CH 26

Chapter 26: Not Guilty (1)

Huo Suicheng had never seen such a naughty kid before.

She looked like an innocent child; however, at the age of two, she was much smarter and sensible compared to any child of her age.

Others said she was smart and cute, yet the things she did always irritate people.

Huo Suicheng had a spare shirt and suit in his office. He took it out and then removed the turtle-painted shirt he was wearing. He then put the new suit on.

He couldn’t see the back of his shirt before. When Huo Suicheng had it on his hand, he was finally able to clearly see the turtle painted on his shirt.

The image was so lifelike. For a two-year-old child, it was a natural talent to be able to draw such a turtle.

For a moment, Huo Suicheng really didn’t know whether Huo Xiaoxiao had painted this turtle intentionally or unintentionally.

However, depending on the relationship with his daughter this year, deep inside his heart, Huo Suicheng gave Huo Xiaoxiao the label “deliberately”.

With her grandfather spoiling her, she was getting more and more naughty!

In the meeting with the archaeological expert team, Huo Suicheng’s face was stern and frosty throughout the whole process. If Yi Yang hadn’t helped to resolve the dispute, this meeting would not go on smoothly.

“President Huo, regarding the ancient tomb, our expert team is currently still investigating it. According to the results so far, we infer that this may be a tomb before the Ming Dynasty, and it is well-preserved. We are currently studying whether the tomb can be opened or not.”

Huo Suicheng nodded.

As a matter of fact, in Luming Mountain, even if the ancient tomb was well-protected, it could still be opened. As long as they wanted to use their hands and feet, also a few people were needed to break the ancient tomb so the archeologists could enter the tomb and protect the ancient relics.

“This time around, there is one more thing. I hope that President Huo and President Yi can cooperate with our department.”

At the end of the meeting, the expert team’s head stood up and shook hands with Huo Suicheng and Yi Yang and others to thank them.

“Thank you for your support of our archeological work. Regarding the excavation of the ancient tomb, we will notify both of you immediately once progress has been made.”

Huo Suicheng nodded and asked his assistant to send out the team.

Yi Yang couldn’t help sighing as soon as the members of the expert team left.

“From their words, I guess they want to protect the tomb.”

“It is close to the sea, with a mountain behind it. And it is not that difficult to dig the big tomb. Even if they really want to protect, there’s no shortage of people who would sacrifice their life for money, right?”

Yi Yang was thoughtful.

A long while later.

“Don’t talk about this. Let’s talk about the turtle behind you! Was it painted by Xiaoxiao? Such a drawing, she has good talent.”

“…” Huo Suicheng stood up suddenly. “I will contact you if I make any progress. You can go back if there is nothing else.”

For the remaining day, Huo Suicheng’s face was stern, and he talked with harsh words. His attitude and behavior made people stop at the entrance.

Several assistants knew that their boss was in a bad mood, and they all shuddered. They prayed in their hearts that there would be no problems with their work, to avoid setting fire to themselves.

————

Huo Xiaoxiao had never been so tortured as today. She was restless and absent-minded all day long.

She was regretting a little.

Although her dad had tried to treat her like a foolish child last night and she was in a good mood when she painted the turtle, she didn’t want to face him when he returned home.

Maybe her father wanted to let her experience a complete childhood instead.

After all, he wished to teach her for a long time already.

Teasing her dad for a short while was fun, but the aftermath was scary.

She might have crossed the line today.

‘No, I have to find a way to save myself.’

" "

“Xiaoxiao, come here and take a look. This is the data your father gave to Grandpa; which kindergarten do you wish to go to?”

Old Master Huo came over with a tablet and showed Huo Xiaoxiao the information regarding several kindergartens that Huo Suicheng had given him.

Huo Xiaoxiao, at this age, understood just a few words of her grandpa. These kindergartens were among the best, with great teachers and high quality of atmosphere.

What made her speechless was that the annual tuition fees of these private kindergartens were simply sky-high.

Huo Xiaoxiao didn’t want to pick since she didn’t want to go at all. Facing Old Master Huo, she was still struggling to go to kindergarten or not.

“Grandpa, do you not love me anymore?”

“How can that be possible? Grandpa loves Xiaoxiao the most. Didn’t Grandpa say it before? Going to kindergarten is your dad’s decision. Be obedient and pick one; otherwise, Dad will be angry when he comes home at night.”

