Chapter 3

Huo Congli didn't even raise his eyes. He said in a deep voice, “Speak.” An overwhelming sense of pressure filled the car, making Assistant Li feel as though he were sitting on pins and needles. “Wouldn't it be a little too risky to leave Madam alone with the Young Master?” Huo Yujing was Huo Congli's only child. From a young age, he had been raised according to the standards expected of the Huo family's future heir. That alone showed just how important he was. The car fell into a deathly silence. Huo Congli slowly lifted his eyes. A cold smile tugged at his thin lips. “What are you trying to tell me? That my wife might hurt our child?” Assistant Li's concern wasn't entirely unfounded. Su Jingwan's reputation had never been particularly good in their eyes. She had deliberately schemed her way into spending a night with President Huo, then used the pregnancy to marry into the Huo family. Even after getting what she wanted, she still showed no restraint, continuing to keep Ji Huaizhi, that pretty boy who lived off women, as her kept man. Others might not know about these private matters, but as Huo Congli's personal assistant, Assistant Li knew every detail because he was responsible for handling these matters for him. President Huo indulged Su Jingwan in every possible way, to the point where it seemed he couldn't live without her. His only demand of her was that she never mention divorce. Even after discovering that Su Jingwan was using his money to support Ji Huaizhi, he had always chosen to turn a blind eye. If Su Jingwan didn't love President Huo, how could she possibly love their child? Her mind was filled with nothing but that kept man, Ji Huaizhi. “I'm sorry, President Huo. I shouldn't have said anything.” Huo Congli couldn't stand hearing anyone say even the slightest bad thing about Su Jingwan. “She'll be good to Xiaobao.” His voice was soft, almost as if he were saying it to himself. “I believe in her.” … At the Huo residence, Su Jingwan had just settled onto the bed, ready to enjoy a nice nap, when the bedroom door was gently pushed open a crack. A fluffy little head poked through. Xiaoyu stood at the doorway clutching a storybook. He remained there for a long while, too afraid to come in. “Mommy, can Xiaoyu come in and stay in the same room as you?” His timid manner made Su Jingwan's guilt surge once again. How terrible had she been to this child in the past? “Sure. Come in.” The little boy was visibly delighted, but he didn't dare climb onto the bed. Instead, he walked around to the side closest to her and rested his arms on the edge of the bed, blinking his watery eyes at her. “Mommy…” Su Jingwan had never taken care of him before, and she was even less accustomed to interacting with children. For a moment, she didn't know what to do. Her gaze fell on the storybook in his arms, and it was as though she had spotted a lifeline. “Do you want to hear a story? I'll read one to you.” At least this would give her something to do. She wouldn't have to awkwardly stare at him while he stared back. She shifted slightly to the side and lay down on Huo Congli's pillow. The pleasant scent of his expensive cologne lingered beneath her nose. Then she patted the space beside her. “Come up here. Lie beside me.” Huo Yujing was still standing by the bed in a daze. The moment he heard that he could climb onto the bed and lie beside Mommy, his eyes immediately lit up. “Can Xiaoyu really come up?” “Of course.” Su Jingwan watched as the little boy slowly climbed onto the bed. He was as obedient as a little puppy, and her heart softened for a moment. She took the storybook from him and asked, “What story do you want to hear?” The moment she looked at the words on the page, she started feeling sleepy. She opened her mouth and yawned. “Mommy, Xiaoyu wants to tell you a story. Mommy is sleepy, and listening to a bedtime story will help you sleep better.” The little boy spoke with complete seriousness. He even brought Huo Congli into it. “Daddy told me so. Daddy tells me stories every night.” Su Jingwan reached out and touched his forehead. Seeing that he didn't have a fever, she finally relaxed. “Then go ahead. I'll listen.” The little boy opened the storybook and asked softly, “Mommy, which language do you want me to use for the story? It has Mandarin, English, and French…” She leaned closer to look at the book. It really was a trilingual storybook. “Huo Congli is