Afraid that Master Xiao would reject her, before he could reply, she quickly added, “Don’t worry, I won’t do anything. I just…… want to stay here.”


  “Did that kid teach you to say that?” Master Xiao squinted and asked.

  “He went out to do something. I don’t know if he’ll be able to come back tonight. Dad, can you let me stay by his side?”


  Master Xiao rubbed his fingertips. His body exuded the might of thunder, but in his heart, he felt that this child was pure and innocent.

  If it were him or Qi’er, they would have just tricked everyone to get away with such a thing. She was so honest that she even made a phone call to ask for permission.

  “If I don’t agree, would you come back obediently?” Master Xiao could not help but ask in return, as if he was teasing her.

  “You won’t say no,” Little Qi said firmly. “Because you said that I should experience my own life. I’m feeling it now.”


  “Since we’re on this topic, then I’ll say a few more words. You’re going to be an adult soon. In the future, you don’t need to ask me for instructions. But remember, daughter, before you make any decision, think carefully. Since you’ve made a choice, there’s no turning back. Whether it’s good or bad, you have to bear the consequences yourself.”


  It was rare for Master Xiao to speak so earnestly to Little Qi.

  “Do you understand?”


  “I understand.” Little Qi nodded on the other end of the line.

  “I’m giving you freedom, and I hope you remember your identity. You have love, but you’re also the daughter of the Sheng family. I hope you’ll never forget this.”


  Little Qi understood that after Master Xiao said those words today, he would never teach her how to make choices again.

  In the future, she would have to think about such things herself and bear the consequences herself.

  “I’ll remember it,” Little Qi replied solemnly.

  “I’m hanging up.” Master Xiao saw Mu Qiqi walk to his side and ended the call with his daughter.

  Mu Qiqi had actually been standing at the entrance listening for quite a while. It was rare for her to be as worried as Master Xiao’s father. She could not help but smile in relief. “You’re letting your daughter go so quickly?”


  “She should be the one to choose her own life. Since she is Sheng Xiao’s daughter, freedom is her most precious asset. I don’t want her to be like you back then, needing to to be sneaky just because you liked someone.” Master Xiao reached out to hold his wife. “Qi’er, our daughter has grown up.”


  “I don’t need you to remind me that I’m old.” Mu Qiqi leaned into Master Xiao’s embrace and snorted. “However, I’ve never regretted marrying you all these years.”


  “What do you have to regret? Am I not good enough to you?” Master Xiao scoffed. “You’re heartless.”


  “I hope that our daughter…… can also meet a man who treats her the way you treat me.”
……

  On the other side, Little Qi, who had put down her phone, suddenly felt the weight of life.

  However, looking at the portrait in her hand, she asked herself if she really wanted to go home?

  She didn’t want to.

  She waited for He Yanzhi at the hotel for a long time. Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore, so she changed into his sleeping clothes. After washing up, she lay on the bed.

  Zhi Chu knew that Little Qi hadn’t left, but he didn’t call He Yanzhi to inform him.

  He didn’t want to get involved in the private affairs of the couple.

  At midnight, He Yanzhi returned to his hotel room exhausted.

  After opening the door, he took off his smoky coat and saw a school bag on the coffee table. It was Little Qi’s.