Alex often seemed lost in thought, appearing as if he was pondering over something deep. His demeanor always gave off an air of "Will I bother to acknowledge you or not?" Michelle wasn't sure if Alex was truly lost in his thoughts. She usually wouldn't initiate a conversation with him. She was afraid of interrupting him, and even more afraid that he would ignore her. In such cases, she'd be the only one left feeling embarrassed. Michelle watched children fly kites in the plaza, letting her mind wander. She was reminded of some matters she had pushed aside for some time. She was currently living in a place that was previously rented under her name. It was an old one-bedroom apartment with inconvenient transportation. She had long wanted to move out but had been too busy writing to look for a new place. She wanted a bigger, more comfortable home. Living in an old house was taking a toll on her mood and quality of life. With this thought, she pulled out her phone and downloaded a prope
Michelle's refusal to "Leonard," who had a quirky username, was influenced by two primary factors. First, she was hesitant to leave Lizzy behind. Alex was known for his workaholic tendencies, and Michelle wasn't far behind. She dreaded coming home to a sobbing child, knowing the onus of comfort would fall on her. Such a scenario was emotionally taxing. Secondly, Michelle disliked complications. A structured job was too restrictive for her taste. She cherished the freedom to manage her own time. However, Leonard persisted even after her initial refusal, continuing to send messages. Leonard: "If you prefer working from home, that's an option. Just ensure tasks are completed on schedule." Leonard: "As for the compensation, we can offer you this amount." He sent a screenshot of a lucrative figure. The sum tempted Michelle; she realized it was equivalent to half a month's pay for just a few assignments. Noting her hesitation, Leonard sensed an opportunity. Leonard: "Take your time and
Upon hearing Michelle's words, Alex's first instinct was: Is Michelle short on money? Why wouldn't she ask him for it? Almost immediately, he felt ashamed for thinking that way. Michelle wasn't that type of person. She never seemed to want to gain any benefit from him. Well, unless you counted using him as a ride for picking up and dropping off Lizzy at school. In the past, when Alex had offered to buy her a house, she'd declined without even thinking about it. With her character, how could she possibly ask him for money? Thus, Alex fell silent. After a brief pause, he inquired, "What exactly is the job you're considering?" If Michelle wished to work, he could arrange a position within his company. He had so many businesses under his control; there was bound to be a vacant role somewhere. However, Michelle looked at him with an innocent expression and replied, "I don't know yet. I'll find out during the interview." Thinking about how easily Lizzy got swindled and realizing that s
Michelle truly wanted to wander around, window shop, and perhaps make a few purchases. However, the prospect of doing so with Eleanor made her reconsider. It wasn’t just the apparent generational gap between them; the mere fact that Eleanor was Alex's biological mother gave Michelle chills. Michelle had once lived with the Ye family and, although her understanding of Eleanor was rather superficial, she knew that Eleanor was a homebody. The older woman rarely stepped out, preferring to have her needs delivered to her doorstep, leading what Michelle deemed a rather dull life. Yet, for such a woman who seldom left her comfort zone, Michelle felt nothing good would come from their sudden rendezvous. Detecting Michelle's reluctance, Eleanor looked at her, the curve of her lips painting a perfect smile, yet her eyes betrayed little warmth. Michelle hesitated, but eventually yielded. There was something about Eleanor’s almost mocking smile that intimidated her. She always had this lingerin
Michelle received the document sent by Leonard and quickly responded. Michelle: Alright, I'll take a look now. Please hold on for a moment. She opened the electronic version of the service contract, methodically reading from the beginning to the end. Once she had gone through the entire document, she closed it expressionlessly. Did they think she had never signed a legitimate contract before? Or perhaps they believed she was inexperienced? The quoted price was outrageously low! Moreover, the task requirements set out were utterly unreasonable! Given the rate specified in the contract, Michelle would rather freelance, occasionally taking on some additional tasks in her free time. While she was initially angered, she quickly composed herself. After all, it wasn’t Leonard who had decided on the contract's contents; it was NexRealm Studios. Guided by the principle of considering both parties' perspectives while ensuring she wasn't at a disadvantage, Michelle made some revisions to t
Alex, in a rare moment, found himself lost in a deep, contemplative silence. After what felt like an eternity, he gave a faint acknowledgment to Derek, signaling his understanding of the situation. Without even sparing a glance in Derek's direction, he simply said, "That's all for now. You can leave." Relieved that Alex hadn't expressed any grievances toward NexRealm Studios, Derek took advantage of his boss's seemingly calm demeanor and quickly exited the office. However, not ten minutes had passed when Derek was summoned back. On the outside, he maintained a composed appearance, but internally, his heart raced with apprehension as he entered Alex's office. "Damn," Derek thought, "I haven't been with NexRealm Studios for years. Don't pin their spending on me." With a nervous stride, Derek approached Alex's desk, eyes darting towards the man seated behind it. Alex looked up, his instructions concise. "Get the documentation from Leonard regarding the work of the new strategist." D
