To My Dear Mr. Huo

“What?”

One couldn’t blame Old Master Huo for not remembering Liu Tongjia’s birthday. It was mainly because Liu Tongjia had been unwilling to celebrate her birthday for more than a decade. He was getting older, so he naturally forgot about it.

“Today is Auntie’s birthday.”

As Su Qingsang spoke, she took out the box containing the jade bracelet from her bag and touched Huo Jinyao.

“Jinyao and I went to pick out this gift early in the morning. Auntie, this is for you. I wish you a happy birthday and a long life.”

Su Qingsang originally wanted Huo Jinyao to give the gift to Liu Tongjia. However, Huo Jinyao was also stunned by her words.

When he came in just now, Old Master Huo’s expression didn’t change when he saw Huo Jinyao. It didn’t seem like he pitied Huo Yifan and was anguishing over his suffering so he wanted him bailed out.

Huo Jinyao finally understood why Liu Tongjia had asked him to come back for a meal yesterday.

So it was Liu Tongjia’s birthday today? He looked at the box in Su Qingsang’s hand. It was the packaging of Wan Xianyang’s Gu Langxuan. He recognized it at a glance.

He turned to look at Su Qingsang. She was quite thoughtful.

Su Qingsang was also looking at him. She stared at the box and motioned for him to take it over to Huo Jinyao.

Who was Liu Tongjia? Su Qingsang’s words brought joy to her heart. However, when she looked at her son’s reaction, how could she not know?

She was afraid that Huo Jinyao didn’t know her birthday at all. Su Qingsang was merely saying it.

When she looked at the box in Su Qingsang’s hand, she lost all interest in it. When she saw that Huo Jinyao was staring at the box in a daze and had no intention of handing it over, she felt even more stifled.

Her son didn’t really want to celebrate her birthday, and he didn’t even know it was her birthday. What was there to celebrate?

Old Master Huo also realized that it was Liu Tongjia’s birthday today. Upon seeing Huo Jinyao and Su Qingsang like this, the shrewd Old Master Huo could grasp the situation. He immediately laughed and clapped.

“Look at me, I’m getting old, and my memory is getting worse. I forgot that it was Tongjia’s birthday. It’s my fault. Ah-Cheng, for Tongjia’s birthday present, go to my room later and bring out the set of emeralds that the old woman left behind.”

Uncle Cheng, the butler, was a perceptive person. He immediately agreed. “Yes, I’ll go get it.”

“How would that be appropriate?” Liu Tongjia naturally knew about the set of emeralds that Old Master Huo had mentioned. It was a set of extremely precious jewelry that Old Madam Huo had left behind.

Old Madam Huo had liked it before and often wore it. Later, when she got older, she took it off and said that she would give it to her daughter-in-law in the future.

Although that was the case, the Old Master was still around, and he used it to remember her, so he didn’t think of passing it on. It was only a small birthday, so that gift was obviously a little too heavy.

After all, she said she would leave it for her daughter-in-law, but she didn’t say which daughter-in-law. There was still Nian Chunya on the other end.

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it. In any case, these will all belong to you guys in the future.”

The Old Master waved his hand dismissively, and Uncle Cheng brought the things over. Liu Tongjia had already seen that set of jewelry, so she wasn’t in a hurry to open it.

She was in a bad mood, and even if she received a gift, she wouldn’t be happy. After all, the person she cared about and who she wanted to remember her birthday didn’t remember.

Zhang Yichen simply sat there. He was a little astonished when Su Qingsang entered the room.

He had heard her say on the phone that she was going to watch a movie with Huo Jinyao today, so he came over. He didn’t expect her to come here instead of watching the movie.

He couldn’t help but feel a little uneasy when he met Huo Jinyao’s eyes, especially when he met Huo Jinyao’s knowing gaze. He wanted to get up and leave, but he felt that it would be too deliberate, so he could only continue sitting.

He felt fortunate that he had already given Old Master Huo the gift that he had picked out for him when he came over from Gu Langxuan.

Otherwise, Huo Jinyao might overthink it if the it was placed next to Su Qingsang’s gift with the same packaging.

Old Master Huo was in a good mood. He called Auntie Zhou over and asked her to tell the kitchen to add more food, and made Zhang Yichen stay behind to eat. Zhang Yichen had no reason to refuse him.

