Chapter 27: You Heard Wrong

While giving instructions to Yiqiong about the next tasks, Wan Qi Lianhao hurried toward Xuanxuan’s bedroom. In just a few steps, he entered her room and pulled Xuanxuan into a tight embrace—so tight that she could barely breathe. Yet she did not move. She could feel his fear—yes, fear—emanating from him.

He loosened his grip a little and carefully looked her over from head to toe. “Xuanxuan, are you hurt anywhere?”

Xuanxuan shook her head, indicating she was fine.

Still, Wan Qi Lianhao insisted on checking her himself, inspecting her from head to toe. Then he hugged her again. “It’s all my fault,” he murmured. “I put you in danger. I won’t ever let it happen again.”

Xuanxuan shook her head. For reasons she didn’t understand, her heart had melted completely. She gazed up at the man who was always so composed, and before she knew it, she reached up and hugged him around the neck.

Wan Qi Lianhao looked at her in surprise, overjoyed. He didn’t know why, but lately Xuanxuan had been a bit resistant toward him. This hug, however slight, was enough to make him ecstatic.

He lifted her up, his excitement barely contained. “How about Daddy makes braised pork for you tonight?”

Xuanxuan’s eyes lit up, all pretense of reserve forgotten. She planted a kiss on his cheek with a resounding smack—braised pork was her favorite, after all.

Wan Qi Lianhao couldn’t help but feel a faint tinge of melancholy brush his heart. Why did it seem that his place in her affections was second to braised pork? Even if he was the one making it?

At the door, Yiqiong hesitated, hand raised to knock. Young master, what am I supposed to make of this?

“Young master, Master Zhan and his team have arrived. The opposition has already been routed,” Yiqiong reported hesitantly. “It’s just that…”

“What is it?” Wan Qi Lianhao’s brow furrowed.

“They abandoned their ship to save their commander—the command ship slipped away in the chaos,” Yiqiong replied nervously, well aware that this would anger his master.

Wan Qi Lianhao sneered. “Let them be. Next time, I’d like to see how he plans to escape again. Abandoning the ship for the commander—hmph, he won’t have an easy time back home either.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Invite Master Zhan in,” Wan Qi Lianhao said, carrying Xuanxuan to the living room.

“Third Young Master,” Zhan Yu greeted as he entered.

Wan Qi Lianhao stood up with Xuanxuan in his arms. “Thank you. I’ve told you before there’s no need to be so formal—just call me Lianhao. This is my daughter, Xuanxuan.”

Xuanxuan? The name sounded familiar to Zhan Yu. He looked at Xuanxuan—she did look a bit like him, a pretty little girl, albeit a bit on the chubby side. He wondered, isn’t it customary to give gifts when meeting a child?

Wan Qi Lianhao, oblivious to Zhan Yu’s thoughts, told his daughter, “You should call him Uncle Yao.”

They had known each other for years, even competed against each other before. They weren’t exactly strangers; both were prominent figures of their time, so the familiarity was natural. Calling him ‘uncle’ was not unreasonable, even if Wan Qi Lianhao was only about ten years older.

Zhan Yu felt slightly awkward. This was the first time anyone called him ‘uncle’. “Why not just call me brother instead?”

Wan Qi Lianhao laughed. “You want to be a generation younger for nothing?”

Zhan Yu blinked. That was a fair point.

Wan Qi Lianhao turned to Xuanxuan, still smiling. “Call him Brother Yao.”

Calling him ‘brother’ was not a stretch—Wan Qi Yi and Zhan Shaohua belonged to the same generation, but Wan Qi Lianhao was his father’s late-born son, so he was younger. Having Xuanxuan call him ‘brother’ wasn’t incorrect.

Xuanxuan stared; the more she looked, the more familiar he seemed. Zhan Yu, Zhan Yu… Hadn’t she heard of someone by that name before? She didn’t know many people, after all.

After a moment, she remembered—wasn’t this the one who used to fight with her over things? She couldn’t call him brother. Pouting, she opened her mouth and said, “Yao.”

