Mu Xi

Where had Dad gone?

Looking at the empty rooms in the house, Mu Xi's expression gradually turned strange. Something had been off at home lately, and the source of it was...

Dad!

As Mu Chen's daughter, Mu Xi had always had a clear understanding of her status. Compared to ordinary children, she had been born with a golden spoon in her mouth. After all, her father was one of Douluo Continent's top Forging Masters, an eighth-rank Saint Craftsman!

Countless people wanted to ingratiate themselves with Mu Xi and build a good relationship with her. All because of her father's status. As a result, Mu Xi had grown up surrounded by praise.

From the day she was born until now, there was practically nothing Mu Xi wanted that she could not have. Her father loved her that much. He had even agreed to let her learn forging, despite it not being particularly suitable for girls.

She should have grown up without a hitch and become a rising star of her era, but recently... everything had changed!

Ever since three days ago, when her father returned carrying something wrapped in a black robe, he had paid less attention to her.

Mu Xi was at an age when children loved to fantasize, and she was extremely sensitive to changes in her father. She immediately noticed that he seemed to be doing something important.

At first, Mu Xi had not thought there was a problem. Once some time had passed and her father was done with his business, things would return to normal. But that thought was shattered today!

Mu Xi crouched on the carpet in her home, staring intensely at the floor.

There was a strand of brown hair there!

"It isn't mine, it isn't Mom's, and it definitely isn't Dad's... Whose is it?" Mu Xi's gaze instantly sharpened. "I have to tell Mom about this..."

She had originally planned to do just that, but when she thought of her father's usual behavior, Mu Xi felt that something was not right. But if it was merely an accident, would that not make things worse between him and Mom?

No, I have to confirm it first.

Mu Xi's gaze immediately became resolute. Now, the only person who could save this family was her!

"Then the first place to investigate is Dad's study!"

After living here for several years, and being at that age when even dogs found children annoying, Mu Xi knew the house's layout like the back of her hand. Yet there was one place she had never entered: the study.

That was her father's workplace. Even her mother rarely went in, much less Mu Xi. She knew absolutely nothing about the study's layout.

If someone could be hidden in the house, it could only be there.

Looking at the door blocking her path, hesitation flashed through Mu Xi's eyes, but it was quickly replaced by determination.

"I just want to prove Dad's innocence. I don't have any other intentions... That's all."

Because of the study's special nature, it used a password lock. Only the correct command and password could open it. Logically, there was no way Mu Xi could know it, but that was no challenge for her! As her father's little darling, Mu Xi knew perfectly well what he might use as a password!

It's nothing more than Mom's and my birthdays!

When she pressed the confirmation button, the door opened just as expected. But before Mu Xi could step inside, her eyes abruptly widened.

Well, there was no need to search now. A large sofa stood in the center of the study, and a brown-haired little girl draped in a black robe was lying on it!

"Who is she? Why did Dad keep her in the study?"

After closing the door, Mu Xi quickly approached the brown-haired girl, Herta. Even so, she still could not understand her father's actions.

If she was a guest or someone from the association, why not bring her openly into the house? Why be so secretive? Could there really be something shameful going on?

Mu Xi looked at Herta's face and could not help puffing out her cheeks.

This girl was very pretty, and she seemed to possess an indescribable aura. Mu Xi could not help thinking, Dad wouldn't be attracted to a child around my age... would he?

Mu Xi shifted her gaze away from the girl and looked toward the desk in the distance, wondering whether she could find the information she wanted there.

Unbeknownst to her, the instant she turned her head and walked toward the desk, Herta's head tilted slightly. Her tightly shut left eye opened into a thin slit, and the corners of her lips curved upward.

Things were starting to get interesting!

Thud!

Just then, a faint vibration reached Mu Xi's ears. It was the sound of the front door closing. Clearly, Mu Chen had returned!

"Why is Dad home so early today?"

Panic spread across Mu Xi's face at a visible speed. Since her father was already inside, she definitely would not have time to leave. She could only find somewhere in the study to hide.

"Right, the cabinet!"

The cabinet was neither particularly large nor particularly small, but it was enough to hide a little girl like her. She could even peer outside through the gaps in its doors.

Mu Xi had already made up her mind. No matter what the result was, she had to tell Mom!

Almost the instant the cabinet doors closed, the study door opened. Mu Chen, looking excited(?), entered carrying a large box of unknown contents and headed straight toward the sofa.

Mu Xi could see everything clearly through the gap in the cabinet!

Mu Chen: "Now that I look at her, she's quite pretty?"

Mu Xi: ???

The outrageous words that suddenly came out of her father's mouth made Mu Xi cover her own mouth. Could Dad really have...?

If things continued so peacefully, there would be no fun in it at all. So at that moment, Herta opened her eyes.

"Oh? Little one, you're finally awa—"

"What did you do to me?"

Her adorable voice instantly echoed through the room. Herta hurriedly hugged her arms and shrank fearfully into the sofa as she looked at Mu Chen.

"No, listen to my explanation..."

"Where are my original clothes? You bad guy!"

The girl before him was a top genius in the forging world. Mu Chen did not feel comfortable entrusting her to anyone else, so he had brought her home, had his wife change her clothes, and left the girl, who had fallen into a deep coma, in the study. In any case, because of Soul Power, she would not die even if she went hungry for a few days.

He had not told Mu Xi because he was afraid his daughter would overthink it and worry that someone else would take away her parents' love.

And now that Herta had "awakened," it was time for Mu Chen to explain the situation to her. However, his muscular body and outstretched arms made him look like a great demon king in any little girl's eyes!

"Don't come near me—!"

Thud!

Herta was screaming in front of him, but Mu Chen also heard a sound from behind him.

Could there be a thief? Mu Chen turned around viciously, only to see his daughter standing there with tears in her eyes.

"Dad, how could you do something like this?" Mu Xi's expression was exactly like Herta's on the sofa. "You actually made a move on a child around my age. You're absolutely shameless!"

Mu Chen: ???

It's the beginning, so please keep reading~