DLRC – Chapter 69 Is Uncle Huo Trying to Be My Daddy?

“Huihui’s mom! Didn’t you say this morning that you’d take Yu Hui to buy a new backpack? You can’t go back on your word!” Otherwise, Yu Hui would definitely be heartbroken—just like her.

If her mom promised to buy her pretty new clothes but then broke that promise, she would be super, super sad!

Yu Wei smiled and looked down at Sun Aiying, then took out her keys to lock the door and reached out to pat the top of the girl’s head.

“I won’t go back on it!”

“Good!” Sun Aiying proudly tilted her chin up and stepped forward to grab Yu Hui’s hand.

“Uncle Huo, can we take Yu Hui with us to the department store?” The department store was really far from here—walking would take forever. But Uncle Huo had a car; if they went with him, they’d be there in a few minutes.

Yu Wei quickly waved her hands. “No need, my son and I will just walk over slowly.”

Catching a ride and all… honestly, they weren’t quite at that level of familiarity yet.

“It’s fine! Uncle Huo’s car can fit a lot of people, and the department store is really far! You guys can’t make it there on foot!” Sun Aiying kept trying to persuade them, and at the same time, gripped Yu Hui’s hand a bit tighter. “You’re so warm, hehe.”

Yu Hui looked up at Sun Aiying, then glanced at his mom and Uncle Huo, then over at Aunt Liu, who stood to the side.

What kind of situation was this exactly? Why did he feel like he didn’t quite get it?

After this unexpected turn, everyone’s attention shifted to Yu Wei—except for Liu Xuehua, who quietly turned to observe Huo Mingwang.

Based on his usual personality, he should’ve rejected Yu Wei. But after a long pause, the result was clearly not what she expected. Though he didn’t speak, it seemed like he had tacitly agreed to Aiying’s suggestion.

Huo Mingwang took Sun Aiying by the hand—while she was still holding Yu Hui’s little hand—and led the two kids toward the car. “If we don’t go now, it’ll be dark soon,” he said as a cover.

But when he looked up, it wasn’t even 5 p.m.—no way it’d get dark that fast. Besides, though today wasn’t sunny, at least it wasn’t raining, and the sky was fairly bright. There wasn’t even a single cloud.

Yu Wei finally realized and tossed her keys into her bag, then strode over to catch up with the man. By the time she reached the car, the two kids had already been ushered into the back seat.

Sun Aiying gleefully slipped inside, dragging along the cute little Yu Hui. When Huo Mingwang saw the two kids seated in the back, his mood visibly lifted.

He turned his head, eyes landing on Liu Xuehua—but his peripheral vision never left Yu Wei. “Let’s go.”

“Alright.” Liu Xuehua studied Huo Mingwang thoughtfully, then smiled and grabbed Yu Wei’s arm as they walked over together. “Old Huo’s actually a very warm person—you don’t need to be so reserved.”

Yu Wei looked at Liu Xuehua’s enthusiastic smile, but the words of refusal stuck in her throat.

She looked at the beaming Sun Aiying holding her son’s hand, the little guy’s face glowing with excitement. Then at her cheerful, silly son—who probably wouldn’t even notice if someone tried to sell him off.

In the end, she could only sigh helplessly and get in the car too.

The silly little boy immediately squirmed into her arms, wrapped his arms around her slim waist, and grinned with crescent-moon eyes.

Chen Liang was driving again today, with Huo Mingwang in the passenger seat. The two women sat in the back, each with a little dumpling in their lap.

Sun Aiying was over the moon. It was her first time sitting in a car with another kid. During the ride, her little hands kept fidgeting, always reaching over to grab Yu Hui’s hand to play. She was as lively as could be.

“Aiying, behave in the car,” Liu Xuehua reminded gently.

“Oh…” Sun Aiying reluctantly let go but didn’t take her eyes off Yu Hui. She smiled so wide her eyes nearly disappeared. “Yu Hui, you’re about to get a new backpack—aren’t you super-duper excited?”

