When they were eating, Qi Bufan said, “I came to pick you up today and realized that all the clothes I bought for you are outdated. Sigh, I always feel that you are still a kid and have forgotten that you have grown up. You are a big girl who likes to be pretty.”


  “When we reach Binjiang City, Daddy will take you to buy clothes.”


  Dai Chukong did not particularly care about her attire. As long as her clothes were comfortable and clean, it was fine. However, she appreciated Qi Bufan’s concern and said, “Okay.”


  After dinner, Qi Bufan sent her to school while he found a hotel in the county city to stay in.

  The next day, Dai Chukong bid farewell to her friends. As soon as she left the school, she saw Qi Bufan waiting for her outside.

  Dai Chukong stood at the same spot and stared at the tall and strong man for a long time. The reluctance in her eyes gradually turned into determination.

  “You cried?”


  Qi Bufan felt terrible seeing her cry.

  However, he had no choice. His mother had already departed from this world. He could not leave Dai Chukong here alone.

  “I’m a bit reluctant,” Dai Chukong admitted.

  “You can come back to visit them in the future. Besides, you’re in university now. Many of your friends will go to Binjiang City. You can meet them there.”


  Dai Chukong pursed her lips and said, “Binjiang City’s universities are hard to get into.

  “I also can’t study at Binjiang University.”


  “I’m sure you can.”


  ***

  Qi Bufan’s daughter was about to arrive. This was a major event.

  Early in the morning, Aunt Jin was busy slaughtering chickens and fish. She was so busy that she got dizzy. Qiao Jusheng’s stomach was getting bigger and bigger, so she could not help it. Qiao Jiusheng watched television in the living room and waited for them to come. After finishing his work, Fang Yusheng came downstairs. When he saw that Qiao Jusheng was only wearing a sweater, he got worried that she would be cold. So, he went back to the room to get her a shawl.

  After putting the shawl on Qiao Jiusheng, Fang Yusheng hugged her shoulders and placed his head on hers.

  “I envy people who have daughters.”


  Qiao Jiusheng smiled and teased him. “You’re going to get one too?”


  “No!”


  His hand slid down and landed on Qiao Jiusheng’s stomach. Fang Yusheng gently patted Qiao Jiusheng’s stomach, turned over, and jumped onto the sofa from behind. Placing his cheek on Qiao Jiusheng’s stomach, he said to the two babies in her stomach, “Sons, wake up. Time to work!”


  His two sons were as quiet as chickens.

  Fang Yusheng looked up at Qiao Jiusheng and complained to her, “Your sons ignored me. It seems like they don’t love me. When they are born in the future, I won’t buy diapers for them anymore.”


  Qiao Jiusheng did not know whether to laugh or cry. “Sing for them and wake them up.”


  “Really?” Fang Yusheng was eager to try.

  Qiao Jiusheng nodded. “Sing something lively and happy.”


  Fang Yusheng’s mouth twitched, and he asked, “Little frog?”


  When Qiao Jiusheng was exercising a few days ago, she played the song “Little Frog.” When the two brats in her stomach had heard that song, they had moved around inside. It was very exciting. Upon hearing that, Qiao Jiusheng chuckled. “Sure, you sing.”


  Fang Yusheng wanted to give it a try, so he used his phone to find the lyrics of “Little Frog.”


  He placed his lips on Qiao Jiusheng’s abdomen and softly muttered.

  “When plants are planted near the Happy Pond, dreams become oceans.

  “Open your eyes and mouth and sing loudly.

  “Lend me a pair of small wings and I can fly to the sun.”


  Qiao Jiusheng wanted to laugh when she heard his singing, but she had to give him face and could only endure it.

  Qiao Jiusheng had originally only wanted to tease Fang Yusheng, but when Fang Yusheng was halfway through the song, a small bump appeared on Qiao Jiusheng’s belly. Fang Yusheng had been staring at it all the time. The moment he saw the small bump, he quickly reached out his hand to feel it. He said to Qiao Jiusheng, “I touched his foot.”


  Qiao Jiusheng shrugged. “Continue.”


  He was lucky to have awakened the baby.

  Seeing that the singing was effective, Fang Yusheng continued. He sang even harder and had a good rhythm.

  When Qi Bufan led Dai Chukong into the house, Fang Yusheng was singing enthusiastically.

  Dai Chukong subconsciously wanted to cover her ears. Fang Yusheng’s voice was pleasant to the ears, but it was just a little out of tune. Qi Bufan had long become accustomed to it. Fang Yusheng could play the zither well, but he could not sing. It could be said that he was out of tune. So far, he had only sung China’s national anthem and frequently hummed a verse of it.

