Chapter 17

Chapter 17

This wasn’t Si Xiaotie’s first time coming to Daddy’s company.

But the last time had been so long ago she didn’t remember it anymore.

All she knew was—

Daddy’s company had lots and lots of big brothers and big sisters.

And Daddy’s office was super huge.

Daddy had carried her through a loooong elevator ride before they finally arrived.

The moment the older brothers and sisters outside saw her, they all seemed extremely happy and enthusiastically greeted her.

Even though Si Xiaotie still missed Yuanyuan very much, Mommy said she had to be polite.

So she grinned brightly and waved the hand Daddy wasn’t holding.

“Hello～”

Once inside the office, she climbed onto a tall black sofa.

Daddy spoke to an older brother nearby.

“Xu Lin, watch her for me. Don’t let her run around.”

The little girl immediately puffed out her cheeks unhappily.

“Xiaotie would never run around!”

Si Yuming rubbed her head.

“Stay here obediently and wait for Daddy.”

“Mhm!”

After the boss left, Xu Lin looked at the exquisitely pretty three-year-old girl before him and suddenly had no idea what to do.

Normally after work, President Si didn’t require him around.

But the driver had mentioned recently that President Si had been leaving early every day to pick up his daughter.

Which meant—

This unbelievably beautiful little girl in front of him.

He thought about pouring her some water.

But he got stuck on what to call her.

After hesitating, he asked,

“You’re called Xiaotie?”

“Yup, big brother.”

The way she sweetly called him

“big brother” made Xu Lin’s heart soften instantly.

“So, Xiaotie… do you want some water?”

“No thank you, big brother.”

The little girl tilted her head up.

“Big brother, have you seen my mommy?”

Mommy?

President Jiang?

President Jiang had indeed attended a meeting upstairs this afternoon, but Xu Lin hadn’t participated.

So he shook his head.

“No.”

“Then can I call my mommy?”

“Of course.”

Xu Lin unlocked his phone and handed it over.

The little girl skillfully opened the dial pad while muttering to herself as she pressed numbers.

“13XXXX……”

After several rings, the call connected.

Holding the phone to her ears with both hands, the girl called out sadly:

“Mommy.”

The speaker wasn’t on, so Xu Lin couldn’t hear the other side.

He only heard the little girl speaking with faint tears in her voice—

— I gave my present to Yuanyuan. She really liked it.

— Mhm, Daddy came to pick me up.

— But I still can’t bear to part with Yuanyuan.

— Mommy, when do you get off work? I miss you.

— I’m using a big brother’s phone.

— Daddy went to work.

— Yup, I’m at Daddy’s company now. Mommy, where are you?

The other side said something.

Soon after, the little girl handed the phone back, looking slightly happier.

“Thank you, big brother.”

Xu Lin roughly understood the situation and comforted her.

“Your mommy probably just left.”

“Mhm.”

Mommy also said she wasn’t nearby.

The little girl raised her face again.

“Big brother, now I want water.”

“Okay, okay, okay. I’ll go pour some right now.”

……

At the same time—

The moment Lin Ke hung up, she stood up in panic and hurried toward the outer office area.

Sure enough, the moment she listened carefully, she heard discussions everywhere.

“She’s upstairs right now. Oh my god, she’s so pretty. Those little cheeks are absolutely adorable.”

“Didn’t President Jiang just leave? They didn’t run into each other?”

“She left half an hour ago.”

“Then does that mean President Si picked up the kid and suddenly got called back to work?”

“That actually sounds possible.”

“Honestly, I never expected President Si to be such a family man.”

“Well of course. President Jiang earns the career, so President Si becomes the househusband.”

By now, Lin Ke felt numb to such comments.

From another perspective, Jiang Chengyin—the rumored

“Mrs. Si” —had shielded her from plenty of gossip.

She probably ought to thank her.

Still—

Why had Si Yuming brought Xiaotie to the company?

