Chapter 3: The Toddler Clings to a Powerful Patron

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Luo Shicheng dressed Hua Li and picked her up, only to realize how incredibly light she was, as if a gust of wind could blow her away. Holding Hua Li, Luo Shicheng sat in the backseat of the car, while Sun Bailing carried Luo Yan into the front passenger seat. Luo Yan cautiously asked Sun Bailing, “Uncle, where are we taking Mom?”

Sun Bailing’s usually cold and stern face softened slightly at the child’s innocent address. “Your mother is ill. Grandpa and your father are taking her to the hospital.”

At least her mother hadn’t developed a chronic illness, which eased the little one’s worried heart. Luo Yan exhaled quietly. “Uncle, can you stay with Mom?”

“Hm?” Sun Bailing was speechless. “She’s your father’s wife. If anyone stays with her, it should be your father, not Grandpa.”

Luo Yan blinked innocently. “Daddy doesn’t stay with Mom. He stays with Aunt Liu.”

Sun Bailing turned sharply to glare at Luo Shicheng. “Luo Shicheng, explain yourself.”

Luo Shicheng retorted, “Nonsense. Did your mother teach you to say that?”

Hah, the scoundrel father couldn’t handle this. There was even more to come.

Frightened, Luo Yan shrank into Sun Bailing’s arms. “Daddy is bad. I don’t want Daddy anymore. You can be An Xiaotong’s dad instead. Boohoo…”

Sun Bailing’s gaze was as sharp as a blade. “Alright, Luo Shicheng, if you don’t explain this clearly today, I’m taking your job away.”

Luo Shicheng was at a loss for words and remained silent.

The car stopped, finally rescuing the baffled Luo Shicheng, who hurriedly carried Hua Li into the hospital.

The doctor examined Hua Li, then coldly asked Luo Shicheng what relation he was to her.

“She’s my wife.”

The doctor slammed the diagnosis report onto the desk and started writing briskly. “She was almost burned alive before you thought to bring her here? How can you be such a husband?”

Having just been scolded by his superior, now the doctor berated him as well. Today was clearly his day for being blamed, and Luo Shicheng listened silently.

“When was the last time the patient ate? What medicine has she taken? When did the fever start? Any history of allergies?”

Luo Shicheng was stunned.

The doctor looked up, his face long as he eyed Luo Shicheng. “You don’t know anything, do you?”

Luo Shicheng wanted to say he really didn’t know, but seeing the doctor's gaze behind his glasses, as if staring at a criminal, he said nothing.

“Auntie, I know,” Luo Yan answered, recalling the original memories to respond to the doctor’s questions.

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“Mom and I have...” Luo Yan counted on her fingers, “one, two... haven’t eaten for two days.”

The words stunned everyone, including Luo Shicheng.

The doctor and Sun Bailing both shot murderous looks at the bewildered Luo Shicheng.

Luo Yan went on. “Mom had a fever. I was hungry but didn’t cry. There was no medicine at home. I gave Mom water to drink. I don’t know what allergies are...”

The doctor was so furious he wanted to hit someone. He fished a packet of alphabet biscuits from his pocket and handed it to Luo Yan.

Luo Yan was truly hungry, her eyes shining as she stared at the biscuits, but she still shook her head firmly.

“Mom said I can’t take things from others.”

The doctor’s heart ached as he gently placed the biscuits in Luo Yan’s hand.

“Auntie gave these. Don’t worry, your mother won’t blame you.”

Luo Yan bowed deeply to the doctor. “Thank you, Auntie.”

Watching this, Luo Shicheng felt like a condemned man awaiting judgment.

Luo Yan used her tiny teeth to tear open the packet and began feeding biscuits to Hua Li.

“Mom, eat. You’ll feel better after eating.”

The doctor, eyes misty with unshed tears, finished filling out the examination forms and diagnosis, then threw them at Luo Shicheng.

“Go pay.”

