Early in the morning, Cui Yuanwei got fully dressed and was just about to head out to pull some strings when he was stopped at the door.
Looking at the two people in front of him—who looked more like debt collectors than family—his temples throbbed painfully.
But under Lin Weihua’s icy gaze, he could only force out a stiff smile.
“How could I forget? Once Dad comes back, I’ll definitely make it up to you. Not a single piece will be missing.”
Cui Qingshu pressed her lips together. Her obedient demeanor carried a timid trace of expectation.
“Really, Dad? I was just scared… So many of my things were taken by Su Ranyue. I thought…”
Her voice grew softer and softer as she twisted the hem of her clothes nervously between her fingers. Her eyes carried the helpless yearning of a daughter starved for affection, desperately longing for her father’s love.
Anyone would soften beneath those watery eyes.
Compared to the cold-faced Lin Weihua beside her, Cui Yuanwei suddenly found that this once-unlikable daughter actually looked rather delicate and pleasing.
Forget it.
She was still his biological child after all.
He lacked children of his own too much.
Even if her mother was vicious, the child was still his.
“Qingshu, don’t cry. How could Dad possibly refuse you? I already prepared everything. I’ll go get it now.”
After speaking, Cui Yuanwei hurried upstairs.
Cui Qingshu stared directly after him as she watched him unlock his bedroom door.
Her brows lifted subtly.
Oh?
So he’s hiding valuables in his room too.
She quietly committed it to memory.
At this point, she had already discovered four separate treasure stashes of his.
In the future—
not a single one would escape her.
Cui Yuanwei spent more than half an hour upstairs before finally coming down carrying an absurdly crude wooden box.
Plain unfinished wood. No carvings whatsoever. The surface was dented and rough—ugly enough that even a garbage station wouldn’t bother picking it up.
“Here. You’d better take good care of it.”
Cui Yuanwei’s heart ached terribly at handing it over.
Cui Qingshu reached out to take it, but the first tug didn’t budge it at all—Cui Yuanwei still clung tightly to the box.
Only after she pulled harder did he reluctantly let go.
Right there on the spot, Cui Qingshu opened the box and counted the jewelry pieces one by one.
Thirty-six pieces.
Not one missing.
The craftsmanship and quality were even finer than the set she’d reclaimed from Su Ranyue before.
Cradling the ugly wooden box in her arms, she smiled so brightly her eyes curved into crescents.
“Thank you, Dad!”
That sweet call nearly dazed Cui Yuanwei.
Suddenly, this once-spoiled daughter seemed rather adorable too.
After all, she had truly been raised as a wealthy young lady—far more refined and dignified than Su Ranyue.
Even though times had changed, deep down he still preferred elegant, poised girls like this.
The tension in his face softened for once.
“Keep them safe. These days, you absolutely can’t wear things like this outside.”
“Dad, where are you going? Could you drop me off at the Wen family’s house on the way?”
Cui Yuanwei’s expression shifted slightly.
Before he could speak, Cui Qingshu continued in one breath:
“Brother Wen has been coming to our house looking for me these past few days, but I kept missing him. He said he’d come again today.”
Wen Jingci had been looking for his daughter?
Thinking about last night, Cui Yuanwei painfully forced out another smile.
“Sure. Dad’s going to the Wen residence anyway, so I’ll take you along. But you absolutely must not speak carelessly. Not a single word about yesterday’s matter, understand? Otherwise your father will lose his life.”
There’s actually such a good thing?
Cui Qingshu immediately raised her hand and swore she would keep everything secret.
After waving goodbye to her mother, she followed Cui Yuanwei out the door.
In these times, even capitalists didn’t own private cars.
Cui Yuanwei rode a bicycle while Cui Qingshu sat bundled tightly on the back seat as they headed toward the Wen residence.
Along the way, Cui Yuanwei repeatedly warned her, terrified she might say the wrong thing and offend the Wen family.
The Wen family had connections higher up and stable protection. Cui Yuanwei had no backers, so he could only spend enormous amounts of money begging the Wens to give him a way out.
“Qingshu, don’t worry. Dad definitely won’t abandon you.”
While riding, he spoke vaguely but meaningfully.
Cui Qingshu answered softly,
“Dad, Brother Jingci already told me he’ll take me with him.”
