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"Dad?" Ma Jiming tilted his head, scrutinizing the strange man in front of him as if he were an alien creature. "Are you really my dad?"

Lin Yue put on a smile and waved the Transformer in his hand: "Of course! Look, this is a gift Dad brought you!"

Ma Jiming didn't reach out; instead, he shrank behind Su Ning and said, "My dad bought me a limited edition Iron Man, which is three times bigger than yours."

The air in the living room froze instantly.

Lin Yue's smile froze on his face, his hand awkwardly hanging in mid-air.

Ma Shuer pursed her lips, a hint of pleasure flashing in her eyes.

“Ji Mo,” Su Ning gently reminded him, “be polite.”

Ma Jimu reluctantly took the toy, whispered "thank you," and immediately hid back next to Suning.

Lin Yue's gaze swept back and forth between the three, finally settling on Su Ning: "And this is...?"

“Fang Yuan, my fiancé,” Ma Shuer answered first, her fingers unconsciously twirling the plain ring.

"Fiancé?" Lin Yue raised an exaggerated eyebrow. "Shu'er, we've only been separated for a few years, and you're already..."

"Six years and seven months," Ma Shuer interrupted coldly, "starting from the day you disappeared."

Lin Yue chuckled and rubbed his hands together: "I have some... business in Macau. I came back this time to make it up to you and your son."

He tried to put his arm around Ma Shuer's shoulder in a show of affection, but she turned away to avoid it.

“Mr. Lin,” Su Ning suddenly spoke, her voice eerily calm, “Ji Mo should rest now. If you don’t have anything important to do, please leave!”

Lin Yue narrowed his eyes: "My son and I are reunited, isn't that important?"

“Rest is very important,” Ma Jiming suddenly interjected, her small hand grasping Su Ning’s finger.

Lin Yue's expression changed, then he suddenly put on a businesslike smile: "What does Mr. Fang do for a living? He even knows about medicine?"

"A nanny," Su Ning answered frankly.

"What! A nanny?" Lin Yue's surprise seemed genuine, followed by a disdainful expression. "Oh! So that's a male nanny?"

"Lin Yue!" Ma Shuer shouted sharply.

Su Ning smiled calmly: "Unlike you, Mr. Lin, I heard you're a photographer in Macau?"

He deliberately emphasized these three words, implying Lin Yue's casino filming work.

Lin Yue's face flushed bright red.

Ma Jiming looked up curiously: "Is Dad a photographer?"

"Yes! Yes!" Lin Yue grabbed at the camera like a lifeline and hurriedly pulled out a professional camera from his bag. "Look, Dad's equipment is so advanced! Do you want to learn how to take pictures?"

Ma Jimu was, after all, just a child. Attracted by the shiny equipment, he slowly moved toward Lin Yue.

Suning did not stop them, but simply observed quietly.

“Like this, press here…” Lin Yue glanced at Su Ning smugly, then guided his son to operate the camera, saying, “Dad makes a living with this!”

Ma Shuer watched coldly, then suddenly whispered to Su Ning, "Don't mind him! He only ever uses material things to win people over."

Su Ning held her hand: "It's okay, let the child decide for himself."

……

"What exactly do you want?" Downstairs at the law firm, Ma Shuer glared at Lin Yue, whom she had "coincidentally" encountered once again.

Lin Yue, holding a large bouquet of roses and dressed in a suit and tie, looked quite respectable: "Shu'er, give me a chance. Look, I have a stable job now, and I've met a big shot in Macau..."

Mashuer didn't even glance at the bouquet of flowers, and walked straight to the subway station: "I have no interest in your career."

Lin Yue jogged to catch up: "I know you hate me. But Ji Mo needs his biological father! What can that nanny give him?"

"Fang Yuan gave Ji Mo a second life!" Ma Shuer turned around abruptly, her voice trembling. "Do you know Ji Mo has leukemia? Do you know he almost died? Where were you? You were taking your artistic photos at a casino in Macau!"

Pedestrians passing by looked sideways.

Lin Yue hurriedly lowered his voice: "I...I don't know...but I can afford the medical expenses now!"

