Shao ChengZe's pupils suddenly shuddered. Something rushed towards him amidst the sparks and lightning. He wanted to grab it but failed to do so. His hand reached for the cigarette next to him, but quickly moved away. There seemed to be a thousand-pound boulder stuck in his throat that made it hard for him to speak for a long time before he was able to ask, "Then... who is your dad?"
Cheng LiQi's long eyelashes drooped down, covering the emotions in her eyes. She was a little unhappy now. Who is or isn't my dad? Why does he want me to call someone else dad and then ask who my dad is? I also want to know who my dad is!
She suddenly didn't want to talk to him anymore. Cheng LiQi pouted her little mouth. "I'm going to hang up now. I'm busy too. I have homework to do, piano to practice, and I need to call Shen ChuQi. So I don't have time to answer your questions."
After Cheng LiQi finished speaking, she pressed the end call button once, then twice more when it didn't work right away. She put her phone down on the dining table and buried her face in her arms on the table, kicking her legs up in the air, feeling more aggrieved the more she thought about it.
How could he be like this? Aunt Shen recognized Shen ChuQi right away. She had already called him twice, but he seemed to be just like Yun Xi's dad, not wanting to admit he was her father. If that was the case, then she didn't want to call him dad either! She had her big uncle, little uncle, grandpa, and Dad Shi. She had so many people who could tell her stories. She didn't need to listen to his Journey to the West stories. She liked Snow White!
Shao ChengZe stared at the disconnected phone screen blankly for a second before getting up from his desk, grabbing his car keys, and striding out of his office. Yu Zhongzhou was just about to knock on his door and jumped in fright when the door suddenly opened and someone rushed out. Good heavens! With this kind of momentum, whoever got in his way was doomed, whether they were gods or Buddhas! Fortunately, he got out of the way quickly enough.
"Where are you going?" Yu Zhongzhou yelled, afraid that his voice wouldn't catch up to Shao ChengZe's footsteps if he spoke too slowly.
Shao ChengZe only replied with one sentence, "Something came up." Then he entered the president's exclusive elevator.
"Who angered him?" Yu Zhongzhou muttered to Kong Yichan, still trying to catch his breath and gather his wits from the shock. He wished he could pat his own head to calm himself down.
Kong Yichan was also unclear. Other than arguing with Old Mr. Shao on the phone this morning, President Shao seemed to be in an alright mood today, definitely not as bad as she had expected. He just didn't eat much at lunch or dinner, processed work with extremely high efficiency, and had the managers from the various departments come to his office for tea one after another. They all came out looking dejected. Thanks to the boss's high work demands, she was still working overtime now. It should be that he had angered others, not the other way around. Even Old Mr. Shao couldn't provoke him, who else dared to?
Cheng LiQi remained slumped over the dining table for a good while before getting up and going to the music room to practice piano for a bit, finally feeling slightly better, but only a little.
Shi Ran walked into the music room and sat down next to Cheng LiQi. Lowering his head to look at her, he asked, "What's wrong? Did something unhappy happen?"
Cheng LiQi turned her little fingers over each other and spoke in a muffled voice. "Dad Shi, why do some dads not recognize their own babies?"
Shi Ran's eyes flickered. He touched her drooping ponytail gently and said in a soothing voice that could calm hearts, "There are many reasons why a dad might not recognize his own baby."
Cheng LiQi looked up at Dad Shi, waiting for him to tell her what the reasons could be.
Shi Ran continued, "For example, he simply doesn't know he has a baby."
"Dads don't know they have babies?" Cheng LiQi didn't understand.
"Of course it happens," Shi Ran said very surely.
Cheng LiQi felt a little less unhappy. Dad Shi never lied. If he said it happens, then it must happen. That meant Shao ChengZe possibly didn't know she was his baby, so that's why he didn't recognize her.
Cheng LiQi asked again, "Then how would he know he has a baby?"
Shi Ran looked into her eyes. The words slipped out, "Maybe... he'd know after seeing her face to face."
Only after speaking did he feel like he might have said too much. But she probably wouldn't get much out of that, Shi Ran thought. Still, he should mention it to Jinlan. The little one was already showing a longing for a father's existence now.
Seeing face to face... then he'd know. Cheng LiQi blinked. She pursed her lips in a smile. She knew what to do now. She jumped down from the chair and ran towards the door, calling to Dad Shi as she left, "Dad Shi, I have something very important to do and can't chat with you!"
Shi Ran told her, "Slow down, watch your step, don't trip and fall."
"I know!"
Shi Ran watched the small back rushing anxiously out the door. He wondered whether she had caught on to something.
Cheng LiQi took out her watch from her schoolbag, trotted up to the second floor, and closed the door behind her before calling Shen ChuQi.
"Hey, Little LiQi, what's up?" Shen ChuQi's voice was muffled since she still had food in her mouth.
