cultivation, and even so, Black Roses only bloom once a year and have only a 10-day harvesting period.


    ¡°It¡¯s said that one Black Rose costs 500 yuan.¡±


    ¡°So expensive?¡±


    Lodin Mountain Flower House?


    Miss Lin had only seen it in luxury magazines. Lodin Mountain Flower House never accepts orders from the public, only from high society, and all their flowers are rare and supplied in limited quantities.


    Who could it be?


    She had just heard someone asking for her room number. Could it be that these flowers were purchased by someone to be sent to her?


    Such a grand gesture, sending so many roses.


    Miss Lin looked at Lu Li, but saw confusion on his face too; she had thought that he was the one who sent the flowers.


    Three minutes later, two men wearing black velvet gloves pushed the flower cart towards Miss Lin¡¯s ward.


    Many nurses also headed towards Miss Lin¡¯s ward, eager to see the unique allure of the Black Roses.


    In the hallway, patients and their families stepped aside, everyone watching the enormous cart full of Black Roses being pushed towards Miss Lin¡¯s ward.


    ¡°Who sent them? Such a grand gesture. I heard there are ten thousand and one roses, symbolizing ¡®one in ten thousand.¡¯ At 500 yuan per Black Rose, ten thousand and one roses, how much money is that? Think about it.¡±


    ¡°Ten thousand and one roses, oh my goodness, I wasn¡¯t good at math, I can¡¯t even calculate.¡±


    ¡°Round it up, five million?¡±


    Murmurs of amazement echoed through the crowd.


    Lu Li said to Miss Lin, ¡°Someone sent you roses?¡±


    Miss Lin said, ¡°Hmm... could it be a mistake?¡± She didn¡¯t know who would send her so many roses.


    Lu Li chuckled, ¡°Don¡¯t you dislike roses?¡±


    Miss Lin nodded, ¡°I don¡¯t like such lavish but impractical things.¡±


    She watched as so many people crowded at her ward door; her social anxiety started creeping in.


    Who would think sending so many roses to a hospital is romantic?


    Also, who exactly is the idle person who sent them?


    Miss Lin, pushing her walker, moved to the door; the entrance to her ward was still packed, and she was almost squeezed by the crowd.


    ¡°Where is Miss Lin Qi?¡±


    ¡°Who is Miss Lin Qi?¡±


    Lin Qi was too embarrassed to respond.


    Just thinking about receiving such a rose in front of everyone and being surrounded by so many strange gazes made her toes curl in embarrassment.


    In the crowd, the Protocol responsible for flower delivery noticed her immediately because Lin Qi¡¯s fair skin and clean, beautiful face without makeup were too eye-catching among the people.


    He immediately walked towards Lin Qi, ¡°Excuse me, are you Miss Lin Qi?¡±


    Lin Qi immediately denied it, ¡°I¡¯m not, I...¡±


    ¡°Miss Lin, you¡¯re back?¡±


    The nurse walked out of the ward, bustling, ¡°Miss Lin, I don¡¯t know who sent you so many roses! How romantic!¡±


    In an instant, ¡°swoosh¡±, countless gazes fell upon her.


    Lin Qi¡¯s scalp tingled and she quickly lowered her head, her cold sweat dripping.


    Protocol smiled, ¡°Miss Lin, hello, I am from the Lodin Mountain Flower House, I am entrusted by Mr. Huo to deliver fresh flowers to you.¡±


    Lin Qi suddenly reacted, ¡°Who?¡±


    ¡°Mr. Huo.¡±


    ¡°Mr. Huo? Huo Tingdong?!¡± Is he really so tacky, who taught him such a vulgar trick?


    Protocol placed his right hand on his chest, bowed respectfully, and said elegantly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face muscles twitched fiercely, ¡°Can I refuse them?¡±


    Protocol paused mid-bow, lifted his head, looking at Lin Qi in astonishment and a bit perplexed, ¡°Why?¡±


    Lin Qi said firmly, ¡°I don¡¯t like roses.¡±


    Protocol was shocked again.


    Could there be a woman in this world who would refuse such beautiful roses?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Send these roses back, and also, tell your Mr. Huo that I don¡¯t like roses, I like money. Please have him cater to my preferences next time.¡±


    Protocol: ¡°...¡±


    To deliver these 10,001 Black Roses, costing five million, utilizing a super large van and an aisle-style delivery, and now, she wants to refuse?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°This is my ward, the place where I recuperate. Look here, can it fit so many roses?¡±


    Protocol said, ¡°These Black Roses were all manually picked overnight, and delivered early in the morning. You say to refuse, this... how should we handle this?¡±


    Lu Li said from the side, ¡°So, you mean these flowers can¡¯t be returned?¡±


    Protocol wiped his sweat, nodding, ¡°Yes.¡± Mr. Huo specifically requested that the Black Roses must be delivered directly to the recipient; if they were refused, they could not explain it to Mr. Huo.


    Huo Tingdong...


    What is this man trying to do?


    Does he not have a concept of the number 10,001, does he not know that so many roses could fill the entire ward leaving no place to step?


    How would she sleep at night, sleeping amidst roses?


    Lu Li walked to the truck filled with Black Roses, gently lifting a rose by its stem, fingertips carefully exploring, ¡°The Black Roses cultivated by Lodin Mountain are indeed of high quality. However, placing so many flowers in the ward isn¡¯t beneficial for a patient¡¯s recovery.¡±


    Saying this, he revealed a scheming smile, ¡°Why not place them in the back garden, right in front of Miss Lin¡¯s ward window. This way, every day when Miss Lin wakes up and opens the window, she can see them, saving you the trouble of transporting them back, and the hassle of explaining.¡±

 Chapter 122: 122 You Dont Need to Take Responsibility

    Chapter 122: Chapter 122 You Don¡¯t Need to Take Responsibility


    The protocol officer looked somewhat conflicted as he glanced at Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi stood her ground, ¡°In any case, don¡¯t bring the flowers to my hospital room, I¡¯m afraid of pollen allergies.¡± Even if she wasn¡¯t prone to allergies, she couldn¡¯t withstand so many flowers piling up in one hospital room.


    With no other choice, the protocol officer could only arrange for the flowers to be taken to the garden downstairs.


    Once the flower cart was pushed away, it left behind a carpet of petals.


    Lin Qi said to the sanitation worker, ¡°Auntie, I appreciate your hard work. Please clean up the room.¡±


    ¡°Alright, Miss Lin, I¡¯ll clean it up right away.¡±


    Turning around, Lin Qi asked Lu Li, ¡°Do you want to sit for a while?¡± She noticed that Lu Li had made no move to leave.


    ¡°Mhm.¡±


    Lu Li took a seat on the sofa in the hospital room.


    Lin Qi also sat down on the hospital bed.


    The two were silent, facing each other.


    Lin Qi glanced out of the window, noticing that it was getting late, and then said, ¡°Momo will soon be coming back from school.¡±


    Lu Li nodded with a smile, ¡°I like Momo very much.¡±


    Lin Qi felt awkward for a moment, ¡°Momo is cute, so he¡¯s loved by everyone.¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°It¡¯s not because he is cute, I just love everything associated with you.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± Her face instantly felt scorching hot, and she didn¡¯t know how to continue the conversation.


    Lu Li then said seriously, ¡°Lin Qi, although it may seem presumptuous, I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to my mother.¡±


    Huace Group.


    Meeting room.


    Mo Ke paused the meeting and came in, ¡°Mr. Huo, the flowers sent by the Lodin Mountain Flower House were rejected by Miss Lin.¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised his eyebrows, ¡°Rejected?¡±


    Mo Ke nodded and whispered in his ear, ¡°The protocol officer called and said that Miss Lin was with a man. It¡¯s said to be the Young Director of Mingde Hospital, Lu Li.¡±


    Upon hearing that name, Huo Tingdong abruptly stood up, his movements so abrupt that documents on the table were brushed to the floor by his jacket.


    He stared at Mo Ke¡¯s face, his own countenance turning dark, ¡°Are you certain? That man is the Mingde Hospital Director?¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Huo Tingdong turned around, leaving his subordinates glancing at each other in confusion in the silent meeting room where one could almost hear a pin drop.


    ¡°Today¡¯s meeting is canceled, dismiss,¡± Huo Tingdong left these words behind as he strode towards the door.


    Mo Ke quickly followed and asked, ¡°Mr. Huo, are you heading to the hospital?¡±


    ¡°Prepare the car.¡±


    ¡°Yes.¡±


    Hospital.


    Huo Tingdong rushed over.


    Too impatient to wait for the elevator, he went up the fire escape straight to the hospital room.


    From a distance, he saw Han pacing anxiously in front of the hospital room.


    As Huo Tingdong turned around, Han, with his eyes wide open as if seeing a savior, immediately ran towards him.


    ¡°Daddy!¡±


    He threw himself into Huo Tingdong¡¯s arms, clutching at the man¡¯s tie and pointing towards the hospital room, anxiously uttering ¡°Mmh mmh¡± noises.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression changed, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Han was too agitated to articulate, and in his urgency, pulled Huo Tingdong¡¯s tie towards the hospital room.


    Huo Tingdong was dragged by Han to the door of the hospital room.


    The door to the hospital room was tightly closed.


    Through the small window, Huo Tingdong saw several figures inside the room.


    Lin Qi was sitting on the hospital bed, wearing a knitted cardigan, Lu Li stood beside her, and on the sofa, a well-dressed, elegant, and dignified lady sat holding Momo affectionately in her arms. In her eyes, there was remorse, affection, and above all, reproach.


    Aunt Lu looked at Lu Li with some reprimand, ¡°Lu Li, you should have told me about this earlier. Xiao Qi gave birth to a son for you, and you¡¯ve kept it from me all these years. Were you afraid that I wouldn¡¯t acknowledge my grandson?¡±


    Half an hour earlier.


    Lu Li had brought his mother to the hospital room.


    Lin Qi did not know what Lu Li intended, after all, she had owed Lu Li a favor. If it weren¡¯t for his intervention, registering Momo would have been very difficult.


    Unexpectedly...


    Lu Li brought up Momo¡¯s issue with Aunt Lu.


    Just as Momo and Han had finished school and entered the room, Lu Li held Momo and ¡°confessed¡± this to his mother, ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve been hiding something from you for many years. Seven years ago, Qiqi bore me a son. All these years with no news, and now that I¡¯ve finally found Qiqi, I want to take responsibility for her.¡±


    Lin Qi was shocked.


    She was painfully aware that Lu Li knew that Momo wasn¡¯t his flesh and blood. Although Lu Li¡¯s name was listed as the father on the official records, Lu Li was more aware than anyone that there was no blood relation between him and Momo.


    Lin Qi looked at Lu Li in disbelief.


    Yet Lu Li pressed her shoulder, signaling her to stay quiet for the moment.


    Unexpectedly, Aunt Lu took a particular liking to Momo.


    Over the years, Lu Li had been busy with his studies and work, leaving Aunt Lu worried about his matrimonial prospects.


    With the belief that a man should first establish a household and then a career, Aunt Lu carefully picked out many marriage prospects for him, all of which were rejected by Lu Li.


    Now, seeing the adorable son that Lu Li and Lin Qi had and Lu Li¡¯s assertive intentions to take responsibility for Lin Qi, it was naturally a welcomed development for Aunt Lu.


    In Aunt Lu¡¯s eyes, Lin Qi was also of good background, education, and manners. As a daughter-in-law, she was quite commendable.


    Most importantly, she had given birth to Momo who was such a lovely son for Lu Li, naturally earning Lin Qi a lot of extra points in her view.


    Aunt Lu looked affectionately at Momo then gently turned to Lin Qi and asked Lu Li, ¡°Lu Li, since you also said you want to take responsibility for Xiao Qi, do you plan to marry her?¡±


    Lu Li nodded, ¡°I¡¯m just afraid Xiao Qi might be unwilling.¡±


    Aunt Lu looked worriedly at Lin Qi and asked, ¡°Xiao Qi, would you be willing to marry my son and become a daughter-in-law of the Lu Family?¡±


    Lin Qi faced Aunt Lu, unsure how to refuse, and after a long pause, she cautiously began, ¡°Aunt Lu, I am very touched by your kindness, but...¡±


    The door was suddenly pushed open.


    ¡°She is unwilling.¡±


    The man¡¯s cold voice rang out.


    Lin Qi stared wide-eyed at the door; Huo Tingdong walked into the room holding Han, who squirmed around in his arms like a kitten.


    ¡°Huo Tingdong?¡± Lin Qi was at a loss for words, ¡°How did you get here?¡±


    Huo Tingdong glanced at her, his gaze finally landing on Lu Li as he coldly uttered, ¡°She doesn¡¯t need you to take responsibility.¡±


    Lu Li stood tall and turned to look at Huo Tingdong, elegantly composed, smiling as he asked, ¡°Mr. Huo, this is a private matter between Miss Lin and me. You have no place to interfere.¡±


    Aunt Lu said uncertainly, ¡°Who might this be...¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression was blank: ¡°I am her...¡±


    Lin Qi interjected, ¡°He is my ex-husband.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression instantly turned cold.


    A look of stiffness passed over Aunt Lu¡¯s face, ¡°Lu Li? Xiao Qi... she was married before?¡±


    Lu Li said indifferently, ¡°Mom. Indeed, Xiao Qi had a very brief marriage with Mr. Huo.¡±

 Chapter 123: 123 He is Your Son

    Chapter 123: Chapter 123 He is Your Son


    Aunt Lu¡¯s complexion changed, originally, she had a good impression of Lin Qi, but upon hearing she was divorced, her opinion lessened somewhat.


    Han struggled to break free from Huo Tingdong¡¯s embrace and threw himself beside Lin Qi, gently wrapping his arms around her.


    He lifted his small face, with an aggrieved expression, as if hesitating to speak. Just now, outside the door, he heard that Lu Li was going to marry Lin Qi, and he was afraid that this man would snatch her away, holding tightly and refusing to let go.


    Aunt Lu expressed her astonishment, ¡°And this child is...?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°He is my son.¡±


    Aunt Lu looked at Han, then at Lin Qi, momentarily stunned and speechless. Seeing that Han and Momo were about the same age, she looked at Lin Qi with some suspicion, ¡°Is he also your son?¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°No. Qiqi only had one child, Momo.¡±


    Just as Aunt Lu found the complicated identities of the two children confusing, Momo suddenly asked Lin Qi, ¡°Mommy, do you like Uncle Lu?¡±


    He knew that Lu Li was not his biological father.


    But what he wanted to know more was Mommy¡¯s heart and who would treat her well for a lifetime, cherishing Mommy forever.


    In other words, whoever Mommy chooses, he would recognize that person.


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t give a definite answer.


    She said to Lu Li, ¡°Lu Li, I...¡±


    Lu Li suddenly interrupted her, ¡°Don¡¯t reject me.¡±


    Lin Qi was surprised at his display of assertiveness.


    Lu Li moved beside her and gently took her hand, enveloping it in his palm, ¡°Didn¡¯t I promise you, I will give you a home?¡±


    Huo Tingdong stepped forward, blocking his way and said coldly, ¡°Why won¡¯t you let her finish speaking? Or do you already know she will reject you, and you still want to force her?¡±


    Seeing Huo Tingdong showing assertiveness excited Han, who clenched his fists tightly, his eyes shining with radiance.


    Good job, Daddy, quickly snatch Aunt Qiqi over!


    Lu Li raised an eyebrow, ¡°Force? Who is forcing whom, Mr. Huo? You¡¯re not thinking of ¡®forcing¡¯ Qiqi to be a stepmother to your son, are you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face tightened, and his eyes were particularly intimidating. He took a step closer to Lu Li and said coldly, ¡°Do you think I¡¯m like you, using such filthy methods?¡±


    Lu Li found it laughable, ¡°Filthy methods? I wonder what Mr. Huo means by ¡®filthy methods¡¯?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said coldly, ¡°Momo is not your biological child, he has no blood relation to you.¡±


    Lin Qi was suddenly taken aback.


    Lu Li also showed a surprised expression.


    Aunt Lu was even more astonished, ¡°What?¡± She stood up agitatedly, ¡°Lu Li, what is going on? Didn¡¯t you tell mom that Momo was your own flesh and blood?¡±


    Lin Qi looked at Huo Tingdong with suspicion.


    The man looked back mockingly, ¡°I¡¯ve been investigating Momo¡¯s background and have traced it to you long ago. Indeed, you are Momo¡¯s father in name, but I¡¯ve already done a paternity test; there is no blood relation between you and him. Your noble claim of responsibility for Momo was merely to gain the person you desire.¡±


    Lin Qi found it even harder to understand and stood up laboriously, asking, ¡°Huo Tingdong, when did you do the paternity test?¡±


    What exactly had this man been investigating about her in secret?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I did the test more than a month ago. Lin Qi, until when will you continue to hide it from me? I ask you, who is Momo¡¯s biological father?¡±


    Lin Qi remained silent.


    She looked at Momo, her gaze flickering, surrounded by an invisible fear.


    She dared not mention Momo¡¯s background for fear Huo Tingdong, upon knowing Momo was his own flesh and blood, would take him away from her.


    She feared losing custody of Momo.


    What kind of person was Huo Tingdong? From the way he cherished Han, it was clear he valued his own lineage and offspring. If he knew she had given birth to Momo behind his back and hidden him for so long, could she still keep Momo?


    Suddenly, Momo said, ¡°I know who my biological father is.¡±


    Lin Qi tensed up, ¡°Momo...¡±


    Momo said with a smile, ¡°Mommy, I know what you¡¯re worried about, but don¡¯t worry, you will always be my mommy, and I am your son, no one can take me away.¡±


    He turned around, looking at Huo Tingdong, and elegantly curled up the corners of his lips, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to know who my biological father is?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You know?¡±


    Momo crossed his arms over his chest, ¡°Of course, I know who my father is. But whether I want to acknowledge him is another matter altogether.¡±


    Huo Tingdong released Lu Li¡¯s hand and walked up to him.


    He looked at Momo¡¯s fair and adorable face, resembling Lin Qi¡¯s features by seventy to eighty percent. The suspicion that had been brewing in his heart all along was about to surface, ¡°So, who exactly is your father?¡±


    Lin Qi suddenly said from behind, ¡°He is your son.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s back stiffened.


    He turned around, looking at Lin Qi, only to see her face clearing up as if a heavy burden had been lifted, slowly and firmly, she said, ¡°He is your son, you are his daddy...¡±


    The fists that Huo Tingdong had been clenching slowly began to unclench.


    His suspicions were finally confirmed.


    Momo was indeed his offspring.


    He had doubted it more than once, yet overturned his own speculations just as often.


    He had the opportunity to conduct a paternity test, yet he feared a disappointing outcome.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°So, you¡¯ve hidden this from me for seven years?¡±


    Lin Qi did not directly address Huo Tingdong¡¯s questioning. She turned to Lu Li and said in a gentle tone, ¡°Lu Li, I have something to discuss with him, would you and Aunt Lu mind stepping out for a moment?¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°So... Momo really is Huo Tingdong¡¯s son?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face revealed a sense of relief, no longer denying, ¡°Yes.¡± Momo said, he would always be her son and nobody could take him away; she too had decided to face the situation bravely.


    Even if standing opposite her was Huo Tingdong, even if, this man might fight her for custody.


    She also knew that sooner or later Huo Tingdong would discover the truth.


    The slightest suspicion from him and a paternity test would immediately reveal Momo¡¯s identity; she couldn¡¯t escape, and avoiding the matter would only further infuriate the man.


    Rather than causing an irreparable situation later on, better to be upfront with the truth now. Issues that must be faced sooner or later are better dealt with sooner.


    She wouldn¡¯t hide anymore.


    Lu Li stood up and walked to Aunt Lu, saying, ¡°Mom, we should head back first.¡±


    After finishing his words, he left the hospital room.


    Aunt Lu glanced at Momo, then at Lin Qi, and hurriedly followed, ¡°Lu Li, you haven¡¯t given me an explanation yet...¡±


    After the two had left, the hospital room fell into a prolonged silence.


    Han looked towards Momo, understanding yet not quite understanding, feeling somewhat bitter inside. He only understood that Momo was Daddy and Aunt Qiqi¡¯s biological child, their own son.


    What about him?


    Where would his mommy be?


    Han¡¯s spirits flagged, and his head drooped with a sense of inexplicable sadness. Besides the bitterness, it was mostly envy.


    Envy that Momo had a daddy, and also a mommy.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Now, you can give me an explanation.¡±


    Lin Qi clenched her fists, somewhat resentfully, ¡°I have no obligation to explain anything to you, I can only tell you that Momo is your flesh and blood, nothing more!¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°How did this child come about?¡± He pressed closer to her, asking, ¡°The Old Madam had arranged for you to have surgery, and you told me you weren¡¯t pregnant, so, were you lying to me? Actually, you were pregnant at the time, but you chose to hide it from me.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s throat felt dry, ¡°Yes...¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked: ¡°What about the other child then?¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned.


    Huo Tingdong continued, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were carrying twins? Is the other child really dead, or have you hidden them away?¡±

 Chapter 124: 124 I Wont Acknowledge You

    Chapter 124: Chapter 124 I Won¡¯t Acknowledge You


    Lin Qi said blankly, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you about this, one of the children... indeed passed away.¡± She looked toward Momo and gently touched his hair, saying, ¡°Momo is the younger brother, it was the older brother who didn¡¯t survive.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Why didn¡¯t he survive?¡±


    Lin Qi pursed her lips, her voice trembling, ¡°The nurse said it was due to nutritional imbalance, the child didn¡¯t develop well.¡±


    Huo Tingdong suddenly fell silent.


    He clenched his fist, walked up to Lin Qi, and tightly grasped her shoulders, ¡°Back then, if you had told me the truth, that child wouldn¡¯t have died!¡±


    Lin Qi raised her head, her gaze mocking, ¡°How could I dare? Have you forgotten how heartless you were back then? You threatened me that if I dared to lie to you, you would make my life a living hell. Even if I had told you I was pregnant, even if you could tolerate the child in my womb and allowed me to give birth, you would still divorce me, and I would still be separated from my child.¡±


    She turned her face away, articulating each word, ¡°I failed to protect that child, but at that time, I really had no other choice.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face stiffened, unable to speak for a moment.


    Momo, feeling sympathy for Lin Qi, tightly grasped her hand, raised his head, and coolly glared at Huo Tingdong, ¡°Threatening my Mommy like that is not gentlemanly. In fact, I¡¯ve known for a long time that you are my biological father, but my not acknowledging you has nothing to do with my Mommy. It¡¯s simply because I don¡¯t want to acknowledge you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong was stunned.


    He watched Momo for a long time and then, suddenly, squatted down in front of him to be at eye level.


    They were father and son, blood thicker than water, and connected by bloodline.


    Huo Tingdong calmly stared at Momo¡¯s face, his large hand gently resting on his cheek. Momo did not resist his touch, but neither did he respond with much enthusiasm.


    He sized up Huo Tingdong.


    And Huo Tingdong likewise assessed the defiant Little Baby.


    Momo didn¡¯t notice the slight trembling at the tips of the man¡¯s fingers.


    Previously, he hadn¡¯t observed him too closely, but now, looking carefully, although Little Baby had a pretty face very similar to Lin Qi¡¯s, with delicate skin and charming good looks, especially those black eyes, sparkling as if they hid beautiful moonlight, his eyebrows and eyes were nonetheless extremely similar to his.


    The same sword-like eyebrows, the same high nose bridge, just not yet fully developed and not so prominent.


    Lin Qi said, she had twins, and if the other child hadn¡¯t died, he would probably have been as cute as Momo, perhaps even taller.


    Huo Tingdong asked softly, ¡°Why don¡¯t you want to acknowledge me?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°Because, I don¡¯t approve of you!¡±


    He crossed his arms over his chest, ¡°I¡¯ve said it before, I will acknowledge whoever Mommy acknowledges. To me, blood relation isn¡¯t that important. I want to ask you, why should I acknowledge you? Just because I have your blood in my veins, just because you¡¯re my biological father? But growing up, did you ever care for me? Have you ever fulfilled a single day of responsibility toward me?¡±


    Momo stepped back half a step, ¡°I won¡¯t acknowledge you.¡± He snuggled next to Lin Qi, his stance clear.


    Huo Tingdong looked at the indifferent Momo and fell into silence for a while.


    He suddenly realized that he indeed had no grounds to complain about Lin Qi.


    Because, seven years ago, if he had known Lin Qi was pregnant, he probably wouldn¡¯t have acknowledged the child in her womb.


    Back then, he wasn¡¯t mentally prepared to be a father at all.


    It wasn¡¯t until three years ago, when Mo Ke brought Han into his presence and told him that the child was his son, his own flesh and blood.


    Looking at Han¡¯s tender little face, fatherly love began to take root and sprout in his heart.


    He clumsily expressed his paternal love, carefully protecting Han, wanting to give him all the best things in the world.


    But he eventually realized that no matter how wonderful those things were, they couldn¡¯t compare to Han, who was the most precious and wonderful treasure in his heart.


    Compared to Han, as Momo¡¯s father, he had been absent for seven years.


    In those missing seven years, he hadn¡¯t fulfilled a single day¡¯s responsibilities as a father, nor had he given Momo any bit of affection and care.


    It was only natural that Momo was unwilling to acknowledge him.


    Huo Tingdong turned to Lin Qi and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about me fighting with you for Momo¡¯s custody.¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned.


    In her eyes, Huo Tingdong had always been a domineering and assertive man. She imagined that if he knew Momo¡¯s identity, he would definitely snatch Momo away from her.


    She had even prepared to battle him in court.


    But unexpectedly...


    He actually said that?


    Lin Qi raised her eyebrows with some doubt, ¡°Are you serious?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I never go back on my word.¡±


    He paused, then asked, ¡°What happened to the child that died prematurely?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s throat felt dry. She didn¡¯t want to recall, but she was forced to remember, ¡°At that time, the nurse cremated the baby... He was too small, the urn was tiny. I... buried him.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Where is he buried?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°West Suburb Cemetery.¡±


    Huo Tingdong immediately said, ¡°Take me there, I want to see.¡±


    Lin Qi was somewhat moved.


