In the morning, Shi Nuan did attend a business meeting. Originally, Shi Yuanbo was considerate of her foot injury and didn’t want her to go, but Shi Nuan insisted, leaving Shi Yuanbo no choice but to instruct Yu Dou to take care of her.

Yu Dou indeed took good care of her throughout the process.

Shi Nuan often wondered why Yu Dou was so obedient to her Father and why Father seemed to have an inexplicable trust in Yu Dou.

But this trust was definitely not because of belief in Yu Dou’s character, it was something else, but what exactly, Shi Nuan couldn’t figure out.

"How was it? Was the business meeting fun?" Song Yansheng asked casually while driving.

Shi Nuan shook her head, "Not fun, quite boring!"

Song Yansheng sneered, "Boring and you still went?"

Song Yansheng was still angry about Shi Nuan running around with her injured foot.

Shi Nuan could tell, so she simply stopped talking.

She looked out of the car window and changed the topic, "I wonder if there will be much rain in T City this October?"

"Why? Do you like rain?"

"Not really. As they say, a fall rain brings a chill. To be honest, I’m quite afraid of the cold..."

Song Yansheng glanced at her sideways and said, "No wonder you’re called Nuannuan, turns out it’s because you’re afraid of the cold!"

Shi Nuan was embarrassed; her name’s origin wasn’t because of this.

Taking a breath, she said, "I just suddenly remembered, the first time I heard Second Uncle’s name was probably in October too, it was raining outside, and it was very heavy..."

Song Yansheng paused, "The first time you heard my name?"

"Yes..." Shi Nuan said, "I was thirteen then, Second Uncle should have returned to the country a few months back. I saw Second Uncle’s report in the newspaper, praising your talents as a youthful entrepreneur, having independently founded a company, courageous..."

Song Yansheng laughed, "At thirteen, you were concerned with such reports?"

Shi Nuan’s thin lips moved slightly, "Yes, I seem to be much less playful than my peers, quite mature..."

Song Yansheng squinted; coincidentally, a red light was ahead, he stopped the car and reached out a hand to hold Shi Nuan’s hand resting on her leg.

With fingers entwined, he slowly tightened his grip.

His palm was warm, her hand was somewhat cool.

He hooked his fingers around hers, one by one, locking them in the most intimate way, and then spoke.

He said, "No worries, what Nuannuan once lost, I will use the decades ahead to slowly find back for Nuannuan... In front of me, Nuannuan can act like a child, I will protect Nuannuan!"

Shi Nuan made no sound, letting him hold her fingers, soon the red light changed, only then did Song Yansheng release his grip and start the car again.

There were those tens of seconds of silence in the car; the past ten plus years were a taboo for both.

Because those years, they lost too much.

What Song Yansheng lost, he won back slowly in his own way.

But what Shi Nuan lost was still lost, some things in this life might never be found again.

After a while, as the car moved, Shi Nuan spoke, a light and faint sentence.

She said, "Second Uncle protects me, then who will protect Second Uncle?"

Song Yansheng felt his heart tighten, a rush of sourness surged up like a tide, rendering him momentarily speechless.

Since leaving the country at fourteen until now, over fifteen years have passed; this journey was filled with vulnerability, helplessness, and despair.

But that was unseen by others; in everyone’s eyes, he was the omnipotent, invincible Song Yansheng.

He could protect many people and had the ability to do so, yet few ever thought about protecting him.

It seemed he needed no one’s protection, as no one could hurt him.

But, how could that be? Everyone has weaknesses; no one is invincible.

Even Song Yansheng has moments when he’s tired and wants a shoulder to lean on and confide in.

But he never expected such words to come from Shi Nuan’s mouth.

With an eight-year age difference, Shi Nuan was just a little girl in his heart.

Even now, as soon as she closes her eyes, he can instantly recall the innocent and lovely appearance of six-year-old Shi Nuan.

Occasionally, six-year-old Shi Nuan would blend into the gentle presence of today’s twenty-two-year-old Shi Nuan, but no matter how they blend, she has always been his Shi Nuan, unchanged.

Song Yansheng decided to marry Shi Nuan, and despite the world’s condemnation, he wed her because he admired Shi Nuan and had for many years.

Mother knew, understood that no matter how much she tried to stop it, it was fruitless, so she let him be.

The night before getting the marriage certificate, he lay in bed staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep for a long time.