“No need,” Ma Shu’er sneered. “Fang Yuan has already cured him.”

"What? That nanny can cure diseases?" Lin Yue exclaimed as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world. "Shu'er, you're a lawyer. This kind of quack doctor's tricks..."

"Get lost." Ma Shuer squeezed out the word through gritted teeth. "If you harass me again, I'll apply for a restraining order."

Lin Yue suddenly grabbed her wrist: "We used to love each other so much, have you forgotten?"

He forced an envelope into her hand, saying, "Look at these photos, look at our past happiness!"

Ma Shuer broke free, and the photos scattered all over the floor.

The young her and Lin Yue kissed on the beach; smiled at their wedding; held their newborn son, Ma Jiming…

Each photo records the feelings she once sincerely gave.

Her eyes reddened, not from nostalgia, but from anger: "How dare you... how dare you use these to blackmail me?"

She stomped on those photos, shouting, "That Mashuer who loved you died long ago, along with you!"

……

Backstage at the movie theater, Tao Jun paced back and forth like a caged animal: "Marriage! Marriage! All Lin Li can think about is marriage!"

Su Ning leaned against the prop box, calmly peeling an apple: "You've been pursuing her for three years, and now you're backing out after proposing?"

"It's not that I'm backing out!" Tao Jun ran his fingers through his hair. "It's just... I'm suddenly scared. My whole life, Ning-ge! What if I meet someone more suitable later..."

"Then let's not get married." Su Ning cut the apple in half and handed him one half. "But don't hold the girl back."

Tao Jun slumped dejectedly in his chair: "But I can't bear to part with Lin Li..."

"Scumbag." A cold laugh came from the doorway.

Lin Li, carrying her suitcase, said with tears in her eyes, "Tao Jun, we're finished."

"Lily!" Tao Jun hurriedly chased after her. "I was wrong! I'll get married! We'll go to the Civil Affairs Bureau tomorrow!"

Suning shook his head and took a bite of the apple.

His phone vibrated; it was a message from Ma Shuer: "Lin Yue is here again, saying he wants to take Ji Mo to the amusement park. Should I say yes?"

After a moment's thought, Su Ning replied: "Let him go. Ji Mo will make his own judgment."

He put down his phone and looked out at the gloomy sky.

In the wars between adults, it is always the children who ultimately suffer.

But sometimes, letting children see the truth may be more important than a false reunion.

……

At the amusement park, Ma Jiming sat on the carousel, but he didn't show the same excitement as the other children.

Lin Yue kept taking pictures with his camera: "Smile! Yes! Dad will buy you ice cream!"

"I want to go home," Ma Jimo whispered after the fifth lap.

"You just got here!" Lin Yue was a little annoyed, but she suppressed it. "Then... Daddy will take you to buy toys? What do you want?"

Ma Jiming shook his head: "My father, Fang Yuan, said that we shouldn't take things from other people casually."

"Am I just anyone? I'm your own father!" Lin Yue finally couldn't help but raise his voice, drawing stares from those around him.

Ma Jiming's lips began to tremble: "You...you yelled at me..."

Lin Yue quickly squatted down: "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Dad didn't mean it."

He tentatively reached out to hug his son, "Daddy just missed you so much..."

Ma Jiming stiffly let him hug her, then asked softly, "Then why haven't you come to see me for so long? Mom said I almost died when I was in the hospital..."

Lin Yue's forehead was covered in cold sweat: "Dad... Dad works abroad and didn't know you were sick..."

“Fang Yuan’s father knew that.” Ma Jiming raised his head, his eyes were frighteningly clear. “He accompanied me to the hospital every day and brewed very bitter medicine for me. My mother said that without Fang Yuan’s father, I would have died long ago.”

Lin Yue was speechless.

Just then, the children's smartwatch in Ma Jimu's pocket rang.

He answered the phone eagerly: "Dad!"

"Did you have fun?" Suning's gentle voice came from the speaker. "Dad made your favorite sweet and sour pork ribs."

"I want to go home!" Ma Jimu's voice suddenly became tearful.

"..." Lin Yue was undoubtedly very frustrated at this moment.

