Upon hearing Ji Nian's words, Shen Qingtang instinctively let out an "Mmm" and turned her head.
"What?"
"Do you know about your father's family situation?"
Ji Nian was referring to Shen Rushan, the father.
Shen Qingtang, as a child, had been brainwashed by the nanny, often thinking that Ji Tingzhou was also her father. It wasn't until she grew older that she understood there was a difference between a foster father and a biological father.
"I've heard Uncle Wei Yang mention it before."
"He said my father was separated from his family."
Ji Nian nodded repeatedly.
"Yes."
"My uncle came today, and he brought news related to... your father's family."
At this, Shen Qingtang seemed to take a moment to process what she had just heard, her eyes widening in surprise.
"Hmm?"
"Did they find my father's family?"
Shen Qingtang's mother had been abandoned by her family due to a congenital heart disease, making her an orphan. After giving birth to Shen Qingtang, her health declined, and in the little girl's memories, her mother was always either in bed or in the hospital.
As for her father, all she could remember was a warm, large hand and being lifted high into the air.
"Yes."
"Dad asked me to tell you about this. Sister Zhiluo went to verify it personally."
"Uncle Wei Yang said that finding his family was always a wish of your father's."
However, if the people found were indeed Shen Rushan's family, then Shen Qingtang...
Although young, Shen Qingtang was quite intelligent and quickly figured out the implications, becoming nervous and clutching Ji Nian's sleeve: "I don't want to be separated from you."
Ji Nian had initially thought Shen Qingtang would be happy, given that it meant she had other relatives in the world. But hearing her first reaction was this, Ji Nian felt a pang of emotion.
She held the little girl's hand in return.
"I don't want that either."
Shen Qingtang lowered her eyes, her thick lashes trembling with fear: "What if they're bad people?"
When Ji Tingzhou watched *Desperate Dads*, the two children occasionally watched it with him. There was an episode where the mother's relatives, worried that the dad couldn't take good care of the child, used tricks to take the child away. However, they didn't treat the child well, and the little one suffered a lot before finally returning to the dad's side.
That episode, Shen Qingtang had cried over.
Ji Tingzhou, on the other hand, had calmly commented that it was a stupid plot. Anyone who tried to take the child would be dead. If you couldn't even handle that, how could you be a father?
Hearing her concerns, Ji Nian thought there was no need to give Shen Qingtang a mental preparation in advance; the little girl was already worried enough.
"Don't be afraid. As long as you don't want to, no one can take you away."
Ji Nian patted her hand in comfort.
Even though they were both kids, there was something incredibly reassuring about the way Ji Nian spoke. At least, Shen Qingtang wasn't nervous anymore.
"Can I sleep with you tonight?"
Shen Qingtang leaned over, resting her head on Ji Nian's shoulder.
Ji Nian patted the slightly taller child's head and agreed without hesitation: "Of course."
Shen Qingtang was afraid of thunder, and on rainy nights, Ji Nian would often ask if she wanted to sleep together. So, they were used to sleeping together.
Only after confirming that Ji Nian had calmed Shen Qingtang down did Ji Tingzhou call the little girl over.
He recounted the whole story again, starting from the specifics of Shen Rushan's background and details, all the way to the news brought by Chen Mo.
Shen Qingtang listened quietly until Ji Tingzhou finished speaking: "Since it's my father's wish, I'm happy."
When mentioning Shen Rushan, Ji Tingzhou softened slightly.
His affection for others wasn't transferable; he didn't love Shen Qingtang just because she was Shen Rushan's daughter. Even though she had a similar appearance, to Ji Tingzhou, she was still a distinct individual from Shen Rushan.
"You understand, then."
Ji Tingzhou's main point was that finding Shen Rushan's family wouldn't change based on Shen Qingtang's wishes. Even if it turned out that the family had forgotten about this son or had poor character, he would still recognize them.
Of course, the possible handling of such a scenario would be: tying the whole family up and tossing them at Shen Rushan's grave, telling him that they found his family, and if needed, burning them for him.
However, out of consideration for Ji Nian, Ji Tingzhou also gave a guarantee:
"As long as you don't want to, no one can take you away."
This phrase was remarkably similar to the one Ji Nian had used earlier.
Shen Qingtang thought it was interesting how not only their appearances but sometimes even their way of speaking was somewhat alike between Ji Nian and Ji Tingzhou.
"Thank you, Uncle Ji. I understand."
Meanwhile, Ji Nian, who had been eavesdropping, quietly poked her head out: "Dad, you're copying me."
Ji Tingzhou: ?
Emerging from behind the screen, Ji Nian stretched.
"My dressing room is already huge. Why do we need to expand it?"
While coming out, Ji Nian overheard the housekeeper discussing the expansion with the designer over the phone. Initially, she thought it was for Ji Tingzhou, as he had the most clothes and accessories in the house. But after listening a bit more, she realized it was for her.
Ji Tingzhou gestured for her to come sit, then remembered the situation:
"Lu Zhi sent over two shipping containers' worth of stuff for you. There's no space, so they're expanding it."
Ji Nian: ???
"Uncle Lu Zhi?"
"Yeah, he has too much money. Let him give."
Ji Nian thought about how with just what Ji Tingzhou, Wei Yang, Zhiluo, and now Chen Mo had gifted her, she already had more than she could wear in a day.
Realizing she had so many things she didn't need, she decided to donate much of her extra clothes, toys, and stationery to children in need.
After learning about it, Ji Tingzhou even set up a charity organization in her name, establishing many "Ji Nian Primary School," "Ji Nian Middle School," and "Ji Nian Girls High School."
Hearing that aside from the things she wore and used daily, there were also some books from O Country, Ji Nian thought Gu Xiuyuan might be interested in them. He often read such things, so she planned to ask him if he was interested.
"Please thank Uncle Lu Zhi for me."
Meanwhile, on Lu Zhi's end—
He was having a video call with Princess Feia, who was too busy to return home, still working in the palace.
Just then, they mentioned Lu Zhi's recent visit to the Ji household.
"Ji Tingzhou's daughter looks a lot like him, but her personality is different. Even the Ji family, it seems, 'bad bamboo yields good sprouts.'"
Lu Zhi rested his chin on his hand, looking at the woman on the screen, while beside him sat his son, who had become unusually quiet since waking up.
Upon hearing her lover's teasing, Princess Feia thought of the surprisingly young head of the Ji family and raised an eyebrow.
"Is that so?"
Lu Zhi nodded and picked up his phone, flipping to a photo he had deliberately taken with Ji Nian before leaving.
"Darling, look, I even took a photo to show you."
He turned the screen toward the camera, bringing the phone closer.
A fleeting glimpse of emerald green caught the attention of the child sitting beside Lu Zhi, who slowly raised his head.
