Lin Xiaowan asked, "You'll have to continue seeing her for now, right?"
Huo Zheng nodded with great difficulty. "Yes."
Lin Xiaowan looked at him and said, "What if I want to be selfish and willful? I don't like her, and I don't want you to see her even if it's for work."
"Sorry, Qingqing."
Huo Zheng could not let go of even the slightest thing that could be detrimental to Huo Cheng or the Huo family. If he relaxed and made a mistake, the price he would have to pay would be too great. He could end up dragging the entire Huo family down.
The Huo family had been around for centuries. The family business was not completely clean; it had stepped into some gray areas in the past. He had yet to clean everything up, but Song Zhiyi held conclusive evidence.
The key figures of the Office of Military and Political Affairs were about to be re-elected; this was the most crucial time. Many people had failed at the very last moment. He had to get rid of all hidden dangers. Song Zhiyi was just bait, and the fish behind her had yet to be caught.
Lin Xiaowan sighed. "You won't tell me anything about your work and you won't stop seeing her. What if both of you decide to get together again?"
After all, seven years were long and not easy to forget.
Song Zhiyi did not even try to hide her intentions. She was clearly here for Huo Zheng.
Lin Xiaowan had no confidence in herself at all.
"I promise I won't!"
However, the way Huo Zheng readily promised Lin Xiaowan did not convince her at all.
"Is this the first time you've seen each other after so long?" Lin Xiaowan asked.
Huo Zheng hesitated for a few seconds before he answered truthfully, "This is the third time. The first time was the day before the business trip. Then the second time was… yesterday…"
"Why didn't you tell me?" Lin Xiaowan asked with a sigh, puzzled, "Whether it's work or for personal matters, like you said, it's all in the past. You're my boyfriend, and you're even prepared to marry me. Why didn't you tell me that you were going to meet your ex?"
"I just… I was afraid you'd be unhappy with me."
"Then, do you think seeing both of you having a meal and chatting happily as though no one is around makes me happy? Do you think I'd be so happy that I'd pretend like nothing happened?"
Huo Zheng said firmly, "We weren't chatting happily as though no one was around. We were just talking about work and…"
Lin Xiaowan did not give Huo Zheng to finish speaking. She said, "Work, work, work. All you do is blame your work."
The two of them fell silent again.
Lin Xiaowan suppressed her emotions before she calmly said, "Huo Zheng, it bothers me that the person sleeping next to me is involved with a woman who clearly has a motive."
Huo Zheng realized what Lin Xiaowan was about to say and called out anxiously, "Qingqing…"
"I'm not being impulsive," Lin Xiaowan said calmly as she looked into Huo Zheng's eyes. She stayed in his embrace, and it seemed as though she had returned to her usual gentle self at this moment as she continued to say, "We got together too quickly. If you think considering breaking up is impulsive, then it was even more impulsive when we got together…"
"No, no, it wasn't impulsive when we got together," Huo Zheng hurriedly denied.
Lin Xiaowan looked at Huo Zheng, feeling a little tired. "However, I feel that it was impulsive. Since you need to work with Song Zhiyi, I think we should take a break during this period of time."
Lin Xiaowan and Huo Zheng's relationship was very sudden. It was summer vacation at that time. She had just graduated and had yet to find a job. As such, she decided to work part-time at the amusement park north of the city.
One day, the amusement park had a garden party. At that time, she coincidentally ran into Huo Dabao and Huo Erbao who had gotten lost. Huo Dabao held Huo Erbao's hand and politely asked Lin Xiaowan if she could bring them to the amusement park's office. He said he was lost and wanted it to be announced on the broadcasting system.
Lin Xiaowan took an instant liking to the two cute, obedient, and sensible children. Not only did she bring them to their destination, but she also bought them fruit juice and ice cream. The two children politely declined before they finally accepted them, looking serious and cute.
Coincidentally, Huo Zheng was the one who brought the two children to the amusement park. Huo Cheng and Qiao You'an wanted to spend a few days alone. That was how Lin Xiaowan met Huo Zheng. At that time, to express his gratitude, they even had a meal together. That was the first time she had eaten in such an expensive restaurant. She had been flabbergasted when she saw the bill. What she earned in a month was not even enough to cover the bill.
A few days later, Huo Dabao and Huo Erbao called and invited Lin Xiaowan to their house. Initially, she declined the invitation because of work. Missing a day's work meant that she would lose a day's pay. She could not bear to part with the 200 yuan she would earn.
At that time, Huo Dabao asked seriously, "Then, can I hire you as a guest to come to my house?"
Huo Erbao nodded and chimed in, "Brother and I have a lot of pocket money so we can pay you!"
After that, the two children really showed her their money and even asked if 5,000 yuan was enough.
Lin Xiaowan jumped in fright when she heard their words. If she had no conscience and it was not illegal, she would have taken the money and run away. In the end, she did not accept the money from them, but she took a day off to visit them.
Huo Zheng seemed to have heard about the matter. At that time, he waited until she was done telling them a bedtime story before he spoke to her. He asked her if she was willing to stay for a few days. It would be considered a job, and he would pay her. He had been having a hard time taking care of the children, and he was amazed by how she was able to tame the two children. He felt that it was almost magical.
Lin Xiaowan agreed, and her short and special job ended when Qiao You'an and Huo Cheng returned. However, Huo Zheng did not cut off contact after that. They continued talking until September when she told him she was leaving. At that time, he asked her if she was willing to stay. With him, she could do whatever she wanted and did not have to worry about money. After that, they got along until now…
…
On the first night of their official break, Huo Zheng slept in the guest room for the first time.
From the day they moved in, the guest room had been left empty. This was the first time they had slept in separate bedrooms under the same roof.
In fact, Lin Xiaowan had volunteered to sleep in the guest room. Although the house was bought under both their names, Huo Zheng had paid for it. She had been with him after graduating, and her last job was at the amusement park. How could she have saved up enough money to buy a house?
Huo Zheng rejected her expressionlessly after she offered to sleep in the guest room. He watched her enter their bedroom before he went to the guest room.
Neither of them slept well that night.
…
Lin Xiaowan tossed and turned in bed. Now that they had broken up, she could not continue staying here. However, the rental in Sheng City was not something she could afford. She did not have any savings after all. If she went back to her hometown, a small county in the north, she would probably not see Huo Zheng again.
…
In the morning.
The two of them sat at the dining table, looking tired. They ate breakfast silently.
The aunt had already returned, and when she sensed that the atmosphere between the two was not right, she did not dare to say anything.