His wife's pregnancy bump disappeared, and Mr. Huo was going crazy missing her.

"Spending money recklessly again..."

Qiao Mucheng muttered something, awkwardly carrying a bag of groceries, and walked ahead of her.

Like a little adult, he urged his younger siblings, who had just climbed to the fifth floor, "Hurry up!"

After saying that, he ran upstairs.

"Slower."

Qiao Mian whispered her instructions.

Although Da Bao speaks harshly, he is actually very soft-hearted and considerate.

She's so arrogant even though I helped her carry the bags.

After getting to the back of the house, she went to the rooftop to bring the quilt back in, made the bed again, and went to the kitchen to cook.

She cooked the children's favorite dishes.

"Mom, your cooking is so delicious!"

"Yes, Mom's cooking skills are good enough to be a chef!"

When Qiao Muxin and Qiao Muyue were praising their mother, Qiao Mucheng blurted out, "What's so great about being a good cook? She's just a hardworking, resentful brat."

"what?"

Qiao Muxin, who was gnawing on ribs, suddenly found the meat in her mouth no longer delicious.

She snuggled into Qiao Mian's arms, "Mom, from now on we can just eat simpler meals, we don't need to cook so many dishes."

Qiao Muyue: "With so many dishes, it'll cost us several more days' worth of food money."

"Silly babies, Mommy really doesn't have it hard..."

Qiao Mian was pleased with the children's understanding and smiled sweetly.

Her eyes were moist.

Thinking back to how she was so determined to abort her child even at the cost of suicide, she felt very guilty.

If it weren't for her health condition preventing her from having an abortion, she wouldn't have kept the baby...

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but recall what Song Chen had said today: Huo Yanbei's child was already six years old.

That means Song Man was already pregnant six years ago.

No one knew that on the day of the engagement banquet, Song Man beat and scolded her.

At that moment, Song Man pointed to her stomach, glaring at her resentfully, "Huo Wu, today is my engagement banquet with Yan Bei, and instead of leaving, you come here to disgust me? How shameless!"

"I'm telling you, I'm pregnant with his child. If you have any shame, disappear from our world completely!"

Each word lingered in my ears.

Tears welled up in Qiao Mian's eyes.

So, at that time, Song Man was indeed pregnant...

Back then, Huo Yanbei probably disliked her because she wasn't pregnant, so he focused his efforts on Song Man...

Thinking back, the reason he didn't come back to save her from the fire was because he had completely given up on her...

After all, she was no longer of any use to him...

Thinking of all this, Qiao Mian made an excuse to go to the bathroom, locked herself inside, squatted on the ground, and silently shed tears.

I didn't come out until I cried until I couldn't cry anymore.

After dinner, Qiao Mian helped the children complete the hand-drawn posters assigned by the teacher, then opened her laptop to browse job postings.

Although there are still six months left, she still wants to make plans in advance.

Qiao Mucheng was quick-witted and could always detect her unusual behavior immediately.

"Mom, aren't you going out tonight?"

Qiao Mucheng walked to her side, craning his neck to see what she was busy with.

Normally, my mother is out working part-time at this time.

I didn't go out tonight, that's strange.

Qiao Mian didn't want to lie to her child, so she replied softly, "Mom is sending out resumes and is planning to change to a new job in a few months."

Qiao Muyue pulled his younger sister along and ran over: "Did Mom quit her job because she was bullied by her colleagues?"

Qiao Muxin asked with a worried look, "Mom, are you alright?"

Qiao Mian placed her laptop on the coffee table, smiled, and hugged her three little ones: "Mommy's fine. Mommy just wants to find a job with a higher salary."

Qiao Muxin: "I hope my mom can find a job that isn't tiring, and the boss should ideally be a super handsome uncle."

Qiao Mucheng and Qiao Muye glanced at their younger sister, unable to bear the sight, and muttered, "Infatuated girl."

"Hmph, I'm not a lovesick fool! Dad..."

"Qiao Muxin!"

Qiao Mucheng and Qiao Muyue each pinched one of her cheeks, interrupting her from saying, "Daddy is the one who's a lovesick fool."

Mom doesn't like them mentioning Dad...

Qiao Muxin realized that she had almost caused trouble with her mouth, and ran away with a guilty look on her face.

Qiao Mucheng and Qiao Muye chased after her, deliberately trying to scare her.

"Waaah, Mom! My brothers are chasing me!"

"Qiao Muxin, you should use your brain..."

"Mom, my brothers are so fierce. They'll definitely not be popular with girls when they grow up."

Qiao Muxin hid in her mother's arms and argued with her brothers.

Qiao Mucheng remained silent.

Qiao Muyue smiled shyly and didn't hold it against his sister.

Qiao Mian felt much lighter as she watched the playful babies.

I'm not so anxious anymore.

Qiao Muxin, panting heavily from running, completely forgot her brothers' warnings: "Mom, if we had a dad, wouldn't you not have to work so hard?"

"..."

Qiao Mian's expression stiffened slightly.

Over the years, she has never mentioned their father to her children.

Sometimes, when the children ask her questions, she avoids answering them.

As time went by, the children stopped asking.

At this moment, looking at her daughter's expectant and curious expression when she mentioned her father, Qiao Mian was speechless.

In the end, he still did not give a direct answer to the question.

"With three such good children by my side, I don't feel tired at all. I can take good care of you all by myself."

"Okay, stop bothering Mom."

Qiao Mucheng pulled his sister away, gave Qiao Muyue a look, and they went to the bedroom together.

When Qiao Mian was alone in the bedroom, she opened the wardrobe and took out a suit jacket from the four sides.

Two days ago, she returned it to Huo Yanbei, but he didn't want it anymore.

The clothes were gradually creased by being squeezed between the fingers.

She stared blankly for a while, then opened a second-hand luxury goods trading app.

After taking a few photos of the suit, I hung it up.

Instead of keeping it and taking up closet space, why not sell it and get some money!

She raises three children on her own, and her monthly salary isn't enough to cover her expenses.

Let's just say it's his way of making a contribution as a father to his children...

She comforted herself in her heart.

To find a reason to justify selling other people's clothes.

……

The Huo residence.

Tonight is the Huo family's bi-weekly family dinner.

At this moment, including the younger generation, about ten people sat around a large round table.

The food and drinks have been served.

Old Master Huo, with his white hair and beard, sat solemnly in the main seat on an old pear wood armchair.

His hands were crossed, gripping a lion-head cane tightly.

Although he is nearly eighty years old, he is in good health, has bright eyes, and exudes a powerful aura.

He didn't say anything, and no one dared to touch their chopsticks.

Everyone is waiting for the Huo family's living devil.

At this moment, Lin Shuhua, the eldest daughter-in-law, glanced in the direction of the main room entrance and said with a smile, "In recent years, since Yan Bei took power, he has become more and more arrogant. I heard that Grandpa has called many times, but he still couldn't invite him back."

Her husband, Huo Yanli, glared at her and said, "Shut up."

"I'm his cousin-in-law. If I mutter a few words, would Yan Bei blame me?"

"you……"

Huo Yanli tried to stop his wife, but she wouldn't listen and started to complain.

"Grandpa, you said back then that as long as there was a successor to the Huo family's leadership, we could get the shares you held. But six years have passed, and Yan Bei and Song Man only have one daughter, Niannian. Doesn't that count as having a successor? Meanwhile, my son and Yan Li's son are already six years old. Shouldn't he have a share?"