Chapter 4: The Vicious Mother-in-Law

Chapter 4: The Vicious Mother-in-Law

...

It had been two days.

Su Rui had left the old Huo family residence for a full two days now.

During this time, Su Rui hadn't received a single message from Huo Yan.

Gripping his phone anxiously, Su Rui paced back and forth by the window, finding it hard to believe that Huo Yan could really be angry with him for leaving. Could it be that Huo Yan was truly upset?

Su Rui lowered his gaze, pondering for a moment before shaking his head.

That shouldn't be the case.

Huo Yan had liked Su Rui for seven years, and he was a genuine love-struck fool. While not always following Su Rui's every word, anything related to Su Rui would always take precedence in his mind.

Even if Huo Yan was genuinely upset with him, after leaving the Huo family, Su Rui had already sent an apology message. Seeing it should have cooled Huo Yan's anger.

Something out of the ordinary must have happened, something beyond Su Rui's expectations.

But right now, Su Rui couldn't contact Huo Yan either, leaving him in a completely passive situation.

Frowning deeply, Su Rui reached out uneasily to touch his small belly, the words of the doctor during yesterday's prenatal checkup still vivid in his mind:

"You need to make a decision soon. The fetus is now thirteen weeks old. If you're planning to go abroad for surgery, you should start preparing now..."

"Although there are medical facilities here in the country, I think given your status, unless absolutely necessary, it's best not to stay here..."

Su Rui took a deep breath. How could he not know that his best choice now was to leave the country?

But how easy was it to leave the country?

Not to mention the two variety shows he had already negotiated, for which he would have to pay double the penalty fee for a sudden breach of contract.

Even if Su Rui did pay the penalty fees, he wouldn't have the money to cover the high surgical costs abroad afterward.

The child in his belly had come unexpectedly. Su Rui had just broken up with He Shi then, and he was completely unprepared.

By the time he realized what had happened, He Shi was already unreachable. Su Rui had considered whether to terminate the pregnancy, but this was, after all, his and He Shi's flesh and blood...

At that time, Su Rui desperately needed someone who could support him.

And Huo Yan was the perfect candidate.

A handsome, wealthy man who had been secretly in love with Su Rui for years, there was no better choice than Huo Yan.

The night at the hotel was deliberately planned by Su Rui, and every subsequent step of their relationship was meticulously calculated.

It had taken great effort to make Huo Yan completely devoted to Su Rui, but he hadn't expected things to still go awry.

If only... Su Rui hadn't agreed to go to the Huo family that day. He shouldn't have been fixated on an identity; instead, he should have firmly controlled Huo Yan.

As long as Huo Yan stood behind him, he would have someone to rely on.

But now that things had happened, it was useless to lament.

Su Rui stroked his belly and picked up his phone, attempting to call Huo Yan again.

As expected, the call went unanswered.

Just as Su Rui was feeling anxious, the phone suddenly rang. His face lit up, and without looking, he answered the call. "Hello—"

"Is this Su Rui?" A familiar yet unfamiliar voice sounded in his ear, and Su Rui's smile froze instantly.

On the other end of the line, Huo mother held her phone, next to her was Huo father, on her right was Ye Leyao, and not far away sat a conflicted-looking Huo Yan.

The silence didn't last long before Su Rui's slightly hesitant voice sounded, "May I ask who this is?"

Huo's mother was straightforward. "I'm Huo Yan's mother. Do you have time to meet me?"

Su Rui frowned tightly. He had anticipated that the Huo family would contact him, but since he couldn't reach Huo Yan at all, meeting Huo mother alone wasn't part of Su Rui's plan.

After a moment of thought, Su Rui politely replied, "I'm sorry, Madam..."

Huo mother had anticipated his refusal. Her tone unchanged, she interrupted, "You haven't been able to contact Ah Yan these past two days, have you?"

Su Rui's grip on the phone tightened abruptly. Indeed, he thought, his expression turning ugly. "It was you..."

Huo's mother glanced at Huo Yan, who was sitting restlessly beside her, a hint of amusement flashing in her eyes. "So let's meet. I'll send you the location and time later."

With those words, Huo mother hung up the phone.

"How was it?" Huo mother tilted her chin slightly toward Ye Leyao.

Ye Leyao's eyes curved into a smile, and she gave a thumbs-up. "Absolutely fantastic!"

"It has the flavor of a romance novel's vicious mother-in-law!"

Huo mother's smile froze.

Huo father barely managed to hold back his laughter.

Only Huo Yan wore a pained expression, hesitating for a moment before finally saying, "Mom, why don't I also..."

"You can rest assured, your presence is mandatory." Huo mother guessed what Huo Yan wanted to say and interrupted him.

Ye Leyao nodded in agreement

"Second Brother wouldn’t give up until he saw the river of no return. He wouldn’t rest until he heard Su Rui admit with his own ears that he had approached him for money".

Mrs. Huo nodded in agreement.

Huo Yan opened his mouth, wanting to defend his beloved, but as soon as the words reached his lips, Ye Leyao’s words from that day rang like a curse in his ears once again, echoing around him.

Thinking of Su Rui’s resolute back as he left, a lump formed in Huo Yan’s throat, making him feel uncomfortable.

Two days ago, Ye Leyao’s idea received unanimous approval from Father Huo and Mother Huo.

