22
"Daddy!"
The child's voice was crisp, sweet, and warm.
Amidst the bustling noise of the surroundings, it broke into Bian Xun's ears clearly and directly, as if automatically drawing a line against everything irritating at the kindergarten entrance.
Bian Xun paused slightly, lifting his dark eyes to meet Ning Zhitao's gaze.
The large and the small looked at each other.
? This child didn't seem to have a hard time accepting this at all.
Although her round eyes were full of confusion and she seemed puzzled, she appeared to have quickly accepted the fact that Bian Xun was her father.
In Bian Xun's original expectations, he thought he would at least have to explain a thing or two about becoming her dad.
It seemed Ning Ye really did mention him to the child often.
And perhaps this little girl had severely lacked a father's love growing up.
Bian Xun's expression became unfathomable as he slowly and reservedly adjusted his suit cuffs.
"?" Although Ning Zhitao felt that what her daddy said was a bit weird, it didn't seem wrong, did it?
She scratched her head, not dwelling on it, her tone showing excellent acceptance.
"Daddy! Why did you come to pick me up? Where's Mommy?"
Bian Xun snapped back to reality. The title of "Daddy" had just fallen onto his shoulders like that.
This was the first time in his life he had received such a title, an identity he originally thought he would never take on—a father. It was a powerful word, one that unconsciously made a person both soft and hard.
After making this earth-shattering decision that could practically give the entire Bian family a heart attack, Bian Xun's anxious mood over the past few days had actually improved quite a bit.
However, the thought that this title didn't originally belong to him, and that Ning Ye had once bestowed it upon another man, stirred up jealousy within Bian Xun's softening heart.
Although he had claimed the child, she wasn't his after all. For the time being, Bian Xun had absolutely no feeling or experience of being a father.
So his attitude remained rather cold and detached, merely doing his best to differentiate the little girl in front of him from other annoying children.
This wasn't too difficult for him; after all, the child looked very much like her mother.
"Your mommy is still a little busy right now," he answered the little girl's question.
Ning Zhitao nodded, not surprised at all.
It used to be like this before, too. Daddy said his work was more flexible, while Mommy had to punch a little card for work, so it had always been Daddy who picked her up and dropped her off at school.
Bian Xun stood there for a moment, temporarily unsure of what a father was supposed to do. So, with breezy indifference, he took out his wallet from his pocket, pulled out a very thick red envelope, and handed it to Ning Zhitao.
"Tell your mom to spend this money lately."
Bian Xun's expression was calm. As long as the money had a limit, it would run out.
And once it ran out, she would have to come looking for him.
Ning Zhitao took the large red envelope, which was almost the size of her head, and struggled to hold it in her arms like she was hugging a little kitten.
In the distance, a nanny van parked at the entrance of the alley slowly moved forward, taking in this entire scene.
Actually, only Bian Xun lacked the common sense for this kind of behavior. For a man who had long instinctively disliked children, the only way he could currently think of to show goodwill to a child was to give money.
But generally speaking, a child wouldn't dare accept something like this when adults weren't around. Especially in a well-brought-up family, adults would tell the child not to accept such valuable things on their own.
Inside the nanny van, a pair of beautiful eyes witnessed everything with great amusement. Bian Xun already knew about his illegitimate daughter, yet his demeanor wasn't affectionate at all; he merely handed over money to be done with it.
Xu Lanyi was an excellent professionally trained actress, and she was extremely adept at analyzing micro-expressions. She could see that Bian Xun's expression held a bit of struggle and a faint, hard-to-detect resentment. His mind must have gone through countless considerations before finally forcing himself to accept it.
Even knowing of this child's existence, Bian Xun showed absolutely no closeness to his own flesh and blood. This man was indeed cold and heartless, extremely indifferent to family ties, but that was exactly what Xu Lanyi liked about him.
So he just gave money and was done with it, because he knew that all Ning Ye wanted was money, and her child was surely the same.
When there's a problem with upbringing, naturally, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Xu Lanyi shook her head in pity and had the car drive away.
