"This is for Grandpa and Grandma, this is for Eldest Uncle, Elder Brother, Aunt-inw, and Aunt..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining pulled out the gifts one by one, distributing them to everyone present.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Although they weren''t particrly expensive items, everyone who received a gift smiled with joy.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Thank you, Ning Ning! Aunt-inw loves it!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even Old Master Huo, who usually didn''t show his emotions, said, "That''s thoughtful of you."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining smiled shyly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
At such a young age, she was quite adept at winning people over.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A smile appeared in Huo Xiaozheng''s eyes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Master Huo asked, "Is thepany''s annual meeting over?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng: "Thepany''s annual meeting is tomorrow."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining asked, "Dad, are we going to the annual meeting too?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng: "Yes, we''ll go for a while. After the meeting ends, we''ll start our holiday."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining eximed excitedly, "I can sleep in!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng patted her head.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Watching the interaction between father and daughter, Old Master Huo felt deeply moved.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He had originally thought that his youngest son''s entanglement with the Qin family''s daughter would lead nowhere, and that he might not live to see Huo Xiaozheng''s child in his lifetime.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Unexpectedly, things had taken a turn for the better.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Master Huo asked again, "I heard you want to bid on thend in Yun City?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was after dinner, and everyone was sitting casually in the living room.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining was curled up next to Huo Yueze, watching him y a game.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Hearing Old Master Huo mention Yun City, Huo Guining couldn''t help but prick up her ears.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng: "Yes, I was nning to build a holiday resort there. It''s perfect since Ning Ning also likes Yun City very much."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Master Huo nodded approvingly, "Our ancestors are all in Yun City, it''s only natural that Ning Ning likes it there."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Jing secretly rolled her eyes, wondering who it was that had wanted to adopt Ning Ning into the eldest brother''s family.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Now, they couldn''t wait to include Ning Ning in the Huo family?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
However, Huo Jing didn''t dare to say this out loud.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Hearing their conversation drifting off topic, Huo Guining feigned curiosity and asked, "Dad, isn''t Jiang Suyuan also bidding for that piece ofnd?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Ning Ning''s words made all the adults pause.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng remainedposed: "If he wants to bid, he''ll have to see if he has what it takes."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Master Huo didn''t seem to approve: "Why are you going up against that Jiang boy again? Are you still not over that Qin girl?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng denied it: "It has nothing to do with Qin Zhiyi."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Old Master Huo clearly didn''t believe him: "Then why are you specifically targeting him? Does that piece ofnd in Yun City have highmercial value?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng thought for a moment and said, "Thatnd doesn''t have muchmercial value, but it has beautiful scenery and fresh air."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"I originally nned to buy it and turn it into a holiday resort, so I could take Ning Ning there for recuperation when we have time."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining: !<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Was Huo Xiaozheng really this thoughtful?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Hearing this, Old Master Huo seemed to understand: "The mountains and waters of Yun City are indeed suitable for recuperation."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yanqin asked, "If it doesn''t have muchmercial value, what does the Jiang family want thatnd for?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng said calmly, "Probably for Qin Zhiyi."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yanqin: ...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining''s heart skipped a beat. Was he going to sh with the male and female protagonists again?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She raised her hand and said weakly, "Dad, actually, I prefer South City to Yun City."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng: "What do you mean?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing everyone looking at her, Huo Guining felt like backing down.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But remembering that she and Huo Xiaozheng shared the same fate, Huo Guining pressed on, "I mean, I don''t want a holiday resort. I want to be together with everyone."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her words were like a warm current, flowing into everyone''s hearts.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
A hint of a smile appeared in Huo Xiaozheng''s eyes: "Alright, Dad understands."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Surprised that Huo Xiaozheng was so easily persuaded, Huo Guining breathed a sigh of relief.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yueze snapped back to reality from his game and called out to Huo Guining, "Ning Ning, I died. It''s your turn."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining replied cheerfully, "I''ming~"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Thepany''s annual meeting was scheduled for 6 PM.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
During the day, Huo Xiaozheng took Huo Guining to thepany, where Huo Yueze apanied her to y tennis at thepany''s tennis court.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After exercising, Huo Guining had her art teacher revise the paintings she had drawn in Yun City.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yueze sat on the sofa in the studio, waiting for Ning Ning to finish her lesson.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The studio was converted from an office, and itsyout wasrgely simr to that of the Panlong Bay vi.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
To amodate Ning Ning''s height, the supplies and furniture in the studio were all lowered to Ning Ning''s standards.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"This assignment is very good, quite different from your usual style," the art teacher praised.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining smiled, "The scenery in Yun City is beautiful, so I couldn''t help but paint it."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The art teacher was a woman with long ck hair reaching her waist, named Wei Qingyang.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She was about 30 years old, spoke gently, and had her own logic when teaching.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Wei Qingyang asked, "Your grasp of bright colors is obviously not as good as dark tones. Do you prefer paintings with darker color schemes?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She had seen Huo Guining''s previous works, which had a depressing atmosphere and very somber colors. Although they didn''t inspire joy, the power of rebirth from despair was very captivating.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining couldn''t say whether she liked it or not, but she replied, "Many of the dark-toned paintingse from my dreams or fantasies."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Listening to Ning Ning''s words, Huo Yueze felt a twinge of sadness in his heart.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After taking on this job, Wei Qingyang had also learned about Huo Guining''s background.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Hearing her say this, Wei Qingyang wasn''t surprised.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She nodded, "Beauty doesn''t have just one standard. Whether it''s bright, dark, shining, or bloody, as long as it has content, it''s beautiful."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining strongly agreed with her theory.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Wei Qingyang continued, "Painting habits also change with the artist''s state of mind."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"You don''t need to worry about your painting style being too gloomy. As your skills improve day by day, the brush will just be a medium for you tomunicate with the world."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining smiled, "I''m not worried."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
What''s so bad about being gloomy? If you can solve it, solve it. If you can''t solve it, tear it apart.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Through the reflection in the window, Huo Yueze saw a hint of determination in Ning Ning''s expression.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It disappeared in an instant.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yueze rubbed his eyes, and when he looked again, Huo Guining was listening attentively to the lesson. The previous scene seemed like just his imagination.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The setting sun''s glow shone through therge floor-to-ceiling windows, leaving a pool of orange light on the floor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The clock slowly ticked towards six o''clock.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng knocked on the studio door and took Huo Guining and Huo Yueze away.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Elder Brother, have you ever been to an annual meeting?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was Huo Guining''s first time attending an annual meeting, so she was naturally curious.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In previous years, Huo Yueze had never attended thepany''s annual meetings out of respect for his uncle''s authority.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But with Ning Ning asking like this, wouldn''t it be embarrassing to say he had never attended?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He vaguely hummed an affirmative, "Annual meetings are very boring."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining seemed a bit disappointed, "Ah... I thought it would be interesting."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng nced at his nephew, then bent down to pick up Ning Ning, "The annual meeting has a lucky draw. I heard there''s a mystery grand prize this year. You can participate too."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining''s eyes lit up.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0