Mommy, don't be afraid, I'll bring you blind boxes and scam you out of a wealthy family to

yard.

Duan Hetong put away his phone and walked towards the crowd.

Xie Lin was having Wen Li hold up the adoption certificate for another photo when the little dumpling's arm was getting tired. She whispered for help, "Bang bang!"

Duan Hetong took the ID and the baby together, saying, "Alright, stop taking pictures of her, let her rest for a while."

Duan Shimi pouted: "Don't think I don't know, your photo album is full of Xiaobao, you've been taking pictures of him all you want..."

Duan Xianchen, as always, smoothed things over: "Alright, alright, let's go eat cake, right? The kitchen should be ready, right?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Li's arms stopped aching and she eagerly started clapping: "Cake~!"

The group entered the house amidst laughter and chatter, inhaling the aroma of cream and caramel.

On the coffee table in the living room sat a cake with three tiers: a white cream base adorned with pale pear blossoms, and a fondant chibi-style little girl on top, along with a golden candle.

Duan Xianchen instructed the servants to dim the lights: "Light the candles!"

Wen Li leaned against Duan Hetong's chest, looking up at the big cake with curiosity.

The last time I blew out candles and made a wish was when I was two years old, which feels like a very long time ago to a three-year-old.

The meaning of the celebration is not important; for Naituzi, lighting candles is a happy thing.

It was like this when I was with my mom, and it's the same now that I'm at the Duan family's house.

Duan Shimi lit a candle, and the small orange flames leaped up, reflected in the milk dumpling's pupils like shimmering stars.

"Pear, make a wish?" the adults said.

Wen Li tilted her head and thought for a moment, then closed her eyes and put her little hands together.

I hope Mommy wakes up soon;

I hope Baba will never be angry or sad;

I hope the rest of my family is happy every day;

I also hope that Huihui's leg will get better soon...

Pear Baby seems a bit greedy.

However, Pear has always been very well-behaved, so please, please help Pear achieve all of these things!

She secretly opened her eyes and looked at the adults beside her.

They were also smiling as they looked at themselves.

Pear's "happiness" is right here.

"call--"

The milk ball puffed out its cheeks and blew hard.

The candles went out, and everyone applauded: "Welcome Pear Baby to our big family!"

Xie Lin and Pei Ji each took a spray nozzle, and with two loud bangs, they startled the little dumpling.

Immediately afterwards, colorful ribbons rained down from the sky. The little dumpling snapped out of her daze, jumped up and down to catch them, letting the tiny sequins adorn her and make her sparkle even more.

The adults took out their equipment to take pictures of the milk balls, and the servants came over to cut the cake, creating a harmonious atmosphere.

Duan Hetong noticed that the old man had moved to the far side of the sofa at some point, and his attention had drifted away.

He was still holding a glass of baijiu that Duan Shimi had repeatedly warned him against drinking too much of. He raised the glass to his lips but forgot to drink. His gaze was fixed on the window, and he didn't know what he was looking at.

He went over and asked, "Dad, are you feeling unwell?"

The old man snapped out of his daze and put down his wine glass: "It's nothing."

His tone was indifferent, unlike his earlier cheerfulness.

Duan Hetong wanted to ask more, but the old man had already turned his head away and was looking outside again.

The lively atmosphere in the living room continued, but this place inexplicably became quiet.

Pei Ji quickly noticed and nudged Xie Lin with his elbow.

The two put away their cameras and walked over: "Grandpa, Brother Tong, we have some things to do, so we'll be leaving now."

Duan Hetong understood that they had sensed something was going on within the Duan family and were trying to avoid suspicion.

He nodded: "Thank you for your hard work."

After saying goodbye to Wen Li, the two left the old house.

After the "outsiders" were cleared out, Duan Shimi came over carrying Wen Li: "Dad, brother, what's wrong?"

Duan Yuanzhou's gaze swept over his children and grandchildren's faces, his voice deep and heavy:

"She...is back."

The three siblings were all taken aback.

Duan Shimi quickly beamed with joy.

Duan Xianchen's expression turned ugly.

Little Wenli looked at this and that, very confused.

In her memory, her uncle was always kind and smiling, and had never been so serious before.

Who exactly is the "she" that Grandpa is talking about?

Does your uncle not like "her"?

But Gugu seemed to like it very much.

Only Duan Hetong remained calm: "When?"

Duan Yuanzhou said, "The plane that's flying today has already arrived at the airport."

Duan Xianchen frowned: "What's she coming back for?"

Duan Yuanzhou did not answer.

He stood up, leaning on his cane, and slowly walked into the room: "I've had too much to drink, I'm going to lie down for a while."

—If he weren't unwell and had to follow his doctor's orders, he would have drunk less than a fifth of his usual amount of alcohol today.

The servants exchanged surprised glances and tactfully withdrew.

Silence fell over the living room.

Wen Li, wearing a bib and carrying a plate of cake, ate it obediently by herself.

While eating, she looked around, blinking her big eyes.

Gugu's mood improved even more, and she happily went back to change her clothes.

My uncle stood there with his arms crossed, his jaw clenched, and his lips pressed into a thin line.

Baba walked over and removed a few ribbons and sequins from her hair.

Wenli scooped a spoonful of cake and was about to feed Baba.

He opened his mouth and ate it, then patted her little shoulder without saying anything.

