The blind boss's nanny

Lu Tingzhao slightly raised his eyelids, remembering that he had indeed transferred the pastry chef to Lu Tingxi's place.

He didn't say anything more, he just waved his hand.

The next afternoon, Lin Xiaoman was surprised to find that the familiar pastry chef was wearing a snow-white apron, standing in front of the worktable, and smiling at her.

On the counter, a plate of freshly made tiramisu, sprinkled with cocoa powder, was prominently displayed, and the air was filled with the rich aroma of coffee liqueur and mascarpone cheese.

Lin Xiaoman's eyes lit up instantly.

She immediately finished the whole piece. The delicate and smooth texture made her squint her eyes in happiness, and her steps back to the main building were light and joyful.

She knew that Lu Tingzhao had never liked these kinds of sweet pastries.

So when she brought a small, exquisite piece of tiramisu into the study during afternoon tea time, she already had a plan in mind.

—If he refuses as usual, wouldn't this wonderful cake naturally belong to her again?

Just thinking about it makes me feel wonderful!

She gently placed the bone china plate beside him, her tone both respectful and tentative:

"Chairman, today's tiramisu was made by the master chef when he came back; it tastes especially authentic... Would you like to try a little bit?"

As expected, Lu Tingzhao said he didn't need it.

Lin Xiaoman obediently retreated to the small sofa to the side and began to enjoy her meal happily.

The smoothness of mascarpone, the rich bitterness of coffee liqueur, and the slight astringency of cocoa powder blended perfectly on her tongue. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction, almost forgetting that there was another person in the study.

Just as she was halfway through her meal, Lu Tingzhao, who had been silently listening to the news, suddenly spoke up without warning:

"Bring it here."

"Um?"

Lin Xiaoman, with a spoon in her mouth, looked up blankly, not reacting for a moment.

Tiramisu.

Lu Tingzhao's voice was calm and even, his face turned towards her.

"I'll try it."

Lin Xiaoman's cheeks flushed instantly, and the porcelain plate in her hand became hot to the touch.

"But... but this is something I ate... it has my picture on it..."

She swallowed the word "drool" back and replaced it with a more euphemistic expression.

"...It's not very hygienic."

Lu Tingzhao, however, seemed completely unconcerned. He even tilted his head slightly, as if urging:

"My afternoon tea. Let me taste it, is there a problem?"

This sounded reasonable, but Lin Xiaoman felt something was off, and her heart skipped a beat for no reason. She looked at the remaining half of the cake on the plate, with clear marks left by her spoon on the edge.

"...Then, shall I get you a new spoon?"

She tried to make a last-ditch effort.

"No need for that."

Lu Tingzhao directly rejected it.

"You feed me."

Lin Xiaoman was completely stunned. She looked at the man on the sofa who seemed perfectly normal and felt a little helpless.

"This...this isn't appropriate, Chairman..."

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.

"What's wrong with it?"

Lu Tingzhao asked in return, his tone revealing no emotion.

After a few seconds of intense internal struggle, she finally moved over slowly.

She crouched down next to his armchair... the perfect height.

The rich aroma of coffee liqueur and the sweet scent of cream wafted over again as she approached, mixed with the unique scent of orange blossom soap she wore.

Lin Xiaoman scooped up the last small, relatively intact piece with a spoon, still dusted with cocoa powder. Mustering her courage, she carefully brought the spoon to his lips.

Lu Tingzhao lowered his head slightly, locating the spoon. From this angle, Lin Xiaoman could clearly see his thick eyelashes and the profile of his high, straight nose.

His breath was light, brushing against the tip of her spoon, which was slightly stained with cream.

Then, he opened his mouth and took the small silver spoon into his mouth.

The soft cake was taken into his mouth. His lips inevitably touched the cool surface of the spoon, and... the spot she had just touched.

The sweet, cloying fragrance in the air became thick and ambiguous, silently lingering in the less than one-foot-wide space between the two of them.

Lu Tingzhao swallowed the bite of cake, his Adam's apple bobbing. He maintained his slightly bowed head, offering a nonchalant comment:

"Too sweet."

Lin Xiaoman hurriedly responded and was about to step back with the empty plate when she heard him speak again, his voice revealing nothing unusual:

"etc."

Lu Tingzhao raised his hand, his fingertips slowly tracing the corner of his lips before stopping. He frowned slightly, a hint of trouble in his voice:

"It looks like it got some cream on it."

Lin Xiaoman followed his movement and looked down... There was indeed a very faint, light brown mark on the side of his slightly pursed lips, which was cocoa powder mixed with cream from the cake.

On that sharply defined, cold face, this inappropriately sweet stain was strangely both abrupt and... subtly alluring.

"Ah, yes...please wait a moment."

She took out a clean cotton handkerchief she always carried with her. The soft white fabric smelled of sunshine.

She crouched down slightly beside his sofa again, unconsciously getting closer to see the stain more clearly.

The scent of orange blossom, mixed with the warm, sweet aroma emanating from the bakery, enveloped him once again.

"Here, I'll wipe it off for you."

She spoke softly, holding her breath, and carefully touched the corner of his mouth with the fingertips of her handkerchief.

Her gaze was fixed intently on the cream stain, completely unaware that, in the instant she approached, a faint, dark light flashed in the depths of Lu Tingzhao's unfocused eyes.

The next second, without any warning, Lu Tingzhao suddenly leaned forward very slightly.

The movements were very small, so natural that it seemed to be to match her movements or to make it easier for her to see.

In an instant, the distance between their faces closed to a point that was already very close.

Before Lin Xiaoman could even put her handkerchief down, her lips unexpectedly brushed against his cheek.

Soft, slightly cool, and with a slightly moist feel.

Lin Xiaoman froze, her pupils contracted sharply, and she remained in a half-squatting position holding a handkerchief, not daring to move an inch.

The fleeting warmth on his lips was etched into his memory with unmistakable clarity, carrying with it his cool and composed aura.

"I'm sorry, Chairman! I didn't mean to!"

Her cheeks instantly turned bright red, and even her ears and neck were tinged with crimson.

Her first instinct was to spring back and escape the suffocating embarrassment and panic.

But her wrist was firmly held down by a warm, dry hand.

"Why are you running? You haven't wiped it for me yet."

Lu Tingzhao's tone was calm and even, and this overly composed reaction surprised Lin Xiaoman.

She looked up at him... his face remained expressionless, not even a furrowed brow.