“If that’s the case… can Grandpa… tell Daddy, not to send me to the kindergarten. If Dad doesn’t listen, then Grandpa should hit and scold him!”

Old Master Huo laughed out loud and said, “Okay, when your dad returns home, Grandpa will scold him! How can he send Xiaoxiao to kindergarten so early?”

Huo Xiaoxiao’s eyes shone brightly.

“But Xiaoxiao, if your dad doesn’t listen to Grandpa, Grandpa also has no choice.”

Huo Xiaoxiao’s joyous expression quickly dropped.

Old Master Huo was amused by her expression then smiled. He couldn’t help but cough with his head down.

“Master, are you okay?”

“Grandpa!”

Old Master Huo calmly coughed twice, waved his hand, and said, “Grandpa is fine.”

Huo Xiaoxiao walked behind him and said, “Grandpa… You look like…”

There was a cartoon show playing on the TV, with an old tortoise floating slowly and leisurely on the bottom of the sea.

Huo Xiaoxiao pointed at the TV and said, “Grandpa, you are like that tortoise, a thousand years old!”

Huo Xiaoxiao’s words amused Old Master Huo again, “Xiaoxiao hopes Grandpa lives for a thousand years?”

“Yes!”

“Listening to what Xiaoxiao said, Grandpa will surely live a long life!”

Grandpa turtle….

Huo Xiaoxiao had a sudden inspiration.

Right!

She quickly ran upstairs with her short legs, found one of her own clothes, and drew a turtle on it. She then took out one of Old Master Huo’s ironed clothes from the laundry room and went downstairs.

“Grandpa, take a look. I drew this turtle.”

“Xiaoxiao drew it yourself? It’s so good.”

She then took Old Master Huo’s clothes and said, “I want to draw one for Grandpa.”

Old Master Huo certainly would not refuse Huo Xiaoxiao’s wish just for a piece of clothing, “Okay, draw then.”

Huo Xiaoxiao painted a tortoise on Old Master Huo’s clothes with great enthusiasm. After she was finished, she pointed at the tortoise on both clothes. “Mine, Grandpa’s.”

“Where is Daddy’s?”

“Drew for him already.”

“Xiaoxiao has no conscience. You painted for Daddy, first then drew for Grandpa?”

“No, I like Grandpa the most! Daddy is bad. He wants to send me to kindergarten!”

Old Master Huo was amused by Huo Xiaoxiao’s words.

“Old Master, Young Master is back.”

After Chen Bo reported, Huo Xiaoxiao and Old Master Huo both looked up at the door.

They saw Huo Suicheng walking in with a shirt in his hand. He had a gloomy face and reached the living room in seven or eight giant steps.

From the door to the living room, he didn’t say a word. His eyes were filled with anger and a raging fire.

Huo Xiaoxiao was frightened and subconsciously wanted to run.

‘Wait a moment.’

‘I cannot run.’

If she ran, it meant she was guilty.

Guilty about what?

Not guilty!

Her dad was stingy. Didn’t she just draw a turtle? Why did he need to be so angry?

Looking at his face, she thought that she had done something terribly sinful.

" "

Old Master Huo also noticed his expression and asked, “What’s the matter? What’s with the ugly face?”

Because of Old Master Huo’s words, Huo Suicheng remembered that his father always protected and loved Huo Xiaoxiao.

No, he couldn’t let the elderly know about this matter until the ignorant child was taught.

Huo Suicheng’s facial expression softened forcibly, and he said, “It’s nothing big, you are…”

“Regarding Xiaoxiao going to kindergarten, I’m letting her choose.”

“She is only a child; how can she understand what’s best for her?” Huo Sui Cheng was about to bow to hug Huo Xiaoxiao. However, she was startled and took a step back.

Huo Suicheng raised his eyebrows and hugged his daughter directly with his hands.

“Dad, Xiaoxiao and I will talk about the kindergarten matter. I’ll bring her down shortly.”

Old Master Huo felt that Huo Suicheng was going to be the bad guy, so he waved his hand. “Go, go, talk to her.”

Huo Xiaoxiao panicked. He was taking her away from her grandpa’s sight to teach her a lesson!

“Grandpa!”

