Chapter 38: Unexpected Encounter (1)
The Ocean Park that Huo Xiaoxiao and her party came to was the largest Ocean Park in S City, covering more than 30 hectares with more than 40 amusement facilities. On weekends, the entire park would be swarming with people.
The park also offered some special recreational restaurants, which made it very distinctive. Although it was expensive, as parents, they would choose the best for their child. When it was lunchtime, the places were crowded with people. Sometimes there would be a long queue, where demand would far outstrip the supply.
There was a long line of parents with their children sitting outside on one particular uniquely themed restaurant.
“I told you; just go to a fast-food restaurant and get something to eat. But you come here, and the line is still so long.”
“Isn’t fast food much less nutritious? Qianqian is growing up; how can she eat those things? Wait a bit; it won’t take long.”
“Daddy, Qianqian is hungry.”
“Qianqian, behave. Wait for a little longer; it’s almost our turn. Mommy has milk here. Drink some of it first to ease your stomach.”
A woman took out a bottle of milk from the child’s stroller and gave it to the girl’s hand.
“Oh, is this your daughter? She’s so cute.” A big sister, who was also waiting in line outside the store, couldn’t help but praise her daughter when she saw such a cute and lovely little girl.
“…Yes, she’s my daughter. Her name is Qianqian. Qianqian, this lady is complimenting you. What should you say?”
The little girl named Qianqian snuggled in a man’s arms, holding the bottle and looking at the person without speaking.
“I am sorry. She… is a little shy.”
“It’s okay. It’s normal for such a young child to be shy. My son is also similar. He doesn’t even dare to say a word in public. How old is she?”
“More than two years old.”
“She’s pretty young. This restaurant is one of the most popular in the park. I have to stand in the line if I come a little late. If you don’t prepare some milk or snacks for the child, the child won’t be able to stand it. But don’t worry, you won’t have to wait too long. I was here just last week.”
In the middle of the conversation, two staff members from the restaurant came to the front of the store. When the lady saw them, she smiled and said, “Look, I guess it’s time to call the number. What number are you?”
“I’m number 103.”
“Then I’m a little later than you. I’m 115.”
However, after waiting for a while, there was no sign of the staff member calling the number. A visitor, who couldn’t bear to wait, stepped forward.
“Excuse me, is there an empty table?”
The staff smiled and said, “I’m sorry, but there are no seats available yet. You need to wait a little longer.”
“I’ve been waiting for so long. My son is already hungry. Why do I have to wait a little longer?”
“I’m really sorry. Please understand its peak dining time.”
With this, cries of complaint arose at once.
The staff member, however, didn’t lose his smile.
It wasn’t until several people walked into the restaurant entrance that the waiter approached them with a pleasant smile. ” Excuse me, are you Mr. Huo?”
Huo Suicheng, who was holding Huo Xiaoxiao, nodded.
“Come in, please.”
The customers lining up outside the restaurant couldn’t stand still once they saw Huo Suicheng and his entourage entering unhindered.
“What’s going on with your store? Why do we have to wait so long when others can get in as soon as they arrive?”
“Excuse me, everyone. That one is a member of our Park Club. So…”
“Member? I’m also a VIP.”
“…Mister, that person is a member of our Park Club, so I’m sorry, but please wait a moment.”
Without waiting for the visitor to speak, the waiter left.
“What with the attitude? Aren’t we all VIPs?”
“Oh, don’t say that. The attendant said that the member is not the same as your VIP.”
“What’s the difference?”
“You’re a FastPass VIP. However, that member has paid half a million dollars in admission fees, and there’s also an annual membership fee of over 100,000 per year.” [1]
After the person finished explaining, gasps of surprises could be heard from the crowd.
“It’s really extravagant to have an admission fee of 500,000 and still have to pay more than 100,000 a year.” The lady was astonished. “This rich man spends so much money, but how many times a year does he come here?”
“Daddy, why can’t we go in?”
“Because… someone made a reservation ahead of time, and Daddy forgot to make it. So we can’t get in.”
“Then Daddy should remember to book a seat next time.”
“Okay, Daddy will remember it. Did you finish your milk?”
“I’m done.” Qianqian handed her empty milk bottle to the woman, “Mommy, I’m done drinking. Mommy, what’s wrong with you?”
The man beside her also noticed the gloominess on the woman’s face. He grasped her hand, then asked tenderly, “Wenxin, what’s wrong? Are you hungry?”
Ji Wenxin shook her head. “I… I’m fine, just tired from the long walk today. Why don’t we go to another restaurant?”
The trace of panic in her eyes disappeared, and she hid it deep in her eyes.
The man soothed his wife. “I didn’t think there would be so many people here.”
Ji Wenxin could barely muster a smile. “…It’s alright.”
Huo Xiaoxiao, who had been playing in the park all morning, was also famished at the moment.
She had a soft spot for fast food, but her dad didn’t like it. Besides, they had to make a big detour around the park just to eat here.
