“Now?”
Song Dong reached out and gently tidied the girl’s hair.
“Today, you’re the star. How could Uncle Song disturb your reunion with your mother?”
Bai Xia frowned.
“I can reunite with my mom any day, this one isn’t special. Uncle Song, you’ve hesitated for so many years, are you still going to be a coward? At worst, you’ll just go back to being friends with my mom—what’s there to be afraid of?”
The male supporting character is always so wishy-washy.
Otherwise, even after the female lead’s honeymoon, how would the male lead ever have a chance?
Looking into the girl’s earnest eyes, Song Dong’s fingers quietly tightened.
Since Xia Xia was willing to accept him and Ruanwen being together, what was he still hesitating for?
Was he really going to just watch as Lu Jin barged in again?
It wasn’t until Lu Qihui came looking for someone that Song Dong handed the girl over to him, glanced at the time, and then walked toward the corridor.
“There are a lot of people here. Don’t wander off with anyone, or Grandpa will worry.”
Lu Qihui took the girl’s hand.
Bai Xia couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
Clearly, he’s just worried she’ll be taken away by Song Dong.
But she still smiled.
“I know. Where’s Dad?”
Hearing his granddaughter actually call him “Dad,” Lu Qihui froze, then hurriedly took out his phone in delight.
“I’ll call him right now.”
Watching as Lu Qihui dialed, Bai Xia lowered her eyes.
She had to create an opportunity for the male supporting character—she couldn’t let the male lead butt in again.
As if seeing something, she suddenly tugged at Lu Qihui’s sleeve.
“I’m going to say hi to my classmates.”
Lu Qihui was still basking in the joy of his granddaughter finally calling him “Dad.”
Seeing the girl walk toward the Qi Family’s son, he didn’t stop her, but instead told the butler to keep an eye on Miss Bai and not let anyone from the Song Jia get close.
Qi Yan was still looking in the mirror.
Suddenly, a little girl’s face appeared in the reflection, and he spun around.
He hadn’t even noticed when Bai Xia appeared behind him, holding two pieces of cake in her hands.
She wouldn’t smash cake in his face, would she?
Qi Yan hurriedly took a step back, full of wariness.
Bai Xia had no idea what he was up to, but she still smiled.
“My stepmom told me to get along with my classmates. Let’s forget what happened before—I’m magnanimous. Here, these two pieces of cake are for you.”
Hearing this, Qi Yan was completely stunned.
He even suspected there was something wrong with the cake.
Otherwise, why would Bai Xia suddenly offer him cake?
But looking at the girl’s bright smile, he still accepted it and cautiously took a bite.
Hmm… it was actually pretty good.
Lin Yan’s eyes were full of suspicion.
In his memory, Bai Xia always paid people back for what they did, never suffering a loss. No one had ever gotten the better of her.
“Are you eating or not? If not, forget it.”
Bai Xia looked at him with displeasure.
She’d already noticed—this Lin kid was always secretly watching her, acting all quiet on the surface, but it was clear he was the scheming type.
But kids are the easiest to win over.
Having more friends is better than more enemies.
Both the Qi Family and the Lin Jia are prestigious families.
Even if they can’t be friends, she couldn’t let them become obstacles.
This novel was like a parallel world to reality.
She had to seize every opportunity.
Otherwise, by the time she grew up and started her own company, the market would already be taken.
Being young had its advantages—she could establish her brand early and become well-known in the future.
To her, everyone in kindergarten was a potential ally.
“Thank you.”
Lin Yan accepted the cake. He didn’t like sweets, but under Bai Xia’s watchful gaze, he still took a bite.
“Fine, fine, I’m not petty. Since you’ve apologized, we’re friends now.”
Qi Yan raised his eyebrows generously.
“…Who apologized? I’m just being the bigger person. If you don’t understand Chinese, I can switch languages.”
Qi Yan’s face flushed red.
As expected, this bratty girl hadn’t changed one bit.
***
When Lu Jin came over, he saw his daughter talking to two little boys.
He found it quite an eyesore.
“Tired, little one?”
He scooped the girl up from behind.
Before Bai Xia could react, she was already off the ground.
Seeing the sudden appearance of the male lead, she glanced behind him—her mom wasn’t there, so she relaxed.
“I don’t like talking to adults. They all dislike Mom.”
She shook her head.
Lu Jin carried his daughter to the lounge, his voice calm.
“A strong person doesn’t need others to like them. Jealousy is often a form of recognition.”
Bai Xia was speechless.
The male lead was giving her another lecture on social dynamics.
Was this his excuse for not respecting the female lead?
“In the future, keep your distance from boys. Don’t let anyone touch you.”
Lu Jin warned her seriously for once.
Bai Xia looked at him.
“Then why don’t you keep your distance from my mom? My mom’s a girl too. She could get taken advantage of, you know.”
Meeting the girl’s clear, bright eyes, Lu Jin remained calm.
“Your mother and I are in love—there’s just some misunderstanding. But others aren’t the same. Any man who suddenly approaches you doesn’t have good intentions.”
Just like Song Dong, who talked about brotherhood but was actually eyeing his woman.
What a hypocrite.
Bai Xia was set down on the sofa.
She wondered if the male supporting character had found her mom yet.
Seeing several people come over to talk to the male lead, she suddenly picked up a piece of cake from the table. “Here, eat.”
Lu Jin glanced at his watch, but seeing his daughter offer him the cake, he hesitated, then took it.
He stared at the white cream, unsure where to start.
***
The corridor was very quiet.
Song Dong arrived at room 3061 and rang the bell several times, but no one answered.
But he remembered Ruanwen had told him this was the place.
