After Huo Ning woke up, she was taken to a large building by Huo Xiaozheng.
Along the way, Huo Xiaozheng's phone kept ringing.
Huo Ning thought it was probably because of the news she had seen, so she didn't dare to ask much.
It wasn't until they got out of the car and took the elevator that Huo Xiaozheng finally had a moment of peace. She then asked, "Dad, where are we?"
The sharp pain in her chest seemed to linger, yet Huo Xiaozheng had urgently brought her to this place.
Huo Xiaozheng put a coat on her, then a knitted hat with a brim, wrapping her up tightly, and carried her out of the car with one arm.
"This is a hospital. Shen Shiyan isn't doing well, so Dad is getting you a new doctor," Huo Xiaozheng made up an excuse to placate her.
Huo Ning's mouth formed an O shape, unable to respond to this.
The elevator went directly from the underground parking lot to the 8th floor.
Sitting in Huo Xiaozheng's arms, Huo Ning curiously observed her surroundings.
The entire floor was very quiet, with beige-toned decor, accented with green and floral touches, making it very pleasing to the eye.
On the left side was a large door, and at the entrance, a pretty young woman was working.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up.
Her eyes lit up, and as the two approached, she immediately put on a sweet smile and asked softly, "Hello, do you have an appointment?"
Huo Xiaozheng gave her a cool glance and said coldly, "I have an appointment with Dr. Xie."
The receptionist put away the admiration in her eyes and switched to a professional smile. "Mr. Huo, right? Dr. Xie is already waiting. This way, please."
Huo Xiaozheng followed her into the room.
The receptionist closed the door behind them and then left the room.
"Hello, I'm Xie Lingluo," a woman wearing a beige sweater and casual pants, with a white coat over them, came forward with a professional smile and extended her hand to Huo Xiaozheng.
Huo Xiaozheng put Huo Ning on the sofa and shook hands with Xie Lingluo. "Huo Xiaozheng."
Huo Ning looked at the nameplate on the desk and belatedly asked, "Dad, are we here to see a psychologist?"
"Yes, you'll chat with the doctor, and after that, I'll take you for something delicious to eat, okay?" Huo Xiaozheng half-squatted, his tone slightly coaxing.
Huo Ning didn't fuss. Since they were here, she might as well go along with it.
She nodded decisively, "Alright."
Seeing this scene, Xie Lingluo was somewhat surprised.
Back in college, Huo Xiaozheng's name was already well-known.
Good grades, good looks, high family status, and maximum money-making ability.
But there was one thing not so good about him: he always had a cold face and didn't like to get close to people.
The only romantic news about him was always related to Qin Zhiyi.
Handsome and loyal, even if cold, there was no shortage of bold girls trying to get close to him.
But they all failed, without exception.
Over time, Huo Xiaozheng became the unattainable flower on a high cliff in the university, difficult for ordinary people to reach.
Now, seeing him softening his voice to coax a child added a touch of worldly warmth to his image.
After a moment of surprise, Xie Lingluo crouched in front of Huo Ning and asked gently, "Would you like to chat with auntie while your dad rests nearby?"
Huo Ning didn't want Huo Xiaozheng to be present while she was being questioned by the psychologist.
Hearing this, she naturally nodded in agreement.
Huo Xiaozheng stroked her head, "Don't be afraid, I'll be waiting next door."
Seeing Huo Xiaozheng walk out, Xie Lingluo sat down in front of Huo Ning, "Your name is Ning Ning, right?"
Huo Ning nodded, feeling a bit nervous.
They say psychologists are very perceptive, will she think I'm crazy and send me to a mental hospital? She thought silently.
Noticing Huo Ning's tension, Xie Lingluo sat a bit further away, "Are you afraid of me?"
Huo Ning was startled.
This startled little expression amused Xie Lingluo, "Can you tell me why you're afraid?"
Xie Lingluo's tone was unhurried, her gaze steady and encouraging.
But to Huo Ning, it seemed like she was saying, "Take your time, I'm waiting for your answer."
Huo Ning stammered, "I'm a bit scared of doctors."
Xie Lingluo understood and stood up to take off her white coat, "Is this better?"
It made no difference, Huo Ning thought.
But she still obediently nodded.
After that, Xie Lingluo, like a close friend, asked about her recent life.
Huo Ning told her everything.
"Your dad said you were sick yesterday?"
Xie Lingluo's words were very tactful, but Huo Ning still felt a bit embarrassed.
The past experiences belonged to the original Huo Ning, but finding Huo Xiaozheng after the original Huo Ning left, testifying in court, and sending her own mother to prison...
All these actions were done by the current Huo Ning.
Huo Ning felt she had done nothing wrong, but she still feared what others might say.
"You've seen the news too, right?" Huo Ning lowered her head and said glumly.
Xie Lingluo had expected Huo Ning to refuse to answer and was already thinking of how to change the subject painlessly, but she was surprised to hear her voice.
Xie Lingluo responded gently, "Which news are you referring to?"
Huo Ning looked up and told her everything.
Finally, she asked somewhat dejectedly, "Am I a bad person for doing this?"
Xie Lingluo's expression remained unchanged, "Why do you think this makes you bad?"
"Because..." Maybe it was the atmosphere that was so conducive to confiding.
Or perhaps, since coming into this book world, her stress had been too great, and she had always wanted to share it with someone.
Huo Ning gathered her courage and said word by word, "People online say I'm very manipulative."
Xie Lingluo was shocked inside but didn't show it on her face.
Her eyes were encouraging, and her voice became even softer, "Do you think you're a manipulative child?"
Huo Ning was stumped by the question.
Wasn't her pain coming from her inability to face herself after being exposed?
From the very beginning of finding Huo Xiaozheng, to later self-validation and self-rescue, the purposes of these actions were very clear.
Find Huo Xiaozheng, please Huo Xiaozheng, remove obstacles around her.
If this wasn't being manipulative, what was it?
"I guess so..." Huo Ning gave a bitter smile, "How could it not be?"
Xie Lingluo continued to ask, "Do you know what being manipulative means?"
Huo Ning nodded, "It was mentioned in cartoons, it means something bad."
Xie Lingluo then asked, "Ning Ning, how old are you?"
The topic changed so quickly that Huo Ning was a bit surprised, but she still obediently answered.
"I'm 5 years old."
"Can you tell me about things that make you happy?"
Huo Ning was completely led by Xie Lingluo, and now she lowered her head to think.
Happy?
The original Huo Ning had very few happy moments, only those related to Shi Lili.
But given Shi Lili's actions, Huo Ning decided to forget about them.
As for happiness after coming into this book world...
"Finding Dad and drawing make me very happy," Huo Ning counted on her fingers. "I'm also very happy when Brother Yue Ze is with me."
Xie Lingluo maintained a listening posture, "If you had to choose one thing that makes you the happiest, what would be number one?"
Huo Ning's eyes became a bit distant.
"The happiest thing?"
"It's when I went to see Mom after she was in prison. She shouted at me, just like how I used to beg her not to abandon me. At that moment, I was the happiest."