Huo Yanqin's birthday was a chaotic affair.
Huo Xiaozheng apologized to Huo Yanqin.
"We're family, let's not keep secrets," Huo Yanqin said, looking at Huo Ning, who was engrossed in watching cartoons. "As for you, it's about time you introduced Ning Ning to the family."
"Otherwise, with all the gossip going around, Ning Ning might hear something unpleasant elsewhere."
Huo Xiaozheng nodded, "I understand."
Huo Yanqin patted his shoulder, "You've always had your own way of doing things since you were young. Your big brother trusts you to handle this well."
After a pause, he added, "I heard that girl from the Qin Family is getting married."
He kept his eyes fixed on Huo Xiaozheng, and felt relieved when he saw no change in his brother's expression.
For years, his brother had seemed bewitched, stumbling whenever anything related to the Qin Family's daughter came up.
This time, the Qin Family's daughter was getting married and had sent invitations to all the prominent families in South City.
Huo Yanqin was worried his brother might go crazy.
"Yes, I received an invitation too."
Jiang Suyuan wouldn't miss such a good opportunity to show off, and had the invitation delivered to Huo Xiaozheng immediately.
"If it's inconvenient for you, I can attend on your behalf."
The Huo Family and Qin Family were old acquaintances, so it wouldn't be out of place for Huo Yanqin to attend Qin Zhiyi's wedding.
Thinking of Jiang Suyuan, Huo Yanqin felt a bit irritated: "That Jiang boy is too inconsiderate. Why drag the little girl into our generation's grudges?"
The lawsuit between the Huo and Jiang families had been trending on social media for a long time, dominating headlines everywhere. It was hard to avoid seeing it.
But the Huo family knew little about the specific details. They wanted to ask Huo Xiaozheng, but given his personality, if he didn't volunteer information, no one could pry it out of him.
As a result, the Huo family's understanding of what happened to Huo Ning was not much different from that of the general public.
"I'll tell you more about Ning Ning's situation when the time is right," Huo Xiaozheng said. He didn't want to keep reopening Ning Ning's wounds for others to see. He hoped that when Ning Ning had fully come to terms with her past, she could choose whether to talk about it or not.
As for Jiang and Qin: "I'll attend their wedding in person."
Three days after Huo Yanqin's birthday, Huo Xiaozheng took Huo Ning to attend Jiang and Qin's wedding.
The wedding venue was the largest five-star hotel in the area.
"Dad, why are you going to this wedding?" As the scenery outside the car window receded, Huo Xiaozheng and Huo Ning were on their way to the wedding venue.
In the back seat, Huo Ning wore a white little dress with thick tights, covered by a thick cashmere coat. She looked up curiously at Huo Xiaozheng beside her.
Huo Xiaozheng wore a well-tailored black suit with a gold fern brooch pinned to his left chest. His short black hair was combed back, revealing a full forehead and high nose bridge. His chiseled face looked even more handsome in the light.
The temperature in the car was a bit high, so Huo Xiaozheng took off his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt.
"Dad's going to avenge you."
Huo Xiaozheng's leisurely words fell like a bolt from the blue on Huo Ning's ears.
She widened her big eyes, "Huh?"
Huo Xiaozheng was amused by her expression and gave a brief smile, "Don't believe me?"
Huo Ning shook her head, "It's not that, but is this really okay?"
Dad, I'll get on my knees and call you daddy if you want, just please don't go provoke the main characters, okay?
She had originally thought Huo Xiaozheng was attending this wedding to help her move on.
Now it seemed he was just asking for trouble.
Huo Ning's brain was racing, and she became so anxious that she started to stutter, "Dad, you... Jiang... An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind!"
By the end, she was practically shouting.
Huo Xiaozheng was stunned, then burst out laughing.
Huo Ning was so anxious that she didn't even have time to hide it.
What's there to laugh about at a time like this???
"Where did you learn such a sophisticated phrase?" Huo Xiaozheng stopped laughing, "Looks like we need to find you a teacher soon, so your education doesn't fall behind."
Huo Ning was sweating with anxiety, "Dad, you don't need to avenge me, really!"
Seeing that she was about to cry from worry, Huo Xiaozheng asked, "Why are you so afraid of me taking revenge on Jiang Suyuan?"
Huo Ning's expression froze, and she instantly lost the ability to form words.
Oh no, she had been too hasty and Watson had found her blind spot.
Why indeed? She could hardly say that she knew this world was just a book, and her dear dad was the villain in it, could she?
Huo Xiaozheng gazed at her silently for a while, then said in a solemn tone, "Are you afraid he'll retaliate against me?"
Bingo!
Huo Ning was delighted inwardly, but didn't show it on her face.
She nodded like a pecking chick, "I don't mean that I don't trust you, but..."
Her little brain started spinning rapidly again.
