My Youth Began With Him

”I don’t feel anything towards any of you anymore. Hate is born from love. Now I feel neither love nor hate towards the Huo family and Mr. Huo; you are all like strangers to me.”

”Huh, that’s the first time I’ve heard of you say that about your father.”

”I won’t admit that he’s my father. For me, I’d rather call my step-father, Mr. Jing, my father.”

”Oh right, I hear he had passed away for a while now, how is your mother?”

”She’s very well, thank you for asking.” Huo Mian spoke very politely but also kept her distance.

”Your mother has done very well in educating you. Aside from the plain assemble, you’re prettier than Huo Yanyan,” Jiang Hong commented.

”I’m just a normal citizen, I’ve no right to be compared with a socialite. You’re being too kind, ma’am.”

Jiang Hong continued looking for mundane topics to discuss with Huo Mian, because she was looking for an opportunity to bring up the real subject.

However, as they spoke, she noticed that this girl was quite intelligent. Huo Mian responded to every question meticulously, without any flaws.

This wasn’t the kind of maturity and calmness one would see in a twenty-something-year-old.

Finally, Jiang Hong couldn’t hold it in any longer, and she asked, ”Huo Mian, do you know why I’ve asked you to come here today?”

”I can guess.”

”Oh really? Then let’s hear it.” Huo Mian’s remarks seemed to have sparked Jiang Hong’s interest. She laid back onto the purple sofa, and looked at Huo Mian, waiting for her answer.

Today, Huo Mian was no longer wearing her white lab coat. All she wore was a white t-shirt with a black skirt that fell to her knees.

The black and white assemble was very minimalistic, but looked good on her. Unlike Huo Yanyan, she never wore bedazzling outfits.

However, she still remained so graceful effortlessly within a crowd and was an unforgettable sight for sore eyes.

Huo Siqian mentioned Huo Mian several times, leaving quite an impression on Jiang Hong, especially when Huo Zhenghai’s mother died.

Huo Mian hesitated for a moment, and then she slowly said, ”If I’ve guessed correctly, you came to ask me which side I’m on, right? You want me to come back to help you and Young Master Huo. If I don’t agree, then you might think that I’m taking Mrs. Shen’s side, subsequently making me your enemy. Thus, you will see my existence as an obstacle.”

Jiang Hong stared at Huo Mian for quite a while after she heard her answer.

It took a while for her to finally respond, ”You really are an interesting girl.”

”Seems like I’ve guessed your thoughts correctly.” Huo Mian smiled.

”That’s right, you’re completely right, so whose side are you on? I believe you already know the Huo family’s current situation. My son Siqian has already gained control over the majority of the stocks. Over these years, even though Huo Zhenghai hasn’t acknowledged you on the surface, the truth is, he is beginning to take you into consideration. In other words...”

At this point, Jiang Hong intentionally stopped for a moment…

Huo Mian continued, ”In other words, the only reason that he wants to acknowledge me as his daughter is because he’s afraid that Mrs. Shen’s side of the family would be taken advantage of, so he wants to drag me into this mess to help secure more stocks for those two siblings.”

”Yes, that’s right.” Jiang Hong nodded, as she looked at Huo Mian with admiration.

”You just told me what you think, do you want to hear what I think?” asked Huo Mian.

”Sure.”

”I never wanted to involve myself in this civil war, so I don’t want to pick a side. I haven’t had any interactions with either side over these years, so I won’t intervene, not with you, nor with Ms. Shen. That’s what I think.”

”So, you’re saying that you’re ready to give up the share of stocks that the Huo family allocates you? Do you have any idea how much money you will be giving up? It’s more money than you’ll earn in this lifetime. Don’t you want to live a life where you’re the boss? It’s not bad to be rich,” Jiang Hong reminded her.