During that period of time, Su Qingsang seized the chance to wink at Huo Jinyao.

No matter how much he disliked Liu Tongjia, it was Liu Tongjia’s birthday. As her son, he couldn’t act too cold, could he?

Huo Jinyao saw her gaze and knew that she was doing it for his own good. Feeling a little helpless, he reached out and pushed the box in front of Liu Tongjia.

“Mom, happy birthday.”

Those words were spoken very aloofly, and Liu Tongjia was initially a little unhappy, but upon seeing Huo Jinyao like this, she couldn’t get angry.

She was less unhappy with Su Qingsang as well, and took the gift. She opened it and saw that it was a bracelet of excellent quality.

She glanced at Su Qingsang again. She recognized the quality of the bracelet. The color of the bracelet was quite nice.

“You guys are thoughtful.”

She put the bracelet back and didn’t dwell too much on the fact that Huo Jinyao didn’t remember her birthday.

With more than ten years of estrangement, it was impossible to repair it in one or two days. She knew this in her heart, but she was still a little uncomfortable.

Huo Mingguang knew what she was thinking the most, and reached out to squeeze her hand.

Although the atmosphere wasn’t particularly harmonious, it wasn’t particularly awkward either. Huo Mingguang talked to Zhang Yichen, while Huo Jinyao talked to Old Master Huo about the recent situation.

As long as Old Master Huo didn’t ask him to get Huo Yifan out of prison, he was willing to cooperate with other matters.

After dinner, since Huo Jinyao hadn’t played chess with Old Master Huo for a long time, the two of them began to play in the living room.

Liu Tongjia saw that her son had stayed behind to celebrate her birthday, and that they had been close during dinner, so she felt a little better.

After instructing Auntie Zhou to bring some tea and snacks outside, she was about to leave when Uncle Cheng came in.

“Madam, should this be placed in the storeroom or in your room?”

The Huo family was a big family. Every time they received a gift, they had to register it. Next time, they had to return the favor. Old Master Huo wasn’t the only one who had his own storage room for treasures. Huo Mingguang and Liu Tongjia also had a room for their usual collection of good things.

“Put it in my room.” Although Huo Jinyao didn’t choose it himself, it was still the first time the couple had sent a gift over. Liu Tongjia planned to wear it when she was about to go out in a few days.

“Got it, Miss.”

Uncle Cheng was in charge of these sorts of affairs in the Huo family. He took the box and was about to go upstairs. However, Liu Tongjia saw another box in his hand.

“Wait a minute.” She took a few steps forward and looked at the box in Uncle Cheng’s hand. The packaging of the box was also from Gu Langxuan.

“What is this?”

“This?” Uncle Cheng looked at the larger box. He didn’t understand why Liu Tongjia was suddenly interested in asking this.

“This is a gift from Third Master Zhang to the Old Master. I happened to have something to do just now, so I forgot to put it in the storeroom.”

Although Zhang Yichen was young, his seniority was high. He was Huo Yangxiu’s third son. The other two families called him Third Master Zhang. Huo Yangxiu’s grandson was called Young Master Biao.

“Third Master has good taste. It’s a decoration made of sandalwood. I heard that it was newly received by Gu Langxuan. Old Master also liked it.”

Liu Tongjia didn’t bother to look at the exquisite gift, nor did she have the mood to care whether the Old Master liked it or not.

Now that she was staring at the box, what else was there that she didn’t understand?

Good, good, good. It was really very good. She dared to have an affair behind Huo Jinyao’s back, and she even used her as a cover. That was really overboard.

She was annoyed and very angry, but her facial expression didn’t change at all.

“Since it’s a gift from Zhang Yichen, then store it.”

She was the Huo family’s madam, so she naturally had the ability to hide her emotions.

Now that she was agitated by the two similar boxes in front of her, she was so angry that her head was about to explode, but her expression didn’t change at all.

She waved Uncle Cheng off and turned to walk into the living room. She stopped halfway and felt that she really couldn’t swallow her anger.

She went back to the living room. In the living room, Huo Jinyao and Old Master Huo were sitting face to face and talking. Su Qingsang sat next to Huo Jinyao. She didn’t know how to play chess, but she was willing to sit there and accompany him.

