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

Wen Li sat on the dressing stool, wearing a light blue gauze dress, her hair tied into two round buns, each adorned with a star hair clip.

Duan Shimi squatted down in front of her and helped her pin on the badge, which was also star-shaped.

"Okay, okay." Duan Shimi took a half step back. "It looks really good!"

The little dumpling jumped off the stool, ran to the mirror, and adjusted the badge on its chest with its little finger to make sure it wasn't crooked.

Today she's going to be a guest at a child protection charity event. She's Huihui's uncle, Uncle Ji, and it was arranged with Baba.

She didn't need to understand the complicated steps; she only needed to memorize one line:

"I hope every child has a home."

Milk Dumpling secretly practiced in front of the mirror, hoping not to make a mistake when she said that sentence.

Duan Hetong walked in while fastening his cufflinks: "Are you ready?"

The milk ball turned its head: "It's done!"

Duan Hetong squatted down, picked up Wen Li, and straightened her skirt: "Don't be nervous, it's okay if you don't say anything right, Daddy's here."

Downstairs, Old Master Duan, now dressed in formal attire, said, "With me watching over you, who dares to say anything against you?"

Duan Shimi waved her phone: "Auntie will take some nice photos for you!"

Duan Xianchen was still a little listless, but when he saw Wen Li looking at him, he smiled and said, "You know, your uncle clapped the loudest for Li Bao."

Surrounded by the love of her family, the milk dumpling gained courage.

The venue was large, and the stage backdrop was an entire wall covered with colorful handprints of all sizes, with flowers placed below and balloons hanging from the top.

The venue was packed with media, special guests, invited families, and audience members.

The Duan Group was also one of the organizers, so the Duan family naturally sat in the front row VIP seats.

Wen Li also had her own seat, curiously looking around and secretly counting the children in the back row.

Unfortunately, I forgot where I was when I got to the sixth row.

The host gave an opening introduction, and staff led a dozen or so children onto the stage from the side. They were of varying ages, ranging from a few years old to around ten years old, holding hands and all wearing the same badge.

Wen Li was in the very center of the group. She was the youngest and cutest, as tender and delicate as a little milk candy wrapped in glutinous rice paper, eliciting gasps of admiration from the audience.

"How come there are still such small ones?"

"It's still a baby."

"Hey, isn't this the one from the Duan Group..."

"So cute, oh my god!"

The children stood in a row, each holding a star in their hands.

The host said, "Let's light up hope together, children."

The little girl imitated the older child next to her, pressed a switch, and the stars immediately lit up, their warm yellow light reflecting on her face.

Together, the children placed the stars into the 3D logo that rose up on the stage, lighting it up. At the same time, several words slowly appeared on the large screen—

"Every child deserves to be loved."

Applause erupted from the audience.

The host bent down, handed the microphone to the children, and asked them what their wishes were.

The first child said, "I hope Dad spends more time with me."

The second one: "Mom and Dad, don't fight."

"Mom, don't be angry."

I want to go to school.

Soon it was Wen Li's turn. When the microphone was held in front of her, she immediately became nervous, clutching her skirt and subconsciously looking down at the audience.

Baba sat in the front, smiling at her;

Grandpa nodded;

Gugu held up her phone and mouthed "Go for it!"

My uncle is ready to clap.

Wen Li took a deep breath, and her sweet, soft voice came through the microphone: "I hope every child... has a home."

After speaking, he nodded slightly, as if to affirm that he had said something right.

The audience was completely charmed.

The little milk ball breathed a sigh of relief.

It seems it's not that difficult after all.

With family around, Pear, you can do it!

The children did not immediately leave the stage after completing their segment; instead, they stood aside and waited.

The host glanced at the cue cards and said with great respect, "Next, let's welcome our special guest today, the ambassador who has long been committed to international public welfare cooperation—"

"Ms. Qin Zhiyuan!"

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted from the audience.

It's not just a response to the process, but also a natural reaction to the name itself.

Some people were surprised:

"Is it that lady?"

"The organizers have a lot of connections; they even managed to get the 'Iron Lady' to come."

"Hey, isn't the Duan Group one of the organizers?"

The name "Qin Zhiyuan" signifies reputation, weight, and success.

She spends many years stationed abroad, coordinating regional affairs, strengthening transnational cooperation, and promoting the implementation of mechanisms. She is a benchmark figure in the field and a face of the country, and is respectfully known as the "Iron Lady".

The Duan family members in the VIP seats had very different expressions.

Duan Hetong immediately looked at the old man, who gripped his cane tightly.

Duan Shimi smiled broadly, pointing her phone at the direction of her entrance.

Duan Xianchen was extremely restless; if the little guy hadn't been there, he would have wanted to leave on the spot.

Xiao Wenli had been keeping an eye on her family, and when she saw their expressions change, she was at a loss for what to do.

