The middle-aged man was momentarily at a loss for words, glancing uneasily at the Ren family head and the young people nearby, not daring to speak immediately.

Ren Shuangmei was the one in charge of the Ren family—this wasn’t just an empty title. There weren’t many outstanding people in this generation of the Ren family, which is why, when the old family leader wanted to step down, he had to bring the cool and capable Ren Shuangmei back to take charge.

Strangely enough, although her decisive and sometimes ruthless methods often made the old family leader nervous, over the years, Ren Shuangmei had always managed to make good friends in the business world. Even rivals at the negotiating table would later invite her out for meals and tea. Her radical reforms, adjustments in strategy and principal business, and new rules almost single-handedly brought the Ren family business to its current heights.

So, when Ren Shuangmei spoke at home, no one dared to go against her. Even if they wanted Luo Chi to go abroad for a while, they would only dare to come to the villa and try to persuade him themselves when Ren Shuangmei wasn’t there.

The two that came with the middle-aged man stayed silent as he hesitated, then finally explained, “We… haven’t seen Xiao Chi in a long time, so we came to check on him…”

Ren Shuangmei interrupted, “I’ll be bringing Huo Miao home in a few days. Didn’t I already tell you?”

The middle-aged man faltered and fell silent.

Ren Shuangmei took a breath. She didn’t want Huo Miao to overhear this, so she glanced upwards. “Because of those antics from the Luo family?”

“Shuangmei,” the old family head coughed. “Let’s not talk about anything else—about the dispute with the Luo family, we wish for a quick resolution. Many of our businesses have been affected. This isn’t just a matter of pride; it’s about the company.”

He asked, “You’ve been so busy lately because you have to deal with the mess the Luo family made, right?”

Ren Shuangmei didn’t deny it and nodded. “Yes.”

Honestly, even tonight, she only came home late because of trouble caused by the Luo family. Recently, many obstacles in business were clearly the result of some malicious interference, even some underhanded tactics. Outwardly, it might not seem like the Luo family, but a little investigation would link it back to their instigation.

The Luo family had nudged smaller companies into stirring up trouble—their intentions were not hard to discern.

“Don’t worry, we only talked with the child—we won’t force him to do anything.” The old family head said, “He can make his own decisions. He’s a good kid, and we trust he’ll be sensible.”

Ren Shuangmei smiled.

The old family head was puzzled. “Is there a problem?”

“Telling a thirteen-year-old, just-brought-back child that the family is in trouble because of him, that his mother is busy because of him…” Ren Shuangmei said, “If he weren’t here, everything would be fine.”

Her tone was calm, even unusually gentle. “Dad, that’s not letting him make his own decision.”

“This is planting a thought,” she tapped her temple, “that everything is because of you, that you’re not a wanted child, that your existence makes people unhappy.”

The old family head hadn’t meant this, and as he tried to argue back, he stared, silenced by her words. He looked back at the middle-aged man, their brows knitting in concern.

“We didn’t mean that,” he said after a long silence. “We never intended to blame him.”

“Is this really the first time you and the cousins have said this to Huo Miao?”

She was suddenly reminded of so many things—why Huo Miao never resisted when sent back to the Luo family, why he never told her about what he went through, hiding his injuries and what the Luo family did. If not for that dream, Huo Miao might never have revealed any of this, and would have just kept himself hidden, nursing his wounds alone.

He would have never dared to ask to come back to her, never told her his real desires, possibly too embarrassed. Without that surgery, anything could have happened to her at any time—and if she hadn’t been there, there’d have been no one to support the child.

“We never intentionally told him,” the middle-aged man stammered, “but maybe in unguarded moments…”

When Luo Chi was first brought home by Ren Shuangmei, everyone liked him—for he hadn’t done anything wrong. He was gentle, quiet, much better compared to the other mischievous kids in the family.

But the many disputes between Ren Shuangmei and the Luo family over Luo Chi made tempers flare, and people’s attitudes started to shift. They may never have said anything directly to Luo Chi, but the subtle changes after an argument, a bad mood brought home from work—the child surely sensed them.

Otherwise, Luo Chi wouldn’t have moved out on his own to a small house in the seaside villa.

Ren Shuangmei nodded. “I understand.”

She realized why even now, Huo Miao still felt anxious in his dreams.

“Dad,” she said suddenly, “you know about the surgery I had, right? The doctor said it was lucky I caught it in time; if that hidden problem had gone unnoticed, it could’ve been fatal.”

She hadn’t told her family about it, so the old family head’s face changed at once and he stepped forward. “Why didn’t you tell us—I thought it was a minor surgery?”

“If handled promptly, it was minor,” she said, waving her hand. “There’s no problem now; that’s not why I bring it up.”

She looked at her family. “I just can’t help but think—what if I hadn’t caught the problem? What then?”

“What if something happened to me while taking care of Huo Miao, or while fighting with the Luo family—would you hold that against Huo Miao too?”

The old family head was confused, frowning. “Don’t talk nonsense. Why think about such things?”

“We would,” Ren Shuangmei nodded. “Dad, have you considered how much it would hurt him?”

It would more than just hurt.

She thought again of that child who only watched her with a smile, saying he was never sad and always happy. She couldn’t imagine how life would go on if something really happened. If there were souls after death, she’d ache forever.

