The entire world, once dim, suddenly lit up.
This was the most genuine feeling Dai Paipai had upon seeing Li Qianfan.
Looking at his still youthful face, Dai Paipai felt every cell in her body instantly erupt in joyous, frantic shouts: "He's here, he's here! He hasn't abandoned you!"
Dai Paipai smiled foolishly, like a sleepwalker, holding her meal tray as she walked over to Li Qianfan and sat down.
Li Qianfan, who was gnawing on a chicken drumstick, glanced at her tray and asked, "Just one egg and a bowl of congee. Will that be enough to fill you up?"
Dai Paipai didn't speak, but stood up and quickly walked to the food counter.
When she returned, she had bought two scallion pancakes, another chicken drumstick, and a piece of fried tofu.
Li Qianfan asked again, "Eating so much, aren't you afraid of gaining weight?"
Dai Paipai still didn't speak, only buried her head in eating.
After Wang Mingshuai's accident, Dai Paipai hadn't slept well, nor had she eaten a satisfying meal (not that she couldn't, but she had no appetite).
Now, she did.
Watching her devour the food, Li Qianfan shook his head in bewilderment and continued eating his own meal.
The restaurant became increasingly crowded.
A young couple, holding their trays, looked around for a long time. Finding no empty tables, they had no choice but to sit opposite Li Qianfan and Dai Paipai, four people sharing one table.
It was a normal occurrence.
After Li Qianfan finished his chicken drumstick and the thin gruel in his bowl, he stood up and said to Dai Paipai, "Eat slowly, I'll go buy a pack of cigarettes."
As he was about to leave, Dai Paipai took out a pack of cigarettes from her small bag and handed it to him, "Dad. I have cigarettes here."
Dad?
In front of outsiders, you're calling me Dad!?
Li Qianfan's jaw twitched.
The young couple sitting opposite them also looked at Dai Paipai with wide-eyed astonishment.
Even a blind person could tell that the mature Dai Paipai appeared several years older than Li Qianfan.
Yet, even a deaf person could clearly hear Dai Paipai just calling Li Qianfan "Dad."
Who wouldn't be surprised and astonished?
"Dad, take it."
Dai Paipai, ignoring how others saw her, stuffed the pack of cigarettes into Li Qianfan's pocket and said, "From now on, your cigarettes and drinks, as your daughter, I'll cover everything."
Li Qianfan frowned, but said nothing and quickly walked out of the restaurant.
Yeah!
Watching his retreating back disappear out the door, Dai Paipai clenched her fist and gave a low cheer.
She had done it deliberately in front of outsiders as the ultimate test.
If Li Qianfan had thrown a tantrum on the spot—
He didn't!
This proved that Li Qianfan would help her retrieve her husband's life's work from Zhao Lianjin and protect her husband's wife.
"This elder sister."
The girl sitting opposite them couldn't help but murmur, "Did I just hear that correctly?"
"No. He's my dad."
Dai Paipai stood up with a smile and picked up her small bag, "I wish you all a pleasant day."
Outside the restaurant.
Li Qianfan stood by his Mini, watching the passing traffic, silently smoking.
He had intentionally rushed to the hospital this morning to wait for Dai Paipai, wanting to talk to her properly.
But Dai Paipai's single word, "Dad"—
Made Li Qianfan very displeased!
He could naturally see the woman's petty thoughts, her attempt to test him.
His arrival meant everything; was there still a need for a test?
Calling him Dad in front of outsiders, heh, what would others think of their relationship?
"You're angry."
Dai Paipai's cautious voice came from behind him.
"Don't let it happen again."
Li Qianfan turned to look at her and said coldly, "I, Li Qianfan, hate it when women scheme against me. Unless that woman is my wife. From now on, don't call me Dad again. If you call me Dad one more time, I'll beat you to death."
Dai Paipai, holding her small bag in front of her abdomen with both hands, pursed her lips and nodded, "Okay, Dad. Paipai remembers."
Li Qianfan—
How insecure must she be?
Forget it.
Li Qianfan couldn't be bothered to deal with her any longer, took out his keys, and opened the car door.
As he was about to start the car, the door opened, and Dai Paipai stepped in, "Dad. My car is out of gas, it's okay to hitch a ride, right?"
Li Qianfan looked at her, saying nothing.
Dai Paipai met his gaze bravely, not backing down.
Gradually.
She thought she could make this quiet young man look away first.
She failed.
She got out of the car dejectedly.
As soon as she stepped out, the little Mini quickly started up and disappeared into the traffic.
As the car passed an intersection, Li Qianfan's phone screen popped up with a notification for a video call from Su Ziyu.
Li Qianfan immediately answered.
Holding his phone with his right hand, he scanned the car interior, "Wife, besides you, I will never let any other woman into my car."
Su Ziyu, who had just arrived at the hospital and hadn't even gotten out of her car yet, had impatiently initiated the video call, and replied calmly, "Do you think I care if other women are in your car?"
"Of course you don't care."
Li Qianfan replied immediately, "Only women who lack confidence in themselves would care."
Dean Su raised an eyebrow, "Are you implying I lack confidence?"
Li Qianfan—
When women become unreasonable, everything a man says is wrong!
"I'm calling to tell you."
Su Ziyu said, "I'm planning to form a strategic partnership with a prosthetics factory of a certain famous brand. I was wondering if I should pre-order a set for you."
Li Qianfan's face immediately filled with indignation, "Wife, if you threaten me again, don't blame me for being impolite."
Su Ziyu asked, "What will you do? What can you do? What dare you do?"
Faced with Su Black Belt's three consecutive questions, Li Qianfan answered with practical action.
He edited this video call and sent it to the family group chat.
A few minutes later.
Su Ziyu called.
Even through the phone, one could imagine how subservient she was: "Little husband, I was wrong. Please be magnanimous and don't hold a grudge against someone with hair as long as mine."
Li Qianfan, however, sneered and ended the call.
In the family chat.
Mother Lan was roaring a voice message: "Old Su, prepare the belt for tonight! I'm going to discipline that unpromising one with family law!"
After scolding Su Ziyu, Mother Lan sent a generous 2000 yuan red packet to her good son-in-law in the group chat.
It was a form of comfort for his startled little heart.
Such a simple life was truly wonderful.
No wonder so many men wished to be live-in sons-in-law.
However, Li Qianfan's good mood was significantly dampened by the appearance of Zhao Lianjin.
In the parking lot behind the office building.
"Yo, I really didn't expect you to come to work again today."
Zhao Lianjin, who had arrived at the company before Li Qianfan, sneered with disdain and walked up to his car.
"I was just promoted to secretary by Boss Paipai yesterday, so it's normal for me to come to work today, isn't it?"
Li Qianfan got out of his car and sized up Zhao Lianjin.
"Li Qianfan."
Zhao Lianjin dropped his sneer, "It seems you've made up your mind to ruin my good deed?"
Before Li Qianfan could answer, he added fiercely, "Let me tell you the truth! Paipai Fashion is mine, and Dai Paipai is also mine! Anyone who dares to snatch them from me, I'll make him."
Make him what?
Li Qianfan suddenly raised his hand, grabbed his neck, and swiftly stepped forward.
As Zhao Lianjin instinctively recoiled, he heard a dull thud.
Li Qianfan slammed him heavily against the trunk of his own car.
"Idiot."
Li Qianfan's eyes glinted coldly. He pressed his left thumb hard on Zhao Lianjin's waist: "You want too much."