After Wen Shuqiao finished buying vegetables and milk, she squatted down and said to Can Can, "Can Bao was very good today. How about Auntie rewards Can Bao with a toy?"
She had previously bought some toys online for the little protagonist, but he didn't seem to like them very much and hardly played with them.
Wen Shuqiao led Can Can to the toy section. "Go find a toy you like."
Can Can, however, kept a tight grip on Wen Shuqiao’s finger, unwilling to move. Wen Shuqiao squatted down and asked, "What's wrong?"
Can Bao looked at the toys on the shelves, then turned back to look at Wen Shuqiao. He said, "Auntie, I don't want any toys."
These toys were very expensive!
When he was in the orphanage, he always saw the Director Mommy worrying about money. Moreover, he had been observing these past few days, and it seemed Auntie didn't have much money either!
Besides, Auntie had to raise him and cook delicious food for him, which had already cost a lot of money.
The System's mood was complicated. Every time, the little protagonist's level of obedience and thoughtfulness managed to refresh its understanding.
Wen Shuqiao asked patiently, "Why? Then what does the baby like?"
Can Bao pursed his lips and finally spoke the reason: "If we buy toys, Auntie won't have any money left."
Wen Shuqiao was stunned for a moment. She hadn't expected the little protagonist to be so perceptive.
She pinched the little protagonist's cheek. "Auntie has money. Didn't that uncle just give Auntie a sum of money?"
That uncle earlier had indeed transferred a sum of money to Auntie. Can Can was very clever and knew how transfers worked.
But he was still very hesitant.
The System spoke up at this moment: [Can Bao, don't you like that puzzle?]
Just as it finished speaking, Wen Shuqiao also said, "Doesn't Can Bao like puzzles? How about you go pick out a puzzle yourself?"
The System was shocked. It hadn't expected this woman to notice that.
Although the little protagonist hadn't played with other toys, he had completed all the simple puzzles she had bought.
Only then did Can Can look tempted. Wen Shuqiao gently gave him a little push forward. "Go ahead, Auntie will wait for you here."
The toy area was very large. Wen Shuqiao had taken a general look earlier; the puzzles were just ahead, visible from where they stood.
Can Can was actually unwilling to leave his auntie, but meeting Wen Shuqiao's encouraging gaze, he took a deep breath and walked toward the place where the puzzles were kept.
True to her word, Wen Shuqiao stayed where she was. Can Can couldn't help but look back every few steps. Seeing his auntie waiting there with a smile, his heart gradually relaxed.
He soon reached the puzzle section. Can Can looked at the beautiful patterns on them and asked: [System, how much is this?]
System—no, the System hadn't expected the little protagonist to seek its help just to ask for the price. It fell silent for a moment before saying: [This one is eighty-three.]
Eighty-three—was that expensive or not?
Can Can asked again: [How many red grandpas?]
The System said: [One, and you won't even spend it all.]
Can Can thought about it: [So expensive. I want a half grandpa.]
What half grandpa… The System said helplessly: [You want something under fifty, right? Walk further in. Everything out here is expensive.]
Hearing this, Can Can turned to glance at Wen Shuqiao again.
Seeing that his auntie was looking down at her phone, he walked further inside with peace of mind.
With the System's help, Can Can quickly found a puzzle that only cost "half a grandpa," and there were two of them! It would be enough for him to play with for a long time.
Can Can turned around excitedly, wanting to show his auntie, but he discovered with horror that his auntie was gone!
The System snorted: [Can Bao, now you know I wasn't lying to you? This woman gave you sugar-coated bullets from the start just so she could throw you away!]
Can Can ran back in a panic, clutching the puzzles.
The System advised: [Can Bao, since she doesn't want you anyway, let's go find your little uncle! Little uncle can buy us lots of puzzles! We can eat lots of delicious food, and…]
"Auntie!"
Can Can ran over and suddenly lunged into Wen Shuqiao’s legs.
Wen Shuqiao's legs were jolted, and she almost lost her grip on the things in her hands. She looked down and asked, "What's wrong?"
Can Can looked up, his eyes red as if he had suffered a massive grievance.
Wen Shuqiao sighed and put the items she had just selected back on the shelf. She bent down and easily picked the little protagonist up. "Why are you crying all of a sudden?"
Can Can said, "I couldn't see Auntie."
Wen Shuqiao realized what happened. She said, "Auntie just saw some number cards and was going to get one for you."
She had seen the little protagonist picking out puzzles seriously, and since the adjacent shelf had early education materials, she planned to teach the little protagonist to recognize words and numbers.
This shelf was open at both ends; the little protagonist should have been able to see her when he came over.
Wen Shuqiao hadn't expected to scare the little protagonist to the point of tears, and she felt a bit guilty. If she had known, she would have waited for him to come back so they could pick them out together.
She looked at the puzzles in the little protagonist's hands, and the expression on her face brightened. "Wow, Can Bao picked out puzzles by himself. So impressive!"
Can Can looked down at the puzzles. He held them with one hand and wrapped his other arm around Wen Shuqiao’s neck, burying his small face into the crook of her shoulder.
Only then did he feel secure.
Wen Shuqiao knew the little protagonist was frightened and stroked his back. "It's Auntie's fault. Auntie apologizes to you. It won't happen again."
The System watched everything in surprise. This woman didn't leave?
Not only did she not leave, she even apologized to the little protagonist!
Heavens, was this still that villainous woman?
The System couldn't quite see through Wen Shuqiao anymore, but it soon rationalized it—this must be a sugar-coated bullet! She must want to treat the little protagonist well first and then sell him when he fully trusts her!
