Is it true, that saying about the more unattainable something is, the more precious it feels? Perhaps he would never attain Hua Xiaomo, yet she had genuinely borne him a child.

What did this mean? Had Hua Xiaomo developed feelings for him? Fallen in love with him? Was that why she was willing to have this child, rather than deliberately conceiving and then separating them, using this pain to torment him, torment herself, and torment the child?

"Regarding Candy, I know everything," a faint voice floated through the room. It was light and gentle, subtly filling the space, yet it made one’s heart tremble ever so slightly.

Hua Xiaomo’s hand, holding the cup, trembled uncontrollably as she felt the tension suddenly release. But what followed was not relief, but a profound heaviness, weighing down immensely at the bottom of her heart.

Her gaze was steady, but lines of strain were etched on his handsome face.

After a long, silent pause, Qi Longbing finally spoke slowly, "Hua Xiaomo, to this day, I still don’t know what you’re thinking. But I cannot comprehend your way of thinking. You’ve always believed that, haven’t you?"

"You know everything about Candy?" Hua Xiaomo was somewhat confused, her brow furrowing tightly. Did he know that Candy was his daughter? But if he knew, would he fight her for custody? She was genuinely afraid he might bring that up.

"Of course. Otherwise, if I didn’t know about this, how long were you planning to keep it from me? Did you think you could hide it from me forever?" Qi Longbing looked at her. Those words should have sounded very angry, but his overly calm tone made it seem as if he were just making conversation, without any excessive agitation.

"I’m sorry!" Finally, after a long time, Hua Xiaomo uttered those two words.

Qi Longbing laughed, a hint of irony shining in his eyes as he gazed at Hua Xiaomo. "You really have wronged me, Hua Xiaomo. Hua Xiaomo... Actually, I should thank you, right? Because it’s you who unexpectedly gave me the right to be a father. Otherwise, I would have had no idea I even had a daughter!"

Hua Xiaomo’s heart tightened, and she looked up at him. "Did you take Candy for a paternity test?" She was still doubtful. When had he taken Candy for a paternity test? There had been no signs at all, and Candy hadn’t told her either.

Qi Longbing took a paternity test report from a drawer and handed it to her slowly. "Do you think I’m joking with you? Do you think I’m trying to trick you? Hua Xiaomo, do you really think I, Qi Longbing, am that kind of person? I just feel very surprised. Do you understand?"

"This child is my daughter. Five years ago, you got pregnant, went to America to give birth to her, then left without a word. That separation lasted five years. After five years, when you came back, you had the chance to tell me everything, and then our family of three could have been reunited. But you didn’t! You just left us with a cruel outcome!"

Qi Longbing spoke these words very calmly. He was fiercely angry inside but chose not to vent in front of her. He knew that lashing out could hurt many people, and he especially didn’t want to harm his daughter’s mother.

Hua Xiaomo forced a smile. She didn’t actually want to delve too deeply into this issue. Besides, Qi Longbing had his own family, and she was doing quite well now. What kind of change did she need? As long as she could personally come to terms with things, that would be enough; she truly didn’t ask for any other changes.

"President Qi, this matter isn’t as you imagine. But it’s all in the past, and I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Besides, Candy is doing well with me; I am treating her well, am I not? And as you’ve seen, Candy is attending an elite school and living a life that all her peers envy." As she spoke about the material aspects, Hua Xiaomo also felt a sense of pride. Indeed, she had given Candy the best life, a life earned through her own struggles.

Qi Longbing chuckled disdainfully, looking at Hua Xiaomo. "Is that so? Do the other kids only see her wealth and not her other side? Do they not see she’s just a child from a single-parent family? Don’t they see how she’s mocked for not having a father? You really are too selfish."

Hearing this, Hua Xiaomo was at a loss for words. Indeed, there was a time when Candy had talked to her about her father, how her classmates mocked her. That was why she so desperately wanted Brother Zi Yunsui to be her dad, so the other children would stop laughing at her, and she would feel like she had a father too.

"President Qi, this matter is between my daughter and me. Could we please not discuss this any further? In any case, I will handle it well; there’s no need for your concern," Hua Xiaomo said succinctly. She really didn’t want to delve any deeper into the issue; there was truly no need to change anything.

Candy might not have a father at the moment, but that didn’t mean she would be fatherless in the future. Moreover, she had promised Zi Yunsui they would get married. Then, Candy would have her wish fulfilled and finally have a new father. Wouldn’t that be the outcome? Such a result would be best for them and for Candy.

Qi Longbing’s face darkened upon hearing this. "What do you mean it’s a matter between you and your daughter? This paternity report proves that Candy is also my daughter. I have every right to be involved in my daughter’s life—her current situation and her future. Do you understand what I mean?"

As Hua Xiaomo listened, her brow furrowed deeply. Her eyes held a pleading light as she looked at Qi Longbing, feeling extremely conflicted within.

"President Qi, I beg you, please stop meddling in my and my daughter’s affairs, okay? We really don’t need to change; we’re doing very well as it is. Besides, you have your own family, and you won’t stay in City B for long. You’ll eventually return to City A, to your own clan. Why bother getting involved in our lives? Besides, I’m really doing well right now. I assure you, I can take good care of your daughter, my daughter."

Hua Xiaomo spoke slowly, her eyes filled with that pleading light. She really didn’t want him to interfere any further in this matter. That kind of interference would be very detrimental to the child’s development, truly awful.