{Ah Qi, can you really not forgive me? 1}

In the early morning, Shen Qi completed his usual morning run, stepping off the treadmill with a cold expression. He held a deep blue sweat towel but didn’t rush to wipe his face.

What caught his attention was a mischievous yet innocent face.

“Good morning, Dad.”

“Morning.”

“Are you planning to go out today?”

Shen Qi was not unaware of Shen Qiyue’s plans; on the contrary, he was well-informed. He knew that Shen Qiyue wanted to see Cheng Shuangyi, but he had little interest in getting involved. Until Shen Qiyue casually suggested that he accompany her, asking, “Dad, today is the weekend. Can’t you play with me like other parents do?”

The man, seeing the bigger picture, understood perfectly that Shen Qiyue’s words were likely intended to arrange a meeting between him and Cheng Shuangyi.

He didn’t mind meeting Cheng Shuangyi.

However, he disliked the feeling of being manipulated, especially when it involved using his own child. The idea that his daughter could be so easily turned into a tool made him furrow his brow.

“I don’t have time,” Shen Qi said firmly, showing little concern. “I’m going to your grandfather’s grave.”

“Dad is going to pay respects?”

Shen Qiyue didn’t seem to care much about her deceased grandfather. To her, he was just a distant figure who had passed away. The real joy for her was knowing her father’s whereabouts.

Now, she could inform her mother.

In the days since she had met her mother, she wanted to do something for her biological mother, even if it was just a small gesture. Although Dad seemed indifferent about her mom, if they didn’t truly love each other, how could she exist?

She didn’t bother him further, unaware that Shen Qi, now at the fridge grabbing milk, had a slight smile on his lips.

He knew exactly what she was planning next.

—

In the children’s room, the two kids were unusually arguing.

“I really think Shen Qiyue is so stupid!”

“Why do you care about Dad and Mom’s matters? What’s it to you?” Shen Qiyue’s brother, Shen Qinian, retorted angrily at his sister, who had been mysteriously absent lately. “Do you really think Mom cares about you?”

Shen Qiyue was not offended; instead, she danced in front of Shen Qinian, looking at her frustrated brother. “Are you upset because you haven’t seen Mom?”

“Who wants to see her?”

Though he claimed to be indifferent, the rare anger in the boy’s tone revealed just how much he cared deep down.

Why should she show up now?

Hadn’t she neglected him for so long? If she wasn’t going to be part of his life, then she shouldn’t come back at all, especially to meet only his sister. Wasn’t he also Mom’s child?

The two encounters Shen Qiyue had with Cheng Shuangyi at the mall had stirred something deep within the younger Shen Qinian.

How could he admit this? He didn’t understand where this resentment came from. Was it because Shen Qiyue seemed to be more favored, or perhaps, their mother had completely forgotten about him?

Shen Qiyue showed a cheeky expression. “Alright, I won’t tease you anymore.”

“I just found out where Dad is. I’ll let Mom know soon,” the clever Shen Qiyue proposed. “Then we can go see her together. What do you think?”

“I’m not going.”

Shen Qinian was determined not to engage in such a sneaky little scheme, believing it would harm his reputation. He would never stoop to Shen Qiyue’s childish level.

Besides, it was wrong to just intrude when they hadn’t been invited—something Qian Xu had taught him before. Shen Qinian fumed, “No one invited us!”

“Brother, don’t you understand? Some opportunities need to be seized by ourselves,” Shen Qiyue rolled her eyes, but she also knew that if she wanted to go, it would be better to have Shen Qinian along with her. “If I don’t go to the mall where Mom usually shops, I won’t get to see her at all.”

Shen Qiyue coaxed him, “Don’t you want to see what Mom looks like?”

“And you can talk to her about how unhappy you’ve been in America! Our mom is the most understanding person in the world. When I told her I like fried food, she took me out to eat right away.”

“Really?”

Shen Qinian’s eyes sparkled with hope.

Kids are easily captivated by food, and the mention of fried treats immediately piqued his interest.

However, Shen Qinian hesitated, recalling someone he shouldn’t have thought of, and sighed, “But what about Qian Xu?”

She was still in America, probably waiting for the two of them to come back and see her.

The guilt of abandoning Qian Xu surged within Shen Qinian, leaving him with an overwhelming sense of unease.

“Qian Xu?”

Shen Qiyue hadn’t heard that name in a long time. She had thought that if Shen Qinian had even a little bit of sense, he would never mention that woman again.