Although no one revealed any further information, Nai Tuanzi keenly sensed that the weather at the Duan family's residence was about to change.

-

Tan City International Airport.

An aircraft from overseas taxied slowly on the runway and came to a stop in its designated parking position.

The gangway approached and the hatch opened.

A woman appeared at the cabin door.

She is no longer young; deep lines are visible at the corners of her eyes, and her temples are streaked with gray. Time has left clear marks on her, yet there is not a single flaw.

Without relying on fancy clothes and jewelry, or makeup and cosmetics, simply standing there, with his gaze slowly sweeping over his surroundings, is enough to make everyone hold their breath and give him the utmost respect.

Standing at the top of the gangway, she looked down at the entire tarmac stretching out, with runway lights extending into the distance, blending into the city lights on the edge of the city.

Her gaze was distant, as if she were confirming whether the land beneath her feet was still the same as she remembered.

Then I went down the steps.

The atmosphere was so solemn that the staff on both sides of the red carpet instinctively straightened their backs, and the reporters holding cameras even hesitated for a moment before pressing the shutter.

She was used to being in the spotlight and didn't care. She walked straight to the young man who had been waiting at the end of the red carpet.

The young man quickly stepped forward: "Ms. Qin."

The woman shook hands with him, and said something very casual: "You've grown taller."

The young man said with a hint of helplessness, "I'm almost thirty."

"In my eyes, he'll always be a child," the woman said. "Your mother asked me to bring you something; I'll have someone deliver it to you later."

The young man smiled politely: "Thank you. You and my mother are lifelong friends, and I admire that kind of friendship."

The woman turned to another staff member beside her and accurately called out the other person's surname: "Thank you for your hard work."

The staff member was surprised and honored that someone as insignificant as themselves would be remembered by such an important person: "It's...it's my pleasure."

As the woman walked down the aisle, she passed a newlywed concierge, whose hand holding a document suddenly loosened, and several sheets of paper slipped to the ground.

Such a huge mishap! The concierge's face turned pale instantly, and he bent down to pick it up, his hands trembling.

The woman paused, helped her pick it up, and handed it back, asking gently, "Was this your first time?"

The new concierge was on the verge of tears, nodding blankly, "...Yes, yes..."

The woman smiled gently: "It's okay, I was nervous the first time too."

After saying that, she didn't linger any longer.

That perfectly timed kindness, like a butterfly, lands briefly and then flies away.

Before getting into the car, the woman glanced back into the distance one last time.

She was once intimately familiar with the outline of this city, yet she thought she would never set foot there again.

Do the streets, buildings, and old friends still remain in the same place?

She bent down and got into the car.

The subordinate in the front row stepped aside: "Madam, are you going to a hotel?"

"No." She glanced at her phone. "Let's go somewhere first."

-

There's a children's café on the street corner. The glass windows facing the street are covered with large hand-painted graffiti, and the sunlight casts long, golden shadows on the wooden floor.

Wen Li, holding Duan Shimi's hand in one hand and Duan Xianchen's hand in the other, hopped and skipped like a little rabbit, exclaiming, "Gugu! Uncle! Look, look!"

Duan Xianchen was still in a bad mood, his brows and eyes full of annoyance.

Wen Li wrapped her arms around his and shook them playfully, saying, "Uncle, playing games with Li Bao will make you happy!"

Her voice was soft and sweet, as if she was certain that her words would be effective.

Duan Xianchen looked down at her. The child's eyes were so bright; they could dispel all gloom no matter who she looked at.

How could one possibly say something that would disappoint her when looking into those eyes?

Duan Xianchen had no choice but to agree.

Wen Li's eyes crinkled into a smile: "Yay!"

Duan Shimi laughed from behind: "You really have this little thing completely under your thumb."

Duan Xianchen curled his lip: "Who in this family isn't?"

Duan Shimi typed a message on her phone, sent it, and then said mysteriously, "It's hard to say—we'll have to wait and see."

Wen Li was quickly drawn to the play area in the cafe. She climbed up the small slide and slid down, her innocent and childlike laughter ringing out like silver bells.

Duan Xianchen leaned on the railing and looked down, his expression gradually relaxing.

Wenli got tired of playing and went to the area where the adults were sitting to drink a milkshake.

As he was drinking, he paused and turned to look out the window.

Duan Xianchen spread his five fingers and waved them in front of her eyes: "What are you looking at?"

The little dumpling, biting its straw, said slowly, "Someone... is watching Pear Baby."

Duan Xianchen frowned and looked outside as well.

The road, the trees lining the street, the pedestrians. Everything is as usual.

The little dumpling couldn't quite explain it. This feeling of being watched didn't frighten her, but it wasn't as warm and familiar as when her family looked at her.

This gaze was far away, quiet, and silently observing.

Duan Shimi glanced at her phone screen and stirred her coffee: "You must be seeing things."

The milk ball looked around again, but there was nothing there, as if it had been wiped away by the wind.

New toys arrived at the play area. Auntie wiped Naituzi's mouth, took her off the baby chair, and ran over quickly.

Across the street.

The car body and windows are all made of bulletproof and privacy-protecting materials, but the view from the inside out is still very clear.

You can see the tiny baby being so loved by its family, and how attached it is to its family.

A voice in the front row asked softly, "Ma'am, are you getting off?"

"No need." The back window rolled up. "Let's go."