Chapter 3 - 2: A Man Without a Conscience

Jiang Tongtong’s skin was fair, tender, and smooth, without a single blemish. Her eyes were large and bright, framed by long lashes. She had a small, slightly upturned nose and full, rosy lips that were currently pouting.

She was incredibly cute.

Right now, she was like a little pixie, hopping and skipping around Jiang Liu in her white dress.

"Your mommy’s gone. She’ll be visiting you much less from now on."

A pang of heartache hit Jiang Liu, and he squeezed his daughter’s hand tighter.

"Gone?"

"Daddy, you two didn’t get a divorce, did you?"

Tongtong tilted her head, looking up at Jiang Liu.

Her big eyes seemed to be telling him, ’I know everything.’

"Er..." Jiang Liu froze for a second. ’My daughter sure knows a lot,’ he thought.

"Yes, we got divorced. From now on, you’ll be living with just Daddy."

"Daddy."

"Hm?"

"Daddy!"

"What is it!"

Jiang Tongtong, her hair in a bun, shook her head.

"Tongtong just wants to be with you. Don’t worry, I won’t be sad!"

"Okay, I understand." Jiang Liu smiled, relieved.

"Quick, give me a kiss, Daddy."

Jiang Tongtong stopped in her tracks, her face practically screaming, ’Praise me, praise me!’

"Mwah! Tongtong, you’re so sweet."

Jiang Liu didn’t hesitate to plant a kiss on her.

"Hee hee hee. You’re so mean! Daddy, your stubble poked me."

"Daddy, Daddy, see how good I’m being? Can I have some ice cream?"

"And will you be a good girl?"

Jiang Tongtong let go of Jiang Liu’s hand, crossed her arms, tilted her head back, and rolled her eyes.

’Hmph, hmph. Daddy will definitely say, "If you’re a good girl, we’re not buying it!"’

’He tricks me like this every time!’

Tongtong’s eyes darted. "Daddy, if you buy it for me, *then* I’ll be good!"

"You sure about that?"

Jiang Liu grinned, a sinister smile spreading across his face.

Tongtong shivered for some reason, but under the allure of ice cream, she clenched her little fists.

"Daddy, I’m sure! I want it! Please, please buy it for me now!"

"If you don’t buy it for me, Tongtong will misbehave! I’ll lie on the ground and throw a tantrum!"

"Alright, great. So if I don’t buy it, you’ll throw a tantrum, is that it? I’ll ’get’ you something right now."

Jiang Liu sneered, blew on his palms, and picked Jiang Tongtong up like a little chick,

to her utter confusion.

He aimed for her bottom and gave her a sound spanking.

The sound of WHACKS echoed through the alley.

Her clear, loud sobs attracted the attention of passersby.

"WAAAH! WAH! Daddy, you’re a stinky daddy! I hate you! I really, really hate you, WAAAH!"

Jiang Tongtong kicked her little legs, her mouth wide open as she wailed.

The other parents dropping off their kids were dumbfounded, on the verge of bursting into laughter.

’How can you bear to spank such a cute daughter?’ they thought. ’Ahem, but as the saying goes, joy is better when shared...’

"You just wait! I’m going to tell Teacher Qing Ran, and she’ll definitely make you write a hundred Pinyin sheets!"

Jiang Tongtong gnashed her little teeth, glaring furiously at Jiang Liu.

"Stinky Daddy! I’m... going to hate you forever—!"

Five minutes later, Tongtong was holding an ice cream pop, her little tongue licking it contentedly.

"Daddy, you’re the best in the whole world! Tongtong loves you!"

...Jiang Liu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Eating too much ice cream was unhealthy, but he was powerless against his daughter’s tantrums and wheedling.

"This is the only time this week, you hear me? When you get to kindergarten, listen to your teacher. Don’t cause any trouble, got it?"

Jiang Liu patiently instructed.

He ruffled his daughter’s hair.

"I know, Daddy. I’ll be very, very good."

Jiang Tongtong’s eyes darted around, clearly plotting something mischievous.

Soon, Jiang Liu dropped Tongtong off at South City Kindergarten.

Inside, there were slides, trampolines, building blocks—everything a kid could want.

Teachers from each class were at the entrance to greet the students.

There were also four or five security guards on patrol.

Jiang Tongtong had sharp eyes.

She spotted a beautiful figure at the gate in a single glance and, holding her ice cream pop high, shouted excitedly:

"Teacher Qingmeng! I’m here! Tongtong’s here! I missed you so much!"

