It didn't take long for the production team to get their answer.
The sliding door of the dressing room opened, and Ningning emerged wearing a purple striped shirt layered under a navy blue pleated school-style dress, with gray tights on her feet—the perfect image of a wealthy young lady.
She skipped over to Huo Xiaozheng, twirled in front of him, and asked with a bright smile if she looked good.
Without hesitation, Huo Xiaozheng gave an affirmative answer: "Of course, you look the most beautiful."
Ningning was very pleased with this response.
She promptly sat down at the dressing table, her legs swinging in the air, and tilted her head to make a request of Huo Xiaozheng: "Daddy, I want two braids today, low ones."
Huo Xiaozheng happily obliged.
This scene was unexpected for the production team.
After all, according to previous news reports, Huo Xiaozheng's daughter was supposed to have a rather gloomy image.
As for Huo Xiaozheng himself, both before and after the production team's encounter with him, he had been perceived as someone difficult to approach.
But now, the supposedly gloomy little girl wasn't gloomy at all; her smile was sweet enough to melt hearts.
Huo Xiaozheng, on the other hand, was consistent with public perception, except when it came to his daughter. With her, he seemed like a completely different person.
"All done!"
Huo Xiaozheng's voice snapped everyone back to reality.
Ningning looked at herself in the mirror. Two neat fishtail braids rested on her shoulders, with slightly curled ends.
Huo Xiaozheng had used a curling iron to give a slight curve to her princess-cut bangs, which framed her face sweetly on both sides, making Ningning look even more adorable.
She flashed a satisfied smile: "I absolutely love this hairstyle, Daddy. You're amazing!"
The corners of Huo Xiaozheng's mouth turned up slightly: "Let's go. We should head out after breakfast."
The production team, as if waking from a dream, followed the pair downstairs.
Breakfast went surprisingly smoothly. Unlike many children who are picky eaters, Ningning ate almost everything she was given, praising each dish.
This made Aunt Xu's weathered face bloom into a bright smile.
If it weren't for Huo Xiaozheng stopping her, Ningning would have cleaned her plate entirely.
The butler loaded their luggage into the van and saw them off.
In the car, the production team interviewed Ningning: "What's your name? How old are you?"
Faced with the camera and interview, Huo Guining lost her earlier casualness.
She answered seriously: "My name is Huo Guining, and I'm 6 years old."
"Is this Ningning's first trip with her dad?"
Huo Guining shook her head, her expression somewhat solemn: "No, it's not."
The production team waited a moment, realizing she didn't intend to elaborate, so they had to probe further: "When was your last trip, then?"
Huo Guining thought for a moment, giving a precise answer: "January 28th."
The production team, having waited in vain for more details, felt a bit helpless.
"Are you happy to be traveling with your dad?"
Huo Guining answered without hesitation: "Yes, I'm happy!"
"Why is that?"
Huo Guining looked confused: "Because I'm traveling with Daddy, so of course I'm happy."
The production team: OK, this interview career might be coming to an end here.
A glimmer of amusement flashed in Huo Xiaozheng's eyes as he considerately came to the production team's rescue: "I think the uncle wants you to talk about what specific things during the trip make you feel happy."
Facing Huo Xiaozheng, Huo Guining visibly relaxed.
She counted on her fingers for Huo Xiaozheng: "Accompanying Daddy to meetings, eating delicious food with Daddy, seeing different scenery—all of these things make me very happy."
The production team interjected: "Does your dad still have meetings when he takes you on trips?"
Huo Guining's expression was peculiar, her words tinged with a 'how can you not know this if you're interviewing' disbelief.
Her red lips parted: "My daddy has to support many people. CEOs are very busy."
Huo Xiaozheng chuckled: "Ningning, it's not polite to speak like that."
Huo Guining obediently apologized, but mumbled under her breath: I was just telling the truth...
Huo Xiaozheng patted her head, revealing a helpless smile.
By the time they reached the high-speed rail station, the humiliated production team refused to speak further.
Huo Guining carried her small bag, sitting on top of her suitcase, allowing Huo Xiaozheng to push her along.
"Daddy, didn't Aunt say there would be other guests? Where are they?"
Huo Xiaozheng, tall and striking in his black trench coat, walked through the crowd. His outstanding appearance caused passersby to frequently glance sideways, secretly wondering if he was some celebrity.
Hearing Ningning's question, he looked towards the accompanying producer: "Everyone is gathering in North City."
Huo Guining nodded. That's right, this reality show existed in her previous life too.
This was indeed the procedure.
Realizing she had asked a redundant question, Huo Guining looked around.
The place was bustling with a large flow of people. Everyone around was hurrying about their business.
People carried luggage of various sizes and weights.
Some were setting out on journeys, others returning home. They squeezed into the iron can like sardines, then flowed out into the vast sea of humanity.
"Daddy, why do people have to separate? I don't like separation."
Huo Guining mused, feeling emotional.
Huo Xiaozheng stopped, picked her up with one arm, and patted her back: "We won't separate. Daddy will always be with you."
Huo Guining leaned on his shoulder, her expression showing a dependence she herself hadn't noticed.
Maintaining this posture, Huo Xiaozheng pushed their two suitcases with one hand as he continued towards the waiting hall.
After boarding, Ningning promptly fell asleep in her seat, dead to the world.
Worried she might catch cold, Huo Xiaozheng asked a flight attendant for a blanket and tucked her in snugly.
Taking advantage of this interval, the production team's desire to interview stirred again.
"Mr. Huo, from what we understand, Ningning only returned to your side when she was 5 years old, is that correct?"
Although they asked this, the production team had already agreed with Huo Xiaozheng's side from the beginning.
He could choose which of the production team's questions to answer.
Huo Xiaozheng sat upright, his long legs crossed, hands resting on the armrests, revealing an expensive watch at his wrist.
Every word and action exuded an air of nobility.
He answered candidly: "Yes, that's right."
Seeing the interview was going somewhere, the production team continued: "Have you thought about how to make up for those 5 years of absence?"
Huo Xiaozheng glanced at Ningning, his thoughts seeming to drift: "I haven't thought about it."
"Why not?"
What's past is past. If even he were to dwell on the past, how could Ningning move forward?
"The past isn't important," Huo Xiaozheng replied concisely.
A typical Huo-style answer.
The production team, having been rebuffed time and again, chose to stop self-flagellating. They didn't bring up any more topics until they got off the train.
Ningning slept like the dead, and Huo Xiaozheng didn't intend to wake her. He dutifully carried her to the gathering point.
Seeing that everyone else had arrived, he finally woke her up unhurriedly.
For this episode, besides Huo Xiaozheng and Huo Guining, there were four other guest families.
Among them were two actor families, one singer family, and one athlete family.
Clearly, Huo Xiaozheng held the highest status among them.
After Huo Xiaozheng got off the car, each family took the initiative to greet him.
Huo Xiaozheng exchanged pleasantries with them, neither warm nor cold.
Huo Guining was still a bit groggy, hugging Huo Xiaozheng's leg obediently as she greeted everyone in turn.
"Dad, is she the sister who sent Mom to prison?" a child's voice suddenly piped up.
