Once inside the hall, Bai Xia saw Song Yuehua was there too and couldn’t avoid being teased for a while. The kitchen was told to make extra dishes.
She’d never met Song Yuehua before, but he seemed to respect his son. Even knowing his son and the female lead were having a fake wedding, he didn’t object.
Maybe he figured, with only one son, he could do as he liked.
Today the styling team brought over wedding dresses, and Bai Xia obediently watched the female lead try on a few.
She looked as beautiful as a queen in an oil painting.
Who wouldn’t look forward to a dream wedding?
At least Bai Xia could tell the female lead was looking forward to it.
When Song Dong went out to take a call, Bai Xia sidled up to the female lead and tugged her skirt.
“Mom, did you talk to Uncle Song?”
If she wanted to grow the brand, she had to seize the opportunity.
Hearing her daughter’s words, Bai Ruanwen knelt down and stroked her cheek.
“Uncle Song is very busy. I don’t want to trouble him. Besides, this is my own business. Even if I don’t rely on him, I can still build the brand.”
Bai Xia frowned.
“But you’re already marrying Uncle Song—you’re a team now. Why worry about bothering him? Hasn’t Uncle Song ever troubled you?”
“I know you don’t want people to think you’re marrying Uncle Song just for the Song family’s resources. But why care about what others think? There are only so many social resources—you’re either relying on friends or family. If you already have connections, why avoid using them?”
“Besides, it’s not like you aren’t capable. Men can rely on their parents, on fathers-in-law, on connections to succeed—why can’t women? Who doesn’t need help from others in life? We can’t trap ourselves with others’ opinions, or we’ll end up afraid to take a single step.”
Hearing her daughter’s words, Bai Ruanwen felt a jolt, as if waking from a deep sleep, completely shocked.
That’s right—the more she avoided it, the more she cared.
Her daughter understood something so simple, yet she didn’t.
She looked at her daughter in disbelief.
“Xia Xia, how do you know so much?”
Bai Xia smiled.
“It’s all in the books.”
Bai Ruanwen kissed her on the cheek.
“My Xia Xia is the smartest in the world—even smarter than Mom.”
“Mom is smart too, to design so many beautiful pieces of jewelry. My classmates are all praising your designs.”
Bai Xia said seriously.
“What jewelry?”
Song Dong came in after his call and froze when he saw her in the wedding dress.
The woman before him wore a pure white off-shoulder gown, her hair tied up, showing off her delicate features.
Unlike her usual gentleness, she now had an indescribable aura that made his heart race.
“I’m going to find Grandpa Song to play.”
Bai Xia sensibly ran out.
This was why she didn’t want to live with the female lead.
They were newlyweds—if she just showed up, she’d be a third wheel.
Besides, the female lead had to handle her career and take care of her, which was too much.
When she got downstairs, Song Yuehua kept having the kitchen make her food and kept asking if she was happy at the Lu family, if she was being mistreated.
Bai Xia could only say she was doing well.
After finally finishing lunch, she hurried the butler to take her home—who knew what else Song Yuehua would try to feed her.
***
In the afternoon she had a flower arranging class.
When she finished, she saw Lu Jinnian in the hall talking with the butler.
She didn’t need to guess—they were definitely discussing her visit to the Song family.
The butler would report everything in detail.
“Great-grandpa!”
She suddenly ran over.
“Where’s Dad? Can I go find him?”
Hearing his great-granddaughter call him Dad, Lu Jinnian was instantly gratified.
Blood really was thicker than water.
What a pity Lu Lin wasn’t here to hear it, but that was his own fault.
“He went away for work, to earn more money to support Xia Xia.”
He smiled, pinching the girl’s cheek.
Bai Xia slapped his hand away, face serious.
“I want to go too. Can I go find him?”
Lu Jinnian was stunned.
He hadn’t expected his great-granddaughter to suddenly be so attached to her father.
It seemed with patience, feelings could grow.
“Alright, Great-grandpa will have someone take you to see your dad tomorrow.”
Lu Jinnian didn’t want to stand in the way of their reunion.
He immediately looked at the butler.
“Ask the kindergarten for a few days’ leave.”
His great-granddaughter was so smart—she must have gone to the Song family today and realized her mom would soon be part of that family.
She finally understood she belonged to the Lu family.
That was a good thing.
Children had to know where their home was as they grew up.
“Thank you, Great-grandpa.”
Bai Xia immediately ran upstairs.
Of course she wanted to go to keep an eye on the male lead.
