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Dating with Kids
墨書 Inktalez
Lin Yue struggled to open her eyes, the morning light filtering through the thin curtains, casting a dim glow in the cramped room. Dust danced in the hazy light.
Her head felt heavy, and her temples throbbed. She had stayed up until three in the morning to finish a freelance writing job, leaving her severely sleep-deprived.
Beside her, Yangyang was still sound asleep, his little face flushed like a ripe apple, his small hand tightly clutching a corner of the blanket.
Lin Yue quietly got up, careful not to disturb the child, and slipped on her slippers as she made her way to the kitchen. The kitchen was filled with a stale odor; some of the tiles on the wall had chipped away, revealing the mottled concrete beneath.
The faucet splashed loudly as cool water flowed out. She cupped her hands under the stream and splashed some on her face, trying to wake herself up.
Opening the old refrigerator revealed a meager selection of food: a few eggs, half a loaf of bread, and some wilted vegetables lay forlornly inside.
With a sigh, Lin Yue took out the eggs and bread, preparing to make breakfast for Yangyang. She poured oil into the pan, and it sizzled as she hurriedly cracked the eggs into it, the yolks bursting and mingling with the whites. The nearby toaster chimed as it popped out two slices of slightly burnt toast—an old find from a second-hand market that still worked despite its age.
Lin Yue's thoughts drifted away involuntarily; once upon a time, she too was a girl filled with beautiful dreams of love.
Their first encounter on campus—the man’s sunny smile struck her heart instantly. They strolled under cherry blossom trees, petals falling like snow upon their shoulders; they spent late nights in library corners, encouraging each other as they pursued their dreams. After graduation, they naturally stepped into marriage; at that time, she believed she had found her lifelong support and eagerly anticipated their future together.
However, fate began to turn cruelly against her after she became pregnant. The discomforts of pregnancy surged like tides; morning sickness left her unable to eat anything, and she grew increasingly frail with swollen feet. She longed for her husband’s care and companionship but was met instead with his late-night returns and perfunctory greetings. Countless nights were spent lying alone in bed, caressing her growing belly while tears soaked her pillow.
The moment her child was born, she thought life would take a turn for the better. Instead, she was met with deeper despair. Her husband did not settle down with the arrival of their new life; he ripped off his mask completely. He began staying out all night, receiving flirtatious messages from strange women on his phone. Arguments became commonplace. Whenever she tried to salvage their relationship, all she received in return was indifference and scolding.
One winter night, as the cold wind howled against the windows and the room felt like an icebox, her husband returned home drunk. Looking at their crying child with annoyance, he shouted at Lin Yue, “I can’t live like this anymore! I’ve had enough!” He then resolutely packed his bags and left without looking back, leaving Lin Yue crumpled on the floor with Yangyang in her arms, weeping into the darkness until she fainted.
Since then, Lin Yue gritted her teeth and buried all her pain deep inside. During the day, she juggled various part-time jobs—handing out flyers while facing cold stares from passersby, tutoring difficult parents’ children, standing at supermarket checkout counters for hours on end until her legs ached; at night, she stayed up with Yangyang, forcing herself to teach him letters and drawing under dim lights. In every lonely moment of helplessness, she reminded herself to be strong for Yangyang—to hold on no matter what.
Meanwhile, Su Ming sat in his spacious office filled with towering stacks of documents without furrowing his brow. Yet a sense of loneliness lingered in his eyes like an unshakeable shadow.
The first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the large floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a cold, hard light on the polished office desk. The various business awards and certificates hanging on the wall silently testified to his remarkable achievements.
Su Ming came from humble beginnings. With his exceptional courage and keen business insight, he transformed from a naive newcomer into a renowned tycoon in the industry.
In the early days of his entrepreneurial journey, he waited for three whole days outside an investor's office to secure funding. When hunger struck, he nibbled on some bread; when thirst hit, he sipped on bottled water. To finalize a collaboration project, he worked tirelessly through the night, his eyes bloodshot and exhausted as he slumped over his desk. Those arduous past experiences were not meant for outsiders.
