novelhk Chapter 52 is quite well-behaved.
Chapter 52 is quite well-behaved.
What Shu Hua said to her fans in the live stream yesterday was absolutely true.
In their family, Daddy is the one who holds real power; if he says one thing, no one dares to say another.
Even though Daddy seems to dote on her a lot, it's only because those things don't matter to Huo Linzhou.
"Fine," Shu Hua sighed inwardly, her shoulders slumping.
After all, Daddy gave her a comfortable life and the confidence to do whatever she wanted.
This small request is just compensation for staying home every day, and a way to exercise.
Thinking about it this way, my resistance lessened a bit.
Shu Hua raised her eyes and looked at Duan Jiyu and He Peiji sitting to the side, observing their calm and composed expressions.
For some reason, I felt that they were also fellow sufferers who had been thoroughly arranged by Huo Linzhou.
They must have taken over some family business, right? They must be quite busy usually.
So, does that mean she only needs to come out occasionally, go through the motions, and complete her mission?
Shu Hua silently calculated in her mind that once a month should be the limit. Should that be enough?
Duan Jiyu and He Peiji, whom Shu Hua silently categorized as brothers in misfortune, happened to catch her gaze.
The two subconsciously exchanged a glance, both seeing undisguised surprise in each other's eyes.
Their previous joke about Uncle Huo raising a daughter was just a joke.
They didn't take it seriously at all, thinking it was just a metaphor.
But seeing this scene with my own eyes now, it's no joke at all.
They watched Uncle Huo raise his daughter, and they saw that he took it very seriously and cared deeply for her.
Not to mention that cheesy nickname that gives you goosebumps—a soft, sweet "baby".
Uncle Huo's single word, "Good boy," which sounded both coaxing and unquestionable, was enough to leave the two of them speechless.
Good heavens, is this really something that Uncle Huo, who is usually decisive and stern, would say?
Not to mention that just now, Shu Hua had only softly called out "Daddy" and hadn't even had a chance to say anything else when Uncle Huo seemed to have accurately predicted what Shu Hua was going to say and directly shut her up with a single sentence.
This detail also shows that the two at least get along very well and have a good understanding of each other's temperaments.
Compared to Huo Linzhou, Duan Jiyu had interacted with Shu Hua quite a bit in the live broadcast room and was more familiar with her.
After the initial surprise, they quickly calmed down and simply treated it as witnessing a typical day in the Huo family's life.
However, He Peiji, who had more contact with Huo Linzhou in his work and life, had a completely different opinion of Shu Hua at this moment.
Originally, in his eyes, Shu Hua was just an interesting little streamer, someone he could casually bring up when chatting with Uncle Huo in the future.
But now that he has witnessed firsthand Huo Linzhou's protection and thoughtful arrangements for her, he truly treats Shu Hua as the Huo family's little princess.
Uncle Huo specifically instructed them to take her out to play more often.
As for whether there are deeper intentions to integrate her into their circle, it's hard to say for sure at the moment.
But at the very least, we absolutely cannot treat her as just an insignificant little streamer anymore.
Huo Linzhou has always been a decisive and efficient person. Once he decided to let Shu Hua go out more, he didn't delay at all.
Seeing that everyone had almost finished eating, they put down their chopsticks and decided that after the meal, Duan Jiyu and He Peiji would take Shu Hua shopping.
Before the two of them came to keep their appointment today, Huo Linzhou had already informed them of all the plans for the day.
She was naturally prepared for this, and there was no extra reaction on her face.
Only Shu Hua, the central figure at the dinner party, let out a silent wail upon hearing these words, almost losing her composure.
After Huo Linzhou received a phone call and left, leaving only the three young people in the private room, Shu Hua immediately felt like she had found a savior.
He approached the two of them, trying to negotiate with them to see if they could complete the task in a more relaxed manner, such as wandering around for ten minutes and then going home separately.
Unfortunately, neither Duan Jiyu nor He Peiji were kind-hearted people.
The two men saw through Shu Hua's reluctance at a glance and showed no sympathy whatsoever.
Instead, they all laughed, the corners of their mouths curving upwards with a hint of malice.
"Don't even think about it," Duan Jiyu raised an eyebrow, his tone slightly mocking. "Uncle Huo has set strict standards. He has to take you around for at least two hours and take photos for his report. You can't just slack off."
