AD (QT) Chapter 86

Xiao Yu sat in the driver’s seat, glancing at Xiao Locheng in the rearview mirror. “Work is getting busy lately. How about you stay at your mother’s place for a while?”

Xiao Locheng’s heart skipped a beat. “What are you trying to do? If you’re unhappy with me, tell me directly. You don’t need to go through Mom.”

Xiao Yu felt a headache coming on. “My company is truly busy. I have to inspect a project in the lower counties, and Auntie Liu Qianliu is busy with her shop. I’m not comfortable leaving you home alone.”

Liu Qianliu, sitting in the passenger seat, almost spoke up to say her shop wasn’t that busy, but Xiao Yu nudged her arm, and she wisely stayed out of the father-daughter dispute. After a few more excuses about the nanny being “on leave,” Xiao Yu drove straight to his ex-wife’s restaurant, Sisters Hotel.

Liu Qianliu refused to get out. She and Xiao Locheng’s mother, Hu Limin, were practically strangers who wouldn’t even trade greetings. Xiao Yu didn’t push it and led a reluctant Xiao Locheng inside.

Hu Limin was already waiting. She sent Xiao Locheng upstairs to snack on fruit while she spoke with Xiao Yu.

“Xiao Locheng is in an early relationship,” Xiao Yu blurted out once they were alone.

Hu Limin’s expression didn’t flicker. “I heard you. No need to shout.”

“Since you heard me, I’ll be brief,” Xiao Yu said. “She’s staying with you. Explain the dangers of early dating to her. You’re her mother; there are things I can’t say as a man.”

“You and I started dating in elementary school,” Hu Limin remarked dryly.

Xiao Yu choked. “And look where we are—divorced.”

Hu Limin ignored his temper. “I don’t agree with how you’ve raised her all these years. You refused to change, so don’t interfere with how I handle her now. She’s safe here. You can go.”

After Xiao Yu left, Hu Limin went upstairs and sat beside her daughter. “So, I hear you found me a ‘little son-in-law’?”

“Mom! Don’t say that!” Xiao Locheng turned red with shame.

Hu Limin sighed dramatically. “Is my daughter becoming distant? You won’t even tell me about him?”

Knowing her mother’s relentless nature, Xiao Locheng finally admitted, “I do have a boyfriend.”

“Call him,” Hu Limin said instantly. “Tell him to come to the hotel right now. I want to see if he can carry the weight of being my ‘little son-in-law.’ My daughter is a treasure; I won’t have her bullied.”

Xiao Locheng nervously dialed the number.

“My mom wants to meet you at Sisters Hotel,” she told the boy.

“What? Your parents know? Xiao Locheng, it’s just a little romance. It’s not right for me to meet your mom.”

“She just wants to know you. What are you afraid of?”

“It’s not necessary. I’m not coming.”

“Are you sure?” Xiao Locheng’s voice turned cold. “If you won’t come, then we’re done. Let’s break up.”

She hung up, her face pale. Hu Limin asked what happened.

“I was blind,” Xiao Locheng fumed. “He’s a coward. Not like a male lead in a novel at all. As soon as he heard about meeting a parent, he folded.”

Hu Limin felt triumphant but acted concerned. “If he’s afraid to see me, he never intended to be responsible for you. A boy like that isn’t worthy of my daughter.”

Ten minutes later, Hu Limin called Xiao Yu. “Your daughter broke up with that kid. It’s over.” She hung up before he could respond.

Xiao Yu was stunned. It had taken him days of agony, yet Hu Limin solved it in less than half an hour. He had to admit, his ex-wife had real skills.

…

A few weeks later, after the mid-term exams, Han Doudou called Xiao Locheng to catch up.

“Are you busy studying? Or busy dating?” Xiao Locheng teased.

Liu Qianliu, who had just come out of the bathroom, froze. She ducked back inside and pressed her ear to the door to eavesdrop.

“I’m not dating,” Han Doudou’s voice came through. “No one is even chasing me.”

“I don’t believe you,” Xiao Locheng said. “You’re keeping secrets.”

“I really am not,” Doudou laughed. “There’s just one male classmate… but he’s handsome, rich, and a top student. He’s just helping me with my grades out of ‘classmate love.'”

“Does he help anyone else?”

“No.”

“Just you?”

“Yes.”

“Doudou, he definitely likes you. Trust my experience—if he didn’t like you, he wouldn’t waste his time.”

Han Doudou quickly changed the subject to Xiao Locheng’s breakup, but the damage was done. Liu Qianliu was in a panic. As soon as Xiao Locheng hung up, Liu Qianliu “floated” out of the bathroom.

“Is Doudou dating?” Liu Qianliu demanded.

“No! Someone likes her, but that doesn’t mean she likes him back,” Xiao Locheng insisted.

Liu Qianliu didn’t listen. she ran upstairs and called Han Ze immediately.

Han Ze was already in bed. “Liu Qianliu, it’s late. What is it?”

“The fire is at the gates, and you’re sleeping?” she shouted. “A boy likes Doudou! A rich, handsome, smart boy! She won’t be able to resist. We have to go to the school and talk to the teacher!”

“No,” Han Ze said firmly. “If you go to the school and Doudou finds out, she’ll feel humiliated and rebel just to spite you. She might start dating him because you interfered.”

Liu Qianliu gasped. “Then what do we do?”

“Leave it to me,” Han Ze said. “I raised her. I know her personality. Don’t do anything extra, or you’ll trigger a backlash. Understand?”

“Fine…” Liu Qianliu grumbled. “But keep a close eye on her!”

Han Ze didn’t make a promise, but he knew exactly how to handle Doudou’s growing luck with the opposite sex. He just needed to make sure Liu Qianliu stayed out of the way.