Chapter 42
Falling For The Contract Bride
Chapter 42 Daddy?
She was afraid that she would start sobbing. She stood up and told Lu Jinye, âMy stomach doesnât feel
that great. Iâm going to the washroom.â
Lu Jinye nodded, and Mu Zhi left in a hurry.
She returned after she had gotten her emotions under control. However, the scene she returned to was
one in which Mu Xiaomu was celebrating having found her parents.
Mu Xiaomu ran towards a white swan. Her small face flushed with happiness. She called out in her little
girlâs voice, âDaddy! Daddy! Daddy!â
She added, âI always knew I had a father!â
Mu Zhi could not handle it! All the guilt and regrets she kept hidden exploded out of her! She knew that
she owed Mu Xiaomu, but now she understood that she owed Mu Xiaomu far more than she realized!
And now!
Now her daughter was dancing her heart out on stage, and she was going to pretend that she did not
know herâ¦
How cruel could she be?
Mu Zhi decided! She was going to tell Lu Jinye that Mu Xiaomu was her daughter. She had married him
for the sake of her daughter and her motherâs medical bills! And she could no longer stay separated
from her daughter.
They would divorce earlier than planned.
Mu Zhi turned, her expression serious, and studied Lu Jinye. âHoney, I need to tell you something.â
Mu Zhi took a deep breath.
Lu Jinye turned to her, âWhat is it?â
âIâ¦â
Mu Zhi was about to spill everything when from behind them came a voice, âExcuse me. Sorry, I was
late. Excuse me, my seat is in there.â
It was Jian Xiaoningâs voice. Mu Zhi turned to look at her only for Jian Xiaoning to shoot a smile back at
her. She sat on the seat reserved for Mu Xiaomuâs parent.
She then looked at Mu Zhi and greeted her, âHey. What a coincidence.â
Mu Zhi nodded and turned her attention towards the stage. Her emotions were finally in order.
She could not divorce Lu Jinye now. She still needed money. She still did not have enoughâ¦
Everything she had said before about wanting to divorce was her being irrational.
Once they divorce, Mu Xiaomu would no longer be able to attend a good kindergarten and her mother
may never be healed.
âWhat were you going to say?â
On stage, the song slowly ended followed by the dance performance. Lu Jinyeâs voice was low and
harmonious. Accompanied by the slowly softening melody of the song, it was especially captivating.
However, Mu Zhi only smiled and shook her head. She pointed to Mu Xiaomu and said, âHoney, I was
going to tell you that that little swan is my best friendâs Jian Xiaoningâs daughter.â
âYouâre talking about Mu Xiaomu?â
Lu Jinye frowned as he watched Mu Xiaomu on stage. He seemed to be deep in thought before turning
back to Mu Zhi.
ââ¦â
Mu Zhiâs heart was all out of place.
Mu Xiaomu had apparently told Lu Jinye her name!
How was she going to cover this up?
Mu Zhi smiled awkwardly before she cleared her throat, âYes, Mu Xiaomu.â
âWhy does Jian Xiaoningâs daughter have your surname?â
Lu Jinye studied her. His eyes were dark and bottomless.
âDid you have a daughter with your best friend behind my back?â
Mu Zhi was exasperated with him⦠She did not know how to respond to him!
How could she explain the story behind her little one?
Mu Zhi gritted her teeth. She glanced back at Jian Xiaoning. Jian Xiaoning, Iâm sorry for this.
She laughed, âYouâre such a jokester! Sheâs not mine. Mu Xiaomu is Jian Xiaoning and my cousinâs
daughter.â
âMy cousin is a Mu, so naturally, Xiaomu is also a Mu.â
âI didnât even know that you have a cousin.â
Lu Jinye said as he studied both Mu Xiaomuâs and Mu Zhiâs features.
Mu Zhi web of lies widened, âMy⦠My cousin has passed! He died from a car accident! What a tragedy
it was! Xiaoning and my cousin were just about to get married before the accident happened. Xiaoning
is a single mother.â
Thankfully⦠Mu Zhi did not have a cousin.
Otherwise, how else could she easily speak about car accidents and death?
Lu Jinye stared at Mu Zhi for a few seconds but did not question further.
Mu Zhi slowly stood up and whispered to Lu Jinye, âHoney, I donât know whatâs wrong with me today.
My stomach keeps bothering me. I have to use the washroom again.â
Mu Zhi slipped away.
Mu Xiaomu started looking for Mu Zhi after she was finished with the curtain call, only to realize that Mu
Zhi had left⦠But that was fine because mister had not left yet.
She hurried up to Lu Jinye and called out to him adorably, âMister.â
Lu Jinye looked down at her and hummed.
âYour mother is here. I have to leave. Your performance was great,â Lu Jinye said his goodbyes.
This was undoubtedly the greatest praise a child could receive from Lu Jinye!
Before Lu Jinye could take a step, Mu Xiaomu had stepped forwards on her short little legs to stop him.
She tilted her innocent little face up at him.
âMister, I havenât finished what I had to say.â
âSpeak.â
Lu Jinye could not understand why he was being so extraordinarily patient towards this little girl.
âMister, can you marry my mommy and be my daddy?â
âYour mommy?â
Lu Jinye frowned. He turned to look at Jian Xiaoning who was wearing baggy pants, a T-shirt and had
on a pair of black-rimmed glasses. She was dressed stereotypically like a doctor.
She was not his type.
Besides, he did not make it a habit to help out helpless mothers and daughters.
âLittle girl, I canât marry your mommy. I have a wife.â
âMister! Donât you like me? Donât you think Iâm cute? Or pretty?â
Mu Xiaomu paid no mind about what Lu Jinye had to say. She tilted her chin up towards him and
blinked at him.
Mu Xiaomu was confident in her looks. She had received many snacks from boys in her kindergarten.
âYou are cute and pretty.â
Mu Xiaomuâs eyebrows looked similar to Mu Zhiâs. Therefore, it was only natural that he found her cute
and pretty.
âMy mommy is cute and pretty too. Mister, how about you marry my mommy? I donât have a daddy. My
daddy likes to stay in the forest and never comes home. I want another daddy.â
Mu Xiaomu pouted but she meant what she said.
Lu Jinye unintentionally raised his eyebrow at her, âSo, how many daddies do you want?â
âI have two mommies at the moment, so I should be alright to get two daddies too!â
Mu Xiaomu counted carefully. She was sure that there were only two.
Jian Xiaoning could not seem to find a good time to jump in. She watched anxiously as Lu Jinye and
Mu Xiaomu spoke.
Finally, she rushed towards Lu Jinye.
She nodded at him before picking Mu Xiaomu up, âLetâs go Xiaomu. You danced really well today.
Mommy will take you to go eat something yummy.â
Jian Xiaoning was about to carry Mu Xiaomu off.
But Mu Xiaomu started to struggle in her arms, âWait! I want daddy to come as well.â
Daddy?
Jian Xiaoning was stunned. She turned to see Lu Jinye!