No reconciliation, no forgiveness! Mr. Pei leaves with nothing.

The car drove over the thin layer of frozen snow on the ground. The moment the car stopped, Jiang Hua couldn't wait to open the car door, get out, and run into the hall.

"Mom," Gou Dan called out to Jiang Hua, but she could no longer hear him; all she wanted was to see him.

Upon seeing the unexpected guest in the hall, Jiang Hua's heart leaped into her throat. It was Kridan. "Where...where is he?"

He's back... He's really back!

Kridan lowered his head. "Young Master is currently touring upstairs."

At this moment, Jiang Hua felt like she was dreaming. She ran up the steps, her steps unsteady.

Holding onto the stair railing, she reached the second floor and saw the open door to the room. Jiang Hua's emotions, which she could no longer control, surged forth. With each step she took, her ankles felt as if they were filled with lead.

As she approached, she saw his back. In that instant, a surge of longing overwhelmed her, causing her body to tremble uncontrollably.

But upon closer inspection, Jiang Hua paused for a moment, and only after seeing him clearly did she realize that this person was not Pei Zhan, but...

Xu Zhoulan sat at the dressing table, admiring a framed photo in her hand. Hearing footsteps approaching behind her, the man's lips curled into a playful smile. He slowly stood up and turned around, saying, "Long time no see. You're still as beautiful as ever."

His back view resembled hers, but Jiang Hua quickly realized something was wrong and guessed it was him, her face showing a cold indifference.

"Sister-in-law, you don't seem surprised at all looking at me!"

"I really have to thank my sister-in-law for showing mercy back then, otherwise I would have been able to survive!" Xu Zhoulan looked at her with a smile instead of being angry about what happened back then.

Jiang Hua looked at him coldly, "That's such a pity, I couldn't kill you with my own hands."

Xu Zhoulan laughed, "But didn't my sister-in-law help me kill my elder brother?"

These words caused Jiang Hua a sharp pain in her chest, as if a knife had pierced her heart.

Seeing her reaction, Xu Zhoulan smiled with satisfaction, "A person who has been dead for a long time, and you still care about him so much, sister-in-law?"

"The Huo family is so big, isn't your sister-in-law lonely?"

"Mom." A small figure ran down the corridor and quickly ran to Jiang Hua's side, hugging her leg.

Xu Zhoulan narrowed his eyes, a mixture of doubt and sharpness in them. "This is..."

"The eldest brother's child?"

"Mommy, who is he?" the innocent voice asked.

Xu Zhoulan's emotions vanished, replaced by a mischievous glint in his eyes as he slowly uttered, "I am your...father."

"Are you really my father?"

Xu Zhoulan's wicked smile deepened. "Of course."

“Nonsense, my dad isn’t as ugly as you. You’re even lying to a child.” Gou Dan grabbed Jiang Hua’s hand and shook it. He looked up at his mother’s profile and said, “Mom, this person is a big bad guy. He even lies to children.”

Jiang Hua stared blankly at Xu Zhoulan, who had appeared alive in front of her. "Where is Pei Zhan? He can't be dead, right?"

As Xu Zhoulan approached her, he unbuttoned the top of his dark red velvet shirt. "Sister-in-law, do you need me to vouch for you?" When he was only two steps away from Jiang Hua, the open shirt revealed his strong, pale chest. Xu Zhoulan pointed to the obvious, gruesome scar on his chest, and said with a wicked smile, "I'm lucky to be alive. If you had been a little more unlucky back then, I might really be dead."

"Of course, my older brother isn't as lucky as me."

Xu Zhoulan suddenly remembered something and said, "Ah, I almost forgot. I told my sister-in-law about my brother's situation. She probably doesn't know yet. My brother's body has been taken away by the Caesar family and buried on an island."

Jiang Hua swayed, her hands clenched into fists at her sides, and her voice choked with sobs, "You...you lied to me."

"He won't die!"

Xu Zhoulan raised an eyebrow: "Don't believe me? Sister-in-law, have you forgotten? Your marksmanship was personally taught by your elder brother. At close range, you hit the bullseye every time."

“I saw it very clearly at the time. You shot her right in the heart.”

"The second shot would be enough to kill him."

"But that makes sense. It's understandable that my sister-in-law can't accept my brother's death. After killing the person you love most with your own hands, you'll always find excuses to justify it."

"You! Of course you won't believe that your elder brother died so easily."

