Since the marriage alliance between the Jiang and Qin families, Huo Xiaozheng's attitude towards the couple had completely changed.
If previously, Huo Xiaozheng's dislike for Jiang Suyuan stemmed from his unrequited pursuit of Qin Zhiyi, now his hostility towards the Jiang family originated from his own daughter—Huo Guining.
In Huo Xiaozheng's heart, besides Shi Lili, he himself and Jiang Suyuan were the culprits responsible for Ningning's tragedy.
Although the Jiang family had publicly announced at a press conference that they would give part of their shares to Huo Guining as compensation, Huo Xiaozheng did not accept it.
Afterwards, due to Huo Guining's health condition, Huo Xiaozheng didn't have much interaction with the Jiang family.
Half a month ago, Huo Xiaozheng received intelligence that the Yun City government intended to auction off a piece of land.
An insider claimed that due to some uncontrollable factors, the price of that land was lower than the actual market price.
The specific reasons were unclear.
But this piqued Huo Xiaozheng's interest.
The Huo family had started their business in Yun City, and as their business grew, they gradually relocated to South City.
Ningning's health had always been poor.
Before Huo Jing proposed participating in a parent-child reality show, Huo Xiaozheng had already intended to take Ningning away from this environment for a while.
The land that Yun City was auctioning happened to be not far from the Huo family's old residence in Yun City.
Huo Xiaozheng planned to buy this land and build an amusement park or a holiday resort as a gift for Ningning.
His recent impromptu business trip with Xi Chuan was also for the Yun City auction.
Now, hearing Xi Chuan say that the Jiang family was also interested in getting involved, a cold glint appeared in Huo Xiaozheng's eyes.
"I hadn't heard before that the Jiang family was interested in projects in Yun City."
Xi Chuan on the other end of the phone was also puzzled: "The Jiang family's documents were only submitted on the deadline day. There wasn't even a whisper of it before."
Huo Xiaozheng's lips pressed into a thin line: "Investigate it."
Xi Chuan responded with an affirmative.
After hanging up the phone, Huo Xiaozheng leaned back in his executive chair.
The land in Yun City didn't have high commercial value.
The local GDP was low, and even if they invested in building a shopping mall, it would likely not be profitable.
Huo Xiaozheng couldn't understand why Jiang Suyuan would suddenly be interested in this piece of land.
Could it be that he was merely trying to cause trouble for him?
Huo Xiaozheng furrowed his brows.
In stark contrast to Huo Xiaozheng's mood, on the other side, Huo Guining was in her element in the art studio.
Thanks to Huo Xiaozheng's financial resources, Huo Guining used paints without any hesitation.
She stayed alone in the studio until nearly ten o'clock.
When Huo Xiaozheng quietly walked into the room, he thought she had already gone to bed.
Unexpectedly, the small bed was neatly made, with no sign of her.
Huo Xiaozheng went upstairs and pushed open the door to the studio.
The studio was as bright as day.
Huo Guining, small in stature, sat on a stool, concentrating intently as she wielded her paintbrush.
The white canvas was dyed red, with demons faintly visible in the blood-colored sky, their faces blue and their teeth protruding.
A little girl in a white dress, holding a dark gray rabbit, floated in mid-air.
Unknown flowers bloomed on the ground, and Huo Guining was currently coloring them.
Good, at least the colors of the flowers were warm.
Huo Xiaozheng sighed in relief: "Ningning, it's time for bed."
Huo Guining, as if waking from a dream, was startled by his voice.
"I'll sleep after I finish this part."
Huo Guining glanced at Huo Xiaozheng, then immersed herself in her creation again.
Huo Xiaozheng frowned: "It's very late. If you don't rest now, it's not good for your health."
Huo Guining's paintbrush paused.
"Alright."
She resignedly put down her brush and followed Huo Xiaozheng downstairs, as if she had lost her soul.
After finishing her bedtime routine, Huo Guining lay with her big eyes wide open, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Huo Xiaozheng sat down on the edge of the bed: "Can't sleep?"
Huo Guining nodded: "I want to paint."
Huo Xiaozheng sighed: "It's too late. Can you paint tomorrow?"
Huo Guining remained silent.
Huo Xiaozheng had no choice but to help her get dressed again and took her to the third floor with his tablet computer.
Seeing his actions, Huo Guining spoke up: "Dad, are you coming too?"
"Aren't you afraid of the dark? It's too late, I'll keep you company."
A warm feeling flowed through Huo Guining's heart.
"Can we go back to sleep after half an hour of painting?"
Huo Guining nodded happily.
She picked up her paintbrush again and continued coloring.
Huo Xiaozheng found a stool to sit on and looked at reports nearby.
Time ticked by slowly.
Huo Guining had finished outlining her painting.
She moved her sore upper limbs and looked up at Huo Xiaozheng.
Huo Xiaozheng was very tall, and sitting on the small chair, his long legs had nowhere to go.
After washing up, the sharpness in Huo Xiaozheng's eyes had diminished somewhat.
He wore a dark blue bathrobe, intently focused on his computer.
Thinking about how he had come to keep her company because he was worried she might be scared, Huo Guining put down her paintbrush: "Dad, I'm done painting."
Huo Xiaozheng made a sound of acknowledgment, put away his tablet, and reached out a hand to her: "Then let's go to sleep."
Huo Guining ran forward, held his hand, and followed his shadow down the stairs.
In the dead of night, Huo Guining felt that her heart had found its home.
The next day.
Huo Guining returned to her workaholic life.
By the time Huo Xiaozheng was about to leave, Huo Guining was just groggily waking up.
Huo Xiaozheng pinched her nose: "Didn't I tell you not to stay up late?"
Huo Guining made a couple of grunts in protest.
Allowing Aunt Xu to dress her and help her wash up, Huo Guining stumbled after Huo Xiaozheng towards the underground parking garage.
Huo Xiaozheng couldn't bear to watch and picked her up with one arm.
It wasn't until they arrived at the company and she drank the corn juice Aunt Xu had prepared for her that she felt her mind clear a bit.
Xi Chuan reported the day's schedule to Huo Xiaozheng.
Considering Ningning's situation, Huo Xiaozheng rarely went on business trips now.
But today was an exception.
"The real estate development project in the north of the city needs you to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony this afternoon."
Huo Xiaozheng nodded and called out to Huo Guining:
"Ningning, you have swimming and painting lessons in the morning, and in the afternoon you'll go out with Dad."
Huo Guining nodded dazedly, her mind only registering swimming and painting.
After the lunch break, Huo Xiaozheng pulled her out of bed.
Huo Guining, who had finally caught up on sleep, looked confused: "Dad?"
Huo Xiaozheng sighed, regretting his moment of weakness last night that had disrupted her biological clock.
Now, after her swimming and painting classes were over, she was groggy again.
Huo Xiaozheng sighed: "I told you this morning that we need to go out this afternoon."
Huo Guining nodded, pretending she remembered.
However, once in the car, she tilted to one side and fell asleep again.
She hadn't woken up by the time they arrived.
Seeing that it was almost time for the ribbon-cutting, Xi Chuan volunteered: "Shall I carry Miss Guining?"
Huo Xiaozheng thought for a moment and handed her to Xi Chuan: "Don't stray too far from me."
Xi Chuan: ?