Mu Shen's biological clock went off punctually, and he opened his eyes at six in the morning. He changed into a black tracksuit and was ready to go out after washing up.
Just as he stepped out, a faint click came from the other bedroom.
He paused mid-motion while rolling up his sleeves, his deep eyes glancing sidewards.
The door opened a crack, and then, a little bald head popped out.
The little fellow hadn't noticed Mu Shen not far away. Because of his short stature, the round and plump figure was tiptoeing desperately, stretching his small arms up to reach the doorknob.
Ah, the doors in Daddy's house are so big, and the doorknobs are so high.
Ruanruan pulled back and clicked the door shut.
His heels landed, and Ruanruan lightly exhaled with his chubby little mouth slightly agape.
Ruanruan cast a wistful look at the doorknob, compared it with his height, and then shook his little head with a sigh.
"It's still because Ruanruan is too short."
Mu Shen, who saw her entire process of closing the door, "....."
It looked kind of silly.
But...still quite cute.
Little Ruanruan, heading out, was wearing a beige sports outfit, with the image of a hamster clutching its paws printed on the front of the shirt. Fluffy and chubby, just like her.
Just as Ruanruan turned around, she discovered a particularly tall person standing behind her, almost bumping into him.
Little Monk stepped back a few steps and looked up at him.
Once she recognized who it was, Ruanruan's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Daddy!" she called out crisply, and Ruanruan hugged his long legs.
Mu Shen watched the little one's face light up with excitement and cleared his throat with a low hum.
Although it was just a simple response, Ruanruan was beside herself with joy.
"Daddy, Daddy, you admit that you're my daddy, right? Ruanruan is so happy!"
The little one was genuinely happy, her voice carrying an almost sweet taste akin.
Yesterday she called him "Daddy" several times, but Daddy didn't respond to her. Today Daddy responded, and Ruanruan wanted to tell her master the good news right away.
Mu Shen coughed slightly, twisted the little one off his leg, and said sternly, "Stand properly."
Even with Daddy frowning, she wasn't scared!
Ruanruan was still ecstatic about what had just happened, hehe... Daddy had responded to her.
But she still obediently stood properly, her small frame upright, except the silly grin on her face was a bit hard to bear.
Mu Shen wanted to facepalm. So silly, was she really his daughter?
"Why are you up so early?"
Mu Shen gave the little one a glance.
Ruanruan blinked her big eyes and answered sweetly while counting on her fingers.
"Ruanruan wants to get up early for a run, practice boxing, and do homework~"
Now it was Mu Shen's turn to be surprised. He frowned, "Do you do all this every day?"
Ruanruan nodded, "Mmmhmm, Ruanruan is very diligent and won't be lazy."
Mu Shen, "....You're still so young, you don't have to get up so early to do these things."
Shouldn't all children love to sleep in?
Just like his several little nephews, they were so difficult to rouse that not even pulling on them worked; going to school every day was like a life-and-death struggle. Let alone his nephews, even his unreliable younger brother, though already in his teens, still lazed in bed.
Ruanruan's eyes widened as she heard Mu Shen's words.
"Ruanruan is already a big kid! Master says good habits should start early. Exercising every day makes one grow tall and strong, and I can beat up several people!"
Mu Shen "......"
What the heck was with that last part?
But since the little guy was already up, he couldn't very well go back to sleep.
So he took Ruanruan downstairs.
The little one followed him like a little tail, and when they passed by Little Baibai's room, she even called out the little wolf pup. By the time they went downstairs, Mu Shen had two little tails following behind him.
Ruanruan seemed especially excited, talking nonstop to Little Baibai about how she had called Mu Shen "Dad" and how he had responded. It was a simple thing, yet she had taken such delight in it, even sharing the joy with her best friend.
Although that friend was a wolf pup that couldn't speak.
Mu Shen felt somewhat mixed emotions.
"Daddy, I'm going off to do my morning exercises!" Ruanruan was followed by Little Baibai, raising her little paw to wave at Mu Shen.
"Wait, I'm coming too." Mu Shen easily picked up the little one, standing her properly beside him, then went to the water cooler, poured himself a cup of water, and casually filled another cup for Ruanruan.
Ruanruan hadn't even had time to be surprised that Daddy was also going out to "do morning exercises" when a cup of water was handed to her.
She quickly embraced it with both paws, her smile as bright as a little sun, and sweetly said, "Thank you, Daddy."
Then she happily sipped from the cup in tiny gulps.
The Mu family's cook, who had been making meals for the Mu Family for several years, knew Mu Shen's morning routine very well and had arrived early. She was now in the kitchen preparing breakfast.
Mu Shen told her to prepare some breakfast and milk for Ruanruan and then took her out with him.
Ruanruan trotted to keep up, holding onto one of Mu Shen's fingers, curiously looking around.
Leaving the gates of the Mu Family villa, Mu Shen led Ruanruan to the park.
The early morning mist was still thick; the residential area's park was vast with lush trees, abundant flowers, and a clear, sparkling lake, contributing to the excellent air quality.
All along the way, Ruanruan could hear the birds chirping in the trees.
Little Baibai was well-behaved too, sticking close to Ruanruan's side even without a leash.
"Don't run off in unfamiliar places." Mu Shen sternly instructed Ruanruan.
Ruanruan nodded, sticking out her little tongue, "Mmhm, Ruanruan knows! I just wanted to exercise in Daddy's garden. Daddy's garden is so big, not as big as the mountains, but Ruanruan can just run a few more laps."
Mu Shen couldn't disagree and started jogging with Ruanruan.
He was running several times slower than usual, practically walking, just to keep pace with the little short legs behind him.
Puffing and panting, Ruanruan ran a lap alongside her father. Circling the lake was roughly eight hundred meters, and to Mu Shen's surprise, although the little one ran very slowly, her face was just a bit red by the end, and she wasn't sweating much.
"Daddy, Ruanruan knows the way now. You can run by yourself; Ruanruan is slow, but Little Baibai is with me."
Mu Shen glanced at her, "It's okay, I'm taking a walk."
It was no big deal; he could always exercise more in the gym later.
Ruanruan's smile grew even wider, but her little eyes were full of envy for Mu Shen's long legs. She had to run several steps for every one of Daddy's.
After running three laps, Ruanruan began to sweat and breathe heavily, yet she still persisted. The little wolf cub, running and stopping by turns, had honestly completed three laps as well.
By 6:30 am, the park had gradually filled with people, mostly elderly, dressed in practice clothes, carrying swords or empty-handed as they found their usual spots to prepare for Tai Chi.
Normally by this time they would have already started practicing, but today, several elderly women and men watched the jogging Ruanruan with amusement.
"Good morning, grandpas and grandmas~" As she ran by them, the out-of-breath Ruanruan did not neglect to politely greet these unfamiliar elders.