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

The door opened, and the little dumpling looked up, her eyes sparkling like stars:

"Happiness!"

Her whole expression was joyful, like a little butterfly ready to flutter into a flower bush.

Then she saw the person at the door.

She wasn't the fairy, elf, or goddess godmother you might imagine.

This is……

"...Beep beep...?"

The little dumpling rubbed its eyes, asking incredulously. Its voice was as soft as a feather, swaying and falling.

The man stood in the doorway, his overcoat damp with moisture, his usually impeccably tailored suit wrinkled, his eyes red, and even his lips chapped.

He didn't move or speak, just stood there, probably because he had been exposed to the wind and rain for a long time and was not used to the sunny weather.

The little dumpling stared blankly at the adult, as if afraid that if it closed its eyes even for a moment, the magical illusion would shatter.

Duan Hetong squatted down, and for the first time, his smile was anything but elegant; in fact, it was rather unsightly.

He opened his arms, his voice incredibly gentle, as if afraid of startling the timid little one: "Baby, come here."

Wen Li hesitated for a long time before slowly, very slowly, walking over.

She stopped in front of him, reached out her small hand, and gently touched the back of his hand, as if to confirm whether it was really true.

It is warm.

it is true.

"Ba ba..." The little dumpling's voice trembled, and her eyes instantly reddened. "Pear Baby wasn't dreaming... it's really ba ba..."

The adult couldn't hold back any longer and scooped the little one into their arms, hugging them tightly: "I'm sorry, I'm late..."

Wen Li clutched his clothes tightly with her little hands, buried her face in the crook of his neck, and finally cried out, "Li Bao... Li Bao went to find 'happiness'..."

She cried uncontrollably, "Mommy said, the white house... Pear Baby will find... to bring 'happiness' to Papa..."

"Li Bao wants to help Ba Ba... Ba Ba can't sleep, Grandpa is sick, Gu Gu... Uncle... Li Bao wants to help..."

She spoke haltingly, not out of resentment or accusation, but simply because it was so difficult for a little child to do something so self-motivated.

Duan Hetong's hands trembled slightly.

His little guy, only three and a half years old, walked such a long way alone in the rain, not out of spite or to throw a tantrum, but to search for "happiness"—the "happiness" that he wanted to find.

She was so young, she couldn't even take care of herself, yet she was thinking about how to help him and her family.

Isn't a child's excessive maturity a form of adult dereliction of duty?

As Duan Hetong gently patted her back to soothe her, the baby's cries gradually subsided, like a babbling brook.

But she still didn't let go of Duan Hetong's clothes, afraid that if she loosened her grip, he would disappear in a flash.

"Papa..." She was still nestled on his shoulder, her little voice muffled, "Did Pear... cause trouble for everyone?"

Duan Hetong's heart skipped a beat.

He knew that the root of the little girl's running away from home was that she saw herself as a burden.

She believed that everything the Duan family suffered was her fault.

"Li Bao isn't well-behaved; she's a bad child..."

"no."

Duan Hetong pulled her slightly away from his embrace, cupped her small face in his hands, and gently wiped away the tear stains on her face with his thumbs.

"Li Bao, don't think like that again." His eyes were still weary, but his gaze was more serious than ever before. "You have never—we have never thought of you as a burden."

Wen Li stared at him blankly.

"You've brought a lot of good luck since you came to the Duan family. Remember? Grandpa's heart disease, Uncle's case, Aunt's competition..." Duan Hetong glanced at Ji Hui, who had been by the window. "I heard from Uncle Ji that even this little brother was willing to accept treatment because of you."

Tears still clung to the milk ball's eyelashes, like glistening little pearls.

"Many times I feel that it's not that you need us."

Duan Hetong pulled Wen Li back into his arms, resting his chin on the top of her head, his voice gentle.

"—We need you."

"Li Bao, you are a gift our whole family has waited so many, many years for. You yourself are the 'happiness' we've always wanted." He pinched the little dumpling's cheek. "From now on, let's be together forever, okay?"

The little head in my arms nodded vigorously.

Mommy, Pear has found "happiness".

Not in the white house.

I am happy when my family is around.

-

Before leaving, Wen Li gave her beloved rabbit doll to Ji Hui.

The boy remained indifferent, neither refusing nor showing any intention of accepting it.

In just two days, the little dumpling surprisingly figured out how to get along with him quickly. She would pull back the thin blanket on his lap a little, put the rabbit doll inside, and then cover the little boy and the rabbit together.

Ji Hui looked down at her; her chubby nose and eyes were red, making her look even more like a real rabbit.

"Brother Huihui, you need to see a doctor, okay?" The little dumpling held up her pinky finger. "Pinky promise, okay?"

Ji Hui never plays such childish games, nor does she believe in any promises.

But looking into Wen Li's clear eyes, he didn't pull away when she took his hand.

They hooked their little fingers together and gently wiggled them.

Milk Dumplings smiled contentedly.

She suddenly remembered something and waved to Oki.

The boy frowned, but still bent down to meet her.

Wen Li tiptoed and whispered in his ear, "Brother Huihui, next time Li Bao wants to..."

Ji Hui was somewhat stunned upon hearing this.

In the brief moment he was stunned, the little one had already run off to his guardian.

She turned around and waved vigorously at Ji Hui, Ji Zhenglin, the maid, and the cat: "Goodbye! Goodbye!"

"Goodbye, little girl." Ji Zhenglin waved the cat's paw, and unsurprisingly got kicked.

The maid wiped her eyes. "Miss Wenli, come visit again next time!"

Ji Hui remained silent.

Until that little figure, skipping and hopping beside her father, walked out of the white house along the pear blossom path.

