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

Those images kept replaying in her mind, deeply piercing her heart.

She stepped on the gas, and when the car stopped on the side of the road, she buried her face in the steering wheel and burst into tears. When she was at her most heartbroken, Huo Ling felt her whole body trembling and convulsing, and her tears soaked her sleeves.

For over an hour, Huo Ling repeatedly wiped away her tears, forcing herself to calm down before finally making that call.

Three seconds after the call was made, the other party answered quickly, "Brother, I've made up my mind. I will arrange the marriage on behalf of the Huo family."

"We'll talk about it when we get home."

After hanging up the phone, Pei Zhan was about to pick up his child from school when he saw a familiar Hongqi car parked outside the school gate a step earlier than him.

When the kindergarten teacher led Pei Xun out, Pei Xun couldn't wait to run to Xie Huai's side, "Uncle Xie, you've come to pick me up?"

"Sir, we're waiting for you in the car. We've also prepared a gift for you."

"really?"

Pei Xun got into the carriage in high spirits.

Shen Yebai sent a message to Jiang Hua, telling her that she had picked up her child from school.

Jiang Hua, with a face mask on, sent him a animated emoticon of a bear making an OK sign while looking at the message.

At this moment, Kagel spoke up, "Young Master is wearing a children's watch. Master can send a message to Young Master to inform him."

A black mecha robot, over a meter tall, was placed beside the man, wrapped in a cardboard box. "Have the bodyguards keep a close eye on him."

"go back."

Kagel: "Yes, Master."

Jiang Hua was coming downstairs when she saw the person returning. "You're back so early?"

Pei Zhan walked to her side, noticed that she was dressed very scantily, and took her hand. "Why are you dressed so lightly?"

"Is it cold?"

Jiang Hua saw the toy in Kager's hand, and even she thought it was exquisitely crafted. Forgetting to reply, she asked in surprise, "Is this for Ah Xun?"

"You did it?"

Pei Zhan responded with a "Mm".

"Ah Xun was picked up by Ye Bai, so he probably won't be back for dinner tonight. If Ah Xun sees us, he'll be so happy." Jiang Hua felt a little excited. "Honey, you're amazing! How can you do everything?"

Night fell like a black ribbon, quietly covering the entire city.

It was 8 p.m. when Shen Yebai finally brought Pei Xun back.

Dog Egg, carrying his little schoolbag, hummed a tuneless little tune as he toddled into the house, chanting, "There's only one mother in the world who's good..."

"Mom, I'm back."

"Honey, come and see this." Jiang Hua was in the living room, waiting for him to come back.

"What is it, Mom?" Pei Xun's face was full of curiosity as he hurriedly ran to his mother's side.

When he saw the mecha robot on his phone, he was instantly captivated, his mouth agape and his eyes sparkling like little stars.

"Wow, what a cool robot! Mom, who made this?" Pei Xun asked excitedly.

Jiang Hua gently patted Pei Xun's head and said, "Your father made this for you by hand."

A hint of surprise and excitement flashed in Pei Xun's eyes. He stared intently at the phone screen, his little finger gently tapping the robot on the screen, muttering, "I want it, Mom, I want this robot."

Jiang Hua teased him on purpose: "If you want it, you'll have to ask your dad yourself. Mom won't."

Pei Xun hesitated. Although he liked the robot very much, he felt a little scared when he thought that it was made by that big bad guy.

“If you don’t talk to Daddy yourself, how can Daddy give it to you? What if… Daddy gives it to another child and you don’t get it?”

"Mom went to take a shower first. If you want it, Dad is in the study."

The allure of the robot was too great. After hesitating for a while, Pei Xun gritted his teeth and decided to go to Pei Zhan's study by himself.

Pei Xun walked slowly towards the study alone, his small figure hiding behind the slightly ajar study door, his eyes fixed on the mecha robot on the table.

The robot seemed to exude a mysterious magic, attracting Pei Xun's full attention.

In his little head, he was thinking about how to talk to the big bad guy to get the robot.

"Have you thought it through? Once you've made a decision, there's no going back."

"Maybe what my older brother told me back then was right. I should have listened to you. I didn't want to waste any more time on him. For the past five years, I thought he would change, but everything I've done is a joke. All the sacrifices I've made for him are a joke." Huo Ling had long since lost hope in him.

"After I went to the White Rose Manor, I learned that the woman had been there for five years. But I never knew that the woman he loved was the one he had gone to such lengths to protect."

