I Was Reborn as the Villain, but the System Bound Itself to the Female Leads - Chapter 6:

Chapter 6: When in Doubt, Beat the Son First

Just as she stepped out of the children’s clothing store, Gu Qingyi once again heard that strange voice in her mind.

[Congratulations to the host for completing the system mission. The reward—Chen Zhibao’s full shareholding—has been issued. The share certificate is now placed in the drawer of your office desk.]

After her previous experiences, Gu Qingyi had already come to trust the system’s rewards. She wasn’t in a rush to go back and verify it.

Since the mission was completed, she was also ready to leave. After all, shopping with Lin Yuan wasn’t exactly enjoyable.

However, just as she was about to say goodbye, she saw that Xiao Bao was still holding her hand. The child’s smile was bright, pure, and innocent—so much so that it made Gu Qingyi feel an instinctive urge to protect that happiness.

She crouched down and asked softly, “Xiao Bao, is there anything else you want to buy or play with?”

Xiao Bao thought for a long time before answering, “I want to eat lollipops, but Grandpa and Grandma never let me eat them.”

“Alright, then we’ll go buy some now. And not just lollipops—we’ll get lots of other snacks too, okay?”

“Okay. Thank you, big sister.”

Even though Xiao Bao was only three, she was very well-mannered. She knew how to say thank you to people who were kind to her.

Lin Yuan looked at his daughter, immensely pleased. So young, yet so clever—surely, she’d be a genius when she grew up.

The three of them then went to a snack shop and bought bags full of treats. Throughout the trip, Lin Yuan said little and simply watched Gu Qingyi interact with Xiao Bao in silence.

Finally, it was time to part ways. Lin Yuan gently took Xiao Bao back from Gu Qingyi’s arms.

“Xiao Bao, say goodbye to big sister.”

“Bye-bye, big sister.”

“Goodbye, Xiao Bao.”

After parting with Gu Qingyi, Lin Yuan carried Xiao Bao back to the car. The car was now stuffed with toys, clothes, and snacks. The trunk was full, so everything had been piled into the backseat.

Xiao Bao sat on Lin Yuan’s lap and tilted her little head up to look at his chin.

“Daddy, do you not like that big sister from earlier?” she asked, blinking her bright eyes.

“A kid like you shouldn’t ask so many questions,” Lin Yuan replied with a laugh and pinched her chubby cheeks.

“Daddy, even if I’m a kid, I’m not dumb.”

Hearing those words from a three-year-old was strange. This was the age of naivety, but Xiao Bao’s mind was far more mature than her age suggested.

“Other kids have both Daddy and Mommy. But I only have Daddy. Daddy, I want a mommy too.”

Her soft, childish voice struck Lin Yuan straight in the heart.

Xiao Bao’s mother was still alive—just not in this world. To find her, he would have to wait eighteen years until the Heavenly Gate opened and he could journey to the Minor Celestial Realm.

But how could he possibly explain that to a three-year-old?

After a brief silence, Lin Yuan finally replied, “Xiao Bao does have a mommy. But your mommy is a fairy. She’s returned to the Immortal Realm. If you study hard and grow up well, one day you’ll be able to meet her.”

“Really? Daddy’s not lying to me?”

“Of course not. I swear, I’m telling the truth.”

“Okay, then I believe you.”

Hearing that, Xiao Bao grinned with joy and kicked her little feet back and forth while sitting on his lap.

Soon, the car pulled into the Lin Family estate.

Just as they entered the gate, Lin Yuan saw his father charging toward the car wielding a broomstick, and his mother following behind holding a rolling pin.

The car hadn’t even come to a complete stop when the door was yanked open and his father’s angry voice roared inside.

“You little bastard! Who told you to take Xiao Bao out?! If she got even the tiniest scratch, I’d skin you alive!”

“Dad, Dad, calm down! Xiao Bao’s fine—I just took her out for a bit!” Lin Yuan tried to explain.

But it was too late. Lin Tianxing wasn’t listening. He swung the broomstick down hard, smacking Lin Yuan with a loud thwack, making him grimace in pain.

“Grandpa, don’t hit Daddy!”

If Xiao Bao hadn’t rushed over and hugged Lin Tianxing’s leg, that broomstick would’ve landed on Lin Yuan again.

The Lin Family had humble, working-class roots. Though Lin Tianxing had clawed his way up to make the Lin Family one of North City’s top four families, deep down, his temper hadn’t changed. He firmly believed in the saying: “If something goes wrong, beat the son first.”

“Xiao Bao, that little punk didn’t bully you, did he?”

Lin Tianxing crouched down and inspected Xiao Bao carefully. If she had so much as a scratch, Lin Yuan wouldn’t be walking out of that house today.

“Daddy didn’t bully me. He bought me lots of clothes, toys, and snacks too!”

Xiao Bao proudly shared all the good things Lin Yuan had done. She even pulled out a few outfits and toys from the car, showing them off.

“These are all gifts from Daddy. And these dresses were from a pretty big sister!”

“Pretty big sister?”

Hearing those four words, both Lin Tianxing and his wife narrowed their eyes and stared sharply at Lin Yuan.

Their son had a reputation for messing around outside. They immediately assumed this ‘pretty big sister’ was just another one of his random flings.

“Lin Yuan.”

His mother raised her rolling pin and looked at him, clearly waiting for an explanation.

“It was Gu Qingyi. I took Xiao Bao to Wanjia Plaza, and we just happened to run into her. For some reason, she insisted on shopping with us. I don’t know what kind of pills she took today!”

Lin Yuan quickly clarified, afraid the misunderstanding would spiral.

“Gu Qingyi? That girl from the Gu Family? Wasn’t she always disgusted by you? You confessed to her for three years and she never gave you the time of day—and now she’s shopping with you?”

His parents clearly didn’t believe him. His pursuit of Gu Qingyi for three whole years was common knowledge—he had confessed in front of her company every single day, becoming a laughingstock.

Now she suddenly wanted to go shopping with him? That sounded like nonsense.

“It’s true! If you don’t believe me, ask Xiao Bao!”

Lin Yuan felt truly wronged. Why was it that when he finally told the truth, no one believed him?

“Xiao Bao, is the big sister who went shopping with us today the one in this photo?”

He pulled out his phone, found a picture of Gu Qingyi, and showed it to Xiao Bao.

“Yes! That’s her!” Xiao Bao nodded.

Though Lin Tianxing and his wife still looked skeptical, since Xiao Bao confirmed it, they were willing to believe—at least for now. And since Xiao Bao hadn’t been hurt, that was already the best outcome.

“Alright, now get lost!” Lin Tianxing picked up Xiao Bao and headed back inside, leaving Lin Yuan staring at his father’s back.