The blind boss's nanny

"Since you've agreed to leave the gold ingot behind, it's your property, and it may very well become your valuable asset in the future."

She spoke very logically and persuasively.

"Although this isn't in the work manual, I know how to be flexible..."

She became more and more self-righteous as she spoke:

"Taking care of Yuanbao is certainly my duty, and I have no choice but to do so!"

Lu Tingzhao finally chuckled softly:

"Are you sure you're not just using this as an excuse to sneak out and slack off?"

Lin Xiaoman said guiltily:

"No, I didn't. I just thought Yuanbao was cute, and he's really smart, you'll see today..."

Lu Tingzhao leaned forward.

"You disappeared for an hour yesterday afternoon, claiming you were fixing Ah Zhe's computer."

"This afternoon, I asked you to make coffee, but you ran off to play with Yuanbao instead..."

With each word he spoke, Lin Xiaoman shrank her neck a little more.

"How much salary will be deducted for all this time?"

The man's voice carried a faint hint of laughter.

"Do you need me to have Qin Xiu do some calculations for you?"

"Don't!"

Lin Xiaoman hurriedly pressed his hand down, but upon touching the man's warm skin, she quickly withdrew it as if burned.

"Chairman, I was wrong! Actually... I did all this for you!"

"Oh?"

"You think about it,"

She had a sudden inspiration.

"Ah Zhe's emotional stability will help you work better..."

"As for Yuanbao, once I get to know it, it will be able to take you for walks in the garden. Sunlight promotes calcium absorption, and fresh air is good for your heart and lungs..."

As Lu Tingzhao listened to her increasingly absurd explanations, a slight smile appeared on his lips:

"So, you're saying all of this is for my sake?"

"...From the initial perspective, that is indeed the case."

Lin Xiaoman gritted her teeth and persisted.

"So, should I give you a bonus?"

"...If you're willing, I have no objection."

Lu Tingzhao lay down calmly and spoke casually:

"I'm not really willing."

"Two instances of unauthorized absence from duty will result in a fine of two thousand yuan."

"Close the door when you leave."

Lin Xiaoman pouted, but still carefully tucked the blanket around him.

Goodnight, Chairman.

After the lights were turned off, a faint voice drifted through the darkness:

"Next time you make an excuse, remember to come up with a decent one."

The door closed gently.

Standing in the corridor, Lin Xiaoman couldn't help but smile.

This seemingly cold and aloof boss was actually much more humane than she had imagined.

However, Lu Tingzhao still strictly enforced the rule that Yuanbao was "not allowed to enter the house".

Every morning, he would walk to the same stone bench and sit down.

Yuanbao always lay obediently three steps away, only approaching when given a signal.

"Chairman, Yuanbao is here."

Lin Xiaoman tried to lighten the mood.

"Um."

The man casually patted the dog's head that had come closer.

"Take it to play with, I should go back to my study."

This interaction lasted for three days, with each session lasting no more than ten minutes.

The late autumn rain, carrying a chill, drizzled all night.

When Lin Xiaoman woke up in the morning, the first thing she did was check on Yuanbao's condition.

The doghouse she built herself looked particularly rudimentary in the wind and rain; the roof had collapsed, and the mat inside was completely soaked with rainwater.

"Gold ingot?"

She searched the courtyard with an umbrella and finally found the shivering figure outside the study window.

The golden retriever huddled tightly under the narrow eaves, its fur soaked by the rain.

Through the glass window, you can see Lu Tingzhao sitting at his desk working.

Yuanbao was only a window away from the warmth, but he wisely kept quiet.

Lin Xiaoman felt a pang of sadness at the sight and turned to ask A Zhe for help.

Without saying a word, the boy braved the rain to carry Yuanbao back to his room.

"No way, Zhe!"

Aunt Mei noticed and quickly stopped them.

"The chairman said it can't be brought into the house."

Then she saw Lin Xiaoman, who was soaking wet.

"You little nanny, what happened to you, getting yourself into this state?"

The commotion here still alerted Lu Tingzhao.

He stood at the study door, leaning on his white cane, and slightly tilted his ear:

"What happened?"

Lin Xiaoman and A Zhe immediately lowered their heads like children who had done something wrong.

Yuanbao also realized that something was wrong. His ears drooped down, and he cautiously looked in Lu Tingzhao's direction.

"I brought the gold ingot in."

Lin Xiaoman spoke first.

"No, it's me."

A Zhe rarely spoke up to argue.

Raindrops tapped against the windowpane, and Yuanbao let out a soft whimper, shrinking back behind Lin Xiaoman.

Lu Tingzhao stood quietly in the center of the living room, with Aunt Mei standing beside him, looking disapprovingly at the two people and the dog, who were soaking wet.

Amidst the patter of rain, Lu Tingzhao keenly detected someone's heavy, wet breathing, tense gasps, and the soft sound of water droplets falling on the floor.

"Lin Xiaoman,"

Aunt May finally couldn't help but speak up.

"Why are you soaking wet? Didn't you even bring an umbrella?"

Lin Xiaoman lowered her head and dared not make a sound.

She had been in such a hurry to carry Yuanbao inside that she had long since lost her umbrella. Her hair was still dripping wet, her clothes clung tightly to her body, and she was shivering slightly from the cold.

Lu Tingzhao turned his head slightly and smelled the familiar scent of dogs, along with the dampness of the rain.

"Gold ingot?"

He called out tentatively.

The golden retriever, which had been held in Lin Xiaoman's arms, immediately broke free and quickly walked to Lu Tingzhao, gently rubbing its wet head against his palm.

The cool, damp touch on his palm made Lu Tingzhao instantly understand what was happening.

"Chairman,"

Seeing this, Lin Xiaoman hurriedly explained.

"Yuanbao's doghouse collapsed, and it was soaked to the bone, but it kept waiting outside your study window..."

Her voice trailed off as she watched Lu Tingzhao squat down and carefully examine Yuanbao's fur, which was soaked by the rain, with his fingertips.

There was a gentleness in that movement that he himself was unaware of.

"Aunt Mei."

His voice remained steady.

Go get a dry towel.

This unexpected instruction startled Aunt Mei for a moment, and she quickly fetched a towel.

Aunt Mei quickly brought a towel and handed it to A Zhe. The boy squatted down and carefully wiped Yuan Bao's dripping hair.

Lu Tingzhao's tone was indifferent.

"Go change your clothes."

That last sentence was clearly directed at Lin Xiaoman.

She stood there, stunned, until Aunt Mei gently nudged her.

Lu Tingzhao turned around, intending to return to his study, but paused slightly as he took his first step.

His cane made a light half-circle in the air, precisely avoiding Yuanbao, who was lying on the ground enjoying being wiped.

"Let it stay under the porch tonight."

These words were spoken so softly, as if casually mentioned, yet they made Aunt Mei's eyes widen...

That was the transitional area between the indoors and the courtyard, with a roof to shelter it from the wind and rain, but no animals were ever allowed to enter.

Lin Xiaoman looked up in surprise and found that Lu Tingzhao had already walked away with his white cane.

Yuanbao seemed to understand, shook its half-dry fur, and obediently followed to the porch, lying down in the designated spot, its tail gently patting the ground.

As the rain intensified, no one mentioned sending Yuanbao back to the courtyard anymore.