It wasn't until three days after Huo Chengyu returned home that he was able to contact his assistant, Xiao Zhang.

After careful preparation, he organized all the items and successfully applied for copyright protection for the photos before confidently dialing Xiao Zhang's phone number.

Undoubtedly, the ability to complete this series of tedious tasks so efficiently and quickly is inseparable from the support and assistance provided by the powerful Huo family behind the scenes.

"Brother Zhang, I'm back!" Huo Chengyu's familiar voice came through the receiver.

"Oh, Chengyu, you're finally back safe and sound! Are you hurt anywhere?" Xiao Zhang asked with concern.

No one could imagine that this person, who seemed to care for Huo Chengyu with great concern and thoughtfulness, actually harbored malicious intentions!

"Don't worry, Brother Zhang, I'm perfectly fine. I arrived home yesterday. It was just late, and I didn't want to disturb your rest, so I didn't contact you right away. I just finished getting ready."

"Hey, my hair is so long I could almost braid it!" Huo Chengyu said half-jokingly, revealing the truth.

This indirectly explains her current somewhat disheveled appearance, avoiding the need to explain it during their meeting and causing unnecessary trouble.

"It's good that you're alright. Your health is the most important thing! I haven't seen you for a whole month, and I was so worried!" Xiao Zhang replied, expressing his continued concern for Huo Chengyu's safety. "It's good that you're not injured. Your health is the most important thing. I haven't seen you for a month, and I was extremely worried."

"You must be tired too. How about we choose photos together tomorrow?"

"This time, the participants are top photographers from all over the world, so we can't let our guard down," Xiao Zhang said in a very serious tone.

"No need, I'll choose today and give it to you tomorrow. Please submit it for me." Huo Chengyu decisively refused.

"Okay, I'll pick up the photos tomorrow. You've worked so hard today," Xiao Zhang replied.

"Um, Brother Zhang, has anything unusual happened while I was away for a month?" Huo Chengyu asked.

"It's nothing. It's just about a competition. You didn't come back, so there are no photos. That's all," Xiao Zhang replied.

"That's good. If anything happens, you have to tell me. I'll definitely help if I can." Huo Chengyu wanted to give Xiao Zhang a chance, after all, the two had known each other for several years.

"Okay, sure."

"Bye then, see you tomorrow."

"Don't overwork yourself. If you really can't, I'll help you choose tomorrow," Xiao Zhang said with concern.

Huo Chengyu hung up the phone, but was somewhat disappointed.

Everyone has the right to make their own choices, and no one can interfere.

On the other end of the phone, Xiao Zhang wore a fake smile, but secretly he was thinking about how to get more benefits from Huo Chengyu.

When he softly asked Huo Chengyu if he was injured, his tone was concerned, but his eyes revealed a hint of unnaturalness. His concern was not genuine, but rather had ulterior motives.

He was thinking about how to use Huo Chengyu's photos to achieve his own goals.

Xiao Zhang's mind was full of calculations; his apparent concern was merely a pretense, a means to gain benefits.

However, Xiao Zhang occasionally felt a pang of guilt for his hypocrisy, but this guilt was quickly overshadowed by his desire for profit.

He told himself that it was all for survival, for a better future.

Moreover, he felt it was just a one-time thing, and besides, he was still the third young master of the Huo family. After a while, once the public opinion died down, he would still be that photography master.

"Third Brother, some people really don't deserve our sympathy!" Huo Jinning gently comforted Huo Chengyu, whose mood was clearly low.

"Yes, I understand... but I still feel a little regretful." Huo Chengyu nodded slightly, indicating that he had accepted reality, but a trace of disappointment was still evident in his eyes.

Seeing her brother like this, Huo Jinning couldn't help but pout and mutter, "That's his own fault! Who told him to be so foolish as to betray you? So even if there are consequences, it's entirely his own doing! It has nothing to do with you." Her tone was full of indignation, as if she hated that traitor to the core.

[He's just a narrow-minded person, full of hatred for the rich. He's extremely unhappy simply because you're a little richer than him.]

[In his eyes, your current excellence is simply due to being born into a good family, and you have no real talent.]

[However, he selectively ignored the hard work you put in—working day and night for days on end without sleep, often going hungry, and enduring relentless mosquito bites, all to take the perfect photo.]

All he sees is your seemingly glamorous exterior, but he remains blind to the hardships and bitterness hidden behind it.

[Even more tragically, he never realized that his mediocrity stemmed from a lack of striving and ambition.]

What is there to pity about someone like that?

So this is what Xiao Zhang is like! I always thought Xiao Zhang was honest and ambitious, but now I realize I was completely wrong about him! But now that I know his true colors, Huo Chengyu feels much more at ease.

My sister's words brought me a lot of comfort.

“Yes, it’s really not worth worrying about. Let’s listen to your sister,” Huo Chengyu said.

Just then, Huo Jinxin, dressed in a cute pink pajama, walked down the stairs with sleepy eyes. Her hair was messy like a bird's nest, and she kept yawning as she walked, looking like she hadn't woken up yet.

"Third brother, what are you two talking about?" Huo Jinxin asked, rubbing her eyes.

"It's nothing, you're finally awake?" Huo Jinning replied with a smile.

"Yes, painting last night was exhausting. I was busy all night long," Huo Jinxin said, stretching.

"Aunt Wang, is there anything to eat? I'm so hungry!" Huo Jinxin said, rubbing her rumbling stomach as she quickly walked towards the dining table.

"Yes, Miss, I know you're hungry. I've already prepared your favorite porridge and steamed buns! Just a moment, I'll go to the kitchen and get them for you." Aunt Wang replied with a smile, then turned and went into the kitchen.

Aunt Wang's full name is Wang Juan. She is efficient and decisive in her work, and can be described as energetic and efficient.

Not long after, she came out of the kitchen carrying steaming hot food and placed it in front of Huo Jinxin.

Huo Jinxin's arrival interrupted the conversation between the other two siblings, who had just forgotten about what they were talking about.

After enjoying the delicious food to their hearts' content, Huo Jinxin and her two siblings played games together.

Actually, this was arranged by Huo Jinning on purpose, because he knew that his third brother Huo Chengyu was a very sentimental and loyal person, so he wanted to distract him in this way.