However, for little Ning Zhitao, she was completely used to this scene.
Daddy gave her things all the time, right? Mommy also often said that the things Daddy brought back were too expensive, but he still gave them just the same.
Before she came here, Daddy had given her a card just like this, saying that this card was for Mommy to spend from, and no one could stop it.
Therefore, Ning Zhitao had no intention of declining. After hugging the big red envelope tightly in her arms, she opened her round, grape-like eyes wide and said, "Thank you, Daddy."
"Mm." Bian Xun's expression softened.
He gave money, and the child thanked him, just like giving red envelopes and greeting elders during the New Year.
This reasonable and logical equation gave Bian Xun a subtle sense of satisfaction, like solving a math problem correctly.
He thought for a moment, then said seriously with a blank face, "Make sure your mommy spends this money, got it? Don't use any other cards."
Ning Zhitao seemed to understand but didn't fully.
It was all Daddy's money, what was the difference?
Having given his instructions and handed over the money, Bian Xun was momentarily at a loss for what else to do.
Ning Zhitao, however, bounced around without any awkwardness, sharing major life events with her dad. "I know Mommy will be very busy today! In the morning, Mommy already soaked the beans. She can tap on her phone, and then it goes du-lu-lu and starts, and then we can drink hot soy milk when we get home. Daddy, do you want to drink some?"
Bian Xun raised an eyebrow. From the child's description, he could roughly gather that it was a remote-controlled, timed soy milk maker or a blender. Ning Ye was afraid she would be too busy to come back and make it, but she wanted the little girl to have something hot to drink, so she thought of everything in advance.
Bian Xun's mind wandered to something unknown, and he zoned out slightly.
She seemed to have always been like this.
Always knowing how to love people.
Back in school, after they got together, once Ning Ye found out he didn't drink cheap milk tea, she would sometimes bring him freshly brewed tea. Those thoughtful and silent details might have gone completely unnoticed by others, but Ning Ye paid attention. For example, later on, after ordering her own milk tea, she would pay extra to upgrade to a two-cup insulated takeout bag, using the other cup holder for his hot tea, and carry it all the way to him like that.
For instance, sometimes when their classes used the same classroom back-to-back, by the time Bian Xun arrived, his usual, fixed seat would already be saved by her notebook, and inside the desk would be a still-warm custard bun she had brought from her work-study shift at the cafeteria.
Compared to him, who only knew how to give money, her goodness was all in the subtle details.
Had she loved someone else like this too?
Bian Xun refused to imagine the picture of that family of three; otherwise, the lake of his heart, which had finally calmed down, would ripple and surge with waves again.
Ning Zhitao's gaze shifted behind Bian Xun. Her eyes lit up, and her little hands waved vigorously, like a baby bird flapping its wings, or a young swallow returning to the forest.
Her mommy had gotten off work and hurried over.
Bian Xun didn't look back. His fingertips, hanging by his side, tightened slightly, but his expression revealed neither joy nor anger as he turned, got into his Maybach, and left.
...
"What, your daddy was just here?"
On the walk back to their neighborhood hand in hand, Ning Ye asked in shock, and Ning Zhitao slowly nodded her head, "Yeah."
Ning Ye was surprised. Bian Xun had accurately pinpointed the kindergarten gate; could it be that he already knew?
She asked, "What did your daddy say to you?"
Ning Zhitao scratched her head, "Daddy said he is my daddy."
Ning Ye's heart skipped a beat. He really did know.
At first, she felt a bit awkward and nervous, but after a moment, she felt relieved.
If he knows, he knows. It was only a matter of time anyway. The plot would naturally push Bian Xun to discover his daughter so the story could progress. Even if she didn't take the initiative to tell him, Bian Xun would eventually find out that he was the child's biological father.
It was just that a faint awkwardness still lingered in her heart.
Suddenly, she found it a bit hard to face Bian Xun. Originally, they were purely ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend. Now, they had suddenly become the parents of a little child. Their relationship wasn't just intimate; it had practically skipped proposing, getting married, and marital life, directly stepping into the state of a family of three.
