What? Gugu called Wu Tian 'Daddy'?
A wave of shock washed over the private room. Although the little girl's pronunciation wasn't clear due to her young age, everyone understood what she said.
"Gugu, don't talk nonsense," Qin Yuhan said sternly, the first to recover.
Gugu's eyes widened in confusion. "But Mommy, the man on your phone is Daddy, and Daddy is still sleeping under the covers."
What?
If her first word was a shock, this was a bolt from the blue.
Qin Zhengyang's expression turned serious. He looked at Qin Yuhan and asked, "Daughter, what exactly is going on?"
"It's nothing." Qin Yuhan's thoughts were a whirlwind, and her breathing grew ragged.
Wu Tian was also surprised and looked at Qin Yuhan. He wasn't sure when the phrase 'billowing waves' had stopped being associated with the sea. Staring at her chest, he grew thoughtful. It seemed familiar, like a place he had seen before. His mind was clear, free of any vile thoughts; it was just a genuine feeling of recognition, nothing more.
"Mommy, Daddy..." Gugu's adorable eyes started to well up with tears.
As the CEO of the Qin Corporation, Qin Yuhan was rarely at home, so Gugu was usually looked after by a nanny. It's safe to say that the four-year-old had watched her fair share of TV, from spy thrillers and martial arts epics to countless family dramas. At this moment, only one thought filled her head. Mommy and Daddy are fighting! They're not going to be together anymore, and I'll become an orphan!
That can't happen. Absolutely not. I want my daddy!
Her little fists clenched as she tried with all her might to squeeze out some tears.
"Don't cry." Seeing her like this, Wu Tian couldn't help but sigh. He hadn't paid close attention before, but looking at Gugu carefully now, he could truly feel the connection in their blood—a connection even more certain than a DNA test.
"You are my child."
The private room fell utterly silent.
This was a development that Qin Zhengyang, Qin Zhengxin and his wife, and Murong Yezi had never even dreamed of. This was especially true for Murong Yezi, who just last night had been fretting over her son's perpetually single status. Then, by a stroke of luck, Qin Zhengyang had found her contact information. Murong Yezi had thought herself blessed just to see her single-for-life son finally paired up. She never expected it would be a buy-one-get-one-free deal; now she had a granddaughter too.
...Murong Yezi was dumbfounded.
"Is this true?" Qin Zhengyang asked urgently.
Four years ago, when his daughter had suddenly become pregnant, Qin Zhengyang had been furious. He had mobilized the full power of the Qin Corporation to find the man responsible, but Qin Yuhan had used her authority as CEO to obstruct his efforts, making the search impossible. He never expected that the flower he'd carefully tried to cultivate would fail to bloom, while the willow branch planted by chance had grown into a lush tree.
"Wow!" The little girl in Qin Yuhan's arms began to dance with joy, kicking her legs and waving her arms. Daddy is amazing! He recognized I was his adorable daughter at a single glance!
"Why don't we get a test?" Qin Zhengyang suggested.
"No. I admit it. The child is his," Qin Yuhan said, biting her red lip. She knew that at this point, denial was futile. This secret was bound to come out sooner or later.
Qin Zhengyang and Murong Yezi exchanged a glance, both seeing the amused delight in the other's eyes.
One had found a son-in-law.
The other had found a daughter-in-law and gained a granddaughter in the process.
As for Qin Zhengxin and his wife, their expressions turned grim. They had no idea how they were going to explain this to Nalan Feng. The Nalan Family was one of the four great families of Yang City, and Nalan Feng was its sole heir and the current President of the Nalan Group. Although Qin Zhengxin and his wife were blood relatives of Qin Zhengyang, they held no real power in the family. Because of this, they were terrified of Nalan Feng.
Little did they know, Nalan Feng's interest in Qin Yuhan, and his willingness to overlook Gugu's existence, had little to do with her beauty. His true prize was the Qin Corporation. Unfortunately, Qin Zhengxin and his wife thought Nalan Feng was just like their own son, Qin Yujie—a man blinded by infatuation. With such poor judgment, how could Qin Zhengyang ever entrust them with any real authority?