    She hadn¡¯t expected that Huo Tingdong, a man as cold-blooded as him, would care for a child who died so young. She thought he wouldn¡¯t care.


    ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you there.¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Mommy, I want to go too.¡± He wanted to see his brother.


    Han also stood up, clutching Lin Qi¡¯s sleeve tightly, like a little tail.


    Huo Tingdong gave Lin Qi a look, ¡°Can you walk now?¡±


    ¡°I, I¡¯m okay...¡± Before she could finish, Huo Tingdong suddenly walked up to her and swept her off her feet, cradling her in his arms.


    Lin Qi¡¯s heart skipped a beat.


    Listening to the man¡¯s fervent heartbeat, her own heart rate quickened, ¡°Huo Tingdong, put me down.¡±


    ¡°It will be dark if we wait any longer.¡± Without another word, Huo Tingdong carried her out of the hospital ward.


    Momo and Han followed close behind.


    Han looked at Momo, not knowing where they were going.


    Momo said, ¡°I¡¯ll take you to see my brother.¡±


    ¡°Brother?¡± Han¡¯s eyes showed surprise, ¡°Yes, yes!¡± He also wanted to meet Momo¡¯s brother.


    He must be a boy as cute as Momo.


    But why had he never seen Momo¡¯s brother before?


    Han naively wondered.


    An hour later.


    The car stopped at West Suburb Cemetery.


    It was near dusk.


    Lin Qi sat in the car, looking out the window.


    Huo Tingdong got out of the car and looked around.


    West Suburb Cemetery was desolate.


    Since it was a public cemetery, the maintenance fee was very low; a grave only cost 1,000, with an annual fee of 580. As a result, the location was very remote and neglected all year round, especially shabby.


    Lin Qi had always wanted to earn money to buy a better grave. After all, she too was heartbroken over the baby who died just after birth. If it weren¡¯t for her financial struggles at that time, she wouldn¡¯t have had to place him in such a desolate cemetery with great sorrow.

 Chapter 125: 125 This is not ashes

    Chapter 125: Chapter 125 This is not ashes


    Huo Tingdong opened the car door and asked, ¡°Do you want to get out?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded and said, ¡°Yes.¡± She was still holding a bouquet of flowers she had bought on the way, along with some snacks that kids like.


    Huo Tingdong lifted Lin Qi out of the car and asked, ¡°Do you remember which row and number it is?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Of course, I remember, I come here to pay my respects every year.¡± She always came alone, never bringing Momo here.


    Therefore, it was also Momo¡¯s first time.


    Han was huddled inside the car, shivering.


    He looked at the eerie tombstones on the hill, shuddering so hard his shoulders were shaking.


    Didn¡¯t Momo say he was going to see his brother?


    What kind of place was this?


    Momo turned around and saw Han curled up in the corner, unable to help but laugh and cry at the same time, ¡°Why are you such a scaredy-cat?¡±


    Han looked around and suddenly a flock of crows flapped past, their bleak and piercing cries making Han shrink his shoulders even more.


    His innocent little face was filled with fear.


    He didn¡¯t like this gloomy place, his face showing resistance.


    Momo said, ¡°Aren¡¯t you coming out?¡±


    Han shook his head.


    He didn¡¯t want to get out.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Han, it¡¯s not safe for you to stay in the car alone.¡±


    Huo Tingdong returned to the car door and coaxed, ¡°Good boy, Han, Daddy will hold you, don¡¯t be afraid, okay?¡±


    Han looked at Huo Tingdong¡¯s gentle face, finally crawled from the corner to the car door, and opened his arms for Huo Tingdong to hold.


    Huo Tingdong held him in his arms and glanced at Lin Qi.


    Momo, being sensible and well-behaved, held Lin Qi¡¯s hand. This was his first time here, only Lin Qi knew where his brother was buried.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡±


    Row 99, number 17.


    Following her memory, Lin Qi arrived at row 99. Glancing over, some headstones were no longer there, turning into neglected graves; some had collapsed from lack of maintenance over the years; others, because their descendants didn¡¯t pay for their upkeep, had their ashes removed and placed aside, unclaimed.


    She made her way step by step to a gravestone.


    The gravestone was bare.


    When she buried this baby, she hadn¡¯t even settled on a name, so the inscription wasn¡¯t carved, leaving only ¡°Mother: Lin Qi, mournfully stands.¡±


    The pine tree next to it was one she had planted by hand seven years ago, now having grown unnoticeably to 1 meter in height.


    The offerings in front of the gravestone were scattered about, some carried away by stray dogs, some accidentally knocked over by other grave sweepers.


    Lin Qi squatted down, picked up a small broom nearby, and swept away the dust, then wiped the stone.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Why bury him in West Suburb Cemetery?¡± He could see that this cemetery was in serious need of management fees, unmaintained, and desolate to the extreme.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Because, the cemeteries in many other places are too expensive, costing hundreds of thousands or even millions. I can¡¯t afford the better ones.¡±


    Huo Tingdong stared at the empty gravestone for a long time before asking, ¡°Have you thought of a name for him?¡±


    Lin Qi laughed bitterly, ¡°At the time of his burial, I hadn¡¯t decided on a name, but later I thought of calling him ¡®Lin Jinxi¡¯. I originally had plans to earn money and buy him a better cemetery.¡±


    Her mother¡¯s ashes were still kept with the Lin Family.


    She had always wanted to bury her mother and this child together.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The Huo Family has a family ancestral tomb. When the time comes, we can transfer him to the Huo Family tomb.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s gaze became unfocused for a few moments.


    ¡°¡±


    Han stayed completely nestled in Huo Tingdong¡¯s arms throughout the process, not daring to look at the tombstone, nor to glance around.


    Momo looked at Han and comforted him with a sentence: ¡°Han, don¡¯t be scared, this is my brother.¡± He pointed at the tombstone, ¡°My brother is in here, his name is ¡®Lin Jinxi.''¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Tomorrow, I will contact the cemetery¡¯s manager to retrieve his ashes.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± It¡¯s better to be buried in the Huo Family¡¯s ancestral cemetery than here.


    She had heard that the Huo Family had built an ancestral cemetery, where the deceased members of the Huo Family are buried.


    It is essentially their ancestral grave.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Can I go along when he¡¯s buried?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Yes, you are his mother.¡± He turned to look at Lin Qi, ¡°So, get well soon. I want to hold a proper funeral for this child.¡±


    Lin Qi was somewhat surprised.


    She had seldom seen a hint of human warmth in this man.


    In her eyes, Huo Tingdong had always been like a cold-blooded machine, without warmth, but now, it seemed her view of him had somewhat changed.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    The next day.


    Huo Tingdong sent Mo Ke to contact the cemetery manager and retrieved the urn.


    The urn was a small one, made of white jade, sealed in the burial chamber for many years, it had lost some of its luster and was tightly sealed.


    Mo Ke took great care in keeping it and brought the urn back.


    Lin Qi had been preoccupied with this matter, and so, early the next morning, she called Huo Tingdong. Hearing that the urn had been retrieved, she wanted to have a look.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Tonight, I will bring it over.¡± He had planned to send the urn directly back to the Huo Mansion for safekeeping.


    Since she wanted to have a look, he would bring it for her to see.


    That evening.


    Huo Tingdong brought the urn.


    Lin Qi waited outside the hospital department building.


    Han was still very scared, but Momo was not afraid at all.


    Especially when Mo Ke carefully presented the urn, he boldly stepped forward and took the urn before Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi immediately reminded him, ¡°Momo, be careful.¡± She asked with some puzzlement, ¡°Momo, aren¡¯t you scared?¡±


    Momo muttered, ¡°Scared of what, my brother is inside.¡±


    He turned to look at Lin Qi and asked innocently, ¡°Mommy, can I open it to see my brother?¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned for a long time and before she could stop him, Momo had already opened the urn.


    ¡°Momo, stop.¡± The urn shouldn¡¯t be opened so carelessly.


    But Momo had already opened it.


    He glanced inside. It was a mix of gray and white ashes. He couldn¡¯t help but take another look, and suddenly his face showed a trace of doubt.


    ¡°Mommy...¡± He stared at the ashes in the urn, his eyes wide, ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem to be ashes in here.¡±


    Lin Qi was taken aback, ¡°What?¡±


    Huo Tingdong also showed a surprised and doubtful expression, ¡°Not ashes, then what is it?¡±


    Momo frowned slightly and reached out to grab a clump of the ashes, rubbing it between his fingers, his expression growing stranger, ¡°Ashes shouldn¡¯t be like this.¡±


    Lin Qi was astonished and asked, ¡°How do you know?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°I read in books that often, after many bodies are cremated, not all bones turn completely to ashes, usually leaving some bone remnants. Mommy, look, the stuff inside doesn¡¯t look like ashes.¡±


    Lin Qi was shocked, ¡°If it¡¯s not ashes, what could it be?¡±


    Momo sniffed at it and rubbed it between his fingers, speculating, ¡°I think it¡¯s like a mix of concrete and magnesium powder, without even a bit of bone residue.¡±

 Chapter 126: 126: Were the ashes switched?

    Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Were the ashes switched?


    Lin Qi¡¯s heart grew more and more astonished; she knew that Momo enjoyed reading, but she didn¡¯t expect that he would have read this kind of book.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Which book did you see that in?¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°It¡¯s mentioned in Catherine Dauti¡¯s ¡®Smoke Clouding Your Eyes.''¡±


    Huo Tingdong walked over, glanced at the ash on the tip of Momo¡¯s finger, and indeed, it looked like a mixture of magnesite powder and concrete.


    ¡°This is certainly not ashes.¡± He had seen real ashes before, and they were nothing like this.


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t respond at the moment, ¡°Then where did the ashes go?¡±


    Momo speculated, ¡°Could they have been switched?¡± He immediately dismissed this suspicion.


    What use would there be for ashes?


    During the incineration of the body, all organic matter is completely burnt up.


    What¡¯s left is a bunch of inorganic materials, mainly composed of calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, and carbon, etc.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard of people stealing ashes, but never of someone stealing a child¡¯s ashes.¡± Especially those of a recently deceased infant.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Why would anyone steal ashes?¡±


    Huo Tingdong explained, ¡°For ghost marriages. In some backward regions, customs prevailed where if young men and women died before they were married, the older generation believed that if they weren¡¯t wed posthumously, their spirits would wreak havoc, bringing instability to the family. So, some would steal the ashes of young men and women for ghost marriages. Such cases have been reported before.¡±


    The more Lin Qi heard, the more terrified she became; she hadn¡¯t imagined that in today¡¯s era, such morally depraved acts would still occur.


    She said, ¡°But this child had just been born. Why would someone steal his ashes?¡±


    Huo Tingdong commented, ¡°This matter is rather peculiar, I¡¯ll have someone investigate it thoroughly as soon as possible. The management at West Suburb Cemetery is lax, the graves are often unmaintained all year round, such occurrences are inevitable.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°Anyway, it¡¯s better to get to the bottom of this.¡± She gathered her courage, walked over to Momo, and also took a handful of ¡°ashes¡± from the ash box to smell.


    Indeed, there was a strong scent of concrete.


    Lin Qi, in a daze, said, ¡°They¡¯re really not ashes...¡± She looked at Momo, relieved, ¡°Momo, if not for you, perhaps no one would have discovered the anomaly in this ash box.¡±


    Momo was too courageous; not to mention that he was only seven years old, even normal adults wouldn¡¯t think of opening an ash box to investigate.


    Momo said, ¡°Because, I seldom hear Mommy mention my brother.¡±


    He was already seven years old, but his brother would remain as he was at birth, and would never grow up.


    The thought alone made his heart ache.


    Han watched silently from the side, occasionally snuggling into Huo Tingdong¡¯s arms.


    He didn¡¯t understand what a small ash box meant nor did he know that when people died, they were burnt to ashes.


    All he knew was that cemeteries seemed ominous and he was very scared and didn¡¯t like them at all.


    Momo held the ash box thoughtfully, and looked up to ask, ¡°Mommy, do we still need to keep this ash box?¡±


    Since it wasn¡¯t his brother¡¯s ashes inside, then there was no need to keep this ash box anymore.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Momo, you are very smart. If not for you, this concrete would have been buried as ashes.¡±


    Momo smiled faintly and with composure, ¡°Just look whose son I am.¡±


    He hugged Lin Qi, ¡°You should thank my Mommy, she¡¯s the one who gave birth to someone as smart as me!¡±


    Lin Qi blushed.


    Is Momo serious with what he said?


    He¡¯s sure, he¡¯s so smart because of her good genes?


    Momo seemed to see right through Lin Qi¡¯s thoughts, smilingly saying, ¡°Mommy, have some confidence. My intelligence is all thanks to you. Look, the same dad, but Han isn¡¯t smart, showing that Han¡¯s mommy is a dummy.¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han almost had his eyebrows flying off in anger, placing his little hands on his hips, glaring at Momo with a ¡°I¡¯m not dumb at all¡± look. His tender little face and pridefully cute expression were just too adorable to mention.


    Momo couldn¡¯t help but stretch out his hand, gently scraping Han¡¯s nose, ¡°Alright, just teasing you. Han is definitely not dumb, just not as smart as me!¡±


    Hearing this, Han¡¯s face relaxed a bit.


    He had to admit that.


    He felt he truly wasn¡¯t as smart as Momo.


    Momo was praising him!


    Han joyfully embraced Momo, and Momo hugged Han back, the picture of fraternal respect and harmony.


    Huo Tingdong looked at Lin Qi and asked suddenly, ¡°When can you be discharged from the hospital?¡±


    Lin Qi guarded herself, asking, ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± The rehabilitation course was only half done, even though she had recovered a lot, the rehabilitation needed to continue.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han misses you a lot, he¡¯s been sleeping poorly every night.¡± He paused, with his gaze falling on Momo, ¡°He misses Momo too.¡±


    Momo¡¯s face turned slyly red.


    He took Han¡¯s chubby-cheeked face in his hands, asking, ¡°Han, do you miss me?¡±


    Han nodded vigorously, like he was pounding garlic, then he widened his eyes, full of hope, looking at Momo, ¡°And you?¡±


    Momo said somewhat awkwardly, ¡°I don¡¯t miss you... hmph...¡± Momo was a little tsundere ghost, not willing to admit he missed Han too.


    Han instantly looked disappointed.


    Momo didn¡¯t miss him?


    Seeing Han¡¯s slightly wronged look, Momo felt a pang of guilt. Frowning he clicked his tongue, ¡°It¡¯s not that I don¡¯t miss you, I do, just a little bit.¡±


    Just a little bit...


    Light rekindled in Han¡¯s eyes; even if Momo only missed him a little bit, it was enough to satisfy him.


    Huo Tingdong looked at Lin Qi and asked, ¡°The two little guys get along so well, so when are you coming home?¡±


    Lin Qi blankly said, ¡°Come... home...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°That house, it was originally big, now it¡¯s just me and Han living there, it¡¯s empty and I... I¡¯m not used to it.¡± He paused, as if concealing something, then swiftly changed the topic, ¡°If you¡¯re worried about rehabilitation, I can hire the best nurse and the best rehabilitation doctor for you, and set up a special room just for your rehab.¡±


    Lin Qi fell silent for a moment.


    Han looked at Lin Qi eagerly, carefully tugging at Lin Qi¡¯s clothes, hoping Lin Qi would take Momo home.


    How could Lin Qi bear to refuse such an adorable Han? After a long contemplation and with a touch of helplessness, she said, ¡°If the doctor agrees, I can handle the discharge procedures at any time.¡±


    She too wished to recover soon to clear up the incident from seven years ago.


    She always felt there was something fishy about that incident; the ash urn inexplicably mixed with concrete and magnesium powder, where exactly had someone switched her deceased baby¡¯s ashes?


    They say that being buried brings peace.


    Just what kind of heartless person would tamper with an infant¡¯s ashes?

 Chapter 127: 127 Momo is My Son

    Chapter 127: Chapter 127 Momo is My Son


    That night, Huo Tingdong brought Han back to the Huo Mansion.


    Just as they entered, Old Madam had already been waiting at the door, and upon seeing Han, she hugged him dearly.


    ¡°Oh dear, Han has lost weight!¡± Old Madam said with concern, ¡°Hasn¡¯t Han been eating well these past few days?¡±


    Han innocently blinked his eyes. He indeed hadn¡¯t been eating well these past days, and Huo Tingdong had even scolded him for it.


    But he just couldn¡¯t stomach the food made by the nanny.


    Although the nanny¡¯s cooking was very good, in Han¡¯s heart, the meals made by Momo were the best.


    Old Madam was extremely heartbroken and quickly instructed, ¡°Quickly, have the chef prepare some delicious food. My dear great-grandson is starving.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Recently, Han had gained some weight, but he hasn¡¯t been eating well lately and indeed has lost weight.¡± He looked towards Old Madam, his lips slightly parting, but ultimately, he chose not to mention Momo.


    He had originally planned to tell Old Madam that Momo was his son and that he had decided to acknowledge Momo, but now Momo was unwilling to recognize him, leading to a deadlock, so he decided it was best not to alarm Old Madam for now.


    Old Madam held Han in her arms and sat down in the dining room, gently stroking his hair.


    Huo Tingdong sat down opposite her and asked, ¡°Grandmother, about Lin Qi¡¯s surgery...¡±


    Old Madam looked up with a puzzled expression, ¡°What about her?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Initially, didn¡¯t you arrange a surgery for her?¡±


    Old Madam nodded, ¡°Yes, why are you suddenly asking about this? You can¡¯t blame me for taking matters into my own hands. Back then, you were unconscious, and I was worried that the Huo Family might end in my hands, which would make me a criminal of the Huo Family. Who knew, that Lin Qi would fail to bear any children for you, and instead bore a son for another man.¡±


    She had also suspected that Han was a child Lin Qi had abandoned, but Huo Tingdong had already done a paternity test once, and there was no blood relation between Han and Lin Qi, leaving Han¡¯s lineage still a mystery.


    But Old Madam no longer wanted to pursue it.


    No matter who Han¡¯s birth mother was, he was Huo Tingdong¡¯s flesh and blood, there was no doubt about that.


    More importantly...


    ¡°I still need to thank Lin Qi,¡± Old Madam said, ¡°It¡¯s apparent that she put her heart into caring for Han. Now Han can speak and is willing to be close to people. Han wasn¡¯t like this before. Not every woman can treat someone else¡¯s son as her own! Although there are also things she has done that I am not satisfied with...¡±


    Huo Tingdong considered for a moment, then said solemnly, ¡°If I say, I want to remarry Lin Qi, you wouldn¡¯t object, right?¡±


    Old Madam didn¡¯t react immediately, ¡°What?¡±


    Huo Tingdong patiently repeated, ¡°I said, I want to remarry Lin Qi.¡±


    Old Lady was stunned.


    Initially, the marriage he arranged between them was met with his firm refusal.


    He had even suspected that Lin Qi bore Han and abandoned him, hating her to the bone. Now, how could he have changed his mind, considering remarrying her?


    Old Lady couldn¡¯t figure it out, ¡°Why are you suddenly thinking of remarrying her?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I have my reasons.¡±


    Old Lady, half-understanding, nodded, ¡°Other than Song Shuyan, whoever you marry, as long as she¡¯s a decent girl, I won¡¯t interfere.¡± Her hatred for Song Shuyan still hadn¡¯t subsided.


    Old Madam said gloomily, ¡°I don¡¯t think that woman is any good; she¡¯s relying on her brother saving your life to manipulate you. Tingdong, you can marry anyone, just not her! Unless you want me to die...¡±


    Old Lady resorted to emotional blackmail.


    Huo Tingdong let out a wry smile, ¡°Grandmother, please don¡¯t always talk of death, I really don¡¯t like it.¡±


    Old Madam said, ¡°Unless you promise me, you absolutely won¡¯t marry her.¡±


    Huo Tingdong closed his eyes, then opened them again and nodded, ¡°Hmm, I promise you, I won¡¯t marry Song Shuyan.¡±


    Old Madam brightened up at this, ¡°With your words, I am relieved.¡±


    She played with Han in her arms and reminded, ¡°It¡¯s hard for you to come and ask for my opinion. Usually, you would act on your own without considering my views. Remarrying Lin Qi would also be good for Han. She treats Han well, and Han likes her too, so I am happy to see this happen. But, if she moves in, what about her son? Will you also bring him to the Huo Family? Has his background been checked clearly, who is his father? Have you found out?¡±


    Old Lady was quite open-minded, yet she was solely preoccupied with the child of Lin Qi.


    She always felt that Lin Qi had borne this son through an affair during her marriage, being unfaithful to the Huo Family.


    Faced with Old Lady¡¯s rapid-fire questions, Huo Tingdong hesitated for a long while, ¡°Grandmother, there¡¯s something I need to tell you, please don¡¯t get too agitated.¡±


    Old Lady was puzzled, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Huo Tingdong decided to be truthful: ¡°Momo is my son.¡±


    Old Lady didn¡¯t catch on immediately and squinted, ¡°What?¡±


    Huo Tingdong patiently repeated, ¡°Momo, he¡¯s my son, mine and Lin Qi¡¯s.¡±


    Old Lady was shocked, stretching her neck excitedly, ¡°How do you know? Are you sure? Didn¡¯t she say that the child was fathered by another man... Did you know this all along? Why didn¡¯t you tell Grandmother sooner?¡±


    This news shocked Old Lady terribly.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Didn¡¯t I ask you not to get too excited?¡±


    Old Lady showed an exaggerated expression, ¡°How can I not get excited? This is so sudden; I had no mental preparation at all! Are you sure? Don¡¯t deceive Grandmother, I can¡¯t handle this shock.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I haven¡¯t done a paternity test yet, if you¡¯re worried, I can have one done.¡±


    Old Lady nodded eagerly, ¡°You must do it, of course! Otherwise, how can we be sure that the child is your son, and not that she¡¯s deceiving you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong chuckled.


    Old Madam obviously couldn¡¯t stay calm any longer, seeing that Huo Tingdong hadn¡¯t brought Momo over, she was worried and said, ¡°Where is the child now? Since you¡¯re sure he¡¯s your son, why didn¡¯t you bring him over?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Lin Qi is hospitalized, and the child is with her at the hospital.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear! You... You didn¡¯t give me any psychological preparation for this!¡± Old Lady grumbled for a long while, urging, ¡°Hurry and do a paternity test, if it¡¯s confirmed that the child is yours, bring him back as soon as possible. Otherwise, when the child grows up, he might not want to recognize you. What¡¯s going on with this Lin Qi, she must have known the child was yours, why did she conceal it for so long and refuse to tell?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She was afraid that if I found out, I would take the child¡¯s custody away, so she has been hiding it from the Huo Family all along.¡±


    Old Lady nodded upon hearing this, ¡°I can understand her predicament, but hiding it from you is where she was wrong. So, are you thinking of taking responsibility for this child, which is why you want to remarry her?¡±

 Chapter 128: 128: Resisting Paternity Testing

    Chapter 128: Chapter 128: Resisting Paternity Testing


    Huo Tingdong fell silent for a moment.


    After a while, he nodded gently, ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Old Madam observed his expression and considered for a long time, ¡°Now that it is confirmed that he is your flesh and blood, it¡¯s better to acknowledge him sooner to avoid unnecessary complications. If you wish to marry Lin Qi, I will not object. Moreover, if Mo Mo¡¯s paternity can be confirmed...¡±


    She was still somewhat hesitant.


    After all, without a paternity test, she couldn¡¯t be certain and didn¡¯t dare to hope.


    But if she saw a paternity test, she would naturally relent.


    After all, it was she who initially approved of Lin Qi.


    Old Madam didn¡¯t forget to remind him: ¡°However, before you marry her, let her learn some etiquette. Otherwise, when she marries you, if she lacks manners and propriety, it will be the Huo Family that loses face.¡±


    ¡°I understand,¡± Huo Tingdong responded, ¡°nothing has been decided yet.¡±


    Old Madam said emotionally, ¡°If you truly marry her, you must give her a proper wedding. Initially, when she married you, she had nothing, not even a respectable wedding. Since it¡¯s a major event like marriage, you can¡¯t let her down.¡±


    At her age, she no longer fixated on matching social statuses; her sole concern was for Han. As Lin Qi was good to Han, that was enough.


    After all, Han was not Lin Qi¡¯s biological child, and in this world, the most challenging role was that of a stepmother.


    ¡°It¡¯s under control,¡± said Huo Tingdong.


    Han raised his head, glanced at Huo Tingdong, and then continued eating.


    The next morning.


    As soon as Lin Qi woke up, she saw Mo Ke standing at the hospital room door like a Buddha, who immediately beamed at her awakening, ¡°Miss Lin, you are awake?¡±


    Lin Qi was startled, ¡°Why are you here?¡±


    Mo Ke replied, ¡°I¡¯m here to handle your discharge procedures.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Where is Huo Tingdong?¡±


    Mo Ke answered, ¡°Mr. Huo has gone to the company. He should come over if he finishes early. He mentioned that today he wants to have a paternity test with Momo.¡±


    No sooner had he finished his sentence than Lin Qi¡¯s face changed, ¡°Does he suspect that I¡¯m lying, deceiving him?¡±


    He didn¡¯t believe her, so he insisted on a paternity test?


    Suddenly, Mo Ke fell silent.


    He scratched his head and after a moment of silence said, ¡°Perhaps Mr. Huo wants to explain things to Old Madam. After all, with a paternity test, it can be firmly proven that Momo is of the Huo Family bloodline, which is more secure to prevent any future issues.¡±


    Lin Qi said angrily, ¡°How noble is the Huo Family bloodline? Moreover, future issues? What ¡®future issues¡¯? He is just questioning my words. I will not allow Momo to go through a paternity test. Tell him for me, if he believes it, then good; if not, then let it be. I don¡¯t need him to acknowledge Momo as his son. Whether Momo acknowledges him as a father is another matter.¡±


    Mo Ke: ¡°...But taking a paternity test isn¡¯t much trouble, and it would also avoid gossip from those around us.¡±


    Lin Qi stated, ¡°If I cared about other people¡¯s opinions, how would I have made it through these seven years?¡±


    Mo Ke fell silent again.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I don¡¯t like this feeling of being doubted,¡± her face couldn¡¯t hide the disappointment.


