When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 213: Chapter 90: Top Star of the 60s Song and Dance Troupe (29), Part 2

”After my mother divorced Director Huo, she couldn’t bear to leave me behind. She could only obey the Huo Family elders’ arrangement: divorce without leaving the home. She became their thankless, unpaid maid, wore her body down, and passed away within a few years.”

”Director Huo was the one who fabricated the lie, but after repeating it so many times, he began to doubt whether I was his biological son. So, he used this opportunity. He could achieve outstanding results for himself, get rid of me—the son of his supposedly unfaithful ex-wife—and win everyone’s admiration all at once.”

”Tsk, tsk. What else would you expect from a cold, heartless man who built his fortune by clinging to his wife’s family and then burning his bridges?”

”I hope all of you can look at people and situations with an open heart. Don’t spread unverified rumors just for a moment’s thrill. I have always believed that people are inherently good, and I am willing to protect the pure kindness in everyone’s hearts!”

He smiled at Xia Zhaoyun beside him, reached out, and held her hand tightly. ”This is the only woman I will ever love. She might not be perfect, and she has her little moods and her own cleverness.”

”But you can’t control matters of the heart. I don’t expect all of you to give us your blessing, but I do hope you can give us respect and space.”

After he finished speaking, he kept hold of her hand and led her home.

The crowd stood rooted to the spot, slowly processing the meaning behind Huo Tianhao’s words. There was a lot of drama to unpack, and it was too much to digest all at once.

Still buzzing from the revelations, they started to walk back, quietly murmuring to the people beside them.

Zhang Wendong had his little notebook out the whole time, writing furiously, as if trying to record every single word from the crowd verbatim.

As he saw it, Little Hero Huo had a truly tragic life. Not only was he denied a father’s love, but he was also used completely. He knew it was a suicide mission, but for the sake of filial piety, he had to grit his teeth and charge ahead.

Zhang Wendong saw this story as his chance to finally make a comeback. How could he possibly let a hero, who should be praised and celebrated, become a man condemned by all as unfilial?

Although he was a relative newcomer, he had gotten to know many senior figures in his field and understood how things worked.

If he used Little Hero Huo’s ”resurrection” to snatch the front-page glory, then rival reporters would just use it against him. They would paint Little Hero Huo as an unfilial son and create a massive scandal.

It wouldn’t just be Little Hero Huo and Comrade Xia who would find it hard to recover their reputations—he himself would be sidelined for good!

So he had to think long and hard about how to handle this to prevent that from happening.

Once they were home, Xia Zhaoyun put some water on to boil and opened the doors and windows to air the place out. When she turned around, she saw the man following her in and out, his hands in his pockets, like her own tail.

She pursed her lips into a smile. ”Tianhao, do we have to return this apartment to the factory?”

Huo Tianhao arched an eyebrow. ”Do you like it here? If you do, I can try to fight for it.”

Xia Zhaoyun shook her head again and again. ”I promised you I’d try to get a transfer to the city within six months. We definitely won’t be living here long-term.”

’Right now, the Zhaoyang Clothing Factory is located in the northern suburbs. Transportation seems inconvenient, and aside from its own employees, workers from nearby factories, and local farmers who are keeping a close eye on it, no one else is interested.’

’But in the future, once the Capital City’s economy takes off, this area will be designated an economic development zone. Hordes of high-tech talent will flock here, and property values will skyrocket.’

’This apartment is quite spacious. Once it’s demolished and redeveloped into a mid-rise building, it could be exchanged for several new units. Just collecting rent from those would be enough to live an extremely comfortable life.’

’It’s a temptation few people could resist.’

A flicker of reluctance and regret passed through Xia Zhaoyun’s heart, but it vanished in an instant. As someone who had been reborn, she had learned to let go of many things. She never dared to covet what wasn’t hers.

”We should give it back,” she said firmly. ”This place is valuable, and Tianhao, you already told everyone you wouldn’t take advantage of the organization in any way. I can’t let you break your promise.”

Huo Tianhao couldn’t resist stepping forward and pulling her into a tight embrace. The feeling of her against his chest filled him with an indescribable emotion that felt ready to burst from his heart.

”Honey, your man is on his own now, with no family to back him up. But I’ve got my own two hands. Taking care of you and a couple of kids would be no problem at all.”

As he spoke, he pulled four bank passbooks from his pocket and pressed them into her hand. ”You’re my wife now. From now on, you’ll manage the family’s money. Buy whatever you want!”

Xia Zhaoyun’s face flushed and her heart began to race. Her head felt dizzy, and her body’s reaction was surprisingly intense, yet she felt not a single trace of resistance or revulsion toward him.