The blind boss's nanny

Lu Tingzhao's expression remained calm, tinged with a weary indifference:

"I know Qin Xiu and A Zhe's professional abilities and character. I don't think there's anything wrong with the girls choosing them."

"How can they marry men who work odd jobs?!"

Ye Qiyun almost growled, her eyes slightly red, a mixture of extreme anger and heartbreak.

"They are daughters of the Lu family!"

Lu Tingzhao raised his hand and rubbed his throbbing temples, his voice deep yet exceptionally clear:

"Mom, it's their own business who they marry. If they get married, I will prepare a generous dowry for them to ensure they have a worry-free life. If they choose to remain single for life, I will support them for the rest of their lives."

He paused, then emphasized:

"Isn't it better to let them follow their hearts and choose someone who makes them happy, rather than marrying them off to a heartless stranger for the sake of social status?"

He raised his gaze, which, though empty, possessed a power that pierced the heart:

"They are people, not your possessions. Please respect their thoughts."

Ye Qiyun was so choked by his words that her face turned pale, her chest heaving violently. After a long while, she managed to squeeze out a sentence through gritted teeth:

"So... that's why you didn't want Wenya and insisted on hanging out with that nanny?"

Lu Tingzhao's last shred of patience vanished. He offered no further explanation, but simply turned slightly to face the corridor, making a clear gesture of dismissal, his voice as cold as ice:

I'm tired.

"Please leave."

Inside the room, Lin Xiaoman had actually been awake for a while.

The arguing outside, even when hushed, still pierced through the heavy door and reached her ears intermittently. She could hear that it seemed to involve her.

She lay quietly in the bed where his scent still lingered, her eyes open, staring at the blurry light and shadow on the ceiling.

From the moment she decided to be with Lu Tingzhao, she knew that a scene like today would happen sooner or later.

She wasn't naive enough to think she could forever hide under the manor's protection and enjoy a pure, untainted love.

However, she had a very clear scale in her heart.

She cared about the opinions of Aunt Mei, Leng Feng, and even the other servants she got along well with at the manor. Because she cherished the natural and relaxed daily friendship she shared with them.

She feared that once the identity of "girlfriend" was brought to the forefront, the pure relationship would change, becoming tainted with awe, distance, or speculation. This was a major reason why she insisted on keeping it a secret... she wanted to protect that ordinary warmth.

But what about Ye Qiyun? Lin Xiaoman really didn't care how this noble Madam Lu viewed her.

She doesn't care whether the other party sees her as a sparrow who is delusional and wants to climb into a wealthy family, or a scheming vixen who seduces men.

Because Lin Xiaoman herself knew perfectly well... she wasn't.

She didn't meticulously plan or fantasize about achieving instant success. The beginning and development of this relationship were filled with surprises, tests, and the involuntary attraction between two lonely souls.

More importantly, she never considered marrying Lu Tingzhao.

The thought was so clear, tinged with a self-protective awareness. She enjoyed the intimacy and companionship of the moment, and was willing to give him care and attention, but she was also keenly aware of the chasm between them.

She didn't aspire to the position of "Mrs. Lu," so she didn't need to be anxious or sad about gaining Ye Qiyun's approval.

It's true that I love him, and it's true that I want to stay by his side.

But "marrying him"? That's not a chapter in her script.

So, the wind and rain outside might wet her clothes, but they couldn't dampen the clear and peaceful corner in her heart.

Lin Xiaoman lay quietly in the center of the bed, her gaze fixed on that figure.

Lu Tingzhao, leaning on his white cane, walked step by step out of the shadows at the other end of the room and stopped at the edge of the bed.

Only a warm lamp remained in the corner of the room, its dim light outlining his tall and imposing figure with a hazy glow.

His deep-set features appeared exceptionally serene in the darkness, and his eyes, which could not see anything, seemed to pierce through the gloom, gazing intently and seriously in her direction.

She could see him, but he couldn't see her. Yet, those unfocused, dark pupils held a silent, lingering gaze, and a hint of melancholy lingered between her brows, as if she were silently weighing her options at some crucial juncture.

Time flowed by in silence. Lin Xiaoman stood there motionless, watching him for a full ten minutes.

He seemed to be standing in the dim light, surrounded by a solitary yet powerful aura.

She lay there until her body was stiff, and finally couldn't resist. She quietly reached out her hand, her fingertips hesitantly probing in the air, and then gently grasped his hand hanging by his side.

Almost instantly, the large hand took control, completely enveloping her small hand with gentle yet irresistible force.

"Xiaoman,"

Lu Tingzhao spoke softly, his voice gentle.

"You're awake?"

Lin Xiaoman immediately curved her eyebrows into a smile, her voice softening with a playful annoyance:

"Chairman, why didn't you wake me up?"

She moved slightly, feigning panic.

"Oh dear... how did I end up sleeping in your bed again? I'm so sorry..."

Lu Tingzhao's lips silently curved into a slight smile, the joy finally reaching his eyes and dispelling the gloom of the moment before.

He squeezed her hand, his fingertips gently scratching her palm, his tone playfully indulgent:

"You're only bringing this up now..."

He paused, then let out a deep, resonant laugh:

"Isn't it a little too late?"

After all, she had already occupied this bed countless times.

Lin Xiaoman listened to his laughter and felt the warmth of his palm. She smiled along, but her heart was like glass submerged in cold water, clearly reflecting the warmth of the moment, as well as the clear boundaries between them.

She could only enjoy the intimacy of the moment by pretending to be innocent and naive.

On New Year's Eve, the manor was unusually crowded with people. Even those who were usually too busy to be seen put aside their work.

Aunt Meryl Streep was the happiest, moving between the kitchen and the dining room with a constant smile on her face:

"It's been so many years since we've celebrated the New Year so neatly together!"

On this day, Ye Qiyun chose to stay at the medical center to keep watch over her husband Lu Shen for the New Year, while Lu Xingyuan and Lu Tingxi, the siblings, came to their elder brother's side.

In the living room, the five siblings of the Lu family rarely gathered together. With the addition of Qin Xiu, Leng Feng, and Lin Xiaoman, it was much more lively than in previous years.

The air was filled with the aroma of food and the faint sounds of laughter.

Lu Xingyuan knew that Lu Tingzhou had later sent someone to teach Lu Tingshen a lesson, and he had also been warned by his elder brother, so he dared not provoke Lu Tingzhou again on the surface.

But his restless energy, which he couldn't suppress, always needed an outlet.

Just then, he saw Qin Xiuzheng standing by the kitchen counter, cutting fruit for Lu Tingxi with his head down. His movements were skillful and focused, and he couldn't help but want to say a few sarcastic remarks.