Huo Suicheng whispered, “Don’t shout!”

Huo Xiaoxiao shut her mouth. She was carried all the way to the room upstairs by Huo Suicheng.

Once the door closed, only the father and daughter were inside the room.

Huo Xiaoxiao took a deep breath.

‘Don’t panic! Hold on, the problem is not big.’

“Daddy…”

Huo Suicheng unfolded his shirt, showing her the tortoise on his back.

“Is this your drawing?”

Huo Xiaoxiao nodded honestly.

“Did the teacher teach you?”

Huo Xiaoxiao nodded again.

“The painting is very good. I didn’t expect that you can draw the tortoise so well now. You are talented in drawing, and I am very happy, but…” Huo Suicheng’s tone suddenly changed, and he seriously]y asked, “Your teacher never taught you that you can only paint on a drawing board or paper, not on other places?”

“…She did.”

“Then who asked you to draw?”

Huo Suicheng’s tone was too harsh, causing Huo Xiaoxiao to step back in fright. She looked at him timidly.

“Early in the morning, you deliberately took this shirt from the dressing room and put it on for me. Why?”

“I… I…” Huo Xiaoxiao panicked and stuttered, so anxious that she could barely pronounce a word. “I want to… want to paint.”

“If you want to draw, you can draw on a piece of paper. Why did you have to do it on Daddy’s shirt? Do you know it is not the right thing to do?”

She, of course, knew that it was wrong, but if it wasn’t for treating her like a fool last night, she wouldn’t have been so angry.

Huo Xiaoxiao grasped her thighs quietly, and her eyes gradually misted over. She looked at him pitifully before nodding.

Huo Suicheng looked at her seriously. “Originally, I planned to return your little school bag to you tomorrow, but I have decided to keep it for the time being because of your mischievousness. I’ll return it to you once I see improvements in your behavior.”

“…” Huo Xiaoxiao was in pain, heart-piercing pain.

She squeezed her mouth, her nose was sour and unbearable, and her eyes gradually blurred and were covered with a layer of mist. Still, she stubbornly held on, rubbed her head and tears on the shirt, smudging large areas.

“Daddy…”

However, Huo Suicheng’s iron heart wasn’t moved at all. “Also, this shirt is dirty because you drew on it. You have to bear the consequences if you do something wrong.”

After he finished, he picked up Huo Xiaoxiao, brought her to the bathroom, and stuffed his shirt into Huo Xiaoxiao’s arms. He even thoughtfully found laundry detergent and a small basin and said, “Wash it clean.”

“…” Huo Xiaoxiao looked at Huo Suicheng. She couldn’t help it anymore as tears cascaded down like a waterfall. She replied, “I am not going to wash it.”

“You are the one who drew that, so shouldn’t you wash it yourself?”

Huo Xiaoxiao hugged his clothes tightly and shook her head while crying. “No.”

“Why not? You painted this. Isn’t it right for you to wash it?”

“But…”

“Wash it clean. Daddy is here to accompany you.”

Huo Xiaoxiao looked aggrieved. She hugged his shirt as if it was a baby, but she didn’t wash it. Seeing Huo Suicheng’s stern behavior, she couldn’t help but weep in a low voice.

“Do not cry. Quickly wash it clean.”

Two drops of tears hit the shirt. Huo Xiaoxiao sobbed and put the shirt into the small basin, filled it with water, squeezed the laundry detergent, and rubbed the shirt with her little hand in grievance.

However, it was drawn using a marker. Even after one whole day passed, the ordinary detergent couldn’t make the shirt totally clean.

Huo Xiaoxiao rubbed it a few times until the basin full of foam came out, yet the mark stains on the shirt did not wash away much.

Patter, patter…

Tears fell into the basin, drop by drop.

“Daddy, it can’t be cleaned.”

Huo Suicheng didn’t really have the intention to let her wash the clothes. He was just using the opportunity to teach her a lesson.

“Do you understand your wrong-doing?”

Huo Xiaoxiao nodded.

Huo Suicheng finally let her go. He picked her up, washed the foam on her hands under the faucet, and said in a low voice, “No more paintings on Daddy’s clothes next time, okay?”

Huo Xiaoxiao nodded again.

After such an incident, Huo Xiaoxiao was in a daze. She did not eat much for dinner.

