Chapter 1

Sherry Zhang rode her bicycle into the Imperial Court Hotel, which was the top hotel in T City. The hotel security guard was stunned as he saw her, presumably have not seen anyone rode a bicycle toward the Imperial Court Hotel.

"Ms. Zhang, you have arrived. Our Third Young Master is waiting for you inside." As soon as Sherry parked the bicycle, a man who looked like a bodyguard came over and invited her politely to enter the hotel.

She did not speak and followed the bodyguard into the hotel silently.

Imperial Court Hotel was designated luxuriously and magnificently. It was the hotel under Mu's Corporation, which owned by the largest wealthy family in the city. Anyhow, Sherry was not attracted by the hotel's grandeur at all.

Every movement of hers was observed by an anonymous man ever since she followed the bodyguard to enter the hotel.

"Mom, mom..."

The young girl who was held in the man's arms sat together in front of the surveillance camera were keep staring at Sherry. She leaned forward when she saw her through the surveillance video, her beautiful little face that full of eagerness, constantly stepped closer to Sherry who was on the screen and called out for "Mom, mom."

"Moya." The man called softly to the girl and held the child tightly, fearing that the child would fall over. A nanny who stood beside him asked respectfully, "Third Young Master, leave the youngest miss to me."

"She wants to have a look at her 'mom' and let her be, I will just hold her." The man responded to the nanny in a low voice.

The nanny intended to tell that Sherry was indeed not Moya's mother, but she dared not to express it since the child's mother died unexpectedly a year ago in a car crash. Third Young Master had deep affection towards his wife and mentioning her will remind him of the deep sorrow.

"Mom, mom."

Moya kept screaming and struggling with her body, very much wanting to pounce on the screen.

The man had to put some extra effort to hold the child.

The nanny watched the scene heartily.

The reason Moya called out to Sherry to be her mother was due to a scene a few days ago, where Third Young Master took his daughter Moya, who was only one and a half years old went out together since he hardly had spared time to be with her. While passing through the largest night market in T City, his car almost hit a cart with a stroller selling spicy skewers at night stalls and the owner of the cart was Sherry.

It was a small and unexpected incident initially. After all, they did not bump into each other. But no one expected the little child who never spoke out could literally call "Mum" when she saw Sherry across the window and cried out for her badly.

He was surprised and shocked for his daughter's cries, as she would dash toward a stranger, who looked completely different from her mother.

Moya cried a few days in a row and no one could help it. This caused her father to send someone to find out Sherry's contact number and arranged for the meet at the Imperial Court Hotel.

Other than the nanny, there were four bodyguards dressed in suits and leather in this room. Two of them stood not far behind the man and another two stood at the room's entrance.

Outside the door was guarded by the manager of the Imperial Court Hotel.

The pomp was great and the atmosphere was tense because the man who held the little girl was the head President of Mu's Corporation, the Third Young Master, Richard Mu.

Sherry followed the bodyguard to the large room in which Richard was in, and the manager took her in. When she entered, he waved his hand, indicated everyone to leave the room.

Once Sherry saw the surveillance video in front of Richard, she just had a glance at it as she moved her gaze to the little girl. Moya was adorable and had a fair complexion. A pair of black eyes of Moya's were pure and dribbled around. The pink dress on her petite body had made her even more lovely and caused Sherry to fell in love with this child from her first sight.

"Mom, mom."

When Moya saw Sherry, she immediately struggled in her father's arms. Richard released his hand at the right time so that Moya can slip to the ground. She staggered and trotted, then held Sherry's calf with her little hand and kept shouting with her face upward, "Mom, Mom."

The child's voice was tender and crisp and this caused Sherry's heart melted. She bent down and took Moya into her arms, kissed Moya's little face lovingly, as a credit to be called Mom.

"Mom."

Moya cuddled her arms tightly around Sherry's neck and seemed to be very intimate. This caused Sherry unable to express that she was not the mother of Moya.

Richard turned and his deep black eyes fixed on Sherry. She had a natural beauty even dressed plainly, with just pale blue T-shirt and beige cropped trousers.

"While most of the children were able to call out to their mother at around their seven months, Moya only did it at her one and a half years old which was the event in a few days ago." Richard did not go nearer, his low voice felt the pain for his daughter.

While looking at the cutie in her arms, Sherry casually asked, "Where is her mother?"

Richard pursed his lips and his dark eyes tinged with pain. The gaze at her seemed to have a sense of resentment, but it was flickered. He then replied to her in a low tone, "She died in a car accident that took place a year ago."

Upon hearing this, Sherry looked up at Richard and just happened to catch the sorrow in his eyes. Knew that he was so heartbroken over his wife's departure and apologetically said, "I am sorry, I did not know about it."

