…Three years later…
In the taxi, Lin Nuan gazed out the window. The cold wind seeping in along the glass made her shiver, goosebumps rising on her skin.
Three years had passed. City A had changed a lot, with buildings growing taller, but the most eye-catching of all was still the headquarters of Ning Group.
She was back.
Lin Nuan couldn't help but hold the little one in her arms a bit tighter.
The little guy had big, dark, sparkling eyes. His skin was pale and tender, pretty like a porcelain doll, a real heart-stealer.
"Once we get to Aunt Xiaomei's house, we can eat."
The little one blinked those big eyes and nodded, but still didn't say a word.＊
After getting out of the car with the little guy, Gao Xiaomei rushed over like lightning, snatching him away, breathing him in twice and planting two kisses.
"Nuannuan, is this your kid? So cute! Damn, he's like your mini-me—little Lin Nuan."
Lin Nuan's face bloomed with pure joy. Every time someone said her son looked like her, she couldn't help but feel so happy.
After dinner, Lin Nuan bathed Lin Shenshen, soothed him to sleep, then let him adjust to the time difference.
Gao Xiaomei dragged Lin Nuan into her room and whispered, "Nuannuan, Shenshen is two now, right? But he looks so tiny, not like a two-year-old. And why doesn't he talk?"
Lin Shenshen's small size and silence had always been Lin Nuan's sore spot—her biggest worry.
Coming home was for this reason, too.
Lin Nuan sighed helplessly and explained, "I didn't know I was pregnant back then. I didn't take good care of Shenshen. He was born two months premature, so he's growing a bit slow. As for talking, maybe he noticed that he looks different from the foreign kids around him, so he never opened up and spoke."
"But, he can say 'mom'." Lin Nuan quickly added, afraid Gao Xiaomei would think her son was mute.
Gao Xiaomei murmured, "Tiny is good, tiny won't raise suspicions. As for talking, we'll just keep teaching him at our own pace."
"Mm." Lin Nuan replied.
Still, Gao Xiaomei admired Lin Nuan deeply. Three years overseas—not only did she finish her master's degree, she brought her son back. So impressive, something worth learning from.
After two days helping Lin Shenshen adjust at home, Lin Nuan sent her little guy to the local daycare and headed off to report at the law firm.
She majored in law, and had already secured her job before returning.
"Lin Nuan, you've just come back to the country. Get used to things first—start with the small cases. Here's a labor contract dispute. Go check with the company's HR, see if you can work out a settlement before court." A woman in her forties, sharp and efficient, handed Lin Nuan the file.
"Thank you, Sister Zhou. I'll take this case."
After reading over the case, Lin Nuan took the subway to the defendant's company.
Arriving at the company, Lin Nuan started negotiating, quickly seeing they were easy to communicate with.
When the matter was handled and the manager was walking her out, Lin Nuan saw a crowd heading their way.
At the front of the group, a man stood out, towering over the others, full of energy and confidence.
That man was like a beacon—capturing Lin Nuan's attention in an instant.
The smile on Lin Nuan's lips froze.
Ning Shiyu.
He was still the same—as proud and untouchable as ever.
"President Ning, this is our company's administrative office floor. Every department, every process here is highly professional. You can't go wrong investing in us." The middle-aged man smiled eagerly, shameless in his effort to impress a younger man.