Unlike the noisy lobby, the private rooms were quiet and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked most of the park’s major landscape.
Huo Xiaoxiao lay on the dining table, watching her father order food.
Damn!
‘I can’t believe I can’t eat junk food like fried chicken and burgers when I visit an amusement park. Instead, I have to eat this green, healthy, and nutritious food!’
So unhappy.
“Steamed egg with crab, wild yellow croaker, steamed grouper fish with hams and mushrooms, sake-marinated abalone, fish maw braised with abalone sauce, four servings of tenderloin steak—three medium rare, one medium—bitter summer asparagus, vegetable salad, three glasses of orange juice and a glass of water. Mr. Huo, do you need something else besides the above?”
Huo Suicheng looked at Huo Xiaoxiao. “Another order of fried chicken.”
Huo Xiaoxiao was pleasantly surprised. “Daddy!”
“You and Yi Qian can only eat one piece each.”
“…Oh.”
Although the restaurant was crowded, the food was served quickly. It didn’t take long for the table to be filled with dishes.
At this moment, Huo Suicheng’s phone started ringing. He picked it up while getting to his feet. “I’ve to take this call. Aunt Zhao, please watch over them.”
“Don’t worry.”
After Huo Suicheng left, Huo Xiaoxiao looked at the fried chicken served by the waiter. She then put part of it in Yiqian’s bowl, part of it in Aunt Zhao’s bowl, and part of it for herself.
Once she finished her piece, she held out her chopsticks again.
“Xiaoxiao, Master said to eat one piece only.”
“Auntie, I’d like one more piece. Just one. Daddy won’t know anyway.”
“That won’t do. It’s bad if you eat too much.”
“It won’t!” she said. When Aunt Zhao wasn’t paying attention, she put another piece into her bowl.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“This is my last piece!”
However, the chopsticks were put into the bowl again, and the last fried chicken was also taken away.
Aunt Zhao gave her a meaningful gaze to remind her not to overeat. “Xiaoxiao!”
“I’ll have one more piece. Daddy won’t know!”
“No more eating.”
Huo Xiaoxiao, who had been craving for two years, could not afford to let the chance of eating fried chicken slip off. “Auntie, I’ve never eaten anything like this before. Eat some more.”
“You will not be able to eat later.”
“I can eat, can eat!” Huo Xiaoxiao quickened the pace of her chewing mouth, and the chopsticks in her hand clamped again and again. Auntie Zhao couldn’t control her, so she had to threaten her, “You already ate all the fried chicken. Don’t cry if Mr. Zhao comes back and finds out about it.”
“As long as Auntie doesn’t say anything, Daddy won’t find out! And Yi Qian, you’re not allowed to say anything either!”
“Eat up, eat up. Oops, the last piece is also gone!” Having learned from the past, Huo Xiaoxiao wiped her mouth with a paper towel and said to the waitress, “Sister, remove this empty plate and bring another order of fried chicken.”
“Okay.”
Yi Qian took the piece of fried chicken from his bowl and placed it in Huo Xiaoxiao’s. “I didn’t touch the fried chicken. Here you go.”
“Yi Qian, you are so good!”
While Huo Xiaoxiao was enjoying the fried chicken, Huo Suicheng hung up the phone on the balcony outside their private room.
“Mr. Huo…” a gentle, uncertain voice sounded from behind him.
Huo Suicheng followed the sound and saw Ji Wenxin standing a short distance behind him with wavering eyes.
“Do you remember me?”
Huo Suicheng gazed at her intensely. A long time passed before he said, “Ji Wenxin?”
“It’s me. I… just got back. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
“What’s up?”
Ji Wenxin’s eyes turned expectant. “I have just one question. That little girl….”
Huo Suicheng’s expression was indifferent, as if the person in front of him was just an insignificant passerby. “My daughter.”
Ji Wenxin brightened up, but her surprise was gradually dimmed by Huo Suicheng’s indifferent expression. “How has she been all these years?”
“Good.”
Ji Wenxin bit her lip. “My brother’s matter has caused you trouble. I’ve already told him not to bother you anymore.”
“You’re more thoughtful than your brother.”
“I… I was forced, Mr. Huo, but I can—”
“Miss Ji, I think at this time, in your present capacity, it would be best if you did not make any requests.”
“I know, but I’m still her—”
“Xiaoxiao has never asked me about her mother. I’ll tell her if she asks someday, but until then, I don’t want her to find out about you from anyone.”
Huo Suicheng did not hesitate to interrupt her words. For the woman in front of him, he did not have much empathy. He rarely thought from the perspective of others to understand the hardship. If it wasn’t for that one night in a hotel three years ago, they might never have crossed paths.
Ji Wenxin lowered her head in embarrassment. “I understand. Sorry to bother you, Mr. Huo.”
Huo Suicheng passed by her with a stern face.