This was too weird.
Of course, with their current complicated relationship, it would be hard for them to truly become a family of three. After all, they couldn't possibly live together, right?
That would be too weird.
Whether she took the child to live in Bian Xun's grand mansion, or Bian Xun, the big boss, moved into the small two-bedroom apartment of the mother and daughter, it would be full of awkwardness and discomfort.
But now that Bian Xun knew about the child's existence, it wasn't completely without its benefits.
Raising the child all by herself, Ning Ye always had moments where she couldn't cope, especially when work got busy and she immediately felt stretched thin. Handing the little one over to strangers, even a gentle and reliable good guy like Jiang Xinghe, Ning Ye could never be completely at ease.
But the child's father was different. He was the only other person in this world, besides herself, whom she could trust with the child's affairs.
Moreover, now that Bian Xun knew he had a biological daughter in advance, when the time came to actually bring the child into existence, they wouldn't be completely unable to communicate.
Although the male and female leads' plotline was still progressing, it was undeniable that having someone to help out and lend a hand made Ning Ye breathe a sigh of relief.
In their current state, Ning Ye could take care of Taotao very well most of the time. She only needed him to help look after the little one when she was tied up. The two were just teammates helping each other out.
Returning home, the preset program on the blender had already finished. The small house was filled with the warm aroma of red beans. Ning Ye opened the lid, poured in fresh milk, and the red bean soy milk was ready.
The blender she bought was a small 1L size. The amount was just enough for one cup each for the mother and daughter.
If another man were to truly enter their lives, not only would their current life balance be broken, but they would also be unaccustomed to the change in various habits.
Fortunately, Bian Xun didn't seem to have any intention of intruding into their lives.
Ning Ye and Taotao drank the sweet red bean milk together, watched an English short film on TV, and learned new words. A working person's rest time after work passed by in a flash.
When it was time for the child to sleep, the remaining one or two hours were the only true relaxation time belonging to Ning Ye.
She didn't really have any hobbies. What she did most in her free time was take walks. Ning Ye tidied up the living room, bathroom, and kitchen waste, carried the trash out the door, and took a walk around the neighborhood while throwing it away.
As a result, as soon as she exited the building door, Bian Xun was standing under the streetlight, casually crossing his arms.
Ning Ye was stunned. This time she could actually invite him up to sit for a while, since she was no longer afraid of him discovering the child at home, but they really weren't in a relationship where she could extend such an invitation.
She didn't know when Bian Xun had arrived; he hadn't notified her at all.
Ning Ye momentarily forgot that they had long lost all contact methods. For the only phone number they knew, a certain someone stubbornly refused to lift the final ban from six years ago.
So he could only wait downstairs.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward for a moment. Last time they were ex-boyfriend and ex-girlfriend, but meeting again, they were already a father and mother.
The question that had first popped up when they picked up the child was now simultaneously thrown in front of both of them.
How could she form a family with Bian Xun in the future?
The man's cold and deep gaze traced her facial features and expressions.
He naturally came tonight for the child's sake as well, but his purpose was to observe Ning Ye's attitude.
After all, he had rashly claimed that he was going to be her child's father.
The child agreed, but what about her?
Ning Ye felt awkward for a while and stammered slightly, "You know everything?"
Bian Xun looked at her with a cold gaze. Although he still didn't completely know who the father of her child was, he already knew about this matter.
"Yes."
Since it was already out in the open, Ning Ye's shoulders relaxed, extending thin and gentle lines under the halo of the streetlights in the night.
"Sigh, actually, I didn't want to hide it from you in the beginning," her voice was clear and melodious.
The pads of Bian Xun's fingers resting by his side began to rub together. Not hiding it from him—was she going to take the initiative to tell him who the adulterer was?
The CEO didn't feel at all that it was inappropriate to internally define the other party as an adulterer.
