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Su Ning accompanied Ma Shuer and her son on a parent-child team building trip. One of the two teachers leading the group was Lu Qing, who deliberately teased Su Ning in public.

"Parents, please show your invitations!" Lu Qing stood at the bus door, her voice crisp and somewhat deliberate.

She wore exquisite makeup today, and her light blue dress made her skin look as white as snow.

Ma Shuer handed over the invitation, and Lu Qing glanced at it before suddenly raising her voice: "Sir, where is your invitation?"

Everyone's eyes immediately focused on Suning.

Ma Jiming nervously grabbed Su Ning's sleeve: "Teacher Lu, he's my father! Have you forgotten?"

“Really?” Lu Qing tilted her head, her eyes sharp. “The school records don’t show that Ma Jiming’s father is this Mr. Fang.”

The air inside the carriage instantly froze.

Ma Shuer's face turned pale instantly, and her fingers unconsciously dug into her palms.

Su Ning calmly patted Ma Jiming on the shoulder and looked directly at Lu Qing: "Teacher Lu, it's normal for single-parent families to restructure. If the school requires the biological parents to participate, we'll get off the bus now."

His voice wasn't loud, but everyone on the bus could hear it clearly.

Several parents began to whisper among themselves, some looking at Ma Jimu with sympathy.

Lu Qing's expression shifted subtly before finally breaking into a bright smile: "Just kidding! Mr. Fang, please get in the car, we're leaving right away."

"Your joke is lame! It also lowers your standards and morals, and you will pay a heavy price for it in the future."

"I..." Seeing that Su Ning was really angry, Lu Qing felt regretful.

Ma Shuer stiffly followed Su Ning to the back seat and asked in a low voice, "Su Ning, why is Teacher Lu targeting you?"

Su Ning settled Ma Jiming in a window seat and replied softly, "I'll explain later."

During the two-hour drive, Lu Qing would occasionally introduce the scenery along the way through the microphone, and each time her gaze swept over the back row, a faint smile would appear on her lips.

Liu Ming, the physical education teacher who was traveling with her, tried to strike up a conversation several times, but she politely but coldly turned him away each time.

“Dad, Ms. Lu is acting strange today,” Ma Jiming whispered to Su Ning. “She’s never been so harsh on Ms. Liu.”

Su Ning ruffled the boy's hair: "Focus on the scenery, and tell me what that mountain looks like later."

"Okay, Dad."

During the room allocation process at the resort, Lu Qing held the list with an apologetic expression: "I'm so sorry, rooms are in short supply, so we can only assign one room per family."

She glanced meaningfully at Su Ning and Ma Shuer, "Hopefully it won't be inconvenient."

Before Ma Shuer could speak, Su Ning had already taken the room key: "Thank you for your trouble, Teacher Lu."

The room was a standard double room. Ma Jiming excitedly jumped onto the bed by the window: "Dad, I want to sleep here! I can see the stars!"

"Okay! It's all up to you."

After settling her luggage, Ma Shuer excused herself to go to the restroom and pulled Su Ning to a corner in the corridor: "Can you explain now? Why is Lu Qing targeting you?"

Su Ning sighed: "She was my ex-girlfriend."

"What?" Mashu'er's eyes widened. "Is it the one you mentioned last time?"

“That’s right! If she hadn’t left, we would probably be married by now. I never expected her to come back, and I never expected that she would still be Ma Jiming’s teacher.”

Ma Shuer's fingers unconsciously twisted the hem of her clothes: "Why...did you break up?"

"The situation is a bit complicated! Ultimately, it's probably because she doesn't care about me." Su Ning replied briefly, clearly not wanting to elaborate.

Before Ma Shuer could ask any more questions, Ma Jiming suddenly opened the door and said, "Mom, Dad, let's go get some barbecue!"

Dinner was held on the resort's lawn, with parents sitting in small groups around the grill.

Lu Qing moved among them, but deliberately avoided Su Ning's table.

Teacher Liu Ming followed diligently behind her, like a loyal protector.

"Teacher Lu is so beautiful, and she's our most popular female teacher," Ma Jiming mumbled, biting into a chicken wing.

Ma Shuer glanced at Lu Qing in the distance, then took a big gulp of beer with mixed feelings.

