Chapter 16

Sheng Zexi said he wasn’t going abroad, and he really left.

The people left behind exchanged puzzled glances, unsure of what to do.

However, Sheng Zexi was still very efficient in his work. On the way back, he methodically arranged his work matters.

Originally, those who were supposed to follow him on the project still went out as usual, but in addition, he arranged for a few more people to go with them.

By the time he arrived home and got out of the car, everything was basically arranged.

It was clear that he didn’t plan to leave for the next few days.

Inside the house, Nuo Nuo seemed to be feeling much better. She was sitting on the sofa in the living room, playing with her toys. When she heard the sound at the door, she tilted her head and looked over, not expecting to see her father, whom she thought was supposed to be on a business trip.

“Daddy, huh? Aren’t you supposed to be on a business trip? Why are you still here?”

Sheng Zexi looked Nuo Nuo up and down. Aside from her eyes being puffy from crying and her face looking a bit pale, she didn’t seem to have any major issues.

Still, he wasn’t entirely reassured. He asked Auntie Lu about the child’s condition.

“Nuo Nuo is okay, right?”

Auntie Lu was equally puzzled. Mr. Sheng had always valued work. Initially, Madam was reluctant for him to be away for so long, but he still went. Why was he back today?

Suppressing her curiosity, Auntie Lu replied, “She’s already had her injection and taken her medicine, so there’s nothing serious.”

Not seeing Xu Ai, Sheng Zexi asked, “Where’s Madam?”

“Upstairs resting.”

Auntie Lu thought that if Madam knew Mr. Sheng had returned at this time, she would be equally shocked.

Xu Ai usually worried a lot about Nuo Nuo. Since she was resting now, the child probably wasn’t in serious trouble.

However, Sheng Zexi still couldn’t feel as at ease as before. He walked over and sat beside his daughter, asking, “Are you still feeling uncomfortable?”

Nuo Nuo was busy arranging her building blocks. Hearing her father’s words, she nodded her little head, saying, “I’m feeling much better now. Before I went to the hospital, it was really itchy, and I cried to Mommy.”

As she spoke, she lifted her arm to show her father.

Most of the red bumps had disappeared, but there were still a few. The child’s skin was very fair, which made the red marks on her arm quite striking.

Throughout Sheng Zexi’s upbringing, he had largely gone without love. In the past, he always thought that if he could grow up like that, then Nuo Nuo, with so many people pampering her, didn’t need him as much. But at that moment, when he saw the marks on Nuo Nuo’s arm, he suddenly realized that his thoughts were wrong. If he could have been there when Nuo Nuo went to the hospital… he didn’t really know how much of a difference it would have made. After all, anyone could have filled his role.

But he felt that he should have been there during her time of distress, not now, when she didn’t need him as much, asking about her condition.

“And then what?”

Realizing how much he had missed, Sheng Zexi felt a deep sense of guilt.

At that moment, he finally understood that throughout Nuo Nuo’s growth from birth to this age, he had been absent during countless moments when she needed him. He had never once, not even at this moment, asked the child what had happened at those times.

Nuo Nuo, however, didn’t notice her father’s emotional turmoil. Pouting, she explained, “Then I went to the hospital, had an injection. It hurt a bit, but Mommy looked really worried, so I was very good and didn’t cry. Daddy, am I super awesome?”

The little one was still smiling, wanting her father to praise her.

Clearly, she had just come from the hospital, and there were still small wounds from the injection on her hand.

Sheng Zexi hid the emotions in his eyes and praised her, “Yes, you are indeed very awesome.”

Nuo Nuo beamed with happiness at her father’s praise.

The fact that her father could come back at this time made Nuo Nuo very happy. She understood that her father was busy and said, “Daddy, I’m fine now. You don’t need to worry. You can go on your business trip, but remember to bring gifts for Mommy and me when you come back.”

Sheng Zexi didn’t leave. Instead, he hugged the overly sensible little girl tightly. His heart softened as he said, “Daddy isn’t going anywhere. I’ll stay home for the next few days.”

