Genshin Impact: I, the Winter's Executor, am forced to work.

"Well..." The man smiled helplessly, "Since that's the case, I won't insist. I have important matters to attend to today, so I'll come and chat with you another day."

"Go ahead, go ahead, otherwise the child will probably be getting impatient."

"You..." Maxim straightened up, startled. "You knew about today?"

“Tatiana has been making a fuss about it all day long. If Maria hadn’t stopped her, and if the child hadn’t been so understanding like you, she probably would have excitedly interrupted your work.”

"..."

The man waved apologetically to the old woman, helped her close the window, and then quickly began to run wildly through the snow.

Of course, while it was described as a mad dash, the snow was too thick to reach the expected speed.

He wiped the sweat from his brow, whether from impatience or exercise, and finally returned to the front door of his home.

Judging from the outside, his wooden house didn't seem much better than the other houses around it; in fact, it looked a bit dilapidated.

"hiss..."

He took a deep breath, gradually calming his tense emotions.

On my daughter's joyous birthday, I had to miss it because of work...

Even though he could chat and laugh with people in official circles, he was at a loss when faced with such a situation.

Will Tatiana be angry with me...?

She probably won't make me kneel on durians like her mother did, right?

Forget it! Whether I kneel sooner or later, I'll kneel anyway!

He mustered his courage, used his key to open the door, only to find the house completely dark, without a single ray of light.

A sense of panic instantly gripped my heart.

Could it be...?

Maxim quickly brushed the snow off his coat and hung it on the hanger before starting his search in each room.

Fortunately, the house only has one bedroom, one kitchen, one toilet, and one living room.

He quickly walked around the rooms and stood in the living room, somewhat dazed.

He reached out and lit the candle on the table, which was already half-burnt, with a match, and examined it by the light.

A dark figure tiptoed out from behind the sofa, then suddenly quickened its pace and wrapped its arms around the man's waist from behind.

"surprise!"

Maxim whirled around, looking at the little girl who only reached his waist. He first breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled gently: "Tatiana, don't scare me..."

"Don't you even know what time it is?" The black-haired woman, still wearing her apron, straightened up from behind the sofa and walked out.

"..." The man opened his mouth: "I'm sorry, Maria."

Apologize first, no matter what.

The woman couldn't help but laugh; before she could even put on a serious expression, she burst out laughing: "Don't apologize to me, hurry up and celebrate your daughter's birthday, she's been looking forward to it all day."

Maria brought out the freshly heated food from the kitchen. It was a rare occasion for them to have two meat dishes on their daughter's birthday; as for cake and such...

Every time Tatiana was asked, she would say that the stuff was too expensive and not worth eating, so it was better not to eat it at all.

Maxim nodded quickly, took out a well-protected gift box from his pocket, and placed it on the table: "I carefully selected this gift for my lovely daughter. Open it and see if you like it."

The little girl's eyes lit up, and she couldn't help but reach for the gift with both hands, but then she suddenly shook her head, plopped down on the sofa, pouted, turned her head to the side, and crossed her arms.

"Well... gifts, gifts are not important. What's most important is that my father comes back to be with me. I'm not waiting a day for something like that."

The man reached out and patted his daughter's head, his gaze gentle: "Of course, of course I know. It was because you were patient that your father bought it as a reward for a good girl."

"Well..." Tatiana's eyes darted between her parents, observing their expressions, before she tentatively asked, "Then I'll open it, okay?"

"Open it." The two gave permission simultaneously.

The little girl finally couldn't wait to tear open the packaging and take out the brand new teddy bear from the box.

She held the doll high in the air, a look of delight on her face, her heart filled with joy.

Her family wasn't wealthy, so she wouldn't make excessive demands for toys, ornaments, or even fancy clothes.

She thought she had lost all interest in these things, but she was surprised to be so happy when she received them.

