Zheng Yang looked at the ID photo Zheng Shiqiang had just taken on his phone.
It depicted a girl with delicate features who appeared natural and poised, a subtle smile playing at the corners of her lips.
‘But I don’t think I’ve ever had such a brilliant smile before.’
Zheng Shiqiang used AI to touch up the photo in no time.
Without another word, he prepared to take Zheng Yang to the hospital for a Bone Age Test.
For some reason, Zheng Yang suddenly felt a bit overwhelmed.
She gently tugged at Zheng Shiqiang’s arm.
“Dad, there are still 1.5 hours left for the private room. Should we… sing for a while?”
Zheng Shiqiang pinched her cheek.
“You silly girl, are you trying to ‘repay’ me again? Or do you just not want to waste the money I spent on the room?”
“I… is it wrong to just want to sing with my father for a bit? I’m actually not a bad singer…”
“If you like singing, I’ll renovate a dedicated karaoke room for you at home later.”
“Huh?” Zheng Yang’s face flushed.
“Like an overbearing CEO?”
Zheng Shiqiang felt baffled.
“How is that overbearing?”
Zheng Yang realized that President Zheng probably didn’t read those brain-dead webnovels or watch those kinds of TV shows.
However, the reason for her blushing wasn’t just the idea of an overbearing gesture.
It was the implication in Zheng Shiqiang’s words—he clearly intended for her to live in his home.
He was a secretly wealthy man in this city.
She was afraid she wouldn’t be able to adapt to his mansion, afraid she might accidentally violate some eccentric taboo of the rich while doing housework, and even more afraid of the potential inconveniences of a man and woman living alone together…
When they reached the parking lot, Zheng Shiqiang was about to open the driver’s side door when Zheng Yang’s old habits kicked in.
“Dad, let me drive for you!”
At this moment, she didn’t feel like she was “sucking up” to a boss like she used to at her old company; she truly wanted to do something for him.
Zheng Shiqiang’s eyes lit up.
“You know how to drive?”
Only then did Zheng Yang realize that, as a Black Household, she couldn’t possibly have a driver’s license.
Furthermore, driving wasn’t a skill a normal school-age girl should possess—especially since her current identity, thanks to Lili, had been involved in “grey” industries.
She quickly lowered her head, a strained smile on her face.
“I learned it on the side… It’s a survival skill…”
Zheng Shiqiang found it interesting.
Logically, for a girl like Zheng Yangyang, knowing how to drive should be a point of pride.
But her current expression looked more like someone who had just been caught hiding a secret.
Experience told him that there were likely many more surprises hidden within Zheng Yangyang.
He hadn’t misjudged her.
“There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.
Knowing how to drive is a good thing.
Once your household registration is settled, if you’re 18, I’ll buy you a car.
But it can’t be too expensive—under 500,000.”
Zheng Yang was overwhelmed by the favor, waving her hands frantically in fear.
“No, no, no! Dad! Don’t! I won’t drive. I’m not driving anymore!”
After saying that, she scurried over to the passenger side, opened the door, sat down, and buckled her seatbelt.
Lili’s words flashed through her mind again— ‘If you give up some of your dignity, you’ll live a very good life…’
But for her, accepting a favor was much harder than giving one.
‘Is this… what they call a happy problem?’
Zheng Yang followed her “father” to the hospital with a heart full of anxiety, which only intensified as she underwent the bone age test.
The test required an X-ray of her left wrist.
Zheng Yang felt secretly relieved that her tattoo sticker was on her right arm.
But when she rolled up her sleeves, Zheng Shiqiang asked casually, “Why are you wearing long sleeves in the middle of summer?”
Zheng Yang guiltily stuck out her tongue.
Feeling that she shouldn’t hide it, she rolled up her right sleeve to show Zheng Shiqiang before quickly pulling it back down.
“Just because of that? It’s nothing. I saw it the first time we met.”
“Huh? Oh… right. How did I forget… But Dad, this is a tattoo sticker. It will naturally fade away.”
“I know.”
“Wow, you know so much, Dad!”
Zheng Shiqiang gave a noncommittal smile.
Zheng Yang suddenly realized how mindless her comment sounded—if an old corporate drone like her could recognize it, how could a president of a major corporation who dealt with all kinds of elites and shady characters every day not know?
However, she figured that being a bit mindless and frank was exactly how a young girl should act.
While waiting for the report, the two sat on a bench in the hospital corridor.
To an outsider, they looked like a normal father and daughter, but for Zheng Yang, it was an ordeal.
Her heart wouldn’t stop pounding.
For one, she was afraid Zheng Shiqiang would ask about her history; she wouldn’t be able to answer and would have to lie.
Secondly, from her perspective, the bosses she used to “lick” in the past weren’t even fit to carry Zheng Shiqiang’s shoes.
Now, she was suddenly sitting next to a titan.
Her old “fear of big shots” habit was acting up.
The most absurd part was that Zheng Yang found interacting with Zheng Shiqiang in a normal relationship far more difficult than interacting with him as a KTV hostess.
She laughed bitterly in her heart.
‘When the habit of flattery is bone-deep, is even a normal relationship this difficult? Those 38 years really were a joke…’
“Dad, there’s something I want to ask your opinion on…”
To prevent Zheng Shiqiang from prying into her life, she decided to create a topic of her own.
“Just say it. Don’t be so timid.”
“Um… I was thinking that when I officially leave Golden Era, I want to split my savings between Manager Wang and A-Zi, my roommate.”
“Oh? Why?”
Although Manager Wang had slapped her and used ** to threaten her into accompanying guests, she could feel that it was a product of his job, not his basic humanity.
His true character showed when Zheng Yang had agreed to accompany a guest; when she had accidentally exposed her torso while changing, he had turned his back to avoid looking.
“Manager Wang looked out for me sometimes, and he’s a man of principle… A-Zi is also someone who is cold on the outside but warm on the inside. She comforted me when it mattered most… And most importantly, that money was earned there. I… I…”
Zheng Shiqiang smiled and asked, “What about it?”
“I don’t think it’s very clean… I want to break away from everything in the past and start from zero.”
Zheng Shiqiang burst into laughter.
“Dad, you don’t think I’m being hypocritical, do you?” Zheng Yang lowered her head, rubbing her fingers together.
“Silly girl.”
Zheng Shiqiang flicked her nose.
“Your thinking is excellent. That’s my daughter!”
Zheng Yang let out an embarrassed laugh.
Zheng Shiqiang admired Zheng Yang’s shyness.
He knew she rarely showed such a girlish side, making it a rare sight.
Once the Bone Age Test Report was ready, Zheng Shiqiang took it first.
He looked it over, then turned to give Zheng Yang a meaningful glance.
Zheng Yang was so nervous she didn’t even dare to call him “Dad.”
‘Is the result that ridiculous? It couldn’t be 38, could it? Will President Zheng regret taking me in because of the report?’
Then again, Lili had said her female form was a transformation of her original body.
If it really measured as 38, it wouldn’t be surprising…
Zheng Shiqiang walked toward Zheng Yang and shook the report in front of her.
“Take a look, you girl who doesn’t even know her own age!”
His words made Zheng Yang’s breathing turn shallow.
She summoned her courage and looked at the page…
“Fif… 15?!”
That was way too young!
She couldn’t help but look down at her chest, which seemed a bit too well-developed for that age.
Zheng Shiqiang laughed.
“Are you really that surprised?”
Zheng Yang realized her reaction was a bit over the top and quickly explained, “I… I thought I was already quite mature…”
Zheng Shiqiang glanced at her with a smile.
“Hmph, little girl!”
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