Chapter 23: Could you take me to see my father?

April’s face suddenly transformed into a cluster of tender, fair little faces.

She raised a small hand to cover her mouth and looked at him with an expression of disgust. "Brother, your mouth smells so bad!"

Duoduo...

"I... I'll sleep on the sofa, that's fine, right?"

April's voice pulled Zhang Yangfan back to reality. The faces of Duoduo vanished, returning to the face of April.

Zhang Yangfan’s expression darkened, and he said coldly, "Suit yourself, just don't bother me!"

After tossing those words aside, Zhang Yangfan walked into the bedroom in a huff and slammed the door shut with a bang.

He had just seen Duoduo; if April hadn't spoken up, he could have looked at her for a while longer!

April gritted her teeth, staring unwillingly at the tightly shut bedroom door.

So what if she was rejected? This was only the first day; there were two more days to go!

She was smarter than Duoduo and more sensible than her. If Duoduo could win their favor, she certainly could too!

Outside the window, a strange red moon hung in the night sky.

Duoduo’s eyes closed gently as she lay on the large, soft bed. In her dream, she had taken her grandfather and grandmother back home, meeting her father, her mother, and the brother who never liked to brush his teeth.

Her father sat on the sofa, legs crossed, watching television. Duoduo crawled and crawled until she climbed onto him. Ling Yun glanced at her but did not push her away.

Duoduo leaned in close and planted a kiss on his cold, stern cheek.

"Hehehe, Daddy, Duoduo misses you so much!"

The dream was so wonderful that Duoduo grinned, giggling foolishly.

When Ling Yun appeared by her bedside, Chouchou was startled into a jolt. According to the rules of the Ghost Forest, specters were not allowed to visit each other privately without permission. Why had this old thief come to Room 16?

Ling Yun looked at Duoduo’s peaceful sleeping face, his sword-like brows slightly furrowed. What could this little one be dreaming about to be so happy?

After a moment of thought, Ling Yun transformed into a wisp of black smoke and slipped into Duoduo’s forehead.

Finding herself on the sofa in Room 1, Duoduo climbed onto him, rubbing against his chest. Ling Yun frowned, subconsciously wanting to throw her off, but upon realizing this was Duoduo’s dream, he pushed the thought aside.

Watching her fair, tender little face, Ling Yun slowly raised his hand and pinched her cheek. Her face was so soft that he couldn't help but use a bit more force.

"Daddy, it hurts!"

Duoduo tilted her little face up, her large, watery eyes looking at him piteously.

Ling Yun quickly let go. Seeing a red handprint on her small cheek, he felt a strange sense of self-reproach. He had never interacted with children before; he must have been too rough.

Realizing his mood was being affected by Duoduo, even though he knew it was a dream, Ling Yun still felt uneasy.

"Go play with your brother."

"No, I don't want to! Duoduo just wants to play with Daddy!"

Duoduo shook her little head like a rattle.

Ling Yun reached out to push her away, but she was so light that with a gentle nudge, she tumbled off him. Hurt by the fall, she looked up at him with teary eyes. Ling Yun reached out to scoop her up, but hesitated for a long time before stopping.

"Does Daddy not like Duoduo?"

Duoduo looked at him, her round eyes brimming with grievance.

Ling Yun awkwardly averted his gaze. "No!"

"Then why won't Daddy look at Duoduo?"

Her soft, milky voice carried a hint of a sob. Ling Yun felt his heart, silent for so many years, skip a beat. Remembering that this was a dream and no one would take it seriously, he turned his head slowly, stiffly raised his hand, and gently patted Duoduo’s little head.

"Actually, Daddy likes Duoduo a little bit."

"Hehehe, I knew it! Daddy likes Duoduo!"

Duoduo happily hugged Ling Yun’s leg, rubbing against his knee like a kitten. Ling Yun felt a sudden impulse to pull her into his arms. But soon, reason pulled him back to reality, and he left Duoduo’s dream.

He stood by the bed, watching the little one smiling so brightly, and felt a complex stir in his heart. So, even in her dreams, she was smiling because she was dreaming of him!

The next day, as soon as Duoduo woke up, she grabbed Chouchou and ran outside with her chubby bare feet. As she ran, she shouted "Daddy" in excitement.

Xu Hetang, who was preparing breakfast, heard her and turned around. Seeing she wasn't wearing shoes, he cried out, "Oh, my little ancestor! It's winter, how can you run out without shoes?"

Xu Hetang set down the milk and hurried over to pick her up. Duoduo looked around the living room, then looked at Xu Hetang with a blank expression.

"Grandpa, have you seen Daddy?"

So, the little ancestor was missing her father! But he remembered that the Ghost Forest had selected an orphanage in Z City this time. How could Duoduo have a father and end up in an orphanage?

"Grandpa, where is Daddy?"

"Did Duoduo dream about Daddy?"

Xu Hetang carried her back to the bedroom and carefully set her down. "It’s cold, let’s put on our shoes and socks first."

He knelt in front of her to help her. Hearing his words, Duoduo’s little head drooped. So it was just a dream; she had thought her father had come to find her!

"Grandpa, can you take me to find Daddy?"

The childish voice drifted into Xu Hetang’s ears. He paused, not knowing how to tell her the truth. If Duoduo’s father had entered the Ghost Forest with her, he might not be alive now. If he hadn't entered, the chances of them ever meeting again were slim.

The truth was too cruel; he couldn't bring himself to say it. He thought for a moment, then smiled and looked up.

"Duoduo, let’s go eat first, okay?"

"Okay!" Duoduo nodded obediently. She hugged Chouchou, jumped off the bed, and took Xu Hetang’s hand to walk out.

Duoduo liked milk, so Xu Hetang had prepared a glass for her along with a fried egg. Duoduo opened her mouth and took a big bite. Her mouth was too small, and half the egg filled it completely.

"Duoduo, don't eat so fast, be careful not to choke."

No sooner had Xie Fangyun finished speaking than Duoduo choked on the yolk. She patted her chest with her small hand, her face turning bright red. Startled, Xie Fangyun picked up the milk and handed it to her.

"Quick, drink some milk to wash it down."

Duoduo took the milk and sipped it slowly. After half the glass, she finally swallowed the egg. Seeing the color fading from her face, Xie Fangyun sighed with relief.

"Eat slowly, no rush. Grandma will go pour you another glass of milk."

Xie Fangyun stood up and turned toward the kitchen. Duoduo peeked her little head toward the kitchen. Seeing that neither Xie Fangyun nor Xu Hetang was watching, she quickly jumped off her chair and ran toward the front door.