    But she didn¡¯t know what she was disappointed about.


    Disappointed that Huo Tingdong doubted her?


    Disappointed that Huo Tingdong questioned Momo¡¯s origins?


    But why should she be disappointed? Disappointment is based on hope¡ªhad she ever held any hope for this man?


    Lin Qi was also confused about her feelings, but disappointment was the only emotion she could clearly sense right now.


    Mo Ke said, ¡°I¡¯ll proceed with your discharge procedures.¡± He noticed that Lin Qi was overreacting; in his mind, he guessed the high-intensity rehabilitation during this period had exhausted her both physically and emotionally, making her reactions sensitive and overly intense, her emotions unstable, and prone to losing control ¨C


    all of which were within the normal range.


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°Mm...¡± She watched Mo Ke leave the hospital room, then lay back down in her bed.


    Two hours later.


    Huo Tingdong arrived at the hospital just as Mo Ke had finished handling Lin Qi¡¯s discharge procedures. They ran into each other in the lobby.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Are the discharge procedures done?¡±


    Mo Ke nodded, ¡°All set, she can be discharged at any time. However...¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°What is it?¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°Miss Lin seems a bit emotionally unstable, perhaps because... when I mentioned the paternity test, she appeared quite resistant and rejecting.¡±


    Huo Tingdong pursed his lips, ¡°Why the resistance?¡±


    Mo Ke ventured, ¡°Perhaps she feels you don¡¯t trust her, that you¡¯re questioning her? In any case... she seemed a bit upset.¡±


    Huo Tingdong paused, then nodded, ¡°I see.¡±


    He walked to the door of the hospital room where a caregiver was packing up. Lin Qi had just gotten out of bed and onto a wheelchair. Hearing footsteps, she glanced towards the door, saw Huo Tingdong, and said indifferently, ¡°You¡¯re here.¡±


    Huo Tingdong entered the room and gave the caregiver a look.


    The caregiver immediately said, ¡°Mr. Huo, all her belongings are packed.¡±


    ¡°You can leave for now.¡±


    Huo Tingdong approached Lin Qi¡¯s wheelchair, crouched down, and adjusted the wheelchair.


    He had purchased this wheelchair; it was electric and very easy to maneuver.


    After adjusting the wheelchair, he put a bracelet on Lin Qi¡¯s wrist.


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°What¡¯s this?¡±


    ¡°A monitoring bracelet,¡± Huo Tingdong explained, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it¡¯s not a listening device.¡±


    As he put the bracelet on her wrist, he realized how much thinner she¡¯d become, her wrist so delicate that it felt as if he could break it with a gentle squeeze.


    She had lost even more weight these past few days.


    Lin Qi felt nervous.


    She glanced cautiously at Huo Tingdong, noticing he didn¡¯t mention anything about the paternity test and asked, puzzled, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to do a paternity test with Momo?¡±


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you not want to?¡± Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°If you¡¯re unwilling, how can I force you?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°He truly is your son.¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°I wanted to do the paternity test only to explain things to the Old Lady.¡±


    Lin Qi tensed, ¡°You talked to her about this?¡±


    Huo Tingdong hummed an affirmative, ¡°She was somewhat surprised, unable to believe it. After all, you kept this from the Huo Family for so long; naturally, she demands to see a paternity test to accept it.¡±


    His hands were large but felt cool, as if they had always been that way.


    Lin Qi shrank back her hand, ¡°I can do it myself.¡± She adjusted the bracelet and looked at Huo Tingdong, ¡°I don¡¯t want Momo to go through a paternity test. He is your son; I wouldn¡¯t lie to you, and there¡¯s no need for me to lie.¡±


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his brows, then changed the subject, ¡°I¡¯ve sent someone to inquire at the West Suburb Cemetery. There¡¯ve been a few changes in management, and so far, we¡¯ve only heard from two people. They say that the cemetery has been unmanaged for years, and they cannot confirm whether someone broke into the cemetery and stole ashes.¡±


    Lin Qi was skeptical, ¡°I pay a management fee every year. Why is the cemetery unmanaged?¡±

 Chapter 129: 129: Wont Leave a Second Time

    Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Won¡¯t Leave a Second Time


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The greening and renovation of the public cemetery are significant projects. The management fee is just a tiny part of it.¡±


    Lin Qi insisted, ¡°We still need to continue the investigation, at the very least... we must find the baby¡¯s ashes.¡± She was filled with remorse for that child, and now that the ashes had vanished without a trace, replaced by concrete, her guilt was even deeper.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I will. I will definitely find them. Don¡¯t forget, he¡¯s my child too.¡±


    Saying so, he rose to his feet, moved behind her, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡±


    Let¡¯s go home...


    A simple phrase, just three words, stirred a sense of long-lost warmth in Lin Qi¡¯s heart.


    In a trance, Huo Tingdong had pushed her wheelchair and left the hospital room.


    Yuhua Mansion.


    As she pushed open the door, Lin Qi looked around the cold, empty house and felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity.


    How long had it been since she had returned here?


    She could no longer remember.


    She thought she would never come back.


    The nanny immediately approached to greet her at the entrance: ¡°Miss Lin, you¡¯re back?¡±


    She asked with concern, ¡°Are you feeling better now?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°Much better.¡±


    She looked around.


    The house¡¯s layout had not changed much, yet it felt very different.


    Perhaps because she and Momo hadn¡¯t been here for so long and only Huo Tingdong and Han lived here, the large house felt devoid of life.


    The nanny wheeled Lin Qi¡¯s suitcase into her room, putting her clothes away in the wardrobe and hurriedly taking the laundry to the laundry room, bustling with activity.


    Huo Tingdong secured the wheelchair and casually told the nanny, ¡°You can start preparing dinner now.¡±


    The nanny nodded, ¡°Yes.¡±


    She entered the kitchen and began to busy herself.


    Lin Qi slowly stood up from the wheelchair, walked to the door of her room, and gently pushed it open. The room was as clean and tidy as when she left, with nothing out of place.


    She still felt a slight sense of belonging to this home.


    Huo Tingdong came up behind her and glanced at the expression on her face, ¡°Starting today, you and Momo will move back here. Is there anything else you need to add?¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Have you seriously considered the matter I brought up before?¡±


    Lin Qi looked up blankly, ¡°What matter?¡±


    ¡°Remarriage.¡±


    Lin Qi froze.


    She doubted, ¡°Why would you want to remarry me? Is it because of Han, or because of Momo? I think you shouldn¡¯t be so hasty. Marriage is for life, and I don¡¯t want a second divorce.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°There will be no second divorce. I won¡¯t divorce you this time.¡±


    Lin Qi said in surprise, ¡°What if you fall in love with another woman in the future? Huo Tingdong, I hope my husband is faithful to only me.¡±


    She didn¡¯t get the answer she wanted.


    She hoped that Huo Tingdong wanted to remarry her for her own sake, not for the children.


    A marriage prompted by children would not last.


    Lin Qi continued, ¡°Have you still not figured out who Han¡¯s biological mother is? You want to be responsible for me because Momo is your son, but what if one day you find Han¡¯s biological mother, would you be responsible for her because of Han?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han likes you, and he really enjoys being with you.¡±


    Lin Qi asked unwillingly, ¡°What if, he finds his mom and also likes her, would you then marry that woman?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s face stiffened.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°What about Song Shuyan?¡± Just mentioning the name made her nauseous, ¡°Didn¡¯t you like her? You liked her so much that you could... cover up a murder for her.¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned slightly, his eyes revealing a hint of displeasure, ¡°She didn¡¯t murder anyone.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s eyes flickered for a few seconds. She pursed her lips with a defiant shame, ¡°Then what was it? She pushed me from such a high place, wasn¡¯t that an attempt on my life? If it¡¯s not murder, then what is it?¡±


    Despite Huo Tingdong giving her two billion yuan.


    Despite her agreement that with that money from him, she wouldn¡¯t pursue the matter further.


    Yet, that incident remained her nightmare, a psychological shadow, a knot in her heart.


    Lin Qi clenched her fists and trembled, ¡°Falling from such a height is very painful! You¡¯ve never fallen, you don¡¯t understand. That feeling of nearing death, unable to breathe, it¡¯s very desperate. I saw Han and Momo right by my side, but I was afraid that if I closed my eyes, I¡¯d never see them again. Have you ever felt that despair?¡±


    She turned around and looked at Huo Tingdong with an intense gaze, ¡°How could you possibly empathize when you have not been pricked by the needle yourself?! She is the culprit, and that¡¯s a settled conclusion. You gave me two billion yuan to cover her crimes, and I may not pursue it, but I cannot let it go, much less remarry you? Marry an accomplice to a murderer? I can¡¯t.¡±


    She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down, forcing herself to cool down, ¡°I admit, I had a changed perception of you before. When you said that you wanted to remarry me, I seriously considered it, but... haha.¡±


    The moment Huo Tingdong wanted her to give up pursuing Song Shuyan¡¯s charges, her heart turned cold towards him.


    It seemed he thought that by giving her two billion yuan, he could permanently close this chapter.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I came back to this home for Han¡¯s sake, it doesn¡¯t mean I am willing to consider remarrying you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°How do you think I should compensate you? I will do anything that I can.¡±


    Lin Qi suddenly asked: ¡°If at that time, it was Song Shuyan who had been pushed down and was close to dying, lying in the hospital¡¯s emergency room, her life hanging in the balance, and I, the one who pushed her, what would you do to me? Would you hate me enough to want to strangle me?¡±


    She raised her head, looking into Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes, ¡°Would you want to kill me to pay for Song Shuyan¡¯s life?¡±


    She urgently sought an answer.


    Huo Tingdong clenched his fist, his throat moved, but he couldn¡¯t give any answer.


    Lin Qi urged, ¡°Say it.¡± She knew Huo Tingdong wouldn¡¯t lie.


    She knew that whatever answer Huo Tingdong would give would be the truth, without concealment.


    Huo Tingdong closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again and said faintly, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s gaze went blank.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She is very important to me.¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned for a long time, then suddenly came back to her senses, ¡°It¡¯s obvious, she really is important.¡± For someone as principled as him, Song Shuyan¡¯s special place in his heart was enough to make him abandon his principles.


    She asked again, ¡°What if, at that time, I had insisted on holding her responsible? If I had firmly decided to send her to jail, what would you have done...¡±


    Huo Tingdong interrupted her, ¡°Stop asking.¡±

 Chapter 130: 130 Unconditional Compensation for You

    Chapter 130: Chapter 130 Unconditional Compensation for You


    Lin Qi pursed her lips, her gaze dimming slightly, and let out a soft ¡°Mm.¡±


    ¡°Why bother asking,¡± she chided herself for her craziness in wanting to raise that question.


    She turned away and sat down on the edge of the bed. ¡°You can go out now.¡±


    After uttering these words, it seemed like she had exhausted all her strength.


    Lin Qi felt a sourness in her eyes and instinctively glanced at the ceiling. A line of tears circled her eyes, causing her voice to choke up as well, ¡°Go out, and close the door.¡±


    She had always been a bit stubborn from a young age, disliking others seeing her tears or her fragile side.


    Huo Tingdong stood behind her, watching her shoulders quiver from time to time, his feet unmoving, his throat felt dry.


    The man lowered his gaze, his Adam¡¯s apple moving slightly, then suddenly, he turned around, left the room, and closed the door behind him.


    Lin Qi bit her lip, raised her hand to wipe away the tear at the corner of her eye, but more tears fell. She wiped them frantically, but the tears seemed uncontrollable.


    Why was she crying, crying over something like this...


    Wasn¡¯t the answer he gave within her expectations?


    What was there to be disappointed about?


    But why...


    The tears just wouldn¡¯t stop.


    At the doorway.


    Huo Tingdong stood outside, listening through the door to Lin Qi¡¯s muffled sobs, feeling as if an invisible hand was hollowing out his heart.


    Was it heartache?


    Or was it guilt?


    Or perhaps... because some of the things he said were insincere?


    Suppressing that matter for Song Shuyan was because he owed Song Shuyan a life, and now, he had cleared that debt; such things won¡¯t happen again in the future.


    Those answers had come out instinctively, but once he had spoken, he regretted them.


    But the spilled water could not be recollected.


    He didn¡¯t know how to explain, how to take back his words. In fact, if it had been Song Shuyan who was pushed down, and it was Lin Qi who pushed her, he might have covered up for her as well.


    By any means necessary.


    Huo Tingdong wanted to open the door several times, but as he held the doorknob and turned it slightly, hearing the spring clamp tightly, it felt as if something was slicing through his heart.


    He suddenly let go, and through the door, he softly said, ¡°Lin Qi, that matter is over. From now on, I won¡¯t let anyone bully you, including myself.¡±


    There was no sound from within the room.


    Huo Tingdong added, ¡°This is my debt to you, and I will compensate you unconditionally. Whatever you ask of me, as long as it¡¯s within my capabilities, I will do it for you.¡±


    He wouldn¡¯t make this woman sad again.


    The ringtone of a cell phone suddenly rang out at an inappropriate moment.


    Huo Tingdong answered the call; it was Mo Ke calling.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Mo Ke said, ¡°Mr. Huo, I have brought over several former managers of the cemetery.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression turned serious, ¡°Where?¡±


    Mo Ke replied, ¡°At the company.¡±


    Half an hour later.


    Huo Tingdong drove to the company, turned off the car, and took the elevator to the appropriate floor.


    The reception room.


    He opened the door and walked in. On the sofa sat four old men, some wearing old shirts, looking quite aged, some in janitor uniforms, beards unkempt.


    Mo Ke stood to one side; seeing Huo Tingdong arrive, he stepped forward, ¡°Mr. Huo, these four are the former administrators of West Suburb Cemetery. There were originally five, but one of them died due to illness three years ago.¡±


    Huo Tingdong approached them.


    The four old men became somewhat agitated, perhaps due to Huo Tingdong¡¯s imposing demeanor, which made them restive.


    One in a janitor uniform said, ¡°I retired two years ago; now I¡¯m a janitor at a shopping mall. What do you need me for?¡±


    Huo Tingdong sat opposite them, legs slightly crossed, and asked, ¡°I would like to know about the management system of West Suburb Cemetery. How is it usually managed?¡±


    The four old men looked at each other, somewhat bewildered, ¡°West Suburb Cemetery has always been unmanaged. To put it nicely, I am the administrator, but to put it bluntly, I am just the Tomb Guardian. My responsibility is only to guard the tomb, I start at 6 a.m. and finish at 5:30 p.m.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The ashes of a close relative of mine were buried in West Suburb Cemetery, but now they have been switched with someone else¡¯s. I want to know the truth, which is why I¡¯ve asked you all here.¡±


    An old man in an old shirt looked surprised, ¡°How could that be? Sir, you look like a wealthy man, a big boss perhaps! If you have money, aren¡¯t cemetery plots easy to buy? West Suburb Cemetery, being particularly remote and desolate, would only have the ashes of the dearly departed from poor families buried there. Why else would they be there?¡±


    Huo Tingdong was taken aback.


    Mo Ke asked, ¡°Old man, you don¡¯t need to ask so much. On the way here, I also asked about the management system of West Suburb Cemetery. There can¡¯t be just one Tomb Guardian for such a big cemetery, right?¡±


    The janitor said, ¡°A decade or so ago, there was an office, and there was a cemetery administration where registration and fees could be paid for burial. However, due to restructuring and some issues, the office was shut down, and the original workspace was turned into living quarters. Usually, there are only two or three Tomb Guardians, sometimes even just one.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, the cemetery is so desolate, transportation is inconvenient; no subway, no bus. There used to be a direct bus, but even that service was cancelled.¡±


    ¡°We really have no idea about the ashes being switched. We¡¯re daytime workers, and people go there during the day. Well, it¡¯s such a big cemetery; there are those who go to tend graves, those who steal offerings, but exchanging ashes happens too, we have heard. But, these days, who are these grave robbers? They¡¯re desperate criminals, and they usually come at night. How could an old chap like me dare to interfere?¡±


    ¡°1800 yuan a month to guard such a huge cemetery. If we weren¡¯t living nearby, we wouldn¡¯t possibly go there to find work.¡±


    ¡°Yeah, after the village was demolished, I quit too.¡±


    The old men conversed in a lively manner.


    Mo Ke cautiously observed Huo Tingdong, gauging his reaction.


    Huo Tingdong gently massaged his forehead, his complexion not looking too good.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re just the doorkeepers, and you know nothing else, correct?¡±


    ¡°Yes. That cemetery, apart from a surveillance camera at the entrance that is always malfunctioning, such a large mountain, if someone wanted to steal ashes and lift a lid, who¡¯d notice?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Mo Ke, arrange for someone to take them back.¡±


    Mo Ke nodded.


    After sending the old men off and returning, Huo Tingdong was still sitting on the sofa, deep in thought.


    Mo Ke asked, ¡°Mr. Huo, how do we handle this matter next? Should we continue the investigation?¡±

 Chapter 131: 131: The Baby Did Not Die Young

    Chapter 131: Chapter 131: The Baby Did Not Die Young


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°They are right, they are just the tomb keepers, the gatekeepers, it¡¯s impossible to get anything out of them.¡±


    Mo Ke said worriedly, ¡°What should we do then? Have the ashes been really stolen?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Who would steal the ashes of a child? Did you not notice? Lin Qi had erected an unnamed stele for this child. Who would steal the ashes of a child whose gender is even unknown?¡±


    Mo Ke was at a loss for words.


    ¡°If it¡¯s for a ghost marriage, at least the gender is needed. If it¡¯s theft for ransom, Lin Qi has never mentioned to me that someone has ransomed for this. She seems to be completely unaware of this matter. Moreover...¡±


    Huo Tingdong looked up, his voice cold, ¡°If the ashes were really stolen, why didn¡¯t the person just take the ash box away too?¡±


    Mo Ke¡¯s eyes widened, feeling a sudden clarity in his congested thoughts.


    Huo Tingdong continued, ¡°Why not just take the ash box as well. Why go through the trouble of replacing the ashes inside with concrete?¡±


    Mo Ke quickly understood, ¡°Mr. Huo means...¡±


    ¡°The ashes were not stolen.¡± Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Perhaps, there were no ashes in the ash box at the burial.¡±


    Mo Ke exclaimed, ¡°If during the burial, the ash box already contained those items, it can¡¯t be that Miss Lin swapped them, right? She has no reason to do that.¡±


    Huo Tingdong suddenly stood up and walked out.


    Mo Ke immediately followed, ¡°Mr. Huo, where are you going?¡±


    ¡°Home.¡± He had questions to ask Lin Qi.


    ...


    Back at home.


    In the dining room.


    Lin Qi, Han, and Momo were having dinner happily.


    She seemed much better emotionally, though her eyes were still red.


    Momo was still wearing a small apron he hadn¡¯t taken off.


    After school, Han had insisted on eating the braised chicken wings Momo made, so Momo prepared them specially for him.


    Upon seeing Huo Tingdong, Momo did not look very happy, thinking Huo Tingdong might have bullied Mommy again, so he pouted and ignored Huo Tingdong.


    Meanwhile, Han cheerfully said, ¡°Daddy!¡±


    He proudly picked up a chicken wing, bit into it with a smile, smacking his lips, as if boasting about Momo¡¯s cooking.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han, don¡¯t smack your lips while eating, haven¡¯t I told you that before?¡±


    Han immediately chewed quietly.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze turned to Lin Qi, his expression tense, ¡°Lin Qi, I need to talk to you. Now, to my room.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°What is it that we can¡¯t talk about here?¡±


    Huo Tingdong paused, pondered for a moment, and said, ¡°I¡¯ve looked into it, and now I have some suspicions that I want to ask you about.¡±


    He didn¡¯t want to bring up the matter in front of Han, sensing that the boy was afraid of the public cemetery.


    He had never taken him to such places; naturally, the child would be afraid.


    Such a small child, naturally, could not accept the death of living beings being burned to ashes.


    Lin Qi stood up and followed him into the room.


    Door closed, Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Who originally gave you the child¡¯s ashes?¡±


    Lin Qi was stunned but instinctively answered, ¡°The nurse...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ve thought it over carefully, the ashes could not have been switched. If someone wanted to steal the ashes, taking the ash box itself would have meant nobody noticed, no need to substitute with concrete unnecessarily.¡±


    Lin Qi was surprised, ¡°You mean...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°There¡¯s something wrong with that nurse.¡±


    Lin Qi found it hard to believe.


    She had been in preterm labor, therefore, the clinic she was in was a small one, which had gone bankrupt and was bought by a private owner and turned into a clinic, with an inpatient department and a maternity department, though small.


    Huo Tingdong stepped closer, took her shoulders in his hands, and asked, ¡°Where was the hospital you gave birth in?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°It was a small clinic.¡±


    ¡°A clinic?¡± Huo Tingdong almost thought it was absurd, ¡°Giving birth is risky, things could go wrong, and you chose to do it in a clinic?¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head, ¡°Because it was premature, that small clinic, originally a hospital that went bankrupt, was purchased by a private owner and converted into a clinic, it had a ward and a special obstetrics and gynecology department, although not big, it wasn¡¯t as shabby as you think.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked further, ¡°The baby that was born, did you see him?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°The baby was stillborn, the nurse didn¡¯t let me see to avoid affecting my emotions, the hospital also said they would handle the baby¡¯s final affairs, and after I was discharged, she gave me the ash box.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked again, ¡°Did you open it to look?¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head, ¡°No...¡± How could she bear to open it.


    She couldn¡¯t bear it.


    Lin Qi thought deeply and also felt it was peculiar, a stillborn baby, the nurse didn¡¯t let her see even once, turned directly to ashes, and had her bury them.


    The hospital indeed had such procedures, but she hadn¡¯t felt anything was wrong.


    ¡°Do you think that nurse has a problem?¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°You mean, the ash box she gave me didn¡¯t contain ashes, it was switched with concrete a long time ago?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Other than this, I can¡¯t think of any other possibilities.¡±


    Lin Qi found it unbelievable, ¡°Why would she do that? What was her purpose?¡±


    Huo Tingdong frowned deeply, suddenly said, ¡°That baby might not have died.¡±


    Lin Qi stared wide-eyed in shock.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s conjecture caught her off guard, her heart rate accelerating, ¡°Really?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She told you the child was stillborn but didn¡¯t let you see him at all, why is that?¡±


    Lin Qi recalled, said, ¡°She was afraid it would stimulate me, affecting breastfeeding.¡±


    As she spoke, her face reddened, and she looked down.


    Huo Tingdong also frowned unnaturally, ¡°You were breastfeeding?¡±


    ¡°Yes...¡±


    Huo Tingdong shifted his tone, ¡°This excuse is not justifiable. Even if she was worried about you... this issue, her using it as an excuse to prevent you from seeing the child for even a moment, makes me suspect the child did not die at all; instead, he was healthy. She claimed ¡®the baby was stillborn¡¯ out of some ulterior motive.¡±


    Lin Qi became somewhat emotional, ¡°Why would she do that!? Was she trying to take my child?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Perhaps, there was something wrong with that clinic, it might have been involved in human trafficking.¡±


    At this conclusion, Lin Qi was utterly shocked, and simultaneously, she felt a shiver down her spine, ¡°If it was human trafficking, why would she... only take one child?¡±


    If, back then, the nurse had taken both children, then... Momo...


    Lin Qi grew more and more terrified, never having thought she¡¯d encounter such a dark matter!

 Chapter 132: 132: From Now On, We Are Family

    Chapter 132: Chapter 132: From Now On, We Are Family


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°She only took one baby, because if she were greedy and wanted to take both, you would have made a scene until you saw both bodies. She couldn¡¯t produce them, what would she do if the matter blew up? If you hadn¡¯t seen both babies¡¯ last moments, could you have let it go?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded thoughtfully.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Which clinic did you give birth at originally? Do you still remember the name?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I don¡¯t quite remember, because I moved frequently and lost the medical records. I vaguely remember it was called Aiyou General Hospital. I remember they mainly had a gynecology and pediatrics department, along with general surgery.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone check it out.¡±


    Suddenly, Lin Qi grasped his sleeve tensely and asked, ¡°Does this mean... does this mean, that baby might still be alive?¡±


    Her eyes flickered, as if a flame of hope was kindled.


    If the baby is still alive...


    She felt guilty and regretful. She was too young back then, inexperienced. If because of this, she lost that child and caused him to suffer all these years, she felt immensely sinful!


    If she could find the child, she would definitely do her utmost to make it up to him!


    But...


    Is it even possible to make up for it?


    Can seven years of missing love, and all the suffering because of her fleeting thoughts, truly be compensated?


    Lin Qi felt regretful; if only she had opened the urn and taken a good look then, perhaps she wouldn¡¯t have lost that baby.


    If only she had been more insistent back then, to see the baby one last time... none of this would have happened!


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Don¡¯t get too agitated, this is just my speculation, there is no conclusion yet.¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°But I think your deduction is very logical, just like what you said. If it were the person who swapped the ashes, there was no need to do more than necessary, they could have just taken the whole urn... Maybe, that nurse, that hospital, they all have issues! It¡¯s my fault.¡±


    She lowered her head, the self-blame evident on her face.


    Huo Tingdong watched her face filled with dejection and guilt; he reached out and gently tousled her hair, ¡°Don¡¯t think too much.¡±


    His unintentional tenderness touched her somewhat.


    Lin Qi looked up, not knowing when this man had started to change;


    Previously, Huo Tingdong was always domineering and arrogant, how could he show such delicate care.


    Perhaps...


    It was because of the incident with Song Shuyan; he felt guilty towards her. Earlier, by her doorway, he said he wouldn¡¯t let anyone bully her again, he would compensate her unconditionally, she had heard it all.


    Were his words true?


    Seeing Lin Qi deep in thought, Huo Tingdong couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°What are you thinking about?¡±


    Lin Qi shook her head lightly and said softly, ¡°Huo Tingdong, you¡¯ve changed, completely different from before. You used to be so domineering and rough, a high-handed presence. Now, you¡¯re comforting me; therefore, I¡¯m somewhat perplexed, not knowing which is the real you.¡±


    Huo Tingdong was momentarily taken aback.


