Chapter 388 - It Was Clearly a Face So Beautiful It Brought Disaster
Lu Jinnan wasn’t surprised to look up and see Lin Nuan since he had heard Fu Huai’an mention that Lin Nuan was bringing Tuan Tuan over.
On the other hand, Lin Nuan didn’t expect to see Lu Jinnan in Fu Huai’an’s office, but she simply looked around… and saw that Fu Huai’an wasn’t in the office.
Little Lu placed the takeout dinner Lin Nuan brought with her on Fu Huai’an’s large desk before exiting the office to continue his work.
“Take a seat first, Old Fu will be back once he’s done with his call!” said Lu Jinnan as he took a deep draw of his clearly newly lit cigarette before putting it out in the ashtray.
He felt a little dizzy from having stared at the screen for such a long time, so he removed the pair of glasses perched on his nose to rub between his brows. He then put the glasses back on and continued working.
Lin Nuan nodded but didn’t reply.
Fu Huai’an’s office was rather warm, so Lin Nuan placed Tuan Tuan down and bent over to remove the little bag on his shoulders. She helped him to unbutton his tiny jacket, the small child stretching his neck as much as possible so that Lin Nuan could help him unbutton the button at the very top that was hidden from his sight. He obediently continued working on the rest of the buttons by himself and finally removed the jacket.
Tuan Tuan had been to Fu Huai’an’s office countless times. When they had just returned to the country, Tuan Tuan hadn’t yet been familiar with Auntie Li. He refused to attend kindergarten or stay at home, so Fu Huai’an could only bring him to work.
Tuan Tuan was young but very obedient. When Fu Huai’an was busy with work, Tuan Tuan would simply sit on the couch, snacking on milk and cookies while going through the drawing book his father bought for him. Occasionally, he would play on his iPad. He always remained quiet.
Lin Nuan placed Tuan Tuan’s jacket on a chair before walking over to open the windows.
The refreshing, chilly breeze blew in gently, pushing aside the slight smell of cigarette smoke in the office.
Tuan Tuan wasn’t on familiar terms with many people, but Lu Jinnan was one of them, so Tuan Tuan casually climbed into the chair. He took out his iPad from his bag and plopped down, focusing on the device once he properly adjusted his posture.
When Fu Huai’an returned and saw Lin Nuan and Tuan Tuan already in his office, a smile spread in his eyes.
“Papa!” called Tuan Tuan cutely.
Lin Nuan turned around and saw Fu Huai’an’s gaze flickering to her. She said, “I bought takeout from Wang Jiang restaurant. You two should take a break and have something to eat before you continue with your work.”
Lu Jinnan raised his head to look at Lin Nuan in surprise, only to see that Lin Nuan was only smiling at Fu Huai’an.
He didn’t expect Lin Nuan to have included his share.
Tuan Tuan was here, so Lu Jinnan couldn’t speak freely. He placed his glasses on top of the laptop before picking up his own pack of cigarettes. He took one out and stood up with his phone and lighter in hand, saying, “You guys can eat first, I’ll go out for some fresh air.”
“Eat with us!” said Fu Huai’an to Lu Jinnan.
Lu Jinnan walked to the door and opened it, saying, “I’ve already had my assistant buy dinner for me. If I eat with you, who’s going to finish the dinner he buys?”
After Lu Jinnan left, Lin Nuan glanced at the mountains of documents on the table before saying to Fu Huai’an, “How about… eating in the break room?”
“Up to you!” said Fu Huai’an with a soft gaze.
…
The appearance of the family of three having their dinner in the public break room got the rest of the staff heatedly pestering Fu Huai’an’s assistant, Little Lu, on Lin Nuan’s identity.
“Oh my god! President Fu is actually eating in the common break room that we usually use!”
Little Lu was speechless.
“Why can’t Mr. Fu eat in the common break room?” asked Little Lu, finding the situation hilarious.
