The blind boss's nanny

The drowsiness that Lin Xiaoman had just managed to cultivate vanished almost instantly.

In the darkness, her cheeks felt slightly hot.

Good news doesn't travel far, but bad news travels fast! She sighed inwardly. In her entire life, she had only ever laid a hand on someone twice: once with the man in front of her, and the other time with Lin Langqing.

She subconsciously wanted to deny it or gloss over it, but then she thought that with Lu Tingzhao's control, since he could "hear about" it, he probably knew most of the details.

Lying or making excuses will only make things worse. If he thinks she is a habitually violent employee, it will seriously damage her professional image and work credibility.

"Uh... Chairman, about that matter, actually..."

Lin Xiaoman organized her thoughts and decided to confess and receive leniency.

"There was a conflict, but saying 'were beaten up' might be an exaggeration. It was mainly... a few shovings..."

She took a deep breath and began to recount the events of that day in detail.

Her narration initially carried a hint of embarrassment and an attempt to explain, but as she spoke, her emotions gradually surged, and her tone became angry and hurried. Even in the darkness, one could feel the suppressed anger and grievance.

"...That's how it is."

After finishing her speech, Lin Xiaoman stopped talking nervously, waiting for the judgment.

The darkness was utterly silent; the only sound was the sound of my own breathing.

Lu Tingzhao remained silent for a moment, as if carefully processing every detail and emotion in her words.

After a long silence, he spoke slowly, his voice lower and more profound than before, carrying a precise insight:

"So, what you really mind, or what makes you most angry, is that he lied to you... gave you false hope about rebuilding Sunshine Home, and then shattered it with his own hands?"

Lin Xiaoman nodded vigorously in the darkness, then realized he couldn't see, and quickly hummed in response, her voice muffled.

"That was just one of the triggers. I didn't really care about the things he said to belittle me a long time ago. But Sunshine House... that's different."

She paused, then added, her tone still indignant.

"And he tried to stop me from going to see General Manager Jiang. Sister Xu was bleeding heavily at the time, and she didn't even have anyone around who could make decisions for her, but he only cared about his own face and being afraid of trouble... I get so angry just thinking about it!"

Even now, Lin Xiaoman still grits her teeth when she talks about these things.

It wasn't just dislike for Lin Langqing personally, but also hatred for that kind of indifference and selfishness.

Lu Tingzhao steered the conversation deeper, to that place that was clearly of great importance to her:

Why?

He asked, his voice exceptionally clear and calm in the night.

"So you want to rebuild Sunshine Home? You want to go back to live there again?"

This question made Lin Xiaoman pause slightly. She stared at the pitch-black ceiling, as if she could see into the distant past through it.

Those old walls, the radiators that were never warm enough, the old locust tree in the yard, the not-so-generous but always warm embraces of the childcare workers, and the friends who fought over toys and shared a piece of candy together...

A deep, almost instinctive longing welled up from the softest part of my heart.

She murmured, her voice soft, yet filled with determination and longing:

I dream about it.

I want to go back to life, I want it to exist, and to become better.

After her grandmother passed away, that was the first and most important "home" in her life. Even though she experienced many setbacks later, the essence of Sunshine Home remained warmth and hope for her.

She hopes that it can continue to be a safe haven for children like her, or even a better, warmer starting point.

This wish, like a seed, has been buried deep in my heart for many years, almost becoming a kind of obsession.

In the darkness, some emotion slowly settled and condensed in Lu Tingzhao's deep eyes.

It turned out to be the case.

Some things he hadn't been able to fully understand before became incredibly clear at this moment.

Given Lin Xiaoman's usual thrifty and meticulous nature, if Lin Langqing hadn't touched the softest spot in her heart... using Sunshine Home as a cover, there's absolutely no way he could have swindled all the money she had painstakingly saved.

Then there wouldn't have been Lin Xiaoman, who was penniless, desperate, yet dared to bravely venture into the manor alone to provide him with disconnected services.

For Lu Tingzhao, Sunshine Home was no longer just a charity he had anonymously donated to.

Now, it has been given a more complex meaning because of the girl sleeping on the sofa in front of it, breathing lightly.

That was her "home," a treasure she cherished and was willing to give everything for.

That was the purest longing and obsession in her heart.

That was also... the "cause" that indirectly pushed her in front of him.

An indescribable sense of destiny, mixed with feelings of responsibility and pity, lingered in his heart.

In the darkness, Lin Xiaoman's soft breathing could be heard.

Lu Tingzhao couldn't see, but his senses were amplified infinitely in the silence.

Light and gentle, with a sense of tranquility after complete relaxation.

The scent took shape and warmth, like a butterfly that had accidentally landed on a winter camellia. Its delicate wings, with each slight undulation, brought a gentle breeze to the empty, cold room.

The next morning, in the study.

The thin sunlight of early winter filters through the heavy velvet curtains.

The air was filled with the rich aroma of freshly ground coffee and a hint of cool, shredded snow.

Lu Tingzhao sat behind the large desk, his back straight.

He was wearing a dark gray cashmere sweater today, which made his jawline look even more defined and sharp.

The morning light outlined his striking profile, highlighting his high nose bridge and the detached indifference that usually clung to his brow.

Qin Xiu stood two steps away from the desk, holding a folder in his hand, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The boss is acting very strangely today.

His short, jet-black hair was neatly trimmed today; his sharply defined jawline was impeccably smooth, without a trace of light blue stubble.

His matching casual trousers, seemingly simple and relaxed, were perfectly tailored, with impeccable color and texture coordination....

This was definitely not something randomly grabbed from the closet; it was carefully chosen and matched.

But what surprised Qin Xiu even more was the mental state that Lu Tingzhao exuded.

The frost that usually settled between Lu Tingzhao's brows seemed to have melted considerably. Although the lines of his face were still deep and cold, they had lost some of their tense ferocity and gained a touch of... ease.

This radiant glow from within was something Qin Xiu had never seen in the chairman since he went into seclusion at the manor after losing his sight.

Is it because... Lin Xiaoman came back?