After clearing the daily dungeon runs and a few events, the clock hit 11:50 PM—just minutes from midnight. For a weekend? Early.

But it was Wednesday. School waited tomorrow and the next day. I had to log off and sleep. Six hours minimum—any less and I’d be too groggy to focus.

Hey, I’m a diligent student who loves studying.

I said goodbye to Empress and the others, pulled off my headset, shut down the PC, and headed to the bathroom. The mirror showed a face with a hint of fatigue.

Back in my room, I started to strip down… Yeah, I sometimes sleep naked.

But the thought of Xiao Xian made me freeze mid-motion.

I lifted a corner of the blanket. Xiao Xian’s head peeked out. Under the nightlight’s soft glow, her long lashes cast delicate shadows; her profile looked gentle. I watched her a moment, then tucked the blanket snugly over her exposed shoulder—autumn’s chill would be too much.

No hesitation. I climbed into bed.

It’d been ages since sharing a bed. Not exactly strange… just different. No naked sleeping. No sprawling freely. Catching myself glancing at the person beside me.

Especially when that person was Xiao Xian—a delicate little girl who needed gentle care.

Looking back, what a surreal day. This girl named Xiao Xian… my daughter. Seriously, couldn’t they have tried harder with the name?

I turned away from Xiao Xian, leaving a small gap, and tried to will myself to sleep. Thanks to her, my confidence about talking to the senior grew. If I saw her tomorrow, I’d start with a greeting. First steps are always hardest. Sure, “a persistent admirer ends up with nothing,” but someone who just waits for love to find them? Worse than a hopeless romantic.

Thoughts drifted. My mind blurred. I recognized the sign—sleep was pulling me under.

So I let it drag my consciousness deep.

Then—a crisp, childish voice jolted me awake.

“Daddy…”

Eyes wide, I turned. Only Xiao Xian could be here. Was she awake?

I rolled over, straining in the dark. After a breath of pitch blackness, her face emerged from shadows—curled up, eyes closed, breathing steady.

Suddenly, her brows furrowed. Breath hitched. Was she waking? I held my breath.

She didn’t. Her small frame curled tighter, trapped in a nightmare.

Just sleep-talking.

And… calling for me.

My chest tightened. Instinctively, I touched my nose—that habit when tears threaten.

Because I heard it:

“Daddy… Don’t leave me…”

Her fragile whisper shattered the quiet like delicate glass. My mind raced.

But I could do little.

Slowly, I shifted closer. Hesitated. Reached out.

Pulled her gently into my arms.

I caught the faint scent of her hair, felt her soft breaths—unaware that under my hold, the worry lines on her brow had already smoothed.

She drifted back into peaceful sleep.

Because her daddy was right there.

Holding her.

Not leaving.