Leaving the café, Mo Xuan checked the time. He had originally planned to go to school, but halfway there, he received a video from Luo Shiya.
His two daughters were crying and clamoring for their father at the Luo Family's ancestral home, and no amount of comforting could soothe them. With no other choice, Mo Xuan had to drive to the Luo Family's residence.
He was already part of a research group, so his doctoral program wasn't full-time, giving him relatively flexible hours.
When he arrived at the Luo Family's ancestral home, he was surprised to find the two little girls waiting for him at the gate.
"Daddy!"
"Daddy!"
Seeing Mo Xuan, Luo Wei'er and Luo Xue'er, with their tiny legs, ran over. One on each side, they hugged his legs and looked up at him with pleading eyes.
"What's wrong, my darlings?"
Seeing them, Mo Xuan felt all his worries melt away. As he picked up the two little ones, the sisters wrapped their arms around his neck and each gave him a big kiss on either side.
"Mr. Mo, you're finally here!" The nanny taking care of the girls saw Mo Xuan as a savior. "The little ladies were insisting on seeing you, and with Old Madam Luo having guests, there was no other way but to ask Ms. Luo to call you over!"
"It's alright, Daddy's here now," Mo Xuan said, placing the two children on the ground and holding one hand each. "Since Old Madam Luo has guests, I think it's better for me to take the kids back home."
"The eldest and second young ladies instructed us to bring you inside once you arrived."
Hearing the nanny's words, Mo Xuan nodded and, holding his daughters' hands, followed her into the ancestral home. Despite being called an "ancestral home," it was actually a large mansion preserved from the Republic of China era. The Luo Family, with its century-long heritage, had already been influential in the Capital during that time.
There was an even older residence, but for some reason, the Luo Family didn't live there.
Passing by the reception room, the door was open. Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi sat on the sofa, their faces cold. Old Madam Luo and an elderly woman of similar age were chatting warmly, and beside the older woman sat a man in a deep blue bespoke suit. He looked to be in his late twenties, his eyes occasionally wandering over Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi.
Mo Xuan's expression immediately turned cold. Typically, such people were here for matchmaking purposes. The Luo Family's status was undeniable, and with Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi's stunning looks and figures, even knowing they had children didn't deter these wealthy heirs from seeking their hand in marriage.
Shaking his head, Mo Xuan decided to leave with the children. His own status didn't allow him to do anything about it. In fact, he felt deeply guilty, and every time he thought about it, his hatred for Mo Jinpeng grew stronger.
Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi had given birth to his children and were entangled in a complex, unresolvable love triangle with him. Despite having better options, they remained by his side.
From Mo Xuan's perspective, it was Mo Jinpeng's betrayal that had caused all this.
When they reached the second floor, Mo Xuan sat on the sofa, feeling an unexplainable sense of distress. This wasn't the first time such an incident had occurred, and there had even been cases where people had shown up at the sisters' estate.
Mo Xuan's sense of inferiority made him want to leave and never return, especially during such times. As someone abandoned by his own family, he felt he didn't deserve Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi.
Like a whale in the deep sea, no matter how hard it tried to leap, it could never touch the stars.
"Daddy, Daddy!"
The voices of his daughters brought Mo Xuan back to reality. Looking at the two adorable girls in front of him, he sighed, adjusted his mood, and took out his phone, saying, "Daddy will find an animated movie for you to watch, okay?"
Luo Wei'er and Luo Xue'er loved watching Pokémon, though they didn't understand the battles; they just thought there were many cute dolls.
At that moment, the door suddenly opened. The man from the reception room had entered without knocking. Seeing Mo Xuan, he paused for a moment, then spoke arrogantly, "Why hire a male nanny?"
Mo Xuan glanced at him and said calmly, "Sir, knocking before entering is basic manners."
The man, however, didn't care and looked disdainfully at the two little girls focused on the animated movie. Then, he commanded, "You can leave now."
Mo Xuan didn't respond but looked at the man as if he were a fool. Not bad-looking, with a similar height to himself. But his arrogant demeanor and small gestures reminded Mo Xuan of a "fish farm owner."
"Didn't you hear me? Are you Luo Shiya or Luo Muqi's assistant?" The man's tone carried a hint of displeasure when Mo Xuan didn't move. "No matter who I marry, I don't like you. Get out!"
"What if I don't leave?"
Not only did Mo Xuan not plan to leave, but he also leaned back on the sofa, challenging the man with a glance. The man didn't get angry but said disdainfully, "As the future son-in-law of the Luo Family, can't I deal with a mere assistant like you?"
The nanny beside them rolled her eyes. Him leaving? In this house, Mo Xuan couldn't leave; otherwise, the two little girls would cry the house down!
"Wait until you become the Luo Family's son-in-law," Mo Xuan said, holding back the urge to punch him.
At that moment, Luo Wei'er turned her head and looked at the man, sticking her tongue out at him. Then, in a childish voice, she said to Mo Xuan, "Daddy, I want candy!"
Hearing Luo Wei'er call Mo Xuan "Daddy," the man's face stiffened. He didn't know if Luo Wei'er was Luo Shiya's or Luo Muqi's child, but it confirmed that his already slim chances were now even slimmer.
Earlier downstairs, Luo Shiya and Luo Muqi had given him no pleasant expressions, not even bothering to respond to his words. He had come with his grandmother, and only because of their relationship with Old Madam Luo had he even gotten to see the sisters.
Luo Wei'er, as if she hadn't heard him, continued to cling to Mo Xuan's arm and beg.
Daddy was the most handsome; who wanted to look at this strange uncle?
"No wonder they were born out of wedlock; they have no manners..." The man muttered. "I'm Ye Ning from the Ye Family in the Capital. You must have heard of me, right?"
"What did you just say?"
Mo Xuan suddenly looked up at Ye Ning's eyes, his gaze sharp. Ye Ning didn't notice and sneered, "Scared? I said I'm from the Ye Family in the Capital..."
"I asked what you just said."
Mo Xuan's voice suddenly rose, cold and devoid of warmth. Ye Ning was a bit startled but still maintained his haughty demeanor, mocking, "Did I say something wrong? Isn't it a fact that they have no manners?"
Mo Xuan slowly stood up, gently placing Luo Wei'er on the sofa and patting her head. Then, he turned and walked toward Ye Ning.
"What, you, a mere employee, want to hit me?"
The Ye Family in the Capital, though not as powerful as the Luo Family, was still a prominent household, stronger than the Mo Family. Ye Ning truly didn't believe Mo Xuan would dare to touch him.
So when Mo Xuan's slap landed on his face, sending him spinning in circles, he thought he was dreaming.
"You... you... did you just hit me?"
Mo Xuan coldly stared at him, his voice filled with threat and warning: "My daughters are not to be trifled with by a piece of trash who doesn't even know how to knock!"