PCMWF Chapter 118

A stall at the market displayed an array of handicrafts. Niu Niu stood in front of the stall, clutching her fifty yuan tightly. What gift should she buy for Dad?

“Little girl, what would you like to buy? I can give you some recommendations,” the shopkeeper said warmly.

Niu Niu: “I want to buy a gift for my dad.”

The shopkeeper praised her for being such a thoughtful child, remembering to buy a gift for her father.

“This is a coral ornament. Coconut shell bowls and dishes. These coconut and shell keychains can hang on your dad’s phone,” the shopkeeper introduced the various items on display.

“But I only have fifty yuan,” Niu Niu said quietly.

Besides, she really didn’t want to buy a gift for her dad. Last week on her birthday, Dad had only given her a present three days late. Almost everyone in the industry knew that Du Ze had gone to great lengths to pursue Wang Shilan. It was said he met her at a celebration banquet. Later, when interviewed about their relationship, Du Ze smiled gently and said he had fallen in love with Wang Shilan at first sight at that banquet.

The truth was, he had long known from an actor friend that Wang Shilan would also be attending that day and had dressed up carefully. Wang Shilan wasn’t an ordinary woman. She was highly vigilant, her eyes seeming to see through every man who approached her. Du Ze knew that conventional pursuit methods wouldn’t work on her. So he targeted her precious daughter, Niu Niu.

For every production Wang Shilan invested in, he used visiting friends on set as an excuse to create “coincidental” encounters. Du Ze presented himself as refined and gentle to everyone. With decent acting skills and a humble, polite demeanor, many directors had a favorable impression of him. At first, Wang Shilan hadn’t noticed him. There were plenty of handsome actors in the industry. Du Ze was nothing special.

But after the “coincidences” happened more frequently, she began to take notice of this actor named Du Ze. Later, on a director’s recommendation, Du Ze landed a lead role in a TV series Wang Shilan had invested in. During that time, the two had frequent contact. Wang Shilan sometimes brought her daughter to the set. After filming, Du Ze would play with Niu Niu. Back then, Niu Niu was only two years old, a chubby, adorable little girl who was very likable. But she was painfully shy, always hiding in her mother’s arms, unwilling to go out or talk to anyone.

Wang Shilan was swamped on set. She arranged for two nannies to look after Niu Niu. The set was Niu Niu’s favorite place, almost like a playground. Since her mother had high authority there, Niu Niu could go almost anywhere. Especially when she saw the actors in their beautiful costumes, Niu Niu would become noticeably more excited and happy. As Du Ze met Niu Niu more often, and with his deliberate efforts, he appeared to everyone as someone who genuinely loved children. Wang Shilan let her guard down.

The turning point that led Wang Shilan to fully accept Du Ze’s pursuit came during an accidental allergic reaction Niu Niu had. The little girl had eaten something she was allergic to. Right after finishing her meal, she started scratching her neck. Within two minutes, she was crying that it hurt, that she couldn’t breathe. Her chubby cheeks were flushed red. It was frightening. The set was in the suburbs, and it would take time to get to a hospital. The two nannies, experiencing this for the first time, panicked. They called Wang Shilan and dialed 120 simultaneously.

Du Ze appeared like a savior from heaven. With a panicked expression, he scooped up Niu Niu and drove to the hospital, calmly instructing the nannies to inform Wang Shilan and gather what the child would need. He had just finished filming that day and was still in costume. When he carried Niu Niu into the car, he was immediately photographed by paparazzi waiting outside the set. By the time Wang Shilan arrived at the hospital, Niu Niu’s condition had improved significantly. She was lying in the hospital bed, sleeping peacefully.

Her anxious heart finally settled. Wang Shilan pushed open the door and walked in. Her eyes immediately fell on Du Ze, who was slumped over the bedside. The man’s warm palm faced upward, supporting Niu Niu’s small, cold hand as she received her IV. Hearing the door, Du Ze immediately sat up. After more than ten hours of filming, he looked exhausted. His makeup was smudged, and the dark circles under his eyes were fully exposed.

Before Wang Shilan could speak, Du Ze said, “They didn’t get Niu Niu’s face. I covered it with my hand.”

Wang Shilan looked at him, trying to see something in his eyes. What she expected to see: deceit, calculation. There was none. The man’s pupils were clear. His whole demeanor seemed a little foolish. She took one step forward and saw Niu Niu’s little hand tightly grasping Du Ze’s, her weak voice calling for Mom. From that day on, Wang Shilan no longer kept her guard up. Sometimes, when she was busy, she even asked him to help take care of Niu Niu.

No matter how late she finished work, whenever she returned to the rest area, Du Ze had never left. He would be holding Niu Niu lovingly, both of them asleep on the sofa together. Soon, Wang Shilan accepted Du Ze’s pursuit. They married half a year later in a grand ceremony. Niu Niu, as the flower girl, brought them the rings. From their interactions, it was clear that Niu Niu liked Du Ze very much and even called him Dad willingly. But now, Niu Niu had started kindergarten. She had turned five after her birthday and was beginning to understand things. Things like sincerity and pretense.

Dad was busy now. He rarely took her out on weekends. He had even said more than once that he wished she would cut her long hair short so it would be easier to manage.

Niu Niu loved her long hair. Though she didn’t want to argue with her dad, she still spoke up loudly: she loved her long hair and would never cut it.

The shopkeeper was still enthusiastically introducing products to his young customer. After learning her budget and who the gift was for, he recommended a bowl made from a coconut shell.

“You can write Dad’s name and a message on the bowl. I’m sure he’ll love it.”

But Niu Niu shook her head. She chose a seashell wind chime instead. It cost exactly fifty yuan.

The shopkeeper smiled as he packed it. “This seashell wind chime is also very pretty. When hung by the window, the sound is beautiful when the wind blows.”

Few boys liked such things. The shopkeeper simply thought Niu Niu was being a child, saying she was buying for her father but actually choosing something she liked.

On her way back, Niu Niu was very happy. This morning, Aunt Hua Zhao had helped her get dressed and had brushed her hair too.

The little girl touched the two little buns on top of her head, decorated with the sparkling diamond hair clip her mother had bought her.

“Niu Niu!”

Du Ze stood by the path near the villa, waving his arms with a bright smile, welcoming her.

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