In the Pink Princess Room.
"Little Barbie, be obedient. Mommy will put some lipstick on you, so you can look pretty." Lan Lan stood on the bed, propping herself up with a pink pillow, applying makeup to a more than one-meter-tall Snow White. Although Snow White was taller than her by half a head, she insisted on being its mother and wanted to make it look beautiful.
Li Zhenting pushed open the door and entered slowly.
"Daddy!" Lan Lan turned her head and upon seeing Li Zhenting, a hint of nervousness and fear flashed in her smart little eyes. But soon, two shallow dimples appeared on her round face, and she ran toward him with open arms.
Li Zhenting couldn't help but soften his stern expression and embraced her.
"Daddy, I love you so much." Lan Lan kissed Li Zhenting's face repeatedly. "I'm a good girl, very sensible. Do you like Lan Lan?"
She had a way of clinging to him whenever she made a mistake.
Surprisingly, it worked every time, allowing her to escape punishment. This had made her bolder and more outrageous in her behavior.
And she always came up with various ways to torment Ding Ding.
This time...
Li Zhenting had no intention of letting her off the hook.
Ding Ding had already run away from home twice. The situation was very serious.
"Lan Lan, stand properly. Daddy has something to say to you." Li Zhenting placed Lan Lan on the bed and ordered her to stand still, his tone serious.
Lan Lan stood there, trembling with fear. Her eyes, resembling black grapes, shimmered with tears. Her expression was both timid and adorable.
Li Zhenting's face turned stern. "Lan Lan, why do you always bully Ding Ding? He is your brother, and you should respect and care for him, understand?"
Lan Lan sniffled and nodded, tears streaming down her face. "Daddy, I love my brother, and I won't bully him. But he ignores me and even calls me ugly."
Li Zhenting's gaze hardened. "Lan Lan, you are you, and he is he. If he doesn't pay attention to you, that's his right. You have no right to force him to do anything. Everyone is an individual with their own choices and preferences. He can choose not to pay attention to you as long as he doesn't harm you. It's not his fault. But if you keep pestering him and forcing him to do things he doesn't like, that's your mistake, understand?"
Lan Lan looked at Li Zhenting's serious face and nodded, speaking in a cute and soft voice, "Daddy, I was wrong."
"Tomorrow, you will apologize to Ding Ding, and from now on, you are not allowed to force him to do anything. Do you understand?" Li Zhenting's tone became strict.
"Okay." Lan Lan pouted and nodded, tears still flowing. "Daddy, if you don't love me anymore, will you abandon me?"
For some reason, despite her young age, she was particularly afraid that Li Zhenting wouldn't love her anymore or want her. After being criticized by Li Zhenting for her mistakes, she always asked this question cautiously.
Her delicate and adorable appearance always melted Li Zhenting's heart.
He felt that his parenting had failed. Both children—one seemed to have autism, locking himself in his own little world and avoiding communication with others. He even ran away from home. Although Ding Ding had improved a lot now, there was still a strange feeling, making him feel somewhat unreal.
The other child was willful, domineering, and yet sensitive and fragile.
Considering his excellent genes, how could he have children like this?
"Lan Lan, as long as you correct your mistakes, Daddy will always love you. You will always be my good daughter, my caring little cotton jacket. Daddy will never abandon you." He gently stroked her small face, wiping away her tears, and spoke in a gentle tone.