Richard said nothing, looked at his daughter who was still holding Sherry in her arms with a gentle gaze. His view differed frequently and finally said in a warm and sullen tone, "I almost ran into you in the night market a few days ago, did you remember?"

Sherry nodded.

She could remember the scene as Richard had rolled down the car window at that moment. He then glared at her coldly, in which the glance was unforgettable for days.

"Ever since Moya saw you that day, she started calling her mother and took you as her mother. She cried unceasingly and kept yelling for her mother, this could not be coaxed by anyone. I have hired many nannies to take care of her, and my family even loved her like a jewel in the palm of their hand, but she could only speak when she saw you. I guess that is what you two are meant to be."

Richard's explanation was still sober, and his voice was very pleasant, as mellow as wine, which sounded intoxicating.

After listening to his explanation, Sherry was a bit surprised that a one-and-a-half-year-old child treated a strange woman for a mother with a single glance. She then looked down and stared at the baby in her arms, whose lovely appearance softened her heart again.

She gently nudged Moya's little hand around her neck, kissed again her small face with love and compassion. She smiled, "I just love the child at my first glance." She then continued and examined while looking at Richard, "Do you want to hire me as a nanny?"

Richard then pursed his lips again, seemed contemplated on the way he should bring it up.

Sherry could not wait for an answer and her sight fell back to the little girl in his arms. Moya, who had cried for many days finally saw her mother. Now she clung tightly and refused to let go of her mother, worried that her mother will leave her after her hand loosened.

"Ms. Zhang, please have a seat." Richard invited Sherry to sit down suddenly.

The two had never introduced themselves but Richard knew Sherry by name. Since the youngest miss of Mu's family regarded Sherry as her mother, Richard would definitely inquire about her name.

"Mr. Mu, you may speak directly if there is any." Sherry walked to the sofa while carried Moya in her arms.

She recognized Richard, the president of Mu's family, who had been on television and in newspapers, which recognized by the public as well.

He walked over and sat opposite Sherry and looked at her with his dark eyes. He then tugged his lips to squeeze a sentence: "Ms. Zhang, I want to have you to be Moya's mother."

Sherry was shocked.

The words by him were sounded truly like a marriage proposal...

Chapter 2

Richard explained immediately as he saw her startled, "Ms. Zhang, please do not get me wrong. I mean Moya is young now and she never spoke a word before. Now she finally starts to speak, so I would like you to play a role as Moya's mother temporarily. Well, in other words, you are considered as her special nanny, you just have to keep her company and provide her motherly love, and the maid shall do the rest."

Sherry knew that Richard had no other intentions, and she answered honestly, "Mr. Mu, I do not think it is good for you to do that. If you ask me to be the mother of your daughter, it will create a misunderstanding of our relationship in the first place, and I think you do not like to be rumored either. Moya is still young, and even if she cries now, it will only be a short period for her to be fine. If you ask me to act as her mother, it will only deepen her feelings towards me and dependence on me. When I withdraw and leave her once she is matured, it will be more difficult for her to accept the truth, and impact her greatly."

She judged the matter as it stands.

Richard felt deep sorrow when mentioning his deceased wife. And Sherry knew that the man could not get over his wife yet. If it was not for the sake of his baby daughter, how could President Mu, the highest rank person will meet her, a street vendor?

The way he looked at Sherry was uncertain.

After being silent, Richard stared at Sherry and said in a low voice, "Ms. Zhang, forgive me for being so rude." He got up and walked over her, stretched out his hands to take Moya out of Sherry's arms.

"Mom."

However, the child pushed away Richard's outstretched hand, twisted her head to avoid looking at her father, while tightening her little hand around Sherry's neck and refused to return to his arms.

"Moya, come on. Let daddy hug you."

Richard was pushed by his daughter, but he still tried to grab his daughter without irritated and coaxed her gently. Sherry uttered pertinently just now, he should not ask her to serve as his daughter's mother just because Moya had cried for few days. This will cause his daughter to be more dependent on Sherry. Moreover, Richard was unlikely to marry her, and hence his daughter will be in suffers as Sherry will eventually leave her one day.

"Mom, Mom," Moya said nothing else except called her mother. Seeing that her father was about to carry her over, she insisted to hug around Sherry's neck and refused to let go.

Sherry tried to explain, "Moya, I am not your mother."

"Mom... Mom..." the little girl saw that even Sherry wanted to push herself to her father, and immediately her small mouth flattened, and burst out in tears.

Richard tried to carry over his daughter forcefully, but Moya was crying even harder.

Sherry coaxed her lovingly. Although it was the first time they met, she loved Moya so much as the little girl looked lovable. As soon as Moya wept, her heart could not help but softened.