Yu Hui blinked at her and hugged his mom’s neck, nestling his cheek against hers. “Just a little excited.”

Though he was looking forward to the new backpack, every time he thought about it being for starting kindergarten… he didn’t feel that excited anymore.

“Just a little?” Sun Aiying didn’t get it at first, but soon she lit up. “I know! Once you actually put on the new backpack, you’ll be super-duper excited!”

That must be it! He just hasn’t seen it yet—once he does, he’ll be over the moon!

The two tiny beans chattered away in innocent, silly kid-speak that made everyone in the car chuckle.

Yu Wei gently stroked her son’s warm head, ruffling the fluff ball on top as a soft smile curled her lips. The look in her eyes as she gazed at him was full of sparkling light.

Liu Xuehua quietly listened to her daughter chat away with Yu Hui, her little mouth going off like a machine gun—just like her dad.

She chuckled and shook her head, shifting her gaze from the two little dumplings to the rearview mirror.

The mirror was spotless, clearly reflecting Huo Mingwang’s entire handsome face.

Since getting in the car, she’d been watching him. Though he kept his face blank, Liu Xuehua had sharp instincts and keen observation. From before they even got in the car until now, she had noticed how often Huo Mingwang’s eyes drifted toward Yu Wei.

Even if he masked it perfectly, she still picked up on the subtle tension.

Given what she knew of Huo Mingwang’s usual cold, businesslike manner, he had no reason to be paying this much attention to some no-name single mom…

His behavior spoke volumes. Liu Xuehua realized that this man’s attitude toward Yu Hui’s mom… was definitely not ordinary.

And Huo Mingwang—he was a notorious workaholic in the company. Sometimes he’d disappear for ten days or more. But ever since moving to Boxue Road, she’d already seen him at the downstairs dessert shop three or four times in the past two weeks.

Old Huo was never the type to be randomly nice to people. Sure, he had a car, but not just anyone got to ride in it. Back when his wife was still around, she tried to set him up with plenty of well-matched girls—some even better than Yu Wei—but he never accepted.

His reason? Always the same: “Not interested, want to focus on work.”

But now?

She curled her lips into a subtle smile. Interesting.

The car slowly turned off the main road onto another street. After a few more turns, they would arrive at a department store in downtown Lu City.

And Huo Mingwang… though he hadn’t said a word the whole ride, those glances—intentional or not—cast at Yu Wei, seemed to say to Liu Xuehua: There’s something going on between these two.

As the sidewalks grew more crowded, Yu Wei realized they were almost there. She quickly tried to wake the sleepy little guy in her arms.

“Huihui, don’t sleep. Wake up now.”

Once out of the car, still groggy Yu Hui stood at the corner of the street holding his mom’s hand. Meanwhile, Sun Aiying immediately started chattering again. “Mom! Shouldn’t we go shopping with Yu Hui and them? The more the merrier!”

She loved big crowds! The more people, the happier she was!

Liu Xuehua got out and rewrapped the scarf her daughter had just taken off, saying with a smile, “Did you forget? We’re here to meet Auntie Chen. Yu Hui’s mom still has to take him backpack shopping.”

Yu Wei had just been about to ask whether they were shopping together or separately, but hearing that, she understood right away. She smiled and said goodbye to the mother and daughter—and the two still in the car.

“Alright, then we’ll get going. Goodbye.”

“Okay, goodbye Auntie Yu Wei, goodbye little brother Yu Hui!”

“Goodbye.” Yu Hui raised the back of his hand to rub his eyes, then followed his mother into the department store.

After watching the mother and son walk into the building, Liu Xuehua retracted her gaze. The smile at the corners of her lips hadn’t yet faded when she noticed Huo Mingwang sitting in the car, staring blankly in the direction where the pair had disappeared.

The idea forming in her mind became increasingly clear.

Liu Xuehua glanced at her watch. There was still time, so she took her daughter’s hand and casually strolled over to Huo Mingwang’s car window. “Old Huo, what are you looking at?”

