The Huo family rule: no talking while eating or sleeping.


    Huo Xiaozheng put down his chopsticks and wiped his mouth with a napkin.


    "I''m sorry, does your leg still hurt?" he asked.


    Huo Ning shook her head, her cheeks still full: "It doesn''t hurt anymore."


    She swallowed the shrimp dumpling in her mouth and looked eagerly at Huo Xiaozheng: "Daddy, did you like thatdy we just met?"


    "I used to like her very much," Huo Xiaozheng''s eyes held a hint of nostalgia.


    Huo Ning tilted her head, pretending not to understand: "Used to? What about now?"


    Huo Xiaozheng''s thoughts seemed to drift back to his teenage years.


    Back then, Huo Xiaozheng was not only busy with his studies but also had to take overpany affairs. His life revolved around three points: home, school, and work. The joys his peers experienced seemed to be behind a ss wall - visible, but out of reach.


    Qin Zhiyi was the one who shattered that ss.


    Although he and Qin Zhiyi had known each other since childhood, their rtionship was limited to mere acquaintance. In her teenage years, Qin Zhiyi approached him with a smile as sweet as gardenias, bringing him the joys of youth he had been missing.


    On a rainy day, they shared an umbre. The fresh scent of rain-kissed gardenias surrounded them, and her radiant smile gently touched his heart.


    From that moment on, affection grew like a vine, entwining his heart.


    He arrogantly believed he could keep this gardenia flower for himself.


    However, when Qin Zhiyi returned from studying abroad, his confidence was shattered.


    She was arm in arm with Jiang Suyuan, her smile as bright as it had been on that rainy day.


    Huo Xiaozheng didn''t want to give Huo Ning a perfunctory answer, but he also couldn''t bring himself to say definitively that he no longer cared about Qin Zhiyi.


    After all, if he truly didn''t care about her, why would he havee to meet her today, knowing full well she had invited him for Jiang Suyuan''s sake? It was a form of self-torture.


    His silence gave Huo Ning the answer she sought.


    Huo Ning took a sip of lemon tea, her eyes narrowing in satisfaction.


    "But thatdy is getting married, Daddy. Do you still have a chance?" Huo Ning asked.


    One couldn''t me Huo Ning for probing her father''s heart. In the original story, even after Qin Zhiyi got married, he still didn''t give up on trying to sabotage their rtionship.


    Although on the surface he was attacking Jiang Corporation, everyone knew his true intentions were focused on Qin Zhiyi.


    Huo Xiaozheng was taken aback.


    Qin Zhiyi was getting married.


    These simple words,ing from his daughter''s mouth, somehow seemed absurd.


    Huo Xiaozheng suddenly gained rity: "I don''t have a chance anymore, but I don''t need that chance either."


    His rare smile dazzled Huo Ning.


    "Wow, so handsome!" she blurted out.


    Oops, she identally said her thoughts out loud.


    Huo Ning covered her mouth and peeked at Huo Xiaozheng.


    Huo Xiaozheng raised an eyebrow: "Why do you look scared afterplimenting me?"


    Huo Ning smiled sweetly: "I''m not scared, Daddy, you really are handsome!"


    Huo Xiaozheng patted her head, his eyes soft with affection.


    After the meal, as expected, Huo Ning sumbed to her fooda. She hadn''t been in the car long before she fell asleep, slumped against Huo Xiaozheng.


    Messages kept popping up in the family group chat. Huo Xiaozheng casually scrolled through them, his gaze stopping on an image of Huo Ning nted headfirst in the snow.


    The video also captured a briefugh.


    Huo Xiaozheng''s face darkened.


    At Panlong Bay Vi, Huo Yueze, who was happily enjoying his game, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.


    Upon arriving home, Huo Ning was awakened by the sweet aroma of red bean soup. Her drowsiness instantly vanished.


    "I have work this afternoon. You can find Yueze..." Thinking of Huo Yueze, Huo Xiaozheng changed the subject: "Have you decorated the snowman that Brother Yueze built for you?"


    "Not yet! Do you want to see it, Daddy? I can have it decorated before dinner!" Huo Ning looked eager to start.


    Huo Xiaozheng smiled gently: "Did you have fun with Brother Yueze today?"


    "Yes, I did." Thinking of the snowmen in the garden, Huo Ning could hardly wait to start decorating. She didn''t pay much attention to what Huo Xiaozheng was saying.


    "Then remember to show Brother Yueze your snowman before he leaves tonight. Give him a surprise. I''m sure Brother Yueze will love your decorated snowman as much as I do."


    When they had passed by the garden earlier, Huo Xiaozheng had already seen those bizarrely posed snowmen.


    No doubt, once decorated by Huo Ning''s hands, they would be even more outrageous than before.


    Huo Ning didn''t notice his expression. She was thrilled that Huo Xiaozheng liked her snowmen and agreed enthusiastically: "I''ll definitely give Brother Yueze a surprise!"


    Huo Xiaozheng adjusted her slightly loose scarf and patted her head: "Off you go, then."


    Huo Ning set off with her tools, brimming with enthusiasm.


    Huo Xiaozheng went upstairs and knocked on Huo Yueze''s door.


    "Yueze, can you help me test a mobile game thepany is developing?"


    Having just received a coveted gift from his uncle, Huo Yueze couldn''t refuse. Besides, mobile games were one of his hobbies.


    "Sure thing!"


    "Enjoy it, and let me know your thoughts on the game experience before dinner."


    Huo Yueze confidently replied: "Alright! Don''t worry, Uncle!"


    Huo Xiaozheng nodded in satisfaction, closed the door, and left.


    The two children, one big and one small, worked diligently on their respective tasks until dinnertime.


    At the dinner table, Huo Ning secretly nced at Huo Yueze, then gave Huo Xiaozheng a look that said ''don''t worry''.


    Huo Xiaozheng''s lips curved into a slight smile as he ced a plum-vored spare rib on her te: "Focus on your food."


    Huo Yueze''s gaze was somewhat unfocused. After ying the mobile game all afternoon and being fully immersed in the storyline, he was still a bit dazed when the housekeeper knocked on his door to call him for dinner.


    After dinner, Huo Yueze was eager to go home and write up the game test report for Huo Xiaozheng.


    "Uncle, I''ll send you the test reportter tonight."


    "Good," Huo Xiaozheng said, then gave Huo Ning a meaningful look.


    Huo Ning immediately understood. She stepped forward and obediently took Huo Yueze''s hand, saying, "Brother Yueze, let me walk you to the door."


    Huo Yueze was deeply touched. What an angel of a little sister, so well-behaved!


    "Alright! Thank you, Ning Ning. Will youe y at my house next time?"


    Huo Ning was eager to show off her work, so at this moment, she would agree to anything Huo Yueze said.


    Although Huo Yueze didn''t understand why she was so keen on seeing him out, he quickly got dressed and allowed Huo Ning to lead him out the door.


    In winter, night falls early.


    The garden seemed even more serene in the snowy night. Under the dim yellow streetlights, even the slightest movement could be startling.


    Huo Yueze''s mind suddenly shed back to a scene from the mobile game "Soul Chaser": In a gloomy castle, the once bright streetlights gradually dimmed. A cold wind blew, the shadows of nearby trees swayed, and a figure slowly emerged - a tall man covered in blood, surrounded by scattered limbs...


    "Ah!!!"


    The sudden appearance of a blood-red humanoid snowman in front of him made Huo Yueze scream out loud.


    Huo Ning stood next to the "snowman", tilting her head in confusion.


    "Brother Yueze, don''t you like my snowman?"