However, the upheaval in his family life struck him like a sharp blade, piercing deep into his heart. His ex-wife, the woman who once stood by him through thick and thin, lost herself to the allure of money. She conspired with outsiders against him, maliciously altering the company’s financial statements, nearly severing the funding chain and plunging him into an unprecedented crisis. In just one night, their marriage crumbled; once sweet promises turned into the most laughable lies.
Since then, he poured all his energy into his career, using busyness to fill the void within him. He shunned matters of the heart. To him, love was the most unreliable thing in the world; only the career he held firmly in his hands could provide him with true security.
On a weekend, sunlight filtered through thin clouds, lazily illuminating the bustling shopping mall below, casting a golden hue over this vibrant and noisy place.
At the entrance of the mall, a colorful balloon arch swayed in the breeze while large promotional posters plastered everywhere caught people's attention. The cheerful music played on repeat over the loudspeakers mixed with enthusiastic sales pitches from salespeople. The crowd surged like a tide, jostling against one another.
Lin Yue tightly held onto Yangyang's small hand as they navigated through the throngs of people. Yangyang's eyes were wide like saucers, darting around in curiosity at everything around him. The oversized plush toys outside the toy store, the exquisitely tempting cakes in the dessert shop window, and the amusement rides flashing with colorful lights all thrilled him to no end.
“Mommy, I want a daddy. Can you find me one?” Yangyang suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked up with expectant eyes filled with longing. His voice carried a soft plea as his innocent little face radiated desire.
Lin Yue's heart tightened painfully as if gripped by an invisible hand. She knelt down and gently stroked Yangyang's head, her eyes filled with helplessness and sorrow. “Yangyang, dear, Mommy will always be here for you.” But Yangyang was not willing to listen; seizing the moment Lin Yue stood up, he broke free from her grasp like a small creature escaping its cage and dashed toward Su Ming and his daughter nearby who were selecting toys.
“Mommy! I found you a daddy! And there's an adorable little sister too! Now I’ll have both a daddy and a sister!” Yangyang exclaimed excitedly, his face flushed with joy as his voice pierced through the surrounding noise and caught many people's attention. He ran up to Su Ming and hugged his leg tightly, rubbing his little face against it as if he had found a long-lost relative.
Su Ming was focused on helping his daughter Su Yao choose a set of educational building blocks when this sudden commotion startled him. Looking down, he saw a small boy clinging to his leg with a bright smile on his face while a young woman hurried over—his employee Lin Yue.
Lin Yue felt her head buzz as she rushed forward. The sight that met her eyes was Su Ming’s tall and upright figure; his familiar cold demeanor left her momentarily speechless.
Wasn’t this Su Ming—the infamous Iron-faced King of their company and her direct superior? He wore a well-tailored dark suit that accentuated his tall frame; broad shoulders gave an inexplicable sense of security. His hair was neatly combed back, revealing a smooth forehead; deep-set eyes sparkled like stars in a cold night sky. Below his high nose bridge, his lips were slightly pressed together, exuding an aura of unyielding authority.
Su Ming glanced at the embarrassed Lin Yue and the cheerful Yangyang beside her, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes before he returned to his usual calm demeanor. He gently pried open Yangyang's small hand, bent down, and picked him up, a rare smile gracing his lips. "Little friend, you’ve mistaken me for someone else." Although the smile was fleeting, it resembled the warm sun of spring, dispelling the usual coldness from his face.
Yangyang blinked, looking at Su Ming and then at Lin Yue, confusion written all over his face. "Mom, isn’t he Dad? He looks just like him." Curious glances from those around them fell upon the trio, some whispering among themselves. Lin Yue's cheeks flushed crimson; she wished she could find a hole to hide in. She hurried forward, reaching out to take Yangyang from Su Ming. "Mr. Su, I’m so sorry for the trouble; the child doesn’t understand."
Su Ming slightly turned to avoid Lin Yue's hand, playfully teasing Yangyang for a moment. "It’s alright; children can be quite adorable." His gaze lingered on Lin Yue’s tired yet beautiful face for a moment, stirring an unexpected ripple in his heart. This woman before him worked diligently in the company, enduring many hardships in life, yet the resilience in her eyes had never faded.
