Lu Wanqing closed the datapad, subconsciously glancing towards Cui Cui. Her gaze met Cui Cui's directly.
Lu Wanqing froze, then belatedly realized Cui Cui was sensitive and... could she have discovered something?
Lu Wanqing's heart suddenly tightened, filled with worry and heartache.
"Let's go home first," Lu Wanqing said to Cui Cui.
"Okay," Cui Cui nodded.
Wei Xingzhou walked ahead, looking between Cui Cui, Lu Wanqing, and then at Sisi and Zhang Qiong, clearly conflicted.
Despite his hesitation, they all eventually arrived home. Fortunately, their house was spacious enough to accommodate two more people. However, there was no real joy, as the unusual relationship between the two children made things feel somewhat... awkward.
In the past, Wei Xingzhou and Cui Cui would have had endless conversations. Even if Cui Cui had ignored him, Wei Xingzhou would have shamelessly found many things to say to her. But now, with the addition of two more people, the atmosphere had become inexplicably awkward.
There were many rooms in the house. After consulting with Zhang Qiong and Sisi, Wei Xingzhou arranged for them to stay in the bedroom on the right, which was neither too close nor too far from Cui Cui's room.
Cui Cui went directly back to her bedroom.
Lu Wanqing followed Cui Cui into the room. Watching her well-behaved daughter, who remained silent, Lu Wanqing felt a deep sadness. Why did her precious child have to endure this?
After a while, Wei Xingzhou, having settled the mother and daughter, also came over.
Wei Xingzhou's mood was still heavy as he approached the doorway. However, upon entering Cui Cui's room, he made an effort to put on a smile.
"Welcome home!" In the next second, as if by magic, Wei Xingzhou produced a confetti cannon from behind him and set it off in the room.
Colorful streamers exploded into the air and then drifted down.
Cui Cui looked at Wei Xingzhou. After a moment, she let out a cold snort and said disdainfully, "Childish!"
Wei Xingzhou grinned, shamelessly approaching her. He said with a smile, "I'm not childish, I just love my precious Cui Cui too much!"
Cui Cui looked at Wei Xingzhou, especially at the dark circles under his eyes.
As an actor and a reigning Best Actor, Wei Xingzhou had always maintained himself well, particularly in his energy levels. Situations like the netizens discussing on StarNet about staying up late and developing dark circles never happened to Wei Xingzhou. In Cui Cui's memories, her father was always full of energy. This was the first time she had seen dark marks under his eyes.
Wei Xingzhou hadn't slept well for the past few days.
Cui Cui was eight years old; she understood.
"Cui Cui, how about Daddy takes you out to play tomorrow? Daddy heard that the film city has opened a few new clothing stores. They make beautiful clothes. Shall we go buy some of the latest and prettiest outfits together?" Wei Xingzhou continued to coax his daughter with a cheerful smile.
Cui Cui looked at Wei Xingzhou, then finally reached out and hugged him.
"Idiot!" Cui Cui said. She had called him this countless times since she was little, but this was the first time her voice was choked with emotion.
"Wei Xingzhou, you're a big idiot!" she said fiercely in the next moment.
Wei Xingzhou froze, his entire body stiffening. He stayed still in his daughter's embrace, not daring to move.
Cui Cui pushed Wei Xingzhou away, her face cold. She huffed, "It's just a paternity test. So what if I'm not your biological daughter? I don't care."
Wei Xingzhou blinked, then raised his hand to rub his ears. Was he hallucinating?
Lu Wanqing was also surprised. She hadn't expected Cui Cui to say that, but...
Since Cui Cui had said it, did it mean... Cui Cui had come to terms with it?
Cui Cui turned and took a pack of eye masks from a drawer. She turned and threw it to Wei Xingzhou, saying, "Put these on quickly. Your eyes are so dark, it's ugly."
Lu Wanqing smiled.
Wei Xingzhou also smiled, and as he smiled, tears suddenly fell from his eyes. However, he quickly wiped them away.
Wei Xingzhou took the eye mask, then suddenly hugged Cui Cui tightly and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you, Cui Cui. Daddy loves you," Wei Xingzhou said earnestly.
Cui Cui stiffened for a moment, then said, "I... I love you too."
Cui Cui... loved him?
Wei Xingzhou's eyes widened. In the next moment, he was ecstatic. He scooped Cui Cui up and spun her around happily. "Ahhh! Cui Cui said she loves me! You said you love me! After all these years, you finally admit you love me, hahahaha!"
Cui Cui was eight years old, truly eight. Although the current situation was unusual, after the initial confusion, Cui Cui had indeed realized. Wei Xingzhou, that scoundrel, how could he!
"Wei Xingzhou, I'm eight years old!" Cui Cui's cheeks were flushed with embarrassment. She pushed Wei Xingzhou away angrily, reminding him loudly.
Cui Cui had grown, and her strength had increased significantly. With a forceful push, she finally managed to shove Wei Xingzhou away.
Wei Xingzhou wasn't sad about being pushed away. He said happily, "So what if you're eight? In Daddy's heart, you'll always be Daddy's baby."
Cui Cui: "..."
Lu Wanqing smiled, watching the father and daughter resolve their issues, and remained silent, not wanting to disturb them.
However, Wei Xingzhou's earlier words gave Lu Wanqing an idea. The film city on ancient Earth had clothing stores. She wondered... how would it be if she opened one herself?
She might not be familiar with interstellar fashion, but she was certainly more familiar with ancient Earth clothing than interstellar people.
The ancient Earth film city was different from other planets. It was a paradise for actors, and concurrently, actors filming there often used a variety of costumes.
As Lu Wanqing thought, she quietly opened her datapad and began searching for clothing stores in the ancient Earth film city.
Lu Wanqing searched so diligently that she didn't even notice when Wei Xingzhou and Cui Cui became quiet beside her. The father and daughter even came over to secretly look at her datapad.
Lu Wanqing's datapad permissions were open to Cui Cui, so she could see the contents. Wei Xingzhou, however, could not. But Wei Xingzhou didn't leave; he was a simpleton, following his daughter's lead and looking alongside her.
When Lu Wanqing realized, she was almost startled by the father and daughter.
"What are you doing?" Lu Wanqing asked.
"Mommy, do you want to buy ancient Earth clothing?" Cui Cui asked, looking at Lu Wanqing. Because the clothing stores Lu Wanqing had been looking at were all in the style of ancient Earth, she thought her mommy might be missing things from that era and perhaps wanted to buy ancient Earth clothing too.
"Buy?" Lu Wanqing was surprised.
Lu Wanqing quickly regained her composure. She looked at Wei Xingzhou and asked seriously, "Wei Xingzhou, for the film crews shooting on the film city, where do they get their ancient Earth costumes? Do they rent them, or do they find people to custom-make them?"