Even after three years, Ji Wenxin never thought she would see him again.
Thinking back to that fateful night three years ago and the heartbreaking departure two years ago, to this day, she didn’t know if she had done anything wrong or not.
When Huo Suicheng returned to the private room, he heard Aunt Zhao talking as soon as he entered the door.
“Xiaoxiao, if Master Huo finds out, you’ll never be spared.”
Huo Suicheng raised his eyebrows and looked at Huo Xiaoxiao. “What is it that I don’t know?”
“Nothing! I wanted ice cream, but Aunt wouldn’t let me have it.”
“Is that so?” Huo Suicheng sat down at the table and glanced at Aunt Zhao.
Huo Xiaoxiao’s hands were pressed together under the table as she stared at Aunt Zhao with pleading eyes.
Aunt Zhao sighed helplessly. “Yes. Xiaoxiao insisted on having ice cream.”
“You just had one this morning. Are you not afraid of a stomach ache?”
Huo Xiaoxiao whispered, “Don’t eat, don’t eat…”
Huo Suicheng looked at the food on the table that had been barely touched, as if they were waiting for him.
“Why didn’t you eat?”
“Wait for Daddy.”
""
Huo Suicheng looked at the plate of untouched fried chicken again and couldn’t believe that the little girl would be so well-behaved. “You didn’t even eat the fried chicken?”
Huo Xiaoxiao’s face didn’t even blush, and she said with a calm heart, “Wait for Daddy.”
Huo Suicheng looked at Aunt Zhao, and Aunt Zhao smiled weakly.
He looked at Yi Qian again, and Yi Qian quickly lowered his head.
Huo Suicheng gave her a piece of fried chicken without batting his eyes. “Eat.”
“Thank you, Daddy!”
Huo Xiaoxiao, who had managed to escape, let out a sigh of relief, held her chopsticks unsteadily, and gave Auntie Zhao a piece of tender fish. “Auntie, eat.”
“Auntie will do it. You eat yourself.”
After finishing the fried chicken, Huo Xiaoxiao set her eyes on Huo Suicheng again. “Daddy, can I have another piece? Just one piece.”
“Last piece.”
“Thanks, Daddy!”
Huo Xiaoxiao picked up a chicken leg and ate heartily, enjoying it like a hamster.
""
After nibbling on the chicken leg, she was sensible enough to not ask for any more. However, a whole plate of fried chicken later, she couldn’t eat more than two bites of steak.
“Daddy, I’m full.”
“Aren’t you hungry? Why eat so little?”
“I’m full. Daddy, take your time to eat.”
Huo Xiaoxiao’s stomach was a little uncomfortable.
She had been indeed too greedy. It was now time for the side effects to kick in.
She had underestimated the greasiness of the fried chicken and the lack of digestion of this little body.
The few people didn’t take too long to finish their meal. The waiter then brought the bill.
“Mr. Huo, you have spent a total of twenty-three thousand five hundred and twenty-eight yuan this time.”
Huo Suicheng was not used to looking at bills, so he handed the waiter a bank card.
“Yes, just a moment, please.”
Huo Suicheng got up and inadvertently glanced at the bill at hand.
He was accustomed to reading text at a glance and rarely missed any details. Thus, he noticed the amount of fried chicken on the bill, x2.
Two orders?
Huo Suicheng took a closer look at the bill.
“Why are there two orders of fried chicken?” He took the bill and looked at Huo Xiaoxiao.
“…I don’t know.”
“Huo Xiaoxiao, do you want me to call the waiter?”
“…”
At this moment, the waiter entered the private room. When the door was opened, Huo Xiaoxiao grabbed Yi Qian and ran away.
“Huo Xiaoxiao!”
“Xiaoxiao, stay where you are!”
Huo Suicheng took the bank card from the waiter and quickly followed them out.
The dining hall of the restaurant was full of people. Huo Xiao dragged Yi Qian towards the entrance of the restaurant.
“Xiaoxiao, you… don’t run. When Uncle Huo asks later, I’ll say I ate it.”
“No. Do you think my dad is that stupid? He knows that I ate it. We have to get out of here. Dead men tell no tales!”
A little girl suddenly appeared around the corner. Huo Xiaoxiao was inattentive and failed to stop in time, and the three of them instantly crashed into each other.
The little girl was knocked backward and landed on her bottom, while Huo Xiaoxiao was knocked back and stumbled, tripping over Yi Qian. The two of them fell into a heap.
The little girl cried on the spot.
“Oooh… it hurts!”
“Qianqian, what’s wrong?” The girl’s mother came at once and held the little girl in her arms.
Qianqian pointed at Huo Xiaoxiao and Yi Qian, weeping as she said, “They… bumped me!”
“Bumped you? Did you get injured after the fall?”
“Hurt!”
The woman looked over at Huo Xiaoxiao with a heavy frown. “Which family’s child are you? Why are you running wildly around here? Where are your parents?”
