DTBS – Chapter 24
Chapter 24: She Runs, She Chases
"You want me to call her just because you say so?" Tao Qiuyun put down the document in her hand, her face expressionless. "What benefit do I get?"
"Hmph!" The little cat said in a milky voice, "You're just being unreasonable with me!"
"So young, and you already know what 'unreasonable' means?" Tao Qiuyun stared at her.
"You are unreasonable!" The little cat protested, "The unreasonable one who won't buy me fries! Bad guy! Wuwuwuwu~ I hate you! Mama hates you too!"
Tao Qiuyun ignored her and lowered her head to continue writing and drawing on the paper.
Seeing she was about to cry again, Tao Zhuohua quickly took out his phone. "Okay, okay, Qinqin can have fries, Little Uncle will order them for you! How many does our little princess want?"
"Eat Old Man Bai's! I want lots and lots!" The little one was soft and squishy. Seeing someone paying attention to her, she immediately became pleasant towards Tao Zhuohua.
"Little Uncle, you're the second best after Mama~"
"Baby, you're so good with words... But, I'm still the third best, right? My sister is second best to you, okay?"
"No, no, she's a bad egg!"
Tao Zhuohua said humble words, but his expression showed he was very happy.
The woman sitting at her desk looked helpless. She took out her phone and sent a text message to Secretary Zheng:
【Give my contact information to Qin Qingshang, and go get a box of fries from the restaurant.】
Secretary Zheng read the message quickly and replied 【Received】 immediately.
Tao Qiuyun put down her phone and continued looking through the documents. After a while, she really couldn't stand the little one's "evil deed" of deliberately praising Tao Zhuohua to get more benefits from her. She called the little cat by her full name:
"Tao Aiqin, I've had your school enrollment procedures handled. I'll send you to school tomorrow."
"Bad person! Tricking the cat, and not giving me fries!"
Just then, Zheng Liuyu knocked on the door and said, "CEO Tao, the fries you wanted."
"Put them on the table." Tao Qiuyun motioned for her to put the fries in front of Tao Aiqin.
As expected of a child, she was just angry, but as soon as she saw food, the little one immediately blinked her eyes. "Hmph, for the sake of the fries, I'll pretend I don't know you don't have Mama's contact information."
Secretary Zheng's movement to stand up stiffened, then she pretended to be deaf and acted as if she heard nothing, calmly saying, "CEO Tao, anything else?"
"Nothing, you can leave." Tao Qiuyun stood up and slowly walked to the sofa, looking down at the little cat who was putting fries into her mouth.
"What are you looking at?" Tao Aiqin's eyes were bright.
"Heh." It was almost a cold laugh from her throat. The woman looked at the face that resembled her own a couple more times. Her cold, hard gaze showed a hint of hesitation when it met those eyes.
Finally, Tao Qiuyun turned to look at the foolish-looking Tao Zhuohua and said coldly, "What are you still doing in my office? Are you very free? If you don't want to be the CEO of Fuyao, I'll find someone else."
"Ah? I, I'll leave now, Sis, don't be angry, your brother will scram immediately!"
Tao Zhuohua limped out of the group, bringing new gossip to Chunjin:
Young CEO Tao came in standing upright and left sideways. Today's CEO Tao is not to be provoked.
"CEO Tao, this is the new house I found for you. It's 170 square meters inside, and according to your requirements, it's close to the school, has a good neighborhood environment, comprehensive security, supermarkets and pharmacies nearby, and convenient transportation. I've also checked the neighbors, and there are no negative records."
Wang Huai opened the door for Tao Qiuyun. "What do you think?"
Tao Qiuyun put the little one down from her arms. "I think it's fine. You've worked hard, Executive Assistant Wang."
"It's a new house!" The little cat tugged at Tao Qiuyun's sleeve, bouncing up and down. "So pretty, will Mama live here too?"
Tao Qiuyun squatted down and stroked her head. "She won't live here, only the two of us will."
Old Master Tao also said that she should raise her daughter herself and properly make up for the four years she missed during her growth.
Was the self in the parallel dimension really a scumbag who was attracted by looks?
Forget it, whether she was or not has nothing to do with her.
But it was also fortunate that Old Master Tao didn't know that Qin Qingshang and she were separated, otherwise he would definitely make a fuss again.
Thinking of this, she looked up at Assistant Wang and said, "I don't want Grandpa to know about this."
"Okay, CEO Tao, I won't say anything extra."
"Why isn't Mama living with us?" The little one was unhappy. "Mama always lived with me before. Without me, she must be very sad."
She's probably ecstatic!
Tao Qiuyun said this in her heart, then put her arm around Tao Aiqin's waist and helped her change into small slippers. "Mama is busy. She'll come see you when she's free."
Wang Huai stood obediently to the side, pretending to be a statue, but she had some thoughts in her mind.
