To My Dear Mr. Huo

Su Qingsang walked over to open the car door for her mother. But Li Qianxue was not in a hurry to get on and seemed a little troubled.

“What?” Her mother did not finish her sentence from before and Su Qingsang was confused. Thinking about what Li Qianxue did earlier, Su Qingsang looked up and stared at her.

“Nothing, let’s go home.”

“Sure.” Su Qingsang nodded.

Throughout the entire car ride, she kept making conversation with Li Qianxue, both out of concern and curiosity.

What exactly happened that made Li Qianxue act like this?

“Mum, Yuxin is taking his National College Entrance Exam soon, right?”

“Yeah, it’s just a few days away now,” Li Qianxue answered distractedly.

“In that case, should I go and cheer him on?” She barely talked to her brother lately because she knew he was busy studying and did not want to disturb him.

“There’s no need for that,” said Li Qianxue with a smile. Her face glowed with pride for the first time since she’s landed in Rong City. “He said it himself, that we don’t have to be there. He even said that I would stress him out if I suddenly appeared to keep him company.”

Based on Su Yuxin’s results in school, he could already be guaranteed a place in University A in the province.

But he did not want to study at University A and wanted to try taking the exam instead.

Although Li Qianxue loved her children, she had her own standards to adhere to.

Back then, Su Peizhen also took the exam and earned a place in an overseas university.

Su Qingsang was the same, she earned her place in medical school through her own efforts.

Now that it was Su Yuxin’s turn and he also shared the same thinking and ambition, Li Qianxue was very proud of him.

Soon, they arrived at Huangting. Su Qingsang parked the car and took the luggage out of the trunk.

“Let’s go, Mum.”

As Li Qianxue walked into the elevator with Su Qingsang, she could not help but think about the relationship between Xiang Caiping and her daughter.

She could no longer bear it any longer and glanced at her daughter. “Qingsang, I wanted to ask you… I wanted to ask you about…

“about…erm…if you have met…”

Su Qingsang looked over at her, waiting patiently, completely confused.

“Su Chenghui.”

She was so close to saying Xiang Caiping, but in the end, she could not bring herself to say it.

“I wanted to ask you if you have met Su Chenghui lately.”

“Nope.”

Su Qingsang nodded and thought to herself, ‘So this was why my mother seemed out of sorts today.’

It must be difficult for her. Although they were divorced, it seemed that what her father did still haunted her.

“Not even once?”

Su Qingsang did not know why she was asking these questions and shook her head.

“No, I didn’t. Did you happen to bump into Dad?”

Li Qianxue did not answer and scoffed internally.

That Su Chenghui was a pathological liar! Fortunately, she no longer had high hopes for him, and would never believe a word he said.

Since she returned to Lin City, she had only been to Rong City once and that time, she also “coincidentally” met Su Chenghui.

He probably came here several times a month. The purpose, unfortunately, was to look for Xiang Caiping.

No, that wasn’t all. He was probably looking for Su Peizhen as well.

Her expression darkened as she thought of Su Peizhen.

The daughter she had raised for over twenty years who was no longer her daughter.

Not only did her daughter refuse to recognize her as her mother anymore. She even…

“Mum? Mum?”

Su Qingsang’s voice snapped Li Qianxue back to reality, and she realized they were already out of the elevator, in front of the house.

Su Qingsang opened the door and carried her mother’s luggage into the guest room.

Li Qianxue did not get a chance to take a look around the place previously.

She was not in the mood to do so now either and sat down on the sofa. Su Qingsang walked to the kitchen and told Ms. Yu to prepare a few more dishes.

She grabbed a glass of fruit juice for Li Qianxue and sat down next to her.

“Mum, did you meet Dad?”

She had asked the question earlier, but Li Qianxue had been absorbed in her thoughts and did not answer.

“Mm-hm.” Li Qianxue did not want to talk to her about Su Chenghui. She hated that man to her very core.