Twenty minutes later, Suning appeared at the entrance of the amusement park.

Ma Jimu rushed into his arms like a cannonball, refusing to look at Lin Yue again.

"Fang Yuan, did you brainwash him?" Lin Yue asked through gritted teeth in a low voice.

Su Ning gently patted Ma Jiming's back and calmly looked at Lin Yue: "Children have the sharpest eyes. They know in their hearts who is truly good to them."

Lin Yue suddenly sneered: "Hmph! What are you pretending to be, saint? Aren't you just Tumashu'er's money and house? A nanny..."

"Lin Yue," Su Ning interrupted him, her voice as cold as ice, "If you keep babbling on and on, believe me, I'll beat you to a pulp!"

Lin Yue opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

He watched helplessly as Su Ning carried his son away, realizing for the first time that there was no longer a place for him in this family.

……

"Fang Yuan, did he really say that?" Ma Shuer placed the hot milk on the bedside table and watched Su Ning tuck the blanket around Ma Jiming.

Suning nodded: "The child is very smart; he saw through it on his own."

Ma Shuer sighed, sat on the edge of the bed and gently stroked her son's sleeping face: "Sometimes I wish he were a little less intelligent, then I wouldn't be so sad."

“Growth always involves some pain.” Su Ning held her hand. “The important thing is that he knows someone will always love him.”

Ma Shuer leaned into Su Ning's arms: "Lin Yue came to the law firm to see me again today, bringing old photos..."

"Are you soft-hearted?"

“No.” Ma Shuer raised her head, her eyes shining with determination. “When I look at those photos, I suddenly feel like a stranger. The girl who would cry and laugh for Lin Yue seems like a thing of the past.”

She reached out and stroked Su Ning's face. "Right now, all I want is to live a good life with you and Ji Mo."

"..."

...Actually, Lin Yue's sudden return this time was not simple, because he had also heard about the special drug for chronic myeloid leukemia.

So when they heard that there was something to be made, they rushed back to gather information, hoping to use that information to make money.

Sure enough, Lin Yue quickly leaked the information to the pharmaceutical companies, and the pharmaceutical companies all used their own methods to contact Su Ning.

"Mr. Fang, Pfizer is willing to pay 50 million to buy out your formula, plus a 5% cut of sales!" The voice on the other end of the phone was almost fawning.

"You've misunderstood! I don't have any prescriptions on me."

Suning hung up expressionlessly; this was the seventh call from a pharmaceutical company today.

He stood by the kitchen window, watching Ma Jiming play with his newly bought golden retriever in the yard, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the marble countertop.

The sound of the lock turning came from inside, and Ma Shuer rushed in, carrying a briefcase: "The law firm received three more calls today looking for you, all from pharmaceutical companies..."

Her words trailed off as she noticed Su Ning's unusual expression. "Fang Yuan, what's wrong?"

“Ma Shuer,” Su Ning turned around, her voice unusually calm, “did you tell Lin Yue about me treating Ji Mo?”

Ma Shuer's bag fell to the ground with a thud: "Huh? I... I might have mentioned it briefly..."

Her eyes suddenly widened. "Wait, you mean these pharmaceutical companies belong to Lin Yue..."

"Who else could it be but him?" Su Ning picked up her buzzing phone, turned it off, and threw it on the sofa. "He didn't come back for you and your child this time; he came for the news about this miracle drug."

Ma Shuer's face turned deathly pale instantly. She slowly sat down, supporting herself on the dining table. "That day... he asked me how Ji Mo recovered. I was so angry at the time that I said... I said..."

Her voice trembled, "Oh my God! How could I be so stupid!"

Su Ning poured her a glass of water and handed it to her: "It's not entirely your fault! He clearly approached you with an ulterior motive."

"That despicable bastard."

"It's okay! As long as you don't sue me, everything will be fine."

Ma Shuer suddenly looked up, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes: "Wait, you just asked me if I was going to sue you... You don't think I..."

“It was just a fleeting thought.” Su Ning sat down beside her. “I know you, Ma Shu’er. If you really wanted to betray me, you would have come to me with checks from the pharmaceutical company to negotiate.”

