The sun slowly rose higher, and even though the curtains in the room were drawn, it still couldn’t keep the light from entering. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the thick curtains, casting onto the soft hair of the small figure on the bed.

A thin sliver of light slipped through her eyelashes, casting a dreamy arc from her feather-like lashes across her nose. The little figure on the bed seemed slightly disturbed, furrowing her brows and pouting in discontent before lazily turning over to sleep again.

Tick-tock, tick-tock~

In the silent bedroom, suddenly, an unexpectedly pleasant ringing sound started, though it was hard to tell where it was coming from.

The sound disrupted Xuanxuan’s sweet dreams that were already bothered by the sunlight, waking her up immediately.

Hmm?

She stretched out her chubby little hand, rubbing her sleepy eyes, her mind still hazy and unclear about the situation...

What’s going on?

What is this sound?

Listening to the continuous ringing, she was still a bit confused.

"Oh~ it’s my phone watch ringing..."

For a moment, she recognized where the sound was coming from and suddenly realized what was going on. She quickly reached out to grab the phone watch placed beside her pillow last night just before sleeping.

This phone watch was a New Year’s gift from her grandparents just yesterday. Xuanxuan loved it dearly and couldn’t bear to part with it, even wanting to wear it to sleep.

Finally.

Huang Tao, worried it might be uncomfortable for her and affect her sleep, convinced her to keep it safely beside her pillow instead.

Now, she belatedly realized that it was already bright out, with the sun shining in.

And her dad was nowhere to be seen.

Seeing the empty space on the other side of the bed, she instantly understood that her dad had quietly slipped away once more to get busy at the shop by himself. Immediately, a sour and bittersweet feeling welled up inside her, indescribable in its nature.

An uncontrollable sadness crept up on her!

But she knew, in her heart, that her dad did this for her benefit, wanting her to sleep a little longer.

But she missed her dad!

What to do about it?

Got it!

She could call her dad!

Prompted by her thoughts, she quickly acted.

Following the method her dad taught her, she pressed the call button on her phone watch, and immediately heard the most familiar voice from the receiver: "Sweetheart?"

"Daddy~"

Xuanxuan exclaimed joyfully, her entire spirit instantly lifted.

On the other end of the line, upon hearing his dear daughter’s joyful call, Huang Tao’s heart filled with sweetness, sweeter than drinking a bowl of honey.

A joyful curve appeared at the corners of his mouth, and he gently asked, "Are you up yet?"

Xuanxuan honestly replied, "Not yet! I was just woken by the phone watch, and now I’m still lying in bed!"

Oh dear~

My little lazybones still isn’t up!

Huang Tao laughed: "Well, it’s time to get up now, the sun’s shining on your little butt."

"Daddy, you’re being silly, it’s not..."

Xuanxuan pouted, displeased, "It didn’t reach my little butt, just my hair at most."

Ch, ch, ch～

Just then, a scratching noise, along with a "meow" sound, came from outside the bedroom door.

"Hmm?"

Xuanxuan perked up her ears to listen and immediately knew who the culprit behind the door-scratching was.

It’s Mimi!

"Ah, Mimi is scratching at the door again, wanting me to get up~"

She couldn’t help but sigh helplessly, then spoke into the phone watch: "Daddy, I’m getting up now, see you at the shop later."

She originally wanted to stay in bed a little longer and chat with her dad some more.

But now, it was all disrupted by Mimi, plans ruined.

Mimi, that lazy cat, though usually too lazy to move, is mostly well-behaved otherwise.

But her biggest flaw, she can’t stand being hungry.

Once hungry, she’ll try to come into the bedroom to ask for food, and she has a strong persistence, scratching the door until it’s opened.

If her grandma and grandpa hear her, they might stop her. But if nobody hears and stops Mimi, she’ll keep on scratching without giving up.

Ch, ch, ch～

Huang Tao laughed and said, "Alright then, get dressed and wash up, then come to the store with your grandparents. Daddy saved some soup dumplings and wontons for you. Also, on the way, remember to listen to your grandparents and don’t wander off."

