Qin Jue and Jun Qingzhi were both stunned. Qin Jue was annoyed that Xiao Xi'er was so clueless, while Jun Qingzhi was happy.

After Zou Heng returned, he led Qin Jue, Xiao Xi'er, and the others to Zhu Ning Street, a street known for its abundance of food.

The streets are lined with not only various stalls selling all sorts of food, but also numerous shops displaying their offerings.

Wow, so much delicious food!

Xiao Xi'er pulled Jun Qingzhi to the front of a pastry shop. The stall in front of the shop displayed all kinds of pastries.

Wow~, so many cakes~

"Awooo—, I'm going to eat them all!!!"

Xiao Xi'er let go of Jun Qingzhi's hand and reached out her devilish claws towards the pastries on the stall.

A piece of mung bean cake in her left hand, a piece of red bean cake in her right hand, and a piece of white hibiscus cake stuffed in her mouth.

After getting it, he ran off to the next stall.

As for the pastry he had taken a bite of but hadn't finished, he put it all into Qin Jue's hand.

It was ostensibly intended for Qin Jue.

"Daddy~, this is what I saved for you~"

Qin Jue looked at the pastry in his hand and pondered for a moment, "Saved for me?"

Xiao Xi nodded seriously under Qin Jue's gaze.

"Then why have they all been bitten?"

"Because I tasted it for Daddy and saw how it tasted. I thought it was delicious, so I gave it to Daddy~"

Really...?

"Really...really"

After saying that, Xiao Xi'er quickly ran to another stall, not daring to look at Qin Jue any longer.

"Master, this..."

Zou Heng took out a handkerchief to take the pastries from Qin Jue's hands, but Qin Jue interrupted him.

"It's alright. Since it was saved for me, I'll just try it."

Just then, Jun Qingzhi turned her head and saw Qin Jue eating the pastries that Xiao Xi'er had given her.

Qin Jue saw Jun Qingzhi turn her head and look at him with a smug look in her eyes, as if to say, 'I got pastries from my daughter, but you, this persistent ghost, don't.'

Jun Qingzhi glanced at the pastries in Qin Jue's hand, then turned her head back to look at Xiao Xi'er.

Xiao Xi'er took another basket of steamed buns from the stall selling them. After eating one, she was about to give one to Qin Jue when Jun Qingzhi stopped her.

"Xi'er, how about letting me try some?"

"OK"

Xiao Xi'er handed the small steamer basket to Jun Qingzhi. Jun Qingzhi took a bun and tasted it.

"It tastes good."

"Mmm, Daddy~, here, have these~"

Qin Jue took the steamer from Xiao Xi'er and saw that there were three small buns left inside. He ate one himself and gave the remaining two to Zou Heng and Sanhezi.

After eating at countless food stalls, Xiao Xi'er patted her round belly and let out a sigh of relief.

"Phew, I'm so full!"

"Have you finished eating?"

"Uh-huh"

Qin Jue looked down at Xiao Xi'er's round belly, poked it with his index finger, and found that he couldn't move it. He smiled.

"Then... go home?"

Qin Jue was eager to return to the palace as soon as possible. Why? Because once he was back, he wouldn't have to see Jun Qingzhi clinging to his daughter anymore, which would only make him feel more uncomfortable.

"Um……"

Xiao Xi'er glanced at the stalls she hadn't yet tried, then looked at Qin Jue, and then at Jun Qingzhi.

He nodded his little head at Qin Jue.

"Youluo Guoguo is home~"

"Wait a minute~"

"What's the matter?"

Little Xi tilted her head up and asked Jun Qingzhi.

Jun Qingzhi didn't answer Xiao Xi'er's words at first, but looked at Yu He.

Yu He, being sensible, quickly took out what he was carrying and handed it to Jun Qingzhi.

Jun Qingzhi took the wooden box from Yu He's hand, looked at Xiao Xi'er, and then handed the wooden box to Xiao Xi'er.

"Xi'er, this is a little gift for you."

Xiao Xi'er took the wooden box from Jun Qingzhi's hands and asked curiously, preparing to open it.

Just as she reached out, Jun Qingzhi pressed her hand down, preventing Xiao Xi'er from opening it.

What is it?

"Don't open it yet. I won't tell you now. You'll find out what it is when you get home."

"Okay, thank you, Youluo."

"You're welcome"

As she spoke, Jun Qingzhi reached out and ruffled Xiao Xi'er's hair.

Qin Jue, who was not far away, witnessed all of this, and his eyes blazed with fury.

Qin Jue walked up to Xiao Xi'er in a few steps and asked, "Xiao Xi'er, are you finished?"

"That's all, Daddy~"

"Then let's go home."

With that, Qin Jue scooped up Xiao Xi'er and left without looking back.

Jun Qingzhi stood there watching as Qin Jue carried Xiao Xi'er away.

"Young master, let's go back too."

"Keep up"

Upon hearing Yu He's words, Jun Qingzhi made a hand gesture and followed Qin Jue from a distance.

"Master, that annoying brat is following behind."

"Heh, it's nothing."

Qin Jue, who was walking in front, naturally felt that there was a tail following him, but he didn't pay any attention to it.

Little Xi'er, held by Qin Jue, soon began to feel sleepy.

"Ah—, help..."

"Smack—"

"Try shouting again, and I'll kill you right now."

"I don't want to go back, I don't want to go back... Let me go, let me go!"

"Slap—slap—"

Little Xi'er, still half-asleep, opened her eyes upon hearing the shouts and turned her head to look around.

To the side, I saw a little girl, probably almost ten years old, being slapped and kicked by two men.

“Father…”

Upon hearing Xiao Xi'er's voice, Qin Jue knew what she was thinking. So, Qin Jue carried Xiao Xi'er to the little girl and the two men.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!