Lin Yue stood awkwardly to the side, at a loss for words. At that moment, Su Yao approached and tugged at Su Ming's sleeve with a sweet voice. "Daddy, who is this little brother?" Su Ming smiled as he introduced, "This is Yangyang; he mistakenly thought I was someone else."
Yangyang's eyes lit up as he looked at Su Yao. "Sister, you’re so pretty! Can we play together?" Shyly nodding her head, Su Yao quickly warmed up to him, and soon the two children were chattering away happily.
Seeing this, Lin Yue felt even more embarrassed and tried again to speak up. "Mr. Su, I’m really sorry; we... we’ll be leaving now." However, Su Ming stopped her, watching the two children enjoy themselves with an inexplicable emotion swelling within him. "No rush; let the kids play for a while."
In that bustling mall, two unrelated single-parent families unexpectedly found a brief connection through the innocent joy of their children.
As Lin Yue pulled Yangyang back home, her emotions were a chaotic mix of feelings. Yangyang was still immersed in the excitement of meeting his "new friend" at the mall, babbling about how cute Sister Su Yao was and how interesting Uncle Su Ming seemed, completely oblivious to his mother’s melancholy.
Lin Yue opened the door to their home; a dim silence enveloped them as the familiar scent of old furniture hit her senses.
She gently placed Yangyang on the sofa and slumped down beside him, staring blankly at the ceiling.
Images of Su Ming’s cold yet gentle face kept flashing through her mind—the way Yangyang had rushed toward him and the strange looks from those around them pierced her heart like needles.
She knew all too well that her child’s yearning for paternal love was like an unstoppable flood; but how could she choose? On one hand, she truly did not want to get entangled in any emotional issues again; past pains shadowed her every step and made her wary of love. On the other hand, seeing her child's desire for a complete family broke her heart—a void she could never fill alone.
After much contemplation, Lin Yue decided to muster her courage. The next day at work during lunch break, she anxiously approached Su Ming's office door. Her heart raced as if it might leap out of her throat; she felt unsteady on her feet and nearly turned back several times. Standing before that closed door for what felt like an eternity, she hesitated before finally raising her hand to knock. The moment her fingers brushed against the door panel, she felt as if her heartbeat might shatter her eardrums.
"Come in," came Su Ming's deep voice from within.
Lin Yue took a deep breath and pushed the door open, finding Su Ming engrossed in his documents. Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on him and highlighting his chiseled features, causing her to momentarily lose her composure.
The office was spacious and bright, decorated simply yet stylishly. The solid wood desk exuded a sense of stability, while several abstract paintings on the walls added an artistic touch to the space. The bookshelf behind Su Ming was filled with various business books and documents, showcasing his professionalism and busyness.
“Su… Mr. Su, I have something I want to discuss with you,” Lin Yue stammered, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her shirt, her knuckles turning white from the pressure.
Gathering her courage, she poured out everything in one go—from Yangyang’s lack of paternal love to the misunderstanding in the mall where he mistook Su Ming for someone else, and finally her own inner turmoil and struggles, leading to her proposal of pretending to be a family.
Once she finished speaking, her cheeks were flushed crimson, and she lowered her head almost to her chest, unable to meet Su Ming's gaze, feeling like a sinner awaiting judgment.
Su Ming listened intently but frowned slightly, instinctively wanting to refuse. He leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the desk as he gazed out the window into the distance. Memories of his ex-wife’s betrayal flooded back to him—those days filled with deceit in the business world had made him wary of relationships, especially intimate ones.
Yet when he turned to see his daughter’s lonely figure outside and recalled how she had quietly expressed her desire for a mother last night, he hesitated.
Looking at Lin Yue—awkward yet resolute—something stirred within him. Her eyes reflected both helplessness and resilience, reminiscent of himself during his entrepreneurial days; even in adversity, he had never given up.
“I’ll think about it,” Su Ming said softly.
Lin Yue felt a surge of joy at his response; she knew there was hope. She quickly nodded in gratitude and exited the office. The following days felt like an eternity as she endured each moment in agony.
At work, she would secretly observe Su Ming's expressions, trying to decipher his thoughts through his every move. At night, she tossed and turned in bed, her mind racing with all the possible answers Su Ming might give.
