Chapter 14.14 Joint Child Raising?
Just as the day cannot understand the darkness of the night, Pei Yiyan could not understand the little ginseng spirit's good intentions. He forced a smile, but it was a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"You treat your stupid secret like a treasure? I should be grateful you don't tell anyone and embarrass me."
Because of her, he experienced the most social breakdowns of his adult life during this period. The little girl was truly a leaky cotton-padded jacket.
Xi Xi crossed her arms, completely unconcerned about her father's mockery, and instead looked smug:
"I know you don't believe me, but I'm warning you, don't be too surprised when the time comes."
Pei Yiyan chuckled and looked away, no longer paying attention to the little guy.
Having revealed his secret, Xi Xi transformed back into a cheerful little sun, scrambling onto the sofa and directing Pei Yiyan to turn on the television for him.
It's Paw Patrol again. Pei Yiyan glanced at her and said, "We've been watching these dogs for over a week now, aren't you tired of them?"
"It's not greasy at all! Momo, Little Gravel, Archie, and Gray are all incredibly amazing every day!"
He usually types code in the living room while simultaneously watching cartoons with Xixi, and he still can't tell which of the dogs is which.
Pei Yiyan casually asked, "How exactly is it powerful?"
"They can all talk," Xixi said in her sweet, childish voice. "They're little monsters just like Xixi."
My mother always said that when you're traveling the world, you should make more friends. The more friends you have, the easier it is to travel, and you won't be afraid of going anywhere. But she hasn't made a single friend since she came down from the mountain.
For a little girl, a talking dog is like a fellow countrywoman, and she never gets tired of looking at it.
"It's all fake, just cartoons."
Pei Yiyan didn't want his daughter to be too naive and innocent, so he shattered Xixi's beautiful fantasy in a very childlike way.
Xi Xi squeezed the pillow in her arms and pouted, "I know, so what?"
“I like it even if it’s fake!” Xi Xi crossed her short legs, snorted and glared at him, “You men are so clueless, you blockheads.”
Pei Yiyan: ? ? ?
No, who taught her all this nonsense? And why is Paw Patrol playing these lines?
Xi Xi lay leisurely on the sofa, propping her little face up with one hand and playing with the remote control with the other. Her round toes opened and closed like a kitten's paws.
The little ginseng spirit was fiddling with the remote control when it accidentally exited the cartoon and popped up on the short video interface.
Modern large TVs are now fully functional, not just for watching TV series, but also for downloading various apps such as WeChat, games, and other video software.
Xi Xi was stunned when she accidentally triggered the extra function.
She sat up straight, scratched her cheek, glanced at Pei Yiyan, and gave up the idea of seeking help.
Hmm, where did she just press?
The little ginseng spirit thought carefully for a moment, then stretched out its chubby little paws, which were itching to move, and started pressing randomly.
Good morning, everyone! Today, Sweetie is going to make a strawberry cream cake that's just like the ones celebrities make. Winter wouldn't be complete without delicious desserts, so without further ado, let's get started!
Xi Xi: ! !
What is that?
The little ginseng spirit was so captivated by the food blogger's dessert-making video that its eyes were glued to the TV screen.
The blogger's editing and shooting angles are perfectly matched. The strawberries appear large, red, and moist under the filter, giving people the illusion that they can smell the fruit's fragrance through the screen.
The little girl exclaimed in amazement as she watched the cream being whipped; the cream was so smooth and creamy, like fluffy, white clouds.
"My goodness, the eggs have turned into a big bowl of white clouds!"
"Dad, look! This girl can draw with clouds!"
"Making a fuss over nothing."
Pei Yiyan remained completely unmoved.
Xixi's almond-shaped eyes turned into heart-shaped eyes, clearly showing that she had become a little fan of the blogger, showering him with compliments without ever repeating herself.
"This older sister is amazing! She must be a fairy, right? Only fairies have such wonderful magic. Xixi doesn't know any of it! Daddy, am I right?"
"What the hell?" Pei Yiyan said, inexplicably annoyed. "It's just a cake, how hard can it be to make? Don't be so fussy like a country bumpkin."
The country bumpkin's eyes widened: "You can do that?"
Pei Yiyan choked for a moment, then avoided the main point and said, "I haven't tried it."
Xi Xi:
(ˉ▽￣～) Cut
What kind of look is that from that brat? Is he looking down on him?
Pei Yiyan, feeling embarrassed, tried to save face: "I don't like cake so I don't make it, but that doesn't mean I can't."
"Really?" Xi Xi glanced at him.
Pei Yiyan gave him a cold, arrogant glance: "Believe it or not."
"I believe you!"
Xi Xi's attitude changed completely. She looked at him with hearts in her eyes and said in a sweet voice, "Daddy's strawberry cake must be super delicious. I want to eat strawberry cake. Daddy, please make it for me."
Pei Yiyan was pleased with his daughter's praise, but he could not comply with her request.
He's the kind of person who can only cook noodles half-cooked, how could he possibly make a cake? He was just trying to fool the kid, but who knew the kid would actually believe him.
