Looking further down, most of the character sketch is complete, except for the face...

Before Meimei was born, Yu Xiuzhun had already disappeared. She never had the chance to see her father, so how would she know what he looks like?

In these years, not to mention letting Meimei see Yu Xiuzhun’s photos, even Ye Mingmei herself never dared to look.

She desperately used work to numb herself, preventing herself from overthinking, yet she forgot that Meimei is still young, at the age where she needs her mom and dad by her side.

"Yu Xiuzhun isn’t coming back, are you planning on raising Meimei like this?"

Su Yiru’s words suddenly echoed in her ears again, leaving Ye Mingmei feeling indescribably hurt.

She had never considered that Yu Xiuzhun might never return. In her heart, she’d rather believe Yu Xiuzhun is just missing, even if he never thinks of them for the rest of his life, as long as he still exists happily somewhere in the world, that’s enough.

But Su Yiru’s words had hit the spot she could never let go of in her heart.

She could live her whole life not getting married, but what about Meimei?

Her daughter is still so young; can she accept a lifetime without a father?

Not even able to finish a sketch.

A low mumble came from the bedside, Ye Mingmei’s hand holding the paper paused, nervously hiding it behind her.

She raised her head, discovering it was Meimei who had turned over, tangled the quilt in her arms, muttering something into her blanket.

Ye Mingmei’s gaze softened; she placed the paper on the table and walked over.

Just about to cover Meimei properly with the quilt, her small mouth moved again, and she murmured another sentence.

"What?"

Ye Mingmei furrowed her brows slightly, leaning closer to her lips.

"Daddy..."

Meimei smacked her little lips, the soft whisper transmitting into Ye Mingmei’s ears, deafeningly.

Her hand braced on the bedside suddenly clutched the sheet tightly.

Ye Mingmei instantaneously burst into tears, turning her back hurriedly, rushing into the bathroom, fearful of waking Meimei from her sweet slumber.

She always thought Meimei stopped asking for her dad after becoming sensible because children forget easily.

But never considered, maybe it’s just her daughter being too thoughtful, afraid of making her unhappy.

Even an assignment involving her dad, Meimei couldn’t complete it, dared not let her know.

Recalling how Meimei tightly guarded her backpack all day today, Ye Mingmei felt her heart aching so much she couldn’t breathe.

Ye Mingmei walked to the table, once more seeing that sheet of paper titled "My Dad", her gaze turned complex.

Does Meimei’s dislike for kindergarten also relate to having no dad?

Did she say her classmates don’t like playing with her because of this?

Thinking of this possibility, Ye Mingmei’s hands tightly clenched into fists.

With the Ye Family’s support, she can provide her daughter with a privileged life, and Meimei is very understanding, never demanding or unruly.

But she can’t give her daughter a father.

"Yu Xiuzhun, what should I do..."

Ye Mingmei slid off the sofa, hugging her knees tightly, staring ahead blankly.

-

The morning sun was bright and dazzling, the warmth spread gradually across the earth with floating light spots.

"Hurry up with the cleaning, not just here, over there too. Mop the floor again; kids like to run around, don’t let them slip and fall..."

"By the way, are the kitchen snacks ready? Make more; at this age, kids are growing, and eating more is good..."