Sheng Zexi found it hard to comprehend how this little one, who once seemed like a crybaby needing education, had suddenly become so understanding.

Nuo Nuo felt a bit happy but was also a little puzzled. “Daddy, if you’re not going on a business trip, what about your work?”

What to do?

“Naturally, the people under Daddy will take care of it.”

Is that possible?

Nuo Nuo was intensely curious about her father’s work. “Then, Daddy, don’t you have to do anything yourself?”

Facing his daughter’s curiosity, Sheng Zexi patiently explained, “Not exactly. Daddy also has his own matters, but the less important things can be arranged for others to handle.”

Looking at the little girl who was listening intently, Sheng Zexi smiled and continued, “That is, Daddy’s main job is to arrange for others to complete tasks.”

Nuo Nuo listened, somewhat understanding but also confused. Still, she sincerely admired, “Daddy, you’re amazing!”

Sheng Zexi said nothing.

In terms of work, he was indeed impressive, but in family life, he was a failed father.

The little one wanted to play with building blocks, so Sheng Zexi didn’t rush to do anything else and stayed downstairs to play with Nuo Nuo.

They played until evening, when Xu Ai woke up.

She came downstairs in her pajamas and was surprised to see Sheng Zexi there. Confused, she asked, “Why are you back? Didn’t you go on a business trip?”

Sheng Zexi explained, “I don’t need to be at work for the time being.”

Xu Ai didn’t press for details and, noticing it was almost time for dinner, took Nuo Nuo to eat.

During dinner, Nuo Nuo recalled the delicious hairy crabs and various seafood she had that day and asked her mother, “Mom, does this mean I really can’t eat seafood anymore? I think seafood is so tasty! If I can’t have it, I might cry.”

After feeling itchy and teary-eyed from the injection earlier, the little one had quickly forgotten her discomfort and was now craving those tasty foods.

Xu Ai replied, “No, you can’t eat seafood for the next two years.”

Her solution was simple and straightforward: just don’t let the child eat it.

Nuo Nuo immediately looked disappointed, her expression turning sad as if she might cry. Seeing this, Sheng Zexi found it somewhat amusing and said, “It’s not that you can’t eat it at all. We just need to do a test to identify your allergies. If it’s something else, you can eat it.”

Nuo Nuo’s eyes sparkled with hope as she asked, “Does this mean I can eat big crabs again?”

Xu Ai replied without hesitation, “If you’re allergic to crabs, then you won’t be able to eat those either.”

Nuo Nuo’s face fell, and as she ate, she mumbled, “Crabs, crabs, I really want to eat crabs.”

Then, she opened her mouth and took a bite of beef.

In just a couple of days, Nuo Nuo seemed to have fully recovered, back to her lively self.

Seeing that her daughter was fine, Xu Ai returned to her normal work routine.

Nuo Nuo had to adjust to being home alone again. After a couple of fun days out, she didn’t want to be left at home. When she saw her dad was heading out to work, she immediately ran to him with bright eyes, saying, “Daddy, are you going to work? I want to go too!”

She clutched his shirt, afraid he wouldn’t take her with him.

Today, Nuo Nuo was wearing a white puff-sleeved top paired with a coffee-colored skirt, and her dark hair was styled in two adorable pigtails. She looked absolutely sweet.

Her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Sheng Zexi had to meet a client today, which typically wouldn’t allow for bringing children. However, realizing he had been absent from Nuo Nuo’s life for so long, he decided it was time to spend some time with her. So, he agreed, saying, “I’m going to meet a client, but it might be a little boring.”

When Nuo Nuo heard that her dad would take her to work, she quickly replied, “That’s okay, Daddy! I can bring my toys, and I won’t be bored!”

In her view, there was no way she would be bored as long as she wasn’t home alone.

Thus, Sheng Zexi asked Auntie Lu to help Nuo Nuo pack her things for the outing. It seemed that he had completely forgotten about his earlier decision not to take her to work.