Richard stood up straight and stop insisting to hold his daughter. Instead, he commanded in a hushed voice to the people outside, "Aunt Lan, come in and take youngest miss back."

The nanny who had been with Richard just now immediately pushed the door and entered as instructed by him. As Sherry handed Moya to the nanny, Moya cried fiercely and put her arms around Sherry's neck until Aunt Lan needed to grab her forcefully.

After Moya was carried by Aunt Lan, Richard refrained from the look at her pitiful daughter. He apologized coldly, "Ms. Zhang, I am sorry for my abruptness today." The apology by Richard caused Sherry felt the president was not as difficult to get along with as the rumors in the society. He was polite and courteous, though his expression was cold. He then continued, "Ms. Zhang, you may leave now."

Sherry looked at Moya, there were tears on the little girl's tiny face and she was still crying endlessly. She could not help but said to Richard, "Mr. Mu, Moya is still young and needs a lot of love, especially she lacks motherly love. It would be better off if you can spare time to keep her company rather than hiring a bunch of nannies to take care of her."

Richard tightened his lips and withheld his words. He was too busy that he could not take his daughter with him and had to hire a nanny.

Sherry felt like a nosy person when Richard remained silent. She then left as calmly as she cames.

"Mom..."

As the door closed, Moya's cries were blocked off.

Sherry could not help but turned her head towards the door as she walked out of the room. It reminded her of the scene in the past where there was a woman holding an umbrella while dragging a suitcase, leaving with tears in the heavy rain. A six-year-old girl was tightly pulled by several adults to forbid her from chasing after the woman. As the girl watched the woman moving further away, she desperately shouted to the woman in the rain, "Mom... "

Sherry's eyes were a little moist and she finally turned around to leave.

Moya, who was in the room continued to cry, and Aunt Lan was unable to coax her.

Richard heartily hugged his daughter, who was crying so hard that her voice was almost hoarse. He then coaxed with a broken heart, "Moya, do not cry, that is not mother, she is an aunt."

Moya twisted her head and pointed to the doorway in tears, her small body leaned out in Richard's arms and cried, "Mom... Mom..."

"Moya, behave. She is really not your mother." Richard felt helpless and distressed. He blamed himself for being absurd today that he even sent someone to invite Sherry here. The little fellow had always been thinking about Sherry and regarded her as a mother. His arrangement today undoubtedly adding to the worries of the little fellow, caused her to miss Sherry even more.

Richard would not be so sloppy in doing things, but only when he faced his baby daughter would have an exception.

Richard returned and sat down in front of the monitor screen, looked at the back of Sherry's departing figure, there was some intention in his eyes to explore in depths about her. It was because Sherry was calmed and behaved naturally while facing him, her temperament was incompatible with the street vendors as she looked like a young lady from a wealthy family.

Richard would not have believed that Sherry was only a peddler if he had not seen her stall at the night market with his own eyes.

Sherry able to analyze the pros and cons calmly when Richard made a request to her, as she did not want to be misled at all.

Intuitively, Richard believed that she was a person that had a hidden background.

Besides, Sherry's surname was Zhang...

"Mom..."

Moya struggled even harder as she saw Sherry on the monitor screen and cried bitterly. Aunt Lan, who was listening by the side could not help. She then came forward and said, "Third Young Master, please get Ms. Zhang to come back, the youngest miss cried so hard and had been crying for many days. If this continues, I am afraid that she cannot bear it."

When Richard hugged his daughter tightly and stared at Sherry on the surveillance screen, his lips were snug.

Sherry had gone down to the reception hall on the first floor.

As she stepped out of the hotel and was about to disappear on the monitor screen, Richard said with a deep command, "Go get Ms. Zhang to return!"

Chapter 3

Aunt Lan immediately passed on Richard's instructions, and the people guarding outside quickly conveyed his words to the first floor of the hotel.

Sherry had just walked out of the hotel and was about to push her own bike, the hotel staff hurried out and called her respectfully, "Ms. Zhang, the Third Young Master asked you to return."

Sherry was slightly dazed.

Richard asked her to go back? Was he really going to ask her to be his daughter's mother?

"Ms. Zhang, please!"

The hotel attendant, who was responsible for inviting Sherry back, politely invited her again. His eyes were fixed on Sherry, worried that she would not agree and he shall be scolded by his superiors.

Sherry tilted her head and looked up, knew that the man who pampered his daughter must have been watching her through the surveillance. She slightly frowned and thought of Moya's adorable appearance and felt sorry for the girl's crying, she finally followed the waitress back to the hotel.

A few minutes later, Sherry sat back in front of Richard, and Moya burrowed into her arms once again. The little fellow cried hoarsely even in the exertion for a moment. She may hurt her throat as she cried all the time.

