Her soft, pleading voice was filled with a sense of supplication.
All she wanted was to see her father as soon as he returned home.
Upon seeing her in this state, the butler quickly softened. Despite his concerns, he went back to fetch a blanket to wrap around her.
"Thank you, Grandpa Butler."
Wrapped in the blanket, Ruan Shu politely thanked the butler and continued to eagerly wait.
As the night wore on and her father still hadn't returned by ten o'clock, her little head began to feel heavy with fatigue.
The butler looked at the little girl, who had waited for hours without a single complaint, and realized that her quiet patience was truly heart-wrenching.
"Miss, it's time to go inside." The marshal has many responsibilities, so it's normal for him not to come home sometimes.
Half an hour ago, he had sent a message to the head of the household out of concern, but there had been no response. Perhaps something had delayed him, and he hadn't had time to check his messages.
This time, Ruan Shu obediently acknowledged and took the butler's hand back to the house.
But the entire little figure looked very forlorn, and her beautiful sapphire-like eyes had dimmed.
Ruan Shu used the excuse of not feeling sleepy and wanting to watch TV to wait in the house for another hour.
At eleven o'clock, it was already time for her to go to bed. Ruan Shu yawned as she leaned back on the soft sofa, her eyes moist with tears from yawning.
"Achoo"~"
She rubbed her little nose and sneezed, her fuzzy head bobbing.
Finally, she couldn't resist and fell asleep on the sofa.
The butler left to attend to some matters and, upon his return, found the little one sleeping on the sofa.
He shook his head, saying he was going to bed himself. This young lady was indeed a bit stubborn, much like the head of the household.
However, it seemed that the young lady lacked love, having grown up beside a mother who only saw her as a tool.
It was strange that there were many orphans in the Star Beast Clan who had grown up without their parents due to accidents. However, their behavior tended to be more aggressive or cautious towards others, but never like that of the young lady.
She was just so adorable that it broke your heart.
It was truly a strange experience.
As the butler approached to pick up the little one curled up on the sofa, he heard a sound from outside.
It was the sound of a hovercar.
The butler's eyes widened in surprise. Had the head of the household returned?
He went outside and indeed saw the familiar hovercar already parked.
As the door swung open, Ruan Xiao emerged, dressed in a black military uniform, exuding a powerful and intimidating presence.
His sharply defined face showed no expression, and the darkness of the night made him appear even more menacing.
Ruan Xiao raised his eyes, and with just one glance, the butler was frozen in place, his breath becoming even quieter.
It was the suppression of bloodline hierarchy.
Was the head of the household out hunting alien creatures at this late hour? His body still carried the lingering scent of blood.
"Master, you're back."
Ruan Xiao gave a cold grunt and took off his gloves, holding them in his hand.
The butler glanced at the gloves, the bright red bloodstains standing out against the white fabric.
"And her?"
Ruan Xiao seemed casual in his questioning, but his deep blue eyes were fixed on the house.
Upon seeing the small figure curled up on the sofa, he furrowed his brow.
"Miss insisted on waiting for you and fell asleep after watching TV for a while."
As he said this, he gave the head of the household a strange look.
Normally, when such impromptu tasks arose, the head of the household would return to the legion. Today...
Could it be because of the message he had sent?
The butler pondered with a peculiar expression but then dismissed the idea. The head of the household wouldn't break his usual habits over such a small matter; it must have been an accident.
Little did he know, his seemingly impossible guess was correct.
In the afternoon, he received a message that a city on Planet A-2210 had been attacked by contaminated alien beasts. He was responsible for leading the troops to eliminate the enemy, a task that lasted until after ten o'clock in the evening.
During this time, he hadn't had a chance to check any messages, and only upon returning did he see the butler's message.
After reading the message, he didn't reply, assuming that by that time the child would have gone to bed.
It was just a small matter, but Ruan Xiao hadn't expected that it would weigh so heavily on his mind.
In the end, he returned with a cold face.
He didn't understand what was happening, but one thing was certain: that little one could already affect his emotions!
Realizing this, his mood hadn't been great on the way back, so he appeared particularly cold and aloof.
But now, seeing the small figure curled up on the sofa, Ruan Xiao pursed his lips and lowered his gaze, concealing his emotions.
He approached and looked down at the small figure leaning against the sofa back, hugging her knees and sleeping barefoot.
This delicate and fragile little life seemed as if it could dissipate with just a touch of his hand.
Although the vitality of the Star Beast Clan was typically robust, it appeared that these two words couldn't be applied to her.
Upon noticing the head of the household's unusual mood, the butler gazed at the father and daughter with concern.
"Mmm..."
Even after being stared at for so long, Ruan Shu, who was still half-asleep, woke up. Despite longing for her father, she had not been sleeping deeply.
As she slowly opened her eyes, her expression was dazed and confused, gradually recognizing the tall man standing in front of her.
"Daddy?"
She murmured in disbelief, "Is Shu Shu dreaming?"
Ruan Xiao looked at her delicate, snow-white face. When she called him "daddy" in such a soft and tender manner, he felt a jolt in his heart.
Upon his arrival, all the negative emotions he had brought with him seemed to dissipate.
He bent down to pick up his daughter.
Ruan Shu hadn't fully woken up yet, and her small body felt weak, pressing all her weight onto him.
Of course, her entire weight was nothing to Ruan Xiao.
Ruan Shu's small arms wrapped around her father's neck as she, with half-closed eyes, still seemed drowsy and disoriented.
Her fuzzy little head rested against her father's neck as she affectionately nuzzled against it.
She looked just like a clingy little kitten, seeking security in the arms of her loved one.
It was an unconscious action, but it made Ruan Xiao's body stiffen.
The neck was a sensitive and dangerous area for any member of the Star Beast Clan.
Ruan Xiao reflexively wanted to push the person in his arms away.
"Daddy, daddy…"
The very affectionate murmurs reached his ears, soft and tender.