Fang Yuan rubbed the center of his brows.
"...Zhaoyue."
"Mhm?" Lin Zhaoyue looked at him gently while still holding onto his arm.
After a brief silence, Fang Yuan finally said carefully,
"Qingyue is our daughter."
Lin Zhaoyue blinked once.
Then she smiled softly.
"Of course she is."
"..."
For some reason, Fang Yuan felt even less reassured.
Meanwhile, Fang Qingyue looked between the two of them before suddenly tugging lightly at Fang Yuan's sleeve.
"Father."
"What is it?"
The little girl hesitated briefly before asking in a small voice,
"...am I not allowed to hug Father anymore?"
Fang Yuan immediately answered,
"You are."
At the exact same moment—
"Only with permission," Lin Zhaoyue added calmly.
The hall became silent and Fang Yuan turned his head to meet Lin Zhaoyue who merely smiled back peacefully.
Fang Qingyue looked slightly confused.
"Then... whose permission do I ask for?"
Lin Zhaoyue gently placed a hand against her own chest.
"Mother's."
"Zhaoyue."
