{Chapter: 306 Dad!}
"What I want to say is… ahem…" Gui Qingtong hesitated for a moment, her voice soft yet determined. "In addition to the good news from the Jiangbei Conservatory of Music—about me getting admitted—I also have to go for the final registration today and complete some official procedures."
She glanced at her mother, then continued with a slight pout, "But I can't do it alone. I need a parent to accompany me for the registration process. They require at least one guardian to be present during the formalities."
After explaining the situation, Gui Qingtong looked straight at Mei Yuxian and said, "So, Mom… I was hoping you could come with me to the school today—to complete the admission process with me, and also maybe attend the parents' orientation meeting while we're there…"
Hearing this, Mei Yuxian frowned ever so slightly. A flicker of hesitation crossed her beautiful, elegant features.
This was because she had an important commitment this morning—an annual business conference for her company, one that couldn't be rescheduled. Not only was it the company's most crucial event of the year, but she had also planned to make a few key announcements that she had recently discussed in detail with Lin Yuan.
The conflict was immediate and sharp. On one side was a major corporate responsibility she had prepared weeks for, one that many employees and shareholders were eagerly awaiting. On the other side was her daughter's milestone—a once-in-a-lifetime moment marking her official entry into university life.
Technically, Gui Qingtong could manage the registration herself. She was independent and capable. But emotionally, this day was special. It was her first step into adulthood, into her dreams, into a future shaped by hard work and perseverance.
Mei Yuxian knew that skipping this moment, even for a legitimate reason, might leave Gui Qingtong feeling neglected or unloved.
After all, no matter how much money, power, or prestige she possessed, she was still a mother—a single mother. And for a single parent, situations like this were always the hardest. In a two-parent household, one could handle the career while the other took care of the children. But for her, there was no such luxury.
Despite her best efforts over the years to give Gui Qingtong a comfortable and fulfilling life, Mei Yuxian couldn't always be there for every school event, every recital, or every parent-teacher meeting. And today, the same pain revisited her.
Gui Qingtong noticed her mother's hesitation. Her eyes dimmed, and her smile faltered. She lowered her gaze and softly muttered, "I understand, Mom. It's okay. You don't have to say anything…"
Before Mei Yuxian could respond, her daughter had already turned around, preparing to leave the room. Her shoulders were tense, and her steps were slow. It was clear she was holding back tears. Her eyes, once bright with excitement, now glistened with silent disappointment.
Mei Yuxian watched her go, her heart tightening with guilt and helplessness.
Gui Qingtong loved Lin Yuan, that was undeniable—but her love for her mother was equally strong. And right now, it wasn't about romance or academics. It was simply about wanting someone she loved to stand beside her during an important moment.
Just as she was about to step outside, a gentle hand reached out and grabbed her arm.
Startled, Gui Qingtong turned around. To her surprise, it was Lin Yuan who had caught her wrist.
"Brother Lin Yuan?" she asked, eyes wide, her voice barely above a whisper.
Lin Yuan smiled gently, his gaze warm and reassuring. "S¡ster Yuxian has something important to handle today," he said calmly. "So, how about I go with you instead? I'll accompany you through the formalities and attend the parents' meeting with you. Would that be okay?"
Gui Qingtong blinked, stunned into silence for a moment. Then her lips trembled ever so slightly before curving into a smile—soft, grateful, and touched.
Lin Yuan's simple gesture was enough to bring back her joy.
Mei Yuxian, watching the exchange from the doorway, felt a pang in her chest. Lin Yuan had stepped in when she couldn't—and he did it so naturally, so gently, that it made her realize once again why she had fallen for him in the first place.
For now, she could only hope that Gui Qingtong wouldn't hold her absence against her.
And perhaps… it was time to reconsider what role Lin Yuan would play in their lives from here on out.
"Really?!" Gui Qingtong exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise and disbelief. The shock of Lin Yuan's offer lingered for only a moment before joy bubbled up from within her, lighting up her face.
"Of course," Lin Yuan replied with a warm and reassuring smile, his tone as gentle as a spring breeze.
"Okay… Okay!" Gui Qingtong nodded eagerly, her face flushing with excitement. Her ponytail bounced slightly as she nodded again, this time slower, as if to fully absorb the fact that she wouldn't have to go alone after all.
Although the affection Gui Qingtong felt for Mei Yuxian was naturally different from what she felt for Lin Yuan, the truth was she held a deep fondness for him as well. She admired his calm demeanor, his wit, and the steady sense of warmth he always seemed to bring into the room.
Gui Qingtong was perfectly capable of attending the university's orientation and handling the formalities on her own. She knew that. But in her heart, she longed for someone close to accompany her—not just to walk beside her physically, but to stand beside her emotionally.
And now, Lin Yuan had offered to fill that role.
