Jiang Suyuan was caught in a dilemma.
He didn't want to choose either Old Mr. Qin or Huo Xiaozheng.
Qin Zhiyi advised from the side, "Huo Xiaozheng clearly doesn't have good intentions. If you accept his investment, then my father's side..."
Jiang Suyuan fell into deep thought.
Huo Xiaozheng, like a hunter, possessed excellent patience and didn't mind waiting out Jiang Suyuan.
Meanwhile, Old Mr. Qin didn't go back on his word.
Almost from the moment Jiang Suyuan walked out of the Qin family's front door, he began his own plan alone.
And his first target was Yun City, which Huo Xiaozheng had bought at a high price at auction.
Huo Guining was oblivious to all of this. In her view, Huo Xiaozheng was either busy or getting busier.
This morning, Huo Guining groggily crawled out of bed in the dim dawn light. She looked at the already dressed and groomed Huo Xiaozheng with sleepy eyes and asked in a muffled voice:
"Dad, so early today?"
Huo Xiaozheng took out an eye mask and put it over her eyes, scooping her up in one motion: "There's an early meeting at the company today. You go back to sleep, I'll put you in the rest room later."
Huo Guining was really too tired to argue. Hearing this, she didn't stand on ceremony. Her head tilted to one side, and she fell asleep again.
Given that Huo Guining had been resting at the company more and more often lately, Huo Xiaozheng's rest room now hardly differed from a child's room.
Not only was it fully equipped with children's supplies, but daily clothes had also been prepared for Ning Ning.
They were all new seasonal children's products delivered from nearby shopping malls.
When Huo Guining woke up again, the rest room was already bright with daylight.
She raised her hand to remove the eye mask, looking around groggily.
Good, as usual, there was no one around.
She changed out of her pajamas with practiced ease, gave herself a quick wash, and walked out carrying a comb.
In the office, Huo Xiaozheng sat in the boss's chair. In front of the desk, employees held documents, seemingly reporting something.
Huo Xiaozheng caught sight of Ning Ning out of the corner of his eye and made a pause gesture.
He stood up and walked to Ning Ning's side: "Are you awake?"
Huo Guining nodded: "I'm going to find Sister Yin Su to do my hair."
Huo Xiaozheng took the comb and pressed her down to sit by the sofa: "Yin Su is out on an errand. Dad will tie it for you."
A collective intake of breath sounded around them.
Only then did Huo Guining notice that there were other people around.
Huo Xiaozheng was already well-practiced in doing her hair.
Before Huo Guining could figure out how to escape this awkward situation, Huo Xiaozheng had already deftly tied her hair into a bun.
After putting down the comb, Huo Xiaozheng belatedly realized there were others in the office.
He crouched down and said softly: "Go find Uncle Xi Chuan and have him heat up your breakfast. Make sure to finish your medicinal soup."
Huo Guining's head nearly exploded at the mention of medicinal soup.
But given the presence of others, she couldn't bargain. She could only reluctantly agree.
"Okay," she said gloomily.
A glint of amusement flashed in Huo Xiaozheng's eyes.
Seeing Ning Ning leave the office, his expression immediately returned to its cold state, and his tone became stern: "Where were we?"
The employees who had been watching the scene snapped back to attention: "We were talking about the issues that arose during the project implementation..."
Meanwhile, Huo Guining didn't go to find Xi Chuan.
Instead, she walked to the tea room, opened the food box on the small table, and began to eat breakfast leisurely.
Breakfast was from a nearby private kitchen.
The medicinal soup had been prepared by Zheng Jinxiu the night before and sent over by the driver early in the morning.
It had to be said, the world of the rich was truly wonderful.
Huo Guining sighed, enjoying the delicious food while taking in the beautiful view from the high-rise.
The past period of time felt like a dream.
The only bad aftereffect was that Huo Xiaozheng was watching over her even more strictly.
For Huo Guining, who had always been left to her own devices in her previous life, she didn't feel any discomfort.
"Have you finished the medicinal soup?" Huo Xiaozheng's voice suddenly rang out.
Huo Guining was startled: "Dad, are you done with work?"
Huo Xiaozheng shook his head: "Not yet, just came to check on you."
Huo Guining picked up the medicinal soup container to show him: "I've finished it, it's all gone."
Huo Xiaozheng patted her head approvingly.
"Today, Dad doesn't have time to take you to see Dr. Xie."
Huo Guining understood: "It's okay, we can go next time..."
Better not to go at all, she thought.
"No need for next time, I've asked Dr. Xie to come here," Huo Xiaozheng smiled. "We'll borrow your art studio for a while, it's quiet enough there."
Huo Guining pouted.
"Mr. Huo, there's movement from Jiang Suyuan's side!" Xi Chuan's voice suddenly rang out in the tea room.
Huo Guining peeked out: "Uncle Xi Chuan, what kind of movement?"
Huo Xiaozheng frowned at Xi Chuan, his eyes containing a warning.
Xi Chuan broke out in a cold sweat, suddenly stammering.
Seeing that Ning Ning had finished eating, Huo Xiaozheng wiped her mouth: "There's still some time before Dr. Xie arrives. Why don't you go draw for a while?"
He was clearly sending her away.
"Dad, are you sure you won't be in danger?" Huo Guining couldn't help but worry.
Huo Xiaozheng promised solemnly: "I won't be."
Huo Guining had no choice but to leave.
"Mr. Huo, Jiang Suyuan has chosen to ally with Old Mr. Qin," Xi Chuan reported immediately after Ning Ning left.
Huo Xiaozheng grunted in acknowledgment, and the two returned to the office, one in front and one behind.
"What moves has Old Mr. Qin made?"
Xi Chuan: "They've recently contacted local officials in Yun City, but as for what exactly they're doing, currently..."
Huo Xiaozheng's lips curled into a smile: "Old Mr. Qin is indeed getting old."
Xi Chuan: ...
...
Huo Guining had been in the art studio for less than an hour when Xie Lingluo arrived.
She still had that calm and gentle demeanor.
"Ning Ning, good morning."
Huo Guining put down her paintbrush: "Hello, Dr. Xie."
Xie Lingluo's smile deepened, feeling both amused and touched to be addressed so formally by a child.
"You can call me Auntie Xie."
Huo Guining waved her hand, thinking it's better not to, as she really hoped to see her as little as possible in the future.
Xie Lingluo saw through her thoughts and stopped the small talk: "How have you been recently? Everything okay?"
Huo Guining smiled, her eyes curving: "Very good."
Xie Lingluo: "Like what?"
Huo Guining's smile faltered, today's conversation seemed to be going off script.
"Like... breakfast was delicious..." Huo Guining stammered, "The medicinal soup wasn't bad either..."
Xie Lingluo nodded in agreement: "These are indeed very good. Anything else?"
Huo Guining thought for a moment: "I got enough sleep today."
Xie Lingluo's eyes were filled with amusement: "For you to say you got enough sleep, it seems you indeed slept well."
Huo Guining breathed a sigh of relief.
"Anything else?"
Huo Guining: ...
"Dad did my hair today, and it didn't hurt at all. I thought that was nice."
Xie Lingluo nodded, continuing to maintain a listening posture.
Huo Guining lowered her head in thought: "When I opened my eyes this morning and saw the first ray of light fall on me, I thought that was nice."
Her tone was slow, as if stating her thoughts.
"When Dad told me I could sleep peacefully, I thought that was nice."
"Just now when I interrupted his work, he didn't scold me but immediately focused on my needs. I thought that was nice."
As she spoke, Huo Guining raised her head.