Still that same cold-faced, emotionless, arrogant dog.

—

On the subway heading to the department store, Qi Sen had Can-Can hold tightly onto the railing while he stood close by, shielding her from the crowd. In his mind, he was busy calculating how carefully he needed to spend their money.

His phone buzzed.

It was a message from his deskmate.

The past few days, he had asked his deskmate to help find a way to contact one of the school’s rich second-generation students. Supposedly, that guy’s father was the cousin of Qi Xiuming, the wealthiest man in Guhai City.

【I asked for you. Lao Tan said that guy’s close with Pei Shen. Half an hour ago, Pei Shen blasted you like crazy in their private WeChat group. Lao Tan said he can still help you, just say to Pei Shen: “I’m sorry, I really should have thanked you.”】

Qi Sen’s gaze lingered a few seconds on the words I’m sorry, then he calmly locked his phone.

“Big brother, who was that?” Can-Can tilted her head curiously.

“My deskmate,” Qi Sen explained patiently, “the person who sits next to me at school.”

Can-Can’s eyes lit up at the mention of school. She asked excitedly, “Did he find your mommy and daddy?”

Qi Sen hesitated, then said, “There’s someone who doesn’t want to help unless I say sorry first.”

Can-Can gave a sweet smile, her dimples soft and deep.

“That’s so easy!”

Then she clasped her little hands into fists and earnestly demonstrated, nodding her head and waving her tiny fists as she said:

“Sorry, sorry, Can-Can won’t do it again!”

“Sorry, sorry, Can-Can won’t sneak snacks anymore!”

After apologizing solemnly to the air, she spread her little hands and said seriously, “See? It’s that easy!”

Her movements were so natural, she must have practiced saying sorry plenty of times.

Qi Sen couldn’t help but think of a meme he’d seen online.

A kid, arms spread wide, face smug, with the caption: I’m sorry, but I’ll totally do it again next time.

That meme… described Can-Can perfectly right now.

—

Can-Can’s earnest apology performance had the other passengers on the subway quietly laughing.

But Can-Can didn’t notice any of it. She just kept looking seriously up at Qi Sen, like a tiny adult earnestly teaching him how to behave.

The soft laughter around them grew louder.

Qi Sen helplessly pinched her soft, marshmallowy cheeks, a rare smile flickering in his eyes.

As for the idea of actually apologizing…

Not a chance.

—

At the pedestrian shopping street, Qi Sen picked out a neat little autumn-winter dress with an English academy style and showed it to Can-Can.

“Can-Can, do you like this one?”

But little kids’ tastes and adults’ were worlds apart.

The vintage, elegant dress that looked fine to Qi Sen, in Can-Can’s eyes, was nothing more than a dirty, ugly old rag.

Qi Sen led her out of the shop, glancing at the endless rows of storefronts, feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Buying clothes for a kid… was way harder than he thought.

“Can-Can, what kind of clothes do you like?”

Can-Can blinked blankly, thinking hard for a long time before she answered, “I don’t know either.”

All she knew was that she didn’t like dirty yellow-and-black ugly clothes!

So they kept walking.

Can-Can tottered alongside him, nibbling on a candy hawthorn stick, her eyes constantly darting around curiously.

Then all of a sudden— her little feet stopped.

Her big eyes lit up like twin searchlights.

She tugged Qi Sen’s sleeve and pointed excitedly at a display window. “Big brother! Can-Can wants that Elsa princess dress!”

Qi Sen followed her gaze and frowned slightly.

Aside from being blue, that dress had absolutely nothing in common with the dazzling crystal gown Elsa wore in the movie.

This was supposed to be an Elsa dress? It was practically an insult to Elsa.

But Can-Can stood there stubbornly, not moving a muscle. Her lips pouted, her eyes misting pitifully.

“Big brother… Can-Can’s so tired… Can’t walk anymore.”

Qi Sen paused. “Then… Big brother can carry you?”

Can-Can immediately shook her head like a little rattle drum, her twin braids bouncing wildly.

“No! Can-Can’s a big kid! Big kids don’t let people carry them!”

This wouldn’t do, that wouldn’t do either— Qi Sen finally crouched down, patiently asking, “Then what does Can-Can want to do?”

Can-Can giggled mischievously, covering her mouth to whisper: “Just buy the dress for Can-Can and I’ll be good!”

Qi Sen: …

So all that tired act was just a setup. And this… this was the real goal.

His Can-Can really was something else.

—

Shopping for a kid was exhausting.

All morning, Qi Sen was running around— changing clothes, carrying bags, buying candy, and constantly checking if Can-Can’s feet were sore, if she was thirsty, if she was hungry.

Afraid she’d get tired of walking, he kept her talking and distracted, so she wouldn’t realize how long they’d been out.

“Big brother,” Can-Can said, patting her tiny belly, “Can-Can’s tummy is grumbling!”

“If I don’t eat soon, Can-Can will turn into a flat piece of paper!”

Qi Sen glanced around quickly.

Across the street, he spotted a small wonton shop— simple, quick, and no long lines.

Perfect for a starving little dumpling like Can-Can.

What he didn’t expect was—

they ran into someone familiar.

“Big Sister!”

Even after four days, Can-Can recognized Shu Shu at a glance— the big sister who had shown her Journey to the West.

Shu Shu had arranged to meet a friend for shopping, but her friend was still getting her hair done. So now Shu Shu was stuck waiting, killing time with a bowl of wontons.

Seeing Can-Can and Qi Sen, she smiled and ruffled Can-Can’s head.

“Did Can-Can buy new clothes today?”

“Mm-hmm!” Can-Can nodded eagerly, proudly holding up the dress bag. “It’s Elsa’s dress!”

Shu Shu peeked into the bag and paused for a moment.

When her gaze met Qi Sen’s, she saw the helpless resignation in his eyes— and burst out laughing.

“How is life with a baby?” she teased.

Qi Sen tucked the dress back neatly into the bag and replied blandly:

“Not bad.”