Yi Qian helped Huo Xiaoxiao up in a hurry and looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Auntie, sorry, we didn’t mean it.”
“Where are your parents? How can you two children run through the hall with so many people? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?”
The two children stood still and did not speak.
“Qianqian is good; stop crying.”
Qianqian pointed to her legs. ”It hurts.”
“Mommy, look… Qianqian’s leg is fine, not crying anymore.”
Aunt Zhao came up behind her.
“Xiaoxiao, why are you running so fast? Be careful. You might fall!”
Huo Xiaoxiao turned back and said depressingly, “I did fall.”
“Where did you fall. Let Aunt Zhao see.”
“I bumped my head, but it doesn’t hurt. Yi Qian also fell. Yi Qian, are you in pain?”
Yi Qian shook his head.
“And we accidentally bumped into this lady’s daughter.”
Aunt Zhao looked at the woman holding the child in front of her and said, “Excuse me, is your daughter okay?”
“You are these children’s…”
“I’m the aunt who takes care of them both.”
The woman looked unhappy and said, “They are too naughty. There are so many people here; it’s dangerous to run around!”
“What’s going on?” A deep voice sounded at this moment. Huo Suicheng had arrived at the scene. His eyes chilled slightly when he saw Ji Wenxin holding the child.
Aunt Zhao hurriedly explained, “Xiaoxiao accidentally bumped into this little girl.”
Huo Suicheng looked at Huo Xiaoxiao, “Did you apologize?”
Huo Xiaoxiao nodded. “Apologized.”
“Let’s go then.”He didn’t even look at Ji Wenxin, passing by her side as he walked over to Huo Xiaoxiao. Huo Suicheng bowed and picked her up. “Were you hurt?”
Huo Xiaoxiao covered her forehead and wrinkled her small face. “I hit my head.”
“No running around in crowded places from now on.”
“Hmm.”
The little girl who had been hit behind her was still crying.
Huo Xiaoxiao looked over Huo Suicheng’s shoulder. For some reason, when she saw the woman holding the child, she always had an unexplained feeling in her heart. It was a familiar feeling, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
Until Huo Suicheng and the others left the restaurant, Ji Wenxin was still standing there with a pale face.
Previously, the distance from the entrance of the restaurant was too far. She didn’t see what the child in Huo Suicheng’s arms looked like until she saw him picking up Huo Xiaoxiao.
“Wenxin, what’s going on? Why is Qianqian crying like this?”
“Daddy!”
The man quickly took over the child. “What’s wrong, Qianqian?”
“Just now… Someone bumped into me. It hurts.”
“Who bumped into you?”
“I don’t know. They’re gone.”
""
“Gone?” The man looked at Ji Wenxin. “Wenxin, what’s going on?”
Ji Wenxin took a deep breath and smiled stiffly. She was feeling quite at a loss. “It’s fine. Just… just a couple of kids running around in the hall accidentally bumped into her. Qianqian is fine.”
The man could not say anything more on the topic. “Let’s just leave. I’ve booked a private room. Let’s go in.”
Ji Wenxin nodded absentmindedly. “Okay.”
Huo Suicheng, who was holding Huo Xiaoxiao in his arms, left the restaurant without saying a word.
Huo Xiaoxiao also lay on his shoulders with worry clouding her heart.
Sensing that something was wrong with Huo Xiaoxiao’s mood, Huo Suicheng, who planned to settle the score later, placed a hand on her back and asked her in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”
Huo Xiaoxiao shook her head.
“Did it hurt?”
Huo Xiaoxiao shook her head again.
Huo Suicheng became silent.
He knew very well the importance of a mother to a child. He wondered what Huo Xiaoxiao was thinking when she saw a mother holding her crying daughter in her arms for comfort.
Would she be envious?
Wouldn’t you wonder why other people had mothers, but you didn’t?
Would she ask him where her mother was?
Aunt Zhao asked, “Are you sleepy?”
Huo Suicheng also said in a warm voice, “Are you sleepy?”
Huo Xiaoxiao nodded.
“Let’s go to the hotel for a while.”
Ocean Park had a unique hotel, and one of their most distinctive rooms was the Underwater Suite.
Behind the curtain was a ‘blue sea’ separated by glass, an inch of glass behind which you could get a close view of the colorful schools of fish swimming around.
Huo Xiaoxiao had no time to appreciate the features of this room. She was now lying lazily on the bed and covering her stomach, not wanting to say a word.
Ah, must bear with it.
She regretted her prior actions of eating a whole plate of fried chicken by herself.
But she couldn’t say anything.
Otherwise, her dad would have to deal with her for eating an extra serving of fried chicken.
T/N: Applicable in the rides, the speedy passage allows visitors to avoid the long waiting time in lines and use the time waiting for admission to go to other facilities to play, e.g. Disneyland.
