Chapter 55: Daddy, Don't You Remember Little Peach?-Depois de renascer, recusei-me a assumir o fardo, e a família da minha esposa enlouqueceu.(Estufar-se em uma panela de ferro.)

At this point, all Zhang Zihao wanted was for the engagement banquet to go smoothly so he could secure the Chu family's financial backing and resources. Everything else was secondary.

If Zhao Qiang wanted to sneak in, let him. The moment he dared to cause any trouble, he would have him thrown out immediately.

Chu Mengyao glanced at today's security detail, noticing that almost all of them belonged to the Zhang family.

Why had Zhao Qiang made such a fuss out of nothing? Was he subtly trying to draw her attention to the current security forces?

"Uncle Zhang, have your men stand down!"

Chu Mengyao said with a solemn expression and a firm tone.

"They've worked hard, and I will have our own people take over!"

Chu Mengyao remained deeply cautious; she could never allow the Zhang family to control the situation. She certainly didn't feel safe letting the Zhang clan guard the Chu estate. Who knew if they might plant hidden cameras or tamper with things behind the scenes?

"There's really no need for that. Both our families are practically one."

A smile plastered across his face, Zhang Zihao attempted to persuade her. "It's completely unnecessary, Mengyao. Let's just head to the engagement banquet!"

He never expected Chu Mengyao to take this matter so seriously, and a trace of annoyance flickered in his heart.

"It is necessary. It wouldn't look good to keep our guests waiting outside."

Disregarding Zhang Zihao's darkening complexion, Chu Mengyao firmly ordered the Chu family guards to resume control of the estate's security.

Glares of pure malice shot from Zhang Zihao toward Zhao Qiang as he muttered through gritted teeth, "It's all this bastard's fault!"

Zhao Qiang waved his hands in an innocent gesture, shrugging helplessly. "Mr. Zhang, this has nothing to do with me. My hands are tied!"

As the crowd began moving toward the Chu manor, Lin Meina watched the spectacle with amusement, letting out a sarcastic sneer. "Zhao Qiang, you've offended Mr. Zhang. You can kiss your position as vice president goodbye—just wait to be fired!"

"Oh, he's going to fire me? I'm so terrified!"

Putting on a heavily exaggerated expression of fright, a playful grin lingered on Zhao Qiang's face. "By the way, Director Lin, why didn't you bring your little toy boy along today?"

"Who is this older gentleman? Could he be your latest conquest?"

A single sentence from Zhao Qiang rendered Lin Meina completely speechless. Her husband had no inkling of her affair with Zhou Jie. To have it blurted out in broad daylight sent a wave of sheer panic through her.

Zhao Qiang had given her enough face previously; she had forced his hand by pushing the issue. Since a fallout was inevitable today anyway, he might as well give her husband a polite wake-up call.

"Don't run off, Director Lin. Let's chat a bit more!"

A mocking smirk played on Zhao Qiang's lips. It was fine if this aging woman minded her own business, but once she chose to provoke him, she needn't expect an easy escape.

Lin Meina's face turned pale with fury, yet she struggled to find any words of rebuttal. "You... you're talking nonsense!"

The main hall of the Chu residence was a vision of glittering gold and jade.

Seated right at the center of honor was Elder Chu, the ultimate pillar of strength for the family. He was a figure of immense respect and towering prestige throughout the imperial capital.

"Great-grandpa, Little Peach will give you a massage."

A tiny figure stood before Elder Chu, her soft, chubby little fists gently pounding the old man's legs.

Little Peach was deeply cherished. Initially, Elder Chu had strongly objected to Chu Mengyao bringing an illegitimate child home. In his eyes, Chu Mengyao had utterly disgraced the Chu family name.

Gradually, however, Little Peach's adorable disposition won everyone over.

Even Elder Chu transitioned from resentment to affection—after all, she was still of Chu blood.

"Little Peach, stop bothering Great-grandpa. Come down right now."

