"We'll put it in writing, a formal agreement!" Wei Xingzhou quickly took out an agreement from his spatial drive, along with a black pen, and handed it to Cui Cui, saying seriously.
"Once you agree, you can't go back on your word," Wei Xingzhou said earnestly.
Cui Cui picked up the pen and signed her name directly on the agreement. She said with a firm tone, "I will never go back on my word."
Lu Wanqing watched the father and daughter reach an agreement and felt a sense of relief. At the same time, she admired Wei Xingzhou even more. He was so much better at being a parent than she was. She would need to learn a lot from him in the future.
"Daddy loves Cui Cui very much," Lu Wanqing said to Cui Cui.
Cui Cui nodded, "Mm."
It was a simple sound, needing no further explanation, yet they all understood its meaning and smiled.
With the matter resolved, it was time for them to return.
However, with their last day, there was no need to rush. Lu Wanqing took Cui Cui to the simulation training room in the seventh military district's family housing area, and they had a blast playing, killing many Zerg and releasing all the pent-up emotions from the past period. After that, they were truly happy.
That evening, they bought tickets back to Ancient Earth Film City and headed home.
It was already night when they returned to Ancient Earth Film City. As soon as they entered the door, Sisi anxiously ran down from upstairs. The moment she saw Wei Xingzhou, her eyes welled up with tears.
Cui Cui took Wei Xingzhou's hand and walked over to Sisi. "I'm sorry," she said.
The next moment, Cui Cui held Wei Xingzhou's hand with one hand and reached out to Sisi with the other.
Sisi flinched back, avoiding her.
Cui Cui hesitated for a moment, then resolutely stepped forward. She took Sisi's hand and placed it in Wei Xingzhou's palm.
"Sisi, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fight you for Daddy. I'm giving him back to you."
Sisi trembled all over and pulled her hand back.
The next moment, Wei Xingzhou squatted down, looking at Sisi. The pretense of forced gentleness was gone from his eyes, replaced by a natural tenderness.
Wei Xingzhou lifted Sisi's hand and gently kissed the back of her hand. He apologized, "I'm sorry, Sisi. It's my fault."
Sisi couldn't hold back her tears, and they fell in large drops.
"Wuwuwu, Daddy, are you not going to want me anymore?" Sisi cried.
"I won't fight with Cui Cui anymore. I just want a little bit of your affection. If you could be a little bit kinder to me," Cui Cui said, crying.
Wei Xingzhou's heart ached inexplicably. He quickly reached out and hugged Sisi, his voice hoarse as he said, "I'm sorry, it's my fault."
Zhang Qiong also felt a pang in her heart as she looked at Lu Wanqing.
Lu Wanqing hesitated for a long time before finally apologizing, "I'm sorry."
Cui Cui was not Wei Xingzhou's biological child, yet she had occupied so many years of Wei Xingzhou's love. She felt guilty, but... there was truly nothing she could do about it.
Wei Xingzhou bought another house in Ancient Earth Film City. Cui Cui and Lu Wanqing moved out, separating from Sisi and Zhang Qiong.
Although they had decided to live harmoniously from then on, the incident had made everyone realize that no matter how they tried to adjust, the relationship between Sisi and Cui Cui would remain awkward. Living together would only increase the conflict between the two children, and separation was for the best.
In fact, after moving out and separating from Sisi and Zhang Qiong, Lu Wanqing felt much more at ease.
Fortunately, Cui Cui was older now, eight years old, no longer a three or four-year-old girl. Moreover, after this incident, Cui Cui had become much more sensible. She no longer clung to her father all day long like before. Sometimes, she even reminded her father to spend more time with Sisi.
Cui Cui said that Sisi wanted her father just like she had wanted her mother before. She understood and didn't blame Sisi. She hoped Wei Xingzhou would use his free time to spend more time with Sisi and make up for the fatherly love that Sisi had missed.
Cui Cui's maturity shocked both Lu Wanqing and Wei Xingzhou. However, after the shock, there was a mix of heartache and relief.
The heartache stemmed from the fact that Cui Cui had ultimately grown up and become sensible.
The relief came from knowing that Cui Cui could understand her father's difficulties and struggles. She cared about her father and considered his feelings.
Wei Xingzhou's time was also divided. After acting and returning home each day, he would spend a week at Cui Cui's home and then a week at Sisi's home, accompanying both children separately.
Initially, this lifestyle took some getting used to, but after a month, they gradually settled into the rhythm and became accustomed to this way of life.
During this month, the film crew for the clothing design Lu Wanqing had worked on previously had already started shooting. The promotional photos were released and received much acclaim. Especially when the crew specifically highlighted that the costumes for this drama were designed by Lu Wanqing, it sparked curiosity throughout the interstellar community, pushing the drama's popularity to a new height.
However, Lu Wanqing now only glanced at these things before continuing to focus on her career.
It was just that...
Lu Wanqing still thought of her third brother, and the words Cui Cui had spoken before.
But all impulses to go to the Zerg to find her third brother were eventually suppressed by remembering Wei Xingzhou's words. She couldn't go. It wasn't because she feared death, but because she feared that when her third brother defeated the Zerg and returned, he would find her dead. He had waited for her for so many years; she couldn't die.
With this conviction, Lu Wanqing stayed in Ancient Earth Film City. She designed many costumes from the Ancient Earth era and then registered a clothing store. After obtaining all the necessary business permits, her shop officially opened.
Notably, at the same time she opened her clothing store, Cui Cui also registered her own shop - a jewelry store.
Every day after school and homework, Cui Cui would follow her mother and learn.
Her mother drew and designed clothes; she also drew, but Cui Cui designed small accessories, hair ornaments, earrings, necklaces, anklets, and other exquisite and cute trinkets.
Not only Cui Cui opened a store, but on the Yu family's side, Xiao Shushu also opened a shop with her father. The goods sold in Yu Nong and Xiao Shushu's shop were predictable: interstellar plants.
The mother and daughter's shops agreed on a date and opened together.
Due to their special identities, on the first day of opening, they didn't need any advertising. All the goods in the shops were sold out, and everyone was delighted.
However, for a shop to last long-term and even thrive, relying solely on their previous popularity wasn't enough.
People might buy once because they liked them, but if the quality of their goods was not up to par, it could easily offend people, attract trolls, lead to fierce slander, damage their reputation, and accuse them of poor product quality.
Therefore, as public figures, they needed to ensure the quality of the goods in their shops was absolutely flawless, and that most buyers felt they received good value for their money, without incurring losses.