Xi Chuan acted quickly.
Before long, Huo Ning's photos quickly disappeared from the internet.
In fact, Huo Xiaozheng had also been photographed, but due to the angle, his face was very blurry, and one could only tell it was a man.
However, when Huo Xiaozheng was photographed, he was standing very close to Huo Jing.
So, even though Xi Chuan ordered people to delete them, some netizens still retained the images and shared them privately.
Considering that these photos were few and not widely circulated, and Huo Xiaozheng himself didn't seem to care much, Xi Chuan didn't intervene further.
Upon hearing this news, Huo Jing breathed a sigh of relief. Now that Huo Xiaozheng valued his daughter so much, as long as Ning was alright, everything else could be managed.
She called Xu Fanzhen.
"How's it going? Have you found out who leaked the damaging information?"
"What? It was her? Never mind, just send a lawyer's letter. Hmm, I haven't been kept by anyone, I don't have a daughter..." Huo Jing rubbed her forehead: "What are you talking about? That's not true. Don't worry, go ahead and sue. We won't lose."
After hanging up the phone, Huo Jing looked at the varied expressions of those around her.
Huo Jing misunderstood, thinking everyone was concerned about her being slandered.
She smiled reassuringly: "It's okay, this kind of thing happens often in my line of work."
Old Master Huo frowned: "Jing, when you first chose this career, I..."
Huo Jing impatiently interrupted: "Stop, stop, stop. You've been saying this for years. I've told you this is my passion, you all..."
Old Master Huo's face darkened, his tone severe: "We don't object to your passion, but you shouldn't have involved Ning!"
Huo Jing was stunned.
"Since you've been in that circle for so long, you should know better how powerful rumors can be!"
Old Master Huo scolded mercilessly: "You're an adult, but Ning isn't. When you take Ning out, you should know what responsibilities you bear!"
Huo Jing, pampered since childhood, had never heard such harsh words from her parents.
She stammered: "I know, but I..."
Zheng Jinxiu, seeing her daughter being criticized, wanted to intervene.
But catching sight of Huo Ning's tense little face, she swallowed her words.
Huo Ning felt conflicted inside. She wanted to explain something but was stopped by Huo Yueze.
Huo Yueze whispered in her ear: "Sister, just stay by my side. Don't be afraid, they won't scold you."
A wave of warmth washed over Huo Ning's heart.
Huo Yueze was the first person in this world to make her feel unconditional love.
Holding Huo Yueze's hand, she obediently stood in the corner.
Old Master Huo stopped scolding and beckoned to Huo Ning.
Huo Ning nervously glanced at Huo Xiaozheng. Huo Xiaozheng walked over, took her hand, and stood beside Old Master Huo.
Old Master Huo was fuming, his son's behavior suggesting he might mistreat his own granddaughter.
But he had nothing to say. He couldn't turn back time to when he first met his granddaughter with a scowling face.
"Ning and Brother Yueze, would you like to play upstairs? A few days ago, Grandpa had a game room made for you."
Seeing Old Master Huo's intention to send her away, and Huo Xiaozheng not objecting, Huo Ning lowered her head, pondering for a moment.
"Grandpa, it's my fault. Please don't scold Aunt anymore."
Huo Ning had been thinking: the on-site staff seemed to have a good relationship with Huo Jing and didn't seem like malicious people.
If they didn't leak the photos, then who could it be?
After much thought, Huo Ning remembered the young man in the baseball cap.
The problem might have occurred on the way to the restroom when she encountered that young man.
She told everyone about her encounter with the young man.
After finishing, she pleaded: "Aunt had someone watching me, and she even got me snacks. We even took family photos, didn't you all see them?"
"So, Grandpa, please don't scold Aunt anymore, okay?"
This was the first time Huo Jing heard about this incident. She walked up to Huo Ning: "Why didn't you tell me about this that day?"
Her tone was somewhat aggressive.
Old Master Huo opened his mouth but held back for Huo Ning's sake.
Huo Xiaozheng looked impatient. He called Huo Yueze over and crouched down to speak to Huo Ning: "Why don't you and your brother go play upstairs? Dad will call you when it's time to leave, okay?"
Having said what needed to be said, Huo Ning nodded obediently.
Huo Yueze proudly took his sister's hand and headed upstairs.
As they passed the dining room, he directly picked up the plate of lobster and took it with them.
The adults present: ...
Huo Yueze: Well, sister loves to eat it.
Once the children left, Old Master Huo spoke without holding back.
"Look at yourself! How dare you snap at Ning? If you had been watching her properly, why would Ning go to the restroom unaccompanied, huh? You're 26, not 6!"
"Even at 5 years old, Ning is more responsible than you. As an aunt, do you always just blame others when things go wrong?"
Old Master Huo exuded natural authority: "All these years, your mother and I have let you roam free, thinking it would temper your character. It seems we've spoiled you instead."
Huo Jing's face fell. She took a deep breath: "First of all, I admit it was my oversight that this happened. I'll take responsibility for that mistake."
"Secondly, it's easier to guard against open attacks than hidden ones. I never imagined these people would stoop so low as to target a child."
Huo Xiaozheng suddenly spoke: "Huo Jing, if you don't like Ning, you don't have to pretend."
If the atmosphere was tense before, Huo Xiaozheng's words brought it to a freezing point.
Huo Jing angrily retorted: "Who says I don't like her?!"
Huo Xiaozheng ignored her anger: "Out of respect for you being my sister by blood, I'll leave you some face."
"I'll take this as a lesson for myself."
"From now on, just be yourself. You don't need to take on the role of an aunt anymore."
Huo Jing, clinging to a glimmer of hope, said: "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
Huo Yanqin frowned: "Xiaozheng, what do you mean by that? Although I feel bad for Ning suffering this undeserved disaster, isn't this going too far?"
Huo Xiaozheng glanced at Huo Jing's pale face: "A few days ago, Ning suddenly complained to Aunt Xu, saying she wished her eyes looked more like her dad's."
"To build Ning's confidence, I never deny her. Huo Jing, tell me, who gave her this misconception?"
Huo Jing's heart sank. She thought she had acted well enough, how could this happen?
"Don't use your professional skills on me. Although Ning is a daughter I found halfway through life, I owe her, not the other way around."
Huo Xiaozheng emphasized each word: "My daughter, I don't want her to live her life seeking anyone's approval, not even yours, Huo Jing."
With these words, even Huo Yanqin stopped trying to mediate.
Huo Jing stood frozen, wondering how her brother could know.
Huo Xiaozheng ignored her.
Feeling his phone suddenly vibrate in his pocket, he took it out and answered: "What is it?"
On the other end, Xi Chuan spoke urgently, saying something unknown.
Huo Xiaozheng's face darkened.
"He's asking for death."
