Mommy, don't be afraid, I'll bring you blind boxes and scam you out of a wealthy family to

Although I've been to two parties with adults, the stares I received back then were nothing compared to the attention I get from all directions at an awards ceremony now.

When the spotlight shone on her, Xiao Wenli was stunned.

Why is everyone... looking at me? QAQ

The little dumpling seemed like a frightened deer frozen in place by car headlights, completely at a loss, and instinctively looked at the person it trusted most.

When a staff member offered to help Wen Li onto the stage, Duan Hetong raised his hand to stop him.

"I'll do it," he said.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the tall, handsome man picked up the soft, cuddly baby, his long legs swaying with the wind, and even without a red carpet, he exuded the aura of a haute couture fashion show.

"Wow, she's totally a supermodel."

"How can any supermodel compare to Tong Ye?"

"Look at this family's genes, it's truly enviable..."

Whispers accompanied the father and daughter as they moved from the audience to the stage.

Duan Hetong handed Wen Li to Duan Shimi and patted the little girl's head: "Don't be afraid, stay with your aunt."

Wen Li watched Ba Ba leave with reluctance, her back sweating profusely from the spotlight.

The little girl hugged her aunt's neck with her small hands and nestled timidly in her arms.

Duan Shimi held the trophy in one hand and steadily supported Wen Li with the other: "This is our family's little lucky star. She hasn't started kindergarten yet, can't read, and doesn't understand many of the grand principles that adults always talk about."

"But she taught me one thing: even if the whole world doubts you, you must 'see' yourself. Every step you take has meaning."

Wen Li blinked, looking confused.

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: ①⓪①ⓚⓚⓢ.ⓒⓞⓜ]

Gugu's explanation is so profound. I haven't taught her that myself!

Duan Shimi gently touched Xiao Wenli's forehead and said softly, "Thank you, little pear."

The audience erupted in enthusiastic applause.

Now the little dumpling understood; Gugu was thanking it!

She was a little embarrassed, and said in a childish voice, "Gugu, you're welcome..."

Wen Li was startled by the microphone being so close to her, which amplified her voice.

Her already large, dark eyes widened even more.

A burst of good-natured laughter rang out from the audience.

Someone shouted, "Baby, you're so cute—!"

Instantly, even louder applause and gasps of amazement erupted.

"Oh dear, the baby's face is red!"

"This little dress is so pretty! Did Mia design it too?"

"Weren't those steps when President Duan carried the baby onto the stage a little too dreamy...?"

"Who doesn't love watching a tyrant raise a child?"

The sounds of shutters and flashes created a vibrant, enthusiastic wave.

Xiao Wenli instinctively covered her ears, secretly peeking out half an eye from her aunt's shoulder.

The audience was packed with people.

Everyone's looking at themselves...

Milk Dumpling was still a little confused. She was just eating grapes and had just peeled one for Baba—how did she end up here?

Everyone was smiling.

There was no malice, but rather admiration and affection, as if she had done something extraordinary.

Do they like Pear Baby?

Pear has never been liked by so many people before...

[Chirp! Detected that the host helped their family through a difficult time. Mission completion points +3000, major events will grant an additional +5000 points.]

[A large amount of audience affection was detected, points +3000.]

Current points: 19000.

Wow—19,000!

Wen Li saw the star panel in the store; the second star was almost completely filled.

Although many stars are still dim, one by one, they will eventually all shine. Pear will keep going!

Duan Shimi noticed that the little dumpling in her arms was lost in thought, so she gently lifted her up: "What are you thinking about?"

Wen Li snapped out of her daze, rested her head on her aunt's shoulder, and said softly, "Li Bao, I'm so happy..."

Duan Shimi was stunned. In such a grand occasion, where everyone was adoring her and she had achieved great success, young Wen Li felt only the purest happiness.

Children truly possess great wisdom.

She pulled her arms closer, holding this small happiness even tighter.

-

After the awards ceremony, Wen Li left the venue backstage with Duan Shimi.

Unexpectedly, I ran into Iris.

Iris, disqualified from the competition, was disheveled and filled with resentment.

She had dreamed of this championship trophy for so long, but it could never be hers again.

She blocked the road, speaking recklessly: "Mia, do you think you can cover up the fact that you're using the Duan family's capital to oppress ordinary people by playing the victim with a child? This child is being used as a tool to gain sympathy, it's so pitiful..."

Her voice was so sharp and sarcastic, but it didn't frighten Wen Li.

The little ones were mostly confused.

Why is this auntie here again? And no one's even arguing with her, yet she's talking so rudely...

"Auntie, why are you saying this?" Wen Li hugged Duan Shimi's leg, her voice slightly nasal, "Gugu just received an award, and lots of people applauded. Everyone likes her a lot. Auntie, don't you like Gugu?"

Her tone was sincere; it wasn't a question, but genuine confusion.

This only made Iris even angrier.

"What do you know! You're just being used by the Duan family..."

"Pear doesn't understand." The little dumpling blinked. "Auntie, are you angry because nobody likes you...?"

Sincerity is the ultimate weapon. Duan Shimi almost burst out laughing.

Iris was stumped by a question from a three-year-old.

That pure and unadulterated pity made her feel ashamed like never before, and angry that she had been seen through.

"What nonsense are you talking about!"

She raised her hand to shove Wen Li—

A hand wearing an expensive watch gripped her forearm with such force that she couldn't move at all.

