After leaving Factory Director Yuan’s house, Han Xinrui made her way to her parents’ old home.

She didn’t bother asking Huo Hongtao who he had rented it to. Since no one was going to tell her, she’d act as if she didn’t know. After all, they hadn’t given her the rent either.

When she arrived, she stormed right in and shouted, “Who are you people, and why are you in my house?”

At this point, Han Xinrui still didn’t know Bai Qingqing’s parents or their family.

When they saw her suddenly burst in, their expressions shifted and they snapped angrily, “Who are you? How dare you barge into our home! This is our son-in-law’s house!”

The one who pushed Han Xinrui out was Bai Qingqing’s mother.

She had already decided that the house belonged to her family. Bai Qingqing had even promised her she could find a way to get Han Xinrui’s job transferred to her younger brother.

So when Han Xinrui walked in, she immediately claimed the house belonged to her son-in-law.

Han Xinrui sneered at the words. “Your son-in-law’s house? And who exactly is your son-in-law?”

Bai Qingqing’s mother narrowed her eyes and looked Han Xinrui over.

She knew everyone in the residential compound, and she had never seen this woman before. That meant she wasn’t from around here.

So she placed one hand on her hip, sounding even more self-assured. “Huo Hongtao! My son-in-law is Huo Hongtao!”

Han Xinrui could hardly suppress the smirk tugging at her lips.

Son-in-law?

Huo Hongtao?

She had been wondering how to expose Huo Hongtao and Bai Qingqing’s disgraceful relationship, now they were handing it to her on a silver platter.

Without hesitation, Han Xinrui turned and ran out of the courtyard. “Everyone, come look! These people say Huo Hongtao is their son-in-law!”

The soundproofing in the compound was poor. You could hear a neighbor sneeze through the walls.

She had chosen to come at the end of the workday. As soon as she shouted, people started poking their heads out.

Seeing it was Han Xinrui again, they perked up.

That girl from the Han family again?

Wasn’t she newly married? Why was she crying and yelling?

People who had been cooking dinner quickly ran over to see what was happening.

Just as a few people opened their mouths to speak, Han Xinrui cut them off.

She pointed toward her home and looked pitifully at everyone. “Aunts, uncles, they say Huo Hongtao is their son-in-law!”

Her words shocked everyone in the compound.

Bai Qingqing’s mother had only meant to show off in front of Han Xinrui. She never expected her to make a scene like this.

Panic rising, she began stomping her feet.

Her daughter wasn’t even married to Huo Hongtao yet. This couldn’t get out.

Gritting her teeth, she pointed at Han Xinrui and snapped, “You shameless hussy! How dare you come here and spout nonsense? I’ll slap that filthy mouth of yours!”

As she said it, she lunged to hit Han Xinrui.

But they were surrounded by neighbors who had watched Han Xinrui grow up. No one would actually let her get hit, and Han Xinrui wasn’t scared.

She immediately pretended to be scared and ducked behind one of the aunts.

By now, even more people had gathered.

They had come just in time to see Bai Qingqing’s mother lunging at Han Xinrui.

Everyone quickly stepped in to stop her. “Aren’t you just tenants? How could you try to hit the homeowner?”

Bai Qingqing’s mother was furious. With all the noise, she didn’t hear what anyone was saying and just kept shouting curses at Han Xinrui. “You little tramp! You’re just here to stir up trouble. What do you mean it’s your house? This is my daughter’s house! I’ll teach you to keep that mouth shut!”

She yelled wildly, jumping and cursing.

The neighbors stood protectively around Han Xinrui while others held Bai Qingqing’s mother back.

Just then, Huo Hongtao’s parents happened to return home from work through the compound gate.

Someone rushed to pull them over. “Quick, come see! Someone’s trying to hit your daughter-in-law!”

The couple froze for a moment, then quickly followed the neighbors toward the commotion.

When Han Xinrui saw Huo Hongtao’s parents arrive, she let out a cold smile, then immediately burst into tears as she rushed over. “Mom, Dad, they hit me and said Huo Hongtao is their son-in-law! That the house belongs to their daughter. Who exactly did you rent the place to?”

Bai Qingqing’s mother also spotted them and angrily pointed at Han Xinrui to complain. “Sister, this woman is spouting nonsense. She said—”

She stopped mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something. Her eyes locked on Han Xinrui, and her voice trembled. “Wha… what did she just call you?”

Han Xinrui calmly met her shocked gaze and said slowly, “What a coincidence, Auntie. I’m also Huo Hongtao’s wife. If he’s your son-in-law, then who am I?”

Bai Qingqing’s mother’s expression shifted rapidly. She immediately denied it. “I didn’t say that! Stop twisting my words!”

Han Xinrui didn’t bother arguing. Instead, she turned to ask Huo Hongtao’s parents, “Mom, Dad, who are they? Are they relatives? I’ve never seen them before.”

The courtyard was packed with spectators. With so many eyes on them, Huo Hongtao’s parents couldn’t possibly lie and claim the family were relatives.

If they did, and people later found out they were Bai Qingqing’s parents, how would the rest of the compound view them?

Mother Huo quickly comforted Han Xinrui. “They’re just tenants.”

Han Xinrui raised an eyebrow with a half-smile. “Then, Mom, if they’re just tenants, please ask them to leave. I won’t have people like this renting my home.”

Huo Hongtao’s parents could no longer maintain their expressions.

They exchanged a look, clearly uncomfortable. “They paid a year’s rent in advance. It wouldn’t be right to kick them out so suddenly.”

Mother Huo straightened her face and warned coldly, “She’s my daughter-in-law. This house belongs to her. If any of you cause trouble again, you’ll have to move out.”

She gave Bai Qingqing’s mother a not-so-subtle warning.

The truth was, they didn’t actually approve of Bai Qingqing. They had only reluctantly agreed to this arrangement because their son had told them something in private.

Bai Qingqing’s mother quickly caught on and forced a smile toward Han Xinrui. “Comrade, we didn’t know you were part of the Han family. If we’d known, none of this would’ve happened.”

Han Xinrui didn’t press further. She simply nodded and said, “Mom, they paid a full year’s rent, right? How much was it? And why didn’t you tell me about it?”

She deliberately asked in front of everyone.

Mother Huo’s expression cracked. After holding back for a while, she finally forced out, “Eighty yuan for the year.”

Han Xinrui nodded. “Then please give me the rent money. This house was left to me by my parents.”

Asking for it in public left Huo Hongtao’s parents with no way out.

They stood there frozen, unable to respond.

There was no money.

They had only let Bai Qingqing’s family move in because of what their son had said.

But now, if they admitted no rent had been paid, it would completely contradict what they’d just claimed.

Mother Huo forced a smile and said, “Xinrui, you young people don’t know how to save. I’ve been holding onto the money for you. I’ll give it to you all at once later, alright?”

As soon as she said it, the neighbors exchanged strange glances.

Back when the Huo family took Han Xinrui in, everyone had suspected they were after her parents’ compensation money.

Now they were pocketing the rental income too?

So they’d finally stopped pretending?

Han Xinrui didn’t back down. “Mom, you already took the compensation money. This rent belongs to me.”

Just then, a soft voice called from not far away.

“Mom, Dad, why are there so many people? What’s going on?”