Ruolan's POV
The man who carried Ziyu in his arms gently placed her down, his eyes locked on mine. It was as though he wanted to explain, but no words came out. His fingers twitched like he was about to gesture something... then he paused, glancing at my daughter.
Was he thinking of hurting her?
Dropping to my knees, I spread my arms wide.
"Come here, baby. Come"
Ziyu walked over and hugged me tightly.
"Mommy..."
I lifted my head, shooting the stranger a fierce glare.
"Get rid of him..." I ordered the guards.
But just as I turned to leave with Ziyu, she wriggled free from my arms and ran to stand in front of him, her tiny hands spread out in defence.
"Don't kill Papa!" She yelled.
Huh?
I blinked in confusion, lips twitching.
"Papa?" I frowned.
Ziyu's expression was dead serious. I let out a dry laugh, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.
"Baby, that man isn't your father. He kidnapped you!"
"Mommy, you can't hurt Daddy!" She said again, even louder this time.
Ziyu had never acted like this before. She was the kind of kid who barely glanced at strangers. And now she was calling this man her father?
Papa? Daddy?
What the actual hell?!
I squinted at the man. I was sure he'd done something to her... brainwashed her, perhaps.
"Fine, I won't hurt him," I said calmly, expecting her to come back into my arms. But, she didn't move. Instead, she tugged the man's pants softly, staring up at him.
I sighed and turned to the stranger.
"Carry the child," I ordered. "You're coming with us"
The guards escorted both him and Ziyu to the car. We hadn't caught the real kidnappers, but at least my daughter was back.
The drive to the house Father arranged for me took two long hours. Inside the car, the man sat silently beside me. He wore an armless top with a sweater tied loosely around his waist and thick black pants. Despite the simplicity of his clothes, it was hard not to notice how ridiculously handsome he was.
He had strikingly black hair that fell naturally over his forehead, deep, mysterious eyes to match, and features that were already absurdly well refined, high cheekbones, a straight, sculptured nose, fairy skin that glowed under the passing streetlights, and lips so pink they looked like they'd been stained by rose petals. His brows were dark and cleanly cut, framing his expressive gaze.
Not bad.
No, not bad at all.
I quickly looked away.
'I better focus on my mission and not some... handsome man who kidnapped my daughter!'
The car came to a halt, and we all got out. The estate was quiet and upscale, tucked away from the city's chaos. Father had purchased a home here for me... his way of blending me into the environment of the private military company I was supposed to infiltrate.
The house was as grand as it was luxurious, with tall gates and trimmed hedges bordering the walkway. Inside, the living room opened into a high-ceilinged space with a private balcony, polished floors, a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and white marble walls giving it a pristine elegance.
The guards started spreading around, trying to do their job, while the leader walked behind me. They claimed their job was just to keep me safe, but I knew Father sent them to keep an eye on me and report all of my movements.
Ziyu had already been placed on the couch. The man walked back toward me and made a simple hand motion—I assumed he was about to leave.
I folded my hands, unimpressed. He thought I couldn't understand him, but before he could pull out his phone, I signed back to him.
"Are you mute?"
His eyes widened in surprise. He nodded, looking a little flustered... like a puppy caught in the rain.
"Ah! How did I get myself involved with a mute man?" I groaned inwardly. At least, he wasn't deaf.
That's good.
I sat beside Ziyu, who had dozed off on the couch.
"Have a seat" I pointed to the white sofa across from me.
He hesitated, then turned his head shyly.
"I'm filthy" he signed.
"I know. But I can't make a grown man like you sit on the floor, can I?" I replied dryly.
He obediently sat at the far edge of a sofa.
For a few seconds, silence fell. I stroked Ziyu's hair and turned back to him.
"Why did you kidnap my daughter? Do you need money?"
"I didn't... I only saved her from the two men who took her" he signed with a small pout.
"Ah! So you're innocent" it finally clicked. If he were the kidnapper, Ziyu would never have called him Papa.
The embarrassing scene earlier flashed through my mind.
"Thank you for saving her. I'd like to compensate you..."
"No need for that. I just want to take my leave and go back to my work"
"Work?" I asked.
He explained that he worked at a bar as a bartender. He'd stepped out to throw away trash when he saw two men sprinting by with Ziyu. That's when he stepped in and saved her.
'I almost killed an innocent man. I nearly became a criminal on my first day here,'
I thought, scratching the side of my face nervously.
"Well, I still can't let you go without giving you something in return."
"..."
He raised his hand to sign again, but I cut him off.
"It's getting late. You should return to your work. Come back tomorrow by noon..."
Unable to refuse, he nodded and left quietly.
Soon after, the head of the bodyguard team, Hu Jiannan, walked in with a tablet.
"Here's all I could find about that man, Miss,"
I studied the screen.
Name: Chen Hao
Job status: Employed.
Age: 30
He'd started working at the bar three weeks ago. Everything about his background was plain and clean, no criminal records, no ties with the kidnappers.
"What about the real kidnappers? Any leads?"
"None of the men found them. They must have escaped..."
"Well, they better not come near my daughter again. Or I'll show them the wrath of a single mother", I growled.
Hu Jiannan flashed me a charming smile.
"Don't worry, Miss. I'll do anything to protect you"
I didn't believe him. I couldn't trust any of them. Not with my life, and especially not with my daughter's.
Later, I took Ziyu to her room and then retreated to mine. The master bedroom was spacious and serene, painted in warm neutrals, with thick black curtains that kept the room dim and private. A king-sized bed sat in the centre, and the adjourning walk-in closet was large enough to house ten wardrobes, let alone my modest collection.
After getting settled, I prepared dinner myself. Ziyu joined me at the dining table, picking up her fork before pausing.
"Where is Papa?"
There it was.
I had prayed she'd forget that man... but no. My sweet daughter still remembered him.
"Baby, that man isn't your Papa," I said softly.
"Isn't... Papa?" Ziyu mumbled as her eyes welled up.
"Oh no..." I rushed over and squatted before her. "I'm just kidding. Papa will be back tomorrow. He went to work"
"Papa?" She asked again, her little face lighting up.
I nodded, forcing a smile.
"Papa will come tomorrow. I will meet him tomorrow" she beamed, happily digging into her food.
I sighed inwardly, covering my face.
'How do I tell her that he's not her Papa? This is getting messy'