The bicycle screeched to a sudden stop.
Cui Qingshu reacted instantly, jumping off before the bike lost balance.
The bicycle wobbled forward several circles before crashing to the ground with a loud clang.
Cui Yuanwei wasn’t nearly as agile. He ended up trapped awkwardly beneath the bicycle, grimacing in pain.
Supporting his aching waist, he ignored his injuries and cried out in shock:
“How is that possible?!”
He had spent such an enormous fortune before the Wen family reluctantly agreed to bring him along. They hadn’t even been willing to provide one extra boat ticket.
And now—
they were taking Cui Qingshu too?
“I already promised Brother Wen. Dad, in the future, I’m going to Hong Kong together with you.”
Cui Yuanwei’s mind buzzed.
Then what had all his sacrifices been for?
Was he just some gigantic fool throwing money away?
Looking at his daughter’s beautiful, spotless face, Cui Yuanwei felt oddly bitter.
Being a woman really was easier.
Without doing anything at all, people eagerly delivered benefits straight to their doorstep.
“Good thing… yes, this is a good thing. Of course Dad wants to bring you to Hong Kong too.”
Silently, he added in his heart:
If only she were the daughter he had with Fanghua instead.
Su Ranyue might be a little stupid, but she was still the crystallization of the love between him and his true beloved.
When they arrived at the Wen residence, Madam Wen warmly welcomed Cui Qingshu.
With just a few casual remarks, Cui Qingshu had Madam Wen smiling happily from ear to ear.
Standing nearby, Wen Jingci silently watched the girl whose smile bloomed like flowers, his eyes overflowing with tenderness.
She was so beautiful.
“Mom, Qingshu hasn’t visited in so long. The impatiens flowers by the backyard swing are blooming. I’ll take her to see them.”
Madam Wen shot her son a teasing glance before smiling as she sought Cui Qingshu’s opinion.
Once the two disappeared through the doorway, Madam Wen let out a deep sigh.
In the backyard, the impatiens flowers bloomed in full splendor—pink, white, yellow—an explosion of vibrant color.
In the middle of the sea of flowers stood a wooden swing. Green vines and tiny blossoms twined around its ropes, brimming with life.
Scenes flashed through Cui Qingshu’s mind one after another.
The young boy personally building this swing for her amidst the flowers.
The old elm wood had been polished smooth and rounded, every edge carefully sanded until not a single splinter remained.
The swing had been crafted precisely according to her height, so her toes could just touch the ground. The seat was thoughtfully lined with rattan cushions and kudzu cloth—warm in winter, cool in summer.
Back then, the original Cui Qingshu often came to the Wen residence just to sit on this swing.
The young man would always stand behind her, gently pushing her while looking at her with soft eyes.
In her memories, he had been the gentlest boy next door.
Childhood sweethearts.
Growing up side by side.
Unfortunately, the original host’s heart and eyes had been filled entirely with Shen Ziming. She never realized that her childhood companion had loved only her all along.
“It’s cool here in the shade. Qingshu, sit down. I’ll push you.”
Wen Jingci thought everything could still be just like before.
But Cui Qingshu didn’t move.
She simply looked at him quietly.
“Brother Jingci, I don’t want my father leaving Shanghai. I want to meet Uncle Wen.”
“Qingshu, wouldn’t it be good if we went to Hong Kong together? I’ll take care of you. We can still be like we were before.”
Wen Jingci reached out, wanting to pat her head.
Cui Qingshu tilted her head slightly and calmly avoided him.
Their eyes met.
Her expression remained peaceful, her gaze calm and without ripples.
Something inside Wen Jingci tightened painfully.
He realized with complete clarity—
she didn’t like him.
For the first time in his usually confident life, he doubted himself.
Was he really that inferior?
Couldn’t he even compare to Shen Ziming?
“Alright. Later, I’ll take you to see Father.”
Cui Qingshu saw the disappointment in his eyes, but she offered neither comfort nor extra expression.
Since it was impossible, she would not give him even the slightest hope.
That would only hurt him more in the end.
Inside the Wen family study—
Cui Qingshu raised her eyes. Her tone was calm, but utterly certain.
“Uncle Wen, let’s make a deal.”