C5 I Don't Want It!(5)

"You're handling so much on your own? How do you manage it all?"

Qiao Youyou smiled optimistically. "If I don't do all these things, how can I support my child? But I've gotten used to it."

Su Ziqing looked at her with concern, then suddenly remembered that her company was hiring a secretary with a great salary. She took a business card from her bag and handed it to Youyou.

"Our company is looking for an executive secretary. The monthly salary is $8,000. While the job might be a bit demanding, you only need to work eight hours a day, so you'll have plenty of time to take care of your son."

"Do you think I can do it? I don't have any experience as a secretary," Youyou said, a bit unsure.

"Why worry? You studied secretarial work in school, didn't you? Plus, I'm the head of the Public Relations Department and know the HR manager well. I'll put in a good word for you," Ziqing said confidently.

"Alright, I'll give it a try." Little did Youyou know, this decision would lead her to cross paths with a formidable man in the city.

"Great! It's settled then. Come to our office at 9 a.m. tomorrow, and I'll take care of everything. Just show up," Ziqing instructed, sounding like a true leader.

"Okay, I'll be there on time," Youyou nodded, grateful. "Thank you so much, Ziqing."

"Why thank me? We're best friends, after all." She glanced away, avoiding eye contact with Youyou. Just as she was about to pull her hand back, the phone rang.

The ringtone interrupted the moment perfectly. Ziqing glanced at the caller ID and a soft, happy smile appeared on her lips. "Honey, give me a minute. I'll be right there." After a few words, she hung up.

"Judging by that sweet smile, was that your boyfriend?"

"Yeah..." Ziqing didn't deny it.

Not giving her a chance to pry further, she added, "He's waiting for me, so I gotta go. See you tomorrow." With that, Ziqing hurried off.

Youyou didn't linger either. When she got home and opened the door, she was greeted by darkness. The only light in the living room came from a pair of faintly glowing eyes.

Her heart ached a little. Every night, coming home to see her son's lonely figure filled her with a deep sense of sadness.

She forced a small smile and reached to turn on the living room light. With a click, the room was brightly lit.

Looking at the small figure sitting on the couch, her heart twisted painfully again, but she had to hide that pain away.

She smiled warmly as she walked over to the solitary little figure. "Yuhao, Mommy's back."

"Oh..." came the cool response.

Looking at her son's handsome little face, she couldn't help but feel a sense of pride. Not only was her son good-looking, but he was also incredibly smart, with a photographic memory that left her in awe. At such a young age, he could almost recite anything he read after just one look, and there seemed to be no question that could stump him.

Sometimes, Qiao Youyou would wonder what kind of father such a child would have. Yuhao's aloof and proud demeanor was clearly inherited from that man—handsome yet with a penchant for acting cool.