Volume One, Chapter 8: Is She Being Set Up?

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There was no way to reason with a child. Several horse trainers surrounded Shu Zijun, determined that even if they had to tie him up today, they would not allow him to take such a risk. Little Kaixin grew impatient; seeing that no one was paying attention to her, she took off on her short legs, running “tap tap tap” to the big black horse. She lifted her round, chubby little face and earnestly introduced herself to the horse: “Hello, Big Black Horse! I’m Kaixin. What’s your name?”

The big black horse snorted and shook its head.

Surrounded and lectured repeatedly, Shu Zijun grew anxious. “Stop crowding me. Where’s my daughter?”

Only then did the trainers realize—the little girl was missing!

Everyone quickly turned to search and immediately spotted a small figure standing by the horse’s hooves.

Their throats tightened in alarm!

The next moment, the big black horse suddenly neighed loudly, raised its hoof high, and stomped fiercely toward little Kaixin. If that hoof landed firmly, it would crush the tiny figure into a pulp!

“Watch out!” a trainer shouted in alarm, his voice hoarse from yelling, and dashed toward Kaixin.

But someone was even faster—a shadow shot forward in a flash.

The horse’s heavy hoof came down, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Kaixin was tightly embraced in Shu Zijun’s arms. Amid the chaos and shouts, she rolled on the ground several times before finally coming to a stop.

“Kaixin, don’t be afraid, Daddy’s here. It’s alright, it’s alright,” Shu Zijun soothed her, brushing off the grass and mud on himself without a second thought.

Kaixin shook her slightly dizzy little head, met Shu Zijun’s eyes filled with relief and gratitude for her safety, and excitedly clapped her hands. “Daddy, rolling around like that was so much fun! I want to play again, again!”

Shu Zijun, who had been holding his breath in worry, froze for a moment, then laughed quietly.

Indeed, the world through a child’s eyes is completely different from that of an adult.

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But as long as she wasn’t scared, that was enough!

“Daddy, I want to play more—” Seeing Shu Zijun just staring blankly without saying a word, little Kaixin pouted and deployed her full arsenal of coaxing charm.

Shu Zijun couldn’t resist and surrendered unconditionally, holding Kaixin again and resignedly rolling on the ground a few more times.

“Oh dear, too slow! Daddy, what’s wrong with you?” Kaixin expressed strong dissatisfaction with his second attempt at rolling.

Shu Zijun had no explanation. In his panic just now, he had unleashed unprecedented strength. He could only pitifully complain, “Daddy barely ate breakfast, no strength left.”

“Then we’ll play again next time,” Kaixin said considerately as she climbed out of Shu Zijun’s arms, stood up, and patted the dirt off her clothes. She couldn’t help but grumble with disdain, “Rolling around is fun, but it’s a bit dirty.”

Shu Zijun sighed and was about to get up when he looked up and met a dozen stunned, speechless gazes.

As if that weren’t enough, not far away, a woman dressed in magnificent brocade clothes approached slowly. Her wide sleeves and flowing sheer veil made her look like a fairy stepping out from a traditional ink painting—each step graceful, radiating unparalleled charm.

Shu Zijun was frozen on the spot.

Everyone at the horse farm was captivated by the woman’s beauty, staring blankly at her, forgetting all manners and propriety.

“Mother—” a delighted child’s voice rang in their ears, and next they saw little Kaixin darting like a fledgling swallow into the woman’s arms.

Everyone suddenly snapped back to reality, awkwardly averting their eyes.

It turned out the visitor was none other than Kaixin’s mother—Yan Weiyu.

Yan Weiyu bent slightly, lifted Kaixin up, and gently tapped her little nose with slender, pale fingers, feigning a scold: “Mother’s not here. You’ve grown so clever, haven’t you? Trying to trick Daddy—what bold ideas you have.”

Kaixin quickly waved her hands, shifting the blame with remarkable skill: “No, no, mother, it wasn’t me, it was brother! You know I don’t have that kind of brain.”

Then she blinked pitifully and tried hard to summon a tear: “I just really want a daddy. I want to be a child loved by a daddy. Without a daddy, a child is like a blade of grass—anyone can bully them. It’s so sad.”

Yan Weiyu sighed. She was too busy and didn’t spend enough time with her child. Even knowing Kaixin was playing the pity card, she couldn’t bring herself to be stern.

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“Look, Mother, that’s the daddy I chose. Isn’t he the most handsome man in the whole city?” Kaixin proudly pointed at Shu Zijun.

Since seeing Yan Weiyu, Shu Zijun hadn’t recovered his composure. Covered in mud and bits of grass, he stood with his head held high, silently watching her.

Yan Weiyu had witnessed Shu Zijun rolling on the muddy ground to amuse Kaixin. A man willing to humble himself and lose face to please a child was truly a good father.

But unfortunately, he was not Kaixin’s father.

Yan Weiyu put Kaixin down and, suppressing a mischievous smile, gave Shu Zijun a slight bow. “Mr. Shu, I am Yan Weiyu. I sincerely apologize. My daughter is mischievous and has caused you a lot of trouble…”

“No, no, no!” Shu Zijun abruptly stood up, waving his hands and interrupting her hurriedly, somewhat incoherent. “I am Shu Zijun. It’s my honor to be Kaixin’s daddy.”

Yan Weiyu chuckled and complimented him: “You are truly kind-hearted. You tolerate a child’s mischief completely. But as her mother, I cannot neglect my duties. Once I bring her brother back, I will immediately clarify to the whole city that Kaixin has no relation to you…”

“No—” Kaixin protested instantly, running to Shu Zijun and hugging his leg, pouting angrily. “Mother, you say I have no daddy, but now I do. You can’t separate me from Daddy!”

“He’s not your father,” Yan Weiyu sighed, rubbing her brows in helplessness. “Moreover, your brother’s public attempt to ‘choose a daddy’ has become widely known. It’s a great trouble for Mr. Shu and could affect his future marriage prospects.”

“No, no effect, no effect,” Shu Zijun hurriedly pledged his loyalty. “I like Kaixin. She will be my daughter forever. My only daughter!”

Yan Weiyu frowned slightly, scrutinizing Shu Zijun with a sharp gaze. “Mr. Shu, what exactly do you mean by this?”

Shu Zijun was almost raising his hand to swear an oath: “I will not marry another woman, nor have other children. So rest assured, Kaixin is my biological daughter.”

Was he trying to blackmail her?

Yan Weiyu’s beautiful brows knit together in displeasure.