What? All the female protagonists have systems, but I don't?

As Gu Qingyi stepped out of the children's clothing store, she heard the strange voice in her head.

[Congratulations, host, on completing the system task. All of Chen Zhibao's shares have been awarded, and the share certificates are now in the drawer of your desk.]

Having learned from her previous experience, Gu Qingyi already believed in the system's rewards and was no longer in a hurry to go back and confirm.

Now that her mission was complete, she prepared to leave, since shopping with Lin Yuan wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.

Just as she was about to say goodbye, she saw that Xiaobao was still holding her hand. Xiaobao's smile was happy, pure, and innocent.

Gu Qingyi couldn't help but feel an urge to protect that smile.

She crouched down and looked at Xiaobao, asking him a question.

"Is there anything else Xiaobao wants to buy or play with?"

Upon hearing this question, Xiao Bao pondered for a long time before finally speaking.

"Xiao Bao wants to eat a lollipop, but his grandpa and grandma usually don't let him."

"Okay, let's go buy them now, not just lollipops, but lots of other snacks too, okay?"

"Okay. Thank you, sister."

Although Xiaobao is only three years old, he is already very sensible. He knows to say thank you to people who are kind to him, and he is very polite.

Lin Yuan looked at his son with great satisfaction. He was so sensible and intelligent at such a young age; he would definitely be a genius when he grew up.

Afterwards, the three went to a snack shop and bought a lot of snacks. Throughout the whole process, Lin Yuan didn't say much, but just quietly watched Gu Qingyi and Xiao Bao interact.

Finally, it was time to part ways, and Lin Yuan took Xiao Bao from Gu Qingyi's arms.

"Xiao Bao, say goodbye to your sister."

"Goodbye sister."

Goodbye, Xiaobao.

After parting ways with Gu Qingyi, Lin Yuan took Xiao Bao into the car, which was already filled with all sorts of toys, clothes, and snacks. Since the trunk was too full, they were piled up on the back seats.

Xiao Bao sat on Lin Yuan's lap, raised her little head, and looked at Lin Yuan's chin.

"Dad, do you not like that girl from earlier?"

Xiao Bao blinked his big, bright eyes and asked.

"You're just a kid, why are you worrying about all this?"

Lin Yuan smiled and pinched Xiao Bao's chubby cheeks.

"Dad, even though I'm a child, I'm not stupid."

It sounds strange coming from a three-year-old child. Three years old is a time of ignorance and confusion, but Xiao Bao's mind is not like that of an ordinary three-year-old child; she knows a lot.

“Other children have both a father and a mother, but I only have a father. Dad, I want a mother too.”

Little Bao began to speak in his childish voice.

Lin Yuan's hand, which was pinching Xiao Bao's cheek, suddenly stopped, and his expression darkened.

Xiao Bao's mother is still alive, but she is not in this world. To find her, we must wait at least eighteen years for the Heavenly Gate to open and then travel to the Lesser Heavenly Realm.

But how is he going to explain this to Xiaobao, a three-year-old child?

After a moment of silence, Lin Yuan finally explained.

"Xiao Bao does have a mother, but she is a fairy. She has returned to the fairy realm. As long as Xiao Bao studies hard, he will be able to see his mother when he grows up."

"Really? Dad isn't lying to me?"

"Of course it's true. Dad can swear that he's not lying to Xiaobao."

"Okay, then I believe Dad."

Hearing Lin Yuan say that, Xiao Bao was very happy. She sat on Lin Yuan's lap, swinging her little feet back and forth.

Soon, the car arrived at the Lin family's house.

As soon as Lin Yuan entered the door, he saw his father rush to the car with a broom handle, and his mother followed behind him with a rolling pin.

Before the car had even come to a complete stop, the door was already pulled open, and Lin Yuan could hear his father's cursing.

"You bastard, who gave you permission to take Xiaobao out? If Xiaobao gets hurt even a little bit, I'll skin you alive."

"Dad, Dad, Dad, calm down. Xiaobao is fine. I just took her out for a walk."

Lin Yuan quickly explained.

Unfortunately, it was too late. Lin Tianxing didn't listen at all and swung a broom handle at Lin Yuan, making him wince.

"Grandpa, please don't hit Dad."

If Xiao Bao hadn't stepped in and hugged Lin Tianxing's leg, the broom handle would have hit Lin Yuan a second time.

The Lin family came from humble beginnings. Although Lin Tianxing worked hard to make the Lin family one of the four major families in Beicheng, they still couldn't change their old ways. They firmly believed that "spare the rod and spoil the child" and would beat their son first if they were ever in a dilemma.

"Xiao Bao, did that bastard bully you?"

Lin Tianxing squatted down and looked at Xiaobao carefully, afraid that his little granddaughter might have bumped or bruised herself. Even if she only had a scratch, Lin Yuan wouldn't be able to leave this house standing up today.

"Dad didn't bully me. He even bought me lots of clothes, toys, and delicious food."

Xiao Bao recounted how good Lin Yuan had been to her this time, and even proudly took out several pieces of clothing and toys from the car.

"These were all given to me by my dad, and these little dresses were given to me by a pretty older sister."

"Pretty sister?"

Upon hearing Xiao Bao utter those four words, Lin's parents instantly glared at Lin Yuan with hostility.

Their own son was a good-for-nothing, and it was common for him to mess around outside. They thought that the pretty sister Xiaobao mentioned was one of Lin Yuan's disreputable women.

"Lin Yuan."

Lin's mother, holding a rolling pin, looked at Lin Yuan, as if to explain.

"It's Gu Qingyi. I took Xiaobao to Wanjia Plaza to buy things today and we happened to run into her. I don't know what got into her, but she insisted on shopping with us."

Lin Yuan quickly tried to explain, afraid that the misunderstanding would escalate.

"Gu Qingyi? That girl from the Gu family? Wasn't she always bothering you to death? You confessed to her for three years and she still didn't accept you. Now she's going shopping with you?"

Lin's parents clearly didn't believe this explanation. Their son had been pursuing Gu Qingyi for three years, confessing his love to her at her company entrance every day—everyone knew about it, and they'd completely lost face.

As it turns out, Gu Qingyi completely dislikes her good-for-nothing son, and now she's going shopping with him? Are you kidding me?

"It's true. You can ask Xiaobao if you don't believe me."

Lin Yuan is truly innocent; why doesn't anyone believe him when he tells the truth?

"Xiao Bao, is the lady who accompanied us shopping today the one in the photo?"

Lin Yuan took out his phone, found a photo of Gu Qingyi, and showed it to Xiao Bao.

"Yes, it's this older sister."

Xiao Bao nodded in response.

Although Lin's parents still found it hard to believe, they decided to believe Xiao Bao this once, especially since Xiao Bao hadn't been hurt. This was already the best possible outcome.

"Alright, now get out of here!"

Lin's father carried Xiaobao back into the house, leaving Lin Yuan with only his back to him.