Chapter 74: Father and Daughter Meet

Chapter 74 Father and Daughter Reunite

The little girl’s chubby bottom was sticking out, and A Yuan couldn’t help pinching it.

“Why is Mama bad?”

Though A Man had just learned to speak, the little thing was sharp.

“Daddy went!”

A Man pointed outside, looking at her mother with an accusing expression, as if saying it was Mama who drove Daddy away.

Zhou Yan spoiled her rotten. Though not her biological father, he treated her like his own flesh and blood. Even A Yuan, her birth mother, didn’t spoil her as much as he did.

The little girl’s eyes welled up with tears. A Yuan sighed softly, bending down to wipe them away, cooing gently, “Daddy's busy working. Our A Man be good and won’t disturb Daddy, right?”

“A Man be good.”

The little girl nodded vigorously, tears still sparkling.

A Yuan chuckled at her. “Then Mama has work too. Can good A Man go play outside with Auntie Qian?”

Their embroidery shop was cramped, and A Yuan worried customers might bump into her.

Besides, today was the Flower Goddess Festival, and A Man loved the hustle and bustle. Rather than being stuck inside the shop, it was better to go out and explore.

“Okay.”

A Man bobbed her head obediently. Auntie Qian scooped her up, holding her little hand and waving it toward A Yuan. “Say goodbye to Mama, A Man. We’re going out to play!”

“Bye-bye, Mama~”

“Behave yourself outside and come back early.”

A Yuan added a few more reminders. She trusted Auntie Qian, but A Man was such a handful.

Both she and Wei Xun were naturally quiet types, and she had no idea where the little one got her energy.

Thinking of Wei Xun, A Yuan’s heart gave a twinge. That familiar gaze from earlier kept nagging at her.

No matter how hard she tried to ignore it, she couldn’t deceive herself—that gaze had felt so much like Wei Xun’s.

......

The southern part of the city was all shops, their doors decked out with flowers.

The young women on the streets were all dolled up, for the Flower Goddess Festival was also Suzhou’s Qixi Festival. Many young ladies were out today in hopes of finding a match.

A Man grew restless in Auntie Qian’s arms, wriggling to get down so she could walk on her own.

Auntie Qian couldn’t say no to her and had to set her down.

“Then hold Auntie’s hand tight, and be careful not to bump into anyone.”

“Okay.”

A Man bobbed her head obediently, but her little chubby body wobbled unsteadily. She hadn’t even mastered walking yet but already wanted to run. Auntie Qian watched on edge.

“Sweetheart, slow down.”

“Auntie, flower!”

A Man loved pretty things, and she’d even decorated the two little buns on her head with lily-of-the-valley flowers that bounced adorably with each step she took.

Wei Xun rushed out of the inn, chasing after someone all the way to the street corner.

The streets were packed, and he frantically pushed through the crowd like a man possessed.

He’d already lost his mind—without A Yuan, he was nothing but an empty shell.

"Ow!"

Too engrossed in the flowers, A Man didn’t see the man suddenly charging toward her and collided straight into him, her little nose stinging from the impact.

"...A Man’s nose hurts!"

The little girl clutched her face, tears welling in her eyes.

Only then did Wei Xun realize he had bumped into someone.

He looked down to see a soft, chubby little girl with pudgy hands covering her face, peering up at him with teary eyes.

"Mean! Hurt A Man!"

She couldn’t form long sentences yet, repeating the word "mean" over and over.

Wei Xun had no patience for children—he had never even held his nephew Wei Kangyu from the second branch of the family, nor could he muster any affection for his sister’s newborn.

He’d always thought himself cold by nature—until he met this little girl.

"Are you... hurt badly?"

He crouched down to her eye level.

As the most distinguished gentleman in the capital, Wei Xun’s looks were beyond question. His striking face filled her view, and A Man gaped in awe.

"Handsome uncle..."

"Hmm?" Wei Xun raised an eyebrow.

A Man moved her hands from her nose to cover her rosy, chubby cheeks, shyly murmuring, "A Man doesn’t hurt anymore."

Auntie Qian, recognizing the girl’s weakness for pretty faces, quickly swept her up and said to Wei Xun, "Best watch your step, sir. The streets are crowded."

Wei Xun’s noble bearing made Auntie Qian hesitate to scold him further. She hurriedly bought a hairpin for A Man, her desire to shop now gone.

The little girl was Lady Xie’s most cherished treasure—if she got hurt, Lady Xie would be heartbroken.

A Man, still nestled in Auntie Qian’s arms, strained to keep staring at Wei Xun, clutching the hairpin tightly and muttering, "Pretty uncle..."

"Goodness, child, where did you learn this? One pretty face and you freeze—are you not afraid they’ll kidnap you?"

Auntie Qian fought a mix of annoyance and laughter. A Man nuzzled her shoulder and whined, "Uncle pretty!"

"Is Daddy not pretty?"

Auntie Qian teased her knowingly. After all, Zhou Yan was one of Suzhou’s most elegant scholars—if not for his sham marriage with A Yuan, matchmakers would’ve lined up from the south of the city to the north.

The little girl lifted her head with utmost seriousness. "Daddy’s pretty too."

But not as pretty as the pretty uncle.

She pressed a hand to her chest, the rest of her words left unspoken.

With her young mind, A Man couldn't articulate the natural fondness she felt toward the handsome man. Seeing him, she just wanted him to hold her.

Not only A Man, but Wei Xun felt the same way.

As the little girl was carried away, he instinctively followed.

Auntie Qian hadn’t gone far with A Man, and they returned even faster.

Jinxiu Embroidery Shop on South Street had its customers trickling out.

Su Mengyun called out when she saw them return.

A Yuan set down her embroidery work and came out with a smile. "Back already? Did A Man cause trouble?"

The little girl, though young, wasn’t foolish and could tell her mother was teasing her.

She pouted dramatically. "A Man didn’t cause trouble! Mama’s being mean."

"Oh yes, Mama’s so bad for blaming you," A Yuan replied, taking her daughter into her arms and kissing her chubby little cheeks. Her usual charm now warm with motherly love.

Wei Xun stood at the entrance of the embroidery shop, staring fixedly inside.

His concubine, who had disappeared two years ago, was now alive, well, and holding a child.

A Yuan... hadn’t died. She’d lied to him again!

His eyes turned bloodshot, the metallic tang of blood filled his mouth.

A Yuan felt an icy fear grip her and turned around with A Man in her arms.

The moment she saw the man, dread coursed through her entire body.

"M-My lord...?"

"Lady Xie, you know him?"

It was then that Auntie Qian noticed Wei Xun had followed them. And judging by A Yuan’s reaction, they obviously knew each other.

A Yuan pressed her lips together, her arms shaking as she held A Man.

Wasn’t Wei Xun supposed to be in the capital? What was he doing here?

Meanwhile, the little girl’s eyes lit up at the sight of the man. Pointing at him, she told her mother, "Mama, the pretty man!"

A Yuan nearly covered her daughter’s mouth on impulse. Glancing between the man and A Man, her worst fear had come true.

Wei Xun watched everything with a cold gaze, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. He stepped forward, his dark eyes fixed on A Yuan as he demanded in a low voice, "Explain."