But according to Wen Ang's investigation, Annie's father should not be this young; the teenager in front of him was unlikely to be the man.
Although their family kept the matter extremely confidential, a careful probe still turned up scattered clues.
Wen Ang frowned, secretly sizing up Jiang Cheng.
He saw that Jiang Cheng looked anything but ordinary, a limited-edition Patek Philippe strapped to his wrist.
If he wasn't mistaken, that watch was a minute-repeater worth more than ten million.
Head-to-toe luxury brands, plus he was dining with Wang Congcong.
Until he knew Jiang Cheng's background, Wen Ang knew he had to swallow his anger, however annoyed he felt.
He quietly withdrew his appraising gaze and could only watch Annie make trouble in front of him.
Seeing Annie deliberately embarrass him, Wen Ang's desire to make her disappear grew stronger.
She was just an eyesore of a child; he had plenty of ways to erase her.
Annie naughtily pulled An Xin's hand away and said to Jiang Cheng, "Papa Jiang, please make up with Mommy, then she won't go eat with other men."
Jiang Cheng looked at An Xin and Wen Ang; standing together they really did look a perfect match.
But right now Jiang Cheng couldn't read An Xin's intentions.
He didn't know how she felt about Wen Ang—after all, today was their blind-date.
If he sabotaged a budding couple, it would be unkind.
Although Jiang Cheng admitted An Xin was beautiful, he had no wish to wade into this mess.
He and An Xin had no real relationship; Jiang Cheng still followed the same principle—never initiate, never reject.
He prepared to toss the thorny question straight to An Xin.
He would take the chance to see exactly how An Xin viewed Wen Ang.
If An Xin truly liked Wen Ang,
then Annie's misleading words would be clarified by her without Jiang Cheng needing to say anything.
If she didn't like Wen Ang, she would seize the moment to respond; either way Jiang Cheng lost nothing.
Jiang Cheng chuckled. "You'll have to ask Mommy; the decision is hers."
An Xin was startled by Jiang Cheng's ambiguous answer.
He hadn't explained and had instead thrown the question back at her.
The move sent a small ripple through her heart.
Could he be testing her feelings? she wondered.
She stared at Jiang Cheng, her thoughts in turmoil.
She recalled the first time she met Jiang Cheng.
The image of him ordering his men to dispose of Annie's kidnappers was etched in her mind.
A sunny, handsome guy who could also be ruthless when needed.
And the warm scene when she, Jiang Cheng and Annie visited the amusement park.
His genuine affection and patience toward Annie showed he was a caring man.
Though no longer a Little Girl, An Xin still longed for love.
All these years raising Annie alone, she'd endured plenty of gossip.
She claimed not to care, yet that didn't mean she wanted to be alone.
She'd agreed to the blind-date today to give Annie a complete family.
But An Xin knew Annie was a stubborn child.
Once the girl set her heart on someone, no one else could compare.
She knew Annie adored Jiang Cheng; after her birthday An Xin often caught her smiling at the gift Jiang Cheng had bought.
And Annie kept finding excuses to meet Jiang Cheng.
An Xin understood Annie craved paternal love.
Jiang Cheng gave her that feeling, so she adored him.
An Xin herself felt gratitude—and naturally some affection—for Jiang Cheng.
Yet she was no longer a naive girl.
She believed a woman like her could never match Jiang Cheng.
If he came from an ordinary family it might be fine.
But given his background, his family was surely more complex than her surface investigation showed.
So she'd never allowed herself extra thoughts about him—dared not, and felt she shouldn't.
Yet right now she couldn't help fantasizing, testing.
She glanced at Annie and smiled indulgently. "The two of us have always been fine."
Her words neither denied nor confirmed what Annie had said about her and Jiang Cheng.
Nor did she correct Annie's way of addressing Jiang Cheng.
That tacitly acknowledged an unusual relationship between her and Jiang Cheng.
Hearing this, Annie's eyes sparkled. "Then, Mommy, take me and Papa Jiang to the amusement park again, okay?"
Looking at Annie's hopeful face, An Xin felt a pang.
She guiltily stroked Annie's hair.
She could give Annie a comfortable life and plenty of maternal love,
but she could not give her ordinary paternal love.
This time An Xin didn't refuse; she cleverly passed the question to Jiang Cheng.
After glancing at Jiang Cheng she said, "Mommy is free anytime; it's just that…"
Before she could finish, Annie cut in, looking at Jiang Cheng. "Papa Jiang, when are you free to take me? Let's all go together, okay?"
With that she dashed to Jiang Cheng's feet, hugged his leg and nuzzled him coquettishly.
Jiang Cheng naturally read An Xin's intent.
He shot An Xin an amused look, then regarded the naughty Annie in resignation.
Perhaps saving Annie had made the girl cling to him.
Meeting Annie's expectant eyes, Jiang Cheng couldn't bear to refuse the poor little friend.
"Naughty… Annie, if you promise to behave and never run off alone again, I'll take you."
Annie nodded vigorously the moment Jiang Cheng agreed. "Got it! I'm not a naughty child!"
Seeing her pout, Jiang Cheng was speechless.
She wasn't a naughty child?
Every time he met Annie it was when she was up to mischief. If he and An Xin had talked things through, he'd definitely lecture her.