Huo Xiaozheng thought he had misheard.
"Tell me your reasoning," he said.
The tutor displayed all of Ningning's assignments from the past few months to Huo Xiaozheng.
"As you can see, given Ningning's current level, it would be no problem for her to start learning middle school material directly."
Huo Xiaozheng was silent for a moment before saying, "Thank you for your hard work."
Though he said this, he gave no actual response to the tutor's suggestion.
The tutor wanted to say more, but upon seeing Huo Xiaozheng's somewhat gloomy expression, he immediately swallowed his words.
After the tutor left, Huo Xiaozheng stopped his work and went to find Ningning at the swimming pool.
She was wearing a yellow swimsuit, floating on her back in the pool like a happy little yellow duck, freely drifting on the water's surface.
The coach, seeing Huo Xiaozheng approach, whispered something in Huo Guining's ear.
Huo Guining flipped over, immediately switching to freestyle, and swam over to Huo Xiaozheng's side.
"Dad, were you looking for me?"
Huo Xiaozheng lifted her out of the water and wrapped her in a large towel.
"Dad has something he wants to hear your thoughts on."
Huo Guining's eyes darted around, and she had a good idea: "Did the tutor say something to you?"
Huo Xiaozheng sent the coach away and sat alone on a wicker chair by the pool, drying Ningning's hair.
"The tutor says your learning progress is very fast," Huo Xiaozheng said, setting aside her goggles and swim cap. He continued, "He suggests you could start learning from the middle school curriculum."
As he spoke, he picked up a coconut drink from the side and held it to her lips.
Huo Guining took a few sips and then waved her hand, indicating she didn't want any more.
"Dad, are you unhappy because of what he said?"
Huo Xiaozheng put the coconut drink back on the table. "Dad is very happy, but Dad doesn't want you to be immersed in academics too early and lose the joys of childhood."
Huo Guining's lips curled up in a smile. She thought about it and felt this made sense.
After all, she was now a little rich girl and didn't need to rack her brains thinking about future survival problems.
If that was the case, why not enjoy childhood to the fullest?
"But I'm a bit tired of the elementary school content," Huo Guining looked somewhat troubled. "It's too boring."
Huo Xiaozheng fell silent.
Although Huo Guining was complaining that the courses were too boring, to Huo Xiaozheng, it meant something else entirely.
After taking over the Jiang Group, he had become increasingly busy.
He couldn't bring himself to promise to make time to play with Ningning.
At least not now.
Huo Guining sat sideways on Huo Xiaozheng's lap, her short legs dangling and swinging back and forth.
The atmosphere became a bit heavy.
"Buzz... buzz..."
A phone rang.
The screen showed the caller was Huo Jing.
Seeing Ningning's curiosity, Huo Xiaozheng put the call on speaker.
"Brother, are you busy?"
Huo Xiaozheng: "No, what's the matter?"
"Do you remember that parent-child travel reality show I mentioned?"
"Mm, what about it?"
Huo Xiaozheng steadied Ningning, who was leaning halfway across his body, his eyes warning her to be careful.
Ningning pouted but pricked up her ears to listen.
"One of the guest families had some issues and got blacklisted," Huo Jing probed. "The director is quite close to me. He saw the news about you and Ningning before and asked me to check if you could help out in this emergency."
Worried that Huo Xiaozheng would immediately refuse, Huo Jing quickly added, "Even if you could just go once, on a weekend, that would be great."
"It would be perfect for improving the public's impression of your company and enhancing your company's image."
Ningning asked curiously, "Auntie, where would we travel to?"
Hearing her voice, Huo Jing's tone softened, "This shoot is just in the neighboring city. Do you want to go, Ningning?"
Seeing Ningning lean in, Huo Xiaozheng simply handed her the phone.
She obediently brought the phone close, "Is it fun there? I want to go painting."
Huo Jing's voice carried a hint of laughter, "There's an ancient village in the neighboring city where this shoot will take place. Many art students go there to sketch, you'd probably like it."
Ningning's eyes lit up, "Then I want to go!"
As soon as the words left her mouth, she belatedly realized that Huo Xiaozheng hadn't expressed his opinion yet.
Huo Jing had clearly thought of this too, "Brother, if you really don't have time, I could take Ningning myself."
Over the past three months, Huo Guining had tried to distance herself from Huo Xiaozheng to test the strength of his influence on her.
Of course, all of this was done under Huo Xiaozheng's strict supervision.
For safety's sake, she still carried the medicine Shen Shiyan had given her.
Recently, Huo Guining discovered that she could move freely around South City without Huo Xiaozheng.
The Huo family was well aware of this.
If this trip to the neighboring city also went without a hitch...
Huo Xiaozheng's cold voice rang out, "I'm free on the weekend. Give your director friend Xi Chuan's contact information."
Huo Jing was somewhat surprised. She hadn't held much hope for this call.
It was only because the show's director had done her a favor and was being extremely persistent that she agreed to try.
She hadn't expected her brother to actually agree.
Huo Jing was stunned for a moment, mumbling, "But you said before..."
Huo Xiaozheng, remembering Ningning's troubled expression when she said she was bored earlier, said coolly, "The past is the past, now is now."
Huo Jing, inexplicably scolded: ...
Before hanging up, Huo Jing confirmed once more.
Only after hearing Huo Xiaozheng's impatient affirmative response did she feel reassured.
Huo Guining's eyes sparkled with joy, "Dad, you'll go with me?"
Huo Xiaozheng gave an affirmative hum.
Although he couldn't squeeze out a long time to accompany Ningning, he could spare a weekend.
Ningning looked a bit conflicted.
Huo Xiaozheng changed her position in his arms, making her face him, "What are you worried about?"
"I'm worried people will criticize us."
Huo Xiaozheng responded promptly, "Then we'll go by ourselves, not participate in the show."
Huo Guining hurriedly said, "No, don't! We've already promised Auntie."
"If you're so worried, why did you agree to be on the show?" Huo Xiaozheng looked confused.
Huo Guining fidgeted with her fingers, "Because Auntie said it would be good for your company."
"Dad's been so busy lately, are you cleaning up the mess left behind before?"
At this, Huo Guining looked up with a determined expression, "I want to help Dad too."
The corners of Huo Xiaozheng's straight lips curled up slightly, "Then I'll be troubling Ningning."
Huo Guining smiled shyly.
Meanwhile, Xi Chuan, who had received a call from the director, looked bewildered.
"Are you sure you haven't made a mistake? Are you certain you invited our Mr. Huo? Your show conflicts with Mr. Huo's schedule."
"Yes, Mr. Huo does have a daughter."
"What? Mr. Huo is going with his daughter?"
"Oh, I see. Send the contract to my email, and I'll get back to you after reviewing it."