"Alright, alright," Qin Shu agreed, instantly beaming with delight, feeling extremely smug.
This is treatment even Third Son hasn’t gotten! So what if Luoluo likes him best? She hasn’t kissed him yet!
For a moment, Madam Qin Shu felt so triumphant her tail might have wagged right up to the sky. She eagerly pulled out her phone to share her joy in the family group chat.
[Empress Dowager]: Secretly telling you all, Luoluo just kissed me! So? Envious? Jealous?
After sending the message, Madam Qin watched with satisfaction as the group instantly exploded—
[Eldest Daughter-in-law Huo]: Why is lemon surrounding me? I'm sour! So sour!
[Second Daughter-in-law Huo]: Ahhh! I want a kiss from the little cutie too! (┬＿┬)
[Second Young Master Huo]: Don’t cry, wife! If the little princess won’t kiss you, hubby will! Mwah mwah ~~
[Second Daughter-in-law Huo]: (ノ｀Д)ノ Get lost! Stinky man, don’t come near me!
...
At the Huo Corporation, in the conference room.
The extraordinarily handsome man sat at the head of the table like a king, listening expressionlessly to his subordinate's report, yet his mind involuntarily drifted to the little girl at home.
Did she cry after I left? Is she missing me? Did she eat lunch properly?
When he left this morning, the little girl’s face had been full of reluctance. Even if she didn’t say it out loud, she’d probably hide away and cry secretly.
Huo Tingyan’s brow furrowed, his expression gradually turning grave.
Tsk, such a troublesome little brat. Doesn’t let me rest easy at all.
Just then, a soft ding sounded from his phone on the table, interrupting the eloquent department manager.
All the subordinates looked up simultaneously, their eyes drawn to Third Master Huo, inwardly astonished.
The CEO was extremely strict about work. He had a rule that employees must silence or turn off their phones during meetings.
Yet today, he himself had broken that rule.
This made everyone intensely curious: Who could have sent the CEO a message?
Under everyone’s gaze, Huo Tingyan picked up his phone with perfect composure. When he saw the message Madam Qin had posted in the group, his dark eyes narrowed slightly, and he snorted coldly inside.
That little liar! Yesterday she said she liked Daddy best, yet today she’s being so affectionate with someone else! And the little girl has never kissed me! Huo Tingyan’s thin lips pressed into a straight line, a faint sourness welling up in his heart.
This ungrateful little girl. Here I am worrying if she’s eating properly, and she hasn’t missed me at all.
Saying she likes Daddy best—it’s all lies!
Huo Tingyan stared at the screen for a long time, jealousy churning inside him, the air pressure around him dropping lower and lower.
Assistant Chen, standing beside him, happened to glance at the message on the screen. He couldn’t help but inwardly shake his head and tut: Third Master! Can’t you have a bit more dignity? You’re even jealous of your own mother!
"Th-Third Master..." The department manager mustered his courage to speak, breaking the man’s contemplation.
Huo Tingyan lifted his head, his deep gaze fixed on him. The department manager felt his heart quail under that stare, almost dropping to his knees in fright.
It’s over, it’s over! I’ve walked right into the line of fire!
The department manager desperately wished he could bite off his own tongue. He stood trembling, waiting for the reprimand.
Huo Tingyan remained silent, his gaze heavy and thoughtful as he studied him.
The department manager’s heart thumped wildly, cold sweat breaking out. He couldn’t help but look pleadingly at Assistant Chen.
"Manager Qian," Huo Tingyan finally spoke after a long pause, "How old is your daughter this year?"
"Huh?" Manager Qian was utterly baffled, completely in the dark.
Though he didn’t know why Third Master was asking this, he answered honestly. "Sh-she’s five."
Huo Tingyan raised an eyebrow. "Does she usually cling to you?"
Manager Qian shook his head, replying truthfully, "My wife and I are both very busy with work. We don’t have much time to spend with her. She’s always been looked after by my mother."
Manager Qian sighed sadly at this point: "Naturally, the little girl isn’t close to us. She’s much closer to her grandma. To us, her parents, she’s practically like a stranger!"