CEO Tao and Miss Qin are clearly newly married, but these two have somehow created a sense of brokenness like a single-parent family... Even for a contractual marriage, this is quite something.
"Then when will Mama be free?" The little cat's eyes turned red, looking wronged. "I want to see Mama."
System: "You really can cry on command. Were you really a novelist in your last life?"
Tao Aiqin: "This is called professionalism, what do you know!"
"Sys, let me tell you, with their current emotional state, like a divorced couple with a child, if I don't work hard, they'll really get divorced!"
"I'm an AI, I really don't understand. What does 'divorced couple with a child' mean?"
"It means their progress relies on their daughter pushing them, like a toad in the grass, poke it and it moves a bit."
"...With their looks, toads?"
"It's a metaphor, learn more."
"6"
"Soon." Tao Qiuyun coaxed her.
"How soon is soon? Tomorrow? The day after tomorrow?" The little one was relentless, insisting on a precise answer.
"Why are you talking so much? You're going to kindergarten tomorrow, let's go, I'll take you to sleep!"
Tao Qiuyun didn't care about the small slippers on her daughter's feet anymore. She simply picked her up again. "Executive Assistant Wang, you've worked hard, you can go back."
"Okay, CEO Tao." Wang Huai nodded, then turned and left.
Seeing the front door close, Tao Qiuyun held her daughter, just about to carry the noisy little cat into the house, when Tao Shizhou's call came in.
"Qiuqiu, did Qinqin have fun at the company today?" The old master was very concerned about his great-granddaughter.
"She was quite happy eating fries." Tao Qiuyun avoided the main point.
After hanging up the phone, Tao Qiuyun recalled the day's events.
Tao Aiqin was indeed happy eating fries, but in the afternoon, she directly had Wu Hu accompany the little cat to the soundproof lounge to play puzzles.
After all, she had too much work and not much time to play with her.
Thinking about it carefully, wasn't this too cold? After all, no matter how annoying she was, she was still a four-year-old child, and her own daughter...
Tao Qiuyun stared at the little one quietly lying in her arms, her heart suddenly softening. "Qinqin, Mama will take you to play puzzles!"
"Okay~" The little one rubbed against her obediently, like a docile cat.
System: "Didn't you just say this afternoon that you didn't want to play puzzles?"
Tao Aiqin: "She's finally willing to take responsibility, be a mother who loves her child, and spare her precious time to play with her daughter. How can I spoil her mood?"
"Why do I feel like you're implying something about CEO Tao?"
"Your feeling is right, but why are you starting to call her CEO Tao too?"
"System, stop playing dead, hurry up, I want to draw a prize!"
"Didn't you say you were going to bathe and eat vegetarian for three days?"
"The villain mom has moved into a new home. She's so rich, let me soak up some of her good luck now. Less nonsense, draw!"
"System 030 requesting transfer... Drip, detected 【Prize Draw】 signal, System turntable activated, selecting prize... Ding, congratulations to System Host 030 for obtaining D-level skill card 【Run Like a Thief】, System turntable closed."
"Host! This is good stuff, and it's an opportunity given by the main system, equivalent to getting a skill for free."
"Run Like a Thief?" Tao Aiqin stared at the virtual interface in front of her. "Once daily, refreshes at midnight the next day, uses cannot be stacked. Effect is... always one step faster than the person chasing you."
The little one stroked her chin. "This is good stuff, maybe I can use it tomorrow."
System was terrified: "Isn't the villain sending you to school tomorrow? You're not really going to skip school, are you?"
"Don't worry, I have my own plans."
"You better!"
The next day, Tao Qiuyun made simple sandwiches. After pressing the little cat's head down to make her finish eating, she carried her out.
Tao Aiqin nestled on the woman's shoulder, silently complaining in her heart: "I admit, maybe CEOs aren't great cooks, but how did she make a sandwich look like this? She lived abroad, you know!"
System: "Uh..."
"Ugh... that egg makes me want to throw up... I can't take it anymore, System, open the store, is there any medicine that can instantly wash my stomach without inducing vomiting?"
She was so uncomfortable she didn't even call it Sys anymore!
The System immediately opened the store, redeemed a bottle of 【Antidote】, and said caringly, "Between us, the Wuxia dimension system is having a clearance sale today, consider this on me."
"Thanks, Sys."
"A great kindness needs no thanks!"
"...Learn a bit more vocabulary."
"Got it!"
Tao Aiqin didn't chat much with the System. After choosing to use the 【Antidote】, her abnormal state was instantly cleared, and she felt refreshed. She clenched her little fists.
Going to kindergarten later would be her moment to shine!
"Madam, please rest assured, we will take good care of every child here and will not fail the parents' trust." The young female teacher was very beautiful, exuding a friendly aura, speaking gently yet powerfully: "Qinqin is enrolling mid-term, we will pay special attention to her situation recently."
After speaking, she paused, and when she met Tao Qiuyun's face, she briefly stuttered for a moment, "Th- this parent, may I add you on WeChat? You can contact me anytime if you have any questions."