Zhang Yichen and Huo Mingguang sat next to Old Master Huo. Zhang Yichen was going to leave. However, Old Master Huo hadn’t seen him for a long time, so he asked him to stay and talk.

Ever since the disaster relief, he hadn’t had much rest. It was a rare break for him this time, so he really wanted to see Old Master Huo.

He didn’t decline and talked about some things related to the disaster relief.

In fact, he had made two great contributions this time. There was no need to mention the hardships and even the process of almost losing his life a few times. He specifically picked some small matters to talk to Old Master Huo about.

However, because Su Qingsang was sitting across from him, it looked like the two of them were sitting across from each other.

When Liu Tongjia saw this, she felt her anger rising again. Fury burned fiercely in her heart.

Forcing herself to calm down, she took a few steps forward and looked at Su Qingsang.

“Qingsang, your grandfather still has to play chess with Jinyao for a long time. Why don’t you come with me to the garden for a walk? Take a walk to digest your food?”

Su Qingsang and Liu Tongjia weren’t on good terms. She was surprised to hear her calling out to her.

She couldn’t help but glance at Huo Jinyao. Huo Jinyao was focused on playing chess. When he remembered that it was Liu Tongjia’s birthday today, he didn’t think much of it and nodded slightly at Su Qingsang.

Su Qingsang stood up and took Liu Tongjia’s action as a gesture of goodwill.

“Auntie, it’s my honor you’re interested.”

She stood up and walked out with Liu Tongjia. In the eyes of Old Master Huo and Huo Mingguang, Liu Tongjia’s action was a sign that she was willing to humble herself to be on friendly terms, so they were relieved.

Large families hoped for family harmony the most. Only Zhang Yichen stared in the direction where Su Qingsang and Liu Tongjia left. When he withdrew his gaze, there was a hint of contemplation in his eyes.

Su Qingsang followed Liu Tongjia out of the courtyard. It was currently the hottest time of summer, and Rong City was also very hot.

At night, there were occasional breezes that added some coolness. Su Qingsang followed behind Liu Tongjia. When she saw that Liu Tongjia was only walking towards the back of the garden, she was surprised. She could only follow behind and walk slowly.

The Huo family’s garden was very large. There were many rare plants and a special greenhouse.

Liu Tongjia walked to the door of the greenhouse and pushed it open. She turned on the lights and saw the scenery of the greenhouse.

Su Qingsang had been in the Huo family for a long time, so she naturally knew how carefully the greenhouse was decorated.

Upon seeing that Liu Tongjia didn’t say anything, she looked at the blue roses. It was rare for this kind of rose to bloom so beautifully when planted at home.

“This rose is indeed beautiful. Uncle Li had put in a lot of effort.”

Liu Tongjia didn’t respond to her words. She walked straight to Su Qingsang and met her eyes.

She didn’t evade her gaze at all. Su Qingsang was baffled by the disdain and contempt in her eyes.

“Auntie?”

“Don’t call me.” Liu Tongjia only felt disdainful now. “Su Qingsang, you’re really disgusting.”

These words were rather unpleasant to hear. Su Qingsang furrowed her brows and said, “Auntie, if you only want me to humiliate me, then I won’t accompany you.”

She walked past Liu Tongjia and was about to walk out of the greenhouse, but Liu Tongjia blocked her way and refused to let her leave.

“Su Qingsang, how can you be so shameless?”

Su Qingsang stood there without moving. Her expression was already somewhat solemn.

“What? You and Jinyao picked a gift for my birthday? You picked that gift yourself, didn’t you? What does it have to do with Jinyao?”

Su Qingsang pursed her lips and said, “I did pick the gift, but Jinyao…”

“Don’t mention Jinyao to me.”

Liu Tongjia raised her voice and paced back and forth a few steps before stopping in front of Su Qingsang again. She then pointed a finger at her nose.

“You seduced Jinyao so much that he lost his sense of reason. He listens to everything you say and believes everything you say? Huh?”

“Auntie?”

“Jinyao, Jinyao. Do you have any feelings forJinyao? Su Qingsang, tell me, who did you choose this gift with?”

Su Qingsang froze for a moment. Who did she choose this gift with? She chose it herself and only encountered Zhang Yichen by chance.

