Hu Li and Hu Er's faces both darkened, but seeing the occasional glances from people around them, especially at beautiful women and handsome men, Hu Li refrained from any extreme actions. He calmly said, "I'll have someone send you back."

With that, Hu Er instructed a man in Zhongshan suit to drive Li Jiao Jiao.

Li Jiao Jiao didn't want to leave Hu Li. Her brows furrowed as she insisted, "I'm not going back. I want to stay with you." Saying this, she stuck close to Hu Li and refused to leave.

Hu Li's expression suddenly turned cold. He took a step back, avoiding Li Jiao Jiao's proximity, and stared coldly at her before getting into the car. Li Jiao Jiao still tried to follow him into the car, but Hu Er blocked her with his elbow.

After a few unsuccessful attempts, Hu Li and Hu Er drove away.

Left with no choice, Li Jiao Jiao was escorted home by Hu Li's bodyguard.

When Li Jiao Jiao got out of the car, the Li family members saw the vehicle and the man in Zhongshan suit and deduced they were from Hu Li's side. Li's mother was overjoyed. Seeing her son-in-law treat her daughter so well was exactly what she wanted to see.

She invited the bodyguard into the hall for tea, but she didn't realize he had no intention of staying. Not only was he someone valued by Hu Er, but he also knew that Hu Li wasn't really interested in marrying the Miss from the Li family. Moreover, he himself didn't appreciate Li Jiao Jiao's clinginess.

Disappointed, Li's mother didn't insist on his stay. Instead, she cheerfully led Li Jiao Jiao into the house to inquire about the day's events in detail.

"Jiao Jiao, Hu Li came back from his business trip? Why didn't he come home with you..."

"Mother... I'm tired. Please don't ask." Li Jiao Jiao's heartache intensified when her mother asked like this.

"This child..." Li's mother was too excited to notice the unusual demeanor of Li Jiao Jiao, who kept her head down, and she thought her daughter was just shy.

Back in her boudoir, Li Jiao Jiao's eyes were already moist with tears, feeling lost and sorrowful. Feelings of resentment continued to surge in her heart.

Muttering to herself, she said, "Why are you so cruel? Why can't you share even a fraction of your feelings for her with me?"

Knowing from Li Dong that Hu Li was supposed to come back today, she got up before dawn, carefully dressed herself, and arrived at the airport almost earlier than the Hua family.

When Hu Li appeared before her eyes, she was about to rush towards him, but seeing his gaze fixed on the figure that was a meter away from him made her retract her steps.

The slender Hua Yan completely ignored Hu Li. Even when Father Hua came, he only spoke to his daughter, treating Hu Li like air. What was infuriating was that Hu Li showed no sign of anger and instead seemed very cautious.

At that moment, Li Jiao Jiao didn't know whether she was angry or envious. Today, she realized that compared to Hua Yan, she was nothing. She was mud, and Hua Yan was the clouds. Such a stark difference. How could she remain calm?

As she pondered, Li Jiao Jiao had a new idea. Without hesitation, she washed her face, applied makeup to conceal the redness around her eyes, slung her bag over her shoulder, and left again. When Li's mother heard the noise and rushed out, all she saw was a hurried figure.

Hu's father had matters to attend to and didn't return to Haibin City. Only Hu's mother was at the Hu family villa. After Li Jiao Jiao entered, she concealed her thoughts and began to act.

First, she placed the snow-white lilies she held in her hand into a vase for Hu's mother. Then she presented a rare beauty book she had bought for Hu's mother.

Li Jiao Jiao managed to make Hu's mother ecstatic. Perplexed, she asked, "Didn't Hu Li come back to see you?"

"No? That child Hu Li is still on a business trip." Hu's father kept his work and personal life very distinct. He sometimes told his mother about work matters because he needed her to know.

For example, during the Golden Triangle trip, Hu's mother only knew where they went, not the specific reasons. Hu's father and Hu Li had already returned to the mainland, but didn't inform Hu's mother about the matter. Therefore, she didn't catch on to Li Jiao Jiao's implications.

Li Jiao Jiao's facial expression changed, and she smiled and said, "Today, I went to the airport to pick up a friend and happened to see Hu Li had returned too. I thought he was with you, but..."

Having not seen him for many days and greatly missing her son, Hu's mother was astonished and delighted as she hugged Li Jiao Jiao.

"Has Hu Li come back? Is that true?"

Seeing Hu's mother so happy, Li Jiao Jiao's hope surged again. If a mother found out that her son wasn't concerned about her because of a woman, that would surely cause significant resentment.

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"Aunt, I didn't make a mistake. Hu Li really came back."

Hu's mother seemed to suddenly realize something, her eyes lighting up as she laughed at Li Jiao Jiao and said, "Jiao Jiao didn't come to see me after all; you came to see Hu Li. You've made me happy for nothing."

Knowing that Hu's mother was teasing her, Li Jiao Jiao pouted shyly and said, "Oh, Auntie, you're teasing me... If Hu Li didn't come to see you, could he have gone to see Hua Yan?"

Hu's mother's smile faded instantly, and she said coldly, "Hua Yan is back... That woman isn't dead?"

"Aunt, why would you think that? I saw Hua Yan at the airport today, and she seemed perfectly healthy." Li Jiao Jiao maintained a neutral expression outwardly, but inside, she was secretly thrilled.

"She's with Hu Li?" Hu's mother's face darkened. Anger simmered just beneath the surface.

Li Jiao Jiao looked at Hu's mother, her body trembling slightly, and nodded obediently.

Hu's mother's expression flickered for a moment, then returned to calm. Finding an excuse, she quickly dismissed Li Jiao Jiao and immediately grabbed her bag to head to Asia Pacific.

