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The venue for the wine gathering was located in the outskirts of Beijing, at a wealthy man’s private vineyard. The owner of this vineyard had a lifelong passion for hosting various wine events.

His wines were rare and expensive, making them highly sought after within elite circles.

To ensure that only refined guests attended his gatherings, he set an exceptionally high threshold for entry.

Those who qualified to attend were mostly renowned CEOs and influential figures from Beijing’s upper echelons. While the event was officially labeled as a wine gathering, it was more akin to a business negotiation session.

Gu Xuesong’s attendance this time was also for business discussions.

The car drove smoothly into the vineyard, and Gu Xuesong led his daughter to the venue. The entire space was spacious and exquisitely decorated, radiating opulence.

Considering the spouses accompanying the CEOs, the arrangements at the gathering included not only champagne and fine wines but also a variety of meticulously prepared snacks and pastries.

Yao Yao’s eyes lit up as she caught the scent of the delicious treats, and she discreetly swallowed her saliva.

However, she didn’t move. She reminded herself that she was here to protect her father, and acting too carefree might embarrass him.

Seeing his daughter’s restraint, Gu Xuesong couldn’t help but chuckle. He patted her shoulder gently and said, "If you want to eat, go ahead. Don’t feel shy."

"These things are prepared for people to enjoy," he added.

But Yao Yao shook her head and replied, "I’m not hungry!"

She knew that her primary mission today was to stay close to her father and protect him. Eating would distract her from fulfilling that duty.

Besides, these snacks could easily be replicated by their family chef at home. Protecting her father was far more important.

In critical moments, she could always prioritize what truly mattered.

Gu Xuesong understood his daughter’s unspoken thoughts, and warmth filled his heart. He felt both proud and a little sorry for her maturity.

Turning to his assistant, he instructed, "Go fetch some snacks for the young miss. Make sure to get one of each kind."

Gu Xuesong was well aware of his daughter’s appetite, and these small delicacies would surely satisfy her cravings.

The assistant nodded and headed toward the refreshment area.

Seeing her father’s thoughtful arrangement, Yao Yao beamed with a sweet smile and obediently followed him to the reception area.

The reception area was predominantly occupied by men discussing business matters, while the accompanying female guests stayed in the lounge area.

Thus, when Gu Xuesong entered the reception area with a young girl in tow, the entire room fell silent for a moment.

Soon after, curious gazes turned toward them.

As the wealthiest family in Beijing, the Gu family was no stranger to anyone present. The child holding Gu Xuesong’s hand was vaguely familiar to many—it was rumored to be the newly adopted daughter of the Gu family.

They had all heard about how much Gu Xuesong adored this adopted daughter.

But just how much affection he held for her remained unclear until now.

It was evident—this child was truly cherished and doted upon.

After all, this was a setting meant for serious business discussions. Why would someone bring a child along?

Wasn’t this a hindrance?

Of course, given the Gu family’s status, they had every right to do so, but it still left many feeling uneasy.

This act seemed to violate an unwritten rule of business etiquette. A certain CEO who had been collaborating with Gu Xuesong wore an increasingly displeased expression.

When this person approached to initiate conversation, Li Ming’s tone noticeably cooled, even taking on a sarcastic edge.

"Mr. Gu certainly treasures his daughter. Even in such a business-oriented setting, you insist on keeping her by your side."

"I’ll be blunt—I came here today to discuss business with you. I hope your priorities align with mine in this matter."

These words clearly conveyed his dissatisfaction.

Given the nature of their collaboration and the underlying connections, Li Ming still exercised some discretion. If the Gu family didn’t value this partnership, he saw no reason to grovel for their favor.

The bluntness of this remark drew sharp intakes of breath from the onlookers, who now grew curious about how Gu Xuesong would respond.

From their perspective, a man who had built his company to such heights shouldn’t lack common sense.

Could he really love an adopted daughter so much that he’d jeopardize business deals? That wasn’t the behavior expected of a successful businessman.

"Mr. Li can rest assured. My personal presence here is proof enough of my seriousness."

"As for why I brought my daughter, it’s… complicated."

Gu Xuesong detected the subtle accusation in Li Ming’s words, but his expression remained unchanged. He chose not to elaborate further.

It wasn’t that he couldn’t explain; rather, the truth was something outsiders would find even harder to accept. After all, who would believe that he brought his daughter along because she intended to protect him?

An explanation that everyone would dismiss outright was sometimes better left unsaid.

"Let’s discuss the project details then," Gu Xuesong suggested.

Though Li Ming’s expression remained sour, he didn’t press the issue further.

Deep down, he was still inclined to collaborate with the Gu family. Aside from valuing their reputation, the favorable terms they offered were also unmatched by others.

Profit was paramount to any businessman, and within legal channels, everyone sought to maximize their gains.

Gu Xuesong nodded, about to speak, when he suddenly felt a small tug on his sleeve.

This interrupted his train of thought, and glancing down, he met his daughter’s wide, innocent eyes.

"What is it?" Gu Xuesong asked gently.

He didn’t blame her for interrupting, knowing full well that his daughter understood boundaries. If she interrupted, there must be an important reason.

But Li Ming, unaware of their father-daughter dynamic, misinterpreted the situation entirely. In his mind, Gu Xuesong was prioritizing childcare over business negotiations.

His face darkened, and without regard for the crowd, he coldly confronted Gu Xuesong.

"Is this what you call putting me at ease, Mr. Gu?"

"I see now—you never intended to collaborate with our company today. If that’s the case, there’s nothing left for us to discuss. Please excuse me!"

It wasn’t that Li Ming had a short temper, but Gu Xuesong’s actions struck him as disrespectful.

Even if they proceeded with negotiations, he doubted the cooperation would go smoothly. With that, Li Ming turned to leave.

Just as he took a step, a clear, childish voice rang out behind him, laced with curiosity.

"Daddy, why is this uncle angry?"

"Does he know his child is about to die?"

Yao Yao tilted her head, utterly confused. She didn’t understand why this uncle was leaving just because she spoke a single sentence to her father.

Had he somehow figured it out too? But that shouldn’t be possible—he wasn’t part of the mystical arts!

Indeed, the reason she had interrupted her father was because she noticed something unusual about this man’s face.

It was unmistakably the sign of losing a child. Yao Yao was certain she hadn’t misread it. Matters of life and death were not something she joked about.

Her words left even Gu Xuesong momentarily stunned. He hadn’t anticipated his daughter uttering something so grave.

Before he could fully process it, Li Ming spun around, his face contorted with fury.

"You brat, what nonsense are you spouting?!"

He hadn’t walked far enough to miss hearing the young girl’s words, and they ignited his anger instantly.

Who wouldn’t react angrily upon hearing someone curse their family?

His gaze turned hostile as he stared at Gu Xuesong, silently questioning whether this was the Gu family’s idea of manners.