The Fourth Chapter

Dong Zhenghao spent three full days busy with the funeral arrangements, losing three to five catties and looking exhausted and haggard.

On the morning of the fourth day, he asked Liu Mumu out. The father and daughter met at a restaurant, sitting opposite each other in a private room with a large rotating table, giving the impression of a negotiation.

Seeing his eldest daughter again this time, Dong Zhenghao's feelings were more complex than ever.

The words Liu Mumu had said to him the day his mother passed away had been replaying in Dong Zhenghao's mind for days. To be honest, he wasn't surprised at all.

His mother had always favored sons over daughters. When Little Mumu was just born, his mother was very unhappy. But Dong Zhenghao hadn't expected her to sell the child and then lie to him, saying she was kidnapped.

Although what his mother did was not right, she was still his mother, and she was gone now.

"I asked you out today to talk about what happened these past few days," Dong Zhenghao's tone was a bit stiff, his attitude more like he was talking to an employee.

Any trace of paternal affection he had for Liu Mumu had completely vanished when they had their falling out at the hospital.

Liu Mumu sat quietly in her chair, her almond eyes blinking as she looked at Dong Zhenghao, waiting for him to continue.

"I know you must still resent us, but your Grandma is gone now. When a person dies, their past is extinguished. You are still young, there's no need to hold onto this matter."

Liu Mumu: "Dad misunderstands me. I really just came to see Grandma off on her final journey. If I were truly holding onto it, I wouldn't have come only now."

Her words sounded good, but unfortunately, Dong Zhenghao didn't dare to believe them.

This daughter looked so innocent and harmless, she had even deceived him. In the end, she had struck hard. He wouldn't make the same mistake a second time.

Seeing her stubbornness, he knew further discussion was useless. After a moment of silence, Dong Zhenghao took out a stack of documents he had prepared earlier, along with a pen, placed them on the table, and pushed them towards Liu Mumu.

"This is a compensation contract. It includes an apartment in the city center and a shop, worth over three million yuan at market price. As soon as you sign, it's all yours."

Liu Mumu picked up the stack of contracts and flipped through them, showing a surprised expression: "Two properties for free? Is there really such a good thing?"

Dong Zhenghao's expression remained unchanged, waiting for her to continue reading.

The contract turned another page, and Liu Mumu tilted her head, her face peeking out from behind the contract: "I'm not allowed to tell anyone about our father-daughter relationship?"

"Our relationship is not suitable for outsiders to know."

"So, Dad doesn't intend to acknowledge me?" Liu Mumu's words hit the core.

Dong Zhenghao was unaccustomed to such direct speech. He cleared his throat and said euphemistically, "It's just that we don't need to interact regularly. If you need anything in the future, you can come to me."

"Oh..."

Seeing her thoughtful look, Dong Zhenghao's expression relaxed slightly.

Just as he thought Liu Mumu would sign, she clicked her tongue: "It's a bit tempting, but I can't sign."

"Are you unhappy with the amount? If you have other requests, you can state them."

The amount on the contract was just Dong Zhenghao's lowest acceptable price. He had left room for negotiation. To get rid of this daughter, he didn't mind paying more.

Of course, she was his daughter after all. He wouldn't use the same tactics on her as he would on others, and he wouldn't take back what he gave. But that was all he could offer.

"No, if I sign this, I won't be able to live with Dad anymore."

Dong Zhenghao frowned: "What do you mean?"

Liu Mumu put down the contract and smiled brightly at him: "I plan to move into Dad's house and live with you."

Seeing that she didn't seem to be joking, Dong Zhenghao's face turned cold: "Even if you don't sign, you can't live in my house."

After his mother was "scared to death," Dong Zhenghao absolutely could not bring Liu Mumu home.

Liu Mumu sighed. She propped her chin with one hand and said with some regret: "Then I'll have to tell everyone that Dad didn't want me, so he ordered Grandma to sell me."

Dong Zhenghao laughed in anger: "The police won't believe such a story, and you have no evidence."

"It doesn't matter if the police can find the truth, but there will definitely be many media outlets online willing to report such news—A wealthy businessman surnamed Dong in Qing City, favoring sons over daughters, colluded with his mother to sell his own daughter to human traffickers. Twenty years later, the daughter is found and seeks to acknowledge her father." Liu Mumu's lips curved: "Isn't that quite a sensational story?"

Seeing Dong Zhenghao's ashen face, Liu Mumu continued: "You can choose not to acknowledge me, but Uncle Police should be able to prove we are father and daughter. Guess who they will believe, me or you?"

Liu Mumu heard the sound of Dong Zhenghao grinding his teeth.

She even advised: "Think about it positively. It's just raising another daughter. Daughters are always like caring little cotton-padded jackets, much better than others pointing at your nose and calling you inhuman. Think about it, isn't raising a daughter more cost-effective?"

Dong Zhenghao exhaled heavily: "...Fine. You can come home with me, but I won't give you anything from now on."

