Chapter One: Faking an Accident!?

“Kid, listen to me. In a moment, when I tell you to go, you run over and grab the leader’s leg, do you hear me?”

The little cub was sitting casually at the entrance of the company, but no one seemed to notice this tiny child, no bigger than a gas canister. Dressed neatly from head to toe, she looked like a sweet, soft cake—utterly adorable. Hearing the system’s instruction, she only nodded in a daze. “Chirp chirp~”

Her voice was crisp, still tinged with the innocence of a toddler, so sweet it could melt anyone’s heart.

“Grab the leg~”

As she spoke, she tilted her head and gave a sudden, bright smile, revealing a few tiny, barely grown teeth.

The system, clutching its nonexistent heart, felt itself completely overwhelmed by cuteness. Three days ago, it had been dispatched from the space station to reform the villains of this world, but unexpectedly, it had bonded with this not-yet-three-year-old child. The system felt hopeless—there was no way it could complete the villain reform mission like this, and without that, it would never get to return home. The thought alone was suffocating. But in order to secure a steady source of food for the little cub, it had tricked her into coming here, coaxing her to go and hug a big shot’s leg.

Using the last of its limited energy, the system had transferred the little cub to the entrance of the Lu Corporation. To keep her hidden, it put an invisibility charm on her, making her invisible to everyone around.

As the system was lost in thought, the panel suddenly started beeping. The mission target had arrived. The system quickly directed the little cub to rush forward and hug the leg.

“Kid! Go now—that’s your dad!”

The cub was confused, but she remembered the system’s gentle, coaxing words, so she immediately scrambled to her feet and stumbled toward the group ahead.

Just then, the invisibility charm wore off, so the group of people suddenly saw a tiny toddler running unsteadily toward them at the company entrance.

A group of grown men found themselves inexplicably nervous because of this little bundle.

With no warning, the little cub flopped down onto the leg of their CEO like a sticky rice cake.

She looked up at the tall man, her tiny hands instinctively clutching his pant leg. Then, as if remembering something, she flashed Lu Jin Qiao a sweet smile.

“Daddy~ it’s me~”

Everyone around was utterly charmed by the little one, but Lu Jin Qiao only scowled, trying to shake her off. The more he lifted his leg, the tighter the little cub clung to his pants, which irritated him.

“Where did this gas can come from? Take her away!”

Lin, the assistant, hurried over and bent down to pick up the little one.

Then the little cub suddenly cried out, “Daddy, it’s me! I’m An’an!”

As she spoke, she nuzzled her slightly itchy cheek against Lu Jin Qiao’s trousers.

Lin looked troubled, not sure whether it was because of the child’s words or his boss’s reaction.

Lu Jin Qiao, with one hand, pinched the back of the little cub’s collar and lifted her off the ground. Dangling in midair, she thought it was a game, kicking her arms and legs and giggling with delight.

“I want more~”

Lu Jin Qiao stared at her for a moment, then suddenly scooped her up and, taking the lead, carried her into the company, leaving a trail of hushed whispers behind.

Once in the office, Lu Jin Qiao released his hold, dropping the cub onto the sofa.

The system was horrified. If only it had enough points and energy, it would have avenged the little cub right then and there!

But the little cub simply thought Lu Jin Qiao was playing with her. She rolled lazily on the sofa, clapping her little arms. “Yah! Yaha!”

“Heehee, Daddy~”

The little girl tilted her head and smiled at Lu Jin Qiao, so sweetly it could kill.

Though he’d tossed her onto the sofa, Lu Jin Qiao had been careful not to hurt her and had stationed himself nearby to make sure she didn’t fall. Sitting beside her, he helped her up, propping her back with one hand and supporting his chin with the other. He looked at the little cub, asking offhandedly, “Little one, what’s your name? Where are your parents?”

An’an didn’t quite understand, but she caught the mention of her name.

Frowning, her large eyes full of reproach, she stared at Lu Jin Qiao. “Silly Daddy, An’an already said, I’m An’an!”

She struggled with her chubby little arms to prop herself up, her legs kneeling like lotus roots, and crawled toward Lu Jin Qiao, using both hands and feet.

He didn’t stop her.

Once she reached his arms, he would pick her up and set her aside, only for her to crawl back, again and again, never tiring of the game.

When An’an finally fell asleep in his arms, exhausted, Lu Jin Qiao called in his assistant Lin, instructing him to contact the police and investigate how the little girl had gotten there.

But strangely, after checking all the company’s surveillance footage, no one could figure out where An’an had come from—she had simply appeared out of nowhere.

Later, the police arrived to take An’an away. But there was no genetic record of her in the system, so they took a blood sample to run a genetic test.

Then, they discovered that An’an’s genetic sequence had an extraordinarily high overlap with Lu Jin Qiao’s.

They called Lu Jin Qiao, asking him to come to the hospital, and under police supervision, he and An’an underwent a paternity test.

“Mr. Lu, until the results are out, we’d appreciate it if you could take care of the little girl for now. Our facilities… aren’t very suitable for her.”

Lu Jin Qiao didn’t refuse such a brief responsibility. He thanked the officers, accepted An’an, and left.

As a human child, An’an’s sleep was deep and peaceful. Even after being passed around and having her blood drawn, she still hadn’t woken, sleeping soundly.

Lu Jin Qiao glanced down at her face, then, almost absentmindedly, pinched her cheek. “Little piggy.”

Perhaps the word struck a nerve—An’an suddenly stretched out her chubby arms, accidentally smacking Lu Jin Qiao on the chin.

“Pig… piggy…”

The little girl smacked her lips, as if dreaming of something delicious, and promptly drifted back to sleep.

Lu Jin Qiao: …

He’d almost thought he’d woken her.

Seeing the trace of red on her cheek, Lu Jin Qiao, for once, felt a twinge of guilt.

She was just too delicate.

Lu Jin Qiao grumbled silently to himself.

By the time An’an finally woke up, it was already dark outside.

She sat dumbly on the bed, bewildered by the unfamiliar surroundings. Her lips quivered, and her large eyes filled with tears.

Oh no!

Before the system could say anything to comfort her, the little white dumpling on the bed opened her mouth wide.

“Waaah—”

Her wails shook the entire room.

An’an? Kid? An’an!

The system’s calls didn’t calm her at all. Instead, she cried even harder.

Lu Jin Qiao, startled by the noise, rushed back in to find the little bundle sobbing uncontrollably on the huge bed.

For some reason, a sharp pang stabbed through Lu Jin Qiao’s heart.

He hurried over, scooped An’an into his arms, and gently patted her back, soothing her.

“Don’t cry, don’t cry.” He carefully wiped the tears from her face with a gentle hand.

Gradually, An’an quieted down in his arms, though she still hiccuped now and then.

Lu Jin Qiao was about to say something when his phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket. He had no choice but to hold the child in one arm and answer the call with the other.

“Hello, Mr. Lu? This is the officer you spoke with earlier. I’m calling to inform you of the paternity test results.”

“You and An’an…”