    He said pensively, ¡°Lin Qi, I already said it yesterday, and now, I can repeat it, I wouldn¡¯t let anyone bully you, that¡¯s what I owe you.¡±


    At the door, a small hand gently knocked.


    Lin Qi returned to her senses and turned to ask, ¡°Who?¡±


    The door was gently pushed open.


    Han poked his head timidly from behind the door, his sparkling big eyes gently blinked. Seeing Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi standing face to face at a rather intimate distance, he suddenly widened his eyes, thinking Daddy was secretly being affectionate with Aunt Qiqi!


    From his angle, Huo Tingdong lowered his head, holding Lin Qi¡¯s shoulders, as if he was about to kiss Aunt Qiqi.


    Han immediately walked in, eagerly headed to Lin Qi¡¯s side, his little butt constantly nudging Huo Tingdong, while his little hand poked his own rosy cheeks, standing on tiptoes, apparently asking for a kiss.


    ¡°Here! Here...¡± Han signalled, while pouting his lips and making a ¡°muamua¡± sound, obviously wanting Lin Qi to kiss him.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry.


    This little bundle of joy, every expression is so adorable.


    She naturally did not notice Han¡¯s subtle actions squeezing Huo Tingdong, and bent down to lightly kiss Han¡¯s cheek.


    Han then turned his face, presenting the other cheek, demanding symmetry!


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t know whether to laugh or cry, but she held Han¡¯s face and kissed until both cheeks were evenly kissed!


    Han was instantly overjoyed.


    Momo also peeked in, and just happened to catch the scene of Lin Qi holding and kissing Han¡¯s face, and immediately felt jealous.


    He wondered why the little guy disappeared as soon as he turned around, it turns out he went behind his back to seek kisses from Mommy.


    Momo reluctantly walked over, his hands behind his back, and he unhappily glanced at Han, then pompously said to Lin Qi: ¡°Mommy kisses Han but doesn¡¯t kiss me.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡±


    She saw right away that Momo was feeling jealous.


    So, she went over, picked up Momo, and gently scraped his little cheek, ¡°Is Momo feeling jealous?¡±


    Momo awkwardly said, ¡°Why would I be jealous?¡± He certainly didn¡¯t want to admit that he was jealous.


    Though he also liked Han, watching Lin Qi holding and kissing Han made him feel uncomfortable.


    Lin Qi knew Momo always said one thing and meant another, he¡¯s strong-willed and wouldn¡¯t admit it, but his jealousy was spilling over.


    So, she kissed Momo¡¯s cheek, smiling, ¡°Is this okay now?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°You kissed Han twice, I want three kisses.¡±


    He definitely wanted one more than Han!


    Lin Qi was nearly laughed by him, but still held back her laughter and kissed his forehead.


    Now, it was Han¡¯s turn to feel unsatisfied.


    He eagerly came over, poked his forehead, and seeing Lin Qi kiss Momo¡¯s forehead, he wanted the same.


    Lin Qi was at her wits¡¯ end with these two treasures, if this continued, it would never end.


    Huo Tingdong said to Lin Qi, ¡°Lin Qi, you take Momo back to the room first, I have something to say to Han.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded and walked away with Momo.


    The room door gently closed.


    Han wanted to follow, but Huo Tingdong pulled him forward and said seriously to Han: ¡°Han, remember, from now on, Momo and us are a family. You have to be considerate of him, understand?¡±


    Han nodded somewhat understandingly, although he didn¡¯t fully grasp the rights and wrongs, he was genuinely happy to hear that he would become family with Momo.


    After all, he really liked Momo.


    Han tilted his little head and asked, ¡°What about Aunt Qiqi?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Also family.¡±


    Han¡¯s eyes lit up, ¡°Then... can I call her ¡®Mommy¡¯ in the future?¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Huo Tingdong decisively refused, ¡°You can¡¯t call her Mommy yet.¡±

 Chapter 133: 133 Will you marry Aunt Qiqi?

    Chapter 133: Chapter 133 Will you marry Aunt Qiqi?


    Han¡¯s eyes clouded with disappointment when he heard that, and a ¡°why¡± question appeared on his face.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Daddy hasn¡¯t married her yet, so for now, you cannot call her ¡®Mommy¡¯.¡±


    Han showed a look of disgust.


    He glanced at Huo Tingdong, thinking, this silly Daddy, hasn¡¯t he won over Aunt Qiqi yet?


    He mumbled to himself, brought his hands together and knocked his thumbs against each other, making a gesture of affection, and asked, ¡°When are you marrying Aunt Qiqi?¡±


    Han had become more fluent and coherent than before; his ability to express himself was improving. At least he could now fully articulate his thoughts, albeit with some pauses, but it was already significant progress.


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t know what to say for a moment.


    Han asked again, ¡°Do you like Aunt Qiqi?¡± His curiosity was evident as he blinked his eyes, his lashes fluttering, which make him look especially adorable.


    Huo Tingdong remained silent again.


    The word ¡°like¡± was somewhat unfamiliar to him.


    Han added, ¡°I like Aunt Qiqi.¡±


    Huo Tingdong chuckled, ¡°I know.¡±


    Han declared, ¡°I could... for Aunt Qiqi... fight with my life.¡± Holding his fists tightly, he said, ¡°This is liking.¡±


    The little guy was seriously explaining to him what ¡°liking¡± meant.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Han, if, I mean if, one day you find your Mommy, between Mommy and Aunt Qiqi, who would you choose?¡±


    Han raised his hand without hesitation: ¡°Aunt Qiqi!¡±


    He answered instantly, without a second thought.


    Huo Tingdong was somewhat surprised, ¡°You don¡¯t want Mommy anymore?¡±


    Han replied, ¡°No.¡± He only wanted Aunt Qiqi, since his great-grandmother said that Mommy didn¡¯t want him, so he wouldn¡¯t want Mommy either.


    All these years, he hadn¡¯t had much concept of ¡°Mommy¡± since that woman had never appeared in his life, not even a vague impression, let alone any affection.


    But Aunt Qiqi was different.


    As long as he was with Aunt Qiqi, he would be happy and feel blessed.


    Han didn¡¯t understand what blood relation meant, but he knew Aunt Qiqi genuinely liked him, took good care of him, and loved him no less than Momo.


    In the room.


    Lin Qi was folding clothes when Huo Tingdong suddenly came in through the door.


    She looked up, saw him alone, and asked, ¡°Where is Han?¡±


    She was curious about what Huo Tingdong had just been discussing with Han.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Han and Momo are playing Legos in their room.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I will continue to investigate that matter. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡±


    He sat down next to the bed and gently placed two cards on the bedside table.


    Lin Qi was surprised, ¡°What are these?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°One is a bank card, and the other a credit card, at your disposal.¡±


    Lin Qi was taken aback, ¡°Why are you giving me these cards?¡±


    ¡°For your daily expenses from now on.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I have money, remember? You gave me 200 million.¡±


    Huo Tingdong responded, ¡°Different matters. From now on, all expenses for you and the two kids will come from these two cards. The PIN for both cards is the same, 910214.¡±


    Lin Qi walked over, picked up the cards¡ªone black, the other platinum. Somehow they felt heavier... perhaps it was psychological.


    After all, these were cards given by Huo Tingdong.


    Lin Qi was purely curious, what were the limits of these two cards?


    Huo Tingdong, as if reading her mind, candidly revealed, ¡°The credit card is a supplementary card of mine with no spending limit, and the other is my bank card for withdrawing cash.¡±


    Lin Qi was more surprised, ¡°What does no limit mean?¡±


    Huo Tingdong explained succinctly, ¡°It means you can spend as much as you want without a limit.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± Her mouth involuntarily hung open, ¡°Can I spend hundreds of millions?¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡± She seemed to have a misunderstanding about his financial status.


    Lin Qi suddenly felt a desire to learn more: ¡°Huo Tingdong, just how rich are you?¡± She realized she knew very little about her former husband, only that the Huo Family was powerful and wealthy beyond measure, but not exactly how wealthy.


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t know how to explain at the moment.


    Rich people are rich.


    Capitalists are capitalists.


    Their accounts are fixed.


    Capitalist accounts are endless.


    If one were to describe it, they could only use the term ¡°black hole¡±: bottomless and unfathomable.


    The Huace Group he controlled was a global capital consortium. Just the interest from the loose change in his bank accounts was enough to secure a worry-free life for several generations of an ordinary family.


    Moreover, he controlled a huge financial chain, with funds continuously rolling in and out; daily transactions started at billions of dollars.


    Even excluding all the real estate and stocks he owned, his cash assets alone amounted to several billion US dollars.


    Financial worth is one thing; net worth is another.


    He owned shares in many public companies, with a current estimated value of over 500 billion US dollars, excluding net assets.


    When one is so rich that money just becomes a series of digits, one can become numb to it.


    In summary...


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Supporting the three of you is more than manageable.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± She felt Huo Tingdong had expressed it quite modestly.


    More than supporting?


    She, Momo, and Han, through many lifetimes of reincarnation, could not spend all his money.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°What¡¯s the use of earning so much money?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°For you to use.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± She pursed her lips, feeling somewhat touched.


    This man really didn¡¯t know any sweet talk, seemed allergic to romance, yet his words, those three simple words, stirred quite a ripple in her heart.


    Lin Qi put away the cards, muttering as she did, ¡°Don¡¯t blame me for being extravagant when I start spending your money.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°First, spend 100 million then we¡¯ll talk.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± His words were truly infuriating.


    Was he looking down on her?


    Did she lack the capability to earn money, or to be extravagant?


    Earning money is tiresome, but spending money is not.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m actually quite good at spending money. I used to save because I had none. If I had money, there would be countless things to spend it on.¡±


    Was this his way of compensating her?


    After pondering for a moment and raising an eyebrow, Huo Tingdong suggested, ¡°Start by spending 5 million tomorrow, just to get a feel for it.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°Don¡¯t come back home if you don¡¯t finish it.¡±


    Lin Qi rarely, smiled, ¡°Okay, tomorrow I¡¯ll certainly exceed the task.¡± She had never been encouraged to spend money before.


    Since he had made this request, she was determined to show him just how formidable a woman can be at lavish spending!

 Chapter 134: 134 Do You Still Hate Me?

    Chapter 134: Chapter 134 Do You Still Hate Me?


    Huo Tingdong suddenly laughed.


    Lin Qi stared blankly and said, ¡°Why are you laughing...¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡± He just suddenly imagined how she, with her limited mobility, hobbled to the mall with strong determination for shopping, and found the scene somewhat cute and amusing.


    ¡°You should focus on healing first.¡± He stood up, lifted his hand, and gently touched her hair.


    This action was a reflexive response.


    Even he was taken aback for a few seconds upon realizing it.


    Neither did Lin Qi move away, but her eyes were equally astonished.


    She could feel the indulgence in his gesture...


    Lin Qi felt a little stiff, perhaps a bit uncomfortable.


    Huo Tingdong withdrew his hand and said, ¡°You don¡¯t like me touching you?¡±


    ¡°No... I don¡¯t mind...¡± Lin Qi started to reply but felt something was off about her response, yet she didn¡¯t know how to continue.


    Huo Tingdong bent down to meet her gaze, ¡°So you like it?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face turned red in an instant, ¡°No...¡±


    It seemed she couldn¡¯t handle any teasing; her skin was so thin that a slight embarrassment would show on her face immediately, flushing red as if inflamed.


    Huo Tingdong closed his eyes briefly and then reopened them, ¡°Do you still hate me?¡±


    Lin Qi pursed her lips.


    Hate him?


    That didn¡¯t quite fit.


    It was just unfair.


    After all, it was Song Shuyan who pushed her down, and because he protected Song Shuyan, that¡¯s why she felt aggrieved.


    Lin Qi honestly said, ¡°I don¡¯t actually hate you.¡±


    ¡°Why?¡± Huo Tingdong couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°I thought you would hate me.¡±


    Lin Qi took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, licking her slightly dry lips, ¡°Huo Tingdong, you like Song Shuyan, and it¡¯s only natural for you to defend her. I promised you, you give me two hundred million, and I won¡¯t pursue this matter further. I don¡¯t hate you; I just feel wronged. However, I also know that I¡¯m not someone significant to you, I don¡¯t have the right to demand how you should act.¡±


    Huo Tingdong felt as if an invisible hand had fiercely gripped his heart.


    Her understanding was somewhat distressing.


    He had said before, this was what he owed her, and she could have taken advantage of the situation, but she didn¡¯t.


    Most likely, because she had suffered a lot of grievances since childhood, she was used to bearing things, cautious and careful, growing up in an environment severely lacking in love, she never dared to ask others to treat her a certain way.


    But not hating did not mean she didn¡¯t feel wronged.


    Thinking of this matter still made Lin Qi heartbroken and wanting to cry.


    Her eyes reddened as she instinctively lifted her hand, wanting to rub her eyes, at least not wanting him to see her slightly uncomposed appearance.


    Huo Tingdong, however, held her hand, ¡°You do.¡±


    ¡°Eh?¡± Lin Qi looked at him blankly, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, ¡°What?¡±


    Huo Tingdong patiently explained, ¡°You have the right to ask me to do anything.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°...¡± Suddenly she didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Was it guilt, self-blame?


    So, he wanted to compensate her as much as possible?


    Huo Tingdong suddenly said, ¡°Song Shuyan is important to me, but I have no other feelings for her.¡±


    ¡°What...¡± Lin Qi showed a look of surprise, ¡°You and her...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I once had a comrade-in-arms, who gave his life for me. On his deathbed, he entrusted his sister to me, asking me to protect her well. Song Shuyan is his sister...¡± He didn¡¯t know why he was telling her this.


    He was not the type to offer explanations.


    After all, he was not good at expressing himself, nor did he like to expose his heart for others to hear.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°So... your relationship with Song Shuyan is just responsibility, without any romantic love?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°At least, to me, she is just a responsibility. I have also warned her not to have any unrealistic ideas about me. A month ago, I sent her abroad, and maybe, she will not come back again.¡±


    Lin Qi was also surprised.


    It seemed he was earnestly trying to clarify his relationship with Song Shuyan to her.


    Why did he feel the need to explain in particular?


    Huo Tingdong as if reading her mind, said, ¡°I don¡¯t want you to misinterpret my relationship with her, so that¡¯s why I¡¯m explaining.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I understand...¡± Suddenly she felt a sense of relief in her heart, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, it¡¯s understandable.¡±


    Putting herself in his shoes...


    Maybe if she were Huo Tingdong, she would do the same.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s tone, unlike his usual imperiousness, turned soft, ¡°You¡¯ve been wronged by this, but I won¡¯t let you be wronged for nothing.¡±


    This was also the first time he was openly sharing his feelings with her.


    Lin Qi bit her lip and said, ¡°I don¡¯t want any compensation from you; I just ask you to do one thing for me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised his eyebrow lightly, ¡°Hmm?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You said that child might still be alive, and I want you to help me find him, to keep searching until he is found, to see him if he¡¯s alive or...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I promise you.¡±


    He did not believe that the child was dead; he was convinced the child was still alive.


    That was also his child, even if she didn¡¯t make such a request, he would definitely find him.


    Lin Qi, upon hearing this, curved her eyes with an infrequent hint of a smile.


    It was rare for her to smile at him; when she did, her eyes curled charmingly like crescent moons.


    Huo Tingdong was momentarily spellbound.


    He had to admit, those smiling eyes mesmerized him, to the point that at this moment, he suddenly realized something.


    He wanted to remarry her, not just for Han.


    When it came to emotions, his reactions seemed to be a bit slow and delayed.


    It was then that he realized that on the day he saw her lying in a pool of blood, with an expressionless face but an inward panic.


    Apart from Han, nothing could make him lose his sanity and composure, only that day did he stand outside the emergency room, so distraught, looking as if his soul had been split apart.


    Maybe, a long time ago, when she personally demonstrated to him the difference between ¡°kissing and artificial respiration,¡± the ice in his ever-cold heart had unknowingly been cracked open by her kiss.


    He had fallen for her long before this.


    Unintentionally...


    Huo Tingdong slowly bowed his head, his handsome face approaching hers, his thin lips slightly parted, ¡°Lin Qi, could you... teach me one more time?¡±


    ¡°What?¡± Lin Qi didn¡¯t comprehend the meaning behind his words for a moment.


    Especially since...


    His bewitchingly handsome face was so close, she had never been so intimately near a man, so much so that the air she could breathe was filled with his faint breath.


    He said he wanted her to teach him again.


    Teach him what?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°The difference between a kiss and artificial respiration.¡±


    Having said that, his thin lips suddenly pressed down, lightly touching her lips.


    Lin Qi¡¯s eyes widened in astonishment; her breathing became erratic, and so did her heartbeat.


    ¡°Mmm... Huo Tingdong...¡±


    His sudden kiss left her with no mental preparation...

 Chapter 135: 135: The Game of Having Xiao Bao

    Chapter 135: Chapter 135: The Game of Having Xiao Bao


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s large hand cupped her small face, while his other hand pressed down the small hand that instinctively wanted to push him away. His thin lips gently and shallowly kissed her lips, gradually deepening the kiss as if he were bewitched.


    He couldn¡¯t help but want to take more.


    ¡°Don¡¯t...¡±


    Lin Qi glanced at the slightly ajar door from the corner of her eye, knowing Han and Momo could come in at any moment.


    But by then, the man was no longer listening to any of her refusals.


    Her lips were so soft, making him irresistibly want to bite her, to tease her, but considering her timidity, he had to suppress these somewhat wicked thoughts, holding her face until she gradually stopped resisting, then he went further, capturing her fortress.


    Outside the door.


    Just as Han was about to knock, he noticed the door was ajar. He crouched down, gently pried open the door gap, and stumbled upon this scene, covering his mouth with his hand in surprise.


    ¡°Han...¡± Behind him, Momo curiously walked over.


    Suddenly, Han turned around, pouncing on Momo like a fierce tiger, quickly covering Momo¡¯s eyes with his hands, fearing he would see the scene inside the room and cause trouble.


    Caught off guard, Momo was knocked down.


    ¡°What are you doing!¡±


    Momo pushed him, rubbed his bottom, and stood up, ¡°What¡¯s up? Where¡¯s Mommy?¡±


    Turning around and seeing the door slightly ajar, while calling out, he moved towards the room.


    Han pounced again, nimbly getting up from the ground and once more knocking Momo to the floor.


    ¡°Stinky Han!¡± Momo and Han tussled into a ball.


    Lin Qi, hearing the noise outside, snapped back to reality and pushed Huo Tingdong away fiercely, ¡°I heard Momo¡¯s voice...¡±


    She got up, her leg cramped, and her body swayed, accidentally bumping into Huo Tingdong¡¯s arms.


    Huo Tingdong steadied her with both hands, furrowing his brow, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Lin Qi rubbed her forehead that had bumped and muttered, ¡°I heard Momo calling me...¡±


    Saying so, she awkwardly lowered her head, not daring to meet his gaze.


    She could feel her face burning hot, and her neck was like malfunctioning machinery, twisted and afraid to lift.


    Huo Tingdong knew she was shy; he had already been so restrained, yet she, innocent as if untouched by the world, resembled a hedgehog, frightened into a ball at the slightest touch.


    But that was the fact.


    She indeed was untouched.


    Lin Qi awkwardly said, ¡°You... you check on them...¡± She had a leg cramp and couldn¡¯t walk.


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Huo Tingdong walked to the door, only to see Han and Momo embraced on the floor, rolling back and forth.


    Han was tightly grabbing Momo¡¯s sleeves and trouser legs, while Momo struggled, pushing Han¡¯s face with his little hands, as if they were play fighting.


    He walked over, picked up Han, and Momo finally managed to get up from the ground, his smooth hair made messy by Han¡¯s ruckus.


    ¡°Han, what are you doing!¡± Momo stood up, hands on his hips, a bit angry.


    Turning his head and seeing Huo Tingdong, Han¡¯s eyes immediately showed a look of disappointment.


    Weren¡¯t he and Aunt Qiqi kissing?


    Was it over?


    He had seen in TV dramas, where the male and female leads kiss mouth to mouth like that!


    After kissing, the male lead would knock down the female lead, cover with a blanket, fight under the blanket, sleep together, and then have babies.


    Although he didn¡¯t understand the love between adults, in TV dramas, those kissing male and female leads always end up together forever.


    So, seeing Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi kissing, he naturally didn¡¯t want Momo to ruin such a good thing.


    He earnestly hoped Daddy and Aunt Qiqi could be together!


    But Huo Tingdong thought they were fighting.


    ¡°No fighting allowed,¡± Huo Tingdong said sternly, ¡°Han, are you bullying Momo again?¡±


    Han poked his tiny hand, feeling wronged. He hadn¡¯t bullied Momo.


    Momo pointed at Han and said, ¡°He bullied me, he pushed me.¡±


    Han waved his hands, looking as if he had no way to explain himself, blinking his innocent eyes and pouting like he had been gravely wronged.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Han, why did you push Momo?¡±


    Han muttered, ¡°Because... because I like her... that¡¯s why I pushed.¡±


    Momo: ¡°...¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Han wriggled out of Huo Tingdong¡¯s arms, stood on the floor, and mimicked Momo¡¯s posture with his hands on his hips, ¡°I¡¯ll let you push me too.¡±


    Momo elegantly rolled her eyes, ¡°Childish.¡±


    He glanced lightly at Han and then suspiciously at Huo Tingdong, ¡°What were you and my mommy doing in the room?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Playing a game.¡±


    Han¡¯s ears twitched, and Momo also asked in astonishment, ¡°What game were you playing?¡±


    Huo Tingdong, too lazy to explain, said, ¡°The game of making babies.¡±


    Momo: ¡°...¡± He narrowed his eyes.


    Does he think I¡¯m a nai?ve six-year-old?


    Han shyly shuffled over and tugged at Momo¡¯s sleeve.


    Momo asked with a displeased expression, ¡°What?¡±


    Han hesitated and then said, ¡°I also want to... play the baby-making game with you...¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡±


    Momo: ¡°...¡±


    Momo¡¯s face immediately turned red, almost spitting blood in frustration!


    ¡°Go away!¡± Momo pushed Han and walked towards the room blushing.


    But Han, like a little tail, stuck to her, ¡°Let¡¯s make a baby!¡±


    Huo Tingdong watched with a grim face as Han and Momo entwined and entered the room. Approaching the door, he overheard Momo angrily yelling at Han, ¡°We can¡¯t make babies!¡±


    Han anxiously questioned, ¡°Why why...¡±


    Momo replied dismissively, ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when you¡¯re older.¡±


    Han started to act spoiled, ¡°No! No! Now... now...¡±


    Huo Tingdong returned to the room, where Lin Qi sat on the bed looking embarrassed and somewhat angrily said, ¡°What nonsense are you telling Momo?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°He¡¯s still young, he doesn¡¯t understand.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Momo is precocious, very smart. He understands things other kids don¡¯t. He knows how babies are made.¡±


    Huo Tingdong: ¡°...¡± He fell silent for a moment, then asked, ¡°Who taught him?¡±


    Lin Qi pursed her lips, ¡°He learned it himself from books.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°What kind of messy books does he usually read?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°He generally reads in the library, I don¡¯t know exactly what books he reads, but he knows a lot, so you should be careful what you say...¡±


    Before she could finish, Han suddenly appeared at the door, pretending to have a big belly, moving slowly.


    Lin Qi was utterly stunned.


    Han, not knowing what he had stuffed into his belly to make it look round, proudly said to Lin Qi, showcasing his tummy, ¡°Aunt Qiqi, look...¡± He poked his belly with his little hand.


    Lin Qi said blankly, ¡°Han, what is this...¡±


    Han said proudly, ¡°There¡¯s a baby in my tummy!¡±

 Chapter 136: 136 Not Ready for Intimacy

    Chapter 136: Chapter 136 Not Ready for Intimacy


    Lin Qi was caught between laughter and tears. Glancing again at Huo Tingdong¡¯s ashen face, she struggled to hold back her laughter and asked, ¡°So whose baby is in Han¡¯s belly?¡±


    Han hugged his stomach, smiling gleefully, ¡°Momo¡¯s.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡±


    Han kept pestering Momo to play the game of having a baby with him.


    However, Momo naturally did not have the patience to teach him how to have a baby, much less explain to him seriously that the two boys could not produce babies. Thus, with a dismissive attitude, he stuffed a pillow into Han¡¯s clothes and kicked him out of the room.


    Han ran out to show off his large belly.


    Beside them, Huo Tingdong stroked his face with a large hand. If this son weren¡¯t his own...


    Han ran to Lin Qi, grabbed her hand, and let her feel his belly, ¡°Is Han¡¯s tummy big?¡±


    Lin Qi tried not to laugh and said, ¡°Big.¡±


    Han, curious, exclaimed, ¡°Han wants to have... a little Han!¡±


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t hold back any longer and burst into loud laughter.


    Han was just too adorable, truly her little treasure, making her happy every day.


    ¡°Alright, Han can have a little Han, then I¡¯ll have a big Han and a little Han,¡± Lin Qi said as she stroked his hair and shared a smile with him.


    Han also squinted his eyes and smiled. However, his next statement was shocking, ¡°Just now... Han saw... Daddy and Aunt Qiqi kissing!¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡±


    With an innocent and carefree expression, Han declared, ¡°Aunt Qiqi is going to... have a baby soon.¡±


    Huo Tingdong covered his mouth in one swift motion, threatening, ¡°What nonsense are you talking about?¡±


    Feeling wronged, Han grasped at his hand, muttering ¡°Mmm mmm¡± for quite a while, as Huo Tingdong covered his mouth even more firmly, not daring to let him speak, ¡°Shut up.¡±


    Lin Qi said with a smile, ¡°Children say the darnedest things.¡±


    ...


    Without realizing it, half a month passed by in a flash.


    After systematic rehabilitation, Lin Qi had pretty much recovered.


    During this time, Huo Tingdong was so busy that he always came home very late.


    On one hand, the company¡¯s affairs were just too many and too cumbersome.


    On the other hand...


    He had been investigating the matter of Aiyou Hospital.