Chapter 38: Unexpected Encounter (1)
The Ocean Park that Huo Xiaoxiao and her party came to was the largest Ocean Park in S City, covering more than 30 hectares with more than 40 amusement facilities. On weekends, the entire park would be swarming with people.
The park also offered some special recreational restaurants, which made it very distinctive. Although it was expensive, as parents, they would choose the best for their child. When it was lunchtime, the places were crowded with people. Sometimes there would be a long queue, where demand would far outstrip the supply.
There was a long line of parents with their children sitting outside on one particular uniquely themed restaurant.
“I told you; just go to a fast-food restaurant and get something to eat. But you come here, and the line is still so long.”
“Isn’t fast food much less nutritious? Qianqian is growing up; how can she eat those things? Wait a bit; it won’t take long.”
“Daddy, Qianqian is hungry.”
“Qianqian, behave. Wait for a little longer; it’s almost our turn. Mommy has milk here. Drink some of it first to ease your stomach.”
A woman took out a bottle of milk from the child’s stroller and gave it to the girl’s hand.
“Oh, is this your daughter? She’s so cute.” A big sister, who was also waiting in line outside the store, couldn’t help but praise her daughter when she saw such a cute and lovely little girl.
“…Yes, she’s my daughter. Her name is Qianqian. Qianqian, this lady is complimenting you. What should you say?”
The little girl named Qianqian snuggled in a man’s arms, holding the bottle and looking at the person without speaking.
“I am sorry. She… is a little shy.”
“It’s okay. It’s normal for such a young child to be shy. My son is also similar. He doesn’t even dare to say a word in public. How old is she?”
“More than two years old.”
“She’s pretty young. This restaurant is one of the most popular in the park. I have to stand in the line if I come a little late. If you don’t prepare some milk or snacks for the child, the child won’t be able to stand it. But don’t worry, you won’t have to wait too long. I was here just last week.”
In the middle of the conversation, two staff members from the restaurant came to the front of the store. When the lady saw them, she smiled and said, “Look, I guess it’s time to call the number. What number are you?”
“I’m number 103.”
“Then I’m a little later than you. I’m 115.”
However, after waiting for a while, there was no sign of the staff member calling the number. A visitor, who couldn’t bear to wait, stepped forward.
“Excuse me, is there an empty table?”
The staff smiled and said, “I’m sorry, but there are no seats available yet. You need to wait a little longer.”
“I’ve been waiting for so long. My son is already hungry. Why do I have to wait a little longer?”
“I’m really sorry. Please understand its peak dining time.”
With this, cries of complaint arose at once.
The staff member, however, didn’t lose his smile.
It wasn’t until several people walked into the restaurant entrance that the waiter approached them with a pleasant smile. ” Excuse me, are you Mr. Huo?”
Huo Suicheng, who was holding Huo Xiaoxiao, nodded.
“Come in, please.”
The customers lining up outside the restaurant couldn’t stand still once they saw Huo Suicheng and his entourage entering unhindered.
“What’s going on with your store? Why do we have to wait so long when others can get in as soon as they arrive?”
“Excuse me, everyone. That one is a member of our Park Club. So…”
“Member? I’m also a VIP.”
“…Mister, that person is a member of our Park Club, so I’m sorry, but please wait a moment.”
Without waiting for the visitor to speak, the waiter left.
“What with the attitude? Aren’t we all VIPs?”
“Oh, don’t say that. The attendant said that the member is not the same as your VIP.”
“What’s the difference?”
“You’re a FastPass VIP. However, that member has paid half a million dollars in admission fees, and there’s also an annual membership fee of over 100,000 per year.” [1]
After the person finished explaining, gasps of surprises could be heard from the crowd.
“It’s really extravagant to have an admission fee of 500,000 and still have to pay more than 100,000 a year.” The lady was astonished. “This rich man spends so much money, but how many times a year does he come here?”
“Daddy, why can’t we go in?”
“Because… someone made a reservation ahead of time, and Daddy forgot to make it. So we can’t get in.”
“Then Daddy should remember to book a seat next time.”
“Okay, Daddy will remember it. Did you finish your milk?”
“I’m done.” Qianqian handed her empty milk bottle to the woman, “Mommy, I’m done drinking. Mommy, what’s wrong with you?”
The man beside her also noticed the gloominess on the woman’s face. He grasped her hand, then asked tenderly, “Wenxin, what’s wrong? Are you hungry?”
Ji Wenxin shook her head. “I… I’m fine, just tired from the long walk today. Why don’t we go to another restaurant?”
The trace of panic in her eyes disappeared, and she hid it deep in her eyes.
The man soothed his wife. “I didn’t think there would be so many people here.”
Ji Wenxin could barely muster a smile. “…It’s alright.”
Huo Xiaoxiao, who had been playing in the park all morning, was also famished at the moment.
She had a soft spot for fast food, but her dad didn’t like it. Besides, they had to make a big detour around the park just to eat here.
