The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Because Chen Dong had gone back to save Wang Mengyu, he wasn't able to catch up to Li Huiran.

Li Huiran took Li Wang and returned to the Li Manor ahead of him.

As soon as they entered the living room, the members of the Li Family looked at Li Wang with curiosity. 'Who is this exquisitely adorable little girl, as delicate as a porcelain doll?'

Li Wang showed no signs of shyness, immediately sitting on the sofa and playing with her phone. Li Huiran, looking completely defeated, collapsed beside her.

The three exchanged glances, sensing something was off. 'This can't be the child of one of Huiran's friends.'

Finally, it was Xia Yi who broke the silence. "Huiran, this child is...?"

Li Huiran sighed heavily before answering in a somber voice, "Chen Dong's daughter!"

The words hit the three of them like a bolt of lightning. They exclaimed in unison, "What?!"

Li Qinghe, his face etched with disbelief, turned to Li Wang. "Little girl, who is your father?"

Li Wang looked annoyed that her game had been interrupted. "Chen Dong," she replied impatiently.

Even Li Qinghe, who held Chen Dong in high esteem and trusted him implicitly, couldn't control his temper. He slammed his cane on the floor, the thuds echoing in the room.

His breathing was ragged as he said, "Huiran, don't be upset. When Xiaodong gets back, I'll be sure to have a good talk with him and make him explain himself! By the way, where is he?"

"He said something came up and took off again," Li Huiran said, her voice still low. 'I knew bringing this child home would cause problems,' she thought. 'Chen Dong's little ruse couldn't even fool me; how did he expect to fool my family? He's obviously scared of being questioned and scolded, so he deserted his post.'

Li Jianwen said, unable to contain his fury, "Dad, Chen Dong is already hiding in fear, and you still want to question him? The living proof is right here! What is there to ask? It's obvious that Chen Dong has wronged our Li Family!"

Even though Li Jianwen had started to see Chen Dong in a better light, when it came to his daughter's happiness, he would always be on her side.

Xia Yi also wore a troubled expression. She despised homewreckers more than anything. 'If Chen Dong's daughter is this old, then he must have been with that other woman for a very long time... which would make my daughter the other woman!'

At this thought, she too began to sigh.

Still not satisfied, Li Jianwen turned back to Li Wang. "Little one, who is your mother?" He wanted to find the person responsible for ruining his daughter's marriage and give them a piece of his mind.

Li Wang pretended to think for a moment. "Chen Dong!"

This answer left everyone in the Li Family, including Li Huiran, momentarily stunned.

As if he had discovered a glitch in the matrix, Li Qinghe tried to probe again. "Little one, we asked who your *mother* is, not your father!"

Li Wang frowned. "My father is Chen Dong, and my mother is also Chen Dong."

The jaws of the Li Family dropped in unison.

'So Chen Dong is both her father and her mother!'

Tears welled up in the sentimental Xia Yi's eyes. "He must have had such a difficult time all these years."

Li Qinghe also let out a heavy sigh.

In an instant, the members of the Li Family had constructed a complete backstory in their minds: Chen Dong had been used and abandoned by a heartless woman, who left him with their child to raise all by himself.

Even Li Huiran started to think the same way. 'Maybe he really does have a tragic story he can't talk about!'

Li Jianwen clenched his fists, then asked again, this time more cautiously, "Do you know who your birth mother is?"

Li Wang seemed to be getting angry with the questions. She waved her hands dismissively. "You guys are so annoying! I already told you, it's Chen Dong! My mom is Chen Dong, my dad is Chen Dong, and my birth mom is Chen Dong!"

Hearing this, Xia Yi covered her mouth and began to cry. "Jianwen, stop asking!" she said, her voice choked with sobs. "Don't keep reopening the poor child's wounds!"

Wiping a tear from her eye, she moved closer to Li Wang and pulled the girl into her arms. "Child, from now on, I'll be your real grandma!"

Li Jianwen nodded as well. "Yes, and I'll be her real grandpa!"

Li Huiran's lips trembled as if she wanted to say something, but she held her tongue after Xia Yi shot her a pair of sharp glares.

Xia Yi stroked Li Wang's hair and asked gently, "My dear granddaughter, what's your name?"

Li Wang smiled. "My name is Li Wang. The 'Wang' means 'hope.' Chen Dong picked it for me." She didn't clarify that, in truth, Chen Dong had only picked the "Wang" part of her name.

Upon hearing this, Li Qinghe exclaimed, "Good, good, good! Li Wang... 'The hope of the dawn.' A wonderful name!"

Realizing she was being praised, Li Wang's eyes lit up, and she broke into a bright smile.

Li Huiran also mustered her courage, took Li Wang's little hand, and said softly, "From now on, you can think of me as your mom!"

Li Wang gave Li Huiran a strange look, then pouted and shook her head. "My mom is Chen Dong!"

Her reaction only deepened the Li Family's empathy. 'Just how much hardship have this father and daughter endured for their bond to be this strong?'

Xia Yi didn't push the issue, knowing these things take time. She spoke gently to Li Wang, "Li Wang, from now on, this is your home. We are all your family!"

The atmosphere in the room became harmonious, and a new light seemed to sparkle in Li Wang's eyes.

Meanwhile, Chen Dong, who was standing right outside the door, didn't know whether he should go in or continue to feign his escape.

After a long moment, Chen Dong walked into the living room, ready to explain himself.

But before he could speak, Li Qinghe cut him off, his expression a mixture of profound sorrow and understanding. "Xiaodong, don't say a word! We forgive you! From now on, you and Li Wang will live here with the Li Family. No one here will care about your past."

Chen Dong was completely baffled. He hadn't come in earlier because he didn't want to ruin the nice atmosphere, but what on earth was happening now? He shot a curious glance at Li Wang.

Li Wang simply responded with an expression that clearly said, 'Don't ask me.'

Chen Dong's stunned silence was misinterpreted by the Li Family as him being deeply moved.