Pei Yiyan didn't respond, pretending to have hearing problems, but Xixi didn't let him off easily.
"Dad, why aren't you saying anything?"
Are you scared?
They even used reverse psychology.
Pei Yiyan's attempt to feign deafness failed. He gritted his teeth, wondering if he had shot himself in the foot by lifting a rock only to drop it on his own feet. Why did he have to show off?
He said irritably, "Alright, stop arguing, I'll look for it."
He opened his food delivery app to look for nearby cake shops, and with a clear goal in mind, headed straight for the strawberry cake.
Xixi tilted her head back, glanced at the screen, and frowned: "Xixi wants to eat the cake Daddy made."
The little girl is not easily fooled; she's determined to eat what her father makes himself.
Pei Yiyan was annoyed by the commotion, but he couldn't bring himself to scold his daughter, so he could only put on a sour face in an attempt to scare her away.
Unfortunately, she underestimated Xixi's courage; after spending so much time together, she had already figured out his temperament.
Although her father had a bad temper and was much fiercer than before, he would not hurt himself.
Nowadays, dads are like mischievous tigers; they only know how to show their claws, not how to scratch people.
Half an hour later, Pei Yiyan returned from the supermarket with an icy expression, carrying a bag of groceries and an oven. After washing her hands and tying on an apron, she started watching the instructional video frame by frame.
Pei Yiyan doesn't like desserts and has absolutely no knowledge of making them.
Fortunately, he has a good mind and a strong memory, and he can remember the steps after seeing them once. The biggest obstacle he encountered was how much sugar and how much heavy cream to use.
All of this depends on his intuition, which gives this last-minute chef a real headache.
The first time he whipped cream, he couldn't control the force and angle properly and splattered it all over himself. His black sweater was covered in white cream, and Pei Yiyan, who was a germaphobe, immediately turned pale and wished he could take off his clothes and take a shower right away.
Let whoever wants to do this job do it!
He sulked inwardly while secretly battling with the cream.
Xi Xi turned around and went to the living room to get some tissues: "Dad, let Xi Xi wipe you down."
The little dumpling strained to stand on tiptoe and stretch out its little hands to reach for it.
Pei Yiyan: "It's okay, the clothes are going to be thrown away anyway, so there's no need to wipe them."
He dislikes sticky things, and he always feels that if he gets cream on his skin, he won't be able to wash it off, so he simply throws it away to save trouble.
Xi Xi opened her eyes wide and looked at it, feeling it would be a shame to throw it away.
"Dad, are you too lazy to do the laundry?"
"Hmm." Pei Yiyan glanced at her. "What, are you going to help me wash?"
Xi Xi stretched out her two short little hands, looking troubled: "No, Xi Xi's hands are too small."
"Then why are you talking nonsense?"
Xi Xi wasn't angry; she thought her dad was super handsome when he was making the cake so seriously!
The little girl said sweetly, "Daddy, when Xixi grows up, I'll make you a pretty dress with little leaves, so your clothes won't get dirty and you won't have to wash them every day."
The leaves and flowers of plant-type monsters are the world's most unique and precious materials for making clothing.
For example, the little dress that Aunt Huahua made for Xixi with her petals is not only immune to all poisons and weapons, but also warm in winter and cool in summer, and has a very practical self-cleaning function.
Even if it gets dirty, you don't need to wash it. It will be clean in five minutes, so you don't need to change your clothes at all.
Xi Xi usually wears her little skirts as thermal underwear, and the only time she washes them is when Pei Yiyan thinks they're dirty and secretly throws them into the washing machine.
Pei Yiyan ignored him and said impatiently, "If you have nothing to do, go watch TV."
The kitchen is a potentially dangerous place and is not a place for children.
Xi Xi went and brought over a small stool to sit down, her round, wet eyes filled with admiration and happiness: "Daddy, Xi Xi will stay with you."
Pei Yiyan was busy as a bee, and took a moment to tell her not to move around, and then put away all the kitchen utensils.
Next, place the bowl containing the cake batter into the oven, keeping a close eye on the oven's movements, almost in sync with the oven's timer settings.
As soon as the oven dinged, Pei Yiyan shooed Xixi away and put on gloves to open the oven himself.
The cake's unique aroma wafted out, filling the entire kitchen with a sweet scent. Xi Xi's nostrils twitched, and she craned her neck to look eagerly: "Daddy, it smells so good! Is the cake ready yet?"
Pei Yiyan's eyelids twitched slightly. The very center of the cake was burnt, looking as if a hole had been burned in it by a cigarette butt.
"Okay." He replied without batting an eye, "It'll be ready soon."
"Huh."
The little girl had incredibly sharp eyes: "Why is the middle black?"
After Xixi came down the mountain, she ate either takeout or Aunt Liu's cooking. Both were delicious and visually appealing. Having never seen burnt food before, she naturally couldn't recognize what that black lump was.
Pei Yiyan helped unmold the cake without looking at it, and coughed lightly, saying, "It's nothing, I just colored it."