“Dad is…”

Su Qingsang thought about how she tried to give her father some ideas and encouraged him to salvage his marriage previously.

Looking at her mother now, she wondered if she had been wrong to do that.

“I don’t want to talk about your father.”

With Li Qianxue being obstinate like this, Su Qingsang could only stop asking.

At night, Huo Jinyao came home and was surprised to see Li Qianxue in his house. Why did his mother-in-law come all the way to Rong City for no reason?

After greeting her, he looked over to Su Qingsang. Qingsang gently shook her head.

She also had no idea why her mother came to Rong City, she could only make a random guess that it had something to do with her father.

That being the case, what had Su Chenghui done to provoke Li Qianxue?

Su Qingsang mulled over this but did not manage to get an answer over dinner.

“Mum.” Su Qingsang had set up the guest bed and went looking for Li Qianxue. “The quilts have been sunned and the bed is ready. You’re probably tired, why don’t you rest for today?”

“Qingsang, come over. I want to talk to you.”

Su Qingsang sat down next to her and Li Qianxue held her hand in hers.

“Qingsang, are you sure you didn’t meet your father?”

“I really didn’t,” said Su Qingsang as she shook her head. “Dad lives in Lin City, I’m here in Rong City all the time. How are we supposed to meet?”

“That’s true.” Li Qianxue nodded. “You’re not his favorite child anyway, he wouldn’t come all the way to Rong City just to see you randomly.”

“Dad is in Rong City?” Su Qingsang’s eyes widened in shock. “Why don’t I know anything about this?”

“Well, obviously, you wouldn’t know, if he came to Rong City not for you, but someone else.”

“Who would he come here for? Erm… Su Peizhen?”

Su Qingsang had almost said Xiang Caiping, but she was afraid that her mother would be furious and quickly replaced her name with another.

Li Qianxue seemed to expect that question and her expression darkened further.

Su Qingsang had not noticed Li Qianxue’s change in expression, she was remembering something else.

A few days ago, during Dragon Boat Festival, Huo Yifan had brought Su Peizhen to the Huo residence. Could it be that Huo Yifan was seriously intending to marry Su Peizhen?

If that was the case, Su Chenghui’s reason for coming to Rong City would most likely be for both families to meet, wouldn’t it?

However, just a few days ago when she visited Xiang Caiping, nothing like this had been mentioned. Ah that’s right! Xiang Caiping was probably afraid that she would not like talking about Su Peizhen, hence, Aunt Xiang avoided talking about Su Peizhen entirely.

“Probably not just to see Su Peizhen then.”

Li Qianxue examined at Su Qingsang’s expression and knew that she was not lying to her. She never met Su Chenghui.

But what about Xiang Caiping? She definitely met her, right? Also, what about Su Peizhen?

Su Qingsang did not know what else to say because Su Chenghui was her father after all.

“What about Su Peizhen, have you met her lately?”

Li Qianxue had mixed feelings about Su Peizhen, who had once been her adopted daughter. Not only was she now suspicious of Su Chenghui, but of Su Peizhen as well.

“Yes, I did,” Su Qingsang answered truthfully as the hawk-eyed Li Qianxue examined her face.

“Not only did I meet her, but I’m also afraid I’ll soon become family with her once again.”

“What do you mean by that?” Li Qianxue felt her heart leap from her chest into her throat.

Su Qingsang had no prior intention of telling Li Qianxue about this. However, if Su Chenghui came to Rong City to discuss Su Peizhen and Huo Yifan’s marriage, then Li Qianxue would eventually hear about it.

“I saw Peizhen at the Huo residence a while ago…”

She briefly explained Su Peizhen and Huo Yifan’s relationship, and what happened that day. As her eyes met Li Qianxue’s sharp gaze, she felt a little guilty.

“It happened during the Dragon Boat Festival? And you didn’t tell me?”

Li Qianxue’s expression changed.

