Qiao An was very calm when she saw Huo Xiaoran.

“I thought about it. Even if it’s true that we’re not meant to be together, we shouldn’t hide in a snail’s shell like cowards to avoid the fact that we once had heart-wrenching love.”

Huo Xiaoran was stunned. He knew Qiao An’s intentions. They had been separated too many times because of misunderstandings, so Qiao An must have come to force him to make a decision.

But he was in such a difficult position.

Qiao An glared at him with incomparable courage. “I came today to settle this past with you. In the future, even if I go to the ends of the earth, I won’t have any regrets.”

Huo Xiaoran begged, “An’an, let’s talk inside, okay?”

Qiao An also knew that it was impossible to explain things clearly between her and Huo Xiaoran, so she nodded silently.

Huo Xiaoran was slightly happy. He looked down at the two children. Joey and Angel were both looking at him innocently. Angel even made a face at him mischievously and called him softly, “Uncle Huo.”

Huo Xiaoran suddenly squatted down and hugged Angel Qiao tightly. At that moment, he felt so happy. The person he was hugging was his daughter.

Joey looked at him in slight disappointment. Huo Xiaoran was slightly stunned and picked Joey up again.

Qiao An looked a little regretful when she saw how clingy the children were to Huo Xiaoran.

Huo Xiaoran looked at Qiao An and felt as if his heart had been stabbed when he saw her thin face.

“An’an, you’ve lost weight.” His heart ached.

Qiao An, on the other hand, was calm and rational. “Come into the house.” She would never forget why she had come to him.

Huo Xiaoran brought Qiao An through the door. In the garden, he placed the two children on the ground and pinched their fair faces. He told them gently, “Uncle hid a surprise in the garden. Go and look for it.”

The children ran off, laughing.

Qiao An was surprised to see the children as free as if they were at home. “I take it they’re regulars in your house?”

Huo Xiaoran looked at her. “I’ve also prepared a surprise for you. Do you want to take a look?”

With that, he suddenly reached out for Qiao An’s hand and pulled her into the house.

Qiao An tried to break free from his grip, and Huo Xiaoran looked back at her. Qiao An said, “Men and women shouldn’t touch each other. Let go of me.”

Not only did Huo Xiaoran not let go of her, but he also walked closer to her.

“An’an, I’m a little busy these few days. Let’s talk after my wedding with Lu Mo, okay?”

He must confess everything to her then.

But Qiao An wouldn’t let him. “No.”

A hint of helplessness appeared in Huo Xiaoran’s eyes.

Qiao An said stubbornly, “If you get married and I get involved with you again, won’t I be no different from those foxy women?”

Huo Xiaoran leaned heavily against the wall.

Qiao An could not wait to get to the point. “Brother Xiaoran, I came today just to tell you that my feelings for you have never changed. I’m still the Qiao An who can accompany you through thick and thin.”

At this point, Qiao An’s obsidian eyes looked at Huo Xiaoran shyly and hopefully.

“Will you still have me?” She blushed after all and looked down shyly.

Huo Xiaoran knew that she was thin-skinned. It must have taken her a long time to muster up the courage to say this.

At this moment, all he could think of was that he wanted to keep her by his side for the rest of his life. However, his hesitation made Qiao An misunderstand his intentions. Her shyness was replaced by shame. She quickly defended her rash actions. “I know, it seems very rude for me to say these words today. But I was just a little indignant. I let my imagination run wild and was afraid that you and Lu Mo would marry because you had some misunderstanding about me… I… I’m sorry. I know your intentions. Don’t worry, I know what to do,” she said incoherently.

Huo Xiaoran pinched her shoulders and lowered his head to ask her, “What are you going to do?”

Qiao An said, “I flatter myself. I’ll never pester you again.”

“Then wouldn’t I suffer a huge loss?” Huo Xiaoran said.

Qiao An glared at him angrily. “Huo Xiaoran, do you know why I’m here shamelessly? It’s because of your sloppy attitude. You’re always gentle and considerate to me like a big brother, but you never care about the boundaries between men and women. You’ve made me misunderstand your ambiguity. Please don’t come near me in the future.”

“Let’s just pretend we never knew each other,” she said bitterly, but her tears fell disobediently.

She suddenly turned and ran, but a large hand grabbed her hard. In the next moment, she fell into his arms.

He cornered her against the wall and leaned down to kiss her passionately.

She wanted to hammer him, but her hands were imprisoned by him. And her anger was finally neutralized by his fierce kiss. She collapsed into his arms.

Huo Xiaoran picked her up and she straddled him in a shameful posture. Realizing that they were about to do something they might regret, Qiao An woke up.

“Huo Xiaoran, let go of me.”

“No.” Huo Xiaoran buried his face in her chest. He knew that she was angry, and he was also suffering.

Just a few more days and he’d nail Lu-Mo to the pillar of shame. If he told Qiao An the truth, knowing her, she’d stop him.

But he had make those who bullied Qiao An pay the price. Otherwise, more and more people would come.

“What do you mean?” Qiao An broke down and cried.

“You’re getting married. Why won’t you leave me alone?”

“Because I love you. Qiao An, I love you,” Huo Xiaoran repeated.

‘Baby, don’t cry. Don’t cry. This pain will pass quickly, believe me.’

Qiao An rarely cried, but today, Huo Xiaoran made her lose control of her emotions. She ignored her image and wailed.

“You’re bullying me. You’re always doing that.” She accused him of the crime.

“Yes, I’m not good. I’ll compensate you later.” Huo Xiaoran tried his best to comfort her.

“I don’t want compensation. I don’t want the house, the company, and the money. Damn it, I’m too tired. Huo Xiaoran, it’s too tiring to love you.”

Tears rolled down Huo Xiaoran’s face. He had never known that Qiao An had such a bitter life.

In the past, he could not understand her pain, but now that he knew how she had lived for the past few years, his heart ached for her.

“Huo Xiaoran, I don’t want you anymore,” Qiao An sobbed.

Huo Xiaoran hugged her tightly, as if he wanted to melt her into his bones. “An’an, it’s only three days.”

Qiao An was immersed in her grief and did not realize that Huo Xiaoran’s fragmented words were mixed with too much information.

She had cried herself unconscious in his arms that day.

Huo Xiaoran hugged her for a long time.