"!"
"Dad, you're even better than the lady on TV! She can't even color properly, but you are!" Xixi went on and on praising him.
Pei Yiyan's face flushed red, and he called for a stop after listening to only a couple of sentences.
Once the cake base has cooled slightly, you can pipe the buttercream frosting. Pei Yiyan has no artistic talent and his craftsmanship is terrible.
The adorable cream cake was made to resemble the surface of the moon, with craters and uneven surfaces, so the only way to salvage it was by frantically adding fruit.
Even he himself couldn't stand the final result; it was undoubtedly a failure. Oh well, let's just order takeout.
"Wow!"
"It's a strawberry cake!"
A fluffy little head popped out from in front of the stove, its eyes shining like a little rabbit's.
"Dad, you really did it! You're so smart!"
Pei Yiyan was taken aback by the straightforward and heartfelt praise. He had thought that his somewhat delicate and spoiled daughter would criticize his cake for being a mess, but she turned out to be a champion of praise.
She's good at sweet-talking people.
Pei Yiyan felt as if his chest was instantly filled to the brim.
He pressed his fist to his lips: "That's an exaggeration. Don't sound like a bootlicker."
"Dad, why are you scolding me when I praise you?" Xi Xi muttered in confusion, her bright eyes seemingly filled with fireflies, so pure that they were impossible to ignore. "Of course Xi Xi's dad is the best, no doubt about it."
Pei Yiyan's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly understood what the "corpse is warm" comment on the internet meant.
After a moment, he reached out and pinched the little girl's cheek: "Do you want some pocket money?"
It was probably because Zhou Yi would send him a large sum of money every month that Pei Yiyan gradually came to accept that expressing and responding to love was through giving money.
Xi Xi nodded vigorously: "Yes!"
Pei Yiyan washed his hands and generously took out a hundred yuan from his pocket for the little girl. Since the little girl was too small, he gave her a brief explanation.
"Money can be used to buy things, such as sugar, milk, fruit, and KFC."
"Then Xixi wants to eat KFC!"
"Whatever."
Pei Yiyan made a four-inch cake, which could be finished in a day. Worried that Xixi would eat too much at once, he divided the cake into six pieces and put the rest in the refrigerator.
The taste was a bit strange, sweet with a hint of bitterness, but not so bad that it was hard to swallow. Xixi finished it in one go and quickly snuggled back to the sofa for a nap.
Oh dear, it takes so much effort to appease Daddy!
The Meng family.
The moment the door opened, warm air rushed out. Hearing the noise from the entryway, the elegant lady waiting in the living room hurried over.
"Where have you been, Yao Yao?" Song Ling rushed in, pulling Meng Zhi into the house, and scolded her anxiously, "Why are you dressed so lightly? You'll catch a cold! Come in and have some tea to warm up."
"I just went out for a stroll with my classmates to get some fresh air," Meng Zhi said gently, reassuringly. "It's okay, Mom."
Song Ling touched her daughter's face, which shivered from the cold. She said with a mix of dissatisfaction and anxiety, "Look how cold your face is. Don't go out in this weather. I'll take you for a walk when the weather gets warmer."
Song Ling is a full-time housewife. She quit her job shortly after Meng Zhiyao was born and stayed home to take care of her.
Her daughter's health is her biggest concern, and her daughter is the center of her life.
Meng Zhiyao took the hot tea that Song Ling handed her, sat on the sofa and warmed her hands: "Mom, I have to go out again tomorrow morning."
Song Ling frowned: "It'll be 3℃ tomorrow, too cold. Is it your classmate asking you out again?"
Meng Zhi responded softly and slowly, "I've checked the weather forecast. Tomorrow will be a sunny day and it won't be too cold. I'll go early and come back early."
Song Ling was not very willing.
Meng Zhiyao took her hand and pleaded in a coquettish tone, "I'll definitely come back soon."
When she acted coquettishly, Song Ling couldn't help but soften his heart.
My daughter has been very sensible since she was little. Knowing that she is not in good health, she does not want her family to worry. She goes out to play very few times a year, which makes them feel at ease.
But as the child grows up, she can't be kept at home all the time. The doctor advised that moderate relaxation would be good for her health.
Song Ling relented: "Okay, where are you going? Mom will drive you there."
Meng Zhi shook her head: "No need, my classmate has arranged a car, we'll just drive around the city for a bit and then come back."
The paternity test process is not complicated; two hours should be enough for a round trip.
With Song Ling's permission, Meng Zhiyao no longer needed to sneak out. She lowered her eyes, pondering what clothes to wear the next day.
The heating was on too high, and Meng Zhi felt hot and sweaty as she shook her back. She prepared to go upstairs to change her clothes.
Just as she stood up, Song Ling suddenly called out to her, "Yaoyao, wait a moment."
Song Ling took her daughter's hand and said with a smile, "Mom has already processed your visa for the United States. After the New Year, Mom will accompany you to the United States for treatment. Your father and I have already contacted the hospitals there, so you can be admitted as soon as you land."
