Liang Anya curled her lips and took another breath: "Is it true that once I give birth to the child, you will let me and my family go, and never bother us again?"

Her tone was very calm, very gentle, unlike her usual attitude toward herself, which Si Yuheng found a bit unaccustomed to.

Something in his heart suddenly loosened: "Yes."

"I hope you keep your word and don’t go back on it."

Exchanging a child for freedom and the safety of her family seemed like a good deal, after all.

Si Yuheng heard submission in her voice, and his gaze darkened slightly.

She had already compromised and agreed to have the child, so he should be reassured.

But why did he feel a little unhappy now?

"Don’t worry, I’ve said that all I want is the child."

After a while, he closed the bathroom door with a ’snap’ and left.

*

Anya had been out shopping for groceries for a long time and had not returned, Jiayi was not initially very worried.

She knew that every day when Anya went to buy groceries, there were people from Beiming Hall following her, so she should be safe.

But as night fell and there was still no sign of Anya, Jiayi finally began to panic.

After making several phone calls which Anya didn’t answer, Jiayi had an idea, took Zaizai by the hand, and went downstairs to the entrance of the residential complex.

The car of Beiming Hall which was always seen every day was nowhere to be found.

Could it be that Beiming Hall’s people took her away?

She panicked, took Zaizai’s hand: "Let’s go to the garage and get the car with mommy."

"Mommy, what are you going to do?" Zaizai asked.

"We’re going to the police station to report, to find Aunt Anya." If Beiming Hall’s people took her away, Anya would definitely not want to go.

"Will reporting to the police help?" Zaizai furrowed his little brows.

His question reminded Jiayi.

That’s right, she remembered the last time Anya was kidnapped by Beiming Hall’s people, they did go to the police, but the authorities were indifferent to such adult disappearances.

Now that Anya had only been missing for a few hours, they were even less likely to take the case seriously.

Even if they reluctantly accepted the case, they probably wouldn’t look for her earnestly.

She hesitated for a moment, feeling awful, she didn’t even know where Beiming Hall’s group was staying. Yunling was so big, where to start searching...

Zaizai shook mommy’s hand like a little strategist, scheming: "Mommy, let’s ask daddy for help." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

She was taken aback, did she really have to seek his assistance?

Now, aside from seeking his help, there seemed to be no other option.

He would probably know where the people of Beiming Hall were staying, and even if he didn’t, it should be very easy for him to find out.

But... just a few days ago, she had hung up his phone, saying that she would have no involvement with him beyond work, and now she was going to approach him proactively...

He should still be angry, right? Would he care about her?

She was just asking for an address, it shouldn’t trouble him too much!

Finally, she took a deep breath and decided to risk it! She had to try.

With no one at home, and not wanting to bother her parents in the middle of the night and worry them, Jiayi drove to Disheng with Zaizai.

The night’s Huo Mansion was solemn and quiet under the blue velvet sky.

After parking the car in front of the carved gate and stepping into the courtyard, Jiayi, holding Little Baozi’s hand, felt somewhat dazed.

It had been a long time since she had been here, everything was as familiar as before, yet it felt somewhat strange.

Auntie Li was hastily informed by the servants that Jiayi had returned and hurried out.

Seeing the two of them, one big and one small, Auntie Li’s eyes lit up: "Young madam. You’ve finally come back... Young master, come here, I haven’t seen you for a long time, how I have missed you, Auntie Li has!"

Jiayi came to her senses, forced a weak smile, and yet said, "Auntie Li, just call me Miss Chu."

Taken aback, Auntie Li could only reply, "Miss... Miss Chu, have you come to see the young master?"

"Yes," Jiayi nodded, "Auntie Li, please tell him I have something to discuss with him."

So, she came because she had business, not to bring the young master back.

Auntie Li was disappointed and knew that Jiayi’s bridal shop had recently been working on a movie invested in by the young master, probably regarding some work matter, so she had to turn around and go inside.

Jiayi held onto Zaizai’s hand tightly as they waited in front of the mansion, her palm sweating without her realizing.

The process of waiting had never felt so long and difficult before.

A few minutes later, Auntie Li finally came out, but with a troubled expression: "Young Madam... Miss Chu, the young master, he..."

Seeing Auntie Li’s expression, Jiayi guessed a bit: "Is he not convenient to see me now?"

Auntie Li replied helplessly, "The young master is working in his study and doesn’t want to be disturbed. He said to have you come back tomorrow."

He still resented her for her cold attitude towards him.

Jiayi’s palm clenched, "It’s okay, I’ll just wait here for him. After he has finished with his work, please let me know, and I will find him."

Auntie Li could only nod, then suggested, "Come into the living room and wait. It’s getting windy at night, you don’t want to catch a cold."

She looked up, almost reflexively, at the study window on the second floor of the mansion.

The orange light shone through the curtains and cast a soft glow.

What seemed like a warm light of the night now felt rather chilly.

"No need, Auntie Li, take Zaizai inside. I’ll wait here. After Mr. Huo is done with his work, please call for me, and I will seek him out." She let go of Zaizai’s hand and let him follow Auntie Li inside.

Sitting comfortably in the living room waiting for him was not what he wanted.

Wasn’t that just the man wanting to punish her for her indifference towards him?

Then she would just play along.

"Mommy, come with me and wait for Daddy inside," Zaizai blinked his eyelashes.

Patting Little Baozi’s head, Jiayi said, "Be good. Mommy will wait here for Daddy. You go inside first and watch some cartoons, keep Auntie Li company. Didn’t you say you missed Auntie Li the other day?"

Seeing her insistence, Auntie Li had no choice but to take the little master inside.

With the two of them gone, the courtyard grew quiet.

Jiayi stood alone on the porch outside the mansion.

The night light cast upon her, projecting a lone and delicate shadow on the ground.

The night deepened, and she could hear the sound of a cool breeze whispering by her ear.

In this coastal city, the difference between day and night temperatures was significant. She had come out in a rush, taking Zaizai directly to get the car and driving to Disheng, and did not go upstairs to change. She only wore a thin knitted sweater she had on at home, with a camisole underneath.

Her teeth started to chatter, and she hugged her arms involuntarily for a bit of warmth.

But after standing for a while, even with such a posture, she couldn’t resist the chill of the late night.

She rubbed her hands and walked back and forth along the walkway by the entrance, moving to keep warmer.

Upstairs, in the study behind the French windows, George finally lowered the curtains and turned his head, "Boss, it’s getting late and the temperature is low. Let the young madam come up to talk."

"If she likes to wait, then let her wait."

The freezing words came from the man’s lips.

He was not working behind a desk; at the moment, he sat in the massage chair in the corner of the study, with a shallow cup in his fingers, the red wine in the cup reflecting a cold gleam with the man’s slight movements.

Last time on the phone, she said she had nothing to do with him, that beyond business matters, she would not have any further contact with him.

And yet here she was, showing up on his doorstep.

One could imagine she needed something from him tonight.

So let this disobedient little cat taste the flavor of waiting.