One wave had barely subsided when another arose.
Seeing his troubled expression, Old Master Huo inquired, "What's wrong?"
Huo Xiaozheng remained silent for a moment.
"Someone online has used Huo Jing's scandal to expose Ning's situation."
Old Master Huo asked, puzzled, "Didn't you delete Ning's photos?"
Huo Jing started, immediately pulling out her phone.
Several breaking news stories topped the headlines.
"Huo Corporation heir's illegitimate daughter is deeply scheming!"
"5-year-old girl's cruel ploy sends birth mother to prison!!"
"Huo Xiaozheng's neglect leads to daughter's abuse!"
The Huo Yanqin couple's faces darkened upon seeing this.
"How outrageous! Who could be so vicious as to target a child!" Huo Yanqin said, turning his gaze towards Huo Jing.
Huo Jing thought for a moment, then denied it, "These headlines are aimed at my brother, it's probably not my rivals behind this."
Huo Xiaozheng also denied it: "It's not Huo Jing's people, it's Huo Siyuan."
Huo Siyuan was the balding man.
Huo Xiaozheng blamed himself for being careless, thinking Huo Siyuan was merely lashing out in desperation. He hadn't expected him to have a backup plan.
Huo Xiaozheng was still investigating Huo Siyuan's motives for this move.
If it was simply to attack Huo Ning, then he had been overly impulsive.
If not...
A flash of insight crossed Huo Xiaozheng's mind.
With this thought, he strode upstairs, dug Huo Ning out from the colorful foam balls, and carried her downstairs with one arm.
Huo Ning stared with wide eyes, her face full of confusion: "Huh?"
Huo Yueze hurriedly followed behind: "Uncle, are you going home so early?"
Huo Xiaozheng ignored him. When he reached the living room, he briefly greeted the elders: "I'm taking Ning home first."
Huo Yanqin guessed he would be very busy tonight and suggested leaving Ning at the old house.
Zheng Jinxiu also sought Huo Ning's opinion: "Dad has work to do, would you like to stay at grandpa and grandma's house for the night?"
Huo Ning's fingers curled slightly, and she lowered her head, looking a bit troubled.
"I..."
Huo Xiaozheng interrupted: "No need, it's more convenient for Ning to be with me."
Seeing his firm attitude, Huo Yanqin didn't press further, only telling Huo Xiaozheng not to worry, that he would find people to try and get the trending topics taken down as soon as possible.
Huo Xiaozheng nodded, then left carrying Huo Ning.
Huo Ning rested her head on Huo Xiaozheng's shoulder, waving to everyone: "Bye-bye, dinner was delicious, I'll come again next time."
Huo Yueze, holding a colorful foam ball, watched her leave.
Huo Ning's eyes curved in a smile: "Goodbye, big brother."
Surprised to receive a personal farewell, Huo Yueze excitedly waved back: "Goodbye, little sister!"
Once in the car, Huo Xiaozheng sternly advised Huo Ning: "For the next couple of days, you need to stay with me. Don't go out alone, and make sure to tell me immediately if anything happens, okay?"
Huo Ning didn't know she had become a target again.
Scared by Huo Xiaozheng's serious demeanor, she obediently nodded: "Okay, I understand."
She didn't dare ask what was wrong.
After returning home, Huo Xiaozheng handed Huo Ning over to Aunt Xu and went to his study alone.
Shortly after, Xi Chuan arrived and also entered the study.
"Have you found anything?"
Xi Chuan reported: "The video of you and Miss Ning was released under Huo Siyuan's orders. Miss Ning's past was also exaggerated and released at Huo Siyuan's behest."
"Huo Siyuan can't have just this one move. Keep investigating, find out who he's been in contact with recently."
Xi Chuan: "Yes, sir."
"Step up the efforts, have PR move faster. I don't want to see those comments continue to ferment."
At this, Xi Chuan hesitated.
Huo Xiaozheng frowned: "Speak plainly."
