Chapter 3: Tender Affection

“Daddy, daddy!” The little one kept calling out, crying even more pitifully. At first, it might have seemed like pretend tears, but now the little girl was truly heartbroken. She was so small and didn’t understand why her parents never took her when they went out; why every time they left, it took so long before they returned home; why she was left all alone in this cold, unwelcoming house.

No matter how significant or important whatever was outside might be, she didn’t care. All she knew was that soon she would be left by herself again in this place without her parents.

Zhantai Chen’s face flushed with anxiety. After waiting so many years for this little treasure, he wished he could cradle her in his palm, carry her in his pocket. Now, seeing the little one cry so sadly tore at his heart.

His wife and their daughter were the only soft spots left in his heart. The more anxious he was, the more he blamed himself. He had always seen the little one’s loneliness and sadness.

He carried a deep guilt for his only daughter. As long as she spoke, no matter if it meant walking through fire or facing countless dangers, he would do anything to give her what she wanted.

Despite his burly, rough appearance, his movements were gentle and careful as he wiped away the little one’s tears, treating her like a precious treasure.

Zhao Tingyou sighed quietly. Her own flesh and blood, how could she not understand the little one’s feelings? She too longed to stay by her side like a normal family, to sense every joy and sorrow immediately, rather than being unaware when the little one got hurt or upset.

“Ling Wei, don’t cry anymore. Look at you, crying like an ugly little kitten. Dian Dian is laughing at you over there. Come here, are you hungry? Come to mommy.” Zhao Tingyou gently wrapped the chubby little one in her arms, teasing her softly.

In Ling Wei’s tear-clouded big eyes, crystal-like tears still glistened. She hiccupped from crying so hard, her face flushed as she turned her furry little head away: “Mm, no eat, no eat, no eat.”

The burly man hurriedly coaxed, “Tang... Ling Wei, listen to me. Be good. After you finish breakfast, daddy will take you out to play. Really, we pinky promised, didn’t we?”

Her large, sparkling eyes lit up, though her hiccups continued: “Hic, really? Daddy isn’t lying to me?”

Zhao Tingyou looked at the light shining in the little one’s eyes with a pang of sadness. She and her husband were at fault; from Tang Yuan’s birth until now, they had never taken her outside the mansion. “Yes, your daddy and I will take you out later. Ling Wei, stop crying now, or mommy will cry too.”

The little one’s tears turned into laughter, her chubby little hand softly pinching Zhao Tingyou’s rosy cheek. “Mommy, aren’t you embarrassed? Daddy, mommy never stops.”

“You little brat, where did you learn that? Did you get into trouble again? Wait till I teach you a lesson.” Zhao Tingyou raised her head slightly, widened her eyes, and put on a fierce expression. As soon as the words left her mouth, she immediately reached out to gently pinch the little one’s chubby face.

“Zhao Tingyou, stop! Daddy, help!” Ling Wei shouted, struggling to get out of her mother’s arms, but she was too small and weak to break free.

Zhao Tingyou laughed, “Little Tang Yuan is getting cheeky! How dare you call me by name! I’ll teach you a lesson! I’ll gobble you up whole!”

The burly man watched his happy wife and child, the ice of his stern face melting away, turning into the warm sunshine of spring. He joined the playful battle, and the family laughed and tumbled together.

Suddenly, a stomach growled—no one knew whose it was. Both the burly man and Zhao Tingyou, skilled in martial arts with keen hearing, naturally understood which internal organ needed attention, but they kept it to themselves.