"Shen ChuQi, are you with Aunt Shen?"
"Mm hmm."
"Can you ask Aunt Shen if she has a photo of Shao ChengZe?"
If he was Shen ChuQi's uncle, Aunt Shen should have a photo of him, right? She had to know what he looked like before she could find him tomorrow.
As it turned out, Shen XiWen did have one photo, just one. Shao ChengZe disliked taking photos. This one on Shen XiWen's phone was secretly snapped by her. Mother Shao had wanted him to go on a blind date but had no recent photo of him, so Shen XiWen had secretly taken one. The angle was very good, a front portrait, one hand in his pocket, eyes cast down, leaning against a desk while taking a phone call. Afternoon sunlight streamed in, casting a halo on his face that added some warmth to the otherwise cold-looking face, nothing too scary for a child.
Shen XiWen first sent the photo to Shen ChuQi's watch, then Shen ChuQi forwarded it to Cheng LiQi. Shen ChuQi stared at the photo carefully. "Little LiQi, I feel like his eyes look a lot like yours."
Cheng LiQi was also staring at the photo. Her little finger slid across his face. Did they? His eyes were downcast. Cheng LiQi just felt that he had really long eyelashes. He was so handsome, even more so than her big uncle! Cheng LiQi ran to the mirror and looked at herself, then looked back at the photo, at the photo then at herself in the mirror. Her resolve grew firmer.
She was going to find him. If he didn't recognize her, she'd take a strand of his hair for that DNA test to make the doctor uncle tell him.
"Shen ChuQi, I'm going to go find him at Shao Corporation tomorrow."
"Great, great! I'll go with you. You went with me to find my mom, so I should go with you to find your dad too," Shen ChuQi always fully supported whatever Cheng LiQi wanted to do. "But...how do we get to Shao Corporation? We don't know where it is."
"I know. It's on the road I take to kindergarten, Spring Sunshine Road. Uncle drove past it with me this morning. The building is so tall. I can ask Sister Wu to take me there. Sister Wu drives so well, she can find any road."
But Shen ChuQi still had doubts. "If we go, can we get inside? Aren't companies not allowed to let kids in, only adults?"
Shen XiWen had been listening anxiously to the two children's conversation. She quickly moved forward to join in. "You've got me! I can take you on a tour of Shao Corporation."
"Really, Mom?!"
"Really, Aunt Shen?!"
The two children on both sides of the call spoke at the same time.
Shen XiWen replied, "Of course it's true."
She was very willing and eager to facilitate this matter, best if it could be done before Mother Shao arrived. Not only did Mother Shao suddenly gain a young grandson out of nowhere, she might also suddenly gain a granddaughter. This could help divert some of her anger so it wouldn't all be directed at her. Shao ChengZe was even thinking of going away on a business trip. She wouldn't let him take that trip. Going on a business trip was nothing compared to recognizing one's daughter!
Cheng LiQi thought of something. "Aunt Shen, if we go find him at his company, will it affect his work?"
Shen XiWen waved her hand grandly. "It won't affect anything. He's the boss of the Shao Corporation. Whether he works or not is up to him."
"What's a 'boss'?" Shen ChuQi didn't understand.
Shen XiWen flicked her son's forehead. "It means he's the president of Shao Corporation! I told you, your uncle has very thick thighs."
Oh~~ So he was a president too, just like her big uncle. Her big uncle could work if he wanted or not work if he didn't want to.
With Aunt Shen around, things would be much easier. Cheng LiQi happily spun around on the floor twice, thinking about what dress she should wear tomorrow. She had to wear a really pretty, beautiful dress!
Downstairs, after seeing the late hour, Jiang Jiang got up to take her leave. She held Cheng Jinlan's hand and said, "I wanted to chat with you all night tonight, but I still have some things to take care of early tomorrow, so I'm afraid I can't make it tonight. After I finish tidying up at home, you have to bring Little LiQi to stay at my place for a couple of days."
After Jiang Jiang left, Cheng Jinlan could sense her preoccupied state of mind. Facing Shi Ran, she no longer had the ease from before. Outsiders couldn't clarify matters of the heart. Even after so many years, the entanglements and estrangements between the three hadn't been resolved.
In her private thoughts, Cheng Jinlan actually leaned more towards Shi Ran. Although Jinchuan was her elder brother, he was too fickle and didn't know how to love someone, only hurt them. Jiang Jiang had already been hurt by him once. She didn't want her to be hurt a second time. Although Shi Ran said his feelings for Jiang Jiang had become a thing of the past, according to Shao ChengZe... He had privately met with Jiang Jiang several times. Most of the time, people contradict what's in their hearts. Their mouths might say they no longer love someone, but their hearts have never let go.