Xi Chuan picked up an iPad, navigated to a social media page, and gestured for Huo Xiaozheng to look.
"Official media have already stepped in to condemn this behavior. Currently, the vast majority of marketing accounts have been banned."
Huo Xiaozheng was somewhat surprised.
Huo Yanqin's words still echoed in his ears; it seemed his older brother wasn't just trying to comfort him.
Although Huo Yanqin held a high position, he had always been self-restrained and rarely interfered in Huo Xiaozheng's affairs.
This intervention had indeed eased some of the pressure on Huo Xiaozheng.
Huo Xiaozheng let out a small sigh of relief.
"Besides that, it seems the Jiang Group has also stepped in," Xi Chuan said, carefully observing Huo Xiaozheng's expression.
"However, they only helped delete the parts related to Miss Ning..."
Xi Chuan trembled inwardly; the Jiang family's actions were really...
Huo Xiaozheng let out a derisive laugh: "Never mind him. You continue to find people to investigate."
That night, Huo Xiaozheng worked until very late before going to sleep.
When he entered the bedroom, the cool moonlight fell on Huo Ning's small bed, illuminating her delicate and cute features. She was curled up snugly in her soft blanket, sleeping sweetly.
An indescribable feeling of happiness welled up in Huo Xiaozheng's heart. His heart felt as if it were soaking in warm water, both warm and content.
Perhaps this was the power of blood ties.
Huo Xiaozheng tucked her blanket in and said softly, "Good night."
The next morning, the sun shone brightly, its winter rays warm and cozy. Huo Ning lazed in bed for a while before getting up.
Huo Xiaozheng was no longer in the big bed.
The room temperature was just right. Aunt Xu, estimating the time, quietly pushed open the bedroom door, just in time to meet Huo Ning's bright, big eyes.
"Good morning, Aunt Xu!"
Aunt Xu greeted her with a kind smile and gently informed her that Huo Xiaozheng and Xi Chuan were discussing work in the study.
"They worked too late last night, so Assistant Xi slept in the guest room," Aunt Xu chatted as she helped Huo Ning get ready.
In the bright morning light, Huo Ning felt a sense of peaceful contentment.
"Dad is so busy," Huo Ning commented casually, patting down her messy bangs.
Aunt Xu's hands paused for a moment. It seemed the little miss didn't know about the online commotion, so she said no more.
Indeed, Huo Ning was unaware. Since the Jiang Group's public apology, the critical point of Huo Xiaozheng's negative publicity had passed.
Even with yesterday's incident of being photographed, she calmly trusted that Huo Xiaozheng could handle it well.
Now, she sat at the dining table, heartily enjoying her meal, looking as if she didn't have a care in the world.
While eating, she also watched cartoons on an iPad, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Ding!"
A news alert suddenly popped up.
"5-year-old girl's cruel ploy sends birth mother to prison!!"
These keywords were too specific. Huo Ning's fingers stiffened, and she tremblingly tapped on it.
"Recently, an insider revealed that a 5-year-old girl used her past experiences of being beaten and scolded to send her birth mother to prison. Some netizens uploaded footage of the Huo Group's leader appearing with a 5-year-old girl, during which the girl called the Huo Group leader 'Dad'..."
Huo Ning's vision darkened. Had Huo Xiaozheng seen this?
A sudden, sharp pain gripped her chest...
In the study, Xi Chuan showed Huo Xiaozheng a video:
Outside the Huo Corporation building, nearly a hundred employees held white banners, protesting at the entrance.
"Huo Corporation is heartless, illegally laying off workers! Give us back our jobs, compensate our losses!"
"When did this happen?" Huo Xiaozheng's face was full of anger.
Xi Chuan put away the tablet, his expression respectful: "Just this morning, sir."
'Knock knock knock!'
Suddenly, urgent knocking came from the study door. Xi Chuan opened it to find a panicked Aunt Xu: "Ning has fainted!"