Ma Shuer grabbed his hand, her nails digging almost into his flesh: "Fang Yuan, I'd rather go to jail myself than let anything happen to you! That bastard Lin Yue... I'm going to apply for a restraining order immediately!"

The sliding door to the yard suddenly opened, and Ma Jiming rushed in, covered in sweat: "Mom! Dad! Xiao Huang has learned to shake hands!"

His excitement quickly faded upon seeing his parents' serious expressions. "What's wrong?"

Ma Shuer forced a smile and said, "It's okay, baby. Mommy and Daddy are just discussing work."

She glanced at her watch. "You should take a shower and get ready for bed."

Ma Jimu looked at the two of them suspiciously, but was eventually reassured by an encouraging look from Su Ning and obediently went back to his room.

"What do we do now?" After making sure her son was out of sight, Ma Shuer lowered her voice, "What if the pharmaceutical company contacts Ji Mo..."

"No way! Finding a child is pointless." Su Ning rubbed his temples. "As for Lin Yue..."

His eyes suddenly sharpened. "I have a way to shut him up."

Ma Shuer shivered.

Sometimes, she forgets how many unknowns are hidden behind this gentle and considerate man.

But at this moment, she was incredibly grateful that this person was on her side.

“No, through legal means.” She regained her composure as a senior lawyer. “First, we must agree on a unified narrative and resolutely deny any claims about ‘special effects.’ Second, I need to immediately draft a document prohibiting Lin Yue from approaching Ji Mo.”

She bit her lip. "The problem is the evidence... How can we prove that he leaked the information?"

Su Ning suddenly laughed: "That's easy."

He took out his phone, dialed a number, and put it on speakerphone.

After the bell rang three times, Lin Yue's slick voice came through: "Oh, male nanny? Got it and want to sell the formula?"

Ma Shuer gasped and covered her mouth with both hands.

"Lin Yue," Su Ning's voice was eerily calm, "Merck just offered 80 million. Do you know anyone who has offered a higher price?"

"Tch! What do those foreigners know?" Lin Yue scoffed dismissively. "Hengrui Medicine, which I contacted, said that as long as we get the clinical data, the starting price is 100 million! Their CEO is with my buddy..."

Ma Shuer could no longer hold back: "Lin Yue! You beast!"

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone, followed by a frantic commotion, like a phone being dropped on the floor.

A few seconds later, Lin Yue's stammering voice came through: "Shu...Shu'er? You...how could you..."

"See you in court, you scumbag," Ma Shuer said, enunciating each word clearly, before hanging up the phone.

She was trembling all over, not from fear, but from pure rage.

Su Ning gently pulled her into his arms: "The recording is the evidence."

“He actually… he actually made money off his own son’s life…” Ma Shu’er’s voice was muffled against Su Ning’s chest. “Where was he when Ji Mo almost died? Now he wants a piece of the pie?”

Su Ning didn't answer, but just hugged her tighter.

Sometimes, silence is more powerful than any comfort.
-
……

The next morning, the doorbell rang shrilly.

Through the peephole, Ma Shuer saw two men in sharp suits standing outside the door; she knew without asking that they were from the pharmaceutical company.

"Here we go again." She retreated to the kitchen and whispered to Su Ning, who was frying eggs, "This time they came directly to our door."

Su Ningguan wiped his hands and said, "I'll go deal with them."

The two men outside the door immediately put on professional smiles when they saw Su Ning: "Mr. Fang Yuan! Excuse me for bothering you, we are from Novartis Pharmaceuticals China..."

"I really don't have any recipes. If you keep harassing me, I'll call the police," Su Ning interrupted decisively.

The tall man hurriedly stopped the door from closing: "Mr. Fang Yuan, you may not be aware of the conditions we offer: a chief scientist title, an independent laboratory, and a starting annual salary of seven figures..."

"Are you all stupid? Didn't you investigate my background? Do you know anything about Mao's medical skills if you graduated from an architecture school?" Su Ning's voice turned cold.

The short man suddenly lowered his voice: "Mr. Fang Yuan, that means you don't have a medical license. If this matter gets blown up, it won't be good for you either."

