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Join the ServerThe car sped rapidly along the road.
Undoubtedly, on this taxi ride, Lin Shishi once again found herself ‘entangled’ by Song Qinghuan.
This time, however, Song Qinghuan had indeed ceased her mischievous advances.
After all, it wouldn’t be a good idea to have the young girl meet the Queen either drenched from the rain or leaning against a wall.
****
The car soon pulled to a stop at the New Capital Grand Hotel.
This time, Queen Dai Fanghua’s assistant and bodyguard, Merlin, was clad in a suit skirt, her face respectfully awaiting the arrival of the young women.
Dai Canglan walked over. “Merlin, I’ve brought her.”
Merlin hurried forward, extending both hands to gently clasp Lin Shishi’s small ones.
“Miss Shishi, we meet again. You… look exceptionally well today.”
Merlin’s voice was gentle and polite, her keen gaze sweeping over Lin Shishi’s flushed cheeks and slightly moist eyes.
In truth, Lin Shishi’s complexion was rather ordinary. Her constitution had always been delicate, and having recently been ‘devoured’ by Song Qinghuan, it was unlikely to be vibrant. However, today she wore light makeup, which made her appear fair and tender.
Song Qinghuan watched from the side, a smile playing on her lips.
“Thank you, Sister Merlin,” Lin Shishi replied with a shy smile.
“You’re welcome. Her Majesty is waiting for us upstairs,” Merlin said, her voice hushed.
Clearly, the day’s events were not meant for the prying eyes of the media.
Lin Shishi nodded softly, her gaze unconsciously drifting towards Song Qinghuan beside her.
Song Qinghuan offered a slight smile, then reached out and linked her arm through Lin Shishi’s.
Merlin paused, surprised, then nodded. “Ah, Miss Song… Hello, hello.”
Song Qinghuan merely smiled, offering no reply.
Merlin continued, “Her Majesty is also very pleased to welcome you. She specifically asked me to extend her regards and thank you for taking care of Miss Shishi during this time.”
When she uttered the word “care,” her tone subtly lifted.
Song Qinghuan, understanding the underlying implication, offered no explanation. Instead, a languid smile curved her lips. “Don’t worry, I’ll take even better care of my little darling in the future.”
Lin Shishi’s ears immediately burned, a faint blush spreading down her neck.
She involuntarily shivered, her legs drawing slightly closer together.
****
Guided by Merlin, Lin Shishi, holding Song Qinghuan’s hand, entered the hotel elevator and ascended directly to the twelfth floor.
The door to a private suite was gently pushed open, revealing a noblewoman seated within, clad in a long black satin gown.
She held an elegant posture and possessed a gentle countenance. Seeing them enter, she offered a warm smile.
Lin Shishi, however, froze the moment she clearly saw the woman’s face.
No matter how many times they met, she was always startled. After all, that face was almost identical to her own.
Dai Fanghua, too, scrutinized Lin Shishi, a flicker of awe in her eyes.
This girl was the spitting image of her younger self, yet their temperaments were entirely different. In her youth, Dai Fanghua had been upright, exuding a heroic and healthy beauty. Lin Shishi, on the other hand, was like a delicate lily, so fragile that a mere gust of wind seemed capable of breaking her.
Despite being a queen, long accustomed to masking her emotions, Dai Fanghua lost her composure upon truly seeing her child.
She rose and swiftly stepped forward, gently embracing Lin Shishi.
Lin Shishi’s body stiffened slightly. Though she had anticipated this, being held by a monarch still left her feeling somewhat flustered.
“Your Majesty…” she murmured softly.
It was then she realized that Song Qinghuan, Dai Canglan, and Merlin had remained outside the door, leaving only her and Dai Fanghua in the suite.
Clearly, the Queen wished for no one to witness this private moment, not even her trusted confidantes or partner.
“Silly child, still calling me Your Majesty?”
Dai Fanghua released her, her gaze softening. “I am your father.”
Lin Shishi’s eyes widened. “But…”
“I am the one who wronged you and your mother.”
