CHAPTER 80: HUGGY LITTLE KOALA!

Before he could fully register the motion, a tiny, missile-shaped bundle of love, loss, and three days of separation anxiety slammed into his torso.

It was a full-body impact, a spectacular, gravity-defying collision. Yuanfeng grunted softly, the air whooshing out of his lungs.

His arms automatically shot out, catching her just as her small legs wrapped around his waist like a pair of well-aimed vices.

Huaijin buried her face into the soft fabric of his shirt, which probably smelled faintly of dusty old books and the mild scent of antiseptic from his lab, and clung to him with the ferocious, desperate tenacity of a shipwreck survivor finding a life raft.

She didn’t just hug him; she wore him.

Her arms locked around his neck with a crushing grip that, to anyone else, might have been painful.

"I missed you, I missed you, I missed you so much, Daddy!" The words were muffled against his shoulder, a rapid-fire litany of devotion.

The three days had felt like three years.

The adult inside Huaijin knew it was irrational. Still, the little girl in her just needed her protector, her anchor, the one person who saw past the ’reborn executive’ and loved her messy, complicated heart.

Yuanfeng steadied himself, a deep, resonant laugh bubbling up from his chest.

He tightened his hold, hoisting her slightly higher until she was securely draped around his neck like a ridiculously precious, small-sized boa constrictor.

"And I missed you too, my little dragon," he murmured, his voice a low rumble.

He gently tapped her tiny, stubborn hands where they were knotted behind his head. "Though I fear you’re trying to shorten my neck vertebrae permanently."

"No! I missed you more than you missed me!" she insisted, her voice thick with exaggerated drama. She wiggled, trying to get closer, if that were even possible.

He just laughed again, that wonderfully free, warm sound that always reassured her. "Much, much more. I couldn’t even properly compute the probability of a successful outcome for my paper without you here to tell me I was wrong about the coefficients."

Huaijin pulled her head back just enough to look at his face, her big eyes searching his. He looked worn out, his jaw shadowed with slight stubble, but his smile was pure. That was all that mattered.

A moment of pure, undiluted reunion bliss passed, with Huaijin refusing to loosen her death grip, quite content to remain a small, breathing piece of his attire.

Meanwhile, Director Tang, a man of professional courtesy, was approaching, a kindly, slightly mournful expression on his face, which was meant for the ’poor scholar’ who had to drive that relic.

Yuanfeng, with a casualness that suggested having a six-year-old perpetually attached to his head was completely normal, turned to greet him.

"Ah, Director Tang. Good day to you," Yuanfeng said, his voice easy and polite, a model of calm civility.

Huaijin’s arms were still locked around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder like a luxurious, slightly inconvenient accessory.

Director Tang paused for a beat, clearly accustomed to the clinginess but still finding it incredibly endearing.

The contrast between the brilliant, gentle man and the poverty-stricken vehicle parked behind him, and the fiercely loving little girl hanging off him, was poignant.

"Professor Yuan, a pleasure. Huaijin was, as always, an absolute professional delight. A star, truly," Director Tang said warmly.

He gestured vaguely at the small, pink baggage at Yuanfeng’s feet. "Everything went smoothly. We’ve given her a small stipend for her time, and we’ll arrange the full payment transfer early next week, of course."

Yuanfeng shifted Huaijin slightly, making sure she was comfortable before responding. "Thank you, Director. I appreciate your kind words. She always enjoys the work. It allows her to... exercise her dramatic leanings."

Huaijin, listening, muffled an indignant huff into his shirt. ’Dramatic leanings? It’s called method acting, Daddy! And it funds your research!’

"She’s a natural," Director Tang chuckled, then lowered his voice slightly, adopting a sympathetic tone. "And Professor, please, if you need any assistance with anything, perhaps a temporary loan or... well, the children’s parents often network. If you need any contacts for funding your... your important work, please let me know. We are all rooting for you and your projects."

It was a gentle, veiled offer of charity, motivated by genuine pity for the brilliant scholar who was clearly scraping by.

This was the usual interaction. Everyone saw the car, heard the engine, saw the modest clothes, and immediately placed Yuanfeng into the ’genius, but struggling’ box.

They believed every word of the story: poor scholar, brilliant mind, groundbreaking research that desperately needed funds, and a devoted single father doing his best.

Yuanfeng smiled, a warm, genuine smile that didn’t hint at the multi-million-dollar grants he regularly secured under his various secret, non-domestic research names. "That is extremely kind of you, Director. I will certainly keep that in mind. Right now, though, I think my little assistant here is demanding a full debriefing over hot chocolate and the promise of a long, undisturbed night’s sleep."

Huaijin squeezed his neck extra hard in agreement. Hot chocolate and Daddy cuddles were the only compensation for pretending to be a regular six-year-old for seventy-two hours.

"Of course, of course. Go home and rest. Huaijin, thank you again, darling." Director Tang gave her a wave.

Yuanfeng offered a final, polite nod. "A safe journey back to you, Director."

With that, he gently turned, adjusting Huaijin’s weight effortlessly. She remained attached, a small, stubborn barnacle of love. He started walking toward the wheezing, poverty-on-wheels sedan.

As they approached the car, Yuanfeng finally managed to gently pry one of her arms loose and used his free hand to retrieve her backpack.

"Alright, my little koala. As much as I enjoy the accessory, I think we should try getting you into the vehicle before your grip turns blue," he teased, his voice full of warmth.

"No, I want to stay like this!" Huaijin protested, but the protest lacked conviction. She knew the drill.