Chapter 114 You're Quite the Father You Should Be
As Qu He left the private room, Yan Shu's words, full of grievance and implication, kept echoing in her mind.
Every word she spoke was like a tiny needle pricking my heart, not fatal, but causing a persistent, dull pain.
Doubt and unease gripped Yan Shu's heart. What was the past between Yan Shu and Zhuang Bieyan?
"What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Zhuang Bieyan's deep voice sounded in my ear.
Qu He snapped out of her reverie, realizing she had been so lost in thought that she hadn't heard Zhuang Bieyan call her several times.
She looked up and met his deep eyes.
Qu He opened her mouth, but swallowed the words back.
How should she ask?
What good would it do to ask? Would I just listen to him explain another lie with yet another lie?
Even if he tells her the truth, is it something she can accept?
She didn't want suspicion and doubt to ruin the peace of the moment under uncertain circumstances.
Qu He forced a smile and shook her head. "It's nothing, I'm just a little bored."
Zhuang Bieyan's gaze lingered on her face for a while, but he didn't ask any further questions. He took her hand and pulled her closer to him, saying, "Then let's go back and rest early."
"Okay." Qu He followed him toward the elevator.
Just as she reached the elevator and was about to press the button, a little girl of about three or four years old stumbled over and bumped into Qu He's leg.
The little girl had her hair in two little buns and was wearing a delicate pink princess dress; she looked incredibly cute.
After she regained her balance, she stopped crying and instead raised her chubby little face to stare straight at Qu He.
She said in a childish voice, "Pretty sister, you're so pretty."
Qu He's gloomy mood was mostly dispelled, and she was almost melted by her cuteness.
She squatted down and gently pinched the little girl's bun, which was as soft as cotton.
"Thank you, baby. Why are you here all alone? Where are Mommy and Daddy?"
She looked around but didn't see any adults who looked like the children's parents, and frowned.
Judging from the girl's luxurious attire, her family is clearly well-off.
How could such a young child be here alone? Is he lost?
Just then, the little girl reached out her chubby hand, grabbed her finger, and sighed like a little adult.
"Pretty sister, my name is Lu Shuangning. Can you help me find my mom and dad? They were just here with my little brother, and then they suddenly disappeared."
Qu He's heart skipped a beat, and she instantly imagined a melodramatic scenario of a wealthy family favoring sons over daughters and losing their daughter.
Just as she was about to ask more questions, the little girl suddenly yawned widely, her body went limp, and she fell into her arms, nuzzling her head against her neck.
Qu He was at a loss for words. This little girl was really carefree; she could fall asleep in a stranger's arms so easily.
She dared not move, her neck stiff as she looked up at Zhuang Bieyan, "What...what do we do?"
A smile flickered in Zhuang Bieyan's eyes. He bent down, took the little girl from her arms with one hand, and naturally took her hand with the other. "Let's go."
Qu He stared blankly, letting him lead her, "Where to?"
"Helping lost children find their parents."
"Huh? You know where her parents are?"
Qu He was puzzled. How did you know when the young girl hadn't said anything?
Zhuang Bieyan turned his head to look at her and smiled, "Yes, I'll be here soon."
Qu He was skeptical, but followed him into the elevator.
The elevator doors shut out the noise outside, leaving only them and the little girl in their arms breathing evenly.
Qu He looked at the man next to her through the elevator mirror.
He held Lu Shuangning very steadily, carefully supporting the child's back with his palms, letting her rest firmly in the crook of his arm. It was clear that he had the experience of raising Zhuang Xi.
At this moment, he no longer possessed the coldness he displayed in front of others; his aura had miraculously softened.
Seeing his cautious demeanor, Qu He felt a slight pang in her heart.
She seemed to see in him the shadow of Zhuang Bieyan becoming a father in the future.
Just then, Zhuang Bieyan suddenly turned her head, and before she could look away, they bumped right into each other.
"What are you looking at?" he asked in a low voice.
The man's deliberately lowered voice sounded exceptionally gentle.
Qu He's heart skipped a beat. Whether she was bewitched by the atmosphere or touched by the way he was holding the child, she almost blurted out, "You seem... to be quite the father."
The moment she spoke, she saw Zhuang Bieyan raise an eyebrow slightly.
Qu He was stunned, and bit her tongue in annoyance.
Why did I blurt out what was on my mind?
Zhuang Bieyan was also surprised that she would suddenly say this. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but it quickly turned into a deeper smile.
He adjusted his position holding the child and carefully used his free hand to gently stroke the back of her hand.
He turned to the side and lowered his head, his voice extremely low, "Really? Then it seems I'll have to try harder tonight?"
Qu He glared at him irritably and pulled her hand back. "What nonsense are you talking about? We agreed not to mention this for now."
His heart raced uncontrollably because of his blunt words, but it was quickly suppressed by an even more bittersweet emotion.
She recalled what Yan Shu had said earlier; those words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing all her excitement and bringing her to her senses.
Qu He turned his head to avoid her gaze. There were still many unexplained mysteries between them, as well as his past with Yan Shu.
Before she could ascertain what had happened between him and Yan Shu, and whether those unknown past events would affect the future, she absolutely could not, and would never, consider having a child.
Having a child means she's completely tied to Zhuang Bieyan.
She loved Zhuang Bieyan, but she could no longer act as she did before, nor did she dare to easily give her heart away again, ultimately ending up in a sorry state.
She has to take responsibility for her own life.
Zhuang Bieyan noticed her low spirits, frowned, and was about to say something when the elevator doors opened.
The two stepped out of the elevator one after the other. Before they had gone a few steps, they saw a well-dressed woman running towards them. Her beige dress accentuated her gentle demeanor, but her face was full of anxiety.
Behind the woman was a tall, handsome man in a suit, carrying a little boy on his shoulder.
The little boy, wearing a plaid shirt and overalls, was bouncing around, tightly clutching the small black bow tie around his neck, frowning like a little adult.
The woman rushed straight to the little girl in Zhuang Bieyan's arms, her voice trembling, "Lu Shuangning..."
Presumably this was the little girl's mother, Qu He quickly stepped forward to explain, "Hello, we met her at the elevator entrance on the third floor. We were just about to take her to find her parents. We're not bad people, don't worry..."
The woman's eyes reddened, and she was somewhat agitated. The man behind her stepped forward and put his arm around her waist, but his gaze fell on Zhuang Bieyan, and his eyes narrowed slightly.
His gaze shifted to the girl in Zhuang Bieyan's arms, his voice both indulgent and stern: "Lu Shuangning! Stop pretending to be asleep! If you make your mother cry, you're not allowed to eat cake for a month."
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Shuangning, who had been sleeping, immediately opened her eyes, lifted herself up from Zhuang Bieyan's arms, and turned to look at the man with a smile.
She stretched out both hands and said in a childish voice, "Mommy, hug baby."
Upon seeing this, Qu He quickly took the child from Zhuang Bieyan's arms and carefully handed it to the woman.
The woman took the child, held him tightly in her arms, and patted his back to comfort him.
At this moment, the man put down the little boy on his shoulder, reached out to Zhuang Bieyan, and said in a familiar tone, "Long time no see, President Zhuang."
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