Lydia Liu clung to Ian Song and cried for quite a while before finally letting go.
"Kid, didn't you go to Sanctum Martial Academy? Why are you back—don't tell me you got expelled!" Yellow Mountain's voice rang out, sounding rather stern.
But as soon as he finished speaking, Lydia Liu glared at him: "What kind of talk is that? Watch your mouth! My baby is so talented—how could he possibly get expelled?"
Hearing Lydia Liu's scolding, Yellow Mountain immediately didn't dare make a sound.
"By the way, how should I address this young lady?" Suddenly, Lydia Liu noticed Harriet Gu, and her eyes couldn't look away, secretly thinking this girl was truly stunning.
Feeling Lydia Liu's gaze, Harriet Gu was both nervous and shy. She lowered her voice and said, "Hello, Auntie. My name is Harriet Gu."
"Your name is lovely, but you're even prettier."
Lydia Liu said with satisfaction.
"Thank you, Auntie!" Harriet Gu felt a sweet warmth in her heart after Lydia Liu's praise.
At that moment, Lydia Liu stepped forward and took Harriet Gu by the hand, her face full of kindness. "Harriet, come with Auntie—let's find a place to have a nice chat, just us girls."
Harriet Gu instinctively glanced at Ian Song.
Ian Song smiled and said, "Don't worry, my mom's got a great personality. Go on with her!"
Yellow Mountain couldn't help but curl his lip on the side. Great personality? Seriously?
He didn't expect Lydia Liu to catch his reaction, her almond eyes instantly narrowing as she glared at him: "What's with that face? Are you saying my baby is wrong?"
"N-no... Not at all," Yellow Mountain instantly surrendered.
"Hmph!"
"Just for baby and Harriet's sake, I'll let you off today. Harriet, come on—Auntie has loads of pretty jewelry to show you...!"
Watching Lydia Liu drag Harriet Gu away, Yellow Mountain let out a sigh of relief. Then, putting on a stern face, he said to Ian Song, "Come with me," and walked towards the study with his hands behind his back.
Once inside the study, Yellow Mountain's face grew serious. "You've gotten yourself into trouble, haven't you?"
Ian Song was a bit surprised—he hadn't expected his cheap old man to be this sharp.
He nodded, "Yeah, and it's no small trouble!"
Yellow Mountain's face grew even darker. He barked, "You little brat, what kind of trouble have you gotten into? Tell me everything, now!"
After a brief silence, Ian Song simply explained the whole story from beginning to end.
As Ian Song recounted the events, Yellow Mountain's tense face finally cracked, showing shock, surprise, joy, and fear all at once.
Half an hour later, Ian Song waved his hand. "That's pretty much it. I came back this time to take you and Mom away for a while."
By now, Yellow Mountain's expression had turned regretful. He pounded the table, "I knew it! I knew you'd be a magnet for trouble. If I'd known, I never would've let you learn martial arts!"
"Too late!" Ian Song retorted with a curl of his lip.
"You dare talk back? Believe it or not, I'll smack you!" Yellow Mountain roared, raising his hand as if to slap Ian Song.
"Who dares touch my son!"
Just then, Lydia Liu's voice rang out from outside the study. She pushed open the door and walked in.
The moment Lydia Liu appeared, Yellow Mountain's momentum instantly deflated. He forced a smile and withdrew his hand: "Honey, I was just trying to scare him, I never really meant to hit him!"
"Like you'd ever have the guts!" Lydia Liu snorted in contempt.
Then Lydia Liu walked up to Ian Song, her voice gentle: "Baby, I heard everything from Harriet. You did great, really great. As your mother, I support you all the way!"
Yellow Mountain couldn't hold back any longer and snapped coldly, "All his troublemaking is because of how you spoil him! Do you even know who he's provoked now? The military!"
At that, Lydia Liu glared at Yellow Mountain again, like a tigress protecting her cub, and pointed at his nose: "You, Yellow, always acting high and mighty—now you dare bully me? When you were chasing me, what promises did you make? Is it that you think I'm old now? Should I help you find some young fox-spirits for concubines, huh?"
"Honey, don't misunderstand, that's not what I meant!" Yellow Mountain hurriedly explained.
"If that's not what you meant, then what did you mean?"
"I swear I didn't mean that! In my eyes, you're always eighteen!"
"Oh, I bet you say that to all the other fox-spirits too! I see, you just want a new eighteen-year-old fox-spirit, don't you?"
"Honey, I really don't have that idea! If I ever do, may the heavens strike me down...!"