    As the time gap was too large, it took quite some effort to uncover the events that occurred seven years ago, but some progress was made.


    Aiyou Hospital was actually called Aiyou Maternal and Child Hospital, and it had closed down three years ago.


    The hospital¡¯s geographic location was not ideal. After the surrounding villages were demolished, the hospital also relocated.


    After relocating, the new hospital was renamed Mary Maternity Hospital, with a restructuring of the equity and a complete overhaul of the medical team. In essence, it had undergone a complete transformation and was entirely different from its predecessor, Aiyou Maternal and Child Hospital.


    Huo Tingdong also specifically investigated the original shareholding structure of Aiyou Maternal and Child Hospital. He found that during the ten-plus years since the hospital¡¯s establishment, the financial performance was not optimistic, with significant losses. Other than that, there were no adverse reactions.


    He obtained the original medical team rosters of Aiyou Maternal and Child Hospital, listing all doctor and nurse names completely, and brought the list home for Lin Qi to review.


    ¡°Do you recognize the nurse who delivered your baby back then?¡±


    Lin Qi held a stack of lists, some with clear pictures and some with vague ones. She compared them carefully, one by one, and felt somewhat afflicted with face blindness.


    ¡°I¡¯m starting to have trouble distinguishing these faces...¡±


    She was getting a headache.


    After all, seven years have passed and many memories had already blurred.


    She tried hard to recall but could only remember a vague face and approximate facial features, unable to perform such detailed comparisons.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Does she have any distinctive features on her body?¡±


    With his prompting, she did remember something, ¡°She has a red mole on her chin.¡±


    This impression was rather deep.


    After all, she had mostly seen black moles and had rarely seen red ones, so she remembered it very clearly.


    Huo Tingdong furrowed his brows, ¡°A red mole...¡±


    Some pictures were in color, others were in black and white.


    Each photo was an ID photo, all taken facing the camera, making it hard to confirm who had a red mole on their chin, especially since people tend to tuck their chins slightly when taking ID photos.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Don¡¯t rush it...¡± In reality, she was more anxious than anyone else.


    But looking at Huo Tingdong¡¯s slightly fatigued side profile, during this period he was both busy with work and the investigation, to the point where stubble sprouted on his chin, giving him an added touch of masculinity.


    She couldn¡¯t help but raise her hand to touch his chin.


    Huo Tingdong did not notice her action and instinctively dodged, her hand ended up resting on his Adam¡¯s apple.


    The distinct sensation of bone, along with the movement of his Adam¡¯s apple, startled her with the touch.


    Huo Tingdong sensitively grabbed her hand, his gaze falling on her face, as if silently asking a question.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I... it was an accident.¡± She had heard that the Adam¡¯s apple is a sensitive spot for men, and from what she saw, Huo Tingdong¡¯s body indeed visibly tensed a bit.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t touch here carelessly.¡±


    Lin Qi was slightly astonished, ¡°What happens if you touch it carelessly...¡±


    Huo Tingdong parted his lips slightly, his tone now tinged with a hint of danger, ¡°Trouble will ensue.¡±


    He was ¡°kindly¡± warning her.


    There¡¯s an apt description.


    One of the primal instincts of a man is to hunt, the second is to reproduce.


    Therefore, to describe many men as ¡°thinking with the lower half of their body¡± is not an exaggeration.


    Men often face the risk of losing control.


    Even if he has remarkable self-control, he cannot exclude this possibility.


    Moreover, the Adam¡¯s apple is his absolute sensitive spot.


    Now, with just the two of them at home.


    He couldn¡¯t guarantee that if he lost control, he wouldn¡¯t do something to her.


    In fact, ever since he kissed her last time, although he stopped at a taste, it had whetted his appetite.


    He is not a saint. He too has emotions and desires. Not touching before does not mean he really has no feelings or desires.


    Lin Qi watched as his pupils gradually darkened, and she slowly freed her small hand from his grip, ¡°Can you... please stop staring at me like that?¡± She felt like in the next second, she might just get devoured alive.


    Huo Tingdong gently encompassed her small face, pecking her lips. It was supposed to be a comforting gesture, but unexpectedly... the kiss was like a bullet being chambered.


    Caught off guard...


    She was pressed down on the sofa by him.


    With a ¡°whoosh¡± sound.


    Files and documents scattered all over the floor.


    Huo Tingdong pinned her down freely, she instinctively tried to struggle, but her two small hands were easily controlled by his one hand, held high above her head. In this position, she had no ability to resist him.


    The man gently kissed her between the eyebrows, soft kisses tracing from the tip of her nose, cheeks, until returning to her lips, prying them open to further savor her sweetness.


    ¡°Mmm...¡±


    Lin Qi struggled faintly.


    She wasn¡¯t ready yet... for such intimacy with him.

 Chapter 137: 137: Smelling the Scent of an Affair

    Chapter 137: Chapter 137: Smelling the Scent of an Affair


    But he was exceptionally tender.


    There was no roughness, no plundering, each step was extremely gentle, making her gradually lose the ability to resist.


    No one could refuse such tenderness...


    Lin Qi struggled to reel in her last shred of rationality, ¡°Huo Tingdong... um... don¡¯t do this...¡±


    He became somewhat unfamiliar.


    She also became somewhat unfamiliar.


    It seemed as though the whole world had changed.


    The temperature was also rising rapidly...


    Suddenly, footsteps came from outside the door.


    The door was abruptly pushed open.


    ¡°Mommy, I¡¯m back!¡± Accompanied by Momo¡¯s cheerful voice, the two Little Babys announced their return from school.


    Huo Tingdong immediately regained his composure, stood up, and let go of Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi also sat up from the sofa and pretentiously picked up the papers on the floor.


    These past few days, Huo Tingdong had been too busy, and it was the nanny who took care of picking up Momo and Han.


    The two little ones, one after the other, frolicked into the living room. Seeing Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi sitting on the sofa, he glanced and his eyes suddenly fell on Lin Qi¡¯s skirt.


    Her skirt showed signs of being flipped over, as if something heavy had been pressing on it, naturally lifting it.


    One of her legs had not yet been retracted and was half hanging over Huo Tingdong¡¯s leg.


    Momo touched his chin, squinted his eyes, and vaguely smelled a hint of an ¡°affair.¡±


    Seeing Momo¡¯s serious expression, Lin Qi grew nervous, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Momo?¡±


    Han also curiously looked at Momo¡¯s expression, seeing him continuously glaring at Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi, he rolled his eyes and obliviously touched his hair.


    Momo said, ¡°Something feels off.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face grew more tense, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡±


    Han opened his mouth, smilingly asked, ¡°Aunt Qiqi... are you and Daddy playing... make Little Baby...¡±


    Before he finished speaking, Momo covered his mouth with a disgusted look, teasingly said, ¡°You help me carry my schoolbag back first.¡±


    After saying that, he threw the schoolbag to Han.


    Han, with a schoolbag on his shoulder and another in his arms, hummed affirmatively and walked toward the room.


    The nanny carefully followed behind, ¡°Han, let me help you with the schoolbag.¡±


    Han shook his head, ¡°One should take care of their own matters.¡± This was taught by Momo.


    The nanny smiled contentedly, ¡°Han is getting better and better.¡±


    Momo walked up to Lin Qi, glanced out of the corner of his eye at Huo Tingdong, then bent down and straightened Lin Qi¡¯s crumpled skirt.


    Lin Qi did not move an inch, watching Momo¡¯s every move, and didn¡¯t dare to breathe loudly.


    On the other hand, Huo Tingdong seemed much more composed, his eyes showing no guilt but instead looked calm and collected.


    In just a short time, a silent struggle between father and son.


    Momo then let down his guard, ¡°Mommy, what would you like to eat tonight? I¡¯ll cook personally.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I want to eat... Orleans grilled wings.¡±


    Momo responded, ¡°Okay.¡± Orleans grilled wings are easy, just wash the wings, marinate with the sauce, and cook in an air fryer to perfection.


    He had just turned around, and as if defiantly, Huo Tingdong wrapped his arms around Lin Qi¡¯s shoulders, leaned slightly forward, and pecked her lips lightly.


    Lin Qi was startled into holding her breath.


    Momo, with his back turned, did not see this scene, but Han did.


    He had just put the schoolbag in the room, stepped into the living room, and saw Huo Tingdong kiss Lin Qi, his eyes slightly widened, covering his mouth, feeling his whole body emitting pink bubbles.


    Momo saw Han continuously staring behind him, he alertly turned back, but Huo Tingdong had returned to his original position, picking up a document in his hand, casually flipping through a page, the other hand gently rubbing his thin lips, as if still savoring the moment, yet wearing a ¡°nothing happened¡± expression.


    Lin Qi¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t as strong, her face slightly blushed, and she had a feeling of guilt like a thief.


    This is a provocation...


    This must be Tingdong¡¯s provocation.


    Momo tried to find a flaw on Tingdong¡¯s face.


    But the man lifted his eyes, met his gaze for a moment, with playful, arched eyebrows, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡±


    ¡°Nothing.¡±


    Momo gave him a wary glance before turning around and heading to the kitchen.


    Lin Qi turned her head and glared at Huo Tingdong, lowering her voice and asking, ¡°What are you doing?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°He seems to dislike seeing me being close to you.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Um... he gets jealous.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°That¡¯s a bad habit.¡± Saying so, he looked up, the corners of his thin lips curling into a smirk, ¡°But he¡¯ll have to get used to it sooner or later.¡±


    ¡°Get used to what...¡±


    ¡°Get used to me being close to you.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face grew even redder.


    She muttered, ¡°Momo is just more reliant on me, that¡¯s all.¡±


    Huo Tingdong corrected her, ¡°It¡¯s not reliance, it¡¯s possessiveness.¡±


    He understood Momo¡¯s possessiveness towards Lin Qi.


    After all, for seven years, he and Lin Qi had depended on each other, with deep feelings, deeper than what he and Han had, but the more the possessiveness accumulated, the more it could form an unhealthy dependency.


    It¡¯s normal for a boy to depend on Mommy when he¡¯s young, but it can¡¯t go on forever, after all, Momo is already seven years old and needs to learn to be independent.


    Han shyly came over and hugged Lin Qi¡¯s neck, cooing, ¡°Aunt Qiqi, I want it too.¡±


    Lin Qi was amused and asked, ¡°Want what?¡±


    ¡°A kiss.¡± Saying this, he pouted his lips, looking at Lin Qi expectantly.


    He saw Tingdong and Lin Qi kissing mouth to mouth, and he wanted it too.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Would you like to kiss Daddy instead?¡±


    Han immediately stepped back three feet, covering his mouth, shaking his head suspiciously.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Why? Do you despise Daddy that much?¡±


    Han muttered, ¡°No! It¡¯s weird!¡± He had no real concept of kissing, but the thought of kissing Daddy mouth to mouth instinctively made him resist.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Then you can¡¯t kiss Aunt Qiqi either.¡±


    Han discontentedly asked, ¡°Why?¡± Why can Daddy do it and I can¡¯t?


    ¡°Men and women should not kiss casually.¡± Knowing Han wouldn¡¯t understand, Tingdong emphasized again, ¡°Boys and girls shouldn¡¯t kiss casually, otherwise, they must take responsibility.¡±


    Han puffed up his chest, hands on his hips, ¡°I¡¯ll take responsibility!¡±


    Lin Qi was both laughing and crying at this.


    Tingdong suddenly got serious: ¡°No!¡±


    Han stared back fiercely as well.


    Because of Lin Qi, there seemed to be a rift forming between father and son.


    Han disdainfully sized up Huo Tingdong with a look that seemed to assess an ¡°enemy.¡±


    But Huo Tingdong, unyielding, reiterated, ¡°No means no.¡±


    Heart of stone!


    Han, frustrated, complained to Lin Qi, pointing at Huo Tingdong, pouting his lips very high, ¡°Bad man! Big bad man...¡± He even refused to call him ¡°Daddy.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, Han.¡± Lin Qi took him into her arms and kissed his face, ¡°Is it okay if I kiss Han¡¯s face?¡±


    Huo Tingdong, with an unchanged expression, said, ¡°I want one too.¡± Saying so, right in front of Han, he brazenly brought his handsome face closer.

 Chapter 138 - 138 138 Theres Something I Want to Ask You

    ?Chapter 138: Chapter 138: There¡¯s Something I Want to Ask You Chapter 138: Chapter 138: There¡¯s Something I Want to Ask You ¡°Wahh!!¡±


    Han was provoked by Huo Tingdong¡¯s ¡°shameless audacity¡± and slapped his face with a tiny hand.


    Huo Tingdong grabbed his little hand firmly, his tone turning serious, ¡°Haven¡¯t I taught you that you must not hit people in the face?¡± Saying this, he pretended to open his mouth to bite Han¡¯s hand.


    Han, terrified, curled his hand at his chest, glaring at him warily, looking just like a wronged little bunny.


    Lin Qi kissed his face soothingly and coaxed, ¡°Baby Han, be good, don¡¯t be scared. If he bites you, I¡¯ll bite him.¡±


    Han clung to Lin Qi affectionately.


    Only Aunt Qiqi knew how to pamper him...


    He was moved beyond words!


    Huo Tingdong watched Han cling onto Lin Qi like a koala and for a moment, he felt somewhat dazed.


    This ¡°motherly love and filial piety¡± scene somehow gave him a sense of warmth.


    Deep into the night.


    Lin Qi couldn¡¯t fall asleep as she tossed and turned.


    She turned on the light, sat down at the desk, and took out those documents, carefully comparing the photos again one by one.


    Huo Tingdong had said, all the data of the doctors and nurses from Aiyou Maternal and Child Hospital, including the ¡°temporary workers¡± without formal contracts, were all in here.


    The nurse who delivered her baby must be among them.


    Although it had been seven years, she was not giving up.


    Racking her brains, Lin Qi¡¯s finger moved across each photo, not moving to the next one until she had scrutinized each several times.


    Unknowingly, dawn broke.


    She gradually grew tired and sleepy, and from overuse of her eyes, they started feeling dry.


    Lin Qi opened the drawer, took out some eye drops she had prepared, and applied a few drops to her eyes. Her vision cleared, and she continued to look down the last page.


    Finally...


    On the last page, she saw a photo.


    A nurse smiled at the camera with a full grin. Despite her attempting to tuck in her jaw slightly, if one looks closely when it¡¯s enlarged, they could still see the half-moon-shaped red mole on her chin.


    It was very small, at the right angle, and easy to miss.


    Her facial features felt somewhat unfamiliar, not very memorable.


    Single eyelids, a slightly swollen face, and not a full-body photo, but it was apparent that she had a plump figure.


    But Lin Qi quickly remembered something. Back when she was recuperating in the hospital room, she overheard a few nurses chatting outside. She was drowsy but still had some memory points.


    Two nurses were discussing the popular facial threading lifts at the time.


    The nurse who helped with her delivery mentioned that she just had a nose lift and double eyelid surgery, her skin became tight, her face looked much smaller and much more firm.


    Could it be...


    This nurse had minor cosmetic procedures.


    This photo was taken before she started her job, hence before her cosmetic procedures, which is why she looked different from the person Lin Qi saw, and why she didn¡¯t recognize her at first glance.


    Was it her?


    Lin Qi studied her name carefully.


    ¡°Zheng Xuanyi.¡±


    Could it be... her?


    Lin Qi was slightly shocked.


    The next day, Lin Qi didn¡¯t wake up until the afternoon.


    Momo and Han hadn¡¯t finished school yet, and Huo Tingdong had gone to the company, not at home.


    Only she and the nanny were at home.


    After Lin Qi bathed and freshened up, she changed clothes and left her room. The nanny, who was cleaning, saw her awake and immediately asked, ¡°Miss Lin, you¡¯re awake. Are you hungry? Would you like something to eat?¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Qi sat down at the dining table and made a call to Huo Tingdong.


    It was Mo Ke who answered the phone.


    ¡°Hello?¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°Is Huo Tingdong there?¡±


    Mo Ke laughed, ¡°Is this Miss Lin? Mr. Huo is in a meeting, and I¡¯m holding onto his phone.¡±


    Lin Qi inquired, ¡°When is his meeting over?¡±


    Mo Ke replied, ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact time the meeting ends, but once it does, I¡¯ll have him call you back, okay?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded.


    She had just woken up and was still somewhat groggy.


    Mo Ke hesitated, ¡°Miss Lin? Have you hung up?¡±


    Only then did Lin Qi realize that nodding over the phone was pointless as Mo Ke couldn¡¯t see her.


    She laughed and said, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll hang up now.¡± After hanging up, she checked her phone.


    Surprisingly, there were several missed calls.


    She recognized the number.


    Even though it wasn¡¯t saved with a contact name, she knew it was Mr. Lu¡¯s, as he had never changed his number over so many years.


    Hesitant for a moment, Lin Qi still returned the call.


    ¡°Hello?¡± The other end conveyed Mr. Lu¡¯s indifferent voice, ¡°Qiqi?¡±


    ¡°I saw you called me. My phone was on silent while I was sleeping, so I didn¡¯t hear it,¡± Lin Qi paused before probing, ¡°Did you call me for something?¡±


    Mr. Lu asked, ¡°Are you free? I¡¯d like to see you.¡±


    Lin Qi hesitated.


    She was free, but what did Mr. Lu want to meet her for?


    Wait a minute.


    Mr. Lu...


    He¡¯s the Director of Mingde Hospital, the Lu Family controls the shares of many private hospitals, and Mr. Lu is an insider in the medical system. Perhaps he could find out the whereabouts of that nurse.


    ¡°Okay, sure,¡± Lin Qi agreed to meet, ¡°When?¡±


    Mr. Lu said, ¡°Send me your location, I¡¯ll come to pick you up.¡±


    ¡°Alright. Actually, I have a favor to ask you.¡±


    Lin Qi hung up the phone and sent Mr. Lu an address.


    Soon, Mr. Lu texted back: Wait for me for 30 minutes.


    The nanny brought over a hot meal and warmly said, ¡°Miss Lin, you must be hungry. Eat something!¡±


    Knowing that Lin Qi had slept until noon without getting up, the nanny knew she must have been up late and didn¡¯t wake her, but left her some food.


    The nanny served Lin Qi rice, who was very hungry and wolfed down her meal.


    After eating, Lin Qi stood up and told the nanny, ¡°I¡¯m going out in a bit. If I come back late tonight, tell Huo Tingdong not to wait for me for dinner.¡±


    The nanny nodded, asking with concern, ¡°Miss Lin, where are you going?¡±


    Lin Qi explained, ¡°To meet a friend. I have an appointment with him, and moreover, I want to ask him for a favor.¡± After saying that, she took her bag and left.


    Basement level.


    Mr. Lu¡¯s car was waiting in place.


    As Lin Qi walked out of the elevator lobby, Mr. Lu got out of his car, kindly opened the passenger door like a gentleman.


    Lin Qi was a bit nervous, ¡°Mr. Lu, you didn¡¯t have to come out to meet me...¡±


    Her somewhat unfamiliar address made Mr. Lu frown slightly, but he just smiled faintly, ¡°Get in.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    Lin Qi clenched her bag¡¯s chain and sat in the car, while Mr. Lu returned to the driver¡¯s seat, buckled up, and turned the car around.


    Parking garage exit.


    Mr. Lu¡¯s car drove out of the garage, crossing paths with a Maybach.


    Maybach driver¡¯s seat.


    Through the car window, Huo Tingdong saw a familiar figure in the oncoming car¡¯s passenger seat.


    Lin Qi...


    Sitting next to her was Mr. Lu.


    A sharp screeching of brakes echoed.


    The Maybach abruptly stopped mid-slope.


    Huo Tingdong looked in the rear-view mirror, the car had driven out of the garage and gradually faded into the distance.


    He pulled out his phone, flipped through it to Lin Qi¡¯s number, his eyes deepening.

 Chapter 139 - 139 139 Does It Have to Be Huo Tingdong

    ?Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Does It Have to Be Huo Tingdong? Chapter 139: Chapter 139: Does It Have to Be Huo Tingdong? After the meeting, Mo Ke told him that Lin Qi had called him. Thinking she had an urgent matter, he went straight home from the office, only to find that she had left in Lu Li¡¯s car.


    Where were she and he going?


    Under the grip of confusion, Huo Tingdong dialed Lin Qi¡¯s number. As soon as the call connected, he casually asked, ¡°Where are you?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I¡¯m out on an errand.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Are you alone?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°With a friend.¡± She wasn¡¯t lying, but she slightly concealed the fact by not explicitly saying it was Lu Li.


    Lin Qi was afraid he¡¯d misunderstand, but she was also eager to investigate something from seven years ago, so she didn¡¯t explicitly mention she was with Lu Li.


    Huo Tingdong listened, glanced at the rearview mirror which reflected his disappointment, and then indifferently asked, ¡°When... will you be back?¡± He initially wanted to ask which friend, what was their full name.


    But he seemed afraid of being disappointed again, afraid she would lie to him, so he decided not to ask.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I don¡¯t know how late I will be back, but I¡¯ll come back as soon as possible.¡±


    ¡°Okay. I¡¯ll wait for you at home.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    After hanging up, Huo Tingdong steered the car around, started up the ramp, and a push on the accelerator drove him out of the parking garage.


    At the same time.


    In the car, Lin Qi had just hung up when Lu Li by her side asked, ¡°Was that Huo Tingdong who called?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded.


    Lu Li then asked, ¡°Are you living together?¡±


    Lin Qi was a bit surprised, ¡°How did you know?¡±


    Lu Li smiled, ¡°I could tell from his words¡ªhe said he¡¯s ¡®waiting for you at home.''¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Yes, we are living together.¡±


    Lu Li then asked, ¡°So, are you really planning to remarry him?¡±


    Lin Qi furrowed her brows, hesitating.


    Now, she was somewhat wavering about remarrying. It¡¯s not that she wasn¡¯t willing to remarry Huo Tingdong, but having been divorced once, she didn¡¯t want to repeat the same mistakes, so she needed to carefully consider. If she were to remarry, it had to be certain that their feelings were mutual.


    Marriage should be built on the feelings between two people, not just for the sake of getting married.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°If our relationship is stable, I do plan to remarry.¡±


    Lu Li looked straight ahead, falling into silence, his hands on the steering wheel slightly stiffened.


    Lin Qi did not notice the expression on his face and simply continued, ¡°Mr. Lu, did you need something from me?¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°Can you not remarry him?¡±


    ¡°...¡± Lin Qi suddenly froze.


    Lu Li¡¯s brows furrowed slightly, his heart aching sharply.


    Seven years ago, he had missed her due to his studies, and he didn¡¯t want to miss her yet again.


    ¡°Xiao Qi, can you please consider it carefully?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I have considered it carefully. Remarriage is not a light matter; it indeed requires careful consideration.¡±


    ¡°I meant me,¡± Lu Li interrupted her, his tone gentle but firm, ¡°Am I not good enough?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face turned pale, and she sat rigidly in her seat, unsure how to respond.


    Seeing her continuous silence, Lu Li grew restless. His hand slightly lifted but then heavily fell back on the steering wheel, ¡°Do you think I don¡¯t know about Momo¡¯s background? Do you think I don¡¯t know he¡¯s not my son? I know very well he¡¯s your son with another man.¡±


    After a pause, he continued, ¡°I wish more than anyone that he were my own flesh and blood, so I could marry you rightfully, just like Huo Tingdong.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°My remarrying him isn¡¯t because of Momo.¡±


    ¡°Then why? Because of feelings?¡± Lu Li squinted his eyes, unavoidably glancing at her, trying to capture some undisclosed emotions in her eyes, ¡°Do you like him? Or how much does he like you?¡±


    Lin Qi was once again rendered speechless.


    Liking...


    She hadn¡¯t had a truly stable romantic relationship.


    Having had a crush on Lu Li for many years, she thought that was liking, but when he truly wanted to be with her, she hesitated.


    In her eyes, Lu Li was like a man surrounded by light, clearly visible from afar, but too glaring when approached, unreachable and to be admired from a distance.


    But Huo Tingdong was different.


    Despite his superior status, wealthy background, richer than Lu Li, and more unattainable, when he held her, kissed her... she didn¡¯t feel the need to retreat.


    Lu Li said, ¡°Xiao Qi, seven years ago, because of my studies, I missed you once, and I don¡¯t want to miss you again.¡±


    At the crossroads.


    Red light.


    The car suddenly braked.


    With the centrifugal force, Lin Qi was tightly strapped by the seatbelt.


    At the same time, Lu Li unbuckled his seatbelt, leaning towards her.


    The man leaned down, one hand pressing her against the back of the seat, his thin lips nearly pressing down.


    Almost instinctively¡ª


    Lin Qi raised her hand, covering her mouth.


    Lu Li¡¯s lips paused just inches from her hand.


    He slowly opened his eyes, the gentle breath of his lips brushed across her forehead.


    He felt he was beyond help, always adhering to gentlemanly conduct, yet now, he wanted to use this method to force her to face him.


    Lin Qi too was startled.


    Firstly, she had never thought that the gentlemanly Lu Li would attempt to forcefully kiss her.


    Secondly, she hadn¡¯t realized her reaction would be so fierce, her resistance so clear.


    Lu Li, looking at her wide eyes and the hand tightly covering her lips, felt an inexplicable weakness throughout his body.


    He felt somewhat reluctant, staring at her face, his gaze deep and flickering, ¡°Why are you resisting me so much? If it were Huo Tingdong sitting here, would you treat him the same way?¡±


    After all, he was the first man in Lin Qi¡¯s life.


    Why had it come to this?


    Lu Li persistently said, ¡°Does it have to be him? I can give you everything Huo Tingdong can, and also what he can¡¯t.¡±


    He had almost said it all in one breath, then he observed the emotional changes in her eyes.


    ¡°So... am I not good enough?¡± he asked again.


    Lin Qi wasn¡¯t able to immediately grasp the implications of his words, her eyes tinted with fear, looking at Lu Li as if seeing a stranger.


    Lu Li¡¯s lips slightly parted, suddenly, he kissed the back of her hand lightly, just a touch, like a dragonfly skimming water, soothingly saying, ¡°Sorry, I overstepped.¡±


    The red light turned green.


    During rush hour, the car behind honked urgently.