When Old Master Huo saw her, he asked Huo Suicheng, “What did you say when you brought her up?”

Huo Suicheng swallowed the food in his mouth and said, “Early this morning, she gave me a shirt from the dressing room and put it on for me. I didn’t pay attention and went with the flow. Only when I arrived at the company did I find out that she had drawn a tortoise on my back. I just taught her a lesson.”

“Tortoise? Just because of this?”

Huo Suicheng nodded. “This is not a trivial matter. You spoil her too much, and that’s why she’s getting more and more naughty.”

Old Master Huo put down his chopsticks and looked at Huo Xiaoxia. “Xiaoxiao, come here. Let Grandpa hold you.”

Huo Xiaoxiao looked at Huo Suicheng timidly and got into Old Master Huo’s arms.

Just as she got into his embrace, she couldn’t stop herself from crying.

It was as if a dam had broken. Gradually, she could no longer suppress her emotions under the caress and comfort of Old Master Huo and let out a loud cry.

She raised her head and pointed at Huo Suicheng with tears on her face. “Daddy… made me, made me wash his clothes. The tortoise, the tortoise is gone.”

“Washing clothes?”

Huo Suicheng: “She got it dirty, so shouldn’t she wash it herself?”

Old Master Huo, with a blaming gaze, looked at Huo Sui Cheng, “You… you…!”

“Grandpa, the tortoise… the tortoise is gone!”

“It’s okay, it’s okay, don’t cry. Since your dad doesn’t like it, then next time, don’t draw for him. Grandpa loves it. Xiaoxiao, just draw it for Grandpa then.”

Huo Suicheng looked puzzled. Before he could ask, Old Master Huo held Huo Xiaoxiao and left the dinner table.

Chen Bo understood the situation and sighed. “Why didn’t Young Master make the situation clear first?”

“What happened?”

Chen Bo brought two clothes over and spread them on the sofa.

One was a small white T-shirt, while the other was Old Master Huo’s white shirt. There were two naive little turtles painted on the back.

“These are all painted by Xiaoxiao. From Xiaoxiao’s explanation, she wants the parents and child to wear the same outfit.”

“…Tortoise drawing?”

“Yesterday, Xiaoxiao watched an adventure of the tortoise. Inside, there was a tortoise grandfather who was over a thousand years old. She said that she wished that Old Master Huo and you could live like the tortoise grandfather, until a thousand years old.”

Huo Suicheng was speechless for a while. His throat seemed to be choked, and he couldn’t say a word.

“Xiaoxiao is still young, so she doesn’t understand that her way of doing is wrong. But her intentions are good; how could you let her wash the shirt?”

Remembering how he had forced her just now, the aggrieved eyes, and the tears that fell in the basin, Huo Suicheng had mixed feelings. He had never had guilt in his heart.

The crying noise in the living room intensified.

Chen Bo tried to persuade him. “Young Master, go and coax her.”

Although Huo Suicheng was holding the chopsticks in his hand, how could he still have the mood to eat? In the end, he put down the chopsticks and got up.

Huo Xiaoxiao cried bitterly, almost boring a hole in the roof with her screams.

“Okay, stop crying. Let’s no longer paint for Daddy; paint for Grandpa only in the future. He doesn’t like it, but Grandpa loves it a lot.”

Old Master Huo glared at Huo Suicheng, his eyes signaling that he could not coax her.

Huo Suicheng stretched out his hand and wanted to hug Huo Xiaoxiao, but when she turned her head and saw that it was him, she quickly got into Old Master Huo’s arms. She held onto his neck firmly and did not let go, crying all the while. “I don’t want Daddy! Daddy, go away!”

Huo Suicheng’s hands stopped in midair with embarrassment.

“Okay, then don’t go to Daddy.”

“I hate Daddy!”

“Okay, we’ll ignore him!”

“I washed Daddy’s tortoise off…”

“If you washed it off, then that’s okay; it’s no big deal. Stop crying.”

“Daddy can’t live a thousand years.”

" "

“…He can. Even if the tortoise is washed off, your father still can live for a thousand years.”

In the end, Huo Xiaoxiao stopped crying only because she was tired.

Huo Suicheng sat in the living room, looking at the three clothing pieces with tortoises in front of him, slightly lost.