“That’s President Fu! President Fu! He always gives off such an elegant aura and seems so high up and unreachable! Even if it’s just a casual meal, it should be in a high-class restaurant! Why would he stoop down and sit in the break room for a meal?”
“That’s right, this is literally unthinkable! And, and… Little Lu, who’s that pretty lady? She looks kind of familiar, but with President Fu at the side, I don’t even dare to look at her!”
“That’s right, I’m so curious! Could it be President Fu’s girlfriend?”
“Maybe she’s the mother of President Fu’s son! Didn’t they say that President Fu returned to the country alone with his son? Could he have come back to find the mother of his child? Ah… I’ve already come up with a whole drama plot in my head!”
Little Lu felt helpless as he faced their excitement.
“Say it! Share the gossip!” said someone, continuing to pester Little Lu.
Little Lu retaliated and said, “Do you all have too little work to do? If you’re so free, I can go and inform President Lu… let us share the burden with you!”
“Ah! We were just curious!”
“If you’re so curious, you can come and ask me!”
A cold voice traveled to them from the door of the president’s office. Lu Jinnan stood there with his hands in his pockets and a large frown. It was clearly a face so beautiful it brought disaster, but its current expression sent chills up their spines.
The gossiping crowd dispersed immediately, returning to their individual positions to continue busying themselves with work.
The glass door of the break room was closed, and Lu Jinnan’s gaze swept across it briefly before he returned to Fu Huai’an’s office to continue looking through the accounts.
He thought of the scene he saw when he walked past the break room earlier. He had seen Lin Nuan feeding Tuan Tuan with a gentle and happy expression. If this was in the past, he definitely would have thought that… Lin Nuan was acting.
That was because that woman would smile at him like this too. Whenever she gave him that kind of smile and requested his help with something, he would always willingly try his best to fulfill her wishes. He regarded her as more important than his own life!
But what happened in the end was truly infuriating!
Perhaps not all women in the world were like that woman.
Lu Jinnan spaced out a little, and when he returned to his senses, his frustration grew even more. He reached into his pocket for his cigarettes only to realize that he had already smoked all the remaining cigarettes earlier.
…
Lu Jinnan finished looking through the last bit of the accounts documents and placed them in the office before taking off.
By 8 p.m., Tuan Tuan, who had been seated on the couch with his tablet in hand, was starting to feel a little sleepy. Fu Huai’an started tidying up the documents and putting on his blazer, prepared to bring Lin Nuan and Tuan Tuan home.
Tuan Tuan, who had been sleepily leaning on the couch, suddenly grew very serious upon seeing a photo, his eyes larger than usual.
Lin Nuan wasn’t back from the washroom yet, and Tuan Tuan felt a little helpless. He turned around to see Fu Huai’an tidying his outfit, so he slid down from the couch, running to Fu Huai’an while hugging his iPad. He then raised his iPad as high as he could to show Fu Huai’an the screen.
Fu Huai’an, who was buttoning his sleeves, looked down at the screen to see the photo of Lin Nuan hugging Tuan Tuan firmly despite having her hair pulled…
Fu Huai’an looked at Tuan Tuan, who was trying to peek his head out from behind the tablet. He heard the little child ask, “Mama?”
Previously, he had always thought that Tuan Tuan was just a child, so he never purposefully tried to block the news from Tuan Tuan.
But kids nowadays were more handy with electronics than adults.
Not expecting that Tuan Tuan would open this picture, Fu Huai’an looked at Tuan Tuan and bent down to Tuan Tuan’s eye level, nodding his head. He took the tablet from Tuan Tuan’s hands and looked at the resolute Lin Nuan in the photo seriously.
Tuan Tuan squeezed himself into Fu Huai’an’s embrace, his soft, chubby body leaning against Fu Huai’an’s warmth. He pointed at the baby in Lin Nuan’s arms, asking again, “Tuan Tuan?”
