Huo Yao glanced at He Xiaoman quizzically.

  Secretary Lin?

  Did He Xiaoman know Lin Shuwen?

  He Xiaoman’s sudden arrival left everyone puzzled.

  Lin Shuwen was stunned to see He Xiaoman around. After he composed himself, he automatically looked at Huo Yao to see a calm look on her face. For a moment, he did not know whether he should greet He Xiaoman.

  Principal Yu frowned as he was unacquainted with He Xiaoman. Since Lin Shuwen and the Director of Education were both present and she seemed to know Secretary Lin, he turned to nod politely and asked her. “And you are?”


  He Xiaoman looked at Lin Shuwen and contemplated before she introduced herself. “I am Huo Yao’s mother.”


  The moment she finished her sentence, Huo Yao laughed.

  No one was as thick-skinned as He Xiaoman.

  Principal Yu looked perplexed. Did he remember wrongly? In his memory, she was not Huo Yao’s mother.

  Principal Yu looked at Huo Yao quizzically.

  Huo Yao replied coldly when she noticed the Principal looking at her. “She isn’t my mother.”


  He Xiaoman’s smile froze. She did not expect Huo Yao to deny their relationship publicly.

  “I see.” Principal Yu nodded. He did not attempt to embarrass He Xiaoman and said tactfully, “If you are here to look for someone, you can go to our broadcasting room. They can make an announcement for you.”


  He Xiaoman bit her lip and looked at Huo Yao. “No need. I’m here to see her. She is my foster daughter.”


  Principal Yu finally realized that she was from the Lu family.

  He recalled Lu Hongwen coming to the school to accuse his foster daughter of cheating during the National Quiz Contest.

  Judging from Huo Yao’s reaction, Principal Yu quickly remembered that they were not on talking terms, so he stopped treating He Xiaoman with as much courtesy.

  “Pardon me. We are in the middle of a discussion, so please excuse us,” said Principal Yu.

  Principal Yu continued singing praises of Huo Yao to the Director of Education and Lin Shuwen deliberately.

  He treated He Xiaoman like she was air.

  He Xiaoman looked awkward but felt indignant about leaving. After all, it would make her look bad if she left.

  Complicated emotions could not help rising in He Xiaoman’s heart when she heard the praise the Principal had for Huo Yao.

  All this time, her biological daughter had the best grades among her peers’ children. A lot of the mothers in high society were envious of Lu Xia’s impeccable grades.

  They had to pay bribes to get their foster daughter accepted at a high school in the countryside in the past. How could she have such spectacular grades now that she was here?

  The Principal had high hopes for Huo Yao and even sang her praise to big shots like Lin Shuwen. No matter how hard her biological daughter tried, she would never gain such glory.

  If Huo Yao was her child, this glory would belong to the Lu family now.

  He Xiaoman clenched her purse tightly. For the first time in her life, she deeply regretted ruining her ties with Huo Yao to the point that it was unsalvageable.

  Lin Shuwen’s phone rang from his pocket. He pulled it out and went to the side to answer it. After exchanging a few words, he hung up.

  Lin Shuwen checked the time before he said to Principal Yu, “Pardon me, but we have to make a move now.”


  Principal Yu nodded politely. “Sure.”


  Lin Shuwen pursed his lips and said to Huo Yao, “Bye-bye, Miss Huo.”


  Huo Yao nodded.

  He Xiaoman disregarded her awkwardness and the people present when she saw that Lin Shuwen was about to leave.

  She hurriedly called out to Lin Shuwen. “Secretary Lin, one moment, please.”