Song Qingwan's beautiful, languid brows remained cold as ever.
She waved away the servant's offer of help and personally poured the bucket of fish back into the pond, releasing them.
Then she set the empty bucket aside.
Raising her slender hand, she brushed the black gauze dress she wore a few times, then bent down gracefully. Squatting beside the little girl, she followed her posture, lowered her head slightly, and dipped slender fingers—painted with bright red nail polish—into the clear lake.
The refreshing coolness of the water spread instantly from her fingertips to her whole body, easing the heat of the day.
Just then, she suddenly heard the little girl giggling. The soft, crisp laughter, like the ringing of silver bells, was irresistibly pleasant.
Song Qingwan lifted her eyes curiously, her narrow phoenix eyes shifting to the side.
The little girl's small face was brimming with delight, her eyes bent like crescent moons, as dazzling and pure as the brightest moonlight.
Her tender white hand rested in the cold water, and around it clustered several bright red carp, some even bubbling cheerfully at her fingertips…
Song Qingwan noticed that all the fish she had just poured back into the pond had gathered around Lu Li. At first she was surprised, but then she laughed softly.
"Lili, it looks like these fish really like you."
"I like them too!"
The little girl raised her head happily. Her dark eyes were as bright as black gemstones, shining brilliantly. "Auntie, do you like fish?"
Adults, unlike children, no longer carried such pure fondness. Song Qingwan herself had never enjoyed fishing—she only ever thought of koi fish as food.
But she didn't want to dampen the child's joy, so she smiled and said, "Of course I do."
Then she tilted her head, feigning annoyance, and sighed: "But it seems these fish don't like me very much…"
"Impossible!"
Before she had even finished, the little girl grew anxious. Her delicate face turned serious, her expression so earnest and adorable it could melt anyone's heart.
"Yuyu likes Auntie very much!"
Song Qingwan didn't take it seriously, merely smiled gently at her.
The little girl puffed out her cheeks angrily. "Auntie, I'm telling the truth!"
"All right, all right, really, really…"
Song Qingwan's heart softened as she looked at her.
If her elder brother and sister-in-law were still alive, they would surely be comforted to see Lu Junhan blessed with such a beautiful, obedient daughter.
But little Lolita instantly saw through her perfunctory answer. Adults were always like this with children—her father was the worst at it, and she hated it!
Unwilling to lose, Lu Li lowered her lashes, then secretly grabbed a small red koi. She peeked at Song Qingwan, saw she wasn't watching, and quickly whispered to the fish with her soft milky voice:
"Yuyu, you can't just like me. You have to like Auntie too. Auntie is very nice."
Fish: "…"
The koi in her hand stayed completely still, pretending to be dead.
Seeing this, the little girl grew flustered, her voice pitiful: "Go on, go to Auntie! Otherwise, Auntie will think I lied to her…"
But the koi remained lifeless, offering no response.
Lu Li: "…"
In truth, fish were naturally wary of people, and Song Qingwan's aura was too strong. They didn't dare approach her.
"If you don't go to Auntie's side…"
The little girl was afraid the koi might suffocate, so she had to put it back in the water. Pursing her lips in frustration, she thought for a moment, then straightened her tiny body, her expression fierce as she threatened:
"I'll get my dad to eat you all up! My dad is super powerful—he'll eat every one of you, even the bones!"
The koi in the lake remained unmoved.
They continued circling around Lu Li's small hand, wagging their tails and spitting bubbles from time to time, but they refused to swim toward Song Qingwan.
The little girl grew angrier. Seeing that invoking her father didn't work, she pouted and called upon another name, stamping her foot:
"I still have Grandpa! He's amazing too—he's really good at fishing!"
Lu Li's rosy lips jutted forward. "If you don't listen, I'll tell him to catch you all later! I'm so mad at you!"
Song Qingwan's cold red lips curved faintly, her frosty brows softening.
Her eyes rested on the little girl, though her ears caught every word.
Threatening fish… for her sake.
It was silly and childish, but her heart couldn't help but feel warmed.
Of course, it was doomed to fail. Fish couldn't understand human words. And even if they could, why would they respond to such threats?
But then—
The little girl declared solemnly, "Yes, my grandpa! He's the one fishing over there. He's very fierce, and his voice is really loud! If you don't listen, I'll have him come yell at you every day until your heads ache! Humph!"
The moment those words fell, several big and small koi froze. Their eyes widened, tails stiffened, bubbles caught in their mouths.
The very next second, as though someone had pressed a button—
All the fish bolted!
Like their lives depended on it, they rushed straight toward Song Qingwan, tails wagging frantically, bubbles spilling everywhere.
Some even leapt half out of the water, staring at her with round fish-eyes full of flattery.
Song Qingwan: "…"
"Auntie, Auntie, look!" The little girl beamed, her tender cheeks glowing as she leaned close. "See? Lili didn't lie—Yuyu really likes you!"
Song Qingwan looked at the swarm of trembling koi at her side, her expression complicated and indescribable.
Then she turned to meet the girl's sparkling eyes, full of expectant pride.
Her heart stirred. She sighed softly, lifted her hand to stroke the little girl's hair, and praised with a smile: "Yes, our Lili is amazing."
But inwardly she thought:
Dad, you've even managed to terrify your fish.
…
Just as she finished praising the child—speak of the devil!
Song Qingwan raised her eyes and spotted the old man approaching from not far away.
But unlike before, this time he wasn't holding his fishing rod.
Puzzled, Song Qingwan rose slightly and asked, "Dad, what brings you here?"
The old man hadn't expected her to notice him so quickly. His stern face stiffened awkwardly.
To cover it up, he coughed loudly and glared with his usual severity. "What, I can't walk over if I want? This whole pond is mine! I can go wherever I please! You can't stop me!"
Song Qingwan was helpless. "Dad, I didn't mean—"
But he cut her off with a brusque wave of his hand, his voice deep and forceful: "Enough! You go on with your business. Don't mind me."
Song Qingwan had no choice but to let it go.
The old man strolled nearby, lingering for a while, before turning back.
The lake water was cool and clear, far more pleasant than sitting stiffly under a parasol. With so many fish unusually gathering near, Song Qingwan found herself in a rare playful mood.
This chance might never come again.
So she told the servant to move the parasol over and set up two small chairs on the shore. She stayed crouched by the water, playing with the fish while chatting idly with the little girl.
But in the middle of their conversation, she glanced up—and once again saw the old man heading toward them.
Song Qingwan started to rise, but remembering his earlier words, she paused and pretended not to notice.
"Grandpa!"
"Auntie, it's Grandpa!"
This time, little Lu Li spotted him right away.