"Okay." Tao Qiuyun took out her phone and scanned the female teacher's contact card. "May I ask what this teacher's name is?"
"Chang Suiyou." A smile bloomed in the corners of the woman's eyes, like a spring breeze carrying the fragrance of flowers, refreshing the heart.
Tao Qiuyun was slightly stunned. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but when the woman in front of her smiled, her eyes were actually somewhat similar to Qin Qingshang's.
The momentary daze prevented her from stating her name in time. When Chang Suiyou asked, Tao Qiuyun slightly furrowed her brow. "Sorry, Teacher Chang, I am Qinqin's mother, Tao Qiuyun."
"Okay," the young and beautiful female teacher didn't mind her lapse in etiquette and asked considerately, "Then, Ms. Tao, does Qinqin have any allergies?"
"Do you have any allergies?" Tao Qiuyun lowered her head to ask the little cat in her arms.
"Hmph! No, bad Mama, you don't care about Qinqin at all, you're not attentive like Mama!" Tao Aiqin pretended to be angry.
The atmosphere between Tao Qiuyun and this female teacher was too strange, giving her an ominous feeling, so she could only use this method to remind them...
They are married people, okay?!
"So it's a wife-wife couple," Chang Suiyou smiled and chatted with Tao Qiuyun, "Since the policy opened up, there are more and more cases of women having daughters together. In our class, there are also two girls whose parents are two mothers. I used to hear them complain that the process was particularly difficult if they wanted a child. You and your wife must be very loving."
"Mm." Tao Qiuyun nodded calmly.
Their relationship is indeed good, so good that she doesn't even want to make a phone call!
Yesterday, she clearly had Secretary Zheng give her contact information to Qin Qingshang, but she hasn't contacted her until now. It seems she doesn't want to at all...
Thinking of this, Tao Qiuyun became even more depressed.
Seemingly noticing her bad mood, Chang Suiyou immediately changed the subject. "It's getting late, Ms. Tao should be going to work, right? Then I'll take the child to school..."
"I don't want to, I don't want to!" Tao Aiqin burrowed into Tao Qiuyun's arms. "I don't like her, I want Mama! I want Mama!"
"It's not up to you whether you like it or not." Tao Qiuyun's face sank. "Didn't we agree yesterday that you'd go to school today?"
"Wuwuwuwu! No," the little one started crying and making a fuss, "Qinqin is a little cat, she needs to be carried!"
"Then how about I carry Qinqin?" Chang Suiyou stepped forward.
Seeing her stand next to Tao Qiuyun, their cold and warm temperaments overlapped, creating an unexpectedly matching and harmonious picture.
Tao Aiqin felt a blockage in her heart, her eyes immediately turned red, looking pitiful. At the same time, she frantically called the System internally: "Sys! Can you check this Chang Suiyou, what's her background? I always feel like something's off about her!"
"This person isn't in the novel... But since you think it's strange, I'll submit an application to the main system."
"Thanks, Sys."
While she was talking to the System, Tao Qiuyun had already handed the child to Chang Suiyou. She was a little embarrassed: "Teacher Chang, sorry, she's a bit spoiled."
"It's okay, Qinqin is very cute." Chang Suiyou held the child and gently coaxed her.
"Wuwuwuwu!" The little cat was unwilling, struggling in the woman's arms, shouting loudly: "Don't want you! Don't want you! I want Mama!"
"Tao Aiqin!" Seeing her flailing her hands, about to hit Chang Suiyou, Tao Qiuyun immediately grabbed her little paws and her face turned cold: "Behave."
"Ms. Tao, please don't be like this, it will scare the child." Chang Suiyou first comforted the adult, then lowered her head to coax the crying child, "Qinqin, be good, let's go inside and play. Mama has to go to work. We'll see Mama when she gets off work."
Tao Aiqin slightly whimpered, seemingly scared. She sniffled her little nose and said pitifully, "Teacher, can you put me down? I want to say goodbye to her~"
Combining the best features of Tao Qiuyun and Qin Qingshang's looks, the little cat's appearance was very deceptive. Chang Suiyou was fooled by her, bent down and put her down, holding her little hand. "Come, let's say goodbye to Mama."
"Mama~" The little cat was soft.
Tao Qiuyun's heart skipped a beat. This girl never called her Mama, always calling her bad guy or bad Mama.
Sure enough, the next moment...
"You're not Mama! You're a bad egg!"
After saying this, Tao Aiqin immediately broke free from the hand Chang Suiyou wasn't holding tightly and darted out nimbly.
"Tao Aiqin!"
Tao Qiuyun reacted quickly and immediately turned to chase. Her beige trench coat rustled in the strong wind around her.
She was utterly shocked...
Why?
She actually couldn't catch up to this little one!
Especially every time she was about to catch her, she would always be just one step away.
This is unreasonable!
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