Sputter.
The mouthful of very expensive water that An Ziqi had just drunk came spewing out.
Cough. Sputter. "What? Kept…kept woman?"
Xiao Yining extended his little hand to retrieve a small handkerchief from his breast pocket and, looking repulsed, began to wipe off the water that had been sputtered on him.
Without giving her a chance to recover from her shock, he threw her another shocking grenade.
"Eat, play, and sleep."
What the…? What kind of family did this mischievous kid belong to?
An Ziqi was almost in tears. That air of arrogance and nobility, classic powerful tycoon material…
'Dear God, if you were really going to gift me with a wealthy tycoon, why send me a mini version and not an actual one?'
She was really not into the nasty habit of causing devastating damage to the very young.
"Young Xiao Yining, I get what people say about marrying early, but should you not at least be looking for a wife in the kindergarten?"
"Be my mummy."
"Mummy?"
An Ziqi almost bit her tongue off.
"That's right. The agreement will be for one year. During this period, you will fulfill all the responsibilities of being a mother to me. In return, I will pay, in full, your sister's school fees for the next three years. I will also pay off all your father's gambling debts."
Xiao Yining meant what he said.
An Ziqi gave him an incredulous look. Was he really just a little kid?
"Don't doubt my capability to get things done."
Xiao Yining stuck out his chest and extended his hand to a man clad in black close to him.
Immediately and respectfully, the man in black handed him a small book.
"This is a blank check. Write any amount you want."
An Ziqi was flabbergasted. She thrust the checkbook back at the kid.
Judging by the luxurious car he traveled in and the elegant clothes that he was wearing, it was obvious that Xiao Yining came from a very wealthy and powerful family.
She had no doubt at all that he was capable and wealthy, but—
"Why me?"
Xiao Yining's shoulders drooped and looked a tad sorrowful as he began to speak with a hint of sadness in his voice.
"You look a lot like my mummy. I have never met her. All I have is this photo of her."
Seeing his downcast eyes, somehow, An Ziqi could not help but feel sorry for him.
As if in a trance, An Ziqi nodded.
"OK, I accept."
At her agreement, Xiao Yining whipped out a contract. Once they had both signed and stamped on the contract, Xiao Yining's downcast look disappeared immediately, and he broke out into a dazzling smile.
It was as though the earlier sorrowful look on his face was just her imagination.
An Ziqi stared in disbelief. Why did she have a feeling that she had been conned?
She shook her head violently. No way, that must have been her imagination playing tricks on her.
How could she possibly be conned by this kid?
Xiao Yining fingered his chin as his big eyes danced.
He raised his hand to send a signal to someone standing behind him. In an instant, a waiter came forward with a glass of cocktail.
He handed An Ziqi the cocktail glass before picking up his own glass of orange juice and raising it.
In a serious tone, he spoke, "Here's to a happy partnership."
An Ziqi accepted the glass and took a sip.
"Hmm… This cocktail is very sweet."
As he watched An Ziqi finish her drink, Xiao Yining's lips curled. Very quickly, he retrieved his phone and sent a message. A few seconds later, his phone rang.
Looking at the response on his phone, Xiao Yining's smile widened.
An Ziqi placed her empty glass on the table, feeling a little dizzy.
"This cocktail is very sweet. Why does it have such a strong effect?"
By the time she was downstairs, An Ziqi was already in a state of drunken stupor and could not even stand up straight.
Xiao Yining signaled for the man in black to support her as she walked.
Looking at the clumsy and rough action of the man, Xiao Yining frowned.
"Be careful, will you? If you hurt my mummy, you can forget about appearing before me ever again."
The man in black was almost in tears. He had indeed been trying his utmost to be gentle and careful.
Back in the car, Xiao Yining took out his phone and made a call.
"Where is my daddy now?"
"Have you given him the stuff to drink?"
Upon hearing the response from the other end, he hung up, looking satisfied.
The car stopped in front of an apartment building in Guerlan Elite.
Xiao Yining helped An Ziqi out of the car and into the elevator. When they reached the 36th floor, he keyed in the access code with practiced ease and opened the door.
He led An Ziqi to the master bedroom and said, "Mummy, we're home. Go to sleep."
'Tomorrow, our family of three will be able to live happily ever after,' Xiao Yining muttered in his heart.
"Yes, sweetheart. Good night."
In her drunken state, An Ziqi hugged Xiao Yining and kissed him hard on his cheek before turning and walking into the bedroom.
Pulling off her clothes in a disorderly manner, she leaped onto the soft, welcoming bed.
In a daze, she felt something beside her and reached out with her hands to feel it all over.
Since when did she have an extra, large-sized bolster in her bed?
Whatever. She was not worried about it.
In any case, it was soft and squishy, and she felt very comfortable hugging it.