Nan Yu was too lazy to engage in verbal sparring with Tan Linyuan. After several previous confrontations, she had already summed up the experience: it was simply a fantasy to outtalk this man.
She resisted the urge to roll her eyes and didn't even glance at Tan Linyuan. Instead, she just maintained a smile and turned to Wen Ruoyi. "Is Niannian available now? I'd like to communicate with her first."
Seeing Nan Yu deliberately ignoring him, his expression remained unchanged. Instead, the corners of his lips curved into a slight smile.
Wen Ruoyi had a gentle and delicate personality. She quickly detected the subtle interaction between the two and couldn't help but feel curious and eager to find out more about their relationship.
However, after learning that Nan Yu was Shen Yanche's fiancée, she immediately dispelled her speculation and felt a bit disappointed.
It seemed that Tan Linyuan was just playing the role of a matchmaker this time.
"Niannian should be awake by now. I'll take you there." Wen Ruoyi said softly and led her to a room in the backyard.
As soon as Nan Yu left with Wen Ruoyi, Shen Yanche couldn't sit still anymore. His phone vibrated several times, but he didn't dare to answer it. His expression seemed hesitant.
Tan Linyuan noticed his distraction. "Something up?"
"… Uncle, my dad wants me to go back now." Shen Yanche said sheepishly. "The contract signed at noon has already taken effect. I have to follow up on the subsequent content myself."
"Then will you come to pick up Nan Yu later?" Tan Linyuan asked directly.
"I'm afraid I won't have time."
Shen Yanche felt guilty and his voice dropped. "I still have to have dinner with the partner tonight. It probably won't end until very late."
After he finished speaking, the spacious living room fell into silence.
Tan Linyuan's gaze was deep. He half - squinted his eyes and looked at him. After a while, he let out a soft laugh. "Leaving your fiancée here so easily. Aren't you afraid she'll run off with someone else halfway?"
His tone was slow, like a warning and advice from an elder.
Shen Yanche hesitated for a moment and then shook his head. He wasn't worried at all. "Yu Yu won't."
He said it so confidently, as if he was certain that Nan Yu would never be with a man other than him.
Tan Linyuan raised his eyebrows and looked at him with a half - smile. "Your relationship is really deep."
"After all, Yu Yu and I have known each other for more than a decade." Shen Yanche smiled and tried to sound relaxed. "We're childhood sweethearts and have known each other since childhood."
At this point, he even sighed meaningfully. "If her parents hadn't passed away early, our marriage would have received their blessings."
Tan Linyuan smiled, but the smile didn't reach his eyes. "That's really a pity."
Shen Yanche opened his mouth to say something else when his phone vibrated again, as if it was urging him.
He clenched his phone tightly, not knowing whether to answer it or not.
Tan Linyuan glanced at the phone screen, waved his hand, and said calmly, "In that case, you go and get busy first. I'll send Nan Yu back for you later."
Shen Yanche immediately felt relieved.
After Shen Yanche left, Tan Linyuan repeated those four words in his mind, and his eyes became darker.
Childhood sweethearts… huh.
——
Nan Yu was led by Wen Ruoyi to a small western - style building in the backyard. The two walked through the corridor, went up the spiral staircase, and stopped in front of a light - pink door.
Wen Ruoyi knocked on the door twice first and then slowly turned the doorknob.
The little girl in the bedroom had woken up from her nap. She was sitting in a wheelchair, wearing a light - yellow cashmere dress, and was quietly lying on the table drawing.
Hearing the noise at the door, she immediately turned her head.
The moment she saw Nan Yu, there was caution and wariness in her innocent eyes. She panicked and shouted, "Mom…"
Wen Ruoyi quickly walked over and took her hand. "Niannian, don't be afraid."
Nan Yu stood at the door. In order not to scare Niannian, she introduced herself with a smile. "Hello, Niannian. I'm Nan Yu. Yu as in 'be unwavering'."
Maybe she looked very amiable. Niannian looked at her for a while. Her voice was soft and she imitated Nan Yu's way of introducing herself. "Hello, Nan Yu. I'm Tan Nian. Nian as in 'never forget'."
…
Their getting - along went much faster than expected.
Nan Yu tentatively walked over and squatted beside her wheelchair. First, she praised the simple drawings Niannian had drawn and then complimented her cute braids.
Throughout the whole process, she never looked at Niannian's legs with pity.
At the age of twelve, girls already began to care about their appearance. Hearing Nan Yu's sincere praise, Niannian couldn't help but feel happy, but still politely said thank you.
Wen Ruoyi accompanied them for a while. Seeing that they got along well, she felt relieved and said she was going to tell the nanny to wash some fruits for them.
When she went out, she gently closed the door.
Just as she took a few steps, she happened to meet Tan Linyuan coming over.
Wen Ruoyi smiled when she saw him. "Linyuan, thank you for introducing Miss Nan here."
"Niannian likes her?" Tan Linyuan had already guessed the result.
"More than just like." Wen Ruoyi sighed with a helpless smile. "She's clinging to Miss Nan and wishes she could live here."
"Miss Nan has a kind personality and is very patient with Niannian. She's a good teacher."
Tan Linyuan didn't comment.
If he hadn't known these things, he wouldn't have brought her here.
Wen Ruoyi observed his expression, carefully chose her words, and pretended to say casually, "Linyuan, you're not young anymore. It's time to consider getting married and having children."
Tan Linyuan was silent for a while and then casually changed the topic. "Sister - in - law, if you and Niannian have any difficulties in life, feel free to come to me."
"Linyuan, how long are you going to blame yourself!" Wen Ruoyi raised her voice. There was pain in her gentle eyes. "Your elder brother's accident back then had nothing to do with you. Why do you always…"
"I'll go and check on Niannian."
Tan Linyuan simply interrupted her. He put his hands in his pockets, his eyebrows and eyes showing no emotion. "Excuse me."
Wen Ruoyi's words got stuck in her throat and stopped abruptly.
Looking at the back of the young man disappearing at the end of the corridor, she finally let out a long sigh.
Even the Buddha has trouble saving himself.
…
Tan Linyuan quickly walked to the door of the children's room. When he heard the laughter coming from the room, the darkness in his eyes began to fade away bit by bit.
He raised his hand and pushed open the half - closed door, leaving a crack.
Inside the room, Nan Yu was sitting next to Niannian on the piano bench. She held Niannian's hand and, like magic, made the children's piano in the room emit melodious sounds.
She was beaming with energy, and her smile was sincere. Her eyes were full of light, and she would smile and clap her hands when Niannian played a note correctly.
At this moment, Nan Yu exuded brightness all over. Her eyes were sparkling, like broken diamonds hidden inside, overflowing with dazzling light.
Tan Linyuan had seen her boldness in bed, her submissiveness in front of the Shen family, and her aggressiveness in front of him…
But this Nan Yu was completely different from every side he had seen before.