Yu Mingxi didn’t lay things out too clearly, speaking only in subtle hints. Yu Jinxiao, now calmer, realized he had been too harsh earlier. He’d never seen the little one cry so bitterly before—and even said she hated him!

Normally, she would affectionately call him “Daddy” over and over again, but now, he had frightened his little dumpling into a tearful mess.

Seeing his father stay silent, Yu Mingxi understood the situation and quickly headed off to find his little sister.

He knocked on the door of her room, but there wasn’t a sound from inside.

That’s strange—shouldn’t there be some crying at least? Did she cry herself unconscious?

He knocked a little harder, and finally, there was movement. The door creaked open, revealing a sliver of space no wider than a finger.

A pair of teary, resentful eyes peeked through the crack, full of sadness and grievance.

“Yuanyuan, can I come in and talk to you?” Yu Mingxi crouched down to meet her gaze at eye level, his tone as gentle as possible, as though he were soothing something fragile, afraid of causing more pain.

“Did Daddy send you here?” Yuanyuan’s small hands clutched the edge of the door, her expression serious.

Her eyes were red and puffy, still wet with tears, and there was an unusual wariness in those usually bright, trusting eyes.

“No, it’s just me. I was hoping you could keep me company for a bit, is that okay?” Yu Mingxi carefully chose his words. Children’s minds worked differently from adults’, especially when they were upset.

Yuanyuan’s eyes narrowed as if she were deliberating. After a long moment of hesitation, she withdrew her little hands from the door. “Okay, come in, brother.”

Success! He’d gained her trust for the first step!

Since her brother had asked her to keep him company, how could Yuanyuan bear to disappoint him?

As Yu Mingxi quietly closed the door behind him, he turned to see Yuanyuan’s small frame waddling back across the room.

She plopped down on the playmat like a melting ice cream scoop, surrounded by her plush toys. But she didn’t seem interested in playing; she just hugged her stuffed lion tightly, staring at her feet in silence.

“Yuanyuan, are you upset?” Yu Mingxi sat down beside her, gently stroking her small head. “Can you tell your brother about it?”

The little dumpling stayed silent, her head hanging low.

A few seconds later, Yu Mingxi heard faint sniffling that gradually built up into full-blown sobbing.

“Daddy was so mean! He yelled really loudly, and it was so scary!” Yuanyuan cried miserably, pouring her heart out to her brother. “W-was I bad? D-did I do something wrong?”

Her voice became muffled as her sobs distorted her words, her emotions overwhelming her tiny frame.

Yu Mingxi patted her head softly, sighing. “Did Yuanyuan mention Mommy just now?”

Yuanyuan froze mid-sniffle, then slowly nodded, her tear-streaked face still puffy.

“Daddy didn’t mean to yell at you. He was just thinking about something really sad, and that made him upset,” Yu Mingxi explained, holding her chubby little hand and gently squeezing her soft fingers.

“But why is Daddy sad?” Yuanyuan’s angry tone softened as her curiosity took over.

Children’s emotions shifted quickly, and her large, watery eyes blinked in confusion as she tried to make sense of it.

“Do you remember what I told you before, Yuanyuan?”

Yuanyuan thought hard, then shook her head, looking adorably clueless. “What?”

“Before you came, Daddy had another daughter. She was my little sister too.”

“Oh, I remember now! The baby in the picture!” Yuanyuan’s eyes widened in realization.

“But… she’s not here anymore,” Yu Mingxi said softly.

The little one’s mind immediately processed what “not here anymore” meant, and she sighed deeply, her tiny shoulders slumping in sympathy.

“And because of what happened, Mommy left too. Daddy is really sad about it, but he never shows it. He doesn’t want anyone to know how much it hurts.”

Yuanyuan stopped crying, her wide eyes fixed on her brother as she listened intently.

After a long pause, she gave her own conclusion: “Daddy’s pretending to be strong!”