already starting to develop your language skills?” Xiaoyu wasn't even three years old yet, as far as she remembered. “Then… French.” She couldn't understand French, so it would probably be easier to fall asleep while listening to something she couldn't understand. “Okay. Then close your eyes, Mommy. I'll tell you the story of Sleeping Beauty.” As the little boy's sweet, childish voice filled the room, Su Jingwan's eyelids grew heavier and heavier. They said that a child's voice could cleanse the soul, and it seemed there really was some truth to that. Meanwhile, outside the bedroom, everything appeared calm on the surface, but the doorway was actually crowded with people. The butler had his ear pressed against the door, listening carefully to what was happening inside, afraid that the Young Master might suffer any mistreatment from Madam. “Why is Madam so quiet today?” “When something is out of the ordinary, something must be going on.” “Could this be the calm before the storm?” “Shh. Keep your voices down.” “…” Inside the room, Su Jingwan was already fast asleep. Xiaoyu closed the storybook. His nose felt a little sore. This was the first time he had ever been this close to Mommy. He carefully crawled over and slowly moved closer to Su Jingwan, finding a comfortable spot in her arms before lying down. He closed his eyes, savoring the warmth of his mother's embrace. Every breath was filled with Mommy's sweet scent, making him feel safe and at ease. Being sick was wonderful. When he was sick, Mommy would love him. He liked being sick. The little boy attributed this moment of warmth and happiness to the fact that he had gotten sick and was finally able to have his mother's company. — The Huo Corporation Tower soared into the clouds, a landmark towering over the bustling city. The atmosphere in the conference room was solemn. Executives from each department took turns reporting their quarterly results. Every speaker sat with their back rigid and their voice cautious, terrified that even the slightest mistake in the numbers would draw Huo Congli's icy gaze. Huo Congli lowered his eyes and flipped through the documents. A chilling aura surrounded him, making everyone in the room feel uneasy. The phone beside him vibrated softly. Huo Congli glanced at it. The message was from Xiaoyu. His brows paused for a moment, and his previously cold expression suddenly softened slightly. The little boy had sent him a photo. It was a picture of himself and Su Jingwan. **Xiaobao:** Daddy, Mommy is putting me to sleep. Huo Congli enlarged the photo of Su Jingwan. The woman's long hair was spread messily across the pillow, with a few loose strands resting against her forehead. Her features looked gentle, and without a trace of makeup, her beauty was clean and natural. She was sleeping on his pillow. The moment he realized this, Huo Congli could no longer maintain his usual calm composure. His breathing fell out of rhythm. Su Jingwan had never slept on his pillow before. She had always slept on him instead. The tension in Huo Congli's jaw slowly eased. The corners of his lips unconsciously curved upward, and his fingertips gently traced the screen. The cold, intimidating aura that had filled the room moments ago quietly dissipated. The executives exchanged glances, each secretly astonished, but not a single person dared to interrupt him. Huo Congli saved the photo and replied to Xiaobao: **Daddy:** Good boy. Don't wake Mommy. **Xiaobao:** Xiaoyu knows. Don't worry, Daddy. Only after reading the little boy's reply did Huo Congli finally speak again. “Let's continue the meeting.” — It was almost noon when Assistant Li entered the office. He found Huo Congli staring at his phone with an unusually troubled expression. After working alongside President Huo for so many years, he had never seen such a look on his face. Even when faced with the most difficult business rivalries, he had never seen the president hesitate and struggle like this. Thinking something serious must have happened, Assistant Li glanced at Huo Congli's phone screen. Only then did he realize that it was the chat window between President Huo and Madam. At first glance, the chat history between the couple was filled almost entirely with transfer records. Assistant Li strained to make out the message Huo Congli had already typed into the text box but had been unable to bring himself to send: **“Wanwan, can I come home for lunch?”**