Atlas Studios

  Atlas Studios

  There was a stable and masculine aura about him that distinguished him from other people, a sense of stability and wisdom that gave him extra male charisma. It was as if it were carved into his bones.

  With the extraordinary aura that Fu Huai’an was exuding, his mature demeanor made him stand out from the casually-dressed men and women in the cinema.

  In the cinema, many girls had their heads turned in Fu Huai’an’s direction as they whispered in each others’ ears.

  Some of the bolder ones took several deep breaths and wanted to go up to him to strike up a conversation. However, they were held back by his strong aura, chickening out when they were about to reach his side. One girl nervously told her companion that she didn’t dare.

  There was a couple behind Lin Nuan, and the girl was tugging on the guy’s elbow as they spoke about Fu Huai’an in a low voice.

  “Fancy coming to the cinema in a suit. It’s like sticking a spring onion on a pig’s snout…”


  The young guy couldn’t help speaking jealously when he heard his girlfriend enviously wishing her boyfriend would one day mature into someone like Fu Huai’an.

  “What’s wrong with coming to the cinema in a suit? Whoever said suits aren’t allowed in cinemas? That guy is obviously a rich fellow. Just look at his vibe. Even if he was dressed in a gunny sack, he’d still look ridiculously handsome! What’s more, he’s rich! You should work hard and look up to someone like him! Not be jealous of him…”


  Lin Nuan listened to the conversation between the couple behind her, secretly feeling honored. Her eyes were twinkling with a smile.

  When it was almost Lin Nuan’s turn, she suddenly heard the cry of a child.

  When she turned her head, she saw a woman in her forties dragging a young lady in a uniform from the ticket barrier. Her chest was heaving violently as she reprimanded, “We spent tens of thousands of dollars to send you into Haicheng Middle School No. 1. But you, instead of going to school properly, you secretly dated a boy! Playing truant to watch a movie! Do you have any shame? Do you still want any shame? You have utterly disgraced your dad and me! Are you trying to drive me to my grave? You’re a big girl now… and not even as obedient as your younger brother!”


  The young lady stiffened her neck, a look of rebellion on her face. She was angry but dared not voice her displeasure as she was dragged out of the cinema.

  Next to the woman was a little boy of four or five years of age. One of his hands was holding onto the woman’s clothes, while the other hand was rubbing his eyes as he cried. “Mama, don’t hit sis! Don’t hit sis!”


  Lin Nuan looked at the mother and son duo, and the obedient image of Tuan Tuan flashed before her mind. Her heart skipped a beat. She was so busy indulging in lovey-dovey time with Fu Huai’an that she had forgotten about her promise to Tuan Tuan to pick him up.

  “Hello!”


  It was Lin Nuan’s turn at the ticketing counter. The ticketing staff saw an out of sorts Lin Nuan with her head lowered and called out to her.

  “Hi, do you need to exchange for tickets?” the ticketing staff asked again.

  Raising her hand to look at her wristwatch, she saw that it was 4:42 pm. She gave the staff member a quick smile. “Sorry, I’m not exchanging anymore… apologies!”


  Lin Nuan left the queue, and Fu Huai’an was already done buying the couple’s combo. Seeing Lin Nuan leave the queue, Fu Huai’an carried the popcorn and walked to Lin Nuan in an unhurried manner.

  “Got the tickets?”


  “We promised Tuan Tuan we would fetch him from school!” Lin Nuan locked her phone screen and stashed her phone in her bag, then reached out to receive the popcorn and coke from Fu Huai’an’s hands. “We’ll still make it in time if we leave now!”


  “It’s okay, I’ve already asked Auntie Li to fetch Tuan Tuan!”


  It was rare for Lin Nuan to be in the mood for a movie, so Fu Huai’an had already made arrangements.

  “How could we? We promised Tuan Tuan we’d fetch him ourselves! How can we lie to a kid?” Lin Nuan’s brows were tightly knit. “Let’s go… stop delaying!”


