Can people who don't love each other have children?
It was the afternoon before the National Day holiday. The whole department was in no mood for work, and Ning Ye was no exception. She started slacking off and came across this question on her phone.
She hesitated for a moment and silently clicked in. The most up - voted reply below was:
"Of course. Reproduction has nothing to do with emotional status. It depends on your physiological conditions, the frequency of sexual intercourse, and whether you use contraception. Emotionally speaking, men will have children even without love because it costs them nothing..."
Ning Ye closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about how children came into being right now.
... Although she knew exactly how children were conceived.
She picked up her phone to check the time. There were still two hours until off - work, and a long - absent sense of anxiety welled up in her heart.
The child at home would soon wake up from his afternoon nap.
Colleagues were secretly eyeing the boss's desk and had begun to prepare to leave in an orderly manner. Sister Zhou beside her quietly picked up the mooncake gift box beside her. Turning her head, she saw Ning Ye with her fair little face slightly lowered. The curve from her eyebrows to the tip of her nose was incredibly beautiful. Seeing that Ning Ye was also frequently looking at her watch, Sister Zhou gave an understanding smile.
"It's okay to leave early today. The new boss is very generous and won't care."
Wujing Group is now a technology giant. In recent years, it has been on the rise in many fields such as intelligent computing, AI models, intelligent driving, and audio - visual. Just one week before Ning Ye was promoted to the headquarters, the group changed its owner. The new president is extremely young, and his good looks have shocked the business world. The corporate atmosphere is relatively relaxed.
Generous... and doesn't care?
Ning Ye was distracted for a moment, as if recalling something. When she came back to her senses, she whispered "Happy holidays" to Sister Zhou who had already stood up.
A down - to - earth and unassuming beauty always makes people feel good. On the day Ning Ye first came, there was a huge stir in their large department, stunning everyone. But the young girl herself was very low - key. She just sat at her workstation from morning till night every day. In just a few days, many young men were inquiring about her openly and secretly.
So before leaving, Sister Zhou winked and asked, "I'm in a hurry to pick up my child. Are you in a hurry to travel with your boyfriend?"
Ning Ye really wanted to heave a long sigh. "No, that's not the case."
Everyone was doing it for the sake of their children.
Sister Zhou was right. It was a rare coincidence that the National Day and the Mid - Autumn Festival fell together, giving them eight days off. Everyone was eager to go home. As long as they didn't run into the boss's bad mood, it would be fine. Ning Ye waited until her team leader's back had gone far away, then picked up her bag and quietly walked to the elevator hall.
Ding! The elevator door opened.
Under the cold light, a pair of pitch - black eyes slowly lifted.
Unfortunately, her immediate boss was standing inside.
“……”
The man was wearing a well - tailored suit. His tall and straight figure and the aura of a cold superior greatly compressed the space in the elevator car.
Bian Xun, the current person in charge of Wujing Group.
As soon as Ning Ye saw him, her almond - shaped eyes darted around quickly, as if trying to avoid something.
At this moment, only about three - tenths of her was feeling guilty about being caught by her boss. The remaining seven - tenths was filled with doubts and speculations about her future life.
But obviously, some people didn't think so.
Bian Xun's cold and expressionless black eyes casually scanned her face, then moved downward and paused on the backpack beside her for a second before indifferently turning his gaze away. He asked the assistant behind him:
"What time is it now?"
The assistant coughed and sympathetically glanced at Ning Ye. "It's half - past three."
A faint, half - mocking laugh came from Bian Xun.
Ning Ye clenched her fists tightly.
The assistant glanced at the slender and graceful girl outside the elevator. Using his peripheral vision to gauge the boss's intention, he stepped aside to let her in and said, "Happy holidays, Miss Ning."
Ning Ye was still carrying the mooncake gift box issued by the company in her bag, with the handle sticking out.
"Happy holidays to you too, Assistant Zhang."
She entered the elevator and consciously stood in the corner, keeping a good distance from the man in the middle.
However, when the elevator door closed with a ding, the mirror reflection made Ning Ye suddenly come face - to - face with him.
It was a long - awaited side - by - side moment.
The young girl stood obliquely behind the well - dressed suit man. She was wearing a light beige shirt tucked into coffee - colored trousers. She was of a slender build, with dimple - cheeked and peach - like complexion, still vaguely resembling her student self from years ago. Time seemed to have bypassed her.
But Ning Ye's heart had already been weathered. She discreetly sized up Bian Xun's still damnably handsome features, trying to find his genetic traits or dominant genes.
Compared with six years ago, Bian Xun seemed to have grown taller.
He was already tall and outstanding in school, and now he had an air of being on top of a lofty mountain.
However, compared with the vast wealth and assets he was amassing now, the minor changes in his appearance seemed insignificant.
His wealth in the future should only increase...
She was lost in thought when suddenly, the man's cold voice rang out again.
"New employee?"
