Chapter 2: Yang Mi Takes the Child to Meet Father!

As Li Qing’s voice faded, Wang Mian felt a slight tremor in his heart. He then replied, "I will make the arrangements."

For some reason, Wang Mian felt that this matter was likely true. For the first time in a long while, he had a premonition that something major was about to happen—a feeling he couldn't quite put into words. If the other party were mistaken, that would be one thing, but if it truly was Li Qing’s daughter, then... the sky was about to change.

...

Meanwhile, in the Tomson Riviera residential complex in Shanghai, within a spacious villa living room, Yang Mi sat on the sofa. Dressed in a professional suit skirt, her sharp, competent demeanor did not hide her stunning figure. Her slender, shapely legs, encased in black silk stockings, rested elegantly on the floor, and her red-bottomed high heels underscored her "boss lady" aura. Yet, between her brows, there was a hint of worry.

"Mi-jie, are you really planning to take Xuanbao to see that man?" Sitting opposite her was her assistant, a woman named He Baibai. He Baibai was Yang Mi’s assistant, but they were close friends in private. She said with concern, "But nobody knows if that man is reliable."

Yang Mi’s expression was melancholy. After taking a deep breath, she said slowly, "But given the current situation, I have no choice. If they find out I have a child, what will happen to me?"

Having recently left Jiaxing Media for various reasons, Yang Mi was still bound by a previous gambling agreement. Her situation was dire, even dangerous. In the entertainment industry, while everything looks glamorous and calm on the surface, it is actually filled with cutthroat competition. Yang Mi had her rivals, or rather, her sworn enemies. Now that she was in a vulnerable position, many people were waiting to see her fall completely.

At this moment, her child had become her greatest weakness. Once discovered, her gambling agreement would be a total failure; she would not only be burdened with hundreds of millions in debt but might also be forced to quit the entertainment industry entirely. Thus, the only current solution was to leave the child with her father until the crisis passed.

He Baibai sighed, unable to argue. It was true—Yang Mi was truly backed into a corner. "Sigh, why did you ever..." He Baibai trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid, and could only sigh again.

Yang Mi’s face remained calm, as if she had long since accepted it. "What’s done is done. There’s no use talking about it now." Although she spoke with such composure, the mere thought of four years ago still sent ripples through her heart.

On that night four years ago, Yang Mi had not long been famous. It was her first time attending such a grand banquet. She was in high spirits, and with so many industry titans present, she dared not refuse a drink. One careless moment led to her drinking too much. She had intended to return to her room to rest, but she mistakenly entered the wrong door. The room had been left unlocked, and with a simple swipe of a card and a push, she was inside. In her daze, the unspeakable happened.

It sounded absurd, but that was exactly how it went. It was the first time in her life, and after discovering she was pregnant, she had considered an abortion. However, the doctor warned her that she might never be able to conceive again. For various reasons, Yang Mi decided to secretly give birth to Xuanbao.

Suppressing the inner turmoil, Yang Mi asked, "Have you investigated Li Qing’s background?"

As an assistant, He Baibai naturally took on tasks like gathering information, acting as a sort of "private investigator." He Baibai shrugged, looking frustrated. "I found a bit. His name is Li Qing, and he lives in a courtyard in the eastern suburbs of the Huangpu District." Having said that, she fell silent.

Yang Mi was slightly taken aback. "That’s it?"

He Baibai nodded sheepishly. "That’s it. It took a massive amount of effort just to find that much. Don’t forget, after what happened four years ago, it took me months of digging just to find out his surname was Li. Being able to get his full name now is already quite an achievement."

She picked up an apple and took a bite. "But I’m certain he’s just an ordinary person, maybe... with a bit of money. Looking at the courtyard he lives in, he’s probably a Shanghai local who got a windfall from land demolition—maybe a few million. I’m used to looking into celebrities and bosses; looking into a regular person is impossible, maybe because he has no real status to begin with. As for him appearing at that high-end banquet, that event wasn't actually that exclusive; you could pay a few hundred thousand to get in for a night. Nouveaux riches love that kind of revenge spending. I know how it goes..."