Unlike the noisy lobby, the private rooms were quiet and spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked most of the park’s major landscape.
Huo Xiaoxiao lay on the dining table, watching her father order food.
Damn!
‘I can’t believe I can’t eat junk food like fried chicken and burgers when I visit an amusement park. Instead, I have to eat this green, healthy, and nutritious food!’
So unhappy.
“Steamed egg with crab, wild yellow croaker, steamed grouper fish with hams and mushrooms, sake-marinated abalone, fish maw braised with abalone sauce, four servings of tenderloin steak—three medium rare, one medium—bitter summer asparagus, vegetable salad, three glasses of orange juice and a glass of water. Mr. Huo, do you need something else besides the above?”
Huo Suicheng looked at Huo Xiaoxiao. “Another order of fried chicken.”
Huo Xiaoxiao was pleasantly surprised. “Daddy!”
“You and Yi Qian can only eat one piece each.”
“…Oh.”
Although the restaurant was crowded, the food was served quickly. It didn’t take long for the table to be filled with dishes.
At this moment, Huo Suicheng’s phone started ringing. He picked it up while getting to his feet. “I’ve to take this call. Aunt Zhao, please watch over them.”
“Don’t worry.”
After Huo Suicheng left, Huo Xiaoxiao looked at the fried chicken served by the waiter. She then put part of it in Yiqian’s bowl, part of it in Aunt Zhao’s bowl, and part of it for herself.
Once she finished her piece, she held out her chopsticks again.
“Xiaoxiao, Master said to eat one piece only.”
“Auntie, I’d like one more piece. Just one. Daddy won’t know anyway.”
“That won’t do. It’s bad if you eat too much.”
“It won’t!” she said. When Aunt Zhao wasn’t paying attention, she put another piece into her bowl.
“Xiaoxiao.”
“This is my last piece!”
However, the chopsticks were put into the bowl again, and the last fried chicken was also taken away.
Aunt Zhao gave her a meaningful gaze to remind her not to overeat. “Xiaoxiao!”
“I’ll have one more piece. Daddy won’t know!”
“No more eating.”
Huo Xiaoxiao, who had been craving for two years, could not afford to let the chance of eating fried chicken slip off. “Auntie, I’ve never eaten anything like this before. Eat some more.”
“You will not be able to eat later.”
“I can eat, can eat!” Huo Xiaoxiao quickened the pace of her chewing mouth, and the chopsticks in her hand clamped again and again. Auntie Zhao couldn’t control her, so she had to threaten her, “You already ate all the fried chicken. Don’t cry if Mr. Zhao comes back and finds out about it.”
“As long as Auntie doesn’t say anything, Daddy won’t find out! And Yi Qian, you’re not allowed to say anything either!”
“Eat up, eat up. Oops, the last piece is also gone!” Having learned from the past, Huo Xiaoxiao wiped her mouth with a paper towel and said to the waitress, “Sister, remove this empty plate and bring another order of fried chicken.”
“Okay.”
Yi Qian took the piece of fried chicken from his bowl and placed it in Huo Xiaoxiao’s. “I didn’t touch the fried chicken. Here you go.”
“Yi Qian, you are so good!”
While Huo Xiaoxiao was enjoying the fried chicken, Huo Suicheng hung up the phone on the balcony outside their private room.
“Mr. Huo…” a gentle, uncertain voice sounded from behind him.
Huo Suicheng followed the sound and saw Ji Wenxin standing a short distance behind him with wavering eyes.
“Do you remember me?”
Huo Suicheng gazed at her intensely. A long time passed before he said, “Ji Wenxin?”
“It’s me. I… just got back. I didn’t expect to meet you here.”
“What’s up?”
Ji Wenxin’s eyes turned expectant. “I have just one question. That little girl….”
Huo Suicheng’s expression was indifferent, as if the person in front of him was just an insignificant passerby. “My daughter.”
Ji Wenxin brightened up, but her surprise was gradually dimmed by Huo Suicheng’s indifferent expression. “How has she been all these years?”
“Good.”
Ji Wenxin bit her lip. “My brother’s matter has caused you trouble. I’ve already told him not to bother you anymore.”
“You’re more thoughtful than your brother.”
“I… I was forced, Mr. Huo, but I can—”
“Miss Ji, I think at this time, in your present capacity, it would be best if you did not make any requests.”
“I know, but I’m still her—”
“Xiaoxiao has never asked me about her mother. I’ll tell her if she asks someday, but until then, I don’t want her to find out about you from anyone.”
Huo Suicheng did not hesitate to interrupt her words. For the woman in front of him, he did not have much empathy. He rarely thought from the perspective of others to understand the hardship. If it wasn’t for that one night in a hotel three years ago, they might never have crossed paths.
Ji Wenxin lowered her head in embarrassment. “I understand. Sorry to bother you, Mr. Huo.”
Huo Suicheng passed by her with a stern face.
Even after three years, Ji Wenxin never thought she would see him again.