  Qi Bufan led Big Black into the house.

  When Qiao Jiusheng saw a shadow approaching from outside the door, she immediately patted Fang Yusheng’s head. “They’re here!”


  Fang Yusheng immediately sat up straight. There was no extra expression on his face. His cold temperament, which was like that of an immortal’s, attracted Dai Chukong’s attention.

  Fang Yusheng thought that the two of them had not heard him singing. Little did he know that Dai Chukong had already heard him. Dai Chukong entered the room and saw a man sitting on the sofa. She thought he looked so handsome that even she could not help but peek at him. Dai Chukong found it hard to think that such a handsome man could sing so horribly.

  Qiao Jiusheng hurriedly got up. Seeing her get up, Fang Yusheng followed suit.

  The two of them went up and ignored Qi Bufan. They walked behind him and looked at Dai Chukong. Fang Yusheng saw Dai Chukong’s good looks and felt a little jealous of Qi Bufan.?

  Qiao Jiusheng immediately had a good impression of Dai Chukong. “Chukong?” she asked.

  Dai Chukong nodded and obediently said, “Madam Fang.”


  “Don’t call me Madam. Call me Sister. Madam makes me sound old.”


  Upon hearing this, Dai Chukong heaved a sigh of relief. Madam looked young and pretty. She also felt that it was inappropriate to call Qiao Jiusehgn Madam, so she immediately changed her tone and said, “Sister Ah Sheng.”


  Fang Yusheng chimed in, “I’m your Brother Yusheng.”


  When Dai Chukong, who was about to call him Uncle Fang, heard this, she immediately swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth. Then, she opened her mouth and obediently said, “Brother Yusheng.”


  Qi Bufan’s eyelids twitched. He glanced at Fang Yusheng and couldn’t help but remind him, “Sir, this is my daughter.” He was hinting that Fang Yusheng should let her call him uncle.

  Fang Yusheng nodded and said, “I know! You have a sweet tongue.”


  Qi Bufan was speechless.

  “My daughter is only 16.” He beat around the bush and reminded Fang Yusheng that he should change his seniority. Qi Bufan was only 31 years old and was just a few months older than Fang Yusheng. He was shameless to ask his daughter to call himself older brother.

  Fang Yusheng pretended not to understand and said even more shamelessly, “No wonder Chukong looks so lively. She’s only 16.”


  Qi Bufan fell silent.

  He cursed in his heart:?

  At this moment, Aunt Jin arrived.

  Dai Chukong looked at her.

  This aunt was chubby, loved to smile, and always wore an apron. When she smiled, her eyes became like slits. This was undoubtedly Aunt Jin.

  “Hello, Aunt Jin.” Dai Chukong was still as obedient as ever. Her mouth was also sweet. Aunt Jin immediately said, “This girl is pretty. One look, and you can tell she’s smart and extraordinary. You’ve raised a good daughter.”


  Qi Bufan proudly smiled.

  As Dai Chukong addressed Fang Yusheng and Qiao Jiusheng as Brother and Sister, Qi Bufan instantly became on par with Aunt Jin in terms of seniority.

  During the meal, Qi Bufan listened to Fang Yusheng, Qiao Jiusheng, and Dai Chukong chat.

  Fang Yusheng said, “I’ve already completed the transfer procedures for you. You can go to school next Monday.”


  Qiao Jiusheng added, “Your Brother Yusheng and I have already helped you decorate your new house. You can stay in our house tonight and visit the new house tomorrow.”


  Fang Yusheng added, “Brother Yusheng has good taste. Don’t worry, the house is well renovated. You’ll definitely like it if you stay there.”


  Qi Bufan was speechless as he heard Fang Yusheng call himself “Brother Yusheng.”


  After the meal, Qiao Jiusheng took out the clothes that she had bought for Dai Chukong. As if she were presenting the girl with some treasure, she let her try them on, piece by piece. Initially, Dai Chukong’s face looked delicate and pleasant in her school uniform. After changing into the winter dress that Qiao Jiusheng had bought for her, which was favored by young people, the girl looked even more beautiful.

  Dai Chukong wore a white lacy high-collared dress with translucent chiffon that covered her chest and collarbones. On top of that, the dress had small white pearls. She also wore a light blue long coat and a pair of black flats as she walked out of Qi Bufan’s room.

  When Qi Bufan, who was talking to Aunt Jin, accidentally saw someone walking over, he thought it was Qiao Jiusheng. But when he turned his head, he saw that it was Dai Chukong who had changed her clothes. He was stunned.

