Power and Wealth

Indoors.

Someone arrived.

Tension filled the room.

Luo Haiting was slightly taken aback. "Who's that?"

"My mom's here." Dong Xuebing hurriedly said, "Quick, get dressed."

Without needing further instruction, Luo Haiting anxiously pulled her skirt over her legs. Being a married woman, she cared more about her reputation than Dong Xuebing did, so her movements to dress were frantic, struggling with the buttons several times.

Dong Xuebing was also getting dressed. "Hurry up."

"Almost ready," Luo Haiting became more flustered as she hurried.

Once Dong Xuebing finished dressing, he quickly helped her put on a sweater.

Outside, his mom's voice was getting closer. "Xuebing, Xuebing."

Dong Xuebing responded, "Ah, Mom, I'm here. Why did you come?"

"Why didn't you pick up when I just called you?" Luan Xiaoping sounded a bit annoyed. "I called you several times. What are you doing at home?"

Dong Xuebing hurriedly explained, "Oh, I was busy making a fire and setting up the chimney and stove. I didn't hear. Later, I called you back, but your phone was busy."

Luan Xiaoping said, "I couldn't get through to you either. So I called your in-laws. They told me you got a courtyard house with Hou Hai. That's why I came over. You kid, you're something. You said you'd give me a surprise, and it's this. Why didn't you tell me earlier? Now, you're a cadre in the Discipline Inspection Commission, even at the central level. What's the deal with this courtyard house? It's too conspicuous."

"This conspicuousness—never mind, just come in and see if you like it." Dong Xuebing stalled for time as he helped Luo Haiting put on her sweater. During the process of pulling it down, he accidentally touched her chest, which was soft.

From outside came his mother's voice. "Of course I like it. It's such a big courtyard house. Who wouldn't like it? How much did it cost?"

"You don't need to worry about that."

"Isn't it just a question?"

"If you like it, come and stay for a while."

After a few words like this, the door to the north room finally opened.

Luan Xiaoping pushed the door open and walked in. She didn't bother with the inner door and immediately saw Dong Xuebing and Luo Haiting sitting there. But now, Sister Luo had just managed to get dressed somewhat decently a few seconds ago. Aside from her slightly disheveled sweater, there was nothing else noticeable.

Dong Xuebing smiled, "Luo Haiting, Sister. Luo."

Luan Xiaoping suddenly realized, "Right, Luo Haiting."

Luo Haiting quickly greeted her, "Auntie Luan, hello."

Mom was from Fen Zhou City, where Luo Haiting had been working for a long time. They had met before, but they weren't very familiar. However, Mom knew that Luo Haiting had been Dong Xuebing's old subordinate. "How come you're in Beijing?" Mom's face showed a hint of suspicion.

Dong Xuebing quickly explained, "I brought Sister Luo over. Didn't the department go through restructuring? I thought I'd have Sister Luo come over and help me out."

Luo Haiting smiled, "Director Dong has been caring for me."

Dong Xuebing added, "Sister Luo just arrived yesterday. We were planning to have a meal and catch up today. We just finished eating and haven't moved yet when you arrived."

Luan Xiaoping didn't doubt him, probably because she didn't think about it from other perspectives. After all, Sister Luo was not young.

"Mom, why did you come today?" Dong Xuebing was puzzled. "From so far away, why didn't you call ahead so I could pick you up?"

Luan Xiaoping snorted, "Can I count on you for that?"

"Oh, come on, I didn't hear your call. Look at you saying that. If you had called me yesterday, I would have prepared early. How did you get here?" Dong Xuebing asked.

Luan Xiaoping said, "Your Uncle Yang's driver brought me over. I cannot stay long, they're waiting outside, so I'll leave."

Dong Xuebing was taken aback. "Then why did you make the trip?"

Suddenly, Luan Xiaoping sneezed heavily. "I caught a cold."

Only then did Dong Xuebing realize. "Uh, if you have a cold, you shouldn't have come, especially on such a cold day."

At this moment, Luan Xiaoping walked into the room. A petite figure appeared beside her. Dong Xuebing and Luo Haiting just noticed that there was a little one beside Mom.

It was Qu Qian, Dong Xuebing, and Qu Yunxuan's daughter.

Dong Xuebing exclaimed, "Qianqian's here too!"

Qianqian was already walking quite well. Luan Xiaoping didn't carry her, and at a year and a half old, Qianqian was holding Luan Xiaoping's hand, looking at Dong Xuebing with big, hopeful eyes.

Luo Haiting had also met Qianqian before. Dong Xuebing had brought Qianqian to the office before, so she knew Qianqian was Dong Xuebing's goddaughter, as he often referred to her.

Without much preamble, Luan Xiaoping said, "I'm leaving the child with you. I've caught a cold, and your Uncle Yang also got infected by me and even developed a fever. It's quite serious, so we fear spreading it to the child. Please take care of her for a few days."

Dong Xuebing asked, "What about Yunxuan?"

"Yunxuan's on a business trip and isn't here. If she were, she could take care of the child for you. Mom's worried." Luan Xiaoping muttered but didn't say much more with Luo Haiting present. "Take her. I have to go back tonight."

Dong Xuebing chuckled, genuinely happy. He clapped his hands on the ground and said, "Qianqian, come here, come find Daddy."

Qianqian didn't move from her spot, staring at him with big eyes.

Dong Xuebing felt awkward. "She doesn't recognize me anymore."

Luan Xiaoping explained, "It's been a while since you last saw her. She's shy." After saying this, Luan Xiaoping bent down and patted Qianqian's little head. "Qianqian, this is Daddy. Find Daddy. Grandma is sick and can't watch you. Go stay with Daddy for a few days."

Qianqian blinked, then slowly toddled forward with her chubby legs. Although she didn't fall while walking, it was clear she wasn't very agile, walking with a bit of a limp.

Dong Xuebing was afraid she might fall, so he hurried forward and picked up his daughter, trying to reassure her. Seeing her still shy, Dong Xuebing resorted to his usual tactic and lifted her energetically, saying, "Up high, up high!"

Every time he did this, Qianqian always fell for it.

The little girl's originally tense face instantly relaxed into a smile. She gigglingly raised her two chubby hands cutely. "Ya ya!"

Dong Xuebing hugged her tightly and kissed her daughter's little face. "You're such a good girl," she said.

Qianqian was no longer shy, now excitedly dancing, "Daddy, Daddy!"

Hearing this, Dong Xuebing was so moved that tears almost welled up. "Ah, my child can talk now! Such a huge sense of happiness washed over me."

She called me Daddy.

Haha, my child called me Daddy!

She's only about a year and a half old and already talking. She is truly a little prodigy!