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Shen Baili's eyes curved with a smile. "Me too. I love Mom most."

She knew how to love people.

Shen Wan said, "And Mom loves Suìsuì most."

They strode forward together, their shadows nestled against each other and stretching long across the ground.

Xie Chengyue approached with a woman's handbag in his hand. His tall frame blocked most of the blazing sun, and a barely perceptible tenderness lay beneath his gentle gaze.

"Are you hot?"

Shen Wan shook her head slightly and pointed to their three shadows. "It feels warm."

"You've been waiting a long time, haven't you?"

Xie Chengyue opened the parasol and tilted it toward the two of them. "Not long."

Shen Baili took the hint and stepped away. "Mom, Uncle Xie, I'm so happy you came to my parent-teacher meeting. See you tonight!"

With that, Shen Baili skipped off. Even from behind, her happiness was plain to see.

"She's still a child." Shen Wan watched her go, her smile genuine and soft.

Xie Chengyue lowered his eyes to her. "Mm."

Only after Shen Baili disappeared from sight did Shen Wan look away. She linked her arm through Xie Chengyue's. "Let's go home."

"Okay," Xie Chengyue said.

They left the campus and got into the car together.

The partition rose inside the car, giving them a quiet, private space.

Shen Wan drank some water, and the restless heat inside her eased.

"Tired?" Xie Chengyue noticed the weariness between her brows.

Shen Wan got straight to the point. "I ran into my ex-husband at school."

Xie Chengyue froze for a second. "Su Bowen?"

Shen Wan's ex-husband. The scumbag who had abandoned his wife and daughter.

Xie Chengyue had a good memory. He had read the investigation report only once, yet he still remembered Su Bowen's name.

"What was he