Li Zhong and Li Jingmo’s grandparents had been close friends for many years. Having served the Li family alone for so long, Li Zhong had outlived both of his old friends.
Now, the only person in the entire family who could still make Li Jingmo willingly obey was Li Zhong.
“Xiao Mo, don’t be foolish. You wanting to enter the entertainment industry is already giving your parents enough headaches, and that issue isn’t even resolved yet! If you bring this little thing back home…”
Once Li Jingmo’s stubborn temper flared up, no one could talk him out of it.
“I don’t care. I found this child with my own hands, so she’s fated to be with me. I’m taking her back to be my little sister.”
Di Youyou, looking at this head of dazzling green hair, nearly got squeezed to the point of vomiting by Li Jingmo.
[Let go quickly, you’re about to strangle me to death.]
Uncomfortable, Di Youyou began wriggling in Li Jingmo’s arms.
Master Liaochen noticed the situation and hurried over, urging Li Jingmo to loosen his grip.
“Xiao Mo, let go quickly.
You’re about to squeeze the poor child senseless.”
Only then did Li Jingmo release his hold, allowing Master Liaochen to take Di Youyou away.
Were babies really this fragile? He truly didn’t know much about them.
Li Zhong and Master Liaochen took turns trying to persuade Li Jingmo. Even Di Youyou couldn’t help but add a few words directed at the green-haired youth.
“Yiya yiya ho!”
This very unique big brother clearly didn’t know how to raise a child. What if his enthusiasm faded after three minutes and he stopped caring for her?
Anyway, living with Master Liaochen would be much better. Older folks had more experience; they were reliable!
Di Youyou could still tell the difference between one full meal and having every meal guaranteed.
Li Zhong’s eyes darted thoughtfully.
“Xiao Mo, look.
Aren’t you going back to take some entrance exam for a foreign music school this time? Bringing a baby along would indeed be inconvenient.
How about this: we leave the child here with Master Liaochen and let him raise her for you for three years!”
Master Liaochen: “…”
Wait, why was he involved in this?
Li Jingmo immediately wanted to refuse.
“You’re still a minor. There will always be times when you’re careless or doze off.
What if your parents take advantage of your inattention and send this child somewhere no one can find? See how you’ll cry then!”
Hearing this, Li Jingmo hesitated.
His father was a stern money-making machine, completely devoid of sentiment or morality.
His mother was a stubborn scientific research expert, bound by rules and constraints to her very core.
Bringing his little sister home now would indeed be somewhat risky.
“Old man, then I’ll leave my sister with you for three years. Once I come of age, I’ll definitely come to pick her up.
You better take good care of her for me.”
The green-haired youth’s words were full of arrogance, making Master Liaochen want to hit him with his horsetail whisk a few times.
Just as Master Liaochen was about to refuse, Li Zhong desperately signaled him with his eyes.
“You have to send me daily check-ins and photos of my sister’s life. I’ll fly over to see her from time to time.
And also…”
Li Jingmo couldn’t think of any other demands for the moment.
“That’s it for now. I’ll mention anything else I think of later.”
Master Liaochen: “…”
No one asked for his opinion, and it was just decided like that?
Li Jingmo patted Li Zhong on the shoulder.
“Old Li, transfer the money to him. One million.”
Li Zhong looked up somewhat puzzled, his eyes questioning what this spendthrift meant.
“Doesn’t raising a sister cost money? My sister, Li Jingmo’s sister, must have the best of everything.”
Li Zhong: “…”
At this moment, Master Liaochen was actually pleased. Having lived a life of austerity, he had never seen so much money before!
Once the funds are transferred, we’ll replace all those broken tiles and bricks on the roof of this ancestral Taoist temple, repair the courtyard walls, and also buy mineral pigments to restore the colors of the murals…
Di Youyou squirmed in his arms.
Liaochen awkwardly averted his gaze. Of course, he still had to take good care of this little ancestor.
Li Zhong gritted his teeth and leaned close to Li Jingmo’s ear.
