“Nothing…” Gu Qingcheng gently stroked Yun Liuli’s head and said softly to her, “It’s just that I suddenly remembered something to do with work. It’s nothing to do with you. Go to bed first!”


  Yun Liuli naturally reached out and grabbed Gu Qingcheng’s hand, shaking it in a coquettish manner. “Then… Uncle Qingcheng, sleep with me, okay? I’m scared to sleep alone…”


  Seeing no response from Gu Qingcheng, Yun Liuli shook Gu Qingcheng’s arm again, her voice soft like a little kitten. “Uncle Qingcheng…”


  “You go to bed first. I’ll come after taking a puff!” Gu Qingcheng raised his slim and long fingers that were holding a cigarette as he spoke to Yun Liuli.

  “I’ll wait here while Uncle Qingcheng smokes then!” Yun Liuli revealed an innocent smile, then said, “Uncle Qingcheng is wonderful. Daddy wouldn’t allow me to pester him like this. I’m scared at night and always want to sleep with Daddy, but I can’t sleep with him every day…”


  The young lady stood at the entrance of the balcony, telling Gu Qingcheng what was in her heart without reservations, sounding aggrieved. “Because Daddy has to sleep with Mommy. With me around, it’s inconvenient. But in one year… it’d be pretty good if Daddy’s at home for 60 days. I wait for Daddy all alone at home every time…”


  The young lady made herself sound very pitiful. Gu Qingcheng listened seriously to her as he stood on the balcony.

  No wonder the doctor said Yun Liuli lacked a sense of security…


  Thinking of Yun Shoushan, who died because of him, Gu Qingcheng sighed. He placed the unlit cigarette, the pack of cigarettes, and the lighter on the round table on the balcony, then said to Yun Liuli, “Let’s go, go back to sleep!”


  “Uncle Qingcheng, you’re not smoking anymore?” Yun Liuli looked up and gazed at Gu Qingcheng, looking slightly teary-eyed.

  “Mm, not smoking anymore!” Gu Qingcheng went back to the room with Yun Liuli, then drew the curtains and laid down.

  “Uncle Qingcheng, I feel that you shouldn’t smoke. My daddy doesn’t smoke. He says that smoking is bad!”


  Gu Qingcheng responded distractedly.

  The young lady slept while hugging his arm like that night. After laying there for a while, Yun Liuli asked, “Uncle Qingcheng, can I put my leg over yours?”


  When Gu Qingcheng didn’t answer, Yun Liuli said in a small voice, “It’s uncomfortable lying with my legs straight…”


  “Put it over! Quickly sleep…” Gu Qingcheng said softly.

  Yun Liuli placed her slim and long leg over Gu Qingcheng’s thigh, then closed her eyes in satisfaction and said, “Uncle Qingcheng, you’re wonderful!”


  With one “wonderful” from Yun Liuli, Gu Qingcheng couldn’t really say much else…


  Yun Liuli’s leg was placed over someplace it shouldn’t be, but… how could he raise this matter with a child?

  Bearing the uncomfortable sensation in his body, Gu Qingcheng thought that after Yun Liuli fell asleep, it would be okay!

  “Uncle Qingcheng…” Yun Liuli suddenly lifted her head and stared at Gu Qingcheng with her large eyes.

  Gu Qingcheng’s ears heated up. He pressed upon the blanket and said to Yun Liuli with a frown, “Focus on sleeping!”


  There was a mild rage in Gu Qingcheng’s voice, startling Yun Liuli…


  Clearly, it was his own issue, yet he was venting his anger on Yun Liuli. Gu Qingcheng felt it was bad of him, so he adjusted his emotions and said to Yun Liuli, “Go to sleep… Uncle Qingcheng will go take a puff and come back!”


  “Uncle Qingcheng!”


  This time, the young lady’s aggrieved voice wasn’t able to make Gu Qingcheng stay. Gu Qingcheng went to the balcony and closed the door before lighting a cigarette…


  Inside, the curtains were drawn. Thinking of how Yun Liuli wasn’t able to see him, Gu Qingcheng felt relieved.

  On the bed, Yun Liuli nearly couldn’t hold back her laughter.

  Hadn’t he seriously said that he was going to regard her as his own daughter? Gu Qingcheng, that big liar!

  Yun Liuli hugged the blanket and laid on the bed. Big progress tonight!

  She couldn’t be too anxious, for it would expose her true intent!

  She had to take it slowly. Surely, she would be able to win over Gu Qingcheng!

  Yun Liuli, who tasted victory, was in an awesome mood. Hugging the blanket to her chest, she fell asleep in no time.

  By the time Gu Qingcheng was done smoking and returned, the young lady was sleeping soundly. He wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry.

  There was nothing wrong with Gu Qingcheng wanting to dote upon Yun Liuli, but he had to watch his limits. After all, he was a grown man… and his thoughts towards Yun Liuli weren’t all that pure. He had to remind himself all the time to be careful in order to restrain himself.

  Gu Qingcheng went to the bathroom and washed his face, then came back. He heard Yun Liuli asking, in a dazed state in her sleep, whether he was done smoking.

  He responded, then Yun Liuli lifted the blanket and said to him, “Then quickly go to sleep, Uncle Qingcheng!”


  Gu Qingcheng quietly warned himself to draw the line properly. After getting into bed, Yun Liuli hugged his arm, but he shifted towards the side of the bed in order to keep a certain distance from Yun Liuli.

  But perhaps because Yun Liuli was afraid of the cold at night, she shifted towards the source of warmth. The soft and delicate young lady rolled into Gu Qingcheng’s arms once again.

  Gu Qingcheng had already shifted to the side of the bed and had no space to retreat.

  He gently held the hand Yun Liuli placed on his chest, wanting to move her arm, but he heard the young lady mumble softly. Perhaps she was dreaming, but she said in a terrified and soft voice, “Don’t leave me alone…”


  The fear in her voice made Gu Qingcheng’s heart ache.

  His body stiffened. This was going to be another restless night.

  Perhaps it was like people said, that what one thought about during the day, they would dream about at night. The more Gu Qingcheng restrained himself, afraid he would have another dream like that, the more easily he had the same kind of dream.

  It was nearly the exact same scene. Except, this time… Gu Qingcheng indulged himself more in the dream.

  Gu Qingcheng was awoken suddenly by his dream again. At that point, the skies were gradually brightening.

  He carefully moved Yun Liuli’s arms and legs away, then took some clothes to change into and went to wash up in the guest room. Only then did he feel refreshed.

  In the kitchen, Gu Qingcheng brewed himself a cup of coffee, his brain filled with the dream he had.

  Perhaps because Gu Qingcheng didn’t restrain himself in treating Yun Liuli well… the feelings he had for Yun Liuli fermented quietly in the depths of his heart. There were signs of those feelings starting to break free from his rational senses.

  The aroma of the coffee filled up the entire living room. Gu Qingcheng poured himself a cup, but before he could drink it, he heard the bedroom door open.

  Yun Liuli rubbed her eyes and came out. “Uncle Qingcheng…”