Chapter Three: “Oh, little troublemaker? Take the door on the right on your way out. I won’t be seeing you off.”

Uncle Lin was already thinking about how he might escape from this house before dawn. But when he turned around again, the people who had just been standing there had vanished without a trace.

Uncle Lin gave an awkward laugh. “Sir.”

Lu Jin Qiao nodded, not paying much attention to what had just happened.

As he walked toward An’an, she was also trying her best to crawl toward him. In her excitement, she even managed to stand up and take a few steps before toppling back down.

Uncle Lin thought: isn’t this a perfect example of mutual affection!

Lu Jin Qiao scooped the little girl up from the floor and, with practiced ease, patted her tummy. “Have you eaten yet?”

An’an replied, “I’ve eaten!”

Uncle Lin added from the side, “This morning, the little lady drank a cup of formula, ate half an egg, a steamed dumpling, and a custard bun.”

Lu Jin Qiao raised his eyebrows in surprise. “You ate so much? Little piggy?”

An’an looked quite serious. “I’m An’an, not a piggy, Daddy, don’t poke me!”

Lu Jin Qiao nodded and asked about something else. “How did you get out of the room this morning? Hmm?”

He was quite sure he’d shut the door tight last night, and the handle was so high. How did she reach it?

An’an counted on her fingers. “It was Grandpa.”

Uncle Lin nodded. “Yes, sir. When I went by this morning as usual, I heard some slight noises from your room. I went in and found the little lady. I opened the door and carried her downstairs.”

Lu Jin Qiao nodded in understanding. “Next time you want to come out, just call for me, all right?”

An’an nodded emphatically. “Got it!”

Something seemed to cross Lu Jin Qiao’s mind, and he asked, “Should children this age go to kindergarten?”

Uncle Lin was shocked. “No, sir!”

Realizing he might have overreacted, he resumed his usual composed, professional demeanor. “The little lady is still very young, and she’s only just come home with you. If you send her to kindergarten too soon, she might feel abandoned. For her emotional well-being, she should stay at home for now.”

Lu Jin Qiao nodded. “All right, then I’ll keep you by my side from now on, okay?”

An’an nodded. “I’ll stay with Daddy!”

“Sir, would you like breakfast now?”

“No, I’ll take An’an out for a bit.”

Uncle Lin replied, “Very well.” No! Please, don’t take the little lady out with you!

Although he had confirmed yesterday that An’an was indeed his child, her household registration hadn’t been sorted. Today, he would take her to get it done, and maybe buy her some clothes and toys as well.

It was Saturday, so he didn’t need to go into the office. He might as well spend some more time with An’an outside.

Lu Jin Qiao was a man of action and set off with An’an immediately.

At this moment, he had no idea that his high school son, who had a day off, would be coming home today.

He took the little girl to get her household registration first. Thanks to some connections at the police station, the process was swift and efficient. The issue was resolved in no time.

He discussed her formal name with An’an in the car, going through several options before settling on “Lu Yu’an.”

Her nickname would remain An’an.

An’an was clearly delighted with her new name. The first time Lu Jin Qiao called out “Lu Yu’an” in the car, she didn’t respond, but once she realized he was talking to her, every time he called, she would nod and answer, “Yes.”

Her adorable responses melted Lu Jin Qiao’s heart.

He even wondered, recalling his son, why he never had this feeling when the boy was little. Perhaps when he saw him next, he’d try showing some fatherly love.

At the mall, Lu Jin Qiao carried An’an out of the car. She kicked her legs. “Daddy, I want to walk! I can walk by myself!”

He had wanted to savor the experience of holding her the whole way, but since An’an insisted, he let her down.

Nevertheless, he still held her hand, guiding her steps, in case her legs gave out and she fell.

At her age, most children could already run nimbly, but An’an seemed as if she’d never learned to walk. Her legs were weak and wobbly.

But there was nothing wrong with her health; she was as sturdy as a little calf—robust and healthy.

Still, it didn’t matter if she couldn’t walk well yet. Lu Jin Qiao thought, with him here, she could learn at her own pace.

Confirming she wasn’t hungry, he took her to buy clothes first.

Lu Jin Qiao let An’an pick out what she liked. She went straight for a bright yellow dress with a green hem—the top half covered in shiny sequins or something similar.

Lu Jin Qiao didn’t quite know how to describe it, but An’an’s sense of style left him speechless.

But the little girl liked it, and he wasn’t about to spoil her fun.

He crouched down to look her in the eye. “An’an, do you really like this little dress?”

An’an pouted. “Uncle said it’s pretty! Let me have it!”

The system: !!! Help!

Shiny things were the system’s weakness, which was why it prompted An’an to pick this particular dress. But it hadn’t expected her to betray it so easily!

Lu Jin Qiao frowned. “Uncle? What uncle?”

The system quickly warned: [Little one! You can’t tell anyone about me—not even your daddy.]

The little girl, who’d been about to say “Daddy isn’t just anyone,” sighed and gave in.

An’an replied, “Uncle is just uncle.”

Lu Jin Qiao hadn’t seen anyone talk to her while he wasn’t looking, but he was still uneasy. He summoned a bodyguard to check the surveillance footage for anything unusual.

Meanwhile, he gently tried to coax more information from the little girl, but she revealed nothing. Lu Jin Qiao made a mental note to investigate later.

After walking around for a while, the little girl was exhausted and slumped in his arms, watching him pick out clothes. Eventually, she grew so tired she fell asleep.

Fortunately, they had already finished most of the shopping. Lu Jin Qiao waved his hand and bought several more outfits in different colors, instructing them to be sent to the Pingjiang Villa. As for toys, he decided to wait until next time, since he still didn’t know what An’an liked.

The car ride home was smooth, and An’an slept soundly the whole way, not making a fuss.

Lu Jin Qiao looked down at her. “Why are you so good?”

An’an, nestled in his arms, slept sweetly, her mouth slightly open, her little hands curled up, chubby fingers leaving a plump bit of flesh exposed. Lu Jin Qiao reached out and gently poked it.

As soon as the car stopped, An’an woke up.

After getting out, she insisted on walking and insisted on carrying the clothes they’d bought. Lu Jin Qiao handed her a small bag, letting her toddle ahead.

“Hm? Where did a flying bag come from?”

At the sound, An’an paused, peeking out from behind the bag, locking eyes with a person sitting on the sofa.

Lu Huaiche narrowed his eyes, fixing her with a less-than-friendly stare. “Well, well, little troublemaker? Take a right out the door—not seeing you off.”