Steel Rose, Black Thorns

2

"Mom, how can you do this!" Hannah Zhao felt as if a bucket of cold water was poured on her head, and she felt cold from head to toe. "Have you forgotten that he saved me!"

"Of course I won't forget, and I will be grateful to him for the rest of my life. Otherwise, your father and I would not let him work in our company. You also understand that his academic qualifications do not meet the requirements of our company at all." Sophia Song held Hannah Zhao's shoulders and said gently and firmly, "Mom wants you to know that gratitude is gratitude, not love. Jason Zhang is nearly ten years older than you. His family background, growth experience, and education level are very different from yours. You can treat him as an older brother, but it is not appropriate to treat him as a boyfriend."

"Mom! You are discriminating! True love should not be limited to these ridiculous external conditions!" Hannah Zhao said excitedly.

"Then what do you think true love is? Is it that two people have a mutual understanding? Is it that two people have endless things to say together? You care about him, and he also cares about you? Then tell me what Jason Zhang has done? Why do I feel that you don't know what he likes or dislikes at all, and he also doesn't take your preferences to heart. When you are together, you are always talking and he is silent..." Sophia Song is a shrewd woman. Although she doesn't like Jason Zhang, she still pays close attention to the interaction between him and her daughter.

"I don't want to listen, I don't want to listen..." Hannah Zhao was unable to refute what her mother said, and she sat in the dressing chair angrily with red eyes.

"Okay, let's talk about this later. The dinner is about to start, let's go down first." Seeing her daughter's reaction so intense, Sophia Song felt a little regretful. She was too hasty.

"I won't go, I won't go..." Hannah Zhao felt more and more wronged the more she thought about it, and her tears fell one by one like a broken string.

Sophia Song panicked immediately, "Baby, it's Mom's fault, stop crying, you've ruined your makeup, today is your sixteenth birthday, don't you want to appear beautiful in front of everyone? It won't look good if you cry any more."

"I know what you are thinking. You just want me to be with Zheng Xiaoyang, but he already has a girlfriend. Everyone knows it, but he just hides it from you..." Hannah Zhao pouted and cried like a pear blossom in the rain, looking very pitiful.

Sophia Song's eyes condensed. Some things may be wishful thinking on her part. Although the two children grew up together, they may not be able to be together. It's just that the Zheng couple has always loved Hannah Zhao very much, so she had this idea. After all, her daughter was married to someone else's family, and she had to consider the relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law.

"Mom doesn't mean that. You are still so young. Mom can't bear to leave you. It's better for you to stay at home for a few more years and not be kidn*pped by those stinky men. Xiaoyang grew up with you and is also your brother. Mom just mentioned him casually. Don't take it too seriously."

"Don't treat me as a fool! I just want to be with Jason Zhang! I hate Zheng Xiaoyang!"

"Okay, okay, I'll do whatever you want. You are the boss today!" In front of her daughter's tears, Sophia Song could only surrender unconditionally. Her daughter's thoughts could not be changed for a while. Anyway, there was still a lot of time.

"Really?" Hannah Zhao immediately burst into laughter.

"It's more real than the pearls on your neck," Sophia Song compromised helplessly, "You will dance the opening dance with Jason Zhang later."

"Great!" Hannah Zhao couldn't wait to stand up.

"Why are you in such a hurry? You've cried like a kitten. If you keep going like this, people will laugh at you. Come, let me help you put on some makeup." Sophia Song wiped the tears off her face carefully.

"My little princess, are you still okay? Everyone is waiting for you." The slightly plump Miles Zhao said carelessly outside the door. The years have made his figure a little out of shape, but his facial features are still handsome and sunny. "My little princess is already beautiful enough, and there is no need to dress up."

Sophia Song looked back at him with a hint of sweetness in her eyes. After so many years of marriage, she still feels moved every time she sees him.

"Mom, did you put too much powder on me?" Hannah Zhao protested.

Sophia Song came back to her senses and met her daughter's teasing eyes. She hurriedly and awkwardly used a brush to sweep away the remaining powder on Hannah Zhao's face, and then pulled her up, "Let's go."

"Let me see," Miles Zhao held Hannah Zhao's shoulders with both hands, "Daddy's little princess is so beautiful!"

She was amused by her father's words and laughed "giggled" and held Miles Zhao with one hand and Sophia Song with the other. She imagined the scene of dancing the opening dance with Jason Zhang later, and felt that her heart was about to jump out of her throat.

The lobby on the first floor was decorated like a castle, with pink and white balloons floating on the ceiling, and pink roses airlifted from abroad everywhere. The luxurious and exquisite decoration made the temporarily hired waiters sigh in their hearts that the Zhao family was really rich and willing to spend so much money on their daughter's birthday.

The family of three walked down the spiral staircase slowly. The lights dimmed and the spotlights hit the three people. I don't know who took the lead in applauding, and the three nodded to everyone.

At this moment, Hannah Zhao felt that she was really like a princess in a fairy tale world. No, she was happier than a princess because she had the best father and mother in the world and a boyfriend who was as mature and steady as a hero.