His presence soothed the sting of disappointment from her mother's unavoidable absence. To Gui Qingtong, it was as though Lin Yuan could gently patch the part of her heart left momentarily hollow by her mom's decision.
Her heart, which had felt heavy moments earlier, now fluttered with happiness.
However, after the initial wave of excitement passed, Gui Qingtong caught herself and tried to rein in her emotions. She cleared her throat softly and shifted her gaze slightly, a bit shy. "Ahem… Brother Lin Yuan, you're really going to accompany me for the registration and… the parents' meeting? That makes it feel like… well… like you're playing the role of my parent or something. It's not a big deal, but still…"
Her voice trailed off, uncertain and embarrassed, as if even saying it aloud made her feel a little silly.
But Lin Yuan, catching the unspoken thoughts between her words, simply chuckled. His reaction was lighthearted and full of ease, easing her worries immediately.
He raised his eyebrows playfully. "Well, if that's the case, then I'm not your 'Brother Lin Yuan' anymore. How about you call me 'Dad Lin Yuan'?"
Then, pretending to consider something seriously, he added, "Wait—actually, the last name's wrong. Should it be 'Dad Gui Yuan'? Hmm, it doesn't roll off the tongue that well."
Gui Qingtong giggled, her earlier uneasiness quickly forgotten. Lin Yuan's ability to joke at just the right time always made her feel more at ease.
"Forget it," Lin Yuan grinned. "You can just call me 'Dad.' Either way, I'll be by your side today. No big deal."
As he spoke, he glanced at Mei Yuxian, a cheeky smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Mei Yuxian raised an eyebrow at his playful expression, her eyes narrowing slightly. She shot him a warning glare, her cheeks subtly flushing as she registered the subtle implication behind his words.
"Uh… Will that really be alright?" Gui Qingtong asked hesitantly, still unsure if it would be appropriate for Lin Yuan to stand in for her mother at the formal event.
Lin Yuan responded confidently, "Don't worry about it. Honestly, I've been to Jiangbei Conservatory of Music more times than you might think. You remember my cousin Yu Shanshan, right? She's a student there, and she was at your family's banquet the other day."
Gui Qingtong blinked. "Oh, yeah! I remember her."
"Well," Lin Yuan continued, "she always ropes me into pretending to be her dad during school events. Otherwise, her actual parents might catch on to all the things she's been up to. You wouldn't believe the messes I've helped cover up."
"Pffft!" Gui Qingtong couldn't help but burst into laughter, recalling Yu Shanshan's mischievous behavior. "She's really something."
With her mood lifted, she turned to Mei Yuxian and asked earnestly, "Mom, would it be okay if Brother Lin Yuan comes with me then? Just for today? Can he be my dad for one day?"
Mei Yuxian's expression became a little complicated.
She looked at her daughter's eager face, then at Lin Yuan, who was still standing there with that infuriatingly confident smile. Deep down, she felt a twinge of guilt. She had always tried to be there for Qingtong, and missing this milestone moment—her daughter's first formal step into university life—weighed heavily on her.
Letting Lin Yuan go in her place wasn't ideal. But it was far better than Gui Qingtong walking that road alone.
After a brief pause, Mei Yuxian let out a soft sigh and waved her hand. "Fine. Let him go. Let your Brother Lin Yuan be your… dad, just for today."
The words were said casually, but inside her heart, Mei Yuxian was feeling strangely unsettled.
'Your Brother Lin Yuan is indeed your dad,' she mused silently, 'but not just for today…'
Gui Qingtong had no clue what her mother was thinking. She was too busy celebrating the unexpected joy of being accompanied. She beamed with happiness and looked at Lin Yuan with a sparkle in her eyes.
"Ahem! Then it's settled! Brother Lin Yuan—no, I mean, Dad Lin Yuan~" she said teasingly, stretching out the last words with playful emphasis.
Then, without warning, Gui Qingtong stood on her tiptoes and gave Lin Yuan a quick kiss on the cheek. The gesture was affectionate and spontaneous.
Lin Yuan chuckled at her sweetness, but before anyone could say anything, Gui Qingtong darted off. "I'm going to go get ready!" she called out, practically skipping toward her room.
She had sensed that her mother might scold her for the kiss again, and she wasn't about to give her the chance.
Once Gui Qingtong had vanished down the hall, Mei Yuxian stood up from her seat and walked toward Lin Yuan with a complicated expression on her face.
She raised her hands and began softly hitting his chest—not in anger, but more like a woman overwhelmed by mixed emotions. Her fists were light and slow, almost as though she didn't know whether to hit him, hug him, or push him away.
"You…" she murmured, her tone caught somewhere between exasperation and affection.
Lin Yuan simply stood still, accepting her little punches with a knowing smile. There was no need for words.
Some things, after all, didn't need to be said aloud to be felt.