After Returning to the Country, the Female CEO Actually Gave Me a Daughter Section 18

Her phone rang several times in a row.

She quickly muted it, unlocked the screen, and checked the messages.

One was a notification from the kindergarten group chat.

"Dear parents, due to an official anti-riot drill, the kindergarten will be closed for three days."

Three days of closure—if Shen Qingyan had seen this kind of news before, she would have been frantic.

But now, there wasn't a trace of worry or concern left in her heart.

There was also a message from Xu Nan.

Xu Nan: "Is Yaoyao asleep yet?"

Shen Qingyan: "She's asleep."

Xu Nan: "I'm almost there. I brought my own red wine."

Xu Nan: "Storm's Cry.jpg"

Shen Qingyan: "What's wrong?"

Xu Nan: "I'll tell you when I get there..."

Shen Qingyan: "Okay."

Locking her phone screen, Shen Qingyan glanced at Tang Yao, who was still sound asleep with no signs of waking, then got up and walked out of the bedroom, leaving the door ajar.

Before long.

Xu Nan arrived.

Sitting on the sofa, Shen Qingyan poured Xu Nan a shallow glass of red wine, picked up her own, clinked glasses, and took a sip. "What's wrong again? More problems with the magazine?"

"No, not that."

Xu Nan shook her head. "At this point, things can't get any worse."

"Then what's this about..." Shen Qingyan was confused.

"I'm regretting missing a chance that could have turned the magazine around—even made it famous worldwide."

"It's been days, and I still wake up every night filled with regret!" Xu Nan said indignantly.

"Missed a chance to make the magazine famous internationally?" Shen Qingyan was puzzled. "What happened?"

"A few days ago, Li Tong dragged me to Sheng Tang for a buffet. I ran into a man there. He was wearing a custom-tailored leisure suit from Royalwardrobe—great build, handsome face, outstanding presence... If I could have shot a magazine spread with him, our magazine would have made a huge splash, turned things around, and with good marketing, it could have gone global..."

Xu Nan began recounting what happened at the buffet that day. "But when I went up to him, he flat-out told me he wasn't interested in being hit on..."

"That's one thing. I explained my intentions, but he had zero interest. I handed him my business card, thinking I could still try to win him over. It wasn't until after he left that I realized—I gave him my card. If he doesn't contact me, I have no way to reach him..."

"Just like that, I let the opportunity slip through my fingers. Qingyan, what do I do now? Help me think of something..."

Shen Qingyan raised an eyebrow slightly. "First, can you explain to me what Royalwardrobe is?"

"Royalwardrobe is the Fog City Royal Wardrobe. The people who get clothes tailored there are either royalty from various countries or the top-tier elite." Xu Nan said.

"..."

Shen Qingyan's eyelid twitched, but she still analyzed it rationally. "Then I think there's not much I can do to help you."

"Someone who can afford clothes like that—even if you found his contact info, it'd still be hard to change his mind and get him to agree to a shoot."

"After all, they could probably blow down ten magazines like yours with a single breath."

Hearing this.

Xu Nan stopped regretting.

She collapsed onto the sofa in despair...

Late update, tenth chapter! Asking for monthly votes, flowers, rating votes, and comments. Same old rules—if there's data support, I'll keep going strong!

: Qingyan, you're not... developing feelings for him, are you? 1st chapter, asking for favorites.

Watching her like this, Shen Qingyan shook her head.

There was nothing she could do about this kind of situation.

Xu Nan picked up her glass, downed the red wine in one gulp, then glug-glug poured herself another half glass. "Ah, forget about me. How's your situation?"

"My side..."

Shen Qingyan forced a faint smile. "Same as you—not great either."

"Not great either? Didn't you say last time that everything was resolved?" Xu Nan asked, puzzled.

Shen Qingyan recounted the current state of the Shen Group to Xu Nan.

Xu Nan slammed her hand down on the glass table. "Damn, those old bastards have no shame! When we needed ideas, every single one of them was nowhere to be found. Now that there's a turnaround, they all come crawling out—absolutely shameless!"

"So, Qingyan, what are you planning to do now?"

Shen Qingyan shook her head slightly.

"You're worse off than me."

Xu Nan sighed, grabbed her glass, and clinked it with Shen Qingyan's.

"So what about that Tang Chen?"

Xu Nan pressed further: "Did you make it clear to him, tell him not to show up in front of Yaoyao anymore?"

Shen Qingyan shook her head. "No."

Xu Nan's brows shot up. "No? Why not?"

Shen Qingyan said, "Yaoyao is really happy with him. I thought it over, and I feel like Yaoyao's childhood needs this dad."

Xu Nan grew anxious. "Qingyan, what are you thinking?"

"Have you forgotten how you got through these past five years?"

"You barely made it. If he takes Yaoyao and disappears again, how would you survive?"

Shen Qingyan took a light sip of red wine. "I don't think he's that kind of person..."

"How do you know what kind of person he is?"

"You can tell."

Shen Qingyan said, "From interacting with him these past few days, I can sense that he genuinely cares for Yaoyao, and he's also very responsible..."

"These past few days? Interacting?"

Xu Nan stared at Shen Qingyan in surprise.

Shen Qingyan nodded and recounted what had happened over those days...

"He kicked the door open and pulled you out of the meeting room?"

Xu Nan could almost picture it. "That's kind of cool... ugh, screw cool! Qingyan, don't let your guard down so fast. You still have to be wary..."

Hmm?

And as she spoke.

Xu Nan's voice suddenly cut off.

She caught herself—everything Shen Qingyan had just said was defending and praising Tang Chen, and a possibility struck her.

Her eyes locked onto Shen Qingyan's. "Qingyan, don't tell me... you've started to like him?"

"..."

"I'm going to the restroom."

Shen Qingyan was silent for a long moment, then got up and headed for the bathroom.

Xu Nan stared blankly at her back until the bathroom door clicked shut, snapping her out of it.

"Ah!"

She shook her head helplessly.

She herself couldn't muster any fondness for Tang Chen.

She had seen all the suffering Shen Qingyan had endured over the years—even when she gave birth, Xu Nan was the only one there...

But Xu Nan also knew.

If Shen Qingyan truly set her mind on something, no one could change it.

"What a tragic soul..."

"I hope she doesn't get hurt again."

She let out a sigh.

Just then.

Ring!

Her phone chimed.