Chapter 202: Chapter 87: The 1960s Cultural Troupe’s Top Star (26)

Huo Tianhao said with a smile, "He has plenty of friends and a wide social circle. But seeing so many different women has actually made him lose interest."

"It’s like Xu Weilin’s partner you saw before. She’s attractive and capable, but she’s too calculating and opportunistic, treating marriage as a stepping stone in life."

"Kun can’t tolerate any deceit. Don’t be fooled by his easygoing, cheerful demeanor; he’s actually a man of strong principles. People say his standards are high, but the truth is he just hasn’t met the person who would make him throw all his rules out the window."

Xia Zhaoyun felt an inexplicable trust in him. She turned to He Qingran, blinked, and silently mouthed, "Is there anything else you want to know?"

The little ones curiously mimicked her, opening their mouths without making a sound, thinking she was playing a game with them.

He Qingran pursed her lips, glaring at her with a blush. Her bright eyes, however, dimmed slightly.

’Before, I could sense Liu Mingkun’s faint interest in me,’ she thought. But after hearing what Huo Tianhao said, her confidence wavered. ’Was I just flattering myself?’

’I’m generally confident in myself, but in the eyes of others, I’m just a little pretty. The Capital City is full of beautiful women. Not to mention the great beauty right here beside me, even in the song and dance troupe, there are handfuls of girls prettier than I am.’

’In terms of family background, my dad is a deputy factory director, but I have a stepmother. All it takes is some pillow talk from her, and my brother and I become those poor kids in the proverb: "With a new mother comes a new father."’

’Whoever marries me is basically marrying both me and my brother. And on top of that, I have a temper like a firecracker and can’t stand being wronged in the slightest.’

’Liu Mingkun, on the other hand... he has a good family, good looks, and is well-liked. He’s better than me in every single way, and not just by a little.’

As she thought about this, a sense of grievance washed over her. Perhaps it’s only when a woman is in front of someone she’s falling for that she starts to feel like she isn’t good enough, giving rise to all sorts of insecurities.

Xia Zhaoyun paused, turning her head in surprise. Then, she smiled and asked him, "So, has Brother Kun met someone like that?"

Huo Tianhao drove steadily, nodding. "I think so. He’s a very practical guy who doesn’t like flashy, artsy things. This is the first time I’ve ever seen him so eager to see a stage play that he traded tickets with someone way in advance."

"Would he go to such lengths if she weren’t someone who made him break his own rules?"

"When we go see the play, just watch and see if he snores."

This time, even He Qingran couldn’t help but ask, "Brother Hao, why do you say that?"

Huo Tianhao seemed to recall something and chuckled for a moment before saying, "Back in our school days, whenever there was any kind of artsy performance he was forced to sit through, the entire auditorium could hear him snoring."

"If he manages to stay awake this time, you can be sure his attention has been captured."

"Oh, and during the Golden Microphone competition, his patience was also a rare sight."

Xia Zhaoyun’s face lit up with understanding. Her smiling eyes turned to He Qingran as she raised an eyebrow. "If Brother Kun is really as great as he says, then he’s definitely someone worth getting to know."

Her words sent He Qingran’s heart on a rollercoaster, a feeling she’d never experienced before. Not waiting for exam results back in school, not even the recently finished Golden Microphone competition, had ever been this nerve-wracking!

She finally understood. This girl was just enjoying the show at her expense.

By the time they reached the Zhaoyang Clothing Factory, it was just around seven. The factory’s loudspeakers were broadcasting the morning news. People bustled about, getting breakfast from the canteen, exercising, taking strolls, playing ball, and seeing their children off. It was a lively yet relaxed slice of life that could give one the illusion that life was bright, all was right with the world, and the future was full of promise.

Huo Tianhao was returning after two long years, and as he took in the scene, his eyes were deep, the smile on his lips tinged with a chilling coldness.

After dropping He Qingran off at the main office building, they headed to the family residential compound. Driving a Jeep, they naturally attracted a lot of attention on the way.

The moment the car stopped, neighbors from all around swarmed over, their eyes practically burning with the flames of gossip.

"Little Xia, who’s this? And where are you coming from so early in the morning?"

"That’s right, we haven’t heard a peep from your place for the past two days. Were you off visiting relatives?"

"Why does this young fella look so familiar? He’s not a relative of yours, is he?"

A few of the neighborhood aunties couldn’t hold back and asked bluntly.

Ruyuan and Little Ruyi couldn’t understand the hidden barbs in the adults’ words, their fervent desire to dig up gossip, or their schadenfreude at the scent of trouble. Instead, they were simply beaming with pride for their mother.

They couldn’t wait to share the news with everyone. "Grandma Huang, Granny Zhao, we went with Mommy and Godmommy to the Golden Microphone finals! Mommy and Godmommy were amazing! Mommy won first place—look, this radio is the prize! And Godmommy got seventh place, too!"

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