Chapter 368: Entreaty

Chen Nuo found it hard to describe this feeling.

It was an experience that was extremely wondrous and beyond words.

From his senses to his heart, it was one of a kind.

If he could board a time machine, return to the past, and tell that lonely, solitary self of his what it felt like to have offspring.

He racked his brains, but could only use past experiences to describe it like this:

It was like an ancient traveler who had wandered for many years, having endured the vicissitudes of life, finally returning home. When he pushed open the door to his house, he saw his parents, whom he had missed day and night, with a heart full of exhaustion.

His parents had aged, their faces unfamiliar, looking like different people compared to the images in his memory.

In that instant, what that traveler felt was very similar to his current mood.

Although there was a sense of alienation and unfamiliarity, beyond that, there was something even more ethereal that tethered life to life.

No words were needed, no thought was required; that something allowed both parties to understand that the person before them was their closest kin.

And this thing was called a blood connection.

……

From today on, in this world, the person connected to him by blood, besides his parents, had increased by one.

Holding this newborn little one, Chen Nuo only felt that she was as light as a tuft of cotton in his hands, yet as heavy as if he were supporting the entire world.

Her little face was flushed, scrunched up together, her eyes tightly shut, occasionally trembling, fine soft lanugo clinging to her forehead, and he could even smell a faint milky fragrance.

His arms slowly stiffened unconsciously.

There is an idiom called "cherish as a treasure"; at this moment, Chen Nuo thoroughly understood how apt it was in describing this father-daughter affection.

Wasn't he exactly like that?

He was cautious, terrified that one careless move would hurt her.

Yet, a warm current suddenly surged in his chest, so hot that his eye sockets burned and his nose felt sour.

At this moment, time seemed to have frozen.

"Chen, give the child to me; you should go see her now," the female doctor said softly, reaching out to him with a professional, gentle smile on her face.

Chen Nuo knew this was indeed the case.

He nodded and carefully handed the angel in his arms over.

Watching the other party take the child, skillfully adjust the swaddling clothes, and turn to walk toward the infant incubator nearby.

Afterward, he took a deep breath and turned to walk toward the basement stairs.

In the basement delivery room, the nursing team had already finished cleaning up.

Although the scent of disinfectant still lingered in the air, it was no longer pungent.

He saw in the center of the room, Fan Fan Binbing half-leaning on an adjusted delivery bed, covered by a light blue blanket, her hair wet and clinging to her forehead, her complexion as pale as paper, her arms lying limply on the blanket, eyes closed as if she had fallen asleep.

But perhaps his footsteps entering the room were a bit loud; Fan Fan Binbing suddenly opened her eyes again, looking at him, a complex light flashing in her eyes that he found somewhat difficult to understand.

Not knowing if it was an illusion, Chen Nuo even felt a trace of hostility in it.

Immediately, Fan Fan Binbing's eyes closed again.

Chen Nuo thanked the nurses who remained in the delivery room; after shaking hands with him, they left quietly.

Finally, only the pair of man and woman who had just been promoted to parents remained here.

Chen Nuo slowly walked to the bedside, pulled over a nearby chair and sat down, sighed slightly, and held the hand she had placed on the blanket.

Fan Fan Binbing reopened her eyes, looked at his hand, and then looked at him.

Chen Nuo had never felt so inarticulate; after pondering for a long time, he could only blurt out: "……You're tired, right? Do you want me to help you wipe off your sweat?"

Fan Fan Binbing shook her head slightly, "I want to see her."

Chen Nuo nodded: "Okay."

He stood up and walked to the door, pulled it open, and said to the young nurse standing outside: "She wants to see the child."

Next, in less than a minute, the nurse returned holding the little one taken from the incubator.

She walked into the delivery room, placed the child in Fan Fan Binbing's arms, and very carefully adjusted her posture to ensure her weak hands could hold steady.

Fan Fan Binbing looked down at the ugly little face in her arms, and her eye sockets turned red all at once.

But she didn't speak, only gently touched her cheek with her finger, the corners of her mouth slightly raised, revealing a smile that was gentle to the extreme.

As she smiled, tears from the corners of her eyes slid down.