After speaking, he reached out to turn the table, intending to take back the contract.

Liu Mumu grabbed the table, looking at him pleadingly: "Leaving one apartment is fine too. Are you really giving nothing at all?"

"Dream on!" The two wrestled with the table for a while. Dong Zhenghao successfully snatched back the contract, suddenly feeling a sense of triumph.

The mother-in-law's funeral was finally over. Jiang Li was in a particularly good mood early in the morning, humming a tune as she walked down the stairs.

In the living room downstairs, her daughter Dong Yue was watching TV, while her son lay on the sofa playing games with the sound turned up very loud.

Jiang Li glanced around, didn't see Dong Zhenghao, and casually asked: "Dong Yue, where's your dad?"

"Dad went out to see his sister after breakfast."

As soon as she finished speaking, Dong Yue's waist was kicked hard by Dong Qi, who was lying down: "Are you sick? Why are you randomly acknowledging relatives? What sister?"

Jiang Li pretended not to see her son's action, walked behind the sofa, patted his head, and glared at her daughter: "Xiao Qi is right. Watch what you say in the future."

Dong Yue lowered her eyes, rubbed the spot where she was kicked, and remained silent.

Jiang Li's good mood lasted until Dong Zhenghao brought Liu Mumu home.

She thought she knew her husband well and never dreamed that after the incident at the hospital, he would bring someone home!

Dong Zhenghao didn't explain. He just said coldly to Jiang Li, "She'll be living with us from now on. Prepare a room for her."

Once Dong Zhenghao made a decision about household matters, he never allowed anyone to question it. Even though Jiang Li was furious, she could only suppress her anger and agree with a smile.

She sized up Liu Mumu, who was carrying a suitcase, and wondered what methods she had used to impress Dong Zhenghao.

"There's a spare room upstairs. Let's go take a look first." As she turned, a cold smile flickered across Jiang Li's lips.

It's fine. If she wants to move in, let her. She'll regret it later.

Dong Zhenghao casually grunted. His gaze swept around and landed on his son, who was lying on the sofa. "Dong Qi, help your sister carry her suitcase upstairs."

Dong Qi sat up, glanced at his father, then got off the sofa and walked over to them. He picked up Liu Mumu's not-so-large suitcase.

Dong Qi was sixteen this year. He was already 1.75 meters tall and well-built, carrying the suitcase with ease. He followed Jiang Li upstairs.

"Go up and see your room. Tell Aunt Jiang if you want anything changed," Dong Zhenghao said.

Liu Mumu followed.

Just a few steps from the second floor, Dong Qi suddenly turned around, a malicious grin on his face, and flung the suitcase he was holding towards Liu Mumu.

Liu Mumu seemed to have expected it. She sidestepped, and the suitcase grazed her before falling down the stairs. The already flimsy suitcase broke in half, spilling clothes and books all over the floor.

Jiang Li, who was walking at the front, stood on the second floor and watched the scene unfold from above. Seeing this, she merely chided Dong Qi lightly, "Why were you so careless?"

Dong Zhenghao saw it too, but he said nothing.

Dong Qi pouted in disappointment and said to Liu Mumu, "Sorry, it slipped."

Liu Mumu smiled at him, "It's okay."

No one intended to help her pick up the suitcase that had fallen down the stairs, so Liu Mumu had to go down herself and gather the scattered items.

As Dong Qi was about to continue upstairs, he heard Liu Mumu, who was picking up her things, speak. She said, "I see your face is a bit pale, brother. You've clearly damaged your karma. It's best to step with your left foot first next time, or you might break your leg."

"What the hell, are you looking for death?" Dong Qi's eyes widened, and he turned to go downstairs to cause trouble for her. However, his foot slipped, and he tumbled down.

It would have been fine if he had just fallen, but their stairs turned, and his right leg got caught on the railing. There was a crack, followed by Dong Qi's scream.

Liu Mumu looked up at Dong Qi on the stairs and smiled, "Oh dear, you broke your leg."

Everything happened so fast that the two adults in the room didn't even react to what had happened.

"Mom, Mom, my leg hurts—" Dong Qi's tears streamed out from the pain, his screams echoing through the villa.

"Lao Dong, Lao Dong, hurry!" Jiang Li was about to rush down, but then she seemed to remember something and carefully walked down the stairs.

Dong Zhenghao hurried up. As he ascended, he unconsciously adjusted his steps, leading with his left foot.

Before being taken away by the ambulance, Dong Qi, still wailing, pointed at Liu Mumu and shouted to his father, "Dad, kick her out! She's the one who broke my leg!!!"

Hearing Dong Qi's words, the medical personnel who arrived with the ambulance glanced at Liu Mumu and asked Dong Zhenghao, "The patient's leg injury wasn't an accident? Do you need us to call the police for you?"

Dong Zhenghao's face darkened. "It was an accident. He fell himself."

He and Jiang Li had watched their son break his own leg, less than five seconds after Liu Mumu had said he would break his leg.