“If my brother hadn’t died, it’s been five years… why wouldn’t he have come looking for you!”

"Sister-in-law, how long are you going to keep deceiving yourself?"

Over the years, Jiang Hua had been telling herself that Pei Zhan was not dead. She just hadn't seen his body with her own eyes. She hoped and thought that he was just unconscious and that he would come back to find her when he woke up.

Now Xu Zhoulan tells her personally that Pei Zhan's body had already been buried on the island by the Caesar family and would never return.

No wonder the Caesar family unconditionally gave away several mines operated by the Jiang Group to the Jiang family.

Was it... was Pei Zhan already dead at that time?

Five years have passed, and she should have accepted this fact long ago. She tried to convince herself to let go, but now that Xu Zhoulan has returned and told her about Pei Zhan's death, the intense grief in her heart makes it impossible for her to accept.

Her fingertips clenched tightly into her palms, and she forced back her trembling voice, "So what? Even if he's dead, what are you doing here?"

Xu Zhoulan: "Of course I'll help my older brother and take good care of you."

"And your...children!"

“I am also a member of the Huo family, and I have a share in the Huo family ancestral home, don’t I? I think… now that I’m back as a member of the Huo family, I think my sister-in-law wouldn’t have any objections to me staying here!”

"Without my older brother, my sister-in-law must be heartbroken!"

Jiang Hua's eyes, which had been closed, trembled slightly. "I fired so many shots at you, don't you hate me?"

"You don't want to kill me?"

Xu Zhoulan chuckled lightly, stroking her face with his fingers. "Sister-in-law, you're so beautiful. How could I bear to blame you! Let alone kill you."

"Even without my elder brother, I can still..." Xu Zhoulan leaned close to Jiang Hua's ear and softly uttered a few words, "Inherit everything he has! Including you..."

Jiang Hua's pupils slowly dilated as she looked at him in disbelief.

"Kridan!"

"I'm here, young master."

Xu Zhoulan stood beside Jiang Hua, tilting his head to look at her, and commanded, "Clean up the Huo family's old mansion, and... tell everyone in the Huo family's collateral branches that everything in the Huo family will ultimately be inherited by me."

"Even these unsightly photos have all been replaced."

"Change to..."

"I'll go with you."

"I'll be living in this room from now on, and I'll get my things ready."

Kridan: "Yes, young master."

Xu Zhoulan's actions seemed premeditated. She took out photoshopped 'wedding photos' that she had prepared at some unknown time and removed all the original photos of her and Pei Zhan from the room, replacing them with photos of Xu Zhoulan and her.

Jiang Hua watched his actions with amusement.

Dog Egg bravely rushed forward and punched and kicked Xu Zhoulan, shouting, "Don't move! Dad's picture! You big bad guy!"

Xu Zhoulan buttoned up a few buttons, then unbuttoned his velvet shirt, leaving the top three buttons undone. His pale white chest was exposed, revealing the gruesome scar. He crouched down, smiling as he looked at him. "Your father is dead. He was killed by your mother's own hands!"

"Now... I am your new father."

"You're talking nonsense. My mom loves my dad so much, she wouldn't do that. I don't want to believe you, you big bad guy. Don't touch my dad's picture." Gou Dan slapped Xu Zhoulan's charming face with his little hand. The second time, Xu Zhoulan didn't let him succeed. He grabbed Gou Dan's hand and picked him up tightly.

Kagel: "Madam, should we stop them?"

Jiang Hua looked numb, as if she hadn't recovered from the sadness in her heart. As she watched all of Pei Zhan's photos being taken down from the bedroom, she felt helpless.

Jiang Hua: "Can I stop him?"

He was the child of Huo Tingshan's childhood sweetheart and the woman he loved most. He was unmoved when Pei Zhan died in front of him, but when Xu Zhoulan was injured, Huo Tingshan developed murderous intent towards Jiang Hua. In order to save him, Huo Tingshan used the entire blood bank of the capital city and it took him five years to save his beloved son.

Huo Tingshan was able to let him do whatever he wanted, giving him absolute power. Even if Xu Zhoulan committed murder and arson in the capital city, as long as Huo Tingshan was there, he could get away unscathed.

The Zhou family, her car accident, her child—which of these can he escape being involved with?

He was even the mastermind behind the Zhou family's affairs back then, yet no one could do anything about him. As Huo Tingshan's most beloved son, who could touch him?