"Dad, you said earlier that if I didn't like him, I could refuse," Qin Yuhan said, latching onto what her father had told her at the hotel entrance.
"No, I take it back," Qin Zhengyang said with a hearty laugh. "I think Xiaotian is a fine young man. As long as he's willing to work hard, he'll definitely be able to make a place for himself in Yang City. I see great potential in him. You two should get to know each other for a while, and then you can get married."
Qin Yuhan was speechless.
"Mommy, Daddy," Gugu chirped happily, completely ignoring her favorite pork ribs on the table. She was overjoyed. I, Gugu, am a real detective! I found Daddy in no time!
Qin Yuhan felt like crying but had no tears. No wonder they say a daughter's loyalty is always to her husband!
"I have matters to attend to at the corporation, so I'll be leaving first." Faced with Wu Tian's ambiguous gaze and Murong Yezi's look of sizing up a daughter-in-law, Qin Yuhan felt her defenses crumbling. She handed her daughter over to Qin Zhengyang, rose from her seat, and prepared to leave. Before she went, she shot a glance at Wu Tian. I'll show you just how wide the gap between us is. If you can't cross that gap, then we... we're impossible! Hmph!
After Qin Yuhan left, Qin Zhengyang, holding the little girl, smiled at Wu Tian. "Xiaotian," he began, "that's just her temper, so don't take it to heart. She's actually very kind, but she has to act this way to lead the corporation. Besides, a man without considerable ability wouldn't be able to bear the weight on her shoulders. Think of this as a test for you, too."
Wu Tian nodded, though he couldn't help but feel his new father-in-law was underestimating him. He was an Immortal Emperor, after all. If he could just replenish his spent Spiritual Power, he could mend the heavens like Nuwa did, even if they were to fall.
Of course, when would the Spiritual Energy on Earth ever be enough to replenish his reserves? He was frustrated by this as well. At the moment, his Realm was still that of an Immortal Emperor, but he had no Spiritual Power. It was like owning the world's fastest sports car with only enough fuel to drive three meters.
The path of Cultivation was divided into the Realms of Qi Refinement, Innate, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, Return to Void, Fusion, and Crossing Tribulation. After successfully Crossing Tribulation, one would transcend life and death, create Yin and Yang, and merge with heaven and earth to become an Immortal Emperor. In the entire, vast Immortal Emperor Realm, there were only four such beings, including himself. But right now, despite possessing the Realm of an Immortal Emperor, the strength he could actually wield was merely at the level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.
The Qi Refinement Realm is further divided into the Foundation Establishment Realm, the Tongxuan Realm, and the Divine Sea Realm. The Foundation Establishment Realm is the stage where a cultivator breaks through human physical limits. In terms of raw physical power, the legendary Li Xiaolong could be considered to have reached the Foundation Establishment Realm.
But Cultivation was far more profound than that. For example, one of the marvels of the Foundation Establishment Realm was the ability to temper one's body into Hundred Refinement Steel! This was an art from the Immortal Emperor Realm itself, allowing one to block swords and blades with their bare hands. At the Tongxuan Realm, a cultivator could use minor spells. At the Divine Sea Realm, one could manifest a Divine Body.
However, Wu Tian still didn't know about the martial arts realms of this modern city and felt it was necessary to figure them out.
"Sister-in-law, there are some things I'd like to discuss with Xiaotian alone. I'll leave Gugu with you," Qin Zhengyang said, his expression suddenly grave as he handed the little girl to Murong Yezi.
Murong Yezi joyfully took Gugu into her arms. Gugu looked up at her with wide, curious eyes.
"Hello, Auntie."
"It's Grandma," Murong Yezi corrected gently.
"..." Gugu's eyes widened. I don't believe it! How can Grandma be so young? She looks just a little older than Mommy. In all the TV shows, grandmas are supposed to be old ladies!
Meanwhile, Qin Zhengyang led Wu Tian out of the private room and into the corridor. Wu Tian had a feeling that his new father-in-law had something urgent to say.
What could it be?