He Peiji nodded slowly in agreement, adding seriously, "That's right, Uncle Huo specifically instructed that we can't leave until we've finished shopping."
Shu Hua had no idea that this was a lie concocted by the two of them. Just thinking about Huo Linzhou's unwavering nature, she actually believed it. She hung her head, her face full of despair.
Duan Jiyu, who had been relentlessly teased by Shu Hua in the live stream, couldn't help but chuckle to himself upon seeing this.
He really didn't expect that Shu Hua, who was usually quirky and eloquent in the live broadcast room, and could make both her fans and him have a good time, was actually quite naive in private, and in some ways, very easy to fool.
In the bustling department store, the cool white lights shone on the gleaming marble floor, casting many shadowy figures.
Shu Hua was sandwiched between Duan Jiyu and He Peiji, her steps dragging as if she were weighed down with lead, looking like a listless kitten being forcibly dragged out of its warm little nest.
Her once high, neat, and stylish silver-gray ponytail was now drooping listlessly, with a few wispy strands falling down her neck and swaying gently with her slow steps.
Her eyelids were half-closed, and her long eyelashes drooped down, concealing the reluctance in her eyes.
My mind keeps replaying the image of that beanbag chair at home, the kind you could sink into and never want to get up, and the unfinished snacks next to it.
Duan Jiyu waved his phone in his hand. The screen was completely black, but a sly smile curved his lips, and his tone carried an air of undeniable authority:
"Uncle Huo said that you don't like to go out usually, so today I'm going to take you around properly. You're not allowed to slack off."
I especially need to buy you more clothes. Young women should dress up a bit and not always stay at home in their pajamas.
He Peiji, with one hand in his pocket, strolled slowly along the other side, his gaze casually sweeping over the mannequins in exquisite clothes in the shop window before turning to the dejected Shu Hua and saying:
"The second floor is the women's clothing section. Shall we start with the current season's haute couture?"
His voice remained steady and deep, revealing no emotion, but the fleeting interest in his eyes betrayed his true feelings.
Clearly, a game called "Miracle Drawing" had already been tacitly agreed upon between the two.
In fact, this game targeting Shu Hua was secretly planned by Duan Jiyu and He Peiji on the way to the department store.
The two sat in the back seat, heads close together, exchanging whispers. In just a few words, they figured out the key information: Shu Hua knew absolutely nothing about the true purpose of today's dinner party, and had complete trust in Huo Linzhou.
As long as they bring up the phrase "This is what Uncle Huo said," she will most likely obediently comply.
As for what kind of words to use to win over this timid little kitten, that was naturally decided by Duan Jiyu, who knew Shu Hua's personality relatively well.
Indeed, that was the case. Shu Hua listened to the two mention Huo Linzhou's name without a shred of doubt.
In her opinion, these were the kinds of things Huo Linzhou would say. Besides, buying clothes is practically a standard part of shopping at a department store, so there's really nothing to question.
The three walked side by side in the bustling shopping mall, and wherever they went, countless eyes followed them, clinging to them and unwilling to look away.
People with good looks naturally attract attention, let alone three stunningly beautiful faces that are enough to amaze passersby. It's like a walking magazine cover; it's hard not to notice them.
In a corner rest area of the mall, a girl holding a milk tea caught sight of the three figures. Her eyes lit up, and she quickly lowered her head to type rapidly on her phone screen:
"I think I saw Young Master Duan and Young Master He together with a girl. They were absolutely gorgeous!"
After sending the message, she hurriedly raised her phone and secretly took a picture of the three of them before sending it to them.
After waiting for a while, there was still no response from the other end of the chat window. The girl pursed her lips, muttered "boring" under her breath, and then turned and left with her bag.
Anyway, she's already spread the message; whether others read it or not is their business.
Before Shu Hua could react, the two men grabbed her arms on either side and pushed her into a luxury brand store known for its dreamy curtains and soft lighting.
The sales assistants in the store had sharp eyes; they could tell from the three people's demeanor that they were big customers, and immediately came over with warm, enthusiastic smiles.