Dai Fanghua’s voice lowered, imbued with a long-held guilt. “In those days, I was too reckless. Despite having an engagement, I still fell in love with your mother, Lin Mo, and we had you. I promised her a proper status, but the family infighting was fierce, and many coveted my position… I dared not make our relationship public. Until today—”
“You’re going to make it public?” Lin Shishi’s voice trembled slightly.
“Not yet.”
Dai Fanghua raised a hand to gently wipe the corner of her eye. “But I will first acknowledge you as my goddaughter. This was a promise I made to Lin Mo back then. When the time is right, I will declare to the entire nation that you are my flesh and blood. For now… will you call me ‘father’?”
Lin Shishi’s tears suddenly fell, and she choked out the two words: “Father…”
Dai Fanghua answered repeatedly, tears welling in her own eyes. “Good, good… Come, let’s sit and talk.”
The two sat down together at the dining table.
Dai Fanghua gestured towards the door. “Did Song Qinghuan come with you?”
Lin Shishi nodded.
“Does she treat you well?” Dai Fanghua asked.
Lin Shishi fiddled with the hem of her skirt, quietly answering, “Very well.”
Dai Fanghua looked at her intently. “Tell me the truth, why can you accept… that kind of… thing?”
Lin Shishi’s cheeks flushed again, and she bit her lip, unsure how to respond.
“Canglan told me everything. If Song Qinghuan truly coerced you into signing that contract, I can not only declare the contract void but also hold her accountable. How dare she treat my daughter this way?” Dai Fanghua’s tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable authority.
“No, that’s not it!”
Lin Shishi shook her head anxiously, tears welling up again. “I did it willingly… I like it that way, and… I like her.”
Dai Fanghua remained silent for a moment before continuing, “Do you truly intend to… live your whole life with her like that? You know, you can’t always maintain such a… strange relationship. You’ll have to get married eventually!”
Lin Shishi clutched her clothes tightly, nodding earnestly. “I acknowledge that contract. As long as she doesn’t abandon me or dissolve the contract, she is my future husband. Only she has the right to terminate it.”
“I still don’t quite understand your devotion to her… whether it’s based on sensory pleasure… or on… love.”
Dai Fanghua sighed softly. “If it’s the former, I hope you mature quickly, and then I can speak with Song Qinghuan to have her dissolve the contract. Afterward, I will find a more suitable partner for you.”
“Don’t.”
Lin Shishi shook her head. “Unless she changes her heart, I don’t want to end it through external force.”
Dai Fanghua finally smiled. “Alright, as you wish.”
Dai Fanghua, being a seasoned individual, could discern that her daughter’s attachment to this so-called contractual relationship was far from mere sensory stimulation.
It was a deeper form of affection—love.
In love, she chose to be dominated. Song Qinghuan, in turn, chose to dominate her.
While this might seem… peculiar, it was likely related to their complementary personalities. Of course, for Lin Shishi, at a deeper level, her childhood was incomplete.
It was bleak, lacking a sense of security. Therefore, in love, she preferred to be a submissive partner, a small weakling to be dominated.
She would make no choices in any matter, instead blindly obeying. Even if her beloved demanded extreme things from her, even if it meant dying immediately, she likely wouldn’t refuse.
****
As Dai Fanghua considered this, she couldn’t help but sigh softly.
Evidently, her daughter’s current personality was directly linked to her own absence. She owed her far too much.
She would ultimately have to bear the consequences of her daughter’s character.
****
After another sigh, Dai Fanghua chose to smile. She no longer fixated on the contract’s peculiar nature, but instead offered her blessings—silent blessings.
No matter how unusual her daughter’s behavior, she would not object. As long as she was not hurt.
Clasping the young girl’s small hand, Dai Fanghua said softly, “Your mother… I haven’t seen her in a long time either. I’ll visit Rain Harbor sometime soon to see her again. For now, what we discussed today will be our little secret.”
Lin Shishi nodded earnestly.
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