Moya was still sobbing for non-stop at the moment she was held by Sherry.

"Mom..." The hoarse and tender cry of fear made Sherry's heart hurt badly. The scene reminded her of the memory a few years ago. On that rainy day, that woman, that girl, that desperate cry...

With her face attached to Moya's little face, Sherry cheered Moya with low-softly voice, "Moya, mom is back, mom is back."

The scene of Sherry coaxing Moya caused Richard's eyes watched seriously, and his two thick sword brows furrowed tightly.

He did not even know if it was the right or wrong decision for him to invite Sherry back.

He, who had always been determined, became indecisive when it came to his little daughter.

"Aunt Lan, please bring over the document bag."

Richard commanded in a low voice.

Aunt Lan reverted courteously, she then turned and walked away. She took the document bag to his side after a moment and handed it to Richard respectfully.

The document bag contained two copies that had been prepared by Richard before he came and handed one of them to Sherry. When she looked over, Richard said, "Ms. Zhang, you may check on this agreement and bring it up if there is anything unreasonable. If you have no objection, please sign your name on it and the agreement will take effect."

"Mr. Mu..."

As Richard knew Sherry was trying to speak out, he interrupted her words with his hand raised. His attention fell on Moya, with a low tone and full of regrets, "Moya is the only child I have with Raine, but she is... I am so busy that I have no way to raise Moya myself. Moreover, she insists to be with you, hence I can only abrupt you."

He couldn't stand as he watched his baby girl cried incessantly.

Even if Sherry disagreed, he would forcefully demand her to agree. Moya was the utmost importance in his heart, he was willing to do anything that could make her happy and stopped crying.

He had no wife and could no longer lose his daughter. He could not let his daughter be wronged. He wanted to ensure his daughter live happily so that he could stand up to his dead wife which was in another world.

"Mr. Mu, what I just said..."

Sherry reminded Richard that what he did was not the best way for the child.

Richard said softly, "This can be discussed later. I desire Moya to have a good life now without cries. After a pause, he then continued, "Moya is not in good health. I am worried that her body cannot bear if she keeps crying."

Upon hearing this, Sherry looked down at the little child in her arms. Moya looked red and rosy in her complexion, unlike a child in poor health. However, it was true that Moya's throat was hurt from crying. She hugged the little child tightly before freeing an arm to receive the agreement handed to her by Richard.

The agreement was actually very brief with only six requirements:

First, from the contract effective date, she was Moya's nanny-cum-mother, who took care of Moya, accompanied Moya, and served as Moya's mother.

Second, from the contract effective date, she had to move into the Mu's family mansion to facilitate the care of Moya.

Third, she was not a servant and not required to do anything else.

Fourth, a monthly salary of 30,000 yuan.

Fifth, not allowed to fall in love with Richard!

Sixth, the contract period was tentatively one year.

Richard had specifically added a notation to the fifth line.

The corners of Sherry's mouth curved slightly as if she was smiling when she saw the fifth line. As she looked at Richard, who had been staring at her the whole time, the eyes were as deep as a bottomless pit, hardly able to probe his mind.

"Not allowed to fall in love with him?"

Well, it made sense. He was handsome and was the president of the Mu's family. He was only 35 years old which was not too old. Every woman would desire such a young, handsome, and wealthy man even he had a daughter. It was because his wife was dead and had no sleeping companion.

After diverted her looks at Richard, Sherry read through the last line and asked, "Mr. Mu, could you please give me time to consider?"

"Moya does not want to leave you for a moment, I hope you will give me a reply immediately. If you are not satisfied with your monthly salary, I can give you an additional 20,000." Sherry was only a spicy skewers vendor in the night market which was also under a partnership. She will certainly not earned 30,000 yuan after a month of sharing income. Richard thought of using money to get her to sign the contract immediately.

"It is not a matter of money, I am just used to freedom." Sherry stroked Moya's head, the little child was now not crying and was nestled in her arms in a drowsy state.

"You are free in Mu's family."

Sherry smiled, and her almond-shaped eyes stared at Richard, "Mr. Mu has not brought a child? With a child that over one-year-old, how can freedom be possible?" First of all, she no longer set up a stall and had to take Moya with her wherever she was.

Richard pursed his lips and stared at Sherry with his dark eyes.

"I will arrange for a chauffeur to transport you wherever you want to go in the future, as long as you take Moya with you and keeps her safe." This is a concession by Richard. "I hope you will grant my request and make an agreement with me to sign this agreement."

"Mr. Mu." Sherry still smiled lightly, "I can sign a contract with you, but I have a condition where you must agree, or please forgive me for not being able to sign with you."