She could understand Su Qingsang’s worry and felt stifled because of it.

Deep down, did Su Qingsang think that she would take Su Peizhen’s side?

“Mum, please don’t be angry, I just didn’t want you to worry. Besides, Peizhen is an adult now. I suppose she knows what she’s doing.”

Su Qingsang was no fool. Even if Su Peizhen’s purpose of marrying into the Huo family was not to harm her, she was definitely using this chance to start some sort of battle between them.

Su Peizhen was the adopted daughter of Li Qianxue, but Su Qingsang was Li Qianxue’s daughter by birth.

If at all possible, Su Qingsang did not want to become enemies with Su Peizhen.

“She knows what she’s doing?”

Li Qianxue scoffed half-heartedly.

“How great would it be, if she knew that.”

Su Qingsang looked at Li Qianxue, perplexed, not quite comprehending what she meant by that.

“Whatever, enough about her.”

Li Qianxue finally understood why Su Chenghui appeared here in Rong City.

So Su Peizhen was getting married and to Huo Yifan, huh? The other grandson of the Huo family?

Li Qianxue has met Huo Yifan at the Huo residence before. He was a shrewd-looking young man.

Previously, Su Peizhen did not appear to fancy Qiu Yanbo that much and he was at least a decent guy.

This Huo Yifan on the other hand could not even hold a candle to Huo Jinyao. Why would Su Peizhen choose to be together with him?

“Mum, you should rest early.”

“Alright.”

Li Qianxue suddenly stopped thinking about that, however…

“Qingsang, next time, please don’t keep anything from me.”

“But, I didn’t?”

“Really? Then why didn’t you tell me about that incident with Peizhen?”

“I…”

“Qingsang is it because you think that if there’s a conflict between you and Peizhen I will side with Peizhen?”

“No, that’s not it,” Su Qingsang said as she shook her head. She believed there was no way that her mother would choose to side with Su Peizhen.

“I just thought that you raised her for over twenty years after all. If possible, I don’t want you to be put in a difficult situation.”

Li Qianxue’s heart ached and gave her daughter a big embrace.

Was this how Qingsang felt? Not wanting to put her in a difficult situation? What else has Qingsang kept to herself because of that?

“I won’t be,” said Li Qianxue while she rocked her daughter to-and-fro like a little child. “What could put me in a difficult situation? There’s nothing.”

She released her daughter from her embrace, leaned backed, and looked into her eyes. “Qingsang, you must remember this clearly. No matter what happens, I’ll always be on your side. Always.”

Her overly serious expression stunned Su Qingsang. She nodded.

“Alright, I understand.”

“You can’t just understand, you have to remember this,” Li Qianxue said obstinately to Su Qingsang as she held onto her hand tightly. “Qingsang, I know what you are thinking. But you have to get rid of those thoughts, I’m your mother—your birth mother. I’ll never choose someone else’s side and become your enemy. Do you understand this?”

Su Qingsang’s felt her words became stuck at her throat and could only nod hard in agreement.

” Qingsang, I want you to promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“If there’s something I’ve done wrong, you have to tell me. It’s the same for you too. Don’t ever give up on me or leave me in the lurch.”

“Mum.” Su Qingsang understood that her fears were because of her father. “Don’t worry about it. I promised you when we met today. I will never do that.”

“Look at me getting all naggy… I’m indeed getting old.”

“You’re not old!” Su Qingsang laughed. “Everyone will believe me if I told them we’re sisters. How are you old if that’s the case?”

“Sweet talker.” Li Qianxue finally looked relaxed.

“Alright, get some rest now. If I talk to you for much longer, your husband is going to get jealous.” Li Qianxue teased her jokingly though her face remained serious at the same time.

“Mum…”

Su Qingsang blushed and felt embarrassed. After she left, Li Qianxue’s expression darkened immediately.

Su Chenghui, Su Peizhen and Xiang Caiping…

No matter what they were trying to do, she was not afraid. The only people she cared about and would protect with her life were her two children.

