"Then, I′d like to talk to you about the reason I invited you here. Is that alright?"

  "Yes."

  "I think..." He paused. "You really like Tingting, don't you?"

  "Yes."

  "So, I hope you can move in with us."

  "Oh? Mr. Bai?" Fang Siying jumped in surprise.

  "What I mean is, please move in with us and become Tingting's private tutor. I suspect her grades aren't very good, am I right?"

  "She can improve..."

  "But she needs a good teacher," Bai Peiwen interjected.

  Fang Siying shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

  "Oh, Mr. Bai..." she hesitated. "I don’t need to move in with you. I can still tutor the child; in fact, I already do... every day..."

  "Yes, I know," Bai Peiwen interrupted her. "You tutor her for an hour each day and refuse payment. You're not like the teachers in America."

  Fang Siying said nothing.

  "I know," Bai Peiwen continued, "you don’t care about money. So, I imagine that even if I told you the reward is very high, you'd still be unmoved."

  Fang Siying remained silent.

  "Well? Miss Fang?" Bai Peiwen leaned forward slightly.

  "Oh," Fang Siying furrowed her brows in confusion. "I don't understand, Mr. Bai. If you feel that one hour of tutoring isn’t enough, I can increase it to two or three hours. I can come here every evening after dinner, tutor Tingting, and then go back home. I don′t think it′s necessary for me to live here."

  Bai Peiwen took out another cigarette, his expression appearing somewhat anxious.

  "Miss Fang," he bit his lip, speaking with difficulty. "I believe you've heard some rumors about me."

  Fang Siying lowered her head.

  "Yes," she said softly.

  "Then, do you understand?" His expression darkened, and his breath became heavy.

  "That is a child who has lost her mother."

  "Yes," Fang Siying also bit her lip.

  "So, you should understand. I'm not just looking for a private tutor for her. I need someone who can truly care for her, love her, look after her, and help her become a healthy and happy child."

  "But I've heard..." Fang Siying's voice became dry and hoarse. "You've already found a mother for her."

  Bai Peiwen flinched, and a long ash fell onto his shirt. His face lengthened, suddenly appearing both weary and aged, and his voice was low and suppressed.

  "This is one of the reasons I invited you here," he said, his voice filled with barely suppressed emotion. "Let me tell you, she is not an ordinary child. If she suffers any grievance, she won’t utter a word about it to me. Even if she′s tormented to the point of death, she′ll still hold onto my neck and say, 'Daddy, I′m so happy!' Do you understand, Miss Fang?"

  Fang Siying suddenly turned her head to the side, feeling two waves of heat surging into her eyes. In an instant, her vision blurred. A wave of emotion—deep, moving, and almost joyful—swept over her. Ah, this father was not as ignorant or oblivious as she had imagined. He did understand; he did care and cherish that child!

  Her eyeshes fluttered as she quietly wiped the tears from her cheeks. In that fleeting moment, she understood—a sorrow unique to a blind man. This man was not merely trying to find a protector for his daughter; he was crying out for help!

  "Well? Miss Fang?" Bai Peiwen asked again, his voice even more urgent.

  "Oh, I..." Fang Siyin's emotions were in turmoil. "I don't know... I think I need to consider it."

  "Consider what?"

  "You know, I′m a teacher at Zhengxin, and Tingting is my student. Now, if I also become her private tutor, it doesn′t seem very appropriate. It could attract gossip..."

  "Hmph! What nonsense!" Bai Peiwen sneered coldly. "There are plenty of primary school teachers who also serve as private tutors. You wouldn’t be the only one. If you′re really worried about avoiding suspicion, then resign from Zhengxin! Whatever sary Zhengxin gives you, I'll double it."

  Fang Siying couldn’t help but smile coldly, a wave of resentment rising in her heart.

  She couldn’t understand why wealthy people always liked to use money to achieve their goals, as if everything in the world could be bought with it.

  "You're quite used to 'buying' things this way, aren't you?" she said, mocking him.

  "Unfortunately, I happen to be a..."

  "Alright, don't say any more," he interrupted her, standing up. He walked familiarly to the floor-to-ceiling window, turning his back to her. His voice was low and mencholic. "It seems I've used the wrong method. But you can't deny this is the most effective way humans have to solve problems. Now, if I say that Tingting needs you, will that be effective?"

  Fang Siying's heart ached as she heard the helplessness and pleading in the man's tone. She stood up and, almost unconsciously, walked to Bai Peiwen's side. Outside the tall floor-to-ceiling window, the moonlight was bright, and the blooming flowers swayed under its glow, scattering shadows across the ground.

  Fang Siying took a deep breath, gazing at a slender pnt, and said, “What lovely roses!”

  “What?” Bai Peiwen jumped as though he had been electrocuted. “What did you say? Roses? There are roses in my garden.

  “Oh, no, I was mistaken.” Fang Siying stared at Bai Peiwen's face, which had suddenly turned pale. “It’s just a hibiscus. I don't know... you don't like roses, do you? Why not? You should like them. Roses are the sweetest, most fragrant, and most beautiful of flowers—especially yellow roses.”

  Bai Peiwen's hand gripped the doorknob of the floor-to-ceiling window, and the muscles in his face tensed.

  "Do you like roses?" he asked casually.

  "Who doesn't like them?" she replied just as casually.

  She stood facing the window for a while, lost in thought. Then, suddenly, she regained her composure. Turning around, she looked directly at Bai Peiwen and spoke with a determined voice, "I've thought it over, Mr. Bai. I accept your offer. But I can′t give up my independence, so I′ll live with you, go to school with Tingting every day, and return with her. I′ll need a separate room, a sary of two thousand yuan per month, and—complete freedom."

  She paused, then added, "I'll move in this Saturday."

  Turning, she walked to the sofa and picked up her handbag.

  Bai Peiwen turned around urgently, his face shining.

  "Is it a promise?" he asked.

  "A promise," she replied.