Chapter 82
Chapter 82
The act of drawing lots itself carries the expectation of a lucky windfall.
After the annual meeting began, Huo Yueze accompanied Huo Guining as they ate and drank. At their table, besides Xi Chuan, there was also Yin Su.
Due to Huo Xiaozheng's presence, occasionally some executives would come to the head table to offer toasts, but no one dared to sit down.
Taking advantage of Huo Xiaozheng's momentary distraction, Huo Guining quickly stuffed a piece of ice cream bread into her mouth.
While chewing, she gestured for Huo Yueze to try some too: "Brother, this is delicious."
Huo Yueze declined: "My teeth have been hurting lately, so I can't eat it. Ningnin, you eat more."
As he spoke, he picked up a piece of bread and placed it on Ningnin's plate.
Huo Xiaozheng, without turning his gaze, replaced Ningnin's plate and admonished Huo Yueze: "Your teeth are already hurting, yet you're giving your sister so many sweets. Aren't you worried she'll get a toothache too?"
Huo Yueze: That makes sense.
Fortunately, there were other delicious foods on the table, and Huo Guining quickly got over the ice cream bread.
She ate bite by bite, like a little hamster.
The host cued Huo Xiaozheng, inviting him to give a speech on stage.
Huo Xiaozheng stood up, buttoned his suit jacket, and instructed Huo Yueze to keep an eye on Ningnin, making sure she didn't eat too much.
Huo Yueze gave his uncle an "OK" hand gesture.
Huo Xiaozheng walked towards the stage with an upright posture and long strides.
Under the spotlight, Huo Xiaozheng appeared tall and long-legged, with sharp features and a high nose bridge. His face had completely lost its usual gentleness, looking as cool as a domineering CEO straight out of a manga.
Huo Guining looked around and noticed many female employees swooning over Huo Xiaozheng.
Huo Guining felt proud as if she were the object of their admiration. She stopped eating and took out her phone.
With a "click" sound.
Huo Yueze thought she was taking a selfie and leaned in to join the photo.
Huo Guining giggled: "I'm taking a picture of Dad."
Huo Yueze felt jealous: "Then you should take one of me too."
After a moment's thought, Huo Yueze added: "No, let's take one together."
After playing the selfie game with Huo Yueze for a while, Huo Guining resumed eating.
On the main stage, Huo Xiaozheng's speech was nearing its end.
"Since my daughter wants to participate in the prize draw, and young children shouldn't stay up too late, today's lucky draw will start earlier."
As soon as he said this, a wave of playful jeers rose from the audience below.
"Who says our CEO Huo is cold? How cold could such a considerate dad be?"
"I wonder if Ningnin wants a stepmother—fair-skinned, beautiful, but without long legs."
Whispered jokes could be heard from all around.
But there was no real malice in them.
Huo Guining heard them but didn't mind.
At the moment, she was more interested in the lucky draw.
"Brother, it's time for the lucky draw!"
Huo Yueze also seemed eager to try his luck.
Seeing the two children so enthusiastic, Xi Chuan smiled and said, "Let's see which of you can win the grand prize."
Seeing his mysterious expression, Huo Guining couldn't help but probe, "Uncle Xi Chuan, what's the grand prize?"
Xi Chuan smiled and shook his head, maintaining an air of mystery.
Huo Guining then looked at Yin Su.
Yin Su made an "X" gesture over her mouth, also keeping a mysterious expression.
"Before entering, Xi Assistant had already entered your information into the lucky draw system. Now, we just wait for the results to be announced."
The draw process involved a staff member clicking to start the application, with the big screen scrolling through names, and Huo Xiaozheng clicking to stop it, drawing the top three winners and the grand prize winner.
"Alright, now we'll announce the third-place winner. Who will it be?"
The host built up suspense.
Huo Xiaozheng played along, waiting until the host announced the reveal before clicking to stop.
The third and second place winners were from the Marketing Department and Human Resources Department respectively.
The third-place prize was the latest model laptop.
The second-place prize was to clear out their shopping cart, with a limit of 50,000 yuan. If the total price of items in their cart didn't exceed 50,000 yuan, the employee could choose to select items on the spot to make up the difference.
The winning staff members were overjoyed, expressing in their acceptance speeches that they wanted to work at Huo Corporation until retirement.
The audience below burst into laughter.
The host continued to cue the process with a smile: "Next, we'll announce the first-place winner."
With the second and third places already taken, Huo Xiaozheng and Huo Yueze weren't disappointed, but rather more excited.
"First place: Huo Guining!"
Hearing her name echo through the venue, she couldn't help but let out a scream.
Without even high-fiving Huo Yueze, she immediately jumped off her chair and happily rushed towards Huo Xiaozheng on the main stage.
The previously cold-faced Huo Xiaozheng knelt down, opening his arms to catch the little girl running towards him.
"Dad, I won a prize too!" She seemed overjoyed, with sweat beading on her forehead.
Huo Xiaozheng picked her up, brushing back her messy bangs, his eyes carrying a hint of a smile: "Ningnin has such good luck."
The host joked: "This draw was completely fair and just, with witnesses from the R&D department."
The spotlight focused on the R&D department's area, where the staff members were laughing heartily, waving their hands to indicate that the draw was absolutely fair and just.
"What's the first-place prize? Congratulations to the little miss, you've won the opportunity to have dinner with the CEO, at a restaurant of your choice, with the company footing the bill!"
The employees who had been grumbling about behind-the-scenes manipulation moments ago suddenly couldn't keep their composure, bursting into laughter.
The host's eyes twinkled as he held the microphone towards Huo Guining: "Little miss, may I ask, do you like this prize?"
Huo Guining smiled so widely her eyes almost disappeared, and she said loudly: "I love it! I can treat Dad to dinner now!"
Huo Xiaozheng looked at her with gentle eyes.
Huo Yueze, on the other hand, covered his face, perfectly demonstrating the "I can't bear to watch" expression.
Thankfully, he wasn't the one who won this prize, otherwise it would have been really difficult to handle.
There was still one grand prize left.
At the host's suggestion, Huo Guining was to reveal the grand prize winner.
Huo Xiaozheng said softly, "When the host says 'stop', you just click this side of the mouse, okay?"
Huo Guining nodded.
As soon as the host gave the signal, Huo Guining immediately clicked the left mouse button.
"Grand prize! Wang Yuanliang! Congratulations to Wang Yuanliang for winning the grand prize of 88,000 yuan to spend as you wish!"
The whole venue erupted!
Huo Guining's eyes widened: "Wow! That's so much money!"
Huo Xiaozheng chuckled softly, said some words of encouragement, and then announced that his part in the lucky draw was over.
Huo Xiaozheng carried Ningnin off the stage with one arm, only to be met by a gloomy Huo Yueze.
"Uncle, did you really enter my information into the system? Are you sure?"
Huo Yueze asked with a straight face: "Xi Chuan, are you sure?"
Xi Chuan smiled respectfully: "I'm sure."
Huo Yueze: ...
Huo Guining couldn't bear to see Huo Yueze so dejected, and immediately offered: "Brother, don't be sad. Do you want me to give you my first prize?"
Huo Yueze glanced at Huo Xiaozheng's serious face: He politely declined.
Huo Xiaozheng gave him a side glance: "Let's go, it's time for Ningnin to sleep."