After leaving Huang Lufei's psychological counseling clinic, Xue Qiandai, Huo Yunchao, and Mrs. Zhao went to a popular light food restaurant and chose a window seat.
This store focuses on organic and healthy products, and even the store's signage and decorations are full of green and forest-like charm. The store has many large pothos plants and twining vines, making you feel like you are in an urban forest. So much so that Xue Qiandai and her group did not notice Zhao Jiequn, who happened to be passing by Sanlitun and had followed them there.
Yes, Zhao Jiequn chose the seat next to theirs. It wasn't so much to stalk them, but rather he was genuinely interested in what kind of sparks might fly between his stepmother and the girl he liked. He pricked up his ears.
Xue Qiandai ordered two of the restaurant's signature dishes, an avocado brown rice cranberry salad, and three cups of herbal and fruit tea.
Mrs. Zhao tossed the salad, pondered for a long time, and finally spoke. "Dai Dai, I remember now, I'm not your aunt, I'm your mother, Ji Jiaying. Do you believe me?"
Even though she already knew the truth, Xue Qiandai's hand holding the fork remained clenched, her fingertips turning white. "I believe you."
Huo Yunchao moved a little closer to her and put his arm around her waist.
However, the most shocked person was Zhao Jiequn, who was hiding at another table. Was his stepmother actually Dai Dai's biological mother?
"Then can you forgive your mother?" Mrs. Zhao looked at Dai Dai with hopeful eyes, "for being absent from your life for more than twenty years?"
Xue Qiandai longed for it, but she couldn't understand why her mother was so fixated on that scumbag who had concealed his marital history.
Yes, he's a scumbag.
Because of this scumbag, her mother abandoned her father.
Receiving no response, Madam Zhao lowered her head even further, almost to the dust. "I know I shouldn't have expected this; it's because I haven't fulfilled my responsibilities as a mother." She covered her mouth, turned her head away, and sobbed silently.
Xue Qiandai suddenly covered Madam Zhao's hand, gritted her teeth, and blurted out, "Mom, do you know that it was him who sent my father to prison, who caused the Xue family to go bankrupt, and who left me homeless on the streets?"
The voice was soft, like a sob, striking Madam Zhao's chest.
She knew nothing of these things. Zhao Sheng had protected her too well; she was a pampered, privileged young woman living in a comfortable environment.
"Dai Dai?" Huo Yunchao called out to her, winking at her. He was afraid of upsetting her mother and hurting her feelings.
Madam Zhao wiped away her tears forcefully, again and again, as if she wanted to ruin her face. "Dai Dai, don't hate him. Hate me instead. It's all my fault. I'm the one who caused this disaster."
I pity their misfortune, and I am angry at their lack of resistance!
“Even now, you’re still speaking up for him! I understand your choice between your ex-husband and your current husband.”
The light meal shop wasn't crowded, and the passing waiters looked at them with strange eyes.
Huo Yunchao waved his hand, indicating that it was alright, and asked the waiter to give them some space.
"Dai Dai, he is your father!"
If Zhao Sheng claimed to be Xue Qiandai's father, neither Huo Yunchao nor Xue Qiandai would believe it. But the words carried more weight coming from Madam Zhao's mouth.
A large rock fell from the sky and struck Xue Qiandai's heart.
“Auntie, forgive my bluntness, but Dai Dai…” doesn’t resemble Zhao Sheng at all, nor does she resemble the Zhao siblings. But Huo Yunchao ultimately couldn’t bring himself to say these words.
"Impossible, impossible, you're lying to me, my father is Xue Jingnian." Xue Qiandai was almost incoherent.
This world has gone mad.
Madam Zhao's tears were almost all gone. She looked at Xue Qiandai, then at Huo Yunchao, "Dai Dai, Xue Jingnian is your adoptive father. When I married him, I was already pregnant with you. I never... never had any marital relations with him."
No wonder Zhao Sheng was so certain; Xue Qiandai was his daughter. No wonder Ji Jiaying felt so guilty towards Xue Jingnian.
Ji Jiaying was raised with strict discipline and was taught to remain faithful to one man until death. All these factors prevented her from being with Zhao Sheng for the long term; first love is always unforgettable. Coupled with the death of Zhao Sheng's first wife, Ji Jiaying finally suffered a mental breakdown.
Xue Qiandai stood up. The truth was clear, and there was no point in saying more. "Mom, I only recognize Xue Jingnian as my father. If you still want to be Mrs. Zhao, I respect your choice."
However, I simply pretend I don't have a mother.
"Dai Dai, I want to be your mother. I want to... spend the rest of my life making it up to you." Mrs. Zhao said these words with great courage. "Can you give me that chance?"
*
Zhao Jiequn left the light meal restaurant in a daze, having overheard their conversation.
He never imagined that the girl he liked would turn out to be his half-sister.
His father sent his sister's adoptive father to prison.
Is fate playing tricks on us?
How is he supposed to face her now?
Feeling sad and lost, aimlessly wandering, when Zhao Jiequn looked up again, he was already in front of the Fugue Bar.
What can dispel sorrow? Only wine. But wine without companionship is no fun.
He thought of someone, someone he had once brought home.
So he dialed a number.
"Hey, Fugue, have a drink with me."
A voice came from the other end of the phone, cursing and swearing, "Damn it, I'm going to quit my life, turn over a new leaf, and never go to nightclubs again."
Zhao Jiequn, holding his phone, squatted in front of Fugue's door. "I'm so damn heartbroken. I've lost all chance. I don't even have the right to dream anymore. I'm heartbroken."
"What does your breakup have to do with me? Seriously, you broke up with your boyfriend?"
Rong Xiao did go to Fugue after all.
Good brothers should always be loyal.
The two of them drank a lot of "Misty Forest," a strong fugue, and got completely drunk.
Finally, they took a taxi and went back to Zhao Jiequn's apartment together.
This is the second time we've gone home together.
Despite being completely drunk, their faces as red as monkey bottoms, and their tongues slurring, the two continued arguing.
"Do you even keep your word?"
"Of all the things I've said, which one are you asking about?"
"Huo Meiren belongs to Dai Dai, but you belong to me."
"If I say it, even nine horses won't turn back."
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