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

With 17 days left in the system task countdown, Grandpa Duan was discharged from the hospital.

It rained in Tan City after a long time. Wen Li leaned against the window and watched the raindrops slide down the glass, her little fingers drawing lines along the way.

The old man was helped inside and immediately spotted the small figure on the windowsill.

"Ahem." Duan Yuanzhou cleared his throat.

Wen Li quickly climbed down from the windowsill, ran to the coffee table, and stood on tiptoe to reach the teapot.

When the maid offered to help, she shook her head and carefully poured herself a cup of tea, holding the teapot herself.

The hot water almost spilled, so she quickly touched her earlobe, then held the teacup in front of Duan Yuanzhou and whispered, "Grandpa... have some tea."

Duan Yuanzhou frowned as he looked at her small hands, which were slightly red from the burn.

"You don't need to do this kind of thing."

Although his tone was curt, he still took the teacup and took a sip.

He didn't comment on whether it tasted good or bad after finishing his drink. He put the cup on the table, leaned on his cane, and left.

Xiao Wenli was worried about her grandfather's health, so she even waited outside his study door while playing ball.

The ball accidentally rolled inside, and she was hesitating whether to go in to retrieve it when she heard a very soft "snap" from inside.

Wen Li peeked curiously through the crack in the door: the old man was sitting at his desk, the drawer was half open, and he was putting a piece of hawthorn cake into his mouth.

Wen Li blinked.

The family doctor said that the old man's blood sugar was unstable, so it was best for him to avoid sweets.

The old man looked disgusted and said, "I would never eat such sweet and greasy things."

But now...

[Chirp! New task! Get Grandpa to share hawthorn cake. Reward 200 points for completion!]

Wen Li was stunned.

But, but, Grandpa doesn't seem to want anyone to know...

As she was thinking, the door creaked open.

Duan Yuanzhou suddenly turned his head, his mouth still full of hawthorn cake, and met the eyes of the furry little head peeking through the crack in the door.

The air fell silent instantly.

The old man still had a bit of red crumbs stuck to the corner of his mouth. His expression quickly switched from "enjoyment" to "seriousness," but it was too late.

He hid the hawthorn cake, cleared his throat, and asked, "What is it?"

The little dumpling didn't say anything, just looked at the drawer, then at Grandpa, her eyes sparkling.

The old man felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze: "What are you looking at?"

Wen Li pursed her lips and asked in a soft, childish voice, "Grandpa, is it sour?"

"...Not sour."

The little dumpling sucked on its thumb, full of longing: "Is it sweet?"

Duan Yuanzhou: "..."

The old man, with a stern face, hesitated for a moment, then broke off a small, uneaten piece and handed it over: "Don't tell anyone, understand?"

[Task complete! Points +200. Current points: 6200.]

Wenli nodded, stretched out her two little hands to catch it, and carefully put it into her mouth, where it melted softly on her tongue.

Her eyes curved into little crescents: "Grandpa gave it to me, it's delicious!"

Duan Yuanzhou didn't speak, but shook the newspaper on the table, pretending to be very busy.

Before leaving the study, Wen Li turned around and saw her grandfather secretly taking out the half-piece of hawthorn cake again.

She didn't say anything and quietly closed the door for her grandfather.

-

Later that evening, Duan Yuanzhou called Duan Xianchen over.

The old man asked, seemingly casually, "How long has that little girl been here?"

Duan Xianchen calculated: "It's been about ten days."

The old man tapped the table: "What do you think?"

Duan Xianchen was taken aback: "My older brother...?"

The old man interrupted him: "I'm asking about you, not your brother."

Duan Xianchen pondered for a moment: "Xiao Libao's mother is in a coma, her stepfather is a beast in human form, that house is a den of wolves, we can't send her back; she has been kind to the Duan family, we should repay her—Dad, I think my brother wants to adopt Xiao Libao."

"Gratitude is a family motto of the Duan family. We'll raise her here, provide her with good food and drink, and sending her to the best schools won't be a problem. But—" the old man's tone changed, "we can't go through legal procedures."

Repaying a debt of gratitude is repaying a debt of gratitude, and adoption is adoption; they are two separate matters.

Duan Yuanzhou has been in the business world for decades and has seen too many wealthy families fall into chaos because of an extra heir.

Given the size of the Duan family, all their assets and terms were meticulously planned. But with the sudden addition of an adopted daughter, everything had to be recalculated.

Moreover, this child's surname is Wen, not Duan.

The child's biological mother is still alive, and the legal stepfather is also there. How can the child be taken away by the Duan family?

Duan Yuanzhou admitted his selfishness and knew that Duan Hetong would definitely be disappointed. But the Duan family did not belong to anyone; it was a legacy built up by generations. He could not let a moment of weakness sow the seeds of disaster.

He ignored Duan Xianchen's rebuttal and waved for him to leave.

As soon as the door opened, a small figure was found huddled against the wall.

Wen Li's head slumped down little by little; she was already dozing off.

Hearing the door open, she jerked her head up, her eyes still unfocused, and mumbled, "Li Bao isn't asleep. Li Bao is waiting for Grandpa to finish his work."

"What are you waiting for me for?" the old man asked.

He was actually a little guilty, unsure if the little thing had overheard their conversation.

But the conversation wasn't loud, the room was well soundproofed, and the little one was asleep, so it shouldn't be that serious.

...Besides, what if he heard it? He never intended to adopt her anyway.

There was no doubt in the little dumpling's eyes as she obediently answered, "Libao helped Grandpa massage his legs. Grandpa walked so far back, his legs are sore."

The old man's throat bobbed: "No need."

Despite saying that, he didn't stop the baby from coming in.

The old man had a habit of reading the newspaper every day, and Wen Li carried a small stool and sat obediently beside him.

He didn't cause trouble or make demands, unlike the Duan Hetong brothers who were always causing a ruckus when they were young.

But as long as she sits there quietly, the huge room doesn't feel empty.

The old man turned a page of the newspaper.

I'll take care of her. I'll provide the money and the effort.

But there's no room for negotiation when it comes to formal adoption procedures.

He repeated the sentence to himself, as if trying to convince himself.