There is no modern urban atmosphere of China here, no hustle and bustle of industrial cities, low-key, mysterious, ancient, yet exuding extravagance and splendor.

A stretch limousine, followed by a convoy of cars, had been waiting outside the airport for the Hall Master’s return.

The car carried her, racing along the road.

The climate here is similar to that of the United Kingdom, quite damp and cold this season. Si Yuheng ordered the driver to close the car window to prevent Xiaoxiao from catching a chill.

Liang Anya only felt the noise outside the car gradually diminish, the environment becoming more and more quiet, until the car finally stopped.

Perhaps even after many, many years, Liang Anya would never forget the shock she felt the first time she stood in front of the gates of Beiming Hall.

Is this a place for ordinary people to live?

The most luxurious villas back home couldn’t compare to one percent of the grandeur before her eyes!

The gray-brown European castle-style villa emerged into view, majestic like an emperor.

Here is his kingdom.

Surrounding it were lush and verdant woods, vast and grand, seemingly an endless expanse, like a natural protective wall encircling the castle.

No, not a forest, a forest would be too small; it was practically a sea of trees.

Liang Anya doubted if one could even walk out using just their legs.

Perhaps it was precisely because of this that there were two helicopters parked on the expansive open grounds in front of the castle to facilitate travel.

Liang Anya had studied in Italy and knew that in Europe, castles were like villas, with many privately owned; many luxurious castles were open to the public.

She studied design, and for her regular coursework and graduation project, she had visited many mansions and castles of local tycoons during holidays with classmates.

However, no castle could compare to the one before her eyes.

This castle, with a somewhat antiquated and retro charm, yet splendidly magnificent and lavish beyond measure, was clearly the residence the Si Family of Beiming Hall had occupied for generations.

"Do you like it here?"

It was only when Si Yuheng’s deep voice floated over that she was pulled back from her thoughts.

She replied honestly, "No, I don’t."

"Sweetheart, I don’t like liars," Si Yuheng frowned; there weren’t many women who would hate this place upon seeing it.

"A house this big and this old, aren’t you afraid there might be vampires?" she pouted, "Oh, wait, someone as daunting as you, even ghosts would find it annoying to see you and take a detour, shouldn’t be afraid."

Si Yuheng squinted his narrow, sharp eyes and instinctively raised his hand to heavily ruffle her head as a punishment.

A small action, yet it caused the subordinates waiting for the Hall Master’s return in front to marvel, then a respectful voice floated out:

"Hall Master."

The crowd seemed to be welcoming a monarch and couldn’t help but glance behind Si Yuheng.

Behind the Hall Master, a young Asian girl with a simple and delicate face, jet-black hair, dark eyes, and soft rose petal lips was holding a swaddled infant who looked less than a year old.

"Is this why the Hall Master has been staying in China and not returning recently?"

"It’s said that the Hall Master attended the Huo Family wedding on French Santo Roy Island just to find this Asian girl."

"So... is the infant in her arms really the Hall Master’s own flesh and blood?"

"Not only did the Hall Master bring this child back to the country, but he also brought back this Asian girl..."

...

The low murmurs of discussion rose and fell, making the face of a young woman beside them grow increasingly unpleasant.

The woman appeared to be in her twenties, a typical European beauty, looking like a doll, with fair skin, long lashes, wearing a palace-style ruffled dress that was romantic and noble. At this moment, her eyes were somewhat distracted and her slender fingers under the ruffled sleeves curled tightly together.

An elderly man with graying hair and an imposing aura sharply reprimanded, "Enough, shut up."

The crowd seemed to highly respect the status of the elderly man and immediately fell silent.

Liang Anya noticed that among these people from Beiming Hall, some were Europeans, and some were Chinese like Si Yuheng or mixed-race individuals.

Beiming Hall was founded by Chinese, and even the Hall Master is of Chinese descent, so it’s no surprise there were many Chinese here.

There were a few familiar faces, subordinates who had once accompanied Si Yuheng to China, including Kasey.

When she met Kasey’s eyes, Kasey’s face showed a bit of panic and she quickly looked away.

Liang Anya guessed that because of her and Xiaoxiao’s escape, Kasey probably faced a lot of punishment from Si Yuheng. Seeing Si Yuheng find her and bring them both back, of course, stirred her emotions further.

Just then, the elderly man who had just rebuked the crowd regained his composure and stepped forward: "I’ve heard the Hall Master’s injury hasn’t healed yet; I’ve already called for a doctor, you there, help the Hall Master in for a check-up first."

Si Yuheng turned his neck, his gaze landing on Liang Anya without speaking, yet his green eyes said it all.

The elder immediately understood: "I will arrange for Miss Liang and her daughter."

In the midst of the crowd’s adulation, Si Yuheng strode into the castle first.

Watching his departing figure, Liang Anya felt an inexplicable stir within her, feeling uneasy at the thought of him not being around for the first time.

How ridiculous, in this unfamiliar place, aside from Xiaoxiao, he was the only person she knew, so she had to rely on him.

The elder glanced at the Asian girl in front of him and called a servant over, in a cold voice: "Take Miss Liang inside."

The servant walked over, extended a hand, and made a guiding gesture.

Liang Anya was about to say thank you when she saw that the elder’s gaze had already moved away from her, as if he didn’t want to talk to her any more than necessary.

...

Castle, third floor, east corridor, bedroom.

Here was the room where Liang Anya was arranged to stay.

A young maid named Beth was specifically assigned to take care of her and Xiaoxiao’s daily needs.

Beth’s mother was Chinese, making her of half-Chinese descent, fluent in Chinese, possibly chosen because of Liang Anya being Chinese.

Within a few hours, Liang Anya got a rough understanding of the castle’s condition through Beth’s accounts.

...

This castle was indeed the ancestral home of the Si Family of Beiming Hall.

In addition to each generation of the Si Family, there were a few venerable principals from Beiming Hall who also lived here. They were equivalent to the Si Family’s butlers, yet held a position higher than a butler due to helping manage the hall’s affairs over generations.

The highest-ranking principal of this generation was the austere and authoritative elderly man outside, named Ryan.

Ryan had been with Si Yuheng’s grandfather’s generation, holding significant standing in Beiming Hall, even Si Yuheng was somewhat respectful to him.

While Si Yuheng was not in the country, Beiming Hall’s affairs were managed by Ryan, whose authority could not be underestimated.

Liang Anya initially wanted to ask Beth whether Principal Ryan disliked her, but she swallowed her words at the last moment.

Forget it, why self-deprecate?

If she were Ryan, seeing her master bring back a strange Asian girl, she wouldn’t be too pleased either, she guessed.