"Anya, how much did Xiaoxiao weigh at this age? You say Apple is headed towards becoming a chubby girl, what should we do then?"

Jiayi helplessly pinched Apple’s fair cheeks, thinking this little guy must have been quite domineering in the womb, taking plenty of food from her brother.

"Even if my goddaughter Liang Anya becomes a chubby girl, so what? Are you worried she won’t have any suitors? Ridiculous." Liang Anya scoffed lightly, seeing Jiayi preparing to breastfeed, she estimated it would take some time, so she walked out of the hospital room to slice some fruits in the break room.

Just as she came out with a fruit plate, she heard a tentative voice behind her:

"Hey... Anya? Is it Anya?"

She turned around and saw a young man about her age, also Chinese, well-mannered, suddenly exclaiming joyfully:

"... Mo Senior?"

The young man in front was Mo Zihan, Liang Anya’s schoolmate from her study days in Italy, a year above her.

Because they were Chinese students studying in Europe, a group of them had good connections at school, often holding get-togethers, forming an independent circle.

Liang Anya heard Mo Zihan stayed in Europe for work after graduation, becoming an elite in architecture, and even married the girlfriend he started dating in school, unexpected to meet him in A Country.

Mo Zihan, seeing it was indeed her, was also overjoyed: "It’s really you! I just thought the figure looked so much like you!"

"Mo Senior, how come you’re in A Country?"

"Haha, Xiaoying and I took maternity leave half a month ago to give birth here. Xiaoying just delivered a big chubby son two days ago, over eight pounds!" Mo Zihan said with a laugh.

Xiaoying was Mo Zihan’s girlfriend turned wife, also a schoolmate of Liang Anya, they were part of the same overseas student circle, so naturally, they knew each other.

A Country is a famous European tourist destination, known for its serene scenery, excellent air quality, leading medical technology globally. Moreover, European countries are very close to each other, with many transcontinental train rides just a few hours away, very convenient, going abroad is like going to another city in China, so many Europeans with some means prefer to come here for childbirth.

Seeing her old school friends already married, with a happy family life, soon to welcome a new life, she genuinely felt happy for them: "Mo Senior, congratulations to you and Xiaoying."

"Hey, what about you? How come you’re in A Country, at the hospital, and at the maternity ward?" Mo Zihan asked curiously.

After graduation, although the group of old classmates became busy, scattered around, with no time to meet, they set up a QQ group, occasionally chatting in the group, but had never heard about Liang Anya getting married.

Liang Anya’s expression shifted slightly.

Her matters were something the old classmates certainly knew nothing about.

She paused, forcing a smile: "Yeah, my god-sister is also in A Country for childbirth, just delivered, I’ve been here in the hospital accompanying her for the past few days."

"I see, I thought you were welcoming joyful moments as a mother too!" Mo Zihan, always straightforward, laughed heartily.

She said nothing, how could she? Should she say she already has a daughter? Then they’d surely ask about her husband, and how could she reveal that Xiaoxiao is an illegitimate child, and she never married the father, nor ever will?

A gentle voice floated over: "Told you to get some fruits, where did you run off to?"

A young woman in hospital attire appeared, carrying a baby.

Mo Zihan quickly said: "Xiaoying, what a small world, look who bumped into!"

Xiaoying clapped her eyes in delight: "Ah. It’s Anya! Long time no see! Didn’t you return to China long ago? How come you’re back in Europe?"

Concerned about his wife’s fatigue, Mo Zihan gently cradled the baby, then wrapped an arm around his wife’s waist, his voice low, with some displeasure yet full of affection: "You had a C-section, the wound is deep, doctors advised more rest, look at you, getting out of bed again."

"It’s been days, if I don’t get up and move I’ll suffocate, and some activity can prevent wound adhesion. Stop holding me, Anya’s right here, she’ll make fun of us..." Xiaoying playfully slapped her husband’s hand away.

"Who would make fun of us, you’re my wife, aren’t you son?" Mo Zihan teased the baby in his wife’s arms.

The couple nuzzled affectionately, seemingly forgetting everyone else.

Watching the loving family of three, Liang Anya felt a sudden surge of envy, mingled with an indescribable sorrow.

Classmates the same age as her were leading the most ordinary yet sweetest family life.

Able to openly show their love and joyfully introduce to others, "This is my husband, this is my child."

But what about her?

She and her daughter, however, must remain hidden.

She controlled the tumult in her heart, smiling as she said: "Xiaoying, long time no see. I’m here accompanying my god-sister for childbirth."

Xiaoying glanced down the corridor, eyes wide: "I’ve heard that whole area was reserved, like a family from China, the Huo Family’s young madam came for childbirth... Is that lady your god-sister?"

Liang Anya nodded.

Xiaoying’s gaze filled with envy and jealousy: "Wow! Anya, you actually know that couple! That young madam is your god-sister, how amazing! I’ve heard, the man of that family, Mr. Huo, holds a title here, also, I saw Mr. Huo the other day, so handsome and dashing!... You know this, this hospital’s maternity ward is hard to book, the obstetric beds are extremely tight, even though Zihan and I work in Europe and have green cards, we almost couldn’t get in, fortunately, Zihan’s client had some connections with the hospital, pulled some strings, spent quite a bit of money, I was queuing pregnant for three days before I managed to get a bed, but your god-sister is different, it seems the room was personally arranged by the dean and attending doctors! Ah, truly a world of difference..."

Even after graduation, Xiaoying is still as chatty, once she opened up she couldn’t stop.

Liang Anya understood Xiaoying’s feelings; not only Xiaoying and her husband but many well-off pregnant women in China sought every means to deliver overseas, firstly because the medical technology in Europe is indeed good, the environment decent, secondly for the prestige, and thirdly because a baby born in A Country automatically acquires A Country citizenship, enjoying many of its benefits.

"Hey, your husband is right here, yet you praise someone else’s husband like that, what about my feelings?" Mo Zihan feigned anger, visibly displeased.

Only then did Xiaoying stop talking, laughing with Liang Anya.

Xiaoying shifted to the next topic: "Anya, how have you been? Since graduation, we haven’t seen each other, nor have you been on QQ or MSN, you’ve not appeared in the group at all."