Huo Jin extended her hand and asked, "Which village is she in? Give me the address, and I'll go see her when I have time. Such a big event as having a child, and she didn't even tell me. Does she still consider me her childhood best friend?"
"Okay, I'll ask Chen Ma when I get back, and I'll send you the specific location," Susu said, patting her hand.
Huo Jin then smiled and withdrew her hand.
"Sis, sis! Are you in the shop?" Huo Zheng's voice came from the doorway, drawing nearer.
Susu immediately got up, waved to Huo Jin, and looked for a place to hide. This Huo Zheng was too troublesome; it was best to avoid him if possible.
Huo Jin grabbed her and said, "Don't mind him. I know about all his scoundrel deeds. It's good that I'm here to help you sort things out with him. He's just like this, deserving of a good scolding."
Susu couldn't help but chuckle, surprised that Huo Jin shared her opinion of her brother.
Seeing no one answer him, Huo Zheng walked directly from the front of the shop into the pantry. He happened to see Susu's radiant smile, which struck him as stunning.
Although he had seen Susu many times before, he had never seen her laugh so heartily.
"What do you want?" Huo Jin asked, blocking the space between him and Susu.
Huo Zheng seemed very familiar with Susu, winking at her and saying, "So you have a guest here."
"What guest?" Huo Jin said irritably. "You know Susu, right? She's my best friend. Don't get any ideas about her. She's a married woman with a family; stay away from her."
Huo Zheng smiled and said, "Sis, you don't need to remind me. Since she's your friend, I'll treat her as a friend too."
"That's good. I'd also like to treat you as a younger brother, just like your sister," Susu took the opportunity today, in front of Huo Jin, to acknowledge him as a brother, preventing Huo Zheng from harboring any further illusions.
"You little rascal, did you hear that? No more messing around," Huo Jin's expression softened slightly as she glared at him.
Huo Zheng wasn't that foolish. Seeing them united against him, he decided to retreat to advance, smiling and saying, "Sisters, don't treat me like a child. Since Susu jie treats me as a brother, I'll consider her an extra sister."
"That's more like it," Huo Jin hit him and asked, "What did you come here for? Don't you have your own housekeeping company to run? You've been coming here a lot lately."
"I sold the housekeeping company long ago," Huo Zheng said sheepishly, looking down.
Susu listened from the side without interrupting. She hadn't expected him to say he had his own company; it turned out to be a housekeeping company. Did he get addicted to teasing cleaning staff?
Huo Jin suddenly understood and said, "No wonder you've been so idle lately. Speak up, what trouble are you looking to stir up now that requires me to beg Dad for you?"
"No, I just came to ask if you need any help with your wedding to Qingchuan ge," Huo Zheng said with a smile.
Huo Jin stared at him, almost popping her eyeballs out, and said, "You care about my wedding?"
"You're my sister, my only older sister. What's wrong with caring about your wedding with Qingchuan ge?" He began to massage Huo Jin's shoulders obsequiously.
Huo Jin, however, found him annoying.
Susu watched their sibling interaction, finding it amusing and comical. Even as an outsider, she could see that they had a good relationship; otherwise, they wouldn't be joking and bickering so freely.
"Huo Jin, Huo Zheng, you guys are busy. I have something to do, so I'll be going now."
Huo Jin called out to her, "Susu, don't go. Qingchuan said he wants to treat us to a meal. He should be here soon."
Huo Zheng quickly said, "It's better to arrive at a good time than at a good time. Brother-in-law is treating, I'm going too."
"We didn't include you," Huo Jin said jokingly.
Huo Zheng clung to her shamelessly and said, "Brother-in-law won't be that stingy, will he? It won't make much difference if there's one more person."
"But you always disliked accompanying us for meals, didn't you say we were too rigid and boring?" Huo Jin deliberately made things difficult for him.
Huo Zheng continued to be thick-skinned and said, "Did I? When did I ever say that? I don't remember. You are all fashion icons; I'd be thrilled to have a chance to dine with you."
Huo Jin argued with him, "You're reneging again. You clearly said it last time..."
"You're all here, the whole group today," Chang Qingchuan appeared in the shop at some point. He walked up to Huo Jin and then smiled at Susu.
"Brother-in-law, are you treating us to lunch? I'm going too. You won't dislike me, will you?" Huo Zheng immediately hid behind Chang Qingchuan for help.
Chang Qingchuan, not understanding the situation, immediately said, "Who dislikes you? If you're willing to come along, there's no problem."
Huo Zheng made a face at Huo Jin, "Brother-in-law agrees, and you still don't? Are you even my real sister?"
Huo Jin couldn't do anything with him and made a face back, "Whatever you want."
Chang Qingchuan smiled and said, "Why are you two still like children? You're making people laugh."
Huo Jin linked arms with Susu, "Susu won't laugh. Let's go, let's ignore them."
Saying this, she and Susu walked out of the shop first and went to Chang Qingchuan's car.
Huo Zheng came out of the shop from behind and walked to his own car, saying to Susu, "Susu jie, you ride with me. We shouldn't be the third wheel."
Before Susu could answer, Huo Jin quickly replied for her, "No need. She and I will ride with Qingchuan. You drive behind us."
After speaking, she pulled Susu into Chang Qingchuan's car.
Huo Zheng got into his car and muttered indignantly, "What kind of sister is this? Always opposing me, so annoying."
He could only follow their car, but his mind was still replaying Susu's bright smile from earlier.
Now he finally understood why ancient kings would play with fire for a beauty's smile, even at the cost of their kingdoms.
However, he had investigated and found that Susu's relationship with that Qin Tianyi was as close as glue. It seemed he had no hope, but he was still unwilling to give up.
So, after learning that Susu was a well-known fashion designer, he transferred his housekeeping company and wanted to enter the fashion industry to do something related to fashion.
In short, he just wanted more opportunities to meet Susu and for her to see him in a new light and respect him.
He had privately told his esteemed father that he wanted to invest in a garment factory, but his father had flatly refused.
His father had given a lot of reasons for his disapproval, such as the large investment and high risk of a factory, and his inability to manage one at his current level.
In the end, he understood that his father simply wanted him to help out at the Huo Group.
But he still didn't want to work under his father's watchful eye and only wanted to do what he wanted to do.