"I don't want any more children like me to be born by accident."
As she spoke, Huo Ning lowered her head dejectedly.
Huo Xiaozheng was struck by her words and didn't know how to react for a moment.
Suddenly seeming to realize something, Huo Ning looked up and hastily explained, "Don't overthink it, I don't blame you..."
Huo Xiaozheng sighed, "I'm not overthinking. I'm just surprised that Ning Ning seems to care more about me than herself."
"Of course, you're my dad after all," seeing that Huo Xiaozheng's attitude had softened, Huo Ning immediately poured on the sugar.
No one can resist a cub's sugar-coated cannonballs, let alone the cub's own father.
Huo Xiaozheng rubbed the child's head with some tenderness, "Don't worry, I'll only do what I should, and won't cause unnecessary trouble."
Worried that she might not understand the phrase "cause unnecessary trouble," Huo Xiaozheng explained it further.
Huo Ning let out a long sigh of relief.
True to his word, when they arrived at the hotel, Huo Xiaozheng behaved properly as a guest coming to offer blessings, without causing any trouble at all.
Until...
"Uncle Xi Chuan, where's my dad?"
Xi Chuan had also attended this wedding.
Midway through, Huo Xiaozheng was held up by a business partner. When Huo Ning wanted to use the restroom, Huo Xiaozheng asked Xi Chuan to accompany her.
By the time Huo Ning had taken care of her physical needs, Huo Xiaozheng was no longer where they had left him.
In the dressing room next to the banquet hall.
Huo Xiaozheng, Qin Zhiyi, and Jiang Suyuan sat face to face, all with solemn expressions.
"Speak up, what did you want to see me about?" Huo Xiaozheng said leisurely, crossing his long legs and resting his hands on the back of the chair.
"I can't believe you actually came," Jiang Suyuan said with a hint of amusement.
"Why wouldn't I come?" Huo Xiaozheng sneered, "Pride comes before a fall. If I don't witness your blissful love, how could I fully enjoy it when you end up on the streets?"
At this, Huo Xiaozheng mocked Jiang Suyuan, "Don't you agree, Mr. Jiang?"
Jiang Suyuan frowned, "Whether you believe it or not, I have to tell you that what happened back then was indeed done by people from my Jiang family, but I knew nothing about it."
No, recalling the details, Jiang Suyuan denied, "Or rather, I didn't find out about it much earlier than you did."
The Jiang Suyuan who communicated with Li Zhiyuan on the phone wasn't Jiang Suyuan himself, but someone impersonating him, intending to use the opportunity to smear the Huo Corporation. If it succeeded, he would be a hero for the Jiang family; if it failed, he could still suppress Jiang Suyuan.
Killing two birds with one stone.
"At this point, Mr. Jiang is still emphasizing his innocence?" Huo Xiaozheng said.
Jiang Suyuan spoke seriously, "Huo Xiaozheng, what I'm saying today is not to exonerate myself, nor am I afraid of your revenge."
"I just want to express apologies to your daughter on behalf of the Jiang family, and offer compensation."
Huo Xiaozheng frowned, suspecting there must be some catch.
Seeing that Huo Xiaozheng didn't believe him, Jiang Suyuan looked at his wife with a face full of sweetness. Qin Zhiyi returned an encouraging look.
Only then did Jiang Suyuan speak, "Zhiyi is pregnant."
Huo Xiaozheng froze on the spot.
"Having our own child made me realize how much harm your daughter suffered and how painful it must have been for you both. I was foolish before, but now, Zhiyi and I hope we can make some amends to your daughter."
Seeing Huo Xiaozheng remain silent, Qin Zhiyi added, "In addition to the compensation we proposed earlier, the Qin family also wants to..."
"Enough!" Huo Xiaozheng suddenly stood up.
"You want to use your money to compensate for the harm she suffered? You two really are birds of a feather!"
Jiang Suyuan's face darkened, "I will apologize publicly. But what's done is done, money is just one way to make amends, I..."
Huo Xiaozheng didn't want to hear any more and stood up to leave.
"Didn't you investigate it yourself? The main perpetrator of that incident was actually Shi Lili, wasn't it?" Jiang Suyuan retorted, flushed with anger and shame.
Qin Zhiyi, seeing the situation deteriorating, immediately grabbed Jiang Suyuan but couldn't cover his mouth in time.
Huo Xiaozheng halted his steps and turned back, asking, "What did you say?"
Jiang Suyuan, throwing caution to the wind, blurted out, "Back then, if Shi Lili hadn't offered herself to you, and then refused to abort when she found out she was pregnant, insisting on giving birth to gain status through the child, how would your daughter have suffered such harm?"
"When it comes down to it, you brought this upon yourself!"
Huo Xiaozheng, burning with rage, lunged forward with lightning speed, gripping Jiang Suyuan's neck and pinning him against the wall.