Father 07

During dinner, Fang Qingci talked about what she had learned at school, just as usual. She had gradually adapted to living at her uncle's house, though every day on her way to school, whenever she passed by her old home, she would always lower her head and jog past it.

Fang Zhiyi observed the girl's expression. He had been very busy lately and indeed hadn't had the time to properly bond with his adopted daughter; after all, he still had to figure out how to deal with future troubles.

His eyes glanced at the schoolbag resting on a wooden chair not far away. There were faint marks on the bag, as if someone had written on it with a pen. Seeing Fang Zhiyi's gaze, Fang Qingci suddenly became a little nervous.

"Uncle, eat some meat." She picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and placed it in Fang Zhiyi's bowl.

Fang Zhiyi stared at her. The little girl's face turned slightly red, and even the tips of her ears flushed.

"How are you getting along with your classmates?" Fang Zhiyi asked suddenly.

Fang Qingci looked a bit panicked, but quickly calmed down, smiling unnaturally. "Pretty good."

Fang Zhiyi nodded and said nothing more.

"Ask her! She's definitely being bullied! Ask her! Ask her now!" Little Hei was frantic.

Fang Zhiyi rolled his eyes at it. He watched as Fang Qingci cleared the dishes to wash them before saying slowly, "Haven't you noticed her problem?"

"What problem?"

"In the original plot... she was fooled more than once, but every time, she still fell into the same traps. If this was arranged by fate, so be it. If I forcefully intervene and pull her out of that trajectory, it would certainly be easy... but what if I disappear? What will happen to her then?"

Little Hei didn't quite understand.

"For example, I'll die sooner or later, and let's say I leave her a lot of money. Then what? What will happen to a girl who is used to relying on me? Her original trajectory... she herself has a huge problem."

Little Hei remained silent. After a long time, it asked, "Then what do you plan to do?"

Fang Zhiyi cast a meaningful look in Fang Qingci's direction. "What will I do? Play it by ear."

The next day, Little Hei followed Fang Qingci. It watched as Fang Qingci walked into the school and organized her desk. When she saw the trash stuffed inside her desk, she was already used to it; she simply took it out and threw it into the trash can at the back of the classroom.

During class, the boy named Wu Xiaohu never stopped causing trouble. Whenever the teacher turned to write on the board, he would throw things at Fang Qingci. Fang Qingci didn't get angry, merely enduring it in silence.

When class ended, the other students went out to play, while Fang Qingci sat in her seat reading. But before long, the arrogant Wu Xiaohu walked over to her desk.

"Hey, Fang Zhaodi, I heard your new dad is collecting junk now?"

Fang Qingci lowered her head and didn't speak.

"Still not talking? Why pretend you love studying when you still rank at the bottom of the class?" Wu Xiaohu snatched the book from her hands and threw it to the back. The book fell straight into the trash can, and Wu Xiaohu's lackeys let out a cheer.

Fang Qingci's nose turned a bit red; she felt like crying.

"Hand it over." Wu Xiaohu held out his hand. Fang Qingci hesitated for a moment, then pulled out the ten dollars Fang Zhiyi had given her from her pocket. Before she could speak, Wu Xiaohu snatched it right out of her hand.

"That new dad of yours treats you pretty well. Could it be he had an affair with your mom?"

These words struck straight to Fang Qingci's heart. Subconsciously, she didn't want to associate her uncle with her biological mother. "Don't talk nonsense!"

"You've got a temper now, huh?" Wu Xiaohu got upset and picked up another book, smashing it onto her head.

Fang Qingci's eyes grew red.

"Let me warn you, you're just a money-losing wretch with no mom or dad. Your own grandma said so! Don't even think about telling the teacher, or I'll have my dad beat up your new dad!"

"Brother Hu, is Fang Zhaodi's new dad really that weak?"

"Of course! Everyone in the village knows that her real dad used to beat up this new dad of hers. Just one cough from my dad would scare him so much he'd pee his pants!"

"Hahahahaha..."

Little Hei was furious, wishing it could reach out and slap this little punk twice. It somewhat blamed Fang Zhiyi. Wait? What on earth was he waiting for?

Having finished bullying her, Wu Xiaohu prepared to leave. Before going, he smugly turned back and called out, "Fang Zhaodi, remember to bring me money tomorrow too. What does a money-losing wretch like you need money for anyway?"

Fang Qingci's hands were tightly clenched into fists, a sight that made Little Hei feel terrible.

"Brother Hu, I just remembered. Was that guy who came to pick her up in a small truck yesterday her new dad?"

"Yeah, yeah."

"He really doesn't look like much. His clothes weren't even clean; he's just a laborer."

Little Hei sighed and turned, ready to float away.

"I heard my dad say there was definitely something fishy about how that coward's wife died."

"Brother Hu, tell us about it."

"My dad said that Fang Zhiyi's wife was doing some shady business in the city. Later, she became the mistress of some big boss, got dumped, and then went to cause trouble and demand compensation, which is when the accident happened."

"Oh... what kind of person does that..."

"You're talking nonsense!!!"

This shout made the classroom fall silent. Little Hei, who had already started to drift away, turned back around.

"My aunt died from accidentally falling while working for someone! You're not allowed to slander my uncle and aunt!" Although she was crying, Fang Qingci couldn't hold it back any longer. Her uncle treated her so well, even better than her own parents did.

After a moment of silence, Wu Xiaohu and his gang burst out laughing.

"I thought it was something serious. What, she did those things but we can't talk about it? My mouth is on my own body, I'll say whatever I want. Why do you think that new dad of yours is raising you? It's just so he can sell you for money later!"

"It's fine if you bully me, but you're not allowed to talk about my uncle like that!" Fang Qingci wiped away her tears. "And you're not allowed to have your dad beat up my uncle either!"

"You little bitch, not only am I going to beat him up, I'm going to beat you up too!" Wu Xiaohu rolled up his sleeves. Right at that moment, the bell rang. The students playing outside ran into the classroom, and the teacher walked in right behind them.

Wu Xiaohu lowered his voice, "Just you wait. I'll give you a cold bath today." Saying this, a hint of a vulgar expression appeared on his face.

Little Hei sped away, arriving just in time to see Fang Zhiyi patting a street thug on the cheek. "Damn it, didn't you ask around? Who in this neighborhood doesn't know me? You're asking me for protection money? Believe it or not, I'll hang your whole family from a telephone pole tomorrow!"

The thug crouched on the ground, looking miserable.

With almost no pause, Little Hei recounted everything that had just happened.

But Fang Zhiyi didn't take action as he usually would. He merely arranged for a few of his subordinate ruffians to get to work.

"Did you hear me?" Little Hei reached out, grabbed his ear, and yelled.

Fang Zhiyi looked impatient. "I heard you."

"She was so brave for your sake, and you're still not going to do anything? How did you become so cold-blooded?" Little Hei even started to suspect there was something wrong with Fang Zhiyi.