62
That night.
Ning Ye slipped through the dorm doors right at curfew, her porcelain cheeks flushed red from the freezing cold.
She was carrying a large backpack stuffed with her laptop and textbooks.
The dorm matron had intended to scold the late-returning student, but seeing the girl's bare face, the chill clinging to her, and the heavy backpack, she knew this wasn't someone who had been out partying for New Year's Eve. Her heart softened immediately. "Alright, hurry up and get warm."
"Okay," Ning Ye smiled.
Actually, she had wanted to go out and have some fun today, too.
Ning Ye was used to being a loner and always had clear goals. It was only after discovering her mother had left that she occasionally began to feel lonely.
But it was okay. Soon... someone would be there to keep her company.
Back in the dorm, her roommates were already lying in bed playing on their phones. After Ning Ye quietly freshened up, Liu Mi from the opposite bed peeked out from her bed curtains, her eyes burning with the fire of gossip.
In the dark room, they glowed like two clusters of will-o'-the-wisps.
Liu Mi wasn't a Beijing local; her hometown was far away, and she had a good relationship with Ning Ye in the dorm.
When school started, she had arrived late. Dorm beds could actually be swapped privately, and her spot in the corner was the quietest. Ning Ye had saved it for her and even helped her collect all her orientation materials.
Ning Ye was a low-maintenance person—easygoing, pretty, and a top student. In fact, many people in their department wanted to get to know her.
But Ning Ye was just too busy. Not only did she skip extracurricular activities, but even her roommates only saw her during class and bedtime. Usually, she was either studying in the library or working various part-time jobs, keeping a profile so low it was almost a disservice to her beautiful face.
So when the university forum exploded today, no one recognized Ning Ye. They were just frantically spreading the news:
A stunningly beautiful girl had appeared beside the famously elusive campus heartthrob and wealthy Beijing heir!
In his three or four years of college, this unattainable flower on a high peak had never had a girl by his side.
Liu Mi had only recognized Ning Ye from a busybody's secretly snapped photo of her back, identifying her by the puffer jacket and backpack. In her head, she was screaming, Holy crap!
The forum was also bombarded with exclamations of shock. Mainly because the male lead of this gossip was on a completely different level from ordinary male college students; he was practically a novel protagonist, a future domineering CEO.
Ever since Bian Xun's cohort enrolled, people had been digging into his family background, but no one had ever figured it out completely. And that fact alone proved the prominence and power of his family.
Rumor had it that Bian Xun's family lived in a sprawling mansion inside the Second Ring Road, a place that couldn't even be found on maps and couldn't be widely discussed. That was what made a true elite family.
With a background like that, plus his face and his brains.
That night, many were asking who the girl next to Bian Xun was. The campus confession wall instantly saw dozens of broken hearts, with a certain two-letter abbreviation appearing frequently.
Many people were envious, but even more were pessimistic about the pairing.
The immense gap in status and resources between him and ordinary people gave the young master an intense allure, but it also meant: how could someone like him and a girl from a normal family have a future together?
Liu Mi was also a hardworking student from a small town, so after the initial shock and excitement, she couldn't help but worry.
Their beds were connected head-to-head. Through the bed curtains, she lowered her voice and quietly asked Ning Ye, "Did you leave campus with Bian Xun today?"
Her voice was extremely soft, but in an instant, all the other roommates perked up their ears.
Ning Ye blinked. Was Bian Xun someone famous? But... thinking about it, it made sense. Looking the way he did, it would be hard for him not to attract attention, right?
She nodded openly, her voice clear and candid. "Yes, we went to the subway station together."
Liu Mi was startled, thinking to herself, How can you be so honest? Meanwhile, the other two roommates breathed a sigh of relief.
Oh, they just went to the subway station together.
Liu Mi knew what the others were thinking and didn't ask anything else. Later that night, she discreetly sent Ning Ye a message, urging her to learn more about Bian Xun (she suspected Ning Ye never read gossip and had no idea about his family situation), and above all, to protect herself.
Touched by her roommate's concern, Ning Ye felt a warmth in her heart and earnestly replied that she would.
