Chapter 15: The Father in the Dream
Chapter 15: Daddy in the Dream
“Oh…”
Watching the progress bar reach one hundred percent without a prompt popping up, Qianqian felt a little disappointed. She seemed to really enjoy seeing those progress alerts appear.
Anzhi Lu picked up Qianqian and said, “Next time I upload a song, I’ll let you watch it, okay?”
Qianqian nodded and said, “Okay!”
Suxin Zhang said, “Then I’ll go register the studio now, and afterward, send the song to Zhou Bo’s side.”
Anzhi Lu replied, “Hopefully, Zhou Bo’s side won’t have any issues.”
Suxin Zhang assured him, “There won’t be any problems. I have confidence in your song.”
Anzhi Lu smiled. “If you say that, then I’m pretty confident too.”
Suxin Zhang gave him a mock glare. “So narcissistic, hmph!”
That little daughterly attitude unconsciously surfaced again, carrying an unexpectedly charming allure.
Anzhi Lu glanced at her silently, thinking to himself: This isn’t narcissism—it’s confidence in the entire world’s artistic works.
“Do you need any help with registering the studio?” Anzhi Lu asked.
Suxin Zhang said, “No, it’s not necessary. There are plenty of studios in the industry, and they all use agents to handle the process. Before I retired, I paid attention to studios and even have contact info for some agents.
“For setting up a studio, I’ll just find an agent. They’re familiar with the procedures and know the people involved, so it’s more efficient than doing it myself.”
Anzhi Lu nodded.
Suxin Zhang continued, “In a couple of days, you’ll need to record a demo. Also, once the studio is ready, just remember to sign an agreement with me and register under my studio.”
Anzhi Lu chuckled, “Absolutely.”
Little Qianqian leaned in, wanting to keep watching the screen, but Suxin Zhang shut the computer and said, “Qianqian, how long have you been staring at that?”
Qianqian said, “I won’t watch the computer anymore, I want to watch the TV!”
Suxin Zhang said, “No, if you watch both the computer and TV, your eyes will get damaged.”
Qianqian pouted, “Not watching the computer, just watching the TV.”
Anzhi Lu couldn’t help but smile. This little one was a shrewd negotiator, deliberately distinguishing between TV and computer to try to argue with Suxin, who was acting like her mother.
But a little girl like her couldn’t possibly win against an adult.
Suxin Zhang said, “If you want to watch TV, then Daddy will leave.”
Qianqian quickly shook her head and grabbed Anzhi Lu’s hand tightly.
Suxin Zhang asked, “So, will you still watch TV?”
Reluctantly, Qianqian said, “No more.”
Suxin Zhang smiled apologetically at Anzhi Lu. “I let her watch TV once or twice before, but I didn’t expect how irresistible TV would be to a child. Now whenever she thinks about it, she asks me to let her watch.
“But it’s okay; she still listens. She only watches once a day at most, and only for a short time.”
Anzhi Lu said, “That’s good. What kid doesn’t want to watch TV? I used to sneak peeks at the TV when I was little, even doing homework while watching. As long as it’s not too much every day, it’s fine.”
He picked up Qianqian and pinched her little cheeks, saying, “Qianqian, promise me you’ll listen to your mom. You can only watch a little TV each day. If you don’t listen, Daddy won’t come anymore.”
Qianqian immediately panicked and hugged Anzhi Lu tightly. “No!”
Anzhi Lu smiled and asked, “No what?”
Qianqian said, “No Daddy not coming! No!”
Anzhi Lu asked again, “So will you listen or not?”
Qianqian quickly said, “Qianqian will listen!”
Her warm little cheek pressed against Anzhi Lu’s side. He gently stroked the back of her head, feeling deeply gratified.
A devoted little sweetheart indeed. It was only their third meeting, and she was already so clingy.
Come to think of it, the little girl hadn’t been shy or distant at their first meeting at all. Just as Suxin said, she must have been longing for a “Daddy” in her heart for a long time.
Anzhi Lu carried Qianqian into the living room and sat down, with Suxin following behind.
“Let’s play with toys,” Anzhi Lu suggested, patting the back of Qianqian’s head again.
Only then did Qianqian release him, climb down, and fetch a toy car. “Daddy, play with the car.”
Being just two years old, the little girl’s way of playing was simple and limited. She only needed to hold a toy car herself and let Anzhi Lu have one too, then they could slide the cars around on the floor together.
“Mommy, you play with a car too.”
She handed a toy car to Suxin.
The three of them—two adults and one child—gathered around the coffee table, playing with toys. It looked like a warm, peaceful daily life of a family of three.
“Qianqian, did you miss Daddy before?”
Anzhi Lu rolled the toy car’s wheels on the coffee table as he asked.
Qianqian rolled the car wheels too and replied, “I did.”
Anzhi Lu asked, “How did you miss him?”
Qianqian stopped rolling the car with her small hand, as if concentrating on thinking rather than playing. After a moment, she said, “I miss him in my dreams.”
Anzhi Lu asked, “Is the Daddy in your dreams the same as the real Daddy?”
Qianqian thought again, shook her head, and smiled shyly, “Not the same.”
She was quite honest.
Anzhi Lu asked, “Which Daddy looks better?”
Qianqian immediately hugged Anzhi Lu and said affectionately, “This Daddy looks better!”
Anzhi Lu laughed, stroking Qianqian’s little head.
Suxin watched quietly nearby and couldn’t help but smile.
Such a warm scene was truly comforting.
Anzhi Lu and Suxin spent the afternoon playing with little Qianqian. As the sun began to set, Anzhi Lu had to get up and take his leave.
Given the awkward relationship between him and Suxin, it was naturally inappropriate for him to stay overnight. Both of them understood this well.
Suxin quickly prepared some simple dinner so Anzhi Lu could eat before leaving.
During the meal, Anzhi Lu said, “Tomorrow I’ll start on the renovations. Once the house there is cleaned up, Qianqian can come over to play sooner.”
“Mm.”
Suxin nodded softly and then suddenly remembered something. “I recall you said the day before yesterday you wanted to open a bookstore. Have you completed the business registration?”
Anzhi Lu said, “Not yet.”
Suxin said, “When I contact the agent, I’ll ask if they can help handle the bookstore registration for you as well. How does that sound?”
Anzhi Lu said, “Thank you very much.”
Afterward, Anzhi Lu said goodbye and left. Qianqian was utterly unwilling to see him go.
But she had never seen him stay here overnight before, and her little mind didn’t have the concept that “Daddy should be home at night,” so she didn’t try to stop him.
Only when Anzhi Lu reached the door did the little girl fall silent, her small mouth tightly pursed, corners drooping downward.
This little girl was quietly holding back her tears.
Anzhi Lu felt a pang of tenderness, crouched down, and hugged Qianqian. “Daddy has to go out for a while. Qianqian will stay with Mommy at home. When Daddy’s work is done, he’ll come back to play with Qianqian, alright?”
This time, Qianqian didn’t say “okay” or “alright,” but simply nodded.
Anzhi Lu stroked her little head, stepped outside, exchanged a glance with Suxin, and closed the door behind him.
(End of chapter)