"Jun Jun!"
Sheng Xiangsi didn't expect Jun Jun's reaction to be so intense.
"What's going on?"
Xu Chun was equally surprised by the commotion between the mother and daughter.
She hurried over to Sheng Xiangsi, "Jun Jun accepting the gift is wrong, but there's no need to cause discord between you two over an outsider. She's just a child, talk to her nicely."
"You're right."
Sheng Xiangsi was at a loss. She realized she was too hasty. Why should she take out her frustrations with Fu Hanjiang on Jun Jun?
She composed herself and knocked on Jun Jun's door. "Jun Jun, mommy's coming in."
She opened the door and saw Jun Jun lying on the bed, hiding under her little blanket.
Sheng Xiangsi smiled and walked over, "Jun Jun, it's mommy. Mommy's here to apologize."
"..." Jun Jun peeked out from under the blanket, revealing her big eyes.
"Sorry, Jun Bao."
Sheng Xiangsi pursed her lips, her eyes slightly red. "Mommy was wrong. Mommy shouldn't have been mean to you. Will you forgive mommy?"
"Mommy."
Jun Jun, with a small, tearful voice, threw herself into her mother's arms.
The mother and daughter, who relied on each other, never held grudges for long.
"Mommy won't be mean to Jun Jun anymore. Jun Jun was scared!"
"I'm so sorry." Sheng Xiangsi regretted her actions deeply, her heart softening. "It was mommy's fault. Mommy won't do it again."
As they embraced, Sheng Xiangsi gradually calmed down.
After some thought, she gently asked Jun Jun, "Jun Jun, how did you meet that uncle?"
"Well, it was in Philadelphia."
Jun Jun tilted her head and told her mother about how she was bullied by other kids in the Philadelphia hospital and how the uncle had helped her.
Sheng Xiangsi was surprised. So, it was that early...
Was the meeting between the father and daughter destined in some way?
"Jun Jun."
Sheng Xiangsi gently stroked her daughter's head, "Do you like that uncle very much?"
"Yes!" Jun Jun nodded without hesitation. "I like him."
"Why?"
"Because the uncle is nice to me."
Xu Chun, who had just come over to check on them, couldn't help but laugh, "You're just a child. How do you know what it means for someone to be nice to you?"
"Mommy!"
Jun Jun defended her uncle fiercely, "And also, the uncle is very pretty!"
"Oh my!" Xu Chun laughed heartily. "You little one, you care about looks! Does being good-looking make someone a good person?"
Jun Jun, upset, with tears in her big eyes, looked at Sheng Xiangsi pleadingly, "Mommy! Please believe me. The uncle is really a good person!"
"Alright, alright."
Sheng Xiangsi nodded helplessly. "Mommy believes you."
"Xu Nanny!"
Jun Jun smugly glanced at Xu Chun and burrowed into her mother's arms, "Mommy is the best."
"Yes, yes, your mommy is the best."
With the mother and daughter reconciled, Xu Chun felt relieved and happily went back to her work.
That night, Sheng Xiangsi stayed with Jun Jun.
Looking at the neatly placed Minnie hair clips on the bedside table and the red Minnie toy in the toy cabinet...
Sigh.
Sheng Xiangsi sighed silently.
When Fu Hanjiang bought these, he didn't know he was buying them for his biological daughter.
Is this the peculiarity of blood ties? Despite not knowing each other's identities, the father and daughter are incredibly connected.
Closing her eyes, Sheng Xiangsi recalled the look in Fu Hanjiang's eyes when he looked at Jun Jun in the park today...
That unadorned affection and care couldn't be faked.
So, her Jun Jun could also be cherished and held tenderly by her father.
Jun Jun, does she long for her father's love?
...
The next day, at the dance troupe.
Sheng Xiangsi was informed by Bai Ran, "Xiangsi, my design sketch was selected!"
"Really?" Sheng Xiangsi was both surprised and delighted. "You certainly kept this quiet! Why didn't you say anything sooner?"
"Hehe." Bai Ran blushed slightly. "I didn't want to jinx it."
"Nice."
Sheng Xiangsi lightly glared at her with a smile. "Looks like Yao Leyi really liked your design. Congratulations."
Although she didn't like Yao Leyi, she had to admit that Yao Leyi's endorsement fee wasn't cheap.
For Bai Ran, getting Yao Leyi to wear her wedding dress, especially for her marriage into the wealthy Fu family in Jiangcheng, meant she was one step away from fame.
Bai Ran beamed, "Haha, just lucky."
"Keep it up, work hard!"
"Of course!"
At noon, Bai Ran needed to buy some small materials. The dance troupe was quite idle these days, so Sheng Xiangsi accompanied her.
While waiting, Sheng Xiangsi bought some yarn.
She planned to knit two sweaters, one small and one large. The small one was naturally for Jun Jun, and the large one...
Was for Fu Hanjiang.
It was a gesture of gratitude for his 'kindness' towards Jun Jun.
She divided the yarn into two bags, intending to keep the one for Jun Jun at home and take the one for Fu Hanjiang to Yintan.
Two days later, Fu Hanjiang returned from Haicheng.
Instead of going back to Yintan, he went straight to the dance troupe from the airport, without informing Xiangsi.
"Xiangsi!"
Sheng Xiangsi and Bai Ran were leaving the front gate when they suddenly saw Fu Hanjiang standing there, wearing a camel-colored coat, smiling brightly.
"Go on."
Bai Ran nudged her, smiling as she waved goodbye. "I'll head off first."
Sheng Xiangsi jogged towards him. "You're back? Why didn't you say anything?"
Fu Hanjiang reached out and held her hand. "Wanted to surprise you. Do you like it?"
Sheng Xiangsi smiled faintly, not giving a direct answer.
"Let's go." Fu Hanjiang pulled her into his embrace. "We're eating out tonight."
They went to Rongfuju.
Fu Hanjiang ordered the dishes, "These will do for now."
When closing the menu, he remembered something and instructed, "Oh, and no ginger or cilantro. Green onions and garlic are fine."
Sheng Xiangsi, who was drinking water, looked up at him in surprise.
Fu Hanjiang smiled mischievously at her, "Why are you looking at me? Aren't you the one who doesn't eat ginger and cilantro?"
He didn't mind them himself, he wasn't picky.
"..." Sheng Xiangsi was astonished, opening her mouth slightly. "How do you know?"
"Is it hard?"
Fu Hanjiang raised an eyebrow, "We've eaten together countless times, and I can't notice this? I'm not blind."
True, but...
They had known each other for many, many years, and he never noticed these things before.
Sheng Xiangsi picked up her cup and took small sips, her thoughts swirling.
"Huh?"
Fu Hanjiang noticed a small bag on the chair. "What's this?"
"Don't..."
Sheng Xiangsi tried to stop him, but it was too late. Fu Hanjiang had already picked it up and opened it.
"What's this?" He fiddled with it. "Yarn?"
He looked at Sheng Xiangsi questioningly, "Are you knitting a sweater?"
He squinted his eyes dangerously, "Who is it for?"