24 SHE IS QIN ZHENG'S DAUGTER

Mo Yuan asked in a gentle, deep voice, "Did you have trouble on the way here?"

Han Luo shook her head. "No, not at all."

Mo Yuan replied, "Good. Come inside." He then glanced at Assistant Tong's driver and gave him a polite nod. The driver waved goodbye to the kids as he took his leave.

In the living room, an elegant and refined lady was sitting on a single couch beside a large window. She was in the middle of sewing a handkerchief. At that moment, her son entered the room, and behind him was a little girl. Her son called out, "Mom."

The woman in the off-white maxi dress looked up and was stunned. She gazed at the three years old girl for a while before briskly jumping to her feet. The woman put down her needlework and strode towards the two children. She beamed excitedly, "Oh my! Xiao Yuan, who is this girl? I never knew that you had such a cute girlfriend."

Mo Yuan's face flushed for a moment before he composed himself. He frowned and retorted, "It's not what you think it is. She is Sheng Ming's cousin. He wants her to stay here for a couple of days."

Mo Yuan's mother, Ma Rui was a twenty-seven years old woman. "And you want me to believe that? Son, I'm your mother – I know what you like and dislike. This is the first time you ever let a child enter our house other than your two friends. And this time, it's a girl. I thought you didn't like girls!" She teased her unruffled son. She hardly got the chance to tease him in the past and now that she found his weakness, she didn't want to let this chance slip by.

Mo Yuan sighed. He didn't know why his mother always acted so childishly. "I guess I'll let you misunderstand."

"Hohoho, my child, you can fool others, but you cannot fool me." Ma Rui wouldn't let it go. She bent forward and inspected the timid Han Luo. She spoke with a soothing friendliness, "Hello, little cutie pie, I'm Xiao Yuan's mother. Nice to meet you."

'Big brother's mother?!' Han Luo's body stiffened in nervousness as she instinctively bowed. "My name is Han Luo. Nice to meet you."

Ma Rui's eyes lit up with sparkles. "Oh my! So, you are Han Luo! You have no idea how many times I wanted to meet you. You can talk like an adult. I'm impressed." She rubbed her head affectionately.

Han Luo didn't know how to reply to that remark. Ever since Miss Mei had become her teacher, she learned a lot from her. Miss Mei might look friendly but when she starts teaching something, she would become a demoness. She wouldn't stop teaching until her students learned it perfectly. She would also make her students practice repeatedly until they perfect her teaching's subconsciously. Because of the austere teacher's pressure and Han Luo's hard work, her attitude and speaking manner are easily comparable to that of a six years old child. Still, she lacks in some areas since she is only three years old.

Mo Yuan suddenly asked, "Why did you want to meet her?"

"Why would I not? She is Qin Zheng's daughter. Qin Zheng was my high school friend. Alas, I couldn't attend her funeral... I was in Singapore for treatment. Later, I wanted to meet Han Luo but that Du Liu woman said that she wasn't home. I knew that she didn't want me to meet her. That woman is a devil!" Ma Rui huffed.

"Do you know my mommy?" Han Luo blinked and looked at Ma Rui with her clear, black pearl-like eyes. Her eyes twinkled with curiosity.

Ma Rui hugged her small body and carried her in her arms. She chuckled. "Of course, we were friends. I'm sorry I wasn't able to meet you before. Let me show you your mother's picture." She carried Han Luo to the second floor.

Mo Yuan was left standing alone. He didn't think that his mother would snatch little Luo away right in front of his face. He had thought that he finally got the chance to know Han Luo better. For the first time, he realized that his mother was pretty scary.

Meanwhile, the ladies were sitting on a luxurious sofa, where Ma Rui was showing Han Luo pictures of herself and Qin Zheng during their school days. As she did, she kept rambling, "Look, your mother was such a tomboy… did you see that? She got a gold medal in karate… she used to eat like a man… this is her birthday party… oh, I remember this day! She visited me at my house for the first time… this is another friend, Xiao Xin… Xiao Luo, look at your mother. She became a police officer that day and the three of us went to have a party to celebrate… that's my wedding day and Xiao Zheng and Xiao Xin came together to congratulate me… your mother had a promotion and she took us to a hotpot restaurant… that's when my son was born. Xiao Zheng told me that he would become a little demon. Oh man, was she right? She was always good at judging people's characters…"

Mo Yuan's ears twitched. He couldn't believe that his mother was bad-mouthing her son, not only in front of him but also in front of Han Luo. Han Luo was already afraid of him. If she heard from his mother that he is a demon, wouldn't she be more scared of him in the future?

He complained, "Mom, you're talking too much."

Ma Rui hugged Han Luo from behind and pulled her on her lap. She vigilantly looked at her son. "Isn't this your fault? You are not cute, and you don't smile. You don't speak cutely. And most of all, you are a boy. I always wanted a cute girl like Xiao Luo who would wear cute dresses and smile lovingly. Xiao Yuan, I'm warning you – you can't take her away from me!"

Mo Yuan was speechless. Was it his fault that he was a boy? And it was definitely his mother who took Han Luo away from him; not Han Luo from her. So, was she warning him? But he was innocent.