Chapter 3 Dad Be Cheated

As the evening lights flickered on, the entertainment street's various dance halls also began to come alive.

Sunny hugged her knees, squatting on the damp street corner after the rain.

A street vendor nearby was grilling skewers. She sniffled-her stomach was rumbling again.

She regretted being too honest and handing all her money over to Alexander. Now she was penniless, and dinner had once again become a problem.

Lucas and all his gang had been taken away by the police, and now she had no idea where to find her dad.

With a sigh, Sunny stood up, patted her belly, and walked into the nearest dance hall.

Back then, dance halls were somewhat similar to today's nightclubs or bars, just with simpler facilities. The floor was laid with patterned tiles, the ceiling adorned with twinkling star lights, and a spinning glass ball scattered colorful light spots.

There were booth seats and private rooms along the edge of the dance floor, furnished with foldable tables and chairs. A few oscillating fans lazily turned in the background.

People danced in the middle of the floor-not wild dancing like today's clubs, but proper ballroom dancing.

Sunny found the dance hall manager and asked if there was any job she could do.

The manager asked, "Can you sell drinks?"

Sunny blankly shook her head.

"Can you do accounting?"

Still shaking her head.

"Then what can you do?"

"I can sing," she said.

The manager was busy entertaining customers and didn't bother with her. "We're not short on singers."

Sunny looked at the woman twisting her body and singing on stage and said honestly, "I sing better than her."

The moment those words left her mouth, the manager glanced back at her. Seeing her ragged clothes and destitute look, he laughed, "Don't flatter yourself. Nancy is our professional singer here. Who do you think you are, saying you sing better than her? Know your place. Go, go, go-don't get in my way."

A few waiters nearby sneered and looked at Sunny like she was a joke-

"Nancy's our most popular singer. Saying she's better than Nancy? Isn't that picking a fight?"

"She's probably just bluffing."

"Put her on stage and she'd probably choke before saying a word."

Sunny ignored their mockery. She never liked arguing.

She truly did sing better than the woman on stage-it wasn't bragging. Her sweet voice was undoubtedly a gift from heaven.

In her past life, she went viral after performing a folk song on a livestream, and many talent agencies tried to sign her. But Lucas firmly objected.

He even went so far as to lock her up.

Sunny argued, protested, even went on a hunger strike, but... Lucas was resolute.

Uncle Leo once said Lucas's hatred for the entertainment industry was likely related to her mother's death.

She recalled countless long nights seeing Lucas smoking alone on the couch. In the end, she gave up arguing.

She gave up her dream. Gave up doing what she loved most.

Being reborn in 1950 might be her chance to rekindle that dream.

As Sunny was lost in thought, the "most popular singer," Nancy, ran into a problem. Some guests interrupted her performance-

"Why do you keep singing the same old songs? Can't we hear something new?"

"We're sick of these songs. Play something fresh."

Nancy, annoyed at being interrupted, frowned at them. "What do you want to hear then?"

"Something fresh!"

"These are the songs on the list. If you want something new, go up there and sing yourself."

That lit the fuse. The customers began yelling, "What's your problem? If we sing, what are you here for?"

Nancy, used to being adored, was quick to show attitude. She slammed the mic down, "Listen or don't. I don't care."

The hall was about to descend into chaos when the manager, anxious like a cat on hot bricks, spotted Sunny still standing nearby. He rushed over, "Didn't you say you could sing? They want new songs-can you sing those?"

New songs? She had a ton. All the songs that had gone viral on her past livestreams were "new" by current standards.

"Sure, but didn't you say I was overestimating myself?"

The manager was desperate. "Ah, as long as you can save the show, you can name your price for tonight's commission."

If it had been the old Sunny, she might've thrown in a snarky remark at this guy who looked down on her, but right now she was starving. So, she simply got up on stage.

The manager asked, "What kind of accompaniment do you need? We've got everything."

"I don't need any. You wouldn't have the kind I need anyway."

Sunny spotted a piano on stage, walked over, and sat at it, adjusting the sound.

Nancy looked on, her expression complicated.

She was the main act here-if she refused to sing, the place wouldn't come alive.

She expected them to beg her back. But to her surprise, the manager had found a replacement so quickly. And not only that-the girl could play the piano?

In this era, being able to play the piano wasn't common-it was something only rich, well-educated young ladies could do. Not some random girl off the street.

Sunny finished adjusting the keys and began to sing a few of her favorite love songs. Everyone in the room-men and women alike-turned to look at her.

These were truly new songs. They were hits from the internet in her past life, widely popular among young people.

And most importantly-no one here had ever heard them before.

Sunny's clear, sweet voice, paired with the piano's lively rhythm, sent the dance hall into a frenzy of excitement-more than it had ever seen.

Alexander happened to be passing by the entrance of the hall, leaning against the doorframe, staring at the girl playing piano center stage.

She wore a sweet smile, two dimples curling at the corners of her lips. Her brown eyes sparkled with innocence and joy.

Just one glance and he could tell-this was a pampered rich girl who had never suffered. Only those raised with love could have such brightness in their eyes.

Not like him. Even when he smiled, there was always a layer of cunning beneath it.

Alexander looked away and lit a cigarette.

