Each word was a barb, piercing Xingchen's eardrums, embedding deep in her heart.
She tilted her head up to meet his frigid gaze. "Then enlighten me, Mr. President. What caliber of man should I deem worthy? Someone who wouldn't make me appear… desperate?"
A fragile smile touched her lips, edged with a bleakness that unexpectedly tightened his own chest.
"Know what my grandmother said when she arranged that blind date? She told me I have no right to be picky. That even if the man is divorced with children, even if he were some mangy stray off the street…" Her voice hitched slightly. "...I should be grateful he'd take me. Know why?"
Bai Yeqing remained silent, his lips compressed into a thin line, his stormy gaze demanding she continue.
She drew a shaky breath. The smile remained, but it was a brittle, painful thing reflected in his eyes.
"Because I got pregnant at eighteen. Because my child has no known father. Because I'm the 'family disgrace'…" Her eyes locked onto his. "So tell me, sir. If not a divorced schoolteacher, what should someone like me aim for? A shining dragon among men?"
The words hung heavy in the air. Bai Yeqing stared at her, the turbulent anger in his gaze momentarily eclipsed by something deeper, heavier. The truth of her isolation, the crushing weight of judgment she carried – he hadn't truly measured its depth until now. A strange constriction tightened his throat.
Xingchen turned, pushing her bedroom door open. She had nothing left to say.
But before she could step inside, his hand shot out, fingers closing like steel manacles around her wrist.
She froze, whirling back. He leaned down, his face suddenly terrifyingly close. Her breath caught, her free hand scrabbling behind her for the door handle.
"Xia Xingchen. Listen. Well." His voice was low, dangerous, each syllable vibrating with a possessiveness that startled them both. Warm breath ghosted across her cheek. "Stop settling for scraps."
Her eyes widened.
"Divorced men? Men with baggage? Stay the hell away," he commanded, his grip unyielding. "If I find out you're entangled with that kind of trash, I will intervene. And make no mistake – I possess the means to ensure it ends. Permanently."
Xingchen blinked, stunned. The sheer, breathtaking audacity of it.
What right did he have? Not even Dabai dictated her choices!
She opened her mouth to retort, but he merely fixed her with one last scorching, inscrutable look. Then, abruptly, he released her wrist.
He turned, strode into his own room, and slammed the door with a thunderous crash that echoed through the silent corridor.
Xingchen stood rooted, wrist tingling, utterly bewildered. What in the world…?
...
Next Morning - The Dining Room
Only Dabai and Bai Yeqing occupied the vast space as dawn light filtered in. Dabai happily demolished a pastry, crumbs dusting his chin.
"Daddy," he mumbled around a mouthful, eyes sparkling with mischief. "You and Big Treasure vanished and came back together… Were you sneaking off on a secret grown-up trip?"
Bai Yeqing lowered his coffee cup. "You encouraged her to go on that blind date?"
"Yep!" Dabai nodded vigorously. "I wanted to marry her myself, but she says I'm too little. You'd be perfect, but you won't marry her!" He sighed dramatically. "So… blind dates it is!"
Bai Yeqing set his spoon down deliberately. "Remember that gun assembly I promised to teach you? Still interested?"
Dabai's eyes went wide as saucers. "Yes! Yes! When? No more stalling!" He crossed his tiny arms, attempting sternness.
"After breakfast," Bai Yeqing said casually, stirring his coffee. "Tell her you don't want her going on any more blind dates. Do that, and the lesson happens."
Dabai's jaw dropped. "Daddy… that's your thing, isn't it? You don't like her dating?"
"…No."
"Then why make me say it?"
"Still want the lesson?" Bai Yeqing arched a brow.
"Well… yeah!"
"Then say it. No questions."
Blackmail! Dabai pouted, his little face a battlefield of desire (guns!) versus loyalty (Big Treasure's happiness!).
Bai Yeqing sipped his coffee, watching the internal struggle. "Clock's ticking. One minute."
...
One minute later, Xingchen entered.
"Big Treasure! Eat!" Dabai chirped, piling food onto her plate with frantic energy.
"Thanks, sweetie." She kissed his cheek.
"Big Treasure," Dabai began, unable to meet her eyes. "That blind date uncle… you still talking?"
"Mmhmm."
"Do… do you like him?" Dabai asked, his voice small.
Xingchen paused, her gaze flickering instinctively towards Bai Yeqing. He was meticulously dissecting a fruit, seemingly oblivious.
She turned back to Dabai. "He's been kind. Helped me." She smiled, trying for lightness. "Seeing him soon to say thanks. Want to come?"
A palpable chill emanated from Bai Yeqing's end of the table.
Dabai beamed. "Yeah! I can—"
"Steward," Bai Yeqing interrupted, his voice deceptively calm. "Inform Leng Fei that firearm instruction is postponed indefinitely. The young master's age presents… complications."
"NO!" Dabai yelped, spine snapping straight. He shot a panicked look at his father, then back at Xingchen. "Changed my mind! Super busy! Homework mountains!"
Xingchen blinked. "But you just said…"
"Nope! Definitely staying!" Dabai plastered on an exaggerated frown. "Big Treasure…" He scooted closer, deploying wide, pleading eyes – the nuclear option. "Please? No more blind dates?"
Xingchen stared. "You were the cheerleader!"
"Past tense!" Dabai clung to her arm, burying his face in her sleeve. "What if… what if you marry someone else? Have new babies? Forget about me?" His voice trembled with manufactured devastation.
Xingchen's heart clenched. Even Bai Yeqing's brow furrowed slightly.
"Never," she whispered fiercely, pulling him close, ruffling his hair. "You're my Big Treasure. Always. No one replaces you."
Dabai peeked up at her, then shot a furtive, triumphant glance at his stone-faced father. He aimed his final, devastating shot:
"So… you won't need Daddy anymore? Right?"