Chapter 100

When Huo Haozhan met An’an’s expectant little gaze, even though he knew this little guy was absolutely craving food, he could only pretend not to notice.

An’an was developing slowly—he could only handle some rice cereal or fruit puree at this stage, and not even one baby tooth had come out yet.

If he dared to feed An’an the barbecue outside, his mom would definitely rush back overnight just to slap him across the face.

Another piece of freshly grilled meat was placed in front of Bai Yiyi. An’an didn’t get anxious. He just wiggled a little, sat up straighter, and gently patted the table in front of him with his tiny hands.

He was trying to get his dad’s attention—to let him notice that his son’s plate was still empty, and so was his stomach.

At this point, Huo Haozhan was acting like he’d gone selectively blind. He just kept his head down, focused on grilling meat for Bai Yiyi, and passed her each piece once it was done.

As time passed, the little guy who had originally been quite patient began widening his eyes, tears pooling at the corners.

He sniffled, looked up at his dad, then glanced down again at his completely empty plate. His little mouth puckered in grievance.

Just one look at his pitiful little expression, and anyone who didn’t know better might think they were mistreating the child.

Huo Haozhan kept up his act, looking unfazed as he took out the milk bottle prepared for the little one and stuffed it into his arms.

Usually, An’an wasn’t picky—if he could fill his belly with milk, he’d be satisfied.

But they were in a barbecue restaurant right now, and the scent of grilled meat was thick in the air. One whiff of the milk bottle and An’an was full of disdain.

Once they were mostly done eating, Huo Haozhan began grilling vegetables for his wife. Since the day they met, he’d memorized all the things she liked.

Seeing that they were about finished, An’an’s belly finally let out a loud growl. Unable to bear it anymore, he burst into tears.

“Waaah! Wuuu!”

Bai Yiyi held and comforted him. Seeing his son cry like that, Huo Haozhan was a bit flustered. As he racked his brain for a way to soothe him, Bai Yiyi pulled out a pack of dissolvable yogurt drops made by their nanny.

She’d had the nanny prepare them days ago, but had never used them.

When they went out today, Bai Yiyi had remembered that An’an didn’t go out often and might have trouble adjusting, so she tossed two packs into her bag just in case he got fussy.

Having something new to taste, even though it didn’t compare to the delicious aroma and flavor of the barbecue, still made An’an feel content—especially since it was something his mom had handed to him.

That night, after they left the barbecue restaurant, the three of them took a walk along the riverside bridge.

Huo Haozhan carried An’an in one arm, held the bag in the other, and walked side by side with Bai Yiyi.

There were quite a few vendors along the way selling toys, which reminded the couple of the early days of their relationship—only now, they had a little baby with them.

Huo Haozhan bought a pair of glowing cat ears and put them on An’an’s head.

An’an had inherited his parents’ good looks, and even as a tiny little thing, he was already super cute. With the glowing cat ears, his cuteness practically doubled.

“Wow! Whose adorable baby is this? So cute!”

Little An’an blushed under the praise from his mom. He giggled and tried to hide in his dad’s arms, and his shy little reaction only made Bai Yiyi want to tease him more.

The three of them strolled the bridge for a while and didn’t head home until after nine.

That night, once they got back, Huo Haozhan checked his phone. He’d had it on silent earlier and hadn’t noticed that his mom had made several video calls.

The moment he saw the missed calls, he felt his ears ache in anticipation.

While Bai Yiyi went upstairs to remove her makeup, shower, and change, Huo Haozhan looked over at little An’an playing with his glowing cat ears on the couch and beckoned him over.

He was well aware of his standing in his mother’s eyes—which was basically nonexistent.

All he could do was hope that for An’an’s sake, she’d look at him a little more kindly.

The moment he sent the video call request, his mom picked up. On the screen, she appeared in her pajamas, leaning against the headboard, clearly about to sleep.

Even Huo Mama herself didn’t quite understand what was different this time. Normally when she traveled, she was ecstatic, like a bird finally set free from its cage.