Hu Li had just showered in the office's small break room when his mother burst in.

"Mother, what are you doing here?"

"Are you still entangled with that woman, Hua Yan?" Hu's mother stared fixedly into Hu Li's eyes, not missing any hint of change in him.

When she saw Hu Li's expression shift and then suddenly pale, she exclaimed, "So that woman has returned." Without waiting for Hu Li to say anything, she stormed out of the room.

Left bewildered, Hu Li continued drying his hair. After a moment, he froze, his panicked expression giving way as he threw the towel aside, skipped wearing a jacket, and rushed out immediately.

When Hu Er personally drove Hu Li to Muyun Ge, they immediately saw many guests leaving the front of Muyun Ge.

Hu Li's face turned pale. Without waiting for the car to stop, he jumped out.

At the staircase landing of the second floor of Muyun Ge, Hu's mother and Hu's father confronted each other, tense, but Hua Yan's figure was nowhere to be seen.

"We don't welcome you in our family. Leave immediately," Father Hua's voice was notably subdued, as if afraid of waking someone.

"Stop the nonsense and bring Hua Yan out to me right now!" Hu's mother shouted at the top of her lungs, fearing that others might not hear her. Faced with Hu's mother's loud protests, Father Hua and Madam Chang were already at the brink of anger.

Ignoring the situation around her, Hu's mother continued to demand Hua Yan's appearance. Father Hua and Madam Chang silently agreed and immediately escorted Hu's mother out of the store. With two against one, Hu's mother's feet were immediately off the ground, her arms aching from the strain.

Hu Li's mother's cries of pain immediately reached Hu Li's ears, startling him and quickening his pace. Pushing open the door, he collided with Hu's mother and the others who seemed to be quarreling.

Seeing the scene before him, which looked like a brawl, Hu Li, usually calm, couldn't hide his surprise this time.

"Since you're here, take your mother back with you. If she causes trouble again, we'll have to use a broom to sweep her out," Hu's father said with a menacing glare. He then pushed Hu's mother towards Hu Li.

Hu Li intercepted his mother, who was still poised to attack, his face flushing with embarrassment and frustration. He wanted to apologize to Hua's family, but when he looked up and saw Hua Yan in her white nightgown, frowning and glaring at them, the words he intended to say faded away.

Hu Li never imagined that one day, Hua Yan would look at him with such disgust, even though he knew he was being dragged down by his mother's actions.

Upon seeing Hua Yan, Hu's mother became instantly agitated and cursed loudly, "Shameless woman, my son is already engaged. Don't think you can entangle or confuse my son again..."

Awoken from a nap and already full of resentment, Hua Yan was further insulted by Hu's mother's outburst. Her eyes narrowed, and with determined steps, she approached Hu's mother, raising her hand for a slap.

The crack of the slap echoed sharply through the air, shocking Hua's father, Hu Li, and the others into stunned silence as Hua Yan's cold demeanor enveloped them.

Since being rescued, Hua Yan had absorbed the pride and no-nonsense attitude of the people at Brother Qiang's fortified base. Even escaping from the base had been fraught with danger. If not for her strong-willed nature, she might have been dismembered long ago.

Thus, her angry chill now, like a biting December wind, left everyone momentarily dumbfounded as Hua Yan delivered a second slap.

Covering her half-swollen face, Hu's mother immediately panicked and shouted in alarm. In the blink of an eye, Hu Li grabbed the hand about to strike Hu's mother's face.

At that moment, Hu Li's mind went blank. The situation had escalated beyond his comprehension, and he dared not think about it. He felt torn, heartbroken over his mother's swollen face yet anxious and conflicted as he looked at Hua Yan's glare.

After a brief struggle, Hu Li quietly released his grip. But Hu's mother, now recovered, reluctantly raised her hand again, intending to slap Hua Yan.

Unfortunately, Hua's father had been vigilant. Before she could reach Hua Yan, he shielded her, leaving Hu's mother to strike at thin air.

Noticing Hu Li's conflicted gaze, Hua Yan sneered, "There's no need to look at me like that. Even though you brought me back here, no one, not even your mother, can act wild in my home. If you're smart, take her away immediately, or don't blame me for teaching her another lesson."

"You uncultured wild girl, how dare you lay hands on your elders..." Hu's mother, in an emotional frenzy, shouted back.

"What kind of elder are you? Just because you're old doesn't mean you can spout nonsense," Hua Yan said contemptuously, as if she were watching a clown.

Whether it was because of Hu's mother's unreasonable behavior or Hua Yan's extraordinary reaction, Hu Li's face turned dark. The veins on his pale hands trembled visibly as he observed the situation with deep concern.

"Enough...," Hu Li said painfully and sternly, then glanced at Hua Yan with an indescribable expression before leading his disgruntled mother out of Mu Yun Ge.

Hu Er, who had witnessed the entire ordeal, was drenched in cold sweat, as if he had just experienced a terrifying nightmare. Even thinking back on what had just happened, he still found it unbelievable.

Miss Hua Yan had slapped the mistress in front of her master and coolly responded to her humiliation.

At this point, Hu Er couldn't guess whether his master was angry at Miss Hua Yan, angry at his wife, or even angry at himself. Since they had left the house, he hadn't said a word. This event might appear to be the fault of both people, but when he thought about it again, he felt it was the fault of the lady. Before entering the door, they could hear the lady loudly quarreling, and Hua's father had repeatedly warned her. Ultimately, it was the lady's provocations that invited the slap.

Lost in thought, he cautiously followed behind Hu Li and Hu's mother.