Chapter 120 Nuonuo Rice
Four years later, at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Hong Kong Municipal Bureau of Justice.
Huo Nanchen wasn't standing under that tree like before. Today he was wearing a dark gray wool coat over a light-colored shirt, without a tie.
He was holding a three-year-old baby in each arm.
The little dumpling on the left is wearing a light yellow sweater and pink pants. Her soft hair is plastered to her forehead, and her eyes are big and bright. Her little hands are trying to catch the ants crawling on the tree trunk.
This is my younger sister, Mimi, whose full name is Huo Yuchen.
The little boy on the right was wearing the same blue sweater, his little hands tightly gripping Huo Nanchen's collar, watching curiously as people entered and exited the Justice Bureau.
This is the older brother, Nuonuo, whose full name is Huo Yuxi.
Both children inherited their parents' good looks; Mimi looks more like Lin Xili, while Nuonuo looks more like Huo Nanchen.
"Daddy~" Mimi suddenly pointed at the building, "Mommy works here~"
"Mm." Huo Nanchen nodded.
“Mom is amazing~” Nuonuo chimed in.
Huo Nanchen smiled slightly. "Yes, Mom is amazing."
He adjusted his holding position to make the two children more comfortable.
His arms were very steady, and even while holding two three-year-old children, he remained composed.
As Huo Nanchen and his two children left the Bureau of Justice, familiar colleagues saw them and greeted them with smiles and nods: "Dr. Huo, are you waiting for Supervisor Lin?"
"These are Nuonuo and Mimi, they're so cute."
"Hmm." Huo Nanchen nodded slightly.
About ten minutes later, Lin Xili walked out of the Justice Bureau.
Today she wore a dark blue business suit, her hair neatly tied up in a bun. Her previously aloof and distant features had transformed into a capable and serious demeanor befitting a female professional.
Holding a black briefcase, he walked out the door, his gaze habitually sweeping ahead before stopping.
She saw the three people under the tree: her lover and her children.
In that instant, the seriousness she displayed at work vanished from her face, replaced by a gentle smile.
"Mommy~" the two little ones called out at the same time, their sweet, childlike voices sounding especially lovely in the autumn evening.
Mimi peeked out of Huo Nanchen's arms, opened her little arms, and asked her mother for a hug.
Lin Xili put down his briefcase, took his daughter, and kissed her on her tender little face.
Although Nuonuo also wanted her mother to hold her, she could only watch longingly, her little hands still clutching her father's collar.
Lin Xili leaned over and kissed her son on the cheek, and Nuonuo smiled contentedly.
"You're back?" Lin Xili asked Huo Nanchen.
"Hmm," Huo Nanchen said, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment. "Congratulations, Manager Lin, the blue snowflakes you bought are at home. Sorry!"
Lin Xili smiled, thinking of how he had been holding a child in each arm just now. "It's nothing. The official appointment just came down today. We just had a short meeting, and I'll be out as soon as it's done."
"My senior brother has been transferred to Kyoto?" he asked again.
“Yes, I went to Kyoto on Monday.” Lin Xili adjusted the way he was holding the child. “He was promoted to director of the Kyoto Judicial Bureau. We had a meal before he left, and he said, ‘Now you have no one to protect you, you have to shoulder the burden yourself.’”
Gao Bowen has indeed given Lin Xili a lot of guidance and opportunities over the years, and now that he is leaving, it means that she will truly have to stand on her own.
Are you under a lot of pressure?
Lin Xili thought for a moment: "A little, but it's okay. The forensic department has a solid foundation and the team is mature."
She paused, then added, "Besides, I'm not alone."
These words were spoken softly, but Huo Nanchen understood. He nodded and said nothing more.
Mimi squirmed in Lin Xili's arms, touching her mother's face with her little hand: "Mommy, I'm hungry~"
"Hungry?" Lin Xili glanced at her watch; it was almost seven o'clock. "Didn't you eat dinner properly?"
"He ate," Huo Nanchen answered for the child. "But he probably had a lot of exercise, because on the way here he kept asking when he could see his mother."
Lin Xili's heart softened. She hugged her daughter and then looked at her son: "What do you want to eat?"
“Cake~” Mimi said immediately.
