After Descending the Mountain, Seven Big Brothers Spoil Me - Chapter 328

Chapter 328: Playing the Kidnapping Game Again
Zhouzhou was furious.

Qin Lie treated her so well that she instinctively believed all fathers should be as good as he was. She couldn’t fathom how some fathers could be so unreliable. It was utterly outrageous.

Patting Huo Ji’an’s shoulder with a sense of camaraderie, she said, “Don’t worry, little Skinny Pole. As long as I’m here, you can have as many dads as you want.”

“Okay.” After throwing the phone, Huo Ji’an felt drained and slumped into a chair. Hearing Zhouzhou’s words, he blinked his slightly reddened eyes and nodded.

If his father didn’t want him, then he wouldn’t want his father either!

Zhouzhou spent a good while talking to him, even offering her snacks to cheer him up. But seeing that Huo Ji’an was still downcast, she stood up and said, “Little Skinny Pole, I’ll sing for you.”

She had heard that listening to music could improve one’s mood when they were unhappy.

Just as Zhouzhou opened her mouth to sing, Huo Ji’an shivered in fright and quickly said, “I’m fine now, I’m fine. I’m not upset anymore.”

Her singing was enough to send someone away! He was only heartbroken over his father, not looking to die!

Terrified, he hurriedly said, “I’m sleepy,” and ran off.

Zhouzhou watched his retreating back, feeling a bit regretful. She hadn’t even started singing, and he was already not sad anymore. Did her singing really have such a powerful effect?

She must be amazing!

Zhouzhou proudly waggled her little head, and looking at Qin Bei and the others, she cheerfully said, “Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, Uncle Sweetie, I’ll sing for you!”

Hearing this, their expressions changed, and without a word, they dashed out.

Zhouzhou looked at the now empty room, her little head tilted in confusion. Were they sleepy too?

As she thought about it, she suddenly realized that must be it!

Zhouzhou immediately trotted after them on her short legs, joyfully saying, “Fifth Brother, Sixth Brother, I’ll sing you a lullaby!”

Hearing this, Qin Nan and Qin Bei stumbled and fell to the ground, but they quickly picked themselves up and scrambled back to their room.

What lullaby? More like a dirge! Most people charge for their singing; Zhouzhou’s singing was life-threatening.

Terrified, they slammed the door shut. As Zhouzhou was about to tiptoe to reach the door handle, Qin Lie walked over and picked her up, “Alright, don’t bother your brothers. Let them rest.”

“Okay,” Zhouzhou pouted regretfully, but before he could ask, she angrily recounted what had happened earlier, ending with, “Uncle Huo is just too much.”

Qin Lie was momentarily taken aback, seeing the indignant little girl. Amused and exasperated, he asked, “So, you all came back looking so secretive because you were planning to ‘kidnap’ Huo Ji’an?”

“Yes.” Zhouzhou nodded, the little tuft of hair on her head bobbing along with her. “But it was all for nothing.”

Thinking about the earlier events, Zhouzhou sighed, her double chin resting dejectedly on Qin Lie’s shoulder, her little chubby legs sprawling listlessly, “Little Skinny Pole must be very sad.”

Qin Lie gently patted her back, speaking softly, “Do you really want Huo Mingxuan to come back that badly?”

Zhouzhou shook her head, “Not anymore. I’ll just find Little Skinny Pole a new dad. This one is unreliable. Cheap things are no good; you get what you pay for.”

Her little bottom received a gentle pat.

Qin Lie looked down at her, “Am I cheap?”

“Of course not.” Zhouzhou hugged his face and gave him a kiss, “My dad is priceless, no amount of money could buy you!”

She hugged Qin Lie’s neck tightly, her chubby face rubbing against his, her little fat hands tickling his neck, “Tickle tickle.”

But Qin Lie wasn’t ticklish at all.

After playing for a while, he finally tickled her under the arms, making Zhouzhou giggle and lean back instantly.

Qin Lie was ready, his big hands steadying her.

Grandma Qin walked over just in time to see this, giving him a light slap, “A grown man acting so childish. Be careful not to drop Zhouzhou.”

“I won’t,” Zhouzhou quickly hugged Qin Lie again, “Daddy would never drop me.”

Grandma Qin couldn’t help but laugh, “This girl, I get it, your daddy is the best.”

She really was protective of him.

Qin Lie’s eyes were also full of laughter.

After playing with Zhouzhou for a while, he noticed she was starting to yawn, so he carried her to her room to sleep.

Once she was asleep, he quietly stepped out and headed to his study. He called his assistant, “Find out what project Huo Mingxuan is currently busy with.”

Even as a top entrepreneur, he didn’t seem as busy as Huo Mingxuan.

Soon, the assistant sent over the gathered information. Qin Lie glanced at it, tapping his fingers lightly, then picked up his phone and sent out a message.

At that moment, Huo Mingxuan was in a meeting.

Their project was about to be finalized, but the other party was dragging their feet, refusing to give a final decision, which was stalling their progress.

The days of stalemate had made him quite irritable. Hearing his phone ring, he impatiently picked it up, expecting another prank from Huo Ji’an. However, he saw a single sentence instead.

Seeing the content clearly, his eyes brightened—he finally understood where the problem lay!

“Gather everyone, we need to revise the plan…”

Thanks to this reminder, he finally grasped the other party’s concerns.

The next day, armed with the revised plan, he presented it to the other party. After reviewing it, they finally smiled and extended their hand, “Mr. Huo, it’s a pleasure to work with you.”

Huo Mingxuan shook their hand.

The project was secured.

But who had sent that message?

At the kindergarten, Zhouzhou was unaware that her father had already smoothed things over with Huo Mingxuan.

She was busy learning to dance with the teacher. Noticing Huo Ji’an looking glum, she quietly asked, “Little Skinny Pole, are you still upset?”

Huo Ji’an shook his head, “I’m not feeling well.”

The teacher, noticing his pale face, asked, “Ji’an, what’s wrong?”

Huo Ji’an replied, “Teacher, I’m not feeling well. Can I rest for a bit?”

Knowing his health wasn’t great, the teacher didn’t make things difficult for him. She gently patted his head, “Alright, you can go to the classroom. If you feel worse, let me know.”

“Okay.” Huo Ji’an nodded, said goodbye to Zhouzhou, and left.

But instead of going to the classroom, he walked further back, prompting the bodyguard to follow.

“Uncle Sweetie, you don’t need to follow me. I just want to be alone for a while,” Huo Ji’an said weakly.

Seeing his forlorn state, the bodyguard relented, “Alright, but call me if you need anything.”

“Okay.”

Huo Ji’an nodded, shuffling his feet as he walked away, looking utterly drained.

The bodyguard watched his small figure disappear and couldn’t help but sigh.

Poor kid.

Huo Ji’an sat on the steps, pulling out a candy to eat.

A while later, Zhouzhou finished her class and ran over, asking, “Uncle Sweetie, where’s little Skinny Pole?”

“He’s in the back, said he wants to be alone.”

“Oh, I’ll go check on him.” With that, Zhouzhou trotted off on her short legs but soon came back, confused, “Uncle Sweetie, little Skinny Pole isn’t there.”

She had searched all the classrooms but found no one.

Not there?

The bodyguard was puzzled, about to speak when his phone buzzed. It was a message from Huo Mingxuan.

A picture.

Followed by a message: “Are you playing the kidnapping game again?”

But they weren’t!

The bodyguard, who was supposed to be the “kidnapper,” was right there.

Suspiciously, he opened the picture and saw Huo Ji’an tied up tightly. His face changed instantly.

“Oh no, this time it’s real!”