The Huangfu family had recently been immersed in the joy of Mengqi's wedding, a grand affair that had shaken Lancheng.
Even a week later, major media outlets were still running follow-up reports on Mengqi and Yao Feili's wedding.
While each media outlet focused on different aspects, they all portrayed the couple's journey from acquaintance to marriage as something out of a wealthy family novel.
Mengyao brushed aside the reports with a smile and sent a message to her in her research lab, asking how she was settling in abroad with her brother-in-law and if there was anything she found difficult.
Mengqi sent her a few pictures, taken at Yao Feili's house and his overseas group.
Seeing Mengqi smiling brightly in the photos, Mengyao concluded that her brother-in-law was very capable and that her elder sister must be very satisfied.
She then returned to her own research with peace of mind.
...
Under the dazzling crystal chandelier, Wu Xiufang sat alone at the long dining table, laden with a variety of delicacies.
But no one had returned home for dinner tonight.
Huangfu Sisong had said he had business to attend to with several business magnates.
Mengqi was abroad and wouldn't be back in Lancheng anytime soon.
Mengyao claimed she had to work overtime at the research institute and wouldn't be back for dinner.
And her calls to Shaohua went unanswered; the child had been cold to everyone lately.
Apart from going to the group for work, he didn't speak to anyone when he returned home, turning the vast mansion into merely a place to sleep.
Tonight, she had wanted to have a good talk with Shaohua, as she also had something to discuss with him.
But she waited and waited, and he didn't return. Wu Xiufang ate a little of the food herself and lost her appetite.
She had everything now, living a life she had never dared to dream of before, yet she often felt deeply lonely.
Wu Xiufang was staring blankly at the table full of exquisite dishes when she heard footsteps approaching. She turned her head and saw Shaohua returning.
But Shaohua didn't even look at her, intending to go straight back to his room upstairs without a word.
Wu Xiufang quickly called out to him, "Shaohua, come and have dinner. I have something to tell you."
Huangfu Shaohua finally looked towards the dining room and said in a clear, cold voice, "I'm not eating. I want to go back to my room to rest."
"You've lost so much weight lately." Wu Xiufang stood up directly, went over, and took his arm, leading him to the dining table. "Even if you don't eat the dishes, you can have a bowl of soup. This is chicken gizzard soup that your mother personally simmered. You must give me some face and drink a bowl."
Saying this, she placed the served soup before him without waiting for his refusal.
Huangfu Shaohua's brow furrowed as he looked at the soup and asked, "Just say what you want to say."
"Drink the soup first," Wu Xiufang said, smiling at him.
Huangfu Shaohua knew this was his mother's usual style; she always liked to smilingly impose her will on him.
Making him drink a bowl of soup was a small matter. He knew that after he finished the soup, his mother would reveal her true intentions.
It seemed he couldn't avoid it tonight. His mother was the type to never give up until she achieved her goal.
Huangfu Shaohua drank the soup in one gulp. "You can tell me now. What do you want me to do?"
"Why are you acting like you have a grudge against your family since you came back?" Wu Xiufang asked, feigning innocence. "I just didn't agree with you being with that woman. But you were insistent, so I had to let you have your way. Your divorce wasn't forced by me, so why do you hold such a big grudge against me?"
It was true that he couldn't blame anyone else for his divorce from Daisy, but he was simply in a bad mood and didn't want to talk to anyone.
"Mom, I'm not targeting you. I'm just in a bad mood, and it's the same with everyone."
"Are you still heartbroken and unable to let go after your divorce?" Wu Xiufang asked.
"No," Huangfu Shaohua was unwilling to admit it.
Wu Xiufang smiled and said, "I've been through it too, and I was young once. I understand that you're still in the low period after a breakup. But do you know, the best way to forget a past relationship is to start a new one?"
The more Shaohua tried to let go of past events, the more agitated and restless he became. He said, "Mom, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"What do you think of the youngest daughter of the Luo family? You must have met her at some parties before. How about I arrange for you to have a meal together?" Wu Xiufang asked tentatively.
Shaohua had no impression of the Luo family's youngest daughter that she mentioned and replied directly, "Not interested. I'm not in the mood for blind dates right now. Let's talk about it later."
"It's not asking you to confirm a relationship immediately, just a meeting for a meal. You can also consider it a way to relax," Wu Xiufang tried to persuade him.
Shaohua didn't respond to her suggestion but thought of something he had just learned that day.
"I heard that Aunt Zhong is going to jail. What did she do?"
Wu Xiufang's expression stiffened. She hadn't expected him to ask this and covered it with a smile, saying, "I don't know. Because she insisted you marry Zhuzhu, I haven't seen her in a long time either."
"Also, the Sheng family's stocks have been suspended. I heard they are going bankrupt and are being liquidated, but Uncle Sheng and Zhuzhu are nowhere to be found." Shaohua looked at her and asked, "Did you do this? You said you were going to handle the Sheng family's affairs when I was at your villa..."
Wu Xiufang almost covered his mouth, interrupting him, "Keep your voice down, don't say it. This is all for you, and your father must not know. Only by making the Sheng family too preoccupied to deal with anything else can they stop bothering you. But I really don't know why Zhong Lu was arrested."
"Mom, what did you do to make the Sheng family go bankrupt in such a short time?" Shaohua couldn't understand how his mother managed it.
In his memory, Wu Xiufang was a virtuous and capable mother who had never interfered in the group's affairs.
Wu Xiufang vaguely replied, "I also relied on your father's influence and the Huangfu family's reputation, and asked some people for a little help."
"I understand." Shaohua looked at his mother with a new perspective.
Wu Xiufang said uncomfortably, "Silly son, why are you looking at me like that? I'm helping you solve your problems."
Shaohua retorted, "But who caused the trouble for the Sheng family?"
"Okay, okay, I shouldn't have forced you to like Sheng Zhuzhu," Wu Xiufang seized the opportunity to say. "Don't worry, this time I'm just letting you meet and have a meal with the youngest daughter of the Luo family so you can get to know each other. If you don't like her, there will definitely not be a second meeting."
"What do you mean? You've already made the arrangement, so why are you asking me..."
"Dinner tomorrow, at the famous revolving restaurant," Wu Xiufang said, sending the booked restaurant and table number to his phone. "It's just a meal, so don't argue with me."
Without waiting for Shaohua to say anything further, she went to the kitchen to have the servants clear the dining table.
Shaohua looked at his mother's retreating back, feeling an indescribable sense of helplessness.
Upon returning home, he was once again back to a life controlled by his parents.
Perhaps he should find a woman they approved of, get married, buy his own villa through marriage, and live separately from them to escape their control.