Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

  Since Qiao Nan stood on Zhai Sheng’s side, there was nothing that Qiao Dongliang could say.

  Qiao Dongliang twitched the corners of his mouth when he saw how his daughter stood side by side with Zhai Sheng. He tried to school his expression and pulled Qiao Nan to his side. “Nan Nan, since you said that these foods are good for you, we will keep them. Zhai Sheng, thank you for looking out for Nan Nan.”

  Zhai Sheng could tell from Qiao Dongliang’s tone that he was suspicious and wanted to sound him out. He deflected it cleverly. “My mom asked me to bring them here.”

  “Your mom?” Qiao Dongliang looked at Zhai Sheng suspiciously. Nan Nan was not acquainted with the wife of the chief of the army. At most, she had seen her once and it was an unpleasant experience. The reason why the wife of the chief of the army still remembered Nan Nan was probably due to Ding Jiayi and Qiao Zijin. She could not possibly have a good impression of Nan Nan.

  How would she have Nan Nan in mind and ask Zhai Sheng to bring her dried food? Did Zhai Sheng think that he is a three-year-old child?

  “Auntie Miao is too polite. I merely let her in and had a chat with her.” Qiao Nan slanted her head and looked at Zhai Sheng with a questioning look in her eyes. Was Zhai Sheng telling the truth? Did Auntie Miao ask him to bring the dried food over and it really had nothing to do with him?

  “Nan Nan, when did you meet the wife of the chief of the army?” Qiao Dongliang refused to believe what Zhai Sheng said.

  “About half an hour ago.” Qiao Nan recalled.

  Qiao Dongliang widened his eyes. “Have you really seen the wife of the chief of the army today? She came to our house?” Was Nan Nan dreaming?

  “That’s right. Auntie Miao asked me a few questions.”

  Qiao Dongliang hesitated. He pulled Qiao Nan to the side and whispered, “Nan Nan, are you very close with the wife of the chief of the army?” He thought that since what happened last time, apart for Zhai Sheng, everyone in the Zhai family did not have a good impression of them, especially the wife of the chief of the army.

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  “Not very close. I have only had three encounters with Auntie Miao, and we have spoken twice only.” Qiao Nan gestured with her hands.

  “But, why?”

  “Dad, you must not think that since she is the wife of the chief of the army, she must be haughty and arrogant. Back then, Deng Xiaoping and Premier Zhou were very approachable. They were Chairman and Premier, yet they were close to the people. Auntie Miao is the wife of the chief of the army. Why would she be high up in the air? Look at Brother Zhou. He is young and promising, the most outstanding child in our quad. When did he act arrogant and haughty? Didn’t he address you as ‘uncle’?”

  Qiao Nan was trying to sweet-talk Qiao Dongliang.

  If her father was in awe of the Zhai family, then the relationship between Brother Zhai and her would not work out.

  Qiao Nan did not want her father to lower his head out of inferiority when he met the Zhai family in the future.

  “T-this is true.” At the mention of the chairman, Qiao Dongliang was in awe. His eyes were full of worship and admiration.

  As the daughter of Qiao Dongliang, how would she not know who her father looked up to?

  “Zhai Sheng, please express gratitude to your mom when you go back. Our family……” Though the gifts that Zhai family gave them were not very expensive, the goodwill was deep. However, Qiao Dongliang had nothing valuable to give to them.

  “My mom likes Nan Nan very much and wants me to take care of Nan Nan. Uncle Qiao must not stand on ceremony with us.”

  Qiao Nan shot Zhai Sheng a disdainful look. She was sure that Zhai Sheng was lying.

  Half an hour ago, Auntie Miao came to ask her how to break up Zhai Sheng and the girl that he liked. She did not believe that Auntie Miao would want Brother Zhai to take care of her.

  Zhai Sheng winked at Qiao Nan right in front of Qiao Dongliang. Some things were better left unsaid. Sooner or later, his mother would accept her.

  Previously, Zhai Sheng was still uncertain of Qiao Nan’s attitude toward their relationship, but now he was assured.

  From the words that Qiao Nan said to Qiao Dongliang, he could tell that she was paving the way for their future.

  Qiao Nan laughed in exasperation. Brother Zhai sounded righteous and just, but he was teasing her right in front of her father. Was it suitable for him to do that? It might smear the reputation of the soldiers!

  Qiao Dongliang did not notice the subtle interactions between the two of them. He smiled and said, “The wife of the chief of the army is really gracious. You are so busy with your work in the army and you seldom have time for your family. If you are free, you must spend more time with them and take a rest as well. You may be young and healthy, but the tough training in the army will be very tiring for the body.”

  Qiao Dongliang was a man. Even though his daughter and Zhai Sheng tried to hide it, how could he not notice anything?

  Qiao Dongliang was telling Zhai Sheng that if he was free, he should be more concerned about his family. As Nan Nan’s father, Qiao Dongliang would take care of her. Outsiders did not need to care for and take care of her.

  It was said that a daughter was her father’s lover in his previous life. In that case, the son-in-law would be the rival.

  Qiao Dongliang was quick to sense that he was faced with his ‘rival’.

  “Dad, Brother Zhai was the one who sent me back last night.” Qiao Nan pursed her lips. She knew that she should not sneer at this time, but she felt pleased that her father was protective of her.

  Since she had ‘abducted’ the son of another family, Auntie Miao always came looking for her.

  Now that Brother Zhai had ‘abducted’ her, it was understandable that her father behaved in such a manner.

  “That was so rash of you!” Qiao Dongliang glared at Qiao Nan with a half-anxious look. “How could you do that? If you wanted to go back, why didn’t you tell me? Walking alone in the middle of the night is dangerous! You gave me a big scare!”

  At the mention of this, Qiao Dongliang felt like spanking Qiao Nan’s bottom. How could she be so disobedient and give him such a shock on the first day of the Lunar New Year?

  The first thing that came to mind after Qiao Dongliang woke up this morning was to ask if Qiao Nan slept well yesterday.

  However, when he opened the door, there was nobody in the room.

  Qiao Dongliang knew that Qiao Nan would always stack the blanket in a particular way.

  But the blanket on the bed was not folded properly. One look at it and Qiao Dongliang knew that Qiao Nan did not use the blanket at all. In other words, Qiao Nan did not sleep in the Qiao family’s residence at all!

  Qiao Dongliang who had a big fright early in the morning was wide awake. He put on his clothes and ran outside, checking to see if Qiao Nan had gone home.

  “This is indeed Nan Nan’s fault.” Zhai Sheng turned serious and looked at Qiao Nan. “Nan Nan, you must realize your mistakes. Even if you really want to go back in the middle of the night, you have to find someone to accompany you so that others could rest assured.”