585: Chapter 58 A Talent We Can Use

"So amazing?" Shen Ya's tone was full of surprise and encouragement, "Quickly tell Auntie how you got first place?"

This completely opened Youyou's floodgates.

The little one jumped down from her aunt's arms, stood on the carpet in the center of the living room, and began her 'personal presentation performance'.

"Exactly! Teacher Wang said the game was called 'Forest Adventure'!"

Her voice was clear and loud.

"There was a task called 'Nature's Puzzle'!"

She stretched out her little hand and gestured in the air, "There were so many fallen leaves on the ground—red ones, yellow ones, green ones, and some long ones and round ones!"

"We had to find the leaves that looked exactly like the ones on the cards to get a stamp!"

"I found a maple leaf that looked like a little star, and Anqi found a ginkgo leaf that looked like a fan!"

"After finishing the task, we even used those leaves to piece together a little fox! Its tail was super big!"

As she spoke, she even imitated a fox, sticking out her little bottom, pretending to have a big tail, which made Shen Ya giggle.

Shen Yan sipped his water, the corners of his mouth curving up slightly.

"Then! Then there was an even more exciting task!"

Youyou's eyes sparkled as if filled with starlight.

"It was called 'Echo Suspension Bridge'!"

She spread her arms wide, swaying her body left and right, imitating walking on a suspension bridge.

"The bridge was so high, so high, with a small river below! It swayed back and forth when you walked on it!"

"For this task, Dad and Auntie Li Jing had to cross the bridge blindfolded, while Anqi and I guided them with our voices from the other side!"

"Dad was super brave and wasn't scared at all! He quickly came to my side."

She ran to Shen Yan, hugged his leg, and looked up at him, her face full of admiration.

Shen Yan reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

The little one seemed recharged and ran back to the center of the living room.

"The hardest one was the last task! It was called 'The Sage of the Forest's Riddle'!"

Her little brow furrowed, and she mimicked an adult, putting on an expression of deep thought.

"What was that riddle again..."

She tilted her head, tapping her chin with her finger.

Shen Ya cooperatively showed a thoughtful expression, "Hmm... what could it be?"

Youyou had a flash of inspiration, "I remember now!"

Saying that, she shook her head and swayed, "I am born from the heart of the giant wood, I drink the dew of the clear spring, and I am clothed in the glory of the sun and moon. When the birds cease to sing, and the shadow points the way home, my treasure will appear under the gaze of the great stone."

"Wasn't that super hard!"

Shen Ya nodded in agreement, "So, did Youyou complete the task in the end?"

"Of course! Thanks to Dad understanding the riddle, we followed the shadow and found the 'Wanggui Stone'!"

She ran to the front of the sofa and pointed at the giant teddy bear.

"And then! We found it!"

"Auntie, it's called 'Cotton Candy' now! Because it feels soft when you touch it, just like cotton candy!"

Shen Ya watched her niece's vivid performance, her eyes full of doting affection.

"Our Youyou is the best! Not only smart, but also very brave!"

"Hee hee!"

Having received praise, Youyou happily rolled on the carpet, then got up and nestled close to Shen Ya.

"Auntie, let me tell you, Anqi is my new friend, and also my best friend!"

"She looks like a doll, and her eyes are brown, which is especially pretty."

"Her mom is also super gentle, and her voice is very soft."

"Oh, right! Anqi said they have a Ragdoll cat at home called 'Snowball', and she's going to bring me pictures next time!"

Listening to his daughter's innocent chatter, Shen Yan's gaze became slightly deeper.

Anqi.

Li Jing.

He recalled the despair in that woman's eyes as she forced back tears and uttered 'Tears of Star and Moon' in the restaurant.

He recalled the system's cold prompt tone.

["Mission Reward: One piece of Intermediate Wealth Intelligence."]

["Additional Note: This intelligence is highly related to the field of Artificial Intelligence that the Host is about to lay out."]

Artificial Intelligence...

These four words seemed to possess infinite magic.

That was a very important piece of the puzzle in his business empire.

One piece of intermediate intelligence was enough to put him at least half a year ahead of others in this field where money flowed like water.

This half a year meant incalculable wealth and market share.

Therefore, he had to get involved in Li Jing's matter.

Not just for a potential talent, but also for this priceless piece of intelligence.

Of course...

His gaze fell upon his daughter, who was currently hugging Shen Ya's arm and whispering secrets.

It was also to prevent Youyou's friend from having to experience what the impermanence of life meant so early on.

He walked over and placed his water glass on the table.

"Youyou."

His voice was not loud, but it immediately made the excited little one stop.

"Daddy."

Shen Yan glanced at the wall clock; the hour hand was already pointing to nine.

He squatted down to be at eye level with his daughter.

"It's getting late."

His voice softened unconsciously, carrying a hint of coaxing.

"Shouldn't our little champion go take a nice bath and then go to sleep?"

He deliberately used reduplication, which was a small intimacy between him and his daughter.

"Mmm..."

Youyou pouted, clearly not done playing yet.

"But I still want to play with Auntie."

"We can play tomorrow.", Shen Yan reached out a finger and gently tickled her little nose, "If you stay up late, you won't turn into a beautiful Snow White tomorrow."

"Pfft..."

Shen Ya was amused by Shen Yan's fatherly demeanor.

Who would have thought that CEO Shen, who was decisive and made all executives tremble in fear at the company, could have such a side to him?

"No! I want to be Snow White!"

Youyou was indeed fooled; she immediately jumped off the sofa.

Shen Yan took the opportunity to pick her up and kissed her chubby little cheek.

"Then hurry up and go."

"Mm!"

Youyou smiled until her eyes curved like a happy kitten, hugging Shen Yan's neck and kissing him back.

"Good night, Daddy! Good night, Auntie!"

She slid out of Shen Yan's embrace and trotted toward the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of rushing water could be heard from inside, accompanied by the little one's tuneless singing.

The living room returned to quiet.

Shen Yan sat down on the sofa and picked up the tablet computer Shen Ya had set aside.

On the screen was the latest progress report sent back from the 'Pioneer' team from the Sand Viper Tribe.

The first batch of 'Spirit Stone' raw ore had been shipped out and was on its way to the secret smelting plant.

Everything was proceeding methodically, just as he had planned.

Shen Ya looked at him and spoke softly.

"Brother, the Anqi Youyou mentioned today... and her mother, who are they?"

She knew her brother very well.

He was never someone keen on socializing.

Someone who could make him put down his work to attend a parent-child event, or even have a meal with them, could not be an ordinary person.

Shen Yan's gaze did not leave the screen; his fingers slowly slid across it, flipping through the data.

"A mother who needs help."

His voice was very flat, betraying no emotion.

"And also... a talent who might be able to be used by us."