The morning dawned cool, as if autumn had suddenly arrived.
A light rain fell, and Huo Rou lounged on the sofa, waiting for An An to cook noodles. She had woken up early, intending to take An An to school. She had already taken several days off, but An An said their school was preparing for the opening ceremony and was on holiday today.
Bored, Huo Rou scrolled through her phone, not thinking it odd at all for a five-year-old child to be making breakfast.
An An brought the cooked noodles over, and Huo Rou smiled softly, thanking him.
"It's been so long since I've eaten food cooked by you, An An. It's delicious," Huo Rou praised.
*Ding dong—*
The doorbell rang.
They had only moved in yesterday. Besides building management, the only other person likely to visit was Qin Ning Yi.
After all, it was only 7:30 in the morning, and Xia Qing Xue wouldn't possibly be awake yet.
An An clearly guessed it was Qin Ning Yi and happily skipped to the door. Seeing him so cheerful, Huo Rou swallowed the words she was about to say.
However, the moment she thought of her dream last night, she no longer wished to see Qin Ning Yi. She carried her bowl into the bedroom and closed the door.
"Who is it?" An An stood at the door, not opening it immediately, and asked in his soft, clear voice.
"An An, it's me," Qin Ning Yi's voice replied.
Huo Rou sat inside, eating her noodles quietly, trying her best to ignore the conversation outside.
Who would have thought Qin Ning Yi would seek her out?
"Huo Rou, I'm sorry," he said from outside the door, his apology sincere.
Huo Rou didn't immediately understand what he was apologizing for.
Qin Ning Yi sent An An away to get him noodles, and he continued, "Six years ago, I was ambushed. I thought you were sent by him, so I said those harsh words."
"Afterwards, I realized I had misunderstood you and tried to find you, but I couldn't."
"I apologize. What I said back then was excessive. I'm sorry, your transformation was too great, and I didn't recognize you."
Huo Rou's eyes began to well up.
She had held onto this for so many years. At that time, hadn't she also been ambushed?
She harbored a secret.
But their reunion occurred under such circumstances.
On a pristine white hotel bed, she wore a black slip dress adorned with rhinestones, her face flushed as she endured the pain. She bit down on a towel, trying to suppress any sound.
To achieve her objective, she had no choice but to drink the problematic wine. The effects were too strong. Before her companion could even take her to a doctor, she used a dagger to stimulate herself, barely managing to endure until the mission was complete. Afraid of appearing too disheveled, she had hidden in the room, struggling to hold on.
Who would have thought Qin Ning Yi would enter by chance?
Even though she was consumed by pain, she maintained her natural alertness. The dagger was already drawn, but then she saw the boy from her childhood.
Huo Rou still remembered her flustered turn and weak struggle. If it were him, she wouldn't have minded.
Putting aside all her pride and pretense, she wanted to belong to him. She belonged only to him.
But who knew that the next day, she wouldn't see the gentle Qin Ning Yi, but a Qin Ning Yi with a cold face and harsh words.
All her self-respect vanished. She only pulled the blanket tighter in his words, unable to react in any other way.
In the end, there was only Qin Ning Yi's icy back and the slamming door.
From beginning to end, he had been cold and distant. Because of this, she had remembered it for so many years.
So, he hadn't recognized her? He had treated her like a stranger?
As Qin Ning Yi explained, Huo Rou got up and went to open the door.
The sudden appearance of the little white rabbit-like eyes in front of him made Qin Ning Yi's words falter.
He looked at Huo Rou's red eyes and, after a long pause, said earnestly, "I'm sorry, Huo Rou."
"Even though it's been so many years, I truly owe you an apology."
Huo Rou sniffled and, for the first time, looked at Qin Ning Yi seriously. He had hardly changed. His features were as exquisite as a painting, his nose bridge was high, and his jawline was more defined.
His eyes held sincerity, regret, and the sight of her own reddened eyes.
He didn't recognize her...
Huo Rou suddenly felt that the nightmares and lingering thoughts of so many years had lost their anchor.
If he were facing a stranger, his reaction would have been perfectly normal.
Huo Rou took a deep breath, her voice unusually soft. Her usually sweet and alluring voice held a hint of a sob, "It's okay. Qin Ning Yi."
It's okay, Qin Ning Yi, you just don't remember me.
Qin Ning Yi saw the first smile Huo Rou had offered him since her appearance. It was complex but incredibly beautiful.
An An came over with the noodles. "Dad, have some noodles!"
Qin Ning Yi looked at Huo Rou, awaiting her signal. After all, Huo Rou didn't want to see him, and he didn't want to push it too far.
The expected refusal didn't come. Huo Rou nodded, "Go ahead and eat."
An An was also shocked. Huo Rou had actually agreed! He had prepared a whole speech, ready to pester her until she gave in, but Huo Rou had agreed so casually.
An An put down the bowl and rushed over excitedly. As he got closer, he saw Huo Rou's lingering red eyes.
His excitement turned to concern and anger. "Mom, you cried? Did Dad bully you?"
When it came to a conflict, An An naturally sided with Huo Rou, condemning Qin Ning Yi.
"Dad, why did you make Mom sad?" An An stood between Huo Rou and Qin Ning Yi, his hands on his hips like a hen protecting her chick, interrogating Qin Ning Yi.
"How could you do this? If Mom really doesn't like you, you can come to me. Why make Mom sad?" An An glanced back at Huo Rou's red eyes, clearly indignant.
This question stumped Qin Ning Yi. He had come to apologize, not to bully anyone.
It was Huo Rou who broke the ice. "He didn't bully me. He's apologizing for something that happened before."
"Then Mom, why are your eyes red?" An An's voice was full of concern.
"That's because when he apologized, I remembered the past. I remembered how painful it was to give birth to you, An An. I felt like crying." Huo Rou smiled, speaking casually, her words half-true and half-false. An An believed her.
With the misunderstanding cleared, Huo Rou's prickly demeanor vanished. She regained her composure, interacting effortlessly with everyone. She sat at the same table with Qin Ning Yi and ate peacefully.
As long as Huo Rou wanted to get along, she could perfectly disguise herself. She occasionally interjected when Qin Ning Yi spoke. The atmosphere was harmonious.
An An looked at Qin Ning Yi on his left and Huo Rou on his right. He felt an unprecedented sense of satisfaction. If Mom wasn't giving Dad the cold shoulder, wouldn't his desire for a family to be together be closer to reality?
Qin Ning Yi was initially happy when Huo Rou spoke to him, but he felt something was off.