Chapter 86: Film Emperor (6)

Qian woke up from her afternoon nap and came downstairs, only to find several unfamiliar people in the house today.

She sat in her little dinosaur-shaped chair—another piece of daughter-themed merchandise that Tong Jianxu had bought. The chair could rock back and forth, side to side, and even glide forward.

Gliding her little dinosaur chair toward the group surrounding Tong Jianxu, Qian looked up at the strangers.

The people who came to help with makeup and deliver the gown couldn’t help but sneak glances at Qian.

With the Film Emperor himself present, no one dared to openly stare. They could only sneak peeks from the corners of their eyes.

Even though they tried to stay calm and professional, excitement and curiosity still sparkled in their eyes.

This was the Film Emperor’s daughter! She was even cuter than in the photos! And she really did look just like him!

Only the makeup artist, who was more familiar with Tong Jianxu, looked at the child openly for a moment, then praised her: “This little one is really beautiful.”

Tong Jianxu was sitting there getting his makeup done, while another assistant was doing his hair. He couldn’t move his head, so he glanced at his unshy daughter through the mirror and smiled. “Are you complimenting the kid or me?”

“Haha, you two look so alike. I’m complimenting both of you at the same time.”

Qian glided over to her dad. Today, her Film Emperor father looked even more dazzling than usual.

At home, he didn’t usually wear makeup. Sometimes he looked a little tired or pale, but today he was glowing from head to toe. Every strand of hair and inch of skin seemed radiant.

He had changed into a royal blue suit with gemstone cufflinks and a luxury watch—his whole appearance practically screamed noble.

He had to attend a gala tonight and would be leaving soon.

“Qian, I’ll be home a little late tonight. If you get sleepy, go to bed early. If anything comes up, talk to Sister Tian Miao, okay?”

The child sighed—sounding strangely exasperated—which made one of the young women laugh.

“You’ve said that so many times,” Qian reminded him.

Tong Jianxu immediately pulled a dramatic, wounded expression, as if he’d suffered a terrible blow. Even the makeup assistant next to him was taken aback by his “fragile beauty” look.

“Qian’s annoyed that Daddy keeps repeating himself?”

Qian spun her little dinosaur chair around and glided away.

His act of playing the victim hadn’t worked on her this time. Tong Jianxu dropped the expression, looking surprised. Why didn’t it work today?

But soon enough, Qian glided back—this time carrying two yogurt drinks. She opened one and handed it to him.

She only shared yogurt when she liked someone or wanted to cheer them up.

Tong Jianxu’s eyes curved with delight. “Daddy can’t poke the straw in. Qian, help Daddy.”

Qian gave him a “you’re impossible” kind of look, then poked the straw in and handed the drink to him.

The makeup assistant who just witnessed the Film Emperor acting cute looked like she needed oxygen.

Who could resist this kind of cutesy act from the Film Emperor?! How had they never known he was this good at it?

“So sweet and adorable. Daughters really are the best—so thoughtful and gentle. My boy back home? Wild beyond words. The more you tell him not to do something, the more he insists on doing it. Little rascal. I really wish I had a daughter…”

The makeup artist grumbled about her son, but there was a loving tone in her voice, even when she called him a little rascal.

Tong Jianxu listened seriously for once and even asked a question or two.

The makeup artist was experienced and knew exactly what could and couldn’t be said. The entire time, the conversation stayed focused on parenting—no mention of taboo topics like who the child’s mother was.

Unlike the internet chaos, the people who actually worked around these “gossip central” celebrities were kind and respectful.

The atmosphere was cheerful and harmonious.

Just then, one of Tong Jianxu’s assistants, Tian Miao, came back carrying a bunch of snacks and drinks, followed by manager Feng Yu.

Lately, since there hadn’t been much going on, Tian Miao had taken frequent time off, which made Feng Yu quite unhappy. She’d even lost her temper at her a few days ago. Tian Miao quickly canceled her leave and returned. These past couple of days, since Feng Yu didn’t have time to look after the father and daughter, Tian Miao handled things like ordering food and buying supplies.

She was competent, but rather rough around the edges—not very perceptive of social cues.

She offered snacks and drinks to everyone and helped wrap things up. Soon, they all gathered around and left with Tong Jianxu. The car was already waiting outside.

Now only Tian Miao and Qian were left at home. It was her first time alone with the child, and though she’d assured the boss she could handle it, she was honestly worried the kid would cry.

So when she saw Qian peeking at the door, she quickly tried to coax her. “Qian, we can watch the livestream later! Daddy will show up in it!”

Qian nodded absentmindedly and made a beeline for the fridge to hunt for ice cream.

When Tong Jianxu was home, he didn’t let her eat much—just the occasional spoonful mixed into fruit.

Tian Miao followed and watched in horror as Qian dug out the hidden stash of ice cream from the fridge. She suddenly remembered the boss’s warning: Absolutely do not let her eat too much ice cream.

What did “too much” even mean?

“Qian, kids who eat too much ice cream can get tummy aches. How about some fruit instead?” Tian Miao tried to reason, reaching for the ice cream in the child’s hands.

But Qian clutched it tightly, unwilling to let go. Her face even scrunched up like she was about to cry.