Meng Zhiyao was stunned, and said in a daze, "Didn't you say you'd wait until after my college entrance exam?"
“Don’t worry, foreign universities are also very good,” Song Ling said. “Your illness can’t be delayed. That top expert in the United States has finally found the time and is willing to take you in. We need to hurry up and go there. The sooner you get treatment, the sooner your father and I can feel at ease.”
Meng Zhi pursed her lips and remained silent.
Seeing this, Song Ling's smile faded, and she sighed, "Yaoyao, Mom knows you're reluctant to leave your friends, but those are secondary. Getting better is the most important thing. We need to prioritize."
Meng Zhiyao's glazed eyes flickered, her voice faint and ethereal: "What if I can't come back?"
Song Ling's face turned pale, and she immediately spat loudly, her eyes glistening with tears, before giving Meng Zhiyao a severe scolding.
Song Ling only reluctantly stopped when Meng Zhiyao finally agreed to go to America.
"I'm tired, I'm going back to my room to rest." After saying goodbye, Meng Zhiyao picked up her scarf and went upstairs.
As soon as she closed the door, she took off her sweater and knitted skirt and changed into a light nightgown. It felt like she had taken off a lot of heavy equipment and felt much lighter.
Meng Zhiyao took a couple of breaths, lifted her foot and walked towards the bed, then paused for a moment.
She felt something strange under her feet, as if she had stepped on something. She moved her foot away and looked down.
It was a piece of milky white stuff.
Meng Zhiyao curiously squatted down and picked it up. It was a thin, soft ginseng root in her hand, and she could smell its strong aroma without even having to get close.
Because she was frail and sickly since childhood, she was a frequent sufferer of medicine, having tried all kinds of Chinese and Western medicines. No one in the family was more familiar with the taste of medicine than her, so she would not mistake it.
Meng Zhi was stunned.
Why was there a ginseng root in her room?
Where did it come from?
She hasn't been taking Chinese medicine recently, and her room is cleaned by a professional every day. How could the cleaning lady not see such a clearly visible ginseng root on the floor?
Meng Zhiyao found it strange and couldn't figure it out, so she casually put the ginseng root on the bedside table and lay down on the bed to rest.
She slept until sunset, and whether it was just her imagination or not, she felt much better when she woke up today.
She experiences chest tightness and pain, dizziness, and nausea regardless of whether she has had enough sleep or not, so her sleep quality has always been poor, especially at night when she often sleeps intermittently and wakes up frequently.
Taking advantage of her good spirits, Meng Zhiyao took out the material package and velvet flowers that she had hidden in the cabinet.
There is a small sewing machine in her bedroom. When she is recuperating at home, she will take some time to do some crafts to pass the time and distract herself.
The embroidered picture of the Three Immortals of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity hanging in the living room was completed by her over three years.
She likes to do things by herself, which can fill a void in her heart.
"You can't take this, put it back."
"Oh, why not? Mommy likes sweet things too!"
"This is what I made, you can't take it." Pei Yiyan coldly ordered Xixi to put the cake back in its place.
Xi Xi argued logically: "This is a gift for Mom. I didn't give Mom a gift yesterday!"
Pei Yiyan said with a straight face, "I have my own plans, so don't worry about it."
Xi Xi, of course, didn't believe it. Her father used to collect rare and precious materials from all over the world to give to her mother and make her happy, but now her father was a blockhead who wouldn't even give her a flower.
She had to worry about her father.
But Pei Yiyan had no idea that his daughter had so many complicated thoughts in her mind; he was simply determined to defend his dignity.
He would rather die than give the ugly cakes he made to anyone else.
Embarrassing.
The father and daughter went out, and Xixi, like a little old lady, tucked her hands in her pockets, occasionally casting disdainful and helpless glances at her father.
“Dad, you should be braver like me. If you’re so shy, Mom will be chased away by other men.”
Back then, in order to win over the most beautiful woman in the demon realm, Mother Broken Heart Grass, Dad endured hardship and cultivated diligently for over a hundred years, growing from an inconspicuous, weak sapling into a powerful demon tree spirit that protected the region. Besides his beauty and strength, his thick skin was also of utmost importance.
Xi Xi was really worried that her father was not up to par and that someone else would beat her to it.
In the cold wind, the baby dressed like a little penguin kept muttering to himself. The baby's father coolly put on his headphones and lazily led the baby to the coffee shop from yesterday.
A short while later, Meng Zhiyao arrived, and the three of them boarded a car together to head to the city.
To avoid suspicion, Pei Yiyan consciously sat in the passenger seat, and Xixi finally found a chance to openly and legitimately get close to her mother.
Meng Zhiyao had a natural fondness for Xixi that she couldn't quite explain, so she was happy to get close to the soft and pink little dumpling.
Xi Xi hugged Meng Zhiyao's waist affectionately, buried her head in her soft chest, and almost cried tears of happiness.
Knowing that her mother was not in good health, the little girl did not dare to put all her weight on her, and chose the least strenuous position.
