Chapter 3: Father and Daughter Reunite

After Shen Qing sent Zhong Yi away, she found the room quite simple—gray carpeting on the floor, clean clothes provided. The styles weren't the latest, but the quality was good.

She took out her phone and saw a few WeChat messages.

[Xia Mang: Have you gone missing? I can't find you anywhere.]

[Xia Mang: Reply when you see this.]

[Xia Mang: Reply.]

[Xia Mang: Reply...!]

Shen Qing moved her fingers and replied:

[Reply.]

[G: I didn't get a chance to ask your name.]

Shen Qing thought for a moment—it was the man who'd asked for her WeChat that night. His profile picture was a black square, giving an air of mystery.

**

Gu Tingyi was in his hotel, playing with his phone, a faint smile on his lips.

Dongfang Cheng came over with coffee and, upon seeing the scene, looked as if he'd seen a ghost...

What had gotten into him?

Ding!

[User Not Found: Shen Qing.]

So her name was Shen Qing.

Gu Ting replied instantly: [My name is Gu Ting.]

[Shen Qing: Oh.]

Gu Ting: ...

It seemed they had nothing left to talk about.

"Brother Gu, there's no sign of our person in Jiang City," Dongfang Cheng said, rubbing his eyes.

"Mm, we'll head to the airport later. Wu Xie is back." Gu Ting's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Oh, where are we flying to?"

"Fan City."

**

Early the next morning, a maid came knocking on Shen Qing's door.

"Miss Shen, it's time to come down for breakfast."

No answer?

A trace of impatience flickered across the maid's face. She raised her hand and knocked again.

"Miss Shen?"

Creak—

Zhong Yi emerged from the room next door, his face full of hostility, eyes cold enough to strike.

"You're so noisy!" Zhong Yi's voice was low and full of annoyance.

"I..." The maid was startled, about to say something more, but then Shen Qing's door opened from within.

"I'll come down in a bit." The girl's hair was slightly messy, a clear sign she'd just woken up, her tone devoid of any emotion.

"Alright, please hurry," the maid replied offhandedly, bowing her head and hurrying downstairs.

People from small towns really are ill-mannered.

"Sis, do you want to sleep a bit longer?" Zhong Yi noticed Shen Qing's red-rimmed eyes, as if she'd applied an extra layer of eyeshadow.

Shen Qing shook her head. "No need."

Bang!

Zhong Yi stood at the door, shut out and left in the dust...

***

Yu Jiaxuan grabbed two slices of bread and headed for the door.

"Why are you in such a rush? Eat your eggs," Yu Fei called after him.

"You guys eat; I don't want to have breakfast with that Shen girl."

"Watch your mouth! She's your sister too!" Yu Fei slammed the table and glared at Yu Jiaxuan.

"She's not really my sister," Yu Jiaxuan made a face and hurried out.

"That brat."

Qin Lin glanced upstairs and gently consoled, "Don't be upset. Jiaxuan is just straightforward, he doesn't mean it. He'll grow out of it."

Yu Fei sighed. "You always indulge him."

The sound of slippers shuffling came from the stairs, drawing both their gazes.

Seeing Shen Qing's face, Yu Fei was stunned.

"Qingqing..."

"Dad," Shen Qing greeted, her tone cool and indifferent.

Yu Fei, now middle-aged, had kept himself in good shape without putting on weight, his features still handsome.

"Come, have some breakfast," he urged. Shen Qing strongly resembled her mother; if it weren't for the paternity test years ago, he wouldn't have believed she was his daughter.

No one had expected Shen Fangfei to survive in the bandits' den and even return with Shen Qing.

Seven years had passed, and whatever feelings he’d had for Shen Fangfei had nearly vanished. Living with a gang of criminals for seven years—just the thought of it made him uncomfortable.

"So this is Zhong Yi?" Yu Fei glanced at the boy behind Shen Qing, his brows furrowing.

He’d heard from Qin Lin about this boy—Shen Qing's neighbor, who’d even followed her to Fan City!

What could his intentions be?

This was a matter of reputation for Shen Qing.

"Yes," Shen Qing answered, taking a seat at the table.

Zhong Yi sat down beside her in silence; Yu Fei found his opinion of the boy dropping into negatives.

No manners, and no social grace.

Qin Lin served them both eggs. "Eat more, you're still growing."

"Thank you," Shen Qing replied, glancing at Qin Lin before focusing on her meal.

Qin Lin hesitated—Shen Qing's look had not been friendly.

Yu Fei sat awkwardly, trying to think of something to say to Shen Qing, searching for a topic to bond over, but nothing came to mind.

Back when Shen Fangfei returned, he had intended to keep Shen Qing—she was, after all, his own flesh and blood.

"How old are you, Zhong Yi?" Yu Fei's gaze landed on the thin, dark-skinned boy.

"Fourteen."

"Oh, younger than Jiaxuan by a year." Yu Fei paused. "Qingqing, do you like the gift?"

Before bringing her over, he'd sent Shen Qing a present.

He hadn’t known her birthday, so he’d just sent a regular gift.

Shen Qing looked up, her eyes noticeably detached.

"I like it well enough."

At her words, Zhong Yi's expression turned subtly mocking.

Ha! That pretty little diamond necklace spent all day around Er Niu's neck...

Er Niu certainly liked it.

Qin Lin glanced at her watch. "Feige, it's almost time."

Yu Fei jumped to his feet, grabbing the briefcase Qin Lin handed him.

"Qingqing, I'm off to the company. Lin, give her a bit more allowance."

"Of course—go on, don't be late for your meeting." Qin Lin pushed him toward the door, watched him get in the car, then returned to the living room.

Bored, Shen Qing stretched and went upstairs, Zhong Yi trailing behind.

"Shen Qing, how about eight thousand a month for pocket money?" Qin Lin’s offer was more than many people’s two or even three months’ salary.

"Not interested," the girl's clear voice floated down from upstairs.

Qin Lin paused, seething inside—truly her mother's daughter!

"Such poor manners," she muttered, tossing her bread onto the table and calling someone to clear it away.