Fu Huai’an nodded…
Tuan Tuan’s eyes turned red as he looked at the tablet screen.
Fu Huai’an gently patted Tuan Tuan’s head, saying, “Mama was trying to protect Tuan Tuan!”
Tuan Tuan nodded in understanding, tears forming in his eyes.
“Now that Tuan Tuan is a big boy, you have to protect Mama too… do you understand?”
Under the warm lighting of the office, even Fu Huai’an’s deep voice seemed to be covered in a layer of heartwarming gentleness.
The door opened to reveal Lin Nuan entering the office.
The moment Tuan Tuan looked up and saw Lin Nuan, he wormed out of Fu Huai’an’s embrace to run to Lin Nuan, hugging on to her leg tightly.
Lin Nuan was surprised. She bent down to caress Tuan Tuan’s head as her gaze looked up towards Fu Huai’an…
Fu Huai’an held the tablet in his hands as he stood up. There wasn’t any anger in his expression, so it didn’t seem like he had been lecturing Tuan Tuan.
“What happened?” asked Lin Nuan gently, focusing on Tuan Tuan.
Tuan Tuan wiped his tears away using Lin Nuan’s leg. He reached out to pull at Lin Nuan’s arm, making her bend down…
Lin Nuan was confused as she looked at Tuan Tuan, who was holding her face with wet eyes. He tip-toed with great effort to blow at the top of Lin Nuan’s scalp, saying, “Hoo… it won’t hurt anymore!”
Tuan Tuan’s small hands gently petted Lin Nuan’s head, his actions clumsy but careful.
Initially, Lin Nuan didn’t get it. Then, Fu Huai’an said, “Tuan Tuan saw that photo…”
Lin Nuan immediately understood. She looked into Tuan Tuan’s large black eyes, which were filled with tears, and her heart suddenly softened at his earlier actions.
“You’re worried that Mama is in pain?” asked Lin Nuan, voice sounding slightly nasal from her own tears threatening to form.
Tuan Tuan nodded, his tears falling on to the floor…
Lin Nuan smiled gently and blissfully. With tears in her eyes, she gently hugged Tuan Tuan. She calmed down upon inhaling the soft, milky scent on Tuan Tuan, saying, “Mama isn’t hurting… not at all!”
It was all worth it as long as Tuan Tuan was safe!
It was Lin Nuan’s first time being a mother. She didn’t experience the ten months of pregnancy or the hassle of raising the growing baby before he could communicate, so who was she… to get Tuan Tuan’s wholehearted and unconditional love the moment she arrived?
Sometimes, Lin Nuan felt that the heavens were really generous to her.
No matter her past, Lin Nuan had Tuan Tuan now… and with Fu Huai’an, she had never felt so blissful before.
…
Back at home, Tuan Tuan washed up by himself and put on his pajamas obediently.
Lin Nuan had said that she would accompany Tuan Tuan to sleep tonight, so Tuan Tuan was extremely happy. He climbed up his bed and sat down at the end, holding his sketchbook. He flipped through it while waiting for Lin Nuan to come over after her shower.
Tuan Tuan looked at the drawing of their family of three holding hands together and thought of his father…
Papa kept insisting on sleeping with Mama the past few days, could he be scared of the dark?
Tuan Tuan felt that he was no longer a small child but a big boy… He should consider his father’s feelings too.
He frowned as though he was heavily burdened.
Suddenly, his eyes shone brightly as he imitated what Little Candy did in kindergarten earlier that day—one of his chubby hands clenched into a fist, and he smashed it against his other open palm…
He thought of a great idea!
Tuan Tuan slid down from his bed and struggled to carry his sketchbook and pillow with him as he ran to the door. He tip-toed to turn the knob and open the door, then ran towards his father’s bedroom.
…
When Fu Huai’an heard Lin Nuan say that she was going to accompany Tuan Tuan that night, he was seated on the edge of their bed, ruffling through his hair with a towel. He rejected her without even batting an eye.