She Became The Black Lotus’s Pure, Untouchable Love - Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Lin Xian reached out to pour a cup of tea, glancing sideways at Huo Xingyu, who was sitting beside her.

The warm orange light from the massive circular crystal chandelier in the living room reflected off Huo Xingyu’s face, while the pale white glow from her phone screen split her features into two tones: one warm, one cold. Her expression was solemn, her thin lips pressed tightly together, and her thick lashes cast a shadow over her eyes. Her cold gaze was fixed on the screen as if she were researching something critical.

Probably looking at company projects again, Lin Xian thought.

The speakers in the living room played Shigeru Umebayashi’s Polonaise, the low frequencies vibrating through the air. Lin Xian swirled her teacup, the rising mist from the hot tea partially obscuring her view of her daughter.

Lin Xian curled her lips into a smile. She often felt that Huo Xingyu shouldn’t be called her “child.” If she had to describe her accurately, Huo Xingyu was the most perfect masterpiece she had spent her entire life sculpting. Every step of Huo Xingyu’s life had followed the direction Lin Xian set—until she discovered her daughter liked women.

That was the first time Huo Xingyu had spun out of her control.

However, to Lin Xian, this was a trivial matter. What did it matter if she liked women? Lin Xian considered herself open-minded. Besides, anyone who ended up with the Huo Xingyu she had meticulously planned and built would be considered “marrying up.” Male or female, what did it matter? As long as they were worthy of Huo Xingyu and met Lin Xian’s approval.

Lin Xian coughed lightly and said, “It’s late. Put the work aside for a moment.”

Huo Xingyu shifted her gaze from the joke on her phone and looked up at Lin Xian. The older woman held her tea, watching her with a characteristically gentle expression. Her eyes were full of appreciation—an appreciation Huo Xingyu knew all too well. It was the look one gives when inspecting and praising a lifeless work of art.

Huo Xingyu didn’t need her to speak to guess what she was about to say. It would undoubtedly be about her meeting with Wen Ran today.

Huo Xingyu nodded, but her eyes returned to the joke on her screen.

“How did it feel meeting Wen Ran today?”

“Incompatible.”

“Incompatible? Is she incompatible, or are you just shy to admit you like her?”

Hearing the hidden meaning in her words, Huo Xingyu asked, “What do you mean?”

“You left early today, but Wen Ran went out of her way to pay us a visit at home.”

Lin Xian had a smile on her face. She wasn’t exactly satisfied with Wen Ran, but the girl had at least passed the threshold. No messy scandals, a good family background—her father was a real estate tycoon with close ties to the Huo Group, and her mother had a powerful background. She was pretty, recently returned from studying abroad, sweet-talking, and polite.

Most importantly, Lin Xian glanced at the pile of gift boxes of all sizes stacked in the corner of the living room—Wen Ran knew how to play the social game. Among all the candidates Lin Xian had selected, she was quite good.

“What did she come here for?” Huo Xingyu looked up, her expression turning cold.

“The young lady brought a lot of gifts. She said her driver had an emergency today and thanked you for the trouble of driving her home,” Lin Xian laughed. “She said she hopes to go out with you again. She specifically asked me to check how you feel about her.”

“No feelings.”

“Why? What part of her makes you so dissatisfied?”

Huo Xingyu fell silent for a moment. To be honest, she barely remembered what Wen Ran looked like. If she had to point out what was wrong with her, she couldn’t. There seemed to be nothing wrong with her.

—But she already had Ning Xiangxiang.—

She already had the Ning Xiangxiang who “liked her this much.” No matter how good anyone else was, she didn’t need them.

“Not pretty enough,” Huo Xingyu blurted out a random excuse.

“Then who is pretty? Ning Xiangxiang? How many times have you even seen her…” Lin Xian scoffed. “From what I see, Wen Ran is just as good as she is.”

Lin Xian didn’t actually know what type of girl Huo Xingyu liked. Huo Xingyu had never had a scandal or an official girlfriend. The only time she had mentioned anyone was today, when she pushed Ning Xiangxiang’s photo in front of her.

It was a good thing for Huo Xingyu to have someone she liked, but the prerequisite was that the person must be a match for her. In every aspect, the Ning family and the Huo family were not equals. Even if Ning Xiangxiang’s face was beautiful, it wasn’t some legendary beauty that only appeared once in a thousand years. And before this, she hadn’t heard of the two having any intersection.

Except for that sister of hers, Ning Ruomeng.

Lin Xian had been dissatisfied with Ning Ruomeng too, but Huo Xingyu’s grandfather had insisted. That old man Huo was getting senile—so old he ought to just die! He actually wanted to leave a smudge on her life’s greatest masterpiece. For a girl like that to marry Huo Xingyu, it was either the Ning family’s ancestors’ lucky stars aligning or the Huo family deciding to do some targeted charity.

