003 Found Himself a Father
Holding the few crumpled bills still warm in his hand, Shen Zhihan felt a complex swirl of emotions. Raising his eyes once more, a hint of madness and fervor flickered within them.
No one had ever said they would take care of him; they only sought to benefit from him.
No one had ever looked at him with such pure, unblemished eyes.
Shen Zhihan crouched down to meet An An’s gaze.
“What’s your name?” he finally asked.
“An An,” she replied with a sweet smile, tears still glistening on her cheeks, the corners of her lips curved in a tender grin.
“Good. I’m Shen Zhihan. Do you want a dad? I’ll be your dad.”
An An hesitated, “Dad?”
Shen Zhihan immediately stood up. “I see, you don’t want me. Then go ahead, I’ll jump off the cliff.”
His pant leg was tugged by An An. The little girl looked up at him, her soft voice pleading, “Dad, don’t go.”
Dad?
Shen Zhihan’s heart jolted violently, as if struck fiercely, emotions surging through his chest.
He crouched down again. “Once you call me dad, you can’t take it back. From now on, you have only one dad—me.”
Shen Zhihan was selfish and possessive, never sharing anything with others, and his daughter would be no exception.
No matter if An An’s biological father ever came searching for her, from now on, An An would belong only to him.
An An nodded vigorously. “Dad, you have to grow up with me. You can’t jump off the cliff, can’t disappear, and can’t leave me.”
Her voice trembled.
Shen Zhihan promised, “I swear.”
An An stretched out her hand. “Dad, pinky promise.”
Her delicate fingers were covered in scars.
Suppressing the urge to lash out, Shen Zhihan hooked his finger with hers.
A tiny electric current traveled to the tip of his heart—warm and tinged with a faint bitterness.
“Pinky promise, hang for a hundred years, no changing, seal it,” An An’s voice was soft and sweet.
Moonlight bathed them, fireflies danced around, the mountain breeze was silent, the earth was still, yet at this moment, they bore witness to their vow.
At this moment, in Lin Aifang’s humble farmhouse,
Lin Aifang shouted, “You little brat, go feed the pigs!”
After several calls with no response,
Lin Aifang cursed, “Where has that damned girl gone? Still not back from washing clothes? Does she expect me to carry her back in a sedan chair?”
Before she finished, the yard gate was kicked open.
Lin Aifang rushed out, “Who’s there?”
Seeing An An cradled by Shen Zhihan, Lin Aifang shouted furiously, “You little slut! Learning to seduce at such a young age!”
Hearing these vile words, Shen Zhihan’s expression darkened instantly.
Under his piercing gaze, Lin Aifang felt as if frozen by ice, her body stiffened for a moment.
Shen Zhihan looked down at An An, his tone softening. He quietly instructed, “Cover your ears.”
An An obediently did so, nestling into Shen Zhihan’s embrace.
Dad’s arms were so warm; she suddenly felt safe.
Behind them, the bodyguards stepped forward.
Shen Zhihan ordered coldly, “Hit her.”
Lin Aifang’s eyes widened. “You dare hit me! Little slut! Don’t think you can do whatever you want just because you have a protector! Tomorrow, I’ll sell you in the city! Have your eyes gouged out so you can beg on the streets!”
An An trembled.
Shen Zhihan’s face turned icy as he raised his foot and kicked Lin Aifang in the chest.
She was knocked to the ground, wailing in pain.
An An was frightened but couldn’t help stealing glances at Lin Aifang.
Seeing the woman who had always bullied her utterly defenseless, her admiring gaze turned to Shen Zhihan.
Shen Zhihan pressed An An closer. “Close your eyes.”
An An complied quietly.
Shen Zhihan signaled the bodyguards, who understood immediately. They grabbed Lin Aifang’s hair, hoisted her up, planted their feet firmly, and delivered repeated blows. Her cheeks swelled, she spat blood, and two teeth flew out.
Only then did Lin Aifang know fear.
She dared not scream anymore, her face swollen, eyes barely open, and words leaking out whenever she spoke.
A bodyguard brought a chair for Shen Zhihan, who sat down with An An in his arms.
The little girl was small and quiet, obedient beyond measure.
Shen Zhihan’s noble attire and proud bearing marked him as a man of great standing.
His handsome face bore a dark, unyielding expression, clearly not one to be trifled with.
An An nestled in his arms, suddenly fearless. Having a dad felt wonderful—he was so powerful!
The chubby boy had already gone to fetch the village chief.
Many villagers gathered.
The village chief arrived, panting, to find Lin Aifang bruised and battered.
Her husband worked away from home; Lin Aifang’s abuse of An An was no secret in the village.
At first, some villagers spoke out, but Lin Aifang’s beatings grew worse.
Eventually, the villagers quietly began to treat An An kindly.
“Who’s the village chief?” someone asked.
The chief stepped forward. “I am.”
“From now on, An An is my daughter. Does An An have village residency?”
Lin Aifang’s eyes flickered nervously. The chief immediately sent someone to check and soon reported, “No. Because An An isn’t old enough for school yet.”
The village had a kindergarten, though modestly funded. Lin Aifang would never spend money to send An An there; she still expected her to work in the fields.
“You found An An?”
Lin Aifang was truly cowed now, her swollen face mumbling, “Yes.”
Shen Zhihan addressed the chief, “I’m Shen Zhihan. Starshine Group plans to invest in Pear Blossom Village. An assistant will come tomorrow to discuss details. However,” he shifted tone, “Lin Aifang’s family is barred from any projects.”
The entire village would prosper, but Lin Aifang would be excluded.
Starshine Group?
Young villagers immediately searched online, gasping in awe.
Ah, their village was about to flourish!
At this moment, Lin Aifang realized her mistake.
She met An An’s clear, unwavering eyes and suddenly lunged toward her.
Shen Zhihan was quick, shielding An An from Lin Aifang.
Lin Aifang shamelessly coaxed, “AnI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that request.