“Wontons~” Nuonuo said.
“I’ve booked a teahouse to celebrate your promotion,” Huo Nanchen said.
Lin Xili and Huo Nanchen each carried a child as they walked towards the parking lot.
"Your brother and sister-in-law are truly remarkable." Lin Xili said admiringly, "They've both become deputy provincial governors. Director Lu, you should be called Governor Lu now."
Huo Nanchen nodded, "She has always thought highly of you."
“In these high-level positions,” Huo Nanchen continued, “it is very difficult for women to stand out from the men. The resources, opportunities, and even the margin for error are all different.”
Huo Nanchen glanced at her sideways. In four years, she had grown from an excellent forensic analyst into a leader capable of managing the entire forensic department.
He knew better than anyone the effort involved.
"You're amazing too."
Lin Xili turned to look at him, "Because of you."
Upon arriving at the teahouse, they chose a window seat, and the waiter brought out a children's high chair.
We ordered several dim sum items: shrimp dumplings, siu mai, char siu bao, and small cakes and wonton noodles suitable for children.
While waiting for their food, Mimi and Nuonuo couldn't sit still in their high chairs and wanted to get down and play.
"We can only do this area." Lin Xili lifted them down, but held their hands.
The two children were playing around the table.
Lin Xili looked at the children and suddenly said, "Tomorrow is Sunday."
"Hmm!" Huo Nanchen was pouring tea when he heard this and looked up. "Tomorrow is my day off. What are your plans?"
Lin Xili thought for a moment and said, "Let's take the kids to the botanical garden and take some pictures."
She paused for a moment, then said, "It's been a long time since I've taken any proper photos."
In recent years, she has been busy with promotion assessments, and Huo Nanchen has two jobs, one public and one private, so it is difficult for them to have free time together.
When Huo Nanchen went on a mission, the twins were sent back to the old house to be cared for. Grandma Huo was overjoyed. Usually, Sister Li took care of them. Sister Li was arranged by Grandma Huo and was a trustworthy person. They could only have some parent-child time after getting off work in the evening.
"Okay." Huo Nanchen nodded. "I'll make a reservation."
The snacks were served one after another. Mimi ate the small cake with a small fork, getting cream on her face. Huo Nanchen had to blow on the glutinous wontons to cool them down and feed them to her.
The teahouse gradually became lively as evening customers began to enter. Their table had almost finished eating, and Lin Xili checked his watch: "It's time to go back."
Huo Nanchen called the waiter to settle the bill. The two children were already a little sleepy. Mimi rubbed her eyes, and Nuonuo leaned back in her high chair and yawned.
As they left the teahouse, Lin Xili carried Mimi in her arms. Mimi was half asleep, her little face pressed against Lin Xili's shoulder.
Huo Nanchen held Nuonuo in his arms. Nuonuo was still trying to stay awake, but her eyelids were already starting to droop.
The two walked slowly toward the parking lot. Xi Li glanced at her daughter on her shoulder, then at her son in Huo Nanchen's arms, and a feeling of overflowing happiness welled up in her heart.
“Xi Li,” Huo Nanchen suddenly spoke.
"Um?"
"Thanks for your hard work."
Lin Xili paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "You're the one who's had the hardest time."
They walked to the car, and Huo Nanchen opened the back door. The child safety seat was already installed. He put Nuonuo in first and fastened the seat belt.
Nuonuo fell asleep as soon as she touched the seat. Lin Xili put Mimi in another seat, and she fell asleep immediately.
Huo Nanchen opened the passenger door and waited for Lin Xili to get in before going around to the driver's seat.
"What time are we going to the botanical garden tomorrow?" Lin Xili asked.
"The children wake up early at nine o'clock in the morning," Huo Nanchen said. "I booked their entry to the kindergarten at 9:30."
"Okay." Lin Xili closed her eyes. "Let's both go to bed early tonight."
The car stopped at a red light. Huo Nanchen turned to look at her and could see faint dark circles under her eyes.
She barely got any rest this month because of the supervisor appointment.
He reached out and gently squeezed her hand: "Go to sleep for a while, I'll wake you when we get there."
"Hmm." Lin Xili didn't open her eyes, but she squeezed his hand in return before letting go.
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