Chen Nuo stood to the side, watching this scene, his inner emotions complex beyond imagination.

Before this, it wasn't that he hadn't doubted what Fan Fan Binbing's intentions were in doing this, and he hadn't even failed to consider whether the woman was trying to exchange this event for something.

But now, he felt how ridiculous and absurd those suspicions were.

The little one moved in Fan Fan Binbing's arms, her little mouth smacking.

Fan Fan Binbing leaned her face closer, her nose almost touching the child's forehead, and began to hum a song softly.

This was the first time Chen Nuo had heard Fan Fan Binbing sing.

Not only was it off-key, but it was also intermittent.

But Chen Nuo felt this was the best song he had ever heard in his life.

Fan Fan Binbing hummed in a low voice: "Sleep, sleep~ my dear, baby~ Mommy loves you~ Mommy~ likes~ you."

That scrunched-up little one slowly fell asleep amidst this low singing.

Chen Nuo felt almost no passage of time, and didn't know how long had passed, when the nurse walked back in on tiptoe again, whispering: "Miss Fan, it's about time; you should rest now."

Fan Fan Binbing looked at the child in her arms with reluctance, but ultimately nodded, loosening her hands to let the nurse take her away.

Before the young nurse left, she glanced at Chen Nuo and said: "Chen, you stay here and accompany her; she needs someone to accompany her now." After finishing, she walked out holding the child and gently closed the door.

Chen Nuo and Fan Fan Binbing watched her together—no, they watched the angel in her hands leave, until the door closed.

At this time, Fan Fan Binbing leaned back against the pillow, closed her eyes, and let out a long breath, as if she had exhaled all the strength in her body.

Chen Nuo looked at her pale face and said softly: "You sleep, I'll be right here."

But the next moment, Fan Fan Binbing did not sleep.

She suddenly opened her eyes again, opening them round and wide, grabbed Chen Nuo's hand back, and held it very, very tightly.

In those beautiful, bright, large eyes, a thick layer of mist suddenly surged, and tears, like a broken levee, began to slide down her cheeks incessantly.

Not only that, her whole body was trembling, shivering as if she were having an epileptic seizure.

Chen Nuo was startled and was about to open his mouth to call for the doctor.

But before he could speak, Fan Fan Binbing also happened to speak at this moment.

Her voice and tone were like a woman bitterly entreating a man who had once loved her deeply to spare her once, to give her one more chance.

This way, she could go on living.

"Don't take her away," Fan Fan Binbing said, "I beg you."

Chen Nuo was stunned.

Fan Fan Binbing's voice was like a wind chime ravaged by a storm, shattered into incoherent syllables.

"Don't snatch her away, Chen Nuo, you promise me……"

She repeated it again, her body trembling even more violently due to the excessive emotional fluctuation.

That hand tightly gripping Chen Nuo's had nails that almost sank into his skin, gripping him until it hurt a little.

"I……"

Chen Nuo said one word, then closed his mouth again.

Although Fan Fan Binbing's words came out of nowhere and felt very abrupt, Chen Nuo knew what she was talking about.

Because yesterday afternoon, after closing the door, a conversation had taken place between the two of them.

"You want to help me, then you must promise me a few things first."

"Okay, you say it."

"This child is mine; regardless of whether it's a boy or a girl, he will take my surname from now on."

"Okay, no problem."

"You can come to visit him at any time, but you must wait until he is 16 years old before you can tell her your identity and our relationship."

"16 years old?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

"You also cannot tell anyone else about this. Not your parents, nor…… Wen Yongshan, Liu Yifei, and the others. No one is allowed."

"Okay, but how do you plan to raise the child? Are you planning to keep him in Canada?"

"No, I will keep him by my side. Wherever I am, he will be there."

"How is that possible……"

"How is it impossible? Once he is born, I will tell the media that he is my child. It's just that I won't tell them who his father is."

"……Are you crazy? Do you know what you're saying!?" "I'm not crazy. These past few months, I've thought a lot, and finally, I've made up my mind. I don't want my child to live in the shadows where they can't see the light from a young age."

"…………Have you thought about the consequences?"

