Cheng Mingyue wondered if her eyes were deceiving her. She stared harder at the young woman being carefully assisted into the car. Lin Xiaoxiao? How could it be?

How was she in Beijing? And inside this secure compound? Emerging from one of those very villas, no less!

Lin Hongyan watched, her eyes turning green with envy, unable to look away.

Lin Xiaoxiao was equally surprised to see Cheng Mingyue and her two children here of all places. What were the odds? If these three were sticking around, things were about to get a lot more interesting.

Li Yunlan also recognized Cheng Mingyue and was taken aback by the encounter. Her first instinct was to ignore them, but then she remembered all the pain Xiaoxiao had endured. Why not stir the pot a little?

She put on a look of feigned surprise. "Oh, it's you! We met in the provincial capital, remember?"

Cheng Mingyue forced a stiff smile. "It's... hard to recall."

"What a pity you don't remember," Li Yunlan said, sounding genuinely disappointed. "We talked about our daughters back then. How is yours doing now? What brings you to Beijing? Do you have relatives living in this compound?"

Cheng Mingyue wanted to brush off the questions, but Li Yunlan's pointed politeness made it impossible. She answered stiffly, "My older brother lives in the back. We're just visiting family.

Please, don't let us keep you."

But Li Yunlan wasn't done yet. "How wonderful! My son and daughter-in-law are back for the New Year too. I'm just taking her for a check-up at the hospital—we should catch up another time. Since we're practically neighbors now, you must come visit!"

With that, she gently helped Lin Xiaoxiao into the car.

Cheng Mingyue stood frozen, watching the car until it disappeared from view. She'd heard rumors that Zhou Huai'an wasn't actually a Zhou by blood—that his biological parents were from Beijing. But without any common contacts or clear details, she'd never looked into it.

Now, seeing this, she couldn't help but wonder: was Zhou Huai'an their son? Had Lin Xiaoxiao actually married up, climbing the social ladder after all? She clenched her fists, bitterness rising in her throat.

Lin Hongyan was even more resentful. "How?" she whispered as the car drove off. "How did Lin Xiaoxiao end up here? How are they living in a place like this? Mom, you said she'd be stuck in the mud her whole life. How did she land on her feet like this?"

Cheng Mingyue had no answers. Her mind was reeling. The man who'd first approached them had promised money and a move to the provincial capital if they married their daughter to Zhou Huai'an. He hadn't seemed trustworthy—there was something cold and calculating in his eyes, nothing like someone trying to do the young couple a favor.

How had things turned out this way?

Lin Dalong was also unsettled. "You really didn't know, Mom? Isn't it a weird coincidence that she's also in Beijing—right where we are?"

Cheng Mingyue shook her head. "Let's not think about it now. We need to go shopping." If they didn't bring Li Jing a gift, they'd be enduring her cold looks through every meal.

Inside the car, Li Yunlan was also curious. "How on earth did your mother end up here?" she mused. Seeing that Lin Xiaoxiao seemed unaffected, she went on, "I know she's your birth mother—I met her in the provincial capital. I know she wasn't kind to you. Try not to let it bother you. You have us now."

Lin Xiaoxiao smiled faintly. "I'm fine. Right now, nothing matters except the babies. Nobody else can upset me."

Relieved, Li Yunlan nodded. "Good." Then she wondered aloud, "Who could they be visiting in the compound? What's your mother's family name?"

It was likely Cheng Mingyue was visiting relatives on her side.

Lin Xiaoxiao sifted through the original host's memories. "Cheng. Her name is Cheng Mingyue."

Li Yunlan wasn't very familiar with everyone living in the compound—especially those in the more modest homes at the back. She didn't socialize much outside her own circle.

The driver, however, spoke up: "There's a Cheng Mingzhong who lives back there. He's a section chief in logistics supply. Nice fellow. Judging by the name, they're probably here to see him."

Hearing the name, Lin Xiaoxiao dug through faded memories. Cheng Mingyue did have an older brother who'd joined the army young and settled in Beijing. The original Lin Xiaoxiao had only heard of him in passing and never gave him much thought.

It made sense. Cheng Mingyue had likely brought her children here to secure Lin Dalong's enrollment in a school.

At the hospital, the examination confirmed what Lin Xiaoxiao had suspected: the babies had begun to engage, and labor could begin anytime during the first lunar month.

Li Yunlan had requested the most renowned gynecologist in the hospital. After the check-up, she pressed further: "Is it possible they'll arrive before the 15th?"

The doctor nodded. "Very likely. Here's what I suggest: come back to be admitted after the fifth day of the New Year." She turned to Lin Xiaoxiao. "Now, lie down again. Let me take another careful look."

Lin Xiaoxiao lay back on the examination bed. The doctor's manner was gentle and reassuring as she carefully palpated Lin Xiaoxiao's abdomen, measuring with her fingers.

Her expression gradually grew serious.

Once Lin Xiaoxiao was dressed and seated again, the doctor spoke to Li Yunlan with gravity. "You need to be prepared. It might be twins... or possibly triplets. If it's three, we must consider whether her nutrition has been sufficient and what complications might arise. It's hard to say for certain now."

Li Yunlan's hands trembled. It took her a moment to find her voice. "What did you say? Three?"

The doctor nodded. "That's what it feels like to me, though there's always room for error. Even with twins, your daughter-in-law is very slight. Delivery will be challenging. Please, prepare yourselves."

Lin Xiaoxiao barely heard the rest. Her mind was stuck on one word: Three. Three! She thought two was already remarkable... but three?

The image of three little babies circling around her flashed through her mind. She wasn't sure whether to be overjoyed or utterly overwhelmed.

Well. Zhou Huai'an was... potent.

It took Li Yunlan a good while to process the news. When she finally helped Lin Xiaoxiao out, she handled her as if she were made of the most delicate porcelain.

Zhou Huai'an, who'd been waiting anxiously outside, immediately noticed their stiff postures and strange, dazed expressions—a mix of shock and something else he couldn't place.

He hurried over to support Lin Xiaoxiao. "What did the doctor say?"

Lin Xiaoxiao thought for a second, then replied in as calm a voice as she could muster. "The doctor says it might be three."

Zhou Huai'an froze on the spot, completely speechless.