Could Lu Jin have done something to her?
He looked around, then quickly took out his phone and called the hotel manager to check the security cameras. Just as he anxiously pressed the elevator button, the doors suddenly opened.
Bai Ruanwen stepped out, wearing a white dress, her long straight hair draping over her shoulders, as if deep in thought.
She looked up and saw him standing outside.
Their eyes met. Song Dong’s handsome face flashed with anxiety. Instinctively, he grabbed her arm.
“Did Lu Jin do anything to you?”
Bai Ruanwen was taken aback.
She hadn’t expected him to come looking for her.
She followed him out of the elevator and shook her head.
“There were too many people downstairs. I was afraid of being seen, so I went upstairs. Lu Jin wanted custody of Xia Xia. We were talking, but then he got a call and left.”
She didn’t know what kind of call Lu Jin had received, but suddenly he seemed certain that Xia Xia would go with him.
No matter what, though, she would never let go.
“Lu Jin has a stubborn personality. Don’t be alone with him,” Song Dong said, gripping her slender wrist, his eyes full of complex emotions.
“I worry about you.”
Bai Ruanwen’s gaze flickered slightly, then she pulled her arm back.
Seeing this, Song Dong’s eyes showed a trace of disappointment.
But as if remembering something, he suddenly spoke up: “Xia Xia called me a coward. Maybe she’s right. Maybe I’m just too greedy. Even being by your side, I still wasn’t satisfied.”
“But Ruanwen, I don’t want to be just your friend.”
His voice was low and soft.
Bai Ruanwen’s breath caught.
Suddenly, she met the man’s restrained gaze, and an indescribable feeling welled up inside her.
She avoided his eyes, then pressed the elevator button again.
“We’re family, aren’t we?”
Looking at the girl he’d liked for ten years, knowing she was only twenty-six and had already endured more hardship than most people could imagine—no one knew how much pain he’d felt, watching her fall for Lu Jin, then get hurt by him, and being able to stay by her side only as a friend.
But he’d never seen her as just a friend—she was a treasure.
“I know you want a divorce. I respect your choice.”
His eyes burned.
“Even if you get divorced today, I still want you to know: I love you. No matter if the Bai Jia goes bankrupt, no matter whose daughter Xia Xia is, no matter if you still have Lu Jin in your heart—I only love you, nothing else matters.”
His gentle voice rang in her ears, as if echoing in her heart.
Bai Ruanwen’s hands clenched, her eyes unconsciously reddening.
She could only lower her head, not daring to look back.
To resolve Xia Xia’s household registration, she’d been forced to choose a fake marriage. She’d always thought of Song Dong as her best friend, and thought he felt the same.
But she wasn’t a fool—after so many years of helping her, he’d long since crossed the line of friendship.
But she was no longer the old Bai Ruanwen.
She couldn’t freely follow her heart anymore.
“Xia Xia taught me something: if you hesitate, you’ll regret it for life. We only get thirty thousand days in this world—what could be scarier than death?”
Song Dong said softly.
Bai Ruanwen suddenly turned around, red-eyed, looking at him.
“I’m sorry, I’m the real coward.”
Their eyes met.
Looking at the girl he’d liked for ten years, Song Dong’s chest surged with unspeakable emotion.
He couldn’t hold back anymore and pulled her into a tight embrace.
***
In the bustling hall, people mingled and toasted, all watching as Lu Jin played with his daughter.
No one had expected the ruthless President Lu to be such a doting father.
After eating three pieces of cake, Lu Jin finally refused his daughter’s good intentions, took the water the butler handed him, and downed it.
“You eat it yourself.”
“But I think it’s really tasty, that’s why I shared it with you. I didn’t give it to anyone else,” Bai Xia pouted, aggrieved.
Hearing his daughter’s words, Lu Jin’s eyes softened a little, but looking at the cake on the table, he felt like his blood sugar was rising.
Even the butler started to feel his scalp tingle, but the president couldn’t refuse her—otherwise, Miss Bai would be so hurt.
It wasn’t until he spotted the female lead in the corner of his eye that Bai Xia quickly waved her hand. “You go. I’ll let Grandpa have some later.”
Hearing this, Lu Jin’s tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.
He didn’t dare linger, told the butler to watch Bai Xia carefully, and then strode off to meet with some business partners.
As soon as he left, Bai Xia scampered over to Bai Ruanwen.
“Xia Xia!”
Bai Ruanwen hugged her daughter tightly, then smiled and stroked her little face.
“Have you been eating well these past few days?”
Bai Xia glanced at Song Dong, who was smiling, then at the relaxed expression of the female lead. It was obvious the two of them had finally cleared the air.
See?
Something that could be solved with a single sentence—they dragged out for ten years.
Weren’t they just asking for trouble?
“Of course I’ve been eating well. Mom, can you give me a few more necklaces?” she asked seriously.
Thinking her daughter was teasing, Bai Ruanwen hugged her tightly, gaze resolute.
“Mom will definitely bring you home.”
At this, Bai Xia shook her head.
“No, I want to stay here.”
Since the female lead and the male supporting character had finally cleared the air, she couldn’t play the third wheel anymore.
The female lead had spent so many years taking care of her day and night; she deserved her own private space, not to keep revolving around her daughter.
She wanted the necklaces to help promote the female lead’s work.
Good wine needs no bush, but sometimes it does—after all, the female lead was a jewelry designer.
She should chase her own dreams, not give them up for her daughter.
“Why?”
Bai Ruanwen’s heart tightened.
Bai Xia leaned in and whispered in her ear: “Lu Jin bullied you. I’m going to make him pay for everything you suffered.”