Huo Jiayuan hung her head low. "Dad, did I do something wrong?"
Huo Shanhe reached out and gently touched his daughter’s head. "Is it about you and Du Shujian? Does your mom know?"
Huo Jiayuan suddenly looked up. "Dad, you knew all along?"
Huo Shanhe let out a sigh. "Jia Yuan, Dad knows that matters of the heart sometimes cannot be controlled, and that the grudges of the older generation should not be borne by you. But Du Chuanqin and Zhang Xiaolu are like thorns in your mother’s heart. As her daughter, have you truly considered her feelings?"
Tears welled up in Huo Jiayuan’s eyes; this was the first time her father had spoken to her in such a tone. Although she knew she shouldn’t have any dealings with Du Shujian, wasn’t it just as he said—can anyone really be clear about matters of the heart? She had not wanted to get entangled with Du Shujian, but fate had brought them together. She had kept their relationship under wraps because she didn’t want to upset her mother.
But her father’s questioning comment had been hard to bear.
If she hadn’t been considering her mother’s feelings, she would have brought Du Shujian home to meet her parents long ago. Then, she wouldn’t have had to endure the gossip from people in the compound about being twenty-one and still unmarried. But she also knew that her father was right. There wasn’t likely to be a reconciliation between her mother and the Du Family. After all, Du Shujian’s parents had hurt her mother deeply in the past. Had it not been for her father, her mother might have found it very difficult to move beyond that pain. As a daughter, she should stand with her mother in shared animosity, but against all odds, she and Du Shujian had fallen for each other.
Huo Jiayuan felt truly distressed. "I’m sorry, Dad. I will talk to Du Shujian about breaking up."
Huo Shanhe’s expression was serious. "Jia Yuan, it’s not that Dad wants to interfere, but even if you and Du Shujian manage to be together in the future, life might be tough. You know what kind of person Du Shujian’s mother is. Forget the grudges she holds against your mom; even without those, living under her roof as a daughter-in-law would be difficult. Give some serious thought to what I’m saying."
Having said that, he turned and headed upstairs.
Pushing open the door, Jiang Jingya was standing by the window, lost in thought. He approached softly and wrapped her in his arms. "I know you don’t blame Jia Yuan. It’s just that you can’t get over that hurdle in your heart."
Jiang Jingya leaned into Huo Shanhe’s embrace. "Shanhe, I’ve actually let go of the past long ago. I was somewhat reluctant to marry you in the beginning, as I didn’t want to become a stepmother immediately. However, over the years, the children have respected me, and you have been so affectionate. I’ve been much happier than Zhang Xiaolu. But I still don’t want our daughter to marry their son. No one can understand that feeling. I know it’s somewhat unfair to Jia Yuan, but I just can’t stand the thought of her marrying the son of our enemy."
Huo Shanhe hugged her tighter. "We won’t interfere. Let nature take its course, and let Jia Yuan make her own decision. We shouldn’t make things difficult for her, okay?" Read full story at 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵✶𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮✶𝓷𝓮𝓽
Jiang Jingya nodded lightly. "Okay."
After speaking, Jiang Jingya turned and embraced Huo Shanhe. "Shanhe, thank you for being so patient with me over these years. You’ve worked hard."
Huo Shanhe’s lips curled into a smile. "Although you married me in a fit of pique, ever since you became my wife, your kindness to me and the children has been sincere. You are so much younger than me and as beautiful as a flower. It’s only right for me to treat you well."
Back then, he had no intention of going through another matchmaking; he thought he would just get by with his children. But the army insisted on him meeting someone, saying a woman was needed to take care of the home. It was meant to be just going through the motions, but he hadn’t expected to meet the girl he had saved only a few days before, who had captured his heart at first sight. He couldn’t bear the thought of letting her go.