Chapter 181: Chapter 81: Top Star of the 60s Song and Dance Troupe (20)

The two children had a difficult life living under someone else’s roof. They were often beaten by their uncle and aunt and bullied by their cousins. Representatives from the Women’s Federation visited time and again, but aside from criticizing and lecturing the adults and other children, their hands were tied. In time, they could only let things be.

But even that wasn’t the worst of it. Ruyuan was abducted and sold by human traffickers. Without her brother’s protection, the blind Little Ruyi fell into a pond and drowned while crying out for him...

As Xia Zhaoyun recalled this, her eyes welled up and her heart clenched with pain. She looked at the two children beside her, earnestly munching on dried sweet potato strips, and couldn’t help but smile gently. She pulled them into her embrace and kissed each one in turn. "Ruyuan, Little Ruyi, Mommy will be here to protect you as you grow up this time!"

After being kissed, the two children were shy yet filled with contentment and excitement. Their eyes shone brightly as they blinked, and they happily snuggled deeper into her embrace.

"Popsicles are too cold for the children. Let them have some soda first." A voice suddenly spoke from above Xia Zhaoyun. Huo Tianhao, his expression cool and detached, handed her three chilled bottles of soda. "I already gave your friend his."

Xia Zhaoyun pressed her lips together as she stood to take the bottles, turning to the side to make room for him. "Ruyuan, Ruyi, say thank you to the nice uncle."

The little ones immediately took a liking to this tall, imposing man, feeling that this was what a father should look like. They thanked him sweetly, their eyes involuntarily filling with adoration.

Huo Tianhao gave a slight nod, then sat bolt upright and stared straight ahead, as if the match was about to begin!

Ruyuan, who was sitting next to him, was cupping a bottle that seemed enormous in his small hands. Sipping the orange-flavored drink through a straw, he asked in a quiet voice, "Uncle, what do you do for a living?"

Huo Tianhao looked down at the little guy’s dewy, fox-like eyes, and his breath hitched. "A driver."

The little guy let out a soft "wow." "Uncle, are you one of those really cool drivers who drive big trucks?"

"You’re so amazing, Uncle!"

The corner of Huo Tianhao’s lip twitched. He ruffled the boy’s hair. "Is being able to drive that amazing, little guy?"

"Mhm, my daddy knew how to drive," he said, nodding with a smile. "Tianhao Dad does too!"

"They’re both great heroes. Are you a great hero, Uncle?"

Huo Tianhao’s eyes narrowed. "Tianhao Dad? How many dads do you have?"

’My silly son is walking right into it, letting the man grill him about his family!’ Xia Zhaoyun quickly pulled a bag of chips from her handbag and said with a smile, "Ruyuan, have your uncle try some potato chips and yam crisps."

Ruyuan happily took the bag, thrilled to share a snack with his hero uncle. He then proceeded to tell the man all about how capable his mother was.

The little boy counted on his fingers, displaying an astonishing memory as he recounted every single meal he and his sister had eaten since their adoption, in perfect detail!

Watching her son, Xia Zhaoyun didn’t have the heart to interrupt him again. She was confident that with Brother Hao’s sharp mind, he could easily deduce that she and the children were living with He Qingran.

’So what if he figured it out?’ she mused. ’Brother Hao made it clear from the start that he wasn’t interested in her. Or, to be more precise, he wasn’t interested in women and had no intention of starting a family.’

Now that her cover was effectively blown, Xia Zhaoyun actually felt much more relaxed. She stopped paying attention to the man and the boy, turning to chat with the little girl instead.

Xia Zhaoyun’s approach to raising children was to let things flow naturally. It was a fact that their parents had passed away. If the adults around them were overly cautious and tiptoed around the subject, it would only make the children feel the matter was more significant than it was, causing them to dwell on it.

In the long run, children raised under such circumstances were unlikely to develop very pleasant personalities or well-rounded characters.

Besides, combining what she knew of their experiences as fellow patients in her past life with the last few days she’d spent with them, Xia Zhaoyun felt like she had struck gold. The big brother had a high IQ, and the big sister had a high EQ. If not for the cruel twists of fate they had endured, they would have easily had a future as bright as brocade once they grew up!

Therefore, she felt even more confident in her hands-off approach, content to play the role of their guardian and proper guide until they were grown.

The match began shortly after. The little ones were too short to see, so Xia Zhaoyun and Huo Tianhao each had a child sitting on their lap. A little later, a woman came looking for a seat, causing Huo Tianhao to shift over one spot and end up sitting right next to Xia Zhaoyun.

The woman peered at them through the dim light, her face full of admiration. "Your family of four is just so good-looking..."

A family of four...

Both Xia Zhaoyun’s and Huo Tianhao’s hearts gave a hard thump. What a beautiful, yet unattainable, concept. It wasn’t something either of them could dare to have.

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