What, They Couldn't Call for Help?

Several elders of the Huo Household came out as well. After all, a child from another wealthy family had gone missing on Huo territory. How could they not come out over something this serious?

Before they began discussing how to handle the matter, Shen Can stepped up to Huo Huan and solemnly said, "Thank you for saving Zhuozhuo."

Huo Huan looked up at Shen Can. "No need to thank me. If he hadn't followed me out because he was afraid I'd be bullied, none of this would have happened."

Shen Can could not help rubbing Huo Huan's head. He actually looks pretty cute like this. I really don't dare imagine what might have happened to Shen Zhuo without him.

Huo Huan was indeed very good-looking. His mother was beautiful, and his father had been handsome when he was young too. It was just that his father had completely changed after becoming addicted to drinking and gambling.

The moment Huo Huan heard something, he could not help blinking. He had not seen wrong—his mouth had not moved. Yet he could hear his own voice by his ear, something that had never happened before.

It had appeared after he saved Shen Zhuo and told him that he had to stand by his side like he had today. It was strange, but Huo Huan had no time to think about it further, because it was time to discuss the matter.

The old residence's doctor arrived, and Huo Xi, Shen Can, and Xu Qingqing went together to the room that had just been prepared to wait for Shen Zhuo's examination results.

As for everyone else, they returned to the banquet hall. The Huo family all stared at Huo Huan. Finally, an elder stepped forward and asked Huo Huan, "What happened? Tell us everything, word for word. Do not conceal anything."

Huo Huan truly did not hide anything. Starting from when that person came to find him, he recounted everything clearly, word for word. Of course, he did not mention the conversation before the slope with Shen Zhuozhuo. After listening, the elder said, "Who were they? Point them out one by one."

Huo Huan pointed them out one by one. The father of the boy who had taken the lead immediately spoke up. "It was just children fooling around. The dog showing up was an accident. You can't possibly blame that on my son too, can you?"

Before the Huo elders could speak, someone suddenly rushed in and pointed at Huo Huan as he cursed, "You little bastard! You actually dared stab my dog, and so badly too! You injured him so severely!"

"Is your dog's life more important than a child of the Shen Household? Is this the Huo Household's attitude?" Shen Hong no longer spared anyone's feelings.

Shen Yu said angrily as well, "I didn't know my son was worth less than your dog. Is the Huo Household trying to become enemies with the Shen Household with this kind of attitude?"

An elder of the Huo Household glared at the person who had rushed in and cursed Huo Huan. "What nonsense are you talking about? Your dog was about to bite someone. Was he wrong to stop it? Were they supposed to let your dog bite and injure someone instead?"

"Uncle, your dog has bitten people more than once, hasn't it? It was only because they were all family before that no one wanted to make an issue of it with you. I think it is no longer suitable for you to keep it at the old residence. It would be more appropriate for you to buy a place outside and keep it there."

"I don't think that child did anything wrong. Your dog ran out on its own to bite someone, and it cannot even be injured? Must a child from another family get hurt instead? That is no kind of logic." Huo Zhang's tone was resolute.

The Shen Household was Huo Xi's ally. Naturally, Huo Zhang could not stand by and watch them suffer humiliation in the Huo Household. What would that make them? What would that make his son?

The man glared at Huo Zhang and argued, "Then couldn't they call for help? If he had called for adults, my dog wouldn't have gotten hurt."

After saying that, he looked down on Huo Zhang and added, "Where I keep my dog is none of your business, is it? Huo Zhang, you have no right to control me."

"Call for help? They were so far away from us. Would we have made it in time? How exactly does the Huo Household intend to handle this matter? The Shen Household is not the only one waiting for an answer. The Su Household is waiting for one too."

Su Nanxing personally stated the Su Household's position. He bore some responsibility for this matter too. If he said nothing, he would surely feel terribly guilty.

Some people knew that Shen Zhuo had previously been sitting with Su Nanxing and the Shen Household's youngest son. They knew Su Nanxing must have felt guilty, so it was only natural for him to say that.

The Huo family all became somewhat nervous about how this would be resolved. Two families had made such statements together. This could not be settled easily. It was clearly the dog's fault, yet they insisted the dog was not at fault. Wasn't that simply offending people?

The only ones pleased at the scene were Father Zhou, Zhou Jingxuan, Shi Ruyan, Shen Keke, and Huo Pei. They were all close to Huo Xi, so it would be quite a spectacle if things fell apart.

Moreover, they felt that Su Nanxing would not be the only one to speak. Lu Shao would probably be unable to hold back too. After all, Shen Zhuo was Shen Ze's nephew, so he was considered Lu Shao's nephew as well.

Sure enough, Lu Shao spoke too. "Shen Zhuo is my nephew. As his uncle, I will certainly seek justice for him. My stance is the stance of the Lu Household."

Unlike Shi Ruyan and the others, who were wholly delighted, Huo Zhenyun was still a little worried. After all, if they became enemies with these families, the Huo Household's company would lose many projects.

As a member of the Huo Household, he still did not want to see that happen. He did not like the feeling of having less money in his hands.

Of course, he did not plan to speak up first. Once they could not resolve it, they would naturally think of him. He was Shen Hong's elder, after all. Shen Hong still had to give him some face.

And the one who kept the dog was his peer. He knew Huo Zhenyun's methods, so he would listen if Huo Zhenyun spoke.

None of these Huo family members had spoken up for him when he acknowledged his daughter last time, yet he was still thinking about them now. Forget it. Who told him he was an elder, the previous head of the family?

The man who had initially defended his son relaxed when he saw that everyone's attention was focused on the dog. Later, he could argue some more and say that his son had merely taken them out to play.

As for jumping the ramp, hadn't they not done it? Besides, his son had never personally admitted that he planned to keep making that child serve as the ramp.

The atmosphere had turned cold after Lu Shao spoke. The Huo family wanted to ease the tension, but they were in the wrong to begin with, and people on their side kept arguing, leaving the other Huo family members too embarrassed to say anything.

It was not until Huo Xi and Shen Can returned that things changed. Xu Qingqing followed behind them, carrying Shen Zhuo. Shen Zhuo had insisted on coming because he was afraid Huo Huan would be scolded.

"The gate to the dog enclosure was pried open. I already arranged for someone to inspect it. The surveillance cameras near that area show that those children went there together to do it." Huo Xi looked toward the few children standing off to the side.

"I knew it. My dog was locked up properly, so how could he have run out..." Before he could finish, Huo Xi interrupted him. "Great-Uncle, there is no need to get excited yet. I know everything you said earlier."

"There is no logic in saying that when a dog is about to hurt someone, people cannot stop it with their actions. My father was right, but keeping it outside is not enough. Great-Uncle, it would be best if you gave the dog away. After all, this is not the first time it has bitten someone."

How could that be acceptable? He had raised the dog for many years and had grown attached to it. He immediately said no.

Huo Xi looked at him sharply. "Great-Uncle, this is a notice. Before, you relied on your age and status every time, and the family members who were bitten did not dare say anything, so it passed. Do you think you can get away with it again this time?"

"Don't dream too much. Either you give the dog away, or you give up your identity as a member of the Huo Household. Anyone who damages the Huo Household's reputation and interests should naturally be expelled from the Huo Household."

"Great-Uncle, think about what you said earlier. Over a dog that was about to bite someone, you argued with not one but several friendly families with whom we have deep cooperation. Isn't that harming the Huo Household's interests and the interests of everyone else in the Huo Household?"