Did he really get urgently called back?

As if summoned by her thoughts, her phone lit up.

【Want to head to the old residence together later? Xiaotie’s upstairs. You can take her over first if you want. I’ll probably still be busy for a while.】

Lin Ke typed back:

【Let her wait for you. I’m leaving first.】

Si Yuming replied:

【Okay.】

She returned to her desk, finished the remaining bit of work, then packed up to leave.

But the moment the elevator doors opened—

Lin Ke froze.

Wasn’t the little person laughing happily in Xu Lin’s arms her own daughter?!

Two coworkers happened to be blocking the front.

Lin Ke instantly retreated to a spot hidden from elevator view.

Sorry, baby.

At this time and place, Mommy absolutely cannot acknowledge you.

But no one expected Xu Lin to walk straight out of the elevator carrying the child.

Left with no choice, Lin Ke quickly covered her face with her bag and sprinted back to her workstation.

Behind her, the little girl’s voice drifted faintly over.

“Huh? I think I saw my mommy.”

Lin Ke nearly lost her soul in fright.

Xu Lin peeked toward the office.

“You saw wrong. Your mommy isn’t over here.”

“Okay then.”

The office area immediately burst into excitement too.

Coworkers who hadn’t left work yet gathered courage and crowded over once they saw Assistant Xu carrying the little princess.

Ma Chanchan looked especially thrilled.

“Sis Lin! President Si’s daughter! Let’s go look too!”

“You guys go.”

“Then I’m really going! I heard she’s unbelievably cute and pretty.”

“Ah……”

Xu Lin had brought her downstairs because the little girl wanted to see Daddy.

Remembering President Si’s instructions, he’d been hesitant.

But Si Xiaotie had guaranteed she’d only look at Daddy from afar while tugging his hand and acting spoiled.

Only then had he reluctantly agreed.

President Si was currently in a meeting on the twenty-third floor.

Probably still inside the conference room.

But too many people had crowded around now.

Xu Lin worried the little girl might get overwhelmed.

Yet when he looked down—

The child was happily greeting everyone.

There was no trace of the sadness from her phone call with Mommy earlier.

The office entrance remained lively for quite a while.

Lin Ke hid tightly behind her cubicle divider, terrified Si Xiaotie might glance over and spot her.

With that tiny loud voice of hers—

One shout of

“Mommy!”

could probably freeze the entire Entropy Group for two minutes.

Bits and pieces of conversation floated in from the entrance.

— Baby, what’s your name?

— My name is Si Lezhen.

— How old are you?

— I’m three and a half.

— Wow, already three and a half?

— Yup! I’m a big kid!

……

After quite some time, Xu Lin finally carried her toward the meeting room.

Lin Ke immediately fled downstairs, got into her car, and escaped the company at top speed.

……

The meeting didn’t end until after six.

Si Xiaotie hadn’t returned to the president’s office.

Instead, she waited on the guest sofa outside the twenty-third-floor conference room, holding a tablet Xu Lin had prepared for her and watching Animal World with unwavering focus.

But the instant she saw Daddy, she tossed aside the tablet and ran over.

Si Yuming lifted her into his arms.

The little girl excitedly shared,

“Daddy! Do you know what the biggest animal in the world is?!”

Company executives and business partners followed behind them.

Some had never seen President Si’s daughter before.

Now they curiously observed the tiny child in his arms—

Then looked at the usually cold-faced man whose brows and eyes were now overflowing with gentleness.

All of them felt deeply shocked.

Si Yuming cooperated instead of interrupting her.

“What is it?”

The little girl spread her hands dramatically while making exaggerated expressions.

“It’s whales! They’re this biiiiig! The TV brother said they’re over thirty meters long! Bigger than lots and lots of elephants!”

“So it’s whales. Daddy knows now.”

Si Yuming patted her lightly, signaling toward the people behind him.

Only then did the little girl notice them.