Since Jiang Jiang was leaving, Cheng Jinlan didn't stay either. She signaled to Shi Ran, hoping that Shi Ran would see Jiang Jiang off. Shi Ran's home was on the way to Lanzhou, so more time together would be good, but Shi Ran never offered. Cheng Jinlan could only sigh to herself - you can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. Forget it, she could barely figure out her own affairs, let alone manage someone else's.
"Auntie Jiang, you're leaving?" Cheng LiQi ran over from upstairs.
Jiang Jiang bent down to look at Cheng LiQi. "Yes, little LiQi, Auntie Jiang is leaving. Next time when you go to Auntie's house with your mom, I'll make you something delicious."
"Yay, yay! Auntie Jiang is so pretty, your cooking must be delicious too."
With just a few words, the gloom in Jiang Jiang's eyes disappeared, leaving only a joyful smile.
Cheng Jinlan rubbed her forehead. Her little girl was too sly with her words. She called every pretty older sister, auntie, and granny the most beautiful. She wanted to charm them all.
After seeing Jiang Jiang off, Cheng LiQi pulled Shi Ran towards her home. "Dad Shi, I have to wear the prettiest dress to school tomorrow. You have to help me pick one."
Shi Ran happened to have something to say to Cheng Jinlan. He picked up Cheng LiQi high in the air. "No problem, Dad Shi has great taste in clothes."
Cheng LiQi patted Dad Shi's shoulder. "Dad Shi, take me on an airplane ride."
Not just an airplane, even a rocket ride Shi Ran would agree to. He lifted her onto his shoulders and ran off into the evening breeze.
Cheng Jinlan called from behind, "You two, slow down!"
Cheng LiQi hugged Dad Shi's neck and giggled. "Mommy, come chase us!"
Not far away, a black car was parked on the side of the dimly lit road. Barely noticeable, the eyes of the person inside were one with the night's darkness, so dense it couldn't dissipate.
He dialed Little A's number.
Little A picked up quickly. "Boss, what can I do for you?"
"Help me find out the exact birth date of Cheng Jinlan's daughter, including which hospital she was born at, and which doctor delivered her."
Little A asked, "Second Miss Cheng Jinlan of the Cheng family?"
"Yes."
"Got it, Boss." Little A held the phone with one hand while typing the name with the other. Seeing the photo on the computer screen, a hint of gossip flashed in his eyes. Wasn't this the beauty they met at Lanzhou parking lot, that the Boss couldn't take his eyes off?
"Also," Shao Chengze paused, "check if she's...married."
Back then, he had only seen her present two fresh red marriage certificates to Shi Ran's mother at the hospital door. Afterwards, despite intentionally avoiding all news about her, he knew she and Shi Ran hadn't held a wedding ceremony.
Shi Ran watched the little girl admiring herself in the mirror. He whispered to Cheng Jinlan, "She asked me about her dad again today. I feel like she knows something."
Cheng Jinlan slowly nodded. "I guess so. She called Shao Chengze before."
Shi Ran's gaze sharpened. "Shao Chengze knows?"
"Not yet."
Shi Ran looked at her. "What do you plan to do now? It probably can't stay hidden for long."
Cheng Jinlan pulled her lips into a bitter smile. "If it can't stay hidden then it can't. What can he do even if he knows? I'm not afraid of him fighting me for her. She's my flesh and blood, raised by me. The Cheng family's team of lawyers aren't vegetarians either. My only fear is...Cheng LiQi getting hurt," she hugged herself, a sign of her unease. "I want to find a chance to talk to her properly."
Her expression was cold, tone calm, as if mentioning that person no longer stirred any emotion. But some things could deceive others but not herself. When she spoke Shao Chengze's name, her voice unconsciously caught, some names were harder to say the more they tugged at her heart.
Shi Ran's gaze fluctuated, but ultimately he didn't say anything more.
Cheng LiQi finally chose the dress for tomorrow, a fluffy pink lace dress. She looked at herself from all angles in the mirror - front, back, left, and right. No matter which way, she looked extremely pretty.
The next day, Cheng LiQi woke up half an hour earlier than usual. She brushed her teeth herself, washed her face snowy white, dabbed on some fragrant cream, then put on the pretty dress, waiting for Mommy to tie her hair in beautiful little braids.
"Mommy, after school today, I want to play with Shen ChuQi for a bit before going home."
Cheng Jinlan smoothed the undisturbed cream on her chin and said, "Wearing such a pretty outfit today, turns out you have a date with little ChuQi tonight."
"No date, Mommy. Auntie Shen is treating us to yummy food."
Seeing Mommy's hesitation, Cheng LiQi shook her arm. "Pleaaase, Mommy. I won't be too late, when the clock hands point to six I'll be home, I still have to practice piano at night."
"Alright, Mommy will allow it, but Sister Wu has to go with you."
