Chapter 4 – Daddy Talks Cold but Acts Warm

The little munchkin was still dusty and dirty. Although she had changed clothes, she hadn’t had a bath yet. She was probably placed on the bench by someone, and at the moment, she was huffing and puffing, trying to climb down.

Yu Mozhi took a long stride and walked over to the little one. He squatted down beside her and looked at her. There wasn’t the slightest ripple in his eyes.

Under normal circumstances, this might have been fine. Seeing how pitiful she looked, he could just hire a long-term nanny to take care of her as she grew up. But now, he was caught in so many issues. Who knew how many people were eyeing him with discontent? There could even be insane, obsessive fans. He couldn’t even guarantee his own personal safety.

“You shouldn’t be calling me daddy. You should be calling me little uncle… I’ll find a place for you to stay for now, alright? Things around me aren’t safe at the moment.”

Yu Mozhi had never considered raising a child. He could barely take care of himself, with all his issues. There was no need to ruin a child who was just a little over three years old. But since this was his responsibility, he wouldn’t run away from it.

“Will there be a daddy there?” The little one nervously tugged at the corner of her shirt. Her childish voice was sweet as honey, and her big eyes lifted to look at Yu Mozhi, full of worry.

She wasn’t going to change how she called him. In the past, Daddy had said he liked it when she called him that—it made him happy. Now was the same! His expression had already softened. Normally, he would’ve reached out and tried to coax her into his arms!

Sure enough, Daddy was still Daddy at heart. Just… just now he was being—what was that phrase again?

Talks cold but acts warm? Tsundere?

Seeing how she completely ignored the “you shouldn’t be calling me daddy” part, Yu Mozhi paused. In the end, when he looked into her eyes, his heart softened a little. He didn’t rush to correct her. The little girl was so young, had lost her parents, and had suffered abuse. Forget it. It could all be sorted out gradually.

“…I’ll come visit you,” Yu Mozhi said, thinking about that little white flower pinned to his suitcase. He finally lowered his eyes and spoke. Who knew how long this storm would last?

“Daddy’s not staying with Mianmian? Daddy doesn’t want Mianmian?”

That soft baby voice suddenly choked up, making him look up in panic. He saw the little one’s eyes welling up with tears.

She wasn’t sobbing loudly like other kids, just sniffling, holding back her sadness with those soft baby hiccups. She cried like some spirit creature who had perfected the art of heartbreak—just the kind of crying that tugged at your heartstrings.

Yu Mozhi immediately panicked, flustered and unsure what to do. He hurriedly explained.

“Once everything settles down, I’ll come get you.” Since he was a relative and had found her, he wouldn’t shirk his responsibility. But he never underestimated the malice of strangers.

Mianmian was still a child. Even though she had lived as a lucky koi and learned many things over the years, her demeanor was still childlike and naïve. She didn’t want Daddy to abandon her.

Her soft, pale hand reached out—barely one-third the size of his palm—and clutched the hem of his clothes.

Suppressing her sobs, she cautiously and tenderly tried to negotiate.

“Daddy, please don’t leave Mianmian, okay? Even though Mianmian gets hungry a lot, I’ll try really hard to eat just a little. I won’t do anything Daddy doesn’t like. Mianmian is very obedient and easy to raise.”

Mianmian had always been treasured by the Immortal Mo. Even when she had been picked up on the brink of death, she was carefully nurtured back to health.

But now… it was like the Immortal Mo didn’t want her anymore. She panicked. Her golden tears fell like beads, one after another, and she didn’t even have time to complain to the sleeping Grandpa Jade about Daddy.

Yes, his situation really wasn’t good right now. But to reject her…

Yu Mozhi lowered his gaze. In the end, he couldn’t bear to push her hand away. He said nothing. He didn’t know why, but even though he thought of himself as someone without soft emotions, when it came to this little girl, his bottom line always seemed to shift so easily.

Then he heard that soft, fluffy, yet bright baby voice speak with determination.

“Mianmian can protect Daddy!”