As night deepened, after Ma Jiming went to sleep, Su Ning stood on the balcony looking at the stars.

The glass door slid open gently, and Ma Shu'er came out carrying two cans of beer: "Can't sleep?"

"Hmm." Su Ning took the beer. "And you?"

“There are too many things I can’t understand.” Ma Shu’er leaned against the railing, the night wind ruffling her long hair. “For example, why would an ex-girlfriend be so hostile towards you? Usually, only the one who was hurt would…”

"Maybe she can't accept that I've found someone new so quickly!"

Mashuer frowned: "Just because of that?"

Su Ning tilted his head back and took a swig of wine. "Actually, you women are quite possessive too."

Ma Shuer's hand trembled, spilling a few drops of beer: "Hmph! Are you targeting me?"

“Mashuer, I hope you understand that my attitude towards marriage is very strange. There is no way I can give you marriage in this lifetime.”

"Why? I want to know the reason?"

"Because I don't believe in marriage at all. Rather than entering a tomb without any constraints, I'd rather enjoy being free forever."

"This……"

"Like your ex-husband, it seems you can't contact him for so many years. What's the point of such a marriage?"

"But... but we can't throw the baby out with the bathwater, can we?"

"Conflicts between the couple before marriage are usually hidden as much as possible, but they all come to light after marriage. Even a small conflict can escalate into a major conflict."

"..."

The alcohol took effect quickly.

Ma Shuer's cheeks flushed as she began to ramble on about her failed marriage, the hardships of raising her child alone, and her fears about the future.

Su Ning listened quietly, occasionally offering a few words of agreement.

"Do you know what?" Ma Shuer suddenly leaned closer, her breath reeking of alcohol on Su Ning's face, "I've been searching for Ji Mo's biological father... that bastard has vanished without a trace..."

Su Ning frowned: "Why are you looking for him?"

“I don’t know…” Ma Shu’er’s eyes were unfocused. “Maybe she wants to give Ji Mo an explanation, or maybe she just wants to scold him to his face… Also, Ma Ji Mo needed to undergo bone marrow matching and transplantation before, so she wants that fat man to take responsibility.”

Her voice gradually lowered, and she rested her head on Su Ning's shoulder.

When I returned to the room, Ma Jiming was already fast asleep, his little face looking especially peaceful under the night light.

Ma Shuer staggered, and Su Ning quickly helped her up.

Their eyes met, and a certain unspoken longing spread through the air.

"Shh..." Ma Shuer raised her finger and pointed at the sleeping child, then pulled Su Ning into the bathroom quietly.

The sound of the shower water masked his panting.

After they came out, the two squeezed onto the remaining single bed. Ma Shuer curled up in Su Ning's arms and suddenly asked, "Fang Yuan, what will our future be like?"

"Whatever you want." Su Ning's voice carried a languid quality. "You're free to come and go as you please."

Ma Shuer propped herself up: "What do you mean?"

“It means exactly what it says.” Su Ning looked at her calmly. “If you want to stay, you’re welcome; if you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”

"What about Gao Yawen?" Ma Shuer persisted. "Is she free too?"

"Ah."

Ma Shuer suddenly lay back down, her back to Su Ning: "Sometimes I really hate your attitude."

Suning did not respond, but simply reached out and turned off the bedside lamp.

In the darkness, each lost in their own thoughts, until exhaustion finally overcame everything.

……

During the second day of golf activities, Mashuer attempted to teach Suning basic movements.

"Your wrist should be like this..." She stood behind him adjusting his posture, her chest inadvertently brushing against his back.

Suning suddenly turned around, skillfully swung his club, and the white ball drew a perfect arc, going straight into the hole.

Ma Jimo cheered, "Dad is awesome!"

Mashuer stared in disbelief: "You...you can play golf?"

“I’ve played before,” Su Ning said casually, beckoning Ma Jiming over. “Jiming, come here! I’ll teach you.”

"Thank you dad."

Watching Su Ning patiently instruct Ma Jiming, Ma Shuer felt a mix of emotions.

How many other aspects of this man is unknown to her?
"Mom! Come and see what I did!" Ma Jiming shouted excitedly.

