Mom's Back. The Villain Triplets Are in Trouble.

Chapter 24: Chapter 24: Which Mom?

In the end, Gu Qingyin never got the story of his first love out of Huo Xingye. It was a bit of a shame, but not a huge one.

Because Xue Ning told her everything he knew.

The story was a cliché: a cold, domineering CEO falling in love at first sight with a woman who was like his own personal sun.

To Huo Xingye, Wen Ting was like a ray of light illuminating his endless night—warm, healing, and utterly addicting.

Unfortunately, that light wasn’t willing to shine for him alone.

”The Family Head was brutally rejected the first time he ever fell for someone. He won’t swear off love and relationships and become a lay disciple of the Buddhist Sect for the rest of his life, will he?” Xue Ning said jokingly, though deep down, he couldn’t help but worry.

Gu Qingyin, however, wasn’t concerned. She had read Huo Xingye’s face; he had a few hurdles to overcome before adulthood, but as long as he got through them, he was destined for a happy family and a blissful old age.

This was a classic case of good fortune born from adversity.

The following half a month was peaceful.

Gu Qingyin occasionally took on jobs. She looked young, and as a Female Heavenly Master without Liu Ergou’s endorsement, her Fate Fee was much lower.

She could have gone to the Xuan Technique Association to re-register and take the ranking exams, but she was afraid of running into the higher-ups who had previously assigned her missions. She didn’t want any contact with them right now.

The mission from twenty years ago had clearly been misrepresented. The mutant beast she hunted was far stronger than the information provided had suggested.

Gu Qingyin couldn’t tell if it had been an accident or deliberate, but either way, she wasn’t going to reveal herself voluntarily.

Besides, she hadn’t hidden the fact that she was back. Once those old-timers lost their patience, they would come looking for her sooner or later.

The upper hand would naturally be hers then. After all, she was the only one who knew the truth about the mutant beast.

On another note, after half a month of recovery, Wen Ting was discharged from the hospital.

Huo Xingye picked her up personally and took her directly to an apartment in the city center. Before leaving, he also gave her a bank card as a gift.

Wen Ting checked the balance and was so shocked she immediately locked the card in a drawer. The balance on the card was enough to buy out the first half of her life.

In her more than twenty years of life, she had never spent that much money combined.

On top of that, Gu Qingyin heard a piece of news that left her utterly astonished.

Chen Ling had gotten married to a Heavenly Master of her generation. Rumor had it the man had been pursuing her for seven or eight years. No one knew why she had suddenly agreed. What’s more, they skipped the dating phase entirely, getting their marriage license the very same day they made their relationship official.

Gu Qingyin didn’t know Chen Ling well. After hearing the gossip, she didn’t pay it much mind, even though her instincts told her something was fishy.

There were plenty of strange things going on in the world. If she got involved in everything, she wouldn’t have time for anything else.

One afternoon, bored with nothing to do, Gu Qingyin took the nourishing soup made by the family chef and went to Huo Xingye’s office.

As it happened, Huo Xingye was in a meeting.

Gu Qingyin lay down on the sofa with complete naturalness, split her phone screen, and played a tile-matching game on one side while scrolling through videos of her son on the other.

Before long, the office door opened.

Gu Qingyin was busy, and since she hadn’t heard a knock, she naturally assumed it was Huo Xingye. Without looking up, she said, ”The soup’s on the table. Drink it while it’s hot.”

The visitor’s footsteps paused. He looked up and saw the thermos on the desk. He found it rather incredible; the Barbie-pink thermos was a complete mismatch for the cold, stark style of the office.

He had previously heard that Huo Xingye was in a relationship, a rumor he had not only disbelieved but scoffed at. Now, he wasn’t so sure.

’Judging by how comfortable that woman on the sofa looks, this is obviously not her first time here. Plus, she’s so casual, even assuming I’m Huo Xingye. That shows she’s got some serious confidence, and it’s self-evident who’s giving it to her.’

’For real? Huo Xingye actually likes someone?’

At this point, having heard no response, Gu Qingyin finally sensed something was off. Her flying fingers paused, and she looked up. Her eyes fell on a tall, heavily disguised man.

He looked unfamiliar, yet familiar.

Gu Qingyin’s brow furrowed slightly as she tried to place the source of that faint familiarity, looking at the sliver of his eyes and brows that were exposed.

It was only when the man tilted his head slightly and raised an eyebrow.

The familiar little mannerism made something click in Gu Qingyin’s mind, and a familiar name escaped her lips.

”Huo Xinghai!”

Huo Xinghai was a bit surprised and subconsciously touched his face. ’She can recognize me even when I’m wrapped up like this? Don’t tell me...’

”Are you my fan?”

Gu Qingyin couldn’t hide her excitement. ”I’m your mom!”

Huo Xinghai didn’t feel offended at all. He just tilted his head in confusion and calmly asked, ”Which mom?”

The smile on Gu Qingyin’s lips froze. Her brow twitched, and her voice, though soft, held a hint of danger. ”How many moms do you have?”

Huo Xinghai, completely unaware of the impending danger, shrugged helplessly. ”Too many to count.”

”Is that so?” Gu Qingyin put down her phone, stood up from the sofa, and unhurriedly began to roll up her sleeves, taking off her bracelet and watch—the watch was a gift from her son, so it couldn’t be damaged.

Huo Xinghai finally, belatedly, grew wary. ”What do you think you’re doing? This is the Huo Family’s office building!”

Gu Qingyin sneered and stepped forward.

The next second, a piercing, miserable scream echoed through the office, ”NOT THE FACE!!!”

Even with the office’s excellent soundproofing, the secretaries and special assistants in the president’s office across the hall heard it loud and clear.

Everyone exchanged glances, silently asking one another: ’Should we go and check it out?’

But no one wanted to handle this hot potato.

The president’s relative and the president’s brother were fighting. Both were like royalty; they couldn’t afford to offend either one.

’But if we just ignore it, what if something serious happens?’

’Sigh, it’s so hard being a secretary. Being President Huo’s secretary is even harder!’

”Ahem, it seems the president’s meeting is about to end,” one of the special assistants announced.

Everyone’s eyes lit up, and they instantly relaxed. The timing was perfect!

And so, when Huo Xingye returned to his office five minutes later, he was greeted by the sight of a bruised and swollen Huo Xinghai and an expressionless Gu Qingyin sitting on the sofa.

The scene was all too familiar.

Huo Xingye fell silent.

”Bro! You have to do something about her!” Huo Xinghai, as if seeing his savior, lunged over and started to tattle. ”Look what she did to me!” ’She hasn’t even officially married into the family yet, and she’s already this vicious. Who knows how she’ll torment me in the future!’

Huo Xingye glanced at him and spoke the truth. ”I can’t control her, and I don’t dare to.”

Huo Xinghai’s eyes widened in disbelief. ”Bro! You spoil her too much!”

’No wonder this woman is so brazen. My brother has spoiled her rotten!’

Huo Xingye sighed and asked Gu Qingyin, ”How did he make you angry?”

Gu Qingyin gave a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. ”He said he has too many moms to count. Shouldn’t I beat him up?”

Huo Xingye paused, then agreed, ”He definitely deserved a beating.”

Huo Xinghai protested, ”But I really do have too many ’mom fans’ to count! Besides, what’s it to you how many moms I have?”

Gu Qingyin snorted. ”Huo Xingye, you tell him why it’s my business.”

”Alright.” Huo Xingye gave him no time to prepare, making the introduction directly. ”This is Gu Qingyin. Your birth mother.”

Huo Xinghai tilted his head blankly. ”Huh?”