He Peiji was the first to loosen his grip on Shu Hua, quickly assuming the role of "stylist director." His slender fingertips casually traced a row of shimmering dresses on the hanger, his gaze precisely settling on a gown:
"This hazy blue strapless dress with its unique backless design is a perfect match for her cool-toned silver-gray hair."
Duan Jiyu stood on the other side, scanning the clothes before pointing precisely to the sharply tailored, off-white wide-leg jumpsuit on the model, his tone confident:
"Let's choose something more casual. This style is more suitable for her lazy body and it's comfortable to wear."
After they finished speaking, they exchanged a glance, a sly glint in their eyes, sparks flying—this game called "Miracle Drawing" was a decisive battle right from the start.
"I don't..." Shu Hua was about to protest when two light, flowing clothes were stuffed into her arms, silencing her.
She looked at the clothes in her arms, then at the two men's unyielding gazes, and could only resign herself to her fate, clutching the clothes and slowly slipping into the fitting room.
After dawdling for quite a while, she finally managed to open the fitting room door a crack.
The effect was naturally stunning.
A good-looking person can't hide their beauty even if they're wearing a burlap sack, let alone a perfectly tailored haute couture gown.
The hazy blue dress perfectly accentuated her slender waist, making her already fair skin appear as translucent as snow. The graceful lines of her shoulder blades were beautifully revealed on her back, and her long, silver-gray hair was casually draped over her shoulders, complementing the cool-toned dress and instantly maximizing her aloof and glamorous aura.
However, she stood crookedly, her shoulders slumped, and her fingers were unconsciously fiddling with the pink diamond cherry blossom bracelet on her wrist, looking listless and ruining the exquisite feel of the dress.
"Mind your balance! Watch your balance!" Duan Jiyu leaned against the shelf with his arms crossed, teasing him mercilessly, adding at the end,
"Hmm, this one isn't suitable for us to draw children. Here, let's change into this one."
After saying those words, which hit Shu Hua where it hurt, he didn't give her a chance to retort and directly handed her the milky white jumpsuit.
Shu Hua pouted and could only hug the clothes and crawl back into the fitting room.
The moment she put on the jumpsuit, the relaxed and casual vibe perfectly matched her temperament.
The wide trouser legs made her legs appear even longer and more stunning, and the soft milky white color neutralized the coolness between her brows and eyes, making her look like a pampered house cat carefully raised in a golden nest.
Just as she was about to take a step to prove how comfortable the dress was, her toes tripped very slightly, and she stumbled forward half a step. Fortunately, the quick-thinking sales assistant caught her in time so she didn't fall.
"Hmm, the flat-ground wrestling buff is indeed triggering reliably."
Duan Jiyu, who was watching from the sidelines, saw everything clearly and skillfully added insult to injury.
Shu Hua glared at him resentfully, her cheeks puffing out slightly, looking just like an angry little hamster.
But this appearance only made Duan Jiyu's smile deepen.
The time that followed became a full-blown fashion show command battle between Duan Jiyu and He Peiji.
He Peiji was keen to transform her into a cool and edgy dark goddess, with gothic lace dresses, black short jackets adorned with rhinestones, and Martin boots with metal chains appearing one after another, as if he wanted to pile all the cold and glamorous elements onto her.
Duan Jiyu was determined to tap into her inner "kitten" potential, and he pulled out all sorts of soft mohair knitwear, fluffy bunny ear headbands, and light-colored loose sweatshirts, stuffing them into Shu Hua's arms one after another.
Shu Hua was like a soulless life-size BJD doll, being directed by two enthusiastic men to turn around, raise her hands, and tilt her head to pose for photos.
Each time she came out of the fitting room, the expression of utter despair on her face deepened, until finally she couldn't even be bothered to open her eyes anymore. Occasionally, she would let out a big yawn, and a few drops of physiological tears would well up in the corners of her eyes, making her look both pitiful and adorable.
Looking at her like this, Duan Jiyu suddenly felt a sense of emotion—he really didn't expect Shu Hua to be so cooperative, without the slightest bit of temper.
At that moment, he suddenly felt that Huo Linzhou's "my darling" was indeed the right thing to do.
This girl is indeed very well-behaved!
Once Shu Hua leaves the live stream, she sheds her quirky and mischievous energy and becomes just a soft, cuddly kitten with all its claws tucked in—so adorable!