Chapter 118: Seems like

Two days later, Pei Du had someone tidy up the 1702 apartment.

In total there were four rooms: two bedrooms and two converted studies; the master bedroom was for his daughter, one study was for her studies, and the other was for his own office.

Observing propriety between the sexes, Pei Du also specially hired a housekeeping aunt to look after his daughter's daily chores, and this link was also someone he personally vetted and selected.

After finishing all that, Pei Du went downstairs to prepare to pick up the person and luggage——

"……Dad, I have something I want to discuss with you."

Pei Du nodded, indicating for his daughter to continue.

"Can I not move out of my sister's house, but at the same time I'll also come back upstairs to live? That is, if a month has thirty days, on odd-numbered days I stay at my sister's, on even-numbered days I stay at 1702—would that work?"

Pei Muyin said this anxiously, she twisted her fingers nervously, lifted her head, expecting to see her father's disappointed or reluctant expression, when she heard his low, calm voice say: "Good."

Pei Du didn't hesitate for even half a second, he directly agreed.

So readily that Pei Muyin didn't even have time to react; she looked at her father, whose expression was calm.

This scene instantly threw Pei Muyin's memory back to her childhood——

That time, Great Blessing didn't sleep at night, sneaked to the kitchen, turned on the faucet, and let the water run all night.

The next day, Dad brought her downstairs after she woke up, and they saw that the first floor was almost completely flooded, while Great Blessing stood on the sofa, wagging its crooked‑like tail, admiring its handiwork; when they came down, it even barked energetically twice.

At that time, Xiao Mu Yin was only three; seeing this, she widened her eyes, clapped her hands in amazement, and said in a childish voice: "Dad, the little stream has come into the house."

Pei Du slipped on his slippers, picked up his daughter with one hand, then used the other to pull out his phone and call someone to clean up the mess.

After hanging up, he held his daughter and was about to go back upstairs when he heard her say from his arms: "Dad, I want to play, little stream."

Xiao Mu Yin had of course seen a little stream before, but this was the first time she'd seen the "little stream" inside the house, and she found it extremely novel.

He understood his daughter's meaning.

Pei Du silently fetched his daughter's rain boots, put them on her, then went downstairs, supporting her arms with both hands so that her toes lightly touched the water's surface.

Fortunately, the house had an overflow device; once the water reached a certain level it stopped automatically, so the water only came up to about an adult's foot.

Pei Du didn't mind that his slippers and pant legs got wet; he steadied his daughter and watched her play happily.

When the staff arrived, they exchanged glances and all felt that the male owner of this villa had a calm kind of madness.

It was then that Xiao Mu Yin took a liking to playing in water.

She just waited and waited for the next arrival of the little stream.

But she didn't know that there was no longer a "little stream" in the house, because from that day on Great Blessing was locked in its room at night to sleep.

Until one day, when it was raining outside, Xiao Mu Yin, who had been playing with toys upstairs, saw the water pooling on the road, ran quickly to the study, found her father, and pointed outside the window, saying:

"Dad, shall we go play in the water?"

At that time she didn't know her father was handling work; she only knew he rose straight away and said: "Good."

The same "good," likewise an unconditional agreement in tone.

…

Everything inside Pei Muyin's luggage was put back exactly as it was; Pei Du had already hired someone to procure all the necessities for his daughter, so she could easily run between upstairs and downstairs.

Pei Muyin thus felt as if she had two homes.

That day, the date was an even number, and it was also the first day that father and daughter lived together in 1702.

Although it wasn't exactly a new house, it deserved a house‑warming meal.

Before school let out.

Pei Muyin invited Shu Shu and Shu Lingchen to come eat this meal, saying her father would do the cooking.

"That person——can your dad cook?"

Shu Lingchen's face was full of disbelief, he muttered angrily, thinking maybe they were going to give him the Seven‑Step Soul‑Scattering Powder to retaliate for when he had eaten and they slipped him a super‑spicy chili.

"Mm‑hm."

Pei Muyin nodded; her father had not been in a car accident, and before she turned four she had always eaten his cooking, and even after his amnesia she had eaten his cooking twice.

But she remembered that the taste was excellent.

…

Yujingyuan, 1702.

Pei Muyin, like a cheerful little sparrow, fetched slippers for Shu Shu and Shu Lingchen.

A sound came from the sliding glass door.

Pei Du walked out of the kitchen in his usual black long pants, sleeves rolled up to reveal cold‑white arms that hinted at restrained strength, his slim waist tied with a gray apron, truly the picture of someone ready to cook.

Shu Shu blinked slightly, a fleeting hint of dazed emotion crossing her eyes.

It seemed as if Pei Du's attire gave off a hint of being from another era, and compared to her memory, it was just the difference between youthful vigor and mature masculinity.

On the table lay boiled fish slices, braised spare ribs with chestnuts, steamed egg with razor clams, salt‑and‑pepper shrimp, and garlic‑infused okra.

Pei Du had asked his daughter beforehand, so every dish on the table suited both Shu Shu's and Shu Lingchen's tastes.

They all looked quite good.

Although Shu Shu hadn't tasted it yet, she had no doubt about Pei Du's cooking skill.

"Just sit." Pei Du said in a light voice: "There's still one soup, it'll be ready soon."

Having said that, he went back to the kitchen.

Pei Muyin was about to go over to clear the dishes, but Shu Lingchen stopped her: "Brother will go."

The boy walked into the kitchen in a carefree manner, glanced at the man lifting the pot lid to check the soup, and cleared his throat twice: "Um, where are the bowls?"

Although he was only there for his sister's sake, food makes one soft‑hearted, and he wasn't the type to just eat and do nothing.

Pei Du turned, opened the concealed lower cupboard; Shu Lingchen walked over, half‑squatted to pick up the bowls, and after he had them he stood, passed Pei Du, let out a soft hum, held the bowls aloft with chin raised, and walked out.

Pei Du: "……."

The soup was ready, and they began to eat.

Shu Lingchen pretended not to be interested and casually picked up a clam, throwing it into his mouth.

Damn!

This trafficker really knows how to cook! Is this one of his tricks to bewilder his sister?

What a sneaky trick!

Shu Lingchen thought he absolutely must not show that he thought it was delicious, otherwise he'd fear the trafficker would become proud, further fueling his unrestrained arrogance.

After finishing the meal, Shu Lingchen especially took the initiative to clean up the bowls and chopsticks.

Of course, this wasn't to curry favor! He thought that having eaten Pei Du's meal and cleaned up the bowl, he no longer owed Pei Du anything.

As for that watch, he'll need to figure out how to return it later.

Hmph, he definitely doesn't want to.

…

When Shu Shu and Shu Lingchen went downstairs, Pei Du accompanied his daughter to see them off at the door.

Shu Lingchen held the phone to his ear and said to Pei Muyin, "Sis, do you want Brother to make a call for Brother?"

Although Brother is right downstairs.

"Okay~"

The door closed, and Pei Du glanced down at his daughter's smiling face, lightly saying, "Muyin's friend here is... quite... special."

"It's really special." Pei Muyin said to her dad, "Back then Brother's hairstyle wasn't like this; I think after Brother changed to black hair, he and Dad look alike."