Zuo Yang was truly furious.
In her entire life, what she hated hearing most was being called a s-h-o-r-t-y!
Thus, the enraged little girl gathered all her strength, shouted “ugly monster” at the man, then charged at him like a furious little calf!
With a loud “thump,” just from the sound alone, it was clear this collision was vicious.
Feng Lin felt a lingering fear, recalling how he had once stepped on Miss Sister’s taboo as well. In comparison, her attitude toward him had been incredibly lenient.
From now on, even in his thoughts, he must never call her “shorty.” If he accidentally voiced his inner thoughts, it would be disastrous.
Feng Lin thought to himself.
As for the man who was suddenly hit, having been completely caught off guard, he stumbled backward from the impact.
If he hadn’t quickly grabbed the doorframe with both hands, he would have definitely fallen flat on his face.
Tsk, this shorty packs quite a punch.
But what did he just hear?
Ugly monster?!
Having lived half his life, he had only ever been praised as handsome and dashing—no one had ever dared call him an ugly monster.
Hah!
The man directly grabbed Zuo Yang by the back of her collar, lifting her like a chick. No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t break free.
“Let me go! You ugly monster!” Zuo Yang flailed about like a fluttering moth.
The man pressed his tongue against his cheek, laughing in anger: “Shorty, who are you calling an ugly monster?!”
Zuo Yang immediately retorted: “You! You! You’re the ugly monster!”
Seeing this, Feng Lin dropped what he was holding and rushed forward, only to be instantly locked in a chokehold by the man.
Now it was two fluttering moths.
Feng Lin was still in shock. After all, during his years in the slums, to protect himself and his grandmother, he had developed considerable strength in his fists and feet—not exceptionally powerful, but fairly capable.
Yet now, he had been choked out in an instant by this ugly monster?!
At this moment, the young man began to doubt his life choices.
“You two brats, take me to see your parents! Think you can just smash this place and get away with it? Let’s go, right now!”
And so, the man carried one in each hand, braving the pouring rain, and hauled the two chicks before Mo Qingyan.
Witnessing this scene, Mo Qingyan’s temple throbbed violently.
Who could tell him what on earth had happened in such a short time?
Then he saw the little girl, utterly aggrieved, rush to his side to complain: “Mo Qingyan, Mo Qingyan, this ugly monster just called me a shorty! He insulted me!”
Mo Qingyan: “…”
Yu Ning, not daring to make a sound: “…”
Looking at the drenched little girl, who was also filled with grievances, Mo Qingyan’s heart ached terribly.
Yet he couldn’t directly lose his temper, all because the man who looked like a beggar was none other than—
“Mr. Ji,” Mo Qingyan addressed the man.
“Well, if it isn’t the Mo Family kid. What, got bored in Bei Cheng and decided to bring two brats to Xi Cheng to wreck my home?!”
The man vented his anger in a furious outburst.
Mo Qingyan glanced coolly at Feng Lin. The young man he had previously seen as reliable had turned out to be the most unreliable one.
To think he would lead his child to smash someone’s windows…
Although Feng Lin didn’t think much of it, under Mo Qingyan’s gaze, he still involuntarily lowered his head.
At this moment, Mo Qingyan resembled nothing more than a parent whose child had done wrong and was now facing a complaint from the affected party.
Zuo Yang, who had been flailing about, suddenly fell silent. She stared incredulously at Mo Qingyan, and only after seeing him nod did she mechanically turn her face toward the man.
“You’re Ji Zexian?!”
No way, this had nothing to do with that handsome man from the newspapers!
She hadn’t recognized him at all!
“What? You wrecked my home but don’t even know who I am?”Ji Zexian crossed his arms, his voice was low.”
Zuo Yang suddenly hung her head, not wanting to speak anymore.
Mo Qingyan looked at the three drenched figures and spoke with extreme calmness. “Mr. Ji, let’s save the conversation for later. You should all go freshen up first. Especially my little one here—girls have delicate constitutions and shouldn’t be exposed to rain.”
Hearing this, Ji Zexian’s gaze fell upon the girl crouching by Mo Qingyan’s feet.
She was curled up in a small ball, looking so pitiful that he felt an inexplicable pang of heartache.
“Fine, wait for me.” With those words, Ji Zexian left first.
Without needing Mo Qingyan to say anything, Zuo Yang and Feng Lin also went to bathe and change clothes.
Mo Qingyan instructed Yu Ning to prepare some ginger tea to ward off the cold.
Not long after, Ji Zexian returned.
Compared to before, he had only changed into some barely presentable clothes.
But he still reeked of alcohol and tobacco.
Mo Qingyan merely offered a polite smile and said nothing.
Soon after, Zuo Yang and Feng Lin also came to the living room.
Feng Lin obediently sat to the side.
As for Zuo Yang, she quietly nestled in Mo Qingyan’s embrace.
Mo Qingyan sighed softly. This first meeting between father and daughter was far from ideal.
Later, when Ji Zexian learned the girl’s true identity, he would surely be so filled with regret that he’d want to beat himself to death.
And it wasn’t just beating himself to death—when Ji Zexian eventually discovered Zuo Yang’s identity and recalled his first encounter with his precious daughter, he would wish he could tear himself into a thousand pieces! He’d desperately wish to turn back time!
“Be good, drink some ginger tea. We can’t have you catching a cold. If you feel unwell later, make sure to tell me immediately, alright?” Mo Qingyan brought the ginger tea to the girl’s lips, coaxing her like a child.
Zuo Yang took small sips from the cup held in Mo Qingyan’s hand.
Ji Zexian watched this scene unfold.
For some reason, seeing the little runt nestled in Mo Qingyan’s arms irritated him immensely. He probably didn’t even realize his eyes were blazing with anger.
Frankly, he wanted to pull the little runt away from this Mo family kid.
But then he remembered what everyone in their circles said—that Mo Qingyan suffered from an incurable illness and didn’t have long to live. Now confined to a wheelchair, Ji Zexian actually felt a twinge of pity.
After all, the Mo family’s eldest son was truly heaven’s favored one, yet he had fallen from grace due to illness. It was inevitably lamentable.
Beyond that, Ji Zexian didn’t have the inclination to learn more. He himself was already a complete mess—how could he possibly care about others’ lives?
While sipping the ginger tea, Zuo Yang secretly glanced at Ji Zexian from the corner of her eye.
Yu Ning had mentioned that Ji Zexian hadn’t been seen in public for a long time since the last incident, staying holed up at home. And this was how he had ended up?
Was it because of Mom?
Thinking this, Zuo Yang looked back at Mo Qingyan.
During the five years she had been dead, her CEO hadn’t been doing well either.
“Mo Qingyan, I’m glad you didn’t end up like him. It’s really terrifying,” Zuo Yang whispered into Mo Qingyan’s ear.
Mo Qingyan simply smiled.
For a long time after losing Zuo Yang, he lived like a ghost of his former self, in no way less tormented than Ji Zexian.
It was only because Zuo Ying couldn’t bear seeing him in such a state that he began paying some attention to his appearance.
Having lost Zuo Yang, Zuo Ying’s suffering was no less than his own—how could he stand by and watch her worry and grieve for him any further?