After Ling Nuan's foot injury healed, Huo Linsheng took her to an auction.
It was the very gathering he had mentioned before, where both Shen Shaoqing and Huo Xiao would be present.
"A birthday gift for a young lady," Huo Linsheng said. "I don't know what you girls like. Help me pick one later."
Ling Nuan walked beside Huo Linsheng. Hearing this, she took the initiative to hold his arm and joked, "Mr. Huo, asking me to help you choose a gift for a girl. Isn't that a bit heart - wrenching for me?"
Huo Linsheng glanced at her. "I think your heart is quite tough. It can take a few more stabs."
Ling Nuan: "..."
A faint smile tugged at the corner of Huo Linsheng's mouth.
"A younger sister from a family friend," Huo Linsheng explained.
Ling Nuan pretended to suddenly understand and said, "Oh, a sweetheart? Mr. Huo, I'm a person with principles. If you have a sweetheart, I don't dare to get too close."
"Sort of," Huo Linsheng replied.
Hearing this, Ling Nuan didn't care if Huo Linsheng was joking or not. She was about to withdraw her hand.
Just as she was pulling it back, Huo Linsheng grabbed it. "Basic etiquette."
As Huo Linsheng's female companion, holding his arm could barely be counted as basic etiquette.
Ling Nuan saw through it but didn't say anything.
They arrived at a reasonable time.
On the way, they ran into some work acquaintances. Huo Linsheng would chat with them for a few words.
Ling Nuan just played the role of a decorative beauty.
Some people did cast their eyes on Ling Nuan.
"Who is this?" Someone couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.
Huo Linsheng said casually, "My female companion and also my secretary, Ling Nuan."
Taking this opportunity, Ling Nuan smiled and nodded at the person. "Hello, Mr. Liu."
After a brief conversation, Huo Linsheng led Ling Nuan away.
The bosses behind them couldn't help gossiping.
"Mr. Huo has never brought a female companion before. It's quite rare today."
"Did you hear what Mr. Huo said? She's his secretary.没想到 Mr. Huo also plays around."
"Mr. Huo doesn't seem like that kind of person. Maybe she's just a secretary."
Everyone had their own opinions.
But as Huo Linsheng's female companion, Ling Nuan attracted a great deal of attention.
Being stared at by so many people, Ling Nuan felt a bit uncomfortable and restricted for a moment.
As if sensing this, Huo Linsheng thought for a while and suddenly said, "Not very familiar."
Ling Nuan was taken aback. "What?"
"Figure it out yourself," Huo Linsheng replied.
Ling Nuan: "?"
She thought his words were rather strange. It took her a while to realize that Huo Linsheng was referring to the so - called sweetheart from a family friend, saying that he wasn't very familiar with her.
Ling Nuan had her bottom line.
If Huo Linsheng already had a girlfriend, she wouldn't be the other woman.
Huo Linsheng's explanation made Ling Nuan feel good.
But this good mood came to an abrupt end the next second.
"Uncle," Huo Xiao walked towards them, holding Shen Shaoqing's arm.
Huo Xiao was very happy to see Huo Linsheng at first. But when she got closer and saw Ling Nuan beside him, her expression froze.
She couldn't help but grip Shen Shaoqing's arm tighter.
Shen Shaoqing felt a bit of pain.
At this moment, his eyes were fixed on Ling Nuan. Seeing Ling Nuan holding Huo Linsheng's arm, he was so angry that his eyes almost popped out. He managed to maintain his composure only by his last bit of rationality and didn't break down on the spot.
Even so, his eyes never left Ling Nuan for a second.
Huo Xiao naturally noticed this.
Realizing this, Huo Xiao got even angrier.
"Uncle, why did you bring her?" Huo Xiao was a bit unhappy.
Huo Linsheng remained calm and counter - questioned, "Ling Nuan is my secretary. Having her act as my temporary female companion. Is there a problem?"
There was a huge problem!
But Huo Xiao didn't dare to say it.
Because she didn't know if Huo Linsheng was aware of Ling Nuan's identity.