Sun Bailing, holding Luo Yan, felt a burning anger inside. Fortunately, Luo Shicheng wasn’t his son; if he were, he’d have beaten him senseless right then and there.

After paying and completing the tests upstairs and downstairs, Hua Li was finally admitted to a ward. Sun Bailing pulled Luo Shicheng aside into the corridor for a stern talk.

“I heard from the doctor that your wife is malnourished and extremely weak?”

Luo Shicheng hung his head, silent.

Sun Bailing jabbed a finger at him in exasperation. “When your wife recovers, you owe an explanation.”

The housekeeper came over carrying a thermal lunchbox. Sun Bailing, still trying to save Luo Shicheng some dignity, took Luo Yan back to the ward.

The housekeeper poured some vegetable porridge for Luo Yan, let it cool to a warm temperature, and placed it on the folding table. As she went to fetch eggs and stir-fried dishes, Luo Yan had already climbed onto a chair, spooning the porridge into her mouth ravenously.

Luo Shicheng had never seen a child eat like that—each mouthful was devoured so fiercely that even when choking, she refused to cough, swallowing desperately.

Sun Bailing couldn’t bear to watch and slammed the door as he left, but soon returned with a pile of children’s supplies.

After finishing a bowl of porridge, Luo Yan shyly asked the housekeeper if she could have some more.

The housekeeper, both shocked and heartbroken, ladled another half bowl, ensuring it was cool enough before giving it to Luo Yan.

In the blink of an eye, the half bowl was gone. Luo Yan still wanted more, but the housekeeper gently coaxed her to stop.

“Being too hungry means you can’t eat too much at once. It’ll hurt your stomach. If you like it, Auntie will bring you more tomorrow, okay?”

Luo Yan obediently nodded.

Such a well-behaved child—how could her father be so cruel as to let her suffer?

The housekeeper shot a reproachful glance at Luo Shicheng.

Seeing Luo Yan stop eating, Sun Bailing pulled out the floral dress he had bought and asked if she liked it.

Children love new clothes, but what was this?

A green top, a bright pink floral skirt, a pair of big red hair accessories, and purple little leather shoes.

Were they trying to dress her up as some flamboyant lady?

Luo Yan was horrified by this masculine, clueless style and shook her head frantically in refusal.

Sun Bailing was taken aback. “Not even a little?”

Luo Yan wanted to say yes, but she truly couldn’t bring herself to like it.

“Let’s go with Grandpa.”

Sun Bailing carried Luo Yan to the department store where he had just bought the clothes and let her choose for herself.

Luo Yan picked a pale pink ruffled collar puff-sleeved blouse paired with a light green suspender knee-length skirt.

She swapped the purple leather shoes for white soft-soled sandals, slung a dark green shoulder bag across her body, and wore a round-topped sun hat to cover her messy hair. Suddenly, she looked like a different person—fresh and adorable.

Sun Bailing had three sons and five grandsons but no granddaughter to hold. Seeing Luo Yan dressed so beautifully, he couldn’t suppress his longing for a granddaughter and crouched down to coax her.

“Good Luo Yan, will you be Grandpa’s granddaughter from now on?”

Luo Yan—was it really that easy to win over this big guy?

“Grandpa...” Luo Yan called sweetly, and Sun Bailing responded enthusiastically.

He bought a red envelope, emptied all the money from his pocket into it, and pressed it into Luo Yan’s hand.

She couldn’t accept this money and shook her head vigorously.

“No, Mom would scold me.”

After the initial joy, Sun Bailing realized the inappropriateness of his actions.

After all, Luo Yan had parents. If he wanted to take her as his goddaughter, he needed to inform Luo Shicheng and Hua Li first.

“Well, how about Grandpa gives it to your mother?”

Luo Yan nodded, wrapping her small hands around Sun Bailing’s neck.

“Grandpa, even if you don’t give me money, I’ll still call you Grandpa, Grandpa, Grandpa!”

The little voice melted Sun Bailing’s heart completely.