The closer Meng Zhiyao got to Xixi, the stronger the sense of familiarity she felt. In the instant she looked down, she finally understood the reason.
She smelled a faint scent of Chinese medicine.
It smelled exactly like the ginseng root she found at home yesterday, except the ginseng root smelled stronger, while Xixi's smell was fainter.
Meng Zhi shook her head: "Xi Xi, have you been taking medicine lately?"
"No, Xixi is very strong and has never been sick."
Pei Yiyan, sitting in the front row, curled his lips slightly. The only thing about this little brat is that he doesn't cause any trouble.
"Have you been to a pharmacy recently?" Meng Zhiyao asked. "I smelled Chinese medicine on you."
The strangest thing is that the smell seems to mainly come from the top of the head, or more precisely, from the hair.
It exudes a light herbal fragrance, as if every strand of hair has been soaked in herbs.
"Because Xixi is a ginseng spirit." Xixi paused, looked up, and whispered, "Mom, Sister Meng, Xixi is a little monster, will you be scared?"
Children always come up with whimsical and adorable ideas, which amused Meng Zhiyao.
"Even if you're a little monster, you're still a cute little monster. There's nothing to be afraid of."
Xi Xi was relieved and grinned at her.
Pei Yiyan glanced at the scene through the rearview mirror and had a strange expression. Everyone agreed that the little girl's features resembled his, but her curved eyes looked just like Meng Zhiyao's.
A minute later, he quietly placed an order for a copy of the Civil Code.
When they arrived at the paternity testing agency, the staff were stunned when they saw the familiar faces of the father and daughter. Then, when they saw Meng Zhiyao next to them, they understood everything in a flash.
This is a family of three.
The child's mother finally appeared; she looks really young, probably still in school.
At first, Meng Zhiyao would feel at a loss and scratch her toes when faced with the stares of strangers, but she became at ease when she saw Pei Yiyan taking care of the child.
It's just a play to soothe his condition; consider it a good deed.
Meng Zhiyao convinced herself that the blood sample collection would be completed in five minutes, and the test results would be available within three days.
Stepping out of the testing agency, the bright sunshine warmed everyone, making them feel relaxed.
Xi Xi walked between Pei Yiyan and Meng Zhiyao, one arm in each hand, swaggering around, her little pigtails swaying in happy arcs.
From behind, they really look like a happy family of three.
Thinking that she might not see her again in the future, Meng Zhiyao did not offer to go home, but wanted to spend more time with the little girl.
besides
he.
Meng Zhi's gaze moved slowly upwards from the boy's straight, long legs, past his chin and nose, finally settling on his dark, inky eyes.
She had never seen a boy with such long and thick eyelashes. They looked as if she had drawn eyeliner on his eyes, adding to his cool and aloof temperament.
“”
Meng Zhiyao suddenly realized something and hurriedly lowered her eyes.
Pei Yiyan stopped: "There's a highly-rated restaurant nearby, wanna go eat there?"
"Go away, Xixi wants to eat!"
No one responded.
Meng Zhiyao felt two gazes, one cold and one hot, fixed on her, and they wouldn't look away for a while. Resigned, she looked up and met the boy's cold and weary eyes.
"And you?" he asked.
Meng Zhiyao silently bit her tongue, feigning calmness: "Shall we go eat now?"
"Yes, it's noon."
"Okay then."
“It’s a vegetarian restaurant.” Pei Yiyan looked down as he hailed a taxi, his voice low and gentle. “I checked, you can eat there.”
Actually, meat dishes are fine to eat, but in moderation, and not too much oil and salt. Considering all factors, he chose a vegetarian restaurant to be on the safe side.
"That's right, I can testify!"
"Daddy spent a long time choosing yesterday, he was so serious!" A cheerful child's voice chimed in, and Xixi shook Meng Zhi's waving finger as if to take credit. "Sister Meng, don't worry, you can eat without worry. With Xixi by your side, there won't be any problems!"
Xi Xi, as a little ginseng spirit, possesses a spiritual aura that is unmatched by any other plant spirit. Humans who spend a long time with her will absorb her spiritual aura.
The spiritual energy nourishes the body, and even cancer patients standing next to her can experience significant relief from their pain.
Not to mention that Xi Xi intentionally approached Meng Zhiyao, allowing her nearly exhausted body to absorb spiritual energy and strive to regain its vitality.
"Shut up." Pei Yiyan glared at Xixi.
Xi Xi stuck her tongue out at him and darted to Meng Zhiyao's side to stick close.
Meng Zhiyao didn't know what to say. Her eyes were on Xixi, and her hand was stroking her little head. She turned her head slightly, blushed, and said thank you.
Pei Yiyan responded with a barely audible hum.
It was 11:30, lunchtime, and Xixi was stunned to see a huge crowd lined up at the entrance.
Won't we have to wait in line for a long time? Mom will go hungry.
Before they could even utter a couple of complaints, Pei Yiyan led them inside, strolling through the flower-lined willows.
"What are you standing there for? I booked a private room."