Lizzy was a child easily pleased, especially by Michelle. Whenever Michelle would coax or compliment her, even if it was done in a perfunctory manner, Lizzy would be overjoyed. This left Alex with a hint of envy. Michelle patiently explained to the child her need to work, and although Lizzy was initially quite upset, she was eventually pacified by Michelle's assurances. Once Lizzy was appeased, Michelle could finally focus her energy on her job. Leonard had mentioned that Michelle didn't need to keep regular office hours, but occasionally she still had to visit NexRealm Studios. Because they hadn't previously signed any agreement, Leonard had been unable to disclose project details to Michelle. Now with a contract in place, to leverage Michelle's skills and hasten the project's progress, Leonard provided her a detailed introduction to the project, "Starpath". "Starpath" was the third collaboration between Brandon and NexRealm Studios. Set in a distant starry future where deities
In truth, Michelle held no particular fondness for Brandon. From her work perspective, he might just be another superior poised to overshadow her. In the context of their industry, Michelle held in low regard authors who abandoned their projects midway. Although her bosses were some of those very authors, it didn't prevent her from looking down on them as peers. Faced with Brandon's kind offer, Michelle politely declined. Michelle responded, "Thank you, but someone is picking me up." Brandon felt a pang of disappointment. Still, he sought another opportunity to spend time alone with her. "Maybe next time I could treat you to coffee?" he offered with a benign smile, adding, "We can discuss the game's storyline in the process." Michelle had intended to refuse, but when Brandon brought up work as a reason, she found herself cornered. "Alright then," she relented with a smile. Brandon then successfully added Michelle on W******p. Once Michelle had left, Leonard shot Brandon a look t
Alex Ye had once imagined that their baby might be like Lizzy: soft, sweet, and utterly adorable, like a heart-melting marshmallow. However, their baby and Lizzy, the marshmallow, were nothing alike.Ella was not the type of baby who craved affection. Even before she could talk or walk, she rarely smiled or showed interest when adults tried to play with her. If Michelle tried to engage her, she'd give a minimal reaction. But if it was Alex or Lizzy, she'd simply close her eyes and pretend to sleep.In front of a baby, not everyone is treated equally.Thus, both Alex and Lizzy felt a bit defeated.Eleanor Ye, however, was quite surprised by Ella's demeanor. She remarked to Alex, "You were just like this as a baby. When your dad and I tried to play with you, you wouldn't even look at us."So, Alex realized that the baby's temperament was inherited from him; he was the root cause of it all.Even though Ella wasn't particularly sociable, it didn't stop Alex and Lizzy from showering her wi
Lizzy Xia was deeply troubled by the birth of her younger sister. She had often heard adults say that younger sisters were delicate, needing constant pampering, love, and affection. They shouldn't be scolded or disciplined. So, with a little sister in tow, what was she supposed to do?This dilemma haunted Lizzy daily, distracting her so much that she even forgot her routine of seeking affection from her mom.One day, after returning from kindergarten, Lizzy's first instinct was to check on her baby sister, bypassing her usual routine of seeking affection from Michelle. It had been quite some time since she had shown her mother her typical, childlike affection, and Michelle couldn't help but feel puzzled.She asked her husband, "Do you think Lizzy doesn't like me anymore? Why doesn't she come to me for cuddles anymore?"Alex, taken aback by the change in Lizzy's behavior, hadn't expected Lizzy's affection for her sister to surpass her love for Michelle. He had previously assumed that
Lizzy Xia suddenly didn't like her "little brother" that much, because he was bullying her mommy!Her naughty "brother", even though he was still in her mommy's tummy, already knew how to kick!He's such a little rascal!Since the mischievous "brother" was still in her mommy's belly, Lizzy dared not voice these complaints in front of her mother. She was afraid that the naughty “brother” would hear and continue to tease her mother.Thus, Lizzy decided to confide in her father.She scurried with her short little legs into the study to find Mr. Ye, who was once again working overtime.She pouted, looking quite upset, and told him, “Daddy! Little brother is being naughty. He keeps bullying mommy!”Hearing the slightly aggrieved childish tone, Mr. Ye couldn't help but set aside his work and sighed.Alex Ye lifted his daughter onto his lap, his voice gentle, “What did the little brother do?”In reality, they didn't know whether Michelle Xia was expecting a boy or a girl. But, in Lizzy's min
