Chapter 99

Huo Xiaozheng ruthlessly hung up Lin Chuxu's call.

He quickly caught up with the sulking Ningning in a few strides.

"Dad was just teasing you earlier. If you don't want to drink it, you don't have to. Don't feel so pressured," he said, taking the cup from Ningning's hands and placing it on the nearby dining table.

Huo Guining glanced at the cup, feeling a bit conflicted. "But Grandma went through so much trouble to make that for me..."

Huo Xiaozheng suggested, "If you feel bad about it, why don't you drink it like water after you finish swimming? How does that sound?"

Huo Guining's eyes lit up; it was indeed a good solution.

As Ningning's swimming practice sessions increased, she was no longer as afraid of water as she had been initially.

Huo Xiaozheng could now work by the poolside while watching her swim.

However, for safety reasons, he generally avoided handling tasks that required intense concentration while Ningning was swimming.

This was to ensure he could immediately notice if she accidentally choked on water.

In this environment of ample security, Huo Guining became increasingly confident.

Occasionally, she would even venture alone into slightly deeper areas of the pool.

But when Huo Xiaozheng discovered this, he strictly forbade it.

From that point on, every time she swam, Huo Xiaozheng forcibly attached small foam wings to her body.

They were ugly, but they could save her life.

As for psychological counseling, just as Xie Lingluo had said, the frequency gradually decreased.

Because of this, Huo Guining lowered her guard around her.

Sometimes when Xie Lingluo asked about her past, Huo Guining would share a few details.

A mix of truth and fiction, it didn't raise Xie Lingluo's suspicions.

Things seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

Except for her body, which was still bound by the plot, forcing her to stay by Huo Xiaozheng's side.

Fortunately, both Huo Guining and Huo Xiaozheng had grown accustomed to each other's presence.

The father-daughter duo seemed to have fully adapted to each other's existence.

Not only did the company have Ningning's rest area and art studio, but Huo Xiaozheng's office also had children's items scattered about.

Huo Guining remained completely unaware of the brewing storm in the business world.

With Lin Chuxu's help, Jiang Suyuan quickly began operations on the Country A project.

Consequently, his attention to Old Mr. Qin's situation diminished.

As for Huo Xiaozheng...

Jiang Suyuan thought wearily that he would have to make another visit himself.

Unexpectedly, this time, Huo Xiaozheng was surprisingly amenable.

"How about this," Huo Xiaozheng said calmly, "The Qin family has already given my daughter some shares as an apology. Your Jiang family should also show some goodwill, but I hope it won't be less than what the Qin family offered."

Jiang Suyuan gritted his teeth and agreed, "Fine!"

It was just a matter of giving Huo Xiaozheng's daughter a share of the annual profits. Such a small gesture was something he should do anyway.

With Jiang Suyuan's consent, the process of transferring shares proceeded quickly.

Huo Xiaozheng also kept his word and didn't take advantage of the Qin family's vulnerable position.

Meanwhile, the local Yun City government responded well to Qin Zhiyi's apology and compensation.

However, considering that Yun City still needed funds for infrastructure, the local government hoped that the Qin family could provide some assistance within their means.

Qin Zhiyi generously agreed.

Learning that the matter had been resolved satisfactorily, Old Mr. Qin breathed a sigh of relief. That night, he drank alone under the moon until dawn.

The next day, when the housekeeper went to wake him up, they found him unconscious.

Qin Zhiyi, eyes red from crying, kept vigil at her father's bedside, not daring to leave for a moment.

Jiang Suyuan wanted to stay with her, but he received news that there was a problem with the Country A project.

"The funding chain broke? How is that possible?" Jiang Suyuan was shocked that at this critical moment, the unpredictable Lin Chuxu would simply abandon the project.

He immediately contacted Lin Chuxu: "What do you mean by this?"

Lin Chuxu lazily reclined in a chair at his estate, basking in the sunlight. "I don't mean anything. I just suddenly don't feel like doing it anymore."

Jiang Suyuan tried to contain his anger: "You do realize that withdrawing your investment now is a breach of contract and you'll have to pay compensation, right?!"

Lin Chuxu drawled, "I know. It's just money, isn't it? I'll compensate you, of course."

The compensation wouldn't be nearly enough for Jiang Suyuan to keep the project afloat.

Jiang Suyuan felt helpless: "Lin Chuxu, you're 30 years old. Can't you act more responsibly?"

Lin Chuxu laughed: "Is this your first day knowing me?"

Before Jiang Suyuan could respond, he added, "I've already sent a lawyer to your company. You can discuss the details with our legal team."

With that, he abruptly ended the call.

"Tsk, Huo Xiaozheng's move to cut off our resources is truly ruthless," Lin Chuxu muttered to himself. "Better not cross paths with Huo Xiaozheng in the future. He's too intimidating."

The intimidating Huo Xiaozheng was currently arguing with Huo Guining: "Didn't we agree that you wouldn't go to school for now?"