Although Qu Ruorui’s personality had changed greatly over the years,
at the sight of any disturbance, she still hid behind Yue Qingqing like a scared rabbit.
Only half of her face was visible as she vigilantly stared at the man opposite them.
The other children also immediately distanced themselves.
The teacher had said that when encountering strangers, they must not follow them because many were human traffickers.
Yue Qingqing protectively stood with one hand around Qu Ruorui while sizing up the man across from them.
The man opposite was wearing a dusty uniform from the factory, with the creases at the elbows and knees washed white.
He seemed to have made an effort to keep up appearances but could hardly conceal his destitution.
It was Qu Gaoxuan, who had finally remembered he had a daughter.
Seeing the children’s reactions, Qu Gaoxuan awkwardly took out a small plush toy he was carrying.
"Ruorui, don’t you recognize me? I’m your dad."
After several years of absence, Qu Ruorui had forgotten what that man looked like.
She could only try to flip through the memories in her mind.
Along with these memories, a lot of unpleasant ones surfaced as well.
"I don’t know you," said Qu Ruorui, without lifting her head, as she started to walk away with her friends.
Qu Gaoxuan immediately became anxious, feeling a vague anger stirring within him.
How could this child not recognize her own father?
"I don’t know what Liu Pingxiu has told you, but you have the Qu family name, you are the blood of our Qu family, come back with me!"
Qu Gaoxuan attempted to forcibly grab Qu Ruorui’s arm.
After all, he was Qu Ruorui’s biological father, even if the police were called, he would be in the right.
If he could take hold of the child, he was certain Liu Pingxiu would have to obey.
"Qingqing!" Qu Ruorui cried out, frightened, instinctively closing her eyes and clinging tight to Yue Qingqing.
Yue Qingqing gently pushed Qu Gaoxuan’s arm with her hand.
She looked frail and weak, yet her touch sent Qu Gaoxuan screaming like a pig being slaughtered.
His whole arm was in pain and felt sore, as though it had been heavily struck, nearly breaking his bones.
This commotion quickly attracted the attention of those around them, and the gatekeeper along with the school security guards immediately came over.
"What’s the matter? What happened?"
Qu Gaoxuan’s arm hung limply as he gasped in pain and stammered, "She... she broke my arm."
The gatekeeper and security guards had complex expressions as they looked towards the girl who seemed meek and turned her head away.
"He was forcefully pulling my friend, so I just pushed him away," Yue Qingqing demonstrated, her pale and delicate palm seemingly incapable of causing harm.
A bystander parent who witnessed the scene whispered, "Who is this guy? Scamming even children now?"
"Really shameless, claiming that the child broke his arm... Haven’t even asked what he’s really here for,"
The gatekeeper stared coldly at Qu Gaoxuan, "Be honest and tell us what you’re here for."
"You don’t believe me? I really..."
Qu Gaoxuan, both angry and annoyed, was interrupted mid-sentence as the pain in his arm suddenly vanished.
It was as if it had all been an illusion.
His expression changed by the second, and the security guards, sensing something was off, quietly spread out and surrounded Qu Gaoxuan.
This man seemed too suspicious and full of lies; they needed to get to the bottom of it.
"Tell us, why were you pulling this girl, who are you to her?" The gatekeeper’s face was stern, as if he was on the brink of calling the police.
Qu Gaoxuan quickly explained, "I’m her dad, here to pick up my child after school."
"Her dad?" The gatekeeper looked at Qu Ruorui, seeing the young girl’s face filled with fear.
"I don’t recognize him!"
"At such a young age, you dare to lie, what exactly has Liu Pingxiu taught you?"
Qu Ruorui burst into tears, weeping and burying herself in Yue Qingqing’s embrace.
"I don’t have a dad; these years, it’s just been mom and me living together, I don’t have a dad at all."
As soon as she spoke, the people around gave Qu Gaoxuan complex looks.
Condemnation, contempt, scorn.
Qu Gaoxuan broke out in sweat but couldn’t utter a single word.