Lin Xiaoxiao was buzzing with excitement—this was her first train journey since arriving in this world. Finally, her dreams were setting sail.

But her enthusiasm quickly faded not long after the train left the city. In their rush to depart, they hadn't managed to get sleeper tickets. Sitting upright all night on a hard seat with her large belly left her sore, stiff, and short of breath.

By the time they reached the provincial capital the next morning, she was completely drained.

Zhou Huai'an, carrying their luggage with one hand and supporting her with the other, helped her slowly make her way out of the station.

Lin Xiaoxiao took a few deep breaths of fresh air before finally feeling a bit better. She looked at Zhou Huai'an with tired eyes. "Does it really take five more days to get to Beijing by train?"

Zhou Huai'an nodded. "Four days if everything goes smoothly. If there are delays, maybe five. Should we rest here for a day before continuing?"

The thought of several more days on the train made Lin Xiaoxiao almost want to turn back.

Zhou Zhennan tried to reassure her. "It's alright. We'll stay at a guesthouse tonight. I'll have someone help get us a travel permit and two sleeper tickets. You and your mother can take the sleeper car—Huai'an and I will manage in the hard seats."

Thinking of the baby, Lin Xiaoxiao agreed.

After resting at the guesthouse, she began to feel human again. She complained to Zhou Huai'an, "Why does it have to be so far? Maybe we shouldn't have come... But your mom traveled all this way to see you every time. How come you never call her 'Mom'?"

In all the time Li Yunlan and Zhou Zhennan had been with them, Zhou Huai'an had never once called them Mom or Dad. He was always polite but distant, and with his quiet nature, he never initiated conversation.

Lin Xiaoxiao was sure Li Yunlan and Zhou Zhennan longed to hear him call them by those names.

Zhou Huai'an silently finished organizing their bags, then came over to massage her calves. After a long pause, he said, "I've never called anyone 'Mom' or 'Dad' since I was little. They called me a curse, a jinx. They wouldn't let me. After a while, I just... forgot how. I know they're good to me now. I just don't know how to start."

Lin Xiaoxiao's heart ached for him. "The hardships you went through are over. You don't have to call them anything until you're ready. I know they mean a lot to you, right?"

Zhou Huai'an nodded. "Yes. They're important."

By the afternoon, Lin Xiaoxiao had regained some energy. Since they were in the provincial capital, she felt tempted to go out and explore.

Zhou Huai'an had no objections. He helped her with her coat and scarf, then supported her as they stepped out.

They let Zhou Zhennan and Li Yunlan know next door. Li Yunlan, tired from the journey, decided to rest in the room while the young couple went out.

The provincial capital was livelier than Longbei, though the area around the train station was still fairly empty, surrounded by rows of single-story homes.

After a short walk, Lin Xiaoxiao was already losing interest. As she turned to head back, she ran into Cheng Mingyue, Lin Dalong, and Lin Hongyan—all carrying luggage, clearly also on their way to catch a train.

When Lin Hongyan saw Lin Xiaoxiao, she remembered the slap across the face. The fact that Lin Xiaoxiao had topped the provincial exam—and survived numerous accusations—only fueled her resentment. She snorted and rolled her eyes dramatically.

Lin Xiaoxiao pretended not to see them. She placed a hand on her lower back and prepared to walk past. In her condition, a confrontation was the last thing she needed.

Before, she hadn't been afraid of them even on her own. Now that her brother was in this world too, she felt even more secure. With someone as shrewd as him on her side, Cheng Mingyue and her children wouldn't stand a chance.

But Cheng Mingyue wasn't ready to let it go. In the past, even when Lin Xiaoxiao was stubborn and rebellious, she had never outright ignored her.

Hearing that Lin Xiaoxiao had not only aced the exam but was also headed to Peking University filled Cheng Mingyue with bitterness. The sight of her now only made her angrier. "Xiaoxiao!

Stop right there!"

Lin Xiaoxiao kept walking. Why should she stop just because Cheng Mingyue said so? Tugging Zhou Huai'an's sleeve, she quickened her pace.

Furious, Cheng Mingyue raised her voice. "Lin Xiaoxiao! You came out of my body! Don't think you can just cut ties. Aren't you afraid of divine retribution?"

Unfazed, Lin Xiaoxiao paused, turned slowly, and gave Cheng Mingyue a faint, meaningful smile before continuing on her way.

Cheng Mingyue was seething, but she couldn't afford to make a scene in public. She could only glare hatefully at Lin Xiaoxiao's retreating figure.

Lin Hongyan watched, green with envy. "Mom, did you see how she looked down on us? So what if she's going to university? Once we get to Uncle's place in Beijing, we can ask him to pull some strings. He can get Dalong into university too."

Lin Dalong, crooked as he was, at least had some sense. "Stop talking nonsense. Do you think university is that easy? Besides, Lin Xiaoxiao is already in. No wonder she's proud. It'd be better if she never made it there."

Lin Hongyan's spite ran deeper. "Look at that belly of hers. Who knows if the baby will even survive? It'd serve her right if she died in childbirth."

Her eyes lingered on the man beside Lin Xiaoxiao. At first, she had thought he looked rough and unremarkable. But looking more closely these past few times, she had to admit he was actually quite handsome.

The more she thought about it, the more it burned her up. How did Lin Xiaoxiao get so lucky?

Lin Xiaoxiao, however, wasn't upset at all. With her brother here now, she had all the backup she needed.

Things she couldn't share with Zhou Huai'an, she could tell her brother. Causing a little trouble together would be even more fun.

Zhou Huai'an was worried she might be upset. Seeing her smiling cheerfully, he was surprised. "You're not angry?"

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes curved happily. "Why would I be? They're the ones who should be angry. I have a wonderful man, a baby on the way, and I'm going to university. Everything in my life is worth envying. Don't you think they're eating their hearts out? So why should I be upset?"

Zhou Huai'an thought about it. She was right—it was Cheng Mingyue and her children who were truly angry.

Lin Xiaoxiao put the encounter at the train station out of her mind. The next four days were spent on the train.

Fortunately, Zhou Zhennan had used his connections to secure two reserved sleeper berths—usually reserved for officials or those with guanxi—both lower bunks.

During the day, Zhou Huai'an and Zhou Zhennan could join them. The four passed the time talking and reading. At night, they could rest properly.

Even so, by the time they reached Beijing, Lin Xiaoxiao's legs and feet were so swollen she couldn't fit into her shoes. Her belly felt tight and uncomfortable.

As they struggled off the train, a car was already waiting on the platform. Zhou Bingwen had sent someone to pick them up.

And standing on the platform was Lin Wenbin.