Billionaire's Long Journey of Chasing His Love-Chapter 674 - 571: I Want to Know Too! (First Update)_2
"Hmm hmm." Yi Luowa nodded with a smile.
The Queen of Haotian let out a bitter laugh, "I often dream of that too, but, when I was fifteen, your grandparents passed away in a car accident, leaving me and your uncle forever."
"Mom..." Yi Luowa looked at her mother apologetically.
The Queen of Haotian waved her hand with a smile, "It’s been so many years, I’ve long since made peace with it."
"Mom, what about Uncle then? How did he pass away?" Since the topic had come up, Yi Luowa decided to ask.
"Your uncle was born with a congenital heart condition and was always in poor health. He fought against illness, hoping to stay with me for a few more years. Unfortunately, he never lived to see the day I put on my wedding dress. When your grandparents passed away, I wasn’t even as heartbroken as when your uncle left. I fainted from crying several times during that period. If it weren’t for your dad staying by my side all the time, I might’ve gone to join your uncle too."
Yi Luowa pressed her cheek against her mother’s, "Mom, let the past stay in the past! Now you have me, Danton, and Dad—we’ll always be here for you."
"That’s what I think too. Life isn’t always ideal, but compared to others, I’ve been fortunate. I have such wonderful children and a handsome husband who loves me..."
The Queen of Haotian suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Yi Luowa burst into laughter, "Mom, if you want to say something, just say it. Stop treating Tong Airui like an outsider."
The Queen of Haotian replied earnestly, "I’ve finished talking."
"Honey, next time I talk to Mom, you should excuse yourself," Yi Luowa teased, pinching Tong Airui’s arm.
Tong Airui nodded with a laugh, "Alright."
The three of them chatted and laughed as they headed back to the sleeping quarters. The Emperor of Haotian let out a long breath of relief when he saw his wife’s face had brightened with joy.
"What’s the arrangement for the meeting over there?" The Queen of Haotian asked as she took her grandson from the Emperor’s embrace.
"The meeting is at 2 PM. You can rest at home; I’ll take Danton with me."
Danton glanced at his father but said nothing.
Yi Luowa reached out and pinched his arm, causing Danton to grimace in pain.
Yi Luowa shot him a warning look.
Danton pursed his lips, "I didn’t say I wouldn’t go."
"Your attitude is the problem!"
Danton shifted uncomfortably, "Fine, I’m done talking to you. I’m going to look for my second sister and play video games."
Yi Luowa grabbed him, "Your second sister is pregnant now, so she can’t play games anymore. Don’t go looking for her."
Tong Yao smiled at the two of them, "Youyou is packing her luggage now. They’re leaving today."
Yi Luowa froze, "Weren’t they planning to stay for a few days?"
Tong Yao replied with a helpless smile, "Our family suddenly has three pregnant women here; it’s been a lot of trouble for your parents. Youyou and Joyina decided to go back with your grandparents, while Huo Li and your second uncle will leave after finishing their business talks here."
Yi Luowa pouted, "What about you?"
"Your father and I will leave together with your second uncle’s group."
"I’m going to tell them not to leave! Things were just starting to liven up here, and now everyone’s saying they’re going!" The Queen of Haotian stood up, still holding her grandson.
Long Che smiled and said, "Let them go back. There’s still a pregnant woman at home with no one to take care of her; it’s worrisome."
"Your family is really enviable—one baby after another! Imagine how lively it’ll be in the future."
The Queen of Haotian looked at her son with hope-filled eyes. Danton immediately hid behind his sister, "Mom, I’m still too young! Don’t get any ideas about me!"
Sangyu thought his uncle was playing hide-and-seek and stretched out his little arms from his grandfather’s lap to grab his uncle. "Catch!"
"There!" Ziyan held his grandmother’s face, trying to direct her attention to see his uncle.
"Those two little traitors!" Danton peeked out from behind his sister, laughing as he grabbed Sangyu’s tiny hand. "Ha-ha, I’ve got you now!"
Sangyu giggled and tried to yank her hand back forcefully.