She would definitely protect herself. She worked part-time on weekends, her student loans covered her tuition and emergency funds, and her work-study income was enough for living expenses. She could even save a little every month. She might even be slightly better off financially than Bian Xun.
Even though she was going to date, she wouldn't spend beyond her means. No matter how handsome he was, she would protect herself!
She had actually wanted to look up Bian Xun tonight to see what others said about him, but she was just too exhausted from her part-time job.
Anyway, she would see him tomorrow.
He had something important to tell her tomorrow.
...
Meanwhile, at this very moment.
Bian Xun was struggling to take care of their child.
If it weren't for this kid, he could have at least picked her up and dropped her off tonight.
The downside of having a child had revealed itself on day one.
Of course, the young master had absolutely no idea how to take care of one. He could only stand guard at the bathroom door with his arms crossed, listening to the sounds to ensure the kid didn't fall into the sink, choke on water, or drop into the toilet.
Fortunately, Ning Zhitao was a smart, self-sufficient good baby. She stood on a chair, washed up, and wiped her face all by herself. It was just a pity that her mom wasn't there to take a bubble bath with her.
So sad!
But she would get to see her mom tomorrow!!
Ning Zhitao was quite easy to satisfy.
Bian Xun used to think this apartment had too many empty rooms, making it a hassle to clean. But looking at it now, he was glad for the extra space.
He let Ning Zhitao pick a room for herself, stood stiffly by the bed, watched the kid climb in and pull up the covers, and then click—turned off the light completely.
Having fulfilled all his duties as a father for day one, he pinched the bridge of his nose and went back to his master bedroom to lie down.
After tossing and turning for ages, it was already past his usual bedtime.
Bian Xun was still wide awake.
He opened his phone and scrolled to his chat with Ning Ye. Her profile picture was a leaf blowing in the breeze, much like the person herself: free, relaxed, and with clear principles.
Bian Xun knew very well that from the first moment he laid eyes on her, she had left a lasting mark on him.
So.
How should he phrase things... to lock down her future?
Even though the paternity test results weren't out yet, Bian Xun could no longer simply view her as his girlfriend.
His chest rose and fell with his breaths. A secret excitement danced at his nerve endings, slowly fermenting in the early hours of the first day of the new year—
Until the door clicked open.
A little figure came pattering in, clutching a pillow. "Daddy, I'm here to coax you to sleep."
Bian Xun: "?"
Bian Xun sat up, watching this little brat agilely use her hands and feet to scramble onto his bed, pull back the covers, and lie down. She exposed two round, chubby hands and looked completely at ease.
The room just now was too dark! Ning Zhitao had tried to be brave for a while, but ultimately whimpered, rolled up her bedding, and ran out.
And from the moment another living creature appeared on his bed, Bian Xun found it hard to adjust as his germaphobia flared up.
He got out of bed himself and stood by the side, looking down at Ning Zhitao.
Ning Zhitao had never been to this apartment of her dad's. Of course, she knew her parents always had a lot of houses, so she wasn't scared, but she needed to be next to them to fall asleep.
"Don't be afraid, Daddy. I'll tell you a story, zZZZZ..."
A moment later, the little lump was fast asleep, sprawled eagle-spread across Bian Xun's bed.
A child's sleeping posture could actually be this abstract.
Bian Xun didn't know what she was dreaming about, but in the time it took him to step out and pour a glass of water, the cub's little feet were already kicking his silk pillowcases. She was snoring with her mouth wide open, a winding trail of drool reaching out toward his down comforter like devil's tentacles.
Bian Xun clenched his jaw and endured it for a moment before finally turning to walk out. However, just as his hand rested on the doorknob, the child smacked her lips and mumbled in her sleep, "Daddy..."
Bian Xun paused his steps.
In his short twenty-odd years of life, he had never been called that.
It was very hard to get used to.
But Bian Xun's aloof back remained still for a moment, and he eventually sighed.
He went to the next room, grabbed a new set of bedding, and made a bed on the smooth floor beside the child to spend the night.
The next day, early morning.
Bian Xun had faint dark circles under his eyes, his whole body exuding a quiet, cold aura like dark sandalwood.
