My Black Moonlight Wife Says She Loves Me - Chapter 18

After Ruan Nianning left, only Grandma Huo and Huo Jianan remained at the dining table.

Huo Jianan sighed inwardly, then paused before speaking. “Grandma, I care deeply for my wife, but I haven’t forgotten you either.” She had always admired strong, independent career women who carried heavy responsibilities, and Grandma Huo, Xu Weiyi, was undoubtedly one of the most outstanding among them.

“You’re both my family—my wife and my grandmother. I don’t want either of you to come to harm.”

Her tone was sincere, born from her genuine desire to help Ruan Nianning uncover the truth and free her from the abyss of hatred. She also desperately wanted to protect Grandma Huo from any misfortune. Having already taken her granddaughter’s body and identity, and enjoying all the privileges the Huo Family’s wealth afforded her, she felt deeply indebted to this elderly woman who had lost her granddaughter without even knowing it.

“Grandma, I truly admire you! You’re brilliant, dazzling, and you’ve built the Huo Family’s business into such a remarkable success, achieving results that rival any man’s. I know I could never accomplish what you have. Precisely because I can’t, and you have, I deeply respect and admire you.”

A crack appeared in Grandma Huo’s icy facade. After a moment of surprise, she gave her granddaughter a long, searching look. “Jianan, I never imagined you would say such things to me one day.”

Huo Jianan’s face flushed. “I… I hadn’t thought about it either.”

“Grandma, you have your own career, a very successful one. I don’t think anyone understands better than you what your career means to you. Acting is Nianning’s career too, and she’s worked incredibly hard for it. Because she loves it, she perseveres, even after facing countless setbacks, enduring hardships, and even humiliation. Someone like that deserves our admiration. If we were to imprison such a radiant person, stifle her talent, and break her wings, would she still be herself? No, I don’t want to do that. If that happened, she wouldn’t be the Nianning I love.”

Grandma Huo paused, her eyes momentarily glazed over as if recalling a distant memory.

After a long silence, she sighed. “Nannan, you’ve never spoken to me like this before. You remind me of your other grandmother.”

Other grandmother? That must be Grandma Huo’s Alpha partner.

“Your earnestness and determination… they’re just like hers,” Grandma Huo said, smiling as she gazed at Jianan. She gently stroked her hair and caressed her cheek with a nostalgic touch.

In those smiling eyes, Jianan saw a deep regret and longing.

“Grandma…”

“Since your wife is so eager to act, let her go. I’m getting old, and the Huo Family will soon be in the hands of you young people. Sooner or later, you’ll be in charge. Your mother is stubborn, and she misjudged people, but today, I trust you’ll handle things well.”

Huo Jianan paused, then smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Grandma!”

“You only thank me when I agree? Would you hate me if I didn’t?”

“Of course not! I’d just keep trying, pestering you every day until you gave in.”

“You’re even more cunning than your mother,” Grandma Huo chuckled.

Huo Jianan stuck out her tongue playfully. “Grandma, try this braised fish. It’s delicious and flavorful! Who cares if it’s healthy? As long as it tastes good!”

“Alright, I’ll have a bite. What does it matter? We can worry about health later.”

Having successfully completed her mission, Huo Jianan hummed cheerfully as she wheeled herself upstairs. Thanks to the elevator, she reached her room effortlessly.

The door was ajar, half-closed.

Inside, Ruan Nianning was on the phone, her voice strained with irritation. “I said I’m not going back, so I’m not going back! Why do you keep insisting we return… for a homecoming? To whose home?! My mother’s been dead for less than two months, and you’re already celebrating your marriage to another woman, with a child! Do you think I’m still a clueless child? You scumbag!”

The man on the phone must have said something to further infuriate Ruan Nianning. “You still remember you’re my father?” she snapped. “You’re never home, and when you are, all you do is hit and yell. What right do you have to call yourself my father? Now that you see I’ve married into a wealthy family, you suddenly remember you have a daughter? How pathetic! You think you can just waltz back into my life after all this time? Don’t ever call me again!”

Ruan Nianning slammed down the phone and hurled it onto the bed. Her face darkened, radiating an aura that could kill anyone who crossed her path.

Huo Jianan didn’t dare enter the room. She silently wheeled her wheelchair away, retreating to the study.

Leaning over the pristine, empty desk, Huo Jianan thought, Tomorrow, I’ll ask Butler He to get me a top-of-the-line laptop. I can use it to research things online and maybe even make a PowerPoint presentation. Then she realized, Wait, I’m not a corporate drone anymore. Why am I still thinking about analyzing data and writing reports?

Shaking her head, Huo Jianan recalled Ruan Langlang’s furious, almost murderous expression earlier. She sighed inwardly. Looks like my wife has quite the temper. She’s so fierce! Even at the hospital, she showed remarkable restraint toward me, her sworn enemy. She really did put on an angelic act for me.

As Huo Jianan was lost in thought, her phone rang. The caller ID displayed “Zou.”

Zou? Could it be Zou Guohua? Ruan Nianning’s father?