Xi Xi gave a thumbs up: "Dad is awesome!"
Pei Yiyan strode forward with his head held high, his face still bearing that icy expression. Yet, in a daze, Meng Zhiyao saw him proudly curl the corners of his mouth.
He was happy.
Because your daughter praised you?
Meng Zhiyao was shocked by the unusual way the father and daughter interacted. She felt that Xixi was coaxing Pei Yiyan.
She was particularly adept at coaxing him, and Pei Yiyan was very pleased with her.
Aloof and arrogant dad x a sweet and adorable baby?
Meng Zhi lowered her eyebrows and smiled as she sat down with the father and daughter.
As soon as they entered the private room, the father and daughter simultaneously handed the menu to Meng Zhiyao, making her feel embarrassed. However, her refusal was ineffective, and she had no choice but to order under the watchful eyes of the two men.
Meng Zhiyao and her parents have eaten at this restaurant a few times. The food is good, but it's a bit too bland.
She knew which dishes were among the top five in terms of taste, so she was very satisfied with both the large and small portions of food she ordered.
Xi Xi sat between the two of them, ordering her father to pick out whatever she wanted to eat. If she got something on her lips, she would pout, and Pei Yiyan would wipe it clean for her without her having to say a word.
The unspoken understanding between father and daughter truly surprised Meng Zhiyao.
She couldn't help but wonder if she had made a mistake. Pei Yiyan knew how to take taxis, book private rooms, take care of children, and could talk normally. He didn't seem like a mentally ill person.
But the things he said yesterday didn't sound like something a normal person would say.
Meng Zhiyao fell into deep thought again, wondering which part of the process had gone wrong.
She didn't notice that Pei Yiyan was watching her from a short distance away. When the waiter brought over a bowl of blueberry milk pudding, he tossed his phone to Xixi.
When children have food and play, it's like covering their ears so they can no longer hear the sounds of the outside world.
Pei Yiyan cleared his throat: "They said the test results will be out by Thursday. I hope you will let me know the results, no matter what they are."
Meng Zhi shook her head, but there was no response.
“You don’t need to feel pressured. Even if you are Xixi’s mother, I will not overstep my boundaries.”
Pei Yiyan said after careful consideration: "Xixi is mainly taken care of by me, but as you have seen, she likes you very much, so I hope you can take some time to spend with her every week during your days off. Children need their mothers' company."
“”
"It won't take up too much of your time, two hours a week." Seeing that she didn't respond, Pei Yiyan gritted his teeth and took another step back. "If you're busy, an hour is fine too."
“”
Temperatures are dropping.
Meng Zhi, regaining her senses, shook her head: "Hmm?"
"Or do you have other ideas?"
Meng Zhiyao vaguely sensed that Pei Yiyan's expression had turned colder. At first glance, she couldn't discern his emotions, but she saw the reproach in his eyes.
Did he just speak to her? What did he say?
This is bad.
Having not heard anything, Meng Zhiyao forced a response: "No, I have no objection. Do as you say."
"good."
Pei Yiyan remained composed, asking with a reasonably kind expression, "Have you eaten?"
Meng Zhi nodded repeatedly.
Others might be just being polite, but she wasn't.
Today she unexpectedly filled her stomach completely. Usually at home she would eat at most half a bowl of rice, and often she would be full after just a couple of bites.
She had little interest in eating, which made her even thinner, and this cycle repeated itself, so her condition naturally didn't improve.
For some reason, she ate a whole bowl of rice and half a bowl of vegetables today, even though she didn't feel hungry before coming in.
It's said that the stomach is an organ of emotions, so perhaps I have a good appetite because I'm in a good mood today.
Meng Zhi opened WeChat and asked softly, "How much do you want for dinner? I'll pay for it."
Pei Yiyan paused in wiping his hands: "No need."
“This restaurant isn’t cheap. We’re both still students. How can I let you treat me? Just because you’re a guy doesn’t mean you have to pay.”
"I said I didn't need it." I asked her out without thinking yesterday, and I didn't even choose a good place. Shouldn't I treat her to a meal?
Meng Zhiyao fell silent.
"Dad, wasn't this meal supposed to be compensation for Sister Meng? Why didn't you just say so?"
Unable to hold back her words, Xi Xi glared at Pei Yiyan with exasperation and lectured him in her childish voice: "You should be gentler to girls, not fierce. Have you forgotten what Mom taught you before?"
Pei Yiyan's forehead veins bulged, he turned his head and clicked his tongue, pinching her cheek: "Have I been too nice to you, huh? You're so disrespectful, I'm your father."
Xi Xi, forced to adopt a goldfish-like mouth: "Daddy doesn't appreciate my good heart, you just bully me."
On the other side, Meng Zhiyao understood what was going on after a moment's thought.
It turns out he was still upset about choosing the wrong place yesterday.
She thought
Meng Zhiyao was so embarrassed that she didn't know who to look at.
Pei Yiyan released his daughter, giving a cold snort that sounded utterly disdainful: "Let's go home."
