Chapter 8: What an Excitement

Lin Xueqing envied that Huo Ma had always known about her.

But stealing?

What did Lin Xueqing steal from her?

Before Huo Ma could figure it out, Ye Le Yao changed her shoes and sat down beside Huo Ma, cheerfully saying, "Huo Ma, I'm back!"

Huo Ma smiled but before she could speak, Aunt Lin Xueqing, sitting next to her, glanced at Ye Leyao with disdain and said, "Indeed, a child who isn't your own will never truly be yours."

Upon hearing this, Huo Ma's expression changed slightly, and she immediately gave Lin Xueqing a warning look.

Lin Xueqing didn't notice Huo Ma's warning glance and continued, "In my opinion, children need strict discipline; they can't be spoiled, or they won't even know who's good to them! My little rascal was also a bit rebellious recently, even saying he didn't want me as his mother. So I gave him a good beating, and now he's behaving. But I'm still angry and don't really want him anymore!"

Lin Xueqing was mocking Ye Leyao for still calling her Huo Ma instead of Mother!

Ye Leyao's parents died in a car accident when she was five years old, and she already had memories by then.

Huo Ma and Ye Leyao's mother were best friends, and after the child was born, Huo Ma became her godmother. When Ye Leyao learned to speak, she called Huo Ma 'Huo Ma.'

So even though Huo Ma later adopted Ye Leyao, she didn't make the child change her address.

She was worried that Ye Leyao would feel sad, so she forbade the whole family from mentioning this matter in front of Ye Leyao.

Even now that Ye Leyao has grown up, they rarely talk about it in front of her, let alone ask her to change her address!

The entire Huo family had no objections, so why should Lin Xueqing be upset on her behalf?

Huo Ma's face was already showing some anger, but she couldn't lash out because Ye Leyao was present.

She could only turn her head to look at Ye Leyao, relieved to see her expression unchanged. Huo Ma was about to change the subject when she suddenly heard Ye Leyao's puzzled voice—

"Ah, from what Aunt said, does she know that the adopted son she took in is actually her husband's illegitimate child from an affair?"

Huo Ma's expression changed.

What?

"When Uncle brought the child home, Aunt wasn't very fond of him. It's just that Aunt... isn't in great health, and doctors advised against another pregnancy. But Aunt is extremely biased towards boys, believing that without a male heir, the family line cannot continue. The Qing Dynasty ended ages ago, yet Aunt is still stuck in the past!"

"It's because of this that Aunt agreed to adopt a child, but this child isn't from an orphanage! He's Uncle's illegitimate child from an affair!"

"If I remember correctly, that mistress lives in the same neighborhood as Aunt?"

Huo Ma's eyes widened instantly, her anger subsiding somewhat.

Is that true?

Ye Leyao was trying hard to recall the details, simultaneously opening her phone's notes app.

"Yes, yes, I didn't remember wrong.Uncle indeed bought a house in the same neighborhood for the mistress. Every day, he says he's taking the adopted son to English tutoring, but in reality, Uncle takes the adopted son to his real mother's place."

"The adopted son doesn't want her as his mother... it must be because he found out that Aunt isn't his biological mother, right? After all, Aunt is usually very strict with the adopted son, while the mistress always showers him with kindness whenever they meet. How could the adopted son possibly like Aunt?"

"So Aunt is now heartbroken?"

"But regardless of how you feel, stealing Huo Ma's jewelry is unforgivable!"

"It's two million yuan!"

Ye Leyao frowned. This amount was more than all the money she had saved!

"No, I have to find an opportunity to tell Huo Ma... this money must be returned!"

When Huo Ma looked at Lin Xueqing, her gaze was filled with pity, but upon hearing these words, she was instantly stunned, her eyes widening.

Two million?

You said two million?

How much jewelry did Lin Xueqing steal from her?!

Huo Ma felt a sharp pain in her chest.

Lin Xueqing wasn't actually Huo Ma's younger sister, but rather her cousin.

When her uncle was busy with business, Lin Xueqing often stayed at their house.

From a young age, Lin Xueqing was competitive and liked to compare herself to Huo Ma.

Comparing figures, looks, grades, and even marriages.

Even during Huo Ma's wedding to Huo Ba, Lin Xueqing despised the fact that the Huo family was just a small clan and refused to attend the wedding, cutting off contact with her.

Later, Huo Ma and Huo Ba worked together, and the Huo Group successfully went public, becoming one of the leading companies in the industry. Meanwhile, the Chen family, which Lin Xueqing had carefully selected, gradually declined, with their business nearly going bankrupt. Then, Lin Xueqing came crawling back.

Out of sentiment for having grown up together, Huo Ma helped Lin Xueqing and the Chen family quite a bit.

And this is how she repaid her!

No wonder Huo Ma couldn't find a certain necklace before; she thought she had carelessly left it somewhere, but it turns out Lin Xueqing stole it!

Huo Ma was so angry she gritted her teeth and glared fiercely at Lin Xueqing.

After Lin Xueqing finished speaking, she was waiting for Huo Ma's reaction, but instead of approval, she received a glare.

A sudden wave of unease washed over her.

Why was Aunt Huo staring at her like that?

Could it be that she had uncovered something?

That shouldn’t be the case.

She was always careful with her actions, and if she had been found out, she wouldn’t be sitting here so calmly.

Could it be that she was displeased about her comments on Ye Leyao?

That was quite possible.

In Aunt Huo’s heart, this adopted son, who shared no blood ties, was more important than her own niece!

Thinking about this made Lin Xueqing angry. After giving birth to her first daughter and being in poor health, when she saw Aunt Huo adopting Ye Leyao, she thought of sending her daughter over for Aunt Huo to raise as well.

