When Xiamen refused the dinner invitation, Hong Yi didn't let the matter end there.
He said his secretary tell her
bring Haoyu with you.
A pause.
"No need to leave him behind. Both of them come."
Xiamen froze when her plan failed
She looked down at Haoyu playing with his little toy car on the carpet, his soft cheeks flushed with innocenct
Her heart trembled.
And so, despite her hesitation…
she went.
At the Restaurant Private Hall
The hall Hong Yi reserved glittered with chandeliers and quiet classical music.
Several long tables were arranged beautifully, with dishes she didn't even recognize.
But what shocked Xiamen was who else was present.
Emma, dressed in an expensive gown, sipping wine with smug elegance.
And beside her—
Mr. Lin, stiff and expressionless.
Xiamen's footsteps faltered.
Emma's eyes lit up when she saw Haoyu.
"Oh my, you brought… him."
The way she said "him" felt like something dirty.
Hong Yi stepped forward immediately, ignoring Emma entirely.
"Xiamen," he said softly, "Haoyu can sit beside me."
Haoyu hid behind Xiamen's leg, shy, small fingers gripping her hand tightly.
"It's okay," Xiamen whispered, guiding him toward a seat.
Servants brought plate after plate — dishes rich with truffles, abalone, golden broth, lobster, delicacies she hadn't eaten in years.
Haoyu looked overwhelmed.
Then Emma leaned forward with a bright, arrogant smile.
"So, Xiamen, you brought your child… How lovely."
Her tone said the opposite.
Xiamen stayed silent.
Emma flipped her hair, looking at her beautiful diamond-studded bracelet.
"Ah, today's auction went wonderfully. I bought several rare items — European chandeliers, an antique vase, limited-edition jewelry. You know auctions, right? All high-quality things… expensive things."
She glanced deliberately at Xiamen.
Then she looked straight at Haoyu.
"And you, little boy… do you know what an auction is?"
Haoyu blinked, confused.
His soft voice was barely a whisper.
"…What is auction?"
Emma laughed sharply, covering her mouth with exaggerated innocence.
"Oh dear… I forgot!"
Her voice dripped poison.
"You're a poor thing. Of course you wouldn't know! And Xiamen—" she turned her gaze sharply at the mother—
"You didn't teach him? How disgraceful."
Xiamen froze.
Haoyu lowered his head, embarrassed.
Emma went on cruelly:
"I didn't know you became so poor that even your child doesn't know basic things."
The words stabbed deep.
Xiamen clenched her hands beneath the table.
Before she could speak—
A sharp sound cut through the room.
CLANG.
Hong Yi had set his chopsticks down hard enough to make the table shake.
His gaze locked onto Emma, cold enough to kill.
"Emma," he said slowly, voice dangerous, "say one more word—"
The air froze.
Even Mr. Lin looked startled.
Hong Yi's eyes flicked to Haoyu, who sat hunched and small, like he expected to be punished for not understanding.
Then Hong Yi turned to Emma again.
"Do not," he said, each word like iron,
"ever insult Xiamen or her child again."
Emma's smile faltered instantly.
She opened her mouth to defend herself—
but Hong Yi's glare shut her up.
Silence fell over the table.
Only Haoyu's soft breathing was heard.
Xiamen stared at Hong Yi, shocked.
He had never defended her like that before.
And Haoyu…
for the first time, looked at Hong Yi with shy, wide eyes—
as if he saw a hero.
And Hong Yi felt something in his chest tighten.
Something strangely familiar.