"Idiot! What evidence do you have that I'm practicing medicine illegally? Did I open a clinic? Or did I treat other people?" Su Ning narrowed his eyes, and the pressure around him suddenly dropped.

The tall man quickly smoothed things over: "That's not what he meant! We're here to sincerely discuss cooperation..."

"Get out!" Su Ning uttered a single word and closed the door.

Back in the kitchen, he found Ma Shuer clutching her phone tightly: "What's wrong?"

“A partner from the law firm spoke with me,” Ma Shuer’s voice trembled slightly. “They said three pharmaceutical companies are pressuring them to investigate my professional ethics…”

She smiled bitterly, "It's ironic. Lin Yue ruined my first marriage, and now he's going to ruin my career too."

Su Ning grasped her icy hand: "Resign! You and your daughter should leave Shanghai first."

Mashuer looked up in shock: "What?"

“I’m serious.” Su Ning’s eyes were incredibly firm. “Gao Yawen has an apartment in Hong Kong. We can go there temporarily. We’ll talk about it again once things have calmed down.”

"No!" Ma Shuer suddenly stood up. "The business I worked so hard to rebuild, the school at the end of the era, and..."

She suddenly stopped, her voice softening, "You mean... Gao Yawen will help us?"

Su Ning nodded: "She owes me a favor."

Mashuer's expression became complicated.

She knew that there was some unclear and ambiguous past between Su Ning and Gao Yawen.

But at this moment, the name she once envied has become her lifeline.

"Let me think about it some more..." she rubbed her temples, "Maybe there's another way..."

Footsteps upstairs interrupted their conversation.

Ma Jiming rubbed his eyes as he came downstairs: "Mom, isn't it the weekend? Why are you dressed so formally?"

Ma Shuer and Suning exchanged a glance.

Some wars should not involve children.

"Mom has an unexpected meeting." Ma Shuer kissed her son's forehead. "How about Fang Yuan's dad stays with you today?"

Ma Jiming immediately turned to Su Ning: "Can we go to the science museum? You promised!"

"Of course." Su Ning ruffled his hair. "Go change your clothes."

Watching her son happily run upstairs, a resolute glint flashed in Ma Shuer's eyes: "I've changed my mind. We're not leaving."

"Ok?"

“Running away will only make them investigate even more frantically.” Ma Shu’er quickly organized her thoughts. “I need to take the initiative and hold a press conference tomorrow to publicly declare that Ji Mo’s recovery was due to proper treatment and luck, and that there was no magic cure at all.”

Suning raised an eyebrow: "Those pharmaceutical companies won't believe it."

“But the public will,” Mashu’s eyes gleamed with the wisdom of a lawyer. “Once the matter is exposed, if they continue to harass us, it will be tantamount to admitting that they are chasing a miracle drug that may not even exist, and the stock price will plummet.”

Su Ning pondered for a moment: "The risk is very high. What if someone from the hospital comes forward to refute it..."

“So we need a backup plan.” Ma Shuer took a deep breath. “Are you still in contact with Gao Yawen…?”

Suning was silent for a moment, then nodded.

“Then it’s settled.” Ma Shuer picked up her briefcase. “I’ll try to resolve this through legal channels first. If that fails… we’ll settle in Hong Kong.”

She turned to leave, but Su Ning stopped her.

After a deep kiss, Su Ning whispered, "Be careful."

Mashuer stroked his cheek: "For this family, I will win."

The sound of the door closing startled the golden retriever who was dozing on the sofa.

Standing by the window, Su Ning watched Ma Shuer's tall figure walk towards the taxi, and a feeling of protectiveness, unlike anything she had ever experienced, welled up inside her.

He will not allow anyone to destroy their hard-won happiness, whether by legal means or other methods.

Even if it means he has to use those long-forgotten "skills" again.

"Dad! I'm ready!" Ma Jiming rushed downstairs, a small Iron Man plushie hanging from his backpack. "Science Museum! Science Museum!"

Su Ning concealed the sharpness in her eyes, smiled, and took the boy's hand: "Come on! Today we'll look at the space exhibition area."

...(End of chapter)