Volume One, Chapter 3: Runaway? She’ll Be Back in Just a Few Days!

Fu Jinxing subconsciously looked toward Wang Xueying, then turned to her father.

She knew her father disliked children who lied, but on the way here, Auntie Wang had told her that this was the only way her father would take her along on his next business trip.

She lowered her head, resting her small face against her father’s neck.

"Daddy, it really hurts..."

Fu Yanzhou doted on this daughter above all else. Seeing his precious baby start to shed tears, he could no longer keep a stern face.

"It will be better once the medicine is applied. You must be more careful next time, do you hear me?"

Little Jinxing knew her father believed her. As she rested on his shoulder, she saw Wang Xueying give her a secret thumbs-up. For some reason, she didn't feel happy at all; her mind kept drifting back to the injury on Lin Zhiwan’s arm.

Forget it. At worst, she would just apply the medicine for Lin Zhiwan herself when they got home tonight.

The father and daughter had dinner out before returning. As soon as they reached home, Fu Jinxing hopped out of her father’s arms and scurried toward the bedroom on the second floor. She remembered that Lin Zhiwan had left the burn ointment on the vanity.

Being small, she couldn't see the top of the table, so she reached out her arm to grope around.

"Found it!"

Fu Jinxing’s small hand touched the tube. She grabbed it happily, but as she pulled her arm back, she seemed to knock something else down. She glanced at the carpet, saw nothing, and didn't think much of it before skipping out of the room. The ring rolled across the carpet and eventually fell under the bed, disappearing from sight.

The little girl searched the downstairs area but couldn't find a trace of Lin Zhiwan.

"Nanny Zhang, where is she?"

The maid, who was busy nearby, replied, "Not long after you left at noon, Madam took her luggage and left. She didn't say where she was going."

"She went out?" Little Jinxing was surprised.

With both her father and her at home, Lin Zhiwan had never been away before. Could she really be angry? How petty! She even ran away from home! Did she think that by running away, Daddy would go looking for her?

Thinking of this, Jinxing tossed the burn ointment onto the sofa. She wasn't going to put medicine on that stingy woman!

When Fu Yanzhou returned to the bedroom after finishing his work in the study, he found that Lin Zhiwan was not there. It was only then that he noticed something missing from the vanity, and the card he had tossed aside last night was gone as well.

Recalling the events of the previous night and Jinxing’s scalded hand this morning, he assumed the woman had left out of fear that he would blame her upon his return. Fu Yanzhou didn't give it much thought; he wouldn't waste his energy on such trivial matters. Besides, he was certain Lin Zhiwan would be back within two days at most.

...

Lin Zhiwan had returned to the river-view apartment she had purchased before her marriage. She hadn't stayed there for a long time. Fortunately, she had contacted the property management in advance, and by the time she arrived, the manager had already cleaned the room and ensured all daily necessities were fully stocked.

After organizing her luggage, Lin Zhiwan looked at the room with satisfaction. The space was filled with her favorite decorations, and her trophies and certificates were all neatly displayed in the living room cabinet. Everything felt as though she had returned to the days before her marriage.

She slept soundly through the night and woke up to find the sun already high in the sky. It had been a long time since she had slept this well. She didn't have to serve Fu Jinxing before school or iron Fu Yanzhou’s shirts. Lin Zhiwan finished her breakfast at a leisurely pace and began researching the materials for the upcoming auction at her desk.

She had to admit that now that she had made up her mind to return to the auction floor, she felt a surge of excitement. The complex auction materials and professional parameters were not unfamiliar to her. Looking at the familiar terminology, she seemed to see herself standing on the stage, shining brightly once again. She was truly looking forward to tomorrow night's auction.

...

Fu Yanzhou, however, had been in a foul mood for the past two days. He couldn't find the cufflinks that matched his tie in the morning, and even his suits hadn't been ironed. The maids said that these things were usually handled by Lin Zhiwan and they didn't know how to do them. He had wanted to call her, but thought better of it. Regardless, she would be back in two days anyway!