“You can’t say it, can you?” Liu Tongjia sneered. “You can’t say it, right? Then I’ll say it. Zhang Yichen went to choose this gift with you.”

“A despicable pair of man and woman. In order to cover up your dirty thoughts and shadiness, you pretended to come celebrate my birthday? Don’t you find it disgusting?”

Su Qingsang stared at Liu Tongjia with her mouth agape. She couldn’t believe that she would say such a thing.

“Auntie –”

“Don’t call me.” Liu Tongjia felt uncomfortable when she heard Su Qingsang’s voice. “Don’t you feel guilty? The two of you were having a secret date outside, and you used my birthday as a pretext to come here and disgust me?”

“Su Qingsang, are you bullying the Huo family because there’s no one else? You must be so sure that Jinyao likes you that he’ll take you to heart and turn a blind eye to your shameless behavior, right?”

These words were so harsh that even Su Qingsang couldn’t help but frown.

“Auntie, Uncle and I aren’t what you think we are.”

“Uncle? Uncle? What Uncle? Do you still know that he’s your uncle? Aren’t the two of you filthy and disgusting?”

Liu Tongjia didn’t want to hear Su Qingsang’s explanation. She glared at her with a serious expression. “Su Qingsang, let me tell you, there’s only one path for you now.”

“What?”

“Divorce.” Liu Tongjia’s voice was extremely cold and merciless. “I’m telling you, divorce Jinyao for me. Leave Jinyao and stay far away from the Huo family.”

Divorce? Su Qingsang looked at Liu Tongjia and didn’t take her words to heart.

“That’s impossible.”

Putting aside the fact that she had nothing to do with Zhang Yichen, their relationship was better than ever since the incident with Qi Xiwei. Why would she be willing to leave Huo Jinyao?

“Impossible? Su Qingsang, you can’t be too shameless.”

Liu Tongjia’s heart ached for Huo Jinyao. “Don’t even think about seducing Jinyao. I’m telling you, I will never allow a woman like you to spend the rest of your life with Jinyao.”

Su Qingsang felt a headache coming on, but she could see the difference now.

If Liu Tongjia had said that to her earlier, it was because she felt that she had embarrassed the Huo family. When she was saying this now, it seemed like she was genuinely sorry for Huo Jinyao.

“Auntie.” Su Qingsang was reluctant to explain her relationship with Zhang Yichen. Huo Jinyao trusted her anyway, so she didn’t need to say anything further.

However, Liu Tongjia’s status was different.

“Uncle and I, we weren’t what you thought we were. I just wanted to pick a gift for you today, so I happened to go to Wan Xianyang’s shop. You know that they all know each other. I didn’t expect to see Uncle there as well. I’ll say it again. I left after I picked out a gift for you. If you insist on associating me and Uncle, it doesn’t seem appropriate.”

“Coincidental? Just happened to? You didn’t expect it? Inappropriate?”

Liu Tongjia nodded repeatedly. “You sure know how to find excuses for yourself. Do you think I’ll believe you just because you said so? Don’t think that I don’t know how many times you guys have hugged each other in places that Jinyao couldn’t see. Oh right, it’s not necessary for us to not be able to see you. You don’t even have any scruples where I can see you. It’s ridiculous that you’re still saying such things for yourself.”

“Auntie, don’t you know what happened that time?”

Su Qingsang didn’t want to bring up the past, but Liu Tongjia kept on insulting her and made her to lose her temper.

“If you didn’t drug Uncle, why would he lose his rationality like that?”

“I drugged him?” At that time, Liu Tongjia was so angry at Huo Jinyao that she lost her mind. She wouldn’t try to excuse herself, but when she saw Su Qingsang like this now, she was furious.

“The two of you have hugged each other many times in places I couldn’t see. Do you still need me to drug that bastard, Zhang Yichen?”

Previously, she admired Zhang Yichen so much that she thought it would be good if he could build a good relationship with Huo Jinyao.

Now, she hated Zhang Yichen to the core. He was actually capable of doing something like an uncle and niece-in-law fooling around.

“No wonder Jinyao was so protective of you. I didn’t get along with him, so you blamed all those dirty things with Zhang Yichen on me. Su Qingsang, your scheme is really well-planned.”

Su Qingsang froze when she heard Liu Tongjia’s words.