Wu Lin was the personal bodyguard arranged by Cheng Jinchuan for Cheng LiQi. Despite looking small and slender, her fighting skills were top-notch. Five or six burly men wouldn't get near her. She had been responsible for Cheng LiQi's safety when she first learned to walk. With Wu Lin accompanying Cheng LiQi, nothing would go wrong.
Cheng LiQi happily smooched her mommy's face twice. "Thank you Mommy, I love you the most. Mommy is the most beautiful in the whole universe."
Cheng Jinlan thought, having a daughter with too sweet a mouth wasn't the best. She found it hard to reject whatever her daughter asked. Her little mouth had her wrapped around her finger.
Cheng LiQi listened attentively in class today, not letting her mind wander at all. She was the sort of kid who was more focused when excited.
Right after school ended, Cheng LiQi and Shen ChuQi ran out hand in hand. The teacher handed Shen ChuQi to the fully armed Shen Xi Wen, and Cheng LiQi to Wu Lin.
Cheng LiQi pulled Wu Lin to introduce her to Shen Xi Wen. "Sister Wu, this is Auntie Shen, ChuQi's mommy. Auntie Shen, this is my Sister Wu. She has awesome kungfu."
Shen Xi Wen took off her mask and smiled at Wu Lin, then quickly put it back on. "Hello there, little Sister Wu."
The blank expression on Wu Lin's face cracked a little, though she concealed it well. She couldn't help but be shocked. Shen ChuQi's mother was actually Shen Xi Wen?!
Now that Shen Xi Wen had acknowledged Shen ChuQi, she no longer intended to hide anything from anyone. The company was strategizing a public statement that would come out soon. As for how this would impact her career, she was already mentally prepared. If it came down to it, she could go back to being an extra. As long as she could still act, life wouldn't be too bad.
Wu Lin followed behind Shen Xi Wen's car with Cheng LiQi. They quickly arrived at the Shao Corporation. Security recognized Shen Xi Wen's car and let both cars in after she said the one behind her was with her.
Wu Lin felt confused. They had actually come to Shao's territory. She looked at Cheng LiQi, "Little LiQi, what are we doing here?"
Cheng LiQi smiled at Sister Wu. "We've come to find ChuQi's uncle. He's treating us to yummy food."
"Her uncle works at Shao Corp?"
"Yup."
Wu Lin thought, little darling, you probably don't know your family and the Shaos are like water and fire. If the Cheng master knew she had brought Little LiQi to Shao's territory, she'd probably be skinned.
Wu Lin kept pressing redial on her phone while responding absently.
Cheng LiQi's big eyes kept surveying her surroundings, hoping to spot someone who looked exactly like the photo of Shao Chengze, but she didn't find him among the coming and going crowd.
Wu Lin couldn't get through to Cheng Jinlan, so she called Cheng Jinchuan. His assistant picked up, saying Director Cheng was in a meeting. Wu Lin explained their current situation to the assistant, asking her to report to Director Cheng immediately after his meeting ended.
During the window when Wu Lin was on the phone, Cheng LiQi couldn't wait any longer. She walked right up to the front desk and politely told the receptionist, "I want to see your Shao Corp CEO Shao Chengze."
The receptionist saw a cute little girl dressed in a pink lace dress, pink hair clip, and pink backpack, like a miniature doll. She assumed the child was from some rich and powerful family, boldly asking to see their CEO by name. She must be the precious daughter of some high-level executive at Shao.
The receptionist gave her kindest smile. "Little one, can you tell me your mommy and daddy's names?"
Cheng LiQi tilted her head. "My mommy is Cheng Jinlan."
Cheng...Jinlan?!
Second Miss Cheng Jinlan of the Cheng family?! She might witness a miracle in her life, seeing a member of the Cheng family step into Shao Corp!
"As for my dad, I've come today to get some of Shao Chengze's hair. After I get his hair to do a DNA test, I'll know if he's my dad or not."
Cheng LiQi's crisp words at the bustling first floor lobby spread out in circles, rippling through all who heard. Including Wu Lin on the phone, everyone around the front desk froze with jaws dropping. Just what was going on here?!
Shao ChengZe was surrounded by a group of people as he walked out of the elevator. He lifted his narrow eyes and looked towards the little pink girl not far away.
Cheng LiQi recognized Shao ChengZe. She covered her mouth with her little hand and let out an "Ah-Oh" sound.
She decided that even if Shao ChengZe was not her dad, she had to help Cheng Jinlan get this man, to become her dad.
She liked his eyes, they were just like hers, so pretty.
Cheng LiQi took a step forward, revealing a sweet smile, and waved at Shao ChengZe, "Shao ChengZe, hello, I'm Cheng LiQi."
Shao ChengZe stared at her motionless, his phone vibrated in his hand, the incoming call display showed it was little A.
