Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Huo Run and Mrs. Huo might not be blood-related. However, as a mother, she had never neglected her adopted daughter’s education. Lu Zhaoyang employed the best teacher, babysitter, everything that could make her the new gem among the socialites for her.
It was a sincere mother-and-daughter relationship where they would giggle and tickle each other at first. Sadly, on Huo Run’s fifteenth birthday, Huo Yunting cruelly revealed the truth about their relationship.
Huo Run became distant ever since.
It was a sentimental memory to recall in Zhaoyang’s thought.
Mo Ning instantly caught on to her change of expression and there was a strange sensation of envy rising in her. Deep down she knew Lu Zhaoyang loved Huo Run a lot. She was proud of her and concerned about her a lot. Mo Ning could imagine the mother worrying about her daughter day by day.
And Mo Ning had experienced none of these before.
She was reminded of her mother, Mo Shan, whose voice uttered the worst remark towards Lu Zhaoyang as ringing in dreadful spite.
“Mo Ning, is there anybody else in your family?” Asked Lu Zhaoyang out of the blue.
“I only have a mother.”
“I see…” Zhaoyang’s reply slowed down as she examined Mo Ning’s face. For some reason, her heart ached as she spoke, “I am also a mother myself. I know it’s hard to raise a child even when there are two parents, let alone your mother raising you all by herself. However, I can tell she taught you very well. It must be relieving for her to see you growing into a fine young man.”
“…” Mo Ning did not know what to say. Mo Shan’s voice continued haunting her, like a propaganda trying to brainwash her again, disregarding whatever she saw by then.
“Aunty, you are also a qualified mother too.”
Wait, what did I just say? I’m not supposed to say this.
I’m just a friend. A random visitor to the house. Mrs. Huo is an adult after all. I am in no position to judge her on that. This is our first meeting. It can offend her.
Mo Ning might have thought a lot on her side yet Lu Zhaoyang was not bothered at all. She continued sluggishly, “Well—actually, I’m not a really good mother since—my eldest daughter, she…” She panted, sighed at each word she spoke.
Her eyes were wet as she took a exceptionally deep breath before sighing out loudly. She bit her lips,
“Nevermind, I shouldn’t be telling you all these… ” She shook her head, realizing that it was odd for her to tell someone about this on the first meeting.
Speaking of an elder daughter—I remember mother told me about my elder sister too. Her name was Huo Ran, if I remember correctly. She was weak as she fell sick often so she was raised overseas the whole time…
I wonder how she’s doing.
To be honest—sighs…
Mo Ning took a good look at Huo Run’s mother.
I suddenly don’t understand my mother anymore. She described her as the worst witch in the world yet I find it hard to even dislike her.
Why? Is it because she’s very close to what I imagined to be an ideal mother?
The gentle, sweet, loving mother?
She has everything. Everything I imagined. And her impression did last even after an hour of conversation with her.
I don’t know what my mom had with her. What she might have done to her, either. But I’m very sure that she’s not a hypocritical woman like what mother described.
Wh-what am I doing?
Do I have to kill her?
I do not want to.
But…
“You have to kill her at some point, Mo Ning! It’s all for mother! This hypocritical woman destroyed your mother’s life. She even confined me on this wheelchair for the rest of my life! It is her who led you into poverty! You should have been born rich, a princess with a silver spoon! It’s all because of her!!”
“You must not be fooled by her innocent look! That’s how she made all the men work for her! Like Huo Yunting! Under her angelic look, there’s a monster!”
Mo Shan’s voice rang.
“Yes? What do you have in mind?”
“My mother,” said Mo Ning.
“A mother, I see. You’re a very good child. If I were your mother, I’d be very much delighted.” Lu Zhaoyang smiled gently.
Mo Ning looked away. Her eyes were complicated with emotions. She did not reply and just reached for the two glasses of wine from the long table nearby.
She did something to one of the glasses on the table beforehand.
And she gave that to Lu Zhaoyang, “Let’s have a toast,” with a plastic smile she said.
