As for the hot water bottle, Xu Mumu had Zhou Yunhong deliver it to Huo Qingze’s place. Fang Zheng and Yin Yang have no business here, but Huo Qingze is handling everything.

Apart from running a tutoring class, Huo Qingze is involved in various things, and he should still be busy during this time. 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Indeed, Huo Qingze is busy. Ever since the hot water bottle launched, it’s been selling very well, to the point that production almost can’t keep up with sales. There aren’t many poor people in the Imperial City; the hot water bottles are practical and durable, only needing to be filled with hot water, and with a nice fabric cover, they’re quite popular.

When Xu Xue went to find Huo Qingze, the gate of the yard was closed and there was no one around. Xu Xue was extremely frustrated, guessing if Xu Mumu had given her a fake address to mess with her.

But after thinking it over, she abandoned that thought. Although Xu Mumu doesn’t have a great relationship with her, there’s no need for her to trap her.

Huo Qingze lives alone, so there wasn’t anyone to notify him that Xu Xue had come by.

After seeing that Huo Qingze wasn’t home, Xu Xue decided to come back again in the evening.

She went to the newly built park with Yin Yang. The scenery here was still quite nice, with a pavilion on the hilltop. The two sat inside, eating the snacks they brought, while sunlight slanted in from outside. Xu Mumu thought soaking up the sun here was quite enjoyable.

From this pavilion, one could see all the scenery below the hill, really extraordinary.

Yin Yang opened a grease-proof paper bag containing a hot roast chicken and tore off a drumstick for Xu Mumu, "Here you go."

"You eat, too," Xu Mumu grinned as she took a bite. Yin Yang always knew where the best food was, and Xu Mumu was very pleased with that.

The two of them finished off the whole chicken. Xu Mumu felt her appetite was really good today, having eaten so much that morning.

After wiping the grease from her hands, Xu Mumu touched her stomach, feeling like she had gained some weight.

"Do you think I’ve gained a bit?" Xu Mumu asked Yin Yang, looking at him.

"No, you’re still quite slim. Eat more," Yin Yang replied with an innocent smile, hoping Xu Mumu would put on a little more weight, thinking she’d be softer and more comfortable to hold.

Xu Mumu stared at Yin Yang for two seconds and decided not to take his advice. She planned to start dieting and exercise more, feeling she’d look better slimmer.

After resting a while in the pavilion, Yin Yang then took Xu Mumu to play around.

By the time they returned later in the evening, it was already after five o’clock. The winter days got dark early, and it was already dimming outside.

A few kids were playing hopscotch in the yard, having a great time. Fengfeng was jumping along beside them, making the whole scene quite lively.

Holding her son, Qian Ying spotted Xu Mumu, who hadn’t seen Xu Xue yet and couldn’t resist asking more.

According to what she heard from her second aunt, Xu Xue had gone out shopping. Xu Mumu pursed her lips; since Xu Xue wasn’t familiar with the area, she must have gone to find Huo Qingze.

Xu Mumu winked at Yin Yang, who responded with a helpless smile, fully aware of her implication. However, he wasn’t interested in gossiping about Huo Qingze; he just wanted to marry the girl he loved as soon as possible.

Back in their room, Xu Mumu excitedly discussed the matter with Yin Yang, "Do you think Xu Xue and Huo Qingze could end up together?"

"That’s Huo Qingze’s business," Yin Yang replied wryly.

"Just guess, come on! I’m waiting to watch the fun," Xu Mumu glared at Yin Yang, annoyed by his lack of enthusiasm.

"Probably not. Huo Qingze is busy right now; he doesn’t have time for dating," Yin Yang stated calmly, looking at the facts. Having lived in the same courtyard with Huo Qingze for so long, he considered himself fairly knowledgeable about him.

"True, he is quite busy," Xu Mumu agreed, realizing that Huo Qingze really was busy. Zhou Yunhong had gone looking for him several times but could only find him at the factory.

Xu Xue eventually caught up with Huo Qingze, her eyes lighting up upon seeing him return from outside. After two years of not seeing him, Huo Qingze seemed more mature and even more handsome.

At first, Huo Qingze didn’t notice Xu Xue. It was only after she kept staring at him that he recognized her.

He almost didn’t recognize her at first, only remembering her after thinking for a while.

In the past year, he had been preoccupied with his studies and his factories, with an endless stream of work each day, leaving no time to think about someone like Xu Xue.

Xu Mumu contributed significantly to Huo Qingze being so busy, as she frequently sent him new ideas that made him a lot of money.

"Huo," Xu Xue said excitedly as she looked at Huo Qingze, admiring the man she’d set her sights on. He was indeed good-looking and already driving, showcasing his skills.

"Oh, it’s you. What brings you to the Imperial City?" Huo Qingze asked, somewhat puzzled by Xu Xue’s presence, suspecting she came specifically to find him. His current residence must have been mentioned by Xu Mumu or someone else.

With this in mind, Huo Qingze felt a headache coming on; he didn’t want women pestering him. For now, he was focused solely on his business ventures.

"My cousin is getting married after the New Year, and we’re spending the holiday in the Imperial City," Xu Xue said, her eyes admiringly fixed on Huo Qingze. Such an outstanding man, she wanted to seize the chance to capture him. But, Huo Qingze seemed like wood, impossible to move regardless of her strategies, leaving her quite frustrated.

In the past two years, Xu Xue had grown quite a bit. Though not as beautiful as Xu Mumu, she had blossomed into a graceful woman. To meet Huo Qingze, she’d dressed up especially, enhancing her average looks to a more attractive level, making her all the more alluring.

Xu Xue was determined to leave a better impression on Huo Qingze, having realized that since subtle gestures went unnoticed, she should be more direct. After all, there’s a saying, ’a woman chasing a man is like a veil away.’ With perseverance, she believed she could show Huo Qingze her good side.

She had learned from Xu Mumu that Huo Qingze was still single, and if she didn’t act soon, what if someone else scooped this golden opportunity away? Missing out on a good catch like him, she’d regret it for the rest of her life.

"It’s that soon?" Huo Qingze was a bit surprised, knowing Yin Yang had just returned a few days ago, likely busy preparing for the engagement. He knew Yin Yang had everything ready for the wedding, and they’d once joked about it, but he wasn’t expecting Yin Yang to secure his happiness so quickly and win the Old Xu Family’s approval.

To be honest, there was a slight tinge of envy, though he had too many commitments and didn’t have time to find a partner. More importantly, he hadn’t found anyone suitable yet.

Now without the worry of dealing with a stepmother, he wanted someone who could help manage the business. Compared to a gentle and virtuous wife, he needed more of a partner.