Huo Mingwang glanced at her and replied, “Nothing.”

Of course, Liu Xuehua didn’t believe him. After pondering for a moment, she lowered her voice and teased, “What, feeling a little tempted?”

Huo Mingwang froze, turned his head to look at her intently. “What do you mean, tempted?”

Liu Xuehua chuckled and shook her head. “Oh, come on. I know you. Be honest, do you… have feelings for her? For Yu Hui’s mom?”

She was always blunt, and Huo Mingwang knew that. He used to be used to it, didn’t feel anything, but now that she had directly exposed his inner thoughts, his expression turned a bit unnatural.

Expressionless, he said, “No feelings.” Even if he did, he couldn’t tell her.

“Oh?” Liu Xuehua smiled with interest. Everyone was an adult here—what’s there not to understand?

Don’t be fooled by the fact that Yu Wei is a single mother—people who liked her could probably line up from her dessert shop all the way down the street.

Not to mention her outstanding looks, the fact that she could run a sizable dessert shop all by herself and keep it afloat—that alone wasn’t something just anyone could do.

At the end of 1985, the country’s encouragement of private businesses still wasn’t very strong. Entrepreneurial success stories were rare. For someone like Yu Wei, raising a son and still living so well—shopping at a department store—Liu Xuehua knew this woman must have some real capability.

A single mother with a low income wouldn’t easily suggest going to the department store for a new backpack. Most ordinary families would just sew a simple cloth bag out of rough fabric.

So, if a man like Huo Mingwang had feelings for a woman like that, it was understandable—she was clearly outstanding. He’d been single for so many years, she used to worry he’d become a monk. Looks like even a dead tree can bloom.

Liu Xuehua wasn’t old-fashioned. As for this iron tree of a man, she was happy to see some romantic interest sprout. But from the looks of things… this might be a case of the suitor having feelings, but the lady not being interested.

Still, the days ahead are long. Whether something happens or not, it’s not her business—it all depends on what Huo Mingwang wants.

She smiled, took her daughter’s hand. “Alright then, I won’t keep you from work. I’ll take Yingying inside now.”

Huo Mingwang squinted at her, then gave a soft “Mm.” The mother and daughter turned and entered the building next to the department store. Only after their figures disappeared from view did he turn back around, his lips parting slightly: “Let’s go.”

With only two men left in the car, the atmosphere was a little gloomy. But Chen Liang was long used to his boss’s brooding silence and drove steadily.

He’d been in the car the whole time and naturally heard what Liu Xuehua said. Thinking back to his previous guess about the relationship between his boss and Yu Boss, he was surprised to find Liu Xuehua was thinking the same thing.

Inside, he was quietly thrilled for half a day. He hadn’t expected to be this sharp—seeing through the boss’s little secret and discovering new gossip!

But the boss had just said he had no feelings for her. Yeah, right.

His behavior was just too obvious. Like spending fifty yuan in five days—no way that meant he had no interest in Yu Wei.

Unless… there was another possibility—maybe the boss was taken with Yu Boss’s cute little dumpling of a son! Hahaha.

Chen Liang’s mind wandered so far he couldn’t help laughing out loud.

Huo Mingwang frowned and gave him a sideways glance before clearing his throat and focusing on driving.

Back at the factory, after dealing with some work matters, Huo Mingwang found himself staring blankly at the wooden desk for a long while. Ever since finding out about his relationship with Yu Hui, this dazed state had become a bit too frequent.

He let out a long sigh and rubbed his temples, trying to figure out how to face the mother and son going forward.

But that seemed like an unsolvable problem. Maybe… he could only take things one step at a time.

At 5:30 in the evening, the mother and son had likely been shopping for over half an hour—it was about time they came out.

Huo Mingwang drove aimlessly around the streets, eventually arriving back at the same department store.

He got out and leaned against a streetlamp, smoking a cigarette, eyes locked like a hawk on the department store entrance.

