Gu Xingyi still didn’t eat at the same table as the mother and daughter. After placing the food on the table, he hurriedly left the house.

When the sound of the door closing reached her ears, Xia Xiyao hastily wiped the tears from her face, bit her lip, stood up, and carried Xiao Nainai over to the dining table.

There were still two meat dishes and two vegetables on the table, along with two bowls of rice and a bowl of steamed egg already served.

Xia Xiyao stared blankly at the colorful, fragrant, and delicious-looking food for a long time before she slowly sat down.

No one knew what kind of emotions she was feeling at that moment—not even she herself understood what was going through her mind.

The food was just as tasty as it had been during breakfast.

The little one had already dug happily into the egg custard.

But the peaceful lunch didn’t last long. The sound of the front door opening disrupted it.

They instinctively looked up, just in time to see Gu Xingyi walk in carrying a big bag.

Xiao Nainai leaned closer to Xia Xiyao, her small spoon still in her mouth, frozen mid-bite. Her large eyes followed Gu Xingyi's movements.

Gu Xingyi kept his gaze lowered, not daring to look at the frightened mother and daughter. He just walked over to the sofa, placed the bag down, and spoke, his voice a little low and muffled.

“I bought some ointment for you. Make sure to use it. I also bought a toy for the child. I don’t know if she’ll like it—I saw other little girls had them, and thought she should have one too.”

Xia Xiyao didn’t respond. After speaking, Gu Xingyi paused for a moment, then clasped his hands together and quietly pinched the base of his thumb.

“I know you don’t trust me. But still, I need to say this: from now on, I won’t drink anymore. I won’t hit you again. You and Xiao Nainai don’t need to live in fear anymore. The child is still young—this kind of atmosphere at home isn’t good for her.”

After finishing everything in one breath, Gu Xingyi felt some of the suffocating pressure in his chest ease.

Without waiting for a response from Xia Xiyao, he silently returned to the side bedroom.

Xia Xiyao watched his figure disappear and the door quietly close. She didn’t know what to say at all.

In just one day, facing this man’s sudden transformation, she still couldn’t let down her guard.

In the bedroom, Gu Xingyi felt even worse. His eyes were red—he’d clearly been crying outside too.

If he could, he would’ve rather not transmigrated at all, never knowing what had happened here.

But it was already too late. Transmigration wasn’t something he had a say in. And ending up in the body of such a scumbag made him feel sick—he’d even considered hurting himself.

Especially after seeing the scars all over Xia Xiyao’s body—his already repressed emotions sank even deeper.

Who says men don’t cry? It’s just that the sorrow hasn’t cut deep enough.

After just one day in this house, his heart felt like it was on the verge of collapse. He really couldn’t understand how someone could harbor such malice toward the people closest to them.

After eating, Xia Xiyao still left some food for Gu Xingyi.

She washed her and Xiao Nainai’s bowls and chopsticks, then looked at the bag on the table. After thinking for a moment, she took Xiao Nainai’s hand and returned to the master bedroom.

This kind of sudden kindness was too hard for her to accept.

What if it was a trap, meant to lower her guard? As for the pain on her body, she’d already grown used to it.

She really didn’t know—what could she possibly have that he would go to such lengths to get?

She feared that the moment she accepted his kindness, he would show his true, terrifying face again.

After experiencing just one day of gentleness, she was terrified of the return of the days before. And yet… a small part of her still held a trace of hope.

What if… as long as she didn’t reject him, he’d continue to be like this?

She could only hope this version of him would last another day… just one more day…

Gu Xingyi heard the bedroom door closing. He knew the mother and daughter had finished their meal, so he got up and left his room.

Then he saw the bag on the coffee table was still unopened, sitting silently in place.

Gu Xingyi pressed his lips together and sighed. He didn’t know what else he could do, so he just sat down and quietly began to eat.

Just then, the master bedroom door unexpectedly opened again. Xiao Nainai peeked out with her little head, curiously watching him eat.

Gu Xingyi tried once more to smile at her.

And this time—it worked. The little one didn’t run away. She just kept staring at him, her eyes filled with curiosity.

Gu Xingyi’s heart relaxed a little, and the weight he had been carrying was lifted, if only slightly. This soft, adorable child had soothed him.

He set down his chopsticks and called out to her with the gentlest voice he could muster.

“Xiao Nainai?”

The sudden sound startled the little one. She flinched slightly, but didn’t retreat. Instead, she turned to look inside the bedroom, then—as if encouraged—looked back at Gu Xingyi.

A soft, childish voice came from her mouth.

“Papa?”

Hearing that word, Gu Xingyi’s whole body trembled. His eyes instantly welled up, and a beaming smile lit up his face like a blooming flower.

It was the most beautiful sound he had heard since arriving in this world.

Xiao Nainai tilted her head, confused as she stared at her papa, who was both crying and smiling. She seemed puzzled—how could someone cry while smiling?

Gu Xingyi gave a gentle “mm” in response.

Then he stood up, walked to the sofa, and took out the doll he had just bought from the bag. Holding it up, he gently shook it at Xiao Nainai.

Xiao Nainai blinked her big eyes, clearly tempted. She looked at the doll in Gu Xingyi’s hands, then turned to glance toward the master bedroom. After a long pause, she finally began inching toward him.

At that moment, Gu Xingyi’s heart was pounding like a drum. He watched this little girl—like a tiny angel—step toward him barefoot, one little step at a time.

He even held his breath, terrified of scaring away this brave little soul who had taken such a big step.

Xiao Nainai knew papa could make her yummy food now, and now he had a toy she liked too. He seemed like he wouldn’t hit her or mama anymore.

She came up beside Gu Xingyi, tilted her little face up, sniffled hard, and then broke into a happy smile.

Papa didn’t smell bad anymore! So happy!

“Xiao Nainai, do you want to see the doll papa’s holding? Look at her little braids—they look just like yours. And her dress—do you like it?”

Looking at this tiny bundle of cuteness, Gu Xingyi’s mind scrambled through everything he’d read on parenting. He spoke to her with the utmost gentleness and sincerity.

Xiao Nainai wiggled her little hand, clearly wanting to take the doll, but she still didn’t have the courage to reach out. Her big, dark eyes just stayed locked on Gu Xingyi.

Gu Xingyi had been watching her the whole time and noticed the movement. So, he slowly crouched down until he was at eye level with her.

Then, he gently placed the toy in her hand. The moment his fingers brushed her tiny palm, Gu Xingyi felt his entire body go soft.

The destructive power of this little cutie was off the charts.

For his first day as a papa, Gu Xingyi was pretty satisfied with his performance.