Xu Zhoulan smiled with satisfaction. He picked up the child and naturally stepped forward to put his arm around Jiang Hua's waist. "Since that's the case, from now on you are my woman."

Kridan: "What should we do with these photos now that they've been taken down?"

Xu Zhoulan: "What do you think, wife, if we burn this nuisance?"

This is the most intimate term of address; he just blurted out "wife" without hesitation.

Gou Dan pouted, feeling a little wronged as he was hugged. He glanced at his mother's reaction and didn't dare to speak.

"After all, we were husband and wife. Even if we take them down, we should keep them as a memento. Let's put them all in the warehouse on the fifth floor."

Kridan remained unmoved, awaiting Xu Zhoulan's order.

Xu Zhoulan smiled and said, "Then I'll listen to my wife."

"Your mother has already given in to me, so from now on... I'll be your father."

"Sweetie, call me 'Daddy'!"

"No! You're not my dad, I don't want to call you that ugly monster." Gou Dan didn't give him a friendly look.

“It’s alright, we have plenty of time. I’m hungry after being awake for so long, Kridan, go and have the servants prepare something to eat. This year… is the first time our family has celebrated the New Year together! We need to make it a grand occasion.”

"Madam, what do you think?"

Jiang Hua's eyes were devoid of emotion, instead filled with frost as she stared at him expressionlessly. "If you dare touch anything inside besides the photos, I will definitely shoot you in the chest again."

"Let Huo Tingshan lose you completely, his son."

Xu Zhoulan knew what she couldn't forget, and he smiled nonchalantly, saying, "My wife wants to keep it as a memento, so I can't say anything. It's just a few pieces of clothing. After all, we should respect the dead."

"If my wife wants it to stay, then let it stay."

Releasing her waist, Xu Zhoulan's gaze fell on her clenched hands. Seeing her restraint, he reached out to touch her, wanting to take her hand in his. "He was unfaithful to you before he died, and he was fickle."

"What's so special about someone like that that you've waited five years for?"

"Honey, shall we go downstairs for dinner?"

"Ok?"

Xu Zhoulan had just touched her fingertips and hadn't even grasped them when Jiang Hua turned and left, going downstairs first.

Dog Egg reached out to the departing figure, "Mom."

Xu Zhoulan, carrying the child, followed Jiang Hua downstairs together.

Kagel followed Jiang Hua's wishes and did not stop her further.

Downstairs, the three sat at the dining table. Xu Zhoulan took on the role of a father, holding the child. He tried to touch Jiang Hua's hand several times, but Jiang Hua dodged him each time.

“I know you may not be able to adapt at first, that’s okay…we’ll take it slowly, and one day you’ll get used to it.”

“I will do even better than my older brother.”

"At least... I won't betray you!"

The servants served dish after dish. Xu Zhoulan picked up his chopsticks and placed a piece of fish on Jiang Hua's plate. "I know that fish is your favorite food."

Jiang Hua: "When did you wake up?"

Xu Zhoulan: "What, you still hope he can come back to life?"

"Didn't you go see Xiaoling?"

Jiang Hua stared at Xu Zhoulan's hand as he picked up food for her, paused for half a second, and then smiled unmoved as she heard him say, "She's not some shady woman, but she's enough for me to have my eye on."

“Besides you…” Xu Zhoulan stepped forward and held her hand tightly. Jiang Hua struggled a little, and he tightened his grip. Unable to break free, she simply gave up struggling. “I couldn’t wait to have you as soon as I woke up.”

"I will forgive and forget what happened in the past."

"Spare the rod and spoil the child. The fact that you're willing to shoot me means... you love me to the core."

Hearing his self-deceiving words, Jiang Hua couldn't help but scoff, "You really are something, you can fool yourself with anything."

Xu Zhoulan looked at her with fascination, "Your smile is much more beautiful than your cold face."

"You're beautiful, that's your asset. What he can give you, I can give you too."

"Now it's just a matter of changing people and starting a new family."

"I think you shouldn't find it hard to accept, right?"

Jiang Hua looked at the hand holding hers, her smile fading slightly. "Looking at you like this, Xiao Ling should really see what kind of person she's been willing to give up and sacrifice for."

“She was so young, and she went to be with you.”

"Xu Zhoulan, how can you betray someone like this? Do you think you deserve everything she did for you?"

"But that makes sense. So many years have passed, she should have been married off to her fiancé long ago."