Under the night light, Ning Ye raised her head, speaking with a sincere tone, earnestly discussing with him, "Then, regarding the child in the future, if there are times when I'm too busy, I'll have to trouble you to do some work too. Of course, I'll put in more effort."
And you just provide more money.
Bian Xun, however, only cast a sidelong glance at her and paused slightly, "You agree?"
"?" Ning Ye was stunned.
Did being a father even require her agreement?
Then she realized that what Bian Xun was actually asking was whether they could still work together after breaking up. This was a clarification of boundaries, which would also make it easier for them to raise Ning Zhitao together in the future.
"I agree. It's all for the child." Ning Ye sighed softly, feeling that her tone was very sincere.
But the black eyes of the man in front of her were freezing cold, as if he had just taken another trip back from the underworld. He stared at her like an evil spirit for a long while, then laughed out of anger.
His thin lips curved into a cold, gloomy arc, while anger and jealousy surged alternately in his chest.
So it was all just to find a father for the child, huh.
Bian Xun looked indifferent, "Then I have no objections either."
He accepted it.
Ning Ye reached a consensus with him regarding the child and felt relaxed. Even that sense of alienation melted away like snow, and a faint smile appeared on her pale, delicate face.
Bian Xun looked at her indifferently for a moment, then suddenly asked, "That guy from before..."
Ning Ye looked up, her apricot eyes shimmering with the reflection of the lights, "Which one—"
Bian Xun interrupted her expressionlessly, "Alright, no need to say it."
He didn't want to hear it.
Ning Ye: "?"
Neurotic dad.
Good thing it wasn't contagious to the baby.
...
The next day, the children at Xialu Kindergarten had to line up for their shots.
Ning Ye kept an eye on the time at the company. She turned her head and saw that Jiang Xinghe's seat was empty; he hadn't come in since the morning.
He had taken the day off today. Every year, when his family's hospital gave shots to the children in the surrounding kindergartens, he would take time off to help. At first, Ning Ye couldn't understand the reason.
When she rushed to the kindergarten gate during her break, amidst a scene that sounded like the wailing of a hundred beasts, she finally understood the helpless smile on Jiang Xinghe's face.
The scene was chaotic, with kids wailing like ghosts and howling like wolves. Unidentified children darted from one end to the other, or hid inside the playground equipment, refusing to come out.
When Ning Ye arrived, Teacher Youzi was leaning over the entrance of the slide tube, desperately trying to coax the kids inside to crawl out.
Ning Ye quickly scanned the area and saw Ning Zhitao holding Zhang Sijie's little hand, both standing obediently in Doctor Zhou's line.
She had already explained to her daughter the night before that this doctor auntie wouldn't hurt at all when giving shots. But seeing the current situation, the two little girls were still pale with fright, their tension amplified by the emotions of the other children.
Parents and teachers worked hard to maintain order, barely managing to line the kids up.
The vehicles from Sanshui Children's Hospital were parked in the kindergarten. There were three doctors in total, each with a desk and a nurse beside them. Syringes, disposable needles, vaccines, and iodine were laid out on the tables.
The cold, sanitary smell unique to hospitals permeated the air. The kids who had just steadied themselves started crying again, and it quickly spread from one to another, rising and falling in waves.
Just then, a gentle voice rang out, "Children, today I'm going to tell you a very, very long story, okay?"
Ning Ye held Ning Zhitao's hand and looked up to see Jiang Xinghe in a white protective suit appearing before everyone.
He wore a handsome, gentle smile. Instead of the scary white coat, he was dressed like a puffy white ball. His calm and pure aura easily attracted the children's attention, making them even forget to cry.
He crouched down to be at eye level with the kids, first throwing out a suspenseful hook, and then, under the children's curious gazes, began to tell the story in a gentle tone while leading the line forward. Order was quickly restored.
Ning Ye was amazed.
Was he the king of kids?
He had an innate talent for taking care of children.
Even though he was only a year older than her, single and unmarried, his experience with kids was incredibly rich.
