Watching the figure that had already walked away, the attendant by Ji Nian's side nervously observed her expression.
Oh no, is the little princess going to get angry?
Who in the world is so rude!
Only when the figure completely disappeared from sight did Ji Nian finally look away. Contrary to the attendant's expectation of anger, she instead sighed with admiration: "Such a beautiful and kind soul. To avoid troubling me, he insisted on standing up and pushing himself away."
The attendant: "......"
How thick is that layer of bias?
As Ji Nian walked away, she couldn’t stop thinking about the face she had just seen.
It perfectly matched her aesthetic.
She had a thing for those fragile, beautiful types who looked like they couldn’t take care of themselves (º﹃º).
[Whose parent is he? I’ve never seen him before.]
Ji Nian pondered, her steps quickening.
Suddenly, her gaze caught something, and she snapped out of her thoughts, dashing in a certain direction.
"Dad!!"
Seeing the child from afar, Ji Tingzhou stopped in his tracks.
He had clearly noticed how Ji Nian, who had seemed distracted just moments ago, suddenly lit up upon seeing him, visibly excited as she sprinted toward him.
Bending down, he caught the child who had thrown herself at him, lifting her into his arms.
Ji Tingzhou pinched her flushed cheeks, red from running: "What’s the rush? I’m not going anywhere."
"But the pretty brother might leave!"
Ji Nian excitedly wrapped her arms around her father’s neck: "Dad! I just saw a really, really handsome brother!!"
The smile on Ji Tingzhou’s lips faded.
"So, you were in such a hurry to find me because of him?"
Still lost in the allure of the handsome stranger, Ji Nian didn’t notice the increasingly dangerous glint in her father’s eyes and instinctively nodded.
"I want to get to know him. It seems like he’s about to leave."
"Dad, help me find him, quick."
Ji Tingzhou expressionlessly set the child down.
Ji Nian looked up at him, puzzled.
Then she saw the man’s lips curve into a sinister smile as he spoke slowly, word by word: "Dad?"
"Why aren’t you calling me Zhouzhou anymore?"
The words sounded light, but they hit Ji Nian like two heavy hammers.
She was completely stunned.
[...How does the princess know?]
[Audacious system! Did you spill the beans?!]
The system pointed at itself: ?
Seeing the child’s pupils suddenly shrink and her expression freeze, Ji Tingzhou narrowed his eyes: "Why aren’t you calling me that anymore?"
"Don’t you like it?"
He crouched down, leisurely smoothing her hair, and whispered softly: "Or..."
"Are you too scared?"
Ji Nian shivered, throwing herself into her father’s arms and burying her face in his chest: "Dad, what are you talking about?"
"What Zhouzhou?"
"I don’t know anything."
Ji Tingzhou sneered: "Heh."
Ji Nian quickly changed the subject: "Dad, I’m hungry. I want to eat something."
Ji Tingzhou tilted his chin toward a servant: "Bring her a bowl of broccoli."
Ji Nian: "......"
Ji Tingzhou is so petty!
After her initial outrage, and to avoid eating broccoli, Ji Nian looked up at him with pitiful eyes, trying to soothe her father’s anger: "Dad, I’m sorry."
Ji Tingzhou, however, looked at her gently: "Everyone makes mistakes."
"After all, you’re not as amazing as Ji Tingzhou."
Ji Nian closed her eyes.
Enough.
He actually! Heard! Everything!!! Why!!!
Seeing Ji Nian completely deflated, the princess, satisfied with his mischief, let a hint of amusement flicker in his eyes and didn’t tease her further.
He gave a glance to the bodyguard behind him, who understood and took the Gu Family’s attendant away. A few others stepped back, ensuring no one would pass by, leaving the father and daughter with some privacy.
Sitting on a bench, Ji Tingzhou poked the motionless Ji Nian: "What did you say to the Gu Family’s matriarch?"
Ji Nian shot him a look: "Dad, don’t you already know everything?"
Ji Tingzhou nodded: "Even Dad doesn’t know everything. After all, everyone makes mistakes—ow—"
The child swiftly pinched her father’s waist with all her strength.
Despite her young age, she had gained some weight recently, and her grip had become stronger.
Rubbing the sore spot, Ji Tingzhou glanced at her: "You’ve got guts."
Daring to lay hands on your own father.
Ji Nian pouted.
"Alright, tell me. What did you trick Young Master Gu into taking you there for?"
Getting to the main point, Ji Nian became more serious.
Even though she knew Ji Tingzhou had sent people away to keep watch, she still pretended to perk up her nonexistent ears and cautiously looked around.
Then she nimbly climbed onto her father’s lap, leaning close to his ear: "Grandma Gu isn’t just sick with some strange illness."
Hearing this, Ji Tingzhou showed a look of ‘as expected.’
Steadying the child’s wobbly body, he said without much surprise: "Poison."
Ji Nian, seeing he understood immediately, nodded vigorously.
Noticing her sparkling eyes, Ji Tingzhou chuckled: "Can you cure it?"
Ji Nian didn’t answer, but proudly puffed out her chest.
"Impressive."
He reached out and gently rubbed her ear in praise.
Now that she was actually being praised, she felt a little shy.
After all, she was the one who had made the poison in the first place.
"Do you want to cure her?"
Ji Tingzhou asked casually, his eyes fixed on the child.
Playing with her father’s fingers, Ji Nian hummed in agreement.
As if worried he might disapprove, Ji Nian explained how she had used his name to hint at the old lady.
Then she added tactfully: "This way, Gu Xiuyuan’s dad won’t turn to someone else."
The ‘someone else’ referred to the Chen Family.
Ji Tingzhou’s emerald-green eyes flickered a few times as he instantly recalled the brief conversation he had with his secretary in the car earlier.
Even though she had seemed completely absorbed in the scenery outside, she had actually been listening.
But not only had she listened, the most impressive part was that Ji Nian had understood the underlying power dynamics.
Truly...
Ji Tingzhou had to admit, his child was even smarter than he had originally thought.
Seeing Ji Tingzhou remain silent, Ji Nian tugged at him: "Dad?"
Ji Tingzhou snapped out of his thoughts, his gaze enigmatic as he looked at her.
Suddenly, he said: "From now on, don’t tell anyone else about these things."
"Only tell me, understand?"
Being too clever wasn’t scary; what was scary was the potential for others to exploit or manipulate her.
Ji Nian understood his meaning and nodded.
"I know."
Seeing her comprehension, Ji Tingzhou patted her head with satisfaction, not needing to say more.
"If this is for the sake of the Ji Family, you don’t need to worry about it."
"You shouldn’t have to deal with these matters."
Ji Nian blinked: "What if it’s for myself?"
Ji Tingzhou’s lips curved.
"Then go ahead and do it."
With him around, Ji Nian would never suffer any losses.
"Yay~"
She cheered, hugging Ji Tingzhou tightly and resting her head on his shoulder.
In a place where Ji Tingzhou couldn’t see, the smile on her face gradually faded.
Being protected and supported... this was what it felt like.
