Chapter 1: Daddy, Zhi Zhi is here!

Chapter 1 Daddy, Zhi Zhi Is Here~

"According to reports, Fu Cheng, the head of the Fu family, was involved in a car accident three days ago and has been hospitalized, remaining unconscious to this day."

"A week ago, Fu Cheng's three children were sent abroad separately. The car accident may have been orchestrated by enemies."

......

In the dimly lit VIP ward, a middle-aged man lay on the hospital bed, his consciousness faint, his body enveloped by medical equipment.

The room was eerily quiet, save for the unceasing hum of the machines.

When the clock on the wall struck eight, the tightly shut ward door was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

"Daddy!"

A little dumpling peeked her head through the crack of the door, and upon seeing the figure on the bed, her chubby little face instantly lit up with a bright smile.

Her short legs flailed in the air for a moment. Just as the door threatened to swing wide open and hit the wall from her movements, the little dumpling scrunched up her face and finally let go of the doorknob.

No expected pain came.

Zhi Zhi cautiously opened her tightly shut eyes and, realizing she had landed safely, her nervous expression quickly turned to pride.

"Zhi Zhi is so amazing!"

Giving herself a thumbs-up in the air, she took a moment to praise herself before turning her attention to the man lying on the bed behind her.

"Daddy, Zhi Zhi is here~"

She toddled over to the bedside on her short legs, stood on her tiptoes, and reached for the man's warm fingers, clutching them tightly with her chubby little hands.

"Mommy said Daddy was sick and Zhi Zhi needs to take care of Daddy. Where does it hurt? Zhi Zhi will kiss it better."

She tugged hard at the man's fingers, but being small and weak, her face flushed from the effort without managing to pull his hand closer.

Mommy's task was too difficult. Zhi Zhi pouted, her previously cheerful face now clouded with frustration.

"You can do it, Zhi Zhi! Zhi Zhi is the best!"

"Hey there, little one? Where are your parents?"

Just as the little dumpling was cheering herself on, a deep, calm voice suddenly rang out.

The timid little dumpling's rosy cheeks instantly paled in fright.

Fu Jingyi had secretly returned to the country.

Upon learning of his father's accident last night, he had ignored his uncles' protests and immediately booked the earliest flight back.

After rushing to the hospital, exhausted from the journey, he saw a tiny little dumpling—barely taller than his knees—playing with his father's fingers.

Seeing how pale she had turned from his sudden appearance, Fu Jingyi frowned and stepped forward.

His father had been in a car accident three days ago and was hospitalized in critical condition due to severe blood loss.

After 48 hours without regaining consciousness, the doctors gave their diagnosis—his father had fallen into a vegetative state.

From then on, the immense responsibility of the Fu family fell entirely on the shoulders of the eldest son, Fu Jingyi.

This trip back wasn't just to see his father—he also intended to uncover the culprit behind the accident.

But now, the newly of-age heir of the Fu family faced an even greater challenge.

"Hey! Why are you crying? Whose child are you? Where are your parents?"

Fu Jingyi crouched down, watching as tears welled up in the little dumpling's eyes. Panicked, he didn't know where to put his hands.

Zhi Zhi was just a young koi spirit who had barely reached a hundred years in her human form.

Because Mommy had to take care of Daddy properly, she had packed her tiny backpack and come to this world all by herself.

But Mommy hadn't told her that besides Daddy, there were other scary grown-ups in this world.

At this thought, Zhi Zhi could no longer hold back her sadness. Her lips trembled, and fat tears rolled down her cheeks.

Fu Jingyi had never looked after a kid before. Even though he had two younger brothers, they had always had nannies watching them.

Besides, boys were hardy—they'd cry if they fell, but bounce right back.

But this little dumpling in front of him was soft and pudgy, as if she might crumple if you poked her.

He reached out and gently pulled her into his arms, whispering comforts.

Fu Jingyi, inexperienced with kids, held her stiffly. "Shh, don’t cry, don’t cry. Big brother’s sorry. Here—you can hit me if you want."

Zhi Zhi sniffled and peeked up from his embrace. Seeing his open palm held out to her, she quickly shook her head.

"Mommy said not to hit people."

Such a polite little girl, then.

Fu Jingyi gave a soft laugh. "Then can you tell me where your parents are?"

Zhi Zhi pointed at the unconscious man on the bed and announced, "Daddy!"

Fu Jingyi's smile froze instantly.

Fu Cheng was in his thirties. If he were conscious now, even he would be shocked as to when he'd had another child.

All three Fu children had been adopted from orphanages, with the eldest, Fu Jingyi, who’d just come of age.

"And your mother is...?"

Zhi Zhi shook her head. Mommy had said not to tell anyone about her.

So she raised her little hand again and pointed at Daddy. "Daddy! Big brother, carry me!"

With that, she held out her arms toward Fu Jingyi, signaling for him to pick her up.

The little dumpling looked plump but was surprisingly light as he held her.

Fu Jingyi tweaked her cheek playfully, but she ducked her head away, still chanting, "Daddy!"

After taking off her shoes and setting her on the hospital bed, Fu Jingyi's smile stiffened when he saw her crawl over to his father and hug him tight.

"Little one, Daddy needs his rest. How about I take you somewhere else to play?"

He leaned down to lift her off the bed, but she had already clung to her daddy’s neck, refusing to let go.

"Daddy doesn't hurt. Zhi Zhi will blow on it, and it'll feel all better."

The sweet and obedient demeanor, completely different from his two mischievous brothers at home, turned Fu Jingyi's heart to mush.

Seeing the little dumpling, just two or three years old and so soft and tender, Fu Jingyi noticed she stopped fidgeting after hugging her father, so he pulled up a chair to sit by the hospital bed.

"Sweetie, where are your parents?"

Zhi Zhi buried her chubby little face into her father's neck, squirming as if refusing to answer.

Fu Jingyi couldn't help but chuckle.

The evening news was still running on the hospital TV.

From the corner of his eye, Fu Jingyi caught a glimpse of the screen showing the Fu family building, and his smiling, almond-shaped eyes narrowed.

On the TV screen, the entrance of the Fu Corporation was swarmed with reporters and spectators.

Hemmed in by journalists was a group of uniformed prosecutors.

Someone wanted to bring down the Fu Corporation and devour it whole.

Despite his privileged upbringing, Fu Jingyi felt powerless.

The loopholes in the Fu Corporation were too vast. Over the past two days, he had only begun to understand, and realized his abilities were too weak to save the company.

At this thought, Fu Jingyi's eyes darkened.

"Brother!"

A piping little voice interrupted his thoughts.

Looking up, the small, soft form he had just held moments ago suddenly launched herself into his arms.

"Brother, dada!"

Little dumpling had only a few words yet. Fu Jingyi followed her pointing finger.

In that instant, his body froze.

Because his father, who had been diagnosed as being in a vegetative state, now showed the barest flutter of his lashes.