Chapter Fifty-Eight: I Need an Explanation

“Master Zhan.” Wan Qi Lianhao stared at the communicator, squeezing out two words through gritted teeth.

Zhan Yu cleared his throat and glanced at Xuan Xuan, who was pretending to be an ostrich.

As soon as Xuan Xuan heard Wan Qi Lianhao's voice, she crawled into Zhan Yu's arms, burying herself tightly, acting as if she saw and heard nothing.

“Good day, Third Master.” Zhan Yu nodded to Wan Qi Lianhao, smiling slightly, though there was a trace of awkwardness in his expression.

Seeing that Xuan Xuan still refused to turn around, Wan Qi Lianhao's tone became icy, “Thank you, Master Zhan, for holding my daughter.”

Zhan Yu shivered, trying to get Xuan Xuan to come down, but she stubbornly ignored him, clinging to him without moving.

Zhan Yu cried out silently in his heart, Little chubby girl, you’re having a spat with your father, don’t drag me into it! I’m innocent. If only I’d known, I shouldn’t have responded when you called me, let alone run over to hug you. Zhan Yu felt he’d brought this upon himself.

Xuan Xuan couldn’t care less about his innocence. He was the only one she was familiar with, so who else could she cling to?

Wan Qi Lianhao observed the exchange of glances between Zhan Yu and Xuan Xuan, and the look he gave Zhan Yu could practically kill.

This Zhan Yu needed to be watched carefully. When did he become so close with Xuan Xuan? She even let him hold her—this was a “child-lover,” after all.

Xuan Xuan had no idea what her father was thinking, but she could feel the gaze from behind. She figured her month’s supply of jerky was certainly gone.

But if it meant not having to go to kindergarten, what was a month’s jerky?

Even a year…

Hmm, a year would require some thought.

The most innocent one stuck in the middle, Zhan Yu, coughed awkwardly twice. In truth, he probably stole someone’s chicken last night, ate too quickly, and got a feather stuck in his throat—hence the constant coughing today.

He gave Wan Qi Lianhao a slightly embarrassed smile, “It’s nothing, not hard at all.”

“Not hard?” Wan Qi Lianhao said, “How could it not be? Ba Luo, fetch the young miss.”

Ba Luo trembled. It had been ages since his master was this angry—the tone said it all.

He strode forward, reaching out to take Xuan Xuan from Zhan Yu’s arms. Zhan Yu patted Xuan Xuan’s back, urging her to come down, but she clung tightly to his neck. She had just used her mental powers to scan.

Kindergarten actually taught singing, dancing, counting.

And then those little brats were all crying.

They wanted her, a grown adult and a great alchemist, to sing “Little White Rabbit” and count “1, 2, 3?”

She’d rather die than go.

Now, even a year’s supply of jerky couldn’t tempt her.

Wan Qi Lianhao’s gaze grew even colder.

He looked at Zhan Yu with increasing hostility.

He asked Yi Qiong at his side, “How much longer?”

“Less than a minute after the red light,” Yi Qiong replied instantly. His master was in a terrible mood right now—he didn’t want to step into the line of fire.

“Just drive straight through,” Wan Qi Lianhao said, curling one side of his lip. Since when did the Wan Qi family need to follow rules and wait for traffic lights?

Yi Qiong didn’t hesitate, immediately activating the hover car.

“Please wait a moment, Master Zhan,” Wan Qi Lianhao said through the communicator.

Wan Qi Lianhao felt that over thirty years of etiquette training hadn’t been wasted. Even now, he remained calm and polite in his speech—though perhaps a bit cold, with shards of ice in his tone.

Zhan Yu hurriedly nodded at Wan Qi Lianhao. The third master of the Wan Qi family had an overwhelming presence when it came to his daughter.

He wondered if all fathers with daughters were like this.

Feeling the little meatball in his arms shiver as well, Zhan Yu couldn’t figure it out—why refuse kindergarten and insist on clinging to him?

Could it be someone was bullying her in kindergarten?

It didn’t seem so.

Her dress was neat and pretty, her braids weren’t messy, and she was followed by Wan Qi family members—specifically Third Master’s people, who wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

Knowing Wan Qi Lianhao’s current mood, and nearly frozen himself, Yi Qiong ramped up the car’s speed to the extreme. Zhan Yu wanted to ask—was that really a minute? It didn’t even take half.

Wan Qi Lianhao stepped out of the car with long legs, his face frosty, and reached toward Zhan Yu’s arms, “Xuan Xuan.”

Hearing her father’s voice behind her, Xuan Xuan shuddered again, still unmoving.

Skipping class and refusing to go to kindergarten—never again, at that—and without a proper explanation, Wan Qi Lianhao wouldn’t let it go. Xuan Xuan regretted it, sensing how her father now looked at Zhan Yu. She realized her newly appointed teacher was the perfect excuse.

Why cling to Zhan Yu?

Ah, right, that teacher who fell from the sky! She could simply say her teacher had already taught her, so there was no need for kindergarten. Having figured it out, Xuan Xuan swiftly turned her head, acting exceptionally affectionate and let Wan Qi Lianhao carry her, “Daddy.”

The chill emanating from Wan Qi Lianhao made Xuan Xuan tremble, but she quickly hugged him. If she didn’t try to please him now, she might not get any jerky for a whole year.

“Thank you, Master Zhan,” Wan Qi Lianhao said.

Feeling his arms empty, Zhan Yu was slightly unaccustomed. He glanced at Xuan Xuan in speechless confusion—she had landed him in trouble, being seen as a “child-lover,” and now insisted on holding him, making Wan Qi Lianhao think he was a child trafficker.

The moment she saw her father, she jumped away. Zhan Yu couldn’t understand what the Wan Qi family’s little chubby girl wanted.

Full of grievance toward Xuan Xuan, Zhan Yu still managed to nod to Wan Qi Lianhao, “Well, goodbye, Third Master.”

Xuan Xuan clung to her father’s neck, turning her head to look at Zhan Yu, appearing utterly innocent. She didn’t want this either.

Who knew her father had such a strong opinion about Zhan Yu? Besides, she hadn’t thought of a better plan earlier, and in an unfamiliar place, he was the only acquaintance.

She should be proud—Master Alchemist Xuan Xuan trusted him so much.

Zhan Yu nearly coughed blood at Xuan Xuan’s innocent look—where was her innocence?

Calmly, he walked into the elementary school entrance.

Wan Qi Lianhao’s gaze shifted from Zhan Yu to Xuan Xuan.

Xuan Xuan immediately felt tremendous pressure.

For some reason, it seemed as if winter had arrived early.

“I need an explanation,” Wan Qi Lianhao said, holding Xuan Xuan, unmoving, his voice calm.

ps: I recommend a book by Xiao Xiao, "Beauty’s Schemes: Femme Fatale."

In her previous life, she died tragically before marriage; in this life, her stunning beauty causes chaos across the land.

The secret boss behind the most famous brothel? The wealthiest woman in Chang’an, holding the reins of the banking industry? The alluring and deadly mistress of Mandala Palace? The invincible, battle-hardened Princess Shengyang? The talented and gentle prince, the kindred-spirit leader of the martial alliance, the mysterious young general—who is her destiny?

A time-travel story of a powerful woman, a tale of strategy and building an empire from scratch; the bustling city of Chang’an, where princes vie for the throne; a web of political, commercial, and martial intrigue, with endless entangled romance.