She wasn’t an idiot. She immediately figured out what was wrong. What did she mean by saying that she and Zhang Yichen hugged each other many times in discreet places?

What did she mean by saying that they didn’t need her to drug him and even said that she pushed the blame onto her?

“What? Are you feeling guilty? The two of you are openly hooking up in the Huo family’s territory. After that, you actually wanted to drive a wedge between Jinyao and me. Su Qingsang, why are you so vicious?”

Although her mother-son relationship with Huo Jinyao had been weak for more than ten years, if it weren’t for Su Qingsang, would Huo Jinyao have treated her like this?

Su Qingsang ignored Liu Tongjia’s words. Seemingly confused, she looked up at the agitated Liu Tongjia in front of her.

“Are you saying that you weren’t the one who drugged Uncle during the Dragon Boat Festival?”

“Su Qingsang, you’re still trying to blame me for the nasty affair between you and Zhang Yichen?”

“If it wasn’t you, then who was it?”

Su Qingsang was only concerned about this question. After all, this was the Huo family. Who could lay a hand on a person like Zhang Yichen in the Huo family? And then pin the blame on her?

“Su Qingsang, don’t change the topic here. Who would want to drug Zhang Yichen? If it weren’t for the two of you, no one else would have had the chance, right? Enough. I don’t want to waste any more time with you. As long as you agree, you’ll divorce Jinyao tomorrow. There’s no need to talk about the rest anymore.”

Who knew who was the one who drugged him? Perhaps they were just putting on an act to hide the truth?

“I won’t divorce Jinyao.”

Su Qingsang wasn’t in the mood to care about who drugged him. She would tell Huo Jinyao about it later, and he would be able to find out immediately.

She looked at Liu Tongjia and spoke softly.

“Jinyao and I are husband and wife. Since we’re married, it’s impossible for us to get a divorce.”

“Su Qingsang, you –”

“What Qingsang wants to say is also what I want to say.”

Liu Tongjia was taken aback by the sudden voice. She turned around only to realize that Huo Jinyao had appeared out of nowhere.

He glanced at Su Qingsang, who was standing in the greenhouse with a determined look on her face. He took a few steps forward and stood in front of her.

“Mom, I won’t divorce Qingsang.”

“You won’t divorce her? Do you know that she cheated on you? Do you know that she and your –”

Su Qingsang could do it, but Liu Tongjia didn’t want her son to be too heartbroken, so she couldn’t say it out loud.

She felt like she couldn’t take it anymore. “Huo Jinyao, if you’re still a man and have some guts, you will divorce her.”

“Mom.” Huo Jinyao looked at Liu Tongjia with a complicated look in his eyes. He looked at her carefully. He was much better than previously, when he always looked at her warily.

“I believe in Qingsang’s character. Please believe in Qingsang’s character as well. She won’t and will never do anything to let me down.”

“Huo Jinyao, you –”

“Mom, this is all a misunderstanding.”

“Misunderstanding?” Liu Tongjia was furious. Huo Jinyao glanced at Su Qingsang and said, “It’s cold outside, you can go in first. I need to talk to Mom.”

“Jinyao?”

Su Qingsang looked at him worriedly. She wasn’t worried that Huo Jinyao wouldn’t believe her. She was just afraid that he would argue with Liu Tongjia.

“It’s Auntie’s birthday today, you –”

“Don’t pretend to be kind.” Liu Tongjia became even angrier at the mention of her birthday. Su Qingsang used the excuse of buying her a birthday present to meet Zhang Yichen privately. Whenever they arrived together, she would feel extremely uncomfortable.

Su Qingsang was helpless. Huo Jinyao shook his head at her. Su Qingsang had no other choice and squeezed his hand worriedly before turning around and leaving.

After she left, the greenhouse quieted down. Liu Tongjia’s temper had yet to subside.

She was reseentful, angry, and infuriated at the same time. She was angry that her son had no sense of propriety. She hated that Su Qingsang had him wrapped around her fingers.

She was even more angry that she had lost all her intimidation and wasn’t close to Huo Jinyao, which resulted in him not listening to her at all.

All kinds of emotions were mixed together, but none of them could make her happy.

She didn’t want to think about anything else now. There was only one thing she wanted to do. Huo Jinyao and Su Qingsang had to divorce.