Liang Anya assumed it was junk mail, an advertisement she didn’t need to pay much attention to. But when she looked closely at the sender’s email suffix, her eyes lit up.

The message was sent from Jiayi’s email address.

Could it be Huo Zhenyang using Xiaoyi’s email to inform her of her current health condition?

No way, even if Huo Zhenyang had to contact her, he’d never use Xiaoyi’s email to do so.

In a split second, excitement surged through Liang Anya’s heart. Could it be — Xiaoyi had woken up?

She gripped the mouse and clicked on the email eagerly.

The beginning of the email was a GIF featuring a pouting, smiling face.

It was an emoji Xiaoyi often used in online chats with her!

The rest of the email sat on light green stationery, its content crystal clear:

Hi, Anya, long time no see, I’ve missed you to death.

Tears nearly spilled from Liang Anya’s eyes—Xiaoyi was truly fine. This was an email Xiaoyi herself had sent.

Suppressing her overwhelming emotions, she continued scrolling with the mouse.

Xiaoyi’s health had recovered wonderfully, and the baby was healthy and stable. This month, she and Huo Zhenyang were getting married and had invited her, Dad, and her brother to attend the wedding in France. The email even specifically noted the wedding date and venue.

To prove her recovery, Jiayi included recent photos of herself in the email.

The background was the West Coast of Los Angeles, America.

Jiayi wore a loose, lightweight pink sun-protective shirt, sitting under a beach umbrella, her face radiating sweetness. Beneath her shirt, her obviously rounded belly couldn’t be hidden. She’d edited two chubby-faced baby avatars—a boy and a girl—onto her stomach with image software. Next to the avatars, in a speech bubble, she’d written: "Hello, Auntie."

Twins? A boy and a girl?

Shocked, Liang Anya’s lips curved into a sincere, happy smile for Jiayi.

The rush of excitement subsided, but now she felt a bit troubled.

Was she really going to attend Xiaoyi’s wedding?

If she replied saying she had difficulties and couldn’t attend the ceremony, she knew Jiayi would understand—but she would also undoubtedly feel disappointed.

This was Xiaoyi’s wedding, the most important event of her life. How could she, as Xiaoyi’s close sister, not show up?

It didn’t matter!

She’d been avoiding Si Yuheng for several months now. Things had almost settled down; there shouldn’t be any issues.

Besides, chances were that man wouldn’t even be looking for her.

Isn’t that right?

After all, the non-biological paternity test was right in front of him, and she had run away as well. Why would he keep searching for her?

With her decision made, Liang Anya readied herself and began to feel a joyful anticipation of reuniting with Jiayi at the wedding.

*****

After returning home from work, she shared the news of Jiayi’s email with Liang Tao and Liang Jue. Both father and son were overjoyed.

Though the wedding was set for the end of the month, it was already the 20th now—just a few days left.

Liang Tao, retired and usually busying himself with gardening and fishing by the seaside, would have no issues traveling as soon as he got his passport.

Liang Jue and Liang Anya—though they had work—found it fairly easy to apply for leave.

The remaining issue was how to arrange care for Xiaoxiao.

Liang Anya was reluctant to bring her daughter along to France. It wasn’t that Xiaoxiao couldn’t travel—despite only being five months old, she could manage a flight and was in excellent health, never having fallen ill since birth. Long-distance travel shouldn’t pose a problem. Yet, deep down, Anya was uneasy. She feared taking Xiaoxiao out of A City might somehow increase the chances of encountering that man, though such risks were low.

In the end, she suggested, "How about leaving Xiaoxiao at a babysitting facility for a few days while we’re in France? I looked into it online this afternoon. There are several good-quality temporary daycare facilities locally, with excellent environments, professional staff, and high accountability. I’ve already picked one."

But Liang Tao, now a devoted grandpa, refused. He wasn’t even happy leaving his granddaughter in the care of her parents occasionally, let alone strangers from a daycare. He immediately objected, "Absolutely not. I don’t trust any daycare—no matter how good it claims to be. Xiaoxiao will come with us!"

Liang Jue, sensing his sister’s concerns, tried to persuade him as well. "Dad, maybe Xiaoxiao should stay in temporary care for a few days. These facilities are professional, probably more meticulous than we are. There’s nothing to worry about—it’s not a long time. We’ll only be gone for a few days and then return."

Liang Tao, busy playing with Xiaoxiao in her baby crib, remained resolute. "You two little troublemakers just want to run off to France for fun, leaving even the child behind, huh? Oh, poor Xiaoxiao... it’s okay, my little sweetheart. Your mom and uncle are too heartless, but Grandpa is here for you. If you won’t take Xiaoxiao, then you two go off on your own—I’ll stay home with her." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Since Xiaoxiao had arrived in their lives, she hadn’t left his sight for a single day. How could he possibly go without seeing her for several days?

Liang Jue chuckled while crying inside. His dad had grown increasingly childish with age. Giving his sister a quick glance, he signaled, "Let’s just drop it. Dad’s obsession with his granddaughter is hopeless—we’re no match for him."

Reluctantly, Liang Anya compromised, "Alright, then. The four of us will travel together."

Liang Tao, smug with victory, scratched his granddaughter gently: "There we go—Xiaoxiao gets to go on her little adventure with us!"

In the crib, the soft, delicate little baby seemed almost to understand the conversation. She blinked her unusually long and thick eyelashes and let out a sweet, bubbly chuckle.

******

Time flew by, and soon it was the end of the month.

After taking leave from work, Liang Anya and Liang Jue accompanied Liang Tao and Xiaoxiao on a flight to Paris.

The Huo Family had arranged for someone to pick them up at the airport, and from there, they transferred to the Huo Family’s private jet to fly to French Santo Roy Island for the wedding.

Knowing the Liang Family would be bringing a baby along, the Huo Family’s assistants had thoughtfully prepared everything needed for infant care on board, even going so far as to assign a private nurse for Xiaoxiao.

Not only that, but the plane’s interior was outfitted to resemble luxurious first-class seating. The journey was filled with opulence—equivalent to seven-star service.

Liang Anya expressed her gratitude, saying a few words of thanks.

The young assistant handling the arrangements smiled warmly, saying, "No need to be polite, Miss Liang. Mr. Liang was one of our patriarch’s close friends in his youth, and you are a dear friend of our mistress. Providing you with the best service is only natural. If there’s anything further you need, please don’t hesitate to let us know... Oh, by the way, isn’t your husband coming? Will he be joining later? Should I make additional arrangements?"

As soon as these words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the cabin froze—awkwardly tense.

Liang Tao’s expression darkened noticeably.

Liang Jue coughed twice to signal the assistant.

At that moment, an older assistant happened to walk past and overheard the exchange. He quickly nudged the inexperienced assistant with his elbow as a reminder to step back.

The young assistant realized his mistake, almost slapping his forehead in regret. Oh no, how foolish—he’d said the wrong thing. Miss Liang probably wasn’t married yet. That baby... didn’t have a father.

"Miss Liang, I sincerely apologize. My colleague here is new to the Huo Family. He’s a bit young and hasn’t quite learned how to gauge people’s expressions or words," the older assistant apologized tactfully.