Li Qianxue was reminded of something.

Su Peizhen wanted to marry Huo Yifan?

This Su Peizhen…what is she trying to do?

***

“Say, should I have not done that?”

Su Qingsang looked at Huo Jinyao, perplexed.

She had returned to her bedroom and told Huo Jinyao about what happened to her mother and her theories about what could have happened.

She was unaware that Li Qianxue had already seen the video of her and Xiang Caiping making rice dumplings, so she ended up wondering what her father had done to make her mother so anxious.

A large part of the reason for her father doing what he has done was probably because she had encouraged him and told him to do so.

Now, she was no longer sure whether her encouragement and advice to reconcile with her mother was the right thing to suggest.

“When I saw my dad, I thought he seemed pitiful and that’s why I told him those things. But after talking to my mom today, she really has no intention of ever forgiving him.”

Not only was there no intention to forgive, but she also seemed to hate him even more now.

“I just think that the reason for Dad coming to Rong City may not be to visit Aunt Xiang. It’s likely because Su Peizhen really is marrying Huo Yifan. But my mom seems to think otherwise.”

Li Qianxue had clearly misunderstood and thought that Su Chenghui was here to visit Xiang Caiping.

Su Peizhen and Huo Yifan were getting married? Why did he not know about this?

As it was a serious matter, Huo Yifan would definitely discuss this with their grandfather first. However, he had not heard anything about it…

“Jinyao?”

“It has nothing to do with you.” Huo Jinyao set aside his thoughts and looked at Su Qingsang. “If your dad really means to salvage his relationship with your mom, he would do it even if you didn’t encourage him to.

“Similarly, if he had no intention at all, he would not do anything even if you encouraged him to.”

“But I personally also don’t think he came to Rong City because Su Peizhen is marrying Huo Yifan.

“So, was it really for Aunt Xiang?”

Did Su Chenghui still think that the person he loved was Xiang Caiping after these recent months?

If that was the case, it was no wonder that Li Qianxue was so unhappy.

“Not that.” Huo Jinyao shook his head in disagreement. He thought that things weren’t as simple as they seemed to be. “Don’t think too much about it. I think your mom might be overthinking things this time. Perhaps your dad didn’t have that intention in mind either.”

Why not remove those two possibilities from the equation altogether?

Perhaps, he should get Yang Wenchang to investigate if Su Chenghui came to Rong City to visit Xiang Caiping.

Seeing that Su Qingsang was troubled by this, he ruffled her hair and said, “Alright now, don’t frown anymore. Perhaps nothing really happened at all and you’re just overthinking things. Or maybe your mom is going through menopause?”

“You’re the one who’s going through menopause.”

Su Qingsang glared at him but felt slightly relieved after hearing what he said.

Even if her parents would never get back together, she hoped that one day they would make peace with each other instead of remaining enemies.

***

Su Peizhen never thought that Li Qianxue would come and look for her.

As her adoptive mother sat on the sofa right across her, graceful and beautiful as ever, she caught herself in awe for a moment.

Just half a year ago, they had been very close as mother and daughter. They would talk about everything under the sun and had a deep bond with one another.

She remembered the first time she had gotten her period and was flustered by it. She recalled that Li Qianxue had told her that this was the first step towards becoming an adult woman and she should be happy about it.

She also remembered the surprise she felt when she received a love letter from a boy for the first time and how Li Qianxue told her it was something she should be proud of.

Li Qianxue had been a great mother. For the past twenty years, she gave Su Peizhen the most selfless and sacrificial love one could expect from a mother.

But in less than half a year, this mother and daughter were sitting at opposite ends of the coffee table with no smiles on their faces.

Su Peizhen could no longer bear to call her “Mom”.

She closed her eyes and remembered that she was no longer her mother, but Su Qingsang’s mother.

The realization broke her and as she opened her eyes again, she refused to show any emotion.

