A few minutes before.

Xinyi tied Chyou’s hair in a neat and adorable bun.

“Ready! Ah, you look so cute.”

Chyou’s small face gleamed in happiness.

“Aunty! It’s really pretty.”

“Do you like it?”

She nodded furiously. “En! Thank you!”

Xinyi chuckled. “You are welcome, dear. Let’s go and find your parents now.”

She held her hand and entered the gathering hall. The women instantly started murmuring as they saw her.

“Isn’t she Mrs. Han?”

“Yes, Han Zhiyuan’s wife. Well, she does look okay I guess.”

In reality, Xinyi was beautiful but they felt annoyed that she looked so perfect and had nothing to point fingers at her.

“Who is that little girl with her? Don’t they have a son?”

Everybody was curious.

From far away, Xiaosi was calmly watching Xinyi enter with Chyou. On the other side, he already found Caihong talking to Siying.

He sneered. He took out his phone and texted Mu Chuanli about his announcement.

Xinyi searched for Zhiyuan and she found him talking to a few businessmen. She thought to introduce this little girl to him and then meet her parents together with him.

Seems like Zhiyuan is busy…

Then she looked around.

Wait. Where is Siying? He is not with him.

Then she sighed.

He must have run off somewhere.

Xinyi looked at Chyou and smiled. “Do you see your Mama and Dada anywhere?”

Chyou looked around and found Caihong at a distance. She seemed to be talking to somebody. She craned her neck but didn’t find Xiaosi anywhere.

She hesitated.

Dada said he would be there too…

Chyou bit her lip. “M-Mama is there…” she pointed her finger towards her.

Xinyi raised her head and found her. But her back was facing Xinyi’s side so she couldn’t see her face. But she did see a familiar face as she lowered her gaze.

“Ah, there is Siying!” She chuckled. “I think your Mama is already talking to my son. So let’s meet her.”

But Chyou stopped her by gently tugging her.

“What happened, dear?”

“D-Dada. Dada is not there.”

She blinked her eyes. “Hmm. I think he would be busy talking to someone too like Zhiyuan is. Why don’t we meet your Mama first?”

She nervously lowered her head.

Xinyi found it a little strange how she hesitated to meet her mother.

Even before, she seemed uncomfortable…

She smiled. “Don’t worry. I am with you. Let’s go.”

Xinyi walked up to her. “Excuse me.”

Siying brightened. “Mama!”

Xinyi chuckled and nodded at him.

The woman slowly turned to face, freezing Xinyi to her spot.

Caihong was just as surprised to see Xinyi so suddenly.

“You are…Soo Xinyi, right?”

Xinyi’s world came to a deadly halt. She unblinkingly stared at Caihong. Her heart raced in panic and trepidation.

Caihong…she is here…s-she is on this cruise trip.

‘She is back.’

Zhiyuan’s words loudly resounded in her ears as if a drum was beating hard and fast. Everything else became silent for her. The very woman who Zhiyuan was in love with was standing right in front of her. Her body was mildly trembling and she found it difficult to breathe.

“Xinyi?”

Caihong is here…

Xinyi knew that she was back but she didn’t know she would meet her so soon and out of the blue like that.

“Xinyi, you are sweating. Are you okay?”

Her voice finally snapped her out. “H-huh?” She touched her forehead and found it slightly moist. “This is just… nothing.”

Caihong raised her brow and shrugged. “I am shocked to see you here. I had no clue you were on this cruise too.”

Xinyi tried her best to smile. “Me too…it’s a surprise. How long has it been?”

“Hmm… seven years I guess? You have changed so much from the time I last saw you.”

Then Caihong’s gaze shifted at Chyou and she turned cold. While the adults were busy getting shocked by the sudden reunion, the children got their own share.

Siying widened his eyes as he saw the same girl who had pushed him in the school while Chyou stiffened to see him again here.

Caihong narrowed her eyes at Chyou. “You…why are you with Xinyi?”

But Chyou wasn’t listening. Suddenly, she got afraid of Siying that he might spill out the truth.

“Chyou. I am talking to you, not your ghost,” Caihong spoke sharply this time.

She got startled. “Ma-mama…”

Xinyi was stunned.

Mama…?

“Y-you are her mother?”

Caihong froze. She murmured. “I wish I wouldn’t be…”

Xinyi was taken aback by shocks one after the other.

Caihong’s daughter…That means she is Caihong and Xiaosi’s daughter.

She looked down at the little girl with a complicated gaze.

Siying’s choked voice brought attention to him. He pointed his finger at Chyou. “Ma-mama…she is…”

This time, it was Caihong’s turn to be stunned. She rapidly looked between Xinyi and Siying. “He is your son?”

Xinyi froze. Her heart raced again in nervousness.

“Yes…”

“I see. I just thought that he couldn’t be one of those arrogant socialite’s son. I was right. No wonder he is your child.”

Xinyi faintly smiled.

“Who is the lucky man?” Caihong curiously asked.

She stiffened at first, but then it confused her. Now that she remembered, she faintly recalled Caihong addressing her as Soo Xinyi.

Doesn’t she know about Zhiyuan and me?

“That…y-you don’t know?”

Caihong blinked her eyes. “Know what?”

Xinyi clenched her dress. “My husband…he…”

Suddenly the lights went out and a spotlight shone at the center.

Mu Chuanli stepped into the light and smiled. “Ladies and gentlemen. Please welcome on this wonderful cruise by yours truly. I hope you are enjoying your time in the midst of this beautiful sea.”

Everybody clapped.

He grinned. “Before we begin the party, I would like to raise a toast for the two most important corporations who are a part of this huge project.”

Xinyi suddenly got a bad feeling.

“Let me introduce you to the CEO of the first company. They have the largest hotel spread and chain in the world and are leading in the hospitality industry. Please welcome the CEO of the Han Corps, Mr. Han Zhiyuan, and his lovely wife, Mrs. Han Xinyi.”