Sister Zhou had mentioned to Ning Ye in a casual chat before that Xiao Jiang didn't inherit his family's medical business, but he was like the anchor of his family, a sort of mascot. Perhaps because he grew up in the atmosphere of a children's hospital and interacted with too many kids, he had a special way of handling them. He was simply a rare kind of man in modern society.
Of course, this was before Sister Zhou found out that Ning Ye was CEO Bian's first love.
Later, Sister Zhou never dared to play matchmaker for Ning Ye and Xiao Jiang again. But even without others' praise, Ning Ye could feel the many virtues of Jiang Xinghe. He was indeed a very good person.
Of course, despite Jiang Xinghe maintaining order, when the needle tip sizzled with liquid and approached the children's arms, they were still scared and tried to dodge.
Ning Ye held Ning Zhitao's slightly cold, chubby little hand, trying her best to comfort the child and letting her listen to Jiang Xinghe's story.
Outside the kindergarten.
The suit-clad CEO stepped out of the car, frowning at the queue for vaccinations on the playground.
He had gotten the news from the little genius smartwatch. Obviously, Ning Ye wouldn't bother him, the stepfather, with things she could handle herself.
Bian Xun scanned the area and quickly found Ning Ye and her daughter.
Following their gazes, he saw a familiar face.
Why was her colleague here too?
Bian Xun frowned, closed the car door, and started walking towards the kindergarten.
Suddenly, the door of an inconspicuous, low-profile nanny van parked by the road opened. "Bian Xun?"
Bian Xun paused briefly, glancing sideways to see Xu Lanyi's figure, but didn't stop.
But after he took a few more steps, a voice came from behind.
"Do you know the pain of childbirth?"
The shiny leather shoes stopped.
Xu Lanyi seemed to have made some kind of decision, completely revealing the secret she had buried for years—because she knew they were facing the same situation. They both had a child that shouldn't exist.
The Bian family still didn't know about Bian Xun's illegitimate daughter. Once they found out, Old Master Bian would be furious, and those in the family who had been suppressed by Bian Xun's power grab would seize the opportunity to counterattack, hoping to bite off a larger chunk in the property division.
Xu Lanyi faced the same situation. Once it was made public, her career fans would be the first to turn on her. Even worse would be the frenzy of her anti-fans, who might attack all her endorsing brands and production companies, trying to tear pieces of flesh off her to benefit their own idols.
They were people in the same boat.
"Gu Zixun is my son, and he's in the same class as Ning Zhitao."
Upon hearing this, Bian Xun frowned and finally turned around.
Xu Lanyi, having said this, looked relieved, letting out a long breath as if a heavy stone that had been weighing on her chest for years had been lifted.
Bian Xun was the first man she had willingly exposed her scars to.
But Bian Xun looked steadily at the person in front of him with his dark eyes.
He was thinking about one thing.
—The contract between their company's audiovisual product line and Xu Lanyi's endorsement hadn't expired yet.
If Xu Lanyi suddenly had a scandal, her secret marriage and childbirth were revealed, and her fans boycotted her.
How much money should he make her pay in compensation?
The CEO was impeccably dressed and exuded a noble aura. His gaze was calm, but in his mind, he was already planning to have the legal department prepare an emergency plan, thoroughly studying the contract in advance to set traps.
He would sue her to death when the time came.
Thinking of this, Bian Xun nodded to her rather politely.
Capitalists were usually well-dressed before sucking blood.
Xu Lanyi noticed the rare gentleness on his stern face, smiled faintly, waved her hand, and looked at her son lining up for a shot in the distance. "It's all in the past. The hardest time was actually when I gave birth to him."
"Back then, I had to consider the public eye while fighting the physical pain. When I had Zixun, it was the peak of my career, but my body was like a burst balloon, making me lose everything."
Bian Xun suddenly frowned.
Ning Ye had been through this too.
"On the day of delivery, I had labor pains for over ten hours, and finally ended up with an emergency C-section, leaving a permanent, huge scar on my body." Xu Lanyi's eyes held a hint of melancholy. She gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled. "...But I'm not telling you this to gain sympathy. I just want to share my feelings with you. My new movie is coming out soon, and it's about the life journey of a mother and child. Would you like to watch it?"
