The blind boss's nanny

Lu Tingzhao's voice softened, becoming calm:

"I'm not here to stop you from going abroad."

Lin Xiaoman remained skeptical, her guardedness showing no sign of easing.

He seemed to "sense" her stiffness and continued in that gentle tone:

"I just want... to see you one last time before you leave. To talk to you, okay?"

Lin Xiaoman gripped the backpack strap tightly; inside were her plane ticket and passport, her proof of freedom.

Her mind raced, and she even began to imagine the worst-case scenario... If he dared to confiscate her documents again, she would fight him to the death today, even if it meant getting the airport security to come!

However, Lu Tingzhao simply leaned back slightly.

"Xiaoman,"

He spoke, and there was even a hint of...appreciation in his tone?

"Codonopsis told me everything. You resolved that troublesome matter yourself, using a... very special method."

He paused, as if searching for the right words, and finally said:

"You are smart and brave."

This evaluation is objective and calm, like the scrutiny of a superior, like a boss summarizing the outstanding performance of a subordinate.

Lin Xiaoman pursed her lips, remaining silent, but her wary gaze remained fixed on him.

Lu Tingzhao seemed unfazed by her silence, maintaining his smile. He changed the subject, his voice lowering, carrying a tentative softness:

"Xiaoman, you'd rather face that embarrassment yourself, in that way... is it because you're afraid of causing me trouble?"

He tilted his head slightly, his voice revealing heartache:

"Would you rather go through that feeling of being weighed and abandoned again?"

Before Lin Xiaoman could react, he sighed softly, a sigh filled with deep emotion, like a tender confession:

"Xiaoman, you're always like this... You're so kind. I really... like you so much."

"Shut up, Lu Tingzhao."

Lin Xiaoman finally couldn't help but speak, her voice not loud, but unusually clear and cold.

She raised her eyes, looking directly in his direction, and said, word by word:

"This is my own life, my own troubles. I deal with it because I have to, and because I am capable of."

"This has nothing to do with you."

She emphasized the last four words, drawing a clear line between the two.

Lu Tingzhao remained silent for a few seconds.

Then he spoke again, his voice low and steady:

"You are my woman, and your affairs are my affairs."

Lin Xiaoman instinctively retorted without thinking, her voice clear:

"I am not."

"Who are you."

Men respond faster and with more certainty, as if stating a truth that needs no proof.

Looking at his assertive expression, Lin Xiaoman suddenly felt that this verbal entanglement was pointless. She took a deep breath and steered the conversation back to the most crucial point:

"Lu Tingzhao, no matter what, I have to board the plane later."

Unexpectedly, Lu Tingzhao nodded, his attitude even appearing somewhat cooperative:

"I know."

He tilted his head slightly, his voice softening.

"I just wanted to see you off. Xiaoman, you won't even give me this chance...?"

Lin Xiaoman looked at the man in front of her. He sat there quietly, wearing a well-tailored dark coat, with handsome features.

Yet this very person, who clearly possesses the strongest desire for control, is now using these words of weakness and pleading to try and touch her heartstrings time and time again.

Hypocritical! She cursed inwardly, her fists clenching silently at her sides.

"Lu Tingzhao,"

Her voice was cold and hard, carrying a warning.

"You better keep your word!"

Every subtle change in her expression... a fleeting moment of hesitation, followed by rising resentment, and then the forced indifference, none of it escaped Lu Tingzhao's notice.

He looked clearly into her vivid eyes and brows, and saw the traces of her inner struggle revealed in her.

A low, muffled laugh escaped his throat:

"Xiaoman" (Grain Buds).

He called her:

"I swear, I won't stop you from boarding the plane."

"By what oath?"

Lin Xiaoman immediately pressed for answers, her eyes filled with scrutiny and distrust.

Lu Tingzhao seemed to think seriously for a moment, then slowly spoke, his tone solemn:

I swear on my own eyes.

The icy expression on her face finally cracked a little because of those words, and her guarded posture relaxed slightly.

Just then, Lu Tingzhao's voice rang out again, lower and gentler than before, like the most alluring seduction in the night, winding its way over him:

"Xiaoman, come sit here, okay?"

The tone wasn't a command, but more like an invitation.

But it made her more unsettled than any order.

The next second, her feet moved uncontrollably towards him. By the time she realized it, she was already sitting on the large, soft sofa next to him.

Almost as soon as she sat down, a warm and strong hand covered hers, completely enveloping her slightly cool hand.

Lin Xiaoman instinctively tried to pull away, but couldn't. She paused, then finally gave up, letting him hold her hand, feeling the familiar, slightly calloused touch and the constant warmth emanating from his body.

When the warmth of Lin Xiaoman's palm seeped through his skin, Lu Tingzhao's heart, which had felt like it was missing a piece for days, was finally filled with something warm and real.

That sense of security that he had lost and then regained, even though he knew it was only temporary.

He called out softly, his voice as light as a sigh, yet tinged with a wistful longing:

"Xiaoman..."

Lin Xiaoman felt a little uncomfortable with the undisguised dependence and longing in his tone, and shifted her body slightly, wanting to create some distance between them.

This man exuded such a powerful aura that even when he sat quietly, an invisible attraction and sense of oppression lingered around him.

The closer you get, the easier it is to become addicted, and the easier it is to forget the arguments, the hurt, and the reasons for having to leave.

The two sat quietly in the spacious VIP lounge, hands clasped together. Outside the window, the airport runway buzzed with noise, but inside, only their soft breathing could be heard.

Time flowed slowly in silence, and the atmosphere was quite peaceful and tranquil.

The silence was broken when Lu Tingzhao spoke again. His request was so direct that it made Lin Xiaoman's ears burn:

"Sit on my lap."

He paused, then added his reasons frankly and directly.

I want to hug you.

Lin Xiaoman finally snapped again, trying to pull her hand back, a thin layer of anger creeping onto her face:

"Lu Tingzhao! Holding hands is enough, don't push your luck!"

Seeing her become defensive, Lu Tingzhao wasn't angry at all; instead, he chuckled softly. The laughter resonated from his chest, carrying a mixture of helplessness and indulgence.

"I just..."

The next second, his smile faded, and his voice carried a hint of melancholy.

"It's been a long time since I hugged you. And in the future... there will be even longer before I can hug you."