When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 262: Chapter 106: Top Sister of the 60s Cultural Troupe (45)

Under the table, he took her hand and squeezed it gently, a silent promise to face the future together with her.

While their meal was a joyous affair, Mr. and Mrs. He received the news and came rushing over, practically radiating killing intent.

Just as they stepped through the doors of the state-owned restaurant, He Qingjun spotted them.

He nudged his sister and jutted his chin toward the entrance.

When He Qingran saw the livid expressions on their faces, she glanced at the others at her table. Instead of the nervousness and timidity she had expected to feel, she smiled calmly and said, ”Old He, Stepmother, you’re here?”

”What unfortunate timing. We’re almost finished, so we can’t really invite you to join us.”

”Allow me to introduce you. This is Comrade Liu Mingkun, my date. Director Huo introduced us.”

Although Huo Tianhao’s relationship with the Huo Family was at a freezing point—he had even received a letter of disownment personally written by Director Huo—the other Director Huo, from the Women’s Federation, treated the young couple simply as ordinary relatives and colleagues. She kept them at a comfortable distance, which suited everyone just fine.

These days, people needed a matchmaker for arranged dates, and Director Huo was the most suitable choice.

Vice Factory Director He’s face was cold as he stepped forward and said, ”He Qingran, if you still consider me your father, then you will come home with me right now. Stop making a spectacle of yourself!”

He Qingran laughed. ”Old He, you’re wrong about that. It’s not as if I can sever our father-daughter relationship just because I want to. If I could, I’d light a string of firecrackers to celebrate.”

”You...” Seeing that everyone in the restaurant was now looking their way, Vice Factory Director He’s expression grew even darker. He felt that this unfilial daughter had completely destroyed both his dignity and his reputation.

Ning Yourong quickly pulled him back and said with a smile, ”Old He, the children are grown now. They care about their dignity. If there’s something to discuss, let’s talk about it slowly at home. You need to work on that temper of yours. With a temper like that, no one will appreciate your good intentions.”

With that, she turned to Liu Mingkun, who was carrying himself like a young lord. The smile in her eyes deepened. ”This must be our Ranran’s young man, correct? You’re quite handsome. And from the way you’re dressed, your family must be well-off, too.”

”Ranran can be so thoughtless, not bringing you home to meet us. Her father and I had no idea; we had to hear it from the neighbors. That girl is far too willful. How could she make such a major life decision all by herself?”

”When it’s time for you two to marry, if Ranran has no family to see her off, what will the guests think of you both? What will they think of our family? Any semblance of propriety would be utterly lost.”

The corners of Liu Mingkun’s mouth curled into a smirk. Thinking of all the grievances his girl had suffered in the past, and now hearing this woman’s passive-aggressive tirade, he found he couldn’t hold back.

”When a man takes a wife, he brings her into *his* home. What, are you expecting the Liu Family to take in and support the entire He Family as well?”

”It’s not that my family can’t afford it, but we’re not suckers, either. We’re not about to take responsibility for her stepmother and half-brothers.”

Having these words thrown in his face by a young man he’d just met, Vice Factory Director He trembled with rage. He pointed a shaking finger at the entire table. ”Good. Very good. It’s true that birds of a feather flock together. A whole table of unfilial whelps. We raised you until your wings were strong, and now all you do is resent us for the bad things. Have you forgotten who gave you the very flesh on your bones?”

Huo Tianhao sneered. ”When you bring a child into the world, you have a duty to raise them well. If you can’t handle that responsibility, you shouldn’t have children at all. Don’t think that tossing them a few scraps of food and a set of clothes like charity gives you the right to control the rest of their lives.”

”Frankly, when faced with parents like you—one of you clueless, the other who destroys with false praise—we would rather not have been born at all. You want to use the word ’filial’ to break our backs?”

”But first, we’ll see if you’re even worthy of it!”

”But you are right about one thing. You gave us this flesh and blood. So, when you’re old and can no longer get around, we can discuss the topic of us looking after you until the end. We truly won’t be able to refuse then.”

”For now, let’s just agree to stay out of each other’s way. Out of sight, out of mind.”

”Or perhaps you’d like to follow Director Huo’s example and have Comrade He Qingran trade her marriage for some personal gain?”

”Otherwise, why would Comrade He Qingran hide such a suitable match from you? It could only be because she knew you wouldn’t approve!”

His own tragic story had been gossiped to death by everyone in the factory. What kind of father would be willing to sacrifice his son’s life for his own career achievements?

Director Huo had a terrible reputation these days. If not for his competence and the fact that he was, indeed, Little Hero Huo’s father, he would have been stripped of his position long ago.

Vice Factory Director He was also obsessed with his official rank and couldn’t bear to have his reputation damaged. Though he was so enraged he looked ready to burst, all he could do was glare viciously at He Qingran.

”Go ahead and get married! I will never give my approval!”