Although his movements were clumsy, they were already quite impressive.

Ma Shuer walked over, and the happy scene of the three of them was seen by Lu Qing not far away.

The mineral water bottle in her hand was squeezed out of shape.

"Teacher Lu?" Liu Ming asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Lu Qing forced a smile: "It's nothing."

Her gaze, however, could not be taken off Su Ning.

What she once considered an absurd and outrageous romantic encounter now exudes a captivating charm in every gesture.

What hurt her even more was that when he was with that mother and son, he looked so...complete.

A strange, stinging sensation spread through my chest.

Lu Qing originally thought that Su Ning was just a small episode in her life, and that she would probably never meet him or have anything to do with him again.

Why do I feel so upset when I see him holding someone else's child?
During lunch, Ma Shuer noticed that Lu Qing kept glancing at their table.

“Su Ning, she’s still looking at you,” Ma Shu’er whispered to Su Ning, “her eyes look like she wants to devour me alive.”

Su Ning put a piece of spare rib on Ma Jiming's plate: "Ignore her! You women are all the same, you don't know how to cherish what you have until you lose it and then you cry and wail."

“No,” Ma Shuer put down her chopsticks, “I have to go meet your ex-girlfriend.”

Before Suning could stop her, Ma Shuer had already taken the tray and headed towards the teacher's desk.

“Ms. Lu,” she said with a sweet smile, “could I ask you a few questions about education?”

Lu Qing was clearly caught off guard, but quickly regained her composure: "Of course, Ms. Ma..."

The conversation between the two women seemed ordinary, but undercurrents were brewing.

Suning, watching from afar, sighed, knowing that the trouble had only just begun.

Ma Jiming tilted his head and asked, "Dad, are Mom and Teacher Lu arguing?"

“No,” Su Ning ruffled his hair, “they were just…communicating.”

The boy nodded as if he understood, then suddenly said, "I like you being my dad. Even better than my own dad."

Su Ning paused for a moment, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

He looked at the two women still "communicating" in the distance, then at the innocent child beside him, and suddenly realized that no matter how much he emphasized "freedom," some constraints had already quietly formed.

……

Department of Hematology, Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital.

"Ms. Ma, could you please recall what medications Ma Jiming has taken in the last three months?" The head of the hematology department, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, repeated the question for the third time, his fingers tapping incessantly on the test report. "This is simply a medical miracle!" Ma Shuer shielded her son behind her, a professional smile on her face: "Director Zhang, I've already made myself very clear; it was just the standard treatment plan."

"Impossible!" a young researcher couldn't help but interject. "There are fewer than ten cases worldwide of chronic myeloid leukemia spontaneously resolving without a bone marrow transplant! Moreover, genetic testing at the end of the era showed..."

Mashu interrupted him: "Perhaps my son is just lucky."

She took Ma Jiming's hand. "The examination is finished. Can we go now?"

"..."

As they walked out of the hospital, Ma Jiming looked up at her mother and asked, "Mom, why didn't you tell them that Dad's medicine cured me?"

Ma Shuer squatted down and looked directly into her son's eyes: "Listen, Ji Mo, your father doesn't have a medical license. If anyone finds out he cured you, the police will arrest him. He'll not only be fined, but he'll also go to jail, understand?"

Ma Jimu stared wide-eyed in horror and immediately covered his mouth with his hand.

Ma Shuer hugged her son tenderly and glanced back at the hospital building. Several doctors in white coats were already standing at the windows, watching them.

……

In Professor Wu's studio, Su Ning was organizing architectural models.

The old man approached with a teacup, his eyes kind: "Xiao Fang! What's your decision? I've contacted an old classmate from the architecture school; you can audit the class first..."

“Mr. Wu,” Su Ning put down the materials in her hand and said sincerely, “I am really grateful to you. But my situation is a bit special, and I cannot continue to work in the construction industry.”

"What special circumstance is more important than your future?" Professor Wu frowned. "You're only in your early thirties. Do you intend to be a nanny for the rest of your life?"

Suning looked out the window, where sunlight filtered through the leaves of the sycamore trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground: "Everyone has their own ambitions."

"Nonsense!" Professor Wu suddenly raised his voice. "The structural design you revised last week was praised by the client! This kind of talent..."

