The blind boss's nanny

In the ward, Xu Ting took Lin Xiaoman's hand and, without saying a word, stuffed a thick envelope into her bag.

"Xiaoman, I've settled your wages for the last few months."

Xu Ting smiled gently.

"Go buy some pretty clothes, or go on a trip to relax, it's on me!"

Lin Xiaoman was stunned, somewhat at a loss:

"Sister Xu, is there something I did wrong...?"

"Silly girl, how could that be?"

Xu Ting ruffled her hair.

"It's because of your brother Jiang's company that I get employee benefits. I'm transferring to the VIP maternity center at United Family Healthcare tomorrow. They have private one-on-one rooms and a dedicated medical team there—"

She leaned closer and blinked:

"Pssst, they've covered all the costs!"

"Wow!"

Lin Xiaoman's eyes lit up immediately; she was genuinely happy for her.

"This is wonderful, Sister Xu! The environment and professionalism there are top-notch!"

She was genuinely happy for Xu Ting. But as she walked out of the hospital alone, that joy was quickly overshadowed by the uncertainty of reality.

Another considerable sum of money appeared in her account, but her plan to "maintain stable bank statements for six months" fell through once again.

My pockets are full, but my heart feels empty.

The autumn wind was chilly. Lin Xiaoman wandered aimlessly through the streets, watching the neon lights light up one after another, but she didn't know where to go.

Just as she was standing at the crossroads in a daze, her phone rang.

It's Lu Tingxi.

"Xiaoman, are you busy?"

Lu Tingxi's voice was as crisp as ever.

"Someone would like to meet you, is that convenient?"

Lin Xiaoman was somewhat puzzled:

"Who is it?"

"My little sister, Xingqi."

Lu Tingxi paused, a smile playing on his lips.

She said there was something very important that she had to tell you in person.

The next day, when Lin Xiaoman sat in the coffee shop and looked at the girl across from her, who was wearing an exquisite Lolita dress and had bright, sparkling eyes, she was still a little dazed.

Lu Xingqi held the coffee cup in both hands and leaned forward. Her big eyes, which resembled Lu Tingxi's but were more childlike, were filled with a seriousness that did not match her age.

"Sister Xiaoman,"

She whispered.

"I've been looking for you for so long... I've finally found you."

Lin Xiaoman was amused by her mature demeanor and unconsciously softened her tone:

"Little princess, what brings you here specifically to see me?"

But the next second, Lu Xingqi's eyes suddenly reddened without warning. She bit her lip, trying hard not to let the tears fall, but her voice was already choked with sobs:

"When you left... you didn't even say goodbye to Ah Zhe."

She sniffed:

"He thought you didn't want to be friends with him anymore. These past few days, he's locked himself in his room and hasn't even touched his favorite new keyboard."

Lin Xiaoman was stunned. She opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything for a moment.

She left the Lu family in such a hasty and disheveled manner that she was filled with the embarrassment of being driven away, and she completely forgot about the boy who always stayed quietly in the corner.

For a sensitive and lonely child like A Zhe, such a departure without saying goodbye is tantamount to a silent abandonment.

A wave of guilt overwhelmed Lin Xiaoman in an instant.

She immediately leaned down, her voice becoming soft and gentle:

"It's my fault. Xingqi, can you get in touch with Azhe now? I'll apologize to him personally and explain things to him, okay?"

Lu Xingqi shook her head. She did something that Lin Xiaoman hadn't expected at all...

She lowered her head and, with some effort, pulled out a large wad of banknotes from the small bag adorned with lace and bows.

All are whole numbers, including RMB, USD, and HKD.

Lu Xingqi carefully stacked them together and then solemnly pushed them onto the table in front of Lin Xiaoman.

"Sister Xiaoman,"

She raised her head, tears finally rolling down her cheeks, but her voice remained unusually firm.

"This is all my pocket money and New Year's money...it's all for you."

She grasped Lin Xiaoman's hand, her voice trembling with tears, her request direct and pure:

"Can you... come back? Come back to take care of my older brother, and keep Ah Zhe company? We...we all miss you so much."

The stack of loose bills, still warm from the girl's body, and Lu Xingqi's tear-streaked yet stubborn face, made Lin Xiaoman's heart feel as if it had been struck hard by something both soft and sharp.

She almost blurted out "yes," her heart softening at the sight of those tearful eyes and that pile of loose change.

But the next second, Lu Tingzhao's cold, hard profile, devoid of any warmth, suddenly flashed into his mind.

Those unseen eyes that seemed to pierce through people, and that merciless "Let her go."

He definitely doesn't want to "see" me again.

This realization was like a small thorn, pricking Lin Xiaoman's rationality and the last vestiges of her self-esteem.

She wasn't going to eagerly approach them again, only to be kicked out a second time!

She swallowed the "okay" that was about to come out of her mouth with difficulty, forced an apologetic smile, and gently shook her head.

The expectant light on Lu Xingqi's face instantly dimmed. She lowered her head, stared at the pile of money that hadn't been given away, and remained silent for a long while.

Just when Lin Xiaoman thought she was going to cry again, the little girl raised her head, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her eyes:

"Well... it's Zhe's birthday tomorrow, Sister Xiaoman, can you come? It's just... just a birthday party."

Lin Xiaoman was stunned.

She couldn't refuse this request no matter what.

"good,"

She heard herself say,

"I will definitely go."

As Lin Xiaoman stepped out of the coffee shop, the glaring afternoon sunlight made her squint.

Before she could adjust to the light, a nonchalant figure blocked her way.

"sister!"

Zhuang Guangyao grinned and leaned closer, his face plastered with a deliberately ingratiating smile, but his eyes darted around, glancing towards the coffee shop behind her.

"Who was that young girl sitting next to you just now? She was dressed quite elegantly; she must come from a wealthy family."

Lin Xiaoman paused, frowning as she looked at the person in front of her... her adoptive parents' good-for-nothing son.

He wore a wrinkled faux leather jacket, his jeans were worn white at the knees, and his greasy hair drooped down, almost covering most of his eyes. He exuded a kind of reckless roguishness.

She ignored him and tried to walk away.

Zhuang Guangyao, however, clung to him like glue, following closely behind, his voice low and calculating:

"Sis, I saw it. Wasn't she trying to give you money just now? Why didn't you take it? Why would you turn down money?"

Lin Xiaoman understood immediately, a mocking smile curving her lips, and continued walking:

"You're broke again? This time it's for gambling funds, or did you injure someone again and need to pay medical bills?"

"Oh, sister, you're so perceptive!"

Zhuang Guangyao rubbed his hands together, grinning ingratiatingly.

"Not much, just 30,000! It's nothing to you. Brother Langqing already told me, you're working as a nanny for a blind man—"

He hadn't finished speaking.

"shut up!"

Lin Xiaoman stopped and turned to glare at him, her voice chillingly cold.

She herself didn't realize how fierce the nameless anger that surged in her heart was when she heard those two words come out of Zhuang Guangyao's mouth.