Thinking back to that fateful night three years ago and the heartbreaking departure two years ago, to this day, she didn’t know if she had done anything wrong or not.
When Huo Suicheng returned to the private room, he heard Aunt Zhao talking as soon as he entered the door.
“Xiaoxiao, if Master Huo finds out, you’ll never be spared.”
Huo Suicheng raised his eyebrows and looked at Huo Xiaoxiao. “What is it that I don’t know?”
“Nothing! I wanted ice cream, but Aunt wouldn’t let me have it.”
“Is that so?” Huo Suicheng sat down at the table and glanced at Aunt Zhao.
Huo Xiaoxiao’s hands were pressed together under the table as she stared at Aunt Zhao with pleading eyes.
Aunt Zhao sighed helplessly. “Yes. Xiaoxiao insisted on having ice cream.”
“You just had one this morning. Are you not afraid of a stomach ache?”
Huo Xiaoxiao whispered, “Don’t eat, don’t eat…”
Huo Suicheng looked at the food on the table that had been barely touched, as if they were waiting for him.
“Why didn’t you eat?”
“Wait for Daddy.”
""
Huo Suicheng looked at the plate of untouched fried chicken again and couldn’t believe that the little girl would be so well-behaved. “You didn’t even eat the fried chicken?”
Huo Xiaoxiao’s face didn’t even blush, and she said with a calm heart, “Wait for Daddy.”
Huo Suicheng looked at Aunt Zhao, and Aunt Zhao smiled weakly.
He looked at Yi Qian again, and Yi Qian quickly lowered his head.
Huo Suicheng gave her a piece of fried chicken without batting his eyes. “Eat.”
“Thank you, Daddy!”
Huo Xiaoxiao, who had managed to escape, let out a sigh of relief, held her chopsticks unsteadily, and gave Auntie Zhao a piece of tender fish. “Auntie, eat.”
“Auntie will do it. You eat yourself.”
After finishing the fried chicken, Huo Xiaoxiao set her eyes on Huo Suicheng again. “Daddy, can I have another piece? Just one piece.”
“Last piece.”
“Thanks, Daddy!”
Huo Xiaoxiao picked up a chicken leg and ate heartily, enjoying it like a hamster.
""
After nibbling on the chicken leg, she was sensible enough to not ask for any more. However, a whole plate of fried chicken later, she couldn’t eat more than two bites of steak.
“Daddy, I’m full.”
“Aren’t you hungry? Why eat so little?”
“I’m full. Daddy, take your time to eat.”
Huo Xiaoxiao’s stomach was a little uncomfortable.
She had been indeed too greedy. It was now time for the side effects to kick in.
She had underestimated the greasiness of the fried chicken and the lack of digestion of this little body.
The few people didn’t take too long to finish their meal. The waiter then brought the bill.
“Mr. Huo, you have spent a total of twenty-three thousand five hundred and twenty-eight yuan this time.”
Huo Suicheng was not used to looking at bills, so he handed the waiter a bank card.
“Yes, just a moment, please.”
Huo Suicheng got up and inadvertently glanced at the bill at hand.
He was accustomed to reading text at a glance and rarely missed any details. Thus, he noticed the amount of fried chicken on the bill, x2.
Two orders?
Huo Suicheng took a closer look at the bill.
“Why are there two orders of fried chicken?” He took the bill and looked at Huo Xiaoxiao.
“…I don’t know.”
“Huo Xiaoxiao, do you want me to call the waiter?”
“…”
At this moment, the waiter entered the private room. When the door was opened, Huo Xiaoxiao grabbed Yi Qian and ran away.
“Huo Xiaoxiao!”
“Xiaoxiao, stay where you are!”
Huo Suicheng took the bank card from the waiter and quickly followed them out.
The dining hall of the restaurant was full of people. Huo Xiao dragged Yi Qian towards the entrance of the restaurant.
“Xiaoxiao, you… don’t run. When Uncle Huo asks later, I’ll say I ate it.”
“No. Do you think my dad is that stupid? He knows that I ate it. We have to get out of here. Dead men tell no tales!”
A little girl suddenly appeared around the corner. Huo Xiaoxiao was inattentive and failed to stop in time, and the three of them instantly crashed into each other.
The little girl was knocked backward and landed on her bottom, while Huo Xiaoxiao was knocked back and stumbled, tripping over Yi Qian. The two of them fell into a heap.
The little girl cried on the spot.
“Oooh… it hurts!”
“Qianqian, what’s wrong?” The girl’s mother came at once and held the little girl in her arms.
Qianqian pointed at Huo Xiaoxiao and Yi Qian, weeping as she said, “They… bumped me!”
“Bumped you? Did you get injured after the fall?”
“Hurt!”
The woman looked over at Huo Xiaoxiao with a heavy frown. “Which family’s child are you? Why are you running wildly around here? Where are your parents?”