Waves of people came and went, batch after batch, time on his watch passed minute after minute, until finally, when the hour hand pointed to six and his third cigarette burned out, he spotted the mother and son at the exit.

They emerged smiling, chatting happily, completely unaware that a tall man in a suit was walking toward them.

“This is all your fault, Huihui! I said I wanted to save money for your schooling, and you kept saying I looked good. Now look how many clothes we’ve bought!”

They’d only planned to get a new schoolbag. But on the way, they passed through the import section, saw some new arrivals—brand new styles—and Yu Wei couldn’t resist trying on several coats.

Once her shopaholic side kicked in, she bought more than she’d planned.

Yu Hui covered his mouth and laughed, holding two bags for his mom. One held a new wool sweater, the other a knit skirt—and that didn’t even include the bags in Yu Wei’s own hands. A successful haul indeed.

The little guy’s words were sweet as honey: “Mama is the prettiest! The prettiest mama has to wear the prettiest clothes!”

Yu Wei tried not to laugh. “You little show-off!”

She freed up a hand to straighten the crooked hat on her son’s head. The fluffy pom-pom on top wobbled, the fur thinning from all her frequent pats.

“Mama, what’s a little show-off?” Yu Hui asked, confused. Lately, his mom kept calling him that, but he didn’t know what it meant.

“It means our Huihui really likes to flatter people—especially your mama. So you’re a little flatterer, Huihui!”

There were a lot of people passing by, and even though she was carrying several things, Yu Wei still tried to keep one hand free to hold her son’s hand.

Yu Hui tilted his head, curious. “And what’s ‘flatter’?”

This kid! There was no end to his questions. She’d have to get him a copy of Ten Thousand Whys someday.

Just as she was about to answer, a shadow suddenly loomed over them, darkening their already-dim evening view. The mother and son instinctively looked up.

A towering figure had appeared—wasn’t this the same man they had just seen not long ago?

“Mr. Huo?” Yu Wei said, confused, instinctively looking around and not seeing Liu Xuehua or her daughter. What was going on with this man? “Uncle Huo, why are you here?”

Yu Hui was even more curious than his mom. Lately, he’d been seeing Uncle Huo a lot—more often than even Zou Gaigai and the others!

“Done shopping?” the man asked instead of explaining his presence. He looked down at the bags in their hands.

Yu Wei was baffled. “Yes, we’re done.” Honestly, she had bought way too much—looked just like a spendthrift mom wasting money at the mall.

But who cares? All that mattered was that she and her son were happy.

“Okay,” Huo Mingwang said, then added, “If you’re done, let’s go.”

“Huh?”

Before Yu Wei could react, the man suddenly reached out and took the bags from Yu Hui’s hands—and the ones from hers too, without asking.

Yu Wei cried out in surprise. “Hey?!—”

She hurried after him.

Huo Mingwang offered no explanation, simply carrying all the mother and son’s things and striding toward the car. Since he had all their stuff, they had no choice but to follow.

Sure enough—

“Huo Mingwang! What are you doing?” Yu Wei blurted out his full name in agitation, earning a puzzled glance from him.

“Uncle Huo, are you going to drive us home again?” Yu Hui asked, straightforward as ever, voicing the very question lingering in Yu Wei’s mind.

“Mm. I’ll take you home. Get in.” His voice had softened noticeably—especially when looking at Yu Hui. There was a complexity in his eyes Yu Wei couldn’t understand.

He pulled out the car key and opened the door. This time, he didn’t insist she sit in the passenger seat.

After putting all the shopping bags in the backseat, he came out and called them in.

Yu Hui and his mom exchanged a look. Then the boy leaned close and lowered his voice, motioning for Yu Wei to bend down.

Yu Wei frowned and did so.

Her sweet son whispered in her ear: “Mama, is Uncle Huo trying… to be my daddy?”

Yu Wei: “?!”

What nonsense are you spouting, my sweet child?!