But this time felt different. As soon as she arrived at her destination, she instinctively went looking for children’s shops, wondering what she could buy for An’an.

Once she got to where she was staying, all she could think about was what little An’an was doing and whether he missed his grandma.

After waiting so long, Huo Haozhan finally called her back—naturally, she wasn’t in the best mood.

“Well, look who finally remembered to call me.”

She hadn’t even finished her sarcastic remark when little An’an appeared on the screen, holding the phone himself and grinning happily at his grandma.

“Neinei~” (baby talk for “grandma”)

“An’an, why are you still awake so late?”

Seeing little An’an instantly softened Huo Mama’s expression.

She might give her son the cold shoulder—he was just too dumb sometimes—but when it came to An’an, her smile almost burst into full bloom. She wouldn’t dare scare him.

Sitting beside his son, Huo Haozhan watched his mom’s transformation with a helpless shake of the head. He couldn’t help but feel like this little ancestor of his outranked him entirely.

That thought had barely formed when he saw An’an’s little mouth quiver, and he suddenly had a bad feeling.

Sure enough, An’an’s tears fell instantly, and he began to complain in a sweet little voice:

“Daddy, fai.”

Huo Mama’s face turned cold. She instinctively asked,

“Did your dad bully you?”

An’an nodded emphatically. Not only had Dad bullied him, he had gone way too far! He’d practically drooled over the barbecue and still didn’t get a single bite.

“Good boy, An’an. Why don’t you go play with the nanny for a bit? Grandma will deal with your daddy.”

“Okay~!”

An’an agreed faster than he ever had before. Even with the unfamiliar nanny, he showed no hesitation—he raised his arms and let her carry him away.

To save face, Huo Haozhan retreated to the study. Listening to a string of unique, non-repeating scoldings from his mom, he didn’t dare say a word in defense.

To be fair, not giving An’an barbecue because he couldn’t eat it wasn’t really bullying him.

But in the eyes of his super biased mom, bringing An’an to a barbecue place was already a crime. And leaving him at home while they went would’ve been wrong too.

Either way, he was at fault—might as well accept it and get the scolding over with quickly.

That night, looking completely worn out, Huo Haozhan returned to the bedroom—with his son in tow.

The doctor had said that with An’an’s special condition, if possible, he should sleep in the same room as his parents at night.

Even if it was just in a separate crib, being surrounded by the scent of his parents would help him feel more at ease.

Huo Haozhan didn’t fully buy into that theory, but he wasn’t going to argue since it gave him a valid reason to stay in the room.

That night, An’an wore a little onesie, lying on his tummy in the crib, his wide eyes curiously watching his mom.

Bai Yiyi had a few storybooks in her hands, trying to pick one she hadn’t read to An’an yet. Before she could decide, she noticed her son’s gaze and closed the book, smiling gently as she asked:

“What are you looking at?”

“Mama, pretty~”

No one dislikes compliments—especially not a mother hearing sincere praise from her child.

“You’re adorable too, An’an.”

“Hehe~”

Bai Yiyi was dressed in pajamas. She’d washed her hair while bathing, and now her black hair fell over her shoulders, half-dry, giving her a gentle and elegant appearance—she really was beautiful.

Finally, she found a book she hadn’t read to An’an before, and began to slowly read it aloud to him.

No one knew exactly when An’an had fallen asleep. Even in his deep slumber, he maintained the same position—lying on his stomach with his little butt sticking high in the air.

Before Bai Yiyi could do anything, Huo Haozhan gently adjusted his posture for him, tucked him in, patted him lightly, and whispered:

“He’s asleep.”

“Mm.”

With his mother not at home and An’an fast asleep, Huo Haozhan and Bai Yiyi went out to the balcony to have a little fruit wine together.

The alcohol content wasn’t high and it wouldn’t get anyone drunk. The slight buzz felt quite nice.

Huo Haozhan took this moment to sincerely apologize to Bai Yiyi for everything he’d done in the past.

