"I haven't asked you yet. Why do you call me 'father'?"
The little pink dumpling in front of him was undeniably cute.
But Yan Ruyu had lived for a thousand years and had seen all sorts of things.
Looking at the child's face, although it didn't seem like she had been pampered, one could still tell at a glance that her elders at home must have treated her extremely well. Otherwise, she wouldn't have kept mentioning her mother in every other sentence.
"Mother said that father is the most handsome man in the world."
Yan Ruyu couldn't help but feel a bit amused.
"Just because of that?"
Feng Qiu'er scratched her head.
She was only three years old.
Not as eloquent as her elder brother.
There were many words of description and praise stuck in her throat, but she just didn't know how to say them.
"Anyway, mother said that father is the most good - looking person in the world."
Yan Ruyu saw the little girl saying this extremely seriously.
He probably realized something.
"Have you never seen your father since you were a child?"
Feng Qiu'er nodded dejectedly.
Although she had never seen her father.
In her mind, she had pictured her father's appearance countless times.
The father in her imagination was not much different from the one in front of her.
Yan Ruyu sort of understood.
It seemed.
This was also a poor little girl.
She must have lost her father since childhood. Her mother was probably afraid that they would keep asking to see their father, so she used this excuse to fob them off.
The little girl was still young, so she believed whatever her mother said.
"Don't you believe what I said?"
Little Qiu'er was also smart.
Looking at Yan Ruyu's face, she actually asked such a question.
"No, I believe you."
"My mother never lies."
Yan Ruyu nodded.
"I believe that."
Feng Qiu'er was a bit anxious and said it seriously again.
"My mother really never lies."
Yan Ruyu placed Feng Qiu'er on the bed.
He said, "I believe you."
In every child's heart, their mother was the greatest. Even if it was a lie, it was the kindest one. It didn't really matter if they believed it.
Hearing Yan Ruyu's answer,
Feng Qiu'er asked eagerly, "Father, will you abandon little Qiu'er?"
"Will you abandon elder brother?"
"You haven't seen us for so many years. Is it because you don't like mother? Or you don't like us?"
Yan Ruyu said, "When your injury heals, I'll send you back. Your mother will explain everything to you."
Feng Qiu'er nodded.
Looking at the clean and comfortable clothes on herself.
She waved at Yan Ruyu.
Yan Ruyu leaned closer.
She sat up straight.
Naturally hooking her little hands around Yan Ruyu's neck, then gave him a smooch.
"Thank you, father."
Then Feng Qiu'er turned around.
Hugging the quilt.
There were two lovely dimples on her little face.
Yan Ruyu was stunned.
He was just about to explain that he wasn't her father and asked her not to have too high expectations of him.
But seeing the little girl's secretly delighted look.
He just couldn't say those words.
"Your name is little Qiu'er, right?"
The little girl nodded with her back to him.
Yan Ruyu said, "Little Qiu'er, you take a rest first. I'll take you out later."
"Okay."
The little girl replied excitedly.
Yan Ruyu got up.
And walked out of the bamboo hut.
Little Qiu'er, it was really a nice name.
But a daughter?
This child looked only about three years old. How could she be his child?
He.
Should never have a child.
He was just like a walking corpse living in this world. The appearance of this little girl had made a tiny ripple in his life.
But.
That was all.
Yan Ruyu walked to the edge of the Secret Sea.
This was the territory of the female mermaid clan.
Since he and Ning'er first met here, every time he was free, he would always sit here for a while.
After some days.
Bai Ze came back.
"Your Majesty, that little girl?"
"She's in the bamboo hut."
"Do you want to take her with you?"
Yan Ruyu shook his head.
Bai Ze said, "Your Majesty, you can actually take her with you. Maybe this is a gift specially bestowed by heaven. With her accompanying you, you might find some fun."
But Yan Ruyu still shook his head.
If it was before.
When he met such a child.
He might have taken her with him.
"Your Majesty, Miss Zhao has already—"
"Bai Ze, you talk too much."
"Your Majesty—"
"I'm used to being alone."
He didn't want anyone to break into his life, his world, and his heart anymore.
Since more than twenty years ago.
The moment Ning'er died.
His heart, Feng Buran's heart, had also died.
No one could get in anymore.
Only Ning'er lived in it.
Bai Ze sighed.
Yan Ruyu knew very well that Bai Ze was doing it for his own good.
Did it think that saving this little girl would be the same as when he met Ning'er back then?
It was different.
No one could replace Ning'er.
"Your Majesty, will you still go to the Zhao Mansion this year?"
In about a month.
It would be the centenary birthday of Old Master Zhao.
Since Ning'er left.
Yan Ruyu hadn't set foot in the Linjiang Zhao Mansion for a long time.
However.
In his heart.
He still regarded Ning'er's family as his own relatives.
Not going didn't mean he had abandoned them.
It was just that he didn't want them to see him and then think of Ning'er again. It was a grand celebration day, and he shouldn't spoil their mood.
"I won't go."
Bai Ze said, "Your Majesty, in this year's invitation, Old Master Zhao strongly requested you to go in the letter. He said he had something to give you."
Something?
"It should be something of Miss Zhao's."
Yan Ruyu fell silent.
After a long while.
"I see."
Bai Ze knew.
In the end, his master still decided to go.
This was a good thing.
For so many years, His Majesty had always been afraid to face things related to Miss Zhao head - on. To be more precise, he was avoiding them.
Presumably, Old Master Zhao also knew this relationship.
He wanted to take advantage of his own birthday this time.
To untie His Majesty's knot in his heart.
However.
It was easier said than done.
His Majesty was such a stubborn and cold - hearted person.
Unless Miss Zhao came back to life.
Otherwise.
No one could change him.
He would never be the person who used to talk, laugh, and even joke with his elder brother Feng Zhan again.
"Father—"
A childish voice came from the bamboo hut.
Yan Ruyu turned around.
Bai Ze said, "This little girl?"
"She's just calling me randomly."
Bai Ze of course knew that what the little girl called was not true. His Majesty had been lonely for many years. Not to mention women, there were rarely even bugs around him on a normal day. How could a three - year - old daughter suddenly appear out of nowhere?
But what surprised Bai Ze was.
His Majesty didn't show any resistance to this address.
Maybe.
The appearance of the little girl was a promising start for His Majesty.
"She must be hungry. Bai Ze, go and get some food that children like."
Bai Ze was stunned for a moment.
Yan Ruyu added, "She should like pastries like mung bean cakes and osmanthus cakes."
Uh -
Your Majesty.
Where on earth am I supposed to get these things?
"Outside the Secret Sea, there will be a lot in the market."
Go out specifically?
Just for a few pastries?
"Yeah."