“Daddy?”
Ruan Shu sat up, her voice cautious, tinged with uncertainty as she called out once more.
Ruan Xiao looked at her careful, tentative expression, amusement flickering in his eyes.
Finally, he responded, “Mm, I’m back.”
Ruan Shu: “!!!”
The little ball of joy couldn’t hold back any longer and threw herself into his arms, her courage suddenly brimming.
But she had missed her daddy so, so much.
“Daddy.”
She clung to his neck, nestling her small face against it and rubbing affectionately. Her eyes curved like tiny crescent moons, sparkling as if filled with stars.
Ruan Xiao was still wearing his formal military uniform, clearly having just returned, not even taking the time to change before coming to see his daughter.
Holding his light little girl in his arms, he felt a satisfaction he’d never known before.
In the past, no matter where he went, he never found time so hard to endure, nor did he ever miss anyone like this.
This was his first time experiencing the weight of longing, and only now, holding her, did he finally feel at ease.
“Daddy, I missed you so much.”
Ruan Shu clung tightly to his neck, leaning her whole self against him, sniffing as if she were about to cry.
So it turns out, sometimes happiness can indeed bring tears.
The father and daughter embraced for a long time before Ruan Shu shyly released her hold, her bright eyes still fixed on him, unwilling to look away, afraid her father might disappear in the next moment.
“What are you doing here?”
Ruan Xiao’s lips lifted slightly as he raised a hand to tousle her fluffy little head.
Only then did Ruan Shu remember that she still had the Chinese knot she’d made, which she had planned to give to her dad.
She quickly lifted her small hand, holding the red knot up to him.
“Daddy, look. This is a Chinese knot I made, and it’s for you.”
A light breeze stirred, causing the tassels of the Chinese knot to sway, adding an extra touch of beauty.
“A Chinese knot?”
Ruan Shu: … Oops, she forgot. This world didn’t have that country.
She clutched the Chinese knot, explaining softly, “It’s something that represents blessings and wishes for safety.”
She held it out to him, her gaze sincere. “I wish for Daddy to always be safe.”
In that moment, Ruan Xiao felt his heart swell.
His daughter—how could she be so sweet?
“Alright.”
Ruan Xiao gently rubbed her head. With such a soft little one who remembered him so dearly, how could anyone’s heart remain entirely cold?
He accepted the knot and said, “Thank you.”
Ruan Shu’s beautiful eyes curved into crescents, a clear sign of her happiness.
After her father returned, all her crafting projects were momentarily set aside as she trailed closely behind him all day.
She was like a sticky little rice cake that wouldn’t leave his side.
But who could ever dislike such an adorable and clingy little rice cake?
When Ruan Fengsi returned home and didn’t see the little one rush over to greet him, he found himself feeling oddly out of place.
Lately, that little one had eagerly awaited him every afternoon, sticking to him the moment he walked through the door.
What happened today?
As he wondered, the butler approached.
“Young master, welcome back.”
Ruan Fengsi gave a slight nod, feigning indifference as he asked, “Where’s the little one?”
The butler replied, “The master has returned, and Miss Ruan is with him in the study.”
Ruan Fengsi paused. “My dad’s back?”
Finally, he waved, indicating he understood, but he had no intention of going up to find them.
The little one surely knew he was home; she’d come to him, right?
Yet, even after dinner, Ruan Fengsi waited in vain for Ruan Shu to seek him out.
Ruan Fengsi: Hmph… She really did forget her brother now that Daddy’s back!
Meanwhile, in the study, Ruan Shu indeed had forgotten about her brother.
The small, snowy-white ragdoll cat lay bonelessly in her father’s arms, its tiny tail curling and uncurling as it squinted in pure comfort.
Then, a large hand scooped her up.
The ragdoll cat rolled into her father’s palm, a small, fluffy bundle of milky softness with fur still slightly puffed up.
“Meow~”
She let out a soft, sweet sound, wrapping her two little paws around her father’s thumb and rubbing her head against it affectionately.
The sensation in his palm was so fragile and soft that Ruan Xiao lowered his gaze, his usually cold and ruthless ice-blue eyes now filled with warmth.
“It’s time to eat.”
Ruan Shu let out a little “meow,” acknowledging him, but the little cat had no intention of moving.
Lying in her father’s palm gave her the greatest sense of security.
Her watery eyes gazed up at her father, and the tip of her tail wiggled joyfully.
Today, the little cat bundle was extra clingy.
Ruan Xiao’s lips curved upward as he carried her out of the room.
Just as they reached the hallway, they spotted his son downstairs, looking rather disgruntled.
Naturally, Ruan Fengsi noticed him as well.
Both of them were high-level star beasts, and the stronger the star beast, the more intense its territorial instincts.
In truth, Ruan Fengsi had his own place and often stayed elsewhere when he came back to the city.
But now, every time he got off work, his legs just seemed to carry him straight back here.
For the first few days, he’d even tried to force himself to return to his villa. However, after that little one left him a pitiful voice message asking why he hadn’t come home yet, he found himself back here.
Ruan Fengsi: He was so annoyed that his legs seemed to have a mind of their own!
And now, he just felt like scoffing; the little one had abandoned him now that her dad was home, using him up and then tossing him aside…
The little cat in her father’s hand also spotted her brother downstairs. She instantly stood up, craning her small neck to look down.
“Meow~”
Big brother! She’d completely forgotten about him.
At that moment, the little cat’s legs, short as they were, nearly lost her balance as she stretched forward, almost toppling out of her father’s hand.
Thankfully, she was caught in the next second.
Ruan Shu’s tiny heart was thumping wildly.
“Stay still,” Ruan Xiao instructed.
Ruan Shu nodded, tucking her little paws in obediently as she lay in her father’s hand, not daring to move.
Once they were downstairs, she stood up again.
Set down on the table, the small, snowy-white cat scurried over to her big brother on her four chubby paws.
As she ran, she let out soft little meows, absolutely melting the hearts of everyone there, including the butler.
Ruan Fengsi was initially considering ignoring the little one, but seeing her trip over her own paws from running too fast and roll over right in front of him, his hand moved faster than his thoughts, catching her instinctively.
Ruan Shu, who had just done a full somersault, was momentarily dazed.
Her fluffy little face wore a look of pure confusion, and once she realized what had happened, she quickly buried her head in embarrassment.
This was mortifying! Even though she was safely in her brother’s arms, she covered her face with her paws.
If she were in human form right now, her face would probably be as red as a sunset.
It was all because of her tiny, short legs!