    Lu Li leisurely buckled his seatbelt, took hold of the steering wheel, and drove the car forward.


    Lin Qi¡¯s hand gradually lowered, as if still unsettled, ¡°Mr. Lu...¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t call me Mr. Lu.¡± Lu Li felt somewhat averse to such a distant title, ¡°Calling me that, it¡¯s like we are strangers.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry...¡± She too felt she had somewhat lost her composure, perhaps at that moment, she realized...


    Whatever she was unwilling to do, no one could force her.


    Huo Tingdong and Lu Li were different.


    Apparently, when facing Huo Tingdong, many of her seemingly resistant reactions... were actually willing...

 Chapter 140 - 140 140 Is This What You Call a Friend

    ?Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Is This What You Call a ¡®Friend¡¯? Chapter 140: Chapter 140: Is This What You Call a ¡®Friend¡¯? Lin Qi finally understood her own heart and said to Lu Li, ¡°Lu Li, I think... I must have really liked you.¡±


    ¡°Must have?¡± Lu Li was stung by these words, ¡°Why ¡®must have¡¯?¡±


    He felt hurt by these words.


    He never knew that ¡°liking¡± was supposed to be just ¡°liking¡±; what does ¡°must have liked¡± mean?


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Because, I only just realized what true liking should feel like. Towards you, it was more admiration and worship than liking. Maybe, to the me back then, you were too elusive, I had set boundaries in my heart, not daring to cross them.¡±


    She thought it was liking, but it wasn¡¯t.


    Perhaps for Lu Li, she had always held reverence and awe.


    Otherwise, why would she completely resist when he took the initiative to kiss her?


    Lu Li gave a self-mocking laugh but said nothing.


    After a long deadly silence in the air,


    the car entered a restaurant.


    Three hours ago, Lu Li had already booked a seat here.


    After getting out of the car, Lu Li walked around to the passenger side, opened the door, and Lin Qi also got out of the car right after.


    She glanced at Lu Li and suddenly realized that accepting his invitation might not have been wise; she didn¡¯t want things to turn out this way.


    But...


    Perhaps, it was necessary. She needed, and was obliged, to clarify things with him so as not to keep lingering.


    As they entered the restaurant,


    Lin Qi sat across Lu Li, leaving a brief silence before Lu Li refrained from delving into their previous conversation, only asking, ¡°You said you needed a favor, what is it?¡±


    Caught off-guard and seeing Lu Li deliberately avoiding the topic, Lin Qi felt a sense of relief, quickly came to her senses, and immediately said, ¡°You work in the healthcare system, I need your help to look up someone.¡±


    As she spoke, she handed over a document she held, ¡°This person named Zheng Xuanyi, can you help me find her? Be it her home address, workplace, or even her current cellphone number...¡±


    Lu Li took the document, glanced at it, and asked, ¡°What do you need to investigate this woman for?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Seven years ago, this nurse assisted with my delivery. At that time, she told me one of my babies had passed away and prevented me from seeing my eldest child for the last time. After I left the hospital, she gave me an urn, which I didn¡¯t think much about back then. But recently, I found that what¡¯s inside the urn is not ashes, so, I suspect the death of my baby might be questionable, and I want to investigate it.¡±


    Lu Li looked at the ID photo on the document, remaining silent.


    Lin Qi added, ¡°It¡¯s been a long time since the incident, and Aiyou Maternal and Child Hospital no longer exists. The hospital was reorganized, and all medical staff were reassigned; currently, her whereabouts are unknown, but I think you should be able to find some leads.¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡±


    He pocketed the document, ordered their meal, and soon, the dinner was served.


    Lin Qi bowed her head, eating distractedly.


    Lu Li seemed to have no appetite, just quietly eating.


    Lin Qi¡¯s discomfort grew with the silence, and after thinking it over, she still said, ¡°Lu Li, perhaps, there was never a ¡®missed¡¯ between us, only that we were not destined to be. Even if you hadn¡¯t gone abroad to study, we might not have been suitable for each other.¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°Whether we are suitable or not isn¡¯t for you or me to decide.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I... wouldn¡¯t have chosen you.¡± She clenched her teeth and spoke harshly, ¡°You really are a good person, but I¡¯m not worthy of you.¡±


    Lu Li scoffed, ¡°So, you¡¯re not worthy of me, but you are worthy of Huo Tingdong? Or, do you mean that I¡¯m not worthy of you, only Huo Tingdong is?¡±


    After saying this, he paused, feeling his words might have been too harsh.


    He knew she was never a materialistic person; he didn¡¯t intend to say hurtful things, just didn¡¯t like her saying such things.


    It felt like she was eagerly trying to sever ties with him.


    Lu Li continued, ¡°Think of it as my wishful thinking; rest assured, from now on, I won¡¯t pester you, but I also won¡¯t let go easily.¡±


    Lin Qi lowered her head, not knowing what to do.


    After dinner.


    Lu Li stood up, ¡°Let me take you back.¡±


    Lin Qi also stood up, immediately saying, ¡°I can just take a taxi back alone.¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°Do you think I would feel at ease letting you go back alone?¡±


    Saying this, he firmly grabbed her hand, ¡°I¡¯m taking you back.¡±


    Lin Qi instinctively tried to pull away, but he was already leading her by the hand towards the door.


    Just as they reached the door, Lin Qi saw Lu Li pause, looking towards the entrance.


    Confused, Lin Qi followed his gaze.


    At the restaurant entrance,


    the evening breeze gently flowed in.


    A tall and slender figure, Huo Tingdong, stood at the doorway in a black shirt, seeming to blend into the night, his presence overbearing and slightly suffocating.


    Huo Tingdong?


    Why is he here?


    Lin Qi was startled, instinctively pulling away from Lu Li¡¯s hand. Realizing her action seemed as if she was being guilty, it felt excessive and unnecessary.


    Huo Tingdong stood at the entrance, sharp and disheveled by the night wind, his cold eyes piercing as they settled on Lu Li.


    Lu Li, unfazed by that intense gaze, stepped forward, ¡°Huo Tingdong? What are you doing here?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied indifferently, ¡°I should be asking you this. Why are you here?¡± His gaze fell on Lin Qi, ¡°Is this the ¡®friend¡¯ you mentioned?¡±


    Lin Qi was at a loss for words.


    She could feel Huo Tingdong was angry but couldn¡¯t understand why he¡¯d be.


    Could he have misunderstood?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°It seems you two are close, why not continue holding hands?¡± His eyes shifted to Lu Li¡¯s empty hand.


    Lin Qi wanted to explain, but Lu Li stopped her with his hand.


    He knew Huo Tingdong had misunderstood, yet he reveled in this suspicion.


    ¡°You see.¡± Lu Li hugged Lin Qi, shielding her in his arms, provocatively smiling, ¡°But what can you do about it? You¡¯re already divorced, and who she meets with is none of your business anymore.¡±


    Feeling the provocativeness in Lu Li¡¯s words, Lin Qi stiffened, especially upon seeing Huo Tingdong¡¯s changing expressions, feeling a chill creeping up her spine.


    ¡°Lu Li, don¡¯t...¡± She couldn¡¯t just watch Lu Li provoke him.


    ¡°What shouldn¡¯t I?¡± Lu Li interrupted her, ¡°Isn¡¯t what I said the truth?¡±

 Chapter 141 - 141 141 Mr. Huo Is Jealous

    ?Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Mr. Huo Is Jealous Chapter 141: Chapter 141: Mr. Huo Is Jealous Huo Tingdong suddenly strode forward and crossed into the door.


    He pressed forward step by step, and Lu Li didn¡¯t back down an inch.


    Until¡ª


    Huo Tingdong arrived in front of him, and said coldly, ¡°Take your filthy hands off her.¡±


    Lu Li said, ¡°What if I say ¡®no¡¯?¡±


    Huo Tingdong was about to erupt, but Lin Qi immediately said, ¡°Huo Tingdong, don¡¯t be rash.¡±


    She had always known that Huo Tingdong wasn¡¯t someone to be easily provoked.


    ¡°Are you protecting him?¡± Huo Tingdong grew even more irate, struggling to control his facial expression, but his eyes were tinged with displeasure.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°It¡¯s not...¡±


    ¡°Come here.¡± Huo Tingdong could no longer bear to see her standing with Lu Li any longer.


    Just as Lin Qi was about to walk towards him, she was grabbed by the arm by Lu Li.


    He pulled her back to her original place and asked, ¡°He tells you to go over and you just go? He¡¯s so domineering, this is oppression.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Mr. Lu has studied abroad for so many years and has also learned the Westerners¡¯ grand-sounding rhetoric. ¡®Oppression¡¯? Hmph.¡± He paused, then continued, ¡°I¡¯d advise Mr. Lu not to cling to my woman desperately. Provoking me is not a wise move. Even if you are the son of the Lu Group, offending me will not end well for you.¡±


    Lu Li raised an eyebrow, ¡°Oh? You finished threatening her, now you¡¯re starting to threaten me?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I have no time to waste words with you. I won¡¯t say it a third time, this is the second time, take your hands off, or else...¡±


    Lu Li impatiently interrupted him, ¡°Or else what?¡±


    The icy coldness in Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes suddenly spread, and he seemed like a different person as he abruptly stepped forward. With a ¡°bang,¡± he threw a merciless punch that landed hard on Lu Li¡¯s face.


    Lu Li expected him to resort to violence but didn¡¯t anticipate his punch coming without any hesitation or warning. Caught completely off-guard, his instinct was to push Lin Qi away. Taking the punch, he staggered back a few steps.


    Huo Tingdong grabbed Lin Qi and, holding her hand, prepared to leave.


    ¡°Stop!¡± Lu Li suddenly called out to him.


    Huo Tingdong turned around as Lu Li clenched his fist and swung at him.


    With a dark look in his eyes, Huo Tingdong¡¯s pupils shrank. He pushed Lin Qi out of the door and raised his hand to block Lu Li¡¯s punch.


    Lin Qi exclaimed in shock, ¡°Stop it, both of you!¡±


    Her words had barely left her mouth when she saw that the two men were already grappling with each other.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s presence was formidable. Although he usually wore a suit that concealed his physique, his muscles engorged with blood as he moved to fight, revealing an impressive physique with explosive power.


    Lu Li was no less formidable.


    The two men fought fiercely, punches landing with fleshly thuds, the situation tense and volatile.


    The scene quickly spiraled out of control.


    Lin Qi did not know how long Huo Tingdong had been standing at the door or why he was even there.


    She was even more clueless about why the two men were at each other¡¯s throats over a mere disagreement.


    One was the President of Huace Group, the other a noble son of the Lu Group. When they fought, they held nothing back.


    Especially Huo Tingdong.


    He had spent time in the special forces in his youth, enduring hellish training and participating in real combat exercises, tasting blood from the blade¡¯s edge. Lu Li, despite putting in his all, couldn¡¯t gain any advantage and found himself at a disadvantage, unable to defend against Huo Tingdong¡¯s aggressive offense.


    Lu Li was beaten back against the wall, tasting the metallic tang of blood on his lips. He wiped his mouth and found that he had split his lip, blood flowing.


    Huo Tingdong walked up to him, grabbed his collar, lifted a leg, and the knee struck fiercely into his abdomen.


    Lu Li groaned in pain, arching his back, and the next second, he was thrown by Huo Tingdong, crashing hard onto the ground.


    The sudden fight alarmed the customers in the restaurant.


    Some people took out their phones intending to call the police.


    Mo Ke had been standing at the door and, seeing that things were getting out of hand, he quickly rushed in and blocked Huo Tingdong, ¡°Mr. Huo, please calm down.¡±


    Huo Tingdong gave him a cold glance, ¡°Get lost.¡±


    Mo Ke was stunned, and the next second, he was sent flying by a punch from Huo Tingdong.


    Lin Qi covered her mouth, letting out a cry of shock!


    Mo Ke was Huo Tingdong¡¯s personal assistant, and yet he had hurt even him.


    Lin Qi saw Huo Tingdong move towards Lu Li, step by step, and without a second thought, she threw herself at him and tightly clung to his waist from behind, ¡°Huo Tingdong! Have you gone mad!?¡±


    If this continues, something terrible will happen!


    Lin Qi was getting a bit angry, ¡°Enough is enough, right? If you keep fighting like this, what if someone dies?¡±


    After all, Lu Li is the young master of the Lu Group.


    She didn¡¯t want a simple misunderstanding to lead to animosity between the two families.


    Huo Tingdong replied coldly, ¡°The more you protect him, the less I want to let him go.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m not protecting him! I just don¡¯t want you guys to fight over something so ridiculous. I met with him because I needed his help to look into a matter.¡±


    Huo Tingdong turned around, ¡°What¡¯s so important that you have to seek his help? What am I, just for show?¡±


    Lin Qi was taken aback.


    What she didn¡¯t know was that territorial instincts were particularly strong in Huo Tingdong, which also meant he had an exceptionally intense possessiveness.


    There was nothing he couldn¡¯t handle.


    If he couldn¡¯t handle it, Lu Li definitely couldn¡¯t either.


    Why couldn¡¯t she wait for him to return and instead went to Lu Li?


    He found it incomprehensible.


    Behind them, Lu Li had already stood up.


    He violently shook his head, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand, and suddenly, with a hook punch, attacked Huo Tingdong fiercely.


    Caught off guard, Huo Tingdong fell to the ground while protecting Lin Qi.


    ¡°Stop fighting!¡± Lin Qi couldn¡¯t bear it anymore and shouted loudly.


    But Huo Tingdong wasn¡¯t one to suffer in silence, nor was he willing to take a loss. He quickly got up, countered the next punch from Lu Li, twisted his elbow, and with a ¡°crack,¡± Lu Li¡¯s elbow joint was forcibly dislocated.


    ¡°You still dare to fight back.¡± Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes narrowed, ¡°Seeking death!¡±


    Lin Qi got up from the ground, her eyes reddening, and again she blocked him, ¡°Hit me if you continue! If you keep going, you might as well hit me too!¡±


    As she spoke, she spread her arms and shielded Lu Li.


    She didn¡¯t know how else to stop him and simply threw down the gauntlet.


    Mo Ke also stood up, and seeing the front hall of the restaurant in disarray after the fight, he lifted his head and saw Lin Qi protecting Lu Li. Seeing Huo Tingdong¡¯s increasingly somber gaze, he distressedly raked his fingers through his hair.


    Miss Lin, oh Miss Lin!


    You¡¯re taking sides!


    Don¡¯t you see?


    Mr. Huo is jealous.


    The more you protect another man, the angrier Mr. Huo gets.


    Mo Ke hurriedly walked over, grabbed Huo Tingdong, and hugged his arm tightly, ¡°Mr. Huo... Mr. Huo, listen to me... If the police get startled and this blows up, it¡¯s totally unnecessary. Listen to me, no matter how big the issue is, you take Miss Lin and leave first; I¡¯ll handle the aftermath here.¡±


    Saying this, he made desperate eye signals to Lin Qi.


    Lin Qi pursed her lips, tentatively grabbed Huo Tingdong¡¯s hand, and tried to soothe him to calm down, ¡°Huo Tingdong, I¡¯ll go with you, let¡¯s leave right now...¡±

 Chapter 142 - 142 142 Why did you lie to me

    ?Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Why did you lie to me? Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Why did you lie to me? Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze still lingered on Lu Li.


    It seemed like he couldn¡¯t stand up anymore.


    Huo Tingdong had struck hard just now.


    But if Lu Li dared to stand up again, Huo Tingdong would continue to attack, until Lu Li could no longer stand.


    This was the conquest desire ingrained in his bones, the instinct for domination.


    Lin Qi didn¡¯t understand him at all.


    In the business world, with overt and covert struggles, he always dealt with his rivals harshly; he had always believed in a principle that being merciful to an enemy was tantamount to digging one¡¯s own grave¡ªoutside of business, he still operated with the same mindset.


    Only after confirming that Lu Li was no longer capable of standing up did Huo Tingdong retract his gaze, grab Lin Qi¡¯s hand, and turn to walk towards the door.


    Mo Ke finally let out a sigh of relief and immediately walked towards Lu Li.


    Lu Li felt dizzy and had double vision. He raised his head and saw Huo Tingdong¡¯s long legs leaving; he still wanted to stand up.


    Mo Ke hurriedly held him down, ¡°Young Master Lu, don¡¯t be so stubborn...¡±


    After spending so many years by Huo Tingdong¡¯s side, no one understood Huo Tingdong better than he did. With Huo Tingdong¡¯s prowess, Lu Li, a ¡°weak scholar,¡± couldn¡¯t stand up to much beating.


    After all...


    Huo Tingdong was half a trained fighter.


    Outside the door.


    Huo Tingdong held Lin Qi¡¯s hand and strode towards the car.


    Lin Qi staggered; his strides were long and his steps were big, making it hard for her to keep up.


    ¡°Huo Tingdong... slow down...¡±


    Huo Tingdong yanked her hand, wrapping his arm around her shoulder, practically half-lifting her towards the car.


    At the intersection, his Maybach was stopped for parking overtime, surrounded by several traffic policemen.


    Seeing Huo Tingdong approaching, one of the traffic policemen said, ¡°Is this your car?¡±


    Huo Tingdong stepped forward, towering over the policeman which forced the officer to look up at him.


    Huo Tingdong coldly said, ¡°My car, what about it?¡±


    The policeman swallowed nervously, returning to a serious tone, ¡°You can¡¯t park here; you¡¯ve violated traffic rules. We¡¯ll fine you and give you demerit points as a warning...¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Have you written the ticket?¡±


    The policeman: ¡°...¡± This man¡¯s presence was terrifying, his gaze seemed like it could kill.


    He had written the ticket and handed it to Huo Tingdong: ¡°You are to deal with this within fifteen days...¡±


    Huo Tingdong took the ticket, ignoring him, led Lin Qi to the passenger side, opened the door, and gently pushed her inside.


    You could tell that he was trying to control himself; the muscles in his arms were tensed as Lin Qi sat in the passenger seat and he bent down to fasten her seatbelt.


    Lin Qi¡¯s breathing halted from fright.


    She had never seen Huo Tingdong with such a scary expression, to the point where she felt he was becoming somewhat unrecognizable: ¡°Huo Tingdong... you¡¯re scaring me...¡±


    ¡°Scared?¡± Huo Tingdong narrowed his eyes, ¡°What are you afraid of?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Your expression is frightening...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You are not the same as him.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s eyes widened in shock.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I won¡¯t use the methods I use against him on you.¡± After speaking, he closed the car door and returned to the driver¡¯s seat.


    The policemen instinctively took a step back, watching Huo Tingdong get into the car and drive away with a press on the accelerator, quickly disappearing.


    The car switched to sport mode, instantly becoming a performance beast, the engine roaring.


    One of the policemen reacted, ¡°He¡¯s going too fast, that¡¯s speeding!!¡±


    As the words fell, the car had already shot a hundred meters away!


    ...


    On the road, the Maybach sped along, bypassing the city center and heading towards the intercity highway.


    Huo Tingdong slammed on the gas, gripping the steering wheel tightly, drifting through several turns.


    The speed soared from eighty to a hundred and eighty miles per hour, seriously speeding.


    Lin Qi¡¯s breath caught as she watched the tachometer needle climb with increasing dread, and the howling wind outside the window soon made the neon lights and noise of the city seem a thousand miles away.


    During a few accelerated turns, she could no longer control herself, and almost screamed, but could only produce a few intermittent sounds, ¡°Ah... ah...¡±


    It felt as though an invisible hand was tightly blocking her throat, scared but daring not to make a sound, holding her breath and concentrating, her breath and heartbeat nearly stopping!


    Fast!


    Too fast!


    Lin Qi closed her eyes, hearing only the deafening engine roar near her ears, and in an instant, the revs hit seven thousand!


    ¡°Huo Tingdong... slower... drive slower...¡±


    Another sharp curve.


    Huo Tingdong skillfully steered one-handed; Lin Qi kept her eyes tightly closed, not daring to look out the window. However, a strong centrifugal force made her feel as if she was being pulled back and forth by two hands.


    Her insides felt as if they were being turned upside down.


    Lin Qi opened her eyes fearfully and saw through the rearview mirror that the tail lights were only a few centimeters from the guardrail.


    Beyond the guardrail was a tall moat, and if anything went wrong, the car would fly off the cliff, resulting in certain death for both the car and the passengers.


    ¡°Slow... slow down...¡± Her thoughts were already in turmoil.


    But Huo Tingdong still stared dead ahead.


    He felt the malice within him with nowhere to vent, the throttle already floored.


    Speed limit signs flashed by continuously, and Huo Tingdong again sped up, steering the car out of the ramp onto the mountain road.


    The steep mountain road, despite being paved with asphalt, undulated sharply, and combined with the excessive speed, was more thrilling than a roller coaster.


    Lin Qi felt her heart rising to her throat as if her soul was about to scatter.


    ¡°Whoo-whoo-Huo Tingdong!!¡± Lin Qi gripped the seatbelt tightly, crying out in shock, ¡°Too fast... too fast, I¡¯m scared...¡±


    He was angry.


    But she didn¡¯t understand what he was angry about!


    Lin Qi could no longer bear it: ¡°Have you gone mad? Driving this fast... we will have an accident!¡±


    Huo Tingdong didn¡¯t even glance at her, continuing to look straight ahead, ¡°Are you worried about me?¡±


    Lin Qi swallowed nervously, hearing only the piercing sound of tire skidding; she looked at the rearview mirror, where the rear wheels generated huge friction with the ground, raising blue smoke.


    ¡°I¡¯m scared...¡± Lin Qi said, ¡°I¡¯m really scared...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Why did you lie to me?¡±


    He hated being lied to the most.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You said you went out to meet friends, but what happened? Why did you go see him?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I just see him as a friend...¡± Realizing his reaction was as though he was jealous, she exclaimed, letting go of all reservations, shouting, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you! I swear, I didn¡¯t lie to you... I really just see him as a friend...¡±


    Huo Tingdong slightly furrowed his brow, the shoe on the gas pedal lifting a little.


    The car¡¯s speed gradually slowed down.


    Lin Qi was still shaken, and seeing the car slow down, she hurriedly tried to explain, ¡°Huo Tingdong... slow down even more, I have something to say to you...¡±

 Chapter 143 - 143 143 Lin Qi I Want You

    ?Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Lin Qi, I Want You Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Lin Qi, I Want You The man¡¯s voice was calm and composed: ¡°Go ahead.¡±


    Without looking back, Huo Tingdong maintained a speed of 160.


    Lin Qi panted, ¡°Before today, I might not have been clear about my own feelings... but today I realized... I like you... The same actions from him, I would find repulsive, but not from you, I wouldn¡¯t resist your physical touch. I am dense, slow to realize that it¡¯s dependence and liking for you... until today... I finally understood, I really do like you...¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression changed abruptly.


    Lin Qi continued, ¡°I... I don¡¯t like him...¡±


    A sharp turn was approaching...


    At the end of the road was a dead end, no turns, only a guardrail, yet he still showed no signs of braking.


    Lin Qi showed a look of terror: ¡°Stop the car!! Stop the car...¡±


    Even through the car window, Lin Qi could still smell the pungent odor from the intense friction of rubber tires.


    She covered her face with trembling hands, not daring to look again, even imagining for a moment the car breaking through the guardrail and plummeting off the cliff.


    ¡°Huo Tingdong!¡±


    Simultaneously¡ª


    Huo Tingdong slammed the brakes to the floor.


    Amidst high speed, the violent braking sent the car drifting at a ninety-degree angle.


    Huo Tingdong executed an emergency stop, and finally...


    The car came to a halt mere centimeters from the guardrail.


    Lin Qi let go of her hands, hearing the sound of the seatbelt being unbuckled beside her, Huo Tingdong opened the door and got out of the car.


    She looked forward, the car had stopped, but if the brakes had been applied any later, the consequences of breaking through the guardrail were unimaginable.


    Lin Qi was somewhat angry; she also unbuckled her seatbelt, got out of the car, walked up to Huo Tingdong, and said angrily, ¡°Do you have a death wish?¡±


    As soon as she finished speaking, she glared at Huo Tingdong, tears running down her face.


    She was genuinely scared to tears.


    Huo Tingdong turned around, and the next second, he pressed her against the car door.


    Lin Qi had nowhere to retreat, her stiff back against the car door, she raised her head, staring at him with tear-filled eyes.


    Huo Tingdong bent down, his brow furrowed coldly, but with an urgency in his eyes unlike before: ¡°Did you just say that you like me?¡±


    Lin Qi bit her lip, rather petulantly said: ¡°I did not!¡±


    She had thought she was surely going to die, so in the ¡°face of death,¡± she instinctively wanted to tell him what was in her heart.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Lying to me again?¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± Is this man¡¯s head made of wood?


    Or... is he doing this on purpose to annoy her?


    Lin Qi¡¯s face hadn¡¯t regained its color yet, furious and flustered, she couldn¡¯t help but clench her fists tightly, and with a heavy strike, she pounded on his chest, ¡°Bastard, I don¡¯t want to deal with you anymore!¡±


    Huo Tingdong grabbed her hand in one swift motion and pressed it against the car door, narrowing his eyes, ¡°You didn¡¯t finish what you were saying, keep going.¡±


    Lin Qi was so angry she turned her face away, refusing to acknowledge him.


    Huo Tingdong cradled her small face, forcing her to look at him, ¡°Say it.¡±


    Lin Qi was still being defiant: ¡°I won¡¯t say it!¡±


    Huo Tingdong grew impatient, but he couldn¡¯t do anything to her, so he could only bend down hatefully and give her stubborn little mouth a threatening bite, coercing her once again: ¡°Say it!¡±


    Lin Qi felt both embarrassed and annoyed¡ªthis man might not dare to lay hands on her, but how dare he use his mouth!


    ¡°I won¡¯t say it!¡±


    Seeing her being so stubborn, Huo Tingdong bent down again, bit her small mouth, and at the same time, kissed her fiercely.


    Lin Qi¡¯s body stiffened again and again, and after a moment, inexplicably softened...


    His kiss, like him, was domineering and irresistible. Her lips tightly shut, his hand gently exerting force on her jaw joint, she was forced to open her small mouth to endure his siege...