"I have. At worst, I just won't be an actress anymore. So, I'm currently starting a business here, and it looks like it's developing quite well. If that day really comes, I can still give him a very good life."

Fan Fan Binbing's appearance at that time was something Chen Nuo had never seen before.

That resolute and firm attitude was like a hard hammer that could be used to drive a nail into a wall.

And him?

At that time, he was in a completely bewildered state.

Just an hour ago, he had only just learned that he had a son or daughter about to be born.

His mind was a mess; he couldn't think of much, only wanting to know how to handle this matter well.

His whole person was in a state of not thinking, only wanting to resolve this suddenly appearing "trouble" as quickly as possible.

Therefore, facing the pregnant Fan Fan Binbing and the so-called demands she put forward, he agreed very readily.

Even in a dark corner deep in his heart, there was a feeling of secretly breathing a sigh of relief. Originally, children and such were not in his life plan to begin with.

It was just that Chen Nuo was very surprised by Fan Fan Binbing's decision. In China, Fan Fan Binbing's approach might only be slightly better than tax evasion of 700 million.

This completely exceeded his understanding of this woman from his past life.

Although he agreed in the end, he really didn't understand.

Why?

Why would Fan Fan Binbing, a woman who loved walking the red carpet, loved watching shows, loved being the visual focus, and also loved movies and acting, actually be willing to give up the career she had struggled for all her life for the child in her belly?

Why.

Until now, he finally knew the reason.

Because, upon seeing that newborn little life, he also had an impulsive urge to disregard everything in his heart.

Perhaps this is the difference between a mother and a father.

A mother becomes a mother during the ten months of pregnancy.

While a father needs to see and touch with his own eyes to become a father.

Therefore, 20 minutes ago, while holding the little one in his arms, Chen Nuo truly wanted to go back on his word.

He had already decided that once Fan Fan Binbing's body recovered a bit, he would discuss this matter with her.

However, he didn't expect that this woman had actually seen through it.

Chen Nuo didn't know how Fan Fan Binbing had managed to do it.

Fan Fan Binbing's pale face was full of tear stains, her eyes bloodshot, staring fixedly at him, her eyes full of entreaty, her sentences intermittent and not forming complete thoughts, "Promise me, okay? Don't snatch her away……"

Her lips trembled slightly, her hair currently messily clinging to both sides of her cheeks, making her haggard face look even more so.

Her hands tightly gripped Chen Nuo's clothes, as if that were her last straw, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Every word she said seemed to use up all the strength in her body, "Chen Nuo, I…… ever since I knew I had her, she has been my life."

"Every night, I touch my belly alone, talk to her, imagine what she looks like; I cannot lose her, really cannot. I beg you, don't snatch her away……"

She pleaded with a near-humble attitude, her body trembling incessantly due to excitement and weakness, like a candle in the wind.

If he just wanted to refute her, Chen Nuo could actually think of ten thousand ways.

It was too abrupt.

What snatching or not snatching, it was obviously just her persecution complex. There had to be a limit to protecting one's young.

However, looking at Fan Fan Binbing's appearance, he knew again that saying anything at this time would probably be in vain; it was obvious this person was in an over-reactive state, just like the doctor said, this woman's hormone secretion was different from ordinary people, and her emotional fluctuations during childbirth were also extremely great.

Conversely, besides the woman's emotional over-excitement and eagerness to protect her young, perhaps this worry wasn't without reason.

With his ever-increasing wealth and status, he would eventually be like a great vortex, sweeping away everything around him, making everything revolve around him.

This objective fact was not even led by personal subjective will.

Then what about him?

What should he do?

Should he promise?

……

……

November 15, 2010, 7:13 AM.

Fan Fan Binbing had fallen asleep.

Not having received a definite answer, she was clearly unwilling.

However, everyone should have given birth to children, and also know that even a smooth natural birth is a huge drain on a person's energy.

Especially since Fan Fan Binbing had also had a good cry under intense emotional fluctuation.

Chen Nuo just went around in circles with his words, and the woman couldn't withstand the surging sleepiness, unwillingly falling asleep, or rather, fainting from exhaustion.

Even at this time, her hand was still pulling on Chen Nuo's sleeve.

