"Timmy, do you want me to be your dad?" James crouched down with a playful grin, looking at the little girl with warmth.
Timmy glanced at her equally cheerful mother, hesitating for a moment before responding, "But if I take my uncle, what happens to his child?"
Her personality mirrored her mother's; both were considerate of others.
Timmy thought about how claiming someone else's dad would leave others without a father.
She had longed for a father figure, but as she grew up, she learned that her biological dad wasn't coming back, and she prepared herself emotionally.
She wanted to be strong like her mother.
So, she didn't want to take someone else's dad.
James was charmed by her innocence and kind-heartedness, feeling a warmth blossom within him.
How could such a sweet little angel exist in the world?
Using a soothing tone, he replied, "I don't have any kids yet. Once I do, will you help take care of your little siblings as their big sister?"
Timmy tilted her head, considering this idea.
If her uncle took care of her, it seemed reasonable for her to take care of his kids too.
Her eyes brightened, and she beamed, "Okay! I'll protect Uncle's kids when I'm in kindergarten!"
James scooped her up in his arms, affectionately nuzzling her cheek. "You're such a good girl, but you can't call me 'Uncle' anymore."
Timmy blinked in surprise, quickly catching on and sweetly chirping, "Daddy!"
"Eh~"
The way she said it, with her innocent voice, made James's heart flutter.
He couldn't resist moving closer to her, his cheek brushing against her soft skin.
Timmy squirmed in a fit of giggles, waving her tiny hands in playful protest.
"Click!"
Amanda held up her phone, capturing the heartwarming moment for posterity.
The bright sun shone down on a perfect afternoon, with gentle breezes flowing through the amusement park.
Timmy, dressed in a little white dress, sat comfortably in James's embrace, laughing freely, her eyes filled with dreams for the future and burgeoning affection for her new "dad."
At that moment, Amanda felt an immense relief wash over her, as if a heavy burden had been lifted from her heart.
"What are you taking pictures of?" a deep voice startled her.
She looked up to find James, who had his arms wrapped around Timmy, both looking at her phone curiously.
Amanda shot James a glare for his sudden intrusion, then shared the photo with him and Timmy. "I wanted to capture the moment when Timmy first called you 'Dad.'"
James glanced at the image and mischievously remarked, "Maybe next we should record the moment you call me 'Dad.'"
His joke immediately shattered the tender atmosphere Amanda had been basking in.
She shot him an exasperated look. "You're not allowed to say that in front of Timmy!"
James chuckled softly, realizing he needed to be more careful with his words to avoid misleading the little girl further.
Timmy glanced between her mother and her new "dad," her face lighting up with a carefree smile.
The trio enjoyed each other's company for the remainder of the afternoon, even sharing a meal before preparing to head home.
James was nudged to the front seat of the car.
It was said that having kids in the front seats was safer, given that airbag deployment could be dangerous for children whose bones hadn't fully developed yet.
James had no objections to this arrangement.
After a full day of excitement, Timmy fell asleep the moment they got in the car.
Jay Johnson, noting the sleepy little girl in the rearview mirror, consciously drove more gently, ensuring they barely felt the bumps of the road.
As the car filled with silence, James grew bored and decided to send gifts to Hoson's father.
He opened the app and noticed a small gift box next to the chapter discussion at the end of each chapter.
He clicked on it and opted for the most expensive choiceâ"Gift of Kings"âthen completed the transaction in three swift seconds, sending off five hundred dollars.
The speed felt a bit too slow for him, leaving James somewhat dissatisfied.
If he intended to send a million dollars, it would take quite a while to work through that amount!
He considered just calling someone to deliver the money instead.
It felt a bit pointless to waste time for a guy.
While hesitating, a thank-you notification came through.
"Thank you so much, dear reader! The author bows to you!"
James found himself strangely fond of individuals who knelt to beg for money in such earnestness.
He was about to send a couple more gifts when he noticed three hidden gifts at the top.
They were labeled: "Gold Medal for Urging Updates" for $1,000, "God-Level Certification" for $1,588, and "Divine Work" for $1,888.
These also allowed him to select quantities, up to fifty-two.
This made matters much easier for him.
Without hesitation, he tapped the most expensive optionâ$1,888âand maxed out the quantity.
In an instant, $98,000 disappeared from his account, an exhilarating rush akin to tossing money into a wishing well.
James was quite satisfied with the efficiency of the transaction.
If he sent that nine more times, he would be close to his million target.
Meanwhile, at his computer, Welson had just noticed that someone had donated the "Gift of Kings" and was buzzing with excitement.
This was the first time he had ever received a gift of such value!
A $500 donation felt like a drop in the ocean compared to this.
Many of his earnings had come from dedicated fans during a live-stream, but this surpassed anything he ever imagined.
This kind of wealthy benefactor was one to keep close!
He quickly typed a standard thank-you note but then thought about whether he should release ten more chapters to show his appreciation.
While writing that many would require immense effort, two all-nighters should allow him to accomplish such a feat.
He fervently resolved to do better in showcasing his talents.
Just as he was typing out his plan, he was suddenly interrupted by a system notification.
[Loves Egg Fried Rice: Geng Wanli has gifted "Divine Work" x52.]
Welson didn't process the words right away, his eyes widening in pure disbelief.
What... what was happening?
Did he misread something?
He checked again and was utterly stunned.
"Holy sh*t!! This is real money!"
One hundred thousand dollars?
What kind of family would grant such an extravagant donation?
He had never seen someone casually give away that much money in his life.
Was this person really that wealthy?
Oh my God, a big shot was actually reading my work!
Welson felt an uncontainable excitement bubble inside him, leaping from his chair and pummeling his keyboard in ecstatic energy.
He let out hollers of sheer joy, losing himself in the moment.
The commotion drew the attention of Ella Ly, who had just been scolding someone else nearby.
"Are you losing your mind? What's wrong with you?"
Welson eagerly pulled her inside the room and locked the door.
"Shut up and kiss me," he commanded, his tone dripping with authority.
In that moment, he exuded an aura of confidence, claiming back both his dignity and the love of his wife.
Ella Ly furrowed her brow at his ecstatic behavior, sensing the oddity of the situation.
A few minutes later, she wiped her mouth dismissively and asked, "What's going on? Why are you acting so strange?"
"Someone just donated a hundred thousand dollars for my book!"
"Are you serious? You think someone would give you that much for your little blue book? You're dreaming!"
Ella couldn't fathom it.
"Fact speaks louder than wordsâjust open your eyes and see for yourself!"
Welson, trembling with excitement, lit a cigarette and exhaled deeply.
He had labored all his life and didn't even have a hundred thousand saved up, only to be in debt to the bank for nearly a hundred thousand.
This money could clear so many issuesâtuition for his kid, expenses for his wife, and daily necessities.
Moreover, that hundred thousand in gifts would put his book in the top three for the month.
It was going to gain substantial exposure, possibly even make his book a hit.
He was set on doubling down, aiming to crank out one hundred more chapters as a way to express his gratitude to the big spender.
"You said it was just a hundred thousand? Why do I see ten messages for a hundred thousand each?" Ella exclaimed.
Welson was caught off guard, his eyes widening at her comment.
"Wait, did I miscount?"
He couldn't comprehend the situation at all.
What a coincidence that she came right as he reached the peak of his excitement!