Chapter 56: Doduon Loves Daddy Best!

Ling Yun walked over to the door and pulled it open.

Seeing that it was Xie Fangyun standing outside, Duoduo’s eyes lit up, and she quickly slid down from her chair.

"Grandma, Grandma..."

"Duoduo..."

Xie Fangyun watched as Duoduo waddled toward her on her short little legs, running over in a swaying motion.

Subconsciously, she dodged to the side, causing Duoduo to lunge into empty air.

Suddenly losing her balance, Xie Fangyun pitched forward toward the floor.

With quick reflexes, Ling Yun grabbed her by the collar and hoisted her straight up into the air.

With her feet dangling off the ground, Duoduo froze instantly like a little kitten.

Her round eyes looked up at the Xie Fangyun hanging in front of her with a pitiful expression.

Meeting that gaze, Xie Fangyun smiled sheepishly.

"I... I'm used to it!"

Her bones were far too fragile, and for so many years, she had grown accustomed to dodging all forms of danger.

So much so that she had forgotten how General Ling had used his ghostly divine powers after the Sweet Home instance to completely resolve her condition.

Otherwise, given her previous state, she would never have dared to show her face here!

"Duoduo, let Grandma give you a hug!"

Xie Fangyun reached out and took Duoduo into her arms.

Ling Yun furrowed his brows, glaring with displeasure at his empty hands.

He shouldn't have made that phone call just now; he should have gone downstairs to get the straw himself!

"Grandma, Duoduo missed you so much!"

Duoduo hugged Xie Fangyun and rubbed herself affectionately against her.

She didn't just miss Grandma; she missed her big brother, her mother, and her grandpa, too.

Since Grandpa, Grandma, and Dad were all here, could Mom and Big Brother be here as well?

"Grandma, can you take me downstairs to play?"

Duoduo looked up at Xie Fangyun, her eyes brimming with anticipation.

Yet before Xie Fangyun could answer, she was lifted up once more, pulled right out of Xie Fangyun's embrace.

Her limbs hung down limply as she transformed back into a pitiful little kitten.

Ling Yun looked at Xie Fangyun and said coldly, "The delivery is done, you can leave now."

"Yes, I'm leaving right now. Enjoy your meal."

Even though Ling Yun had grabbed her just now, Xie Fangyun knew she was only benefiting from Duoduo's favor.

Duoduo was Ling Yun's soft spot and his ultimate bottom line.

If she were to shamelessly linger any longer, Ling Yun would likely slice her to pieces with his piercing glare.

Xie Fangyun waved goodbye to Duoduo, turned around, and scurried away quickly.

Watching her retreating figure, Duoduo called out wistfully, "Grandma..."

Feigning deafness, Xie Fangyun hurried down the stairs without looking back.

Ling Yun closed the door and slowly walked back to the dining table.

He carefully set Duoduo down and handed a straw over to her.

Instead of taking it, Duoduo looked up at him with a pitiful expression.

"Dad, can I go play with Grandpa and Grandma?"

"Eat your meal!"

Thinking that Ling Yun had refused her, Duoduo drooped her little head.

The next second, Ling Yun's voice drifted into her ears once more.

"You can go after you finish eating!"

Hearing this, Duoduo snapped her head up.

She lifted her small face, her clear eyes shining as bright as the stars.

"Dad, does that mean once I finish eating, I can go play with Grandpa and Grandma?"

"Mn!" Ling Yun grunted in a muffled voice.

This little rascal—clearly staying right by his side, yet her mind was constantly wandering off to others.

If it were anyone else in the past, someone who ate from his bowl while eyeing what was in the pot like her wouldn't have survived until today!

Ling Yun's expression turned gloomy and dark.

Completely oblivious, Duoduo giggled, took the straw, and placed it straight into Chouchou's cup of milk.

"Big Sister, there's a straw now! You can drink your milk!"

Chouchou: "..."

Was this damned Duoduo completely blind to the fact that old scoundrel Ling Yun was currently furious?

