After leaving the dental department, Huo Ning felt reborn and quickly escaped the place she dreaded.
She even used her Genius Kid smartwatch to send a message to Huo Xiaozheng, hoping to be discharged from the hospital that evening.
Huo Ning was just caught up in the moment, but unexpectedly, around six o'clock, Huo Xiaozheng actually arranged for her discharge and took her straight home.
Even as they got into the car, Huo Ning was somewhat dazed.
"Are we being discharged already?"
Huo Xiaozheng secured her seatbelt and hummed softly in affirmation.
"It's no big deal, if you don't want to stay in the hospital, we'll go home."
Huo Ning was overjoyed; going home was certainly the best option. She hadn't been in the novel's world long, yet she found herself running to the hospital every other day, as if returning to a nest, which was truly annoying.
"Tonight is my uncle's birthday, we're going back to the Huo Family estate for dinner, is that okay?" Huo Xiaozheng asked for Huo Ning's opinion.
Huo Ning paused for a second.
"Can I go?"
Although the original novel successfully portrayed Huo Xiaozheng as a villain, it didn't describe the Huo Family in much detail.
Based on Huo Ning's understanding of wealthy families, being an 'illegitimate daughter' with a mother who couldn't be publicly acknowledged, the older generation of the Huo Family probably wouldn't like her, right?
"If you don't want to go, then we won't," Huo Xiaozheng said casually.
"Ah, you wouldn't go either?" Huo Ning was somewhat surprised.
"If you don't go, then we'll just go home."
Again, that phrase.
Huo Ning felt something was odd, but couldn't quite put her finger on it at the moment.
"Are you worried they won't like you?" Huo Xiaozheng, being a father, observed her for a moment and quickly grasped what was on Huo Ning's mind.
Huo Ning nodded.
Huo Xiaozheng smiled, pulled out his phone, scrolled to the family group chat, and showed her a video Huo Yueze had posted of her slipping in the snow, handing the phone to her.
"This is your uncle, your aunt, and those below are your aunts."
Huo Ning scrolled down.
In the chat, everyone was praising how cute she was and scolding Huo Yueze for not taking good care of his sister.
Some cute emojis made Huo Ning laugh.
"Your aunt is so beautiful," Huo Ning clicked on her aunt's profile picture, a stunning beauty with big wavy hair and fiery red lips, her eyes and brows somewhat resembling Huo Xiaozheng's, her gaze cool and clear.
Huo Xiaozheng hesitated: "She's an actress."
Huo Ning gasped in surprise.
"She would definitely like you if she met you."
"Why?"
Huo Xiaozheng, recalling Huo Jing's peculiar preferences, answered evasively.
"Because you're cute and pretty."
The straightforward compliment made Huo Ning blush.
She shyly hid in her thick scarf, and after a while, she peeked out with big eyes: "Should I bring a gift for my uncle?"
Huo Xiaozheng, feeling guilty about the dental issue, was naturally eager: "Dad has already prepared it, you can present it when the time comes, okay?"
Huo Ning beamed: "Okay!"
The car started and headed towards the Huo Family estate.
In her previous life, Huo Ning lacked experience interacting with the older generation. Her mother was already quite old when she had her.
By the time she grew up, her mother had been diagnosed with cancer early on.
To avoid upsetting the older generation, Huo Ning's parents had kept a secret from them.
This had become one of Huo Ning's regrets.
"Ning Ning?"
Huo Xiaozheng's voice interrupted her reverie.
"We're here, let's get out of the car."
Following Huo Xiaozheng out of the car, she was greeted by a traditional Chinese courtyard, complete with a bamboo garden. They walked along the garden path towards a rockery, the gentle sound of trickling water adding to the tranquility.
As they opened the dark red door, a burst of laughter and cheerful voices greeted them.
It seems the family atmosphere is quite pleasant, Huo Ning thought.
"Is Xiaozheng back?"
An elderly woman's voice, filled with surprise, called out.
With that call, the laughter in the living room paused abruptly, falling silent.
Huo Xiaozheng, accustomed to this, nodded in acknowledgment.
