She kept her marriage a secret for three years, then divorced and was forcefully pampered by a power

Shao Yan was slightly taken aback; she had never thought of it that way before.

Huo Xiao spoke up.

"No, the 'Yan' in 'a smile that could topple a city' is completely different from the 'Yan Zhi' in 'rouge' (a type of cosmetic)."

The words coming from Huo Xiao's mouth were incredibly sarcastic.

Shao Yan was very surprised.

Isn't Lan Yan Huo Xiao's godfather's current wife? Why is she so obviously jealous? Doesn't that man care?

Shao Yan looked at the imposing man in the main seat and found that he was also looking at her.

She immediately lowered her head, feeling somewhat disgusted.

The man in the position is over fifty years old. How can he have no sense of boundaries at all? She is his godson's wife. Doesn't he think it's inappropriate to stare at her like that?

"Ah Xiao, why don't you sit next to your godmother?"

Shao Yan was stunned, feeling an inexplicable sense of unease.

This man is—

Are you sick?

He stole his godson's girlfriend, and knowing full well their relationship, Huo Xiao even married her, yet he still arranged for them to sit together.

Shao Yan felt that this man either had a serious illness or had some unusual hobby that ordinary people couldn't understand.

Everyone present looked slightly embarrassed, but the man didn't seem to mind.

Lan Yan looked at Shao Yan with a smug and slightly provocative expression.

Just as Huo Xiao was about to refuse, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Jiang Huai'en walked in.

Without any panic, he walked straight to the seat next to Lan Yan and plopped down.

"Godfather, is it alright for me to sit here?"

Si Zhao almost burst out laughing, but Pei Rongrong suddenly blurted out something at that moment.

"Mr. Qu said to let your uncle sit there, why are you getting involved?"

All eyes turned to Pei Rongrong. Huo Qingyue was startled and quickly whispered a reprimand to Pei Rongrong, telling her to shut up.

"These are all adults, so you little kid should keep your mouth shut."

Pei Rongrong was still unconvinced, and Meng Yu could tell that this meal wouldn't be so easy to eat.

"Rongrong, don't make your uncle angry."

His gaze had been fixed on "Shao Yan" just now; every time this woman appeared, she gave him a different feeling.

Meng Yu felt a tickle in his heart from being provoked, but he knew very well that she was Huo Xiao's woman, and he couldn't even touch a finger of hers, so he couldn't help but feel disappointed and resentful.

Lan Yan, on the other side, was not very happy.

She glared at Jiang Huai'en with a fierce look, as if blaming him for meddling.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Qu Ao raised his wine glass to Huo Qingyue and Pei Hong: "Mr. Pei, Mrs. Pei, it has been a long time since we last met."

I hope you guys can help me persuade these guys, especially Ah Xiao, to come back to the US with me. There's more room for development there than here.

He can bring his wife if he wants. All these years, only Huai'en has been with me. I'm getting old, and I want as many sons as possible. Does he really want me to grow old alone?"

Pei Hong took a sip of wine and remained silent; he listened to Huo Qingyue in everything.

Huo Qingyue forced a smile: "Mr. Qu, even children have their own opinions once they grow up. A-Xiao is just my younger brother; he's an adult, and he makes his own decisions."

"Ah Xiao, your godfather is right. What's so great about Beicheng? You should come back to America with us."

As Lan Yan spoke, she stretched out her leg under the table, trying to hook Huo Xiao's leg.

She was very resentful that she had just deliberately misinterpreted Shao Yan's name.

She didn't believe Huo Xiao would really give up everything for this woman.

"Us? I don't know who 'us' refers to, Godmother?"

Qin Mu spoke up for Huo Xiao, and Lan Yan gently rubbed against Huo Xiao under the table, her eyes filled with longing.

She felt that Huo Xiao would definitely agree to her request.

"Of course it's me and your godmother."

Qu Ao spoke up, and Qin Mu sneered.

"Godfather, Lan Yan said she divorced you as soon as she got back. Are you sure?"

Qu Ao's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he glanced at Lan Yan: "Really?"

Lan Yan glared at Qin Mu fiercely, then immediately started to act coquettishly towards Qu Ao.

"I was just joking with them. You know I love to have fun, so tell me."

Lan Yan's words worked. Qu Ao did not pursue the matter further.

Just then, Qu Ao's phone rang. He temporarily stopped the conversation, took the phone, and went to a quiet place to answer it.

After Qu Ao left, Jiang Huai'en looked at Lan Yan with a half-smile.

"Godmother, your feet keep rubbing against me, aren't you tired?"

Lan Yan was startled and quickly pulled her foot back.

She thought it was Huo Xiao, and when she realized he hadn't rejected her, she thought she had a chance.

I never expected it to be Jiang Huai'en.

Lan Yan's cheeks flushed, but Huo Qingyue spoke up at that moment.

"Miss Lan, everyone knows about etiquette and shame. Xiao is married now, he won't go with you and Mr. Qu. Besides, once you're married, you should stay with one man and live a good life. Don't be greedy and have your cake and eat it too. Aren't you ashamed?"

When Pei Rongrong saw Lan Yan being scolded by her mother, she immediately came out to help.

"Mommy, what's wrong with Lan Yan? Everything she does is for Uncle, so why are you always targeting her? I think she's much better than Shao Yan. Women who depend on men for survival are parasites; they'll be abandoned by men sooner or later."

Huo Qingyue was almost driven mad by Pei Rongrong.

"Shut up."

Lan Yan burst into tears, staring at Huo Xiao with innocent, wide eyes.

"Axiao——"

Huo Xiao interrupted her directly.

"This meal isn't suitable for me. I just came to visit my godfather. When he gets back, tell him I have other things to do and won't be able to have dinner with him."

Huo Xiao pulled Shao Yan along and said softly, "Let's go."

Shao Yan was still confused when Huo Xiao pulled her out the back door.

Lan Yan wanted to get up and chase after him, but Qu Aoren came in from the front door.

Lan Yan had no choice but to give up.

Huo Xiao left the hotel with Shao Yan, looking very relaxed.

Shao Yan didn't know what he meant.

"Aren't you afraid of your sugar daddy if you don't eat?"

Huo Xiao sneered: "What's there to be afraid of? He's just deliberately setting up a trap to intimidate me, and at the same time, he wants to test whether I still have feelings for Lan Yan."

Leaving him was tantamount to betraying him. He's inherently suspicious; how could he possibly want me back?

No one understands Qu Ao better than Huo Xiao. Fortunately, he is not Qu Ao's biological son, otherwise, he might not even be alive.

Shao Yan trembled slightly; she understood what Huo Xiao meant.

The relationships in high society are complex and the human heart is unpredictable.

"Are you Mr. Qu's adopted son?"

Having just heard Qin Mu and the others call Qu Ao their godfather, she figured they must have all been adopted by Qu Ao.

Huo Xiao took a cigarette and fiddled with it in his hand for a moment before shaking his head.

"Qin Mu and the others were adopted by my godfather from an orphanage. Ten years ago, our Huo family was wiped out. It was my godfather who saved my sister and me."

My sister was already married at the time, but not to Pei Hong; it was her second marriage to him.

He had no desire to continue at this point: "It happened a long time ago—"