Bian Xun's brow furrowed deeply, but after two seconds of consideration, he reached out and took the poster for Xu Lanyi's "Mother."
A dark fire was burning in his heart.
He turned to look in the direction of Ning Ye and the child.
Which man had she suffered all this for?
He wanted to kill him.
...
Inside the kindergarten, it was Gu Zixun's turn in line for the shot.
This little boy was different from the other children. He showed extraordinary intelligence, composure, calmness, and excellence.
He was standing in the line next to Ning Zhitao, accompanied by a nanny. He turned his head, saw Ning Zhitao clinging tightly to her mother's leg, and smiled proudly. "What's there to be afraid of? Getting a vaccine is for our health."
Ning Zhitao didn't want to be scared either, but Sijie in front of her was trembling so badly!
The mother covered her eyes, but through the gaps between her fingers, she saw the needle piercing into Zhang Sijie's arm!
Zhang Sijie's tears instantly burst forth like a fountain in a park, and he howled like a stepped-on kitten, his cries heart-wrenching.
It wasn't actually that painful, but the sensation was terrifying.
Flustered, Song Hua hugged her daughter, pressed a cotton swab against the injection site, greeted Ning Ye, and took her aside to comfort her.
Finally, it was Ning Zhitao's turn.
To be honest, Ning Ye was also a little nervous.
But she didn't show it. She crouched down beside the child and hugged her small shoulders tightly. "It's okay, Taotao. Before you even realize it, the doctor will be done."
Ning Zhitao buried her face into her mother's neck, trying very hard to control herself and keep her whimpers quiet.
Just then, two figures appeared beside them at the same time.
Bian Xun, dressed in a dark black suit and overcoat, had a cold expression. His handsome features showed a lack of empathy for everything around him, but as he lowered his eyes to look at the mother and daughter hugging each other, he paused, and his voice was gentle and deep.
"Don't be afraid."
Ning Zhitao looked up and groggily saw her dad.
Both Mom and Dad had come to accompany Taotao to get her shot!
Ning Zhitao immediately thought of the past, when her parents used to take her out together. Her mood really did improve all at once!
Ning Ye immediately felt the tense state of her daughter in her arms relax and soften, feeling a bit surprised.
The child usually didn't show it, so she hadn't realized how indispensable a father was to a child's growth.
It turned out that as long as her dad was present, the child would feel a bit more secure.
...
Bian Xun raised his eyes and looked at Jiang Xinghe, who had walked over at the same time as him.
Both men were tall, one in black and one in white, with two completely different auras, distinct from each other.
Bian Xun's expression was cold and lonely as he looked at this person blankly.
What was he doing here? He didn't have a child here.
Doctor Zhou, who was giving the injection, was surrounded by an eye mask and a face mask, oblivious to the inexplicable undercurrents. She swiftly prepared the syringe and held the child's arm.
"I'm going to give you the shot now. Don't move, little one. It'll be quick."
Ning Zhitao knew she shouldn't look at the needle, but her peripheral vision seemed to be glued to it, unable to resist checking how far it was from her arm, making her tremble uncontrollably.
Just then, a gentle and soft voice attracted Ning Zhitao's attention.
Jiang Xinghe crouched down. "Taotao, what color is Mom wearing today?"
Ning Zhitao was instinctively distracted and began to think.
"Mom is wearing beige."
The needle quickly pushed into the little girl's arm. There was a moment of stinging pain, but before Ning Zhitao could react, that voice sounded again at just the right moment.
"Great job. Now, what is 16 plus 8? Can Taotao figure it out?"
Ning Zhitao instinctively began to calculate in her head again.
By the time she said "24," the cotton swab was already gently pressing against her arm, and Ning Zhitao was blankly picked up by her mother.
Huh?
It... it was already done?
In just twenty seconds, with just a few words from Jiang Xinghe, the child didn't even let out a single cry.