"Got it..."

Xuanxuan nodded vigorously and sweetly said, "Daddy, bye-bye, see you in a bit."

"Oh oh~ and I love you!"

This "I love you" was something she learned from a video on her phone, applying what she learned in real life.

But this "I love you," when heard by Huang Tao, made the corners of his mouth almost reach his ears from happiness.

"Daddy loves you too, see you at the store."

After ending the call with her dad, Xuanxuan didn’t laze in bed any longer. Instead, she got dressed as quickly as possible.

From behind her bedroom door, she heard a soft "shh" sound, then someone saying, "Don’t wake Xuanxuan."

It must be Grandma stopping Mimi!

Once dressed, she quickly jumped off the bed and ran barefoot to the door, eager to open it.

Just as she opened the door...

She saw Grandma reaching out to grab Mimi by the scruff of her neck, lifting her up.

"Meow~"

Mimi, who had been scratching for ages without seeing her young owner open the door, was now picked up by her new caretaker. She waved her paws sadly, trying to break free, letting out helpless and disappointed cries until the young owner’s door finally opened.

"Meow~"

Mimi instantly switched to a pitiful expression, widening her round eyes and looking pleadingly at Xuanxuan.

"Oh no!"

Xuanxuan quickly reached out, took her from Grandma’s hands, and hugged her with some effort, softly asking, "Mimi, are you okay?"

Mimi softly meowed, rubbing her head against Xuanxuan and trying to lick her face with its tongue.

Only by pleasing her young owner could she enjoy good food and drinks,

"Stop it~"

Xuanxuan giggled, dodging away, and said, "I have to brush my teeth and wash my face. Daddy’s waiting for us at the store for breakfast! Let’s play at the store later!"

Seeing Xuanxuan get up and dressed, Song Cailian felt in her heart that this child was so sensible and made her feel so relieved. But when she looked down...

She saw Xuanxuan was barefoot and exclaimed anxiously, "Child, why are you coming out without socks or slippers? What if you catch a cold!"

Saying this, she quickly went into the bedroom to fetch socks and cotton shoes for Xuanxuan, squatted down, and put them on her.

"I was in such a hurry just now that I forgot to wear them."

Xuanxuan giggled, put Mimi down, and cooperated by putting on the socks and shoes, sweetly saying, "Thank you, Grandma, you’re the best."

Oh my, that mouth of hers, as sweet as honey!

Song Cailian laughed pleasantly, "Come on, Grandma will get you your toiletries."

Xuanxuan declined politely, "Grandma, I can do it myself, let me do it."

And so, she ran to the bathroom in her cotton slippers to brush her teeth and wash her face.

Song Cailian watchfully stood by, seeing Xuanxuan stand on a small stool at the sink, knowing exactly how to adjust the faucet to get the warmest water.

She filled a cup with warm water, expertly applied toothpaste to her toothbrush.

Then the brushing began, brushing out a mouthful of white toothpaste foam.

Then a gurgle ~ a swish ~ and a spit!

Spitting out the mouthwash, Xuanxuan raised her little head and opened her mouth, making a grimacing motion to check if her teeth were clean...

Seeing this, Song Cailian sighed in her heart, this child is so sensible and capable.

Xuanxuan finished her morning routine, turned her head, and gave her grandma a sweet smile, asking, "Grandma, I’m done. Can we go to Daddy’s store now?"

"Of course."

Song Cailian called Huang Yide over, and they changed their shoes to prepare to leave.

"Meow~"

Mimi came over, seemingly reminding the young owner not to forget to take her along.

"Good Mimi..."

Xuanxuan bent down and petted Mimi’s head as Mimi took the opportunity to nuzzle against her vigorously.

Huang Yide bent down and picked up Mimi, saying, "Let’s go..."

Xuanxuan nodded, holding Grandma’s hand as they headed out the door together.

"Off to find Daddy~"

The cheerful sound echoed in the hallway...