CHAPTER 4: CHAPTER 4: WINTER WARMTH

"Oh, it’s a rare visitor, Old Qi, haven’t seen you in a while."

In the Zhuoyue advertising shop, the owner, Li Zhuoyue, warmly greeted Qi Yun.

Back when Qi Yun had his company, he often came here for advertising designs and materials, and the two had quite a familiar relationship.

Li Zhuoyue even attended Qi Yun’s daughter’s full moon celebration.

Even after the company’s closure, they still occasionally kept in touch during holidays, exchanging greetings.

"It’s been a while indeed. You’re usually busy, and if there’s nothing urgent, I tend to avoid bothering you."

Li Zhuoyue jokingly scolded, "Since when did you become so distant? No matter how busy I am, I’d still offer you tea if you came by."

The two moved to the guest area, exchanged some small talk over tea, and tacitly avoided bringing up Qi Yun’s past, focusing instead on daily trivialities.

Seeing more customers entering, Qi Yun didn’t want to waste Li Zhuoyue’s time and got straight to the point: "I’m here this time to ask for a favor. I need a batch of gift boxes for apples. Please have someone make a sample for me."

"Sure, no problem. I’ll arrange for someone to get on it right away," Li Zhuoyue agreed promptly, then turned and called inside, "Xiao Fang, come here."

In a moment, a young girl with a ponytail walked out from the back room, dressed in simple professional attire, a gentle smile on her face, and a clever sparkle in her eyes.

"Boss, did you call for me?" Xiao Fang’s voice was crisp and pleasant.

Li Zhuoyue pointed to Qi Yun and introduced, "This is Brother Qi, an old friend of mine. He needs a batch of gift boxes for apples. Design a sample according to his requirements."

"Old Qi, feel free to tell Xiao Fang your requirements. I’ll go attend to the customers first."

Qi Yun nodded, "Alright, you go do your thing."

Xiao Fang sat down beside, politely smiled at Qi Yun and said, "Brother Qi, do you have specific requirements for the gift boxes? Like size, style, those aspects?"

These requirements were all thought out by Qi Yun last night, and at this moment he conveyed them all at once.

Xiao Fang listened attentively, quickly jotting down key points on paper.

After Qi Yun finished explaining everything, they further discussed some details.

"That’s about it. When do you think the sample can be ready?"

Xiao Fang thought briefly and responded with a smile, "You’re the boss’s friend, if you need it urgently, I can expedite it for you, and it can be done in two hours at the earliest."

"Alright, that’s great, I’ll come to pick it up in two hours."

Qi Yun got up to leave, not wanting to disturb Li Zhuoyue who was busy with customers.

Outside, he rode his electric scooter heading east.

Twenty minutes later, he stopped at the entrance of a kindergarten.

Ever since his divorce from his ex-wife, he made time each month to see his daughter, although he often chose weekends so they could spend a day playing together and he could spend more time with her.

Before long, a young female teacher brought out a chubby little girl.

The little girl smiled brightly as soon as she saw Qi Yun and happily ran towards him, releasing the teacher’s hand.

"Daddy, Daddy!"

Qi Yun squatted down, opened his arms, and hugged the little girl tightly.

"Nuannuan, Daddy has come to see you. Did you miss Daddy?"

The little girl nodded vigorously, snuggled in Qi Yun’s embrace, and sweetly said, "Daddy, Nuannuan missed you so much, I’ve been hoping every day you’d come to see me."

Qi Yun’s eyes instantly filled with mist upon hearing his daughter’s words, a wave of bitterness in his heart.

If it weren’t inevitable, who would bear to be separated from their child?

"Let Daddy see if you’ve grown taller." He held the girl’s shoulders, examining her carefully, his eyes full of affection.

The little girl’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she proudly said, "Of course Nuannuan has grown taller, the kindergarten food is delicious, I finish every meal cleanly."

"Daddy, why do you have time to come see Nuannuan today?"

Qi Yun playfully tapped her little nose, "Daddy missed you and just happened to be nearby, so I came to see you. And Daddy brought a gift for Nuannuan."

As he spoke, he took out a beautifully crafted box from the electric scooter’s storage.

The little girl stared curiously at the box, her eyes full of anticipation: "Wow, what gift did Daddy bring Nuannuan? Can I open it to see?"

Qi Yun placed the box in her hands, "Of course you can."

The little girl eagerly opened the box, finding inside a lovely set of watercolor pens and a drawing book, printed with her favorite cartoon cat.

"Wow, I love it so much, thank you, Daddy!" Nuannuan excitedly picked up the watercolor pens, planting kisses on Qi Yun’s face.

Qi Yun held her tightly in his arms, unwilling to let go, as if trying to transform all his guilt into warmth through hugs.

"Nuannuan, is there anyone bullying you at home?"

Actually, after the divorce, his biggest worry was whether his daughter was being treated poorly at home.

The little girl tilted her head, thought seriously, then shook her head and said, "No, Daddy, don’t worry, Mommy and Uncle are both very kind to me."

Qi Yun felt slightly relieved but couldn’t help but remind her, "If anyone bullies you, you must tell Daddy, or tell Teacher Zhao, and she’ll tell Daddy, okay?"

The little girl obediently nodded, "Got it, Daddy. If anyone bullies me, I’ll tell Teacher Zhao and Daddy."

"Mm, that’s Daddy’s good girl."

"Alright, it’s cold outside, go back with the teacher, and Daddy will take you to the park next time."

Hearing this, the little girl showed a flash of disappointment in her eyes, but still sensibly replied, "Okay, Daddy, wait for me here, Nuannuan also has a gift for you."

Then she turned and ran towards Teacher Zhao, handing over the watercolor pens and drawing book, and rushed back to the classroom.

Soon after, the little girl returned, panting, with her small hands holding a handful of money, with ten-dollar and one-dollar bills.

"Daddy, this is my saved money for you."

Qi Yun gently held his daughter’s little hand and asked, "Why do you want to give money to Daddy?"

The little girl blinked her big watery eyes and earnestly said, "Daddy works so hard, your hair is turning white, Nuannuan gives you money so you don’t have to work so hard."

Her words completely pierced through Qi Yun’s defenses, he instantly held her tightly, tears uncontrollably streaming down.

The little girl extended her small hand, gently wiped the tears off his face, "Daddy, don’t cry."

After a long time, Qi Yun composed himself, released her, and looking into her eyes, he said, "Daddy has money, you save this money for buying good food."

"It’s cold outside, hurry back. I’ll come to see you again in a few days."

Quietly watching from afar, Teacher Zhao also came over, wiping the moisture from her eyes, she took Nuannuan’s small hand and said, "Nuannuan, let’s go back, Daddy has to work now."

The little girl reluctantly let go of Qi Yun’s clothes, tearfully saying, "Daddy, come see me sooner."

Qi Yun struggled to hold back tears that threatened to escape, and nodded firmly, "Nuannuan, Daddy will come see you sooner, be good at kindergarten and listen to the teacher."

Nuannuan obediently replied, turning back every few steps as she followed Teacher Zhao into the kindergarten.

Each time she looked back, her eyes full of reluctance were like sharp arrows piercing straight into Qi Yun’s heart.

Until her small figure disappeared from view, Qi Yun slowly turned around and rode away on his scooter.