The old man coughed with excitement.

Su Ning quickly offered him tea: "Teacher, please don't be angry. I promise you, once... once I've finished dealing with my current matters, I will seriously consider it."

Professor Wu sighed deeply: "Is it because of that mother and child?"

Suning did not deny it, but silently packed up his tools: "I've finished my work for today, I'm leaving now."

"All right!"

……

The stairwell of Ma Shuer's building was packed with people.

Some were holding medical records, some were holding cash, and some were even kneeling on the ground and kowtowing.

Ma Shuer dragged her son into the house with difficulty, and collapsed on the ground as soon as she closed the door.

“This is the third wave…” she said wearily, wiping her face. “The law firm receptionist said they received more than twenty calls for me today.”

Suning brought out a bowl of hot soup from the kitchen: "Eat first. Ji Mo, wash your hands."

Ma Jiming obediently ran to the restroom. Ma Shuer lowered her voice and said, "The hospital leaked our information. Today, a patient's family member barged into the courthouse looking for me..."

"I guessed it." Su Ning ladled a bowl of soup for her. "Drink some, it'll calm your nerves."

Ma Shuer stared blankly at the soup bowl: "Fang Yuan, Ji Mo's illness... will it really not relapse?"

“No.” Su Ning said firmly, “The formula I used is… a family secret recipe, it will definitely cure the disease.”

Ma Shuer looked up at him, a complex light flashing in her eyes: "Those people blocking the door... if we treat them..."

“It’s incurable.” Su Ning interrupted her, her voice unusually calm. “Right now they’re begging for medicine on their knees, but once they’re cured, they’ll be the first to sue me.”

“How could that be…” Ma Shuer was about to retort when she suddenly stopped.

As a lawyer, she understood human nature all too well.

The high cost of Gleevec makes patients willingly pay for it, even if they have complaints, they have no choice but to grit their teeth and endure it. However, if a barefoot doctor charges money for traditional Chinese medicine, it is considered illegal medical practice.

Moreover, the responsibility and pressure of not being able to cure the disease are overwhelming, so the complexity of human nature does not allow for the existence of a "medicine god".

Using the Western medical system to judge the traditional Chinese medicine system is the most foolish thing to do, and this is the fundamental reason why traditional Chinese medicine can never be revived and become strong.

Ma Jiming ran back and climbed onto a chair: "Dad, we ran 800 meters in PE class today! I wasn't out of breath at all!"

Su Ning smiled and put some food on his plate: "Eat more, you need to grow strong."

Watching the two interacting intimately, Ma Shuer suddenly said, "Fang Yuan, I plan to resign. Once I finish the cases I have on hand, I'll take Ji Mo and leave Shanghai."

The chopsticks stopped in mid-air. Su Ning looked up and asked, "Where are you going?"

“I don’t know, the farther the better.” Ma Shuer smiled bitterly. “I finally got back into the legal profession… but for Ji Mo…”

"Wait a little longer." Su Ning put down her chopsticks. "The storm will pass. Your career has just started to take off..."

"And what about you?" Ma Shuer suddenly asked, "Professor Wu values ​​you so much, are you just content to stay like this forever..."

Su Ning looked at Ma Shuer and said, "Let's talk after we finish eating."

……

Su Ning was suddenly called back to the movie theater for dinner by Tao Jun, only to find that Lu Qing was also there, making the atmosphere at the movie theater dinner strange.

Tao Jun prepared a table full of dishes, and Lin Li and Lu Qing sat together whispering.

As soon as Su Ning entered the room, she noticed Lu Qing's burning gaze.

"Fang Yuan, we've been waiting for you!" Tao Jun greeted him warmly. "Miss Lu came here specifically to see you."

Lu Qing wore a light pink dress today, her makeup exquisite: "Long time no see! Fang Yuan."

Su Ning nodded and sat in the seat furthest away from her.

At the dinner table, Tao Jun tried his best to liven up the atmosphere, but Lin Li kept giving Lu Qing meaningful glances.

"I'll go get the drinks." After the meal, Lin Li pulled Lu Qing into the kitchen.

Through the half-open door, Suning heard intermittent conversations.