Days later, Su Ming approached Lin Yue. Seeing the anticipation in her eyes, he nodded gently: “Let’s do this for the sake of the child. But remember, it’s just acting—don’t cross any boundaries.”
Relief washed over Lin Yue as she eagerly agreed, though a hint of disappointment lingered in her heart. She reminded herself that this was solely for Yangyang—nothing more.
However, when she looked up at Su Ming and their eyes met for that brief moment, she distinctly caught a glimpse of something deeper in his gaze. That fleeting confusion made her realize that this “collaboration” might be far more complicated than she had anticipated.
From that moment on, the two officially embarked on a life of pretending to be a family, as if stepping into an unknown adventure. Ahead lay the warmth brought by the innocent smiles of children, as well as the undercurrents of complex emotions intertwining within them.
The weekend sun shone particularly brightly, as if it were specially illuminating this new "family." They went to the park for a picnic with the children, and as soon as they entered the park gate, a wave of greenery greeted them.
The tender green grass stretched out like a soft carpet, dotted with colorful wildflowers. A gentle breeze passed through, causing the flowers to sway lightly and release bursts of delicate fragrance. Yangyang and Su Yao ran hand in hand across the grass, their laughter ringing out like silver bells as they chased after colorful butterflies fluttering low in the air. Their small figures were full of vitality under the sunlight.
Lin Yue and Su Ming followed behind, carrying a basket filled with food and picnic supplies. The atmosphere between them was somewhat subtle. Lin Yue occasionally stole glances at Su Ming, noticing his tall stature and steady steps, which stirred ripples in her heart.
She quickly averted her gaze, her cheeks slightly flushed. To break the awkwardness, she softly said, "The weather is really nice today; the kids will surely have fun." Su Ming tilted his head slightly, his gaze sweeping over her, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. "Yes, it's good to get some fresh air," he replied. That brief smile felt like the warm sun of spring, warming Lin Yue's heart.
They found a shady spot under a tree and began to set up their picnic. Lin Yue spread out a floral picnic blanket with gentle and practiced movements, arranging the prepared food neatly. There were her carefully baked sweet cupcakes, golden crispy fried chicken pieces, and vibrant fruit salad. "Try this; I made it myself," Lin Yue said shyly as she handed a piece of meticulously prepared sushi to Su Ming. The sushi was made with soft rice paired with fresh salmon and crunchy cucumber, looking quite tempting.
Su Ming paused for a moment before taking it from her hand and placing it in his mouth. The soft rice combined with fresh ingredients mixed with Lin Yue's unique touch brought warmth to his heart. "It's delicious," he said, his eyes revealing a hint of approval. This made Lin Yue's lips curve into a happy smile that shone like spring sunshine, illuminating Su Ming's long-closed heart.
However, things became somewhat tricky in the workplace. During an important meeting, Lin Yue stood up to report on her work. Nervousness caused her palms to sweat profusely, and when she reached a key piece of data, she accidentally made an error.
The meeting room fell silent in an instant as everyone's eyes turned toward her. Lin Yue's face turned pale; she glanced at Su Ming in panic but found no blame in his eyes—only gentle reassurance.
This scene was noticed by her colleague Su Ning nearby. Wang Fen was known as the office gossip queen; after the meeting, she quietly pulled Lin Yue aside and asked ambiguously, "What's going on between you and President Su? Don’t think I didn’t see; he’s been looking out for you."
Lin Yue hurriedly waved her hands in denial and explained for quite some time, but Su Ning’s skepticism remained undeterred. From then on, whispers began circulating around the office from time to time—like ghosts that wouldn’t disperse—forcing both of them to be more cautious in maintaining appearances.
Whenever they met in the company corridors, they could only pretend to be calm while nodding at each other. In that fleeting moment of eye contact, they quickly looked away again for fear of revealing any clues.
At another family gathering, Lin Yue busied herself preparing a lavish meal from early morning. She darted around the cramped kitchen, chopping vegetables, stir-frying dishes, and simmering soup until she was dizzy from it all.
Inadvertently, she cut her finger with a sharp knife, and blood immediately gushed out. Seeing this, Su Ming quickly stood up and deftly took her hand in his own while frowning slightly. "How can you be so careless?" His tone carried a hint of reproach but was filled more with concern. He swiftly retrieved a first aid kit from the drawer and carefully cleaned and bandaged her wound with focused tenderness in his eyes.
