Ji Nian stood obediently on the circular platform, raising her arms as several uniformed women measured her dimensions with soft measuring tapes.
Most children her age would be shy around strangers, but Ji Nian seemed unaware of this, wearing a silly smile on her face.
One moment she would say to one sister, "You smell so nice, so fragrant," and the next moment to another, "Sister, you're so pretty, your eyelashes are so long."
Then, not neglecting Zhiliao who stood watching from the side, she would occasionally flash her a smile.
She managed to attend to everyone's emotions, making each person chuckle with delight.
Everyone except Ji Tingzhou.
The little one hadn't spared him even a single glance.
Finally, our thoughtful Zhiliao spoke up: "Master, which set should we try first?"
Though they said they'd brought the new season's clothes, it was clear the designers had come to create custom pieces for Ji Nian.
There were also some ready-made children's clothes for Ji Nian to try on.
Ji Tingzhou lifted his eyelids disinterestedly, kicking away Big Dan, the dog who was approaching with its tongue out, trying to lick him.
"Whatever."
Though the two words carried little emotion, everyone present was shrewd enough to sense the man's displeasure.
Before arriving, they had assumed these children's clothes were prepared for Ji Tingzhou's adopted daughter.
After all, rumors had been spreading wildly that Ji Tingzhou had recently adopted a girl and planned to raise her as his daughter.
Everyone knew that the young master of the Ji family was famously against marriage, and now with an adopted daughter, she would potentially inherit the entire family fortune.
Many people had been trying to dig up detailed information about the girl's background, but Ji Tingzhou had kept everything tightly under wraps, making it impossible to find anything.
Before they came, they had planned to curry favor with this future potential heir to the entire family fortune.
But when they arrived and saw Ji Nian, they were all stunned.
You're telling me this is an adopted daughter?!
Those eyes, that face, though she was pitifully thin, anyone could see she looked exactly like the Ji family master!!
Who said she was adopted?
They must have eaten unripe beans to come up with that!
Though little Ji Nian was very adorable and well-behaved, without any of the mischievousness typical of children her age.
But they still had to mind Ji Tingzhou's mood.
Hearing Ji Tingzhou's words, they exchanged glances.
Could it be that Ji Tingzhou actually didn't like this girl?
She must be his biological daughter, right? Though the outside world had never mentioned him having a daughter...
Seeing the atmosphere grow tense, Ji Nian, who had been happily chatting with the beautiful sisters, sighed.
[Oh Ji, oh Ji, what are we going to do with you]
"What a beautiful dress."
Ji Nian stood beside the clothing rack, looking up at the light blue dress.
"Is it really for me to wear?"
She tried hard to hide her uneasiness, but her face showed anticipation as she forced a smile.
Zhiliao said softly: "Yes, they're all yours. All these dresses were bought for you by the master."
Never missing a chance to mention Ji Tingzhou.
Hearing Zhiliao say this, Ji Nian blinked in confusion.
She had owned so little in the past that when suddenly presented with many things that belonged to her, her first reaction was bewilderment.
Zhiliao quickly asked: "Would you like to try this dress first?"
Interrupted from her thoughts, Ji Nian nodded vigorously.
Then she walked to where many accessories were displayed and carefully picked up a black and pink hair clip.
She declared firmly: "I want to wear this!"
Ji Tingzhou's eyelid twitched.
In the continuing silence, he walked over and threw the hair clip that didn't match the light blue tulle dress back.
"Not allowed."
What a deadly combination.
Facing Ji Tingzhou who had suddenly approached, Ji Nian looked up at him.
Ji Tingzhou raised an eyebrow: "What are you looking at?"
"I thought you were angry."
Hearing Ji Nian say this, Ji Tingzhou was somewhat surprised.
"Why would I be angry?"
Ji Nian lowered her head and fidgeted with her hands: "Because everyone stopped smiling."
Others: How brave!!
Before Ji Tingzhou could speak, she patted his knee: "Don't be angry."
"This is for you."
She picked up the hair clip that Ji Tingzhou had rejected and pinned it to his sleeve.
Being diplomatic, she also took a white one and pinned it to Big Dan's fur on top of its head.
Then she patted the dog's head.
The silly dog grinned stupidly, wagging its tail at Ji Tingzhou as if saying, 'Look, Ji, the little one gave me one too!'
Ji Tingzhou pushed the stupid dog away with an exasperated look.
"Childish."
He had bought all of these.
Yet he didn't remove the conspicuous pink and black hair clip from his sleeve.
His justification was that it actually matched his black and grey casual wear.
He was completely unaware that Ji Nian had managed to appease him with just a few words.
The atmosphere visibly improved, and Ji Nian chose new hair clips under Ji Tingzhou's direction.
The people who had previously thought Ji Tingzhou disliked Ji Nian exchanged glances.
Well, they had no business speculating about the father-daughter relationship.
After all this fuss, Ji Nian quietly told Zhiliao she was sleepy.
She hugged Zhiliao's leg and yawned.
With Ji Tingzhou's permission, Zhiliao picked up Ji Nian to put her down for a nap.
Having been abused by Zhang Yulan before, the child had no wariness towards people at all - whoever showed her kindness, she eagerly responded in kind.
Like now, curled up in Zhiliao's arms, sleeping completely defenseless.
Zhiliao marveled again at how the Ji family bloodline could produce such a child.
After lifting her clothes to check on Ji Nian's previous wounds, Zhiliao put the child down, patted her, and left.
Ji Tingzhou sat on the sofa in the outer room, taking a phone call.
It was from his secretary.
"Master, Tangtang asked me to tell you she misses you."
Tangtang, full name Shen Qingtang, was the adopted daughter Ji Tingzhou was rumored to be taking in.
She originally had a family and parents - her father Shen Rushan had been Ji Tingzhou's capable assistant.
Like Wei Yang, he had followed Ji Tingzhou from early on. Shen Rushan was quick-witted, Wei Yang was strong and good at fighting - they were his right and left hands.
But last year, in an unexpected incident, he took a bullet for Ji Tingzhou and passed away.
After his death, his wife couldn't bear the loss of her loved one and committed suicide not long after, leaving behind their young daughter, Shen Qingtang.
Ji Tingzhou hadn't neglected her, instead secretly raising her with specialized care, planning to officially adopt her this year.
"Oh, her..."
The secretary's words made Ji Tingzhou belatedly remember such a person.
It wasn't like what the outside world said about him valuing and doting on her.
The good material conditions were simply because he only had money to give, and his occasional visits were out of responsibility to his deceased subordinate.
Ji Tingzhou actually found children quite annoying - weak, ignorant, and fragile.
Every time Shen Qingtang pitifully wanted him to play with her, Ji Tingzhou would perfunctorily throw a ball for her to fetch, over and over.
But even with such perfunctory treatment, he had only visited a few times. He couldn't even remember what the little girl looked like, yet she had grown attached to him.
"I'll call her."
Though slightly impatient, thinking of his deceased subordinate, Ji Tingzhou suppressed that emotion.
Few people knew that although he was often called crazy, Ji Tingzhou actually had a strong sense of responsibility.
After hanging up, Ji Tingzhou stroked Big Dan's head resting on the sofa, just about to call the contact saved as 'Shen Qingtang - Shen Rushan's daughter'.
'Creak'
The door opened, and something came pattering in.