If Tong Jianxu were here, he’d immediately recognize that expression—it was exactly like one of his own on screen. She had picked it up from him.

Tian Miao didn’t dare force it. She’d seen how her older sister’s kids threw tantrums—rolling on the floor and screaming if they didn’t get what they wanted.

She had to go with Plan B: outmaneuver the child.

“I… I really want some too. Can I have a little? Just a bit?”

Qian stared at her for a long while, clearly seeing the pleading on her face. In the end, she reluctantly let go.

Tian Miao relaxed a bit once she got the ice cream container. Now for the next step: secretly reduce the kid’s share!

Qian took the tiniest spoon she had and carefully scooped out a pitifully small bite of ice cream, sitting next to her assistant sister to watch TV together.

Seeing the little girl glance at her every now and then, Tian Miao quickly turned away and took another big bite of her ice cream, afraid the girl would want some once she finished hers.

To divert the child’s attention, Tian Miao even offered up her phone and played games with her.

There weren’t any child-friendly games on her phone, so she downloaded one specifically.

She hadn’t played any of the new games herself, but she remembered trying a casual game by Wild Games a few years ago called Feeding Little Yellow Duck, and it had left a pretty good impression.

“Look, you can feed the ducklings in this one, and you can draw all kinds of cute little animals too. We can even build a home here—give our adorable little ducklings, goslings, chicks, and lambs a cozy place to live. Outside, we can plant vegetables and use the crops to feed them…”

Tian Miao quickly discovered that the child seemed to be a natural at this kind of game. At first she needed a bit of explanation, but soon she was playing with ease, like it wasn’t her first time at all.

To Qian, this was in fact a familiar game. She used to play it every single day and wouldn’t go to bed until she finished all her tasks.

But now there were many unfamiliar new features, like the chibi-style little girl in the home system—that hadn’t been there before.

Qian poked the three-heads-tall cartoon girl with her short little fingers. The girl wobbled and said, “You’re back! I missed you so much!”

Another poke, and she said, “Let me tell you a secret—I have a tiny blue sprite.”

Another poke, and she raised her little fist and shouted, “Heartless boss! Heartless boss!”

“Hahaha, this is hilarious. Must be an Easter egg from the devs—are they complaining about their boss?” Tian Miao chuckled.

“Do you like this little miss, Qian? Look—tap into the home menu and here’s her little room. You can dress her up, buy her food, and even get her all kinds of toys.”

“There’s also a treadmill here. Let me see—if we make her run on it, we can earn a ten-pull draw for animal cards. Let’s try it out.”

Tian Miao didn’t know why, but the child, who had been fine a moment ago, suddenly looked furious and pounded the sofa with her tiny fists.

After a while of playing, the livestream finally started.

“Qian, quick—look! Your daddy’s on!”

Qian lifted her head from the game and saw a familiar figure stepping onto a red carpet under the glittering lights.

He didn’t look much like the playful dad who goofed around with her at home—more like the kind of dad you’d see in movies and on TV, smiling politely, warm but distant.

The lights sparkled on his face as he exchanged pleasantries with the host.

The little girl didn’t find it nearly as entertaining as her usual dramas.

She turned to the assistant and said, “I want to watch Fragrant Swordbones!”

That was the Wuxia film where the young film emperor looked his most handsome. Qian had already watched it countless times.

Every time she watched it, she demanded her dad “fly” for her. After suffering through this far too many times, the tormented film emperor secretly deleted the movie from the third-floor media library.

The next time the child asked to watch it, he put on an expression of realistic confusion and concern, searching the remote for a long time in front of her before saying with regret and apology, “I can’t seem to find it… Daddy will keep looking, okay?”

Of course, he never found it.

At last, he escaped the life of having to practice martial arts daily under his daughter’s supervision.

Unfortunately, the unsuspecting assistant found the film again in the downstairs library and unknowingly dragged her boss back into the abyss.

That evening, when the film emperor came home early, the first thing he saw was himself on the big screen in the living room, leaping and sword-dancing. The moment she heard his voice, the little girl turned to him and said, “Daddy…”

Sensing what she was about to say, Tong Jianxu suddenly pressed a hand to his forehead.

“Hiss…”

Tian Miao immediately stood up and asked, “Boss, are you okay?”

“I had a bit to drink. Feeling dizzy,” he said, keeping his pained pose as he staggered to the sofa and lay down.

“Should I make you some hangover tea?”

Tong Jianxu nodded “weakly.”

“Qian, Daddy’s head hurts so bad right now.” He lay there like he couldn’t even sit up. It actually worked—the child knelt beside him with a worried expression.

“Sigh… if only Qian could give Daddy a little head massage.”

Obedient as ever, Qian immediately began bonking him on the head with her tiny fists.

Film Emperor: “…”

This kid’s little fists actually packed quite a punch. She wasn’t holding back at all.

“Okay, okay, not so bad now. Daddy just needs a little rest,” Tong Jianxu said, closing his eyes in peace.

Seeing him fall asleep just like that, the child considerately grabbed the sofa blanket and covered him with it—head to toe, right over his whole face.

The buried film emperor: “…”

Tian Miao, returning with the hangover tea: “…”

You’re not supposed to cover the head!