Chapter 12: Huo Donglin

Smack!

Zhu Shun slapped her hand across Huo Chunhua’s face, causing Huo Chunhua to turn her head, her cheek swelling immediately. “You’re still young, and already spreading rumors like a gossiping woman. Isn’t it enough that your Huo family has already harmed Ningning? Now, you’re trying to ruin her reputation too? Are you forcing her to her death?”

Huo Chunhua was stunned by the slap, her cheek burning with pain. “Wen An, this comrade hit me! You should arrest her!”

The crowd ignored her, feeling a sense of satisfaction from the slap.

It turned out that Jiang Ningning had anticipated such a situation and had prepared Zhu Shun in advance.

She had already gone to the police to report Tian Cuifen’s actions and explained that she and her children had fled to the military district out of fear of retaliation from the Huo family. She had asked the police to keep their whereabouts confidential for the time being.

The strategy was to create a time gap. If the Huo family found out too soon, they might intercept them halfway and threaten them again, as had happened before with Huo Jianjun kidnapping Manman.

“We’ve already investigated this case thoroughly. We’ve asked your relatives to come and sign the papers,” the stern-faced police officer, Wen An, stated.

Right now, the county was heavily focused on cracking down on human traffickers, so Wen An had no mercy when he added, “Huo Jianjun will undergo ten days of re-education.”

Tian Cuifen opened her mouth to scream but was silenced when her husband quickly covered her mouth.

“Do you want to make this even more embarrassing? Go back and tell Donglin. Have him prepare the divorce papers.”

Jiang Ningning had already severed ties, so now it was the Huo family’s turn to be ruthless.

In the past, her looks had bewitched Donglin, causing him to marry her despite his family’s opposition. Now, after five years of separation and the fading passion of youth, her appearance no longer held the same power.

Tian Cuifen hesitated, “But what if Donglin asks about this…?”

Huo Weiguo, with his black-framed glasses, narrowed his eyes in cold resentment. “Where did the rumors about the textile factory come from a few years ago? Our Huo family doesn’t have a daughter-in-law who betrays the family.”

It turned out that the factory director’s niece was trying to return to the city, and this marriage connection could help her move up in the company by the end of the year.

---

“Donglin…”

Guan Zixue had specially bought a bottle of soda and entered the waiting room, scanning the crowd. Her almond-shaped eyes brightened with a smile.

Huo Donglin stood out in the crowd, his face cold and sharp. His features were deep and defined, making him very noticeable.

His powerful, well-built physique was not something that had developed overnight. With broad shoulders and a height of 1.93 meters, he easily carried his luggage. His back muscles were taut, radiating an undeniable strength.

Guan Zixue’s face flushed as she watched him.

“Thank you for helping me carry my things. This is a token of appreciation,” she said, offering him the soda.

The small bottle, no more than three hundred milliliters, would cost at least two yuan at the train station.

Huo Donglin glanced at it but didn’t take it.

His voice was as cold as the snowflakes outside the station, “Sorry, I don’t drink.”

And wasn’t her memory a bit off? This wasn’t her personal item; it was mission equipment!

Guan Zixue stiffened and retracted her hand, still smiling, “Then how about I get you some water?”

Huo Donglin furrowed his brows and gave her a glance. “Guan Zixue, we’re currently on a mission. If you can’t maintain professionalism, I’ll request a replacement immediately.”

His tone was stern and without a hint of compassion.

Guan Zixue, with her thin skin, felt her cheeks burn. The crystal tears gathered in her eyes, but she forced them back. Her delicate face was even more heart-wrenching as she tried to hold back the tears.

Huo Donglin’s expression grew colder, his patience wearing thin.

According to intelligence reports, there was a group of criminals on the K895 train heading to Jiangcheng, specializing in targeting young women for trafficking.

To avoid drawing attention to the criminals, the higher-ups had arranged for them to collaborate with the workers’ team on a mission, posing as textile factory workers from out of town.

At first, he thought that the workers’ team would at least be composed of soldiers with basic training and professional skills.

At this moment, it became clear that this arrangement had been a huge mistake!

“Captain, the target boarded the train half an hour ago.”

“Then what are we waiting for? Inform everyone, it’s time to prepare for the station entry,” Huo Donglin raised his wrist to check the time, and as he spoke, he was already walking out.

Guan Xue was stunned.

Once Huo Donglin left, the air of authority around them disappeared, and the others in the work team dared to approach.

“Captain Huo is known for being cold and unapproachable. You should keep your distance from him.”

“By the way, Captain Huo is handsome and capable. He’s the youngest and most handsome company-level officer in the entire navy. Many women secretly admire him.”

“But his family has never followed him. Could it be that his wife is very unattractive?”

“Guan Xue is the star of the work team, beautiful with a good family background. If Captain Huo isn’t married, you two would make a perfect match.”

Guan Xue’s heart fluttered upon hearing this, but she playfully scolded them in a shy tone, “What are you talking about? Captain Huo is married. I would never be a third party.”

This mission was an opportunity she had worked hard to get through her father, and she was determined to win Huo Donglin’s heart, have him divorce his wife, and marry her with dignity.

Guan Xue was resolute in her goal.

---

The train roared as it arrived at the platform.

Huo Donglin carried his luggage in one hand, a shoulder strap over his shoulder holding a plaster cast model, and strode ahead.

The plaster cast model conveniently blocked his view of the group.

Manman pointed at the train window and sighed with envy, holding his face in his hands: “Mom, that uncle is so tall and strong, when can I be that strong?”

Jiang Ningning followed her son’s finger and looked out.

In his blue work uniform, the man’s body was like a mountain range—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and long legs. His figure was really great!

Though, she had no idea what his face looked like.

“Eat more eggs and exercise. In the future, you’ll definitely be handsomer than him,” Jiang Ningning said. She was a beauty in her own right, and her son had inherited at least half of her genes, so he wouldn’t turn out bad-looking.

The mother and son kept staring.

Outside the window, the work team was walking by. Guan Xue, both disdainful and a little proud of them, quickly walked ahead and followed closely behind Huo Donglin, claiming her territory.

When it came to married men, Jiang Ningning immediately lost all interest in admiring him. Her gaze shifted to Xia Xia.

The little dumpling was bent over inside a bundle, rummaging around. After a long while, he pulled out a pile of letters, panting heavily.

She didn’t speak but kept watching what the little one was up to.

To her surprise, the little one casually flipped open one of the letters and handed it to Jiang Ningning, “Mom, can you teach us to read?”

This was their first time riding a train, and the two little ones had been very curious at first. The scenery outside the window seemed endless and monotonous, and gradually they became bored.

As for this little request, Jiang Ningning readily agreed.

It was a good chance to understand her original husband’s personality through the letters.

Just as she unfolded one of the letters, the two little ones curiously crowded around.

Xia Xia shyly leaned close to Jiang Ningning’s ear and sweetly said, “Mom, I know this word! It’s ‘Huo’!”

Manman wasn’t to be outdone and proudly puffed out his chest, pointing at the letter, and loudly said, “This one is ‘good,’ ‘child,’ ‘Manman,’ and ‘Xia Xia,’ right, Mom?”

The original owner had never taught the two little ones to read, so this was the result of their daily observations and learning.

“You’re such a smart little one.” Jiang Ningning gave one of the little dumplings a kiss on the cheek.

The two little ones’ cheeks instantly turned bright red, like boiled shrimp.

They absolutely loved hearing their mother call them “little treasures.”

They loved their mother so much…