Did Li Bao do something wrong?

But, but the lines were spoken, and the stars lit up...

A woman walked over from where she had just come up.

She looked much older than Mommy and Gugu, but not as old as Grandma. Wenli couldn't decide whether to call her Auntie or Grandma.

Qin Zhiyuan walked to the center of the stage with a dignified demeanor and composed steps.

She didn't appear particularly imposing, but she possessed an aura that unconsciously calmed people down.

Qin Zhiyuan took the microphone from the host, but did not speak immediately. She first nodded slightly to the audience, and then her gaze swept over the children.

Then, it stays on the smallest one.

The little bundle of milk was also watching her, its dark eyes unblinking.

Have I seen this person somewhere before?

Qin Zhiyuan didn't linger for long and naturally continued with the proceedings: "Thank you for the invitation from the organizers, and I'm honored to be standing here. Today is a day for children, and what I want to say is—"

She glanced back at the big screen.

"Every child deserves to be loved. This is not just a slogan, but a responsibility and a commitment we must make to protect their healthy growth."

Applause erupted again.

The little girl thought she was like a magical grandmother in a cartoon, who could recite a spell—no, she didn't even need a spell—and everyone's eyes would be on her.

Even after Qin Zhiyuan finished speaking, the little girl's adoring gaze remained fixed on her.

Pear Baby has magic too. Will she be this powerful when she grows up?

-

offstage.

Duan Xianchen spoke, his tone laced with suppressed anger: "Why is she here?"

No one answered. Because nobody knew.

As the organizer, the Duan family had already reviewed the list of all the guests for today's event, and this person was not among them.

The person in charge did mention that there might be special guests, but they have been coordinating the schedule and no one has notified them until today, or even just now.

Duan Xianchen's gaze shifted back to the stage, where he saw Qin Zhiyuan squatting down to talk to the children, her face clouded with worry: "Is she...is she here for Li Bao?"

As he spoke, he had already pressed the handrail to stand up: "I'll go and bring Li Bao down now."

"Sit down." Duan Hetong frowned. "Don't be ridiculous."

Duan Xianchen gritted his teeth. He had always been most afraid of this older brother since he was a child. He slunk back down.

Duan Shimi looked at this person and that person: "Why are you all so nervous? Don't worry, she has always loved children."

Duan Xianchen sneered: "Is that so? I didn't see that coming."

Duan Shimi raised her hand and patted his shoulder: "Third brother, you've misunderstood her..."

Duan Xianchen turned his head away, not responding.

Duan Hetong glanced over: "You knew all along?"

Duan Shimi realized she had been "exposed," stuck out her tongue, and made a gesture of surrender.

The old man remained silent, his hands clasped together on his cane, his gaze following the figure on the stage as if he were staring at a cloud he thought he would never see again.

Come to think of it, it's been almost ten years since we last met.

She had just adopted the little girl and then returned to Tan City—really, just for a charity event?

-

There are other activities coming up, so the children will leave first.

The girl next to Wenli was a head taller than her, and when she turned around, the star badge caught on her hair.

"Ah..." The little dumpling's head tightened.

Both children froze at the same time.

The older girl immediately panicked: "I'm so sorry..."

The more she tried to pry it off, the more flustered she became, and the tighter it became.

The staff noticed something was wrong and rushed over: "Hey, don't move, don't move."

Wen Li obediently stood there, trying to tilt her head back to see what was happening, but could only see a tuft of hair sticking up on the top of her head.

The staff member was also at a loss, when a pair of elderly but well-maintained hands reached out: "Let me do it."

Qin Zhiyuan's voice was calm and unhurried.

She squatted down, not rushing to pull, but gently supporting the little dumpling's head: "Lower it a little."

Milk Dumpling obediently followed the instructions.

Qin Zhiyuan gently removed the hair strand by strand, asking the girl who was on the verge of tears in a natural tone, "What's your name?"

The girl paused for a moment before answering.

Qin Zhiyuan then asked about her age, school, and even her hobbies.

Little Wenli rehearsed in her mind that if asked, she should say her name is Li Bao, she's three and a half years old, and she'll be starting kindergarten soon...

But the adults stopped asking questions, and she had no chance to answer.

The tangled badge and hair were quickly untangled, and Qin Zhiyuan even tucked down the sticking-up ahoge (cowlick) on the little dumpling's head: "All done."

Wen Li was a little disappointed, and also a little timid: "Thank you, Auntie..."

Qin Zhiyuan smiled: "You should call her Grandma."

She gently pinched Wen Li's bun: "Nice hairstyle." As if casually asking, "Who did your hair?"

Wen Li was taken aback. This was a question Li Bao hadn't prepared for.

She subconsciously touched the top of her head and blinked: "It's Gugu."

"I guessed so," Qin Zhiyuan said casually. "This is how I styled her hair when she was little."