Chapter 3: Dispute

All the servants gasped in shock, none daring to look at the President’s expression.

Yao Yun’s lips curled up in a mocking arc.

Such an uncultured wild child—Old Master might be amused for a while, but it wouldn’t be long before she was tossed aside.

“She’s right. You’re an adult, but children have weaker resistance and different gut flora.”

Lu Jin Nian broke into a smile and waved at her.

“Come, let Great-Grandpa keep you warm.”

Bai Xia glanced at him, then simply took the chopsticks herself and picked up another chicken leg.

Lu Lin’s brows were tightly furrowed.

No one had ever told him that raising a child was this complicated.

It didn’t matter.

In any case, his daughter would absolutely be raised by his side.

Watching the girl eat so nimbly, he picked up his phone and walked to the living room, calling his assistant to check where Bai Xia had lived before.

Those Songs had better not have mistreated his daughter.

Bai Xia noticed everyone at the table was staring at her, as if she was some rare exhibit.

After finishing her bowl of rice, she pulled out a wet wipe from her small backpack and wiped her mouth.

“I’m going to rest now.” she announced.

Hearing the soft, childish voice, Lu Jin Nian snapped out of his daze and quickly looked at the butler.

“Hurry and take Miss upstairs to sleep.”

The butler didn’t dare delay and immediately led the girl upstairs, arranging a room for her in the middle of the corridor.

Bai Xia dashed straight into the bathroom, locked the door, and used her little Genius Watch to call the heroine.

The phone only rang once before it was answered.

Bai Ruanwen’s anxious voice came through, “Xia Xia, where are you? Did Lu Lin do anything to you?”

Hearing the heroine’s tearful tone, Bai Xia quickly comforted her, “Bad Mom, I’m fine. Even though I don’t like them, they haven’t done anything to me. But they won’t let me see you. When you come tomorrow, you’d better bring the police. Otherwise, they definitely won’t let me go.”

So what if they’re biologically related?

The male lead and the heroine are already married, so she’s their legitimate child.

Even her biological father has no right to keep her here.

The most important thing was, she really couldn’t stand this family at all.

Communication was impossible—they seemed to be lost in their own world, completely uncaring about others’ lives or deaths.

Just because they think they’re good to her, she’s supposed to be grateful?

Is that really kindness?

Clearly, they’re just trying to move themselves.

“It’s good that you’re safe.”

Hearing her daughter’s voice, Bai Ruanwen finally let out a sigh of relief, though she was still filled with guilt.

“I’m sorry, it’s my fault as your mother for not protecting you.”

Bai Xia softly comforted her, “How is this Mom’s fault? These people are just too awful. To deal with people like this, we need to use the law. We absolutely can’t let them do whatever they want.”

Hearing her daughter’s childish voice, Bai Ruanwen felt a pang of bitterness in her heart.

The Lu Jia held all the power—how could she possibly fight them?

She’d already troubled Song Qi enough and absolutely couldn’t let the Song Jia offend the Lu Jia for her sake.

“Don’t be afraid. Mom will come pick you up tomorrow. Make sure you eat well, and if there’s any danger, you must tell me.”

Bai Ruanwen reminded her anxiously.

Bai Xia obediently replied, and after hanging up, she was just about to wash her hands when she realized the sink was taller than she was.

This is what it feels like to be a powerless child.

She dragged a stool from the corner of the bathroom, climbed up to wash her hands, and only then walked out.

But she found that the room had somehow been filled with rows of gorgeous princess dresses.

A line of maids stood there smiling.

“Good evening, Miss.”

Before she could react, two maids came over and picked her up, clearly intending to give her a bath.

“I can wash myself, you can leave.”

She quickly said.

Hearing this, the maids looked troubled, as if they weren’t at ease leaving her alone in the bathroom.

“I’ll do it.”

Yao Yun walked in with a smile from outside, her eyes flashing with a hint of something no one noticed as she looked at the little girl’s thin arms and legs.

Without another word, she took Bai Xia from the maid’s arms, but as soon as her arm suddenly hurt, she reflexively gasped and let go.

Bai Xia darted away on her short legs, running straight into Lu Qi Hui, who quickly steadied her, looking puzzled.

“What’s wrong? Can’t sleep?”

Bai Xia grabbed his arm and pouted, “She pinched me!”

