In the year 2009,
In the heart of Taipei, there lies a prestigious kindergarten. Shen Qing'er donned a pair of jet-black sunglasses, as if fearing discovery. She peered out of the car window a few times, and once she’d assured there was no one around, she finally opened the car door and slowly climbed out.
Although the sunglasses covered most of her face, her sparkling white skin under the sun, and her distinctive contours, were enough for anyone to confirm this lass's beauty.
As soon as Shen Qinger got out of the car, her gaze fell on a child who was in the arms of a middle-aged woman.
Upon seeing Shen Qing'er, the child immediately waved at her with a sweet smile.
Shen Qing’er smiled back and promptly sprinted in her high heels toward the child at the kindergarten entrance.
"Miss Shen, are you here to see Linlin?"
"Yes, I have been so busy with work recently that I haven't had time to see her." She said as she took the child from the middle-aged woman. As she affectionately wiped her face on the child's rosy cheeks, she asked, "Linlin, have you missed Mommy?"
"Missed." Opening wide her mouth, the child revealed a big smile. It had been a long time since she last saw her mom. Though she seemed a bit unfamiliar now, she was still cordial. "Mommy, how long has it been since you came to see Linlin? Don’t you love Linlin anymore? Is that why you don’t come to see Linlin?"
The child’s words made Shen Qing'er feel a pang in her heart. "Nonsense, Mommy loves Linlin very much. How could I not love Linlin? Mommy hasn’t been able to see Linlin these past few days because of work. Linlin mustn't be upset with Mommy.”
Finally, a sweet smile appeared on the child's face as she nodded fiercely.
"Alright, Linlin doesn’t hold a grudge against Mommy.”
The child's infantile voice drew a laugh from Shen Qing’er and the kindergarten auntie.
"Miss Shen, are you really Linlin's mother?" The kindergarten auntie couldn’t help but ask, Shen Qing'er didn't look like a mother of a five-year-old with her age being just around twenty-one or twenty-two.
Shen Qing'er smiled and did not deny it, "Yes, I am Linlin's biological mother." Because of special reasons, she had deprived her child of much motherly love. Moreover, every time she came to see the child, she had to wear dark glasses, afraid of being recognized. Therefore, she did not want to deny her motherhood in front of the child.
The lady at the kindergarten could perceive an unspeakable dilemma in Shen Qing'er's words, but she was far too decorous to inquire further. Lightly tapping the child's little face, she says, "Lin Lin, your mother came to see you today. You should be happy."
The child solemnly nods, loudly answering, "Lin Lin is very happy."
Seeing the innocent smile on the child's face, Shen Qing'er chuckles — she has some time today. "Lin Lin, would you like to go out and play with mommy today?"
"Of course, absolutely!" Hearing her mother's promise, the child immediately cheered, swinging her little arms, unintentionally knocking off Shen Qing'er's sunglasses.
Shen Qing'er smirked, intending to pick up the dropped sunglasses and put them back on to avoid attention. Unexpectedly, a slender, fair-skinned hand of a man beat her to it.
He picking up the sunglasses from the ground and hands them to her. Shen Qing'er was about to express her gratitude, but when she lifted her head, her eyes fell directly into his deep pitch-black gaze. It feels as though she were zapped with electricity, taking a step back, her face filled with terror looking at his sharp and prominent features.
He scrutinizes her beautiful face, now uncovered by sunglasses. After five long years apart, she has turned even more mature and attractive. Giving a glance at her lips, which under the sunlight exude a crystal sheen, he longs to bite them on the spot as he did five years ago, but he represses his long suppressed emotions. Noticing the panic in her eyes, an evil smile crossed his face.
"No." As Shen Qing'er saw the sudden sinister curl of his lips a chill rose from within her and she involuntarily stepped back. "No, you've mistaken me for someone else."
She spun on her heels to flee, but the man grabs her, drawing her and the child into his embrace. He presses his prominent face onto her fearful one as if delivering a judgement. Word by word, he said, "Qing'er, Shen Qing'er. I couldn't have mistaken you. You're MY Qing'er. You've been evading me for five years now, this time, I'll never let you leave me. Never, absolutely never."
The cold and sinister look in the man's eyes sent a shiver down Shen Qing'er's spine. That horrific incident from five years ago suddenly flashed across her mind.
"Let go of me, let go of me. No, please, no."
But no matter how she struggled, she couldn't break free from the man's hold. He watched her helplessly struggle in his arms with a cruel smile. Five years, she had been running away from him for five years, but yet she could never truly escape his grip. A tear slowly slides down from the corner of her eye, dampening the man's face that pressed against hers, also wetting his long-repressed heart.