Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  When Lin Nuan was in the pet hospital, Fu Huai’an’s assistant told Tuan Tuan that after Fu Huai’an and Lin Nuan collected their certificate today, he wouldn’t be a motherless child anymore.

  He would also have a mother, and his was the prettiest one in the whole world.

  Fu Huai’an looked deeply at Lin Nuan’s clear features and said in his deep voice, “Let’s go…”


  Lin Nuan nodded. Her hand in Fu Huai’an’s already had a layer of perspiration on it…


  There weren’t many steps on the stairs from the parking lot to the entrance of the administration building. They reached the entrance in a few steps.

  Fu Huai’an’s assistant took out the filled form and passed it to Fu Huai’an and Lin Nuan. All they needed to do was sign it.

  “I didn’t bring a pen…”


  LIn Nuan said as she held the form in one hand. Fu Huai’an’s assistant immediately took one out of the pocket of his suit, popped open the cap and passed it to Lin Nuan.

  “Thank you…”


  Lin Nuan accepted the pen. Seeing that the desks were already crowded by people filling up their forms, she walked to the wall and pressed hers up against the wall, preparing to sign it…


  Before she could, her phone started ringing.

  The observant assistant Xiao Lu approached Lin Nuan to help her hold her form in place for her.

  Lin Nuan thanked him again.

  It was Lin Chen calling.

  She answered the phone.

  On the other end of the line, Lin Chen paused for a minute. Listening to his serious voice, Lin Nuan felt a ringing in her head and then her brain went blank…


  “Nuan Nuan, Moshen came back…”


  Lin Nuan had dreamt of the scenario many times in the past four years—somebody calling her with the news of Moshen’s return. Yet after every brief rush of elation, she was only left with more despair in her heart…


  And that day, she actually received the call in real life. Her eyes grew wet… but she remained surprisingly calm and silent.

  “They found him at sea. He was floating for some time until somebody spotted him. The doctor said he wouldn’t make it much longer… He’s in the Ocean City Hospital now, hurry over here! If you’re late you might never get to see him again!”


  Lin Nuan grasped the pen in her hand tightly.

  “You should go…”


  Lin Nuan turned around, shocked, only to see Fu Huai’an’s face.

  She took a long look at him in his suit, his jet black eyes radiating a feeling of indifference and unfathomableness—as if he knew everybody’s heart inside out—with a composure that transcended all worldly matters.

  As he walked out of the administration building, he stood on the high flight of stairs with a cigarette in his mouth.

  Under the golden sunlight, his expression appeared solemn and cold.

  He dug out the lighter in his pocket and covered up the flame with one hand, lighting up his cigarette.

  He couldn’t find a word to describe what he felt right then. In the whirling smoke he gazed into the distance in deep contemplation.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket. He picked it up.

  “Fu Brother, did you collect your marriage certificate yet? Lu Jinnan and I booked the whole country club to ourselves. Let’s go have a barbeque and fishing session today, beats just sitting together at some boring table drinking beer,” Tang Zheng said in a bright tone.

  “No, I didn’t….” Fu Huai’an flicked the cigarette.

  “That’s fine, we’ll go to the country club first to wait for you two. You guys collect your certificate first, after that…”


  Before Tang Zheng could finish her sentence, Lu Jinnan snatched the phone away and said, “Why so slow? Which district are you guys at? Should I ring up their chief in charge?”


  With one hand in his pocket, he bit the cigarette in his mouth. His eyes were half open in the swirling smoke. He said in a calm voice, “There’s no need for that. We won’t be collecting the certificate anymore.”