What to Do If I Become the Villain’s Daughter - Chapter 76
Despite saying this, it was still a family matter.0
Huo Xiaozheng could only gently tell Huo Guining that no matter how capable he was, his hands couldn’t reach into other people’s homes.0
“Because the boss lady only scolded her and didn’t hit her, it doesn’t count as domestic violence, right?” Huo Guining asked, looking up with her little face.0
Huo Xiaozheng was stunned for a moment, and could only reluctantly agree.0
Huo Guining returned to the hotel with Huo Xiaozheng, feeling a bit gloomy.0
The next day.0
Huo Xiaozheng planned to take Huo Guining mountain climbing.0
After a simple breakfast, Huo Xiaozheng drove to one of the local scenic spots.0
The sun shone brightly in a cloudless sky.0
Both Huo Xiaozheng and Huo Guining were dressed in sportswear, each properly equipped with a hiking stick as they set foot on the stone steps.0
The mountain wasn’t tall, but Huo Guining’s small frame was too weak.0
Before long, she was panting heavily.0
Huo Xiaozheng resisted the urge to carry her, instead giving her some water and encouraging her, “You’re doing great, you’ve already climbed so high. Keep it up.”0
Huo Guining looked back at the path they’d come: the starting point seemed just a stone’s throw away.0
Huo Xiaozheng didn’t mind, “You’re already doing wonderfully.”0
As time passed, Huo Guining trudged upwards with determined huffs and puffs.0
Along the way, Huo Xiaozheng wanted to call for a stop, to let Huo Guining pause and enjoy the scenery.0
She mercilessly refused.0
“I want to climb to the top in one go!”0
Seeing her still in good spirits, Huo Xiaozheng let her be.0
Halfway up the mountain, there was a temple bustling with a steady stream of worshippers, its incense burning prosperously.0
Huo Xiaozheng wasn’t superstitious about these things.0
But looking at the little girl in front of him, puffing and panting, something stirred in his heart.0
“Ningning, let’s go pay our respects.”0
Due to the exercise, Huo Guining’s cheeks were flushed red.0
Her cool princess-cut bangs were now damp with sweat, sticking to her face in strands.0
Huo Guining hastily wiped her face, shaking the bangs clinging to her face: “Okay!”0
With that, she rushed headlong towards the temple.0
Seeing she was about to collide with tourists ahead, Huo Xiaozheng stepped forward, grabbed her arm, and lifted her up.0
“Be careful, it’s a bit crowded here.”0
Huo Guining belatedly realized she had almost bumped into someone.0
Huo Xiaozheng carried her like this, walked into the main hall, and then set her down.0
The deity’s statue in the center of the hall was majestic and imposing, high above, looking down upon all living beings.0
Huo Xiaozheng disliked this appearance and turned to leave.0
But Huo Guining suddenly imitated the worshippers, bending her knees and kneeling on the prayer mat.0
She clasped her hands together, her little mouth muttering, eyes closed, praying devoutly.0
After a moment of surprise, Huo Xiaozheng also knelt down.0
“If the gods are listening, bless my daughter with health and longevity,” Huo Xiaozheng prayed silently.0
Beside him, Huo Guining’s wish wasn’t much different from his.0
“Great God of Plot, please spare Huo Xiaozheng. Huo Guining promises you, Huo Xiaozheng will never again threaten the happiness of the main characters.”0
“Dong!”0
A deep and solemn bell rang, the sound coming from afar.0
Huo Guining opened her eyes, looked up at the statue seriously, and thought to herself: I’ll take this bell as your agreement.0
After finishing, she stood up.0
Only then did she remember Huo Xiaozheng beside her.0
Huo Xiaozheng had just stood up when he heard Huo Guining ask, “Dad, do you also have wishes that only the gods can help fulfill?”0
Huo Xiaozheng said softly, “I do.”0