Lin Yue looked at his face, so close to hers, and her heart raced. She hurriedly withdrew her hand. "I... I'm fine." She couldn't bear to meet Su Ming's gaze, afraid he would see through her inner turmoil.
Su Ming gave her a deep look, as if he could see everything, then turned and returned to the dining table, casually continuing to chat and laugh with the children. Yet Lin Yue's heart remained unsettled; the atmosphere between them had become somewhat strange, a different kind of emotion quietly taking root and spreading.
During these days of pretending to be a family, the mundane aspects of life intertwined with work pressures, constantly testing them. However, every unintentional glance, every caring word, and every warm gesture felt like sparks igniting within them, slowly gathering into something that blurred the lines of their originally "fake" relationship, evolving towards an unknown direction.
As the days passed, the life of their charade deepened, and the relationship between Lin Yue and Su Ming began to change like tender sprouts breaking through the earth in spring.
Su Ming found it increasingly difficult to control his attention on Lin Yue's every move.
Every weekday morning, he arrived at the office early, sitting at his desk seemingly focused on paperwork. Yet his peripheral vision would often dart towards the office door, eagerly awaiting Lin Yue's arrival. When he saw her rush into the office, hair slightly disheveled and cheeks flushed from her hurried journey, tightly clutching breakfast prepared for Yangyang, a sense of inexplicable reassurance washed over him as if all his busy hours had suddenly gained meaning.
After work, Su Ming no longer threw himself into late-night overtime as he used to. He found himself unconsciously thinking about Lin Yue—wondering how her day had been, whether she faced any troubles at work, or if Yangyang had been mischievous again.
One time, passing by Lin Yue's workstation, he noticed her frowning at the data on her computer screen, looking distressed as she typed furiously with piles of disorganized documents surrounding her. Su Ming's heart tightened; he wanted to approach her and offer help but feared that colleagues would notice something unusual. So he could only hold back and silently cheer for her in his heart.
On one occasion, Lin Yue received an urgent task that required overtime and lost track of time for picking up Yangyang. Upon hearing this news, Su Ming immediately set aside his work and drove swiftly to the school. Images of Yangyang waiting alone filled his mind with anxiety.
Arriving at the school, he saw Yangyang standing at the entrance with a small backpack, gazing into the distance. The little figure appeared lonely under the glow of the setting sun, causing a sharp pang in Su Ming's heart.
He hurriedly got out of the car and walked towards Yangyang. "Yangyang, Daddy is here to pick you up." Yangyang looked up with a flash of surprise before rushing into Su Ming's arms and cheerfully exclaimed, " Dad Su! I knew you would come!" A warmth spread through Su Ming as he lifted Yangyang up and then went to buy Lin Yue’s favorite dinner before heading to her office.
"Here, eat something first; don't go hungry." Su Ming placed the meal box in front of Lin Yue and looked at her tired face with concern in his eyes. The steaming food filled the office with its aroma. Lin Yue looked up in surprise before being overwhelmed with gratitude. "Thank you, Su Ming."
Hearing her say "Su Ming" felt like an electric current coursing through him, causing his heart to race. He suddenly realized that his feelings for Lin Yue had changed without him even noticing; it was no longer just a simple partnership but genuine affection. This affection was like wild grass thriving in spring; once it broke through the surface, it became unstoppable.
Lin Yue also sensed something unusual within herself. Every time she interacted with Su Ming, she felt inexplicably nervous; even an unintentional glance or a caring remark could make her cheeks flush and heart race.
During the picnic in the park, when Su Ming took the sushi she offered, their eyes met for a fleeting moment, and she felt as if time had stopped. Her cheeks flushed with warmth, and she could only hurriedly lower her gaze. Then there was that family gathering when Su Ming bandaged her wound; his fingers gently brushed against her skin, the warmth of his touch sending her heart into a chaotic rhythm. Fear gripped her—having once been deeply wounded by love, she was hesitant to take another step forward.