Before Ning Ye could react, Assistant Zhang had already answered in a well - trained manner, "Yes, Miss Ning is a newly recruited employee in the business department and is still going through the procedures."
Bian Xun treated her like a stranger, with a hint of harshness and aloofness in the corners of his eyes.
"Does the trade union give out gift boxes to employees who haven't completed the procedures?"
"..." Ning Ye closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
If it weren't for the fact that the kids at home loved chocolate - filled mooncakes, would she have carried it all the way back?
He even nit - picked about a box of mooncakes. Why didn't he be as stingy as possible?
Assistant Zhang could only force out two embarrassed laughs. He didn't expect President Bian to target the early - leaving employee like this. He could only fill the silence during the elevator's descent, "It's all because our Wujiang trade union always attaches great importance to employee benefits, which benefits from the good operating status of our company and the huge and stable capital chain under President Bian's deployment..."
In other words, it was because of his kindness.
He was rich.
Ning Ye looked expressionless. After a moment, she suddenly felt relieved.
It's good that you're rich.
Finally, the elevator reached the first floor. Ning Ye carried the gift box and left in a hurry, leaving only a trail of "exhaust".
After she left, the deep, cold black eyes slowly lifted. Bian Xun watched as she fluttered out of the company gate like a butterfly, gradually moving further away from him again.
Assistant Zhang explained in a low voice, "After all, it's a festival."
The boss didn't say a word.
Assistant Zhang also felt relieved and tried to ease the atmosphere with a smile, "Maybe the little girl is in a hurry to meet her boyfriend."
As soon as the words fell, the atmosphere in the elevator suddenly turned cold.
When he looked up again, the young president had already stopped at B1 and was walking towards the garage on his own, as if it were an illusion.
...
When Ning Ye rushed home in a hurry, the little girl had just woken up and was sitting on the bed, still a bit drowsy.
The house she rented was very small. You could see the end as soon as you opened the door.
The west - facing window was bathed in the setting sun. The four - year - old little girl was bathed in the warm halo. Her black hair lay softly on her head, with a tuft of fluffy hair on top. Her cheeks were soft and fair, and her features were exquisitely carved. Her round eyes were like black grapes and sparkled as soon as Ning Ye appeared.
— "Mom!"
To be honest, no one isn't tired after commuting home. Ning Ye rushed back on the subway, carrying things with her. Her hair and clothes were in a mess, looking rather disheveled.
But the little girl looked at her with such adoration as if she had just returned from a successful hunt, which inexplicably gave Ning Ye a sense of accomplishment.
Seeing the big gift box in Ning Ye's hand, the little girl rolled off the bed in one go. Her big eyes were full of puzzlement. "Why didn't Dad help Mom carry the things? Aren't Mom and Dad from the same company?"
Just thinking about who the "Dad" she mentioned was made Ning Ye's stomach ache.
Who could have thought that three days ago, overnight, she became a mother.
It was the day when she successfully got promoted from the branch office to the headquarters of Wujing. Ning Ye just learned that the company had undergone a major change within just one week. The young master of the Bian family, who had been gaining experience abroad for six years, returned to China with an outstanding resume and took over the top position of Wujing in a high - handed way, directly parachuting into the top seat.
On that day, from afar, Ning Ye saw the young president, surrounded by a crowd, striding through. She actually had an urge to run away immediately.
It's even more painful than meeting an ex - boyfriend. When they reunited, he was in a high position and extremely wealthy.
And after years of hard work, she became his employee.
But before she could vent her grief, she picked up a little girl on her way home from work.
To save money, Ning Ye rented a house far from the company. When this little girl appeared, she was all glitzy, wearing expensive clothes. She was out of place in the desolate surroundings, but she threw herself into Ning Ye's arms and affectionately called her "Mommy~"
Seeing Ning Ye rushing on the subway all tired and living in such a remote place, Dudu's face vividly showed the four words "heart - broken". She held out a delicate silver - embossed black card with her little round hands.
"Mommy, don't be afraid. I stole Dad's money to support you!"
Ning Ye was stunned.
As an adult in society, she knew the weight of this kind of card. It was a black card customized for a very small number of high - net - worth clients. And in the upper - right corner of this card, there was a cursive abbreviation: Xun.
The child said that she was her mother and Bian Xun was her father.
This card was Dad's, and the password was Mom's birthday.
The scary thing was that the birthday the child mentioned was completely accurate. She even knew the detail that Ning Ye's parents had reported the wrong month when stating her birth date.
Moreover, she looked exactly like a younger version of Ning Ye, moving around like a little figurine of her.
Ning Ye was completely dumbfounded and had no choice but to take the child home first.
She had a paternity test done. The report hadn't come out yet, but she already vaguely believed it in her heart.
She just couldn't figure it out. When they broke up, it was so embarrassing, and now Bian Xun still looked at her like an enemy. How could they possibly become parents in the future?