She answered the call. A middle-aged man’s voice spoke, “H-Hello, Miss Huo?”

Huo Jianan replied in a businesslike tone, “Speaking.”

The man’s voice was ingratiating. “I’m sorry to bother you. I was just calling to ask… Is Ningning there with you?”

“Is there something you need?” Huo Jianan asked, feigning ignorance. “Can’t you reach Nianning? Should I call her over?”

“N-no, that’s not it. I just wanted to ask… You two just got married, right? According to tradition, you should return to the bride’s family home. Miss Huo, I heard you were hospitalized. Have you fully recovered?”

“Thank you, I’ve been discharged and am fully recovered.”

“That’s wonderful! I’m so glad you’re well,” the man gushed, showering Grandma Huo, Miss Huo, and the entire Huo Family with praise. Finally, he asked, “Miss Huo, when would you honor us by bringing Ningning home for a visit? My family and I would like to prepare.”

After all the pleasantries, it all came down to the return visit.

Huo Jianan considered. The return visit was necessary. She didn’t want people saying the Huo Family, with their vast wealth and influence, had skipped the tradition, bullying Ruan Nianning’s family.

Furthermore, Ruan Nianning’s hatred for the Huo Family stemmed from her mother’s death. Yet, judging by Zou Guohua’s attitude, after losing his wife, he not only harbored no resentment toward the Huo Family but actively sought to curry favor with them. Huo Jianan found it puzzling: why did the daughter and father have such drastically different attitudes toward the Huo Family regarding Ruan Nianning’s mother’s death?

As Huo Jianan pondered this, she suddenly realized she should perhaps reach out to Ruan Nianning’s maternal relatives.

“Miss Huo? Miss Huo, are you still there?”

“…Yes, I’m sorry. How about this? I’ll discuss it with Nianning first and then we can decide on a date for the homecoming visit.”

Zou Guohua’s voice suddenly rose in pitch, clearly delighted. “Excellent, excellent! I knew Miss Huo was reasonable. Once you’ve set the date, our entire family will be waiting to welcome you!”

After hanging up, Huo Jianan suddenly felt a chill run down her spine. She turned to see Ruan Langlang standing in the doorway, arms crossed and leaning against the frame, her cold gaze fixed on her.

Huo Jianan’s heart skipped a beat. She plastered on a smile. “Honey, when did you get here? Why are you standing in the doorway? Come in!”

Ruan Nianning snorted coldly and strode forward, her long, slender legs carrying her with graceful purpose.

“Zou Guohua came to see you, didn’t he?” Ruan Langlang asked, her tone sharp as she glared at Huo Jianan. “Did you agree?”

“Not yet. I wanted to discuss it with you first,” Huo Jianan said with a placating smile. “I wouldn’t agree without your consent. But since the homecoming visit is a traditional custom, the Huo Family needs to maintain appearances. How about this? You’re meeting friends tomorrow, so we’ll go the day after. We’ll just stop by Zou Guohua’s place—I mean, your father’s place—for a brief visit to fulfill the tradition.” Sensing Ruan Langlang’s reluctance, Huo Jianan added, “You’re married to me now, and I don’t want people saying the Huo Family is mistreating you.”

Ruan Nianning gritted her teeth, her face a mask of resistance.

“Honey, it’ll just be a quick stop. We’ll drop off the gifts and leave immediately. You don’t have to talk to Zou Guohua; I’ll handle the small talk.”

Ruan Nianning reluctantly agreed with a curt “Fine. Drop off the gifts and leave. No more than five minutes.”

Huo Jianan smiled. “Agreed. No more than five minutes.” Noticing Ruan Langlang’s simmering anger, she decided to share some good news. “Honey, Grandma has approved your acting project!”

Ruan Nianning’s eyes lit up, her anger vanishing completely. “Really?!”

“Of course. I told you I’d make your wish come true. Are you happy now, darling? Don’t let something as trivial as the homecoming visit bother you. Focus on preparing for the film shoot.”

“Mm-hmm!” Ruan Nianning replied, both delighted and surprised. She desperately wanted to hug Huo Jianan and kiss him, but she suppressed the impulse as soon as it arose.

Looking at Huo Jianan in his wheelchair, his smile gentle and devoid of any malice, she noticed he lacked the resentment and discontent that many others carried.

Suddenly, Ruan Nianning felt a strange sense of unfamiliarity. It was as if this man wasn’t the Huo Jianan she had known before their marriage.

This Huo Jianan was gentler, more mature, and far more powerful.

Meeting his smiling gaze, Ruan Nianning suppressed her surging emotions and stepped forward to push his wheelchair. “Jianan, let’s go back to our room.”

“No rush. Let’s go downstairs first.” Huo Jianan turned to look at Ruan Nianning, who wore a puzzled expression, and smiled. “I noticed you didn’t eat much. I asked Butler He to save some seafood congee for you. You should have something—it’s bad for your health to go hungry.”

Ruan Nianning’s heart stirred, touched in its most vulnerable place. “Okay,” she replied softly.

Huo Jianan: My wife is so fierce, but I love it so much. What’s going on?