What to Do If I Become the Villain's Daughter

6.

For several days in a row, Huo Ning had been living like a working professional, following Huo Xiaozheng's nine-to-five schedule. Not only that, but as a workaholic, Huo Xiaozheng often worked overtime, and Huo Ning, accompanying him, frequently returned home under the starlight, feeling disoriented about the time while washing up.

On this weekend day, Huo Xiaozheng woke up early again. Hearing Huo Xiaozheng's movements, Huo Ning opened her eyes and sat up abruptly, half-asleep as she climbed down from the bed, intending to go to the bathroom to start another day in the rat race.

For the sake of his own sleep, Huo Xiaozheng had ordered a small bed with guardrails to be placed next to his for Huo Ning, to prevent her from getting too close to him.

There was a small staircase at the foot of the bed for safe climbing. Huo Ning, still groggy, crawled down the little stairs, fumbling to find her slippers. After putting them on, she drifted towards the bathroom like a wandering soul.

Huo Xiaozheng, tying his tie in front of the mirror, happened to see this scene in the reflection. His hands paused as he glanced at the clock nearby: Sunday, 7:30 AM.

Over the past few days, Huo Ning hadn't experienced any more chest pains. Even when Huo Xiaozheng went out for an hour without her, she didn't seem to feel any discomfort.

Huo Xiaozheng walked to the bathroom door. The little girl, with her messy long hair, stood on a children's foot stool, her face full of sleepiness, soullessly brushing her teeth.

Huo Xiaozheng found it adorable.

He cleared his throat, startling the dozing Huo Ning, who immediately widened her eyes: "Dad?"

"You can stay at home today. If anything comes up, someone can bring you to the company," Huo Xiaozheng said.

Huo Ning was momentarily confused, thinking that Huo Xiaozheng probably found it troublesome to bring a child along, so she obediently replied, "Okay."

After saying this, Huo Ning continued brushing her teeth.

Huo Xiaozheng waited for a while, seeing her wash her face with practiced ease. He hesitated, then said, "It's still early, you can go back to sleep for a bit."

Huo Ning wrung out the small towel halfway, haphazardly wiped her face, and pushed the hair stuck to the corners of her mouth away: "Aunt Xu must have prepared breakfast already. I'll eat first, then sleep."

Huo Xiaozheng thought: It's hard to tell which is more important to her, eating or sleeping.

Since she wasn't going out today, Huo Ning chose a long green dinosaur-patterned loungewear. The buttons were a bit difficult to fasten, and after struggling for a while, Huo Ning simply gave up and pattered downstairs to find Aunt Xu for help.

Huo Xiaozheng, who was putting on his watch while coldly observing this scene, felt a fleeting sense of peculiarity. However, he didn't dwell on it much.

After breakfast, Huo Xiaozheng left for the company alone.

The weather was bright, with some unmelted snow still in the garden. In her previous life, Huo Ning, lying on a hospital bed, found the snowy season only depressing. This life was different; now she just wanted to play in the snow.

Aunt Xu bundled her up until she was round like a ball, carefully wrapping her in a scarf and gloves before letting her play in the garden.

In the garden, ice and snow hung on various green plants. Despite the severe cold, the winter plum blossoms were in full bloom, their red and yellow flowers encased in a layer of ice crystals, a beautiful sight.