"It's not too late for me to see him for who he really is now."

Pei Zhan noticed the figure behind the door, glanced at it, and then focused his gaze on Huo Ling. "I understand."

I will give you an answer tomorrow.

"It's getting late, you should go back and rest."

Huo Ling: "Yes, Big Brother."

After Huo Ling turned and left, she wiped away a tear from the corner of her eye. She opened the study door and saw the furtive figure. "A-Xun? What are you doing here?"

Pei Xun: "Pretty aunt, could you bring me that robot from that person's desk so I can play with it?"

"Just play for a little while."

Huo Ling looked at his chubby and adorable appearance, smiled, and patted his head. "A-Xun, if you want it, you can ask your father for it yourself. Your aunt can't help you."

Pei Xun pouted, "Okay."

"Aren't you coming in?" His voice was flat and cold, like the bronze artifacts displayed in the study.

Huo Ling chuckled, "Look, Dad's calling you. Come on in."

Pei Xun tightened his grip on the hem of his clothes, the fabric wrinkling deeply in his palm.

He hesitated as he stepped across the threshold, his small black leather shoes making a soft squeak on the floor.

He stopped three steps away from the desk, his small body ramrod straight, and looked up at the man who was nominally his father, yet more distant than a stranger.

On the desk, a silver-gray robot model lay quietly, its streamlined body gleaming with a cold metallic luster, and its exquisite mechanical arm still in a half-raised position.

Pei Zhan is debugging the robot using a program.

Pei Xun's gaze was instantly drawn to it, his pupils dilated slightly, and the courage he had been holding back finally burst forth from his throat. He pointed at the robot in his hand: "Can I play with this?"

His voice had the naivety unique to children.

Pei Zhan shifted his gaze from the robot to Pei Xun's tense face. He raised his brow slightly, his eyes fixed on Pei Xun with an undeniable intensity, and spoke each word with an unyielding force: "It's impolite to ask for something directly. You shouldn't have this attitude when you want something."

"Secondly, what should you call me?"

Pei Xun: "Dad."

He answered "Dad" as if it were some worthless title, and he did so very quickly.

"come over."

"Oh."

Pei Xun stepped forward and walked to his side. The desk was very high, and he couldn't see the robot.

All eyes and attention were on the robot.

Even when Pei Zhan picked him up, he didn't resist at all.

Pei Xun, unusually well-behaved, sat on Pei Zhan's lap. "What are you doing here?"

"Its voice program is not perfect yet, it's a little short. After it's finished, if you have any questions, you can ask it directly, and it will be able to answer any question."

Pei Xun's eyes widened. "Did you make this?"

Pei Zhan: "Mm."

Pei Xun's mouth dropped open. "Is it true that I can't buy this robot anywhere else, and I'm the only one who has it?"

Pei Zhan: "Mm."

Xun's fingertips were still on the robot's cold metal shell, but the light in his eyes was burning hot.

"Then... can I play for a while?"

Looking at the four words "Xiao Xun's Exclusive" engraved on the robot's chest, he suddenly felt as if the mountain was quietly melting for him.

Pei Zhan put him down, along with the robot. A moment later, Pei Xun saw a robot about his height appear in front of him. "Will it come with me?" he asked, his eyes shining like stars as he looked at Pei Zhan.

"The switch is in his chest, you try it."

Pei Xun carefully extended his finger and pressed the round switch on the robot's chest. "Beep—Mechman No. 914, activating."

"Master, is there anything I can do for you?"

"Wow, it really can talk."

The mecha was able to automatically configure itself to match the program on Pei Xun's titanium bracelet. He tried taking a step, and the wheels under the mecha's feet followed three steps away.

Pei Xun didn't believe it, and even started running around the huge study. He was fast, and so was the room.

"Dad, it really will come with me!"

Half past ten in the evening.

The desk lamp in the study was still casting a warm yellow light as Pei Zhan signed the last document.

Pei Xun was curled up against the sofa, his little head resting on the mecha, fast asleep. His long eyelashes cast a soft shadow under his eyes, and his breathing was even.

The switch on the robot's chest was still glowing with a faint blue light.

Pei Zhan gently moved the robot in Pei Xun's arms to the side and carefully picked him up.

The child, who usually struggles to hold Jiang Hua, was easily carried by Pei Zhan. The little guy even unconsciously rubbed his head against his chest and tightly gripped his collar with his little hands.

