Mama's Princess Is Daddy's Beloved

"CEO Zheng, the call is not going through this number. It's saying that the number is no longer in use". The bartender said after trying the call for the umpteenth time. Every time he called; it said the same. "Should I call your driver instead? It will be easy for you to go with him"

Zheng Wenting, who had his head down at the counter, all wasted with the influence of the alcohol at once straightened up and shook his head. "De – Definitely not! What do you think? I don't have a girlfriend to flaunt and I was lying to you"

The bartender shook his head. Though drunk, Zheng Wenting was still not a personality whom the poor man could dare to offend. "No, no, sir. Why would I mean that? It was just that the call was not getting connected, so I thought to call your driver instead."

"Huh? The call is not getting connected? Bring … Bring me the phone and let me see. How can the call not get connected?" Zheng Wenting said, extending his hand out in front to get the phone back in his hands. His voice, coming out in slurry consistency while his eyes looked all drowsy.

The bartender didn't question much. He was not at the stand to question, so to his words, he obediently gave the phone back to the man and let him do whatever he wanted.

Getting the phone back, Zheng Wenting tried to read the contact details of Li Xue, but his vision was coming too blurred. Blinking his eyes repeatedly and with much difficulty, he finally got a way to dial it but the response on the other side came the same. The number was no longer in use.

His brows wrinkled in a frown as he brought his phone to the front to look. "How is it not connecting? I have earlier called her number and it was in use at that time. This phone must not be working well. See, here, I called her" He said as he flipped his phone screen toward the bartender to look at the call logs.

"Sir, this call log is from a long time back, approx. 5 years. Maybe this number is no longer in use. You can try if you have any other number " the bartender advised looking a little sympathetically at the man. Now the devastation on his face from all this time was making some sense to him. The man must either have been betrayed or he must have been dumped recently.

Zheng Wenting's lips got rounded in an 'oh' as he nodded to the words and looked back to the phone. "Oh, I almost forgot that 5 years has already passed. Okay no problem, I could still get her number. Wait, I will call my secretary and make him arrange it for me. I will make you and the world see that she is my woman from always". He said drowsily as he again went to try another call.

***

Back in Little Carnations,

The family of three was already sitting at the dining table, ready for dinner.

"Mama, how is your cooking always this good? I just love everything you cook. Do you know, there is a friend of mine in the class? She doesn't like to have capsicum. But I said to her that when she will have your cooked capsicums, she would love it" Li Wei said cheerfully as she forked one of the stir-fried capsicums from her plate into her mouth and moved her head savouring in deliciousness.

Li Xue looked at her and could only shake her head. "Then what do you say about the broccoli, sweetie. Do I also cook them with deliciousness?" She asked and the little one was at once tongue-tied. Broccoli was something she did not like but she has always loved her Mama's cooking. They had always been yum on her tongue and fulfilling in her tummy.

"Umm … Broccoli is good for health, Mama. So, the baby eats it to not make Mama worry about her health. But in comparison to taste, capsicums are better" The little one answered, trying her best to be honest. After all, her mother has always told her to be truthful about her thoughts.

"You, little Devil, don't talk too much now. Complete your dinner fast so that you could sleep early" The mother said, laughing lightly at her daughter's wittiness. This girl knew all well to twist her words to her own benefit. Such a little devil she was!

The little girl nodded and soon went back to complete her food.

"Tomorrow is your debate, WeiWei. Do you have any doubts remaining on the topic", Feng Shufen suddenly asked, picking some vegetables to put into the bowl for one and then moving to do the same for Li Xue.

The little girl lifted her head to look at her Daddy Angel. She didn't answer in any hurry, rather remained all thoughtful for a second before shaking her head. "No, Daddy Angel. I have read everything well. I am not having any doubts." She replied, being all sure and confident at her words.

The man nodded at her words, getting all satisfied at her confidence and then said, "You will do good tomorrow" Though his words were something like encouragement, his tone doesn't sound like one. But it still brought a smile on Li Wei's face as if the intention behind her Daddy Angel's words reached all well to her heart.

"Don't worry, Daddy Angel I will remain all casual and confident till the end, same as you have asked me to be and will win the prize home" She added cheerfully and Li Xue felt the only one alienated at the scene.

Was that only her who thought that the small conversation between the little and the big Devil looked quite professional? As if the man was not asking a five years old girl about her preparation for the competition, rather a senior student from higher secondary school

Was this the way to ask and encourage a little one? She thought to ask but before she could say anything, the phone at the side rang. She looked at the number to be some private one. "Huh, who is this?" she said getting a little confused at the late-night call. The number was not saved in her contact list.

She thought to answer it but then again, her hands were all busy. She was deboning the fish for her Mr Beelzebub. All this time he was refilling their bowls with vegetables and meat. It would be bad if she doesn't reciprocate his concern. Her eyes went to stare a little helplessly at the man, whose eyes were also at the phone for some time now.

"Mr Beelzebub, help me put the call on speaker." She said, not bothering too much. Feng Shufen nodded, before sliding the icon on the phone to accept the call. But what he heard next only froze the temperature around.

"Li Xue, you are my girlfriend. You are just mine in this world. You are Zheng Wenting's woman". The voice came in a mumbling voice but the loudspeaker made it all easy and clear to the ears.