“Roar…” Maxim’s voice suddenly became deep and heavy. He stood up straight and flexed his muscles with his arms: “Mr. Bear is here for the first time in this family of three. From today onwards, he will be Tatiana’s good friend.”

He held up his daughter: "Of course, from today onwards, it will always be by your side, protecting this family, and protecting you and your mother alongside your father. Uh..."

It seems his daughter didn't care about his performance.

It was a little awkward.

“Really… listen to your father properly. He can be surprisingly sensitive sometimes.” Maria took her daughter from the other woman’s arms, her tone gentle.

“Of course I heard that~” Tatiana rubbed the doll’s fur vigorously: “But in my heart, my father will always be number one.”

"Ugh..." Maxim felt his tear ducts being stimulated.

My daughter is so cute!

“It seems you’re a very good father.” Maria nodded in agreement: “You won’t have to kneel on durians later.”

"what?"

So it turns out the time for the true colors to be revealed hasn't come yet?

"Hehe." The wife smiled brightly at the man's stunned expression.

"..."

But Maxim was also happy, because for him, the smiles of his wife and daughter were the most precious things in the world.

“Well…” Maria clapped her hands and picked up a comb from the table: “It’s that important time of the year again.”

She reached out and ran her fingers through Tatiana's dark hair, carefully combing it, a smile playing on her lips.

"Oh dear, girls really do look better with long hair. When her hair reaches her waist, a perfect man will come to her side and protect her for us."

"Tch..." The man seemed unconvinced: "I can live for another hundred years and protect my daughter. I don't need any other men."

Damn it, I'll be the first to object to anyone who tries to take my daughter away.

"Maxim, now is not the time to argue with your future son-in-law, is it?"

"Mother, what is a son-in-law?" Tatiana asked with a puzzled look, her legs dangling in the air as she gently swayed.

"He is your future husband."

"What does 'husband' mean?"

"...Your father is my husband."

"Oh!" The little girl seemed to have grasped the essence: "So you mean my father will become my husband in the future?"

"..."

Maria looked helpless.

"Haha!" Maxim raised his head triumphantly, only to have his waist fat pinched by an unknown hand, causing him to wince in pain.

“They are the people who will stay with you when your father and mother are no longer here,” Maria explained carefully.

Tatiana nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

Why are the father and mother no longer here?

She didn't ask any further questions.

"Alright." Maria seized the opportunity to change the subject: "Although there's no cake, every beautiful girl gets a chance to make a wish on her birthday, and it will surely come true in the future. My beautiful daughter, what is your wish this year?"

As the little girl approached the most important part, she quickly put the bear toy aside, closed her eyes, and made a praying gesture with her hands.

Because of her annual wishes, although she doesn't make any outrageous requests, she always fulfills them in great detail.

“Come, blow out the candles.” Maria placed the candles for lighting in front of her daughter.

"..." Maxim's lips twitched.

So this is what wishing candles look like?

"Whoosh." Tatiana blew out the flame.

After the birthday song ended, the fire was lit again, and everyone finally welcomed the time for dinner.

The heavy snow continued, completely whitening the roof of the wooden house.

A tentative inquiry came from inside the house.

"Daughter, could you please tell your father..."

"what happened?"

What did you wish for?

"No! If I say it, it won't come true!"

A mature female voice chimed in: "That's right! Men don't understand romance at all!"

"Haha... alright then, I won't ask anymore." A sheepish voice came out.

Tatiana gazed at the candlelight, put the food into her mouth, and repeated her small wish over and over in her heart.

I hope...

My father and mother can always be by my side.

Chapter 107 Fairness, Hope

"My father seems really busy lately..."

Tatiana placed the teddy bear beside her, and used the handkerchief that was supposed to be under her to rest as a place to put the doll.

She herself half-squatted in front of the doll, rested her chin on her hands, and then poked its nose with a hint of disappointment.

"Is it possible... Mr. Xiong, why don't you go and bring your father back?"

The little girl laughed helplessly: "Just kidding... I wish I could help my father with some of his work."