Previously, Gu Chi had been so focused on explaining himself that he didn’t even consider how reckless it was to take Can-Can away when they’d only met once. Now that he’d calmed down, a wave of guilt welled up in his heart.

No matter what, he should’ve talked it over with her brother first.

To make up for it, on the way back home, Gu Chi bought her all kinds of toys—Barbie dolls, puzzles, little cars, a watermelon-patterned bouncy ball… an armful of treasures.

In the front seat, the driver drove silently. Can-Can sat in the back with the watermelon ball in her lap, gently bumping her chin against it now and then.

So soft~

Bop her little head on it and it bounced right back up!

She played happily on her own for a while. Gu Chi kept sneaking glances at her. Every time he did, her quirky, mischievous expressions made him chuckle. And when she was quiet, she was so sweet and gentle—it reminded him a lot of that pink dragon plushie.

And then he remembered they’d be parting ways soon… and a pang of reluctance tugged at his chest.

“Can-Can, is your brother nice to you? That stone-faced Qi Sen who doesn’t smile or talk much—aren’t you scared of him?” Gu Chi tried to find something to chat about, unwilling to waste the time they had left.

Can-Can put the ball aside and shook her head seriously.

“Can-Can likes Second Brother.”

Then she suddenly lowered her head, lashes curling over her big almond eyes. Her expression dimmed, as if something made her sad.

Gu Chi frowned. “What’s wrong?”

“Daddy, Can-Can really likes Second Brother now,” she repeated earnestly, as if worried no one had heard her.

She looked up at Gu Chi, and in her mind, the memory bloomed—her mother once held her and pointed at a painting, laughing, “That’s what your daddy looked like when he was young.”

Gradually, the man before her began to overlap with the father who used to play with her and tease her in Wuwang Sea. Clutching Gu Chi’s sleeve tightly, she whispered in a voice full of grievance, “Daddy… Second Brother is really nice to Can-Can now. He doesn’t care about riches or status at all. But when Can-Can was still a little immortal, why did Second Brother stay in the heavens and never come see her?”

At the end, her baby voice trembled with the threat of tears.

She wiped her eyes silently and murmured, heartbroken, “Daddy, Can-Can really really likes Second Brother.”

But back then, Qi Sen—the one everyone in heaven revered as the godly Lord Qi Sen—had never come to visit her.

He ascended to the Ninth Heaven on her hundredth birthday.

Everything she knew about him came from the birthday banquets held in her honor, where immortals from the Four Seas would gather and gossip.

They’d say Qi Sen was cold and silent, that over the past century, he had grown even more ruthless in slaying beasts. That there was always a chilling scent of blood around him. That even other immortals kept their distance.

Others would say that of the eight high gods remaining, Qi Sen was the youngest—and most worthy of respect.

…

At her 282nd birthday banquet, Can-Can had tried to piece together an image of her Second Brother, counting on her fingers.

Loves peaches. Not afraid of scary monsters. Doesn’t like staying clean—always smells like blood and never takes baths. Loves riches. Walks with wind. Close friends with the Wind God. Has icy eyes and probably needs medicine for them.

…

One piece at a time, like building blocks, she assembled the image of her mysterious brother.

But no matter how much she thought of him, after ascending, he never returned to visit her.

They’d only met once—on her hundredth birthday.

She’d been overjoyed to finally meet the Second Brother she’d never seen… but accidentally overheard him saying something to the Little Heavenly Grandson.

That single conversation let her vaguely understand—Second Brother didn’t like her.

After that day, Lord Qi Sen rose to the Ninth Heaven and never set foot in Wuwang Sea again.

But when her Eldest and Second Brother disappeared together years ago, and Second Brother reappeared before her, the words he said as he gently patted her head had been so warm—completely different from before.

“This peach is from my courtyard tree. Take it with you to the mortal realm.”

“Even though we don’t know each other well, I know Can-Can doesn’t handle hardship. You’ve always needed your parents and brothers to love you.”

“Don’t be afraid. After descending, Second Brother will be there.”

**

Gu Chi was at a complete loss facing this tearful little girl. He reached out, gently patting her head again and again to soothe her.

When they arrived home, Can-Can’s mood vanished the moment she saw Qi Sen and Pei Shen.

Her mood shift was so fast, Gu Chi was stunned.

“Second Brother! Third Brother! Why are you back in the daytime? Didn’t you say I could only see you after the moon came out?” Can-Can chirped, bobbing her little head.

But Qi Sen’s expression was unusually serious.

Earlier that day, he had taken two steps toward seeking out Gu Chi—then stopped, remembering that Gu Chi was the son of the wealthiest man in the country. Not someone he could just go see on a whim.

Jiang Ying’s threats echoed endlessly in his mind.

He feared she really might call the police. He feared she might hurt Can-Can.

In this world, Can-Can had no biological family to protect her.

She was a little immortal who had descended to the mortal realm with a divine trial—her father, the Emperor, had already reincarnated into Gu Chi. And even if they looked the same, the law didn’t recognize him as her real father.

Worry churned in Qi Sen’s chest all day. He couldn’t concentrate at all during class, so he asked for leave and returned home before evening study hall.

But when he arrived, only Tao-Tao was there.

His brows furrowed into a sharp crease, his eyes cold.

“Can-Can, I told you before—this world has a lot of bad people. You can’t just go off with someone by yourself.”

His gaze swept over Gu Chi. Though he eased a little, his tone stayed stiff. “Even if it’s him. What if someone says ‘Your daddy’s looking for you’ and you just follow them? What if you get tricked? Do you understand?”

Can-Can’s smile gradually faded. Her big eyes reddened.

She never expected Second Brother, who she was so happy to see, would scold her.

She pressed her lips together and stood there pitifully, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“It was Daddy. Daddy isn’t a bad person…”

Qi Sen frowned.

She didn’t understand what he meant.