Huo Jingnan arrived at the small apartment and immediately smelled the delicious aroma wafting from the kitchen.

Pei Nian's petite figure was busy inside, tending to the pot of chicken soup for several hours. Simmering soup is the most time-consuming process, but she didn't mind at all.

She lifted the lid, smelled it, then took a spoonful to taste it, and smiled with satisfaction.

Huo Jingnan leaned against the kitchen doorway, looking at her like this, and his heart was filled with mixed feelings.

He walked over gently and embraced her from behind.

"Ah!" Pei Nian was startled, but the large hands around her waist held her tightly.

She felt that familiar embrace, and her tense nerves relaxed.

"What are you doing?" she whispered.

Huo Jingnan didn't say anything, but smelling her scent, he couldn't help but kiss the back of her neck.

Pei Nian shrugged, her face flushed.

Huo Jingnan laughed; it turned out this was her sensitive spot.

"Even though this wasn't made for me, it still feels good," Huo Jingnan said softly.

"What?"

"When I come home, I see you busy in the kitchen, the house is filled with the warmth of cooking, and you are by my side. This is the life I want most."

Pei Nian served him a bowl, and Huo Jingnan pretended to be flattered.

"What, isn't this only for pregnant women?"

"Do you want some?" Pei Nian's tone was indifferent, but a smile was on her face.

Huo Jingnan was overjoyed and placed it on the table like a precious treasure, savoring it carefully.

Pei Nian turned off the stove, sat opposite him, and looked at him with a slight smile.

The kind of life he just described is exactly what she wants.

“Niannian,” Huo Jingnan looked up at her thoughtfully, “about what you told me that day…”

"Don't tell anyone," Pei Nian said softly. "I don't want anyone to know. Actually, if it weren't for wanting to explain that photo to you, I wouldn't have told you either."

Huo Jingnan lowered his head, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

"Niannian, can I ask you a question?"

"Um."

"Are you so sure you're Chairman Lu's daughter?"

Pei Nian was stunned.

Is there anything uncertain about this? Everything Mom wrote in her diary actually happened.

Lu Lishan saved his mother's life, and his mother loved him very much and was willing to do anything for him...

Doesn't this "anything" also include having a child for him?

Pei Nian nodded, her gaze firm. "I'm certain that what my mother wrote is true!"

“What your mother wrote is true, but…” Huo Jingnan said anxiously, “but she didn’t explicitly say that you are Lu Lishan’s daughter!”

"Jingnan, what do you want to say?"

Huo Jingnan's throat tightened, and he squeezed the crumpled DNA test report in his pocket.

He secretly took Pei Nian's hair for a DNA test these past two days—she has absolutely no relation to Lu Lishan!

This result was both reasonable and unexpected for Huo Jingnan.

When he read the diary Pei Nian gave him and heard what she had told him, he began to have some doubts. The younger generation all knew what kind of person Lu Lishan was, and he absolutely refused to believe that Uncle Ashan had ever betrayed his family.

However, when the result was actually presented to him, he felt sad for Pei Nian.

He could understand Pei Nian's longing for a family; perhaps it was this longing that kept her living in her own fabricated fantasy.

He wanted to protect her and couldn't bear to destroy her illusions. Anyway, Pei Nian wouldn't go around telling everyone, so why not... just go with the flow!

It's a beautiful misunderstanding, so let it remain beautiful.

Huo Jingnan pursed his lips and gently took her hand.

“You’re acting a little strange today!” Pei Nian looked at him with suspicion.

"It's nothing," Huo Jingnan said softly, "I just wanted to discuss something with you..."

"What?"

"It might be a bit hasty to say this, but this is my true thought..." Huo Jingnan looked into her eyes and said, word by word, "Niannian, let's get married."

*

When Jiang Mianmian woke up, she opened her eyes and saw her mother's gentle smile.

There was a soft, thin blanket on her body, which Lin Yuqing had covered her with while she was asleep.

"You're such a grown-up, and you still can't sleep properly!" Lin Yuqing scolded playfully. "You just collapse on the sofa as soon as you get back, aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"

Jiang Mianmian smiled shyly and leaned against her mother's chest.

I went back to my parents' house today, intending to spend some quality time with them. But as soon as I got inside, I slumped onto the sofa, my eyelids drooping, and I fell asleep almost immediately.

"I don't know what's wrong with me, lately all I want to do is eat and sleep." Jiang Mianmian stretched and saw fresh oranges on the table, her mouth almost watering.

"As the pregnancy progresses, it's harder to move around, and you become lazier," Lin Yuqing said, patting her head. "But your appetite has improved, which means the baby needs it!"

Just as Jiang Mianmian was about to get the oranges, Pei Nian came over with a bowl of orange juice.

Now, wherever Jiang Mianmian goes, as long as Huo Junyu isn't with her, Pei Nian will definitely follow her, afraid that something might happen to her.

She knew Jiang Mianmian would definitely crave the fresh orange, so she juiced it while Jiang Mianmian was asleep and brought it to her when she woke up.

Jiang Mianmian glanced at her gratefully, then looked at Lin Yuqing, feeling an overwhelming sense of happiness.

The three of them sat together chatting and laughing, just like a mother and her two daughters.

However, at this moment, Aunt Su rushed in, her face pale and uneasy. She looked at Lin Yuqing and stammered, "Madam..."

"What's wrong?"

"Madam, Miss Lu Ran...she's here!"

Lin Yuqing's expression changed, and Jiang Mianmian and Pei Nian were also surprised.

At this moment, Aunt Su walked to the living room door and turned on the surveillance equipment on the wall. They saw on the screen that Lu Ran was standing at the Lu family's front gate, and she wasn't alone; there was a group of people behind her…

"A reporter?" Jiang Mianmian exclaimed softly, "She actually brought a reporter with her!"

"Mianmian, Auntie, don't move!" Pei Nian said coldly, "I'll go out and deal with her!"

"No need for that!" Aunt Su stopped her. "Ah Yi has already arranged for people to stay at the door; those reporters won't dare to come in!"

"But is Lu Ran going to bring those reporters to block the entrance every day?" Pei Nian frowned. "What exactly is she trying to do!"

Lin Yuqing took a deep breath, her eyes already showing anger.

"Niannian, keep a close eye on Mianmian, don't let her get too excited. She's quite far along in her pregnancy now, she can't afford any emotional fluctuations." After saying that, she looked at Aunt Su, "Where did Ashan go?"

"Master went to the Huo family early this morning. Didn't he have an appointment to go fishing with Master Huo?"

"Call him back right now! What kind of time is this to be fishing?!" Lin Yuqing exuded confidence, throwing on her coat and striding out. "As for what Lu Ran is up to, I'll go ask her myself!"