Chapter 5The Unfit Single Father
Watching the slender figure disappear around the corner, Shen Nancheng sighed lightly. Did he just get disliked by someone? Well, it seemed clear that to her, he was nothing more than a passing stranger.
Returning to his seat, Shen Nancheng lowered his gaze with a faint smile, sipped his coffee, and reopened his notebook to continue preparing defense materials for an important economic case.
Suddenly, the phone next to him buzzed impatiently. Shen Nancheng frowned, glanced at the caller ID, and quickly answered. On the other end, his assistant Yu Xiaolu's familiar voice came through.
"Lawyer Shen, we just got word from the court. The copyright infringement case involving Fengsheng Media has been rescheduled to tomorrow at 2 PM."
Shen Nancheng's lips curved into a sly smile, his eyes sharp with amusement. "Looks like they're more anxious than we are."
"Of course they are, going up against you. But, honestly, this case is so tricky. Do you think we can win?" Yu Xiaolu asked hesitantly. Back at the firm, no one had wanted to take this case, believing it was a guaranteed loss.
"Xiaolu, when have I ever lost?" Shen Nancheng's fox-like eyes narrowed confidently.
On the other end, Yu Xiaolu's tone immediately brightened. "We'll be waiting for your victory party, then, Lawyer Shen!"
"No problem."
After ending the call, Shen Nancheng was about to set his phone down when the familiar ringtone chimed again.
"Daddy, it's me!"
Hearing the soft, childlike voice, Shen Nancheng's expression immediately softened with a hint of guilt. Even his tone turned exceptionally gentle. "Little Yuanzi, why did you suddenly think to call Daddy?"
"I knew it! You forgot what you promised me!" The five-year-old's voice was filled with righteous indignation.
"How could Daddy forget? I remember very clearly. Today, I was supposed to take you to the zoo to see the pandas. But Little Yuanzi, Daddy has been really busy these past few days. How about this—Grandpa and Grandma take you today, and next weekend, when Daddy has time, I'll take you to the amusement park you've been wanting to visit. How about that?"
For a while, there was only silence on the other end. Shen Nancheng knew his son was probably upset with him.
"Let's make a pinky promise. If Daddy breaks his promise again, then I'll be a puppy."
"Alright, pinky promise. If Daddy lies again, I'll be a puppy."
"You better not forget."
"I won't."
To the sensitive Little Yuanzi, Shen Nancheng was an unreliable, unfit father. Still, he was better than the mother Little Yuanzi had never met. At least his dad hadn't abandoned him.
From a young age, Little Yuanzi was mature for his age and never brought up the topic of his mother. The only time he had was recently, at the start of the school year, when Shen Nancheng had personally taken him to kindergarten.
That day, Little Yuanzi tugged his hand, pointed discreetly at a teacher among the crowd, and said, "Daddy, I think Teacher Su looks like my mommy."
And just like that, Shen Nancheng remembered her—the cheerful, young teacher with the gentle dimples that appeared when she smiled.
That sunny afternoon, dappled light filtered through the dense leaves and landed on her smiling face, on those small dimples, and unknowingly, in his heart.