“Have you forgotten? Your parents have restricted your high-end spending!”
Only then did Li Jingmo remember this detail.
Not wanting to lose face in front of his little sister.
Li Jingmo gave a fake cough and also leaned close to Li Zhong’s ear.
“Old Li, lend me some from your pension first.
I’ll pay you back as soon as I earn money.”
Afraid Li Zhong wouldn’t agree, Li Jingmo added another line.
“You’ll need me to carry your funeral basin when you pass away a hundred years from now!”
Li Zhong could only endure it again and again, transferring the money to the old Taoist priest.
….
Three years later, Capital Airport.
Di Youyou was wearing a simple white T-shirt and jeans. The canvas shoes on her little feet weren’t even as big as an adult’s palm. Her jet-black hair on her head was tied up with a simple peachwood hairpin.
This look was simply adorable enough to make people faint.
Di Youyou carried a small backpack made from a modified “Hundred Blessings” quilt, waiting angrily at the exit.
That big bad guy Li Jingmo insisted she come to the capital to find him.
Saying he missed his little sweetheart so much he couldn’t stand it.
Di Youyou didn’t have Li Jingmo’s home address or phone number, so she could only wait helplessly at the airport.
He promised to pick her up, and it had already been FIVE! HOURS!
Li Jingmo still hadn’t come to pick her up!
When she saw him, Di Youyou swore she wouldn’t give Li Jingmo a single bit of a good expression.
Over the past three years, Li Jingmo had kept his promise to raise his little sister. Every day after class, whenever he had time, he would video call Liaochen to see Di Youyou.
Even when he couldn’t be there in person, money and gifts were sent to Di Youyou every month without interruption.
Only then did the little kid reluctantly accept this cheap brother who had popped up halfway.
Li Jingmo was also amazing, truly managing to secretly raise Di Youyou for three years behind the whole world’s back.
“Little sweetheart!”
Li Jingmo finally escaped his company’s exploitation and arrived at the airport, spotting the adorably rule-breaking little creature at first glance.
The originally angry little toddler forgot her unhappy mood the moment she saw Li Jingmo.
Her little steps pattered rapidly.
“Guoguo!”
Li Jingmo was almost in tears; it had been over half a year since he last went to Shencheng to see the little kid.
“Youyou.”
After a good while of affectionate fussing, Li Jingmo finally noticed the little kid was alone at the airport.
“Why are you alone?
Where’s your master? Where’s your senior brother?”
Di Youyou shook her little head.
“I came by myself!”
Only the people on Longhu Mountain knew that Di Youyou, this incredibly strong kid, didn’t need anyone to worry about her at all.
They actually let her travel alone from getting off Longhu Mountain, taking buses to the city, transferring several times, and finally boarding a plane to the capital.
Di Youyou had been secretly registered on the Li family’s household register in the capital by Li Zhong, so even if she got lost, she could be found immediately.
Li Jingmo was almost furious. These old guys, after all the money he’d poured in over these three years, this was how they treated his sister?
Fortunately, the kid had arrived safely in the capital.
If Li Jingmo found out that Liaochen had tricked Di Youyou into leaving all the assets she’d earned over the past three years at the Taoist temple before she left, he’d probably be so angry he’d go set Yiqing Taoist Temple on fire.
It’s not safe outside with the paparazzi around, so Li Jingmo quickly scooped the little one into his arms and left.
Even with such caution, Li Jingmo and Di Youyou still ended up on the trending news overnight.
[Shocking! An obscure 18-year-old star secretly has a love child; father and daughter share tearful airport kiss.]
Di Youyou currently had no resources at her disposal, so she could only ask Li Jingmo to buy her a phone first.
Liaochen was actually very strict with Di Youyou, saying that nowadays kids barely a month old already have phones in their hands, they become nearsighted as soon as they can talk, and by age three they’re already phone addicts…
So Di Youyou basically couldn’t touch any electronic devices. Now, she was finally free.