CH 4.2

Shen Qingruo could tell that he felt bad because of what had happened yesterday. She couldn’t help but smile. “Is the young lady from yesterday your friend?”

Luo Tianyuan let out a sigh of relief because he didn’t need to be the one to bring up the issue. He cautiously glanced at his daughter and noticed that she was focused on her food. “Yes,  I’m really sorry about that. I forgot to give you a head’s up because I’d been too busy with work yesterday.”

“Mn.” Shen Qingruo continued, “So, next time when the lady comes to pick Shuyan up, can I…?”

Luo Shuyan pricked her ears up to listen.

She wasn’t aware that her father had no intention of getting married. She assumed that since he was young and in a relationship, he’d naturally end up marrying someone else later on.

If her father were to agree for the young woman from yesterday to bring her out shopping, would that mean that there’s a possibility for the woman to become her stepmother?

Luo Tianyuan was confident in Song Wanqing’s character. She was a simple-minded woman who wore her emotions on her face. However, he cared more about his responsiblity as a father rather than that of a boyfriend.

His daughter was still young and didn’t know much about the world. If he were to set this as a precedent and allow his girlfriends to take his daughter out, he was worried that his daughter would end up going home with whoever claiming to be his ‘friend’. Would he be able to bear the consequences?

Luo Tianyuan shook his head. “No, Shuyan is still young. It’s best to be more cautious. We can’t allow her to follow others home.”

Luo Shuyan felt relieved.

‘My dear papa, I’m not a child who can be tricked by a lollipop you know?’

Shen Qingruo smiled. “Then, you should explain your concerns with your friend. She might misunderstand you and think that you’re being wary of her.”

“Mn.”

Luo Shuyan wasn’t the only one who was secretly listening in on the conversation, Shen Yan was too. He looked at his mother and pursed his lips. He wasn’t very happy.

Since they had four classes in the morning, the first class started very early to ensure that the children could go home by 11AM. After breakfast, the two children carried their backpacks and left with Luo Tianyuan.

They lived very near to the school.

Tianyuan discreetly shook his head when he saw the parking spaces that were now a place for old women to gossip and chatter.

If he were single, he would’ve bought a car a long time ago. Then, he wouldn’t need to walk in the pouring rain.

Recalling the past, his timing had been perfect.

Back then, he’d made a small fortune from the warrants he purchased a while back. It’s known to all that the first group of people who purchased warrants in the stock market in 1992 became extremely wealthy. This was Luo Tianyuan’s case. He’d borrowed money and used up all his net worth to buy those warrants. Although there was protectionism and only the locals were allowed to purchase it, he found a way around the system and managed to buy multiple warrants.

Although Song Wanqing was from the richest family in Ning City, Luo Tianyuan’s net worth was the same, if not more than theirs. He merely preferred to keep a low profile.

He had a weakness — his little girl, and there was a plentiful supply of criminals around. Song Wanqing’s older brother was kidnapped when he was younger and almost lost his life despite the Song family having very good connections.

Luo Tianyuan couldn’t let anything bad happen to his daughter. So, he had to keep a low profile and he couldn’t even buy a car.

He couldn’t help but laugh at himself. It was suffocating to have money but not dare to spend it openly.

Luo Tianyuan put up a very good front. Other than Shen Qingruo, who was observant enough to notice, even Luo Shuyan didn’t realize that she was born rich.

In this era, the toxic comparison between students wasn’t as bad.

Luo Shuyan didn’t think her father was rich, in fact, she even thought that he was struggling to get by.

She estimated that her father was earning around CNY1,000 a month, which was a very high salary in Ning City. Though, he spent most of it on her. He would buy snacks and dresses for her everytime he went on a business trip, even if she told him not to. Even the grandma living one floor above them shook her head at him in disappointment. He was handsome, highly educated, and kind! But he didn’t know how to properly plan his life!

Luo Shuyan suspected that her father didn’t even have savings…

If it weren’t for the fact that her father was a righteous man who owned two properties, Luo Shuyan would genuinely be worried about their future.

Luo Tianyuan held his daughter’s and Shen Yan’s hand and led them out from the neighborhood. He thought of a brilliant idea and laughingly said, “Shuyan, winter is coming soon. Papa is thinking of borrowing some money to buy a second hand car. I’ve inquired and it’s not too costly. What do you think?”

Luo Shuyan was shocked.

Only the super rich drove cars, and based on her family’s financial standings, she couldn’t understand why her father would want to take a loan to buy a second hand car!

She raised her head to look at her father.

‘Men are all the same. They want to own a car when they have a girlfriend. Vroom , vroom!’ she thought to herself.

Before he got an answer from her, he asked Shen Yan, “Shen Yan, what do you think?”

Shen Yan gave it some thought before nodding. “Sounds good.”

‘At least Shuyan won’t have her eyes glued on the cars when she sees them on the streets.’