Chapter Nineteen: The Unexpected Turn

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A flicker of emotion crossed Ruan Tang’s heart as she looked into Huo Yanshu’s calm and gentle eyes. “What’s the reason?”

Huo Yanshu paused for a moment, then lifted their child, gently shaking his head. “There’s no reason.”

He had also asked, and the only response he received was a single sentence:

“Reflect carefully on everything you’ve done.”

He was utterly baffled and at a loss, finally accepting it as nothing more than a resignation letter.

After finishing, Huo Yanshu sighed, “Don’t dwell on it too much. If the job’s gone, find another. Supporting you all is what matters.”

Hearing this, Ruan Tang pressed her lips together, her apricot eyes deep in thought.

Suddenly losing a job—there must be a reason, right? Isn’t it illegal to dismiss a public servant without cause?

After some consideration, she thought to ask Captain Chen about it.

But now was not the time; she needed to wait.

For now, she had to deal with the rumors and gossip.

Lowering her gaze, a dark glint flashed in her eyes.

As the three entered the house, the person who had been secretly following Ruan Tang to watch the scene sneered upon seeing Huo Yanshu greet her with a smile instead of confronting her.

Not a trace of manly pride—just accepting his wife’s infidelity like that. No wonder he lost his job.

In the evening, Huo Yanshu took Ruan Tang to the Huo family for a reunion dinner.

When Huo’s mother opened the door and saw Huo Yanshu, her face immediately darkened. “What are you doing here?”

Huo Yanshu held their child gently, expression calm. “This is my home. Can’t I come back?”

Huo’s mother’s anger flared, pointing at Huo Yanshu accusingly, “How dare you say this is your home! Look at what your wife did to your eldest brother! I will never let Ruan Tang set foot in this house!”

Ruan Tang was a jinx! Wherever she went, misfortune followed!

First, she had broken off the engagement with Ruan Datong, now it was the Huo family! How could she not hate her?

The resentment in Huo’s mother’s eyes when she stared at Ruan Tang was plain to see.

Huo Yanshu’s expression darkened. “If my eldest brother didn’t have those thoughts, would Ruan Tang have sent him to the police station?”

Huo’s mother immediately retorted, “Even so, she shouldn’t have sent your eldest brother to the police! Wouldn’t it have been enough for him to apologize properly? This family is torn apart! Whose fault is this!?”

Ruan Tang had been quietly listening, but these words made her laugh bitterly.

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“If your child was hospitalized from a beating, and the family lost a valuable one hundred and eighty yuan, could you say that so calmly?!” Ruan Tang sneered.

Huo’s mother was momentarily speechless, stiffening her neck. “Th-That shouldn’t have led to the police—”

If she had been in this situation, she would have also called the police.

But she dared not say it, nor wanted to admit it.

To say so would be to admit that Huo Shancheng deserved what happened.

She was heartbroken.

Ruan Tang’s smile was faint yet mocking; out of respect for Huo Yanshu, she said no more.

Huo Yanshu stepped in at the right moment to smooth things over, his indifferent expression softening slightly as he said calmly, “Mom, just tonight. After tonight, I won’t bring her here anymore.”

This was Ruan Tang’s first meaningful step into the Huo family home, and he was determined to insist on it.

Huo’s mother’s face darkened but, considering Huo Yanshu’s wishes, she let them in.

She nodded reluctantly, “Just tonight.”

The three then entered inside.

It seemed most people were away today; only Huo’s father and mother, Lin Hui and her son, and their family were present.

Lin Hui smiled upon seeing Ruan Tang. “Xiao Tang, come sit here.”

She patted the stool beside her.

Dinner was ready, and Huo Yanshu’s arrival was perfectly timed.

Ruan Tang smiled lightly. “No, sister-in-law, I’ll sit next to Yanshu. I still need to take care of Qingqing.”

Though Lin Hui was honest, she was Huo Shancheng’s wife, so her true nature was uncertain.

Her smile faded slightly but she nodded. “Alright.”

The family sat down.

Huo Qingqing sat with Huo Qian, each beside their mothers.

Mid-meal, Huo Qian, sharp-eyed, spotted candy in Huo Qingqing’s hand, eyes lighting up. He immediately reached out and snatched it away forcefully.

Huo Qingqing hadn’t reacted yet; the candy Ruan Tang had bought for her was gone, leaving three deep red marks on the back of her hand.

She froze for a moment before the pain hit, her eyes reddened with hurt. Sniffling and wiping away tears, she looked up at Ruan Tang with a tearful accusation in her big eyes, “Auntie, Huo Qian took my candy and hurt me!”

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The child’s sudden crying instantly drew the adults’ attention.

Ruan Tang quickly took Huo Qingqing’s hand to examine it and saw three deep red marks. Her face immediately turned cold as she looked at Huo Qian. “Huo Qian, apologize.”

Huo Yanshu saw this too, his eyes full of pain as he frowned. Watching Ruan Tang stand up for Huo Qingqing, he thought for a moment but said nothing.

He didn’t want the family to think Ruan Tang or Huo Qingqing were easy targets. He would stand up to protect Ruan Tang when the time was right, but until then, he would not intervene prematurely.

Huo Qian sneered, “She’s just a girl, a burden. Sooner or later, she’ll be married off. Her candy should be mine. The whole Huo family belongs to me! I won’t apologize!”

Ruan Tang hadn’t expected such distorted views from a child’s mouth and stared in disbelief.

Lin Hui remained silent, only pulling Huo Qian into her arms protectively.

Seeing this, Huo’s mother’s face darkened. “Qian is right. A burden doesn’t deserve an apology! Her candy belongs to Qian!”

Ruan Tang felt a heavy pain in her chest. Angry beyond words, she sneered, “So this is how you all see women. Let me ask—who did you crawl out from? Did you spring from a crack in a rock? None of you had a proper father or mother to raise you, no wonder you’re so good at teaching your children.”

“You!” Huo’s father suddenly flew into a rage, slamming the table and standing up.

His face was full of fury. “Say that again!”

Unfazed, Ruan Tang’s face was full of disdain. “I can say it as many times as I want!”

In his blind anger, Huo’s father grabbed a nearby stick, ready to strike Ruan Tang.

Huo Yanshu immediately stood up to block him, his expression calm. “Father, what are you trying to do?”

At 1.88 meters tall, Huo Yanshu towered over his father by several heads, his commanding presence unmistakable.

Moreover, the stick in Huo’s father’s hand was now firmly gripped by Huo Yanshu, snapping him back to reality.

Grimacing, Huo’s father struggled to free the stick. “Ungrateful son! Let go!”

Huo Yanshu immediately released his grip, his face still composed.

Huo’s father exerted too much force, surprised that Huo Yanshu let go so quickly. He stumbled, nearly falling but caught himself on the table.

Infuriated, he looked up at Huo Yanshu and scolded, “Look at the wife you married! Insulting and disrespecting your in-laws during a family meal! This is outrageous!”