"Bite!" Ziyan, still in his grandmother’s arms, urged his sister.
Sangyu actually listened to her brother—she opened her little mouth, ready to bite her uncle. Danton quickly let go of her hand.
"Ha-ha... Watching these two is so heartwarming; it makes me forget all my worries." The Emperor of Haotian said with a smile.
Yi Luowa’s laughter froze mid-smile. After all, such times were fleeting. Once they left, only her parents and younger brother would remain at home...
Tong Airui reached over and held her hand.
Yi Luowa pressed her lips into a tight line, forcing a semblance of a smile.
Tong Airui rubbed her head and said with a smile, "We’ll come back often."
Yi Luowa leaned her head against his shoulder, whispering, "You really mean that, right?"
"Of course I mean it!"
At two in the afternoon, the Emperor of Haotian took Danton along with Long Che, Yi Weiyang, Jimo Yixuan, Lance, Monica, Mi Chenshuo, and You Jia to the front hall for the meeting.
Lady Jing Ya and the rest of the family boarded planes to return home.
With everyone gone and the two children napping, the palace instantly fell silent, leaving the Queen of Haotian feeling somewhat uneasy.
Tong Yao stayed with her to chat for a while. Eventually, their conversation turned to Katyusha.
The Queen of Haotian was still utterly baffled about why Katyusha hated her. Tong Yao couldn’t make sense of the mystery either.
However, someone soon came to unveil the truth for her.
Xiao Meng and Yuan Sha arrived.
The two clearly had been crying; their eyes were still red. Upon seeing outsiders in the hall, they quickly composed themselves and greeted Tong Yao.
Tong Yao sat with them briefly before finding an excuse to leave the hall. As soon as they were alone, Xiao Meng burst into tears.
"We just came back from Katyusha’s grave. It’s tragic! She chose to end her life on a festive day, making it impossible to even hold a proper memorial for her."
The Queen of Haotian’s expression darkened immediately, "She hated me. She picked this day to spite me."
Xiao Meng and Yuan Sha exchanged a glance, unable to find the words to respond.
The Queen of Haotian let out a bitter laugh, "Seeing the looks on your faces, I can tell—you two already knew she hated me."
"We actually only found out recently." Xiao Meng sighed as he fidgeted with a tissue in his hand. "Katyusha disguised herself too well—she fooled everyone. It all goes back to the banquet when you recognized Nancy. That night, Katyusha drank too much and threw up terribly in the restroom. Yuan Sha and I stayed with her. After she was done, she suddenly started crying, asking us why your life was so perfect, why you always got whatever you wanted, while she had waited in vain for so many years and ended up empty-handed. In the end, even the husband she loved deeply betrayed her."
Yuan Sha quickly chimed in, "That’s when we found out about Jon’s affair. Zhi Lan, it’s not that we didn’t want to tell you—this situation was just too delicate to bring up. We’ve been friends since we were kids. Talking about this would just hurt our bond."
The Queen of Haotian furrowed her brows slightly, "She hated me just because I got whatever I wanted?"
"No." Xiao Meng glanced around cautiously to ensure there was no one else nearby before lowering his voice, "Now that she’s gone, I won’t keep her secret. That night, she was drunk, and I took her home. She cried and said, ’Why is it that everyone I love, loves you? Even after you’re married, they still love you...’"
The Queen of Haotian and Yuan Sha stared at him in shock, mouths agape.
The Queen of Haotian exclaimed angrily, "You’ve been keeping this to yourself for so long!"
"Zhi Lan, this is the first time I’ve heard Xiao Meng mention this. But what caught my attention isn’t that—it’s the line, ’Everyone she loves, loves you!’ Katyusha must’ve been incredibly fickle!"
The Queen of Haotian clenched her fingers slightly, "Her child isn’t Jon’s—did you two know that?"
"What!"
"Huh?"
Xiao Meng and Yuan Sha froze in shock.
It took Xiao Meng a moment to regain his composure. "If the child isn’t Jon’s, then whose could it be?"
The Queen of Haotian let out a deep sigh, "I wish I knew!"