"Goodbye..." he whispered, mimicking her pronunciation.

Then, he pinched the rabbit ears of the doll in his arms.

-

The next day.

The Duan family's old house hadn't been this lively in a long time. No matter how busy everyone was, they always had a cheerful smile on their faces.

Duan Yuanzhou changed into five or six suits before finally settling on a dark brown one. He looked at himself in the mirror from left to right and asked, "How's this one? Is it too heavy?"

The butler smiled and said, "Very handsome! The old man's energy and spirit are just as good as they were back then."

Duan Shimi spent three hours choosing clothes and four hours doing her makeup and hair. She got up before dawn and is still full of energy.

Aside from the stubborn old man who insisted on choosing his own clothes, the makeup and styling of everyone else in the family were all done according to her pre-arranged plan.

Duan Xianchen checked the documents repeatedly, all of which were neatly stacked in a kraft paper bag, confirming that nothing was missing.

The servants were all laughing:

"The young lady finally has a proper title."

"Our Duan family now has a precious daughter!"

"Brother! Li Bao! Let's go, let's go!" Duan Xianchen shouted upstairs.

The father and daughter arrived late.

Duan Hetong wore a three-piece suit underneath, with a silver-gray overcoat and a snow-white silk tie. He also wore a small pear blossom brooch, making him incomparably handsome.

The stubble on his chin was shaved off, and his hair was styled, completely changing his previous disheveled appearance.

The king of Tan City has returned.

The milk dumpling in his arms caught everyone's attention:

The dress is a layered, milky-white tulle skirt, with pear blossom embroidery on the neckline and hem, and a light pink satin ribbon of the same color as the pear blossom petals tied at the waist.

Her half-up hairstyle was adorned with a pearl-embellished bow hair clip, which seemed to flutter its wings at any moment when it swayed gently.

The little dumpling's face was soft and pink, nestled in the fabric like a soft, fluffy cloud.

With renowned designer Mia personally overseeing the design, the colors and decorations chosen by the father and daughter naturally complement each other.

The crowd was so charmed by the adorable little dumpling that they didn't know how to express it and ended up clapping in unison.

Xiao Wenli was both shy and a little flustered, and asked Duan Hetong curiously, "Baba, why is everyone dressed so nicely today?"

Duan Shimi straightened the crooked ribbon in her hair, smiling as she gently pinched her little nose: "Because today is a big day for Li Bao, and also for the Duan family!"

Duan Yuanzhou came over leaning on his cane. The usually serious and unsmiling old man now had a loving smile in every wrinkle: "Let's go, let's go pick up the little girl and take her home."

The little dumpling was confused: "Isn't Pear already home?"

Duan Hetong smiled slightly: "From today onwards, you will officially become a child of the Duan family in law, in all situations, and in front of all people."

Wen Li hugged Duan Hetong's neck and asked softly, "So from now on, will he always be Li Bao's dad?"

"Mmm." Duan Hetong stroked her long hair. "Always."

-

When the Duan family arrived at the Municipal Affairs Hall, Pei Ji and Xie Lin were already waiting.

Pei Ji stepped forward first, his tone unusually excited and unusually talkative: "Brother Tong, the surveillance footage from the group building plaza has been restored. I increased the resolution, and you can see that when the woman fell, the little princess was some distance in front of her, and there was absolutely no physical contact between them; or rather, the little princess didn't even turn her head and had no idea what happened behind her."

A cold glint flashed in Duan Hetong's eyes: "Alright, thank you for your hard work. Go and coordinate with my public relations department."

"Leave this to me." Pei Ji looked at Wen Li, who was being led by the old man, and his voice softened a little. "Brother Tong, please convey my congratulations to the little princess—congratulations on officially becoming a family."

To avoid causing a public disturbance, the famous Xie had to be fully armed with sunglasses and a hat, but the gifts he prepared were very thoughtful, and he had his assistant take them to the Duan family's servants.

He took off his mask and said in a low voice, "The results of the investigation that Xiao Chen and I conducted a few days ago are in. It was indeed done by that incorrigible Zhou Huateng. We have all the evidence that he plotted to frame us and manipulate public opinion. As for Wen Guoliang and Chen Xiulan, the prosecution has also formally filed charges against them."

He sneered, "These bastards, they can spend the rest of their lives in prison with Takano."

Duan Hetong patted him on the shoulder: "Thank you for your hard work."

"What kind of talk is that?" Xie Lin pushed him back. "Go on, we'll protect the little princess from now on."

The hallway leading to the office was long, and the floor was polished to a shine.

Many staff members looked over here; the Duan family's child was indeed the focus of attention throughout the city.

Ji Zhenglin had already given prior notice, and now the adoption agreement was laid out on the table, with space left for signatures and seals.

Even someone like Duan Hetong, who has experienced countless big events, needs to take a deep breath.

He took the warm pear from the old man and sat down at the table.

"Has the legal effect of the change in guardianship been confirmed?"

"Yes."

"Do you agree, effective from the date of signing this document...?"

"agree."

"Are you aware that once this decision takes effect...?"

"Understood."

Every word was precise and calm.

Wen Li couldn't understand the complicated legal terms, but the clattering sound was like small stones falling one by one onto the table with a "clang".

She sat obediently in the adult's lap, her eyes fixed on the piece of paper.

It was the "signature" she had been waiting for, and also the "happiness" she had been searching for.

[Chirp! Main quest countdown reminder—]

【00:01:12】

【00:01:11】

【00:01:10】

The little dumpling's heart skipped a beat.

next second.

Duan Hetong picked up his pen.

【00:00:33】

Wen Li instinctively grabbed the hem of his clothes.