To He Baibai, a net worth of a few million was truly ordinary. It wasn't that He Baibai was incredibly wealthy, but her social circle was saturated with the ultra-rich. A local landlord simply didn't make the cut.

"That guy really hit the jackpot!" He Baibai said, suddenly feeling indignant. "Mi-jie, when are you sending the child over?"

Yang Mi replied powerlessly, "He told me to meet him at the Junyue Hotel. He wants to see the child."

He Baibai was speechless. "That place is packed with people. If you pick a spot like that, you have to be careful. Make sure she’s covered up tight, or if you get photographed, it will be a disaster! Also, take my car; nobody knows it’s mine."

Yang Mi nodded; there was no other choice.

"Mommy~" Just then, a delicate voice drifted from the adjacent bedroom. A little girl walked out, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She had fair skin, chubby cheeks, and large, dark, beautiful eyes. Dressed in pink rabbit pajamas, she looked incredibly adorable. This was Yang Mi’s daughter, Xuanbao.

Seeing her precious daughter, a smile finally appeared on Yang Mi’s face. "Xuanbao, are you awake? Come here, into mommy’s arms."

Although she could walk, Xuanbao was still a bit unsteady, stumbling as she ran toward Yang Mi. "Mommy~ didn't you say you’d sleep with Xuanbao?"

Xuanbao snuggled into Yang Mi’s arms, smelling of baby milk. It made Yang Mi feel that no matter how hard things were, it was all worth it. He Baibai was also fond of Xuanbao and had even wanted to become her godmother. "Baby, come here, let Auntie He hold you!"

The little one was charming. After leaving Yang Mi’s arms, she walked over to He Baibai and was picked up. "Auntie~" Xuanbao said in a milky voice. He Baibai’s heart melted. "Xuanbao is such a good girl. Let Auntie have a kiss."

Xuanbao’s chubby face beamed with a cute smile, not at all shy. "Auntie, Xuanbao is hungry."

He Baibai’s face flushed, and she laughed awkwardly. "Well, Auntie doesn't have any... you’ll have to ask your mommy about that."

Yang Mi shot He Baibai a glance and, slightly exasperated, took Xuanbao back. "She’s three years old already; she stopped nursing a long time ago." She looked at Xuanbao, her voice softening. "Mommy is going to make you something to eat."

The cold and aloof Yang Mi, when in front of Xuanbao, revealed the gentle heart of a mother.

Xuanbao chirped, "Mommy, Xuanbao had a dream just now."

Yang Mi smiled. "What kind of dream? Tell mommy all about it."

He Baibai chimed in, "It wasn't a nightmare, was it?" Yang Mi rolled her eyes at her.

Xuanbao said in her sweet, childish voice, "I dreamed of Daddy."

"Huh?" He Baibai asked in surprise, "You didn't dream about wetting your pants, did you?"

Xuanbao shook her head, trying hard to pronounce her words correctly. "It was Daddy! I dreamed that Daddy took me to the amusement park and bought me lots of yummy treats."

Hearing this, Yang Mi froze, the smile on her face stiffening. A wave of guilt and heartache surged within her. Since having the child, Yang Mi’s emotions had become very sensitive, especially regarding Xuanbao. Because of her work, Yang Mi had never truly taken Xuanbao out to play. Other children her age were already in preschool, playing with many friends, but Xuanbao had always stayed at home. She understood how lonely her child must be, and she understood even more Xuanbao’s longing for a father’s love—the only concept of a father she knew came from seeing other children’s dads on her phone or TV.

Seeing her mother fall silent, Xuanbao thought she had done something wrong and said, feeling a bit wronged, "Mommy, didn't you say I have a daddy and that you were going to take me to see him..."

Hearing Xuanbao’s words, Yang Mi snapped back to reality and smiled gently. "In a little while, mommy will take you to see daddy, okay, Xuanbao?"