Wan Qi Lianhao patted her head. “That’s not polite—you should call him brother.”

“It’s fine,” Zhan Yu interjected, secretly relieved. If she didn’t call him anything, he wouldn’t be obliged to give a gift. But now that she’d called him, what did he have that would suit a little girl? He searched through his belongings and suddenly remembered a small jade pendant his grandmother had given him, meant to be passed down to his wife. But who cared about such things nowadays? He took out the pendant and handed it to Xuanxuan. “A present.”

Xuanxuan’s eyes sparkled. Such pure spatial energy! Who crafted this spatial pendant? She hadn’t seen anything like it in this world before. She snatched it up immediately.

Wan Qi Lianhao tried to take it back from Xuanxuan, but she wouldn’t let go; she hadn’t had a chance to study it yet. He glared at her, but she pretended not to notice.

“It’s a gift for our first meeting,” Zhan Yu explained quickly.

Wan Qi Lianhao prompted, “Say thank you.”

Xuanxuan ignored him, leaning on his shoulder. Hadn’t this man said she could ask him for anything she wanted? All she’d done was ask for a pendant.

She planned to study it thoroughly while Wan Qi Lianhao was busy making something delicious.

“Braised pork.”

“Thank you.” The words slipped out before she realized it, and Xuanxuan was stunned. Oh no, she’d forgotten she was supposed to be withdrawn and silent—why had she spoken? Hadn’t she just called him by name a moment ago?

Wan Qi Lianhao was even more stunned. Had he really just heard a soft, clear voice? Was that his daughter? Hadn’t she just said ‘Yao’ a moment ago?

Xuanxuan tilted her head and gazed at the ceiling, ignoring him.

“I heard you speak just now, Xuanxuan,” Wan Qi Lianhao said, almost to himself.

But then that same soft, tender voice replied, “You heard wrong.”

Wan Qi Lianhao realized he hadn’t imagined it—Xuanxuan had spoken. He lifted her up, his joy indescribable. “Xuanxuan, you really spoke?”

She ignored him. Why wasn’t he off to make her braised pork?

Zhan Yu, watching from the side, was baffled. What was so remarkable about her speaking? He’d started talking at six months old. This little girl, though a bit young, looked five or six—wasn’t it more surprising if she couldn’t speak?

Still, Zhan Yu kept quiet. Maybe this was just father-daughter interaction.

Wan Qi Lianhao, however, was over the moon. After six years, his daughter had finally spoken. Ecstatic didn’t even begin to describe it. He kissed her cheek. “Tonight, you’re allowed half a plate of dried meat.”

Xuanxuan gazed at him with shining eyes. Daddy was so good, even if he was a little silly. Nothing could hide those skilled hands that could make so many delicious dishes—especially meat.

Seeing those sparkling eyes, Wan Qi Lianhao suddenly realized her first word hadn’t been “Daddy,” but rather “Yao,” the name of this random kid.

Zhan Yu, feeling the shift in Lianhao’s gaze, wondered what he’d done to offend him.

An odd jealousy welled up in Wan Qi Lianhao. “Xuanxuan, you haven’t called me Daddy yet.”

Xuanxuan stared at the ceiling. Wasn’t he being childish?

“Xuanxuan, don’t you want braised pork anymore?” Wan Qi Lianhao’s voice was plaintive, his brows drawn together.

Watching his refined face put on a pitiful expression, Zhan Yu felt as though he’d swallowed a fly. A grown man acting cute—wasn’t it childish? Wasn’t it nauseating?

Xuanxuan, however, didn’t see any affection in his act—she only heard the underlying threat. Pouting, she finally relented. “Daddy.”

“Good girl.” Wan Qi Lianhao grinned like a cat, hugged his daughter tightly, and only then reluctantly handed her over to Zhan Yu before heading to the kitchen with his head held high.

If you’re looking for recommendations, try romance or—by the way, there’s a book by Kele called “It’s Not Easy Being a Down-and-Out Female Ghost.”