Chapter 5: How About Gifting Xuan Bao’er an Entertainment Company?

"Daddy, you're doing something bad!"

Xuan Bao'er looked at Li Qing, who was about to light a cigarette, and said, "Mommy says smoking is a very bad habit and it's harmful to your health."

Wang Mian, standing to the side, couldn't help but offer an awkward smile. In this world, Xuan Bao'er was probably the only person who could scold Li Qing.

Li Qing chuckled and immediately tossed the pack of cigarettes, which cost several thousand yuan, into the trash bin. "Xuan Bao'er knows so much, huh? Daddy won't smoke anymore. Come here, let Daddy give you a hug."

Li Qing pulled Xuan Bao'er into his arms; she was fragrant, soft, and incredibly adorable. This heartfelt joy was something he had never experienced before.

"Brother Qing, congratulations!" Wang Mian stood by, genuinely happy from the bottom of his heart.

For so many years, Wang Mian had walked alongside Li Qing. Their development had been like something out of a fairy tale, a meteoric rise to the top. But those days had been truly dull and monotonous. Now that there was suddenly a niece in the picture, Wang Mian felt an indescribable joy and a sense of warmth; it was as if his life finally had something to look forward to.

"Um... Brother Qing, can I hold her?" Wang Mian plucked up the courage to ask with a smile.

Li Qing smiled slightly. "Xuan Bao'er, let Uncle Mian hold you."

Xuan Bao'er looked at Wang Mian, her large eyes blinking. She knew that Wang Mian was very close with her daddy, so she wasn't shy. She climbed down from Li Qing, ran over, and opened her arms. "Uncle, hold me~"

The six-foot-one tall Wang Mian froze for a second. Oh my, his heart was about to melt! Wang Mian carefully picked up Xuan Bao'er and beamed with a silly grin. "Xuan Bao'er is such a good girl!"

Xuan Bao'er frowned slightly, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Uncle's hug, not comfy."

Those words made Wang Mian's expression change instantly. "Ah, was I holding you too tight? Let me try a different way..."

"Uncle, still not comfy," Xuan Bao'er pouted.

Wang Mian was frantic. To him, this was even harder than dealing with arms shipments in Africa!

"Alright, if you don't know how to hold her, stop trying." Li Qing opened his arms and took Xuan Bao'er back. Compared to being in Wang Mian's arms, Xuan Bao'er still preferred Li Qing.

"Daddy, Xuan Bao'er is hungry," Xuan Bao'er said, burying her face in Li Qing's chest with her milky voice. "Can Daddy make dinner for Xuan Bao'er?"

Li Qing paused for a moment. Cooking for a child... he had almost forgotten about that.

"Wang Mian, go find a professional team of chefs specializing in child nutrition," Li Qing said. Although he knew how to cook, he wasn't confident in preparing food for a child. After all, this was his own daughter, and she deserved nothing but the best.

Wang Mian worked quickly. In less than twenty minutes, a luxurious business van pulled into the villa's courtyard. Eight women stepped out, standing in perfect formation.

"Brother Qing, this is the team recommended by the chairman of Baby Island. They are internationally renowned," Wang Mian said. "I brought some supplementary food to tide Xuan Bao'er over for now, and then I'll take them to get their medical check-ups and fill out the reports."

Li Qing nodded and looked at Xuan Bao'er. "Let's go, Xuan Bao'er. I'll take you to get something to eat."

Within a single day, Li Qing had essentially sorted out Xuan Bao'er's daily life and diet. Beyond international-level chefs, he had also secured a highly professional pediatric medical team. Including childcare specialists and more, Li Qing insisted on only the best. By the end of the day, he had spent over ten million yuan! However, to Li Qing, that wasn't even pocket change.

...

After Xuan Bao'er was well-fed, she began playing with the villa's maids, showing no signs of fatigue. In the living room, Wang Mian and Li Qing sat across from each other.

"Brother Qing, I gave a copy of the paternity test to Yang Mi. She suggested keeping the child with us for now." Wang Mian felt conflicted about how to address Yang Mi. Although she was Xuan Bao'er's mother, she and Li Qing had only had a one-night stand; there was no romantic relationship, let alone a marriage, so calling her "sister-in-law" didn't feel appropriate.

Still, considering she was Xuan Bao'er's mother, Wang Mian reported, "Brother Qing, Yang Mi hasn't been doing well lately. According to my investigation, her popularity plummeted after she left Jiaxing, and she's been squeezed out by industry peers. And, of course, there’s the gambling agreement with Jiaxing."

"She brought the child to you because she was backed into a corner."

Upon hearing this, Li Qing merely raised his eyelids without much reaction. He had never paid attention to Yang Mi or the entertainment industry. The only reason he was listening to this now was because of Xuan Bao'er; after all, she was her biological mother and had raised her alone for three years. That, in itself, had not been easy.

"Daddy, Mommy called me just now~" At that moment, Xuan Bao'er came running over, stumbling slightly, and threw herself into Li Qing's arms.

Looking at the adorable child, Li Qing lifted her onto his lap and smiled. "What did Mommy say to you on the phone? You're so little, and you already have a cell phone?"

Xuan Bao'er proudly shook her wrist and giggled. "It's a watch Mommy bought me. It can make calls and do video chats, too."

"Mommy told me to listen to Daddy here and not run around by myself." She paused, then added, "And she said... she said..."

Xuan Bao'er was too young to get all her words out in one breath. Li Qing was very patient. "No rush, tell me slowly. Take your time."

Xuan Bao'er thought for a moment, widened her eyes, and said, "Mommy also said that in a little while, she'll come to see me~"

Li Qing chuckled. "Xuan Bao'er is such a good girl. Do you like it here?"

Xuan Bao'er said innocently, "Mm-hmm! Xuan Bao'er likes it!"

As she spoke, Xuan Bao'er seemed to remember something. The smile on her face faded a bit, and she looked at Li Qing with a hint of disappointment. "Daddy, why can't Mommy let other people see me? I see other kids, they all have their mommies taking them out to play..."

"Did Mommy send me here because I caused her trouble?"

The little one's words left both Li Qing and Wang Mian stunned. It was hard to imagine that a three-year-old could understand so much and think about such things.

At the same time, as a father, a sense of guilt rose in Li Qing's heart. He hadn't been there to watch her grow for three years; he had indeed failed in his responsibilities. Although there were many factors involved, Li Qing wasn't one to make excuses.

"Xuan Bao'er isn't trouble at all. Mommy only sent you here because Daddy is finished with his busy work now." Li Qing stroked Xuan Bao'er's head and smiled gently. "Mommy isn't in trouble, and she'll take you out to play in the future."

Hearing this, Xuan Bao'er's eyes widened with joy. "Daddy, you have to keep your promise."

"Pinky swear."

Li Qing hooked his pinky with hers and asked with a smile, "Does Xuan Bao'er have any dreams, or anything you want to do when you grow up?"

Xuan Bao'er seemed to understand what a dream was and said in her milky voice, "When I grow up, I want to be a big star like Mommy!"

But soon, she looked conflicted. "Actually... being a big star doesn't seem that good. Mommy can't take me with her whenever she goes out..."

Li Qing smiled slightly. "Then Daddy will buy a film and television company and give it to you, so that all the big stars will have to listen to you."

"Is that cool enough for you, Xuan Bao'er?"