After agreeing with Wen Yan'an to pick him up for breakfast the next day, Wen Yan'an reluctantly hung up the phone.
"Miaomiao, you're picking up An'an after breakfast tomorrow?"
"What else?"
"I was going to say you could come to work with me tomorrow, and then after I get off work, we can pick up An'an together."
"Dream on?" Fang Miaomiao shook her head and flatly refused, "Your company isn't fun. I'm picking up An'an tomorrow to adopt a puppy."
Not going today would be breaking her promise, and if she didn't go tomorrow, she wouldn't be able to justify it.
Wen Zhiyan's body stiffened slightly. "Are you really getting a dog?"
Fang Miaomiao's gaze shifted from the script to Wen Zhiyan's handsome profile. "What's wrong?"
It was only then that she vaguely recalled that Wen Zhiyan seemed a bit off last time they talked about getting a dog.
Could it be...
"Are you allergic to dog hair?"
"No."
Fang Miaomiao thought of a somewhat unlikely answer and asked tentatively, "Are you afraid of dogs?"
Wen Zhiyan looked down at Fang Miaomiao. He didn't miss the amusement in her eyes. He raised his hand and tapped her forehead. "How could that be? You're overthinking it."
Afraid of dogs? Impossible.
"Then why are you asking?"
"An'an is still young. I don't want him to do things on a whim. It's not good for him." Wen Zhiyan held Fang Miaomiao's hand. "Or, if An'an loses interest after three minutes, will you keep the dog for him?"
"How could that be?" Fang Miaomiao blurted out without thinking, "It's already a miracle that I can support myself. How could I possibly take care of anything else?"
She had always lacked a sense of responsibility.
"But... I feel like An'an isn't joking. He's your son, don't you know him?"
Hearing this, Wen Zhiyan instinctively touched his nose. "Actually, I haven't spent much time with An'an."
After he learned of An'an's existence, he had followed his father's advice and placed An'an's name in his own section of the family tree. An'an had been primarily raised by his father and mother.
Later, when everyone noticed that An'an was reticent and preferred to lock himself in his room, they thought he had a problem. After medical examinations, the doctor suggested that the child live in a smaller house with his father. It was then that he brought An'an to live with him at the Mingshan apartment.
"What about An'an?"
She only knew from reading that An'an didn't talk much, but since An'an wasn't the protagonist, there were only snippets of information, and she didn't understand An'an's past very well.
"The doctor said he's fine, An'an is just a withdrawn child." Wen Zhiyan chuckled, as if struck by a thought. "You're the first person who can have a pleasant conversation with him."
"Really? I thought An'an quite liked his grandmother."
Wen Zhiyan was silent for a moment. "An'an used to like his mother very much. He'd snuggle up to her and act spoiled now and then."
When did he stop talking so much?
He didn't know.
To a large extent, he wasn't a qualified father.
He treated An'an more like an adult.
"And then?"
Fang Miaomiao listened with great interest, putting down the script in her hands.
"I don't know what happened after that." Wen Zhiyan shook his head. "During that time, An'an and I didn't see each other much."
Firstly, he was too busy with company matters, dealing with traitors and guarding against other companies trying to gain a foothold. Secondly, he was also busy with public relations and expanding into new markets.
"After the situation stabilized and the Wen Group began to flourish, coupled with An'an's accident, I brought An'an out to live with me, disregarding my mother's objections." Wen Zhiyan spoke of that past event calmly, his eyes devoid of any emotion.
"Were you tired then?"
Wen Zhiyan was only twenty-eight or twenty-nine. Five years ago, he would have only recently graduated from college.
"It was alright." Wen Zhiyan shook his head. He was used to it.
Fang Miaomiao reached out and hugged Wen Zhiyan. "I don't know how to comfort you. Comfort without empathy might not be comforting at all."
In the world, there was no true empathy, even if two people experienced the exact same pain.
"It's okay. I'm doing well now, with you and An'an." Wen Zhiyan hugged Fang Miaomiao back, resting his head on her shoulder. "Miaomiao, thank you."
Thank you for coming, thank you for saving me and An'an.
Fang Miaomiao felt guilty. What if Wen Zhiyan found out one day that she wasn't the real Fang Miaomiao? Would he think she was a monster, a lone spirit, and resent her?
No, no. Why was she thinking so much?
The original host and Wen Zhiyan didn't have much of a relationship. He should be in love with her now. Why would he resent her? She must have been watching too many dramas, causing her to overthink.
But...
She wasn't the real Fang Miaomiao after all. Should she tell him?
No, she didn't need to. He didn't know the original host that well anyway.
Fang Miaomiao felt like two little people in her mind were constantly arguing, making her eyes hurt.
"Wen Zhiyan."
"Miaomiao, don't say it, don't ask. I know it's you."
It was you, not Fang Miaomiao.
Fang Miaomiao fell silent.
The moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the two figures embracing. Everything was quiet and beautiful.
...
The next morning.
Fang Miaomiao looked at Wen Zhiyan sitting beside her, completely puzzled. "Why are you coming along? Aren't you afraid of being late for work?"
"Afraid of what? There's nothing important at the company today. Even if there is, Xin Xuan will call me."
"When did you become a capitalist?"
Fang Miaomiao had always thought her boyfriend was quite protective of his employees.
"I gave Xin Xuan a raise."
"That's good. No wonder Xin Xuan isn't complaining to you."
"Da Chen, go to the Imperial Garden."
"Yes, Master Wen."
The car set off towards the Imperial Garden.
More than two hours later.
The car stopped steadily in front of Imperial Garden No. 2.
The doorbell was pressed.
There was no answer from inside for a long time.
Wen Zhiyan's brow furrowed slightly.
"They're not awake yet?"
Wen Zhiyan shook his head. "Uncle Fang likes quiet, so the servants always get up early to clean. At this time, their tasks should be completed, and someone should be guarding the door."
"Then I'll call An'an?"
She called again and again.
The phone remained unanswered.
Just as Wen Zhiyan was about to ask Da Chen to climb over the wall, the door was finally opened from the inside. It was an elderly man, with his head bowed, his body trembling slightly.
"Sorry, we are not receiving guests today."
"It's me."
The old man slowly raised his head and looked at the person before him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. "Master Wen."
"Yes, I'm here to visit Uncle Fang and pick up An'an to come home."
The old man's face turned bitter. "Master, he's gone."