The blind boss's nanny

Lin Xiaoman had just stepped into the room when she suddenly remembered Aunt Mei's instructions from that evening, and paused in her steps:

"Oh, I almost forgot! Chairman, please wait a moment, I'm going to get something, I'll be right back!"

After saying that, she turned around and hurriedly walked out, her footsteps disappearing into the corridor.

Yuanbao started excitedly circling around Lu Tingzhao's legs, its tail wagging rapidly and slapping against the bedpost and cabinet legs, making "slap slap" sounds.

It made cheerful whimpering sounds in its throat, and every now and then it would try to jump up and scratch at the air with its paws.

The entire bedroom was instantly filled with its vibrant noise.

Lu Tingzhao frowned slightly, and called out in a low voice towards Yuanbao:

"Gold ingot!"

Yuanbao immediately stopped the car, obediently ran to Lu Tingzhao's feet, sat up straight, and tilted its head back. However, its tail was still wagging rapidly in small, uncontrollable movements, betraying its excitement.

Lu Tingzhao reached out and touched its fluffy head, gently rubbing along its earlobes.

"You're a boy,"

He spoke softly to the dog, which couldn't understand any of the complexities of human language, his fingertips tracing the soft fur on its ears.

"Be more reserved."

How could you express your joy so obviously, so... impatiently?

Lin Xiaoman quickly returned, carrying a toolbox filled with neatly arranged professional hairdressing and shaving tools...

Clippers, scissors, comb, soft-bristled brush, warm towel, high-quality shaving cream, and a well-maintained straight razor.

As soon as she stepped into the room, Yuanbao, who was lying on the ground, let out a joyful whimper, and its tail began to pat the ground in small but frequent motions.

"Shh—" Lin Xiaoman made a shushing gesture to it, her eyebrows curving into a smile. Yuanbao immediately buried its head on its front paws, only revealing a pair of bright eyes that followed her around.

"Chairman, I'm back."

She walked to the armchair where Lu Tingzhao usually sat and placed the toolbox on the low table next to it.

"Aunt Mei said you need a haircut and a chin trim. Are you available now?"

Lu Tingzhao nodded:

"Um."

"Okay, I'll begin then."

Lin Xiaoman lowered her voice even further, as if she were giving a warning, or perhaps trying to comfort her.

"I'm pretty good at cutting hair. I used to practice cutting my younger siblings' hair all the time, so I promise I won't cut your hair frizzy."

Lu Tingzhao could feel the cold edge of the scissors close to his scalp and hear her breathing, which became slightly clearer due to her proximity.

He closed his eyes, then suddenly spoke:

"Do I look... nervous?"

The question came as abruptly, causing Lin Xiaoman to pause in her work of parting her hair. She then chuckled and said:

"I was just nervous. I talk too much when I'm nervous, haha..."

The laughter was crisp and clear, like the jingling of a bell.

She readily admitted it, which actually helped to dissipate the tension.

Lu Tingzhao's lips twitched slightly upwards.

The scissors began to make a fine "snip" sound in his hair, and wisps of hair fell down in a rustling sound.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly spoke again, his words slow and deliberate, as if he were just mentioning it casually:

"The younger brothers and sisters you mentioned earlier... are they the children from 'Sunshine Home'?"

Lin Xiaoman's hands stopped moving abruptly.

She hadn't expected him to know about this, and she certainly hadn't expected him to bring it up at this moment in such a calm tone.

A feeling of surprise, warmth, and something deeper welled up inside me.

"Chairman..."

Her voice was clearly moved, and her fingers gripped the comb tightly.

"You...know about 'Sunshine Home'?"

Lu Tingzhao kept his eyes closed, his face calm.

"Um."

Lin Xiaoman immediately perked up, her voice filled with sincere, almost overflowing gratitude:

"Chairman! I...I sincerely thank you! Over the years, your help to 'Sunshine Home' has truly changed the lives of so many children! You are a true and great entrepreneur! Good people will surely be rewarded!"

Her words came out quickly and urgently, as if she had been holding them in for a long time and finally found an opportunity to pour them out; every word carried a burning heat.

Lu Tingzhao listened quietly.

After a long silence, he slowly spoke, his voice even lower than before.

"Qin Xiu has always been in charge of the group's charitable activities. You should go and thank him."

"That's different!"

Lin Xiaoman retorted almost immediately. Her eyes crinkled into a bright and clear smile, as if she could see through his cold facade.

"I understand the principle of 'what the superiors do, the inferiors follow.' And..."

She paused, her voice lower, but even more earnest:

"Last time I went with you to pay respects to our ancestors, the first ancestral precept you told the elders was 'Be charitable and generous, and your blessings will last forever'... Also, no matter who handles the money, the money that is ultimately donated is yours."

Her gaze fell on his sharply defined profile, and she added softly but firmly:

"This kindness and blessing naturally belong to you as well."

As soon as she finished speaking, only the soft "snip" of scissors and her light breathing remained in the room.

Lu Tingzhao did not speak again.

He closed his eyes and let her continue trimming his hair.

But the hand that had been casually resting on his hand slowly clenched into a fist, as if trying to grasp something flowing in the air...

For example, her overly sincere gratitude, her unreserved trust at this moment, and this sudden, warm...bond.

Before Qin Xiu presented Lin Xiaoman's investigation report, the name "Sunshine Home" had never truly entered Lu Tingzhao's world.

To him, it was nothing more than an inconspicuous entry in the "charitable donations" section of the financial statements; a string of compliant figures in Qin Xiu's regularly submitted social responsibility reports.

The Lu Group and its foundations have donated to countless public welfare projects, and "Sunshine Home" is just one of them.

He has done many similar things. Huge sums of money flowed from his hands to various corners of need.

Some stem from a momentary, genuine compassion of those in positions of power; others are social role models that business leaders, thrust into those positions, are obligated to set.

More often, it's a rational choice made after careful calculation—giving back to society, building a positive image, and legally avoiding taxes...

A mature and efficient system is in operation, and emotional factors are minimized.

For him, charity has always been a distant and abstract concept, a cool-headed aspect of the operation of his vast business empire.