The sound of footsteps grew closer.
Ziya immediately wiped the smile off her face, buried her head under the covers, and kept her breathing light and even.
*Zzz… zzz…*
She deliberately let out soft, adorable snoring sounds, sounding just like a sleeping kitten.
Lü Erlu pushed the door open and walked in.
He stepped lightly toward the bed, looking at the tiny body rising and falling slightly beneath the covers with eyes full of adoration.
“This child, she’s sleeping so peacefully…”
The moment his fingertips touched the edge of the blanket, Ziya shrunk back slightly.
Her eyelashes fluttered as if she were being disturbed.
She slowly opened a sliver of her eyes, revealing watery purple orbs filled with a heavy drowsiness.
She spoke in a soft, sweet voice.
“Father…”
“Are you awake?”
Lü Erlu stroked her hair.
“Get up and wash your face. The soufflé is still hot; I made it just for you.”
Ziya sat up slowly.
Her hair was a messy nest draped over her shoulders, and her cheeks were flushed with a post-sleep glow.
She nodded obediently.
“Thank you, Father. I’ll be ready in a moment.”
She nimbly pulled on her little dress and gave her hair a quick brush in front of the mirror.
Suddenly!
*Mwah!*
Ziya turned and threw herself at Lü Erlu, standing on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.
Her eyes curved into crescents as she smiled.
“Good morning kiss, Father! I’m going to go change now!”
“Run slowly, don’t fall,” Lü Erlu warned with a smile.
“Mhm!”
Ziya skipped out of the room.
The moment she turned the corner of the staircase, her obedient expression vanished.
It was replaced by a cunning grin, looking like a little fox ready to cause some mischief.
‘Hehe, looks like everyone is up.’
In the dining room downstairs, Longjiu sat at the table with her back ramrod straight, slowly gnawing on a roasted pig bone.
Her movements were orderly, with only a small bit of oil staining the corner of her mouth.
Her tone had returned to its usual calm, losing the playful air she had with Lü Erlu earlier.
Longjiu only acted like an energetic young girl in front of Lü Erlu.
She likely inherited her mother’s personality — mischievous when she should be, but steady when it counted.
“Father hasn’t come down yet?”
Longjiu checked the clock on the wall and asked.
“He’s probably waking up that little lazybones! Honestly.”
Baining sat nearby, eating a White Blood Honey Tart with a small fork.
She rolled her eyes.
“We have to wait for her every single time. It’s such a pain.”
Longjiu didn’t say anything.
She simply nodded and continued her slow gnawing.
At that moment, Ziya ran down with a sweet smile.
Her hair was neatly combed, and her skirt fluttered, making her look both well-behaved and adorable.
“Good morning, sisters! Sorry to keep you waiting, I’m so sorry!”
“At least you know!”
Baining huffed, but she still pushed the soufflé toward her.
“Hurry up and eat before it gets cold.”
“Thank you, Sister Baining!”
Ziya sat down with a grin and took a large scoop of soufflé.
Her eyes lit up.
“Wow, it’s so sweet! Father’s cooking is the best!”
As she ate, she secretly kicked Baining’s chair.
The force was light, just enough for Baining to feel it, but not enough for Lü Erlu — who had just come downstairs — to notice.
Baining frowned and glared at her.
Ziya immediately lowered her head, pretending to focus on her food, but the corners of her mouth curled upward in secret.
Lü Erlu sat down at the head of the table.
He looked at his three daughters and said with a smile, “Eat up. After you’re done, you can go play in the yard if you want. Just be careful.”
“Okay!”
Ziya immediately raised her hand, smiling obediently.
“I want to play hide-and-seek with my sisters!”
“Very well.”
Lü Erlu nodded, then looked at Longjiu.
“Longjiu, take good care of your older sisters.”
Longjiu nodded seriously.
“Yes, Father. Don’t worry.”
After breakfast, Lü Erlu went to the kitchen to clear the dishes.
Ziya immediately pulled Baining and Longjiu toward the yard.
The moment they left the dining room, her mask of obedience vanished, and she made a face at Baining.
“Sister, I’m definitely going to beat you at hide-and-seek later!”