The middle-aged man looked increasingly uncomfortable on the couch, about to speak when suddenly a broom rudely brushed him aside. Startled, he stood up. “Shuangmei, what are you doing?”

“This villa is for Huo Miao,” said Ren Shuangmei. “I’ll change the property deed tomorrow. He can live here as long as he wants, and if he doesn’t invite anyone here, no one else can come.”

The young person with them immediately got up and shrank into a corner.

“Shuangmei.” The old family head frowned. “Yes, our attitude was wrong, and we’ll apologize. But about the Luo family—”

“Dad,” Ren Shuangmei interrupted. “Do you think what I just said is something to humor Huo Miao?”

He was momentarily startled, then realized, looking at her in confusion.

“It’s all true. The contract for the diamond mine just landed on my desk,” she said. “The old man is practically giving it to me, with a year to prospect and mine at will, on the condition Huo Miao spends three months with him. I haven’t decided whether to agree yet.”

“And yes, the hot searches really did explode. I refused all their invitations—those entertainment and talent scouts are so persistent; my secretary’s already blocked a dozen, yet the emails keep coming.”

She looked at those around her, suddenly understanding something, and couldn’t help but laugh. “Dad, do you and cousin really think the Luo family is just being petty with me?”

They were both stunned, exchanging glances.

She decided to lay everything out clearly.

The Luo family’s never-ending trouble was all to get Luo Chi back. The old founder genuinely loved Luo Chi and wanted to take him from Ren Shuangmei to raise and mentor into their future chief designer.

Entertainment companies, studios, and talent scouts had seen his potential as a guitarist, hoping to recruit him into trainee programs and launch his career. For this, the Luo family had been ceaselessly mocked—how could a family with such a talented child let their head constantly call him “useless,” “a troublemaker,” or “a lost cause”?

Some people took this as a joke, other professionals started questioning the Luo family’s judgment. So the Luo family kept making trouble, and after running out of kind words, resorted to pressure, hoping Luo Chi would return of his own accord.

“There’s something I don’t think I’ve mentioned; let me make it clear here.”

Ren Shuangmei finished, then added, “I like Huo Miao, but not for those reasons—not because he’s special or talented, or because so many people want to take him away.”

She gritted her teeth before calming her tone. “I like Huo Miao because he is my little Huo Miao.”

The old family head looked up.

“He’s the best child. I like him. He could be the most ordinary child and I’d still like him,” Ren Shuangmei said. “I just wish him happiness, that he can grow up carefree.”

“That’s my child,” she said. “I’m Huo Miao’s mother—I like him, and that needs no justification.”

She continued, “I’m not here to give him a home—us being together is already a home.”

The middle-aged man flushed, embarrassed, and stuttered, “Shuangmei—really, it’s not so serious, we weren’t trying to make him leave…”

“Cousin,” Ren Shuangmei chuckled, “so many people want to take Huo Miao away—I can barely keep up.”

She asked, “Why did you come here then?”

The middle-aged man started to speak, then fell silent.

Honestly, secondhand stories are one thing, but they still could hardly believe a child could be so outstanding, so sought after.

But the main thing now was to avoid provoking Ren Shuangmei any further.

The middle-aged man saw her coming near with the broom, changed his expression, and hurriedly grabbed the younger person to leave: “We… we’ll go first—”

But when he opened the door, he stopped, looking at the figure standing outside who was just raising his hand to knock. He didn’t recognize the teenage boy outside at all and was about to ask when Ren Shuangmei’s voice rang out from behind:

“Xiao Ming?” Her tone softened as she walked quickly to the door, brushing aside the middle-aged man. “What brings you here? When did you arrive?”

“Mrs. Ren.” Ming Weiting bowed to her. “I just arrived—our family’s boat is at the port.”

He had meant to go straight to Luo Chi, but remembered Luo Chi taught him that when taking friends out, he had to ask his mom first.

Ming Weiting had prepared carefully. Standing at the door, he politely inquired about Mrs. Ren’s health, chatting briefly.

Only then did the middle-aged man realize who this teenager was—it must be that Ming family member who was only ever talked about in rumors.

The Ming family didn’t usually mingle with their circle. For that family—deeply involved in key shipping lines on the high seas—emerging families like theirs were barely worth noticing. Even if the Ren family didn’t do much maritime business, their partners did—and everyone knew, if you wanted to ship by sea, you made sure to be on good terms with that family. If you managed to send your goods on the Ming family’s ships, there would never be trouble from customs or even the pirates. For time-sensitive and high-security business, this was a huge advantage.

But what no one realized was that the Ming family actually knew Luo Chi.

The middle-aged man looked back at the old family head and quietly stepped aside.

Ren Shuangmei hadn’t expected Huo Miao’s new friend to show up. After a whole day of people trying to take Huo Miao away, her pent-up anger vanished instantly, and her mood improved greatly. “Want to go upstairs? Huo Miao is there.”

Ming Weiting shook his head, his tone quite formal. “I came to ask your opinion.”

Ren Shuangmei turned to put down the broom, somewhat surprised. “About what?”

“I brought two ships—one of them is a freighter, and it’s a gift,” Ming Weiting said, bowing. “Madam, may I invite Huo Miao to come aboard and travel the world together?”