But to her surprise, Aunt Huo refused without hesitation!

Lin Xueqing held a grudge against her for a long time because of this, and by extension, she also came to dislike Ye Leyao.

How could someone with no blood relation to the Huo family have a share in their wealth?

Now, she had merely spoken the truth, yet Aunt Huo was looking at her with such disdain. Lin Xueqing felt even more infuriated, and her face showed her displeasure. She glanced at Ye Leyao, ready to educate him on Aunt Huo’s behalf: "Leyao, what do you think?"

Ye Leyao was still recalling the plot, and he was taken aback before responding, "Then just throw him away."

Lin Xueqing was stunned. "Who’s throwing whom away?"

Ye Leyao was puzzled. "Didn’t you say you didn’t want Jia Wang anymore?"

Jia Wang was Lin Xueqing’s precious adopted son.

"Since he’s not your biological child and is an ungrateful brat, it’s better to stop raising him for others early on."

Ye Leyao genuinely meant his advice.

But Lin Xueqing was taken aback by his words.

Aunt Huo almost couldn’t hold back her laughter.

There wasn’t a single flaw in what he said!

But how could Lin Xueqing bear to get rid of her precious son?

Although Lin Xueqing was indeed strict when disciplining her children, in their household, the person with the highest status was still her adopted son.

When she first brought the adopted son home, she didn’t even want her biological daughter anymore, planning to pass her off to Aunt Huo to raise.

Mrs. Huo had to persuade her with great effort before she reluctantly took her daughter back.

Now look at this.

The child she had doted on for so many years turned out to be her husband's illegitimate child from outside.

One could only wonder what expression Lin Xueqing would have upon learning the truth.

After Ye Leyao spoke, he realized something was amiss; abandonment was a crime, so he rephrased his suggestion: "Or perhaps Auntie should divorce without seeking custody?"

"But before the divorce, Auntie must return the money."

"I vaguely recall that Auntie also stole an exceptionally significant piece of jewelry, which led to... what exactly happened with Uncle and Auntie Huo?"

Lin Xueqing's face contorted in anger.

So all that passive-aggressive talk was because Ye Leyao genuinely thought she was referring to her precious Jia Wang?!

Ye Leyao finally found the note in his records, and his voice rose sharply:

"I remember! The engagement ring! Auntie stole the engagement ring that Uncle gave to Auntie Huo and sold it! The ring eventually ended up in the hands of a woman who lusted after Uncle, and Auntie Huo thought Uncle secretly gave it to her. That's why they got divorced!"

Uncle Huo, who had just stepped into the house, heard these shocking words filled with information. He froze, lifting his eyes to look at Auntie Huo.

Lin Xueqing sold the engagement ring?

And they divorced because of it?

What on earth happened?!

Auntie Huo was even more stunned. She cherished her engagement ring so much that she rarely wore it, fearing it might get lost. How could it be that Lin Xueqing stole and sold it?!

Lin Xueqing's face darkened, unaware of Auntie Huo's sudden change in expression or Uncle Huo standing by the door. She was still fuming over Ye Leyao's previous words.

Just listen to what Ye Leyao was saying!

She merely wanted to teach him a lesson, and he suggested she divorce!

No way. Today, she must make this arrogant brat realize that he was nothing but a bastard, unworthy of staying in the Huo family.

Lin Xueqing said coldly, "Ye Leyao, you outsider—"

"Lin Xueqing!" Mrs. Huo could no longer hold back, interrupting her sternly.

Startled by the tone, Lin Xueqing swallowed her words, turning to look at Mrs. Huo and noticing her extremely grim expression for the first time.

Without even saying anything, Cousin was already protecting Ye Leyao?

Lin Xueqing felt even more upset: "Cousin, I didn't say..."

"Xiao Yao is my son, and you," Mrs. Huo paused before continuing, "are merely a guest."

Lin Xueqing's face flushed crimson instantly, her heart seething with rage.

Seeing that she was about to retort, Mrs. Huo spoke again, "By the way, I recently discovered that several pieces of my jewelry were missing."

Mrs. Huo's voice lacked any warmth, her eyes unblinkingly fixed on Lin Xueqing as she spoke.

Lin Xueqing's eyelids twitched violently, as if doused from head to toe in icy water, her anger dissipating instantly, her entire body turning cold.

Her panic was evident on her face; she dared not meet Mrs. Huo's gaze, looking down instead.

Had she really been found out?

It shouldn't be so!

Lin Xueqing forced a smile, one that was rather unsightly. "Y-yes... I remember, Cousin, you tend to misplace things often. Perhaps you just forgot where you put them?"

Mr. Huo entered at this moment, giving a nod to the butler standing nearby. "Checking the surveillance footage would clear everything up, wouldn't it?"

Lin Xueqing's expression turned even more strained, beads of sweat forming on her nose. She fidgeted nervously, mumbling in agreement, then stood up with her bag in hand. "Since sister and Brother-in-law are back, I should..."

"Hold on," Mrs. Huo flashed her a faint smile. "It's almost dinner time. How could we let our guest leave without eating? Right?"

The last sentence was directed at Ye Le Yao.

Ye Le Yao nodded vigorously. "Right!"

"I was just wondering how to tell Mrs. Huo about Auntie stealing her jewelry, never expecting that Mrs. Huo already knew! Truly, she's Mrs. Huo!"

"So, will they confront her directly after the meal?"

"Wow, how thrilling!!"

Mr. and Mrs. Huo silently covered their ears assaulted by the high-pitched exclamations.

There was no need for such excitement.

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