Making it drink milk right now and even supplying it with a straw—she was practically inviting him to direct his wrath at it!

Just as Chouchou was thinking this, Ling Yun's icy gaze swept over.

Startled into a shiver, it tumbled right off the dining table and hit the floor.

"Big Sister, how did you fall?"

Duoduo slid down from her chair, poked her little bottom out, and picked Chouchou up.

Though the floor was clean, she still reached out and gently patted the dust off Chouchou's body.

"If she tells you to drink, then drink!"

Ling Yun's icy voice slowly drifted into its ears.

The moment Chouchou was placed back on the table by Duoduo, it clamped its jaws onto the straw out of sheer terror and began to gulp the milk down rapidly.

Milk still wasn't as delicious as milk tea, though.

It hoped old scoundrel Ling Yun understood that it had no desire whatsoever to steal milk from Duoduo; it was the father-daughter duo forcing it to drink!

"She's drinking! Big Sister is drinking her milk!"

Seeing the milk level in the glass dropping at a visible rate, Duoduo was overjoyed.

She reached out with both hands to cradle her own remaining cup of milk and chugged it straight down.

Knowing that she was drinking so fast simply so she could go find Xu Hetang and Xie Fangyun, Ling Yun's expression grew even uglier.

Slinking his face, he offered a cold reminder, "Drink slower!"

"Cough, cough..."

The moment his words fell, Duoduo choked on her drink.

Having never taken care of anyone before, Ling Yun had no idea what to do and could only stand by, watching helplessly.

After coughing for a good while, Duoduo finally stopped and noticed Ling Yun staring at her.

She raised a small hand and touched her face.

"Dad, why are you looking at me like that? Is my face dirty?"

"Mn!"

Refusing to admit that he had been worried about her just a moment ago, Ling Yun gave a vague confirmation, picked up a tissue from the table, and gently wiped away the milk foam from the corner of Duoduo's mouth.

"Thank you, Dad! Dad is so nice, Duoduo likes Dad the best!"

Duoduo grinned and flashed a silly smile at Ling Yun.

Ling Yun paused mid-action, feeling a strange surge of warmth in his chest.

Even so, he kept a straight face and pulled his hand back.

"Kids are the best at telling lies."

If she truly liked him best, why would she be so eager to run downstairs?

Seeing Ling Yun furrow his brow, Duoduo anxiously waved her hands.

"No, no, Duoduo never lies!"

"Eat!"

Ling Yun withdrew his gaze, picked up his bread, and resumed eating.

Thinking he was still upset, Duoduo hopped down from her chair and pattered over to him on her tiptoes.

"Dad, are you unhappy? Duoduo really isn't lying, Duoduo likes you the most!"

"Mn!"

The corners of Ling Yun's mouth twitched upward in an almost imperceptible smile.

Lifting her little face, Duoduo continued, "Duoduo also likes Mom, Big Brother, and Grandpa and Grandma."

The upward curve of Ling Yun's mouth abruptly flattened.

Turning to look at Duoduo, he asked, "Are you full? Your grandpa and grandma are in the lower cabin; if you're full, go find them yourself!"

With a dark expression, Ling Yun began shooing her away.

Not a single thing coming out of Duoduo's mouth was something he wanted to hear.

Seeing that Ling Yun was telling her to go downstairs, Duoduo instantly forgot that she was supposed to be cheering him up.

Her eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly like a pounding pestle.

"I'm full! Dad, aren't you coming down to play with me?"

"Not going!"

Refusing without a second thought, Ling Yun picked up Chouchou with one hand and shoved it straight into Duoduo's arms.

"Keep it with you, don't lose it!"

"I know, Dad!"

Clutching Chouchou, Duoduo scampered off happily toward the door.

Just as she reached the threshold, she suddenly stopped and turned back to look at Ling Yun.

Ling Yun hurriedly pulled back his gaze and put on a look of utter indifference.