Lin Nian forced herself to look away. Holding both children’s hands, she quickly walked toward the other side of the kindergarten.
Her back was straight, like a spear that would never bend.
She couldn’t lose—especially not in front of Bai Yueru.
After handing the children over to the teacher and watching them walk curiously into the classroom, Lin Nian finally let out a tiny breath.
She turned to leave, wanting nothing more than to escape this suffocating place as fast as possible.
But of course, things never go as one wishes.
“Waaah—!”
A loud wail came from the play area, instantly drawing every parent’s attention.
Lin Nian’s heart tightened. She looked over and saw a group of children gathered around. The one who had been pushed to the ground and was crying loudly was the same little boy Bai Yueru had been holding earlier.
Standing beside him, with a stiff expression and a green toy tank clutched tightly in his hand, was her son—Lu An.
A throbbing pain pulsed at Lin Nian’s temples. She immediately quickened her pace and went over.
“What happened?”
Bai Yueru had already arrived first. She gracefully knelt down, helped the crying boy up, and soothed him gently: “Xiao Jie, don’t cry. Tell Auntie—what happened?”
The boy called Xiao Jie pointed at Lu An, sobbing so hard he could barely catch his breath. “Him! He grabbed my tank! And he pushed me!”
Lu An pressed his lips together and said nothing. He simply hid the toy tank behind him and stared at everyone stubbornly.
Lin Nian knew her son well. Lu An had a quiet personality; he never caused trouble on his own, but when it came to something he believed was his, he was unusually persistent.
She stepped forward, pulled Lu An to her side, and asked gently, “An An, tell Mommy—did this happen?”
Lu An looked up at her, then glanced at the still fake-crying Xiao Jie, and muttered, “It’s mine. The teacher just gave it to me.”
Lin Nian immediately understood.
At that moment, Bai Yueru stood up. Her face still held that gentle and proper smile. Her eyes fell on Lu An, and her tone was mild—as if she were showing concern.
“Little boy, lying isn’t what good children do. I bought this tank for Xiao Jie just this morning. He really likes it. How could it be something the teacher gave to you?”
While she spoke, she turned to Lin Nian, her smile carrying just the right amount of apology and helplessness.
“This parent, I’m sorry. Children fighting over toys is normal, but… this kid seems a bit stubborn. Raising a child alone is tough. You might need to spend more effort teaching him, or else he’ll suffer once he grows up.”
Her words were flawless.
On the surface, she was mediating and showing understanding, but every sentence jabbed into Lin Nian like a needle.
She was implying that Lin Nian’s son was a thief, showing off that she could casually buy new toys for her child, and then using the words “single-parent family” to highlight her superiority and her disdain for Lin Nian.
Parents around them had already begun whispering, pointing at Lin Nian and her children.
Lin Nian was shaking with anger and was just about to defend them—
When a cold, commanding voice came from behind her.
“What are you all doing here?”
It was Lu Tingchuan.
No one knew when he had walked over, but his brows were furrowed, and the aura around him—stern and overwhelming—made the entire area fall silent.
Bai Yueru’s eyes lit up when she saw him. She immediately walked over, her tone carrying a hint of grievance. “Brother Tingchuan, you’re here. Xiao Jie was pushed down by another kid. I was just handling it.”
Lu Tingchuan made a short sound in acknowledgment, but his gaze skipped past her and landed on Lu An beside Lin Nian.
The moment his eyes met Lu An’s—those black-and-white clear eyes, so much like a smaller version of his own—
Lu Tingchuan froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.
Time seemed to stop.
His mind went blank. His heart felt gripped by an invisible fist, pounding uncontrollably.
This child…
This face…
Those eyes, that nose, that stubborn expression with tightly pressed lips…
It was like seeing himself walk out of one of his childhood photos!
A wild and unbelievable thought surged out from the depths of his mind, sweeping away all reason in an instant.
How could it be?
When she left back then, clearly…
He subconsciously stepped forward, his eyes locked onto Lu An’s face—unable to look away.
Lin Nian sensed his change immediately.
Alarm bells exploded in her heart. Instinctively, she pulled Lu An and Lu Ning behind her, shielding them completely.
No!
He absolutely could not discover the children’s identities!
She would never let her children call Bai Yueru’s son “older brother,” nor would she allow them to be taken away or repeat the tragic ending written in the book!
The teacher quickly stepped in to resolve the situation.
She pulled up the toy distribution record, proving the tank really belonged to the kindergarten and had just been handed to Lu An.
It was Xiao Jie who had taken a liking to it and tried to grab it. Lu An refused to give it up. During the scuffle, Xiao Jie lost his balance and fell on his own.
The truth was out.
Bai Yueru’s face turned pale then green. Embarrassed, she pulled her nephew over to apologize.
Lin Nian didn’t say a word. She merely gave her a cold look, then held her children’s hands and turned to leave.
She didn’t want to stay here for even one more second.
“Stop!”
Behind her came Lu Tingchuan’s voice, low and trembling with intense emotion.
Lin Nian paused, but she didn’t turn around.
A large hand suddenly grabbed her wrist, gripping so tightly it felt like he might crush her bones.
Forced to face him, she found herself looking into Lu Tingchuan’s bloodshot eyes.
He stared at Lu An, who was hidden behind her, with a crazed desperation. His voice was hoarse beyond recognition, each word squeezed out from his throat.
“Lin Nian, let me ask you.”
“This child… whose is he?”
Parents around them stopped and stared, curiosity rising. Bai Yueru’s face had gone completely white.
Looking at his out-of-control expression, at Bai Yueru’s pale face, and remembering the baseless accusations and humiliation she and her son just endured—
Five years’ worth of bitterness, resentment, anger, and hatred surged into her chest all at once.
And suddenly, she laughed.
Her laughter was icy, mocking—cutting like a blade.
She lifted her eyes and met Lu Tingchuan’s blazing stare, meeting the gaze of everyone around her. Her red lips moved, her voice not loud, but clear enough for every person to hear.
“Captain Lu, are you asking me?”
She paused. The smile on her face grew brighter, but her eyes were a dead, icy void.
“My husband—he’s dead.”
“He died for the country.”