For Nian Nian, her first experience going out was full of novelty.
Anyway, she wasn't overly scared. Instead, she was full of anticipation for the things she encountered.
She neatly pressed every leaf she found into a book, saying that she would always remember this special day.
So, the next day, Nan Yu decided to take Nian Nian to a restaurant for dinner.
Of course, before doing this, she specifically asked Tan Linyuan for permission.
Tan Linyuan replied calmly, "Sure."
Since the last incident, they had rarely talked. Every day was just about sleeping and sex.
It was as if there was an invisible wall between them. They no longer crossed each other's personal boundaries, but their physical intimacy grew.
Nan Yu had almost forgotten how they used to get along normally.
Nan Yu let out a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to hang up the phone, his voice came through again, "Send me the location of the restaurant."
Nan Yu was taken aback. "You're coming too?"
"Not welcome?" he retorted.
Nan Yu said, "…Of course not. I'll send you the location later."
When they arrived at the restaurant, Nian Nian seemed even more timid than the day before. She tightly grabbed Nan Yu's sleeve and didn't dare to look at anyone walking towards them.
Nan Yu bent down and whispered softly, "Nian Nian, relax. I'm here with you."
Nian Nian took deep breaths and whispered words of encouragement to herself, "Nian Nian, you can do it. Nian Nian, you're the best!"
At first, Nan Yu didn't hear clearly what she was saying. When she leaned closer, she almost burst out laughing.
Apparently, Nian Nian was much stronger than expected.
Nan Yu sent the location to Tan Linyuan ten minutes in advance. She thought he would be late, but unexpectedly, he was already there.
Considering Nian Nian's situation, Nan Yu reserved a private room.
The tableware was set up in advance, and except for the food - serving process, the waiters wouldn't enter easily.
The dishes were all ordered by Tan Linyuan, mostly suitable for a child's taste.
Nian Nian quickly adapted to the environment. She scooped up some dessert with a spoon and showed a naive smile on her face. "It's so much fun to go out and play."
Nan Yu nodded at her and told her to eat less. Too much dessert wasn't good for her stomach.
"I know. Nan Yu, why are you so naggy, just like my mom," Nian Nian said.
Nan Yu was a bit stunned and couldn't help laughing.
When did she become an adult who nagged and educated kids?
Tan Linyuan, who had been quietly eating beside them, suddenly said, "You can't even take good care of yourself, but you're already worrying about others."
After saying that, he placed a bowl of porridge in front of her. "Drink it while it's hot."
He had noticed that Nan Yu had hardly touched her chopsticks.
"…Thank you."
She had a faint sense of unreality. Whenever she felt Tan Linyuan's care, she would be irresistibly drawn to him.
People are like this. They will instinctively move towards warmth.
…
On the third day, Nian Nian actively clamored to go shopping.
She had completely overcome her fear of the outside world. Except for getting a bit panicked for a second when hearing the honking on the road, she could almost live normally outdoors.
Nan Yu rewarded her for her bravery and bought her a beautiful hairpin.
This continued until the day Wen Ruoyi was discharged from the hospital.
Tan Linyuan stood beside the bed and told Wen Ruoyi about Nian Nian's recent situation.
When she learned that her daughter was doing well, besides being relieved, there was also a bit of melancholy on her face.
Her daughter would eventually grow up.
And would eventually leave her mother.
After Tan Linyuan hung up the phone, he said to Wen Ruoyi, "The car is already waiting at the hospital entrance."
Just then, the door of the ward was opened.
Wen Ruoyi turned to look at the door. When she saw the person in the wheelchair, she was in a daze for a second.
"Mom! I'm here to pick you up from the hospital!" Nian Nian's childish voice rang out cheerfully.
Behind the wheelchair was Nan Yu, pushing Nian Nian.
"Nian Nian?" Wen Ruoyi was stunned. Looking at her daughter in front of her, her expression was out of control. "You…"
"Mom, I can go out now." She blinked. "This is a special surprise for you."
Nan Yu pushed Nian Nian to the bedside so that she was closer to Wen Ruoyi.
Seeing Wen Ruoyi's stunned expression, Nian Nian smiled even more brightly. She vowed, "Mom, this is just the beginning."
"When I grow up, I can protect you." She tilted her head. "You don't need to protect me all the time."
"Nian Nian can go to school, play the piano, and have more possibilities!"
This sentence was told to her by Nan Yu.
As long as she took this brave first step, the future would be full of infinite possibilities.
Wen Ruoyi watched this scene and couldn't hold back her emotions for a moment. The emotions of being touched, guilty, and sad made her shed tears.
Seeing this, Nian Nian opened her arms and hugged her.
"Mom, don't cry."
Wen Ruoyi took a deep breath. Her body trembled as she cried and apologized to Nian Nian. "Nian Nian, I'm sorry. Mom won't lock you up anymore."
"Please, don't hate mom."
She had done so many wrong things. At this moment, she just hoped that Nian Nian wouldn't blame her for her stubbornness.
She was just afraid of losing.
Nian Nian shook her head and said proudly, "There's no overnight feud between mother and daughter. You've always been my good mom."
The pre - arranged car took Wen Ruoyi and Nian Nian away. Nan Yu looked as if she had something to say but didn't.
Tan Linyuan glanced at her. "Something on your mind?"
Nan Yu pursed her lips and told him the truth. "Nian Nian said she wants to record a piano piece in a few days."
Tan Linyuan looked at her. "Do you need to ask for my permission for this too?"
"No." Nan Yu shook her head. After thinking for a while, she said, "I may take Nian Nian to Zhou Yu's place."
Zhou Yu's place had more complete equipment and fewer people. Nian Nian wouldn't feel too nervous there.
She wanted Nian Nian to experience more of the joy of playing the piano so that she could go further on this path.
The moment she said it, Nan Yu was already prepared for Tan Linyuan's furious reaction.
She held her breath.
After waiting for a long time, she only heard Tan Linyuan say casually, "Go ahead. I'll pick you up when you come back."
Not getting the reaction she expected, Nan Yu was a bit surprised.
"You… agree?"
"Otherwise?" Tan Linyuan's voice was the same as usual. "This is your normal social activity. You don't need to report everything to me in the future."
Nan Yu was stunned.
She understood what he meant, but the difference in his attitude was too great.
Besides the slight sense of relief in her heart, there was also a kind of indescribable loss.
Because of his indifference.
"Also," he sized her up with his eyes and said calmly, "The house in Ye Nanwan has been vacated."
After saying this, he turned around and walked towards the parking area.
Nan Yu still stood there.
She carefully savored his words, and her heart sank bit by bit.
Did he mean to drive her away?