It had to keep a close eye on her!
Can Can said, "Auntie didn't do anything wrong."
Wen Shuqiao smiled. "Then shall we pick some number cards? After we finish picking, we can check out and go home."
Can Can finally gave an "En." A child's emotions come and go quickly. Wen Shuqiao picked up the number cards from before. "Does Can Bao like little flower cards or animal cards?"
The adult and the child picked seriously, completely unaware that this scene was being photographed by someone.
Lin Yan had just taken out his phone to slack off when he saw that the gossip group already had about twenty messages.
He yawned and clicked in out of boredom to see what they were talking about.
This small group included everyone except their superiors.
Lin Yan scrolled up and found the original photo, which was sent by a colleague on leave.
[Whoa, isn't this the Su family's fake daughter? I didn't expect to run into her here. She's holding a child, too. She actually has a child? Why haven't we heard about this before?]
[The child looks about two years old, right?]
[Two years old? The 'true and false daughter' case hadn't happened yet, right? I never heard about her getting married back then.]
[Who knows? Maybe she found a new backer and is being a stepmother?]
[But looking at her like this, it doesn't seem like she found a new backer. I had the chance to see the eldest Miss Su once; the size of her entourage was huge.]
[What eldest Miss? Now she's just the same as everyone else, being a mom and nursing a kid. She's young, so she has the capital for that.]
[…What's wrong with being a mom? Weren't you raised and born by your mother?]
[What are you implying here? Even if she's a fake daughter, she's still a hundred times more noble than you. How unlucky!]
Seeing that the male colleague who was attacked for his comments had gone silent, Lin Yan didn't pay it much mind. He clicked on the photo and looked at it twice.
It was indeed the fake daughter he saw the other day. Last time, he hadn't seen the child's face in her arms, but this photo showed half the face.
The child was quite beautiful.
Lin Yan thought to himself—he didn't know what the Eldest Young Master's child looked like, but given the Shen family's genes, they would probably be a beautiful child as well.
Lin Yan didn't think for long before he received a message from Shen Jiazhou.
[A President Shen: Come in.]
Lin Yan put his phone away, immediately got up from the sofa, left the pantry, and went to Shen Jiazhou's office.
"President Shen, you were looking for me?"
Shen Jiazhou didn't even look up. "The child—how is it going?"
A trace of difficulty flashed across Lin Yan's face. He said, "Boss, I've already sent the brothers to look for him. We might need a bit more time."
Only after hearing this did Shen Jiazhou look up at him.
His expression was very cold, and it was hard to tell if he was angry or not, but Lin Yan still felt a lot of pressure.
He hurriedly said, "President Shen, we should have results in a few days. We'll find the Little Young Master very soon."
Shen Jiazhou didn't answer; he just lowered his head to continue reading the unfinished documents.
Lin Yan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "Boss, if there's nothing else, I'll head out first."
He turned around, but out of the corner of his eye, he caught another glimpse of Shen Jiazhou.
With just this one look, he felt that Shen Jiazhou's profile looked somewhat similar to the child the fake daughter was holding in the photo.
Just as he was about to think deeper, his brain felt as if it were covered by something, preventing him from thinking at all. The strange sensation made him quickly push the thought to the back of his mind. How could he think that!
His boss was clean-living and upright—where would he get a child? Not to mention, he had no connection with the fake daughter!
However, they really did look alike.
Lin Yan couldn't help but look back again. Shen Jiazhou raised his eyes and said coldly, "What are you looking at?"
Lin Yan said, "No, nothing."
He was just thinking.
Given the boss's temper, when the Little Young Master returned, would he really not scare him to tears?
Whether or not he would be scared to tears was something for the future.
Can Bao was currently sitting happily at the kitchen door, holding a Rubik's Cube in one hand and munching on a large chicken drumstick in the other.
Wen Shuqiao had bought some chicken drumsticks and wings at the supermarket today and had just finished braising a pot of them. Can Can's saliva was almost dripping from the corner of his mouth just from the smell.
It smelled too good!
Can Bao had never smelled such a fragrant chicken drumstick!
Originally, Wen Shuqiao wanted to let them soak a bit longer to be more flavorful, but seeing him constantly swallowing his saliva, she laughed and fished one out for him to eat while he waited.
Can Can took a bite as soon as he got it. It was delicious!
The System and Can Can could share senses. Whatever the chicken drumstick tasted like to Can Can, it knew as well.
Not going to lie, it really was quite delicious.
When did this woman become so good at cooking?
Can Bao tilted his head back to look at Wen Shuqiao, who had her back to him.
Wen Shuqiao was currently contacting a netizen who ran a street stall to get some advice. If possible, she hoped to start the street stall within the next two days.
Can Can watched his auntie's busy appearance. He took a bite of the chicken drumstick and asked: [What is Auntie do-ing?]
Ever since the System helped him pick out two puzzles that only cost "half a red grandpa," Can Bao clearly had a better attitude toward the System in his head.
The System explained: [This woman is asking about street stalling. She's going to go make money.]
Can Bao knew money was very important. With money, one could buy many things. He said: [Can Bao also wants to make money.]
The System snorted twice: [What money can a little brat like you make? You can only make lots and lots of money after you grow up.]
Can Bao sighed: [Then when will baby grow up?]
He wanted to grow up quickly! That way, he could make lots of money for Auntie.
The System corrected him: [You're making money to support your little uncle.]
As for this woman—by that time, she'll be long dead.