Yao Yun, who had caught up, looked stunned—this was the first time she’d seen a child blatantly tell such a lie, accusing her for no reason.

Lu Qi Hui was taken aback, then frowned at Yao Yun.

“She’s just a child—kids say whatever comes to mind. Why argue with a kid?”

Yao Yun’s face darkened.

“When did I pinch her? She’s the one who pinched me, look!”

She rolled up her sleeve, revealing a red mark on her arm.

“It’s normal for kids to be a little rough. How strong can she be? Anyway, what are you doing here? If Lu Lin sees you, he’ll be upset.”

Lu Qi Hui patted his granddaughter’s head.

His granddaughter never got close to anyone else, only coming to him to complain.

It meant she still liked this grandpa.

Thinking of this, he squatted down and gently coaxed the little girl, “It’s okay, it’s okay. What toys do you like? Grandpa will buy them for you right away. Do you want a castle? Crystal shoes? A fairy wand?”

Seeing this, Yao Yun nearly laughed out of anger.

This wild child dared to set her up?

Watching Yao Yun leave, Bai Xia finally breathed a sigh of relief.

She was too weak right now—if Yao Yun took the chance to lock her in the bathroom and try to drown her, what could she do?

She couldn’t even fight back.

In the original story, this woman had almost pushed the original Bai Xia down the stairs.

After all, if she died, and Lu Lin had no son, wouldn’t the family fortune eventually go to Yao Yun’s eight-year-old son?

Looking at the kindly Lu Qi Hui, Bai Xia was speechless.

“I don’t like toys.”

With that, she turned coldly and went back to her room.

She didn’t think much of the male lead’s father either—his wife had been dead less than a year, and he’d already married someone else.

Truly incredible.

After telling the maids to leave, she took her clothes into the bathroom and locked the door.

She was just young, not incapable of taking care of herself.

After her bath, she lay on the huge bed, set an alarm, turned off the lights, and went to sleep.

They want her to call the male lead’s father “Dad”?

She’d rather be mute.

So what if they’re rich?

Does money mean you can treat others however you want, right or wrong?

She really didn’t get what was going on in the male lead’s head.

The heroine liked him, and he liked the heroine.

Since something unexpected happened and the heroine didn’t even blame him, shouldn’t he be grateful and cherish her?

Instead, he just had to go crazy, suspecting the heroine had drugged him.

What, does he think the heroine is desperate for him?

Who does he think he is?

And once it was clear the heroine hadn’t drugged him, he should have immediately apologized.

Yet he still acted as if the heroine owed him something.

Was he a debt collector?

Having a father like this was truly the biggest stain on her life.

That’s right.

If the male lead hadn’t gone crazy, she probably wouldn’t even be here.

She slept until seven the next morning.

Before the maids could come in, she went to the bathroom to wash up herself, picked a little white dress to wear, then climbed onto the vanity stool and braided two little pigtails.

With her schoolbag on her back, she went downstairs.

“Good morning, little miss.”

The passing maids greeted her with beaming smiles.

Bai Xia nodded.

“Good morning.”

Workers really had it tough, serving this whole group every day.

Earning money was hard, and eating humble pie was even harder.

In the dining room, only Lu Jin Nian was sitting there having breakfast.

Clearly, the elderly woke up early—there was no way the others would get up this early.

Seeing his great-granddaughter up already, Lu Jin Nian immediately put down his newspaper and waved at her.

“Come to Great-Grandpa.”

Bai Xia climbed onto the stool herself.

Everyone wanted to hug her whenever they saw her, never once asking if she minded.

Seeing the girl ignore him, Lu Jin Nian simply told the kitchen to make something children would like, nothing too greasy, and it had to be nutritious.

But Bai Xia only had the butler serve her a bowl of porridge.

What was there to fuss about?

How much could a child eat, anyway?

Watching the girl eat her porridge independently, Lu Jin Nian’s eyes were full of relief.

One look and you could tell this child was clever and sensible.

Unlike the one Yao Yun gave birth to—already five years old and still needed to be carried everywhere, clinging on and refusing to let go.

What kind of example was that?

But thinking of his great-granddaughter wandering outside since she was little, he couldn’t help but ache inside.

Such a small child—who knew how much hardship she’d suffered?

The Song Jia had gone too far.

“Xia Xia, how old are you this year? Where did you live before? How is your mom?” he asked gently.