There were many things he truly didn’t understand, and others he had vaguely been aware of but never took seriously. Fortunately, thanks to his mother’s reminders, their relationship didn’t end up falling apart.

One way or another, it was true that he had wronged Yiyi and neglected her feelings.

“It’s alright. An’an is still young—I’ve never thought about divorcing you.”

Bai Yiyi wasn’t indifferent; she simply didn’t think things had escalated to the point of divorce.

Back in school, she used to naively think she couldn’t tolerate even the smallest betrayal, and that if a marriage didn’t work out, she could just get a divorce.

But now that she was really living it, she realized that not everything in life could go according to one’s ideals. Most days were just about getting by. She had to comfort herself with the fact that nothing in this world was perfect.

Not for now, at least—not that it never could be.

When Huo Haozhan heard this, his heart tightened. He wanted nothing more than to swear to the heavens right then and there.

“That thing Mom mentioned before… when she gets back, let’s have a lawyer draft the contract.”

Deep down, Huo Haozhan also knew that his verbal promises didn’t mean much. No one could predict what the future might bring.

His mother was right—Yiyi’s upbringing had made her sensitive and insecure. If something like a contract could help her feel safer staying by his side, then there was no harm in doing it.

“I don’t want your things. Even if you break your promise, I won’t take them.”

Bai Yiyi wasn’t a parasitic vine relying on a man to survive. She graduated from a prestigious university and had skills in medicinal cooking. She had no problem supporting herself.

It was only because An’an was still young and in poor health that she remained tied down for now.

Truth be told, even if she became a single mother, she could still raise An’an on her own without issue.

“Not just with Su Xiaoyu. If I ever cheat in the future, same deal. No matter what, shouldn’t you at least leave yourself some protection?”

Bai Yiyi thought it over and realized he did have a point. She eventually compromised.

“Then if you break the agreement, everything goes to An’an.”

She didn’t need protection for herself because Bai Yiyi had the strength to live without Huo Haozhan.

But as a mother, it was hard not to think about An’an’s future.

While he was still young, he could stay by her side. Even if he wasn’t the brightest, she could take care of him. But what about when he got older?

She was willing to care for An’an for the rest of her life, but she couldn’t guarantee that was what he would want.

No matter the situation, having more money would always be better than having none.

Besides, An’an was Huo Haozhan’s biological son. This agreement didn’t put him at a disadvantage.

“Alright. When Mom gets back, I’ll find a lawyer and a witness and get the contract drafted.”

To Huo Haozhan, there was no difference between Bai Yiyi and An’an. He could guarantee that the person he was now would never do anything so despicable—but he couldn’t promise that wouldn’t change in ten or twenty years.

When that time came, the contract would serve as a restraint.

He had no intention of cheating—it was just in his nature to make sure everything was airtight, and it would also give Yiyi peace of mind.

After all, it was his mother who had suggested it. He didn’t need to worry about her opposition.

Once everything was out in the open, Bai Yiyi felt much more at ease. Before bed that night, she walked over to the crib and bent down to kiss An’an.

An’an was well taken care of, his chubby cheeks irresistibly kissable.

Huo Haozhan followed behind her, and seeing her gesture, he felt like trying too. But just as he bent down, he saw An’an burrow into the blanket, and his movement froze mid-air.

He was sure An’an was truly asleep—yet even asleep, he wouldn’t let him kiss him. This little rascal really knew how to get under his skin.

An’an was walking more steadily by the day. In a room covered with soft carpet, he could even run a few steps, and his pronunciation was becoming clearer.

He could say Mama, Papa, and Grandma just fine—but whenever something came up, he’d always shout for Papa.

Time to change his diaper? “Papa! Poopy! Waaa!”

Hungry? “Papa! Food! Hungwy!”

Wants to feed the turtle? “Papa! Hug! Turtle!”

All the tough jobs got dumped on Huo Haozhan’s shoulders.

Even if he was being bossed around by his son nonstop, he still did it willingly. At most, when he got tired, he’d pinch his little cheeks in revenge.