Chu Mengyao called out gently, urging her to step down.

"It's quite alright. The old man enjoys playing with this little one."

Elder Chu scooped Little Peach straight into his arms and planted a resounding kiss on her cheek.

"Grandpa Chu, since you love children so much, Mengyao and I will just have to give you another one soon," Zhang Zihao chimed in eagerly, flashing a sycophantic smile as he buttered up the elder. "We'll give Little Peach a little brother or sister."

Within the entire Chu family, the old man's word was absolute. Regardless of whether Chu Mengyao liked Zhang Zihao or not, she would ultimately have to bow to the elder's decision.

"Splendid! You two should strive to give me a few more grandchildren. I've always loved playing with little children."

Elder Chu burst into hearty laughter, his face beaming with happiness. Fulfilling this wish also honored his pact with the senior Mr. Zhang.

"Little Peach, come let Daddy hold you."

Zhang Zihao opened his arms wide, brandishing a piece of cotton candy to entice the child.

Little Peach paused, glanced at Chu Mengyao, and pouted. Turning her head sharply away, she completely ignored Zhang Zihao.

"Oh, this child. She'll warm up once your family of three spends more time together."

Elder Chu chuckled, stroking his beard.

This scene left the surrounding guests bewildered, prompting whispers and murmurs.

"What's going on here? Whose child is Eldest Miss Chu actually carrying?"

"Keep your voice down, or you'll be thrown out before you know it."

"I heard it's the Eldest Miss's child with some unknown man. They've kept the father's identity tightly under wraps; the Chu family has locked down the secret completely."

In reality, even the Chu family members themselves were clueless. The strict secrecy was enforced precisely to ward off malicious gossip.

"At any rate, Young Master Zhang is willing to accept this daughter. You have to hand it to him—his magnanimity far surpasses that of an ordinary man."

"If it were me, I'd never agree to it."

Right at that moment, Little Peach's bright, animated eyes suddenly lit up.

Having seemingly spotted something that filled her with absolute joy, she nimbly slid down from Elder Chu's warm embrace.

Amidst the bewildered and curious gazes of the crowd, Little Peach took quick, joyful little steps and sprinted without hesitation toward a certain figure.

"Daddy! Daddy..."

Little Peach chirped happily all the way, her tender, crisp voice echoing continuously through the spacious Chu hall.

Seeing this, the guests exchanged puzzled glances, their eyes tracking the little girl's movements intently.

It wasn't until Little Peach stood firmly beside Zhao Qiang, wrapping her arms tightly around his leg and tilting her head up to call him "Daddy" over and over again—a display both adorable and stubborn—that the reality set in.

In an instant, Zhao Qiang became the absolute center of attention.

Struck speechless, Zhao Qiang turned around in awkward desperation, trying to dodge the humiliating predicament as he muttered under his breath, "Little Peach, stop shouting nonsense. You can't just say that."

Yet Little Peach paid him no mind, relentlessly continuing her chants: "Daddy! Daddy! You are my daddy!"

"Daddy, what's wrong? Do you not recognize Little Peach anymore?"

Zhao Qiang had anticipated almost every scenario, but he had never foreseen Little Peach leaping out at a moment like this.

For a stretch of time, the entire Chu hall plunged into an eerie silence, every pair of eyes wide with shock and confusion.

"Why is the Chu family's little girl calling that man 'Daddy'? What on earth is going on here?"

Someone finally asked in a hushed whisper.

Zhang Zihao's complexion instantly turned ashen, his eyes swimming with fury and disbelief.

He had showered this little brat with endless flattery and affection, yet she had stubbornly refused to call him father once. Why on earth was she suddenly greeting Zhao Qiang with such intimacy?

Even Elder Chu was left utterly bewildered by the sudden turn of events. Furrowing his brow deeply, he turned to ask the head of the Chu household standing beside him, "Who on earth is this man? Why is Little Peach so close to him?"