Yes,

Even though Fan Fan Binbing, this charming beauty, under the radiance of maternal light, without losing her beauty, and instead appearing even more mature and charming, cried like a tearful person in front of him,

He understood all of the other party's thoughts.

However, Chen Nuo still didn't promise.

Still that same sentence, he is not an ordinary man, nor is he an ordinary person.

Even whether he is human or not, that would have to be a question mark.

There were too many women crying their eyes out in front of him; the number was so high he couldn't even count them.

Hadn't he also understood their feelings of wanting to be with him just the same in the past?

But how is a scumbag forged?

It is precisely irrigated by the tears of countless women.

Perhaps in the past, when breaking up with people, there was still guilt restraining him, making him give some money as a breakup fee more or less.

However, now, thinking of the little thing just a moment ago, his heart was about to melt.

That was truly a heart as hard as iron.

Killing gods if gods block, killing Buddhas if Buddhas block.

Even if it spread out, and was said by the likes of Lin Meiru to be untrustworthy or breaking his word, he would only treat it as a breeze brushing his face.

Those demands Fan Fan Binbing had before,

At least one of them, he absolutely could not agree to without room for negotiation.

That is, he could not tolerate the other party raising the child alone, letting the child think she had no father.

Fan Fan Binbing slept, and Chen Nuo sat by the bedside for a while.

He hadn't closed his eyes all night, and by this time he was also exhausted, and unknowingly he also fell asleep slumped by the bedside.

But he didn't sleep for long before someone touched him.

Waking up to look, Fan Fan Binbing was still fast asleep, Lin Meiru was standing beside him, pointing outside.

Chen Nuo turned his head to look and saw Qi Yuntian beckoning to him.

Walking out the door, he saw that besides Qi Yuntian, there was also a middle-aged white woman he didn't recognize.

"Hello, Chen. I am Allison Graham, very happy to meet you."

The woman wasn't considered good-looking; when she smiled, her nasolabial folds were a bit heavy, and there was a gap between her front teeth, but her whole person looked very kind and approachable, just like some neighbor's big sister, making people feel close at first sight.

Chen Nuo shook hands with the other party in a daze, said hello, and then looked at Qi Yuntian with confusion.

Qi Yuntian introduced: "Allison is a public relations expert. She is currently joining our crisis PR team as a special consultant."

Holy shit, what is crisis PR? I only dozed off for a little while, and Toronto turned into Raccoon City?

Chen Nuo had a head full of question marks.

Seeing his confusion, Allison Graham said: "Chen, we will explain to you on the way what happened. Now, we must hurry and leave."

"Go where?"

"Fan and your child will be transferred to James's country villa; the medical team will always accompany them to ensure the safety of mother and daughter."

"And you, you should go participate in Mr. James's short film screening promotion."

Afterward,

At 10:00 AM Toronto time on November 15, 2010, which was 11:00 PM Beijing time on November 15,

Qi Yuntian told Chen Nuo in the car about an incident that happened at 7:00 PM on the 14th in Toronto, which was 8:00 AM on the 15th Beijing time.

Listening, Chen Nuo remembered; at that time, Qi Yuntian had indeed come over with his phone and told him that the Chinese-American paparazzi named Jeffrey had said he had some things in his hands and wanted to talk to them.

At that time, he had no heart to manage this matter and directly let Qi Yuntian handle it.

"It's my problem; originally I just wanted to drag it out, but I didn't expect the other party to be so……"

"Dumb."

Allison took over Qi Yuntian's words.

Qi Yuntian nodded at her.

Clearly, the woman understood the cause and effect very well and immediately said: "I don't think Qi's approach had any problems. Paparazzi extortion is something almost every star will encounter. This is not rare. Qi's approach was very normal. Drag it out, evaluate the severity of the situation, and then negotiate. And mature paparazzi will also understand this point, give some time, and be prepared to negotiate terms in the next round of negotiations."

"The problem this time is not with Qi; the problem is that the other party is too stupid, making such a big deal out of it. Of course, I feel they also shouldn't have expected it to cause such a big reaction in China."

Hearing this, Chen Nuo finally woke up a bit from his sleepiness and couldn't help but ask: "So, what did they do?"

(End of chapter)