On the flip side, Bai Yiyi was the go-to for fun—he’d look for her to play with toys, ask for cuddles, or request a story.

The blatant favoritism made Huo Haozhan swallow any frustration, especially when he remembered all the mistakes he had made before.

He deserved it, and he knew it.

With Huo Mama still away on her trip, they began discussing taking An’an abroad to see a specialist.

After all, the earlier a child’s illness was treated, the better the chances of success. The longer they waited, the worse it might get.

Huo Haozhan got his work matters in order, then took his wife and An’an overseas to find a pediatrician said to be the best in the field.

Upon arriving in the new country, An’an had a bit of a rough time adjusting. He threw up milk right after getting off the plane and looked visibly unwell.

No matter where they went, Huo Haozhan held him tightly in his arms. When he saw An’an glance listlessly at his favorite snacks before burying his face in his chest, his heart just ached.

It took two days of rest before An’an started to recover.

Then Huo Haozhan had his assistant reach out to the doctor—but to their confusion, they were flat-out refused.

Bai Yiyi panicked when she heard the news, instinctively clutching An’an’s clothes and looking at Huo Haozhan.

“Did they say why?”

The assistant shook his head. If there had been a reason, he would’ve told Mr. Huo immediately.

“Miss Su once gave me the doctor’s address. Should we visit him in person and ask?”

It was a bit of a shameless move, but Bai Yiyi bit her lip and nodded without much hesitation.

Compared to An’an’s health, pride meant nothing.

She had once read about a mother whose child had a terminal illness. She had kowtowed every five steps from their city all the way to Tibet.

Back then, Bai Yiyi couldn’t understand it. How could someone ignore all those judgmental eyes and devote herself to something so hopeless?

But now, as a mother herself, she realized—if there was even a sliver of hope, she wouldn’t hesitate. Even if she had to break her head open doing it, she’d do it willingly.

“Help me prepare some gifts.”

“Yes, Mr. Huo.”

They acted right away—but they certainly wouldn’t bring An’an along for something this undignified. He had a strong tendency to imitate, and they didn’t want him picking up bad habits.

Back in the day, Huo Haozhan had gone through a rebellious phase as a street punk. It was only after getting beaten with a stick by his mom that he cleaned up his act. Now, that shameless streak came in handy for something worthwhile.

That day, Dr. Wen Liang’er had just gotten off work and was heading home. From the hospital, he could see a beautiful sunset in the distance. Since his house wasn’t far, he decided to take a walk home.

Not long after he started walking, a man and a woman stepped in front of him. He recognized them immediately—they looked exactly like the people in the photos Xiao Yu had sent him. His expression instantly turned cold.

He warned them sharply not to bother him here, or he’d make them regret it.

“We mean no harm, we just wanted to ask if there’s been some kind of misunderstanding?”

Bai Yiyi breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that Wen Liang’er could speak Chinese. It would make communication much easier.

Wen Liang’er stared at Bai Yiyi for a full thirty seconds, then sneered.

“You’re the one who came between them, the third party?”

Third party?

That comment wiped the smiles off both Huo Haozhan and Bai Yiyi’s faces. Wen Liang’er, thinking he’d struck a nerve, snorted and turned to leave.

Bai Yiyi reacted faster than Huo Haozhan. She quickly explained the situation to Wen Liang’er, speaking rapidly, and even took out their marriage certificate from her bag to prove their relationship.

But Wen Liang’er still clung to his belief and ignored them completely. Not long after, he got into someone’s car and drove away.

They had only found out about the situation through Su Xiaoyu. Considering what Wen Liang’er had mentioned earlier, it was clear he had misunderstood something. That misunderstanding was likely the reason he refused to treat An’an.

Wen Liang’er worked at his family’s private hospital. He was highly capable, and when faced with patients he disliked, he simply refused to treat them. Huo Haozhan and Bai Yiyi weren’t the only ones.

They originally thought that since he had firmly refused, the matter was settled. But just two days later, at a party hosted by a friend, Wen Liang’er unexpectedly saw that same familiar couple again.