When Jiang Hua carried Pei Xun back to the children's room, she found Jiang Hua sitting on the edge of the bed tidying up the blankets.

Seeing the father and son enter, she immediately lowered her voice and greeted them with a smile: "Not bad, this is the first time I've seen him stay by your side for so long."

"He didn't bother you."

"No." She gently placed Pei Xun on the bed, took off his clothes, and carefully covered him with a small blanket.

Looking at Pei Zhan's gentle demeanor and then at the sleeping Pei Xun, Jiang Hua's heart softened. "You played with Xiao Xun for so long today and even made him a new robot." Jiang Hua sat on the man's lap. "How about we treat each other to a night as a family of three?"

Pei Zhan naturally wrapped his arm around the woman's waist. "I prefer to share a bed with Mrs. Pei alone." He looked into her eyes, his deep gaze tinged with desire, and slowly fixed his gaze on her lips.

As he lifted her up, the two returned to their respective master bedrooms and began their passionate lovemaking.

I tossed and turned all night until dawn.

Jiang Hua leaned against him, panting, "Zhou Yan picked her up. They... bought plane tickets back to Wuchuan."

Pei Zhan: "Mm."

"It seems your words still have an effect."

Pei Zhan: "Still not tired? Let's do it again?"

Jiang Hua: "That's enough!"

As dawn broke, Jiang Hua, still tormented, with tears welling in her eyes, fell into a deep sleep.

...

Three days later.

The Huo family's banquet.

The entire collateral branch of the Huo family arrived early.

The servants downstairs are entertaining the guests.

She specifically chose a champagne-colored fishtail gown, made of delicate silk velvet that subtly shimmered in the light. The cinched waist perfectly accentuated her elegant figure, and the skirt cascaded down to her ankles, revealing glimpses of silver stilettos beneath as she walked. To stay true to the Huo family's traditional atmosphere, she avoided overly extravagant jewelry, wearing only a gemstone ring that symbolized the matriarch of the Huo family, and nothing else.

Standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, Jiang Hua looked at the group of people in the underground courtyard. Her home had never been so lively before.

Pei Zhan stood behind her, looking at her fair and smooth back, and couldn't help but kiss her. "Don't be nervous."

"Who said I was nervous?"

"I just didn't expect so many people to come."

"Huo Nanqing actually came too. Manman always complains that he is often away from home because he is in the army. It's rare for me to see them bring their child together."

Pei Zhan said softly, "Because... no one dares to disregard what the matriarch of the Huo family says."

“But I don’t like people calling me ‘Mistress.’ That title makes me feel older all of a sudden.” The zipper on the back was zipped up, and Jiang Hua turned around and reached out to stroke the man’s face. “Look at you, you even have gray hair.”

Pei Zhan held her hand, looked into her eyes, and kissed the back of her hand. "Miss Jiang, you are still as beautiful as ever."

They still have decades to spend together, but what about after that?

Between her and Pei Zhan, one of them will have to leave first.

Jiang Hua felt a pang of sadness and reluctance. She moved closer and hugged the man's waist, saying, "I wish you could stay with me a little longer."

But Pei Zhan has already done very well.

He has done everything he said he would do.

He is actually very busy every day, but he still lets her sleep until she naturally wakes up, turns down extra social engagements, and goes home early to have dinner with her.

She deliberately ate very slowly, and Pei Zhan, knowing her little scheme, never said a word.

But she was still not satisfied; she was greedy, so greedy that she wanted both.

She wanted him to be by her side 24 hours a day, and for him to appear before her whenever she called him.

Day after day, she waited until she grew tired of him.

...

"So many people have come, where is our eldest brother?"

Xu Zhoulan wore a custom-made dark gray suit, the well-tailored fabric accentuating his tall and composed figure, with a dark-patterned tie at the collar. His left hand rested naturally on Song Qingran's waist, the movement gentle, his eyes full of tenderness.

Song Qingran, standing beside her, wore a light blue gauze dress. As she walked, the hem of the dress swayed gently, like a flower blooming under the moonlight.

The two appeared together, attracting the attention of many people.

Xu Zhoulan looked up and saw the two people on the second floor. Meeting Pei Zhan's deep gaze, she smiled and deliberately hugged Song Qingran tightly to make her presence known.

Jiang Hua seemed to see it somewhat unreal: "It really is her."