"Why were you so nervous when I was in the bathroom just now?" Jiang Qiaoqiao couldn't help but ask curiously.

When Huo Beixiao rushed into the bathroom and hugged her, she could clearly feel his body trembling.

This was the first time she had ever felt fear from Huo Beixiao.

She watched as Huo Beixiao's gaze grew increasingly somber, his deep eyes seemingly concealing an extremely suppressed and painful emotion.

He quickly replied, "I was just asking casually, you don't have to tell me."

"Actually, it's nothing." Huo Beixiao's expression softened slightly as he said, "My mother died in the bathroom."

Jiang Qiaoqiao looked at the sadness hidden in Huo Beixiao's eyes and felt a strange mix of emotions.

All she knew was that Huo Beixiao's mother had been sick since he was very young.

When his mother fell ill, his cousin Chen Yuexia happened to come to the city to stay with her.

Out of kindness, Huo Beixiao's mother kept Chen Yuexia at home, paid her a salary, and asked her to help take care of Huo Beixiao and the family.

Unexpectedly, Chen Yuexia didn't take good care of the mother and son, but she took very good care of Huo Yuanshan, even taking care of him in bed.

After Huo Beixiao's mother found out, she was so angry that her already poor health deteriorated further, and she passed away not long after.

"Is there any hidden story behind Mom's death?" Jiang Qiaoqiao asked after thinking for a moment.

Huo Beixiao shook his head. "I don't know. They asked me to go out and play that day. When I came back, they told me that Mom was taking a shower in the bathroom."

I waited for Mom outside the bathroom for a long time, but she didn't come out. When I burst into the bathroom, I saw blood everywhere, and Mom was lying in a pool of blood, never to wake up again.

Huo Beixiao appeared calm as he said these things.

However, his clenched fists revealed the intense emotions within him.

This was the first time Jiang Qiaoqiao had learned that Huo Beixiao's mother had not died of illness or anger; she may have committed suicide or been murdered.

But no one in the compound knew about this.

But thinking about it, it's not surprising. Huo Yuanshan was able to become the factory director of a state-owned enterprise because he had some connections.

Just like last time when Jiang Yiran reported Huo Beixiao for driving.

Although it's easy to prove that the car didn't belong to the cement factory, it would be easy for the disciplinary inspection department to find out that Chen Yuexia accepted gifts.

But the matter eventually disappeared without a trace, which shows Huo Yuanshan's capabilities.

Jiang Qiaoqiao subconsciously tightened her grip on Huo Beixiao's hand.

The warm and soft touch made Huo Beixiao's body feel warm as well.

Huo Beixiao's dry, rough hand grasped hers in return. The moment their eyes met, no words were needed, and both of them calmed down.

*

Perhaps because she was too tired the day before, Jiang Qiaoqiao woke up after noon the next day.

She glanced at the time and hurriedly sat up.

Seeing Huo Beixiao sitting at the table as if he were looking at a document or something, she said apologetically, "I'm sorry, I got up late. Did I delay your work?"

Huo Beixiao checked the time. "Yeah, if you don't get up soon, you'll really be late."

"Then I'll quickly pack up, and we can leave." Jiang Qiaoqiao said, already getting started.

She put on the georgette dress she had bought yesterday, tied her hair in a simple braid, and said to Huo Beixiao, "Okay, let's go!"

As she spoke, she also picked up her own suitcase.

Huo Beixiao took the suitcase from her and put it back, saying, "You don't need to bring a suitcase."

Jiang Qiaoqiao naturally assumed that he still had things to take care of, so he wouldn't be going back today.

Without asking him anything, I just went out with him.

When the car stopped, Jiang Qiaoqiao realized that Huo Beixiao had actually parked it outside the hot pot restaurant.

While she was still in surprise, Huo Beixiao opened the car door for her.

"What are we doing here?" Jiang Qiaoqiao asked in surprise.

"Let's eat hot pot," Huo Beixiao replied succinctly.

Yesterday, while we were having Western food, he noticed that her gaze kept looking in our direction, so he had already decided to bring her here to try it today.

After we eat, we can go look at houses. In the evening, we can go roller skating and watch a movie.

He had specifically asked Zhu Dong and Guo Tao about their dating routine before she woke up.

Jiang Qiaoqiao wanted to eat hot pot yesterday, but she thought she wouldn't be able to this time and planned to come back another time, but unexpectedly...

Watching the bright red hot pot broth bubbling away, Jiang Qiaoqiao's eyes crinkled with joy.

Huo Beixiao cooked a piece of tripe according to the waiter's instructions. After tasting it, he thought it tasted pretty good. He then cooked the next piece and put it into Jiang Qiaoqiao's bowl.

"If you like it, we can come often in the future."

Jiang Qiaoqiao ate the perfectly cooked tripe, her eyes slightly narrowed in enjoyment. Although the broth was just average, she was already very satisfied to be able to eat hot pot.

She had originally planned to make her own hot pot.

But these days there are no ready-made hot pot bases for sale. If she were to make her own base, she wouldn't know the recipe, and besides, she wouldn't make enough for the small batch.

She replied with a smile, "Okay!"

After enjoying a delicious hot pot meal, she got back into the car with Huo Beixiao.

She initially thought Huo Beixiao had something else to do, but after looking around, she realized that Huo Beixiao was just driving her around the city.

Just as she was wondering what Huo Beixiao was up to, she heard his deep, resonant voice enter her ears, "Which spot did you like from where we just turned around?"

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