Volume One, Chapter Three: Uncle, Are You a Rooster?

Outside the door stood a young man. His suit bore no prominent designer logos, yet every stitch was impeccable—a clear sign of a bespoke, high-end garment. But no matter how exquisite the clothes, on this man they seemed merely an accessory. He was tall, his muscles well-proportioned and toned to perfection, exuding an aura of noble restraint. His dark, sharp eyes gave off a chill that made one involuntarily shudder.

“Qin Wenze? What are you doing here?”

Seeing Jiang Cheng suddenly silent, Jiang Rui approached and immediately noticed the man standing outside. The warm smile he had just shown Jiang Duoduo had vanished, replaced by coldness and anger.

Jiang Duoduo, unfamiliar with the stranger outside, heard the commotion and hurriedly ran toward Jiang Cheng with little legs pounding the ground. However, her princess dress was too long; she had just barely become accustomed to walking upright like a human two-legged creature, but the hem caught her foot, and she tumbled forward like a round, bouncing ball.

Jiang Cheng stood at the door with her back turned, unaware of this. But Qin Wenze’s expression shifted instantly; with swift movement, he stepped inside, bent down, and scooped the little girl into his arms. Though not a bulky man, his strength was considerable—he cradled Jiang Duoduo with one arm, letting her sit comfortably.

Jiang Duoduo was stunned. She had just managed to steady herself after the fall; what was this unfamiliar man doing? Yet as soon as they made contact, she heard his voice ringing in her mind:

[Is this my daughter? She’s quite adorable, round and plump—I want to pinch her...]

Jiang Duoduo stiffened. Why did all adults want to pinch her?

Before she could cover her face with her hands, the voice continued:

[But her brain seems a bit slow, her movements uncoordinated; she even falls walking on flat ground. Could she be ill? Should she be taken to the hospital for a thorough checkup to prevent future injuries?]

Jiang Duoduo instantly felt unhappy. It was one thing for her uncle to call her slow, but why did this stranger have to say her brain was no good?

I am the smartest kid! I’m Jiang Cheng’s daughter, not yours!

With a small shove, Jiang Duoduo pushed Qin Wenze’s arm away and, before he could react, leapt down and dashed to Jiang Cheng’s side, hiding behind her mother’s legs and peeking out. Her long braids swayed beside her, the butterfly-shaped ribbons at their ends fluttering lively, making her irresistibly cute.

Qin Wenze couldn’t help but glance a few more times, feeling that his daughter was increasingly endearing. Yet, in the next moment, Jiang Cheng shifted slightly, shielding the little girl’s figure completely.

Qin Wenze turned to Jiang Cheng:

“Jiang Cheng, come back with me.”

Tears welled up in Jiang Cheng’s eyes. She knew she should show strength and composure now, but she couldn’t. She had once loved this man desperately; the news of a possible alliance with the Qin family had kept her awake with joy. Even though Qin Wenze had seemed cold after their marriage, she never complained, believing it was his nature and not directed at her.

That was until Yang Qianrou returned to the country.

Only then did Jiang Cheng learn that her husband had an old, sworn first love. They had been forced apart by family opposition in the past. Now, with Qin Wenze holding the Qin family’s reins and his former lover back, Jiang Cheng, as a business marriage wife, was naturally expected to step aside.

She drifted through days in a daze, collapsed by the roadside, and was taken to the hospital—only then did she discover she was pregnant. Suddenly, she found new hope. It didn’t matter if she lost Qin Wenze; she still had her baby.

But that joy was short-lived—a large truck barreled toward her. Jiang Cheng was fortunate to survive the accident, but tragically, she lost her long-awaited child.

Broken-hearted, she signed the divorce papers and left the place of her sorrow, moving to Sucheng. Unlike the capital, this city was picturesque and serene, where people seemed closer. She took to hiking in the mountains and forests, appearing to heal, though the wounds in her heart remained. At night, her chest and stomach ached with a cold pain, as if a vast emptiness was being filled with icy wind.

Then, Heaven sent Jiang Duoduo.

This little girl became her solace, a new treasure that made her feel as if her lost baby had returned, giving her a reason to live.

And now, Qin Wenze stood outside, demanding she return to the place where she lost her child?

Jiang Cheng stared at Qin Wenze unflinchingly:

“Why? Qin Wenze, I ask you—why?”

Qin Wenze furrowed his brows, confusion etched on his face.

“Jiang Cheng, it was you who insisted on the divorce at the time. I didn’t even know you were... I have seen your prenatal reports; I know you have our child. Jiang Cheng, I’ve been searching for you for a long time, but... someone deliberately hid your whereabouts.”

At this, he glanced at Jiang Rui, only to be met with a glare.

“Jiang Cheng, come back,” Qin Wenze urged. “Only you signed the divorce papers; I didn’t, so it’s not valid. You don’t want your child to grow up without a father, do you?”

Jiang Cheng replied plainly,

“Duoduo has nothing to do with you. She is only my child.”

Her words were truthful, yet Qin Wenze took them as a stubborn rebuff.

He was about to speak again when a voice entered from outside:

“Wenze, why didn’t you wait for me? Ah, Jiang Cheng, so it’s you here. No wonder Wenze rushed to this little place.”

A woman stepped out from behind Qin Wenze.

She looked about Jiang Cheng’s age but was the epitome of a different style—her hair dyed a chestnut red in big waves, a tight black cocktail dress hugging her figure, with perfectly applied makeup accentuating her ample bosom and slender waist, exuding sensual allure.

Yet her voice was soft and coquettish, as if every word was meant to tug at a man’s heartstrings.

This was Yang Qianrou.

Jiang Cheng’s lips tightened at the sight of her.

From behind Jiang Cheng, Jiang Duoduo raised her head, looking left and right, hearing her mother’s voice float lightly in her mind:

[As expected... even now, he’s with her. Why must their world include me? Haven’t I paid enough? If only I hadn’t saved Qin Wenze from the river back then, maybe...]

All this talk of him and her left Jiang Duoduo dizzy.

She glanced at her uncle, who looked ready to strike, and thought, hmm...

No, Duoduo is smart and wouldn’t provoke her uncle now.

So...

Suddenly, Jiang Duoduo stepped out from behind Jiang Cheng and ran over to hug Qin Wenze’s trouser-clad leg tightly.

“Uncle, are you like a big rooster? Why do you have so many ladies around you? Do you crow like a big rooster? Mom said she once saved someone named Qin Wenze from the river. Why do you have the same name? Are there many people named Qin Wenze?”

Qin Wenze froze, looking down at the little creature clinging to him, then turned to Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng saved him?

When?

But Yang Qianrou, standing beside him, flashed a brief, panicked expression across her face.