Bian Xun: "..."
Bian Xun's breathing deepened: "......"
Ning Ye looked down to check the position of the cotton swab, then looked up with a grateful expression. "Xiao Jiang, thank you so much. Don't leave after work today; I must treat you to dinner."
Jiang Xinghe smiled and waved his hand, turning to help other children. He gently brushed past President Bian, nodding politely.
Bian Xun crossed his arms with an unfathomable expression.
? How did he do that.
For the first time in his life, the CEO encountered a blind spot in his knowledge.
...
After work.
Ning Ye, Ning Zhitao, Jiang Xinghe—and their CEO.
The four of them stood at the entrance of the restaurant.
The autumn breeze blew gently. Ning Ye held the child's hand with one hand, her gaze turning speechlessly to the man beside her.
She said she was treating Jiang Xinghe to dinner, not him, right?
Bian Xun's expression was calm, his dark eyes looking back at her, not feeling presumptuous in the slightest.
? What are you looking at.
Anyway, he wouldn't let her pay.
He was now the child's father.
Bian Xun elegantly straightened his collar.
This strange combination brought a trace of awkwardness to the atmosphere.
Fortunately, little Ning Zhitao didn't feel awkward. She happily looked left and right, seeing the adults she liked.
Yay!
Ning Ye had no choice but to lead the child into the restaurant.
She had chosen the place; it was near the company, a well-reviewed Western restaurant. On the one hand, treating someone to a meal naturally required showing sincerity, and on the other hand, Western food had many non-spicy options suitable for children.
Jiang Xinghe looked at Bian Xun, understanding something in his heart. His aura was clean and upright, and he calmly opened the door first.
As the group walked into the restaurant, the receptionist's eyes lit up.
Then brighter.
Then even brighter.
Finally, looking down, they lit up again.
Although she didn't quite understand what kind of combination this group was—they didn't seem like a traditional family of mother, father, and child—how could even the little kid be so good-looking??
The waiter smiled and approached them. "Do you have a reservation?"
Ning Ye gave her phone number and surname, and the waiter led them to a window seat with a view.
Fortunately, she had reserved a table for four; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to fit.
Ning Ye had just let out a sigh of relief when she looked out the window and choked up again.
This restaurant was near the Wujiang Group, so the window view was actually Wujiang's iconic, landmark-like modern skyscraper.
And at this moment, walking slowly over was the man who owned that entire building.
Ning Ye: "..."
She didn't choose this place for her ex-boyfriend to show off his wealth.
Bian Xun elegantly pulled out a chair and sat down on the side.
His huge disparity in wealth and status compared to ordinary people made it hard for him to ever lose in a comparison with other males.
Sandianshui Private Children's Hospital was quite large, and Bian Xun knew of it. He had even dined at the same banquet as Jiang Xinghe's father, Director Jiang.
And he had sat at the head table.
So Bian Xun didn't think this young man in front of him posed any threat.
An inexplicable magnetic field of confrontation surged in the atmosphere, with only Taotao completely oblivious. She smiled at the adults, her little chubby legs dangling in the air, solely focused on waiting for the meal to start.
In the end, the seating arrangement became very bizarre, with Ning Ye and Taotao sitting on one side, and the two gentlemen sitting opposite them.
Ning Ye rubbed her forehead and handed the menu across the table. "Order whatever you'd like."
Jiang Xinghe was a very reserved person. He wouldn't insist on fighting Ning Ye for the bill and hurting her feelings, but he was also very tactful and considerate of her financial situation, ordering a very moderate amount.
Bian Xun naturally didn't care about those things.
He was the one paying anyway.
The man lowered his eyes and casually ordered a large Australian lobster and foie gras. Going down the menu, he added several dishes with high-quality ingredients.
Ning Ye: "..."
Beside him, Jiang Xinghe appropriately intervened, "President Bian, let's not waste food."
Bian Xun's expression was indifferent. "Don't worry, I wouldn't dare let her pay."
Ning Ye: "?"
