Chapter 13

"Mommy, was that Mommy's call?" Seeing Lin Fan hang up the phone, Qiqi blinked her big eyes and asked.

"Hmm."

Lin Fan nodded. For the woman who was the mother of this child he had yet to meet, he actually didn't have many feelings. In his heart, he only acknowledged Qiqi as his precious daughter. As for that fiery-tempered hot mom, Lin Fan wouldn't be too indulgent with her.

"Yay, Mommy is coming!" Qiqi, hearing it was Mommy's call, happily jumped and twirled on the spot.

"Brat, did you forget about Daddy just because Mommy is coming?" Lin Fan teased with a hint of jealousy.

"No, no, Qiqi loves Daddy too." Qiqi quickly ran to Lin Fan, hugging his leg and said in a baby voice.

"Hmm, that's better. Daddy didn't raise you for nothing." Lin Fan smiled and patted Qiqi's little head, then asked, "Qiqi, do you still want to ride the big horse?"

"Daddy must be tired, Qiqi can't keep bothering Daddy." Qiqi tilted her little head and said very considerately.

"Haha, Qiqi is such a good and understanding child." Lin Fan looked at Qiqi with great satisfaction. Although he didn't feel any fatigue after breaking through the Qi Cultivation stage, he was still very happy to see Qiqi, at such a young age, showing such consideration.

"Qiqi wants to take a bath and become a fragrant little kid to welcome Mommy's arrival." Qiqi raised her little hands and said excitedly.

"Let's go take a bath." Lin Fan picked up Qiqi and walked into the bathroom.

Fortunately, Lin Fan had the foresight. When he went to the supermarket earlier, he not only bought milk powder and eggs but also specifically bought Qiqi a cotton towel, Safeguard shower gel, a small bathtub, and other bathing supplies. After playing all day at the amusement park yesterday, Qiqi fell asleep on the way home, so she definitely needed a bath today.

Lin Fan cleaned the bathtub and filled it with warm water. Qiqi had already taken off her clothes and walked to the bathtub in her little slippers. With a "heyo," Lin Fan lifted Qiqi into the bathtub. Qiqi, sitting in the bathtub with her bare little bottom, splashed the water and played happily, her silver bell-like laughter echoing in the bathroom.

Lin Fan had no experience taking care of a child and was a bit flustered, not knowing what to do. Fortunately, Qiqi was very smart and, seeing her father's clumsiness, said considerately, "Daddy, you don't need to worry about Qiqi. Qiqi can take a bath by herself."

"You can take a bath by yourself?" Lin Fan was a bit surprised.

"Of course, Qiqi is already four years old, so she should learn to dress and bathe herself." Qiqi tilted her little head, proud like a princess, and sang in a baby voice: "Shower gel and fragrant soap, which one to use today, towels and clothes to be ready, water temperature just right, rinse and rub bubbles, today is so wonderful, from top to bottom, I love taking a bath..."

"Ha ha ha..." Seeing Qiqi's obedient and cute appearance, Lin Fan couldn't help but laugh heartily. He looked at the little girl in the bathtub with a gentle gaze, and his resolve to protect this warmth grew even stronger.

After the bath, Lin Fan dried Qiqi's body with a dry towel.

While drying her, Qiqi playfully shook her wet hair, splashing water on Lin Fan's face. The father and daughter laughed and played for a while before finally drying her off. Lin Fan then wrapped Qiqi in a dry towel and carried her upstairs, where he took out clean clothes from Qiqi's backpack and dressed her.

"Mommy, does Qiqi smell good?" Qiqi first sniffed her little arm, then reached out to Lin Fan.

Lin Fan leaned in and sniffed Qiqi's little arm, saying, "Really fragrant. Smelling it makes Daddy hungry. Can Daddy take a bite?"

"Um..." Qiqi looked at her little arm, then at Lin Fan, her face twisted in hesitation. Finally, she closed her eyes and turned her face to the side, saying, "Bite it, Qiqi isn't afraid of pain."

"Here I come, awooo!" Lin Fan opened his mouth and gently nibbled on Qiqi's arm, then smacked his lips and said, "Mmm, really fragrant."

"Hehe." Qiqi opened her eyes and looked at Lin Fan, laughing happily.

"Come, let Daddy dry Qiqi's hair, or you might get sick."

"Um."

Qiqi nodded and sat obediently on the edge of the bed, letting Lin Fan dry her hair with a hairdryer.

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

At this moment, Lin Fan's phone, which was downstairs, started vibrating. With Lin Fan's current perception, he sensed it as soon as it started vibrating. However, in his heart, no matter who was calling, it was not as important as drying Qiqi's hair first.

Three to four minutes later, Lin Fan carried Qiqi downstairs, and his phone was still vibrating. It was clear that the caller, seeing no one answer, had not given up but was calling continuously.

Lin Fan glanced at the caller ID. He thought it was Ling Xuefei, but to his surprise, it was an unknown number. However, after a moment's thought, Lin Fan realized who the caller was and, without hesitation, picked up the phone and pressed the answer button.

"Brother Lin, you finally answered the call!"

After the call connected, the other party was initially stunned, then burst into a voice of joy and excitement.

The caller was none other than Zhang Haitian, whom Lin Fan had met on the Ferris wheel the day before.

"Sorry, I was busy just now." Lin Fan said calmly.

Although with his current strength, Lin Fan could almost walk the world without fear, he didn't like to bully others with his power or put on airs. His consistent principle was: if someone respects him, he respects them back; if someone harms him, he will take three times the revenge. Zhang Haitian and his wife were kind to him and loved Qiqi, so they were friends in his eyes, and he treated friends with the respect they deserved.

"No problem, no problem. Brother Lin, the herbs you mentioned yesterday, I have already prepared them all. What do you think..." Zhang Haitian spoke rapidly, his voice tinged with a mix of anticipation and unease.

Because of his desire, he was hopeful; because of his worry, he was uneasy.

"Oh?" Lin Fan was a bit surprised. He didn't expect Zhang Haitian to have such influence. In less than a day, he had managed to gather all the herbs, including the century-old Fire Spirit Grass and the century-old Dragon Blood Tree, which were rare and valuable. The herbs themselves were worth 20 million, and to gather them so quickly, he must have used many connections. The total cost, including favors and gifts, would easily exceed 30 million.

It seems Zhang Haitian is not an ordinary person.

"Brother Zhang, bring the herbs to Jiangnan Waterfront, E District, 20th duplex." Lin Fan said calmly.

Hearing the address Lin Fan gave, Zhang Haitian was stunned. When he met Lin Fan the day before, the latter's total clothing cost was less than 300 yuan, making him look like an ordinary child. He didn't expect Lin Fan to live in Jiangnan Waterfront. However, after a moment's thought, Zhang Haitian realized it wasn't surprising. After all, Lin Fan's abilities and demeanor were far from ordinary, so living there was quite normal.

"Okay, okay, I'll be right there." Zhang Haitian agreed twice and hung up the phone, his joy and excitement palpable even through the phone.

"Ding dong—"

Just as Lin Fan finished his call with Zhang Haitian, he heard someone ringing the doorbell.

"It's Mommy!"

Qiqi pointed at the monitor by the door and shouted happily.