Up to now, she still hadn't used this card.
The thin black card was lying on the table. The embossing process was extremely exquisite. The card surface shone with a low - key and luxurious luster under different lights, like a black hole containing infinite wealth.
In these three days, Ning Ye had tried to take care of this child. The child was quite smart and well - behaved. At the age of four, she could wash her face, brush her teeth and dress herself. But Ning Ye still felt overwhelmed by taking care of a child alone.
She had to go to work. These days, she had breakfast with the child at home in the morning and then went to the company. At noon, she packed the cafeteria food and rushed back to have lunch with the child. Before leaving, she would turn off the power at home and let the child take a nap. She would come back as soon as possible after the child woke up.
After two days of back and forth, she was completely exhausted. If it weren't for the long holiday today, she would hardly have been able to endure it.
However, if she could terminate the lease of this apartment, pay the penalty for early termination, rent a new one near her company, and find a reliable and high - quality kindergarten near her home, everything would become much easier.
Raising a child is not a one - person job.
Ning Ye was alone and didn't mind spending time and energy.
All these actions only required one thing: money.
The little girl unwrapped a chocolate - filled mooncake and hopped around on her short legs, shouting "Oh yeah! Oh yeah!" It was just a free gift box from the company, but her happiness was so simple.
She also had the same taste preferences as Ning Ye.
Ning Ye watched for a while and then picked up the black card on the table.
She had tried it that day, and this card could really be bound.
She entered the password as prompted, and the card appeared in her payment app.
After getting this card, her payment page completely changed, becoming a noble silver - flowing black interface.
Every time she made a payment on the app in the past two days, this option would appear in the payment section. Several times, she was so curious that she wanted to give it a try, but in the end, she refrained from doing so for fear of legal sanctions.
She was a law - abiding citizen and was afraid of being arrested.
This card belonged to Bian Xun from the future and was brought to the present time by the child.
What if there could only be one card in the same time - space? Wouldn't Bian Xun have lost it now?
But judging from his state today, he didn't seem to have lost any property.
Ning Ye decided to give it a try.
For the first time, she would spend a safe amount of money, an amount that wouldn't land her in jail even if there was an abnormal outflow of funds detected.
How much should she spend?
...
A black Maybach was driving in the evening.
In the back seat, Bian Xun silently looked at the streets.
Over the years, these streets had changed a lot, but some people still looked the same as before.
Assistant Zhang was sitting quietly in the passenger seat when he suddenly heard the cold voice of the boss in the car.
"Stop."
The driver quickly responded and pulled over to the side of the road. Assistant Zhang was confused, but then he saw the boss get out of the car and walk towards a stylishly decorated Western pastry shop.
Assistant Zhang knew this shop because its new - style mooncakes were very popular. The mooncakes were exquisitely shaped, and the price was higher than ordinary mooncakes, about more than 300 yuan per box.
But President Bian never ate these things.
Bian Xun walked into the shop, glanced down, and selected a gift box with the most chocolate - filled mooncakes. It was very well - designed. When opened, a cloud - and - moon scene would rise inside the box.
Since his appearance hadn't changed, his taste should remain the same.
The counter girl blushed and asked him if he would pay by card or Alipay.
Bian Xun took out a black card from his wallet and stared into the distance, lost in thought.
The price on the POS machine showed 368 yuan, but for a moment, the numbers on the small screen suddenly flickered, as if some algorithm was involved.
By the time Bian Xun lowered his eyes to enter the password, the price had already become 50,368.00.
But this amount of money was like a feather to him.
Bian Xun paid indifferently and bought 12 mooncakes for 50,000 yuan.
On the other hand, Ning Ye snapped up a set of thinking courses for children under six years old for 5.00 yuan.
The world remained calm. No one called to say that she was involved in online fraud.
No legal department came to check and say that she was suspected of attacking someone else's account.
The money from the future could really be spent.
In the future, it wouldn't be just five yuan.
It had to be said that the anxiety she had felt since she found the child truly eased at this moment.
Suddenly, there were two knocks on the door. "Delivery!"
Ning Ye felt a twinge of unease. She hadn't ordered anything. With a child at home now, she was more cautious than before. She peeked through the peephole for a long time. After making sure the delivery guy had left, she slowly opened the door a crack.
On the ground in front of the door lay an extremely exquisite box. It seemed to contain pastries.
There was a company memo clipped to the box, with a short line of pen writing. The font was cold, sharp, and very familiar.
— "Have something nice. This is expensive."
Ning Ye twitched the corner of her forehead and couldn't help taking a photo of it and using an image recognition app to search for the price.
The official discounted price after the coupon was $298. "…?"
Did he mean it was expensive for her?
Was he still so relentless that he had to send something worth less than three hundred dollars to humiliate her?
Ning Ye looked up at the sky.
Six years had passed since they broke up. Their child could have already finished primary school.
Bian Xun was still as crazy as ever.