They didn’t leave any room for Huo Yan to refuse. The two of them quickly laid out a series of plans, which naturally included Huo Yan not contacting Su Rui for two days.

It wasn’t that Huo Yan didn’t want to refuse; it was just that this time, the conditions set by Father Huo and Mother Huo were too tempting—

As long as Su Rui could pass this test, Father Huo and Mother Huo would no longer stand in the way of Huo Yan being with Su Rui.

They would even support Huo Yan if he wanted to marry Su Rui in the future.

Huo Yan hesitated.

Su Rui had an agent looking after him. If he didn’t contact him for just two days, there definitely wouldn’t be any problems.

After Su Rui met Mother Huo, they could spend every day together afterward.

It was an extremely profitable deal, and Huo Yan couldn’t find any reason to refuse.

But Huo Yan couldn’t help but doubt—

Could Su Rui really pass this test?

Huo Yan knew Mother Huo well; she wasn’t an aggressive person. Huo Yan was also present when Father Huo and Mother Huo made their plan, so he knew all the questions Mother Huo would ask Su Rui tomorrow.

They were all routine questions, and Su Rui would definitely answer them well.

Except for the last ten million…

Could Su Rui really reject ten million without hesitation for his sake?

If Su Rui really agreed to take the ten million from Mother Huo and leave, then what about himself…

Just thinking about this possibility sent a sharp pain through Huo Yan’s heart.

Huo Yan tried hard to convince himself to trust Su Rui’s character. Su Rui must have liked him to be with him, and he would definitely reject his parents’ temptation without hesitation.

But for some reason, after the incident of the past two days, Huo Yan suddenly wasn’t so sure anymore.

…

On the day of the meeting, Ye Leyao and her group arrived at the private room early.

The location Mrs. Huo chose was very secluded, with antique-style decorations that created a tranquil atmosphere.

More importantly, above this private room was a loft.

Mrs. Huo sat downstairs in the private room, while Ye Leyao, Father Huo, and Huo Yan were in the loft.

Worried that they would get bored waiting, Mrs. Huo had the wait staff bring out a table full of desserts.

Father Huo wasn’t interested in sweets, so he took out his tablet and started handling company affairs.

Huo Yan’s heart was in turmoil, and he couldn’t eat anything.

So all the desserts ended up in front of Ye Leyao.

Ye Leyao took a bite of molten chocolate and a sip of osmanthus honey dew, eating contentedly while muttering to herself,

“How come Su Rui hasn’t arrived yet?”

Mrs. Huo glanced at the time. Su Rui was already half an hour late.

Father Huo turned to look at Huo Yan.

Huo Yan, fidgeting with his phone, was about to get up and go out to check when he heard Ye Leyao analyze,

"Could it be that Su Rui is backing down, planning to give up on Second Brother? That’s why he doesn’t care about making a bad impression on Mother Huo today and is deliberately late?"

Huo Yan furrowed his brows. Su Rui was always cautious and punctual. How could he possibly be deliberately late, especially since he was meeting an elder today?

There must have been an unexpected incident on the way.

Besides, Su Rui hadn’t even met Mother Huo yet. How could he give up on him so easily?

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door downstairs—

"Lady, your guest has arrived."

Ye Leyao instantly became excited:

"He’s here! He’s here!"

Father Huo put down his tablet.

Huo Yan straightened his posture slightly.

Mother Huo said, "Come in."

The door to the private room opened, and Su Rui walked in. The waiter closed the door to the private room from the outside.

Mrs. Huo sized up Su Rui and gestured for him to sit down.

Su Rui sat down across from Madam He.

Madam He handed over the menu. "What would you like to drink?"

Su Rui glanced at the menu without taking it.

Madam Huo raised her eyebrows slightly and placed the menu back down.

Su Rui looked up straight into Madam Huo's eyes, getting straight to the point. "Since Auntie has invited me here, I won't beat around the bush. But before that, I have one question."

Madam Huo said, "Ask away."

Su Rui had been scrutinizing the private room since he entered. After ensuring there were no cameras, he felt slightly relieved and asked, "Our conversation today, Auntie wouldn't spread it, right?"

"Of course not," Madam Huo replied.

With Madam Huo's assurance, Su Rui flashed a faint smile. "That's good. I came here in good faith, and I believe Auntie did too. You sought me out today because you want me to completely leave Huo Yan..."

Huo Yan, upstairs, furrowed his brows instantly, his heart tightening in response.

Why was Su Rui bringing up this topic?

Ye Leyao suddenly found the dialogue familiar. He quickly opened his notes and reviewed the recorded plot.

Suddenly:

"I found it!"

"When He Shi was discovered as the illegitimate child of the He family, and when they found out He Shi was with Su Rui, Madam He approached Su Rui for a talk. Su Rui didn't want to break up with He Shi, but for He Shi to smoothly inherit the family fortune and for their baby to grow up healthily, Su Rui asked Madam He for... five million!"

He Yan's face darkened, about to speak, when he heard Su Rui's voice downstairs—

"Five million."

Huo Yan was taken aback.

Su Rui said, "Give me five million, and I'll leave your son."

Huo Yan lost his grip, and a glass cup fell to the ground, shattering into pieces, much like his hopeful heart, instantly shattered into fragments.

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