After such a commotion, Ruan Jiaojiao couldn’t fall asleep, so she and the Ruanlin Family fed the little wolf cub again before being sent back to school by Duan Xi.

Previously, Ruan Jiaojiao didn’t like running and spent most of her time sleeping at Hengya with Duan Xi, but after the family got a wolf cub, she returned home every few days. Anyway, Duan Xi has been busy with the zoo lately and has more free time. He drives her to school in the morning and picks her up in the evening, which is quite convenient.

After running back and forth like this for over a week, in early June, Ruan Jianguo finally returned from another province.

On the day he came back, Ruan Jiaojiao was hesitant to recognize him at first glance.

It was morning, and she was just about to get in the car to go to school when a car drove in from outside. She recognized it as Ruan Jianguo’s car, so she didn’t rush to get in the car and waited for him to come down.

Ruan Hao, who is in his twenties, Ruan Jianguo’s son, is just forty-seven years old this year.

In earlier years, due to social engagements, he developed a large beer belly, and together with his naturally burly physique, he appeared somewhat unkempt.

But now, when Ruan Jiaojiao saw him, she felt he had almost transformed into a different person.

Perhaps it was the bustling life outside; his beer belly was gone, making him look much more upright. The slight paleness he had managed to achieve at home had reverted to the dark complexion of his past.

He wore loose-fitting men’s jeans and a simple gray T-shirt, his arm holding a bulging briefcase. As soon as he got out of the car, he smiled at Ruan Jiaojiao, his dark face making his teeth glaringly white: "Sweetheart!"

"Dad!" Ruan Jiaojiao called out, running over with surprise and immediately jumping onto Ruan Jianguo.

The last time she saw Ruan Jianguo was in early March, now three months had passed, and Ruan Jiaojiao genuinely missed him. She jumped onto him, asking cheerfully, "Dad, why did you come back? Why didn’t you let me know in advance?"

"I wanted to surprise you, didn’t I? So, are you happy?" Ruan Jianguo laughed, casually holding onto the bouncing girl, reluctant to let go.

"Hahaha, yes, happy!" Ruan Jiaojiao leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek, then bounces down from him, thoughtfully touching her chin as she circled him, generously offering praise: "Dad, you’ve gotten a lot more handsome!"

As she spoke, she reached out to touch his belly, her eyes filled with astonishment: "Such a big belly, how did it just disappear? Last time you still had it."

"Dad does two to three hundred sit-ups every day. See, it’s gone, and I’ve got abs too. Want to see?" Ruan Jianguo proudly patted his stomach, talking about lifting his shirt to show Ruan Jiaojiao his abs.

But before his shirt was lifted, Duan Xi interrupted him, calling him uncle and then turned to Ruan Jiaojiao saying, "We’re going to be late."

Only then did Ruan Jiaojiao remember she still needed to attend class. She had lessons in the morning, the first period, so she said to Ruan Jianguo, "Dad, we’ll head to class first and come back tonight."

"Okay, go on then." Although reluctant, Ruan Jianguo could only wave them off.

After Ruan Jiaojiao got in the car, she continued waving to Ruan Jianguo with a sense of wistfulness as she watched his figure grow increasingly indistinct in the distance. She finally understood why women outside kept flocking to him.

It’s often said that men in their forties are like blooming flowers; this saying couldn’t be more true.