“Stop pestering me. I will never treat people like you who are so morally corrupt.”

“It’s not for me. It’s for my son. He just turned one recently.”

Wen Liang’er specialized in treating brain damage caused by high fevers, and he was especially well-known for treating children.

Upon hearing that the patient was a little over a year old, even though he had a poor impression of the couple, he couldn’t help but waver.

After all, the child was innocent.

Noticing his hesitation, Huo Haozhan continued:

“There must be a misunderstanding about what happened before. Why don’t you let us explain ourselves?”

If it had been earlier, Wen Liang’er would’ve rejected him flat-out. But since he was already leaning toward treating the child, he thought he might as well hear them out.

At the very least, if there was more to the story, he wouldn’t feel so reluctant while treating the kid.

According to Su Xiaoyu, she and Huo Haozhan had grown up together and were engaged. But Bai Yiyi used underhanded tactics to steal him away, then framed her into marrying someone else, even driving her to go overseas.

Wen Liang’er had first met Su Xiaoyu when she was rescuing stray animals, which left him with a very good impression of her.

If this were really just a love triangle, it seemed far too cruel to force a woman and child to leave their home and go abroad.

That, along with other details, made Wen Liang’er view Huo Haozhan in a terrible light. He had never imagined he’d meet such a foolish man.

Huo Haozhan first asked Wen Liang’er what he’d heard, and then refuted every point one by one. Most importantly, he clarified that there had never been an engagement between him and Su Xiaoyu, and that his wife was not a third party.

The claim that he only married Bai Yiyi to legitimize his son angered Huo Haozhan so much that he nearly lost control on the spot.

Dating, engagement, marriage, preparing for pregnancy, childbirth—he had followed the proper sequence step by step, precisely because he didn’t want anyone to look down on Bai Yiyi.

“Really?”

Even after hearing everything, Wen Liang’er remained skeptical. After all, their version of events was completely opposite to what Su Xiaoyu had told him.

“I have no reason to lie to you over something so trivial.”

At that moment, Huo Haozhan only felt that all the care he’d shown Su Xiaoyu in the past had been completely wasted. At least when you feed a stray dog, it wags its tail. But Su Xiaoyu? She had smeared them behind their backs and ruined their reputations.

Wen Liang’er didn’t fully believe them yet, but he was starting to doubt his previous assumptions.

That evening, he called Nian Nian. After checking in on him casually, he brought up the issue, pretending it was just a passing question.

Nian Nian, who had spent a lot of time around Su Xiaoyu, was quite precocious. While he couldn’t hold very fluent conversations, he could easily answer everyday questions.

“Nian Nian, your mom told Uncle Wen that she was once engaged to Uncle Huo. Is that true?”

On the other end of the line, Nian Nian blinked his dark, grape-like eyes, looked down for a moment, then slowly lifted his head and gently shook it. In a soft voice, he said:

“It’s not true.”

Nian Nian might not know the answer to other questions, but he knew this one. His mom had brought it up in front of him many times.

Every time, she blamed his grandma and Huo Haozhan’s grandmother, saying it was their fault for not arranging the engagement when they were little.

Wen Liang’er couldn’t quite describe what he felt after hearing Nian Nian’s answer. He told the boy he’d visit him soon and to take good care of himself, then ended the call.

He had trusted Su Xiaoyu completely during the time they spent together and had never questioned a word she said.

He’d even refused to treat a patient based on her claims.

Wen Liang’er sat in his chair, letting the cold wind calm him down. If it weren’t for the persistence of the child’s parents, and if that had delayed the boy’s treatment…

As a doctor, he’d have lived with that guilt for the rest of his life.

That night, Huo Haozhan and Bai Yiyi couldn’t sleep from anxiety. After coaxing An’an to bed, the two sat together to discuss what to do.

If this were any other situation, Huo Haozhan might’ve tried different approaches. But right now, they were in a foreign country, unfamiliar with everything, and Wen Liang’er worked at a private hospital—not under anyone’s command.