The manager paid Sunny thirty dollars for her performance-a hefty sum in an era when a bowl of noodles cost only two or three bucks. Enough to live on for days.

The manager was ecstatic, as if he'd struck gold. He offered Sunny a permanent gig with flexible pay.

Sunny glanced back at Nancy, who looked furious but helpless, and smiled as she politely declined. She said she might come back to perform part-time if she had time.

The manager happily agreed and said talent scouts often came by the hall. With her heavenly voice, she'd definitely get discovered.

But for now, what mattered most was-finding her dad!

Sunny took the money and went to a late-night food stall, ordered a bowl of lamb noodle soup, and started slurping it down.

She figured she could afford to stay at a cheap inn tonight-no need to sleep on the streets.

Come to think of it, this little thirty bucks was her first earned paycheck in this new life.

She thought about how, in her past, going out with her besties to clubs meant dropping four or five figures on a whim. Life had been extravagantly luxurious.

It all felt like another world now.

Just as Sunny was reminiscing, several motorcycles roared to a stop outside the food stall.

She watched as her tall, handsome dad got off a Harley, walked straight over, slammed his helmet onto the table, plopped down beside her, and ordered a bowl of lamb soup-no noodles, just meat.

"I've been asking around everywhere. Finally found you."

"Dad!"

Sunny was overwhelmed. She never imagined Lucas would come looking for her. He really was her dad after all!

Lucas grabbed her face, inspecting her left and right. He lifted her bangs to reveal her smooth forehead and studied her closely...

She really looked like her. Like the little sister he'd lost years ago-right down to the same vacant expression in her eyes!

Sunny blinked. "Dad, what are you looking at?"

Lucas patted her cheek. "Tell me-what's your name? How many people in your family? Do you remember anything from your childhood?"

Sunny looked confused. "I'm Sunny. It's just me and my dad. We've always lived together."

"Your dad?"

"That's you."

"......"

Lucas's expression turned complicated, like he was deep in thought. He didn't even touch the hot soup in front of him.

"You might be my long-lost little sister," he said seriously. "She wasn't too bright-was born mentally challenged. You really remind me of her."

Sunny, ...

She suddenly remembered-Lucas had indeed mentioned a younger sister once, her aunt.

There was a time Lucas had taken her to an amusement park, and she'd gotten kidnapped, never to be seen again.

Her disappearance had filled Lucas with guilt for years. After Sunny was born, he even named her after his missing sister-Sunny.

As she grew up, people often said she looked more and more like her aunt in her youth.

Sunny had seen the old, yellowing photos of her aunt-they really did look alike, especially the delicate, sparkling eyes.

So Lucas had mistaken her for his sister, which was why he had searched so frantically.

But Sunny couldn't let this misunderstanding go on. She had to be honest with him.

"Dad, I'm not your sister. I'm not your little sister. I'm Sunny-your only daughter in this world."

Lucas gave her a look like she was crazy, then turned to Leo and said, "It's her."

"Yeah. Looks just like your sister."

Sunny took a deep breath. "This might sound insane, but I have to say it-I died in a car crash when I was twenty and got reincarnated back here. I know it sounds impossible, but you have to believe me. I really am your daughter!"

She blurted it all out and looked at Lucas with hope.

He just ruffled her hair and said, "My sister's condition might've gotten worse."

Sunny, "...I'm not crazy!"

She quickly thought of a way to prove it. "Right-Dad, my mom's name is Andy! Do you know an Andy? She's my mom! You loved her so much!"

Lucas and Leo exchanged glances-no recognition.

"I've already got a girlfriend. Not who you're talking about," Lucas said, annoyed. "What's wrong with you, girl? Keep spouting nonsense and I'm leaving you here."

Sunny looked at him pitifully. "I'm not lying..."

Leo tapped his temple. "Didn't you say your sister wasn't all there? She can't explain anything clearly. Just take her home and do a paternity test-then we'll know for sure. Besides, isn't your dad practically going crazy missing his daughter? Even if she's not the real deal, she looks so much like her. Keep her as a goddaughter-you're not short on cash."

Sunny stared at Leo, then said dazedly, "Leo-uncle, you were already this clever when you were young?"

Leo scratched his head and chuckled. "Thanks, kid."

She knew Leo was a smart guy. When her dad broke away from his family, it was Leo who helped him build his empire from the ground up.

She remembered fighting with her dad a lot growing up. Once, after he called her useless, she yelled back, "You've spent your whole life just trying to prove to Grandpa that you're not a failure-who are you to judge me?"

That comment hurt Lucas for a long time.

Later, Leo told her, "You were wrong. Your dad didn't leave home to prove anything. He lived in basements, ate instant noodles-not for pride, but to become a rock for your mom and you."

Sunny gently pressed her hand on Lucas's.

It felt so good to be back.

To see her dad as a young man again-it was such a gift.

She looked up and saw Lucas's eyes were red.

Was he going to break down crying? Sunny wasn't even ready yet!

Lucas stared at her for a long time, then quietly led her out of the noodle shop and back to his Harley.

Having found the sister he'd grieved over for so long, his tormented heart could finally rest.

"Dad... are you crying?"

"I'm not crying!"

Lucas said, rubbing his reddened eyes. Then he put his helmet on Sunny's head, pulled her onto the back seat of his Harley, and said-

"Let's go home."