Chapter 144: Chapter 144: Stay Away From My Daughter

He knew Shanshan was capable, but he couldn’t help but remind her.

It was his instinct to protect her.

"Don’t you worry one bit. I’m doing great."

Shanshan grinned, revealing a set of straight, white teeth.

Ling Anxun had taken on a difficult assignment and had been gone for almost a month.

The situation there was complicated, and communication was difficult.

He worked late into the night every day, only managing to find time to send a single message saying he would be back soon.

Over the past month, a housekeeper had taken care of things at home, but his daughter was constantly on his mind.

The moment the job was done, he didn’t even stop for a drink of water before turning and rushing home.

His car got stuck in traffic for a bit, so he simply got out and started walking, striding swiftly with his suitcase in hand.

His mind was filled with Shanshan’s little face. ’Has she been eating her meals on time lately?’

He arrived just as school was letting out, rushing to the school gate in great strides.

The school entrance was crowded, with parents gathered in circles.

Electric bikes and private cars packed the roadside, making it impassable.

He scanned the crowd again and again.

Only when he saw that familiar pink backpack did his heart finally settle.

But the moment he arrived, his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

There was a boy stuck to the back of his fair-skinned, precious little princess!

The boy was a head taller than Shanshan, wearing a backpack, and was reaching out to take her schoolbag.

"Your bag looks heavy, doesn’t it? I can come get you tomorrow morning on my way. It’ll save you from having to carry it by yourself for so long."

He said this while glancing up at the traffic in the distance.

"No, thanks. Someone from my family drives me."

Shanshan took half a step back, pulling her backpack closer to herself.

Her attitude wasn’t cold, but it certainly wasn’t warm, either.

After speaking, she even looked down to brush some dust off the hem of her skirt.

Shanshan glanced sideways at Wei Chengxi, inwardly amused.

’This guy is really persistent.’

’Just a few days ago, he found a chance to get into my group during a club activity, and now here he is, waiting for me again.’

She had long seen that he wanted to talk to her and had deliberately slowed her pace to let him catch up.

’Heh, it’s only been a few days, and he’s already trying to get in good with my family?’

She’d seen these little tricks countless times and wasn’t fazed at all.

’He’s a little too eager.’

She didn’t even know where he lived, yet he had the nerve to offer to see her to and from school. He was certainly bold.

’Another girl might have actually been moved by this.’

"Oh, is that so... Well, I can still wait for you at the school gate. It’s still a few minutes’ walk to the classroom."

Wei Chengxi smiled, clearly not giving up.

He shuffled a step forward, blocking a pedestrian trying to squeeze past.

The wind lifted the corner of his jacket, and he casually smoothed his hair.

The smile never left Wei Chengxi’s face.

Even after being rejected several times, he maintained a polite demeanor.

Shanshan shrugged and replied casually, "Suit yourself."

She didn’t dislike him; she just didn’t want their relationship to get too close.

Keeping her distance was a habit for her.

Especially when her father was away.

"Alright!"

His eyes lit up with joy, and he was just about to say something more.

His lips had just moved, but before he could utter the next word, he suddenly froze.

Because he saw that Shanshan’s expression had changed.

The next second, he saw Shanshan suddenly break into a wide grin, turn, and dash away.

But she paid no mind to any of that.

Her arms were open wide, as if she were about to leap into a warm embrace.

Before he could even react, the girl had already thrown herself into the arms of a tall man.

He practically lifted her off her feet as he hugged her. Her toes left the ground, and her arms wrapped around the man’s neck, refusing to let go.

The parents nearby all turned to look.

"Dad!! How are you back? Is the mission over?"

She tilted her head up, her face filled with delighted surprise.

The cool, calm expression from moments ago had vanished completely.

All that remained was the instinctive dependence of a child seeing a loved one.

Ling Anxun bent down to hug her, the corner of his eye glancing at the thin boy standing frozen in place.

He didn’t answer his daughter’s question right away.

Instead, he first checked to make sure she wasn’t hurt.

"We wrapped up early, so I came back for my baby girl. Aren’t you glad to see me?"

He had already turned back to her as he said this, his tone once again becoming light and relaxed.

"Of course I am! I’m super happy!"

She hopped down and took her father’s hand, swinging it back and forth.

Her eyes were fixed on him, as if trying to make up for the entire month-long gap.

As the two were having their lovey-dovey moment, the sour feeling that had just begun to bubble up in Wei Chengxi’s heart was washed away by that hug before it could even churn.

He had thought that his relationship with Shanshan was making progress, that they were at least halfway to being friends.

But now, looking at the tall man and Shanshan’s undisguised affection for him, he suddenly realized just how far away he still was.

"My name is Wei Chengxi. I’m Shanshan’s classmate."

Though he was a little nervous, he did his best to show proper politeness and respect.

Only then did Shanshan remember that someone else was still holding her backpack.

She had been so focused on rushing to her dad that she had completely forgotten about it.

She glanced back at Wei Chengxi with a somewhat apologetic expression.

"Give it to my dad."

With that said, she started pulling Ling Anxun away.

"I have so much to tell you! I signed up for a competition recently, my teacher praised my academic improvement, and all my classmates are pretty envious. I also want to participate in next month’s speech event. There are only three spots in our class, and I’m one of them. My teacher said that if I prepare well, there’s a high chance I’ll win an award."

Before she could finish, Ling Anxun took the backpack and gently tapped her on the forehead.

"Where are your manners? Someone helps you carry your bag, and you don’t even say thank you?"

"Oh... alright."

Shanshan pouted and turned back to formally say to Wei Chengxi,

"Thank you, classmate Wei Chengxi."

"That’s more like it."

A smile played on Ling Anxun’s lips as his gaze fell upon Wei Chengxi.

Lately, his opportunities to see his daughter had been pitifully few.

And with him being away on this mission for so long—almost a full month without coming home—his phone had been off the entire time, with all communication relayed through his unit.

The thought that this boy who had just popped up had probably spent more time with his daughter than he had recently made Ling Anxun’s chest tighten.

He knew the kid had good grades, a clean family background, was an active student at school, and wasn’t a troublemaker.

But it was precisely this type of seemingly flawless student that made him even more uneasy.

"Shanshan, go wait in the car. Your dad and classmate Wei Chengxi are going to have a little chat."

"Oh."

Shanshan shrugged, turned, and slipped into the back seat of the car, looking as if it had nothing to do with her.

She tossed her backpack to the side.

Leaving Wei Chengxi to stand there alone, facing Ling Anxun’s gaze directly.

He still remembered the punch he’d taken from Ling Zhiwei last time; his legs were about to give out right now.

Now, facing Ling Anxun, even though the man hadn’t said another word, the sheer pressure made it hard for him to breathe.

He swallowed nervously, his voice trembling.

"U-Uncle Ling... whatever you want to say, I’m listening." 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

Ling Anxun stuck his hands in his pockets.

"I know perfectly well why you’re hanging around my daughter. No need to explain, and don’t think your act is convincing. Consider what I’m telling you today as the rules: from now on, stay away from my girl. If you keep pestering her, you will face consequences you cannot bear."