To Huo Xiaozheng's surprise, Huo Guining also shook her head.
"Half the reason I deny being friends with Lingling is that I'm worried they'll latch onto you," Huo Guining said seriously. "The other half is that I'm afraid they'll treat Lingling like a cash cow."
Huo Xiaozheng was somewhat astonished by Huo Guining's perceptiveness.
"What do you mean by that?"
Huo Guining pursed her lips, "If Lingling and I became good friends, I certainly couldn't stand by when she was suffering."
"Then I would choose to help her."
"But I don't have the ability to help her. So, I would definitely choose to ask Dad for help."
Huo Xiaozheng listened patiently as Huo Guining continued, "Dad's way of helping people is simple and forceful - he would definitely give money."
"Once or twice, and sooner or later Lingling's parents would find out."
"When that day comes, I would not only lose a friend, but I would also harm Dad."
As Huo Guining said this, her words were clear and logical.
Huo Xiaozheng took a long time to recover.
"Dad, are you listening to me?" Huo Guining waved her hand in front of his eyes.
"Dad is listening," Huo Xiaozheng smiled. "Your analysis is very reasonable."
Huo Guining smiled.
Huo Xiaozheng sighed, "Sometimes, Dad wishes you weren't so smart. Maybe then you could be a little happier."
For the next few days, Huo Xiaozheng completely set aside his work and took Huo Guining sightseeing.
The pair's striking looks and height difference were too eye-catching.
Some tourists posted photos of the two online. At first, netizens thought it was just a good-looking father and daughter on vacation.
Later, some sharp-eyed netizens discovered their identities.
"Holy crap! Isn't this the CEO of Huo Corporation and his cold-hearted daughter?"
"The baby looks so adorably cool! How is she cold-hearted?"
"Mr. Huo, those damn kidnappers took me to a foreign place, come quickly and take me home!"
"Dad! I'm your long-lost daughter!"
"The little girl's smile is so sweet, I'm in love!"
As more and more photos of the two were taken, the online discussions gradually went off-topic.
"My little girl's hairstyle is cool, but her daily outfits are so sweet. Could it be that Mr. Huo is personally coordinating them?"
"The one above speaks the truth. Mr. Huo hugs my little girl every day, the height difference is killing me with cuteness!"
"The leash Mr. Huo uses for my little girl seems to be the same as the one for my puppy. [Dog emoji]"
"Mr. Huo must have bought the wrong one, haha! The one for human children is different...!"
The internet buzz finally reached Huo Jing.
During a break in filming, her young assistant asked while holding her phone, "Jing, isn't this Ning? How come she's in Yun City?"
Huo Jing took a look, "It is Ning. Why are there so many photos?"
"There's a flower festival in Yun City recently, quite a lot of tourists went to see it. These should all be taken by passersby. Little Ning is so cute!"
Huo Jing had a bit of PTSD from Ning trending online before. She scrolled through the comments, and luckily, there weren't any malicious remarks.
Huo Jing sighed in relief. Hearing her assistant give Ning a nickname, she couldn't help but show off the rich collection in her phone's photo album.
"Look, Ning is even cuter when she's having a snowball fight!" Huo Jing said, unable to suppress her laughter as she watched.
This video was from when Huo Guining was repeatedly hit by Huo Yueze during their snowball fight.
At the end of the video, Huo Yueze was struck by a sudden large snowball from Huo Xiaozheng, leaving him dumbfounded.
The assistant was completely captivated by Ning's adorably clueless snowball fighting.
Huo Jing raised an eyebrow and smiled: Hmph, when it comes to comparing content, you're still too green.
After showing off, Huo Jing called Huo Xiaozheng.
"Brother, you seem to be having a great time in Yun City."
"I saw your photos online. You haven't seen them, have you?"
"The public opinion online is pretty good for now, so maybe just keep an eye on it for now."
On the other end of the phone, Huo Xiaozheng looked at Huo Guining, who was lost in the bliss of ice cream, "I'll handle it."
With that, he hung up the phone.
Huo Guining asked, "Was that Auntie?"
Huo Xiaozheng walked over and took away her ice cream tub, "Yes."
Huo Guining held up her spoon, pleading, "Can I have one last spoonful, please?"
Huo Xiaozheng shook his head, saying ruthlessly, "You've already said that three times."
That evening, there was a children's musical performance at a nearby theater. Huo Xiaozheng had already booked tickets.
Putting the ice cream back in the fridge, Huo Xiaozheng picked up her coat, and they left.
At the hotel entrance, a thin figure was crouching behind a large stone pillar, peering around cautiously.
"Little one, what are you doing here?" asked the hotel doorman, noticing her strange behavior.
It was Lingling.
Lingling shook her head, and hurriedly walked away with her backpack.
Not long after, Huo Xiaozheng came out of the elevator carrying Huo Guining, just as Lingling turned the corner, the three of them passing by each other.
The father and daughter were in the midst of a serious negotiation over the ice cream incident.
"Eating too much ice cream will give you a stomachache."
Huo Guining: "It won't happen to me."
"You'd better hope not. Next time, you can have at most 5 spoonfuls."
Remembering the size of the spoon, Huo Xiaozheng immediately corrected himself, "No, at most two spoonfuls."
Huo Guining protested, "Three spoonfuls."
"Two spoonfuls, and if you argue, it'll be one."
Huo Guining: OK, fine, the wise bow to the inevitable.
That day, a driver picked them up.
After fastening Huo Guining's seatbelt, Huo Xiaozheng noticed her silence and thought she might be angry.
Just as he was about to speak,
Huo Guining's voice drifted up: "Dad, can we have popcorn later?"
Huo Xiaozheng: ...
He discreetly glanced at Ning's belly, then opened his phone and started searching for articles on scientific feeding methods for children.
Suddenly, Huo Guining's phone rang. It was Huo Yueze calling.
Huo Guining answered eagerly, "Brother!"
Huo Yueze's voice filled the car, "Ning, I'm on holiday! When are you coming back?"
Huo Guining looked at Huo Xiaozheng, "Dad, when are we going back?"
Huo Xiaozheng asked, "When do you want to go back?"
Huo Yueze interjected, "It's almost Spring Festival in a few days. Ning, you're not planning to abandon us and spend the New Year alone with Uncle, are you?"
Is it almost New Year?
Huo Guining was a bit surprised.
"Of course not, Brother. Dad and I will definitely come back for New Year."
"Right, Dad?"
Huo Xiaozheng took her phone, "Ning and I will fly back tomorrow afternoon."
With that, he hung up.
The children's theater was almost full.
Huo Xiaozheng and Huo Guining sat in a second-floor box. At Huo Xiaozheng's insistence, Huo Guining gave up on popcorn and opted for a fruit platter instead.
"Oh? Those are Lingling's parents!"
Huo Guining pointed at two figures downstairs.
Huo Xiaozheng looked closely, and indeed they were.
"They only brought Lingling's little brother, not Lingling."
Huo Guining's tone was a bit dejected, probably feeling sorry for Lingling.