Chapter 3: Does He Have the Means to Care for the Child?
The little one’s eyes widened instantly upon hearing she was going to see her father.
“Really?!”
Since she had become a little older and more aware, Yang Mi had never hidden the fact that the child had a father. She simply told her that he worked far away and that they would meet someday in the future.
So, Xuan Bao had always looked forward eagerly to the day she could finally meet her father.
Overjoyed, she spoke in a sweet, pleading tone, “Mommy, you’re not lying to me, right?”
Yang Mi smiled warmly and gently stroked her little cheek. “When have I ever lied to you? Go change your clothes; Mommy will take you to see Daddy.”
After tidying up, Yang Mi and Xuan Bao took He Baibai’s car, heading toward the Junyue Hotel.
...
More than half an hour later,
They arrived at Qianshui Street, just four or five kilometers from Junyue.
Yang Mi’s heart began to race with nervous anticipation.
After all these years, suddenly bringing her child to meet her father felt awkward—it was a scene fit for a movie.
“Sis Mi, why isn’t there any traffic today? Isn’t this place usually quite lively?” He Baibai, driving, glanced around with curiosity.
“There’s not a single car on this side of the road, but the opposite lane seems to be congested,” he added.
“Could it be roadwork up ahead?” Yang Mi pondered.
That thought made her realize something was amiss. Qianshui Street was never packed with people, but it was always bustling.
Yet today, it felt as if no one had ventured outside.
“Maybe they really are doing roadwork,” Yang Mi said calmly.
“If there’s nothing we can do, just turn around up ahead,” she instructed.
The car quickly approached the front, where from a distance, passing vehicles were halted and forced to turn around.
“There’s no roadwork though. Why won’t they let us through?” He Baibai muttered to himself, then continued forward.
Soon, they reached an intersection where a uniformed officer waved He Baibai on.
He Baibai hesitated briefly but chose to proceed.
“Strange. How can we pass?” He Baibai was confused but relieved not to have to detour.
“Could it be some sort of driving restriction today?” Yang Mi mused.
“On a Sunday? No way. Let’s just get going,” she said, already losing interest in the peculiar situation.
Soon enough,
The car stopped not far from Junyue Hotel.
“We’re here,” He Baibai said, parking the vehicle.
He glanced around and noticed the area was eerily quiet; the parking spots in front of the hotel were all empty.
Nearby,
A black Chevrolet SUV was parked alone.
“Sis Mi, could that be him?” He Baibai guessed.
“There’s only this one car around here,” he added.
Yang Mi’s heart pounded nervously.
She carefully unbuckled Xuan Bao from her car seat and lowered her voice.
“Let’s get out first.”
Xuan Bao nestled into Yang Mi’s embrace.
Usually outgoing, the little one was unusually quiet now.
Her big, round eyes scanned the surroundings, filled with both curiosity and a hint of fear.
“Mommy, where’s Daddy?” Xuan Bao’s chubby cheeks showed a trace of nervousness.
She had always dreamed and longed for her father’s presence, but now that the moment was near, she felt a little anxious.
Yet soon, her eyes brightened again with curiosity and joy.
“Mommy, will Daddy come?”
Hearing the word “Daddy” repeatedly made Yang Mi’s heart race wildly.
A complex, tangled mix of emotions left her momentarily lost.
At that moment,
A young man stepped slowly out of the black Chevrolet.
Wang Mian, dressed in a suit,
approached Yang Mi calmly.
“Miss Yang, I’m Mr. Li’s assistant, Wang Mian.”
His expression was composed, betraying no emotion.
But when his gaze landed on the child, a flicker of subtle surprise flashed through his eyes.
This little girl resembled Qing Ge so much!
Although the child was still young, her eyes, nose, and mouth bore Li Qing’s unmistakable features.
Yang Mi nodded politely.
“Hello, Mr. Wang. May I ask... where is Li Qing?”
She hesitated over how to address him.
Her relationship with Li Qing had been nothing more than a one-night encounter—no ongoing ties; essentially strangers.
Yet he was the father of her child.
Wang Mian replied coolly, “He’s naturally inside the car.”
At the mention of Daddy being there,
Xuan Bao suddenly perked up in Yang Mi’s arms, squirming as if eager to get down.
“What’s wrong, Xuan Bao?”
Yang Mi gently set her down.
“Don’t be afraid, sweetheart. This uncle isn’t a bad person.”
Yang Mi thought the child was just wary of strangers.
Xuan Bao stood still, her large eyes fixed intently on the car ahead.
“Is that Daddy? Daddy’s in the car! I want to go to Daddy!”
The little one was remarkably perceptive.
She then began toddling unsteadily toward the vehicle.
Wang Mian didn’t stop her; instead, a faint smile crossed his face.
If she truly was Qing Ge’s daughter, then he was now an uncle.
Judging by her features alone,
this child was almost certainly Qing Ge’s daughter!
The resemblance was uncanny!
Seeing Xuan Bao run forward,
Yang Mi panicked slightly but followed behind.
“Xuan Bao, slow down! Don’t fall!”
Xuan Bao reached the car, but she couldn’t quite reach the door handle, so she lightly tapped on the vehicle.
“Xuan Bao,”
Yang Mi found herself at a loss.
The child was about to meet her father, yet Yang Mi felt a surge of fear.
“Click!”
The car door opened.
Yang Mi saw a pair of large hands lift Xuan Bao into the vehicle.
Standing beside the door,
Yang Mi’s eyes suddenly narrowed,
and then she froze in place.
Through the half-open window,
she saw the young man seated inside!
Four years ago that night,
in the dim intimacy of the room, Yang Mi remembered that face clearly!
Only back then, she had looked up at him from a different angle...
His brows sharp as a sword, his eyes bright stars;
his features delicate and defined, blending scholarly elegance with a hint of sharpness—
that breathtakingly handsome face was unmistakably Li Qing!
Just one glance,
and Yang Mi knew with absolute certainty.
He was Li Qing—the biological father of Xuan Bao!
At that moment,
Wang Mian approached from behind and said coolly,
“Miss Yang, since there’s nothing else, you should head back and wait for news.”
Yang Mi was taken aback by his tone.
What did he mean?
He didn’t even get out of the car?
Wang Mian added,
“Mr. Li said he only wants to see the child.”
“You should go back and wait.”
With that, Wang Mian got into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and drove away,
leaving Yang Mi standing there, stunned.
“What on earth is going on?!” He Baibai came running up, panting, his face full of shock.
Originally, he had intended to give Yang Mi and Li Qing some privacy, so he hadn’t followed.
But to his surprise,
after receiving the child, the man simply left?
What kind of attitude was that?
If you didn’t know better, you’d think he was a kidnapper!