Chapter 9

Seeing the two hesitate, Qi Chao thought for a moment, then said uncertainly, "This is just my guess, brothers. If you want to go, then go. I'll cover for you with Dad."

The Maple Leaf Brothers were still too naive. Moved by his words, they immediately said they would wait a couple of days before going out. Qi Chao patted their shoulders, hypocritically offered a few more remarks, then left in style once he was sure they would not sneak out.

When he returned home and saw the little doll obediently watching cartoons in the living room, Qi Chao finally relaxed.

He walked over and rubbed the little doll's head. Just as he was about to say something with a smile, his optical brain suddenly chimed.

Qi Chao lowered his head and saw a notification that his friend request had been accepted.

Chapter 9

Near nine at night, it was time for good children to sleep again. After watching his kid climb into bed, Qi Chao went downstairs and sat on the sofa. He licked his dry lips and cautiously sent a message to the dollmaker, waiting for a reply.

The dollmaker's codename was Doctor. Qi Chao had seen that name while browsing the forums before. Clearly, Doctor was a top-tier dollmaker.

According to the book, dollmakers needed to release spiritual power to nurture a doll's heart. Thus, little dolls' personalities would be influenced by their dollmakers to a certain extent.

Lan Luo was so well-behaved, kind, and good-tempered. The dollmaker who had created him must have been very easygoing. Doctor would probably agree to repair the doll, right? Qi Chao thought, though he still felt uneasy.

[Is Lan Luo hurt?]

Those words suddenly popped up in the chat window, and Qi Chao instantly tensed.

[Yes. I'm terribly sorry. I used to have something wrong with my head. I was mentally unstable, psychologically twisted, and complete trash. After Lan Luo came here, not only did I fail to take good care of him, I even hurt him. I'm scum who bullies the weak with strength...] Qi Chao cursed the original owner in his heart while sincerely and actively admitting his fault. He was only one step away from dropping to his knees to apologize and prove his sincerity.

[So I'd like to ask you to repair the cracks on Lan Luo's body. You can name any price you want. I'll cooperate fully.]

The other side seemed to have been left speechless by Qi Chao cursing himself, and did not reply for a long while.

Qi Chao sat restlessly as he stared at the optical brain screen. He rapidly typed out several lines of apology, but before he could send them, a new message appeared.

[All right. You don't need to come here. I have something to deal with right now. Send me your location, and I'll go repair the doll after I'm done.]

Qi Chao:!!!

He agreed that easily?

Putting himself in Doctor's shoes, if a doll he had created had been tortured like that, Qi Chao would definitely repair the doll. But he absolutely would not speak so pleasantly to the person responsible.

He had already prepared himself to be cursed out, yet Doctor's emotions were so well-controlled. Although Qi Chao was technically the doll's buyer, and the dollmaker had no right to get angry, Qi Chao still felt uncomfortable.

How could Doctor not be angry? His own child had been treated like that. How could a dollmaker not be angry?

Qi Chao had worked in the industry for years in his previous life, so he had long seen through all the ugliness in that circle. Buyers dressed little dolls in revealing clothes, posed them suggestively, and posted borderline content online to gain traffic. For money, dollmakers did not dare make a peep.

When he had just turned twenty, Qi Chao had encountered something just as disgusting. Back then, he and that unscrupulous blogger had cursed each other out online for days and nights. He refunded the money directly and brought the child home, only then ending the matter.

After that, he became known throughout the industry. His studio lost quite a bit of business because of it, but Qi Chao did not care. If he could not find good parents for his dolls, he would rather raise those children himself.

Qi Chao was also an oddity in the industry. Most dollmakers entered the field for money. As long as they were paid, buyers could do whatever they wanted to the dolls. They would raise both hands in approval and never interfere.

He did not believe the dollmaker who had created such a sweet, kind little doll as Lan Luo was that sort of person. The only explanation was that Doctor was angry inside, but his personality was too soft. Since Qi Chao had already apologized sincerely, Doctor felt too embarrassed to get angry.

Qi Chao had built his studio from nothing, so naturally he had experienced his share of frustrations. For a moment, he deeply empathized and slowly typed a few words before sending them over.

[Go ahead and curse me out. I'm such trash that it would be unreasonable not to curse me a few times.]

The system, which had just returned from next door:...

Well, this was the first time it had seen someone actively asking to be cursed.

It asked in confusion, [Host, who are you chatting with?]

Qi Chao was waiting for a reply. Distracted by the system's question, he answered, "Lan Luo's dad. This guy's personality is too soft. He can't even get angry. I need to teach him."

System:???

Lan Luo's dad? Too soft?

No, how had he gotten in touch with the villain? It had only been gone for one day. Other people were trying to survive, while he was finding new ways to seek death?!

Seeing the host still fuming on Doctor's behalf, repeatedly saying the villain's personality was too soft, the system fell silent.

Was there perhaps a chance that Doctor was merely being polite, and could take his pathetic life with a flick of a finger after arriving?

It opened its mouth, the green glow around it flickering. Remembering the confidentiality agreement, it silently ran back to Central City and ordered a funeral wreath. At this rate, if it placed the order now, it would probably come in handy once it arrived.

Qi Chao did not notice the system leave. He was busy replying to Doctor's messages.

Now he understood. This Doctor truly deserved to be Lan Luo's dad. His temperament was as soft as marshmallow. Every time Qi Chao sent a message, Doctor obediently replied.

In just a few minutes, dozens of messages had appeared in their chat window.

Dad Chao: [How can you not know how to curse people? What if someone bullies you? Are you just going to endure it?]

Doctor: [No one can bully me.]

Qi Chao looked at those words and thought, Someone could bully you, and you probably would not even realize it.

This Doctor definitely was not very old. Qi Chao had always been patient with people younger than himself. He did not continue, since saying any more would make him seem too aggressive.