"Is this Ning Ning?" a grandmother in a deep blue cheongsam asked gently.
Huo Xiaozheng introduced her, "This is Grandma."
Huo Ning clasped her hands in front of her, politely greeting, "Hello, Grandma."
Zheng Jinxiu's smile deepened, "Ah, good girl, come in..."
The atmosphere immediately livened up again.
"So this is Ning Ning, she's grown up so beautifully, let your great aunt have a look."
"Those eyebrows and eyes, you look just like Xiaozheng."
"My, how old is Ning Ning now? Are you in kindergarten?"
Surrounded by a crowd of relatives, Huo Ning, unaccustomed to such a scene, was momentarily bewildered.
"I'm Ning Ning, full name Huo Ning, I'm 5 years old. I've been to kindergarten but am not currently attending school," she replied clearly.
Her candid demeanor endeared her to all the adults present.
One who claimed to be the great aunt couldn't help herself and scooped Huo Ning up.
"Our Ning Ning is so smart, even using the word 'recently'! Great aunt has a reward for you!"
Saying so, she looked around and spotted Huo Yueze: "Yueze, go get the little gift box from mom's bag!"
Huo Yueze, finally finding an opportunity to speak, quickly stepped forward, rescuing the nervous Huo Ning.
"Mom, it's Ning Ning's first time home, don't scare her!"
As he spoke, he took Huo Ning into his arms.
Although the previous snowman incident had scared Huo Yueze quite a bit, seeing Huo Ning's adorable appearance now, he immediately forgot all about his fear.
Just as he was about to embrace his long-awaited little sister, a pair of large hands suddenly appeared and snatched her away.
"Ah!" Huo Yueze, reluctant to let go, was about to throw a tantrum when he saw who it was and calmed down: "Uncle..."
Huo Xiaozheng, who had just taken off his coat and washed his hands, hadn't noticed Huo Ning being surrounded.
He touched Huo Ning's slightly pale face, "Were you scared?"
Huo Ning had recovered by then and smiled sweetly, "No! Great aunt said she has a little gift for me."
Huo Xiaozheng's smile was fleeting, "Before that, let's give your gift to great uncle first."
"Alright!" Huo Xiaozheng put her down, and Huo Ning ran to the pile of gifts that Uncle Zhou had brought over, rummaging through them.
Holding a gift box, Huo Ning, under the guidance of Huo Xiaozheng, presented it to her great-uncle.
"Happy birthday Great Uncle, may you have such a day every year, and such a morning every day!" Huo Ning recited a blessing she had found online flawlessly.
Huo Yanqin, a man of high standing, customarily wore a stern face imbued with authority. But upon hearing the sweetness of the little girl's words, he deliberately softened his expression, pulling out a gentle smile, "Ah, thank you, Ning Ning!"
He accepted Huo Ning's gift and, under her hopeful gaze, unwrapped it.
It was a deep blue wristwatch from brand P.
"Huo Ning personally picked this out for you," Huo Xiaozheng reminded.
The statement was no lie. Upon learning that she wanted to give her great-uncle a gift, Huo Xiaozheng had immediately produced an iPad for her to choose from, and the chosen gift was then delivered by the brand.
Huo Yanqin's smile deepened.
"Cough!"
A deep voice accompanied by the sound of a cane echoed.
“Xiaozheng, come to the study,” came the voice of Old Master Huo.
Dressed in a dark robe, leaning on a dark brown cane, sitting in the main position of the living room, he broke the harmonious and lively atmosphere.
Huo Xiaozheng gathered his expression and patted Huo Ning's head in a soothing manner.
As Huo Yueze stepped out with the gift, Great Aunt spotted it and took Huo Ning's hand, softly suggested, "Ning Ning, would you like to open gifts with Great Aunt?”
Old Master Huo's aura somewhat intimidated Huo Ning. Now that Great Aunt was diffusing the situation, Huo Ning naturally agreed obediently.
She met Old Master Huo's gaze, revealed under the passage of time, his eyes were as tranquil as Huo Xiaozheng's when they first met.
Huo Ning felt a hint of apprehension.