  Dai Chukong had messed up her hair when she was changing her clothes earlier, so she simply put it down. Her hair had not been straightened or curled, and it had natural curls. Her black hair fell on her shoulders, making her thin face look even more elegant and beautiful.

  Dai Chukong usually wore sportswear, so Qi Bufan did not feel much about it. Now that she was wearing a slim-fit dress, he realized that she had really grown up and was developing well.

  When Qi Bufan observed Dai Chukong, he was completely like an old father. Gratification and emotion appeared in his eyes, and there was not a trace of any complicated emotion.

  Qi Bufan was not very cultured. After a long time, he dryly commented, “Chukong looks really nice.”


  Hearing this, Dai Chukong immediately beamed with joy.

  “Really, Big Brother…” Dai Chukong immediately shut up when she thought of Qiao Jiusheng and Fang Yusheng. She was afraid that Fang Yusheng would hear her calling Qi Bufan “Brother.”


  Qi Bufan nodded again. “Yes!” He then looked at Qiao Jiusheng and said, “Madam, I’m a man, and I don’t know how to buy clothes for her. When you go shopping in the future, if you don’t find it troublesome, help us buy more clothes for Chukong.”


  Every man wanted his daughter to look beautiful.

  Qiao Jiusheng was naturally happy to do so. “I love buying.”


  Fang Yusheng suddenly added, “Then you have to work hard to earn money. You don’t know the market prices and don’t know how expensive clothes are nowadays. A piece of cloth the size of a palm costs thousands.” He was referring to Qiao Jiusheng’s underwear.

  It was true. He felt that the person who made those clothes was earning too much money.

  Two pieces of cloth the size of a palm plus two straps could fetch a price of more than a thousand yuan. Moreover, it was said that a brand of underwear in Italy could sell for three to four thousand yuan.

  Aunt Jin suddenly interrupted them and said, “Our Yingying used to look at that… Oh, right, Victoria’s Secret. I heard that a few sets of undergarments inside it are sold for millions!”


  Qiao Jiusheng suddenly asked Aunt Jin, “Aunt Jin, you actually know Victoria’s Secret?” She was very surprised. “I know the one you’re talking about. I also think it’s extravagant. There are so many diamonds on a set of lingerie, but there’s no way to eat them!”


  Qi Bufan’s brows jumped, not knowing what to say!

  He hurriedly said, “Madam, there’s still a child here!”


  Qiao Jiusheng immediately shut up.

  Dai Chukong pretended not to hear anything.

  She would not tell Qi Bufan that every year, when Victoria’s Secret fashion show was uploaded, the girls in her dorm would hold their phones and repeatedly look at them. They would comment on the bodies and undergarments of the angels.

  At night, Dai Chukong slept in the guest room on the second floor while Qi Bufan slept on the first floor.

  Dai Chukong could not fall asleep no matter what.

  At ten o’clock, she heard someone talking on the roof. She got out of bed, wrapped herself in her sleeping robe, and ran upstairs. In the end, she saw the handsome Brother Yusheng burning charcoal on the roof lying with Sister Ah Sheng.

  Sister Ah Sheng seemed to be reading a story. Brother Yusheng listened, but his eyes were fixed on Sister Ah Sheng.

  Dai Chukong watched from afar. She was envious of them.

  She looked up and saw a sky full of stars.

  The weather was getting colder, and she could see that the night sky of the Milky Way was getting darker. Tonight, she seemed to be able to tell that the next day would be a good day.

  Just as Dai Chukong was about to go downstairs, Qiao Jiusheng suddenly turned around and said to her, “Come over, Chukong. Come here and warm yourself.”


  She had been discovered…


  Dai Chukong could only turn around and walk toward them.

  There were two lounge chairs on the roof and a long bench made of wood.

  As soon as Dai Chukong sat down, Fang Yusheng said, “The chair you’re sitting on was made by Qi Bufan.”


  Dai Chukong was surprised. She lowered her head to look at the long bench. The bench was covered in a layer of coffee-colored paint, which felt very smooth. Sitting on Qi Bufan’s chair, Dai Chukong suddenly felt at ease.

  Fang Yusheng passed her a cup of hot tea. Dai Chukong thanked him as she took the cup.

  Qiao Jiusheng continued reading, but Fang Yusheng did not say anything when he saw that she had stopped speaking. He looked up at the stars and suddenly said, “Bufan is 31 this year. Ah Sheng, what do you think of the girls that I have chosen for him?”


  Upon hearing this, Qiao Jiusheng and Dai Chukong looked up at him at the same time.

  Qiao Jiusheng was dumbfounded.