"...Get out of there as soon as possible...He's like that with every woman..."

“…It’s different…I can feel it…”

"...Silly girl...he and that lawyer have already..."

Frustrated, Su Ning walked into the screening room and slumped into the audience seats.

In the darkness, the light reflected from the screen flickered on his face.

The sound of high heels came from behind her, and Lu Qing sat down next to him.

"The movie was good." She made conversation.

"Ah."

How have you been lately?

"Not bad! Mashuer is very understanding."

Silence spreads.

Lu Qing suddenly grabbed his hand: "Su Ning, I know I was wrong. I shouldn't have looked down on you back then, I shouldn't have..."

Su Ning withdrew her hand: "Lu Qing, let bygones be bygones."

"But I still love you!" Lu Qing's voice trembled with tears, "Seeing you with that woman and her child, I..."

Su Ning said calmly, "Do you even understand love? You didn't want to start a relationship with me in the first place, did you?"

Lu Qing suddenly stood up and ran out of the screening room.

A moment later, Lin Li walked in and sighed, "Fang Yuan, you made her cry."

Su Ning rubbed his temples: "A short, sharp pain is worse than a long, drawn-out one."

“You’ve changed, Fang Yuan.” Lin Li leaned back in her chair. “You used to be so kind to women.”

The changing light and shadow on the screen were reflected on Su Ning's face: "People always change."

……

The next morning, Su Ning arrived at Professor Wu's house and bowed deeply: "Professor, I'm here to resign."

Professor Wu put down the blueprints: "For that child?"

"For their whole family," Su Ning said frankly. "They need me now."

The old man remained silent for a long time, then took an envelope from the drawer: "This is your salary for this month, I gave you a raise..."

Su Ning declined, saying, "No need! It's my honor to have the opportunity to learn from you for this period of time."

Professor Wu's eyes suddenly reddened: "Silly child... at least accept this."

He took out a handwritten notebook, "These are my thoughts over the years. Take a look when you have time."

Su Ning solemnly accepted it, her throat tightening: "Thank you, teacher."

……

Then Su Ning went to Ma Shuer's house again, and just then, the doorbell rang again.

Ma Shuer opened the door with a puzzled look on her face, her face turning deathly pale instantly. Standing outside the door was her ex-husband, Lin Yue.

"Shu'er..." The man, with the air of a successful businessman and carrying a child's toy, said, "I...I came to see my son."

"..."

Ma Jiming peeked out from behind Su Ning, his eyes filled with unfamiliarity: "Who are you?"

Lin Yue's gaze swept back and forth between the three of them. "Looks like I've come at the wrong time..."

Ma Shuer took a deep breath and made a small opening: "Come in! You have ten minutes."

In the living room, Lin Yue sat awkwardly on the edge of the sofa, trying to strike up a conversation with Ma Jiming: "You...you like this Transformer? Dad specially..."

“I have a dad now.” Ma Jiming snuggled close to Su Ning. “My dad taught me boxing and cured my illness.”

Lin Yue looked at Ma Shuer in shock: "What illness?"

“Chronic myeloid leukemia,” Ma Shuer said coldly. “You’ve been out of touch for so many years, you didn’t even know your son had a terminal illness.”

The man lowered his head in shame: "I owed money in Macau... and I've been hiding for several years..."

“Time’s up.” Ma Shu’er stood up. “You’ve seen it all, you can go now.”

Lin Yue pleaded, "Let me stay a little longer... I can sleep in the living room..."

“Impossible.” Mashu’er opened the door. “You lost this right three years ago when you abandoned us.”

Lin Yue looked at Su Ning and suddenly knelt down: "Brother, thank you for taking care of my wife and children..."

Su Ning pulled him up abruptly, her voice icy: "First, Ma Shuer is not your wife; second, Ji Mo is not your bargaining chip; third..."

He whispered in the man's ear, "If you dare to harass them again, I'll make you regret coming back to Shanghai."

After seeing Lin Yue off, Ma Shuer trembled all over.

"Ma Shuer, you haven't gone through the divorce proceedings with Lin Yue yet, have you?"

"Hmm! I could never find him before."

"Then let's get it done quickly! To avoid endless trouble later."

"it is good."

...(End of chapter)