The breakfast was harmonious. Although Qin Ningyi found Huo Rou, who was free of barbs, somewhat unreal, like she was covered in something, she had at least truly accepted his apology.
He had also offered some compensation, which Huo Rou refused. She smiled gently, "I have such a smart and obedient son like An An, which is more than enough. I don't need any compensation."
An An nodded in strong agreement.
After breakfast, as Qin Ningyi was about to return to work, An An called out to him.
Seeing Huo Rou's change in attitude that day, An An wanted to seize the opportunity to bring up the matter.
"You want me to go to your opening ceremony with him tomorrow?" Huo Rou asked slowly.
Qin Ningyi glanced at Huo Rou's profile. He didn't speak but silently praised An An in his heart.
"Let's forget about it," Huo Rou didn't want to join the crowd.
"Come on, Mom, you're so beautiful, An An wants to show you off!"
"Where did you learn all this?" Huo Rou couldn't help but laugh.
Qin Ningyi thought for a moment and said, "Let's go together. All the other parents are going together. If An An is the only one with just his dad, it would be quite embarrassing."
An An received Qin Ningyi's gaze and quickly added, "Exactly! When An An was in the village kindergarten, they used to laugh at me all the time, so please go."
"Besides, don't you want to see An An attend the opening ceremony in his handsome school uniform?" Qin Ningyi continued to tempt her. He could tell that Huo Rou doted on An An and wouldn't want to miss such an important milestone for him.
"Yes, yes, Mom, our school uniforms are so nice. They hadn't been distributed yet, and they said we'd wear them together at the opening ceremony. You haven't seen An An in his yet, he looks so cool!" An An chimed in, following Qin Ningyi's lead.
Huo Rou couldn't help but laugh at their synchronicity, "Is it really that important? Is it really that good-looking?"
"Yes!" they answered in unison.
Their tacit understanding at that moment was remarkable. Huo Rou looked at the two who already resembled each other, and under An An's expectant gaze, she nodded.
"Yay!" An An happily threw himself into Qin Ningyi's arms, and Qin Ningyi, playing along, scooped him up.
"You're the best, Dad!" An An whispered into Qin Ningyi's ear.
Qin Ningyi turned his head and gave him a smile.
Watching the two whispering close together, Huo Rou finally understood An An's longing for his father. He truly liked Qin Ningyi as his father.
After Huo Rou agreed, Qin Ningyi left for work in good spirits.
"Assistant Xiao, is President Qin in a good mood today?" Manager Wang, who had come to submit reports, asked Xiao Konglin as he left Qin Ningyi's office.
Xiao Konglin had noticed Qin Ningyi's change early on. The tea was too hot, but he didn't say anything. The aunt hadn't had time to move the flowerpot to the window for sunlight, so he had even moved it himself.
The fact that everyone who reported in the morning left President Qin's office with a smile further indicated President Qin's good mood.
"Yes."
"Did something good happen? Is our company finally going to acquire Sheng Qiang Real Estate?" Manager Wang was a manager of a real estate company under Qin's Group. His greatest wish was to acquire Sheng Qiang Real Estate, which was always competing with them.
"No," Xiao Konglin hadn't heard of Qin Ningyi planning to acquire any company.
"Then what good news is it?" Manager Wang became gossipy.
Xiao Konglin looked at Manager Wang's bloated face and his small, eager eyes. He reached out and patted Manager Wang's stiff beer belly, "Why are you asking about these things? Aren't you afraid President Qin will scold you?"
"I am," Manager Wang became timid at the thought of President Qin's low pressure and cold yet piercing words.
After Manager Wang left, Xiao Konglin glanced back at the door of Qin Ningyi's office. This workaholic was late today, likely having gone to see his son who was taken away by his mother.
However, such a good mood... could it be that the child's mother had given him a favorable reception?
Xiao Konglin's suppressed curiosity for the day was finally confirmed when he left work.
"I won't be coming to the company tomorrow. I need to attend An An's opening ceremony," Qin Ningyi instructed Xiao Konglin as he left his office. "Postpone tomorrow's meetings. If there's anything important, come find me at An An's school."
"Understood, President Qin," Xiao Konglin stood up and nodded, then followed Qin Ningyi with his bag. He had a dinner engagement to attend with him today.
Entering the elevator, he pressed the button for the basement. Unexpectedly, Qin Ningyi pressed the button for the 51st floor.
Hmm? Going to see Sister Qin? Xiao Konglin guessed.
In reality, he was only half right.
Qin Ningyi asked Qin Feiwan for a casual dress and also had Qin Feiwan help him pick out shoes online, having them delivered to his home.
"Are you chasing her? Have you clarified things?" Qin Feiwan felt a pang of sourness. Her seemingly tough younger brother was actually coming to her for clothes for a woman.
"It's just for her to wear to An An's opening ceremony tomorrow," Qin Ningyi neither admitted nor denied.
Qin Feiwan gave him a sideways glance, her words tinged with sourness, "You even measured her size and shoe size with your eyes, and you're still not chasing her?"
"Little brother, I never realized you had such keen eyesight for measurements, tsk." Qin Feiwan packed the clothes and threw them to him, her red lips curving into a meaningful smile, "So thoughtful."
At the dinner, Xiao Konglin left halfway through to deliver the dress and shoes to Huo Rou. When Huo Rou opened the door, she was wearing sportswear, naturally unadorned. Even knowing she was President Qin's woman, he couldn't help but look at her a second time.
Huo Rou smiled and accepted the clothes, even warmly inviting him in. Xiao Konglin glanced through the doorway at the school district apartment Huo Rou had bought outright and felt admiration. A woman with no background could just buy a place like this.
The next morning. Qin Ningyi drove to pick up the mother and son and took them to school.
The opening ceremony was indeed grand, with the school gate already crowded. Most children were accompanied by their parents, or at least their grandparents, generally fulfilling Qin Ningyi's statement about "parents going together."
An An was wearing his school uniform, a short-sleeved shirt with overalls. Huo Rou had tied a tie for him that morning, and he looked very proud.
The handsome man and beautiful woman, a family unit, attracted everyone's attention the moment they appeared at the school gate, sparking discussions among other parents.
"An An!" a female voice called out.
"Teacher Zhou," An An greeted the teacher politely.
Teacher Zhou's gaze swept over An An and then landed on Qin Ningyi. Just as she was about to greet Qin Ningyi with her most perfect smile, she saw Huo Rou out of the corner of her eye.
The words on her lips turned into, "Qin Ningyi, who is this?"