”Yes, my daughter is back,” Situ Jin murmured, breathing in her reassuring scent. “It’s so good to have a dad.”
“
Situ Jin chuckled, “Wasn’t it ‘it’s so good to have a brother’ before?”
Ruofeng’s eyes reddened, sulking silently.
“What’s wrong?” Situ Jin found it strange that his daughter had returned but didn’t go home immediately and seemingly didn’t know about her brother. It was obvious she depended more on her brothers than on him.
Ruofeng pouted, still silent. Situ Jin let her go and pulled her aside, “Let’s go, Dad will take you to a quiet place to talk.”
His gaze lingered on her swollen half-face, and his eyes turned cold, “And then tell me who this arrogant king is.” How dare he hit his daughter?
Ruofeng stood still. Situ Jin lowered his head, “Don’t worry, we won’t go home.”
Ruofeng sighed in relief, “Dad, can I come find you later?”
“Later?” Situ Jin raised an eyebrow.
“Yes, I still need to go to work.”
“Work?” Situ Jin found this word strange coming from his little daughter.
Ruofeng nodded excitedly, “Yes, Dad, I’m working now. I’m so happy.”
Situ Jin pondered for a moment and then let her go, “Okay, I’ll accompany you to work.”
“You’ll accompany me?” Now it was Ruofeng’s turn to be stunned.
“
Situ Jin walked ahead with his hands behind his back. “Let’s see what place can afford my precious daughter!”
“Dad, no! I want to take you to work; the store manager will scold me,” Ru Feng said anxiously, rushing to catch up with him.
Situ Jin turned back, suggesting, “You can pretend not to know me.”
“Ah? Could this work?” she wondered.
At the cake shop, an elderly man over sixty entered, looking around without buying anything and occasionally glancing at the female staff.
Xiao Su followed him for a while before giving up. “Sir, please let me know if you want to buy something.”
The old man waved his hand, exuding authority. Xiao Su’s face paled, and Ru Feng secretly giggled.
“Hey, Xiao Feng, should we call the police?” Xiao Su whispered.
“Call the police for what? It’s not illegal to just look around,” Ru Feng replied.
“No! He’s been wandering for over an hour, and I noticed he’s staring at you. Could he be a pervert? His clothes look expensive, but his face is quite fierce.”
“That’s not possible; my dad has the best-looking face,” Ru Feng said, unhappy but keeping her tone soft.
Xiao Su stared at her as if she were an alien.
Ru Feng ignored her father’s gaze and felt happy despite his scrutiny.
Situ Jin watched her greet customers and enthusiastically showcase various cakes. Although it seemed exhausting, her face radiated spirit, albeit with hints of swelling.
His frustration grew at the thought of his daughter being bullied by an outsider.
After work, as they walked out together, Ru Feng excitedly hugged her father’s arm, “Dad, aren’t we like in a movie?”
“We are!” Situ Jin replied, smiling, his eyes softening.
He chose not to comment on the changing dynamics with Qiu Chi, allowing the younger generation to create their own stories.
Suddenly, he asked, “Feng’er, have you seen Ning Yuan?”
Ru Feng looked up in panic, “Dad! Why bring him up when I’m trying to forget?”
Situ Jin sighed softly and took his daughter’s hand. “Feng’er, you can’t forget someone simply by not thinking of them. To truly move on, you need to actively confront your feelings—think about him, remember him, let the wound be exposed and bleed, then slowly heal until one day you can view him as just an ordinary friend.”
“My daughter is not so weak.”
Ru Feng felt the warmth from her father’s palm, calming the pain tied to that name. “Dad, I will try.”
Situ Jin studied her, as if he anticipated her response. “If he still loves you, would you go back?” He believed Ning Yuan’s feelings for Ru Feng were more profound than he admitted, and his affection for Sui Feng was not as genuine as he claimed. He had warned Sui Feng, but she had ignored him. Now she must discover the truth herself.
One must hurt and love to truly grow.
Ru Feng lowered her head, gazing at her trembling fingertips. After a moment, she raised her head and forced a smile that broke one’s heart.
She tried to smile with all her strength. “No, even if he comes back, I don’t want him anymore.”
Tears glistened in her eyes but did not fall. Encouraged by her father, she added, “He betrayed my love and trust. He was the first to give up, no matter the reason. Since he has abandoned me, I will never take him back.”
Because of this love, I left my beloved family, making Dad grow white hair and my second brother almost cast the forbidden curse. Fortunately, it was not successful.
“I am protected and loved by Dad and my brother. My love is precious too. Why should I lay it at his feet for him to trample?”
“I still love him, but Dad, I can no longer love him freely and completely. Such a love that cannot be sincere, I do not want it anymore.”
Situ Jin’s eyes were full of pride and relief.
“Feng’er, don’t go home for now,” he said.
“Dad, you agree?” Ru Feng was disbelieving.
Situ Jin stroked her hair and asked, “Feng’er, who loves you most in this world?”
“Second brother,” she answered.
“I see,” Situ Jin muttered, “If it’s him, you will never be sad again.”
“Dad?” Ru Feng looked puzzled.
Situ Jin patted her head, “Let’s go. If you still want to enjoy your current work, be a good Qiu Ru Feng for now. Call Dad if anything happens, and don’t forget the card’s password.”
Ru Feng rolled her eyes, knowing that if her brothers found out she was back, she wouldn’t be able to work at all; they would lecture her for breaking a sweat.
Master Jiang, let’s give it a try!”
The master’s head was covered with bumps. “What if we fail? Are you going to compensate for the wasted materials?”
Ru Feng smiled and nodded vigorously, “I’ll compensate.”
She was thankful that her father had given her a card yesterday; otherwise, if she failed, she couldn’t afford to pay.
She sat in the corner, eagerly watching the direction from which the cake would emerge. The steam in the room caused sweat to bead on her forehead. Jiang Master turned back and looked at her, softening slightly, “Ru Feng, are you scared?”
Ru Feng wiped away her sweat, “No.”
Jiang Master smiled, “It’s okay. Even if we fail, the pumpkin is still a good thing. It’s rich in B6 and iron, helping the body convert stored blood sugar into glucose, the only fuel for the brain.”
Her eyes sparkling, Ru Feng nodded, “Yes! It will improve mood. I can ask my future sister-in-law to take it to my second brother.”
The cake was brought out steaming hot. Jiang Master tasted a bite, said nothing, and silently passed it to others, including Ru Feng.
Ru Feng took it nervously, wondering why the masters looked so strange. Wasn’t it tasty?
The pastry melted in her mouth, delicate and soft. The gentle fragrance of pumpkin, with its simple sweetness, stirred deep memories from long ago—when the evening breeze was gentle, smoke from cooking drifted, and her mother prepared an old pumpkin in dim light.
Not particularly exquisite, but warm enough to touch the heart.
Jiang Master’s large hand rested on Ru Feng’s head and patted it gently, “How did you come up with this, little girl?”
Ru Feng smiled, “My mother told me.”
The masters exchanged knowing glances, “You have a good mother.”
Unfortunately, autumn did not arrive. Ru Feng’s expectant gaze gradually dimmed as the cake she had carefully packaged lay lonely until sunset.
After work, Ru Feng hurried to the Situ Group office building with the cake. Looking at the reduced crowd, her heart sank; it was already past normal working hours.
She approached the front desk, ignoring the wary looks from the security guards, and asked, “Can you help me find Situ Qifeng’s girlfriend?”
The receptionist’s expression was strange. “Sorry, we don’t know.”