“Do you think he’ll agree to treat An’an?” Bai Yiyi asked, full of nervous worry, completely unable to rest.

“I think he will. Don’t worry too much. Even if he doesn’t, we can still find another doctor. We’re not going to hang ourselves from a single tree.”

Huo Haozhan was anxious too, equally afraid Wen Liang’er would say no.

There were other doctors in the world, sure—but in this field, Wen Liang’er was one of the best. Who wouldn’t want the best care for their child?

But given the circumstances, he had to stay calm for Bai Yiyi’s sake.

Just then, Huo Haozhan’s phone rang. He picked it up—it was his assistant. After answering, he found out that Wen Liang’er had reached out first and confirmed a time for treatment.

He held back his excitement while finishing the call, and only after hanging up did he finally let his emotions show.

“He agreed! He said he’s willing to treat our An’an!”

“Really? That’s amazing!”

Bai Yiyi was so emotional she burst into tears. Realizing she’d lost control, she quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand and gave a huge smile.

No matter what, getting the best doctor increased the chances of An’an making a full recovery.

The two planned to sleep early so they’d be well rested to take An’an to the doctor the next day. But just as they lay down, Bai Yiyi’s phone rang.

As the ringtone went off, she instinctively looked toward An’an’s crib, afraid the noise might wake him.

Fortunately, he just rolled over and shifted position in his sleep.

After making sure he was still asleep, they both sighed in relief. Bai Yiyi then answered the call—and Su Xiaoyu’s voice came from the other end.

“So, you’ve gone to see Dr. Wen, haven’t you? What, did he actually agree to treat you?”

Su Xiaoyu made no attempt to hide the glee in her voice; in fact, she was blatantly there just to watch the drama unfold. Huo Haozhan had originally wanted to tell her the truth, but Bai Yiyi gently shook her head at him.

Even without any answers from them, Su Xiaoyu was still quite pleased with herself. After laughing for a good while, she went on:

“I get along pretty well with Dr. Wen. If you two are willing to divorce, I’ll try my best to persuade him to help treat your child. It just depends on whether you’re willing to give up or not.”

In front of Huo Haozhan, Su Xiaoyu had always put on the act of a gentle, sweet girl-next-door. This was the first time he’d seen her true colors, and it sent a chill down his spine.

“Bai Yiyi, didn’t you say you love your idiot son very much? Then how about it—willing to agree or not?”

Bai Yiyi got out of bed, slipped on her shoes, and walked out to the balcony. Huo Haozhan followed and draped a thick coat over her shoulders before shutting the balcony door.

Only after confirming they wouldn’t disturb little An’an, who was fast asleep, did Bai Yiyi finally speak:

“Even if I divorce Huo Haozhan, he still won’t like you.”

“You’re just talking nonsense! As long as you two divorce, Haozhan will like me. We grew up together, childhood sweethearts. If it weren’t for you ruining things, we’d definitely be together now!”

Huo Haozhan opened his mouth several times wanting to rebut, but every time he was met with a fierce glare from Bai Yiyi and had to hold back.

Normally, Bai Yiyi was so gentle she barely ever lost her temper. But now that someone was directly picking a fight with her, staying mild-mannered would only look like cowardice.

“You said it—do you even believe it yourself? Back when I wasn’t in the picture, when Huo Haozhan was still single, did he ever show interest in you?”

Bai Yiyi had dealt with Su Xiaoyu enough to know exactly what she cared about most, so she aimed straight for the spot that would hurt her most.

If Su Xiaoyu dared to upset her, then she’d make sure Su Xiaoyu felt even worse in return.

“If he didn’t want you when he was single, you think a divorce would suddenly make you golden? Keep dreaming.”

With that, Bai Yiyi hung up the call. The more she looked at Huo Haozhan, the more annoyed she felt, and went back inside to sleep.

Huo Haozhan followed her, rubbing his nose with an innocent look—he was catching stray bullets for no reason and it honestly sucked.

Before bed, he sent a message to his assistant, asking them to set Bai Yiyi’s phone to block calls from unknown numbers.

