The first to notice Alex was little Lizzy. Her mouth fell open in apparent surprise at seeing him there. "Why is daddy here? Did he come to buy cake for Lizzy?"Blinking her eyes, Lizzy flashed a sweet smile and softly called out, "Daddy."The café, a quiet and relaxed public space, demanded a certain decorum. Lizzy knew she couldn't yell as she usually did. She was a polite and considerate child, always mindful not to disturb others.Michelle Xia looked stunned for a moment, her gaze following the child's to where Alex Ye was approaching. Alex took a seat opposite them, his expression unreadable, revealing no hint of emotion. He acknowledged the little girl with a low, magnetic "Hmm" in response to her earlier call."I originally came to pick up something for you both to take home," Alex began to explain, "but it seems you're already here."Hearing that her father had planned on getting her a little cake, Lizzy's heart soared. She immediately said, "Daddy can bring Lizzy a cake tomor
In contrast to the tumult of the Yu and Zhao households, life was serene for Alex Ye and Michelle Xia. One afternoon, Alex left work early, intending to pick up his child from kindergarten. The child was overjoyed to see her father coming to get her that day. Lately, it had mostly been her mother, Michelle, doing the pickups. When her dad picked her up, it often meant a delightful detour to grab a delicious slice of cake, with an extra slice for her mom. And if she acted sweetly towards her mother, Michelle might even let her sneak an extra bite of her slice. Just thinking about it made Lizzy Xia feel like the luckiest child in the world! With her little legs, Lizzy dashed over to Alex Ye, her laughter soft and sweet. "Daddy, let's buy a yummy cake for Mommy, okay?" she chirped. Pausing to feign a sigh of concern, she added dramatically, "Mommy's been so busy writing again. She works so hard." Thus, the need for the scrumptious cake. Whether or not she got to eat some was secondary;
Spring ebbed away, and by the swift turn of May, summer was fast approaching. At the beginning of the month, Aria Cheng joyfully welcomed a baby boy into the world, affectionately named "Liam." Sophie Ye was thrilled with the addition of a baby brother and shared her excitement with Lizzy Xia, "My little brother is also your brother, Lizzy. From now on, we'll both be Liam's big sisters!" Though she too was Liam's sister, Lizzy couldn't help but envy Sophie. Returning home, Lizzy once more cozied up to Alex and Michelle Xia, expressing her desire for a little brother. Michelle nodded in response and then, with an air of seriousness, began discussing with Lizzy which street's trash bin they should visit to pick up a brother. Lizzy's young mind filled with confusion. She pondered, "So, is that how you get a little brother? By picking him up like trash?" Lizzy felt a sudden repulsion at the thought of a brother from a trash can – stinky and unclean! She was having second thoughts,
Alex Ye and Michelle Xia had obtained their marriage certificate, but Eleanor Ye never quite dared to urge them to hold a wedding. The story between Alex Ye and Michelle Xia was nothing short of dramatic. Yet, fundamentally, it was a case of "jumping on board first and buying the ticket later". Having a child out of wedlock was seen as a blemish on the Ye family's reputation, and this act in itself was perceived as morally questionable, not something to flaunt. Another factor was that Michelle Xia was essentially on her own; she had hardly any family or friends. If they were to host a wedding, the guests would predominantly be from Alex's side, making the disparity between the groom's and bride's guests glaringly obvious. Such a scenario might be embarrassing for Michelle. Therefore, Eleanor Ye always hesitated to bring up the topic of their wedding. The concerns Eleanor Ye had were equally clear to Alex Ye. When it came to his and Michelle's wedding, he was genuinely hesitant. A
Ye Corporation doesn't hold an annual meeting every year, mainly because organizing one involves a lot of fuss, time and manpower. At least, that was what the young Mr. Alex Ye believed. In his opinion, it was better to devote that time to work on new projects and use the money for year-end bonuses rather than unnecessary events. However, this year, Mr. Alex Ye seemed to take a keener interest in the annual meeting, rather than just delegating it to his assistant and not bothering about it. He would frequently ask his assistant about the event's proceedings, like the agenda, any refreshments planned, and if he needed to deliver a concluding speech. He received a detailed plan for the annual meeting, which, barring any last-minute changes, would be strictly followed. On the chilly winter night of the annual meeting, the indoor heating of Rivenhold was cranked up to fend off the biting cold. As a stakeholder in Ye Corporation and the wife of the Ye family, Eleanor Ye would, as always,
When Lizzy Xia started kindergarten, she was actually quite scared and nervous, worried that the other kids wouldn't like her. In truth, Lizzy was a very sociable child who loved playing with other kids.However, her mommy never let her go out to play, insisting she stay home. Her mom had to work, to earn money, and had no time to watch her, let alone take her out to play with other kids. Keeping Lizzy at home was the easiest way for her mother to ensure she was safe.Occasionally, her mom would take her downstairs to play with the neighborhood kids. But they never seemed to like Lizzy. They bullied her and whispered about her being a "bastard". Every time this happened, Lizzy felt extremely wronged.Whenever this occurred, her mom would just frown, saying nothing, only taking her back home, insisting she stay indoors.When Lizzy heard from the “uncle” that she would be starting kindergarten and would have many friends to play with, she felt a mix of anticipation and fear.She hoped th
Recently, Lizzy made a startling discovery. Every morning when she'd go to have her father, Alex Ye, do her hair, she'd find her mother, Michelle, in his bedroom. Sometimes Michelle would already be up, but more often, she'd still be in bed.Because of this, Lizzy heaved a profound sigh.Her mom was lazy in the mornings, and her dad was afraid of the dark. They really weren't mature or brave at all!When would they be like her, not lazing about in bed or being afraid of the dark, able to sleep on their own?As Alex was doing Lizzy's hair, putting it into small braids, he heard her sigh and asked absentmindedly, "What's on your mind, Lizzy?"Lizzy looked up at Alex with big, round eyes that seemed to say, "I know everything." Seeing the look in Lizzy's eyes, Alex was clearly puzzled about what she was thinking.Speaking on her own accord, Lizzy said, "It's okay! Lizzy used to be scared of the dark too. But then I got a unicorn toy, and now I'm not scared anymore when I sleep at night."
Sophie cherished her younger brother deeply. Although she was still a child and didn't fully understand how to take care of a baby, it didn't stop her from ensuring her parents did! Before the baby was born, Nathan Ye had concerns that Sophie might feel jealous of her younger sibling. But now, he realized he had overthought. The one who adored and fretted over the baby the most in the family was surprisingly Sophie. Although most of Sophie's concerns were misplaced, it was undeniable that she was more anxious for her little brother than even Nathan and Aria Cheng were for their son. Sophie, often talked about her brother, Liam, at preschool. Sophie Ye would share all kinds of tales about Liam with Lizzy. Tales like how Liam cried three times the previous night, or how this morning she left for school and Liam was still fast asleep, and even how Liam has now learned to turn over by himself and sit up! Every time Sophie shared these stories, Lizzy was filled with envy. Who wouldn't ad
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