Fortunately, Ning Ruomeng was at least obedient and knew how to act humble. Better yet, she had fallen and remained unconscious, which was why Lin Xian was so anxious to pick a new candidate for Huo Xingyu.

But now, as soon as Ning Ruomeng was out, Ning Xiangxiang appeared. And she was a tiny starlet who barely qualified as 5th-tier? Lin Xian could not tolerate it.

“Besides, what is Ning Huaiai’s background? How much can he help you?” Lin Xian sneered. “We already have multiple projects with the Wen family. I believe you understand the influence Wen Ran’s mother has. A ‘power couple’ joining forces to go further is the right path.”

Seeing the indifferent look on Huo Xingyu’s face, Lin Xian felt a surge of anger. This anger didn’t stem from Huo Xingyu’s attitude—Huo Xingyu was like this toward most things—it stemmed from a loss of control. The feeling that Huo Xingyu was deviating from the trajectory she had mapped out was growing stronger, making her more anxious.

Huo Xingyu should be walking the path her mother designed, not running off to date some minor celebrity.

“Without me, would you have achieved what you have today? How did I teach you? What are you thinking now?” Lin Xian’s face was full of mockery. “How exactly did she seduce you? You’re letting temporary hormones cloud your judgment—ignoring family background, education, and upbringing.”

In her previous life, Lin Xian and Ning Xiangxiang never got along. Lin Xian never wanted a daughter-in-law like her. And while Ning Xiangxiang seemed submissive on the surface, she was stubborn to the core. Their relationship consisted of Lin Xian setting traps for her and Ning Xiangxiang subtly fighting back.

Huo Xingyu looked at the cold expression on her mother’s face. Arguing with Lin Xian was useless. Regardless, if things followed the original timeline, her grandfather would eventually send Ning Xiangxiang to her anyway.

“You’re right. Future development is what matters most…” Huo Xingyu nodded, playing along with her mother’s logic.

“In that case, let’s not have Wen Ran come over anymore. Let’s be more direct: Why don’t you just arrange a blind date for me with her mother instead?”

…

Watching a variety show projected on the white wall, Wen Ran took a bite of the broccoli in her bowl. It was past 8:00 PM; usually, she didn’t eat anything at this hour.

But today was an exception. She had squeezed through over 20 subway stations in high heels. Just as she was about to get home, she realized that if Huo Xingyu had no interest in her, today’s separation might be the last chance she’d ever have to get close to her.

Did Huo Xingyu find her interesting? She couldn’t read any answer from that cold, sharp face. But if you don’t fight for what you want, you can’t expect it to come to you. Besides, look at who Huo Xingyu was: money, looks, capability, power—she had it all. A woman born to be a leader would have countless suitors trailing behind her. Wen Ran couldn’t even imagine what kind of woman could truly fascinate Huo Xingyu.

She had asked around about this “Ning Xiangxiang” Lin Xian mentioned. She was… just okay. The only thing that could compete with Wen Ran was her face. Could a face alone mesmerize a person of absolute logic? Wen Ran didn’t believe it. At most, she was just an excuse to fend off the family and stall the marriage.

So, Wen Ran steeled her heart, ignored her aching ankles, and stormed the luxury counters. She didn’t know what Huo Xingyu liked, but she knew plenty about Lin Xian. No wealthy socialite could refuse luxury goods and jewelry. Furthermore, Lin Xian was just a social climber who had replaced the original wife—a story of betraying a friend, stealing her husband, and then taking her child. It was an open secret in their circle. Everyone knew what “the artist” Lin Xian had done; they just didn’t say it to her face.

Watching the variety stars laughing on the wall, Wen Ran wiped her mouth. She glanced at her phone as it lit up with a WeChat notification from a specific name. Wen Ran smiled with satisfaction. She knew Huo Xingyu would message her.

From the way Lin Xian looked at her, she knew she had the potential to secure the position of daughter-in-law. The gifts she gave Lin Xian wouldn’t be for nothing; social etiquette required a back-and-forth. And within that back-and-forth was her chance with Huo Xingyu.

She unlocked the screen. The message read: Thanks. No need to send anything else next time.

Wen Ran’s lips curled. She browsed her Moments for ten minutes before slowly replying. In her philosophy, you never reply instantly—especially to someone you want to conquer. Love was a psychological siege; appearing too eager was just handing over your weaknesses. Even if she was at a disadvantage compared to Huo Xingyu, she had to play it right.

She composed her message carefully. Sister, I was just working out and didn’t see the message. Sorry about that.

Wen Ran flipped through her album and sent a gym selfie from a few days ago. In the photo, her round face was flushed pink, and her downturned “puppy eyes” were curved in a smile. Her tight workout tank top accentuated the soft curves of her chest.