After Bian Xun finished ordering, he lowered his eyes and asked Ning Zhitao about a few dishes. "Will you eat these?"
Of course, Ning Zhitao had never cared about prices when eating out with her dad, and she nodded happily: "Yes!"
Ning Ye looked at the child's enthusiastic little face, and the corners of her lips curled up into a smile.
If the little one wants to eat, then let him eat.
It wasn't like she couldn't afford to treat them.
Of course, since it was her treat, she naturally wouldn't swipe Bian Xun's card.
With her current salary, paying for a Western meal was not a problem.
After the food was ordered, Bian Xun's fingertips tapped lightly on the table as he looked at the two faces, one large and one small, sitting opposite him.
He once again regained a faint sense of control.
With his current status, the guy sitting next to her couldn't even compare to him.
—A stepfather is still a father.
Bian Xun arrogantly lifted his chin.
The waiter printed the ticket and asked for their specific dining preferences.
Ning Ye had no dietary restrictions, the little one just ate whatever the adults ate, and Bian Xun wasn't even here to eat in the first place.
Jiang Xinghe, however, very seriously confirmed with the waiter, "Children under eight don't have enough bite force yet, so for the steak, please choose a more tender cut like flank or ribeye, and slice it thin."
"Keep the raw and cooked food separate, and the child's portion needs to be fully cooked."
"Are there any allergies?"
The question was directed at Ning Ye, but as his voice fell, the other two adults at the table fell silent for a moment.
Bian Xun: "."
Ning Ye awkwardly waved her hands, "No, none."
As the child's parent, even she hadn't paid attention to these details. Compared to him, she was really falling short.
Bian Xun watched coldly from the sidelines, secretly pressuring Assistant Zhang to quickly compile a comprehensive document on child-rearing knowledge and send it to him.
In this silent contest, the CEO, who had hated children for nearly thirty years, suffered a crushing defeat.
...
Fortunately, the food at this restaurant was indeed quite good.
Ning Zhitao loved it, eating until his face was covered in food.
Ning Ye looked at the situation at the table and got up to go to the restroom.
She had to admit, having the child's father present really made things much more convenient; it allowed her to leave the child for a moment to go pay the bill.
Sneaking over to the front desk, she was afraid that a gentle person like Jiang Xinghe would quietly pay the bill, so she lowered her voice and asked the waiter for the check.
The total came to over two thousand, averaging about five hundred per person. Ning Ye checked the receipt and saw that the Australian lobster Bian Xun ordered was over five hundred, and he didn't even eat it!
What a black-hearted capitalist.
Ning Ye smiled at the cashier, "Excuse me, can this dish be billed separately?"
"Certainly, ma'am~"
Just a minute later, the man came striding over.
Ning Ye had just finished paying and tucked away the two receipts.
The fifteen hundred for what she, Taotao, and Jiang Xinghe ate was paid with her own money, while the remaining Australian lobster was paid for using Bian Xun's card.
She never intended to treat him to a meal anyway!
Perfectly reasonable ^^
As soon as she turned around, a certain someone's shadow, carrying a faint, cold scent of sandalwood, loomed over her. "..."
He had only looked away for a second, and she had already settled the bill.
With Bian Xun's ability to calculate, he naturally knew that she had specifically deducted his portion of the bill.
In the blink of an eye, CEO Bian had effectively footed a five-million bill for himself.
His jaw tightened slightly as he boxed her in. "...Where is the money I gave you?"
Even if she used his money to pay the bill, that would have been fine.
Ning Ye looked up, dazed for a moment, and then remembered. "You mean that huge red envelope you gave Taotao?"
Her voice was soft and gentle.
"I saved it all for the child! It just so happens that the bank next to our house has an interest rate of 2.5 percent."
In this day and age, a 2.5 percent interest rate is an opportunity not to be missed.
The CEO fell silent.
The CEO was left holding a 10,000-to-1 loss.
"?"
Tonight, he had something weighing on his mind.
The word count went over, so I am a little late! But look at my word count!
