Shen Nian thought of something and turned to look at Lu Lingchuan, asking seriously, "Do you like the ocean?"
Without waiting for the man to answer, she pulled her gaze away and continued staring at the sea surface, talking to herself, "I quite like it."
With the sea breeze blowing, Shen Nian felt that the world in front of her had become clear.
She tilted her head slightly, closed her eyes, and felt the sea breeze.
The weather was hot now, and even the wind blowing on her body felt warm, not stinging at all.
Shen Nian's lips curved into a slight arc, smiling as she said, "If possible, I want to buy a house by the sea after retirement. I might really love the ocean too much."
There were too many crossroads in life, and at each new crossroad, one had to make a choice again. If the wrong choice was made even once, it would be irreversible.
This feeling of being on tenterhooks was truly exhausting.
Unlike the ocean, which was vast and boundless. With the sea all around, there was no need to deliberately choose a direction. Drifting in any direction was fine; no matter where one ended up, one could appreciate the unique scenery.
She thought that she really liked the ocean very much.
Lu Lingchuan didn't say a word, only staring at Shen Nian.
She wore a light blue floral spaghetti strap dress, her skin enviably fair.
She was tall but slender, with her exposed collarbone particularly eye-catching, complementing her girl-next-door looks that would make any man fall for her at first sight, lending her an elegant and alluring appearance.
Shen Nian tilted her head slightly, feeling the sea breeze, revealing her beautiful jaw line. With her eyes slightly closed, her eyelashes were dense and long.
A hint of a smile danced at the corners of her lips, containing the clear hue of a spring, making her look pure and innocent.
She was like a goddess of the sea.
Lu Lingchuan stared at her for a long while before speaking frankly, "You look prettier in a white dress."
The light blue floral dress was beautiful, but if she wore white, she might look even more stunning.
Lu Lingchuan would never forget the first time he saw her, when she stood behind Ling Rui, wearing a white dress like a fairy left in the mortal world.
When she saw him, she paused for a moment before revealing a shy yet polite smile.
That smile was etched in Lu Lingchuan's heart, unforgettable until death. No matter when he recalled it, his heart would race uncontrollably.
It had been a long time since he had last seen her in white.
"..." Upon hearing Lu Lingchuan's words, Shen Nian opened her eyes and turned to look at him.
Suddenly, she curved her lips into a slight smile, "Life is about trying new things. I think I look quite good in other colors too."
Not necessarily just white.
The sun had set, and even the sea breeze had become much cooler. Shen Nian said to Lu Lingchuan, "It's getting late, I'll head back first. Feel free to stay, Lu."
After saying that, she lifted her dress and walked towards the hotel.
Lu Lingchuan didn't follow her but remained standing there, continuing to stare at the ocean.
Suddenly, he felt a small attachment on his leg and looked down to see a little baby clinging to his thigh.
Such a tiny thing, not even as long as his leg.
It was the little girl from earlier.
The little girl still had the buns that Shen Nian had tied for her on her head, looking adorably cute.
Lu Lingchuan looked at her, his voice becoming much gentler, "What's wrong?"
Even he himself was puzzled at how gentle he could be.
The little girl looked up at him with her childish voice, "Brother, Mom is going to take me back. I'm saying goodbye to you."
Upon hearing this, Lu Lingchuan raised his head and saw the little girl's mother not far away, holding the child's belongings and waiting. When she saw Lu Lingchuan looking over, she nodded slightly and revealed a very polite smile.
Lu Lingchuan curved his lips, bent down, and picked up the little one. The chubby bundle nestled in Lu Lingchuan's embrace, her two plump little hands naturally wrapping around his neck.
"Little one, goodbye."
The little girl hugged Lu Lingchuan and kissed his cheek, "Brother, can I see you again tomorrow?"
Lu Lingchuan was here for work, not tourism. With important business negotiations tomorrow, he really didn't have time for casual strolls.
However, looking into the little girl's big, dark eyes, Lu Lingchuan couldn't bear to reject her and nodded, "Yes, as long as you eat well tonight and sleep well, you can see Uncle tomorrow."
He was about the same age as the little girl's mother, so he should call himself Uncle.
Children were just children. The little girl was immediately led away, "Then I'll build sandcastles with Uncle tomorrow."
She was inviting Lu Lingchuan to play in the sand with her.
"Okay." Lu Lingchuan agreed.
"Uncle, hug Hanhan and take a picture!"
"Okay." Lu Lingchuan agreed to everything.
The little one was delighted, hugging Lu Lingchuan, her face pressed against his, giggling happily.
Feeling the child's tender cheek, Lu Lingchuan smiled slightly and murmured, "If only Uncle could have an adorable baby like you."
After saying that, a hint of gloom flashed in his eyes.
After all, it was just a pipe dream, a foolish fantasy.
.....................
The next day, having prepared early, Lu Lingchuan was dressed in a formal suit, while Shen Nian was still in her impeccable secretary outfit, her hair neatly tied up, and black-framed glasses on her nose, adding a touch of scholarly elegance to her gentle features, concealing some of her radiance.
Today was mainly about discussing cooperation, and she was not the main focus, so there was no need for her to dress too conspicuously.
The agreed meeting location was at the golf course, and they arrived just as the other party did.
After getting out of the car, Lu Lingchuan first shook hands with the other company's president.
"President Zou, it's an honor to finally meet you."
The other party was a middle-aged president, with a potbelly and a Mediterranean hairstyle. Upon seeing Lu Lingchuan, he smiled widely, "Hello, hello, Lu! I've heard so much about your reputation, Lu. You're truly a young and accomplished man!"
"You flatter me."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Lu Lingchuan began introducing his team, "This is my younger brother, Lu Lingchen, and the two project managers, Manager Yu and Vice Manager Chen, as well as my secretary, Shen Nian."
After shaking hands one by one, President Zou's gaze finally fell on Shen Nian, his eyes sparkling, "So this is the beautiful assistant who is always by Lu's side. I've been looking forward to meeting you!"
In the business world, who didn't know about Lu Lingchuan's young and capable female assistant? If not for this assistant's help, Lu Lingchuan wouldn't have been able to establish a solid foothold in the business circle and surpass everyone in such a short time.
Lu Lingchuan was undoubtedly talented, but his assistant was also a formidable figure not to be underestimated.
Suddenly being called out, Shen Nian's face bore a standard smile as she nodded towards President Zou, "Hello, President Zou. I'm Shen Nian."
Just a smile, a glance, or even just the tone of her voice revealed Shen Nian's uniqueness. President Zou revealed an understanding smile, "No wonder there are so many praises for Assistant Shen. This poise is indeed impressive."
Shen Nian smiled, "President Zou is too kind. It is my honor to have the opportunity to converse with you."
Shen Nian's high emotional intelligence response delighted President Zou.
Pointing to the young man beside him, President Zou introduced with a smile, "This is my nephew, about the same age as you. He's currently training under me to develop his abilities."
[And...]
