Wen Yao didn’t expect that he had actually put thought into choosing the flowers. Just sending flowers was already considerate enough.
Now she realized—flowers chosen with care could truly touch someone’s heart.
Women like beautiful flowers, and she was no exception.
Although she felt Shen Cunshu had spent too much, she genuinely liked them.
“Next time when you have time, come over and have dinner at my place. I’ll buy groceries and cook.”
Shen Cunshu was delighted to hear this—because Wen Yao had taken the initiative to invite him to her home.
“You can cook?”
Wen Yao replied, “Just a few simple home dishes. I wouldn’t say I’m good at cooking.”
But Shen Cunshu said, “You’re too modest. Still, I’m looking forward to it.”
After saying that, he looked at Xinxin.
“Xinxin, goodbye!”
Wen Xin hugged her panda plushie and waved happily.
“Goodbye, Uncle Shen!”
Then he looked up at Wen Yao again.
“Miss Wen, see you next time.”
A faint smile lingered on Wen Yao’s lips.
“See you next time, Mr. Shen.”
Shen Cunshu got into his car and drove away.
Wen Yao withdrew her gaze and held Xinxin’s hand.
“Let’s go home.”
Wen Xin looked up, bouncing excitedly.
“Mom, I really like this panda plushie—it looks so real!”
Hearing this, Wen Yao looked at the panda in her daughter’s arms. The eyes and paws were crafted very realistically, and the overall shape was lifelike.
She freed one hand and took out her phone to search for the plush toy. She hadn’t expected much—but once she did, she realized it cost nearly two thousand.
It was also a very popular “Huahua” panda.
That was too expensive.
She decided she would send Shen Cunshu a message later, reminding him not to spend so much next time.
Xing Yu took a cigarette from the pack and placed it between his lips, then pulled out a lighter from his pocket—it was a spare.
The lighter he used regularly had been refilled last time, but still wouldn’t light—it was completely broken.
After lighting the cigarette, he took a deep drag and slowly exhaled.
He watched Wen Yao and Xinxin walk into the alley.
That man—could he be her boyfriend?
Or was he her ex-husband, trying to reconcile?
Xing Yu let out a light chuckle. What did any of that have to do with him?
Whether it was an ex-husband seeking reconciliation or a new boyfriend—it had nothing to do with him.
Looking at the cigarette between his fingers, Xing Yu wondered—then why had he come here?
“Let’s go.”
The driver couldn’t figure out what President Xing was thinking, but obediently drove off.
Wen Yao submitted her resume again.
With graduation season approaching, finding a job was becoming increasingly difficult.
That evening, when she picked up Xinxin, the little girl suddenly asked,
“Mom, I haven’t seen Uncle Xing for a long time. Is he very busy?”
“Mm, he’s very busy.” Wen Yao paused, then asked curiously, “Why did you suddenly ask about Uncle Xing?”
“Uncle Xing has two police dogs at home—they’re really amazing! He said he’d take me to play with them when he had time, but it’s been a long time and he hasn’t come,” Wen Xin said in her soft, childish voice.
This was the first time Wen Yao had heard that Xing Yu had adopted police dogs. Seeing her daughter looking a bit downcast—
She gently explained, “Uncle Xing is the boss of a big company. He has a lot of work every day, so he hasn’t come.”
Wen Xin asked, “Is he even busier than you, Mom?”
Wen Yao nodded. “Of course. Mom only does her own job, but Uncle Xing has to manage everyone in the company, so he’s even busier than Mom.”
“I understand. When he’s not busy, can he come take me out to play?” Wen Xin looked at her expectantly.
Wen Yao didn’t want Xinxin to have too much contact with Xing Yu—she was afraid he might discover something.
But seeing the hope in her daughter’s eyes, she couldn’t bear to refuse.
“He will. Uncle Xing is someone who keeps his word. Whatever he says, he’ll do.”
Hearing this, Wen Xin’s eyes immediately lit up. “Really? Then I’ll wait for Uncle Xing to come pick me up when he’s not busy!”
Wen Yao wasn’t just comforting her—Xing Yu really was someone who kept his promises.
Even though he had never liked her, everything he had ever said, he had done.
As summer vacation approached, Ge Chunxia called.
“Yao Yao, summer break is coming soon. Send Xinxin back here—I’ll take care of her.”
“Grandma, if Xinxin stays away from me for too long, she’ll cry. And I can’t bear to be apart from her either.”
“You have to work. You can’t just leave her at home—that’s not safe. It’s only two months. Let me take care of her so you can work in peace.”
“Grandma, let’s talk about it when the time comes.”
“Alright, think it over carefully.”
After hanging up, a trace of worry appeared on Wen Yao’s face.
Before the workday even ended, Wen Yao received a call from Xing Yu.
“I’m taking Xinxin and Xu Ziyang out to play today. You don’t need to pick her up.”
His voice was as calm and deep as ever.
“President Xing, you don’t have to pick her up.”
“It’s just for a short outing. You don’t need to worry.”
Wen Yao thought of the hopeful look in Xinxin’s eyes that day. The words of refusal she wanted to say were swallowed back down.
“Thank you for the trouble, President Xing.”
At the kindergarten entrance—
The moment Wen Xin saw Xing Yu, she ran over happily. “Uncle Xing, are you here to take me out to play?”
Xing Yu nodded. “Mm. I’ve already told your mom.”
Thinking about seeing Xuanwu and Xianyue later, Wen Xin jumped with excitement.
“My mommy didn’t lie to me! She said Uncle Xing keeps his promises—if he said he’d come pick me up, he definitely would!”
Xing Yu paused slightly upon hearing that. “Your mom… knows me that well?”
Wen Xin nodded proudly. “Of course!”
A trace of confusion flashed in Xing Yu’s eyes. Looking at her proud expression—did she really understand him that well?
He took out the smartwatch he had bought earlier and fastened it onto her wrist. “This is a phone watch for you. I’ve already saved my number—you can call me anytime.”
Wen Xin knew about phone watches—many kids in kindergarten had them.
“Uncle Xing, how do I call you? I don’t know how. Can you teach me?”
After showing her a few times, Wen Xin quickly learned.
Once the call connected, Xing Yu pressed the answer button. “Xinxin?”
Wen Xin spoke excitedly into the watch, “Hello, Uncle Xing!”
After hanging up, Xing Yu called the watch again and taught her how to answer.
He also saved Wen Yao’s number into it and told her it was her mother’s number.
Wen Xin was very smart—she learned everything quickly.
Xing Yu took the two children out to eat first.
After work, Wen Yao immediately called Xing Yu.
“President Xing, where are you? I’ll come pick up Xinxin.”
“No need. I’ll bring her back later.”
Wen Yao thought about how she had almost been exposed last time and refused directly.
“President Xing, I’m free anyway. I’ll come pick her up.”
There was a brief pause on the other end before Xing Yu’s deep voice sounded again.
“Alright.”
Wen Yao followed up, “Please tell me the exact address.”
Xing Yu replied, “Jincheng, Building 8.”