Xiao Luoluo put all her strength into burrowing directly into Xiao Lin’s embrace.
She tilted her delicate, jade-like little face upward.
“Daddy~”
ω
Her milky voice was sticky and thick, saturated with grievance, “Do you dislike Luoluo now? Why won’t you hold Luoluo to sleep?”
As she spoke, her small body burrowed even deeper inside.
Xiao Lin was nearly pushed off balance by her squirming. He could only sigh helplessly and lift his sturdy arm to tightly restrain the restless little troublemaker in his embrace.
“Alright, alright, will you finally settle down like this?”
He had been utterly exhausted from being “walked” around by this little devil all day, and now he only hoped her little head would fall asleep the moment it touched the pillow.
Luoluo obediently closed her eyes.
Finally, he had managed to coax the little troublemaker to sleep.
He turned his head and carefully gazed at the sleeping little face beside him on the pillow.
Moonlight filtered through the gauze canopy, outlining her features that closely resembled his own. Her small nose twitched slightly with each breath, appearing utterly peaceful and well-behaved.
Indeed, only at times like this could she show some consideration like a little padded jacket.
Late at night, all was quiet and still.
In his sleep, Xiao Lin felt a cold, damp sensation spreading across his chest and abruptly woke up.
The little head in his arms was nestled contentedly on his chest, drool having already soaked a dark patch into half of his expensive robe.
The little one smacked her lips, and vague dream-talk drifted out: “Mmm… big chicken leg… so fragrant… delicious…”
Even worse, while talking in her sleep, she grabbed her own chubby little hand and began chewing on it with relish as if holding a treasure, making “munch munch” sounds with her saliva-covered hand.
Xiao Lin stared at this little ferocious beast with her ferocious sleeping expression, his mind engaged in intense internal conflict.
Could he really not just pick her up and toss her out the window?
Xiao Lin lifted the soft little bundle as if handling a glutinous rice ball.
As the cool breeze brushed his face, he made as if to move toward the window, but the moment his fingertips touched the cold wood of the windowsill, his movement froze mid-air.
Forget it!
He let out a long, resigned sigh and extremely gently tucked the little devil back into the warm silk quilt.
His own flesh and blood, connected by bloodlines!
Couldn’t be discarded!
Absolutely couldn’t be discarded!
Whether she popped out five years later or five years earlier, she was undoubtedly his genuine biological daughter.
Relying on that last remaining shred of paternal love in his heart.
He finally suppressed the impulse to cast aside this “damp little jinx.”
The little thing tucked back under the covers seemed to find it not warm enough. She squirmed around in the silk quilt, found the most comfortable position, and fell into sweet sleep.
Morning light faintly penetrated, golden threads piercing through the window lattice.
Xiao Luoning rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up, her small hand habitually reaching to the side.
Huh?
Empty?
“Where’s stupid daddy?”
Her little head jolted, instantly awake, her large, rolling eyes spinning rapidly.
Oh no, oh no!
Could he have been lured away by that Aunt Su again?
The little one jumped off the bed and, imitating the street storyteller, slapped her fleshy little hands on her thighs, her small face scrunched up.
She perfectly embodied the “these adults are so hard to manage” expression of frustrated disappointment.
Stupid daddy, oh stupid daddy, you’re really so hopeless!
With just a slight glance from that Aunt Su, you stick to her like malt candy, it’s utterly shameful.
How could I, Xiao Luoning, have a father like you!
In the main hall of the manor, various delicacies steamed fragrantly on the golden phoebe wood dining table.
Su Yuyao and Xiao Lin sat facing each other across the table, chopsticks in hand, the atmosphere was subtle.
Su Yuyao gently lifted her fair hand, pinching the silver spoon as she scooped a portion of glistening bird’s nest soup. Before it even reached her lips, her delicate voice already cooed: “Your Highness~”
The drawn-out ending was soft and lingering, carrying a tone of both complaint and grievance.
“Last night, I specially sent Lvwu to invite you. How could you bear… to leave me waiting all night?”
As she spoke, her eyes drifted almost imperceptibly toward Xiao Lin.
Xiao Lin kept his gaze forward, his chopsticks pausing mid-air as he replied indifferently: “Last night… I was truly occupied with important matters.”
Su Yuyao set down the silver spoon, picking up a silk handkerchief embroidered with crabapple blossoms to gently dab the corner of her eye where no trace of redness or swelling could be seen.
“You have no idea how empty my heart feels without Your Highness by my side. Last night, I found it difficult to sleep alone, tossing and turning restlessly.”
“Oh? Difficult to sleep alone? Tossing and turning?A crisp, childlike voice brimming with disbelief suddenly erupted like thunder in the center of the hall.
“But this young lady observes that you, Auntie, have such a radiant and glowing complexion! Your eyes are so clear that not even a shadow of dark circles can be found!”
Everyone turned in astonishment to see the little ancestor Xiao Luoning, who had somehow silently slipped to the dining table unnoticed.
Mimicking her father’s posture, she flung her sleeves, planted her small hands on her hips, and lifted her chin high, standing imposingly before Su Yuyao like a miniature door god.
Xiao Lin’s face instantly darkened “whoosh” like the icy chill of deep winter.
“Xiao Luoning, who taught you to be so ill-mannered as to disrespect your elders?”
The little girl stiffened her neck, whirling sharply toward her own father, her pale, chubby finger pointing directly at him.
“And you! Xiao Lin! With just a crook of her finger, you eagerly rush to her side. A dignified prince actually being so spineless! You’ve completely shamed Luo Luo’s dignity!”The coldness on Xiao Lin’s face instantly froze, his gaze sharp as a frozen blade as he squeezed out each word through gritted teeth with an icy tone:
“Xiao. Luo. Ning. This prince asks you, what did you just say? Say. It. Again!”The little child showed no fear, puffing out her small chest as her tender yet resonant voice enunciated each word clearly:
‘I said, you’re hopeless!” Completely bewitched by Su Yuyao until you’ve lost your very soul. You’re trampling all over the dignity of the Xiao family ancestors for eight generations!”
Her stance suggested she stood upon the moral high ground, delivering righteous judgment.
“Xiao! Luo! Ning!”
Xiao Lin’s furious roar erupted like sudden thunder from calm earth!
The cups, plates, and bowls on the table trembled slightly from the force!
Liu Bo had already broken out in a nervous sweat, darting forward in one swift movement to spread his arms like a mother hen protecting her chick, shielding the little girl completely behind him.
“Your Highness, please calm your anger! Your Highness, please calm down! The young miss speaks without filter, she’s just a child!”
Yet the “little gunpowder keg” behind Liu Bo remained restless, stubbornly peeking half her small head out from behind his wide sleeves to add fuel to the fire aimed at Xiao Lin:
“So shameful! Bewitched by that fox spirit until you can’t tell east from west! Stupid daddy! I don’t want you anymore!”
These words were like sparks jumping into an oil pot!
“Swish!””
As soon as the words left her mouth, a swift gust of wind passed!
Xiao Lin’s large hand precisely clamped onto the back collar of Xiao Luoning’s robe, effortlessly lifting the three-and-a-half-year-old pink bundle completely off the ground.
The little one dangled in mid-air, kicking her short legs wildly and waving her plump, lotus-root-like arms, presenting a truly pitiful sight.
Su Yuyao, who was watching from the side, concealed the fleeting triumph and satisfaction in her eyes, continuing to stir the soup with her head bowed as if nothing had happened.
Little thing, you’ve really kicked an iron plate this time.
Let’s see how your father deals with you—saves me the trouble of taking action myself!