Huo Xiaozheng didn't answer hastily, but said, "That depends on whether stopping this is worth it to me."
Huo Guining pursed her lips. Was it worth it?
Preventing Huo Xiaozheng's death would be all benefit and no harm to her.
But what troubled her was that she had little influence and lacked the intelligence and ability to accomplish this task.
"It's definitely worth it, but..."
Huo Xiaozheng: "But you're afraid you can't do it?"
Huo Guining suddenly looked up, her eyes full of disbelief: "Dad, you..."
A flash of understanding crossed Huo Xiaozheng's eyes as he explained, "When I was still a child, facing such choices, I also hesitated and felt afraid."
Huo Guining couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. She asked curiously, "So what did you do?"
"It's simple. I asked for help."
Huo Guining tilted her head: "Eh?"
"At that time, I didn't have the ability to stop others, so I borrowed grandfather's hand to do it," Huo Xiaozheng said with a reminiscent and somewhat proud expression.
Huo Guining was a bit surprised.
She hadn't expected Huo Xiaozheng to be like this.
By saying this, he was clearly showing that he knew she was hiding something and wanted to give her a reason to seek his help.
Huo Guining looked up at him, her gaze passing over his collar.
Her expression paused.
After a while, she mustered up her courage, as if making some kind of decision: "I hope you won't have any more interactions with Jiang Suyuan and Qin Zhiyi."
She added after a pause: "But I also don't want you to do anything illegal."
Huo Xiaozheng's expression cleared up.
He smiled.
Unlike the smile on the rooftop terrace, this time, he smiled wholeheartedly.
"Dad promises you," Huo Xiaozheng said firmly. "And those two, even the entire family, will never appear in our world again."
Huo Guining asked timidly: "Dad, aren't you going to ask me why?"
Huo Xiaozheng stroked her hair: "If you don't want Dad to ask, then Dad will never ask."
Huo Guining's eyes widened in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe this matter was resolved so easily.
Huo Xiaozheng chuckled: "What? Don't you trust me?"
Huo Guining shook her head, murmuring, "I trust you."
Huo Xiaozheng said firmly: "If you trust me, then you don't need to worry anymore. Dad will make sure you get what you want."
"Dad, I'm hungry."
Perhaps finally relieved of her burden, Huo Guining felt a sudden emptiness in her stomach.
Huo Xiaozheng was taken aback: "Your brother already took the porridge back."
Huo Guining: ...
Huo Xiaozheng took out his phone to call Xi Chuan.
The sound of the door opening came from the entrance.
"Ningning."
Huo Xiaozheng was a bit surprised: "Sister-in-law? Why are you here?"
Zuo Qinfang was carrying a large food box, looking at Ningning with eyes that seemed to be brimming with tears: "I heard Ningning woke up, so I came to see her."
Huo Xiaozheng stood up and took the package from Zuo Qinfang's hands.
Zuo Qinfang couldn't help but sit down on the bed and embrace Ningning.
"You've suffered, my child."
Her tone was choked with emotion as she stroked Ningning's hair with one hand and patted her back with the other.
Huo Guining smiled and hugged Zuo Qinfang back: "Auntie, I'm fine now. Everything will be good from now on."
At this, Zuo Qinfang released her somewhat angrily and said seriously: "You! Even if you want to protect your father, you should consider your own health first!"
Huo Guining grinned sheepishly, coaxing: "I know I was wrong, Auntie. Don't be angry with me~"
Zuo Qinfang couldn't maintain her serious expression and couldn't help but smile: "You just know how to make me happy!"
A fragrant aroma filled the air, and Huo Guining took a deep breath: "Wow, it smells so good."
Zuo Qinfang suddenly remembered the food box she brought: "Aze urged me to hurry, so I quickly made some pigeon soup. Try it..."
As she spoke, she lifted the lid.
The sun had completely set behind the mountains, the last rays of twilight swallowed by darkness.
The warm yellow lights came on, and the hospital room was filled with the fresh scent of herbs and pigeon.
Huo Guining took the first sip, closing her eyes in satisfaction.
"Dad, the pigeon soup is so delicious. You should have some too," she called out.
Huo Xiaozheng approached with a smile on his lips: "Drink slowly..."
Zuo Qinfang made room by the hospital bed, watching the father and daughter with contentment.
...
Huo Guining was discharged from the hospital not long after.
Huo Xiaozheng resumed his psychological counseling and treatment as before.
Xie Lingluo continued to do her best to guide her, offering suggestions beneficial to her physical and mental health.
But Huo Guining felt that something was quietly changing.
After Huo Xiaozheng's return, the Huo family patriarch once again retreated behind the scenes.
On Huo Guining's first visit back to the old mansion after her illness, the Huo family tacitly avoided mentioning her injuries.
During the family dinner, the Huo patriarch praised Huo Guining's protective behavior in front of everyone.
But like Zuo Qinfang, he reprimanded her for treating her own health carelessly.
During this time, Huo Jing came back to see her once.
She brought back the photos they had taken together before.
Among them was a solo photo of Huo Guining, which Huo Jing had framed.
Huo Xiaozheng had it hung in the bedroom.
Huo Xiaozheng returned to his previous state of being unapproachable and serious.
However, he was even busier than before.
The Huo family dinners became more frequent, and the Huo patriarch, Huo Yanqin, and Huo Xiaozheng often stayed in the study until late at night.
Huo Guining's stays at the old mansion also became more frequent than usual.
Because of this, she also learned how skilled Zheng Jinxiu was at making soups.
Whenever she was at the Huo Mansion, she would unfailingly have a bowl of soup every day.
She had tried almost every kind of medicinal cuisine made from various Chinese herbs, designed to boost energy, nourish blood, soothe the liver, and relieve depression.
Towards the end, she felt nauseous at the sight of medicinal food and tried to get her father to secretly dispose of it for her.
Not only that, but every week, Huo Xiaozheng would accompany her swimming and playing tennis.
When Huo Xiaozheng was busy, Huo Yueze and Huo Jing would accompany her instead.
"Auntie, are you on vacation recently?" After a game of tennis, Huo Guining was panting heavily.
Huo Jing took a big gulp of water, clearly exhausted as well: "No, I'm not."
Huo Guining probed: "Auntie, are you... perhaps past your prime?"
Huo Jing tightly gripped her water bottle, forcing a smile: "You should be well-rested now, right? Come on, let's continue..."
Huo Guining: ...
That day, Huo Guining was so tired she could barely lift her fingers.
Huo Yanqin, however, gave Huo Jing a thumbs up.
"Usually, you can't bear to tire her out. Most days she barely breaks a sweat. Why did you suddenly have the heart to be tough today?"
Huo Jing smiled mysteriously: "Guess."
Huo Guining didn't have the energy to play their guessing game.
Before it was even time for dinner, she was so hungry that she grabbed the medicinal soup and gulped it down.
Even Huo Xiaozheng looked at Huo Jing with newfound respect: "How did you manage that?"
Huo Yanqin glanced at Ningning and shook his head with a smile: "This is a little secret between aunt and niece. As a father, you shouldn't pry into your child's privacy."
Huo Guining thought: What secret? A girl's anger, only those who provoke it will understand.