Who knew if he was really working?
What if he caused trouble again?
She had to keep watch.
As long as the female lead was at her wedding, it didn’t matter if she went or not.
She couldn’t just stand by and do nothing, not with the male lead’s unpredictable behaviour.
***
Lu Shuo was leaning against the corridor with two game consoles.
When he saw her come up, he suddenly handed her one.
“Let’s play a game!”
This time, he was determined to show this little brat how good he was!
Bai Xia glanced at him.
“You can’t beat me anyway. You should practice more yourself.”
“Who says I can’t beat you? If you’ve got the guts, play me one round!”
Lu Shuo was clearly annoyed.
Bai Xia crossed her arms.
“Alright, if I win, you’ll have to listen to me from now on. If I tell you to go east, you can’t go west. If I lose, I’ll listen to you. How about it?”
Lu Shuo hesitated, but then thought—she’s just a three-year-old, and I’m afraid of her?
“Deal!”
He agreed immediately.
Bai Xia took a game console.
“Then come find me in an hour. I’ll read the manual first.”
With that, she went into her room and closed the door.
Lu Shuo snorted—only noobs needed to read the manual.
A gaming genius like him didn’t need it at all.
***
Inside, Bai Xia started searching for game strategies.
She found the game was actually pretty complex, but at its core, it was just about competition.
Once she understood the rules and skills, it wasn’t hard.
She played a few solo games and got more and more comfortable.
Then the door was suddenly pushed open and Lu Shuo swaggered in.
“Don’t you have any manners? Don’t you know you should knock before entering someone else’s room?”
She frowned.
Lu Shuo froze.
No one had ever taught him that—he always went wherever he wanted.
“I’ll knock then, no big deal. When I win, you’ll have to be my servant!”
He walked out, then knocked hard on the door.
Bai Xia went to open it.
“Let’s play outside, so you can’t deny the outcome.”
She specifically got the butler to witness.
Lu Shuo didn’t care—he didn’t think he’d lose to a kid who’d never played before.
But as soon as the game started, he got anxious.
Why was his attack so weak, while Bai Xia’s character was so much stronger?
He remembered this game didn’t have pay-to-win.
And she’d only played for an hour—how could she be better than him?
The butler watched the two kids squatting in the corridor playing, surprised that Miss was into this—he thought she only studied.
But it was good for kids to have some fun, or they’d get repressed.
Fifteen minutes later, when the victory sound played, Bai Xia looked at the dejected boy beside her.
“Well? My servant?”
Lu Shuo clenched his fists, refusing to admit defeat.
“Have you played this before?”
Bai Xia shrugged.
“You think everyone’s like you? Even if I have, so what? Haven’t you played before? If you’re not as good, admit it. If you can’t even win at games, aren’t you a noob? Remember, you’re my servant now!”
“I—”
Lu Shuo gritted his teeth and glared at her.
“Go peel some chestnuts for me and bring them to my room.”
Without looking back, Bai Xia went inside.
Lu Shuo could only glare at the game console, unable to believe he’d lost to a little kid.
Impossible!
He must’ve been off his game!
It’s just peeling chestnuts—no big deal.
With practice, he’d win next time, then make her serve him tea!
“Where are the chestnuts?”
He glared at the butler.
The butler glanced at the first floor.
“In the living room.”
Hearing that, Lu Shuo headed straight downstairs and started peeling chestnuts at the table.
But the chestnut skins were too tough.
Usually, his mom peeled them for him.
Yao Yun had just returned from a gathering and saw her son peeling chestnuts in the living room.
Looking around, she saw several maids but her son was doing it himself?
“Shuo Shuo likes chestnuts—why not have the kitchen slice them for you? Peeling like this will hurt your nails. Come on, don’t do it.”
Yao Yun stroked his head lovingly.
Lu Shuo kept his head down, peeling as if venting all his frustration on the chestnuts.
“It’s not for me—it’s for that little brat upstairs.”
He said grumpily.
Yao Yun frowned, then looked upstairs and at her son in confusion.
“If she wants chestnuts, why are you peeling them?”
What was stranger was that her son was actually willing.
Could Lu Lin be back?
The butler cleared his throat, then explained, “They played a game and agreed the loser would follow the winner’s orders. But… Shuo Shuo lost.”
Hearing this, Yao Yun frowned even more.
Her son played games every day and still lost to a three-year-old?
“Aren’t you always playing games? How could you lose to her?”
She asked.
