The night passed without any conversation. After finishing his call with Tian Yi, Xiao Tiance lay down beside Xiao Xiao, though sleep eluded him. He held his daughter's hand, gazing at his precious, adorable child, who had endured so much hardship over the years.

In the morning, Xiao Xiao woke up particularly early. Gao Weiwei, exhausted from the past few days, was still asleep. So, Xiao Tiance took Xiao Xiao out for breakfast. They had some tofu pudding and fried dough sticks, and afterward, they brought some back for Gao Weiwei. Xiao Xiao was extremely attached to Xiao Tiance, insisting that he hold her the entire time. Xiao Tiance, for his part, cherished these tender moments. It’s often said that daughters are their fathers’ sweethearts from past lives and their little treasures in this one. Xiao Tiance felt this deeply; he wished he could hold Xiao Xiao every day, never letting her grow up.

“Daddy, Daddy, you mustn’t lie to Xiao Xiao anymore. Don’t ever leave again. Xiao Xiao wants to be with you every day,” Xiao Xiao said as she tidied Xiao Tiance’s collar.

Looking at Xiao Xiao’s worn-out clothes, Xiao Tiance decided to take her shopping for new ones once Gao Weiwei woke up. Smiling, he replied, “Mm-hmm, Daddy will never lie to Xiao Xiao again. When Mommy wakes up, we’ll go buy some new clothes together, okay? We’ll get some for Xiao Xiao and Mommy too, alright?”

Xiao Xiao nodded excitedly. “Mm-hmm, I’m so happy! Xiao Xiao will have new clothes, yay!”

Xiao Tiance felt a slight pang in his heart but said nothing. He simply smiled at Xiao Xiao, carrying her in one arm while holding the breakfast in the other. However, when they returned to the hotel entrance, he noticed that Gao Weiwei’s room door was open, and loud arguing could be heard from inside. Xiao Tiance frowned and quickly walked in.

At the doorway, he saw that Gao Weiwei had already gotten up, dressed, and washed. A large group of people was sitting around her, including an elderly man with graying hair, three middle-aged men, two women, and two young women. Gao Weiwei sat in the middle, her head bowed as they berated her, not daring to look up or speak. Xiao Tiance’s frown deepened.

Inside the room, a woman with short hair wearing a flesh-colored short skirt was coldly scolding Gao Weiwei, “Gao Weiwei, you’ve really got nerve! You left without a word, and now you come back just as quietly? If it weren’t for Ruo Han’s friend seeing you staying here, how much longer were you planning to keep it from us? Do you even care about your mother or father? And now you’ve brought some random man back with you! You’ve really got some nerve, booking a hotel room!”

The woman speaking was Chen Shuzhen, Gao Weiwei’s mother. After she finished, Gao Weiwei’s father, Gao Zheng, who was sitting beside her, let out a heavy, cold snort. “Gao Weiwei! Are you trying to drive me to my grave? Do you know how much of a laughingstock our Gao family has become in Beijiang City because of you? My daughter went off and had a child without a word, and now that man is nowhere to be found!”

Gao Zheng’s face twitched with anger. He had once been immensely proud of his daughter, but now he was utterly disappointed.

After Gao Zheng fell silent, Chen Shuzhen took over, pointing at Gao Weiwei’s nose as she scolded, “Gao Weiwei, let me tell you this: now that you’re back, you’re not going anywhere! I’ve found a good match for you, your college classmate Chen Xuan. He doesn’t mind that you have a child. He’ll be back from a business trip tomorrow, and the day after that, you’re getting married and registering your marriage!”

Gao Weiwei’s body trembled. Hearing Chen Shuzhen force her to marry, she finally lifted her head and said, “Mom, I won’t marry him!”

“It’s not up to you! What right do you have to refuse? He’s a senior executive at a company now! He doesn’t care that you have a child; how dare you reject him?” Chen Shuzhen continued to shout angrily at Gao Weiwei.

Seeing that Gao Weiwei was on the verge of tears, Xiao Tiance, who had been standing at the door, could listen no longer. He walked in, holding Xiao Xiao, and said loudly to Chen Shuzhen, “Because she’s my wife! Gao Weiwei is my wife! What right does my wife have to marry someone else? What kind of nonsense is that?”

Gao Weiwei’s body shook violently. She instinctively turned to look at Xiao Tiance, utterly shocked, and said, “You want to marry me? But didn’t you say you’d only be Xiao Xiao’s father?” Poor Gao Weiwei was still worried about Xiao Tiance even now.

Xiao Tiance smiled at Gao Weiwei and said, “That’s what you said. In my heart, you’re already my wife, and I’ll treat you well for the rest of my life. I’ll never let you suffer, Weiwei. You’ll be my wife forever.”

“Wait, who are you? You say you’re that bastard’s father, so you’re that scoundrel she’s been with, right?” Chen Shuzhen snapped at Xiao Tiance.

