"Don't rush to refuse, hear me out first," Jiang Ziyu said patiently, trying to reason with him.
But things weren't as simple as she'd hoped.
The moment Di Mingjue touched upon Qianqian, he became exceptionally guarded, as if everyone intended to harm her, never pausing to consider the good or bad.
Jiang Ziyu took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation that had been building within her. She soothed him gently, "Let's both calm down for a moment. When your mood has settled, I'll explain further."
"No need. This is non-negotiable," Di Mingjue said, turning to call out to Qianqian, who was drawing.
Qianqian, holding her picture book, sat beaming in Di Mingjue's arms, proudly showing him her work.
The picture showed a house, a car, and three small figures. It was easy to tell that the three figures represented them.
Qianqian turned a page, revealing another house and two more small figures. The figures were similar in size to the one before, but their features resembled boys.
Di Dongsheng didn't think much of it and casually flipped through the pages, glancing at the entire picture book.
"My Qianqian is a little artist, her drawings are so beautiful. If there's an opportunity in the future, shall Daddy hold a private exhibition for you?" Di Mingjue asked gently.
Qianqian was still very young and didn't understand the concept of an exhibition. However, her dream was to become a famous painter.
Since she couldn't speak, she relied heavily on her paintbrush, using it to express her joys and sorrows.
Seeing that Di Mingjue was deliberately ignoring her, Jiang Ziyu no longer bothered to coax him into conversation.
She strode purposefully towards him and, without a word, took Qianqian from his embrace.
This sudden action greatly displeased Di Mingjue. He irritably grabbed Jiang Ziyu's arm, preventing her from taking Qianqian.
With any other woman, a mere touch might have made them let go. But Jiang Ziyu, who had always been exercising, remained unfazed and instead slipped free from his grasp.
She shielded Qianqian behind her and covered Qianqian's ears with her free hand. Facing the unreasonable Di Mingjue, she lost her patience.
"Whether you agree or not, I've made up my mind. You know the situation at the Di residence. Leaving Qianqian here not only fails to protect her but will also cause harm to her young mind. If you truly care for her, don't stand in my way."
Upon hearing Jiang Ziyu's reprimand, Di Mingjue's expression turned as dark as a stormy sky.
In this world, besides Qianqian's biological mother, no one else loved Qianqian more or wished for her to grow up safely and happily.
As for Jiang Ziyu before him, her show of concern and her criticism of him left Di Mingjue deep in thought.
Was it a facade? Or was it genuine?
Everything was too difficult to comprehend.
Jiang Ziyu held secrets within her, and the mysteries in Di Mingjue's heart grew like a snowball, from the size of a fingernail to something his hands couldn't encompass.
Should he trust her or not?
Di Mingjue stared blankly at Jiang Ziyu.
"Think it over carefully, and speak only when you've made up your mind," Jiang Ziyu advised.
Time continued to flow by. After a long while, Di Mingjue nodded in agreement, "I can agree to your request. But you must keep me updated on my precious Qianqian's daily life at all times. Also, you are not allowed to unilaterally instill any thoughts in her that are detrimental to her physical and mental development."
"Don't worry, I'm not that bad," Jiang Ziyu retorted.
Thus, Jiang Ziyu successfully gained Di Mingjue's consent and began preparing for the departure, which required daily necessities.
The next day, she eagerly took Qianqian and left the Di residence.
However, leaving wasn't just a simple outing; she also played along with Di Mingjue's act.
"Ziyu, where are you going?" The old lady, having learned from the butler that Jiang Ziyu was packing bags and preparing to leave with Qianqian, immediately came forward, leaning on her cane to persuade her.