"You Are My Dad!"
Seeing that he didn't believe her and was about to leave, the little girl finally couldn't stay calm. Her big, watery eyes were suddenly misted over, and she looked pitiful:
> "I was reborn so many times just to become your daughter! How could I make a mistake? You are my father—you are!"
Reborn many times...
Lu Junhan sneered and raised an eyebrow. He didn't expect that this child wasn't just dirty and ugly—but also completely delusional.
> "Dad, please believe me."
The little girl's dark eyes welled up with tears, her cheeks puffed out, and her small face was filled with grievance. Anyone looking at her would feel their heart squeeze. Her voice lowered to a soft murmur:
> "I'm really not lying... you're Lili's dad."
Lu Junhan saw her pitiful and aggrieved look, and for a split second, it felt like he was staring at a soaked little stray milk cat—lost and lonely. His heart stirred oddly, like something brushed against it and made it sore.
What the hell is this feeling?
He frowned, lips pressing into a thin line, inexplicably annoyed. He wanted her to stop crying—it made her even uglier.
But before he could say anything, the little girl sniffled and cheered up again on her own.
She pointed to her face and said, in a serious tone, with a small but confident milky voice:
> "Bad Dad, how can you not believe me? You're obviously my dad! Look at us—we look exactly alike!"
Her little face was caked in dirt, looking like a drowned kitten.
She was still soaking wet from the pond and hadn't cleaned up properly. Mud was smeared everywhere. Honestly, aside from those big, beautiful eyes... there was nothing "alike" at all.
> "We're like... carved from the same mold, right?"
Lu Li added proudly.
Back in Heaven, everyone had said she looked exactly like her father.
Lu Junhan: "..."
Everyone else: "..."
Are they blind? Or is this little girl blind?
Lu Junhan's jaw tightened, veins popping as he stood there, clearly about to explode.
He was crazy to even stand here and waste time with this little idiot. The banquet was starting soon, and he still hadn't changed.
Being decisive as always, he gave the order coldly without another glance at her:
> "Take her away."
Little Lu Li's lips quivered. Her dirty little hands grabbed the edge of his suit jacket. Her eyes, red-rimmed with tears, looked up at him:
> "I don't wanna go! I wanna stay with you, Dad!"
As she spoke, she looked down and rubbed her flat, empty stomach. Her voice dropped to a whisper:
> "And I'm so hungry... I haven't eaten in a long time. I'm almost starving. Dad, won't you take me to eat something?"
"..."
> "...Daddy."
Lu Junhan looked at her dirty little face. It was terribly ugly—no doubt about that—but something about the way she clung to him made it almost... pitiful.
He frowned harder, chest growing tight with an unfamiliar irritation he couldn't place.
He hated children. Especially...
Especially those used as pawns by greedy women trying to get close to him.
Thinking this might be just another ploy, his gaze turned icy. His tone grew even colder:
> "What are you standing there for?" he snapped at the dazed housekeeper. "Take her away."
"Ah? Take... take her away?" The housekeeper finally came to, looking between Lu Li and Lu Junhan with an awkward expression. "That... Master Lu, where should I take... this child?"
Such a small thing, and still soaking wet...
Revenge is best served cold, even after ten years.
Last time, Young Master Lu had treated a child as literal garbage and threw them directly to the door.
So now, this one...
He hesitated: "Should I, uh... send her to the door?"
> "Do whatever you want," Lu Junhan said flatly. "Just make sure she's gone before the banquet starts. I don't want to see her again."
Without a second glance, he pulled her small hand off his sleeve and walked away.
Her hand was soft like tofu, so tender it felt like it might break if squeezed too hard. Without realizing it, his usual strength softened slightly, and he didn't hurt her at all.
Lu Li stood frozen, watching as her father abandoned her. Her teary eyes shimmered like broken crystals, and tears began to fall one by one, streaking down her already dirty little face.
She stumbled after him, but he walked too fast.
She was tired, hungry, and small—she couldn't keep up.
> "Dad... wait for Lili... don't leave me... don't you want me...?"
Lu Junhan paused for half a second at the door.
But he didn't turn back.
He walked straight inside.
Leaving behind Lu Li's sorrowful little figure.
The housekeeper glanced at her, surprised by how still and silent she stood. Honestly... this outcome was surprising.
Lu Shao had only ordered the child to be taken away. Compared to the last kid, who was thrown out like a sack of garbage, this was gentle.
Does... Lu Shao go easier on little girls?
His figure disappeared into the banquet hall.
The housekeeper turned back toward Lu Li, wondering how to coax her out of her tears.
To his surprise, she simply wiped her face with her grubby hand.
Her motions were gentle, quiet. She wasn't making a fuss at all.
The housekeeper breathed out in relief.
A good, sensible little girl.
But Lu Li was still deeply wronged.
No wonder her mother in Heaven always said her dad wasn't easy to approach.
It had taken a long time for her mother to win him over.
As someone who had been reborn twenty-five times, she too would have to be patient.
After all, Mom said:
> "Revenge can wait. Even ten years isn't too late."
The nonsense in Dad's head right now would all be corrected later—with beatings.
As fish, they needed to know how to stretch and endure.
The housekeeper, who had always liked children, was now especially fond of Lu Li. She was dirty, but cute, and surprisingly well-behaved.
He didn't have the heart to be harsh.
Turning to the rest of the staff, he said coldly:
> "As you've all seen, Young Master Lu is generous enough not to press charges this time. But don't push your luck."
His sharp eyes swept across the room: "Speak. Who brought this child in?"
The maids and bodyguards exchanged glances. No one dared to speak.
Having been by Lu Junhan's side so long, the housekeeper had picked up some of his intimidation. He sneered:
> "Fine. Don't want to admit it? When I find out who's responsible, every last one of you will be out of here—"
> "Uncle."
A soft little voice interrupted.
The housekeeper looked down to find Lu Li gently tugging on his sleeve.
She looked up with those tear-stained eyes and said sweetly:
> "I came in by myself. It wasn't them. Don't blame the big brothers and sisters. If you're really angry, hit me instead. I'm not afraid of pain."
Her big eyes shimmered, nose still sniffling.
Her wet lashes fluttered like tiny wings.
And when she blinked—she looked so adorable, it could melt stone.