"Father's abilities are evident to all," Xue Xingyue declared, unreservedly praising Yan Jin Chao.
Yu Xiao Yu paused slightly, then smiled. "Little one, that's not your father."
"How is he not my father?" Xue Xingyue looked up at Yu Xiao Yu.
Yu Xiao Yu stepped forward, helped Xue Xingyue sit properly, and said, "Little one, he is not your father. You can't just claim anyone as your father. It will cause trouble for Young Master Yan."
"No, Father said he is my father."
"That's because Young Master Yan pities you. He knows you are without parents now and feels sorry for you, which is why he let you call him father. Don't you remember? He refused to be your father before. Besides, if you call him father now, how will Young Master Yan get married in the future?"
"Then, Sister Yu, do you mean that for Father to marry easily, I should stay away from him?"
Yu Xiao Yu looked at her and nodded solemnly. "Yes."
"But that's not for me to decide. Father likes me, and I like Father. Isn't that enough?" Xue Xingyue tilted her head and asked Yu Xiao Yu.
Yu Xiao Yu was so exasperated she was almost speechless. She had spoken for so long, her mouth dry, yet she hadn't convinced the child.
"Little one, your thinking is wrong. Young Master Yan can't refuse you because he pities you. You can't use Young Master Yan's pity to force him."
Xue Xingyue looked at Yu Xiao Yu and asked, "Sister Yu, do you think someone as small as I am now can force Father?"
"Little one..."
Seeing the unyielding child, Yu Xiao Yu felt as if she were talking to a brick wall.
"Sister Yu, he is my father. No one can separate me and Father. And in what capacity are you saying these things to me?"
Yu Xiao Yu trembled all over. "You..."
Xue Xingyue, propping herself up with her small hands on the bed, shakily stood up. She gazed at Yu Xiao Yu and said, "What happens between Father and me doesn't seem to be Miss Yu's business. As for whether Father and I will be separated in the future, that's not for Miss Yu to manage either. Miss Yu should just be Miss Yu."
"You..."
"I see your intentions towards Father. Do you believe me if I tell Father that you are trying to alienate me from him? Who do you think Father will believe, me or you?"
"Little one, do you think Young Master Yan will believe you?"
"If not me, then who else?" Xue Xingyue asked righteously.
"Little one..." Yu Xiao Yu was getting angry.
Just then, footsteps were heard from outside. As the tent curtain was lifted, Yu Xiao Yu, with a plan in mind, fell to the ground and looked at Xue Xingyue with disbelief. "You... how could you push me?"
Xue Xingyue sat on the pillow, hugging her arms, watching Yu Xiao Yu with an expression that seemed to say, "Please, continue your performance."
Yu Xiao Yu gritted her teeth and turned to look at the person who walked in. It was Yan Jin Chao.
"Young Master Yan..." Yu Xiao Yu cried pitifully, her tears flowing like rain.
Yan Jin Chao's gaze tightened, his eyebrows slightly raised. He looked at the little one on the bed. Seeing that the child was unharmed, he then turned his gaze to Yu Xiao Yu. "Miss Yu, what are you doing?"
"Young Master Yan, the little one pushed me..."
Yan Jin Chao frowned slightly. Yu Xiao Yu looked at Xue Xingyue, smiling triumphantly. But then she saw Xue Xingyue sneer, "You claim I pushed you? Do you think someone as small as me could push someone as large as you? Wouldn't that be like a moth trying to strike a stone? Are you foolish, or am I?"
Of course, you are foolish.
Yu Xiao Yu bit her lower lip. "Little one, you can't just make things up. You pushed me."
"Father, what do you think?" Xue Xingyue tilted her chin up, looking at Yan Jin Chao. If Father didn't believe her, she would really stop interacting with him and wouldn't want him anymore.
Yan Jin Chao walked over, picked up the little one, and said, "Of course, Father believes the little one."
Xue Xingyue triumphantly raised her chin towards Yu Xiao Yu, as if to say, "See? Father still believes me."
Yu Xiao Yu bit her lower lip. "Young Master Yan, you can't not believe me..."
As the little one was about to speak, Yan Jin Chao interrupted. He looked at her, patted her head, as if to say, "Trust Father." Xue Xingyue closed her mouth.
Yan Jin Chao looked at Yu Xiao Yu indifferently and said coldly, "I believe the little one."
"Young Master Yan, children can lie. How can you believe her?"
"She is my daughter," Yan Jin Chao stated, looking at Yu Xiao Yu, word by word.
Yu Xiao Yu trembled all over, looking at Yan Jin Chao with disbelief. She saw the little one in his arms looking at him triumphantly, as if to say, "See? Father still believes me."
"Young Master, Miss Yu might be feeling unwell. I will escort her away to rest."
Xue Feng stepped forward and said a few words to Yu Xiao Yu. Yu Xiao Yu bit her lower lip, then stood up. "Young Master Yan, I shall take my leave!"
Yan Jin Chao nodded faintly.
After Xue Feng and Yu Xiao Yu left, Xue Xingyue hugged Yan Jin Chao's neck and kissed his cheek. "Father, you're the best."
Yan Jin Chao's body stiffened. The little one's lips were soft and tender. It was the first time he had been kissed by her, and the feeling made him want to hide this treasure away forever.
"Little one, you were in great danger today," Yan Jin Chao said, placing the child on the table with a solemn expression.
Perhaps because he was too serious, the little one's smile vanished. She looked at him earnestly. "Father, are you angry?"
Yan Jin Chao reached out and stroked the little one's head, slowly saying, "Father is not angry. Father is just worried that if there's danger, Father might not be able to be there for you in time. Father fears that something might happen to you, and Father would regret it immensely."
Xue Xingyue reached out and put her hand into Yan Jin Chao's large palm. "Father, no. Yueyue won't put herself in danger, especially not in the future."
Yan Jin Chao picked up the little one. His feelings for her were growing stronger. If he could, he didn't want to be separated from her.
"Father, don't be angry. I won't do that again," Xue Xingyue said very seriously.
"Little one, when Father is around, you can cause as much trouble as you like, because Father can clean it up for you. But when Father isn't around, Father hopes you remember to pretend to be weak when necessary."
Xue Xingyue looked at her father's serious expression and nodded. "Father, I understand."
She wouldn't be so foolish as to be manipulated by others, Xue Xingyue thought.
However, when Xue Xingyue woke up, she realized her thoughts had been a bit too naive.
"Sister Yu, where are you taking me?" Xue Xingyue found herself in a carriage, her hands and feet bound, with Yu Xiao Yu sitting beside her.
Yu Xiao Yu smiled. "Little one, we meet again."