"Your mother?" Madam Zhao rubbed her head, her mind foggy and heavy. Every time she recalled the past, she would get a headache. "She was well-read and had a refined air about her; she was a true lady of a prominent family. She was raised with strict discipline, always mindful of propriety, and rarely overstepped boundaries. She was an extremely gentle and kind person."
"So that's what Mother is like, just like Father described." Xue Qiandai's eyes darted around, and she couldn't help but grab Madam Zhao's arm, showing a more girlish side. "Then do you know how my mother met my father?"
"Didn't your father say that?" Mrs. Zhao was puzzled, because the girl knew almost nothing about her mother.
Xue Qiandai smiled awkwardly, "Don't let my father's shrewdness in business fool you; when it comes to love, he's a blockhead. He only briefly mentioned that it was love at first sight."
Mrs. Zhao closed her eyes, lowered her head in thought, and then suddenly seemed to have a jolt. "I vaguely remember hearing her mention it once. In your father's clothing store, she was holding a foreign fashion magazine, looking for the most fashionable clothes. Oh, she liked clothes with comfortable linings and unique shoulder pads. The shop assistants couldn't find anything suitable, so in the end, your father personally picked out a few for her to choose from."
Xue Qiandai imagined that scene: in the 1980s, shops didn't have such large, bright shop windows. One day, on a whim, her mother ran all over Xidan and Wangfujing, finally entering an inconspicuous clothing store on the edge of the Second Ring Road. The store was quite crowded; she stood amidst a sea of clothes, searching for a fashionable outfit she liked.
The father caught a glimpse of a beautiful woman with exquisite features and a refined appearance. He greeted her with a smile and introduced her to the shop's merchandise, all of which were the most fashionable items from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong.
She smiled with satisfaction and asked, "May I try it on?"
Trying on clothes wasn't common back then, and there were other customers too, but he couldn't bring himself to refuse. He asked the shop assistant to pull down a curtain, creating a small private space. She changed into her new clothes and stood in front of the full-length mirror, her elegant Eastern goddess now exuding a touch of fashionable charm.
After choosing a dress she liked, her father mustered up his courage as they were leaving: "Our store updates its stock quickly. If you really like it, feel free to leave your phone number. I'll let you know when new items arrive."
Perhaps it was the young boss's sincere attitude, or his warm and welcoming demeanor, that gave the mother a very good experience. So she wrote down an eight-digit number on the paper he provided.
He was overjoyed.
"And then?" Xue Qiandai pressed.
"Your father probably became your mother's mobile wardrobe and fashion supplier."
Lost in thought, Xue Qiandai pondered that her fashion sense was probably inherited from her mother. Perhaps back then, her mother would often bring pictorials or the latest magazines to her father's shop, searching for similar styles. Her unique eye and aesthetic sense inspired her father. And since her father was also drawn to her style, he gave her favorite items the best display positions, which in turn made the clothing store's business even more prosperous.
"Auntie, my father is smart and capable. He used the clothing market as a dowry to win over my mother, which is why they quickly fell in love and walked down the aisle, right?" Xue Qiandai imagined it herself.
Madam Zhao paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, young people, just do what they want."
"My mother comes from a wealthy family, so she must have had access to good medical care. Why is she so frail?"
She left after giving birth.
This is also what Xue Qiandai can't let go of the most.
Mrs. Zhao's expression was somber, her knuckles whitening slightly as she gripped the coffee cup. "I don't know much about it. Which woman doesn't face death during pregnancy and childbirth?"
According to Zhao Jiequn, Madam Zhao married into the Zhao family but did not bear any children. Zhao Jiequn and Zhao Jiening were both born to Zhao Sheng's ex-wife.
The coffee shop door opened, and a middle-aged man walked in, approaching Madam Zhao respectfully. "Madam, the master sent me to pick you up."
She was someone who was pampered and cherished, but also a canary that wasn't entirely free.
Xue Qiandai saw Madam Zhao off with mixed feelings.
No travel during the National Day Golden Week. Xue Qiandai and Jian Yan were busy designing winter clothing, shooting fashion photos and videos. Also, with the Double Eleven shopping festival approaching, they needed to prepare accordingly. They were busy until very late every day, occasionally staying at the beauty's large villa.
Huo Meiren was very resentful about this, like a neglected little wife, "Dai Dai, we are clearly closer now, so why are we spending less and less time together?"
When he's unhappy, he'll inevitably make things difficult for her.
He manages such a large company, heaven knows how he has so much energy.
"Things will be fine once this busy period is over," Xue Qiandai replied somewhat perfunctorily, pinned against the wall by him.
Huo Yunchao kissed her eyelashes, teasing her as she trembled in his arms. "Winter is over, spring will come. After making spring clothes, we'll have to make summer clothes. When will this ever end?"
"It goes on and on endlessly," Xue Qiandai smiled, for the wheels of time always keep turning.
Huo Yunchao sighed helplessly, "Sometimes, I really want to acquire your Taobao store."
"Boss, please lead us out of the country, to Paris and Milan, to the world." Xue Qiandai called him "boss" enthusiastically, her ambition soaring higher than the sky.
Huo Yunchao picked her up and walked towards the master suite. "Who wants to be your boss? I only want to be your husband. Call me that, okay?"
A single autumn leaf drifted down outside the window, and after an autumn rain, the leaves turned to dust. From inside the room came Xue Qiandai's pleading voice.
Huo Yunchao held her in his arms, letting his hot breath fall on her ear. "Dai Dai, on October 13th, the Hua Yin case will officially go to trial."
The day has finally come. Xue Qiandai tilted her head back, looking at his Adam's apple, "Who is Hua Yin's defense lawyer?"
"Lawyer Wu".
Don't be fooled by the fact that it's only three words; it represents the pinnacle of the legal profession in Beijing.
"Then, the prosecutor's lawyer?"
"The procuratorate has invited Senior Brother Gu."
Xue Qiandai was undeniably surprised. Although Gu Fan was quite famous, he was still young, especially considering the magnitude of the case.
Huo Yunchao flicked her forehead. "Don't worry, Hua Yin will experience the same treatment your father received. The weather's getting cold, and the Hua family should go bankrupt soon. However..."
He paused for a moment.
"But what?" Xue Qiandai asked.
Huo Yunchao recalled Yu Xue's words: in Xue Jingnian's case, besides Hua Yin and Gao Ruhai, there was another hidden boss. He was a mastermind, orchestrating events from the center, and harbored a grudge against Xue Jingnian for stealing his wife.
Could it be that Dai Dai's mother's death was related to this person?
"It's nothing." A faint cloud of worry still lingered on her brow. Huo Yunchao kissed her shoulder. "Maybe I'm overthinking it. Go to sleep."
On October 13, the Beijing Higher People's Court held a hearing.
In the defendant's seat, besides the much more haggard Hua Yin, there was also Xue Jingnian, whom we hadn't seen in a long time, with a full head of white hair.
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