Ning Zhitao, on the other hand, had rested very well. Kicking Bian Xun's blanket into a crumpled heap, she stretched expansively.
Although she felt that something was not quite right with the daddy in front of her, and his attitude was a bit weird, as long as she was with her parent, she didn't seem to have anything to fear.
It would be even better since she would get to see Mommy soon.
"Do you remember what I said?" Bian Xun looked down at the child by his feet.
"I—re—mem—ber. I can't call her Mommy, I can't just pounce on her, I have to let Mommy get to know me first, and wait until Daddy finishes introducing me to see Mommy's reaction..."
Why did they have to do it like this? Ning Zhitao didn't understand.
But there was no helping it.
Daddy must have his own reasons. Anyway, Daddy wouldn't harm Mommy or her.
"Mhm." Bian Xun nodded. The kid was actually quite smart.
But that was perfectly normal. Both he and her mother had excellent genetics.
Their genetic chains intertwining, tangling, and thoroughly merging with each other to create a child with their shared DNA.
It was an incredibly intimate process.
The black-haired young man led the child outside. He looked calm on the surface, but his heart gave a slight skip with every step.
He hadn't thought deeply about it last night, but at this moment, thinking about how the child was conceived...
Bian Xun suddenly felt his throat tighten.
Ning Zhitao followed closely by his side, naturally holding out her chubby little hand to her daddy.
Bian Xun lowered his eyes and took a look.
Of course, he wasn't used to holding a child's hand.
But after locking eyes with those round eyes that looked at him as a matter of course for a moment, he sighed in resignation and grabbed the hood of her coat.
Ning Zhitao tiptoed and obediently followed her daddy.
...
The campus in the early morning had very few people.
It was currently the New Year's Day holiday, so many students had gone out to play or returned home.
Before leaving, Bian Xun had already sent a message to Ning Ye and booked a restaurant outside the school. A sense of ceremony was necessary, even though this ceremony now included a slightly unexpected presence.
Right now was breakfast time at the school cafeteria. Ning Ye had a work-study job there that wouldn't end until eight-thirty.
Following her daddy through the main gate, Ning Zhitao realized this wasn't Daddy's company; it was actually a school!
She had come to Daddy and Mommy's school??
So cool.
Ning Zhitao happily puffed out her chest. She was going to college too!
Bian Xun carried her by her hood, walking down a secluded path toward the East District cafeteria, passing right in front of the faculty residential area.
Ning Zhitao looked around curiously.
"Daddy, where is this? Daddy, what is that..."
Bian Xun really wanted to plug his ears, but he was currently this child's guardian. He could only summon all his patience to answer the kid's endless questions, trying his best to act like a father.
When he opened his eyes again, at the intersection by the staff building, Professor Lin's grandson was staring at him in shock, holding a familiar sandbag in his hand.
Bian Xun: "."
That little bro stared in shock at him leading a child, wanting to yell for adults to catch him. Was he kidnapping a little kid??
How could the cold older brother who kicked away their sandbag that day have a child!
"You, you!"
Hearing the voice, Ning Zhitao popped her head out and saw a child around her own age. Her cheeks instantly dimpled with a sweet, sticky smile: "Hello!"
little bro: !!!
Such a cute little sister, too!!
"Grandpa, Grandpa!" The little bro ran back into the building. "Call the police, call the police!!"
Bian Xun closed his eyes: "..."
Bian Xun quickly carried Ning Zhitao to the cafeteria. This was the back alley. A small path connected the cafeteria's back door to the school's outer fence, piled with some uncleared boxes.
Ning Zhitao smelled the aroma of food in the air and looked around enthusiastically. "Are we going to eat here with Mommy? Daddy? What are we eating?"
Bian Xun's gaze fell on the cafeteria's back door as he stood quietly at the entrance to the alley.
The morning light cast one large and one small silhouette onto the ground, stretching forward to touch.
At the back door, a pair of leather boots stepped out. The person wore a white sanitary hat on her head, her two slender arms wrapping around a massive food bucket as she slowly shuffled out.
