However, his feelings for Natalia had grown considerably in the past few days.

Speaking of which, it was quite incredible. Natalia was especially close to him.

In order to get close to Natalia, Youyou had tried all means including tempting her with candies and talking to her in a nice way. Now that Gong Jie had brought her here, Natalia seemed to like clinging on to the man, and would gravitate towards him wherever he went.

Youyou was curious too, as to why Natalia particularly liked Gong Jie, and asked the girl this.

The little lass said righteously, “Because Daddy is tall and handsome, and he even gave me candies!”

Unconvinced, Youyou retorted, “I’m sure I’ll be tall and handsome when I grow up. Besides, I gave you candies too!”

“But you’re not my daddy!” Natalia’s words left the boy speechless.

He twitched his lips and could say nothing more!

Fine! Was this the charm of a mature man!

“Daddy, don’t you live here?” Natalia clung to Gong Jie’s thigh, reluctant to let go.

He bent down and scooped her up in his arms easily. He pinched the tip of her nose and raised an eyebrow, saying, “Why, you can’t bear to see Daddy go?”

“Uh huh!” Natalia shook her head like a rattle.

“Don’t go! I want to be with Daddy!”

Gong Jie drew his brows together in a slight frown of resignation. “I can stay here with you for a few days, but after that, Daddy has to get busy with work. Daddy will be back when I’m done. I won’t be long!”

“Really?!”

“Uh huh.”

Gong Jie carried her to Hua Jin’s side and coaxed her gently. “From now on, you’ll be with this uncle, okay? Be obedient, although it doesn’t matter even if you’re not. Daddy will video call you every day. If this uncle abuses you, complain to Daddy and Daddy will beat him up!”

With a few words of coaxing, Natalia was all smiles again.

The actor was thrown off balance by this. What the hell! Why would he abuse a child for no reason! Besides, he rather liked Natalia. Even though he wasn’t so happy to see the child entrusted to him this way by Gong Jie, he accepted it.

Still, he had to be sure of one thing. “Are you sure you’ll compensate me for the work that I have to give up!”

Gong Jie shot him a look. “I’m sure.”

Youyou said, “The fact that Uncle’s house is in your name shows his sincerity.”

Hua Jin composed himself. Suddenly, a most undesirable word came to him.

Kept.

Does this count as him being a kept… -_-b

You bet! Alimony, property… The actor suddenly felt like a dutiful wife and mother taking care of the kid…

Wait, that meant… Was it too late for him to back out? For some reason, an image formed in Hua Jin’s mind. That was the image of him standing at the stove with Natalia on his back, wearing an apron and a headscarf, bitterly cooking porridge…

OMG.

He didn’t want to become like this! If this continued, he would definitely become a house husband!

“Well…” The actor looked at the boy hesitantly.

But Youyou saw right through him. “Why, you want to back out?”

“Uh…” The actor made a veiled statement. “I’m not ready for this, am I?”

“What kind of mental preparation is required?”

“I haven’t cooked in a long time. I’m a little rusty, and I’m not very good at cleaning…”