"Pah, pah, pah!" Zhou Huimin glared fiercely at An Yuxian, "Nonsense! Do you still want to marry Xiao Yihe or not? Remember this: that incident never happened, got it?"
"Oh, I understand," An Yuxian sighed, her expression full of jealousy, "It's just a pity that on that day, the man with the scar got the room number wrong, and instead of Boss Zhou, it turned out to be Director Huo. Director Huo is so handsome, and the Huo Family is so rich—it's really a windfall for that little bitch!"
"What do you know? Do you think being Mrs. Huo is easy?"
Zhou Huimin curled her lips, her face showing a sinister sneer, "We're keeping her around because she's still of use. When the day comes that she can't bring in money, I have ways to send her to see her mom!"
"Heh, Fu Juan couldn't beat me when she was alive, so why would I fear her worthless offspring?"
...
An Lan hung up the phone, greeted the funeral home staff, and left.
The car drove towards the crematorium, and not until her mother's body was pushed out of the cremation furnace and the attendant asked An Lan to collect her mother's bones and ashes did she react.
An Lan was silent throughout the process, mechanically following the steps, watching without shedding a tear as the urn was placed into the narrow tomb chamber.
When she turned around, there was a familiar figure under the large tree at the back of the cemetery.
Lean yet upright, a flicker of unease crossed his face when he saw An Lan turning around, and he came towards her with an embarrassed smile.
"I heard about your aunt," Xiao Yihe said, his voice full of sympathy as he looked around An Lan, "your... husband didn't come?"
An Lan looked at his more mature features, feeling as if she were from another world and inexplicably feeling a bit wronged. Her nose twitched, and she quickly turned her head away, "He's a bit busy with work."
Xiao Yihe frowned, "For something this important, no matter how busy he is, he shouldn't let you come alone!"
An Lan had no reply, just a weak smile.
The two stood face to face, once intimately close lovers, now silent.
Three years had become a chasm they could not cross.
Everything was irretrievable.
"An Lan, I have something to tell you."
"I know."
An Lan turned her head, resisting the urge to look at Xiao Yihe.
"I'm already married to Huo Zhanting. Whatever it is, don't bother saying it, "Thank you for coming to see off my mother today. I have to leave soon for another matter."
An Lan turned her back to Xiao Yihe, forcing herself not to look back at the man she once loved the most.
There are too many things in life more important than love.
Like her mother's death.
If she could avenge her mother, perhaps she'd find a way to divorce Huo Zhanting. If by then Xiao Yihe was still willing to love her, to wait for her—
Perhaps she would follow her heart for once, but not now.
She took a deep breath, struggling to maintain a calm demeanor as she walked down the hill, but upon seeing that understated black Maybach, her heart still skipped a beat.
Huo Zhanting leaned against the car door, milk-white scarf peeking out from under his black coat. His fingertips held a cigarette, seemingly deep in thought.
An Lan approached with heightened wariness, her demeanor submissive.
"Why are you here?"
Huo Zhanting seemed not to hear her and An Lan raised her voice a bit louder, "Why are you..."
But before she could finish, Huo Zhanting pulled her into his embrace. His coat enveloped her, and his chin rested on top of An Lan's head.
"Who did you meet?"
An Lan's heart trembled, "No one, what's wrong?"
"Huh," Huo Zhanting tightened his arms around An Lan slightly, his tone teasing, "An Lan, your heart is beating very fast."
An Lan couldn't fathom his meaning and dared not speak.
"Is Mr. Xiao doing well?"
"Why bring him up?"
An Lan deliberately said, "It's all in the past."
"How heartless!"
Huo Zhanting moved closer, gently tidying her hair with one hand, his voice laced with ambiguity, "You know, over these three years, Mr. Xiao has caused lots of trouble for the Huo Family behind the scenes for you!"
An Lan's gaze became frantic, and she hastily tried to explain, "Huo Zhanting! He didn't mean it, there must be a misunderstanding!"
