She wasted no more time. Bending down, she scooped Zoey Zhang into her arms and stepped out the door.

Within just a few minutes, Mia Moore’s car appeared, rolling slowly up from the end of the street.

The car pulled up in front of her. With a bang, Mia Moore yanked open the door, hopped out briskly on her kitten heels and hurried over. "Cecilia, what are you doing waiting out here? It’s freezing!"

She spoke as she took Cecilia Ye’s little suitcase and popped it into the trunk.

"I’m not— I just got outside myself," Cecilia replied.

The two hadn’t seen each other over the New Year and seemed to have endless things to talk about. They chatted all the way toward Qinghe— they still had a few things left to pick up there.

Once everything was settled, the car drove into the garage of an old apartment complex. When they came back out, they’d already gotten into the car where Julian Jarvis was waiting for them.

It felt a bit presumptuous, but Cecilia Ye didn’t want Xavier Fostern to find her easily. Even though Grandpa Rivers would cover for her, she still needed their help.

The ride was smooth as they headed for Qingshui Bay. Staring at the road ahead, Julian Jarvis reassured them, "Don’t worry. I’ll have someone take care of the cameras here. Yaoyao’s car will drive to the airport. He won’t be able to find you."

"Mm. Maybe he won’t even bother looking for me," Cecilia said softly, glancing out the window, her face expressionless. "But just in case."

Zoey Zhang was having the time of her life climbing on Mia Moore’s lap, little legs scrabbling at her clothes, trying to scramble onto her shoulder.

Mia Moore gave her a gentle pat on the bottom, pretended to scold her, and changed the subject. "Cecilia, when’s the studio going to be ready?"

Drawn into new thoughts, Cecilia Ye mused, "I honestly don’t know. The New Year just ended, there’s no rush."

She really wasn’t sure. After choosing the place the first time, she’d only visited it once. She hadn’t even seen what it looked like now.

"Alright then. I’m staying here with you the next few days anyway. Otherwise, with you being new to the area, what if you get scared living alone?"

Mia Moore leaned in, hugged Cecilia’s arm, and acted spoiled.

Cecilia Ye couldn’t help but laugh. "As long as you want. Stay as long as you like."

……

Evening fell, the sky growing dim.

In the old house, Grandpa Rivers and Grandma Rivers were sitting together on the couch.

"Ah, Cecilia just left, and I already miss her. Who knows how long she’ll be gone this time," Grandma Rivers sighed, her eyes absentmindedly on the TV.

Grandpa Rivers hesitated a moment, his tone calm. "Mm, I gave Cecilia the household registration booklet."

Grandma Rivers turned, her face always so dignified and elegant, now showing bare surprise. "You… you did?"

She didn’t finish her thought. With a sigh, Grandma Rivers scolded, "Fine, you’re right. Zhiyen really is being a fool. Let him stew. We mustn’t just take his side."

"Exactly. Otherwise I wouldn’t have given Cecilia the registration booklet either."

The old couple missed her, but they were not stubborn people. Their hearts were clear, their minds open.

As the evening deepened, Xavier Fostern returned to the old house. It was already the third day of the new year; in another two days, he’d be taking Cecilia back to the Fu residence.

But something was off in the house—the air was a little too chilly, the mood a little strange. Zhiyen, still half-frozen from the cold outside, raised his eyebrows, suspicion in his eyes.

"Grandpa Rivers, Grandma Rivers," he called as he took off his coat.

"Mm," Grandpa Rivers replied, not even turning.

Zhiyen headed straight up the stairs. It was unusually quiet upstairs. He paused at the bedroom door, reached out, and opened it.

The bed was perfectly made; it looked as if it hadn’t been slept in at all. He walked in, checked, and saw no sign of Cecilia Ye.

He stepped back out and glanced at the living room downstairs, where only Grandpa Rivers and Grandma Rivers sat. A bad feeling swept over him.

Taking the stairs two at a time, Xavier Fostern’s voice dropped ice-cold: "Where’s Cecilia?"