He was shocked. He had not expected to run into Gu Jinglian here. Gu Jinglian looked at him, then at Natalia in his arms. He too, looked faintly surprised.
“Is this … your daughter?”
The actor was stumped. Should he admit it?
The actor studied Natalia’s aggrieved expression. He wasn’t sure what was going on, or if she was being bullied, so he nodded. “Yes.”
Gu Jinglian did not seem surprised to learn that she was his daughter.
The actor knelt down. “What’s the matter?” he asked the girl gently. “You seem upset. Did someone bully you?”
Gu Linxi, who was standing behind the girl now, immediately explained, “A woman was in a hurry just now and knocked her over. She left without a word after that.”
“Ahhhhhh…” So that was the reason? Hua Jin was anxious immediately. “Does it hurt?”
Natalia pursed her lips and gave a small nod. “Well … a little …”
“Where does it hurt?”
“Here … here …” Natalia was too embarrassed to mention that she had fallen and cracked her little butt, so she rubbed her elbow. When she had fallen, she had subconsciously tried to break her fall, so now her elbow was bruised.
He rolled up her sleeve and examined her carefully. She was bruised from the fall. Distressed over what had happened, the actor tenderly blew on the bruises but didn’t massage them. He only felt around to make sure there were no broken bones. This was not the time to massage the bruises. Otherwise, the small bruise would expand after being rubbed.
Hua Jin picked up Natalia and sighed. “You’re so strong. You didn’t even cry. That’s amazing.”
The girl pouted, clearly unhappy. She put her arm around his shoulders and said to him, “I don’t want to be here anymore …”
“Uh… okay… well, let’s wait over there, okay?”
Natalia nodded.
The actor nodded at Gu Jinglian and Chu He as well, as a gesture of acknowledgment, then headed towards the departure lounge carrying Natalia.
Baby Chu exclaimed excitedly, “Wow! That Little Big Sister is so pretty!”
Linxi snorted. “She’s probably younger than you!”
“But she’s pretty! I saw you staring at her as if you were fascinated…”
Gu Linxi blushed and immediately retorted, “Don’t talk nonsense!”
“Why are you blushing?” Baby Chu circled him curiously and muttered, “Why are you so easily embarrassed?”
“Hahaha!” Unable to suppress herself, Chu He burst out laughing.
Linxi turned to Chu He with a pout. “Mommy, can you be a little more reserved and stop laughing in such an uninhibited manner?”
“Uninhibited? How so?” Chu He glanced at him. “Baby Chu is right. You did stare at the little girl just now! Have you fallen for her?”
“…”
Even Chu He was teasing him now. Gu Linxi turned away and pretended to ignore her.
“Stop pretending.” Chu He encouraged him, “If there’s a girl you like, don’t let go of the opportunity! Coincidentally, your father seems to know that uncle?”
Gu Linxi’s face turned even redder. “Don’t be ridiculous! I was just—surprised. Her eyes—they were purple. I’ve never seen such beautiful eyes.”
Chu He agreed. “Indeed, that girl had truly beautiful eyes!”
Baby Chu pestered her, asking, “Normal people do not have purple eyes, do they?”
