Chapter 110 Hua Zhao Helps Niu Nui Blow Her Hair

Chapter 110 Hua Zhao Helps Niu Niu Dry Her Hair

Just as the three little ones finished their second cookie, Niu Niu finally emerged.

The little girl had changed into a loose-fitting top and shorts, with slippers on her feet. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, a bit disheveled at the crown.

As soon as Mi Le saw her, he waved: "Niu Niu, come quickly and try the cookies Qi Qi made!"

Niu Niu glanced somewhat uncomfortably at everyone in the living room, then cautiously shuffled forward.

She nervously clutched the hem of her shirt, before Mi Huan effortlessly lifted her onto a booster seat.

"Go on, they saved these specially for you," Hua Zhao said with a gentle smile.

Niu Niu took a cookie and whispered, "Thank you, Auntie."

Once all the children were seated, Shen Minyan rose and went to the kitchen to retrieve the food, which had been kept warm, and arranged it on the table.

Halfway through the meal, Du Ze arrived late. Seeing that everyone had started without him, he felt a pang of displeasure.

Since his marriage to Wang Shiran, he had naturally gained some connections, and now everyone in the industry respectfully addressed him as Teacher Du.

However, in this reality show, his status was clearly inferior, and even the children didn't seem particularly fond of him.

There was no seat left for him at the table, so he stood awkwardly at the very edge, forcing a smile as his gaze settled on Niu Niu, who was intently eating.

As if sensing his stare, Niu Niu turned to look at him, her lips pressed tightly together.

Niu Niu was a little afraid of her father now. Under his gaze, she raised a hand to touch her hair.

Hua Zhao immediately noticed her hair wasn't dry and said softly, "Niu Niu, eat a few bites to fill your tummy first, then let Daddy dry your hair, or you might catch a cold."

Niu Niu simply shook her head: "No need, Auntie."

Hua Zhao was about to say more when Pei Qi Qi tugged her sleeve. Seeing Niu Niu's strong aversion to having her hair dried, she reluctantly dropped the subject.

After dinner, Hua Zhao watched the other three children playing in the living room, then led Pei Qi Qi to a corner of the kitchen for a private chat.

"Qi Qi, why did you pull me earlier?"

Qi Qi glanced outside. He had watched previous episodes repeatedly and noticed that Niu Niu’s father seemed to dislike her long hair. Moreover, You You had told him that Niu Niu’s father never washed her hair.

Hua Zhao was shocked: "Don't tell me Niu Niu washes her own hair? How old is she? What if shampoo gets in her eyes? What if she falls off the stool?"

Pei Qi Qi maintained a serious expression. He thought Niu Niu had looked lovely when she first arrived today, but after her bath, she seemed dull and disheveled.

He really wanted to help his little friend.

And Auntie, being the only female adult present, was the best person to assist.

Coincidentally, Du Ze happened to pass by the kitchen and greeted them.

What he was holding flashed by, and Hua Zhao was certain she hadn't mistaken it—it was a pack of cigarettes and a lighter.

Du Ze was going out to smoke, so he definitely wouldn't be on camera for the next few minutes.

In the living room, Niu Niu sat on a pink cushion next to You You, watching a show.

Well, it wasn't exactly cartoons—it was a show called Ultraman. Mi Le and You You were engrossed, and when a monster appeared, You You immediately stood up and buried his face in his dad’s chest.

He would only peek back out once the monster's sounds had subsided.

Niu Niu lifted her sleeve to sniff herself, then touched her hair again. She fidgeted a lot, but her two companions, completely absorbed in Ultraman's heroic feats, didn't notice at all.

"Niu Niu."

It was Auntie Hua Zhao.

Niu Niu politely greeted her auntie.

Hua Zhao looked at her somewhat chubby face. The little girl wore a small golden pendant around her neck.

It was clear her mother treated her well, which contradicted Hua Zhao’s earlier assumption that "with a stepfather, the biological mother might also become like a stepmother."

"Niu Niu, Auntie isn't feeling too well. Can you help me?"

Niu Niu was a helpful child. Seeing Auntie looking unwell, she nodded earnestly: "Yes, Auntie."

Hua Zhao found a private spot—her and Qi Qi’s room.

As soon as they entered, Hua Zhao knelt down and asked Niu Niu: "Niu Niu, your hair isn’t dry. Let Auntie help you dry it, okay?"

Niu Niu was a smart child and immediately realized that Auntie Hua Zhao's feigned discomfort was just a pretext to help her.

They had only just met, yet Auntie was so kind to her. Why wasn't her father nice to her anymore?

The little girl’s nose stung, and her eyes welled up with tears.

"Auntie Hua, I can’t hold the hairdryer… it’s a bit heavy…"

The little girl sobbed, her small chest heaving.

Hua Zhao gently touched her face and affectionately ruffled her hair: "I thought it was something serious. Don't cry. Auntie will dry your hair right away and even braid it for you."

Feeling that the little girl didn't resist her closeness, Hua Zhao smoothly lifted Niu Niu onto her lap.

Niu Niu’s hair was quickly dried, and Hua Zhao even braided it into two pigtails.

She tapped the little girl’s nose: "Tomorrow morning, Auntie will help you do your hair again, okay?"

Niu Niu touched the braids hanging over her chest, absolutely delighted: "Okay, Auntie. Can I wear a hair clip?"

Little girls naturally love to look pretty. Hua Zhao pinched her cheek: "Of course you can!"

Hearing this, Niu Niu eagerly took Hua Zhao’s hand to her room to find a hair clip and asked her to help put it on.

The family suite had a small door leading to Niu Niu’s room.

The small room was a bit messy. The blue dress Niu Niu had changed out of that afternoon was piled on a chair, her suitcase lay askew on the floor, and even the inside of the suitcase was somewhat disorganized.

Niu Niu crouched on the floor searching for a hair clip, her eyes sparkling.

Soon, she pulled out a pink flower hair clip and said happily: "My mom bought this for me."

But Hua Zhao’s gaze fell on the girl’s slightly swollen knee.

She remembered clearly that Niu Niu’s knee hadn’t been swollen when she arrived that afternoon.

Du Ze’s face automatically came to mind. Hua Zhao’s tone turned more serious as she asked Niu Niu: "Niu Niu, how did your knee get swollen?"

Niu Niu rubbed her knee with her palm, looking embarrassed, and said quietly, "I accidentally fell and bumped into the suitcase."

To be honest, with a stepfather like that around the little girl, Hua Zhao didn't believe Niu Niu had fallen on her own.

So she excitedly went to the program team and demanded they immediately pull up the surveillance footage.

An hour later, she had watched all the footage from the first and second floors but found nothing.

Niu Niu had indeed fallen on her own. The stairs and corridors were carpeted, and the little girl had slipped because she wasn’t paying attention, hitting her suitcase.

And Du Ze, who had been walking behind her the whole time, hadn’t done anything.