Duan Hetong appeared out of nowhere; he was tall and imposing, exuding authority even without anger.

Iris had witnessed the tyrant's ruthless methods firsthand, and her legs went weak: "I..."

Duan Hetong picked up Wen Li, his eyes lowered, his voice calm yet chilling: "Ms. Iris, my daughter is young and innocent, but I will not. The Duan family's legal team will settle accounts with you one by one for defamation and harassment."

"Please make sure you think things through before you do anything in the future. Who can you mess with, and who can't?"

"Shimi, let's go, the car is waiting."

After saying this, he left with Wen Li.

He didn't look at Iris even once from beginning to end.

Wen Li nestled in his arms and looked back, seeing Iris, who had entered illegally, being carried away by security guards. She looked completely distraught.

She whispered, "That auntie looks miserable."

Duan Hetong spoke to her in a naturally gentle voice: "She harbors bad intentions, so her life is bitter."

Wen Li asked, "What about Li Bao?"

Duan Hetong smiled: "Pear Bao is filled with candy, so it's sweet."

Wen Li asked earnestly, "What kind of candy? Milk candy, fruit candy, rainbow candy..."

Duan Hetong was very indulgent: "Anything is fine."

Wen Li seemed to understand but not quite: "Li Bao, give Ba Ba and Gu Gu candy too, so everyone can be sweet!"

Duan Hetong replied, "Okay."

Duan Shimi caught up from behind, her eyes darting around: "I heard that after the 'Thick Curve' was discovered, someone contacted a design luminary, the most authoritative appraisal agency in the industry, and a top international intellectual property lawyer overnight, which is why I was able to turn the tables at the defense the next day. Who do you think has such power?"

Duan Hetong kept his eyes straight ahead, his expression inscrutable: "I know nothing."

"Oh~~" Duan Shimi pinched Wen Li's little nose, "Your dad said he doesn't know. What about Li Bao?"

The milk dumpling said in a muffled voice, "Even Pear Baby doesn't say anything..."

The adults were amused by her.

Duan Shimi released her grip, and Wen Li rubbed her bright red nose: "Did Gugu win?"

"Of course," Duan Shimi said with a smile. "With you here, the Duan family will always be the winner."

-

To celebrate Duan Shimi's award, Duan Xianchen arranged a family banquet at a friend's private villa, which was also an opportunity to improve family relations.

The Duan family is large and prosperous, with booming businesses, but the family atmosphere is very cold.

Duan Yuanzhou disapproves of Duan Hetong's unmarried status and Duan Shimi's pursuit of art through unorthodox methods. Duan Hetong harbors resentment towards the old man because of his mother's situation, while Duan Shimi believes the old man is old-fashioned and stubborn. The siblings also have irreconcilable conflicts...

In the past, Duan Xianchen, being the youngest child, had always been the one mediating, though with little success: he had no standing in the family and no one listened to him.

But things are very different now: the adults still have their own differences, but as long as Xiao Wenli is around, they have to put aside their past grievances and pretend to be a loving family.

Otherwise, the little dumpling would look at each one with a worried expression and ask: Why is Baba unhappy? Grandpa, don't be angry; Did someone bully Gugu?

And so on.

The adults in the Duan family are powerful and capable of anything outside the home.

When he got home, he couldn't even handle a questioning look from his daughter.

Even if it's just superficial harmony, it's still harmony. Duan Xianchen was sincerely grateful for Wen Li's arrival.

In this family gathering, Wen Li should have been the happiest one, running around, shaking hands with everyone, and showing off her incredibly cute smile.

But today, the little guy was visibly distracted.

Duan Xianchen brought out a miniature pony that her friend owned for her to play with, but she only stroked the pony's mane affectionately and had no interest in riding it.

He then took Wenli boating, and the little girl just lay on the side of the boat, staring blankly at the shimmering lake.

At dinner, the old man cleared his throat: "Little girl, are you in a bad mood today?"

She glanced at Duan Hetong and said, "Aren't some people always so busy with work that they don't even know how to spend time with their families during their holidays?"

Duan Hetong paused, then placed his phone upside down on the table.

Sitting in the child seat, Wen Li was stunned for a moment. When she saw everyone looking at her with concern, she realized that they were talking about her.

She wore an apron, held a spoon in her little hands, looked around, and hesitated to speak.

Duan Shimi encouraged, "Li Bao, tell your aunt what you want."

Wen Li frowned slightly, hesitated for a long while, and then slowly whispered, "Baba, could I raise Pear Baby...?"

Duan Hetong was taken aback: "Why do you ask that? Are you having a bad time in the Duan family now?"

The little dumpling shook its head vigorously: "Very good, very good... But, Pear wants it, wants it with an autograph..."

Sign? The crowd exchanged bewildered glances.

Duan Xianchen, whose expertise was relevant, was the first to react: "You mean, the kind that involves going through legal procedures and signing formal adoption papers?"

Wen Li struggled to process the complex vocabulary and nodded.

Duan Hetong was slightly surprised. Of course he wanted to adopt her; since the child was already in the Duan family, it didn't matter when they got the written documents done, a few days earlier or later.

Did the child really keep this on his mind all along?

Wen Li sniffed: "P-Can it be three days?"

Duan Xianchen continued to translate: "Three days...you mean, complete the procedures within three days?"

"Because...because..."

The little bundle of milk looked frightened and sad, with tears glistening in its eyes.

"Chirp said if you can't do it in 30 days, we'll take you away..."