Jun Qingmeng stood gracefully at the kindergarten gate. Her full lips were curved into a slight smile. She wore a long blue dress that accentuated her tall, curvaceous figure. Her skin was fair, and her eyes sparkled like a clear spring.

A barely visible beauty mark just under the corner of her eye added a hint of allure.

Jun Qingmeng was twenty-three this year. She was beautiful and had a mysterious air about her. Ever since she started teaching at the kindergarten a year ago, the number of fathers dropping off and picking up their children had steadily increased.

"Tongtong, why are you so late today?"

Jun Qingmeng looked at Jiang Tongtong and asked in a gentle voice. The moment she spoke—

the male parents all around couldn’t help but glance over.

"Oh, Teacher Qingmeng, I have a secret to tell you!"

Tongtong ran over and hugged Jun Qingmeng’s smooth, slender legs, rubbing her face against them affectionately.

"Oh? You have secrets now?"

Jun Qingmeng tapped her finger on Jiang Tongtong’s forehead.

Her beautiful eyes, full of amusement, glanced at Jiang Liu.

He immediately had a bad feeling.

’This little rascal is definitely going to blab about the divorce.’

’It’s not like it’s something to be proud of!’

"Ahem, Tongtong, have you forgotten that Daddy bought you ice cream? You have to be a good girl at school, or Daddy won’t buy you any more."

Jiang Liu frantically tried to signal her.

Jiang Tongtong pouted and turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

Jiang Liu awkwardly rubbed his nose.

"Teacher Qingmeng, I’ll have to trouble you to look after Tongtong."

"Also... she watches a lot of soap operas, so she tends to spout nonsense. Don’t take her seriously, haha."

’Bad Daddy!’ Jiang Tongtong wouldn’t stand for it. Her little face grew anxious as she tried to clarify:

"That’s not true, that’s not true! I’m a very good girl!"

"Oh, right! Teacher Qingmeng, Daddy just spanked my butt! Quick, give him homework as a punishment!"

She tugged on Jun Qingmeng’s dress with one hand while vehemently pointing a finger at Jiang Liu with the other.

"I don’t think a teacher has that much power. Your daddy might even spank me, too."

Jun Qingmeng beamed at Jiang Liu, her eyes full of playful teasing.

Gah!

’Damn it, damn it all! This is so embarrassing...’ Jiang Liu’s face burned. ’This little monster, I’m definitely going to have to teach her another lesson when we get home!’

Jiang Tongtong’s eyes darted. "Teacher Qingmeng, why don’t you marry my daddy and be his wife? Then you can punish him with homework! Can you? Please, please?"

Her lively, big eyes looked up at Jun Qingmeng expectantly.

’Whoa, this little girl is setting a trap.’

"Tongtong, stop talking nonsense!"

Jiang Liu, standing to the side, was mortified.

He could feel the jealous stares from the men around them.

Many parents looked at Jiang Tongtong, then at their own dopey kids, and sighed at the sky.

A blush immediately spread across Jun Qingmeng’s face, but she calmly explained.

"Tongtong, Teacher can’t marry your daddy. It’s because he already has a wife, and you can only marry one person, you know?"

"I know! But my daddy is divorced now."

"Huh?"

Jun Qingmeng froze, looking up at Jiang Liu with a puzzled expression.

Jiang Liu spread his hands helplessly. "It was for certain reasons. We couldn’t help it."

"I see..."

Jun Qingmeng nodded, her head lowered as she kicked at a small stone at her feet. An awkward silence fell between the two of them.

"Ahem, Teacher Qingmeng, I have to go. I’ll leave Tongtong in your care."

The atmosphere felt uncomfortable, and Jiang Liu decided to make a quick escape.

"Okay." Jun Qingmeng watched Jiang Liu, blinking. "Be careful on your way."

"Bye-bye, Daddy! Remember to pick me up tonight!"

Jiang Tongtong waved her small arm reluctantly.

"Not picking you up. Go wherever you want."

Jiang Liu huffed and left with that one parting shot.

Leaving Tongtong with a look of utter disbelief on her face.

*Sniffle...*

"Tongtong, hahaha... Is your dad always like this with you?"

Jun Qingmeng couldn’t hold it in anymore and giggled, covering her mouth.

Her laugh stunned the crowd of males.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, like a white rose retracting its thorns to reveal its soft, bright petals.

Jiang Tongtong, mimicking a soap opera heroine, put on a cold expression and bit her lip.

"Hmph! Heartless man! Teacher Qingmeng, you’re just like my daddy. I’m very disappointed in both of you! I am formally notifying you that I am angry now!!"