Lu Shuo suddenly looked up, face full of unwillingness.
“Who knows how she played! Next time I’ll win!”
With that, he picked up the plate and went upstairs.
He was about to kick the door, but remembered Bai Xia’s words and reluctantly knocked.
“Hey, your chestnuts are ready.”
The door opened, and the girl—half a head shorter—glared at him.
“Hey what? You’re my servant. You should call me Miss.”
Lu Shuo took a deep breath, hands clenched, but finally gritted his teeth and said, “Miss, your chestnuts are ready.”
One day, he’d make that brat serve him!
Bai Xia raised an eyebrow.
“Good. I’ll reward you with the chestnuts—go ahead and eat them.”
Lu Shuo frowned.
“I spent half an hour peeling these—”
The door slammed shut, nearly hitting his forehead.
He could only clench his fists in anger.
He was about to throw the chestnuts out, but seeing his yellowed fingernails, he finally picked one up and bit into it.
Fine, it’s his own work—why not eat it?
Next time, he’d make her peel durian for him!
***
That night, Bai Xia packed her clothes into a small suitcase to fly to Zhejiang.
For the sake of the female lead and male supporting character’s happiness, she could only keep an eye on the male lead at all times.
The next day, the butler took her to the airport himself, along with several bodyguards.
As for kindergarten classes, it didn’t matter—every day it was either multiplication tables or poetry recitation.
Maybe worried she’d be bored, the butler downloaded a bunch of cartoons for her.
Bai Xia just wanted to sleep—kids needed sleep to grow tall.
She didn’t know how long she’d slept, but when she checked her watch, they were almost there.
After getting off the plane, she didn’t see the male lead, but saw his assistant.
“The CEO has a few important meetings today and can’t get away. He asked me to take you to the hotel first. He’ll come play with you as soon as he’s done.”
The assistant smiled at her.
Bai Xia got in the car herself.
“I’m not going to the hotel. I want to find Dad.”
Before the female lead’s wedding, she couldn’t let the male lead out of her sight.
The assistant was stunned, glanced at the butler, and seemed to understand the CEO and his daughter had a tense relationship.
Now that they were finally getting closer, he didn’t dare interfere, so he had the driver take them to the branch office.
The car stopped in the basement of a tall building.
The assistant led her by the hand into the elevator, up to the ninth floor.
As soon as they got out, many people greeted them.
But seeing the assistant holding a little girl’s hand, everyone gathered around, curious and gossiping.
“What a cute kid! Is she the CEO’s daughter?”
“But the CEO isn’t married—where would he get a daughter?”
“You guys are way behind the news! This is huge—how do you not know?”
A male employee marveled, explaining to everyone.
The assistant took her to the office, closed the door to block out the prying eyes, and brought her a pillow to lean on.
“Why don’t you rest here for a while? The CEO will be done soon.”
Bai Xia sat on the sofa and nodded.
“Okay.”
Seeing this, the assistant hurried to buy some snacks for kids.
The CEO’s daughter had come so suddenly, he got the call and rushed to the airport—no time to prepare.
“Assistant Xu, is that really the CEO’s daughter?” a female employee asked curiously.
The others looked shocked.
If the CEO was married, it would have been announced.
How did a daughter suddenly appear?
But someone had just revealed that this was the CEO’s child with his ex-girlfriend, and now the ex was marrying Song Dong.
This was a huge piece of gossip—they’d been talking about it for half a day.
“Of course! She’s the chairman’s favorite. If she so much as bumps her head, it’s a big deal.”
The assistant whispered.
Most importantly, no one had ever dared scold the CEO—except this little ancestor.
She could say anything, and the CEO had to smile and take it.
Honestly, he was grateful to this little ancestor.
Because of her, the chairman even gave him a raise.
She was a little angel.
***
Bai Xia waited for more than ten minutes before the office door opened.
The male lead walked in, brows furrowed, followed by several people.
He was about to scold them, but when he saw her, he coughed lightly.
Then, in a calm tone, he said to the others, “Redo the proposal. Hand it in before the end of the day.”
The people who’d been bracing for a scolding stared in shock—was that really the CEO?
Was he planning to fire them after this project?
“Are you tired? Want to rest for a bit? I’ll take you to dinner tonight.”
Lu Lin smiled, squatting beside the sofa.
Bai Xia shook her head.
“I already ate on the plane. You go ahead and work. I’ll read by myself. No wonder you always hit people—there isn’t a single book here. You have no manners at all.”