As Li Zhanfeng stepped toward the vehicle, his deep eyes were already fixed on Li Jiujiu inside.

Li Jiujiu sat upright in the carriage, her arms tightly clutching her small schoolbag. Although her soft cheeks still retained the innocence of a child, her clear eyes always shone with a stubborn light.

Despite her young age, she possesses an indomitable spirit.

The image of Gu Wanrou's cold back as she left flashed through his mind, and his heart softened slightly.

Jiu Jiu's personality really comes from her mother.

However, despite her seemingly delicate appearance, Gu Wanrou possesses a rare pride and resilience.

She is like a bamboo stalk, seemingly delicate and fragile, but in reality, she is resilient and unyielding.

Jiu Jiu, on the other hand, fully expressed this resilience on her face.

Thinking of this, his thin lips pursed slightly, and when his icy gaze fell on Li Jiujiu, his eyes seemed to melt like glaciers and snow-capped mountains, carrying the gentle warmth of a spring breeze. "Jiujiu, are you waiting for Daddy here?"

When Li Jiujiu saw Li Zhanfeng get into the car, she quickly moved aside for him.

Her bright black eyes softened with a gentle, starlight-like smile, and she patted the seat lightly with her little hand. "Daddy, please sit down."

The way she looked at Li Zhanfeng always held a gentle, starry gaze.

Because in this world, only her father and she depend on each other for survival, and her father is the person she loves most.

Li Zhanfeng's lips curled slightly as he sat down next to Li Jiujiu, his smile gentle. "Jiujiu, Daddy's asking you, if one day your mommy comes back, would you be willing to help Daddy keep her by Daddy's side?"

A hint of resentment appeared in Li Jiujiu's stubborn eyes. She gritted her teeth and finally swallowed her bitterness.

"Jiujiu doesn't have a mommy. Jiujiu's mommy is dead. Jiujiu doesn't need a mommy. Jiujiu just wants to be with Daddy forever."

She clenched her fists tightly, her downcast eyes filled with resentment.

Over the years, she has become accustomed to relying on her father for support. Why should she have another mother to disturb her and her father's life?

If her mother truly loved her, she wouldn't have abandoned her back then!

Li Zhanfeng sighed softly. He carefully turned Li Jiujiu's shoulders toward him with both hands, his deep voice full of patience, "Jiujiu, trust Daddy, Daddy will never lie to you."

"Mommy is the gentlest person in the world, and the one who loves you the most. She would never abandon you because she doesn't like you, and she would never be heartless towards you, you know?"

She left the wine at his door back then simply because she didn't want to have anything to do with him anymore.

How could someone as gentle as her not love her and his child?

Hearing her father speak up for Gu Wanrou, Li Jiujiu pursed her lips tightly, her little face full of dissatisfaction. "Daddy, you're speaking up for her again. But Jiujiu isn't a child. Daddy doesn't need to deceive me like this."

As I said before, she had gotten used to relying on her father for support.

She didn't want the maternal love that was offered as charity!

"Jiu Jiu..." Li Zhanfeng tried to persuade Li Jiu Jiu again, but there was a knocking sound on the car window.

Li Zhanfeng turned his head and saw Li Qingling's lively and adorable face. She had two pigtails and a bright, sweet smile. "Uncle, you're so mean! Didn't you say you were here to pick up Ling'er? Why did you leave Ling'er outside?"

She pouted slightly with her pink lips, "Be careful, or I'll secretly tell Daddy, and he'll make you stay in the dark room!"

Li Zhanfeng chuckled slightly, then quickly opened the car door for Li Qingling and waved to her.

"Ling'er, come in quickly."

"Yay!"

Li Qingling quickly climbed into the carriage. Li Jiujiu seemed a little wary of her, but Li Qingling generously grabbed her small hand. "Wow! Jiujiu is just as cute as in the photos! Jiujiu, from today onwards we're best friends! If anyone dares to bully you, just secretly mention my name, and they won't dare to bully you!"

As she spoke, Li Qingling's big, dark, bright eyes flashed with surprise, "Wow, Jiu Jiu, I wanted to say this when I saw your photos before, you look just like Aunt Wanrou, um... not only your cheeks look alike, but even your eyes and nose look like Aunt Wanrou's, people who don't know would think you are Aunt Wanrou's secret baby!"

Li Zhanfeng's eyes flickered slightly.

Li Jiujiu pursed her lips speechlessly and quietly withdrew her hand from Li Qingling's.

Is Li Qingling's voice from a bird?

They're chattering away like little sparrows.

But who is Aunt Wanrou that she mentioned?

She's not that Aunt Wanrou's secret baby!

The night deepened.

Gu Momo, dressed in a form-fitting bodycon dress, sat casually in the president's chair in the top-floor office of SK Group.

Her sharp eyes were fixed on the computer screen, her eagle-like gaze quickly scanning the intelligence about the Li family provided by her subordinates. Her brows furrowed, and her eyes grew increasingly piercing.

Suddenly, a knowing smile appeared on her lips, and she quickly picked up her phone and dialed a number.

This number is specially encrypted to defend against all intrusion signals. It can connect to anywhere in the world and is a proprietary number used for internal communication within the organization, known to very few people worldwide.

She smiled alluringly, her eyes sparkling. "I have a mission this time. Have the people from the Liuli Pavilion's Kyoto branch contact me. Just in case, I need to bring a group of people to the Li family banquet, but remember, keep your identities hidden."

The subordinate quickly replied, "Yes, Master, some of the people from the capital branch have already infiltrated the Li family. Both those in the open and those in the shadows are at your disposal. However, Master, there is one more thing I need to report to you..."

Gu Momo didn't even blink. "Speak."

"It seems the Grand Master is also in the capital. Should we contact him about this?"

Gu Momo's long eyelashes fluttered. "Chief?"