great-warnovel Chapter 3: 500 million for living expenses?!
Chapter 3: 500 million for living expenses?!
Chen Hao's nose suddenly felt a little sore.
He has a daughter.
He has a three-year-old daughter.
Looking at the small, soft person in front of him, he felt a surge of emotions he had never experienced before. He couldn't tell if it was shock, emotion, guilt, or heartache; all these feelings were mixed together.
He reached out and carefully pulled his daughter into his arms.
Shen Xiaoting didn't struggle, but she didn't respond either. Her small body was tense, and her two little hands were hanging in mid-air, not knowing where to put them.
Chen Hao could smell the faint milky scent on her body, feel her small body trembling slightly, and hear her soft breathing.
He gently rested his chin on his daughter's head, closed his eyes, and felt a turmoil in his heart.
Three years.
He only learned of her existence when the child was three years old.
When did she first take her first steps?
What did you say when you first started speaking?
What does she like to eat?
What are you afraid of?
Do you kick off the covers while sleeping at night?
Do you cry when you're sick?
He knows nothing.
He held his daughter for a long time before slowly letting go.
He looked up at Shen Mengyao, his expression complex.
"You..." He hesitated for a moment before choosing his words.
"Our daughter is already three years old, why... did you only come today?"
This question was like a thorn stuck in his heart.
If she didn't intend for him to know, then why has she shown up now?
If she intended to let him know, why did she wait three years?
Shen Mengyao's expression finally changed slightly. Her eyes flickered, and she lowered her eyelids, her long eyelashes casting a shadow under her eyes.
She was silent for a few seconds, then looked up at Chen Hao again, her voice still steady, but a little softer than before.
"I didn't originally intend to let Xiaoting know you existed."
These words were like a knife, stabbing straight into Chen Hao's heart.
His face paled for a moment, his lips moved, but he didn't speak, waiting for her to continue.
"But recently..." Shen Mengyao paused, as if carefully choosing her words.
"I've been extremely busy lately and simply don't have time to take care of her. So I'd like you to look after her for a while."
She glanced at Chen Hao and continued, "Six months. I'll come to pick her up after six months."
Chen Hao's face darkened after hearing this.
He stood up and stood facing Shen Mengyao.
He is 1.78 meters tall, and Shen Mengyao, wearing ankle boots, only reached about his eyebrows; the distance between them was less than a meter.
He could see the curve of her eyelashes and smell the faint scent of gardenias on her body.
"No." Chen Hao's tone was calm, but firm.
Shen Mengyao frowned slightly.
"Xiaoting is my daughter," Chen Hao said, emphasizing each word.
"I didn't know she existed before, so that was fine. Now that I know, I will absolutely not let anyone take her away from me."
He paused, his voice softening slightly, but his attitude remained unchanged:
"I can raise her with you. I am her father, and I have the right and responsibility to be involved in her upbringing. You can't just send her here and take her away whenever you want."
Shen Mengyao looked at him, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.
She probably never expected that this programmer, who lived in a dilapidated old apartment and earned a monthly salary of just over 20,000 yuan, would say such a thing to her.
The two stared at each other for a few seconds.
Shen Mengyao was the first to look away. She turned her head slightly and looked at the window at the end of the corridor. The sunlight outside shone in and outlined a golden edge on her profile.
Her eyelashes fluttered slightly, then she turned her head to look at Chen Hao.
"Let's discuss it later," she said, a hint of compromise in her voice.
"I hope you will take good care of her for the next six months."
Chen Hao nodded: "Don't worry, I will definitely take good care of her."
Shen Mengyao shifted her gaze from his face to the gray suitcase behind him.
The suitcase was zipped up and stood upright by the bed, looking like it could be picked up and taken away at any time.
"Are you going on a long trip? A business trip?" she asked.
Chen Hao glanced back at his suitcase and nodded:
"I plan to go back to my hometown for a while. It's in the countryside, in the south."
Shen Mengyao hesitated for a moment, then looked down at her daughter.
Shen Xiaoting was still clutching her clothes, her little face full of unease, but she didn't cry. She just bit her lip, looking at her mother and then at Chen Hao.
The second half of the year in the countryside... Shen Mengyao made a mental calculation.
That's good, the countryside is peaceful, without all the messy things in the capital.
The troubles she's been facing lately might affect her daughter if she stayed in Beijing.
Sending them to the countryside would be safer.
She looked up at Chen Hao, her tone becoming serious: "After we return to the countryside, you must keep a close eye on Xiaoting."
She paused, then emphasized, "Xiaoting must not be allowed to go near ponds or rivers in the countryside alone."
Also, although rural people are simple and honest, we can't let our guard down. We must not let her wander off alone to prevent her from getting lost or being abducted.
You must hold her hand when you go out, and keep the doors and windows closed when you're at home. She's a restless sleeper and tends to kick off the covers, so remember to cover her up.
She's a picky eater and doesn't like vegetables. You need to find a way to get her to eat them, but you can't force her, or she'll cry.
She's afraid of thunder. If it rains and thunders, you should hold her and cover her ears...
Shen Mengyao gave instructions one by one, speaking much faster than before, as if she were explaining something extremely important.
Her expression remained aloof, but her eyes held a barely perceptible hint of anxiety and reluctance.
Chen Hao listened attentively, memorizing each word, and then nodded solemnly.
"Don't worry, I won't let my daughter get into any danger."
Shen Mengyao glanced at him but didn't say anything more.
She took a bank card out of the other pocket of her trench coat and handed it to Chen Hao.
This card is dark blue with patterns printed on it, making it look quite different from ordinary bank cards.
Chen Hao recognized it as a black card from a private bank, which could not be obtained without a certain amount of assets.
"There's five million in this card," Shen Mengyao said, her tone as flat as if she were talking about five hundred yuan.
"That's enough for Xiaoting's living expenses for six months. If it's not enough, contact me and I'll transfer more to you."
five million.
Six months' living expenses.
Chen Hao's eyelid twitched.
He worked himself to the bone at a big factory for three years, earning only 700,000 to 800,000 yuan. He saved up over 100,000 yuan by living frugally.
Shen Mengyao casually holds five million yuan in a single card, and that's just for "living expenses."
Sure enough, there is an insurmountable chasm between the world of a billionaire CEO and his ordinary world.
He subconsciously shook his head and pushed the bank card back: "No need."
Although I'm not as rich as you, I still have over ten thousand yuan, which is enough to take care of my daughter.
Take this money back.
Shen Mengyao didn't take it; her hand hovered in mid-air, the bank card still pointing towards Chen Hao.
Her eyes were calm, but with an undeniable certainty.
"Take it," she said, only two words, but her tone was a bit heavy.