"Oh no! We scared Chairman Qin!"
"I think Chairman Qin was almost brought to tears by our loud voices! I can see tears welling up in her eyes!"
"What should we do now?"
"I told you Qin Haochen doesn’t like this kind of format! You didn’t listen to my advice, and now everyone has to pack up and leave!"
... The discussions echoed in the top-level executive office, causing panic among everyone.
Inside Qin Haochen’s office.
Qin Haochen sat on the sofa, gently patting Ann in the palm of his hand, soothingly saying, "Don’t be afraid, Daddy is here."
Silence surrounded them, with only Daddy’s voice in her ears.
Qin Sui’an gradually calmed down.
She quietly looked around, there were no strangers anymore, not even Uncle He.
Noticing that Ann’s emotions were stabilizing, Qin Haochen continued, "Is Ann afraid of strangers?"
After spending these two days together, it seemed that Ann would instinctively guard herself, be cautious, and feel uneasy around unfamiliar environments and people.
This discovery made Qin Haochen feel a wrenching pain in his heart as if someone had grasped it tightly.
He wished he could bear all of this instead of Ann.
"A little bit afraid..."
Qin Sui’an didn’t intend to cry, but when her daddy asked, she couldn’t hold back her tears.
Her small mouth pouted forcefully, and her eyes filled with teardrops on the verge of falling.
She lowered her little head deeply, not wanting her daddy to see her like this.
Her soft voice mixed with a heavy nasal tone, she whispered, "Daddy, Ann is not brave, Ann is not Daddy’s little treasure anymore..."
She knew that being brave meant not being afraid of anything or anyone, but she still felt scared.
Qin Haochen froze for a moment, then immediately hugged Ann tightly in his arms, his voice filled with utmost tenderness as he comforted, "Whether Ann is brave or not, she is still Daddy’s little treasure."
He couldn’t imagine the dark life Ann had lived in the orphanage, which had made her so lacking in a sense of security.
"Ann, Daddy was also not brave when he was little. Ann is still young now."
Qin Haochen’s voice choked involuntarily, his deep gaze filled with affection as he looked at Ann.
"Ann, we’ll take it step by step, no rush. We’ll gradually become brave, all right?"
Qin Sui’an gently nodded her little head.
With her movement, tears in her eyes fell on Qin Haochen’s hand with a soft "plop".
This was a thousand times more painful than being tortured to death by Qin Haochen.
Qin Sui’an seemed to realize that she couldn’t hold back her tears.
She hurriedly raised her little face, her nasal voice heavy as she explained, "Daddy, Ann didn’t want to cry. It, it just came out on its own."
Qin Haochen suppressed the bitterness in his heart and smiled, "Daddy knows, it’s okay. Ann can cry. A brave little treasure like Ann is not afraid of anything, including crying."
Hearing her daddy’s words, Qin Sui’an seemed a little dazed.
She blinked her watery round eyes and murmured to herself, "Can I cry..."
She seemed somewhat absent-minded as if she heard the furious roar of the orphanage director again:
"No crying! Do you want to be beaten?"
"Cry, cry, cry! All you know is crying, bringing bad luck!"
"If you cry again, you won’t get to eat today!"
"With your attitude, it’s no wonder nobody wants you!"
"Ann, Ann?"
Sensing Ann’s distraction in his arms, Qin Haochen softly called out, touching her little face.
"What is Ann thinking? Can you tell Daddy?"
Qin Sui’an softly called out, "Daddy..."
"Daddy is here, Ann."
Qin Haochen tightened his grip on Ann’s hand.
"Daddy..." Qin Sui’an raised her little face, looking at her daddy who was holding her.
It seemed like she had found a way to vent her grievances.
Her small mouth pouted, and tears rolled down her eyes one after another.
She sobbed while saying, "Ann is not a child that nobody wants. Ann has Daddy and Mommy, and many brothers..."
Qin Haochen’s eyes welled up with moisture, his nose tingling with a sour sensation.
He nodded, responding to Ann’s words, "Yes, Ann is everyone’s little treasure. Everyone loves Ann very much."
Ann cried heavily, but her words were clear and certain, "Ann can eat until full, Ann can cry, Ann can become very brave, not afraid..."
Qin Haochen extended a hand and gently wiped away the tears from Ann’s face, feeling a pang of heartache.
He nodded again, responding to Ann, "Yes, Ann is amazing, truly amazing!"
He thought Ann had already adapted to life outside the orphanage, thinking that she had received everyone’s care and love, and would no longer be frightened and anxious.
Little did he know that his assumptions were merely his own self-righteousness as an adult.
Ann was well-behaved and sensible, although somewhat timid in character, she always tried her best to be brave.
However, she was just a three-and-a-half-year-old little girl of joy.
The oppression she had endured in the orphanage for nearly three years made it difficult for her to escape from the shadows in a short period of time.
Qin Haochen lowered his head slightly and kissed Ann’s forehead.
"Ann is amazing, in Daddy’s heart, you are the bravest little treasure."
Ann’s small body trembled, and once she started crying, she couldn’t stop no matter how hard she tried.
She wanted to stop, to no longer cry, but her daddy’s embrace made her feel warm and comfortable, making it impossible for her to hold back her tears.
Daddy said it was okay for Ann to cry, and that crying was also an act of bravery.
So Ann cried for a little while longer... just a little while would be enough.
Outside the office.
He Yan prepared a bottle of milk and a cup of coffee, gently knocking on Qin Haochen’s office door.
Usually, Qin Haochen would respond quickly, but this time, there was no response from him for a long time.
He Yan worried that something had happened between Qin Haochen and Ann in the office, so he nervously and cautiously opened the door.
In less than a second, He Yan abruptly closed the door again, spilling the warm milk and hot coffee all over himself, without even thinking about cleaning up.
There was only one thought in his mind: the General Office was doomed!
To actually scare Ann to tears, and such a heartbreaking and miserable cry, Ann was truly deeply frightened!
And He Yan clearly saw Qin Haochen’s reddened eyes.
Standing still for a while to calm himself, He Yan numbly carried the completely ruined milk and coffee back to the pantry.
Then, he returned to his own office and began preparing the recruitment information for the Qin Corporation’s General Office.
As he entered the positions that needed to be recruited one by one, He Yan was stunned once again.
Was Qin Haochen’s special assistant, also going to be let go?
At this moment, He Yan keenly felt just how important Miss An’an was to Qin Haochen. Just as He Yan had already prepared his resignation letter and excuses to leave, the office landline suddenly rang.
Caller ID: General Office. He trembled and quickly, anxiously answered the phone.
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