    As she was about to run out of breath...


    He briefly parted from her lips, and pressed again, ¡°Will you or will you not say it?¡±


    Lin Qi still clamped her mouth shut, refusing to speak. Just then, he had given her such a fright that even though she liked him, she didn¡¯t want to give in to his wishes now.


    He wanted her to speak, so she wouldn¡¯t.


    With this tiny, insignificant rebellious heart, Lin Qi articulated defiantly, word by word: ¡°I just won¡¯t say it!¡± It served him right for scaring her!


    She just wouldn¡¯t say it.


    Huo Tingdong finally realized.


    She was rebelling against him.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s tone was bewitchingly warning, a voice deep and attractively hoarse: ¡°You won¡¯t say it?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t!¡±


    ¡°Then I will.¡± Huo Tingdong¡¯s thin lips curved slightly, bending over again, his suit shoulders forming two elegant folds as he looked at her levelly, his deep gaze captivating, ¡°Lin Qi, I want you.¡±


    After saying that, he leaned in once more.


    This time, the kiss was not as domineering as before; when his lips touched hers, there was an indescribable tenderness.


    Still incontestable.


    Still arrogant and showy.


    But...


    There was also a restrained tenderness.


    The handsome man¡¯s face was close at hand, his gentle breath silently traced the shape of her lips. Miffed that she was so stubborn, he bit her slightly, she moaned, and he couldn¡¯t help but feel distressed, soothingly planting another kiss.


    Lin Qi felt her heartbeat thundering.


    Her breathing was short.


    His breathing was no longer steady.


    For years, he had not touched a woman, as clean as a leaf in the wind, not because of any hidden ailments rumored by the outside world, but because since childhood, following his father in the world of fame and wealth, he knew one thing: women should not be touched lightly, otherwise, troubles arise.


    Unless there¡¯s a woman who could make him willingly offer his heart to her.


    Now, this woman was right in front of him.


    She was the first, and the only one so far, that he wanted to offer his heart to.


    As the kiss went on, a certain trembling in his heart became more and more uncontrollable.


    Huo Tingdong left her lips and his gaze locked onto her face, his deep eyes filled with emotion.


    So sweet.


    So sweet that he wanted to keep kissing...


    Lin Qi was kissed into a whirlwind of confusion, her gaze steadied, looking into the man¡¯s starry eyes, murmuring hoarsely, ¡°Huo Ting...¡±


    She hadn¡¯t managed to finish saying his name when he kissed her again.


    He felt like a youth tasting forbidden fruit for the first time, or like someone under a curse; the more he kissed, the more uncontrollable he became...


    At first, she resisted a little, but her body was pinned by him, her hands pressed against the car door, unable to move.


    Later in the kiss, she felt he was barely standing firm, his breathing became more chaotic...


    This man, though his kissing skill was unripe, it was as if he had a natural gift; in just a few exchanges, he mastered it without a teacher.


    She had no choice but to plead, ¡°Huo Tingdong... mmm...¡±


    Huo Tingdong restrained himself somewhat, clasping the back of her neck, his handsome face buried in the side of her face, his ear right by her lips, ¡°Will you or will you not say it?¡±


    He was still fixated on the words she had left unsaid.


    The man¡¯s domineering tone carried a bit of coaxing: ¡°You say it; I want to hear...¡±

 Chapter 144 - 144 144 Urgent as a Spark No Time to Delay

    ?Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Urgent as a Spark, No Time to Delay Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Urgent as a Spark, No Time to Delay Lin Qi was really dizzy from his kisses.


    Unlike him, she didn¡¯t have a natural talent in this area, having never had close contact with a man before, let alone the clingy kiss they just shared, which slightly scared her off. It seemed like if she didn¡¯t speak out of frustration, who knows how long he would continue.


    Perhaps, if she didn¡¯t say it, he would take the opportunity to ¡°bully¡± her even more.


    Lin Qi greedily breathed in a few breaths of fresh air, and slowly let out from her little mouth: ¡°I... I just said, I don¡¯t like Lu Li, the person I like... is... is you...¡±


    He rewarded her with a kiss on her lips, raising his eyebrows slightly, clearly, these few sentences were far from satisfying his appetite.


    ¡°Anything else?¡±


    Lin Qi decided to clear things up, ¡°Don¡¯t misunderstand... I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll misunderstand. He and I... It¡¯s not what you think.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Then what is it?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°He was my senior in college, I once admired him... but now, just as ordinary friends.¡±


    ¡°Admired?¡± Upon hearing this word, the man¡¯s brow subtly furrowed into a crease, ¡°So, that means you liked him?¡±


    ¡°That was in the past! Not anymore.¡±


    His gaze fell on her lips, his fingertips slowly caressing, repeatedly stroking, asking, ¡°Did he touch here?¡±


    ¡°No...¡±


    Huo Tingdong then grabbed her hand, ¡°Did he touch here?¡±


    He was a bit of a germophobe, once someone was ¡®his¡¯, he disliked others even touching them briefly.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Touched... he touched.¡± She was forthright; lying and deception were not her strong suits.


    Lu Li had touched her hand, and she could not hide it.


    Huo Tingdong bowed his head, kissing her hand heavily, each finger, even the fingertips, he kissed each one, as if to cover every spot he had touched with his own mark.


    From her angle, she could see him bowing his head so earnestly and tenderly kissing, his dense lashes drawing his eye line so deep.


    Just now, for a moment, he was jealous, maddeningly so, yet he forced himself to restrain and almost lost control.


    If it wasn¡¯t for her timely words, which soothed his heart.


    Huo Tingdong demanded, ¡°The person you like is me.¡±


    This sentence was affirmative, not inquisitive, and it also indirectly proved how dominant this man was, leaving no room for her doubts.


    ¡°Mmm...¡±


    ¡°How much do you like me?¡± Huo Tingdong lightly stroked her cheek with his fingertips, ¡°Do you want me?¡±


    His question genuinely made her blush and her heart beat faster, unsure how to respond!


    ¡°Hmm?¡± Huo Tingdong saw her lowering her gaze, too shy to even glance at him, a blush painting her fair cheeks, realizing she must be embarrassed.


    He was accustomed to seeing her fierce disposition and had never seen her shy before, which was indeed so endearing.


    ¡°Lin Qi, you are mine.¡± He suddenly declared, kissing her again.


    She had no escape, forced to endure his possessive kiss, her body feeling like it was falling under the weight, and suddenly, his hand forcefully wrapped around her waist, lifting her against the car door, kissing her with no restraint.


    At first, Lin Qi kept her eyes open, afraid to close them. Huo Tingdong¡¯s handsome face was so close, his eyes half-lowered, his long lashes softly brushing against her eyelids, tickling, silently stirring her heart.


    As the kiss deepened, his embrace became more dominant and forceful. Initially, he was careful not to hurt her, but gradually, he kissed more uncontrollably, as if desiring to meld her into his embrace completely.


    His embrace became somewhat fervid.


    The scent of his male pheromones enveloped her completely, and her body was infused with the scent of his cologne.


    Gradually, she seemed less afraid.


    Lin Qi was also irresistibly succumbing to the kiss, her hands trembling as she tentatively hooked around his shoulders, closing her eyes.


    She could feel his body becoming even hotter, and through the shirt, she could sense his strong heartbeat. His muscular build was evenly distributed, making her feel so tiny and insignificant in comparison.


    Suddenly, Huo Tingdong pulled away from her lips.


    He didn¡¯t want to be here.


    With cars coming and going, he could only restrain the urge to act recklessly.


    ¡°Get in the car.¡±


    His voice was calm yet carried a hint of urgency.


    The man opened the car door, placed her in the passenger seat, and as he bent down to fasten her seatbelt, he couldn¡¯t help but kiss her again.


    Lin Qi felt like laughing but also found it slightly ridiculous; she had never seen such impatience in him.


    It seemed as if he was rushing to do something very important, urgent and imperative, yet he maintained a calm and serious demeanor, which was somewhat amusing.


    ¡°Mmm...¡±


    Her mouth was almost dry from the kiss, and in such a warmly intimate moment, he seemed unable to bear being apart from her for even a moment.


    ¡°You... hurry up and drive...¡± The moment she opened her mouth to speak, her face flushed red.


    Her words made it seem like she was even more anxious than him.


    Could he have misunderstood?


    Indeed...


    As Lin Qi looked up, she saw a teasing smile appear in Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes; he really had misunderstood, ¡°You¡¯re even more anxious than I am?¡±


    ¡°I... I¡¯m not!¡± Lin Qi said somewhat vexedly, ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense.¡±


    ¡°Hmm.¡±


    Huo Tingdong kissed her forehead and then returned to the driver¡¯s seat. He pressed the accelerator, reversed, turned the car around, and the whole process flowed smoothly like moving clouds and flowing water.


    The car sped down the mountain.


    Lin Qi sat in the car, feeling somewhat nervous, as if millions of ants were biting her heart; it was both itchy and numb. She couldn¡¯t help but touch her lips, which he had kissed earlier, finding them somewhat swollen.


    At the intersection, the traffic light turned red.


    Ninety seconds of peak congestion.


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s breathing became slightly hurried.


    Lin Qi glanced in his direction; the veins on the back of his hand were prominent as he gripped the steering wheel tightly.


    Suddenly, Huo Tingdong pressed a button, and a row of sunshades lowered on all windows except the windshield.


    He spoke softly, ¡°Come here.¡±


    Lin Qi turned her head, and Huo Tingdong, as if addicted, pinched her chin and kissed her lips.


    During the long red light, it seemed he couldn¡¯t wait even a second longer.


    Lin Qi pushed him slightly, ¡°Can you please focus on driving?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°We¡¯re almost there.¡±


    Lin Qi looked out the window; they were still a long way from Yuhua Mansion.


    ¡°It¡¯s still more than half an hour away from home.¡± He¡¯s driving a car, not a rocket; how could they be almost there?


    Huo Tingdong smirked.


    At this critical moment, by taking her home, how would he accomplish the real task?


    With two little ones jumping around at home, he wouldn¡¯t let them interfere with his plans.

 Chapter 145 - 145 145 Tonight Youre in Charge of Taking Care

    ?Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Tonight, You¡¯re in Charge of Taking Care of Me Chapter 145: Chapter 145: Tonight, You¡¯re in Charge of Taking Care of Me Ten minutes later.


    The car stops at Huanya Hotel.


    Huo Tingdong gets out of the car, walks to the passenger side, opens the door, ¡°Get out.¡±


    Lin Qi looks around blankly, feeling unfamiliar and not knowing where she is, and asks in confusion, ¡°Where is this?¡±


    Huo Tingdong says, ¡°Be good, get out.¡± He seems to be in a hurry and doesn¡¯t have the time to explain to her.


    Lin Qi has no choice but to obediently get out of the car. The next second, the man takes her hand and heads towards the hotel. When they reach the entrance, she stumbles on the threshold and almost falls to the ground.


    He catches her in his arms, practically carrying her, and only a chuckle comes from above her head: ¡°You¡¯re so clumsy!¡±


    Lin Qi looks up and glares at him unhappily, ¡°Why did you bring me here?¡±


    It¡¯s as if she knows the answer, but she feels that this man bringing her boldly to a hotel is too obvious with his intentions!


    It looks like he doesn¡¯t want to go home tonight, he must be worried about Han and Momo...


    As soon as Lin Qi thinks of Han and Momo, she quickly says, ¡°We need to go home today...¡±


    Huo Tingdong says, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about them, the nanny will take care of them. Tonight, you just need to take care of me.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face immediately heats up like it¡¯s on fire, muttering, ¡°Do you, being so grown-up, still need me to take care of you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong hums in response, not directly answering her.


    He holds her as they enter the hotel, and the lobby manager greets him enthusiastically as soon as he sees him.


    ¡°Mr. Huo, what brings you here?¡±


    Huanya Hotel is also invested by Huace Group. Because it¡¯s close to Huace, sometimes when Huo Tingdong is busy in the office till late, he stays in the hotel.


    The hotel reserved a suite for his private use.


    No need for card activation or tedious check-in procedures, the hotel manager escorts them to the elevator, swipes a card for the floor, and bows deeply, not daring to raise his head to glance at Lin Qi until the elevator door closes.


    Because he knows the rules.


    Hotel 29th floor.


    The entire floor has only five suites.


    His private suite is the last one at the end of the corridor, also the largest.


    The entire floor is eerily quiet, of the five suites, only two are occupied.


    The soundproofing is so good that the entire floor is carpeted, and they make no sound as they walk.


    She feels like a doll, held in his arms, hardly touching the ground.


    Reaching the room, Huo Tingdong presses his fingerprint to unlock it. As soon as the door opens, his hand on her waist gives her a push, and she almost stumbles in.


    Huo Tingdong steps inside swiftly, pulling her back into his arms, not missing the chance to tease, ¡°Clumsy, have you forgotten how to walk?¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re still talking?¡± Lin Qi¡¯s temper flares, ¡°It was you who pushed me...¡±


    The door clicks shut.


    The man pins her against the door, slipping off his suit jacket decisively, not giving her a chance to catch her breath as he leans down to kiss her.


    He seems very skilled, removing his suit and shirt smoothly. In an instant, his muscular body is exposed to her gaze.


    Lin Qi is surprised: ¡°You...¡± Is he moving too fast?


    Seeing his smooth movements, could it be that he has experience in this?


    Thinking about this, she feels a bit awkward, but perhaps she¡¯s negligent or doesn¡¯t understand men enough.


    In such matters, men often come to understand sooner than women, it¡¯s an instinct engraved in their bones; they don¡¯t need anyone to teach them how to act, the mood and the moment dictate the natural flow of actions.


    What comes after goes without saying.


    Now that they are here, the vast executive suite becomes his domain to rule.


    She doesn¡¯t even get a chance to protest before she¡¯s thoroughly devoured by this man.


    Not until very late at night does a certain man finally decide to relent.


    ...


    The next day.


    The sun is high outside the window, and it¡¯s well into the morning when Lin Qi finally stirs awake in a daze.


    She opens her eyes, and the only sound in the room is the air conditioner.


    Under the white blankets, Huo Tingdong is holding her, and she¡¯s sleeping on his arm, having spent the whole night this way.


    Lin Qi moves slightly and feels an ache in her waist, legs, and even her arms, as if every bone in her body has been dismantled and reassembled.


    The man beside her sleeps guiltlessly, holding her in his arms, his eyes shut, not yet awake.


    This is her first time... being so close to him.


    The bite marks on her shoulder silently accuse him of how savage he was last night.


    Lin Qi bites her lips, feeling blood rushing to her head and her face burning hotly.


    Huo Tingdong suddenly opens his eyes.


    Lin Qi instinctively buries her face into the blanket, her scalp tingles, as her eyes stay shut, not daring to make eye contact with him.


    ¡°Awake?¡±


    His voice carries the huskiness of having just awoken.


    Lin Qi tenses up, turning her back toward him, and curls into an even smaller ball.


    Huo Tingdong lazily wraps her in his arms from behind, his handsome face hovers over her neck, and he lightly kisses her shoulder: ¡°Why are you turning your back to me?¡±


    Remembering last night¡¯s events.


    Huo Tingdong still savors the taste.


    She was as pure white as a sheet of paper, now stained with his color.


    A color exclusively his.


    Lin Qi says, ¡°I... I haven¡¯t fully woken up...¡± She¡¯s somewhat irritated with herself, why did she wake up before him? As a result, she hasn¡¯t prepared herself to face him.


    The man¡¯s lips curve into a captivating smile, ¡°Then, shall we continue?¡±


    ¡°Continue?...¡±


    Lin Qi opens her eyes in bewilderment, her head still swimming as she asks, ¡°Continue what?¡±


    Huo Tingdong whispers in her ear, his voice playful and teasing, ¡°Continue the pleasure of last night that was not yet exhausted.¡±


    ¡°No, don¡¯t...¡± Lin Qi quickly pleads, ¡°I don¡¯t want to anymore...¡±


    ¡°But you clearly enjoyed it.¡±


    ¡°Hey!¡±


    Lin Qi turns to face him, covering his mouth with her hand, ¡°Stop talking! We... should go back! Momo and Han will be worried if we don¡¯t return the whole night.¡±


    Huo Tingdong says, ¡°You still have the energy to worry about them? It seems I didn¡¯t perform well last night.¡±


    Lin Qi tucks herself entirely under the blankets, her face probably redder than she can stand to see.


    The man finally shows some mercy and doesn¡¯t tease her further, ¡°Do you want to take a shower?¡±


    ¡°Mhm...¡±


    ¡°Should I go first, or should you?¡±


    Despite having showered the previous night, after the shower, he held her in bed, and couldn¡¯t resist doing it one more time.


    Lin Qi says, ¡°You... you go first...¡±


    Huo Tingdong laughs, and suddenly flings off the blanket, embracing her in his arms, ¡°Then how about we go together?¡±

 Chapter 146 - 146 146 She Likes Being Dependent on Him

    ?Chapter 146: Chapter 146: She Likes Being Dependent on Him Chapter 146: Chapter 146: She Likes Being Dependent on Him Lin Qi covered herself with the blanket, shaking her head, too shy to speak.


    He could naturally tell that she was shy.


    Or perhaps... she had seen through his intentions!


    After all, he had taken her into the bath last night, and he naturally wouldn¡¯t miss any opportunity to devour her, she was tired and scared from all the torment.


    This man¡¯s energy was astonishing, if not for her pleading last night, he wouldn¡¯t have let her off so easily.


    Now that he had rested for a night, his energy was back, and who knows...


    As Lin Qi thought more about it, her face became even more flushed.


    The next second, he bent down, scooped her into his arms, and a husky voice sounded over her head, ¡°You don¡¯t get a say in this.¡±


    Lin Qi instinctively struggled.


    ¡°Huo Tingdong!!¡±


    ¡°Stop making trouble.¡±


    Lin Qi was speechless, who was the one causing trouble here?


    She originally wanted to quickly get dressed while he was taking a bath, but he didn¡¯t even give her that chance.


    Huo Tingdong hugged her into the bathroom.


    He lifted her into the bathtub, where she curled up into a small ball, utterly embarrassed.


    However, Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Is there any part of your body that I haven¡¯t seen?¡±


    Her secretive actions only made him want to bully her even more.


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Can you... stop talking nonsense?¡±


    But Huo Tingdong brazenly replied, ¡°Just telling it like it is.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡±


    The water gradually filled the bathtub.


    The bathtub was large, spacious enough for two to bathe together.


    His energy had returned, while she was ¡°severely drained¡±, and the physical strength of men and women should not be compared. She felt like her body was falling apart, sore and swollen, and seeing the energetic man sitting opposite her, she could only hate herself for being weak.


    Compared to her shyness, he was much more relaxed and at ease.


    Seeing that she was submerged in the water, only revealing above her shoulders, he raised an eyebrow and suddenly beckoned her with a finger, ¡°Come here.¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°I don¡¯t want to...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I won¡¯t touch you.¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face grew redder, she stared at Huo Tingdong suspiciously, not quite believing him, ¡°Really?¡±


    Could this man be suddenly so generous?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll apply the shower gel for you.¡± Saying that, he seriously picked up a shower puff nearby and squeezed some shower gel onto it.


    Guessing that she couldn¡¯t lift her arms to reach her back.


    Lin Qi chuckled: ¡°Are you really that kind-hearted?¡±


    While her heart pounded, she swam towards Huo Tingdong.


    The next second.


    The man grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms, his playful tone ringing in her ear: ¡°Fake!¡±


    Oh no...


    Lin Qi realized she had been tricked when it was already too late.


    She tried to hide, but it was already too late.


    She had delivered herself to his door, how could he genuinely allow her any room to regret?


    As she tried to retreat, his strong arms had already locked her tightly in his embrace, his large hand pinched her waist, she was ticklish, her body softened, and she fell completely into his arms.


    Huo Tingdong leaned down and sealed her lips, leaving no chance for her to beg for mercy!


    After the bath...


    Huo Tingdong carried her back to the bed, Lin Qi tightly wrapped in the blanket, muttered, ¡°Where are my clothes?¡±


    ¡°It seems they were torn.¡±


    ¡°Torn?¡± Lin Qi widened her eyes, then seeing the man¡¯s unapologetic demeanor, she stammered, ¡°The clothes are torn, what do I wear?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone send over a new set.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, ¡°How long will that take?¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow, ¡°Are you in a hurry?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°Um... I¡¯m eager to go back.¡± She hadn¡¯t returned all night, worried that Momo and Han might be concerned.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°It¡¯s alright not to go back tonight, if you¡¯re tired, stay another night.¡±


    Lin Qi quickly said, ¡°This has nothing to do with whether I¡¯m tired... I¡¯m worried Momo and Han will be concerned.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ll go back for a bit later, the two little ones, I¡¯ll take care of them.¡±


    Lin Qi paused, not insisting anymore, as she was indeed exhausted and lay down on the bed.


    ¡°Then... will you come back after you leave?¡± she suddenly asked.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Do you want me to come?¡±


    ¡°Um...¡± Lin Qi nodded her head, ¡°It feels strange staying here alone!¡±


    Huo Tingdong smiled, ¡°If you want me to come, I will come.¡± In fact, how could he leave her alone here?


    But, he liked the feeling of her depending on him.


    Han also depended on him.


    But she was different from Han.


    Depended on by her, his heart felt as if it was filled to the brim, a sense of fulfillment.


    ¡°By the way...¡± Lin Qi thought of something, ¡°I recognized that nurse, can you help me check that person? Named Zheng Xuanyi.¡±


    Huo Tingdong also had a file on hand.


    This name had no duplicates, telling him the name was enough.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Did you go looking for Lu Li about this yesterday?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°Maybe I was too anxious... I thought, since he¡¯s part of the medical system, he could find out quickly.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s tone was somewhat indifferent, perhaps because of mentioning Lu Li, he still harbored some hostility, ¡°He can find out, I can find out faster.¡± He sat beside the bed, reached out, and gently caressed her cheek, ¡°You could trust me a bit more.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°I won¡¯t do that again...¡± Thinking about yesterday¡¯s events, she was still terrified.


    And she didn¡¯t know how badly Lu Li was injured.


    She was concerned, but dared not ask in front of Huo Tingdong, assuming Mo Ke was there, there must be nothing wrong, otherwise, he would have reported to Huo Tingdong.


    Huo Tingdong, seemingly seeing through her concerns, said, ¡°He¡¯ll be fine, I was measured in my actions, it was just that he couldn¡¯t stand up at the time, at most a couple of broken ribs.¡±


    Lin Qi was aghast, this man had the Mind Reading Technique, always able to spy on her thoughts?


    His words also made her slightly alarmed, she exclaimed, ¡°Isn¡¯t that severe?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ve broken a few ribs myself, it¡¯s not that serious.¡± At least, for him, it wasn¡¯t that serious.


    He guessed Lu Li wasn¡¯t that delicate either.


    Seeing him unable to stand up, perhaps his ribs were broken, but this was also his territory awareness acting up, invading his territory meant beating until he submitted, no second chances.


    Soon, the new clothes were delivered.


    Huo Tingdong changed clothes, prepared to leave, in addition to going to the company, he also had to go back, to soothe the two little buns before returning to the hotel.


    He reluctantly kissed her forehead, ¡°If you¡¯re tired, rest a bit more, your physical strength is too weak, clearly lacking exercise.¡±


    Lin Qi: ¡°...¡± To his words, she was left speechless.


    Huo Tingdong stood up, just reached the door, and immediately called Mo Ke: ¡°How is he?¡±

 Chapter 147 - 147 147 Give Me Back My Mommy Or Ill Bankrupt

    ?Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Give Me Back My Mommy, Or I¡¯ll Bankrupt You Chapter 147: Chapter 147: Give Me Back My Mommy, Or I¡¯ll Bankrupt You Mo Ke replied, ¡°He¡¯s alright, just broke two ribs and dislocated a shoulder, along with some bruises.¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Is he still in the hospital?¡±


    Mo Ke nodded, ¡°Mr. Huo, are you hurt?¡±


    Huo Tingdong countered, ¡°Do you think I would be hurt?¡±


    Mo Ke: ¡°...¡±


    Huo Tingdong continued, ¡°Since he¡¯s alright, just leave him be and give him a warning. Moreover, thoroughly investigate ¡®Zheng Xuanyi¡¯ for me¡ªher family address, contact number, place of employment, everything.¡±


    Mo Ke responded with a ¡°Hmm,¡± ¡°Understood.¡±


    Huo Tingdong made a trip to the company, did his usual inspection of the project teams, reviewed several reports, and then went back home.


    Han and Momo had already finished school.


    Han¡¯s reflexes were slow, but Momo was quite sensitive.


    With Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi not returning home all night, as soon as the man arrived home, Momo circled him, and seeing that he came back alone, he suspiciously asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Mommy?¡±


    Late last night, Huo Tingdong called the nanny to tell her that he and Lin Qi would not be coming home.


    Momo didn¡¯t sleep well all night. Lin Qi¡¯s phone was off, and although the nanny said, ¡°Mommy is with Mr. Huo,¡± how could he be at ease?


    Being with this man was the least reassuring to him.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Mommy hasn¡¯t come back.¡±


    Momo looked him up and down and queried, ¡°Were you with her last night?¡±


    Huo Tingdong nodded, ¡°Yeah, we were together, the whole night.¡±


    Momo: ¡°...¡±


    Hearing this, he couldn¡¯t help grinding his teeth, ¡°You didn¡¯t bully Mommy, did you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Why would I bully her?¡±


    Momo put his hands on his hips, confronting him with the intention of seeking justice, ¡°Then why are you back alone? Where exactly have you hidden Mommy?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°Your mommy is fine; I didn¡¯t eat her.¡± After saying this, he walked past Momo, heading towards the room to check on Han.


    Momo grabbed his hand to stop him from leaving, ¡°Then why didn¡¯t Mommy come back with you?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said provocatively, ¡°Your mommy belongs to me now.¡±


    Momo¡¯s eyes widened like copper bells upon hearing this, ¡°No way! Mommy is mine; you can¡¯t take her away from me.¡±


    Huo Tingdong was amused by his righteous attitude.


    So domineering at such a young age, truly his son.


