If Lu Yinghan knew what Lu Xiong was thinking, she would definitely roll her eyes hard at him.
When Lu Xuanyao was catching loaches on TV back then, they praised her for being so capable and sensible.
They even said she had gotten braver!
And now?
She was merely selling vegetables, yet she was berated and scolded like this.
The double standard couldn't be more blatant.
Around noon, the produce on the stall was nearly all sold out.
“Congratulations! You've completed today's task!”
After double-checking with the grandmother, the staff members turned to the sweat-drenched pair with smiles.
Xie Bei and Lu Yinghan instantly relaxed, letting out a long, collective breath.
The two shared a smile and high-fived each other.
The grandmother also wore a rare smile. She pulled out today's earnings and withdrew two red hundred-yuan bills, handing them over to the two of them.
“This is the reward for your hard work today.”
Pleasantly surprised, they accepted the two red bills.
They looked toward the staff in confusion, asking if they were allowed to keep them.
Before the staff could answer, the grandmother shoved the money straight into Xie Bei's pocket.
“Take it! Who works for free anyway? Buy something good for the little girl! Look how skinny she is!”
It was the first time this tsundere old grandmother had spoken so many words. Feeling a bit embarrassed, she immediately turned around to pack up her stall after stuffing the money away.
Having completed their task, the two were the first to head back for a good rest.
Xie Bei took off his apron, picked up Lu Yinghan in one swoop, and strode outside.
Instead of looking relaxed after finishing the task, Xie Bei had a somewhat solemn expression on his face.
Lu Yinghan was perceptive; sensing that something was off with Xie Bei, her heart grew uneasy.
She maintained a cautious posture around Xie Bei.
The two returned to the small dirt hut in silence.
【What's going on? Why does something feel off?】
【I feel it too. Even Lu Yinghan looks scared.】
【What's wrong with Xie Bei? Did he notice something?】
【Hmm... I think he should talk to the child and give her a heads-up, otherwise it's easy to cause a misunderstanding.】
【Yeah, even I find it weird, let alone a kid.】
【And Lu Yinghan isn't as confident as we thought. Look at her now—she doesn't even dare to move.】
The viewers in the live stream also picked up on the strange atmosphere between the two and debated heavily in the comments.
Xie Bei held Lu Yinghan tightly, naturally feeling the stiffness in the little girl's body in his arms.
Yet he still remained silent...
Upon returning to the small wooden house, the staff didn't even dare to breathe too loudly, watching as Xie Bei sat at the edge of the bed holding Lu Yinghan and set her down on his lap.
“Yingying, there's something I need to tell you.”
“Um... okay, Father Xie Bei.”
Lu Yinghan's heart thudded wildly.
Once she calmed down after finishing the work, she realized that while selling vegetables earlier, she had done many things unbecoming of a seven-year-old child.
She didn't even know what she was panicking about.
Reflexively, she recalled how members of the Lu family only ever wore such solemn expressions when criticizing and reprimanding her.
Although Xie Bei was relatively gentle, Lu Yinghan still felt a lingering fear deep down...
Her extreme nervousness, along with the cowardice and fading light in her eyes, made Xie Bei feel even more uncomfortable.
He reached out and took hold of Lu Yinghan's icy-cold hands.
A quiver went through his heart.
“Yingying, you did exceptionally well today. You helped me gather customers, and you used the scale far more smoothly than I did. In my eyes, and in everyone else's eyes, you are truly an amazing child.”
The tension in Lu Yinghan's heart ground to a halt.
Wait, he was praising her?
Why create such a serious atmosphere just to give a compliment?
She blinked in confusion, looking up at Xie Bei.
Seeing her innocent, fawn-like eyes, Xie Bei's stern expression gave way to a gentle chuckle.
He tapped her nose with his fair, slender finger.
“Why so nervous? Did you think Father Xie Bei was going to scold you?”
Lu Yinghan was completely stunned.
In all her two lives, she had never seen Xie Bei smile so gently.
Her mind was thoroughly dazed and muddled.
【Ahhhhhhh!!! So gentle! So gentle!!!】
【Why do I feel like out of all of them, Xie Bei feels the most like a real father??】
【He's never been like this with other kids!】
【Wuuu, I envy Lu Yinghan so much, but I also feel so bad for her. Her face was deathly pale just now, and she didn't even dare to speak.】
【I feel like Lu Yinghan has a story...】
【I agree. Even for a wealthy heiress, she's far too sensible. It's a bit unnatural.】
This was also what Xie Bei cared about.
He rubbed Lu Yinghan's hands, trying to warm them up.
“You did great, but I still hope you can relax a little and do what you enjoy. Look at how nice the surroundings are here—just go play and have fun. Although Father Xie Bei doesn't know how to do anything yet, I can learn. That's my responsibility, since I'm your intern dad right now.”
Xie Bei's words tore open Lu Yinghan's heart.
It swelled with a poignant ache like a waterlogged sponge.
It ached so much that her jaw began to clench.
Suppressing any sound from escaping...
Yet bloodshot veins gradually filled her eyes as she stared blurrily at Xie Bei through tears.
And yet, not a single tear dropped.
She held her breath with all her might, then quietly inhaled and exhaled to catch her breath...
Quickly steadying herself.
Heartaching, Xie Bei knitted his brows. He held Lu Yinghan and gently patted her shoulder.
In his mind, memories surfaced of his own childhood, when his father held and comforted him.
He tried his best to imitate that, seeking to soothe Lu Yinghan.
“It's okay, it's okay. You're just a little child, so don't overthink things... Relax, okay? Father Xie Bei thinks you're far too exhausted. Let me find some time so we can go out and play together, alright?”
Feeling cool droplets hitting his shoulder one by one, Xie Bei stood up in a bit of a panic, comforting Lu Yinghan as she snuggled into the crook of his neck.
Lu Yinghan gripped Xie Bei's clothes tightly and stoically wiped her eyes as the light gradually returned to them.
She didn't let her tears fall freely; her restrained expression caused the netizens' hearts to ache endlessly.
【Told you! Being too sensible only means suffering in silence!】
【She really has suffered a lot... Just watching her like that all morning made me feel exhausted.】
【This made me cry. Now I'm worried my own child might be like this.】
【Aiya, now that I'm getting old, I can't stand seeing stuff like this.】
【The child is too well-behaved! So well-behaved it breaks my heart!】
In the live stream, the sight of Lu Yinghan cautiously nestling in Xie Bei's arms brought a wave of sadness to everyone's hearts...
One after another, they began cheering Lu Yinghan on.
Among those offering words of encouragement, Lu Yue and Lu Jiansen were nowhere to be found.
At his company, Lu Jiansen watched Lu Yinghan's red-rimmed eyes glistening with trapped tears.
Yet not a single drop fell.
Unlike other children who wore vivid, exaggerated expressions, she was just like an adult.
She masked her own vulnerability.
Abruptly clutching his chest, Lu Jiansen tried to suppress his agitated, aching heart.
Breathing heavily, he sought to ease the strange sensation in his chest.
He immediately shut off his phone.
Never looking at Lu Yinghan again.
Rate on N.U.