Completely unafraid of strangers, her beautiful eyes curved into crescents as she spoke sweetly:

“Hello uncles and aunties! I’m Xiaotie! I’m my daddy’s baby～”

The uncles and aunties in their thirties and forties all smiled broadly.

Some even stepped forward affectionately to pinch the little girl’s cheeks.

After greeting them, everyone gradually dispersed.

Si Yuming carried Xiaotie at the very back.

The father and daughter chatted as they walked.

“Did you see Mommy?”

“No. Mommy said she wasn’t there.”

Thinking about the likely panicked expression on Lin Ke’s face earlier, Si Yuming’s lips curved upward.

“She ran away.”

“Then let’s go chase her!”

“Alright. Let’s go.”

Behind them, Xu Lin listened to the big and little pair talking while watching the rare smile on President Si’s face.

Once again, he sighed deeply inside.

……

It still took more than twenty minutes to reach the old residence from the company.

By then, night had fully fallen.

Knowing his little sister was coming, Qin Mancheng had waited outside early.

The moment the car drove in, his eyes widened.

But his excellent upbringing kept him from showing too much excitement.

Only after his uncle led his little sister over did he politely greet them.

“Uncle. Xiaotie.”

Si Xiaotie became instantly delighted upon seeing Qin Mancheng.

She immediately let go of Daddy’s hand and grabbed her older brother instead.

“Brother, are my earthworm babies still there?”

Qin Mancheng had completely forgotten about the earthworms.

Hearing it again now gave him another shiver.

Patiently, he explained,

“The weather’s getting cold. Earthworms hibernate underground in winter.”

“What’s hibernate?”

The two children chatted while walking.

“Hibernation means sleeping during winter and coming out again in spring.”

“Then Xiaotie wants to hibernate too!”

“Humans don’t hibernate.”

The little girl looked disappointed.

“Okay then.”

Once inside the house, the little girl spotted Mommy and immediately ran over again.

Standing beside her, she leaned into her arms and spoke spoiledly:

“Mommy, did you miss me?”

No.

Thinking about the tiny bomb that had suddenly appeared at the company earlier still frightened her.

Lin Ke smiled gently.

“Yes. Did baby miss Mommy?”

“I missed you this much!”

The little girl stretched both arms wide into a huge circle.

“This much?”

“Yup!”

After chatting awhile, Si Yun came downstairs.

The little girl immediately ran to hug her aunt too.

“Auntie, did you miss me today?”

Si Yun pinched the girl’s chubby cheeks and smiled.

“Auntie missed baby very much.”

Yet while looking at the child’s lively expression, her heart felt faintly dim.

Qin Mancheng was already seven years old.

Her company had also stabilized gradually.

She wanted another child now.

A daughter.

A tiny sweetheart like Si Xiaotie to keep by her side.

But every time she brought it up before, Qin Ru had refused.

He always said work was too busy.

That he had no time to care for her and a baby.

Si Yuming walked over and glanced upstairs.

“Where’s brother-in-law?”

Si Yun’s smile faded.

“He said he’ll be back soon.”

It was almost dinner time when the front door finally opened.

Qin Ru entered wearing a neat Zhongshan suit and glasses, placing down his bag as he greeted everyone warmly.

“Looks like the temperature dropped today. It’s pretty cold outside.”

Then he walked into the living room, rubbed his son’s head, and affectionately greeted Si Xiaotie too.

“Xiaotie looks so pretty today.”

“Yup!”

The little girl proudly showed off the dinosaur on her yellow sweater.

“This is a triceratops that likes eating grass! My mommy bought it for me!”

“It looks very nice.”

From the kitchen, Si Yun called out,

“Alright, come eat.”

The two children ran over immediately.

Lin Ke lagged behind.

She glanced at the refined man heading to wash his hands in the bathroom—

Then at the woman in the kitchen acting completely normal.

Her feelings became indescribably complicated.