The moment Xiao Tiance heard Chen Shuzhen say the word “bastard,” his killing intent surged, and Chen Shuzhen immediately recoiled in fear, stumbling back several steps. Xiao Tiance glared at her with murderous eyes and said, “Say that about my daughter one more time, I dare you.”

“I—I—” Chen Shuzhen was filled with terror and stammered, unable to say another word.

Just then, with a loud slap, Gao Zheng stood up and struck Xiao Tiance across the face, his expression dark as he shouted, “Say something like that to her mother again, or try laying a hand on me!”

In an instant, the room fell silent. Xiao Tiance could have easily dodged Gao Zheng’s slap, but since he was Gao Weiwei’s father, retaliating would have only made the situation worse. So he chose not to fight back, remaining silent as he looked at Gao Zheng.

“Dad, what are you doing? Don’t hit him, okay? I’ve already told you about what happened back then; it wasn’t his fault! He didn’t know anything, he knew nothing!” Gao Weiwei cried, quickly getting up and shielding Xiao Tiance with her body.

Gao Zheng glared fiercely at Xiao Tiance and shouted, “So you’re only brave enough to hide behind a woman, huh?”

Xiao Tiance gave Gao Zheng a deep look, then gently pushed Gao Weiwei aside. “It’s alright, some things are my responsibility to bear.”

“Wahhh! Grandpa, don’t hit Daddy! Daddy has had a hard time too. Don’t hit him, please don’t!” Xiao Xiao, witnessing the scene, was frightened and started crying.

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“Shut up! Just looking at you irritates me! Get out!” Chen Shuzhen shouted when she heard Xiao Xiao’s crying. At that moment, a young woman standing beside her hurriedly took Xiao Xiao from Xiao Tiance’s arms. She was Gao Weiwei’s younger sister, Gao Xiaoying, a university senior who hadn’t graduated yet.

Gao Xiaoying was also very pretty, looking much like Gao Weiwei did when she graduated from college. Holding Xiao Xiao, Gao Xiaoying looked at Xiao Tiance and Gao Weiwei with a complicated expression and said, “Sister, Brother-in-law, you two talk. I’ll take Xiao Xiao out so she doesn’t get scared.”

“Xiaoying, he’s not your brother-in-law. Don’t call him that,” Gao Weiwei’s cousin, Gao Ruohan, who was dressed provocatively with a flashy, internet-celebrity face, said mockingly, her tone dripping with sarcasm.

Gao Xiaoying frowned and glared at Gao Ruohan, saying, "Gao Ruohan! You know exactly what you're up to. And as for our family's matters, it's not your place to meddle! Watch your mouth, or it might just rot from talking too much!"

"You! How dare you speak to me like that? Hmph, your family might be useless in doing things, but you're sure sharp-tongued!" Gao Ruohan, with her influencer-like face, immediately flared up, continuing her sarcastic jabs at Gao Xiaoying.

"Everyone, shut up! Xiaoying, how dare you speak to your second sister like that? Huh? Get out, now!" At this moment, the elderly man sitting at the innermost part of the room—Gao Weiwei's grandfather, Gao Yuanshan—spoke up, directly reprimanding Gao Xiaoying without even glancing at Xiao Xiao. Gao Xiaoying let out a cold snort and walked out.

Xiaoying's attitude towards Gao Weiwei and Xiao Xiao, however, made Xiao Tianze nod in approval inwardly. It seemed their sisterly bond was quite strong. Since Xiao Tianze had returned to find Gao Weiwei, he had naturally investigated the Gao family thoroughly.

Gao Weiwei's father, Gao Zheng, was honest and sincere, but his status in the Gao family was low, overshadowed by his two elder brothers. He was especially disregarded by the family patriarch, Gao Yuanshan, particularly after the incident five years ago when Gao Weiwei became pregnant and gave birth to Xiao Xiao. Gao Zheng was further marginalized within the family after that. In Gao Zheng's generation, he was oppressed by his two elder brothers, and in Gao Weiwei's generation, the situation was even worse. Among the third generation of the Gao family, Gao Ruohan was currently the most prominent, and she was about to get married. Her fiancé was the heir to the Sun family of Beijiang City, a family of wealth and influence.

As Xiao Tianze was thinking, Gao Ruohan's father, Gao Zheng's second brother, Gao Ming, smiled and said, "Ruohan, say less. Your third uncle will naturally handle it."

After speaking, Gao Ming smiled and turned to Gao Zheng, saying, "Right, third brother? Don't take out your anger on Ruohan. Ruohan is the pride of our Gao family. She's secured many projects, and she's about to negotiate a cooperation deal with the Beijiang Group. Let's not affect her, okay?"

When Gao Zheng heard Gao Ming mention the Beijiang Group, he felt a deep resentment. Why wasn't it his own daughter handling the negotiations? Thinking this, his anger towards Xiao Tianze grew even stronger. It was all because of this man in front of him who had ruined his daughter's life!

