"Mom!" As soon as Hai Lan saw Zhou Yuan, big tears fell from her eyes, and she tried to leap off the bed but was steadied by Zhou Yuan in time. "Mom, how come you’re here?"
Zhou Yuan, due to her strained relationship with the old master and not wanting to be timid in front of him, had always lived in a house allocated by the city library. Hai Shuangjie spent most of her time there as well, only taking one week each month to visit the old master. On the other hand, Hai Lan had grown up close to the old master in the main residence because she was adopted with the particular purpose of replacing Bao’er.
"You think I wouldn’t come after such a serious incident?" Zhou Yuan looked at Hai Lan’s plastered leg with a stern face. She had heard from her husband before coming that the injury to her child’s leg was suspicious and might have been caused intentionally by someone else.
"Tell me honestly, what really happened to your leg? Has someone deliberately harmed you?"
Hai Lan teared up, feeling wronged, "Mom, if I can’t dance anymore, I might as well be dead!"
"Silly child, if there’s any issue with your leg, I will make sure someone pays dearly. Don’t worry, I’ll find you the best doctor so you can continue to dance."
"Mom, you’re always so good to me." Hai Lan threw herself into Zhou Yuan’s arms and, where her mother couldn’t see, a hint of smugness flashed across her eyes. Perfect! With mom handling this personally, she couldn’t believe they wouldn’t win this time.
Yang Wenying always favored Sheng Ning and Lu Dabao, she thought. Let’s see how they flaunt their power after she falls from grace.
"You’re my daughter, how could I not treat you well?" Zhou Yuan stifled the anger in her heart as she soothed her.
Initially, when Zhou Yuan had adopted Hai Lan, she hadn’t felt any affection for her. But as time passed, and since Hai Lan was good at flattering and acting sweetly, plus Zhou Yuan couldn’t have children herself, having Hai Lan helped her keep her husband’s affections and earn some pride in front of her father-in-law. Naturally, she came to treat Hai Lan as her own daughter.
"You just focus on healing for now, don’t worry, I’ll get justice for you." ᴛhis chapter is ᴜpdated by ɴoᴠel Fɪre.nᴇt
"Mom, you’re really wonderful." Hai Lan acted coy. Remembering Hai Shen’s warning, her tone cooled slightly, "Mom, big brother said grandpa forbids me from associating with Aunt Su Yun in the future, and also told me to give up on Meng Ping."
Zhou Yuan’s expression turned unhappy; she really had no say in the Hai Family. Her husband always obeyed his elder brother, and while she might have a say in small matters, she was never allowed to meddle in major issues.
Meng Family was always important in her eyes. If Hai Lan could marry into the Meng Family as Chairman Meng’s wife, she could stand tall in the Hai Family.
"Mom, I only like Meng Ping; I simply can’t do what big brother asks."
"If you can’t do it, then don’t do it; I support you!"
"What if grandpa gets angry?"
"It’s fine, I’ll have your dad talk to him."
"Thank you! Thank you so much." With her goal achieved, Hai Lan smiled, her face both gentle and happy.
Chen Huaying kept lingering in the dormitory, hesitant to leave. Finally, Sheng Ning couldn’t stand it anymore and pulled her aside to talk alone.
Walking side by side along the familiar paths of the Research Institute, they observed the passersby hustling and bustling, each wearing a more somber expression than usual.
Chen Huaying, always sharp and astute, sensed something was amiss.
"What’s going on? Is there a problem at the General Union?" Chen Huaying asked with a furrowed brow.
Sheng Ning, constrained by a confidentiality agreement, responded evasively, "It’s somewhat similar to the situation at the Research Institute!"