The food bucket was made of iron and extremely heavy. Ning Ye couldn't see the path while holding it, so she carefully felt her way forward, successfully placing it onto the cart by the door with a loud thud.
Even in the dead of winter, her forehead was already sweating, her fair neck and cheeks flushed from exertion.
Then, she immediately went back inside the back door and soon struggled to carry out another large iron bucket. It looked very strenuous, but she did it methodically.
The child, who had been chattering non-stop, had fallen quiet at some point.
Bian Xun watched for a moment before noticing, and looked down.
Those round, black-grape-like eyes were completely stunned.
Ning Zhitao couldn't understand why, after waking up from a nap, her mommy had returned to college. Even less could she understand why her mommy had to do such hard manual labor in college.
Her eyes turned red. Her little hands gripped her daddy's pants tightly, tugging at him hard. "Daddy, how can you let Mommy carry this?"
"Hurry up and go, why aren't you helping Mommy? Why does Mommy have to carry this?"
Ning Zhitao completely forgot what Bian Xun had instructed her to do. Fortunately, there was no one in this alley.
The child was on the verge of tears, clawing at him forcefully. "Daddy, where's your card? Give it to Mommy quickly, tell Mommy to stop carrying this—"
Bian Xun took a deep breath, grabbed her hood, and pulled her to the side. "Do you remember what I said?"
Ning Zhitao whimpered, feeling terrible. "I don't remember, quickly help Mommy, Daddy."
Bian Xun's dark eyes fell on her face, and suddenly, he believed it. This really was their child.
Even without a paternity test report.
Yet his mood at this moment was exactly the same as this child's.
He couldn't go over at this time. He would give her the card—not the black card the child brought, but his own bank card.
But he couldn't just casually toss a card at her like that.
It was very disrespectful.
He waited until Ning Ye finished her shift before telling her the location.
Ning Ye changed out of her cafeteria work uniform, took off her work hat, and hurried out, a faint smile already on her lips.
Her steps were light, but she was slightly surprised when she saw a little girl beside Bian Xun.
Was it his little sister? So young.
Ning Ye blinked.
By now, Ning Zhitao had lost all her energy. Her head drooped, her little hands hung limp, and she looked at the familiar figure with tear-blurred eyes.
She really wanted to throw herself into her mother's arms, but her father wouldn't let her.
Daddy is bad!
He made Mommy do such heavy work. How was this any different from domestic violence?
Wuwuwu... Mommy—
Bian Xun carried the swaying Ning Zhitao and slowly walked towards Ning Ye.
In this quiet corner of the campus, she stood against the light. Her smile was blurred in the morning glow, the soft curves of her shoulders bathed in light, and her hair fell smoothly.
As Bian Xun walked towards her, his eyes were calm and extremely solemn.
Bian Xun, at this age, had a tall and straight figure. His aura was somewhere between a youth and a man. With his bright dark eyes and cold, pine-like demeanor, he was unreasonably handsome.
But from this moment on, he had to be a man.
This was his future wife.
Ning Ye also faintly sensed the depth of his expression; he was taking this more seriously than she had imagined.
She actually started to feel a little nervous.
Even though he had unexpectedly brought a little kid along, Ning Ye still felt that his eyes clearly conveyed a confession of love at this moment.
The passion of youth could easily scorch one's heart.
Ning Ye couldn't help but grip her cuffs tightly, feeling a bit dazed.
Bian Xun stopped in front of her.
Bian Xun's thin lips parted slightly.
His heart was also beating wildly.
Gathering her courage, Ning Ye raised her almond eyes, perfectly reflecting his face, and watched as he took a deep breath and spoke.
It's a confession.
"Yes."
Bian Xun said.
On the first day of the new year, with a cold and magnetic voice and deep dark eyes, he decided to begin an intimate relationship that would last no less than 12 years.
"We have a daughter."
The wind was light and the clouds were wispy.
Ning Ye blinked.
On January 1, 2019, amidst the little kid's sobbing, Ning Ye realized something.
Is Bian Xun sick in the head?
Raising my hand to report: I have something to do tomorrow and will be home late. If I don't update before midnight, it will be on the morning of the 19th, and I will update more then! Mwah mwah mwah everyone
