Chapter 990 - 1032: A Chance Encounter

Chapter 990: Chapter 1032: A Chance Encounter

With Ling’s mother’s shrill voice still ringing, Ling’s father’s body couldn’t help but tremble. "I was supposed to catch the four‑thirty train this afternoon, but on the bus to the station my wallet got stolen. My bank card, ID card, and all my cash are gone! I only have a phone left! Because my ID was stolen, I can’t go back now. Ling Yueyue booked a room for me at the hotel, and I’ll take the long‑distance coach at nine tomorrow morning to go back!"

"Since the money’s gone, then don’t bother coming back! Never come back, just die out there!" With that, Ling’s mother angrily hung up the phone.

Ling Yueyue: "...!"

Ling’s father’s hand was shaking as he put the phone down on the bed behind him. His head hung like a dead man’s, his face and eyes completely devoid of any life.

Seeing him like this, Ling Yueyue’s heart softened again despite herself. After a moment of silence, she walked over to Ling’s father and said softly, "Wait for me here for a bit. I’ll go figure out a way to get some money."

"Yueyue...!" Ling’s father lifted his head, staring at Ling Yueyue in disbelief.

He never imagined that after treating her the way he did, she’d still go get money for him!

The better she was to him, the worse his guilt gnawed at him.

"Even though you two have never treated me as your real daughter, it’s a hard fact that your blood runs in my veins. This kind of bond can’t be cut off. I can’t just stand by and watch her kick you out and leave you sleeping on the street, can I?" Ling Yueyue tossed out the words in a flat tone, then walked away without looking back.

She’d said she wouldn’t care, wouldn’t get involved, that she’d stay far away from them! But the moment she saw that gaunt, aging face of her father’s, her heart still went soft!

When she got married, Anxin gave her a huge red envelope. But it’s not like she could carry all that cash around on her. Every bit of money she’d had with her she gave to her father that morning; she’d only kept a little on her for emergencies.

Luckily, Huo Junmo had given her a card this morning. Even though she really didn’t want to spend Huo Junmo’s money right after getting married, at this point she had no other choice!

So as not to arouse her father’s suspicion, she could only claim she was borrowing from a friend.

After leaving the hotel, Ling Yueyue found an ATM across the road and withdrew another three thousand yuan from it.

She put the money away, and was just about to head back to the hotel when a voice suddenly sounded behind her. "Yueyue!"

Hearing that voice, Ling Yueyue’s body couldn’t help but jolt.

Seeing that she didn’t react, the person simply walked right up to her, giving her a gentle smile. "Just now I thought I’d mistaken you for someone else. Turns out it really is you!"

Looking at the suddenly appearing Huo Junmo, Ling Yueyue’s heart gave a start. She hurriedly asked, "You... how are you here? Weren’t you supposed to get off work and then pick Tiantian up to go home?"

"I’ve got a client dinner tonight. I saw you out on the road just now, so I stopped to see if I was seeing things." Huo Junmo smiled gently, glanced around at Ling Yueyue’s surroundings, and asked, puzzled, "Didn’t you say you were with your classmates? Where are they? How’d your shopping trip end up all the way out here?"

"...!" Under his questioning, cold sweat broke out on Ling Yueyue’s forehead. She felt a chill run down her spine, forced a sheepish smile, rolled her eyes slyly, then said with a laugh, "They just told me they were going home for dinner, so I’m the only one left. I was about to hail a cab to go home, and then I ran into you!"

Without even thinking about it, Huo Junmo said directly, "Perfect, I’ll take you back."

"...!" Ling Yueyue froze for a moment, eyes widening. "Didn’t you say you had a client meeting? Just leave me be, I’m a grown woman, I can get home on my own. Business comes first!"

Huo Junmo said gently, "No matter how important business is, it’s not more important than my wife. I’ll send you home; I’ll let Meng Bo handle the business meeting."

"...!" Right now, Ling Yueyue just wanted to slap herself hard.

Why’d she have to say she was going home? Why couldn’t she just say she was going shopping? Now she was really stuck between a rock and a hard place! If she didn’t go back with Huo Junmo, he’d definitely start suspecting her. But if she did go back with him, how was she supposed to get the money to her father?

What on earth was she supposed to do!

How could she shake him off, get the money to her father, and then meet back up with him, all without making Huo Junmo suspicious?

While Ling Yueyue was racking her brains for a solution, Huo Junmo simply took out his phone and dialed a number. The call quickly connected, and she heard Huo Junmo say to the person on the other end, "I won’t be going to the dinner with President Li. You go in my place. Handle the contract entirely on your own. If you have any questions, call me. Leave the car for me; you take a taxi there." Saying that, he hung up directly.

Ling Yueyue: "...!"

"Alright, let’s go home." After putting his phone back in his pocket, Huo Junmo naturally draped his arm over Ling Yueyue’s shoulder.

"I... I... I...!" Ling Yueyue stammered the word "I" several times in a row, but had no idea how she was supposed to get away from Huo Junmo.

At this moment, Meng Bo came over from across the road, his arms full of files. He handed the car keys to Huo Junmo. "President Huo, you and Madam head back. I can handle the dinner alone. I’ll go ahead and catch a cab over so President Li doesn’t have to wait too long."

"Mm." Huo Junmo nodded seriously.

Watching Meng Bo turn to leave and step into the street to flag down a taxi, Ling Yueyue hurriedly said, "I should just take a cab back myself! It’s not right to risk offending a client because of me. Work is important!"

Huo Junmo didn’t answer her, as if he hadn’t heard a word she said.

It wasn’t until Meng Bo got into a taxi and, sitting inside, waved goodbye to them that Ling Yueyue finally gave up completely.

Looks like today she could only go back with Huo Junmo first. As for giving the money, that would have to wait until tomorrow morning!

Thinking this, Ling Yueyue walked with Huo Junmo toward the Maybach parked not far away on the other side of the road.

They’d barely taken a few steps when Ling’s father’s incredulous voice suddenly sounded behind them. "Yueyue...!"

"...!" Ling Yueyue was stunned to the core. At this moment, she truly felt like dying.

How could things be this coincidental? She’d never run into anything this "just‑so‑perfect" in her entire life!

Out of nowhere, she runs into Huo Junmo! Fine, running into Huo Junmo is one thing. But why would her father suddenly run out of the hotel? What kind of cosmic joke was this!

But even so, she absolutely could not let her father and Huo Junmo come face to face! Under no circumstances!

With that thought, Ling Yueyue grabbed onto Huo Junmo’s arm and quickened her pace toward the Maybach.

Seeing her anxious expression and rushed demeanor, Huo Junmo couldn’t help saying, "Someone’s calling you."

Without even thinking, Ling Yueyue flatly denied it. "No, you misheard. He’s not calling me."