She exchanged a look with the man beside her.

Si Yuming mouthed silently:

“It’s okay.”

Then he squeezed her hand.

Nothing unusual appeared at the dinner table.

Si Xiaotie chatted nonstop.

Qin Mancheng remained obedient and serious.

Lin Ke quietly ate as always.

Qin Ru and Si Yuming didn’t have many shared topics, but men their age could always find something to discuss.

Only the woman across from them quietly drank wine alone, speaking very little.

Only when Qin Ru leaned over to whisper something did she finally smile slightly.

Halfway through the meal, Qin Ru suddenly said to Si Yun,

“Next month is our wedding anniversary. How do you want to celebrate? Should I take a few days off and bring you and Manman traveling?”

Si Yun seemed startled.

“You have time?”

“If I squeeze it out, I do. The university isn’t too busy recently.”

She couldn’t even remember the last time the family of three had traveled together.

Si Yun looked toward the son sitting beside her and noticed the faint expectation in his eyes.

Qin Mancheng resembled his father more.

In appearance.

In personality.

Influenced by him, he loved studying and research too.

Since childhood, he’d been a tiny little professor.

His father had always been his role model.

Si Yun gently rubbed her son’s head, suppressing the bitterness inside her heart before smiling faintly.

“I’m not sure whether I’ll be free next month either. Let’s talk about it later.”

“That works too.”

Qin Ru placed a chicken drumstick into her bowl, his voice gentle.

“Eat more. I think you’ve gotten thinner.”

Si Yun lowered her gaze to the drumstick.

She said nothing.

A moment later, she picked it up and ate slowly, elegant as ever.

Lin Ke quietly watched the scene before her—

Everything looked exactly the same as usual.

And that made her feelings even more complicated.

……

After dinner, Si Xiaotie played with Qin Mancheng for a while.

Around nine, the family of three left.

The exhausted little girl had already fallen asleep during the drive.

Once inside the car, husband and wife both remained silent.

Only when they were almost home did Lin Ke finally ask:

“Sister… she?”

“She probably already knows.”

“Then why…”

Why could she still eat dinner and continue life so naturally as if nothing had happened?

She understood needing to protect Qin Mancheng.

But what about Si Yun herself?

And Qin Ru—

Lin Ke genuinely couldn’t imagine what kind of mentality he had to remain this calm in front of his wife and child.

Was he even human?

Once home, they settled Si Xiaotie into bed.

After showering, the two lay down too.

Si Yuming reached out to hold her.

But this time, he was rejected.

The woman turned her back toward him, her voice icy.

“Don’t.”

“What’s wrong?”

Nothing much.

She simply felt maybe

“love” didn’t truly exist at all.

People merely used it as a substitute term for their behavior during a certain period of time.

And once they no longer wished to persist—

“Love” disappeared too.

In the darkness, Lin Ke asked softly,

“Si Yuming… if even sister and brother-in-law entered marriage with love and still ended up like this… then what happens to marriages without love?”

Si Yuming paused before answering.

“Love transforms into responsibility. In the end, marriage isn’t maintained by love. It’s maintained by responsibility.”

Was that really true…?

Lin Ke bit her lip softly.

Then she asked:

“What you feel toward me… is responsibility?”

Because Grandpa had arranged the marriage, he carried the responsibility of being a husband.

Because of the accidental pregnancy, he took on the responsibility of being a father.

Was that it?

The atmosphere grew heavy.

Even the air seemed frozen.

“Lin Ke……”

Feeling uncomfortable, Lin Ke picked up her pillow and got out of bed.

“I’m going to sleep with our daughter.”

She suddenly thought—

Maybe Zhang Man had been right.

Si Yuming reached out and grabbed her wrist, explaining quietly:

“That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what did you mean?”

Lin Ke stayed silent a moment.

Then, for the first time, she said seriously:

“I think… a marriage without love can’t last.”