The spark was that unexpected encounter when they were shopping for Anya at the mall.

Su Yan thought Jiayi was pregnant and feared that she’d reconcile with Huo Zhenyang, return to the Huo Family, so she hired someone to harm her, trying to cause a miscarriage.

Should she hate Su Yan?

She didn’t know.

Life is just this unpredictable; you can never guess what destiny has in store for you next.

Su Yan’s final attempt to harm her inadvertently helped her regain the memories she had lost for a year.

In a way, perhaps she should even thank Su Yan for her jealousy and malice this time.

As for Su Yan being sent to A Country to serve her sentence, Huo Zhenyang didn’t tell her. He didn’t think it was necessary and didn’t want to affect her mood. Jiayi only vaguely heard that Su Yan was taken back to A Country by Si Yuheng, but she didn’t ask further about what punishment awaited her.

What difference would it make to ask?

People always have to take responsibility for the things they have done.

Su Yan had tasted glory—what awaited her now was the time to repay her debts.

As for the matter of regaining her memories, Jiayi hadn’t mentioned it to Huo Zhenyang yet these past few days.

That morning, before they left for her check-up, she hinted at it once, but it was interrupted by the driver soon after.

This would be a surprise for him.

But precisely because it was a surprise, she didn’t quite know how to bring it up.

It was like receiving a precious gift she’d been longing for—it was finally in front of her, but she couldn’t bear to open it, afraid of damaging it, leaving her at a loss of what to do.

So she would wait a little longer for the right opportunity to say it.

——————

Huo Zhenyang consulted Dr. Kevin about whether Jiayi could go out and relax a bit.

Western doctors are a bit different from those back home. When the fetus is stable, they don’t recommend pregnant women staying cooped up at home; instead, they encourage them to get more sunlight and fresh air, which is more beneficial to the baby. Especially for someone like Jiayi, who had been bedridden for a long time, Kevin thought as long as it wasn’t too taxing, going out for moderate activities would actually be good for her.

With the doctor’s approval, Huo Zhenyang fulfilled his promise and took Jiayi on a drive to explore LA for a few days.

Because Jiayi was pregnant, all the activities Huo Zhenyang chose were more relaxed and tranquil.

They admired LA’s famous Starlight Avenue, enjoyed a music program at the John Anson Ford Theatre in the Hollywood Hills, watched artists paint live in Raymon Park, and visited the globally renowned Universal Studios Hollywood.

Clearly, LA, with its cutting-edge trends and a rich undertone of romance and culture, was a perfect match for Jiayi’s tastes. If it weren’t for the baby in her belly, she might have insisted they explore even more places.

*********************

That day’s destination for relaxation was Santa Monica Beach.

As one of the most famous beaches on the West Coast of LA, it has always been a hotspot for tourists, attracting many handsome men and beautiful women.

Unfortunately, because she was pregnant, Jiayi couldn’t go into the water, and Huo Zhenyang wouldn’t even let her wander too much on the beach.

After just a few steps, he promptly pulled her back under the parasol, leaving her to watch the lively scene from afar.

Watching others enjoy themselves, she pouted in envy. "I’m not even going into the water, just walking along the beach."

Coming all the way to the famous Santa Monica Beach only to later act like a bystander—it was so boring.

Besides, she knew her own body best. The baby had been moving frequently and rhythmically these past days, and she wasn’t worried about anything going wrong.

Huo Zhenyang’s eyes darkened. "I didn’t even agree to bring you here today. It was you who insisted on coming. If you keep disobeying, we’re leaving right away."

Only then did Jiayi shut her mouth.

At noon, as the sun grew stronger, she noticed other tourists holding colorful ice creams and drinks. Then she looked at the warm water in her hands and gently nudged him with her toe. "I want to drink that orange juice."

"No, orange juice is cold."

"You could ask the stall owner to heat it up for me," she persisted, nudging him again with her toe.

Knowing she wouldn’t give up until she got what she wanted, he finally sighed in resignation. Narrowing his eyes, he stood from under the parasol. "If I come back and you’re not here, don’t even think about me taking you out next time."

Her face lit up with joy, her dimples filled with a victorious smile. "Okay."

He was wearing a pair of beach shorts commonly seen on the sand, his upper body bare, as he headed toward a nearby drink stand.

With his tall frame, the broad and strong lines of his back, and his trim, athletic waist, he stood out even more than the Western men on the beach, exuding a mysterious restraint unique to Eastern men that the other foreign men lacked.

Wherever he passed, a group of bikini-clad girls stared in amazement, whispering among themselves. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Jiayi felt a faint sense of satisfaction—this man who just walked by? He’s hers.

At that moment, a man’s voice came from beside her, soft and flirtatious. "Hi, miss, are you alone?"

Jiayi turned her head. The person trying to strike up a conversation was a typical young foreign man. She couldn’t help but find it amusing—there were just too many men and women on the beach looking for casual flings. Seeing her alone, it wasn’t surprising that he approached her.

Her belly wasn’t even that big, and today she was wearing a ruffled-sleeve babydoll top, which was very loose, so it didn’t show that she was pregnant at all.

Seeing her lips curl slightly, the foreigner thought she was interested in him and stepped closer to probe if she had company. "Miss, are you visiting the beach alone today?"

Jiayi replied politely, "No. There are four of us."

Two in her belly, plus her and Huo Zhenyang—wasn’t that four?

Four? That must mean she came with friends. In any case, it couldn’t be with her boyfriend.

The foreigner was ecstatic and tried to keep the conversation going. "Miss, you look so young. It’s not polite to guess a lady’s age, but can I take a guess—are you seventeen?"

"You’re really good at compliments. I’ve been an adult for many years now."

"Oh, is that so?" The foreigner’s eyes widened as he took the chance to sit down. "Miss, are you Chinese? Japanese? Or Korean?"

Before she could respond, the man beside her was suddenly yanked away by a hand. A cold, displeased voice echoed, "She’s mine."

The foreigner wasn’t short, but it seemed effortless for the man to pick him up. With a light shove, the foreigner landed on the sand with a thud, drawing shrieks of surprise from the nearby bikini-clad girls:

"So handsome!"

"Oh my gosh, I just want to touch his muscles!"

...

The foreigner looked up at the man in front of him—a perfectly V-shaped torso, evenly-toned abdominal muscles glistening with sweat, rivaling a male model’s physique. His facial features were sharp and angular. Although he was an Eastern man, his deep, soulful eyes carried a certain European noble elegance.

Fearing that he’d escalate things, Jiayi quickly interrupted and reached for the drink in his hand. "Did you get the orange juice... Wait, why is this milk!"

"You’re pregnant, and you still want cold drinks? Milk is already a compromise." He replied in English, clearly on purpose.

The foreigner understood it well and sharply inhaled. Preg... pregnant?

Who would’ve thought that this Eastern girl, who looked like a high school student, was actually pregnant.