His was almost washed away. It was hard to see that it was originally a tortoise, while the other two showed that the tortoise was drawn by a child with great concentration.

”…”

‘She hoped that Father and I could be like the old tortoise, who lived a thousand years.’

Huo Suicheng closed his eyes.

It was only a shirt, and it was only a tortoise.

He shouldn’t have been so impulsive. Instead, he should have asked clearly before making any decisions.

Old Master Huo came downstairs, looked at Huo Suicheng on the sofa, and sighed heavily. “She is already asleep.”

Huo Suicheng replied, “Yes.”

“I know this is your first time being a father, and I know you have no experience, but, at the very least, you have to be patient with children. You can’t simply blame her without asking for the reason. You asked her to wash away the painting that she made for you; how saddened must she be?”

“I understand already. In the future… I will pay more attention.”

In the middle of the night, Huo Xiaoxiao’s room was slightly opened.

The warm orange lamp was shining above the big bed.

Huo Suicheng slowly walked to the side of the bed. The child on the bed was obviously already asleep. She cried until her eyelids swelled up. There were still tears on her small face, and even though she was sleeping, she couldn’t help but sob.

Huo Suicheng reached out, touched her small face, rubbed his fingers on her cheeks, and gently wiped away the tears on her cheeks.

The child’s wet eyelashes trembled as she kept sobbing. Huo Suicheng leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.

Old Master Huo was right: He was inexperienced and impatient. He often used his own ways to get along with children without considering their feelings.

After all, it was just the child’s drawing nature, so why be so harsh on her?

The child on the bed moved and opened her eyes quietly. While holding Huo Suicheng’s little finger in her hand, she yelled anxiously, “Daddy…”

Huo Suiicheng was startled. Looking at her flushed eyes, his voice softened. “I woke you up?”

Huo Xiaoxiao shook her head, hiccuped timidly, and asked, “Are you… still angry?”

With the heat coming from the little finger, the timid eyes, the tentative tone, and the sobbing nasal sound, how could Huo Suicheng’s heart not melt? He hugged Huo Xiaoxiao in his arms. “Were you shocked today?”

Huo Xiaoxiao laid on his shoulders and nodded.

“Next time… hiccup… can you not be so angry towards me?”

“Then, does Xiaoxiao want to draw a tortoise for Daddy?”

Huo Xiaoxiao looked at him with a pair of watery, clear eyes and said, “I thought Daddy doesn’t like it?”

“Daddy likes it. Can you draw another one for Daddy?”

Huo Xiaoxiao bit her lip and seemed to be thinking about it.

“Not willing? You and Grandpa have it, but Daddy doesn’t.”

“Daddy was the one who told me to wash it off!”

“Draw one more for Daddy, and Daddy will never wash it again.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

Huo Xiaoxiao considered it for a while and reluctantly said, “Then… well, I’ll draw you another one, but I have one condition.”

" "

“What condition?”

“Daddy, you… you can’t throw me into the sea.”

Huo Suicheng was startled. He didn’t expect that she would still remember what he had casually said the other night.

“I won’t.”

“Also, Daddy cannot throw other people.”

“Sure, I won’t throw other people.”

“Also… Daddy can’t bully me.”

“Sure, I won’t bully you anymore.”

“Also, Daddy cannot bully other people.”

Huo Sui Cheng asked a rhetorical question, “Who did I bully again?”

“…Anyway, cannot bully people.”

Huo Sui Cheng laughed. “Sure, I’ll listen to you. I won’t bully other people. Are there any more conditions?”

" "

“My small school bag…”

Huo Suicheng promised and said, “I’ll return it tomorrow.”

Huo Xiaoxiao lifted her head from his shoulders, looked at him with hopeful eyes, and said, “Can I… Can I not go to kindergarten?”

Huo Suicheng stretched out his hand to wipe her tears and said, “No. Grandpa is not in good health, so he can’t take care of you every day. Xiaoxiao can go to the kindergarten to play and draw with other children, okay?”

“Grandpa is ill?”

“Grandpa takes medicine every day, and he needs a good rest.”

Huo Xiaoxiao understood.

“Then… Then I’ll go to kindergarten, but you have to remember to pick me up.”

Huo Suicheng stroked the back of her head. “Of course, I’ll pick you up. How could I forget about it?”