Li Qianxue was examining her face the whole time she sat across from her and it made her uncomfortable.

“Aunt Li, you were looking for me?”

Su Peizhen muttered mindlessly with a cold expression.

The word “Aunt” drew a clear line in their new relationship.

Even though Li Qianxue knew beforehand that Su Peizhen was no longer her daughter, being greeted as “Aunt” still cut her deeply.

If half a year ago, someone had told Li Qianxue that they would become estranged, she would have declared that person was crazy.

Yet in just half a year, they were strangers who knew each other best.

“Why do you think I came here to look for you?” Li Qianxue leaned back in her seat, never looking away from Su Peizhen.

“How would I know?” Su Peizhen’s face remained nonchalant and she looked away from Li Qianxue.

“You don’t know? Weren’t you the one who wanted me to rush to Rong City?”

Every time Su Peizhen lied, she would look away just like that.

Everything else about her could be changed, but small habits like these were the hardest to get rid of.

“Aunt Li, I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”

“You don’t understand.” Li Qianxue scoffed and glared at her angrily. “You were the one who sent me the video, weren’t you? You sent that video to me to lure me to Rong City, isn’t that right?”

“What video? I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Su Peizhen refused to look up and meet Li Qianxue’s gaze.

“Not many people know about my personal email address. Only a handful of people do, and you are one of them.”

Li Qianxue leaned forward with a gaze so sharp it was as if she was trying to look deep into Su Peizhen’s soul.

“I have checked the email user’s IP address and it did come from Rong City. If I continue tracking the exact location, it will lead to your address here. Peizhen, are you still going to deny this then?”

Su Peizhen’s expression gave her away and she finally looked Li Qianxue in the eye.

“Yes, I sent you that video. But with that tone of yours, have you come here to find fault with me?”

“Find fault?” asked Li Qianxue. “No, I’m not here to find fault with anyone.”

Against Su Peizhen’s expression was puzzled. Li Qianxue kept her voice stern.

“I’m here to warn you.”

“…Warn me?”

“Su Peizhen, let me get something straight.”

Li Qianxue remained stern and said harshly, “The Li family does not owe you anything. Be it me, Yuxin, or even my father. None of us owe you anything.

“You were once the Young Miss of the Li family. You enjoyed our love, protection, and had the best care. In this sense, the Li family doesn’t owe you anything. In fact, it actually makes you indebted to us. Don’t you agree?”

Su Peizhen kept quiet. She did not want to answer that question.

“You feel betrayed and lost because you’re not used to your real and true identity. You still think that you’re the rich young missy you used to be, and you think that we’ve done you wrong. Isn’t that right?”

Su Peizhen pursed her lips and pouted.

“The person who switched the babies was Su Chenghui. The person who caused your fall from grace was Su Chenghui. Be it me or your grandfather, we were genuine in our feelings towards you. If you think that someone should be responsible for the hurt you experienced losing your status, it should be Su Chenghui. Not me and definitely not Qingsang.”

Li Qianxue raised her voice a little and continued, “You know very well that Qingsang has been the innocent victim this entire time.”

“She didn’t deserve to go through everything she has been through. She can no longer get back the years that she has lost, and we can’t just make it up to her either. Don’t deny this, Peizhen, you and I both know deep down that while she spent the past twenty years living as the illegitimate daughter of the Li Family, she did not live a deserving life.

“I thought I should make this very clear to you today. If you’re angry or want to hold a grudge against someone, you should look for the person who is to blame for this entire situation. Like your father, Su Chenghui, for example. Or that irresponsible mother of yours who brought you into this world but never cared for you, Xiang Caiping. What you shouldn’t do is to put the blame on Qingsang and force her to be on the receiving end of your wrath.”

Su Peizhen’s expression had gradually darkened as Li Qianxue began to lecture her.

As Li Qianxue finished saying her last sentence, Su Peizhen was filled with sheer fury.