Gao Zheng let out a heavy, angry snort and glared at Xiao Tianze, saying, "If I hit you, do you accept it? You ruined my daughter's life, making her the laughingstock of the entire Beijiang City. Do you admit it?"

Xiao Tianze nodded and said, "Yes, I admit it! If Weiwei hadn't saved me back then, her life wouldn't be like this now! I owe Weiwei a great debt!"

Hearing Xiao Tianze's straightforward admission, Gao Zheng's anger subsided somewhat, but only slightly. He still couldn't have any positive feelings towards Xiao Tianze. He continued, "Fine, boy, since you admit it, tell me what you're going to do about it. And don't tell me you're going to take responsibility for Weiwei. How can you take responsibility? Huh?"

"Dad, don't push Tianze. He just got back from the army," Gao Weiwei pleaded on Xiao Tianze's behalf.

But before she could finish, Xiao Tianze interrupted her, pulling her behind him. He looked at Gao Zheng and said, "Dad, you're right, and your anger is justified. I deserve to be hit. But since this has already happened, I must take responsibility for Weiwei and for my actions back then! Moreover, I came back this time to find Weiwei, to marry her, and to take care of her for the rest of her life!"

"Hah! Take care of her? How? You don't even have a job, and Weiwei is already the laughingstock of the entire city. You can't repay what you owe her in a lifetime! How do you plan to make it up to her? With what? Can you change how the whole of Beijiang City views her? What a joke!" Chen Shuzhen sneered at Xiao Tianze.

Xiao Tianze looked at Gao Zheng with utmost seriousness and said, "Dad, please give me one month. In one month, I will hold a wedding for Weiwei in Beijiang that will shake the entire city! I'll make everyone who looked down on her regret it!"

"Oh, what grand words! Tell me, my dear brother-in-law, do you even have a job? A wedding that will shake the entire city? Ha!" Gao Ruohan mocked him with a sneer on her face.

Gao Zheng and Chen Shuzhen remained silent at this point, feeling embarrassed. The more they talked, the more ridiculous it sounded. A wedding that will shake the entire city? How could a useless man with no job possibly afford that?

Xiao Tianze didn't care what they thought or what they said. He just looked at Gao Weiwei seriously and asked, "In a month, I'll give you a grand wedding. Do you believe me?"

Gao Weiwei looked at Xiao Tianze with a complex expression. After a long silence, she sighed and said, "Xiao Tianze, please leave. I need to talk to my parents. I appreciate what you said, but please, just leave, okay?" There was a hint of pleading in her eyes. She had already been laughed at by the entire Beijiang City once. She didn't want to be laughed at again. Even though she had nothing left, she still wanted to retain a shred of dignity.

Seeing Gao Weiwei hesitate to speak several times, Xiao Tianze finally nodded. Yes, if it were him, he wouldn't believe it either. He could only nod and say, "I understand. I'll leave now. But remember, everything I said was sincere." With that, Xiao Tianze walked out.

Just as he was about to reach the door, Gao Ruohan's mocking voice came from behind him again: "Hah, brother-in-law, you plan to hold a wedding that will shake the entire city next month? How coincidental, my fiancé Sun Hao and I are also getting married next month. We can do it together! If your wedding is grand, we'll play the supporting role for you, hah!"

Xiao Tianze paused, a cold smile rising in his heart. This woman, Gao Ruohan, was truly despicable. He didn't want to say anything more. Since she wanted to humiliate herself, he would let her. He let out a dismissive snort and quickly walked out.

"Tch, acting all high and mighty. What an idiot," Gao Ruohan sneered even more. She had always been jealous of Gao Weiwei's beauty, and now that she finally had the upper hand, she naturally wanted to keep Weiwei down.

Faced with Gao Ruohan's ridicule, Gao Weiwei lowered her head, clenched her fists tightly, but said nothing.

After leaving the hotel, Xiao Tianze took out his phone and called Tian Yi: "Tell Jiang Beichen and Long Jiu, by any means necessary, to organize the grandest wedding for me and Weiwei on the 15th of next month!"

As he spoke, Xiao Tianze paused, then continued, "Wait! Since it's going to be grand, make it a wedding for a thousand couples across a hundred cities! Tell them that in the four major provinces of the Dragon Kingdom, over a hundred cities, anyone getting married next month can come to Beijiang to hold their wedding. But I want you to select a thousand good-looking couples! I'll sponsor all their wedding expenses with one million each. I'll cover the costs! But there's one condition: on that day, these thousand couples must give my wife their blessings!"

After finishing, Xiao Tianze hung up the phone. He looked back at the hotel and muttered, "Shake the whole city? Hah, how about shaking a hundred cities? A ten-billion-yuan wedding, would that be enough?"

Xiao Tianze let out a cold laugh in his heart: "On that day, I'll be waiting to see the look of regret on your faces."