While Alex Ye pondered how he might explain the situation to his little girl, Lizzy Xia interjected with visible concern, “Mommy is sick. We need to take her to the doctor!”“Not only that, she’ll need shots and medicine! Last time I was sick, I had to get shots and take medicine. So Mommy will need the same!”Hearing the urgency in Lizzy’s voice, Alex paused before reassuring her, “Don’t worry, Lizzy. Mommy isn't sick.”Relieved, Lizzy thought to herself, "Good, as long as Mommy isn’t sick." However, with her round, inquisitive eyes fixed on Alex, she pressed, “Then why is Mommy always sleeping?”She recalled that, in the past, whenever she returned from kindergarten, her mother, Michelle Xia, would be hard at work writing, always available for a cuddle. Now, it seemed all Michelle did was sleep, depriving Lizzy of her cherished snuggles.Pondering her question, Alex seemed momentarily at a loss. “I honestly don’t know,” he finally admitted.Disappointed in her father’s response, Li
That same night, Michelle Xia was sleeping alongside Lizzy Xia. Lizzy was a well-behaved child when she slept, barely moving when nestled in Michelle's arms, which made it quite a comfortable experience for Michelle. Of course, sleeping next to Mr. Ye was also comfortable, but it could sometimes be exhausting. Moreover, Mr. Ye always woke up early and would occasionally playfully disturb her sleep.Michelle strongly believed that part of her recent fatigue was because she was waking up too early in the morning. She had hoped that by sleeping with Lizzy, she could catch a few more moments of sleep since Lizzy wasn’t an early riser like Alex Ye.However, the next morning, a blaring alarm startled Michelle from her sleep. The sudden loud noise made her heart jump, thinking for a moment she might be having a heart attack.Lizzy, still groggy from sleep, slowly climbed out of bed. She found the source of the noise and turned off the alarm. As she did, realization dawned on her. She had hi
Shortly after the birth of her baby brother, whom they affectionately called "Liam", Lizzy Xia would frequently pester Michelle Xia to let her visit him. It was evident that Lizzy adored her little brother immensely.One day, Michelle curiously asked her daughter whether she would prefer a younger brother or sister. Without hesitation, Lizzy solemnly replied, "I don't want Mommy to be in pain. I don't need a brother or a sister." Michelle was momentarily stunned by the child's sincere expression, then laughed softly, ruffling Lizzy's hair. How could her child be so endearingly considerate at such a young age, empathizing with her mother's discomfort?Michelle had a vague intuition that something might be amiss when she realized her menstrual cycle was off. Recalling the past, it dawned upon her that it had been a while since her last period. Upon mentioning her suspicion to Alex Ye, he looked at her with an "I thought you'd never notice" expression. Alex commented, "I was expecting y
Michelle Xia woke up to find something warm and soft tucked into her embrace, providing an added comfort. Without a second thought, she knew it was her sticky little daughter, Lizzy, who must have sneaked into her bed for some shared slumber. Even though she was now awake, Michelle was in no hurry to rise, especially with a snuggly little one in her arms. The desire to stay in bed was even stronger. Lizzy, despite being an early riser unlike her mother, was half-awake. Sensing Michelle's alertness, Lizzy too came to full consciousness.Lizzy Xia's voice was soft and sweet as she cooed to Michelle Xia, wanting kisses, cuddles, and to nuzzle against her cheek. Yet, she carefully avoided mentioning why she was on her mother's bed.Michelle playfully asked the little one, "Lizzy, how did you end up on mommy's bed?"With wide innocent eyes, Lizzy feigned innocence, saying, "Because mommy wanted Lizzy to sleep with her, so Lizzy appeared on mommy's bed!"Michelle tried to stifle her laugh
Recently, Michelle Xia's temperament and personality had shifted. According to her, it was because of the pressure of writing. In addition to that, some of her previous employers would incessantly chat with her, hindering her progress and adding to her agitation.However, when facing Lizzy Xia, Michelle was as gentle and patient as ever.Even when Lizzy became overly clingy or seemed bothersome, Michelle did her best to maintain a calm demeanor. In reality, Michelle was never a fan of children. But when confronted with the sweet softness of Lizzy, it was nearly impossible for her to stay mad. Especially since Lizzy resembled her so much and had an irresistible charm. Every pout or plea from Lizzy rendered Michelle helpless.One Saturday, after Lizzy and Sophie Ye had finished their painting class at a graffiti museum, Lizzy rushed home to show Michelle her creation. Lizzy was genuinely gifted in drawing, and with time, she had learned to convey her thoughts through lines and colors. A
Lizzy Xia promised to give her unicorn toy to Liam, and when she made promises, especially to kids, she kept them. Though parting with her toy was painful for her, the thought of little Liam, who was afraid of the dark and would cry when awakened by nightmares, tugged at her heart. She couldn't bear the idea of him being scared. The next day after kindergarten, Lizzy hurried home. Clutching her unicorn toy, she entered Michelle Xia's room. Approaching Michelle's computer desk, Lizzy gently tugged at the hem of her mother's skirt. Lizzy noticed that her mom had been wearing skirts a lot lately. Before, Michelle had always favored long pants, especially those unattractive blue-gray jeans. Lizzy caressed the skirt's fabric, thinking about how pretty it looked. Michelle had been engrossed in her writing. An old employer had reached out, and she'd been chatting with him. But now, this little clingy bundle of joy had caught her attention. After sending a message to her former boss, Michel