Huo Guining didn’t understand.0
Huo Xiaozheng didn’t want to say more, only asking, “Ningning prayed so earnestly, what wish did you make to the gods?”0
Huo Guining covered her mouth.0
Huo Xiaozheng smiled.0
Leaving the temple, the two continued towards the mountain peak.0
On the way, they passed a stream, its clear water gurgling towards the distance.0
Huo Guining was feeling hot, and seeing the stream made her eyes light up.0
“Dad, can we go wash our hands by the stream?”0
Huo Xiaozheng nodded.0
There were many pebbles by the stream, and worried Huo Guining might fall, Huo Xiaozheng simply carried her and let her sit on his lap to wash.0
The stream water was cool, instantly relieving Huo Guining’s heat.0
“Woof woof woof…”0
A series of urgent dog barks came.0
Huo Guining looked towards the sound and saw a small white dog downstream, barking at some bushes and running in circles.0
Huo Guining called out, “Niuniu!”0
The white dog immediately looked at her and wagged its tail.0
Huo Guining excitedly tugged at Huo Xiaozheng’s sleeve, “Dad, it’s Niuniu!”0
Huo Xiaozheng didn’t know who Niuniu was.0
Huo Guining explained, “Niuniu is the white dog we saw at the restaurant yesterday!”0
Huo Xiaozheng picked her up, and they both walked towards where Niuniu was downstream.0
Seeing people approaching, Niuniu barked even more enthusiastically!0
She ran to Huo Xiaozheng’s side, grabbed his pant leg with her mouth, trying to lead him into the bushes.0
“Dad, Niuniu wants you to follow her.”0
Huo Xiaozheng understood.0
The edge of the bushes had many branches, and the terrain was a bit complex.0
“Dad, I’ll wait here for you. Can you follow Niuniu and take a look?”0
Huo Guining had a feeling something was wrong. Dogs are very intuitive animals, especially smart dogs like Niuniu.0
She must have encountered something to be so anxious.0
She even overcame her wariness of strangers.0
However, Huo Xiaozheng was hesitant.0
The downstream area was far from the crowd. If he left Ningning alone here and something happened…0
“Niu…Niu.”0
A faint call came through.0
Instantly, Niuniu barked even more excitedly.0
“Dad, it’s that big sister!”0
Huo Xiaozheng’s expression turned serious: “Ningning, be good and wait here for dad.”0
Huo Guining nodded eagerly.0
“Dad, hurry and save the big sister,” she said, then added, “But be careful too!”0
Huo Xiaozheng hesitated no longer. He looked around, found a stick about as thick as a cup’s mouth, and followed the call into the bushes.0
Most of the surrounding shrubs were thorny. Huo Xiaozheng swung the stick, clearing a path through the thorny thicket.0
Huo Guining stood in place, watching as Huo Xiaozheng and Niuniu disappeared from view.0
She stretched her neck, constantly looking around.0
All around was silent, even Niuniu’s barks had scattered in the wind.0
Huo Guining was anxious. She lifted her leg to walk towards the thorny bushes.0
A pair of long legs appeared in her line of sight.0
“Dad!”0
She saw Huo Xiaozheng carrying the young woman in his arms, with Niuniu happily running circles around his feet.0
Huo Xiaozheng placed the young girl on a large rock by the stream.0
“Big sister, are you okay?” Huo Guining asked.0
“Call me Lingling,” the young girl smiled shyly. “I’m fine, I just got pricked by a thorn while picking mushrooms.”0
Huo Guining immediately wanted to take a look.0
Huo Xiaozheng stopped her with an arm around her neck.0
Huo Xiaozheng crouched down in front of Huo Guining, face to face. His expression was displeased: “What did dad just tell you to do?”0
Huo Guining was startled by his seriousness, and stammered, “You said to stay in place.”0
Huo Xiaozheng looked at where she was standing now, his meaning clear without words.0
A warmth flowed through Huo Guining’s heart.0
So, dad was worried about her.0
