Arrogant Wife Forcing Marriages (Indonesia)
The Side Story 5 (Step Father)

Mo An An looked at his daughter with a worried look.

"Darling, are you sure you don't want to stay at aunt Yin's house?"

Mo An An had to shoot outside the city. She was worried about leaving her daughter alone.

"It's okay, mama"

Jiao couldn't possibly go to aunt Yin's house, she didn't want to make her prince hate her even more.

"Aren't there many maids? Mama doesn't have to worry"

"alright. Take care of yourself"

Mo An An gave a kiss.

"If something happens call mom and remember to take the medicine and also you should eat more and..."

"alright. Mama, the assistant's aunt is waiting for you "

"All right"

Mo An An felt reluctant to leave his sweet daughter let alone them getting closer.

***

   Li Yongfan felt lazy to go home because his wife went out of town but Li Yongfan was not the type of person who liked to spend time in the office.

   Li Yongfan was greeted by his servants. He walked to his study.

"Sir, dinner's ready. Aren't you having dinner first?"

"Is the boy there?"

"Yes. Miss Jiao is waiting for you to have dinner"

"I don't eat. I don't want to eat with him"

Jiao who was then coming out of the kitchen heard their conversation. Jiao was sad.

"Uncle, you don't have to miss dinner because of Jiao "

Jiao who usually had a rough language tried to speak politely. Li Yongfan who saw Jiao suddenly appeared, he only responded coldly. He just walked into his study.

"Miss Jiao, please eat. I'll bring you dinner tonight "

The Chief Servant tried to comfort her young lady. He understood the feelings of his master, it was not easy to accept a child who had the blood of another man flowing in his body. The servants also initially disliked this young miss and criticized Mo An An. They also thought that the young lady had become arrogant and careless but this young lady actually had a calm demeanor, she even washed her own dishes if she was eating alone and also when the maid who bathed her saw the wound on the little miss's back and told her about it made them feel pity probably because it was the young lady who this little boy is acting so calm.

Three people serve Jiao and put the full meal on her plate. Their missus had a thin body and looked so fragile.

"Miss, don't you like the food?"

Jiao remained silent. He doesn't dislike, though, however the food served tasted good and luxurious but if he ate it the uncle would not eat and the chef had to make new food instead would he be burdensome to the work of the chef.

"I'm sorry, Jiao has to go do the job. Thanks for the food"

The servants looked at each other.

"Sorry lady, don't you like the food?"

The head chef approached her.

"It's not. Chef-made food is always delicious just that I'm not having a taste for eating"

"so"

"Chief, you don't have to re-cook. Just tell uncle that I don't eat this food"

Jiao went straight to her room. The servants looked at him sadly as well as the head chef. The head chef recalled the time when his young lady repeatedly apologized because she was the head chef's job so increased. Jiao also apologized to the servant whom Li Yongfan had scolded for it. They feel sorry for their lady who is too kind.

***

Li Yongfan was busy reading his documents. Usually he rarely brings documents home because he wants to spend time with his wife.

Tok tok tok tok

"Master, I brought food"

"Come in"

The waiter entered hesitantly.

"Did this kid eat this food too?"

"No sir"

Li Yongfan looked at the waiter and found out if he was being honest or not. He doesn't see the lies.

"That young lady didn't even have time to touch the food. He didn't eat anything"

"Is that so? Why doesn't he like it?"

"I ... don't know"

Li Yongfan would be troubled if Mo An An knew that his son did not eat.

"Make the food he likes and deliver it to him. The young mistress would be angry if her child starved to death "

"All right, sir"

The waiter came out and smiled. It seems that the hatred of her master is not very deep in the young miss. The servant was planning to bring the young lady closer to her stepfather.

***

The next day, Li Yongfan spent the weekend in his study. He stretched his hands feeling tired. He's out of his room. That was when the butler approached him.

"Young master, lunch is ready"

"Don't I say I don't want to eat with the kid?"

"That's it.nona Jiao didn't come out of her room. He had also not been down to eat since this morning"

"Is the child seeking attention by being spoiled?"

"Sorry young master, but I don't think it's like that. Miss Jiao cares about you. She doesn't want to come down to eat because she knows you don't want to eat if you have a lady and she knows you might not feel comfortable eating in the study. So the lady chose not to eat"

"Did he say that reason?"

The butler nodded.

"He asked you to tell me why? Did he do that to draw my sympathies? whatever he does I don't care and don't expect me to sympathize with him just because of this"

"But sir..."

"If he still refuses to eat then let him. If Mo An An asks just tell her daughter's own stubbornness"

Li Yongfan then went to the dining room because the boy was not around and did not want to eat so he would enjoy his lunch quietly after which he would return to work.

  Inside his room, Jiao curled up on the bed. He was hungry but he tried to hold it in, after all he just didn't eat 2x in a day. He has often held back his lap so it is not too difficult for him.

***

  Jiao went downstairs, she felt thirsty. He heard the phone ringing. It was late and there seemed to be a lot of servants sleeping. Jiao wanted to answer the phone when the butler approached her.

"Miss, let me go"

"All right"

"Miss, can you help me deliver tea to sir"

"Oh, okay"

Jiao hesitantly accepted the tray that the butler had brought.

Jiao walked doubtfully into Li Yongfan's study. Jiao knocked on the door of the room.

Tok tok tok tok

"Come in"

A firm and cold voice sounded. Jiao walked into the room surrounded by bookshelves. He walked slowly towards Li Yongfan.

The man looked at her, his gaze turning cold.