Since she couldn't afford to offend Huo Linsheng, she turned to Ling Nuan. "You really have good tricks. You can even coax my uncle into taking you out to see the world."
Ling Nuan smiled. "It's my honor."
Huo Linsheng frowned. "Huo Xiao, who taught you to talk like this? Where are your manners?"
Huo Xiao was seething with anger inside, but looking at Huo Linsheng, she didn't dare to explode. Finally, she could only choke out aggrievedly, "Uncle, I don't like her."
"What does my employee have to do with whether you like her or not?" Huo Linsheng counter - questioned.
Huo Xiao felt even more aggrieved.
She was Huo Linsheng's niece after all. Why was her uncle siding with Ling Nuan?
Ling Nuan didn't expect Huo Linsheng to be so blunt with Huo Xiao. She immediately took advantage of the situation. "Mr. Huo, don't be too angry. Miss Huo is still young. It's natural for her to be a bit willful. We can teach her slowly in the future."
Huo Linsheng glanced at her.
He knew her little thoughts but didn't say anything.
Huo Xiao was almost boiling with anger. Was Ling Nuan really trying to make her look bad in front of her uncle right in front of her?
"Uncle!" Huo Xiao stamped her foot aggrievedly and looked at Huo Linsheng.
Huo Linsheng: "How old are you?"
Huo Xiao: "..."
"Alright, go and play by yourself." With these words, Huo Linsheng led Ling Nuan away. Ling Nuan didn't need to do anything. Just staying by Huo Linsheng's side with a smile, she had completely won.
Huo Xiao was almost crazy with anger.
Especially when she noticed that Shen Shaoqing was still staring at the back of Ling Nuan as she left.
She was so angry that she shook off Shen Shaoqing's hand.
Shen Shaoqing was taken aback. It seemed that he had just realized that he had annoyed Huo Xiao.
"Xiaoxiao," Shen Shaoqing quickly chased after her.
Huo Xiao was full of anger. No matter how Shen Shaoqing tried to coax her, she didn't want to stay with him. Just then, she saw some familiar friends and went over to join them.
Shen Shaoqing had no choice but to look at Huo Xiao tenderly. "Xiaoxiao, call me if you need anything."
The friends all joked with Huo Xiao. "Xiaoxiao, we're so envious of you. Shaoqing really can't live without you."
Huo Xiao could only force a smile.
Noticing that Huo Xiao's smile was a bit strange, they naturally changed the topic.
"By the way, I heard that Mr. Huo brought a female companion today. Xiaoxiao, is it true?" Someone was curious.
As they were talking, they entered the auction venue.
Ling Nuan was sitting in the front row with Huo Linsheng. She was easy to spot.
"My goodness, Mr. Huo really brought a female companion this time. Who is that woman? She's quite beautiful."
"Xiaoxiao, who is that?" Someone leaned over to Huo Xiao and asked obsequiously.
Huo Xiao looked at the person.
Zhao Leli, the eldest daughter of Leqi Entertainment, was well - known in the circle for her crush on Huo Linsheng.
For the sake of Huo Linsheng, she didn't mind lowering her status and always currying favor with Huo Xiao.
Huo Xiao suddenly laughed, but quickly pretended to be troubled. "Her? She's a vain gold - digger who just wants to sleep with men."
"Xiaoxiao, it seems you know her quite well?" Zhao Leli probed.
"Not really. I've had some contact with her. She's quite good at using tricks. When has my uncle ever cared so much about a woman? She's been taking advantage of her position to seduce my uncle. Oh, I tried to warn my uncle, but I angered her. She even tried to make me look bad in front of my uncle. I really don't know what to do with her."
Zhao Leli fell silent.
Huo Xiao sighed. "If she really becomes my aunt, I'm afraid my life will be miserable from now on."
As she was talking, she kept an eye on Zhao Leli from the corner of her eye.
Seeing Zhao Leli's cold face and the way she glared at Ling Nuan angrily, Huo Xiao smiled.
She was just waiting to watch the show.