Yi Qian helped Huo Xiaoxiao up in a hurry and looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
“Auntie, sorry, we didn’t mean it.”
“Where are your parents? How can you two children run through the hall with so many people? Don’t you know it’s dangerous?”
The two children stood still and did not speak.
“Qianqian is good; stop crying.”
Qianqian pointed to her legs. ”It hurts.”
“Mommy, look… Qianqian’s leg is fine, not crying anymore.”
Aunt Zhao came up behind her.
“Xiaoxiao, why are you running so fast? Be careful. You might fall!”
Huo Xiaoxiao turned back and said depressingly, “I did fall.”
“Where did you fall. Let Aunt Zhao see.”
“I bumped my head, but it doesn’t hurt. Yi Qian also fell. Yi Qian, are you in pain?”
Yi Qian shook his head.
“And we accidentally bumped into this lady’s daughter.”
Aunt Zhao looked at the woman holding the child in front of her and said, “Excuse me, is your daughter okay?”
“You are these children’s…”
“I’m the aunt who takes care of them both.”
The woman looked unhappy and said, “They are too naughty. There are so many people here; it’s dangerous to run around!”
“What’s going on?” A deep voice sounded at this moment. Huo Suicheng had arrived at the scene. His eyes chilled slightly when he saw Ji Wenxin holding the child.
Aunt Zhao hurriedly explained, “Xiaoxiao accidentally bumped into this little girl.”
Huo Suicheng looked at Huo Xiaoxiao, “Did you apologize?”
Huo Xiaoxiao nodded. “Apologized.”
“Let’s go then.”He didn’t even look at Ji Wenxin, passing by her side as he walked over to Huo Xiaoxiao. Huo Suicheng bowed and picked her up. “Were you hurt?”
Huo Xiaoxiao covered her forehead and wrinkled her small face. “I hit my head.”
“No running around in crowded places from now on.”
“Hmm.”
The little girl who had been hit behind her was still crying.
Huo Xiaoxiao looked over Huo Suicheng’s shoulder. For some reason, when she saw the woman holding the child, she always had an unexplained feeling in her heart. It was a familiar feeling, as if she had seen her somewhere before.
Until Huo Suicheng and the others left the restaurant, Ji Wenxin was still standing there with a pale face.
Previously, the distance from the entrance of the restaurant was too far. She didn’t see what the child in Huo Suicheng’s arms looked like until she saw him picking up Huo Xiaoxiao.
“Wenxin, what’s going on? Why is Qianqian crying like this?”
“Daddy!”
The man quickly took over the child. “What’s wrong, Qianqian?”
“Just now… Someone bumped into me. It hurts.”
“Who bumped into you?”
“I don’t know. They’re gone.”
""
“Gone?” The man looked at Ji Wenxin. “Wenxin, what’s going on?”
Ji Wenxin took a deep breath and smiled stiffly. She was feeling quite at a loss. “It’s fine. Just… just a couple of kids running around in the hall accidentally bumped into her. Qianqian is fine.”
The man could not say anything more on the topic. “Let’s just leave. I’ve booked a private room. Let’s go in.”
Ji Wenxin nodded absentmindedly. “Okay.”
Huo Suicheng, who was holding Huo Xiaoxiao in his arms, left the restaurant without saying a word.
Huo Xiaoxiao also lay on his shoulders with worry clouding her heart.
Sensing that something was wrong with Huo Xiaoxiao’s mood, Huo Suicheng, who planned to settle the score later, placed a hand on her back and asked her in a low voice, “What’s wrong?”
Huo Xiaoxiao shook her head.
“Did it hurt?”
Huo Xiaoxiao shook her head again.
Huo Suicheng became silent.
He knew very well the importance of a mother to a child. He wondered what Huo Xiaoxiao was thinking when she saw a mother holding her crying daughter in her arms for comfort.
Would she be envious?
Wouldn’t you wonder why other people had mothers, but you didn’t?
Would she ask him where her mother was?
Aunt Zhao asked, “Are you sleepy?”
Huo Suicheng also said in a warm voice, “Are you sleepy?”
Huo Xiaoxiao nodded.
“Let’s go to the hotel for a while.”
Ocean Park had a unique hotel, and one of their most distinctive rooms was the Underwater Suite.
Behind the curtain was a ‘blue sea’ separated by glass, an inch of glass behind which you could get a close view of the colorful schools of fish swimming around.
Huo Xiaoxiao had no time to appreciate the features of this room. She was now lying lazily on the bed and covering her stomach, not wanting to say a word.
Ah, must bear with it.
She regretted her prior actions of eating a whole plate of fried chicken by herself.
But she couldn’t say anything.
Otherwise, her dad would have to deal with her for eating an extra serving of fried chicken.
T/N: Applicable in the rides, the speedy passage allows visitors to avoid the long waiting time in lines and use the time waiting for admission to go to other facilities to play, e.g. Disneyland.
