Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Huo Tian nodded and patted the back of Ding Rong’s hand, pretending to be mature. “Mom, you’ll have to deal with those wealthy madams in the future. It’s very likely that you’ll meet people like the Huo Family’s couple. I’ll help you differentiate between the good and the bad. I won’t let you be hurt by

those people with ulterior motives.”

She was simply treating Ding Rong as a weak and kind-hearted innocent little girl. People who didn’t know better would think that Huo Tian was the mother and Ding Rong was the daughter.

Ding Rong was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. She felt sweet in her heart, but after a while, her brows furrowed again and she let out a long sigh.

Huo Tian did not know why Ding Rong was frowning and looked at her in confusion.

Ding Rong stroked Huo Tian’s cheek but did not say anything to her. Instead, she turned to look at Xi Cheng and said with lingering fear, “I heard what Huo You said. Although I sympathize with her situation, I’m more glad that Tiantian had left the Huo Family. Fortunately, the jade pendant you left

behind allowed me to gather money to pay off the Huo Family’s IOU, allowing us to completely sever our connection with the Huo Family. If Tiantian were to stay in the Huo Family, would they also be so authoritative in arranging her marriage?”

Sensing Ding Rong’s uneasiness, Xi Cheng hugged her reassuringly. “I’m back now and can protect you guys. Don’t worry, I won’t let anyone hurt our daughter.”

Ding Rong smiled gently at him. “That’s right. Thank goodness I have you.”

The two of them looked at each other with love flowing in their eyes. This atmosphere, if coupled with background music, was simply like a scene from an idol drama, the kind that the characters could kiss at the next moment.

Huo Tian felt subtly excluded and a little unhappy. She deliberately coughed heavily.

Xi Cheng and Ding Rong felt a little awkward when they were reminded of Huo Tian’s presence. Xi Cheng was more thick-skinned and he looked calm, but Ding Rong’s cheeks turned red unconsciously.

Huo Tian couldn’t help but say in a strange tone,

“That’s right, I don’t have to worry about my parents arranging a lousy partner for me to have a political marriage with. I’m just worried that you guys will be too loving and forget that you still have a daughter.”

Ding Rong’s face bumed even more furiously and she changed the topic stiffly. “Alright, let’s continue to talk about Huo You. Tiantian, didn’t you want to know about it?”

Huo Tian was always easily softhearted when facing her mother. She couldn’t bear to let her mother fall into an awkward situation and didn’t continue to harp on it. “Alright then. We were just talking about how Huo You refused to call off the engagement. Mom, you can continue.”

Ding Rong summarized Huo You’s request and said without any standpoint, “Everyone has the right to choose their own life. Huo You doesn’t like her marriage partner, but she can get what she wants from this marriage. I respect her choice. As for why I helped her, on the one hand, it’s because she

suffered at the banquet. On the other hand, I also want to completely cut off my connection with her.”

Huo Tian was puzzled and looked at Ding Rong in confusion. “If we want to completely cut off all contact with Huo You, shouldn’t we reject all her requests? Why would Mom help her put on an act?”

As an innocent youngster, Huo Tian’s personality had the characteristic of seeing things in absolute right or wrong, She didn’t know how to settle for in-between cases nor could she understand Ding Rong’s intentions for providing Huo You with help.

Ding Rong explained patiently, “My affinity with Huo You as a mother and daughter has ended long ago, but in the eyes of outsiders, I’m her adoptive mother after all. Even if I don’t publicly acknowledge her identity, some quick-witted people will take the initiative to look for Huo You. The reason I put

onan act for her at the banquet was that she couldn’t use my adoptive daughter’s identity to seek benefits without any restraint and bring too much trouble to your father and you.”

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‘When there were only Xi Cheng and Ding Rong in the small reception room earlier, Ding Rong did not give a detailed explanation of her actions. Xi Cheng also believed that Ding Rong knew to do things reasonably and did not ask carefully about the reason.

Only after hearing Ding Rong seriously explain her intentions to Huo Tian did Xi Cheng realize that even if Ding Rong had helped Huo You, her motive was for the good of him and their daughter.

How long had it been since he had felt this kind of care? Xi Cheng felt like his heart was soaking in warm water, so warm that he felt like he was floating.

Of course, Ding Rong noticed Xi Cheng’s gentle and loving gaze when he looked at her, but she was determined not to be seduced by this man and do something rude in front of her daughter again! She had to save her face as a mother.

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