Bai Xia shot him a sideways glance and didn’t answer.

All these pointless questions—didn’t they already investigate her?

They probably dug up every detail about her and the heroine.

“How did you sleep last night? From now on, you’ll live here. Is that okay?”

Lu Jin Nian’s face was all warmth and kindness.

Bai Xia shook her head.

“I’m not used to sleeping here. Give me back to my mom.”

Lu Jin Nian just smiled.

“It’s always like this at first. This is your home, you’ll get used to it. Tell Great-Grandpa what you like, he’ll buy it for you.”

Bai Xia said nothing.

These people were impossible to communicate with.

They kept asking if she was used to things, but when she told the truth, they didn’t want to hear it.

All day long, it was just empty talk.

After breakfast, the butler took her outside for a walk.

The villa district was huge, with excellent landscaping.

The butler somehow got hold of a pink mini-motorcycle, just her size, and let her ride it around.

When she asked, she found out it was prepared by Lu Qi Hui.

The male lead’s father was a painter and never cared about anything except his exhibitions.

His relationship with the male lead was on the rocks—after all, no one liked seeing their father remarry so soon after their mother’s death.

The villa area was massive.

She rode around for half an hour before finishing a lap, with the butler always following close behind, holding her little water bottle.

“Uncle, how much do you make a month?”

She stopped the mini-motorcycle.

Thinking she was thirsty, the butler quickly squatted down and handed her the water bottle.

“Miss, what do you want to eat? I’ll have someone buy it for you right away.”

Bai Xia took the water bottle, drank a sip, then shook her head.

“Should I ask Great-Grandpa to give you a raise?”

Serving such a crazy family every day—no wonder the butler had it tough.

Most people would have gone insane by now.

Hearing the little girl’s childish voice, the butler paused, then felt a wave of emotion.

People said kids speak without thinking, but Miss was really adorable—not at all like the cold and unfeeling President.

“Thank you, Miss. I have a salary.”

His face was full of kindness.

Bai Xia didn’t say anything else and just kept riding her mini-motorcycle back to the villa.

But when she went inside, she sensed something was off.

In the living room were two familiar figures, with no other servants in sight.

“Mom!”

She ran over on her short legs and hugged Bai Ruanwen.

Bai Ruanwen hugged her daughter tightly, tears in her eyes at their reunion.

She couldn’t help but stroke her daughter’s little face.

“Xia Xia, Mommy’s here to take you home.”

Lu Lin said coldly, “Take Miss upstairs.”

At that, the butler hurried over to pull the girl away, but Bai Xia clung tightly to Bai Ruanwen and glared at Lu Lin.

“My mom is my guardian! Who do you think you are? What right do you have to stop me from going home?”

The whole living room was filled with a solemn atmosphere, but no one paid attention to the girl’s protests.

Lu Lin took a report from his assistant and slammed it on the table, glaring at Song Dong with questioning eyes.

“What is this?”

You took my daughter for so many years and still call yourself my brother?

Bai Ruanwen stepped forward and picked up the report.

Seeing the words “Paternity Test” in big letters, her chest tightened.

She already knew the result, but still didn’t know how to face it.

“Even if Xia Xia is your daughter, that doesn’t mean anything. Legally, I’m her father. You have no custody rights.”

Song Dong met his gaze, refusing to back down.

Lu Lin sneered, “Is that so? You think you can take her away?”

He stepped forward, his face unable to hide his coldness.

“You hid my daughter from me for so many years—this won’t end here.”

Bai Ruanwen immediately grabbed his arm, trying to explain, “This has nothing to do with Song Dong. It was my decision to secretly have the child. To get her registered, I had no choice but to marry Song Dong.”

“Ruanwen…”

Song Dong’s hands clenched tight.

Hearing that it was a fake marriage, Lu Lin’s icy expression relaxed a little, and the corners of his mouth even curled up slightly.

“Oh? Then should I thank him?”

Bai Xia silently walked over, tugged at his sleeve, then stretched out her arms.

Lu Lin looked down, his gaze softening, and easily lifted the girl into his arms.

Bai Xia raised her hand and slapped him.

“How can you talk to my mom like that? Who do you think you are? You forced her, blamed her for drugging you, and now you have the nerve to fight for custody? Where do you get the face for that? I’m embarrassed for you!”