The three of them returned the way they came. The father and daughter escorted Meng Zhi to her vicinity of her home and only turned around after watching her enter safely.
Her family lived in a large red villa, styled in the 1970s or 80s. It was both grand and antique, and in this small county where the average salary was 3,000 yuan, they were definitely considered a wealthy and powerful family.
On the way back, Xixi was in high spirits, gesturing and praising how beautiful it was.
When they were almost home, Pei Yiyan finally had a moment to reply to her: "You like little villas that much?"
"Like a house a princess lives in, oh no, Sister Meng is a princess, and princesses should live in beautiful houses."
Children may speak without thinking, but Pei Yiyan just couldn't stand it.
“Isn’t our house beautiful?” he raised an eyebrow and reminded us, “You picked out the desk, coffee table, sofa, curtains, cushions, fridge magnets, and wall art.”
Xi Xi: ""
"Dad, you're so childish."
After saying that, she ignored her father, who was frozen in shock, and skipped off to ride the rocking horse.
What a terrible thing!
Life went on as usual, but for Pei Yiyan and Meng Zhiyao, it felt like an eternity.
The paternity test results came out on the third day.
DNA evidence shows that Meng Zhiyao and Xixi are biologically mother and daughter.
The moment Meng Zhi received the electronic report, her head spun, as if she had been kicked into a ditch by a passerby who had fallen from the sky.
Outrageous, absurd, unbelievable.
Why doesn't she have any memory of being pregnant for ten months and abandoning her husband and daughter? Who erased her memory?
Is that even possible? She just turned eighteen last week.
Oh no, his cerebellum has atrophied.
Meng Zhiyao urgently contacted Pei Yiyan and forwarded a copy of the paternity test report to him.
Pei Yiyan waited by his phone, timing it perfectly. The moment the notification bell rang, he knew the result.
Just as he expected.
Compared to Meng Zhiyao's flustered state, he remained calm and composed, like an old monk in deep meditation.
Let's talk when we meet, at the usual place.
【good. 】
Meng Zhiyao quickly dressed up and rushed out the door. When she saw two similar faces in the coffee shop again, a thought popped into her head: Join them.
Meng Zhi nearly fell over.
"Sister Meng." A small figure waved from afar and jumped up like a little carp. "You've finally arrived."
"Don't move." Pei Yiyan pressed the restless child down with his large hand.
He originally didn't want to bring Xixi along so he could talk to Meng Zhiyao alone, but the little girl was too clever. He didn't say anything, but she guessed that he wanted to meet with Meng Zhiyao.
He couldn't be coaxed with snacks; he was determined to come, and if he wasn't brought along, he would practice his singing.
There was no other way, so I brought her along.
Fortunately, the little girl knew that what they were going to talk about today was unusual. Apart from the first sound, she was quiet as a chicken the whole time and did not disturb the adults' conversation.
Before coming, Meng Zhiyao had a lot of questions she was eager to answer, but when she actually met the person, she didn't know where to start asking.
It seems like asking from anywhere isn't quite the right approach.
After a moment of silence, Pei Yiyan spoke casually, "I understand how you feel; I've been through the same thing."
"So I know what you want to ask."
"You want to ask, you've never been in a relationship, never even held a boy's hand, so why did you have a daughter?"
"And this daughter is already three years old, and you know nothing about her existence and have never been involved in her growth."
Meng Zhi shook her head: "!"
That's exactly what she meant!
"I'm just like you." Devastated and overwhelmed.
We are both wanderers in this world.
Pei Yiyan still vividly remembers the scene from more than half a month ago when he repeatedly confirmed the results and was repeatedly shocked by the diagnosis.
Meng Zhiyao was taken aback and automatically began to analyze the meaning behind his words.
So, he had no romantic relationship, no dating partner, and inexplicably became a father?
Such unbelievable things still exist in this world.
She wasn't the only one who knew about the newborn cub, and Meng Zhi's initial panic gradually gave way to calm.
Seeing that the other party had calmed down, Pei Yiyan calmly took out a folder from his briefcase.
"Now that the results are in black and white, you and I are Xixi's parents, so can we start discussing raising the child?"
Meng Zhiyao looked at his actions with some confusion.
"This is an agreement to jointly raise Xixi."
"?"
The steps were taken unexpectedly.
Meng Zhiyao hadn't fully recovered from the shock of becoming a mother without pain relief when she was already discussing with the other party how to raise the child and take on the responsibilities of a mother.
The eighteen-year-old girl tugged at herself, still half-asleep, wondering if she was dreaming.
"This agreement has quite a lot of content, so I'll just pick out a few key points for you." To draft this agreement, Pei Yiyan worked late into the night, thoroughly reviewing the Law on the Protection of Minors and the Civil Code. All that's left is for her to sign it so it can be sent for notarization.
“Xixi mainly lives with me. I cover all her living expenses and tuition fees, so you don’t need to contribute financially. However, I hope you can take on some of the responsibilities of a mother, such as spending time with her.”
