Chapter 186: A Child’s Simplicity

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: A Child’s Simplicity

"You’re really asking for it!!"

Looking at Li Qian’Er, Jiang Fan gritted his teeth in frustration. He reached out but failed to grab her.

"You, stop fooling around. If Qian’Er hadn’t reminded me, I would have forgotten. What’s really going on?"

"You should be well aware of Miss Jun’s feelings for you. Don’t play dumb with me."

"And now you’ve suddenly pulled a stunt like this... If you’re not interested in her, you can’t just keep being a father to the child for so long, can you?"

Seeing the director’s concerned face, Jiang Fan broke into a grin.

"Don’t worry. Marriage and kids are a long way off for me. I haven’t even considered it."

"To be honest, I haven’t figured out what to do about this situation myself yet."

"Besides, the kid really has it rough. She’s been bullied and picked on at school for not having a father."

"Since I came across this and got involved, I’ll help where I can."

"It might be a small thing for me, but for a girl like Mengmeng, it’s something that could affect her for the rest of her life."

"Oh, you. You’re always like this. You act all stubborn and headstrong, but deep down, you’re kinder than anyone."

"You just need to think it through for yourself."

"Alright, I’ll go start making you some food. You go play with the children for a bit."

The director sighed softly, then turned to ask Li Qian’Er.

"Qian’Er, are you going over there or coming with me?"

"Grandma, I’ll come help you in a bit. I’m going to check on Peng’s foot first."

"Okay."

The director nodded and turned to leave.

"What’s wrong with Peng? Did he twist his ankle?"

Jiang Fan, who was standing to the side, asked.

"Yes, he hurt it by accident while playing with the other kids from the orphanage today."

Li Qian’Er walked over to Jiang Fan’s side.

The next second, Jiang Fan threw an arm around her neck, bent the middle finger of his right hand, and started flicking her hard on the head.

One forehead-flick after another.

He flicked her until Li Qian’Er was crying out, struggling wildly, but she couldn’t break free.

"This is for snitching on me! For telling Grandma! For running your mouth and ’reminding’ her! You think I didn’t already know?"

Jiang Fan cursed as he flicked.

"Now that Grandma’s gone, let’s see who you’re going to run to for protection!"

"Jiang, I was wrong!!"

"Please, let me go!!"

In the end, Li Qian’Er was actually crying.

’She regretted it now. Deeply, deeply regretted it!’

’No wonder Grandma had asked her that just now.’

’She was trying to take me with her, to protect me!’

But she hadn’t understood what she meant at the time.

Only after venting all his frustration did Jiang Fan let her go. Terrified, she fled to find the director.

Feeling refreshed and satisfied, Jiang Fan clasped his hands behind his back and walked toward the children.

"How’s it going? Are you having a good time with the kids?"

Yin Ruxue nodded. "I feel like my earlier worries were a bit unnecessary."

"I was worried that Mengmeng wouldn’t be able to play well with the other children because of her family background, but she isn’t high and mighty or arrogant like I imagined."

"She even teared up when she saw that little boy with the injured foot."

Yin Ruxue hadn’t even realized it herself, but as she said these words, she let out a rare sigh of relief.

"Then let her eat with the orphanage kids today, study with them, and play with them,"

Jiang Fan said, gazing at Mengmeng who was playing happily with the other children in the distance.

"Okay. Let’s do what you say."

Yin Ruxue nodded and said.

Jiang Fan turned and gave her a surprised look.

It was the first time he’d ever heard her say something like that.

"Everything is for the good of the child. If you have good ideas and good methods for raising her, of course I’ll agree. I’m not some kind of control freak."

Sensing Jiang Fan’s gaze, Yin Ruxue’s cheeks flushed slightly, but she forced herself to sound composed as she spoke.

"I didn’t say anything. Why are you in such a rush to explain yourself?"

After saying that, Jiang Fan strode toward Mengmeng and the others.

Watching his back, Yin Ruxue let out a soft, cold huff, but the corners of her mouth curved into a lovely smile.

"Come on, let’s play eagle catching chicks, okay? I’ll be the eagle! Who wants to be the chicks?"

With just a few words, Jiang Fan fit right in with the group of children and started a game with them.

Peng, who had sprained his ankle, watched the scene before him with envy.

Because his ankle was sprained, he could only sit on the sidelines and watch.

Yin Ruxue saw this and was just about to speak when Jiang Fan walked over and scooped Peng right into his arms.

"Now the two of us are the eagles, okay? If you get caught, you have to stay quietly on the sidelines."

Peng nodded happily.

The children’s happy laughter reached Yin Ruxue’s ears, and a smile appeared on her usually somewhat cold face.

The extremely patient Jiang Fan, in particular, repeatedly captured her attention.

It seemed she was falling more and more in love with this ordinary kind of life.

This kind of life felt like the meaning she had been chasing for so long.

"Where my heart feels at peace, that is my home," Yin Ruxue murmured.

They played like this until it was nearly noon.

Jiang Fan lay on the playground, panting heavily.

He’d never felt so tired.

This group of kids had way too much energy.

It was like they didn’t know the meaning of fatigue.

"Daddy, come play with us some more."

Mengmeng crouched down and shook his head.

"I can’t. Mengmeng, you guys go on and play by yourselves."

"If Daddy plays anymore, he’s going to die of exhaustion."

"Let me rest a bit, okay? Go play with them. Be good."

Jiang Fan didn’t even want to move a muscle; he didn’t even want to open his eyes.

Suddenly, Jiang Fan felt his vision darken. The next second, he opened his eyes and saw Yin Ruxue’s delicate face.

"Why aren’t you sitting over there? What are you doing here?"