  Fu Huai’an followed Lin Nuan to the elevator. In the elevator mirror, he could see Lin Nuan’s anxious expression. Fu Huai’an strode up to Lin Nuan’s side and took the popcorn from her arms, grabbing her ungloved, cold hand.

  Lin Nuan saw the little boy crying, and an image of a Tuan Tuan with watery eyes popped up in her mind, making her heart ache a little.

  Knowing Lin Nuan was thinking about Tuan Tuan, Fu Huai’an gently tightened his grip on Lin Nuan’s petite hand.

  …


  Lin Nuan and Fu Huai’an got out of the car at the entrance of the kindergarten.

  The sounds of many little ones calling for their mamas in soft and cute voices had an uplifting effect on one’s mood. The walls around the kindergarten were soaked in the rays of the setting sun.

  Perhaps because fathers rarely came by to fetch the kids, seeing Fu Huai’an and Lin Nuan come to fetch their kid together inevitably evoked feelings of envy in other mothers.

  In the distance, Lin Nuan saw Tuan Tuan.

  Auntie Li and Tuan Tuan were standing on the stairs. Tuan Tuan’s little face was scrunched up, his eyes reddened, those black eyes watery with tears. There were tiny teardrops on his eyelashes.

  The gentle female teacher was kneeling by Tuan Tuan’s side, smiling as she tried to comfort Tuan Tuan.

  Auntie Li was also bent over as she said something to Tuan Tuan in a low voice.

  Tuan Tuan turned around and discretely wiped his tears on the sleeves of his uniform, then turned back around as if nothing had happened. He gave Auntie Li his little hand and prepared to return home with Auntie Li, expressionless.

  Lin Nuan’s gaze followed little Tuan Tuan, and seeing Auntie Li come out hand-in-hand with him, she pulled down the scarf covering her mouth and called out, “Tuan Tuan!”


  Amidst the noisy children, Tuan Tuan spotted Lin Nuan in an instant. He immediately let go of Auntie Li’s hand and bounced towards Lin Nuan, reaching out to grab hold of Lin Nuan’s legs with both of his arms.

  “Mama!” Tuan Tuan looked up, calling Lin Nuan with good articulation, his expression completely different from just a moment ago.

  Lin Nuan bent over and stroked Tuan Tuan on his head, then grabbed him by the elbows and lifted him into her arms.

  Tuan Tuan had his arms tightly held around Lin Nuan’s neck, his little face resting on Lin Nuan’s shoulder. He used Lin Nuan’s scarf to wipe away the tiny teardrops on his eyelashes, an unconcealable sparkle and joy in his eyes.

  “Aiyoh! Sir called me to fetch Tuan Tuan. Just now, Tuan Tuan thought the two of you weren’t coming for him… he was so upset that I couldn’t bear it myself!” Auntie Li raised a hand to stroke Tuan Tuan’s back.

  Lin Nuan held Tuan Tuan tight in her arms, then smiled slightly. “Auntie Li, Huai’an and I will take Tuan Tuan out for a movie. Let Uncle Hu take you home first. We’ll eat outside tonight…”


  Upon hearing Lin Nuan was going to take him to the movies, Tuan Tuan straightened his back immediately, his little legs swinging in the air.

  “Tuan Tuan! Mama! Papa!”


  The minute Little Candy saw Lin Nuan and Fu Huai’an, she sprinted towards them with those little legs of hers, cheerfully addressing Lin Nuan and Fu Huai’an as Mama and Papa!

  Little Candy was wearing a white cap and white mittens and had a scarf around her neck, her little face hidden within. It only revealed a pair of large, grape-like eyes…


  The minute she saw Lin Nuan, she clumsily took off her scarf with her mittened hand and flashed Lin Nuan and Fu Huai’an a brilliant smile, white air coming out from her little mouth.

  Upon hearing Little Candy’s voice, Tuan Tuan twisted around.

  He held onto Lin Nuan’s neck with one hand, straightened his back, then looked at Little Candy, who had a school bag on her shoulders and was standing in front of Lin Nuan and Fu Huai’an.