Going to a business meeting with her eldest uncle

She heard Qin Yan say that the fragrance was actually left by the soap she used to wash her face and hands, and that it could last a long time.

Secretary Lin could vouch for that.

The grape scent from before had stayed on the little girl all day.

Her eyes lit up. "Sweetie, where did you buy that soap? Tell me!"

She needed it so badly.

The fragrance was sophisticated and natural, and it lasted so long. Smelling lovely all day after washing was simply irresistible.

Qin Yan blinked. "It's from home."

Her sweet little voice delivered words that left Secretary Lin feeling rather hopeless.

But the next moment, the well-behaved little darling began counting on her fingers.

"We have milk, lemon, and rose scents at home, too."

She had no idea when Tuantuan had eaten those things. In any case, after eating them, Tuantuan would randomly produce a bar of soap with one of those scents one day.

Her eldest uncle was getting ready to try feeding Tuantuan tea leaves, bamboo, and cedar.

Those scents suited him.

"Sweetie, I want the rose one!"

Secretary Lin's eyes immediately lit up.

The other secretaries gathered around, too.

"I want lemon."

"Milk sounds nice, too. I want that one."

"Are there no others? Really no others?"

They also loved the lovely fragrance on Qin Yan. Hearing her say it could last a long time made them desperately want some.

Qin Yan shook her head and said softly, "No more."

"I'll tell you when there are more."

Everyone in the secretarial office treated her very well, giving her snacks, little cakes, milk tea, and all sorts of little toys.

Someone had even bought her clothes. If Fu Yunting had not forbidden it, they could have played a Miracle Yanyan dress-up game with the beautiful little girl in the office.

They could not change her clothes whenever they pleased, but they could change her hairstyle.

Over the course of a day, Qin Yan could sport more than three different pretty hairstyles.

When Fu Yunting came back from his meeting, he immediately had to leave to discuss a business deal.

The meeting was at an upscale private restaurant. Since it was nearly lunchtime, he simply took Qin Yan along.

Once in the car, Qin Yan obediently fastened her own seat belt.

"Uncle, when is Fifth Uncle coming back?"

Fu Yunting had told her earlier that Fu Nanshan was coming back, and the little one had been looking forward to it ever since.

In the photo Grandpa had shown her before, Fifth Uncle had no hair, but he was very good-looking.

"He'll come back once he's finished taking care of a few things over there," Fu Yunting said. "Probably the day after tomorrow."

Then he pinched the little girl's cheeks rather imperiously.

"What, you're not happy with your eldest uncle keeping you company?"

Qin Yan shook her head. "No, that's not it."

She tilted her little body slightly, resting her head against her eldest uncle's arm and nuzzling it.

"I like Eldest Uncle."

The fluffy little one had successfully soothed Fu Yunting.

"Hmph. Your fifth uncle does nothing but chant sutras. He's terribly boring."

"Fifth Uncle is good-looking."

"You're already judging people by their looks at your age?" Fu Yunting asked.

"Eldest Uncle is handsome."

"Well, there's no arguing with that," Fu Yunting said. "You have excellent taste."

The driver and Assistant Shen in the front: ...

Soon, they reached their destination.

It was a private restaurant set in a Chinese-style courtyard.

The buildings were beautiful, as was the landscaping, and pretty young women in traditional-style clothes played zithers, pipas, and other instruments.

Holding her eldest uncle's hand, Qin Yan looked around curiously and cautiously.

They were led into a room.

Someone was already waiting inside-Fu Yunting's business partner.

"Seriously, Fu Yunting? You even brought a kid?"

He was a young man around Fu Yunting's age, with a few blue highlights in his hair and studs in his ears, giving off a somewhat languid, flippant air.

He wore a burgundy shirt with its top three buttons left undone. He looked less like a businessman and more like a playboy who frequented nightclubs.

Fu Yunting glanced at him. "My niece."

He picked her up and placed her in the seat beside him.

The two were clearly close, and their business discussion was not especially formal or solemn.

"Everyone in our circle has been talking about this niece of yours. What's the story?"

He knew that the Fu Family's youngest daughter had delivered a stillborn baby.

Fu Yunting's gaze darkened slightly.

"Someone was behind it."

Those few words were enough. Although Gu Lin did not know the details, he understood that this really was Fu Yunting's biological niece.

He did not pursue the subject.

Ever since Fu Qinghuan's death, she had been a taboo subject in the Fu Family.

Though the two men were close and he seemed cavalier, he knew where to draw the line.

"Little niece, want something to drink?"

He turned to speak to Qin Yan.

Addressed by a stranger, Qin Yan sat bolt upright, nervous.

She instinctively leaned toward Fu Yunting, trying to hide herself.

But she still answered politely.

"No, thank you, big brother."

"Order a glass of milk," Fu Yunting said.

Gu Lin called over a server. "A glass of milk, and two servings of whatever little desserts you have for children."

"She doesn't have any dietary restrictions or allergies, does she?"

Fu Yunting shook his head.

After the server left, Gu Lin continued talking to Fu Yunting, but his gaze kept drifting toward the well-behaved little one beside him.

He could not help it. Even though she was tiny, she was strikingly beautiful.

She was not making any fuss at all. An ordinary person sitting so quietly would have hardly drawn any attention.

But she made people want to look at her again and again.

"That little niece of yours... how about letting me raise her?"

Gu Lin's startling remark earned him a sharp glare from Fu Yunting.

Qin Yan also stared at him blankly.

Realizing what he had said, Gu Lin gave an awkward laugh.

"Just kidding. I've just had enough of my family nagging me to get married."

"Tsk, you have no idea. My mom's going crazy wanting a grandchild. This kid of yours is so pretty, and she really seems well-behaved. I've never seen such a well-behaved child. I bet my mom would absolutely adore her."

"She's not yours, though," Fu Yunting said.

Gu Lin found that deeply regrettable.

After the food arrived, Gu Lin watched Qin Yan eat with a spoon by herself, eating whatever Fu Yunting put on her plate.

Even the way she ate was adorable.

"She isn't picky at all?"

"Aren't kids her age supposed to be really picky? Don't you have to coax them and chase them around to feed them, while they get food everywhere and make a filthy mess?"

"My second uncle's kid is like that. Every so often, the kid starts yelling and screaming, or hits someone out of nowhere. Such a little thing, only five, but the swearing comes more easily than it does to me."

That was why he did not particularly like children. They were a hassle.

"Yanyan doesn't do that," Fu Yunting said.

From those few words, Gu Lin could hear a hint of pride in his tone.

"How about letting me raise her for a few days after all?" Gu Lin said. "Maybe I'll come around and want to find a woman to marry and have a kid with."

"Preferably one this pretty."

Fu Yunting gave him a sidelong glance. "What are you daydreaming about?"