A Little Trick, the Scumbag Dad Can't Hold the Knife After Understanding Love-Chapter 251

The cicadas nearby seemed oblivious to Ji Tingzhou’s grim expression, as Zhiliao even pulled out a Polaroid camera to snap photos of him being pounced on by the dog.

In the end, it was the filial Ji Nian who kindly rescued her father.

"Come here, Da Dan, time to unwrap your presents!"

Shen Qingtang went first. Her gift was a doll modeled after Da Dan’s anthropomorphized form, complete with yellow fur and button-like eyes.

It was… somewhat ugly, with a rear end as big as its head.

Da Dan sniffed it, then chomped down and chewed it in his mouth.

Ji Nian’s gift was a custom-made dog bed, but the real charm lay in the scent she had blended into it—a calming aroma that would help the little pup sleep soundly.

Da Dan nudged it with his nose, wagged his tail, and then turned to leap onto Ji Nian, licking her affectionately.

Zhiliao gave him a new dog collar, with a name tag she had personally engraved: "Da Dan."

"Don’t forget mine! My gift!"

From the midst of the cake display, the largest cake—nicknamed "Big Strong"—suddenly spoke up.

Da Dan’s eyes widened in surprise, as if he couldn’t comprehend how food could produce sound.

Ji Nian patted his head and laughed, calling out, "Don’t worry, Wei Yang, your toy is right here!"

Da Dan seemed genuinely happy—not because everyone was showering him with attention, but because he noticed his two owners were in high spirits, which in turn lifted his own mood.

He seemed to regain his energy.

When ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‍everyone gathered around the cake to sing "Happy Birthday," he obligingly took a bite out of the edge.

The cake let out a pitiful cry: "Ow! He bit me!"

Zhiliao swiftly stuffed a strawberry into the cake’s exposed "mouth."

"Know your place."

The cake chewed the strawberry sulkily and fell silent.

"Woof woof woof~ woof woof woof~"

"Woof woof woof woof~ woof woof woof!!"

Ji Nian and Shen Qingtang held hands and sang the birthday song for Da Dan. But before they could finish the first verse, Da Dan eagerly dashed over to lick the small cake in Ji Nian’s left hand.

The tiny cake still had a candle on it, its slender flame flickering precariously, nearly going out.

Ji Nian deftly dodged and tapped his nose. "So impatient!"

"Alright, now it’s time to blow out the candle."

Of course, a dog can’t blow out candles, so everyone had to help.

Ji Tingzhou didn’t participate. He had gone to change earlier, and now sat quietly on a chair brought by a servant, watching the commotion from a distance.

"Da Dan, when we blow out the candle, make a wish for me—let me become a billionaire this year."

"Actually, scratch that. Just wish for me to rank in the top five in the final exams. That’s more realistic."

After all, if she didn’t make the top five, Ji Nian would spend her summer being dragged by the ear to tutoring sessions by Gu Xiuyuan.

Everyone knew the reason and laughed at her words.

Finally, as the candle was blown out, Ji Nian half-squinted through the wispy smoke at the big dog across from her and silently wished: May Da Dan live a long, healthy life and always be the happiest little pup.

Da Dan was truly overjoyed today.

Ever since Ji Nian started school, she hadn’t been able to spend as much time with him as she did when they were younger.

Wherever Ji Nian went, he followed, clinging to her like an overgrown puppy.

They played with him for hours, running through every dog game imaginable.

The festivities finally ended when Wei Yang—mercifully freed from his cake prison by Ji Tingzhou—had his pants torn by Da Dan’s teeth.

Watching Wei Yang clutch the hole in his pants and run off to tattle to Ji Tingzhou, yelling, "Da Dan bit my—!" Ji Nian glanced at the big dog beside her, who snorted disdainfully in Wei Yang’s direction.

Da Dan’s thoughts: Hmph. Mere human, daring to touch a dog’s tail.

Feeling Ji Nian’s gaze, he stuck out his tongue and wagged his tail toward her, inviting her to pet it.

Well… the little one can touch it.

Ji Nian chuckled and stroked his swaying tail.

After dinner, it was already late.

Ji Nian found time to call Chen Mo.

"Hey, Mo."

"Is Da Dan’s birthday party over?"

Ji Nian stepped onto the balcony, resting her arms on the railing. "Yeah," she replied.

"We just finished eating. It’s all wrapped up now."

The servants had already started cleaning up.

"I went to the police station to see the pie shop owner. He denies poisoning anyone. The investigation shows he didn’t know Wang Zhiping, and there’s no conflict of interest between them. But when the police searched the kitchen, they found poison powder hidden under the floorboards."

"Lab tests confirmed partial overlap with the toxins found in Wang Zhiping’s system."

The sudden shift in topic didn’t faze Ji Nian.

At the mention of poison powder, her emerald-green eyes gleamed in the darkness.

"Uncle, can you get me some?"

Thinking of the still-unidentified pharmacist in the Ji family, Chen Mo chuckled on the other end.

"Knew you’d ask. I’ve already sent No. 1 to deliver it. He should arrive soon."

After discussing the case further, Ji Nian hung up.

As she turned to leave, she caught sight of two figures through the railing gaps below—a man and a dog.

Ji Tingzhou sat on a bench downstairs, with Da Dan dutifully beside him.

The streetlight cast a soft golden glow over them, creating an unexpectedly warm scene. frёewebnoѵēl.com

What’s more, Ji Tingzhou actually reached out and ruffled Da Dan’s head—just once, but it was undeniably a pat.

Ji Nian was stunned. Da Dan seemed equally surprised, his tail wagging like a propeller as he lifted a paw, ready to leap onto Ji Tingzhou.

But Ji Tingzhou scolded him into staying put.

Even so, the big dog was ecstatic, bouncing around Ji Tingzhou with his tongue lolling.

Ji Nian couldn’t help but laugh from upstairs. She pulled out her phone, snapped a photo, and sent it to Zhiliao.

That night, after washing up, Ji Nian sat at her desk in pajamas, the only light in the room coming from a small lamp. As usual, she picked up a blue envelope from the table, carefully slit it open with a knife, and unfolded the letter inside.

Her eyes lingered on the last lines:

‘I know they suggested pooling gifts for my sake, but I’m not insecure.’

‘Having friends who always consider you is a rare blessing.’

‘And I’m equally grateful to have met you, Mr. J. Without you, my life might have taken a completely different path.’

After reading, Ji Nian refolded the letter neatly, slipped it back into the envelope, and tucked it into a drawer.

Inside the drawer was a small box, overflowing with identical letters—so many that they nearly spilled out.

"Looks like I’ll need a new one soon…"

Ji Nian murmured to herself before turning off the lamp and climbing into bed, hugging her well-worn chick plushie.

Before closing her eyes, she glanced toward the cabinet.

Her new companion—a shell-patterned rabbit—sat inside, paws tucked curiously as it stared at the chick-shaped lamp encased in a glass display across from it.

Ji Nian drifted into a long, dreamless sleep, wrapped in a deep sense of peace.

Until a loud bark startled her awake.