That night, Lin Yue lay in bed, staring at the ceiling as Su Ming's figure kept appearing in her mind. She recalled his decisiveness in the mall, his gentle patience in front of the children, and all the ways he had shown concern for her. Her heart was filled with both sweetness and anxiety. She turned over to look at the sleeping Yangyang and whispered softly, “Yangyang, what should Mommy do?”
She feared falling into the quagmire of love again, terrified of repeating past mistakes. Yet deep down, she felt a flicker of anticipation for this quietly budding affection. This conflicting emotion kept her tossing and turning, unable to sleep.
In this peculiar journey of pretending to be a family, both their hearts had unknowingly begun to ripple with feelings. However, ahead lay not only the sweet temptation of love but also heavy obstacles stemming from past pains.
As her feelings grew silently within her, Lin Yue found herself sinking deeper into struggle and fear. She began to deliberately distance herself from Su Ming, trying to rein herself in before this relationship spiraled out of control.
In front of the children, she became somewhat unnatural as well. During weekend parent-child activities, she used to eagerly participate and work harmoniously with Su Ming to bring joy to the kids.
But now, she made excuses about feeling unwell and stayed home alone, staring blankly out the window. The sunlight outside was still bright, casting warmth over the community garden where children played joyfully on the slide, yet inside her heart was shrouded in gloom.
When Yangyang returned home with a disappointed expression on his little face, he ran over to her and tugged at her hand, asking, “Mommy, why didn’t you come play with us? Dad Su and sister miss you so much.”
Lin Yue forced a smile and patted Yangyang’s head. “Mommy is a bit tired; let’s go next time, okay?” But the evasion in her eyes did not escape Yangyang’s notice.
Su Ming also sensed her change clearly and felt anxious. After work, he went to Lin Yue’s house and knocked on the door. When it opened, he saw Lin Yue’s slightly haggard face, which pierced his heart.
“Lin Yue, what’s wrong? Why are you avoiding me?” Su Ming looked at Lin Yue with confusion and concern in his eyes. His voice was low and gentle as if afraid of startling her.
Lin Yue turned her head away, unable to meet his gaze. “It’s nothing; I just think this isn’t good for us. We agreed this was just a collaboration.” Her voice trembled slightly as she nervously twisted the hem of her shirt.
Su Ming stepped forward and grasped her shoulders. “Can’t you see that my feelings for you have changed? I don’t want to pretend anymore.” His gaze was intense and resolute as if he wanted to convey all his inner affection to her.
Lin Yue suddenly shook off his hand, tears welling up in her eyes. “I don’t want to get hurt again, Su Ming; just go.” Memories of betrayal surged like a tide in her mind; she feared falling into that despair again and losing herself. The mere thought of possibly reliving arguments, indifference, and abandonment made her heart feel like it was being pricked by a thousand needles.
At the same time, external pressures surged toward her like a tidal wave.
Within the company, rumors intensified, and her colleagues looked at her with a mix of curiosity and ambiguity. Every time she walked into the office, she could feel the whispers behind her, making her feel exposed and uncomfortable. Su Ning would often approach her, subtly probing about her relationship with Su Ming, which only added to her frustration.
On the family front, news of her closeness to her boss reached them, and they expressed their confusion. Her parents earnestly advised her over the phone, "It's not easy raising a child alone. Don't complicate your emotions further; find someone reliable to settle down with. What will happen to your job if you get entangled with your boss?" Relatives also whispered behind her back, accusing her of neglecting her child for her own sake.
These intertwined pressures left Lin Yue feeling nearly breathless. She felt as though she was trapped in a massive whirlpool, unable to break free.
On one hand, she had indeed developed feelings for Su Ming; on the other hand, past wounds and current pressures held her back from moving forward.
Unsure of how to choose, she could only struggle in pain, and her relationship with Su Ming fell into a stalemate, as if the small flame of love that had just ignited between them was about to be extinguished by overwhelming difficulties.
Meanwhile, Su Ming watched Lin Yue's resolute back with a heart full of helplessness and disappointment. He understood that she was simply afraid—afraid of being hurt again.
But he didn't want to give up just like that. He decided to prove his sincerity through action; even if the path ahead was fraught with thorns, he would carve out a way for their love and provide warmth of home for their two children.
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