It was just that Jinxing was giving him a headache. The child was usually looked after by Lin Zhiwan and refused to listen to the maids. Even at breakfast, she was full of complaints, claiming the food didn't taste good. Fu Yanzhou had no choice but to care for the child himself, even taking her with him while he worked.

"Mr. Fu, the charity auction is at six o'clock tonight. We should head out soon." Wang Xueying entered the office to remind him of the schedule.

Hearing about the auction, Fu Jinxing, who was playing with Lego in the office, immediately became interested. "Daddy, I want to go too!"

Fu Yanzhou picked the little girl up and wiped her mouth with a wet wipe. "Alright, Daddy will take you with him!"

Lin Zhiwan had arrived at the venue early to prepare. This auction was led by the Red Cross and sponsored by several overseas Chinese individuals; the proceeds would be donated to international organizations for the relief of women and children. Due to the large number of lots, there were two auctioneers. According to the dual-auctioneer system, a veteran auctioneer would build the atmosphere in the first stage, and Lin Zhiwan, the "Ace Auctioneer," would step in to sprint toward the finish at the critical moment.

In the preparation room, Lin Zhiwan was reviewing the lot parameters when the organizer came over to introduce the sponsor of the items.

"Mr. Zhao, this is the 'Ace Auctioneer' you specifically requested, Ms. Lin Zhiwan!"

Lin Zhiwan stood up upon hearing this. "You are too kind!" she said with a gentle, dignified smile, extending her hand. "Hello, Mr. Zhao. I am Lin Zhiwan. Thank you for your trust; I certainly won't let you down."

In truth, Lin Zhiwan was curious. She hadn't hosted an auction of this scale in a long time. She wondered why this Mr. Zhao had specifically requested her to be the lead auctioneer.

The man reached out, his fingertips brushing hers briefly. "Lin Zhiwan, long time no see."

His voice was gentle and clear, like a babbling brook in the mountains. Lin Zhiwan looked at the man in front of her. His features felt somewhat familiar, yet she couldn't find any trace of him in her memories.

The man didn't let her feel awkward; a smile spread across his handsome face. "I am Zhao Minghe."

"Zhao Minghe!"

Lin Zhiwan looked at the man in surprise. It was very difficult to connect this elegant gentleman in a high-end suit with the Zhao Minghe who had been bullied throughout high school.

Seeing that they were old acquaintances, the organizer exchanged a few pleasantries before leaving them to themselves.

"There is a cafe downstairs. It's still early, let's go sit for a while."

Faced with an invitation from an old classmate, Lin Zhiwan did not refuse. Besides, the items she was responsible for today were provided by Zhao Minghe, so it was only reasonable that she should communicate with him to understand his price expectations.

The two went to the cafe together.

"So many years have passed, and you are still the same as you were back then!" Zhao Minghe remarked as he looked at her. Although it was a compliment, he maintained a perfect sense of propriety, making it feel neither abrupt nor overly intimate.

Lin Zhiwan smiled and said, "You, on the other hand, have changed a lot. I almost didn't recognize you just now!"

They spoke of their high school days. Lin Zhiwan laughed brightly. Those memories, buried deep in the past, were like aged wine; being brought to light now made it feel as if she had returned to those beautiful times.

When Fu Yanzhou entered with his daughter, the little one was complaining of hunger and wanting a snack.

"Mr. Fu," Wang Xueying said, "there is a cafe over there. I'll go buy a small cake for Jinxing."

Fu Yanzhou nodded and handed her a card. "Take this. I'll make an appearance and then take Jinxing home to rest. You can bid on two pieces of jewelry for me."

Wang Xueying took the card and turned to buy the cake for Jinxing. The little girl was happy to be out. As she looked around from her father's arms, she suddenly pointed toward the window and shouted, "Daddy, it’s Lin Zhiwan!"