He's two years older than her, so it's only right that he takes on more responsibility.
I said something similar to her before, and she agreed, so I won't go into details.
“At least I’ll be there for her until she comes of age. Whether you want to come back after she’s an adult or not, I won’t force you.” Pei Yiyan said while observing Meng Zhiyao’s expression. Seeing that she didn’t seem to be acting strangely, he continued, “In the end, it’s just the relationship between you and me.”
Meng Zhi shook her head, momentarily stunned.
He said, "Our situation is special, unlike that of ordinary parents, so each of us is free to marry. But there is one point I would like to emphasize."
“I’m pretty sure I won’t have any romantic relationships before Xixi comes of age. I’m not asking you to do the same, but if possible, I hope you won’t bring your partner to see Xixi.”
His words were extremely polite and subtle, yet Meng Zhiyao's cheeks still couldn't help but burn.
She quickly replied, "I won't."
He was overthinking it; she might not even live to be twenty.
If you calculate it this way, she can only be Xixi's mother for two years. Meng Zhiyao's clear, soft eyes dimmed slightly, and she couldn't help but look at the three-year-old girl.
"Thank you. Please take a look at that agreement when you have time. If there are no problems, please sign it, and we will follow the agreement from now on."
Meng Zhi glanced at Pei Yiyan and shook her head: "I disagree."
Pei Yiyan frowned and asked seriously, "Which one are you dissatisfied with?"
"I'm not satisfied with any of them."
Pei Yiyan's expression changed slightly.
Meng Zhiyao wasn't worried that he would think she was picking a fight. She secretly encouraged herself and said softly, "Since Xixi is my child, I have an obligation to raise her."
In less than five minutes, she had gotten into her new role.
“I am willing to take on half of her food, clothing, shelter and transportation. I will also fulfill my responsibilities as a mother by spending more time with her and participating in her growth, not just for a few hours a week, but for much longer.”
On a optimist note, perhaps Xixi is a gift from heaven. She was destined to be unable to get married and have children as smoothly as normal people due to her serious illness. Xixi's appearance allowed her to skip the tedious steps and directly enter a new role in life. Being a mother without pain can also be considered a kind of luck.
The direction had deviated from expectations, and Pei Yiyan's eyes cleared slightly: "Okay, I'll take it back and revise it."
"How much money have you spent during this period? I'll pay you back in cash."
Meng Zhiyao comes from a wealthy family. She saves up all the red envelopes she receives during holidays, and has over 100,000 yuan in her bank account, so she has plenty of money.
"I haven't calculated it yet. Let's start next month." Pei Yiyan spends money casually and doesn't have the habit of keeping accounts. He's too lazy to calculate what he spends.
You have an outstanding transfer.
[2000]
"Please accept this small token of my appreciation."
Pei Yiyan raised his long eyebrows slightly, nodded, and accepted it.
Seeing that her parents had finished talking about everything they needed to talk about, Xixi immediately stopped pretending, jumped off her father's side and ran to her mother's side.
She asked quietly, "Sister Meng, have you been keeping the amulet that Xixi gave you safe and sound?"
Meng Zhi hesitated for a moment, then said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Xi Xi, I lost it."
The hair was so thin that it disappeared in the blink of an eye. I don't know if it fell on the street or at home, and I can't find it anywhere.
"No, it's not lost." Xixi could sense where her own whiskers were. "They're right here in your house."
Because of the ginseng rootlets by her side, her complexion has improved, and she must be sleeping soundly these past three days.
Her clear, almond-shaped eyes curved into a smile: "Sister Meng, you must always carry Xixi's ginseng root with you. Don't forget, it's a very important companion to you."
"What ginseng rootlets?"
Meng Zhiyao listened in a daze, her hair and ginseng whiskers were all incomprehensible.
!
etc.
She suddenly felt a jolt of fear. Could it be that the ginseng root that had mysteriously appeared in her bedroom was given to her by Xi Xi?
"The ginseng whiskers are Xixi's hair, because Xixi is a little ginseng spirit."
Here we go again, this girl's obsession with ginseng essence is just too deep.
Pei Yiyan muttered to himself, but Xi Xi seemed to sense something and glared at him: "Stupid dad, just you wait and see, don't be scared to death by Xi Xi's true form."
"?"
Pei Yiyan was so angry that his liver hurt.
On the other end, the little dumpling stuck out her bottom and whispered to Meng Zhiyao, "Mom, come home with Xixi, and Xixi will put on a show for you."
The little girl was acting all mysterious, and her whole body seemed to be glowing.
Meng Zhiyao was initially hesitant to go to Pei Yiyan's house, as they hadn't known each other well and there was a difference between men and women, so she should avoid any appearance of impropriety.
but
Xi Xi is her daughter. Isn't it perfectly natural and right for a mother to go to her daughter's house and spend quality time with her?
Meng Zhiyao put down her bag with a clear conscience and went home with Xixi.
Not long after entering the room, everything went black before her and Pei Yiyan's eyes, their worldviews collapsed and shattered into pieces!
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