On Christmas Eve, Xue Qiandai visited her father at the detention center again.
She picked up the phone through the thick glass. Taking a deep breath, she tried to ask calmly, "Dad, it's cold. Are you doing alright up there?"
Xue Jingnian nodded, smiling broadly. "Great! Just thinking about being able to go out in a few years makes me want to eat half a bowl more at every meal."
"Dad?" Xue Qiandai hesitated, "My...Mom is still alive, isn't she?"
Xue Jingnian was so astonished by this sudden topic that he couldn't close his mouth, his jaw practically agape. After a long while, he pushed his chin up and lowered his head.
Does this count as tacit agreement?
"Dad, why? What exactly happened back then?" Xue Qiandai pressed.
"You...you knew all along?"
Xue Jingnian rubbed his eyes, which were now cloudy, unlike the clear eyes of his youth. He tilted his head back and said, "Qian Dai, a child's coming into this world is a matter of fate between the child and the parents."
He spoke slowly, carefully choosing his words. “Fate has its depths and shallows, and cannot be forced. Your mother has done her best; she loves you, but it’s just that she’s not suitable… to live with us.”
Xue Qiandai shook her head, suffering immense mental anguish. "What reason could a mother possibly have to abandon her child? What excuse could a father possibly have to lack the courage to tell his child the truth?"
Xue Jingnian smacked his lips, his throat dry. "Qian Dai, it was wrong of me to hide it from you. Don't hate your mother. She was a pitiful person."
Xue Qiandai stood up, placed the two apples in the bag on the counter, said, "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year," and then hung up the phone.
With no answer, should she continue to pursue the matter?
Xue Jingnian dared not speak, fearing that saying so would cause her even more pain.
Feeling dazed and confused, Xue Qiandai left the detention center and got into Huo Yunchao's Mercedes-Benz.
Huo Yunchao was wearing a Santa hat and had a white mustache stuck on. "My dear little princess, what is your wish? Today, Grandpa can help you fulfill your wish."
Xue Qiandai turned her head away, her fingers pressed against her chin, and smiled bitterly. "I want to go home."
The whole city was enveloped in a joyful atmosphere, with Christmas trees and colorful lights displayed in shop windows, and music filled with sweetness and happiness.
Xue Qiandai felt completely out of place with all of this.
Huo Yunchao took her to a Western restaurant where they ate roast turkey, salmon, and pumpkin pie, and then went to the supermarket for a shopping trip.
Besides apples and cranberries, he also bought a lot of yogurt, pastries, Santa Claus candy-shaped candies, and chocolates, filling his shopping cart to the brim.
"Hey, beauty, it's just a Western holiday," Xue Qiandai muttered.
The two had already reached the checkout counter when Huo Yunchao openly tossed a large box of Dudu into the shopping cart. "No, the meaning of a holiday is to be full of ritual, reminding us to love each other every day, just like a grand festival."
He emphasized the words "love each other".
“There’s still some at home.” Xue Qiandai sighed, rubbing her forehead.
Huo Yunchao leaned close to her ear, "Whether it's there or not, I know best. Anyway, it's a necessity, so hoarding it won't take up much space."
I don't want to talk to him.
After paying, the two left the supermarket. Everywhere was brightly lit, and a cold wind blew. Xue Qiandai pulled the hood up higher on her down jacket and then casually put it on her friend's as well. They were wearing matching outfits.
Looking past Huo Yunchao's shoulder, she saw a figure in the distance, furtively glancing in their direction, by the light of the streetlamp. Meeting Xue Qiandai's gaze, the person bent down and hid behind a tree trunk.
They seem familiar. Where have I seen them before? Should I follow them?
"What's wrong, Dai Dai?" Huo Yunchao asked.
She couldn't remember for a moment. "It's okay, I probably misread it."
Huo Yunchao embraced her and they got into the car, returning to the Youshanmeidi villa. The car entered the underground garage and took the elevator to the first-floor living room.
Huo Yunchao took off his down jacket, then took Xue Qiandai's and hung them both in the closet. Afterward, he pulled Xue Qiandai to sit on the sofa and placed her on his lap.
"Today, Santa Claus instructed me to spend the holiday with you in place of Mom and Dad, and to love you dearly."
Huo Yunchao saw through this kind of thing, considering it to be human nature, and didn't try to hide it. Since his birthday, it had become even more frequent.
Xue Qiandai buried herself in his arms. "My beauty, you haven't washed up yet."
"Then together."
"No, you have very poor self-control," Xue Qiandai said with a hint of resentment.
Huo Yunchao pecked at her eyelashes. "Hmm, who can resist your beauty, Madam? I have absolutely no self-control when it comes to you."
Xue Qiandai: "..."
Just as she was getting ready to get up, Huo Yunchao's phone rang. It was a strange phenomenon; there were always inconsiderate phone calls.
Huo Yunchao took his phone and went outside.
"Hello, Mr. Zhao, what brings you here so late?"
The person on the other end of the phone used to be a respected senior and investor. But after what happened with Dai Dai, his attitude towards him changed.
"Yun Chao, I've booked a private room at Junlan Club. I'd like to talk to you about... the economic trends." His voice was weathered yet carried the air of someone who had long held a high position.
"I'm sorry, it's Christmas Eve, and I want to spend it with the person I love." Huo Yunchao refused decisively.
Unexpectedly, the other party said directly: "You... went to see your father-in-law today? If you want to know the truth, come and have some tea with me and have a chat."
Huo Yunchao's father-in-law is, of course, Xue Jingnian.
The other party was fully aware of their actions.
The truth, however, is like a beautiful woman half-concealed behind a pipa, inviting people to investigate.
"Okay, I'm definitely going to drink Mr. Zhao's good tea."
Back in the living room, I found Xue Qiandai playing on her phone. "Dai Dai, I have to go out for a bit. I'll take you back to Xianghu Bay."
Xue Qiandai came forward and placed her hands on his waist. "Are you sure... you're not taking me?"
"Sweetie!" he kissed her. "I'll make it up to you tomorrow."
Xue Qiandai stopped worrying and allowed him to escort her back to her villa. Huo Yunchao, on the other hand, went to Junlan Club.
The private room was filled with a subtle, luxurious fragrance, and a purple clay tea set was laid out on a rosewood table. The staff had already prepared the finest black tea. Upon seeing that the guests had arrived, the waiter withdrew.
"Sit down," Zhao Sheng said, pointing to the seat next to him.
Huo Yunchao sat down, picked up a cup of tea, and gently sniffed it. "President Zhao, you can get straight to the point."
"Have you gone to see Huang Lufei?"
As expected, the big boss is very domineering.
Huo Yunchao nodded, and said frankly, "Don't blame him."
Zhao Sheng laughed instead, took a sip of tea, and said, "Yunchao, among the younger generation, you are the one I admire most. I don't know what Huang Lufei said to you, but I think that whatever you, Huo Yunchao, want to investigate or do, you will definitely accomplish. I won't beat around the bush either; my wife, just as you investigated, is the biological mother of your girlfriend."
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