Chapter 378: Returning to the Capital 4

ed teeth."There's nothing I'm afraid to sign because, honestly, I don't know what she'll use it for. I'm her employee, and I just follow her orders. But if she uses the products I develop for illegal...She had followed Cheng Zhimin for over twenty years. Although she was dissatisfied with many of Cheng Zhimin's actions, she also felt sympathy for her. Over the years, she had worked hard and put the Zhuo family first. She was respected outside the family, but she had never been treated with respect or gentleness within it. Not even a single person to confide in, the Zhuo family members were one colder than the next, making her live a life of melancholy until this very moment, when she truly smiled from the heart.

After dinner on New Year's Eve, the two children stuck to their grandparents throughout the night, ignoring their parents. Shu Xiaonian loved his grandfather because although he was serious, he would play chess with him very seriously, treating him as a real opponent and never intentionally losing to please him.

Shu Xiaonian usually played chess with his kindergarten friends or his mother at home. They were both very bad, losing in a few moves. At such a young age, he had already tasted the loneliness of having no opponents, until he met his grandfather. Finally, he experienced the joy of meeting a worthy opponent.

Zhuo Hong played chess with Xiaobudai. At first, he didn't take it seriously until he lost two games in a row. Only then did he look at the child opposite him seriously. As he accompanied Xiaobudai in playing chess, he observed him, and an unexpected thought arose in his mind: this young boy was formidable.

Playing chess, you get to know people.

The child is over three years old, but he has a lot of patience. He carefully considers each move before placing the piece on the board. After looking at the whole chessboard, he makes his move. His actions are neat and decisive without any hesitation. Even if he realizes two seconds later that he made a mistake, he doesn't regret his move and calmly accepts his error.

Even at this small size, he already has the air of a great general.

Before, I didn't understand why my father was so strict his whole life, yet he was uniquely doting and indulgent towards Zhuo YUAN. Now, looking at Shu Xiaonian opposite him, I seem to understand.

Cheng Zhimin was in her study with Shu Xiaohe, teaching her to paint. The child had no foundation, but it was a good start. To educate girls in music, calligraphy, painting, and poetry always improved their temperament.

Shu Xiaohua's attention was completely diverted from painting, instead being attracted by the colorful paints. She started to paint randomly. Cheng Zhimin was initially a little angry, but seeing that although Shu Xiaohua's paintings were random, there was a vague theme. Looking closer, it was four adults and two children – a family portrait painted in an abstract style.

Cheng Zhimin's heart softened instantly. She told the nanny to have it framed and hung in her study.

Zhuo Yuan'an and Shu Tinglan were enjoying some quiet time, hiding in a room looking through Zhuo Yuan'an's childhood photo album. Shu Tinglan flipped through a few pages and smiled, if not for the dated backgrounds of the photos, she would have thought they were taken by Shu Xiaonian.

Then he smiled.

"When you first met Shu Xiaonian at the airport, how didn't you recognize him You look so alike."

Zhuo Yu'an retorted, "If you saw a stranger child at the airport, would you think it was your own Wouldn't that be crazy"

Shu Tinglan thought about it, and it made sense. Back then, they hadn't seen each other in years, so he couldn't have had those kinds of thoughts.

Zhuo Yu'an's expression dimmed: "Besides, at that time, I was only envious of Mr. Yi and thought it was his child."

Shu Tinglan listened to him mention Yi Muyang. Thinking of the days when Yi Muyang accompanied her, she couldn't help but feel a little sour, and there was also a bit of longing for him. She wondered how he was doing now, if he was safe.

She just sent him a short Spring Festival blessing on his phone: Yi MuYang, Happy New Year!

Of course there was no response.

She also called to wish Madam Fu and Aunt Liu a Happy New Year, and casually inquired about Yi Mu Yang's situation. Madam Fu still answered her cheerfully and carefree as ever, saying that Ah Yang was training out of town for the New Year, seemingly unaware of Yi Mu Yang's current state.

Although Zhuo Yu'an has been tracking Yi Mu Yang's whereabouts through technology, Yi Mu Yang doesn't seem to use electronic devices frequently, so his whereabouts are intermittent. At least there's no bad news for now, which is good news.

Zhuo Yu'an knew that Shu Tinglan had always kept a small part of her heart for Yi Muyang because of his safety. He also knew that Tinglan had been constantly paying attention to and searching for Yi Muyang's whereabouts. This might have nothing to do with love, but it was a feeling of mutual support and understanding, even stronger than love.

He also had moments of jealousy and envy, but there was nothing he could do about it. It was the place that had been taken over during his absence. He knew deep down that it had nothing to do with love, but at this moment, he still felt jealous, envious that on this joyous holiday, a part of her heart belonged to another man.

The new year is just around the corner, with lively voices on TV counting down to midnight. The lights in the yard are all turned on, and the nanny comes knocking, inviting them out to celebrate the New Year with a late-night snack together.

But no one in the house answered her knock, only some inappropriate and intense grunting sounds came from inside. The nanny's face flushed red and she fled in embarrassment. The children were already asleep in their bedrooms.

"Aren't they coming" Cheng Zhimin asked.

"He's not coming, he...he fell asleep." The nanny's face was still flushed, her voice stuttering.

Cheng Zhimin instantly understood what was happening, and Zhu Hong also lightly coughed and got up to return to his room.

Shu Tinglan knew this house wasn't as soundproof as her own, so she had been biting her lip and holding back from making a single sound. But this man was acting crazy tonight, all because she had sent a text message to Yi Muyang. He wouldn't let it go. Wave after wave of emotions built up inside her. Every time she couldn't control herself and wanted to scream, he would cover her mouth with his hand.

It seemed like he heard a knock on the door, perhaps another hallucination of his. People weren't truly awake unless bathed in light, and that was all there was for him - flickering shadows illuminating his face. He was frantic, lost in some kind of feverish haze, beads of sweat forming on the sharp line of his jaw.

"Tinglan, at least for this moment, only I should be in your heart." That was the reason he was putting in extra effort tonight.

Shu Tinglan put down her things, softly muttering, "Naive."

Zhuo Yu'an didn't get a clear answer from her, and he wouldn't let up. He always stopped at the most critical moment and insisted on asking her.

"Now, is there only me in your heart"

Shu Tinglan was so uncomfortable that her face flushed red, she just wanted him to hurry up. Her eyes welled with tears as she nodded.

“Only you, only you.”

He had completely captured her, making her submit to him.

Later that night, she ignored him completely. She put two pillows between them, refusing to let him get closer. Now that things had cooled down, she realized she'd been childish and unreasonable. She knew her feelings for Yi Mu Yang weren't love, yet she insisted on proving herself superior.

He tentatively circled around the pillow to grab her hand, only to have it swatted away. He grabbed it again, clutching it tightly and refusing to let go. After she calmed down, he tossed the pillow in the middle aside with a few quick movements, scooted closer, and hugged her into his arms. Only then did they sleep comfortably.

Before falling asleep, she promised: "He will come back safely."

When he was in the city, he had promised Tinglan that he would do everything in his power to protect Yimu Yang's safety. During this period, he had not done nothing, and even found some clues, but they were too dangerous, so he did not tell her a word.ctuarial department. He had just pitched a new project at the meeting, one that required the actuarial department to assess its feasibility before deciding on investment.>>Mom, stepfather, and brother...