Huo Yueze''s question seemed to fall into a void, with no response.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Jing''s pupils contracted. "Shen Shiyan, what do you mean by not saying anything?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shen Shiyan shook his head helplessly. "Jingjing, I can''t answer that question."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Jing turned to look at Xie Lingluo, her gaze sharp and intimidating.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But it was useless.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Jing''s heart suddenly sank.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After Xie Lingluo left, Huo Yueze curled up in Shen Shiyan''s office, his face buried in a pillow, shoulders shaking.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Jing patted his back. "Why are you crying? Are you mourning? Ningning is still alive. As a man, are you not as strong as Ningning?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yueze suddenly raised his head, shouting through his tears, "If Ningning had been with our family since birth, how could this have happened to her!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"And you, Aunt, you were so fake towards Ningning at first. If you had loved her even a little more, she wouldn''t be in aa now."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"And Grandpa, Grandpa wasn''t good to Ningning either!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Only I... waaah... but I couldn''t protect my sister either... waaah..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"The Huo family didn''t protect her either, and she was kidnapped. Who knows if she was traumatized and just didn''t tell us."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"She could only cope on her own... waaah... adults are so terrible... waaah..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing him bing more and more outrageous, Huo Jing suppressed her difort and gave him a p on the back of his head.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Stop crying! Instead of wailing here, why don''t you go talk to your sister!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This reminded Huo Yueze. He immediately stopped crying and hastily wiped his face.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Aunt, you''re right. I should talk to Ningning more. This way, she won''t want to leave me!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
With that, he rushed out of the office.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shen Shiyan couldn''t help but give Huo Jing a thumbs up. "As expected of you. Aze''s crying almost... blew... off... my... skull..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Before he could finish, he saw the usually elegant and aloof Huo Jing''s eyes turn red, tears welling up in her almond-shaped eyes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Cursing while crying, she said, "Damn it, Aze''s usations were spot on."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shen Shiyan: ... He couldn''t tell if she neededfort or not.<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
During this time, the Huo family members took turns looking after Huo Guining.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng simply moved into the hospital room.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
In just a week, Huo Xiaozheng seemed to have aged several years.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Stubble had grown on his chin, but Huo Xiaozheng paid no attention to it.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Following the doctor''s instructions, he turned Ningning over and wiped her back every day.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shen Shiyan suggested he leave this task to the nurses, but Huo Xiaozheng ignored him, stubbornly insisting on doing it himself.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
It was as if doing this could slightly alleviate his guilt.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Xie Lingluo intermittently conducted two more hypnosis sessions.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But perhaps due to the near-exposure the first time, Huo Guining''s vignce had clearly increased.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Even in her dreams, she no longer spoke freely.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining remained in this neither-good-nor-bad state, day after day.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
As soon as sses ended, Huo Yueze would rush to the hospital, chattering endlessly.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He talked about the little past he shared with Ningning, and his experiences at school.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
asionally, when Huo Xiaozheng wasn''t around, he would talk about Huo Xiaozheng''s daily life.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Ningning, can you feel it?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Uncle is by your side every day."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"But he''s lost a lot of weight. I''ve never seen Uncle look so haggard."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"You should wake up soon, okay? You wouldn''t want to see Uncle remain so depressed, would you?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When Huo Yueze talked to Ningning, her heart rate would asionally show brief fluctuations.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shen Shiyan strongly encouraged Huo Yueze''s behavior.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining naturally noticed that something was off.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The girl in the white dress appeared less and less frequently, while the time she spent in darkness grew longer.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
When the girl in the white dress did appear, her words carried a hint of probing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Having learned from the previous lesson, Huo Guining dared not answer easily.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If it weren''t for asionally hearing Huo Yueze''s voice, she would have lost all sense of time passing.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Listening to Huo Yueze''s chatter, Huo Guining felt increasingly anxious.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn''t open her eyes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
This state, like sleep paralysis, made her unsure whether she was in a dream or if this dream was her reality.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Winter passed, and spring arrived.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After shedding winter''s severity, the Spring Festival holiday quickly passed, and time moved to the day of the Spring Equinox.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The wind no longer carried a biting chill, new buds sprouted on the bare trees lining the streets, and sunlight streamed through the raised gauze curtains, casting dappled shadows on the floor.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The spring breeze seemed to bring new hope to Huo Xiaozheng, who suddenly roused himself.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He bribed people and, at an extremely high price, acquired that piece ofnd in Yun City.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
After washing up and dressing neatly, he came to Huo Guining''s bedside.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng bent down to stroke his daughter''s hair, revealing an extremely gentle smile. "Since you''re worried about Dad getting into trouble, Dad will nip your worries in the bud."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"This way, you should be able to wake up, right?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His voice was low, with a hint of madness.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
On the heart monitor, Huo Guining''s heartbeat suddenly elerated.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Seeing this, the smile on Huo Xiaozheng''s face grew even wider.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Dad will take that as a yes. After Dad deals with them, I''lle back to keep youpany."<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
That day after school, when Huo Yueze entered the hospital room, he didn''t see the familiar figure by the bed.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He asked the nurse, who said Huo Xiaozheng had gone out in the afternoon.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yueze was puzzled: Recently, Uncle had been practically glued to Ningning''s side, how could he leave without saying a word?<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
He asked around the family, but everyone said they didn''t know where Huo Xiaozheng had gone.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yueze stopped dwelling on it, pulled up a chair, and began his daily ritual of talking to Ningning.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Theatose Huo Guining, however, couldn''t remain calm.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Xiaozheng''s words echoed in her ears, and Huo Guining couldn''t help but ponder their meaning.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
If it was just about getting revenge for her, Huo Xiaozheng''s words needn''t have been so resolute.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
But if not...<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The more Huo Guining thought about it, the more rmed she became.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Her mind, which had been foggy recently, suddenly cleared.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
She helplessly cried out in the darkness, "Hey, whoever''s keeping me here,e out! Let''s talk!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
No response. The surroundings were as silent as snow.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Hey!!!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Shi Ning! You''ve been here all along, haven''t you?! Come out! Help me!!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
''Beep beep beep beep''<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The heart monitor sounded an rm, startling Huo Yueze, who immediately pressed the call button.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
"Doctor, something''s wrong with Ningning!"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shen Shiyan rushed in with the nurses.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Yueze watched helplessly as the emergency scene from before reyed itself.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
The sharp rm echoed through the room, constantly pulling at his nerves. Everything around him seemed to recede like the tide.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
His heart beat violently, pounding against his chest.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
On the hospital bed, Huo Guining suddenly took a deep breath and opened her eyes.<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Shen Shiyan stopped the doctor who was about to use the defibritor and tentatively called out, "Ningning?"<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0
Huo Guining turned her head somewhat stiffly and said in a hoarse voice, "Dad, stop Dad..."<span ss="css-1gz1n0z"><span ss="bg css-i073lf"><span ss="num css-0">0