"Uncle, Jiao brought uncle coffee"

"Take off. I don't want to drink what a kid like you touched"

"But, this..."

"Don't test my patience. Never show yourself in front of me"

Li Yongfan slapped the glass and hit Jiao's hand. The coffee was still quite hot because Li Yongfan usually ordered to bring hot coffee so that the temperature was not too cold when he ignored it.

Jiao reflexively removed the tray and the glass fell off. Li Yongfan was also surprised by what he was doing. She was sure the girl would cry at this moment but the girl did not show any emotion anymore not even shouting.The girl instead picked up the ceramic shards from the glass"

"sorry"

The girl leaves immediately. Li Yongfan looked at the closed door. He felt strange about the reaction of the little girl, for girls his age usually they would cry but why did the boy act as if he did not feel anything.

***

"Young lady"

"Head maid, I'm sorry I'm wasted this coffee"

The butler saw the ceramic shards. 

"Miss, are you hurt?"

"I'm fine"

Jiao then threw out the ceramic shards while the butler made a new coffee for Li Yongfan.

***

Inside his room, Jiao pondered that maybe he shouldn't be here. He should not disturb the happiness of his mother who already has a new family.

'Maybe, I should go '

Jiao opened her closet, there were a lot of clothes in the closet. He wanted to take one but he ended up undoing his intentions. These clothes were bought by his mother, it was not appropriate for him to carry them.

On the other hand the waiter delivered coffee to Li Yongfan. Li Yongfan wanted to ask the butler something but he hesitated that the one coming out of his mouth was different from the one he wanted.

"Head maid, did you tell the boy to bring coffee ? You should do your job well, if you can't bring coffee then you can ask for another waiter. Don't ever let that kid into my room, you understand"

"I'm sorry, sir. I'll notice this next time"

"Goodoo. I no longer need your help. You can go and rest"

"All right, sir"

The butler lowered his head. He felt sad and disappointed that his plan to bring the young master and miss closer together failed.

"Head of the maid"

"Yes, sir"

"Something I want to ask"

***

Jiao left the house early in the morning. As he came out the cold air greeted him. January still has a fairly cold temperature, especially in the morning. Jiao came out the back door. He's trying to get up the fence.  For the little girl who had to run away often when caught stealing she had already learned how to climb the padlock with her small body. But the wall was quite high, the little girl even fell down.

"What are you doing?"

A low voice of a man sounded. Jiao looked over doubtfully.

"Uncle"

Li Yongfan stared intently at him. Other children might cry at the sight of a frightening sharp glare.

"What are you doing early in the morning like this?"

Jiao nervous. Should he say that he wanted to escape.

"Do you want to run away from home?"

Jiao was silent.

"Can't you talk huh? You want to go and report to your mama about what I did? You want us to fight again and again?"

Li Yongfan raised his tone. Jiao just silently looked at Li Yongfan. Usually the little boy would cry when scolded but Jiao just stared blankly at him.

"I'm sorry, I. I didn't mean to get uncle in trouble. I will return to my house and I will not disturb my uncle's family anymore. I know here I just troubled uncle and upset uncle. I'm really sorry"

Jiao bowed.  Li Yongfan sighed.

"Here you go, back in"

"But, I..."

"If you don't want me to get into trouble then get in"

Jiao eventually complied with Li Yongfan. The little girl followed him from behind.

"Why behind me. Go forward"

The little girl scolded him. Li Yongfan silently smiled at the obedient child. If it was like this she really looked like Mo An An as a child.

They're coming into the house. Li Yongfan asked her to sit down and wait for him in the living room. The little girl wanted to say something but finally complied.

Li Yongfan left him. Then not long after he came and brought the ointment.

"Grow your hand out"

Jiao did not react. Li Yongfan slowly grabbed his hand. He applied the ointment carefully.

"Just scream if it hurts"

Jiao was silent. Li Yongfan watched her, the little girl showed no change to her darar expression as if she did not feel anything.

Li Yongfan had already asked for someone to sneak Bai Yuchen in and he got a report last night about Bai Yuchen being arrested for torturing her son.

"You'll grow into a woman in the future. A woman should have no scars"

Li Yongfan changed his tone to be softer.

"Thank you, uncle"

He gently rubbed the boy's hair. He knew the pain the girl was going through was big enough that she did not react even when she was sick. In the past, it was Li Yongfan who cared for Li Huan Rui, he understood the habits of children. He felt guilty for being rude to this child.

"Call me papa from now on"

"But papa jiao is..."

"From now on I'm your father"

After knowing the things Bai Yuchen did she did not deserve the status of a father. He also did not want the little girl to be reminded of her past especially her biological father who only gave her a period of illness.

Li Yongfan now did not mind thinking of Mo An An's son as his son after all he was so much like Mo An An but with a different character. Mo An An's eyes were usually bright but in addition to the different colors of his eyes his gaze also looked full of sadness and also the color of the child's dark eyes also resembled his.

"It's okay if you need time"

Li Yongfan hugged the little girl's body. Jiao never felt her father's warm embrace. This uncle was not his real father but Jiao could feel the warmth she had always wanted to feel. Can this uncle be his real father.

"Papa"

Li Yongfan took off his embrace. He doubted what he heard.

"Repeat what you say"

"Papa"

Li Yongfan smiled.

"Jiao from now on you are Li Jiao"

Jiao never had a clan. His father never allowed him to use the surname Bai.

"You must still be sleepy, right? It's still too early. You can go back to sleep"

Li Yongfan was holding the little girl. Jiao leaned against his chest and slowly fell asleep

A/N: At first I wanted to make it sadder but I felt sorry for Jiao