In the end, Qi Bufan did not change her clothes.

Dai Chukong woke up before dawn. At that time, Qi Bufan was leaning against the small bed, sleeping with a frown. When Dai Chukong got out of bed, she was especially careful.

She went to the washroom and poured herself a glass of water to drink. Only then did she feel better.

When she realized that her clothes had been changed and that she was still wearing the thermal underwear and bra, her eyes flashed and she returned to the bed to lie down. Qi Bufan only woke up at nine o’clock. The moment he opened his eyes, he realized that Dai Chukong was peeping at him.

Qi Bufan did not avoid her gaze.

Dai Chukong did not feel awkward. She just looked at him quietly.

After a while, Qi Bufan spoke.

“If what you said yesterday is true…”

“Huh?” Dai Chukong asked him. “What?”

Qi Bufan explained, “If what you said about me being drunk that night and calling you is true, I have to explain.” He sat up slowly, his wound hurting a little.

This injury would probably not recover.

Not wanting Dai Chukong to worry, Qi Bufan deliberately made himself look better. He looked straight at Dai Chukong and said, “Perhaps I did say that I couldn’t do without you. In fact, when I chased you away yesterday, I couldn’t bear to do it either.”

Dai Chukong’s eyes lit up.

Immediately after, Qi Bufan spoke again. “But you misunderstood what I meant. I really can’t live without you because you’re the person I raised as my biological child. You’re my child. Of course, I feel terrible that my child suddenly ignored me.”

Dai Chukong did not believe him. “You’re lying.”

Qi Bufan sighed and said, “Chukong, you know I won’t lie to you, especially about this.”

Dai Chukong’s eyes darkened, and her back seemed to have bent a lot.

“Chukong, I do dote on you a lot and can’t bear to see you suffer, but all of this is because you’re my child. Just as you said, you’re young and pretty, and I’m an old bachelor. I should like you. But Chukong, I don’t love you, nor can I love you. I think people should have a bottom line. My bottom line is never to do anything inappropriate to my daughter.”

He stood up and walked to Chukong. Qi Bufan bent down slightly and rubbed Dai Chukong’s head. Just like when she was young, no matter if she was in pain or felt wronged, Qi Bufan would gently rub her head.

“Chukong, you’re still young. You have the fearlessness and courage of a person your age. You have the courage to not be afraid of making mistakes. But I’m different from you. I’m already 38 years old. I’m an adult. I understand what’s right and what’s wrong. Listen to me and go out to explore. Get to know more people and make more friends. Sooner or later, you’ll meet someone else who’s worth your courage to love.”

He squatted down in front of her and looked at her calmly. “You have to remember that Dad will always be here and your home will always be here. When you find the right person, bring him back and show him to me. Dad will always be with you, not as a man, but as a father.”

Dai Chukong could hear the determination in Qi Bufan’s tone.

“So you really want to kick me out?”

“I’m not chasing you away. I’m letting you take a look outside,” Qi Bufan said. “Chukong, the world is so big. Don’t make it always revolve around me.”

Dai Chukong did not cry this time.

This was the first time she had felt this man’s ruthlessness.

In her life, the luckiest thing that had happened to her had been meeting Qi Bufan. The cruelest thing had also been meeting Qi Bufan. She understood what Qi Bufan had said, and she also understood that it was true. However, when she thought about how she had loved this person for so many years and was suddenly about to lose the right to like him, her heart ached.

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“If I leave, you’ll be alone. What will you do?” Although Dai Chukong did not cry, her eyes were still filled with tears. “Didn’t you say that you couldn’t lose me?”

“Silly child, I didn’t lose you. You just left me temporarily to find a better version of yourself. If you have the heart, remember to come back and see me.” Qi Bufan smiled in relief and said, “How can I be alone? I have so many brothers. With Mr. Fang and his family accompanying me, I’m not alone.”

Dai Chukong suddenly hugged Qi Bufan.

She bit his shoulder and cried silently.

Qi Bufan patted her back gently and apologized repeatedly in his heart.

On the flight back to Binjiang City, the duo’s emotions were very calm. Dai Chukong personally sent Qi Bufan to the Fang family. When they saw Dai Chukong, Qiao Jiusheng and Fang Yusheng were a little surprised.

“Brother Fang, Sister Ah Sheng.” Dai Chukong greeted them obediently as if this was the first time she had appeared in this house. However, things were still different from before.

Qiao Jiusheng was surprised for a moment before she regained her composure.

She smiled and praised Dai Chukong. “Chukong is getting prettier. Come here and let’s have a good chat.”

Dai Chukong said, “Wait a minute. I’ll take Dad to his room first.”

Dai Chukong called him ‘Dad’ very naturally.

Qiao Jiusheng and the others were all smart people, so they naturally noticed the change in how Dai Chukong addressed Qi Bufan. “Go on.” Looking at Dai Chukong and Qi Bufan’s backs as they left, Qiao Jiusheng asked Fang Yusheng, “What do you think?”

Fang Yusheng said, “They should have talked it out.”

After staying at the Fang family’s house for dinner, Dai Chukong accompanied Qiao Jiusheng to her studio. Qiao Jiusheng’s studio had a tatami, and there was a soft blanket on it.

Qiao Jiusheng sat on the blanket and played with a piece of jade in her hand, thinking about how to use this piece of jade. Dai Chukong admired the completed jade carvings in the room and was impressed.

“Sister Ah Sheng is amazing.”

Qiao Jiusheng smiled and shook her head. “I was a dabbler in everything back then. This jade carving is the only thing I learned.” She spread her hands, but her palms were not delicate. She often used a carving knife and leftovers. Her fingers were rough, and were different from ordinary girls.

“Look at my hands. This is the price I have to pay.”

Dai Chukong even touched them. They were indeed very rough. “That’s still very impressive.”

Upon noticing the jade pendant around Dai Chukong’s neck, Qiao Jiusheng exclaimed, “I carved this. Did Bufan give it to you?”

“Yes.”

“Wear it. It suits you quite well.”

Dai Chukong greeted him.

She was playing with an uncut piece of jade in her hand when she suddenly said in a low voice, “He asked me to go out and explore more often, hoping that I would make more friends. He also said that he wanted me to bring the man I like back in the future for him to see…”

Dai Chukong could not continue.

She was afraid that if she continued, she would lose control of her emotions and break down in tears.

Qiao Jiusheng’s expression turned cold. She stared at Dai Chukong, who was about to cry, and felt especially upset. “Sigh! You can love anyone, but you had to fall in love with your foster father.”