Although she hadn't had much interaction with Huo Zhanting in three years, she knew that this man was vengeful and ruthless. How could Xiao Yihe dare to provoke him?
Was it because of her?
"Really?" Huo Zhanting's face still wore a smile, but the warmth of his smile gradually faded, "Which part is a misunderstanding?"
"Was it you and him getting cozy in the cemetery, or his opposition to the Huo Family?"
"Hmmm?"
His voice trailed off with a hint of ambiguity, but it sent a shiver down An Lan's spine.
If Xiao Yihe were targeted by Huo Zhanting, his life would be ruined!
An Lan couldn't care less about anything else and was eager to explain something when Huo Zhanting suddenly grasped her chin with one hand, his thumb pressing against her lips.
"Shush!"
Carrying his unique cold fragrance, his nose teasingly brushed against An Lan's, "Don't speak, and don't look back. Mr. Xiao is still fond of you, and he hasn't gone far yet!"
An Lan trembled and dared not move again, followed shortly by a cool sensation on her lips as Huo Zhanting kissed her.
He deliberately turned his body, his gaze looking towards a figure not far away.
Xiao Yihe was standing there, his face ashen, staring daggers at Huo Zhanting, as if he could devour him alive.
Excellent.
Seeing the man's furious face, Huo Zhanting felt in high spirits, raising his eyebrows provocatively and deepening the kiss with delight.
An Lan was his possession, and even if he didn't like it, he couldn't tolerate anyone else coveting her.
Even an extra glance was not allowed!
The kiss lasted until An Lan's legs went weak, and she had to cling to Huo Zhanting before he stopped.
Supporting herself on Huo Zhanting, An Lan tried to catch her breath and immediately asked, "Has he, has he left?"
"He's gone."
A chill shone through Huo Zhanting's eyes.
"That's good."
An Lan breathed a sigh of relief; maybe this way, Xiao Yihe would give up on confronting Huo Zhanting, and he would be safer.
"Get in the car."
Huo Zhanting pushed An Lan away and got into the car first.
Looking at the man with an icy expression, An Lan cautiously said, "I need to return to the An Family home for a bit, I've said so earlier. Shouldn't you go back first?"
"I told you to get in the car!"
Huo Zhanting's tone was icy, and An Lan did not dare to resist, so she got into the car.
"To the An Family home."
Huo Zhanting ordered Zhang Duo, who was driving up front.
"Yes."
The car drove towards the An Family villa in silence; Huo Zhanting was like a huge block of ice, and An Lan sitting beside him shivered from the cold, but thankfully once they arrived, he showed no intention of getting out.
"You have twenty minutes. I'll wait for you here."
"Alright, I'll be back quickly."
An Lan hurried into the An Family villa.
Whoosh!
Just as An Lan entered, she was doused with a basin of cold water.
An Yuxian pinched her nose with a sarcastic tone, "Have a good wash! You reek of death, it's so unlucky!"
In the freezing cold of winter, the water was piercingly cold, and An Lan shivered uncontrollably.
It was ludicrous; her mother taught her to be kind all her life, and yet, on her deathbed, she was still regarded as bad luck.
Then why should she be kind?
Slap!
An Lan retorted with a slap across An Yuxian's face, "Make it clear, this is my house!"
An Yuxian covered her face in shock, "You! How dare you hit me?"
Just as she was about to retaliate, she was held back by Zhou Huimin, who turned to An Guohua, "Old An! Look at the good daughter you've raised! She lacks any manners and resorts to violence!"
An Guohua stood on the stairs and scolded, "The An Family is almost finished! And yet you still have the mood for such nonsense!"
His eyes turned towards An Lan, cold and devoid of any affection, "Where's the money? Did you get it?"
An Lan laughed coldly, feeling her father was like a clown.
The mother was gone, and she was bullied right in front of him, yet all he could see was the money in his eyes!
"Money?" An Lan pointed at her drenched self, "Dad, this is hardly the attitude for asking favors, right?"