It had taken so much effort just to get their family atmosphere to warm up a little. He didn’t want Su Xiaoyu constantly stirring up trouble again.

If it weren’t for the fact that he knew Yiyi and his mother both preferred the domestic environment, Huo Haozhan had even been considering whether it would be better to go abroad and completely cut ties with everything back home.

…

The next day, Huo Haozhan and Bai Yiyi took An’an to the private hospital where Wen Liang’er worked. As they arrived, Wen Liang’er’s assistant came up enthusiastically to greet them.

“Please follow me.”

Wen Liang’er had already instructed his assistant, who led them to a waiting area.

Once they entered the hospital, An’an became noticeably uneasy, clinging tightly to his father’s clothes. Though his face didn’t show much emotion, it was clear from his behavior that he was nervous.

“No need to be scared, it’ll be over quickly.”

Yiyi’s attempt at comfort only made it worse—once Mom tried to soothe him, An’an’s eyes immediately started to water and he let out a soft whimper.

Just then, Wen Liang’er arrived and, hearing the tiny voice, turned his attention to the little one in Huo Haozhan’s arms.

The weather in this country was warmer, so An’an was dressed more lightly than he would’ve been back home. With his chubby cheeks, he looked especially cute.

Combined with Huo Haozhan’s towering frame—nearly 190 cm—the visual of him holding such a tiny human baby was strikingly endearing.

Wen Liang’er stopped in front of An’an, extended a hand, and greeted him gently:

“Hello there, little one. I’m Wen Liang’er.”

An’an had been taught how to shake hands by his mom, but the sight of the white lab coat made him nervous. He reached out to shake hands but quickly pulled back and buried his head in Dad’s chest, like he was afraid the doctor might not let go.

Huo Haozhan could feel the unusually strong grip An’an had on him—stronger than ever before. It was easy to guess just how scared the little guy was. He gently patted his back and whispered,

“Daddy’s right here.”

“Mm…”

An’an clung even tighter. Even with Grandma around, what scared him still scared him.

Previously, Wen Liang’er had only known that Huo Haozhan and Bai Yiyi had a close relationship. Now, it was obvious they had a warm, close-knit family.

Because of his job, Wen Liang’er had dealt with many children. You could tell a lot about a child’s upbringing from their demeanor.

A kid like An’an—clean, chubby, and instinctively seeking comfort in his parents when afraid—was clearly one who had been well taken care of.

“Let’s start with some tests. Once those are done, I’ll work out a treatment plan.”

Wen Liang’er handed a list of tests to his assistant, who then led them downstairs to the appropriate rooms.

An’an was nervous before each test, but thankfully, he could always see his mom nearby. And after every test, she would scoop him up into her arms.

By the time they were finished, it was nearly noon. Bai Yiyi had only fed An’an a bottle of milk, and they went to find Wen Liang’er on empty stomachs.

Right now, nothing was more important than An’an’s condition.

Wen Liang’er, aware he had misjudged them earlier, was more than happy to make up for it and had been waiting for them.

After all that time, An’an had finally adjusted a bit. He wasn’t clinging to Dad like a little ornament anymore.

While being held, he wrapped his arms around Dad’s neck. He knew his own weight, and lately he’d been eating more, so he always let Dad carry him when going out.

Wen Liang’er noticed An’an watching him curiously. But the moment their eyes met, An’an quickly looked away and turned his head in another direction.

From his expressions and body language, you could practically read his thoughts even before he spoke.

You can’t see me. You can’t see me.

“Your kid is quite young, huh?”

Just over a year old—definitely still little. But that single sentence from the doctor made Bai Yiyi extremely anxious, cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

“Doctor, is something wrong?”

They’d done tests back in China, but the doctors there said that since it involved brain development, there was no way to intervene—it could only be managed by providing good care at home.

Wen Liang’er nodded seriously, and that small motion caused An’an—who had just been trying to catch a beam of light—to freeze in place and suddenly turn to stare at the doctor.

Huh?!