The Billionaire's New Wife in Chief-Chapter 978 - 377: The Night Before Returning Home (Part 3)

Mu Shinian went to An City three days before Song Qiao due to their company’s cooperation with the CK Group.

Lu Yulin, upon returning to An City, had promised not to tell Lu Jingchen about Song Nianhuan’s existence. Although Song Qiao was slightly worried about her daughter’s identity being exposed, she still trusted Lu Yulin.

Unless that guy no longer wanted to be good friends with their family, Shinian.

Due to Gu Xiyan’s schedule, Song Qiao and Gu Xiyan’s tickets to An City were booked for the morning of the seventh of this month, which was two days later.

Song Qiao never considered taking her daughter with her to An City. Instead, she left her in the care of Gu Qing, who was considered half a godmother to her daughter.

Originally, Song Qiao planned to leave her with Ji Sifan, since that guy rarely went to the office and worked from home, making him more suitable to take care of Song Nianhuan than Gu Qing.

However, when Song Qiao proactively asked Ji Sifan to take care of little Nianhuan for a while, he left with his luggage for the airport the very next day, flying directly to Provence, claiming it was for work... Work? It was clearly an excuse to avoid taking care of little Nianhuan by going on a vacation to Provence.

Song Qiao actually always wanted to visit Provence too, but she never found a suitable time to go and enjoy it.

In the end, with no other option, Song Qiao had to leave Song Nianhuan with Gu Qing, who was always busy working.

The night before going to An City, Song Qiao was packing her luggage. Song Nianhuan, in her cute cartoon pajamas, sat in Song Qiao’s bedroom, slowly munching on an apple with her large, sparkling eyes looking rather pitiable.

After putting the last piece of clothing into the suitcase, Song Qiao glanced up and saw Song Nianhuan looking at her with an utterly pitiful expression. Unable to resist making a joke, she said, "Sweetie? If you can’t bear to be away from mommy, should I just pack you into the suitcase?"

The little girl crunched the apple even harder upon hearing these words, huffed, and spoke unhappily, "Mommy, that’s child abuse. Why can’t you just buy me a ticket? I’m not heavy, it wouldn’t cost much..."

Song Qiao, "...But mommy is going for work this time, not for fun..."

The little girl mumbled softly, "But my uncle told me that mommy, you’re going back to where you grew up. I’ve never been there before..."

Her voice was so quiet, almost like she was talking to herself.

But Song Qiao could still hear her words, and even though it wasn’t very clear, she got a rough idea.

After placing the box containing underwear into the suitcase and closing it up, she stood up and sat next to Song Nianhuan, holding her little girl in her arms. Seeing apple bits still on the corner of her mouth, she wiped it clean with her fingers without disdain, and finally said, "Do you really want to see where mommy grew up?"

Upon hearing this, the little girl immediately looked up at Song Qiao, her eyes initially full of hope. But as if reminded of something, she hesitated, shook her head, then nodded, and finally said, "I know mommy is busy working this time, so I’ll be good and wait for you at home. Once I can go by myself, I’ll visit where you grew up..."

Hearing her daughter’s words, Song Qiao didn’t know how to respond, feeling a complicated emotion.

Having only her to raise her daughter, with a father’s absence from birth, Song Nianhuan was more sensible than other kids.

But this sensibility made Song Qiao feel heartbroken...

Seeing her mother not speaking, Song Nianhuan glanced up at her face, immediately realizing she was unhappy, and cheerfully asked, "Mommy, I haven’t slept with you in a long time. Can I sleep with you tonight?"

"Sure." Song Qiao didn’t refuse.

...

In the middle of the night, in the pitch-black room, the man who had been asleep abruptly sat up in bed, sweat covering his face.

Lu Jingchen opened his eyes slightly, his face still cold as if he hadn’t fully emerged from his dream; even his eyes held a tinge of aloofness. After sitting in bed for a minute or two, he finally came back to his senses, lifting his hand to switch on the bedside crystal lamp.

Immediately, the not-so-bright light illuminated the spacious bedroom. Lu Jingchen instinctively reached up to rub his temples, that choking feeling in his throat dissipating slightly.

He picked up his phone from beside him and checked the time; it was already past three in the morning. After sitting for a while, he chose to get out of bed and walked out of the bedroom, entering the room next door.

Lu Jingchen opened the door and switched on a dim wall lamp, revealing a room filled with car and airplane models, obviously a little boy’s room.

In the center of the room was a medium-sized bed, where a small boy lay peacefully sleeping.

Seeing his son safe and sound in the room, Lu Jingchen relaxed as if a weight had been lifted.

Who would have thought that Lu Jingchen, the wealthiest man in An City, couldn’t even keep his son safe a year ago?

The son that Song Qiao left him had been kidnapped right under his nose when he was only three years old. At that age, it’s hard to say if a child fully understands things; they’re quite perceptive but innocent too.

The near loss of his son haunted his nights with nightmares, dreams of his and Song Qiao’s son being kidnapped again...

At the time, he was indeed an unqualified father, so now he compensates in every way he can, providing the best life for his son, yet... he still can’t give him a mother...

The man stood at the doorway, eyes gazing deeply at the sleeping child, his lips pressed into a thin line, his thoughts a mystery.

Who knows how long he stood there before turning and leaving the room, quietly closing the door behind him.

...

The next morning, as soon as Lu Jingchen got up, he received a call from Xi Mohan, and his body froze upon hearing his words.

"Jingchen, our people found out that Song Qiao will be returning to An City today..."