    He squatted in front of Momo, lifted an eyebrow, and asked, ¡°What if I insist on competing with you for her?¡±


    Momo frowned, visibly getting angry.


    It was clear that he was really upset. He grabbed the man¡¯s tie and showed a countenance identical to Huo Tingdong¡¯s, stern and imposing, ¡°You dare?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°There¡¯s nothing in this world I would not dare to do.¡±


    He seriously wondered if the boy had an ¡°Oedipus complex,¡± or perhaps it was related to him growing up beside Lin Qi, the two of them depending solely on each other.


    But he couldn¡¯t indulge this behavior.


    He must make the boy understand that Lin Qi was not his private possession.


    Momo said, ¡°Then I¡¯ll make you go bankrupt!¡±


    Huo Tingdong smiled playfully, barely suppressing his laughter, ¡°How will you make me bankrupt?¡±


    Momo did not want to conceal it any longer, laying his cards on the table, ¡°I have plenty of ways to make you bankrupt. If you had properly researched Huace Group¡¯s shareholding structure, you would know who, aside from you, is Huace¡¯s second largest shareholder.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s expression froze somewhat.


    Naturally, he was well aware of the company¡¯s shareholding structure.


    He himself held a forty-nine percent stake in Huace Group, and the second largest shareholder, aside from him, held fifteen percent.


    But this shareholder¡¯s identity was shrouded in mystery, elusive, so much so that even he only knew this person had the surname ¡°Mo,¡± known as ¡°Mr. Mo.¡± This ¡°Mr. Mo¡± had never attended a board meeting, and all affairs were communicated through email. Besides that, there was a representative designated to handle affairs, all major agendas were conveyed to ¡°Mr. Mo¡± through this representative.


    Mr. Mo...?


    Huo Tingdong frowned, looking at Momo¡¯s childish face, his mind entertained some unbelievable suspicions, but he immediately dismissed them.


    Like father, like son.


    He only knew that Momo possessed impressive hacking skills, able to easily develop a virus that could take down Huace¡¯s defense system, but powerful as he was, he was still just a child under eight years old.


    Eight years old...


    What could an eight-year-old child do?


    Huo Tingdong found it hard to associate him with ¡°Mr. Mo.¡±


    He asked, ¡°Do you know ¡®Mr. Mo¡¯?¡±


    Momo said, ¡°Don¡¯t you want to guess again?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Are you playing riddles with me?¡±


    Momo raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a graceful arc, ¡°Is it possible that I am that ¡®Mr. Mo¡¯?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°How could that be? I¡¯ve looked into ¡®Mr. Mo¡¯s¡¯ information, he is thirty-five years old this year.¡±


    Momo replied, ¡°Are you sure? Information like this can be easily manipulated. I can¡¯t believe you actually took it for truth.¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze faltered slightly.


    If this was true, it would completely shatter his perceptions.


    He didn¡¯t think Momo could be that mysterious ¡°Mr. Mo,¡± but if Momo really was ¡°Mr. Mo,¡± then the child would be worth a hundred billion.


    He¡¯s just eight years old?


    How did he do it?


    Huo Tingdong was still skeptical and asked, ¡°Do you have any evidence to prove you are ¡®Mr. Mo¡¯?¡±


    Momo retorted, ¡°Unless you tell me, where you have hidden Mommy, otherwise, no comment!¡±


    Saying that, he crossed his arms and half-closed his eyes, staring at him.


    The identity of ¡°Mr. Mo¡± was his trump card, not something he would easily reveal. However, since Huo Tingdong was his biological father, there wasn¡¯t much point in hiding it¡ªit wouldn¡¯t hurt to let him understand clearly.


    Huo Tingdong slowly stood up, his brows knitted together. He admitted that the boy had piqued his interest greatly, so he uncharacteristically softened, ¡°Tonight, I will bring her back. Before that, you must tell me first, why are you ¡®Mr. Mo¡¯?¡±


    It was said that ¡°Mr. Mo¡± was a heavyweight in the financial world of venture capital.


    Two years ago, he joined Huace as a shareholder and had been continuously increasing his stake over the two years, aggressively acquiring shares. After Huace was listed in Zurich, ¡°Mr. Mo¡± continued to expand his shareholding, quickly becoming Huace¡¯s second largest shareholder.


    Such boldness and strength in his actions made it hard for people to believe that they came from the hands of a child under eight.


    If, if he really was ¡°Mr. Mo,¡± then that threat he made indeed had some credibility.


    After all, as the second largest shareholder, his standing on the board was not to be underestimated. Although it wouldn¡¯t reach the extent of forcing Huo Tingdong into bankruptcy¡ªsince Huace¡¯s real power was in his hands¡ªa single move by a major shareholder could have a domino effect, causing far-reaching impacts.

 Chapter 148 - 148 148 Like Father Like Son

    ?Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Like Father, Like Son Chapter 148: Chapter 148: Like Father, Like Son Momo said, ¡°Mommy previously opened a stock market account; I took two of the accounts, claimed them as my own, and have operated them successfully. When Bitcoin was booming, I invested in Bitcoin. Predicting that it would fall, I sold them early, cashed out, and used that money to invest in the Metaverse.¡±


    The Metaverse concept stocks have been incredibly hot over the past two years.


    Initially, many were just watching, but Momo, although young, was audacious; without many concerns and originally treating stock market trading as a casual affair, he invested several hundred million in concept stocks.


    Unexpectedly, just a few months later, the Metaverse¡¯s momentum soared, and his net worth doubled, leaping from several hundred million to over ten billion.


    After that, Momo reduced his holdings in Metaverse concept stocks and invested a large sum of money in international foreign corporations, the biggest investment being in Huace Group.


    Huace Group¡¯s stock has been very stable, although it is normal for the stock market to fluctuate, but long-term bullish sectors like Huace Group are scarce.


    After all, Huace is involved in a wide array of fields.


    Momo continued to support Huace, and now, he is the third largest shareholder of Huace Group, second only to Tingdong¡¯s private stocks.


    Tingdong was internally shocked beyond words.


    Momo, just eight years old, had already amassed such a substantial fortune with his unique investment insight.


    Momo elegantly smiled, ¡°So, I said, I was just scaring you by threatening to bankrupt you. But in fact, as the second largest shareholder of Huace, even a slight move by me would seriously hurt Huace. If I pull out all my investments, it would undoubtedly disrupt the stock market.¡±


    He paused, then raised his little hand and gently patted Tingdong¡¯s shoulder with a wise look that subtly contained a threat: ¡°I advise you not to oppose me, not to anger me, and not to covet my mommy. Mommy is mine.¡±


    Tingdong could only laugh speechlessly.


    He slowly stood up, patted Momo¡¯s head, ¡°Truly my son.¡±


    Momo¡¯s face suddenly turned weirdly red, and he glared at him, hesitating to speak, ¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself, I haven¡¯t acknowledged you as my father yet!¡±


    Tingdong said, ¡°Whether you acknowledge it or not, you are my son, and that¡¯s an unchangeable fact.¡±


    Momo retorted, ¡°We have a biological relationship, but for me to acknowledge you, you need to earn my approval first!¡±


    Tingdong asked, ¡°What would it take for me to earn your approval?¡±


    Momo responded, ¡°You failed my mommy first, causing her to suffer for so many years; have you thought about how you¡¯ll make it up to her?¡±


    Tingdong¡¯s eyebrows slightly frowned.


    Momo boldly stated, ¡°Seven years ago, you were the one who wanted the divorce, and now you want reconciliation; my mommy isn¡¯t someone you can summon and dismiss at will! There are so many others who would want to be my dad, why should my mommy choose you? If not for you, my brother would not still be missing without a trace.¡±


    Tingdong said, ¡°If I find him, will you acknowledge me then?¡±


    Even if Momo didn¡¯t make this a condition, he would still find the child.


    Momo was stunned, ¡°Can you find him?¡±


    Tingdong said, ¡°Alive or dead, I will find him, no matter what.¡±


    After a pause, he slowly said, ¡°The events from seven years ago were my fault, I can¡¯t deny it.¡± He wasn¡¯t someone who liked to shirk his responsibilities; if only he had treated Lin Qi properly back then, at least she wouldn¡¯t have been scared to avoid him for seven years.


    If only he had taken the time to understand Lin Qi better before, perhaps he wouldn¡¯t have decided on the divorce.


    But now it was too late.


    The only thing he could do now was to find the child as soon as possible.


    In the room,


    Han opened the door, peeking out his little head, and upon seeing Tingdong return, he called out crisply, ¡°Daddy!¡±


    Tingdong turned around, just in time to see Han running towards him with open arms, filled with joy.


    ¡°Daddy!¡±


    Tingdong picked up Han, who hugged his neck and kissed his cheek, then eagerly asked the next question, ¡°Where¡¯s Aunt Qiqi?¡±


    Tingdong said, ¡°Aunt Qiqi is tired, she¡¯s resting at the hotel, we¡¯ll pick her up tomorrow.¡±


    Hotel...


    Momo¡¯s little head seemed as if a nerve had snapped, the alarm bells ringing as he questioned, ¡°What are you taking my mommy to a hotel for?¡±


    Huo Tingdong raised an eyebrow nonchalantly, finding Momo¡¯s suspicious gaze amusing.


    That look seemed as if he was catching a cheater in the act.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°To take her to the hotel to sleep.¡±


    Momo¡¯s little face became even more wary: ¡°You slept with mommy?¡±


    Huo Tingdong countered: ¡°Haven¡¯t you slept with mommy before?¡±


    This counter-question genuinely left Momo speechless.


    He said somewhat guiltily, ¡°Slept...¡±


    Huo Tingdong, even more justified, methodically countered: ¡°If you can sleep with mommy, why can¡¯t I sleep with mommy?¡±


    Upon hearing this, Han envied, ¡°I want to sleep with Aunt Qiqi too.¡±


    Momo flicked his head, glared at him, and then looked towards Huo Tingdong: ¡°That¡¯s different!¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked with interest: ¡°How is it different?¡±


    Momo¡¯s little face turned red: ¡°...It just is!¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s eyes held a trace of amusement.


    The little guy sure seemed to know quite a bit.


    But that was to be expected.


    He¡¯s only over seven years old, yet he could effortlessly manipulate the stock and capital markets, far more mature and knowledgeable than other children his age.


    What other ¡°surprises¡± does this guy hold that he doesn¡¯t know about?


    Huo Tingdong had an overwhelming curiosity about Momo, this son who seemed like someone with cheats enabled, apparently still hiding more secrets unknown to him.


    It was late at night.


    Huo Tingdong arrived at the hotel and ordered a meal.


    Lin Qi had slept the afternoon away and perked up a bit by evening but still felt achy in her back and legs; as soon as he entered the room, he saw her lying on the bed, seeming to have just woken up.


    Huo Tingdong sat down beside the bed and asked, ¡°Slept all afternoon?¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°Mmh...¡±


    Huo Tingdong leaned down and kissed her lips, speaking with empathy, ¡°Tired out?¡±


    Lin Qi¡¯s face heated up instantly, pushing him slightly, ¡°You have the nerve to ask me? If I had known...¡± If I had known his vitality was so robust, she would have been more wary.


    Yesterday was a difficult situation to get out of, today she definitely wouldn¡¯t fall for his tricks again!


    Lin Qi put down her phone, having just woken up, she discovered that she had been kicked out of the company¡¯s DingTalk group.


    She was unilaterally fired by the company.


    At the same time, she also learned some inside information.


    Mrs. Fang had died...


    This news was too sudden, she wasn¡¯t mentally prepared, feeling a bit sighful.


    Reportedly, Mrs. Fang was severely injured, lying in the ICU, maintained on various machines, costing hundreds of thousands every month.


    This sum of money might not matter much to the Fang Family, but Fang Zhixing was currently overwhelmed, and offending Huo Tingdong had dire consequences; the Huo Family¡¯s suppression left him gasping for air.


    Currently, he was in a situation akin to a clay Buddha crossing a river ¨C barely able to save himself, let alone care for his troublesome wife.

 Chapter 149 - 149 149 Finding Zheng Xuanyis Whereabouts

    ?Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Finding Zheng Xuanyi¡¯s Whereabouts Chapter 149: Chapter 149: Finding Zheng Xuanyi¡¯s Whereabouts Now the top management of the company has also been shaken, as she was suddenly kicked out of the DingTalk group and received a dismissal notice.


    The official reason was to optimize staff and improve the management system.


    However, since Mrs. Fang had passed away, the company¡¯s stockholding structure was naturally subject to a reevaluation.


    This matter had been suppressed, but the company¡¯s market value had already begun to give hints of trouble amidst a falling stock market, and Lin Qi felt that this was not a bad time.


    With the stock price dropping, reclaiming the company¡¯s stock now could promise considerable prospects for future development.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Are you hungry?¡±


    Lin Qi touched her stomach, ¡°Yes, I¡¯m hungry.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ve just ordered a meal, get up. Let¡¯s have dinner together.¡±


    He was about to get up, Lin Qi suddenly grabbed his arm and asked, ¡°Have you visited Momo and Han?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Yes, Momo wants you to come back tonight.¡±


    Lin Qi got nervous, rolled out of bed, and quickly changed clothes.


    Huo Tingdong added, ¡°However, I¡¯ve filed an application with him, stay one more night, and we¡¯ll go back tomorrow.¡±


    Lin Qi felt vaguely guilty, ¡°Staying here tonight?¡± She was particular about sleeping environments and was not accustomed to hotels.


    If it wasn¡¯t for being too tired yesterday...


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°By now, they have probably had dinner and gone to bed. By the time you get back, they will be asleep.¡±


    Soon after.


    A hotel waiter came to deliver the meal.


    The executive suite¡¯s dining area was elegant and quiet.


    The dining table was covered with a red velvet tablecloth, and candles were lit. Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi sat down at the table.


    Lin Qi looked at the romantic candlelight, somewhat distracted, ¡°Is this considered a candlelight dinner?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°Do you like it?¡±


    Lin Qi smiled, ¡°It¡¯s more romantic than I imagined.¡±


    Appetizers and soup were served first.


    Huo Tingdong sipped a glass of red wine, and his phone vibrated.


    He took it out and glanced; it was an email from Mo Ke.


    Huo Tingdong skimmed quickly through it, suddenly put down his phone, and said to Lin Qi, ¡°They found the person.¡±


    Lin Qi asked, surprised, ¡°Who?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Zheng Xuanyi.¡±


    Lin Qi got excited, ¡°That was quick?¡±


    She couldn¡¯t help admiring Mo Ke for his efficiency in handling matters.


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, I will continue to investigate this matter.¡±


    Lin Qi absent-mindedly nodded.


    She wondered whether finding this nurse named ¡°Zheng Xuanyi¡± could smoothly lead to finding that child.


    Her heart was uneasy...


    She did not know whether the child was alive or...


    She did not dare to think of the worst, naturally hoping the child was fine, but if the child was still alive, how had these seven years been for him?


    Was he doing well?


    What had happened to him during these seven years?


    After dinner, Huo Tingdong went to the balcony to return Mo Ke¡¯s call.


    Lin Qi sat on the couch. After the waiter had tidied up the dining room and left the room, Huo Tingdong came back in from the balcony.


    She stood up, walked up to him, and asked, ¡°What did Mo Ke say?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Mo Ke has sent her home address, contact number, and workplace details all through email to me.¡±


    Lin Qi curiously asked, ¡°Where is she working now?¡±


    ¡°At a private hospital called De¡¯an.¡±


    Lin Qi exclaimed in shock, ¡°Isn¡¯t that a Psychiatric Hospital?¡±


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°How do you know?¡±


    Lin Qi chuckled, ¡°Everyone in the city knows, De¡¯an Hospital treats many psychiatric patients. When someone is called ¡®crazy¡¯, they say they¡¯ll call the police and have them locked up in De¡¯an Hospital.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I have arranged everything; I will take you to meet her tomorrow.¡±


    Lin Qi nodded, ¡°Okay.¡±


    The next morning.


    Lin Qi woke up early, while Huo Tingdong was still asleep. She tiptoed out of bed, washed up, changed clothes, and after she was fully dressed, she sat beside the bed, gently nudging Huo Tingdong¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Huo Tingdong, wake up.¡±


    She could hardly wait to meet Zheng Xuanyi.


    Because of this matter, she was so worried that she couldn¡¯t sleep well all night, having nightmares and heavy thoughts.


    Huo Tingdong woke up, he sat up from the bed holding his forehead, Lin Qi said, ¡°Get up and wash, let¡¯s set off early. I want to meet that woman soon, I have many questions to ask.¡±


    ¡°Okay.¡±


    After Huo Tingdong washed up and changed his clothes, he took Lin Qi out.


    The car sped along the way.


    Soon, it stopped in front of a residential area.


    Huo Tingdong parked the car in the parking lot across the street, and then entered the community with Lin Qi.


    Following the building and door number provided in the email, Huo Tingdong successfully found Zheng Xuanyi¡¯s residence.


    The information showed that Zheng Xuanyi had an unfortunate childhood; her mother fell ill early, and her father was an alcoholic abuser. After graduating from medical school, she worked as an intern nurse at the hospital.


    Later, she married once, had a daughter, then divorced. After the divorce, she has been living with her daughter and mother.


    This house was an inheritance left by her grandfather.


    The door was somewhat dilapidated and worn out from years of neglect, with a screen door on the outside and an old wooden door inside.


    The doorbell was also broken.


    Huo Tingdong knocked on the door for a long time with no response. Looking down, his hand was already covered with a thick layer of dust.


    Being somewhat of a clean freak, he took out a handkerchief and wiped the dust off his hands.


    Lin Qi said worriedly, ¡°Is nobody home?¡±


    Right after her words, the wooden door suddenly opened from the inside.


    A woman with graying hair looked out warily and asked, ¡°Who are you looking for?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Is Zheng Xuanyi home?¡±


    The woman furrowed her brow and asked, ¡°Do you know our Xuanyi?¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Yes, I know her, she is my friend. Is she not home?¡± He could tell at a glance that the old lady was full of caution and wariness.


    He had thoroughly studied Zheng Xuanyi¡¯s information yesterday. Her father, a perennial alcoholic involved in all sorts of misdeeds, had accumulated massive debts and to avoid debt collectors, he lived with his mother and daughter. Thus, he concocted a story to gain her trust.


    The old lady was still cautious, ¡°Do you have business with her?¡±


    Huo Tingdong smiled and said, ¡°This is my fiance?e, Xuanyi is my fiance?e¡¯s friend. We are getting married, so we came to deliver the wedding invitations.¡±


    The old lady said, ¡°Give me the invitation, and I¡¯ll pass it to my daughter; she is not home right now.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Auntie, it¡¯s indeed presumptuous for us to visit, but we still hope to hand the invitation to Xuanyi personally.¡±


    The old lady was about to speak when suddenly a little girl¡¯s head popped out from behind her.


    ¡°Grandma, who are they?¡±


    Huo Tingdong¡¯s gaze fell on the little girl¡¯s face, smiling he said, ¡°Her name is Duoduo, right? Xuanyi always mentions Duoduo to me.¡±


    This girl was Zheng Xuanyi¡¯s daughter, Huo Tingdong had seen her photo in the documents.


    Lin Qi was shocked internally. How could she have guessed that Huo Tingdong was so capable, even remembering the name of Zheng Xuanyi¡¯s daughter so clearly?

 Chapter 150 - 150 150 Did That Child Actually Die

    ?Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Did That Child Actually Die? Chapter 150: Chapter 150: Did That Child Actually Die? In that way, he naturally gained the trust of the old woman.


    ¡°Alright then, come in and have a seat! She will be back soon.¡±


    The old woman opened the door.


    Huo Tingdong, holding Lin Qi¡¯s hand, entered.


    Once inside.


    The little girl hid behind the old woman, timidly sizing them up.


    Huo Tingdong walked up to her and crouched down.


    The little girl shrank back behind the old woman.


    Huo Tingdong asked, ¡°You are Duoduo, right?¡±


    Duoduo nodded.


    Huo Tingdong took out three pieces of candy from his pocket and held them out to her: ¡°Duoduo, have some candy.¡±


    Lin Qi felt a mix of laughter and tears inside, recalling how Han had once coaxed Momo by taking out a few candies from his pocket. Apparently, the little one had learned this trick from her dad.


    Duoduo looked at the candies in the palm of his hand, hesitant for a moment, then looked up at her grandmother.


    The old woman said, ¡°Duoduo, thank the uncle.¡±


    Only then did Duoduo politely accept them, ¡°Thank you, uncle.¡±


    The house was very small, sporting a very old layout without a living room, only a dining area.


    The old woman moved a few stools over.


    Huo Tingdong and Lin Qi sat down on the stools.


    The old woman sat on one side, holding Duoduo.


    Lin Qi chatted idly with the old woman, while Huo Tingdong occasionally raised his hand to check the time on his watch.


    In less than half an hour, the sound of keys unlocking the door could be heard from outside.


    ¡°Mom, Duoduo, I¡¯m back!¡±


    Lin Qi immediately stood up, tense.


    A woman with shopping bags from the supermarket entered, confused by the sight of the visitors, ¡°Do we have guests?¡±


    The old woman nodded, ¡°Hmm, they said they are your friends, bringing an invitation.¡±


    Lin Qi recognized the woman¡ªit was the nurse from seven years ago.


    Seven years had passed, and her appearance had changed slightly, grown somewhat haggard, her face now lined with wrinkles, her skin darkened from sun, even her hair grayer. But Lin Qi still recognized her, the very same nurse.


    Lin Qi looked at the mole under her jaw, now a bit larger than before.


    It was her...


    However, the woman did not recognize Lin Qi; she glanced at Lin Qi, and then Huo Tingdong, feeling awkward for a moment.


    She didn¡¯t remember having two friends like this!


    Before the woman could speak, Lin Qi suddenly walked up to her, grabbed her hand, ¡°Do you remember me?¡±


    The woman shook her head.


    ¡°Seven years ago, you helped deliver my babies. I was pregnant with twins, and you told me the first child was stillborn, do you remember?¡± Lin Qi asked nervously.


    The woman¡¯s face changed as a flicker of doubt crossed her eyes, her words evasive: ¡°I... I don¡¯t remember very well...¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re a nurse from Aiyou Maternal and Child Hospital, correct?¡± Lin Qi persisted.


    The woman shook her head, ¡°No.¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°I¡¯ve investigated your information. There¡¯s no need for unnecessary lies.¡±


    The woman was stunned again.


    Then she said abruptly, ¡°Please wait a moment. I¡¯ll have my mother and Duoduo go to the other room, and then we can talk properly.¡±


    After saying that, she picked up Duoduo to carry her to another room.


    The old woman stood up quickly, ¡°Xuanyi, who are they? Aren¡¯t they your friends?¡±


    Seeing her daughter¡¯s stern expression, the old woman became afraid they might be debt collectors.


    The woman only said, ¡°Mom, go into the room with Duoduo.¡±


    ¡°Alright.¡±


    Five minutes later.


    Huo Tingdong was growing impatient. Just as he was rising to his feet, the bedroom door opened, and the woman closed it behind her as she came out.


    ¡°Sorry to keep you waiting.¡±


    Lin Qi frowned and waited until the woman came over and sat down opposite her, ¡°Please, have a seat.¡±


    Lin Qi, however, remained standing, ¡°You¡¯re Zheng Xuanyi, right?¡±


    The woman said, ¡°Madam, honestly, if you ask me about something from seven years ago, I don¡¯t really remember it, only a vague impression. Indeed, I do recall delivering for a pregnant woman, with twins, one of whom was stillborn. But hasn¡¯t that matter already been dealt with?¡±


    Lin Qi said, ¡°You gave me a box of ashes.¡±


    The woman replied, ¡°That¡¯s how the hospital deals with such cases. Most of the pregnant women who give birth at Aiyou are from poor households. Every month, there are several stillbirths. To arrange a funeral for each stillborn child is beyond the means of many families.


    The crematorium is not far from the hospital. There are people who come weekly to collect the bodies, which are then cremated, and the families claim the urns. We follow standard procedures...¡±


    Lin Qi interrupted her, ¡°But what you gave me was not ashes.¡±


    The woman was surprised: ¡°How would you know?¡±


    Lin Qi replied, ¡°I¡¯ve opened it and looked inside; it was filled with concrete and magnesium powder, certainly not ashes. We¡¯ve had the content analyzed, confirming its composition.¡±


    The woman stared in shock, her reaction seeming genuinely ignorant, ¡°I really don¡¯t know then... I just followed the rules and procedures, the rest I have no idea...¡±


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°You¡¯re lying.¡±


    The woman shrugged it off, ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m lying, Sir?¡±


    Huo Tingdong replied, ¡°The matter from seven years ago may seem distant, but if you couldn¡¯t remember, you wouldn¡¯t have elaborated so much. When people recall from memory, they tend to look towards the upper left, which you did. But your eyes moved to the upper right, occasionally towards the lower left, indicating you were thinking carefully. You¡¯re considering how to respond to our questions.¡±


    The woman was taken aback.


    She couldn¡¯t figure out who this man was and became more cautious, her facial muscles tensing, ¡°Is there scientific evidence for that?¡±


    ¡°Of course there is.¡± Huo Tingdong kept his gaze on her, ¡°Your facial muscles are continually tense, an unnatural expression, and your eyes drifted about when hearing about this matter, showing panic. Furthermore, your hands are clenched, a clear defensive posture.¡±


    The woman became even more nervous, ¡°Who exactly are you?¡±


    Why was this man¡¯s Observation so acute?


    Huo Tingdong said, ¡°Miss Zheng, our time is both precious. I¡¯ve thoroughly understood enough about you. Your family background, your father, your mother, your daughter, and your place of employment, I know it all. My question is simple, did that child actually die seven years ago?¡±


    Lin Qi too was secretly impressed.


    Had she not known he was the CEO of Huace, she¡¯d have thought he was an FBI agent.


    The woman was visibly panicked, hurriedly saying, ¡°You are asking me too quickly; I simply can¡¯t recall at the moment... I remember the child was stillborn, cremated, and what was actually in the ash box, I really can¡¯t say. I just filled in the paperwork, and the paperwork requires the mother¡¯s own signature for confirmation...¡±