The crybaby nanny was bullied and cried again by her yandere husband.

Seeing this, Lin Yu immediately stepped forward to help.

"Get up first. This isn't how you apologize."

He helped the person kneeling on the ground up, then looked at Lin Zhao, who looked completely bewildered.

"Xiao Zhao, tell me, how do you want to handle this?"

Lin Zhao was still in shock and shook his head in a panic.

"No, no need."

After saying that, he turned to leave, but his wrist was grabbed.

"Xiao Zhao, if you're bullied, you should bravely fight back. Have you forgotten what your brother taught you?"

Lin Yu spoke gently, deliberately bringing up things from the past, but it made Lin Zhao feel extremely uncomfortable. All he wanted to do was leave as soon as possible.

"Really, it's not necessary. It's alright. I... I won't tell President Shang. You... you can leave now."

Lin Yu's eyes darkened when he heard President Shang's name.

"I heard you, just apologize properly."

Upon hearing this, the two waiters immediately bowed respectfully, apologized, and then turned and left.

Only Lin Zhao and Lin Yu remained in the same spot.

Lin Yu released Lin Zhao's hand, took a step back, and created a safe distance between them, allowing Lin Zhao to finally catch his breath.

He wanted to leave as soon as possible, so he lowered his head, his fingertips gripping the hem of his clothes, and spoke softly.

"Thank you, I'll be going now."

He tried to leave after saying that, but Lin Yu stopped him.

"Xiao Zhao, do you hate me that much?"

Lin Zhao was extremely anxious. She didn't know what he was trying to do. He had been out for so long. If the master came out to look for him in a little while, he would definitely be angry.

He took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.

"I don't hate you, I just really have to go."

Lin Yu glanced at the private room at the end of the corridor.

"Xiao Zhao, is it President Shang who's preventing you from contacting me?"

Lin Zhao didn't know why he mentioned "sir," and shook her head.

"No, you're overthinking it. I really do have something to do."

Lin Yu's gaze fell on his face with a scrutinizing look, and he chuckled softly.

"You don't need to hide it from me, I can tell. I could tell from the last time at the company that he doesn't want you to have any contact with me."

Lin Zhao lowered his head even further as he listened. He was really bad at lying, so he could only try to hide his expression.

Lin Yu took a step forward, subtly closing the distance between the two.

"Xiao Zhao, back in the orphanage, I protected you whenever the director couldn't see you. I gave you all the best food and drinks. You said we'd be together forever, have you forgotten? Why are you hiding from me now?"

Lin Yu's voice softened, carrying a hint of grievance, and Lin Zhao's heart softened unexpectedly.

Memories of his childhood in the orphanage gradually surfaced. In the cold, gloomy dormitory, it was Lin Yu who gave him the leftover candy. When he was bullied and called effeminate, it was Lin Yu who stood up for him. Even when he was beaten, it was Lin Yu who beat him up.

As those memories surfaced vividly, Lin Zhao's nose tingled, her eyes uncontrollably reddened, her head drooped even lower, and her voice was choked with unconcealed sobs.

"I haven't forgotten..."

"If you haven't forgotten, then tell me, Xiao Zhao, did Shang Yu force you to stay away from me? Or did he say something that made you misunderstand me? I can explain."

Lin Yu took another half step forward, his tone becoming even gentler.

Lin Zhao shook his head violently, tears finally streaming down his face. He frantically wiped away his tears, his voice trembling uncontrollably.

"No, sir, you didn't force me. Don't say that about him."

Although it was indeed Mr. that told him to stay away from Lin Yu, Mr. never forced him, and Mr. would not lie to him.

Remembering what the gentleman had said, Lin Zhao suddenly raised her head, looked at Lin Yu, took a few deep breaths, and spoke.

"It's not what you said, sir. It's just that I don't want to talk to you. Why haven't you gone back to Beijing all these years? Besides, you were the one who distanced yourself from me first."

Lin Yu was taken aback. He hadn't expected Lin Zhao to be so sharp-tongued. His expression froze for a moment, then he caught sight of something and stepped forward to hug her.

"What happened back then was my fault, but my brother had his reasons. After I graduated, I was penniless and ashamed to go back. I also lost my phone, so I didn't go back to find you."

"You have to believe me, Xiao Zhao. I've missed you so much all these years. Please give me another chance to take care of you, okay?"

Lin Zhao was completely stunned, not hearing what he was saying at all, only feeling very uncomfortable being suddenly hugged.

"You, you let me go first."

Lin Yu not only didn't let go, but hugged her even tighter. Lin Zhao felt uncomfortable being strangled and was about to push him away.

The person who was holding him was suddenly pulled away, and a gust of wind from a punch slid past him.

When Lin Zhao saw Lin Yu again, he was already lying on the ground, clutching half of his cheek in pain.

A familiar scent of sandalwood wafted over, and Lin Zhao fell into a warm embrace. When he looked up, he was met with Shang Yu's angry face, his aura chillingly cold.

They still saw her. Lin Zhao felt a sudden, inexplicable panic and reached out to hook the man's fingertips.

"I... it was him who wanted to leave..."

Before he could finish speaking, Shang Yu raised his hand and patted his head.

"It's okay, I saw it. It's none of your business. Honey, the food is ready. You can go back now."

Lin Zhao instinctively wanted to look at Lin Yu, but someone covered her eyes.

Shang Yu's voice was filled with barely suppressed anger, but he deliberately remained calm for fear of frightening people.

"Dirty, don't look, listen to me, go back first."

Lin Zhao nodded blankly, then walked back to the private room without looking at Lin Yu again.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Lin Yu, who had just been punched, rubbed his lips, dusted off his trousers, stood up, and greeted the person respectfully, still wearing that gentle mask on his face.

"Mr. Shang, what a coincidence."

Shang Yu was too lazy to waste words with him, so he took a step closer, grabbed the man's collar, and slammed him against the wall.

"Did you not understand what I said last time, Director Lin? If you didn't, I don't mind translating it for you."

Lin Yu looked at Shang Yu with an indifferent attitude.

"I don't quite understand."

Shang Yu gritted his teeth and said each word clearly.

"Stay away from Lin Zhao, or I can't guarantee what I might do to you."

After saying that, he let go, took out a handkerchief, wiped the blood off his hands, and threw it at Lin Yu.

"Lin Yu, don't make trouble for yourself."

Lin Yu slowly raised his hand to wipe the blood from his lips, took a step forward, but always kept a slight distance.

His tone was as calm and gentle as usual.

"Is Mr. Shang in such a hurry to get rid of me because he's afraid I'll say something to Xiao Zhao, or because he's afraid that he'll remember the past and eventually come back to me?"

Lin Yu's voice wasn't loud, but it echoed clearly in the quiet corridor.

"No matter how tightly you protect Xiao Zhao, you can't erase the bond we've shared for over a decade. You were never a part of his life at the orphanage. You may have his body, but you can't have his heart. Besides, Xiao Zhao doesn't seem to like you."

He said that last sentence on purpose, just to see how Shang Yu would react.

Sure enough, the man's face became even more unpleasant, almost turning completely black.