“Hmph, we’ll see about that!”
Baining said defiantly.
“You cheated last time by hiding in a tree hollow and never coming out!”
“I did not!”
Ziya stuck out her tongue.
She secretly fished a few gummies out of her pocket and, while Baining wasn’t looking, tossed one onto her hair.
“Oh no, Sister! There’s a bug in your hair!”
Terrified, Baining hurriedly reached up to feel for it.
When her hand touched the gummy, she jumped in anger.
“Ziya! You tricked me again!”
“Hahahaha!”
Ziya laughed as she ran away.
“Come and get me! You can’t catch me!”
Longjiu stood nearby, watching them blankly.
She held the gummy that Ziya had shoved into her hand earlier and said softly, “Don’t run too fast. You’ll fall.”
Ziya didn’t listen.
Instead, she ran even faster, occasionally looking back to make faces.
Baining stomped her feet in frustration and gave chase.
The two of them circled the large tree in the yard several times.
Ziya was running too fast, and her foot slipped.
Just as she was about to hit the ground, Longjiu’s eyes narrowed.
She lunged forward with lightning speed and steadily caught Ziya by the arm.
“Careful.”
Longjiu’s tone was as calm as ever, and her grip was firm.
After steadying herself, Ziya patted her chest and gave Longjiu a sweet smile.
“Thank you, Sister… Little Sister Longjiu! You’re so nice!”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she took advantage of Longjiu’s momentary distraction to shove a gummy into her mouth, then turned and bolted.
“Little Sister Long, is it sweet?”
Longjiu chewed and said blankly, “It’s sweet.”
By then, Baining had caught up and grabbed Ziya’s arm.
“Got you! Where do you think you’re going?”
“Oh no, Sister, have mercy!”
Ziya feigned a plea for her life.
The moment Baining loosened her grip, she threw the rest of the gummies onto Baining’s clothes.
Hehe.
“Argh! Ziya!”
Baining gnashed her teeth and reached out to tickle her.
“Wait until I get my hands on you!”
“Hahahaha! It tickles! Sister, I’m sorry!”
Ziya laughed as she dodged, running behind Longjiu and using her clothes as a shield.
“Sister Longjiu, save me!”
Longjiu stood in the middle, with a doubled-over Ziya on her left and a fuming Baining on her right.
She looked from one to the other and said softly, “Stop messing around. Father will worry.”
“I know, I know!”
Ziya poked her head out from behind Longjiu and made another face at Baining.
“I’ll let you off this time, but I’ll get you next time!”
“Don’t you dare!”
Baining glared at her.
Just then, Lü Erlu finished the dishes and came outside.
Ziya immediately let go of Longjiu’s clothes and ran to give Lü Erlu a hug, smiling like an angel.
“Father! We had so much fun! My sisters even let me win!”
Baining was about to expose her for the pranks, but she saw Ziya secretly mouthing words at her.
“If you tell on me, Father will think you’re bullying me, hehehe.”
Baining’s cheeks puffed up in anger, but in the end, she didn’t say a word, only letting out a huff.
Lü Erlu looked at Ziya’s well-behaved appearance and smiled as he patted her head.
“Our Ziya is so good, knowing how to get along with her sisters.”
Ziya nestled against Lü Erlu with a smile, secretly winking at Baining with eyes full of mischief.
Longjiu stood nearby and said blankly, “Sister Ziya is very lively.”
Lü Erlu laughed.
“Yes, our Ziya is just adorable.”
The sunlight was warm, and the yard was filled with the laughter of the three girls.
Ziya was a sweet, sensible little treasure in front of her father, but a mischievous bratty girl in front of her sisters.
This little contrast made the family’s daily life exceptionally lively and interesting.
And although Baining was always teased by Ziya, she never truly got angry.
In fact, she seemed to enjoy it… just a little bit.
Longjiu might have looked dazed, but she was exceptionally clever when dealing with Lü Erlu and always managed to protect her sisters at the critical moment.
Ziya peeked at Baining and Longjiu, thinking to herself.
‘Next time, I definitely have to come up with an even more interesting prank to play on them!’
Of course, in front of her father, she would always be the most obedient, good daughter.
—